Mother Nature's Cold Palette…..

Wisconsin is not suffering through the "storm of the century" that is hitting New England today. But we did have a very windy, cold day this week. With the wind blowing off the lake waves hit the breakwater and the shoreline and sent spray flying through the air. As a result Mother Nature left us with some beautiful sights to share.

Fenway and I walked along next to the marina and discovered the grass and bushes covered with ice. We went home and sent Dave out with his good camera. Every stalk, branch, stick was covered - with icicles dripping down - beautiful. Low clouds scudding across the grey waters - a winter palette for sure.

Just next to this area we have our resident flock of geese and ducks. It seems they are staying for the winter. So far the water behind the breakwater has offered them some protection and hasn't even frozen over. So we hear their soft quacks and squawks in the distance as we walk.

Unless you decide to take a camera, run at the flock just to see what will happen…..

I'm sure they settled back in after Dave came home, I'm glad he got the shot….but I bet they will watch us with some "suspicion" from now on whenever we walk by.

Walking Advertisement for Sunscreen……

I have fair skin. I don't tan, I burn.

When I was in grade school I loved to spend my summer days at the community swimming pool. My friends and I would gather there, splashing  and swimming about for HOURS. I would come home red.

In high school, once we could drive, we'd head for the beaches north of Chicago and park our towels in the high rent district of Winnetka or Kenilworth. Claim our patch of sand…..slather on the baby oil and BAKE. My friends would be brown as berries - I would be fried.

I would peel off sheets of skin as the burn faded and the outer layer began to flake away. Gross.

But in my defense, I don't think sunscreen had even been invented yet - and yes, at some point I remember buying Coppertone and using that. I still didn't get to be anything near a copper tone - more a shade of lobster.

I'm paying for it now. Trip to the skin doctor yesterday for an all over body check. Nothing that needed to be biopsied - so that's a good thing. But out came her "freezer" stick and zap - burning spot after spot all over my face. (She did ask if I was going to be having any photographs taken in the next few weeks before beginning the treatment.)

So now I'm beginning to look scabbier and scabbier. I'm toning it down a little with some make-up, but I am starting to get second looks as I move around the community.

Maybe I'll say it's measles.

The Goose That Owns the Sidewalk….

It was quite mild today so Fenway and I took off for a walk along the lake. For a short walk we make a small circle around the water filtration plant, along the water, back along the path bordered by woods and to the condo's parking lot. It doesn't take long, but it is enough for Fen to do his business, sniff around a bit and for me to stretch my legs.

The first thing I noticed were the colors on the lake. I don't take a good photograph with my little camera, but there were distinct color bands moving off toward the horizon and meeting additional sky hues. The "beige" is the color of the water after we've had a strong wind from the southeast…sand and who-knows-what churned up in the shallow water. Then a light turquoise color and then a band of a darker blue. Then the clouds and then the blue sky. And a few small "v's" of geese flying to the marsh just north of town. Lovely.

Fenway and I turned the corner to walk along the lakefront and he found his "friend" the solitary goose again. This time it was walking down the sidewalk in front of us…. not willing to give up much ground.

As we got closer it did walk up the snowbank and proceed along beside us. We got a bit too close and were greeted with a "hiss" but the goose stayed put so I kept Fenway on a tight leash and we just passed on by.

I do wonder why this one is so solitary. There are hundreds of geese in our little harbor. There are others gathered in rafts floating just off shore and others loudly heading north. And then there is this singleton…..Dave says it's because this is one crabby goose. I don't know…..maybe it's just a small town sort who prefers our park areas to the cold waters of Lake Michigan. Can't say as I blame it.

The Packer Nation……

Dave and I went to college in Wisconsin and as a family we've lived in and out of Wisconsin several times. So we are familiar with the Packers! However, Dave is a die-hard Patriots fan because he was born in Massachusetts and, frankly, I don't watch football. I don't own any green and gold but it's always fun to see everyone who is loud and proud on game days!

After our daughter graduated from college in West Virginia her first job brought her to the Quad Graphics' administrative training program here in Wisconsin. This program was designed to rotate college grads hired throughout all departments so they could learn all aspects of the business. I seem to remember they rotated every four months or so and Meg's first assignment was on the floor with the guys at the plant in Palmyra. She started in August and in September I got a phone call.

"Mom, have you heard of the Packers?"

"Ummmmm….yes!"

"Mom, have you ever seen a cheesehead?!"

"Ummmmm….yes!"

"Mom….these people are CRAZY!"

:-)  I think I advised her that she wasn't going to alter their enthusiasm so she should either join the crowd or just sort of smile and ignore it.

Today Dave watched the game, I took myself to the movie to see "Foxcatcher" and then stopped at the Piggly Wiggly with my shopping list. It was a GREAT day to go shopping. No one in the store so I got in and out quickly.

Got home in time to sit down and watch the last half of the 4th quarter. When I sat down the Pack was ahead…..within minutes the score changed drastically and now they are in overtime. Apparently I am bad luck. So I walked away to work on my blog and then start some dinner. Maybe the team will sense my "absence" and that will tip the day in their favor!

Go Pack! (Uh oh….I just heard a groan from the TV room.)

Oh well….Dave is now about to start watching the Patriot's game. I'm going to quilt.

Sure Cure for a Grey Day…..

The winter sun is hiding again - behind some very high, white all-encompassing clouds. Happily I have some fabric related projects in the works so I can counteract the grey outside with the color inside. Fabric and a favorite CD…..good medicine.

I have two memory bears to make - designed to comfort a family after the loss of a loved one. These bears will be fashioned out of two old, well worn sweatshirts….no doubt they will prompt a smile, maybe a few tears and give the family something to hug. You wouldn't think one of these bears could bring much comfort, but they do.

And then there are the baby quilts. My guild members make these for babies in the neonatal units at nearby hospitals. They are created for the tiniest babies confined to isolettes. We make them large enough to drape over the top in order to protect the baby from the harsh hospital lights, but small enough so that nurses and other caregivers can reach through the "holes" on the sides in order to care for these little ones.

We make these Love 'N Comfort quilts out of our scraps - the "unwanted" fabric from other projects. The left overs. But it's amazing, when you combine these strips of color all together, they end up being beautiful on their own. And we quilters are told over and over by the hospital staff that they really do brighten the baby's station, and bring comfort to the parents. These little bits of love go home with the family when the baby is discharged.

So I look at my fabric stash with new eyes. I don't toss the small pieces……I piece them together with love for an unknown baby, an unknown family and realize they even bring me comfort on a grey day!

But I Thought It Was Just A Pile of Dirt…..

It's been a bit warmer here in Port Washington….warm enough to take Fenway for slightly longer walks without him complaining that his little feet "hurt". On the really cold days he literally comes to a complete stop, lifts one paw after another and cries until you pick him up for a few minutes. So walks on those cold days are really short.

But now that we've been in the 20's+ and the wind is down and the sun has been out, some of our walking areas are much clearer. You can see the pavement and avoid any icy spots.

As we walk along there are some areas where the snow plows left behind small piles of dirt or scrapings from grassy areas. Fenway always stops to sniff these with great interest and usually pauses to leave his mark. So that's what we expected when, at the end of his leash, he pranced toward a big black/brown clot of "dirt" clumped at the edge of the sidewalk along the lake. He sniffed it…..and the clump stood up. It was a goose. It was a goose that had been enjoying a nap until Fenway so rudely sniffed it's tail feathers.

It was now a very unhappy goose that refused to budge from the sidewalk even with Fenway's posturing and barking. The goose was hissing to let us know, in no uncertain terms, that we needed to change our route.

I couldn't help but laugh, Fenway couldn't help but pull on his leash and bark, and the goose couldn't help but hiss. So the goose won….we turned around and went the other way. I know Fen thinks he would have won any battle with that noisy bird….but I'm not so sure. An angry goose can be quite formidable and I'd hate to see Fenway with a big scab on the end of his little black nose.

Did I Bring Enough Kleenex?

It's Monday and a beautiful sunny day here in Wisconsin. It's still cold, but the wind is down and the temperature up a bit so it's not nearly as bitter as it was last week. Blue sky, sunshine on Lake Michigan  and reflecting off the snow - so it really is a beautiful day.

And we're heading out the door to a memorial service. To celebrate the life of one of our best friends. He died last week but the gathering is today. I know that people have flown in from across the country and many more are getting into cars to make their way to the church in Milwaukee.  I know we will see a few people we know, many that we don't and I know that this day gives us yet another chance to hug his family and tell them how very sorry we are. And I'm glad it's a beautiful day - for their sake.

An email went out early in the week that all his "guy" friends were to bring an old t-shirt. Not quite sure what is planned, but we were happy to see that something unique will be part of this celebration of a very special life.

I'm sure there will be stories, I know there will be laughter, I also know there will be lumps in throats and tears for many. So I wonder - did I bring enough Kleenex?

Starting and Ending With a Phone Call….

It started with a telephone call on December 14th…..and ended with another phone call this morning. Our dear friend, a kind, loving, funny, warm, friendly man died today. Sadly his heart just gave out.

While we are not sure of just all that happened to him during the past four weeks, I know he battled multiple infections, a surgical wound that just wouldn't heal, difficulty eating and shortness of breath. It was just like deadly dominoes - one thing after another.

He was in good spirits when we visited him on January 2nd. But he was back in the hospital (after a trip home for a few days at Christmas) and you could tell that he was tired of all this. A short conversation, a few smiles and some laughter - hugs for his wife and for him and then we left.

And now he's gone. It just seems so very unreal to both of us. Dave considered him his best friend and they certainly had many fun times together. And as couples we also shared many fun times - a trip to the movies, or a night out for dinner, or a game of dominoes at our dining room table or theirs. It was "just" a good friendship….one that began years ago when we all lived in Oconomowoc and our kids were little. One that re-started after we moved back to Milwaukee and "found" them again. One that will not be replaced.

The guys enjoyed lunch "meetings" at different Milwaukee area restaurants on a hunt to find the best Reuben sandwich, two guys had additional meetings for breakfast and probably a lot of "off color" jokes. There were several fishing trips to Canada together, toasts with a glass of Jack Daniels… none of that will continue.

But oh the memories will continue …. and there will be smiles. While in tears this afternoon Dave said "Damn….the next time it was his turn to pick up the tab!" Tears, smiles, memories and hugs…..that will get us through and, in time, I hope bring comfort to his family.

Saying goodbye is never, ever easy. Even when you sort of "expect" it.  No one expected this.

Something Missing…..or Let's Just Start Over

7:00 a.m. - time to crawl out of my nice warm bed and walk the dog. Find Fenway, get him to put on his sweater, attach the leash, find my jacket, hat, gloves, building key and plastic bag to pick up any "business" Fenway deposits.

Out into the hall and down in the elevator and out the door into a gale - and more snow. Only about two inches, so everything looks nice and fresh and I didn't even feel the wind until we walked out from the shelter of the condo and turned up the path. Sheesh…..the gusts must be over 20 mph.

Fenway is NOT a winter dog…..in fact he HATES to put his feet in the snow. This can cause difficulty when it's time to go out. Those sad eyes just look at me like "Really? You are going to MAKE me go OUT there?" Yep.  No alternative here buddy.

So we brave the wind and walk for about a block and he pees on everything in sight - but that's it for the early morning excursion. So back we go, off with all the winter gear and he meets me in the kitchen happily waiting for breakfast.

Yawn….fix dog food and fill up the coffee maker and wait for the beep that signals I can have my first cup. Grab my cup from the cupboard and turn around - hmmmm….that coffee looks very weak. In fact it looks like clear water.

Ahh…….I put the filter in, added the water, pushed the start button. Just forgot to add coffee.

I think I'll go back to bed.

Moments…..

We've tossed out the old calendar and here we are in 2015 - with a lot of "blank space" ahead of us. A new year to fill….day by day. When New Year's Day hits I think a lot of people look back at the past year and spend at least a little time thinking about the new one ahead. I do.

And, since we've recently celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary, I've also been thinking about our marriage…..our family life together. While walking the dog yesterday it occurred to me that our 47 years together are a reflection of zillions of small moments.

Some very fun moments filled with laughter. Some very happy moments….fewer sad ones. Many moments filled with adventure and explorations. Some irritated moments, some angry moments….. some passionate moments. Mostly loving moments.

But if I'm really honest I see that most moments over those 47 years were just pretty "normal". Just sort of every-day moments. Nothing too memorable….just comfortable and regular. Take-it-for-granted nice moments. Nothing too high….nothing too low. Just moments…..but those moments provided the building blocks for a long history of a marriage.

So I'll take the memory of all those moments….and look forward to all of the many fun/happy/exciting/sad/quiet/loving/frustrating/every-day moments that will combine to make 2015 - and that we can look back at when we celebrate our 48th!