Life happens when you're not looking!

It is the beginning of a brand new year already!

When last we visited I was just back from the Mini-apple and preparing for a family reunion in September on the prairie. Needless to say, many things have happened, come and gone, transpired and taken their toll!!

Reunion was a food fest! There were dishes from the past, reminiscent my grandmother's faire and of course contemporary favorites so the young people would join us for meals. It was fun to catch up and to share with family. We kicked off with breakfast on Saturday morning and brought things to a close around the fire ring with a few refreshments. In between we had a family history trivia game, fun in the park and lots of catching up with pictures. A Family Cookbook was created from contributions from family members, young and old and it was a crowd pleaser.

Sister Barbara drew a wonderful family tree, with all the names from beginning in Europe to the plains and prairies of North Dakota. It graced a delicious cake and prints were available to family members.

The time to say good bye and it seemed the weekend had just begun. Time flies in the presence of good company! Of course as everyone left we vowed not leave so much time go by before we do this again! Spring of 2012! :)

Mid September my youngest moved to ND, following his 2 older brothers, who while not living here permanently, are working in the western oil patch. The oldest of the boys said, "It's a nice place to visit, but I could never live there! Where would I fish?" I will settle for the visits! :)

The last quarter of the year came and went with it's holidays and festivities, but I was otherwise occupied with the past creeping into my present. Don't you just hate it when that happens! :( Thanksgiving, Christmas and the ending of a whirlwind year came and went with just a murmur.

2012 is going to be the year! Live well, love deeply, be happy, and share the joy!

Until next time . . .

July Heat Wave

Greetings from the road!
Well its been a long time since I sat down in front of the screen to do some updating. What a month its has been. I thought I was traveling in the tropics, not the midwest. I actually found myself thinking of snowfall and the cool flakes on my face in mid-December. What!!! It was the heat that drove me to the snow vision. In January I am going to try to recall that vision of 100 degrees - 82% dewpoint to keep me warm on the prairie!

Still on the road and working my way back to the prairie. Zak seems a little weary of travel and a bit homesick for his own yard and seeing his furry friend Toby, as well as his good buddys next door. He is quite the little trooper though, living out of a napsak and drinking bottled water. Loves the car ride, but not crazy about all the new rules in the lodging choices we have had. He really liked getting re-acquainted with his old housemate, Buddee. It seemed as only a day or so had passed since they had seen each other instead the year plus it has been.

It has been fun visiting with family and friends. BUT it will be great to get back to the old homestead. Zak is more than ready to run laps in his own yard and I could use a nice summer evening on the old porch swing with a cool beverage to keep me company. Then of course there is the unpacking and all that goes with that. Oh well, small price to pay for a month of fun! Well mostly fun . . .

Time to start getting serious about the upcoming family reunion. There are a few loose ends to get tied up, then wait for the families to arrive. Update to follow in a new posting.

Remember those less fortunate and invest in RAK, the return for paying it forward is priceless!

Carpe Diem!

Back to the MinneApple!

Zak and I made the trip to MN with blue skies and big fluffy clouds and NO raindrops! I was impressed! Zak is a great traveler for a furry kid, even though we made several detours before actually landing at Sean's in MN.

I have done nothing but visit with old friends, meet a few new ones and shop since I got here. Oh yeah there has been some domestic things I have assisted Sean with at his place. Bachelors!! I am using his place as home-base while I am here.

Zak, Buddy and I have been getting re-acquainted. Buddy is Sean's Manx and is a one man cat. He is almost as big as Zak and I have been trying to get pictures when they are together, but so far they are not cooperating. The minute I pick up the camera they find something else to do, somewhere else to do it. Even though a year has passed Zak and Buddy remembered each other and spend time playing with each other.

The upcoming weekend is going to be busy in this neck of the woods. July 2nd my oldest son and his wife will celebrate their anniversary, July 3rd is my youngest son's birthday and then of course Independence Day on the 4th, grilling, cold brews and good company. Sounds like a full weekend of fun!

While I have been lounging on vacation I have been watching the flood news from ND and NE with anticipation of good news. The news is that in both states it will take a long time to recover. I spoke with my sister and she said the little town Sawyer, ND just east of Minot is under water. The town is under water!

Please remember the families and businesses of this disaster worn area and use this site to donate www.moneyforminot.com . This site is a collaboration of the Red Cross and the area media to help those affected by the flood of 2011.

Remember to pay it forward and invest in RAK!

Carpe Diem!

Is it summer yet?

I know officially summer has arrived this afternoon, but here on the prairie we are too distracted by all the water that just keeps coming out of the heavens, flowing down from Canada or just springing from underground aquifers. The latest casualties of the "waterworld" covering this state, is Minot. The news conference this afternoon says that the water that will cover a large part of that community will be 9 feet higher than the flood of 1969, which tranlates into a lot of people losing their homes and business. Everyone is working feverishly to try to secure what they can before they are again, yes this us the 2nd time in a couple weeks, evacuated from the area. Words like catastrophic and historic are being used by the Corp of Engineers and it is hard to get my head around the event. The wild life and livestock that is being affected is wide spread. There are zoo animals that have been transported to MN to keep them safe.

As I prepare to leave for my visit to Minnesota myself, I wonder what will be here and will it be dry when I get back.

Keep the people of North Dakota in your prayers please!

Until the next chapter, keep the faith, remember those less fortunate and always pay it forward! Invest in RAK = Random Acts of Kindness, the dividends are worth it!

Carpe Diem

OMG!!! 12 inches of wet snow around my shins, some drifts covering my knees. I raised my fist to the sky with all the frustration of someone feeling sucker punched by spring. My mother says April is the cruelest month of all, because it teases us with spring-like weather and then drops winter on us when we have been lulled into thinking the flakes are gone.

Garden seeds ordered, days spent in light jackets, mud and puddles up to my armpits, I had made the transition, knowing that winter loves to do this.

MAY DAY has arrived with a blizzard! Just try to leave a basket of flakes on the doorstep in 60 mile an hour winds. Blowing snow, water covers the countryside for miles, roads are not passable.

Admittedly, there is a beautiful scene outside my window. But today I choose simply to trust the light, no matter the weather as a sure sign of things to come. Meanwhile while my little black dog reminds me of the continued joy of deep snow drifts and the beauty of four paws flying gracefully up and down , sometimes the whole dog disappearing only to surface like a dolphin, big toothy grin, tongue flying. And so it goes on the prairie.

My goodness, where did April and May go?! It is the last day of May and this is my first visit back to write! Many things have taken my time, my thoughts and my efforts in the past two months.

My thoughts have been in Minnesota a great deal in the past weeks. I guess it is a twinge of homesick for the old life, missing faces, missing activities and just generally the missing. Remember I am on the prairie and one can go a long way before one runs into another person to have an exchange with, or some days even care to.

In the past two months the state of North Dakota is being covered with water. As I type Minot is evacuating neighborhoods near the Souris River, Bismarck has done some evacuating, Devils Lake has increased in size and is engulfing the farmland around it. The livestock is in jeopardy, this has not been a good spring for calving, seeding or anything agricultural related and that of course will translate into higher prices for the consumer.

Why did I move here again? Even Zak does not show his usual enthusiasm when asked "Should we go outside?"

I will sign off for now in hopes that the next time Spring will get here before Summer!

I leave you with the thoughts sent to me by someone very special!

Heartsongs - I have found myself within music and have felt the abyss of it's absence. We must not allow our own songs to fade to silence. And we must allow ourselves to hear the music of others, enjoy what you've never heard before and inspire what has yet to be played. We all compose the symphony of life that we dance. Would anyone care to dance with me? - SPP

Pay it Forward! Remember those less fortunate and those affected by the ravages of nature this spring.

from the prairie

March 1, 2011! WOW!! I am feeling so very old today! I wrote a birthday card to my oldest son and realized he is 50 years old on the 4th of this month. That's a half century! OUCH!! And on the other hand he grew into such a nice, gentle man and has a beautiful family in spite of me. There is a force greater than myself that guided him.

Of course I have been wondering down memory lane since I dropped the b-day card in the mail. I was so young and had no idea what I was getting into as my tummy grew and my hormones were at war with me. I was supposed to be a junior in high school and I was preparing to be a mom. Thank goodness my mother lived near me at the time! Her help during those months up to the big event and then after we came home with the new addition, was so very valuable. Can you say guardian angel!

My first born is passionate about fishing and has been since he was old enough to hold a small little rod and stand at the end of the dock at his grandparents cabin on Borden Lake. He would catch little perch, little sunfish or whatever would come along and bite, then he would bring them up so proudly to the cabin and his grandmother would show him how to clean them and she would actually fix them for him to eat. He would be so excited that he caught what he was eating! Brings a smile to my heart to remember! He was maybe 3 years old. He has been fishing ever since, year round. Neither sleet, nor snow, nor wind or any other force can get in the way of his passion. And along the way while he was enjoying this passion he was learning! Learning where what fish was most likely to be, which lakes, which streams, rivers, boat or shore fishing, etc. He has become an expert and guide to others sharing his passion. He has passed the passion onto to his 2 sons and my heart goes out to my daughter-in-law, because she is outnumbered by the fishermen. Vacations and get-aways are usually planned around some kind of fishing trip. There is much more to this son of mine, but his love of the sport of fishing stands out.

On a more somber note, I am saying good-bye to a furry friend this weekend, with the help of my sister. This guy has been a part of my life for 14 years, when my youngest brought him home. Cute little fur ball with razor sharp claws, which he used often and with such accuracy. He has aged and with age comes ailments and his quality of life has been diminished by those ailments. I have agonized over what to do and along with council from my mother, mys sister and not least the vet, I have decided to end his suffering. It breaks my heart to let him go, we will meet again at the Rainbow Bridge!

So it is 3 weeks until SPRING! Can't tell it out here! -2 below is our air temp at noon. In fact one of the local merchants told me not to expect spring until about mid-May and then it will be under water this year! A little disheartening to hear we could have snow right up to June! I guess I will in by the fire until the snow is gone and there is a warm accent to the breeze that blows in my direction.

Farewell from the prairie and remember those less fortunate, always pay it forward!

Refections in matters of the heart

Here we are in the middle of heart month, so called for several good reasons. American Heart Association claims Feb as their "Go Red for Women" to draw attention to heart disease and women. I felt a little lonesome in my campaign to raise awareness on the prairie to this issue that is very dear to my heart. Everyone looked at me a little strangely when I offered them a little Red Dress sticker and some stats on the subject. Hm-m-m-m!


Of course there is St. Valentine and the day set aside for lovers and Hallmark and chocolates and florists and jewelers, etc. . . . Now I sent cute little Hoops & Yo Yo cards to my grand kids, but being a single person, I don't think too much about celebrating or spreading the love. In fact I heard on the radio this morning that if government offices don't close, it's not truly a holiday! I'll buy that! It is kinda in the same league as Ground Hog's day, also in Feb, but Hallmark hasn't put their "mark" on it yet! Could be past experiences, but the 14th of Feb makes me itch.

There is some good news! The weather man says our highs for the next week will be above 32 for a change a pace. Do you suppose the "ground hog" was right and spring is hiding just around the bend in the road. Boy I hope so! I love spring and all things melting . . . Of course the melting brings another nemesis to the fore front. Ice jams are everywhere! It seems its very contagious this year, be it private or business property, icicles are growing and growing. Reminds me of Dr. Zhivago!

Melting is also on the minds of those people living anywhere near water, rivers, creeks, lakes, puddles. The expectation is that a good portion of farm land, North Dakota as a whole, could be under water again this spring. The filling of sand bags has already started. Any of you see the movie Water World?



I love plotting and planning for spring and summer. I have caught a good case of spring fever and am planting seeds in house pots in preparation for planting outside sometime in mid May. Drawing plans for an arbor for the south deck in hopes of covering it with morning glories and sipping vino in the shade some time in August. 4 more weeks until spring arrives ! YAYEEEE!

Time for me to sign off the heart channel. Love the one you're with!

Remember
Acts of
Random
Kindness

Be happy and keep it real! Carpe Diem

Where did January go?

I have been meaning to post and always get distracted by something shiny and bright! And now it is the end of January 2011, oh my!



Like the rest of the country, it is br-r-r-r cold here on the prairie. Zak and I were out for a short jaunt last week and I snapped some pix of the snowflakes that joined us. Zak loves the snow for some reason. He runs, leaps, rolls, and plows with his nose. What a crazy pooch!



A view up the road! The wind was not blowing for a change and the snow was falling so gently, it reminded me of a piece I read recently and will share with you.



There is an honesty to winter, where more is revealed; not covered by leaves or diluted by swaying grass or bright blooms. A time of peace and some might say epiphany, as we notice daylight ever so slowly beginning to linger little by little, leading us toward the vivid green light of spring.

This month I said good bye to a friend sooner then I would have liked. I will miss her bright smile! Another one of those questions for God, my list is getting longer.

The school reunion preparations are revving up. Not far to July now! The Planning Committee has asked my mother to speak as the school/area historian for the opening tribute and she is so proud. It is a pleasure to see that twinkle in her eyes again.

The family reunion is also shaping up and fun to get into the home stretch prep details. We will have five generations running around here this summer. What fun! Mother is getting excited already, finding photos for the history board, choosing prizes for the family trivia game and writing, always writing. It has been good to be close to her these past few months, sharing in her projects and quests. She can be a challenge some days, but that can only be a good thing for both of us at this time of our lives.

February is just around the corner. The 5th is National Wear Red for Women day in support of fighting heart disease. You all have grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, girls friends, aunts, teachers, etc. so . . . Put on the red!!

Remember to pay it forward to those less fortunate and always - - Keep it Real!


Carpe Diem