New Streets

The sound of a very large motor starting brought me out of sleep last Monday, and from the bedroom window, I could see the shadows of an assortment of at least six huge vehicles, accentuated by scores of small yellow lights which dotted their outlines. One by one, they made their way up the road and around to the street outside our house. We were to be the starting point of the new road!

Bee-beeeep, bee-beeeep, bee-beep!!  Rumble, rumble, rumble, crash!! A dinosaur-like machine began to tear up, chew up, and spit out the asphalt street in front of our homes into truck after  colorful truck. A bright green one would fill, and drive away to be immediately replaced by another; shiny maroon or sky blue. Then a pair of yellow Bobcats worked in tandem, much like a broom and dustpan, to lift out huge black remaining chunks and carry them to waiting trucks for removal. In a matter of hours, every trace of blacktop was removed on "The West Side" of Las Brisas, leaving clean, packed dirt.

The next morning, before light as before, the behemoths came to life again, intent on refilling every dirt-packed spot with steaming hot asphalt. Each truck slowly rolled in perfect timing with the spreader, filling it from the top so it could distribute new paving from under its odd-looking mechanism. Men walked along, checking the depth of the load with probes as it poured from under the machine. And then the rolling began! Over and over until they were satisfied with the surface, the roller went back and forth. In cartoons, the Roadrunner often got caught under the roller and survived…huh uh!! Anything under that became flatter than an Saran Wrap!

Before nightfall, they were finished with our streets, and would begin the whole process again on the East side. It was noisy, it was smelly, we couldn't drive out, but it was so worth it! Our streets will be good for years to come.

One Thousand Gifts

On my birthday last year, my sister-in-law and brother gave me an empty journal with a picture of a violin on the front. Not being in the mood to write at the time, I put it aside and forgot about it. (sorry, Barb and Ron!) Then three months later, I joined a Bible study class, and was introduced to Ann Voscamp's book One Thousand Gifts. 

The premise of Ann's book, simply put, is to follow in her footsteps of chronicling  the many gifts from God which we receive day by day, even hour by hour, and thereby realize the goodness of God rather than the sadness or emptiness of life.  "Ingratitude was the fall - humanity's discontent with all that God freely gives."   Ann Voscamp kept paper and pen handy to record the gifts.  Grace, Thanksgiving, and Joy. 

Ann's first three gifts were such simple things:

1. Morning shadows across the old floors

2. Jam piled high on the toast

3. Cry of blue jay from high in the spruce

As members of this new study class, we were to begin writing the gifts or blessings we found each day. My leader wrote hers on Facebook, and I began to wonder where to keep mine.

As I looked at the cover of One Thousand Gifts, I realized the font seemed familiar and began to look at other books I had. There it was: Journal, the one with the violin on it! Under the picture was scripture; "Give thanks to the LORD for He is good! His mercy endures forever." I Cor. 16:34  A perfect place to begin. 

                                                     1. Fiery wisps of sunrise clouds

2. Dancing flames on my favorite candles

3. Hot coffee on my lips and tongue

One thousand seemed so far away back in January, but day by day I've put God's gifts around me down in ink. Here is a sampling, at random, of my recorded gifts:

   30. The Glorious Full Moon

  50. The coyote's call in dark canyons

  63. Dew drops sparkling in the sun

112. Enough flowers in the garden for a bouquet 
203. Air conditioners

  269. Walk on the beach

326. Seals on buoy, barking

454. Dead car battery gave me more time at home

530. Orioles every day

603. Super fun day in Los Angeles

691. Rafting on the Gallatin River

764. Sweet grapes (my latest entry)

I have quite a ways to go before I make it to 1,000, but have no doubt I will. God's grace is so abundant and ready to be recognized! The love of friends and family, water, dog eyes, colorful flowers, humming birds, the smell of bacon cooking...

Where Have All the Manners Gone?

During our short trip to Catalina, we had occasion to be confined in some fairly small places with a lot of people. The Catalina Flyer has rooms on board to seat perhaps a hundred in each, the restaurants we went to held sixty or so, and the hotel, while divided into many rooms, probably had a hundred guests. 

Now I'm aware that each person is capable of a range of sound from whisper level up to scream, and many levels in between. I know a variety of interactions; celebrated occasions,  conversations, even games played depending on the venue, go on ceaselessly in our lives. There are socially accepted behaviors in public, or there       used to be.

Hopefully, without sounding too archaic, I want to ask "Where HAVE all the manners gone? Perhaps as I get older, my nerves are shot, but three times on this trip, in three different places, some one or several people have shrieked so loudly as to actually scare me!  These people were in the confined, and formerly quiet places I mentioned, such as restaurants or on the boat. The occasion of a bridal shower, a bachelorette party, and a family game, all provided the sounding boards to decibels much higher than an airplane taking off. I know these people are excited, but what happened to civility and quiet joyfulness? Or parties in someone's living room? 

In every restaurant, there seemed to be one person, (sometimes two) who had the voice of a soccer announcer, who kept up an endless barrage of talk, usually about themselves. Could these be the same people who made noise until midnight, and let their children yell at each other at 6 a.m. in the hotel? 

On the street, some people screamed back and forth, others walked along conversing at the top of their lungs with someone on the other end of their phone. Small gangs walked three abreast, yelling at each other as if the Mississippi were between them. Actions speak louder than words when the mini-gang continues to walk straight at you on the sidewalk, obviously not caring if an older person has to fall off the curb or walk on wet grass. 

Finally, one word; DRIVERS. Enough said. Thanks for reading my rant.

Use, Recycle, Restore

I'm all about recycling, using up, and restoring useful items.  

I've saved plastic tomato containers, tubes from paper products, and matching cans, all in hopes of making something fun with my granddaughter when she's in a creative mood. If that mood doesn't come, then the recycling bin will get them, but never the trash.  Glass jars become vases for a tiny bouquet.

One thing I like to do is cut open plastic hand lotion tubes when not one more drop will squeeze out. I cut them horizontally in thirds, then cut again along the side in order to open up each section as needed. The sections stay in a Baggie until all the cream has been wiped out. There may be another three days worth of expensive product salvaged from an "empty" tube!

I love to crochet but invariably have yarn left over from a project. I have made doll blankets, a crazy, mixed-up blanket for a granddaughter, and scarves from the remnants..  

A few months ago, we decided to replace our down comforter because each section of fill was totally bunched up, leaving many areas of material only. Not warm or comforting at all. I put it in a large bag and meant to donate it. However, as I priced new bed coverings, another plan emerged. Rescuing the cast-off quilt from the car trunk, I laid it out on my work table, and began to restore it. Sixty sections of bunched up fill, one at a time, became smoothed out and secured by running stitches of strong thread. We slept under it again last night! 

In the garden I enjoy salvaging a geranium or succulent stem to put in water until I see new roots growing. Then I transplant it or put it in a pot for a gift for new neighbors or someone who needs some cheer. . 

 Benefits from saving, using up, and restoring, are the good feelings which come from saving a bit of money, creative thoughts and activities, and sometimes, opportunities to brighten someone's day.

Learning From Sweet Peas

 Since my last post, the sweet peas have begun to grow earnestly. We have had the perfect mix of sunshine and rain this week, gracing all the plants equally. I haven't done a thing except to check on their progress.

Many, many of the plants have decided to grow upward, their tiny tendrils holding fast to the strings of the net where I entwined them last week. A few, such as this lovely, white sweet pea, have continued their upward climb, clinging to the net with tiny tendrils, accepting the sun's gift, and bursting into fragrant bloom.  This one has  grown far above its fellows! 

Oddly enough, about a third of the plants have set their tendrils on to other plants which are also trying to grow skyward. Unfortunately, since the plants in this category haven't found the real support, they are leaning sideways.

And then there are the poor babies which worked their way out of the net and fell back to the ground to lie flat on the dirt. They are matted and small.

Growing among the sweet peas are some impostors; gorgeous little orange flowers, but obviously not sweet peas.  Don once said that the definition of a weed is anything growing where you don't want it or didn't plant it.

I'm still working on the analogies…children, students, people in general. The sunlight, water, and soil all must have their counterparts, and perhaps the reader has thought of his or her own.  Let me know your thoughts in comments below! Thanks.

Sweet Peas and Me

This is the second year here that we've planted sweet peas, those old-fashioned, fragrant climbers. The first year, I planted about twenty seeds from  a packet bought at the nursery, and wasn't too excited about the crop. There were only three colors, and never enough to cut a real bouquet for the house.

This year we've planted a great many more seeds in the same area at the base of a net. The net is for climbing, of course, if the plants send out those handy little tendrils designed to grab and hold. 

Yesterday I watered the row of sweet peas and was surprised to find all the plants growing enthusiastically, but more or less flat on the ground. The net on which the growing plants were supposed to grab and hold was in place, the sun was shining brightly, and water was doing its job. The tiny tendrils were seeking for places to hang onto, and some had twined around the plant next to them. However, since all were flat on the ground , the grasping and twining was getting them no where.

Kneeling down, I lifted the longest vines off the ground, and carefully wrapped them up around the first level of the netting. The shorter vines which had attached to them came up as well and left only a few stems still on the ground. 

Today when I checked, the tendrils of many plants were tightly grasping the strings of the net and were beginning their upward climb. The shorter ones were also up off the soil and doing better than when they were flat.

I know there's a great analogy here but may have to wait for a little more growth before it comes clear. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the growing process and do my part with water, pest control, and love.

Twenty-two Habits of Unhappy People

I read an article with a similar title this week. 

http://www.infobarrel.com/22_Habits_of_Unhappy_People

As I read it, not only did I agree with the premise of those habits being part of the problem of being unhappy, but Bible verses were coming to my mind that seemed relevant to each practice mentioned. I decided to put these verses in my blog. My blog has never been for the purpose of indoctrination or evangelism, and I usually leave Scripture out of it. However, this time I feel as though I want to point out the relevance of the Bible to this 21st Century problem of unhappiness.

None of us are happy all the time, and unfortunately, I have found myself taking part in a few of these practices, and can attest first-hand to the link to unhappiness. I have started with twelve of the twenty-two habits, and at least one Bible verse to go with each one. I'll get the other ten in my next blog. An amazing (to me anyway!) tech note: If you click on the blue or red scripture reference, it will take you to the Bible Gateway site!

Chronic Complaining -Jeremiah 30:19

From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers, and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honor, and they will not be disdained.

Retail Therapy - Philippians 4:12

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Binge Drinking - Proverbs 23:21

for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags

Worrying About the Future - Matthew 6:25

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Waiting for the Future - Matthew 6:34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Lack of Hobbies - Proverbs 31 

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

Eating Poorly - Leviticus 7:24

The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it.

Leviticus 11:9 - “‘Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales.

Leviticus 25:19 - Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety.

Talking Poorly of Others - Proverbs 11:13 - A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.  Proverbs 16:28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

Holding Grudges - 2 Corinthians 2:7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Leviticus 19:18  Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

Stop Learning - Job 34:4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. Proverbs 1:5  Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance

Not Following Through - James 1:4  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Hating Your Job - Ecclesiastes 9:10  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Tales of Snow and Cold - The Polar Vortex

Photo taken by Melissa Schrock in NY

This week, the Polar Vortex descended on our continent, causing the lowest temperatures on record in many places. This blog is entitled "Tales of Snow and Ice" because I haven't experienced any of this firsthand since we moved from Colorado when I was ten.  However, the effects of the vortex have caused our thermometers to drop as well. It is only 36 this morning  in sunny California.

I have many FaceBook friends who live in colder climates, and as their yards and cities began to get their new crystal garments, the young moms would gamely post the fun things they were doing with their families: happy snowmen, snow angels, skating, sledding, and even making Jello snow. Their photos were
breathtakingly beautiful of trees laden with ice, the sun bravely trying to shine though.

Photo taken by Melissa Schrock in NY

Posts last week weren't as jolly; "Shoveling snow is backbreaking work, especially when your husband is out of town and it's up to the woman to clear the drive so kids can go to school;"  "The power went out but we're huddling together to keep warm;" "We haven't left the house for days." 

Other results of this vortex have  sometimes been stunningly gorgeous. Pictures of the Niagara Falls with the water and spray frozen in place, forming an ice fall of epic proportions; a huge lighthouse on an eastern lake, so covered with ice, fantastically shaped icicles, and snow, that it resembled a majestic fantasy king from some alien, frozen land. (Lake Michigan)

However, the dangerous side of ice and snow has lurked and burst out in so many stories I've seen: Three Amtrak trains with 500 people on board got frozen to their tracks and were covered by blowing snow;  boats in rivers and harbors marooned, iced in; jack-knifing trucks sliding into traffic or off the road because of road conditions. Just yesterday, I heard from a friend whose car tires refused to grab hold in her own driveway, not just once, but twice in the same day because of blowing snow covering icy concrete.

Hopefully, this brutal weather pattern is on its way out. It has left behind a mess, but people who are made in the image of God, will pull together as they always do after a crisis, and warmth and healing will be on the land again.