Best of Friends: The Sheriff and Deputy

Kit giving McDuff a hero's welcome when he returned from the vet.

McDuff is the senior member of our cat family. We have recently observed changes in McDuff that causes concern about his health. It was time for his yearly check-up so he was loaded into the car carrier then off to the vet on Monday. He is ten years old, but after an exam and blood work the vet found nothing wrong with McDuff. We know his teeth need cleaning so his dental health may have led to some lack of appetite and energy. He will soon go back to get those cleaned. When McDuff returned home Monday he got a rock star's welcome. Kit, the Deputy was so happy for Sheriff  McDuff to return home.  That seemed to cheer McDuff up. He is beginning to seem more like his same old self.

McDuff has always been a mentor for Kit since Kit showed up on our property in a tree a few years ago. The two cats guard the place from strays and keep the riff raff away. They certainly are the best of friends.

Best Way to Grow a Fire

How many fires do we put out in a day? Sometimes it depends on what "hat" we are wearing or what events are playing out around us. Today a neighbor wearing his homeowner hat shared the woes of dropping foundations and leaks as we discussed the weather.  Wearing my teacher hat today  it was missing papers, lost books, and hurt students that sparked the fires.  Being finals week one student was burning the candle at both ends finishing up projects, studying for tests, and trying to stay awake. Another one was trying to balance completing the semester after missing a week of school from illness.

Each of us needs a fire that fuels our causes, our responsibilities, our passions. How do we build a fire that doesn't burn the property down?  How do we balance what it takes to build a fire while paying attention to space? This poem reminded me tonight of that careful balancing act we all play as we put out and grow fires in our lives. Enjoy.


Fire
What makes a fire burn
is space between the logs,
a breathing space.
Too much of a good thing,
too many logs
packed in too tight
can douse the flames
almost as surely
as a pail of water would.

So building fires
requires attention
to the spaces in between,
as much as to the wood.

When we are able to build
open spaces
in the same way
we have learned
to pile on the logs,
then we can come to see how
it is fuel, and absence of the fuel
together, that make fire possible.

We only need to lay a log
lightly from time to time.
A fire
grows
simply because the space is there,
with openings
in which the flame
that knows just how it wants to burn
can find its way.

-Judy Brown

Best Dam Built In Martin Creek

 

I may have mentioned already that we had problems when an unbelievable amount of rain fell last week on an ice rink we usually call our driveway. The water couldn't seep into the ground and had nowhere to go. When I was finally home in the light and could survey the situation I was surprised at how much water had built up on the walkways leaving the driveway. Above is a picture of our skating rink driveway.

Here you can see the brick walkway underneath the frozen ice. Wouldn't you know that the weeds are still alive and well under that ice? The water had nowhere to go and began heading under the door.

Using wood,dirt, and sand JEJ was able to build a dam to hold back the water that washed over the ice.

Annie is up on the rock wall here checking out the damage with me. Fortunately it was only water. The  rugs hanging on the fence are even dry now. I will be curious to see what the weather brings this week.

Best Feeling This Month: Decluttering

Yesterday I needed to take a break from studying and began doing a small decluttering project. One cupboard led to a few shelves, led to my holiday tubs, and then the dish cupboards. By the end of the day I ran out of boxes. It feels good knowing I can donate some of my treasures to the thrift shop where someone else can enjoy them. I am relieved that some things are just going to the dump. I am ecstatic that some drawers, shelves, and cupboards are organized and looking all fresh and simplified. Ahhh.... what a good feeling. Now I think I will reward myself with a homemade brownie. Thank goodness I saved at least one good baking pan when I decluttered.

"People must be able to cut a knot, for everything cannot be untied; they must know how to disengage what is essential from the detail in which it is enwrapped,for everything cannot be equally considered; in a word, they must be able to simplify their duties, their business, and their lives."    -Henri Frederic Amiel

JEJ's biggest fear on days like today!

Best Place In The World to Live

Over coffee and tea this morning JEJ and I were discussing lists that always pop up pointing out best places to live, best places to retire, best places to vacation, on and on.  My husband is a very wise man. As he gazed out the window at our beautiful morning view he said, "This is the best place in the world to live... right here." I couldn't agree more. Here are ten reasons why:

 

It is very quiet where we live.

 

We have a long growing season. 

We are very secluded.

We live very close to our church. 

Lilacs grow very well here!

 

We get to enjoy four seasons.

 

Flowers love our climate. 

We are close to places the dogs can run and swim.

 

We experience lovely sunrises.

We are close to great walking trails.

Shhhh.... don't tell anybody about our beautiful corner of the Inland Empire. We like to keep it quiet around here!

Best Shots of Morning Fog

When I left the house today I was enveloped in a gray fog. I stopped along the way and grabbed my camera, hoping to get some shots of the lake in the fog. What surprised me was the blue tint that came through in the pictures. I like the soft shades of blue contrasting with the dark shapes. I captured these images of the fog when stopping by trees as I drove along the county road. I don't think the fog lifted until afternoon. It softened the images of dirty snow and lakes of water out my classroom window.