Late night musings

It's always a dangerous thing to records one's thoughts from late at night. Things rarely seem the same in the morning (example from Priscilla's blog which apparently I am not heeding...) but I venture to write anyway.

I thought about starting a blog for a long time before I actually did the deed. The very thought of an on-line journal seemed full of pitfalls to me. How safe could it be to record my musings for anyone to read? My thoughts confuse me sometimes - how could others look behind my words to my heart? So I read the blogs of others and saw how it could be done. Some were so deep and provocative that I truly felt that I was intruding. Some were funny, some touching, some (frankly) boring. But the true thing was that these blogs created a connection between me and other people, most of whom I am related to and care about with passion. I search them out, I read them daily. Those of you who write blogs that I know about, thanks for sharing your lives out there where I can see them.

Something makes me hesitate to post, though, when life is mundane or I am down in the dumps. Like another blog I check daily, I like to entertain, to post interesting pictures. But right now, I'm stuck. Other's lives around me go on merrily and busily, new challenges, new ideas. And I'm in a holding pattern. I'm cynical, full of questions, when I care, and no one to ask.

So tomorrow I'll likely post pictures of the 12 quarts of salsa that Todd and I made today. I'll tell about the greenhouse that now has a beautiful clear roof, and the rain that's expected for two weeks. But tonight I'm putting the night thoughts out there. Because they're real too.

Fall Walk to Rest

So God has me doing this REST thing, which is pretty unfamiliar. But I'm giving it a try. Yesterday, in the spirit of cooperation with The Divine Deity, I took a walk. Well, a stroll. Down the driveway with Annie. Along the way...

I have been trying to get close enough for a good lizard picture forever, and it happened yesterday. Only this isn't one of our tame, charming blue-bellies, we call it an alligator lizard, after its huge jaws and agressive temperament. I don't think he felt that he needed to scurry out of my way - I would be scared to try to pick him up. He was right.

The label was accurate - Brandywine Heirloom Tomatoes take FOREVER to ripen. Here's the very first, on September 17th. Can't wait to try it though.

Poison oak is a beautiful plant, especially in the fall.

There must be some spiritual significance to that...

Here's the first of our sweet gum trees to start getting color. These guys have been babied and watered well this summer, and they are finishing the season looking good. I'm hoping for great red color. Next year we'll let them seek more of their own water.
Great Bible study today from James 4:13-17, on submitting to God's will in our lives. Full group, good discussion. As usual, we only got half way through the lesson. This study has taken a long time, but James is so rich in truth I feel like we could just start over and gain so much more.

I'm off to take Tyler to Tae Kwon Do - how in the world do you spell that? Todd bought a whole box of huge tomatoes for $5.00 at Kruse Farms, and I think tomorrow I'll process the ripest ones. Probably cook them down and freeze them for the winter. But I'll do it slowly, resting-like.

Sublime to Ridiculous to Courage to Closure

This was the view towards the south from my front porch this morning as the sun was coming up. I never get tired of the beauty around us here on the hill. Or, as Shirley calls it,

Wilson's Mountain!

Can you say From the Sublime to the Ridiculous?

Michael may be in 10th grade, but he still can't resist playing with a cardboard box!

I can't believe I didn't take my camera for Tyler's first Tae Kwon Do lesson. He did absolutely great for his first time, but he very nearly fainted, poor guy. He didn't know what, "Don't lock your knees" means! You never saw a person more lime green in your life. I mean, he had the tunnel vision and flashing lights and everything and he (amazingly) managed to stagger over to where Priscilla and I were cross-legged on the floor and did a manly job of holding it together! Then he got back up and rejoined the group! I was very impressed with son number three. Tough guy.

I had a "closure meeting" at church today with the lead pastor and the leader of women's ministries. I won't go into details, just that I was able to state the situation as I see it, we discussed and clarified so that no one was unsure where the others stood, everyone was heard, and I just felt good about it. It was a big-girl step for me. For now I still have some resting, processing time ahead.

Why We Don't Live in the Middle of the Country

It's the ocean. Even though we don't go to the beach often, I know it's there, available.

That's why.

Last Saturday our electricity went out. Not a surge, or a flicker. It was gone-zo, baby, from down south to up north, expected for hours. Todd (thank goodness someone in this house is spontaneous) said, "Let's go to Bandon. Let's spend the day at the beach."

So we did. It was perfect, 60 degrees with the sun hot and the breeze crisp. Lunch at Subway, shopping after. Oh, yeah....

The colors! I can't get over the colors.

Boys. Large, really large rocks. Must climb.