Flower Petaler

Flower Petaler, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

An Awesome Shitty Day

Another car sped by, ignoring my outstretched arm, clinched hand, with upward thumb--the universal sign indicating the person attached to said thumb needed a flipping ride. This after all was a National park, I surveyed the roadside and indeed the towering redwoods, rock strewn river and occasional open meadow was accounted for. A park was filled with trusting salt of the earth type people, right? Including this one with her thumb in the air, but no one stopped. Our energetic hike to Bridal Veil Falls had turned into a foot sore poky amble on our return, with the park shuttle AWOL we set out to locate the nearest shuttle stop. The day had turned hot; our custom-fit-at-REI hiking boots had created custom-fit-pulsating-throbbing-sores on both of our feet, are water bottles dry and our moods dour. So I did what any self-respecting mama bear would do, I struck out my thumb. Much later, we sat aside our campfire, to the soothing crackle of fire, gazing into dancing flames, glowing embers, satisfied and relaxed. "Does it get any better than this?" Transfixed by the fire, I spoke in a hushed tone.

Shannon replied softly, matching my tone, as she too gazed in the fire, "This was definitely an awesome, shitty day.”

We nodded to each other in agreement. Indeed.

Sit a spell

Sit a spell, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

This "bathroom with a view" is located in Old North St. Louis. This picture was taken during a home tour and I was struck that in the city you can have a floor to ceiling window aside the toilet with no issues of privacy.

Rainbow

Rainbow, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

After days of rain, the sun made an appearance...as did this sweet rainbow.

Get a Clue

Have you ever walked into a room and forgotten what your purpose had been, were you looking for something? What was that something? Surfing the internet is similar, I began this search for "How to Paint Egrets," and ended up on Jana's blog where I became sidetracked with her mixed media piece on losing ones memory. Now what was I looking for?

Spring Eternal

Spring Eternal, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Tulips and cupcakes

Tulips and cupcakes, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Although winters bite lingered well into April,  the outdoor world is now awash in greens. Dormant lawns are verdant, hosta plants line the walkway and porch, grow tall, leaves unfurling, spreading and covering the spent daffodil leaves as planned. Tulips have peaked, their purples, yellow, reds, whites and pinks sweep the edges of the walkway and rock bordered landscaping. Nana made fresh bouquets from her garden, giving them as hostess gifts, get well wishes, and thinking of you sprays. The variegated hosta leaves are cut from a plant I transplanted from her yard. I call this heritage gardening; plants that are shared cultivate sweet memories.

Love you Nana, I will always remember you.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Key West Garden Gate

Key West Garden Gate, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

I'm missing Key West today. Duval street is fun, with the shops, bars and music; but, the true essence of Key West are the historical homes that line the streets. Most have been renovated into B & B's and guest houses. If I only had a million dollars, I'd open one myself. :)

Spring Doorway 5

Spring Doorway 5, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Another house that features St. Louis bricks. I love the dormer windows and the detail in both the wood work and the patterns of the bricks. The tulip beds are a delight.

Spring Doorway 4

Spring Doorway 4, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

For more than a century, St. Louis has been famous for its distinctive clay bricks; and St. Louis bricks are prized architecturally.

Spring Doorway 3

Spring Doorway 3, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

A beautiful monochrome, castle-like entryway.

Spring doorway 2

Spring doorway 2, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Carmel by-the-Sea? St. Augustine, Florida? No, this beautiful Spanish style home resides in St. Louis.

Spring Doorway 1

Spring Doorway 1, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

The neighborhoods surrounding campus are filled with stately homes and their mature landscaping. I gain inspiration for my own yard when I walk their avenues.

Boxwood and Dogwood

Boxwood and Dogwood, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

Such a beautiful side garden in this turn-of-the-century home, features a boxwood knot garden and armillary sphere dial. This home is located near Forest Park in St. Louis and the Washington University campus where I work.

Spring table

Spring table, a photo by DiPics on Flickr.

This sweet little egg platter was my husband's grandmother's, Grandma Puleo. I remember visiting her on the farm when Mike and I were newly dating. Grandma was a short stocky woman, grey hair twisted up to a bun, her dress of choice were comfortable house coat, hospital white support knee hi's--the kind nurses wear-- and slippers. A tea kettle atop the stove was always at the ready to share a cup of tea with her family.

Roadtrip 2011

A video of the California Coastline Roadtrip 2011

Roadtrip 2011

Roadtrip 2011

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." 


~Dr. Seuss

The C Word

My girlfriend phoned the other night, prefacing the reason for her call as "sucky news," my mind went to fill-in-the-blank mode, one of the boys was in a car accident, her husband Mike (my husband's name too) had a heart attack, one of our friends had died,

"Breast cancer, stage 1" she said, stilling my preemptive attempts.

No history in her family, never smoked, has always exercised and kept her weight in check--a total random strike. Janet shared the events leading up to the diagnosis and the radiation treatment plans she now had to decide upon. We discussed the pro's and con's of having the treatments near home or near work. How the kids took the news and our conversation naturally drifted to their lives, their work, where they were living and who they were seeing. She spoke with relief that her soon to be  ex-daughter-in-law was supportive and would make sure the grandchildren would visit her and Mike often. Through the "suckiness" of a cancer diagnosis, her continued relationship with the grandchildren and their mother was everything to her. Life's obstacles never happen in the singular, and the "C" word doesn't obscure life's other issues, both trivial and large; on the other hand, the "C" word aides you in honing into the meaty issues, the issues that matter and allows you to toss the trivial.

Janet and I developed our friendship through our child rearing years, it's a "raising family friendship;"  A Daycare, preschool, church, recipe sharing, room mother's, walking for fitness, car pooling; scouts, sports, camping and New Year's Eve banging-pots-on-the-front-porch friendship. Distance does not keep her and Mike from an invite, even after we moved 27 miles out, they've attended every trivia nite, Halloween party, graduation party and funeral. Now that they've moved back to her hometown, 30-plus miles the other way from our old neighborhood, a good 50 miles east of us we will do the same. I realize a year has gone by and I still haven't been to their new home, we have experienced a dry spell now that our kids have grown. This new chapter--post child rearing chapter--offers us the opportunity to find new ways to gather. A winery outing is on the table, where we can share an afternoon of blue sky's, wine and music.

I make a mental note to purchase another copy of Kelly Corrigan's memoir The Middle Place. I read Kelly's memoir a few years ago and even elected to write an assigned report for a nonfiction writing course--Kelly has the innate ability to touch our collective heartstrings in all parts of being female, she transports us to our childhood, teen years through adulthood as only a dear friend can.  In her fight against cancer--vulnerable, enraged, scared and hope-filled--Kelly humanizes the journey, sharing the relationship's all women share; our childhoods, friends and families reminding us to remember the moments of our pasts and linger in the moments of the now.

In sharing this book with my dear friend, I hope Kelly's voice offers reassurance and aides Janet's voice in sharing her journey with all those that love her. Afterall, life is the culmination of "now moments," and our taking those "moments in time" to respond.