Happy New Year

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Happy New Year, Dear Ones.

May 2011 be everything

we want and need for it to be

as we come into the fullest expression

of who we were meant to be.

That includes some serious time

and liberal doses of fun and play too.

May we find ourselves

wrapped in Love

and wrapping others in Love,

even those we least expect to receive it from

and even those we least expect to give it to.

Can you even imagine the World we could create?

It's time.

Blessings to all.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2010

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Mantel Installed

December 30:

On this beautiful day of our 44th Anniversary, Blacksmith Artist Matt Farrell arrives (with wife Sheri) for the installation of the Mantel for the Fireplace. Matt created the Mantel Support from themes I wanted to express as foundation for our Home. I have really enjoyed Matt's Blacksmith Art and am enchanted by his Ever Seeking Creative Spirit.

Plus, the fact that he is a Blacksmith was perfect too: Richard's Grandfather Jesse Sherman Crawford was a Blacksmith in an earlier time in this same County. There is much Family Lore and pride here.

So what about the Log which sits in the Mantel Support that Matt created? The Mantel piece is a hand hewn Log from the 1843 Homestead of Richard's Great Grandfather Abel Stukey. Abel would have been one of the early Homesteaders in Adair County. Jesse Sherman Crawford married Abel and Mandana Stukey's daughter Renatta, who was their youngest daughter. The Stukey Log Cabin was about 6 miles to the west of us in this very same County.

A few months ago, I asked Matt if he would undertake such a project, to which he responded with a characteristic Matt: "Sure!" And off he and the Log went to his Den of Creativity in the western part of this County.

Of course, on this Day, considerable effort went into the Installation. Where were those Wall Studs anyway? "Tap, tap, tap." "Where are those pictures of the Studs as they were marked?" The computer is humming away, and I find the pictures. Plus, having the piece look "just so" was right in the mix too. Oh, yes, level would be nice.

On this Day of installation, we are stunned at the Beauty of the Creation and Matt's Talents. Matt's Creation met and exceeded our expectations. We were so stunned, we didn't even take a picture of the finished Creation, or the Artist, or our Family. We were so in awe, that we just did a lot of looking at it over the remaining hours of the day. More pics will come later.

It is an honor and a privilege to be in the presence of someone so skilled. Such skill comes with years and years of experience and openness to the lessons along the path. Matt did our Family a great Honor in his Expression and Creation for our Little Home. Thank you, Matt.

During the installation, Richard's brother Hollis popped in with an anniversary card from he and Deleta. That was fitting. Hollis was responsible for saving Logs from the Stukey Cabin and later giving this Log to us. Hollis and Deleta both have a cherished sense of Family History through the Stories, Tools, Projects that the Ancestors have created. In a time of trashing just about everything, such an orientation is rare. We are deeply grateful. Without them, this little project could not have been completed. Thanks Hollis and Deleta!

After the installation, we had our own little Reception right here. Sheri had brought a yummy Cheese Ball and Crackers. I had made a Gluten Free Banana Nut Bread. Melanie made some Tea. We sat and enjoyed cherished time and space together. We are so grateful that Matt and Sheri have come into our lives here. In fact, it is hard to imagine a time when we didn't know them. The Creator has placed many special Beings along our Path.

More Frosty Pictures

On this little Farm, one Photographer is usually out moving about the Landscape before the other. On Frosty Mornings, the earlier one moves about, the denser the Frost and therefore the better the Pictures, assuming the Light is good. Plus, no 2 Photographers and no 2 Lenses see the same thing. These are photos from the earlier Photographer.

I think the pictures speak for themselves so I shall not say much, which is a departure for a Wordsmith. However, I shall make one exception.

I have to chuckle at the picture of Laddie. He always seems to have his Glorious Nose in the Snow. We Humans note 2 principal reasons and there are likely more. Our dull Human Senses and our over-rated Supposedly Superior Brains can't even come close to telling us the Whole Story.

Laddie does seem to tell us that Fresh Cold Snow/Frost makes the most refreshing Drink. "Try it, you'll like it." Plus, that Fresh Cold Snow/Frost seems to trap scents. Laddie seems to say: "Everywhere I go, I see the story of who has been here before. It's like reading a newspaper. You Humans just have no idea what you are missing. How can you not sense this? Pay attention, Everybody."

Meanwhile, in the absence of a Superior Sense of Smell, our Eyes wonder about.

Something to Chew On

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I am sometimes stunned

by the synchronicity of happenings.

Some Folks would call that a "God Thing".

I would agree.

Richard's parents were wed March 26, 1932.

He was 25; she was 22.

They were married 45 years

until he passed in 1978.

(Richard and I mark our 44th year Thursday.

Did the years pass as quickly for them?)

Mother became a member

of her Church March 27, 1932.

That single event was a marker

throughout her Life.

She was 9.

That's 1 day apart.

To my knowledge,

neither Family knew the other at that time,

although Richard's parents worked at the Shoe Factory

and so did Mother's Dad.

Did either Family have an inkling

that their Families would one day be bound?

These were events well before my Time.

While we have known of these Dates for some Time,

for whatever reason,

I put them together yesterday.

Once again,

I have found something to chew on.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2010

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Frosty Morn

The Frosty Morn invites a Walk. Richard quickly puts on his Outside Winter Wear. Dear Husband is ready in no time at all. As per usual, I take more time. With all that Warm Gear on inside, he is heating up so he starts out ahead. Ladd and I follow his tracks and catch up. It is easy to get distracted on these days with all the beauty everywhere. We wouldn't want to miss a thing.

Merry Christmas

December 25:

These days we are savoring the Christmas Branches which adorn our Family Room. Of course, we 3 C's don't cut down a Tree, because that would mean killing it.

Instead, we ask for permission from a Pine Tree to share 1 or more of its Branches. And this year, Hollis shared some Branches (with Pine Cones attached) from the Family Farm. The Boys' Family began planting Pines for Christmas Trees in 1947, the year Richard was born. The original Trees have now grown and produced their own Trees.

Richard fashioned 2 Branches together (1 from Hollis and 1 from the White Pines which grow on the Farm). He anchored them in a 2 Gallon Bucket. We used the Crazy Quilt Tree Skirt that I quilted and embroidered years ago. I never completed it, but it is still quite useful. The images show snapshots of things that were meaningful to the 3 C's.

This year, we have a potpourri of simple and sometimes worn ornaments on our spare little Branches. The lights were from my Mother and Dad. The ornaments include ones from our Family Histories. Some date back to my Family and Richard's. They aren't the fancy schmancy ones that you buy in the store and were made by who knows who under conditions I really would rather not think about. They are the simple ones that return us to our roots of story and place.

We agreed to give away handmade gifts this year. Among other things, I gave away Coupons for "Glinda's Carols" (Carol is my middle name). I promised to play Carols on the Piano at the request of the Coupon Holder. "Joy to the World" has come up. The question has come up as to whether there is a limit to the number of Carols one could select. I never thought about that one. Gotta go. Coupon Holders call.

Quote

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Love and compassion

are necessities,

not luxuries.

Without them

humanity

cannot survive.

Source: Dalai Lama

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Hermitting

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Hermitting

is

good.

Not easy.

But,

really

good.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2010

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Taking Care of Us

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These last few months

have presented challenges.

We are stretched and tired.

These next few months

will also present challenges.

Winter is the normal seasonal time

of rest and renewal.

We'll need energy stored up

for the next growing season.

For now,

we're taking care of us.

I may not be writing

as much on the Blog.

We hope

you're taking care

of yourself too.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2010

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Stunned

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The telemarketer

was stunned.

He called to make sure

we have the best plan

for our TV.

To which I responded:

"We haven't had

television

since 1995."

Silence.

Confession:

"I've tried to give up TV.

The most I've done is 2 weeks.

My Pastor challenged me.

It's mostly garbage anyway."

Garbage in,

Garbage out.

We 3 C's don't miss it one bit.

And a final note

to the telemarketer

from me:

"I guess you just weren't ready."

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2010

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On the Meaning of Stuff

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I rarely wonder

on the meaning of stuff

we gather around us.

Mostly, I just gather stuff

rather than wondering

about what purpose it serves in my life.

This is one of those rare times

when I even take a peek through the window

to consider what it all means.

Why do we gather these piles of stuff?

It's true, I am considerably better

at living more simply.

It's also true,

I still have a ways to go.

Living an agrarian life style

does take more stuff:

jars, canners, big pots, freezers.

The list goes on.

The Grandmas and Grandpas of the past did it,

and they lived in teeny houses

by today's standards,

nevermind larger family size.

They also had sheds and barns too.

While they had considerably less

by today's standards,

they kept things

because they never knew

when they might use them.

They may have had a greater sense

of what goes into the making of stuff.

Why would you throw away

those resources the Earth gave,

and the fruits

of Human efforts, skill and money besides?

Maybe their voices live inside of me.

I have a hard time letting go of things

that keep me connected to earlier ones.

I think I hold some of these treasures

because they somehow mean love.

Of course, material things do not mean love.

My rational voice firmly declares

while my hand reaches for more.

In troubled times or times of higher stress,

I hold onto things more,

almost as if I need something to lean on.

The boxes get so tall

they teeter as I lean.

The piles get so wide

they impede my path.

In my life, I practice

a dynamic dance

of accumulating and letting go.

These days, I feel

the struggle of those 2 things

and I see it in the settling

of this little Home.

Somehow I (and we) will find our way.

I am better,

but I have a ways to go.

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2010

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The Electrician Is Coming

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We are

in the middle

of a serious look

at efficient use of space.

That includes downsizing and storage.

Yes, this little House

which looks like

a Minnesota Lake Cabin,

is becoming a Missouri Farm House.

The Electrician called

around the dinner hour

to let us know that

he and his crew are coming

at 7am tomorrow.

Among other "tweaks"

to the system,

they will put outlets

along the exterior wall

of the west side of the basement.

That portion of the basement

has featured growing piles

of boxes for storage.

What is in the boxes

next to those walls

has long become a mystery.

We remembered

their contents this evening

as we were moving everything

to the middle.

When we moved here 3 1/2 years ago,

we had downsized significantly.

We are being inspired

to downsize yet again

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2010

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Stuff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We own our stuff,

but there comes a point

when our stuff owns us.

Why would we want to do that?

What purpose does that serve?

~~~~

Glinda Crawford, 2010

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