Friday, December 31, 2010

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.

Monday, December 27, 2010

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.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Quote

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Love and compassion
are necessities,
not luxuries.
Without them
humanity
cannot survive.
Source: Dalai Lama
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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Hermitting

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Hermitting
is
good.
Not easy.
But,
really
good.
~~~~
Glinda Crawford, 2010
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Thursday, December 9, 2010

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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Thursday, December 2, 2010

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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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

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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