quiet time in Door County ~ 2013

I guess I should never ask anyone to hold their breath before I get back to this blog. But honestly, it wasn't my fault. Lots of problems with blogspot. So, here I am, ready to share some thoughts about life, my loves and any other random thoughts that occur to me. We are at the Rushes, in Door County, Wisconsin, again. We spend six weeks here a year,spread over several seasons. Winter was my first love, watching sparkling snow flakes drift lazily down from the cedars as I cross country skied through our woods adjacent to our condominium. I had recently read a book about the existence of angels, and in the silence of the woods, the snow suddenly fell glistening from the trees. What more proof do you need of heavenly attention than a burst of unexpected diamonds softly covering your head and shoulders? And that's the way it has gone over almost 30 years. We come in winter, ready to face the frigid Wisconsin winter ahead, envision spring as we see just the beginning of a thaw in March, return joyously to a warm summer in June, look forward to a golden September week and finally end the year in November with the grey skies marching with us into the Holiday season and into all those November, December and January birthdays with which our family is blessed. Four of the ten grandchildren have arrived while we have been here. Some pf them have even been able to spend their birthdays up here occasionally. We've celebrated a wedding, close by in Shawano, Wisconsin and came here to continue the celebration. Our entire gang joined us for a gala week in 2006 when we celebrate our 50th Anniversary. And now, a new era of Door County fun begins as Mark and Laurie have purchased a cottage directly across the lake from us! Kangaroo Lake will see even more of this family as tome goes on. Laurie and M ark are working on the cottage this afternoon, and will come over here for the Packer Game(of course!)and some chili. We'll be 'home base' until they have the renovations that are proposed done. So, Mahan is sitting near the fire, studying for her AP American History exam and with her help I have finally caught up with xomargo blog. Let's hope it isn't another year until I let you in on my life again.

Welllll...I'm trying to figure out this blogspot. Hey, it's no fun being a 75 year old with your savvy grandchildren away or busy. But at least I found where to post again! It's been a weird year for me...strange surgery last December and a long recuperation. I'm getting back in the swing of things now. I started volunteering at a small school library (Courtesy of the Christ Child Society!) and I just love it. Books, Books, and more Books! and then you add in the kids and it's a great experience. I haven't gone back to the Pabst Mansion yet. My back is still a problem. But I hope to this month. I miss the other docents and I definitely miss the Pabst. It's regaled in Christmas finery right now. I can hardly wait to see it. Patrick, my oldest grandson, is working at First Stage here in Milwaukee. He is very involved in Three Holy Women Parish and I get to go with him to a Taize' service on Tuesday. I've never been, but it sounds meditative. I think I'll like it. DanS, my son-in-law, just bought the right to be on stage in the Music Man production at the Skylight, here in Milwaukee. He had fun...and I am going with a group of friends and relatives to see it this week. AND...I'm having my second Cataract surgery. Wish me luck.

White out!

Omigosh! I don't know what the exact definition of a blizzard is,but it looks like we're in one, right after a day where the grass was showing tufts of green and the temperature was near 50! Door County is always a treat! We're sort of snowed in, because the wind has blocked out even the lake, a short 300 yards from our patio window.

How did the Indians ever do it? I'm sitting at my computer in a safe, warm and dry house...and thinking about not only their teepees,...but of the brown and grey chinked log cabins built by hand and hard labor and that abound in Door County. You can't help but be reminded that settling here must have been a real trial. Why would they do it? Freedom from servitude and freedom for their Moravian religion is the obvious answer. But I think of the mothers, trying to keep the kids warm, making a home of a small cabin. I'm an only child. I cherish the times when I can be by myself. I have always wondered how the families dealt with the lack of privacy. There was nowhere in the cabin to be by oneself. And think of the noise. The wind wails around the corner of our condominium! What would it be like in a little cabin? I guess you accommodate to whatever life gives you. Hopefully these pioneers were able to take a breath and recognize the beauty of the place that they had chosen to make their home.

And after I think about these negative parts of a snow storm, I look out and see the absolutely stunningly beautiful white landscape, punctuated with exclamation points of birch trees along the shore of Kangaroo Lake. The cedars are bending their dark green branches with heavy white snow, waving in the winds. And the wind! It send snow perpendicular to the large meadow that leads to the lake.

And here we are. Jerry makes a fire. We read. We sit. We make some soup and enjoy the warmth as we watch winter invade our Door County. And we count our blessings.

In like a lamb...

Well, we're in Door County and March has come in like a lamb. It's close to
60 degrees, the snow is melting and we've just come away from our silly
wine and cheese party at the Rushes. It's a lot of fun to see where
everyone is from...and how long they've been owners at the Rushes. This has
to be one of the most loyal group of time share owners. Many of the
folks tonight have been here more than 10 years, some of us more than 20!
We munch on veggies, dip and meatballs, enjoy a glass of wine and love Brenda, the activities director who has been with us for almost 20 years. She is celebrating her 50th birthday this year (in September) and reminds us every week. She is collecting a bunch of cards and gifts as the year progresses. What a prolonged celebration.
The dark pencil marks of the silhoetted trees punctuate the winter sky. This season, like all, has a special beauty.

Somehow I've lost track of this blog...and my LIFE since my December 16th gastric reorganization!
Anyhow, I'm thinking I'm back to normal...and lo and behold, I do one day of normal housework...a couple loads of laundry, general cleanup and a cleaning of the oven...and today I thought I'd just take small nap after Laurie and I did a few errands...and I CRASHED! For 4 hours! But on to the real news. Barb was 'late' for our St Sebastian Meeting tonight. She was given a President's Awaard from Johnson Controls for her work on the Energy Forum that has been part of her life for the past several years the second week in June and in Washington DC. She quickly changed gears and was right up to speed with our 100th celebration. What a kid! I'm so proud of all that she has accomplished.

January 19, 2011
So...It's just five weeks since my gastric volvulus surgery, and recuperation is certainly going as predicted...SLOWLY! I, as predicted by Dr. Wallace, hate the gastric tube. It's just obnoxious. I wonder how long I'll have to have this thing? Oh well, my resolve is to think of at least one forward going or uplifting thing that happens each day. That will make the recuperative time go better, I hope...so here goes.
I spend part of each afternoon at the Rec Center at the Rushes...just watching life go by. Today, the Hartmans from Appleton - folks we've know for 28 years, were there, playing bingo! I had a nice visit with Marilyn and Pete, catching up on the year's activities. Marilyn has had both knees replaced and broke her pelvis. She's doing great and hoping that the next doctor's appointment will give her permission to go back to the x-country skiing that they love so much. It's always nice to meet them every year.

Just thinking...

Words..
Like stinging nettles
Pierce your heart.
They take a lifetime
To be removed.
One by one.
They leave a
Lasting hole…
A small but unrelentless memory
Of a burning hurt that
Must be quenched if you are to.
Seize the moment
And move forward.