Hidden Beauty

Back when I was in my twenties, I had this idea that as I got older, I would get things figured out, and I would fully understand how the world works and exactly how to live my life.  Now that I’m in my sixties, the one thing I know for sure is there is always more to learn, and it is unlikely I will ever understand other people when I’m still trying to figure out myself.  The positive in that is, I get to keep growing and learning and trying new things. 

All summer I have been trying to get control of my yard.  The flower beds and garden were totally overgrown, by the time I was able to work on them.  I have been working on them almost every day, except on those days when the weather won’t cooperate.  This week it is expected to be in the nineties every day, so that will limit my yard work time. 

Over the weekend I began cutting down weeds and brush in the flowerbed by my garage.  As I cleared away the unwanted overgrowth, I discovered these beautiful Day Lilies and Purple Coneflower, hidden among the brush and weeds.  Now that the clutter is gone, these beautiful plants will be able to flourish.  No matter how much the weeds tried to take over the garden, these flowers prevailed

I think that can be true about us as humans as well.  Get rid of the negative thoughts.  Get rid of the self doubt.  Be willing to take risks, try something new, and learn.  Discover the beauty within ourselves, and let it grow.

I have been trying to do some of that this summer by working at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  I have taught at the same school for 29 years, and it is still home.  But I am enjoying this new adventure in this new setting.  It is an opportunity to meet new people and try new things, and I am learning something new every day that I go.

   

• I am grateful for beautiful flowers.
• I am thankful for strength and perseverance.
• I am grateful for all the opportunities to grow and learn.

Summer Vacation

Gratitude Day #12

I haven't written a gratitude post in quite a while.  Now that it is summer vacation, hopefully I will find more time to blog.  We are actually three weeks into summer vacation, but the first week was devoted to helping my sister move.  I'm not sure what happened to the second week.  I have been spending a lot of time working in my yard.  I am way behind on weeding and planting my garden, but I will get there.

I also started volunteering in Horticulture at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  I have helped with some events and classes.  This summer I am helping to maintain the Ruan Alee Walkway.  Each Wednesday morning I am spending two hours weeding and working on the flower beds.  These first few weeks that also involves deadheading the irises.

This morning was cool and cloudy.  We are there before the garden opens, so it is peaceful.  It is hard physical work, but I enjoy the beauty that surrounds me.

I love the beauty of the gardens, the river, and view of the downtown Des Moines skyline.

Another bonus is walking through the water garden.  I love all the water lilies.  If you go, however, please don't throw money in there.  It isn't helpful.

1. I am grateful for having the time and freedom to do something completely different during the summer.
2. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time in a beautiful place.
3. I am thankful for another chance to learn new things.

Sunshine and Flowers

Gratitude Day #11

I love all the flowers that are beginning to grow and bloom.  These are spring flowers that are blooming in my front yard right now.  Okay, I guess technically the violets and dandelions are considered weeds, but they still add color to the landscape. Not to mention the fact that dandelions were originally brought here for medicinal purposes.  On the right is my one and only tulip.  I did not plant it.  I assume it was planted by the people who owned this house before me, and I have lived in this house for 18 years. This tulip is determined.

It is amazing what a little sunshine and color can do for my disposition.  Just getting outside and walking with the dogs lifts my spirits, and makes me thankful for my home and neighborhood. After our walk we enjoyed sitting together on the back deck.

1. I am grateful for the spring flowers.
2. I am thankful for the sunshine on my face.
3. I am incredibly grateful for my home and neighborhood and the little dogs who share it with me.

I am noticing it is also time to break out the mower.  In parts of the back yard, the grass is getting as tall as Lola and Chloe.  Guess I will add that to my "to do" list for later this week. Notice that mowing did not make my gratitude list.  

Earth Day Celebration

Gratitude Day #10

Today was the Earth Day Celebration at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  This afternoon I helped with a Propagation Activity.  I hadn't volunteered there since spring break.  I'm always nervous when I am about to do one of these activities, but I am so glad that I did it.  I always learn something new.  The people who work and volunteer there are so nice, and the people coming through are happy and enthusiastic about trying our activities.

It was a truly gorgeous day, so it was fun to walk around in the outside gardens.  Daffodils and tulips are in bloom, and they are so beautiful.  I did a little tour of the gardens before I went into the Kemin Plant Sciences Lab for the propagation activity. 

For our activity people took a pot that I learned how to make out of newspaper.  They filled it about half way full with potting soil.  Then they planted a cutting from a Sansevieria plant.  This plant is commonly called a Snake Plant or Mother-in-law's Tongue.  We had lots and lots of people who came through the lab, so it was a busy and fun day.

I loved this little tool for making the paper pots.  I think I need to get one of these.

1. I am grateful for the knowledge of the people who work and volunteer at the Botanical Garden.  I learn from them every time I go.
2. I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time in such a beautiful place.
3. I am grateful for my little Snake Plant cutting. I hope it grows into a big plant.

The Greenhouse

Gratitude Day #9

On Sunday I drove up to the Earl May in Ankeny, just to look at what they had.  I am in the planning and hoping stage for my garden.  The minute I walk into a greenhouse in spring, a smile spreads across my face.  The same thing happened today when I checked out the gardening section at Lowe's.  This time of year, before the heat, bugs, weeds, and hot weather set in, gardening is full of hope of what you may be able to grow and accomplish.

I am especially excited for this summer, because I will not be teaching summer school.  Hopefully I will do better at keeping up on my garden work, especially the weeding.  Every year, I try to expand a little.  I just ordered two more raised beds.  This year I am hoping to try my hand at strawberries.

I always refer to my garden as a science experiment, because I really don't know what I'm doing.  Every year I learn a little more, and this year I will be volunteering at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, so I'm sure I will learn a lot more.  As it is, I grow and can tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers that last me all year.  I feel really proud when I eat something that I grew.

1. I am grateful for the hope and beauty of my garden.
2. I am grateful for having space to grow food and flowers.
3. I am thankful that I learn new things about gardening every year.

Family Dogs

Gratitude Day #8

I cannot do gratitude posts without talking about my dogs.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am a dog person. I grew up with dogs.  In fact, the only time in my life that I didn't have a dog was when I was in my early twenties, moving around a lot and living in apartments.  Chloe and Lola are not only the family dogs, they are family.  I like having two dogs, so they can keep each other company when I have to be at work or go other places. 

My dogs are wonderful companions.  They are affectionate, silly and they make me laugh.  They also encourage me to be more active.  They are deliriously happy when I take them for walks, and it does me a lot of good as well.  I love my little dogs!

Now that my mom is back from Arizona, I also get to spend time with her dog, Abbie.  Abbie is a Yorkie.  My sister and I take turns visiting Mom and taking Abbie for walks.  Abbie knows how to give us the look that says, "When are we going for our walk?"  As you can tell from the photo above, she does not like having her picture taken.

The football playing dog pictured above is my sister's dog, Scout.  This picture was taken a couple years ago.  He loves it when he can get you to toss the football for him.  He is a senior dog now, and he can't get around as well as he used to.  We were broken hearted, when Jacci's dog, Boone, passed away a few months ago.

Boone

Please note that Chloe, Lola and Abbie are also very well dressed dogs.

1. I am grateful for our wonderful little dogs.
2. I am grateful for beautiful sunshiny days that let us walk the neighborhood.
3. I am grateful for the security these ferocious little dogs provide as they bark at everyone who dares walk down our street.

Guard dogs! 

Morning Time

Gratitude Day #7

This has been a very different week.  It was a week of testing at school.  In order to help out, I started work an hour earlier each day.  I usually start work at nine, whereas the rest of the staff begins by seven.  I have only been officially retired for four years (this June) but I have gotten spoiled. 

I am an early riser.  I rarely sleep later than 5:30.  Getting up is not the issue, getting out of the house is.  Most days I get up, and am showered and dressed before 6:00.  Then I make a pot of tea, and settle into the den with my little dogs.  I use this time to journal, plan my day, pet my pups or just stare into the fireplace.  It's fake fire, but it's still very comforting.  It is a great time to sort out emotions, think about events going on in my life, and set my priorities.  It helps me begin my day more centered and calm.  I am extremely grateful to have that time in the morning.

I first got into writing my "Morning Pages" when I read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.  I have probably been doing it for the past twenty years, not every day, but most days.  It really helps me.  If you have never read her work, I highly recommend it.  I also enjoy her poetry. 

Tomorrow is Friday.  I don't work on Fridays, so I can even stay in my pajamas to enjoy my morning time and write my Morning Pages.  Another benefit of working part time.

1. I am grateful for the flexibility of having quiet morning time at home.
2. I am grateful for my comfortable home.
3. I am grateful for the gift of writing.  and
4. I am grateful for my fake fireplace.

Beauty and Tenacity

Gratitude Day #6

It was a harsh winter!  There was lots of snow and lots of cold, and it seemed like it would never end.  When everything was frozen and buried in snow, it was hard to imagine that we would see green grass and flowers again.  For this reason I was a little concerned that the Autumn Radiance Maple tree I planted last spring would survive these cold temperatures.  It is exciting to see the branches beginning to produce little buds.

I was also concerned about the lilac hedge that borders my driveway.  It had become badly overgrown, so last October I had it cut way back to about a third of its height.  It was late in the season, so I worried that this drastic pruning might have been too much of a shock for it to recover.  I won't have lilacs this year, but I was happy and relieved to see it beginning to leaf out.

With each day that goes by, plants begin to sprout, the grass becomes greener, and flowers begin to bloom.  The gorgeous flowers above are blooming in my neighbor's flower bed.  While I like to garden, I tend to lose interest by the time fall comes, when I should be planting daffodils, crocus, and tulips.  Maybe this year I can build the strength and tenacity to get that done.

1. I am grateful for the beauty that surrounds us.
2. I am grateful for the tenacity of nature and people that makes us grow and thrive.
3. I am grateful for the renewal of spring.

Spring

This is little Abbie.  We went for a walk today.  Don't tell Chloe and Lola!

Gratitude Day #5

Spring brings warmer temperatures, freedom, hope, and growth.  It is so wonderful to feel the sunshine on  my face, and to be able to spend time comfortably outside.  It means I can go out and walk.  It is a time to begin planning my garden. Right now I even have the windows open, so I can feel the breeze gently blowing into the house.

It also means my mom and her dog, Abbie come home from Arizona. My sister, Jacci, flew to Arizona and drove Mom and Abbie home last week.  I am so grateful for my sister and her kindness.

The seeds that I planted under the grow lights are already sprouting.  They will be ready to move outside five or six weeks from now.  That's where the hope comes in. Hope for more beautiful weather, fertile ground, plants growing, and flowers blooming.  I love spring!

1. I am grateful for sunshine and spring breezes.
2. I am grateful to have Mom and Abbie back home.
3. I am so grateful for my sister, Jacci.

Good Friends

Gratitude Day #4

I am very blessed to have good friends in my life.  As we share our stories and time together, my life is made so much richer.  Today was a day that I was really reminded of that. This morning my friend and neighbor, Holly, helped my mom to get her taxes done.

Holly and her husband, Ken, have lived across the street from me for a long time, probably about 17 years.  We didn't really start getting to know each other until about six years ago when I was recovering from foot surgery, after fracturing my ankle and foot.  It was January, and our mailboxes are at the curb. There was no way I could get out there to get my mail.  Holly and Ken brought me my mail, cleared my driveway, and watched out for me.  I will never forget their kindness.  Since that time, we have shared lots of laughter, and become good friends, and we dog sit for each other.  Holly is Chloe and Lola's Fairy Dog Mother.  I am Fairy Dog Mother to their dogs, Frank and Fannie.  I am very very fortunate to have such wonderful friends and neighbors.

I spent the afternoon visiting my good friend, Nadine.  When we meet for lunch or coffee, it usually takes us a minimum of three to four hours.  We refer to them as our therapy sessions.  I have known Nadine since the beginning of my teaching career.  We taught together at Edmunds, and we have stayed good friends, even when we moved on to different schools and jobs.  In the 32 years we have known each other, we have supported each other through great happiness and huge losses.  We have laughed together and we have cried together.  She is more than a friend.  She is family.

1. I am grateful for the kindness of friends.

2. I am grateful and fortunate to have friends who listen to me and support me.

3. Best of all, I am so thankful to have friends to laugh with.  They bring great joy to my life.

Creativity

Gratitude Day #3

I am so grateful that God gave me the urge to be creative.  It brings me so much joy and I love it when I can create something that is useful. Early in the project, it can be frustrating, but in the end, more often than not, I look at what I have made and I feel surprised that this creation came from me.

My latest knitting project:   the pattern for this shawlette is called Hitchhiker.  I love color, so I always enjoy the opportunity to work with lots of beautiful colors and textures. You can never have too much yarn.

There is also a certain amount of danger involved.  My house is filled with yarn, knitting needles, rubber stamps, ink, art supplies, paper, beads, and lots more.  It is always tempting to add yarn, fabric, or whatever because you might use it for that next project.

Fortunately, I have been in a profession where there are many ways you can be creative, and it is one of the things I really enjoy about my AmeriCorps tutoring.  There are other jobs that pay better, but I like the fact that I can create a game for us to practice sight words, or use my photos in a power point, so we can discuss a book we are reading.  I enjoy coming up with the ideas, and I know the kids enjoy playing the games, and it makes learning more fun for them.

My sister, Jacci, taught me how to make this pin.  I need lots more practice with wrapping the wire, but the beads are beautiful, and fun to work with.  I was excited to see how it came out. I gave it to my daughter for Christmas along with the knitted shawl that is serving as background in this photo.

Whether it is knitting, learning to draw, or make jewelry, it is always an opportunity to learn, grow, and discover new things about yourself.  When you accomplish something new, you can't help but feel proud of yourself. 

1. I am grateful that I like to make things.
2. I am grateful that I am continually learning new things.
3. I am grateful that I have beautiful materials to work with.

Tea

Gratitude Day #2

I love tea, but I confess that I am a tea snob.  I started drinking Lipton instant tea when I was a kid. Since that time, I have become very picky.  I prefer only black tea, brewed, and I like only good teas.  I am a regular customer at Gong Fu Tea in the East Village.  When I am in Minneapolis, I always pay a visit to the TeaSource.  Lipton tea would never cross my lips these days.

In order to brew good tea, you need lots of tea paraphernalia; teapots, teaspoons, and good teacups.  I also have lots of metal canisters to hold my favorite teas.  Believe me I have way too much, but some of the cups bring back good memories.  I have picked up cups from trips I have taken, and places I have stayed.  My son, Michael, and his friend, Sergio, gave me teacups from Spain, where they both live. I visited Michael in Spain two years ago.   Last year, my daughter, Lisa, and I made a trip to the North Shore. I came back with a cup from the hotel, as well as a Starbucks mug for Minnesota.  In the fall,  my sister and I visited the Joselyn Art Museum in Omaha.  We grew up in Omaha, so I had to add a Nebraska mug to my collection.  When I drink from these cups, it brings back cherished memories of time spent with my family in beautiful places.

My sister and daughter share my love for tea.  We each like different kinds, but it is fun to share that love for tea.  We include trips to tea shops in the time we spend together.

1. I am grateful for tea

2. I am grateful for my family.

3. I am grateful for the memories of travel and time spent in beautiful places with people I love.

Choices

I am very fortunate to be at a point in my life where I get to make more choices about how I spend my time.  I can choose to work just part-time or not at all.  I get to choose what kind of work I want to do.  You don't always have those choices when you are younger and trying to support a family.  I am grateful for the opportunity to choose.

We had spring break two weeks ago.  I used that time as an opportunity to try my first activities at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  I assisted with a class called "Looking at Leaves".  We taught children how to use a microscope.  They made a slide with a bit of a leaf, and examined it.  It was really fun, and I learned a few things.

The next day I had a table where I taught children how to use a Chlorophyll meter to examine the amount of chlorophyll in leaves.  I had never seen an instrument like this, so it was fun to experiment with it and to show others how to use it.  It was fun to be in such a beautiful environment, and I felt very encouraged about volunteering there in the future. I am grateful that we have this beautiful garden in our community.

After helping at the Botanical Garden, I was inspired to come home and get seeds going for my own gardens.  While I have some flowers, I mostly like to grow vegetables.  So far I have two types of tomatoes planted, two kinds of peppers, both green and Anaheim, and some Kale.  I also have some marigolds started.  I am fortunate to have a big backyard.  I am really grateful that I will not be teaching summer school this year.  It will give me a lot more time to work on my garden, which hopefully means I will win the war with the weeds this year.

I saw this meme on Facebook from the Power of Positivity. 

I am going to give it a try. Day #1:

1. I am grateful for having choices about how I spend my time.
2. I am grateful for having the Des Moines Botanical Gardens in our community.
3. I am grateful that I have a home with a place to grow a garden of my own. 

The Des Moines Botanical Garden

This morning I went to a meeting about volunteering at the Des Moines Botanical Garden.  I am still working as an AmeriCorps reading tutor during the school year, but I will not be teaching summer school this year. I am so excited to have the time to be home, work on my garden, and just enjoy some free time.  It also is the perfect time to try some new things.  I am a gardener, so it seemed natural to explore working at the Des Moines Botanical Garden this summer.  I attended a meeting there in January, and I am amazed by all the different opportunities there are to volunteer there.  

It has been a difficult winter. It is bitter cold, and everything is encased in ice and snow.  It was really refreshing to be inside the Botanical Garden where it was warm and green.

I recently read the book, Retirement Reinvention by Robin Ryan.  That really got me thinking about pushing myself to try something new.  Not only is it a chance to help out, it is a great opportunity to learn something new. Instead of waiting until summer, I'm going to help with a couple activities during spring break. I'm always a little nervous to try something new, but I am also excited.

Another goal of mine is to get back to blogging.  This is my first post in almost two years.  I hope I can do better than that in the future.