Saturday, July 21, 2007

Butterfly Waltz

Saturday morning is the Farmer's Market. There are two small farms that I love to support. I buy beautiful organic chicken, eggs, and produce from Farrar Out Farm, which is run by a lovely young couple, Bryan and Christine Truemper and I get the most gorgeous heirloom vegetables from Ron at On the Wind farm. While I'm there I remind myself to soak in the beauty and artistry that is produced by these hardworking people. I remember to bring my own bags for once, but not a pen, which they so kindly offer without my having to ask. I bask in the feeling of community- of being connected to something good and wholesome.

Later I pull into my driveway. I'm listening to Strauss' Blue Danube Waltz, better known as the Skater's Waltz, on the classical station. It seems a strange choice for a gorgeous Summer day, but I see a monarch butterfly swooping and landing on flowers in perfect time- a dance choreographed by God. Just for me.

May the Lord bless you.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Cheryl Plain and Tall

I was reading "Renovating Becky Miller" by Sharon Hinck and decided to try a paragraph in her style. I was quicky reminded why Sharon is a multi-published author. I did have some fun... Here goes...

She looked at the dirt underneath her fingernails and wondered why she had boarded that train headed to the midwest. She had left her beloved Maine seacoast behind,perhaps forever. To make matters worse, the man seemed uncommunicative and the children had been without a mother for so long that it seemed impossible to reach them. She pitched the shovel once again into the hard earth, wriggling it back and forth to loosen the clay from the rock that was so abundant. Why was life so hard? All she wanted was a husband to love and to be a mother to the two little waifs that needed nurturing, a mother's touch. How long would it take before she was accepted? She was running out of faith. "Break up the fallow ground" said a voice from somewhere deep inside. "I'm trying" she breathed, brushing a few strands of hair out of her hazel eyes. "I'm trying".

Friday, July 13, 2007

Disney Girls

"Fantasy world and Disney girls are comin' back."-Cass Elliot
Since I've come back from Disney World, I've spent some time pondering what it's all about. Maybe I'm just in recovery from all of the driving, walking, crowds and plain old humanity.

Here are my conclusions.

Disney World is not Tiffany's. Though you can spend about as much money there.

Like Tiffany's, nothing really bad can happen at Disney World.
Unless you count the last time we were there and Chip n' Dale BOTH snubbed my super sensitive 10 year old Rachael at breakfast with the whole gang by refusing point-blank to sign her autograph book. As Disney would have it, Minnie, ever on the lookout for ten year olds traumatized by evil rodents, gathered Mickey and Goofy, who are much higher on the food chain, to pose for pictures. Her face glistened with joy through the tears. To this day Minnie has a special place in her heart.

We all long to be special.

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Back from Disney!

There's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home. Yes, Dorothy has returned from OZ, or in my case Disney World. My parents really love their grandchildren. They do. So they gave us all- my brother, two sisters and their families one week of Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks for a big family reunion/vacation.

Since we were the only mid-westerners- thanks to me who married a boy from St.Louis- we decided to drive, stopping first in South Walton beach for a couple of days. Our Ford Freestyle seats seven- semi-uncomfortably, so we borrowed one of those containers that straps onto the roof to store luggage and who-knows-what. I called it "the Griswald", which my daughter shortened to "Gary"- I have no idea why. It made our silver vehicle super easy to spot in those crowded parking lots.

It's too early for me to be making any important reflections on this trip, so I will save any deep points for another time. Suffice it to say- I'm home.

Blessings.