Stain-glass Eyes

Main Street, Ann Arbor Everyone wants a little space. A little place, of their own. Each of us needs a little fort, to resort, to escaping. Outside Rundown Apartment  All humans require, and desire, some peace. Be it a tranquil cave, we crave, self-absorption. A Tranquil Porch Swing in the Shade A child will explode, with overload, of attention. My Great-Niece, Escaping to the Pots and Pans Adults secretly dream, of a quiet stream, to withdraw. Small Garden Plot Alongside Porch in Ann Arbor A few plants in a box, no clocks, for awhile. Miller Street Square Plot of Edibles A closed door, just to restore, our sanity. Then we maintain, and regain, our beehive existence.

Wounds Bound in Blue Punctured But NOT Defeated May 27, 2013 Dear Brother, Timothy, You stood up to the dragon.  I am so proud of you and am awe-struck. You brought your drill, cool level, and your box of tools ready to fight. But, as we all know, the dragon's power does not allow us to prepare for the ultimate battle. I'm glad we started the challenge with the stain-glass window, I made in Tennessee.  You didn't hesitate to climb over my balancing rock formations, use my little apartment step-stool, and lean on the windows ledge to get exact measurements for the job.  You weren't intimidated by the hooks I had  in my tool box, even if they were inadequate.  Who would have guessed, the wire supply I had, wouldn't hold up to the task.   I admired your style of combining the true measurement with "Eyeing it". You've...

Mary, Helping Me Hang Clothes Out I've been awhile in posting my blog.  My computer went on the blink and took some time to resolve.  Actually, some things will never be resolved, like the panic and dread I feel when I let myself think about my pictures, music and documents not being retrieved without huge expense.  My brother, Tim, convinced me to either use "Cloud" or an external drive to save my things.  That was about a month ago.  Thanks, Tim.  I had the plan, I just didn't put it into action! Confucious said, "By three methods we may learn wisdom:  First, by reflection, which is the noblest; Second, by imitation, which is the easiest; and Third by experience, which is the bitterest." My computer was repaired under warranty, with no cost to me.  Apple replaced the hard drive and my computer is as good as new. (they even cleaned the keyboard and the screen)   I didn't quit writing.  It's a part of my life.  I'v...

A Spot on My Shipwreck-Wood Floor Mantle I've been reading Calming the Emotional Storm , by Sheri Van Dijk, for a couple of weeks now.  The author suggests digesting the ideas and strategies piece by piece.  I am already noticing affects in how I start my morning, go back to sleep after a nightmare, even how I savor the taste of a glass of water from the refrigerator.  These are positive affects from practicing simple five minute exercises Dijk teaches in her book.  I'm learning. My counselor suggested I go to a bookstore, in Ann Arbor, and sit with a cup of tea and browse the selections on anxiety, until I see something I would like to work with.  She recommended a workbook-type book to learn some of the "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy" (CBT) information.  Hating "filling-in-the-space" as much as I do, I compromised and bought Dijk's book.  My counselor was pleased I chose a book to suit my personality.  I prefer to write, analyze, ...

My First-Grade Classroom Before Retirement It's a Saturday morning.  I'm in St. Ignace for a few days, visiting my mom.  I have an entirely different perspective on weekends, now I'm retired.  Sitting here in the morning looking out the window, savoring my second cup of coffee and watching the seagulls and crows argue over territory, is something I'm still getting adjusted to. I still have the urge to get going in the morning.  To "Begin".  But, I don't have to consider what day of the week it is.  I don't have to make a decision to work or play.  It has advantages, but it also can have a chaos about it.  Now that I'm resettled (and not homeless), I have some routines to establish for myself.  At the same time, I have to keep my life open and not establish a routine.   Homeless Man on Bench in Moda, Turkey I water my plants on Thursday, do the wash on Wednesday.  Write and read every day.  S...

I learned something new about my mother.  She knows about smart socks.  I knew there were smart phones, and smart heating systems, smart cars and smart kids, but not smart socks. We went to Petoskey, yesterday.  It was a sunny day and instead of cleaning out Mom's flower bed and being sore for a week, we decided to head for Petoskey.  We walked, window shopped and stopped in several stores.  We stopped in Russell's Shoe Store for the longest.  When Mom asked the lady at the shoe store, about their "smart" wool socks, it got my attention.  They're warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Mom, checking out the "Smart" socks      She tried on a pair of pretty shoes with polka dots, but she found a much more comfortable grey pair she purchased.  We stopped to get our picture taken at the Perry Hotel to show everyone we had class. (if they fall for it) Stylin' At the Perry...