Ordinary Life

In case you're wondering, 160ish pecans collected in a park from one's distant memories equals roughly 2cups of shelled pecans after taxes, duds. and the quality control efforts of a junior chef supervising the making of pie. pie. Another helpful tip you may want to tuck away for future reference: in a pinch, kitchen tongs can double as a nutcracker.  Things I've taken for granted:  every pecan in every pie, ever proper kitchen tools #TakenForGranted #ThinksGiving #Thankful

Had I not found the old park, it may have been possible to convince me I'd dreamed it. Just beyond the canal, I found the sturdy wood-beam and rubber-tire playground equipment situated  below the factory road in an area known to locals as 'The Valley', right where my memory said it ought to be. Being a Valley Girl in these parts is not synonymous with wealth or privilege- in fact, it tends toward the opposite pole. The pleasures there are simple and more affordable to come by. As a young mom, I went a stretch of time without a car, so when I finally had a way to get around, going to the playground was one of my simple pleasures. This particular park was an especial luxury- its peaceful setting at least five miles from our Valley house- much further than I could push strollers and haul babies. As Rye explored the park broken in for her so many years ago by her siblings, I walked the track that circles the park. On the foot path in front of me sat a lone peca...

Whew! Finding the FiveStar with only fumes in the tank.  Things I've taken for granted: gas stations everywhere GPS navigation #TakenForGranted #ThinksGiving #Thankful

Ah, the simple joy of freely drinking. Things I've taken for granted: water fountains #TakenForGranted #ThinksGiving #Thankful

 "COMMON SENSE AND A SENSE OF HUMOR ARE THE SAME THING, MOVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. A SENSE OF HUMOR IS JUST COMMON SENSE, DANCING." ~ CLIVE JAMES  

“Reader, you must know that an interesting fate (sometimes involving rats, sometimes not) awaits almost everyone, mouse or man, who does not conform.”  ―  Kate DiCamillo,  Despereaux   ' It is a good rule in life never to apologize. The right sort of people do not want apologies, and the wrong sort take a mean advantage of them.'  P. G. Wodehouse On Tuesday, I will apologize.  To the sort of people who demand apologies and invite the press.  I will apologize for being too Public School for their Christian School sensibilities. And I will do it because... I've learned to walk away.  I will say the words they want to hear - cry "Uncle!"  to bring them cheer. As they smile with smug delight, I'm walking away and I'll be alright.  "Look what we made you do! We finally got the best of you. "  Truth is, they already had the best of me, but I ?  I was chunking pearls at swine.  ** Special thanks to the mid-90's-Newsboys  for...

While the term veteran is used almost exclusively for military personnel, it also attributes the meaning of experience and serving for a long time.  We will observe Veteran's Day this week.  I have recently been working on various writing projects and in response to having this blog over-cautiously blocked on social media during the recent presidential election season ( I didn't post anything political, revenue based or fake- it was bizarre) I started publishing my bloggety-thoughts in a new 'journal'  I may come back to this blog some time later, if only to create a main directory of where to find me on various platforms, and I will leave my posts in tact as an archive, and to link back to as my writing leads,  but it seems fitting for fresh chapters to be written on blank pages.  So, without further adieu ( and though I still have some formatting to do) ... I invite you to join me on  TumbleDown Mountain . 

 I'm writing (and posting this) in November. And to let you in on a little secret, some of these posts have been sitting as drafts for months.  What started out as a fun way to prompt posts turned into an in-depth and sometimes heart-wrenching journey into the lands of Before.  I've cried. I don't do that a lot and I admit it even less... but I am human and will not rust... it is best to tell other humans about occasional leakage so they do not feel defective should they leak, too. I've wanted to vomit - the after-taste of Supposed To Be overpowering me,  until with a deep breath I remember and admit that even these sweet memories hid pits onlookers cannot see. Oh, but I have smiled a whole lot, too. Thankful - so thankful-  for all -every last drop- of it. Life is busy and there are still new ropes I'm learning to climb. I've been writing new chapters and keeping my thoughts in a fresh new journal of a blog, too. So, here's to December and a decade gone by....

 On November 1, my little boy bluegrass, Fisher,  turned eight.                                               On November 2, baby bird Riley Wren was born.  That was another time entirely.  Pretty soon, the technology that fuels her birth announcement will fade with the memories they share... until then, you can view it here:  Riley Wren  ..our lives are made In these small hours These little wonders These twists and turns of fate Time falls away But these small hours These small hours still remain All of my regret Will wash away some how But I cannot forget The way I feel right now... …   (from the page)  It is no secret to many of you that for the past few years our family has been 'Under Construction'. We have been blessed to watch God repair and heal what we broke. Many of you watched as we climbed the mou...