Visits to Poland

  My brother's family will be visiting Poland this month to see some ancestral sites. I was there in 1998 and have many memories which I will try to share. Firstly, a visit to my Great-Grandfather's village Nimmersatt, which is adjacent to two other villages, Streckenbach and the larger one, Ketschdorf, now Kaczarow, Poland. Find more here………..

Oh My, Blackberry Pie

     My house is a bit crazy this week. Amongst the usual smattering of piano students I have my grandchildren back on board, meaning living with us, and we have colds. We share all things in such close quarters and that is good, in most instances. On the good side is the blackberry pie that The Teacher Son made with Emmaline. For the next few weeks, blackberries will be available on a branch near you. 

   First you have to pick them. This entails some scratches and if you are unlucky a nice stinging from the nettles.

                             Then comes the mixing and measuring, along with the sampling.

    At last the time comes to cut into the fresh, piping hot pie. Or, if the pie is baked too late in the day it can be enjoyed in the morning. I don't recommend putting the steaming pie in the freezer as someone, who will remain anonymous, attempted.
    And lastly, a bit of grandmotherly advice to parents with young children. Really, bottom line, having children is unmanageable. I use this word manage with the definition; to maintain control of. You can pretend you have control but don't be naive. At best we supervise the process of growing up. A happy supervisor knows how to laugh and cry "uncle" when they have you pinned to the floor.

What Is Up In The Garden?

                       Here are some things whichI have in my garden which are remarkable.

                Deep Red Impatiens

Tiger Lilys

New Babies

       I have heard these two crying for their mother.

What's For Dinner?

The Summer Day

Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Book of Mormon Summer- Mosiah 1-18

        There are stories in the Book of Mormon that have strong images. I can visualize them and it is such a joy to try to capture them on paper. Even though they seem cartoonish I am strengthened by the process of drawing.

     One of those stories is the gathering of King Benjamin's people. Truly their desires changed history as they made covenants talked about for years after.

 

    Mosiah 2:5 "And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another.

6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;"

   Meanwhile, back in the Land of Lehi-Nephi, another great story unfolds with King Noah reigning in unrighteousness. As tragic as the account of Abinadi is, the miracle of a listening Alma is unsurpassed in miracles.

    Mosiah 17:2 "But there was one among them whose name was Alma, he also being a descendant of Nephi. And he was a young man, and he believed the words which Abinadi had spoken, for he knew concerning the iniquity which Abinadi had testified against them; therefore he began to plead with the king that he would not be angry with Abinadi, but suffer that he might depart in peace."
    This misguided Alma makes such an amazing turn-around and I love visualizing the Waters of Mormon where his followers receive their covenants and continue their spiritual journey.

   

    Mosiah 18:16 "And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God. And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church."

   What a book! Read it again and again. It never gets old, to me.
Here are 8X5 versions of my illustrations to copy.
Heres are more thoughts on this block of scripture.

Strawberry Days

For me, the Strawberry Festival makes the half-way through summer mark. I love taking pictures of the color and shapes in the parade.

            This year the Scot's came along and added Bag Pipes to the mix of sound. A good parade always has Pipers.

       Unique to our community is The Thriftway Drill Team. We have an emeritus member in our own family.

      The highlights are the Grands who wave and appreciate the cheers. Miss Maggie has appeared in several Shakespeare plays this year and walked in the Midsummer Night group.

              The Sawbones float is important to my community since so many are employed there.

                                    The Moonbeam is still small enough to pull through the parade.

           Drill Teams get cuter and cuter every year. This year the Garden Club Drill Team was my personal favorite.

                    Would you give a singing telegram? The WSF will deliver and make someone smile.

                                       The Pony Club is always horsing around in the line-up.

          I saw this business last year and thought these coops were terrific. What a great idea for a second home.

                         The winner of the "statement award" was the genetically modified corn cob. 

                Last, but not least, was the solar powered bike. It is, hands down, the better solution.

                                                           Last year's pictures are here.

Pencil And Paper

   I have taken pencils and paper lately, not to write words, but to record images. I draw now and then and this is now. Drawing is to seeing what music is to hearing. Artists use a way of seeing that is not perceptual. They don't draw what they know is a "hand", they draw the lines and curves and the negative space around the "hand". Magically, that then becomes a hand. I copy what I see and start the drawing with the picture upside down. This keeps my brain from interfering with instructions on what to draw. Since the model is on it's head I am left to look at shapes and relationships.

     When I draw from real life I find it is difficult to talk people into standing on their heads while I draw them. I am limited and not "really good". But that is okay. My father was an artist and we sometimes made fun of his drawings, noting his mistakes. Now I look at his renderings differently. I ponder his subjects, his perspective, and his emotions just under the surface of the sketch. It tells his story and I like remembering him.

On Fisher Pond

    There is a certain etiquette on the forest trails that children learn and then teach each other. Having a quiet mind and observant eyes are essential. Yesterday we introduced two new cousins to Fisher Pond.  

         The water-lilies cover the pond in the summer but at water's edge life is teeming just under the surface. The fish and water skeeters reveal themselves only if you wait and watch.

Along the trail we stop and chat quietly. We listen for birds and ducks, we see various shapes and sizes of pinecones, and we discuss what berries are edible. The new cousins need to learn the facts of life on the trail.

       If you go into nature regularly the discoveries are endless. But it is also fun to run like mad down the trail and stay in front of the group. Come on Grandma, keep up!