Another read

Apparently life is more fun than writing or perhaps I am too happy to be in this written place but this story has stalled big time. I think this is not a genre I will explore further but shall share as an interesting snippet because I like the visual descriptions: 

     Tears hurt. It had been months of aching days each stomping her further down. Sunshine helped though. Lying on the warm lawn with the sun glowing red behind her eyelids gave her a sense of comfort; a moment of peace, when her whole body felt warm and alive.

     The world sounded busy at grass level, dogs barking, birdsong and airplane roar. A distant siren pulsating with emergency vibrated in her ear. “Someone is worse off than me,” she whispered to the sky. She envisioned a ruined vehicle crumpled and cutting into a victim, shards of broken glass winking like diamonds on the street. Squinting, her tears sparked, shifting light through her wet lashes. She wished she could just breathe herself into the dirt. Calmly inhaling and exhaling until finally deflated and boneless, she mingled with the mulch. Only the painful, wet lumps of her eyes would be left, to watch burrowing worms and ants until a robin drilled its beak into their core allowing them to mercifully drip away.

     No instead, she lay like a Gulliver, one giant feeling presence on the lawn. Her survival mind dogged her to get up, and move! The leaden pain in her heart held her prone, lacking energy or desire to stir. Yet, warmth from the sun made her body feel whole, as if her arms, torso and head were absorbing those rays, pulling her molecules together.  Sunshine made her smile and the redness behind her eyelids became a soothing glow, not the fire of tears.

      Breezes blew strands of her hair, drying her cheeks. She lay quietly breathing in the perfume of growing things, hearing the prickly rustle of grass blades when she turned her head. Opening her eyes, she gazed at pink stars, tiny blooms pushed through the brown, leafy debris. Born from the basic elements of soil, buffeted by hardships of weather this simple plant forced beauty into a minuscule spot in the world; existing only to be and growing because it was alive.

Words breathe life or entwine with emotion. Overall, I think I prefer more humor. Travel journals seem to be my favorite format lately, unfortunately the trip budget is on hold. Perhaps I will take a vacation approach to my community and see what I end up with...

Space Rocks!

I have to admit, I think rocks are cool. I had a rock collection of mostly found mineral specimens throughout my youth and in fact, I never parted with that collection or my admiration for minerals and geology.

Back in the late 60's and early 70's, my Dad and I would take our rock picks and hike some of the quarries and old mines open in rural Connecticut. An old silver mine near our house yielded some lovely pale purple amethyst crystals, and at other sites we found quartz, veins of copper ore and garnets. Today these areas are gone.The mine was filled in when another housing development was built and the other spots are parking lots or highways, but this experience outdoors with my Dad, literally hunting for treasure is indelibly etched into my personality. I never walk a beach without searching for stones and when hiking or camping I've got my eyes peeled for interesting specimens. Even around town, I've found tiny geodes in the pebble landscaping around malls or restaurants and yes, I still get the "finder's thrill." I have panned for gold, found fossilized bones, arrowheads, ancient beads, bits of jade, and a meteorite...

The excitement over the flyby of asteroid DA14 and the unexpected meteor explosion over Chelyabinsk, Russia brought back my meteor memories from when I was a 4th grader in Massachusetts. Back then, kids could be outside after dinner and I was a big stargazer. I saw a green/yellow streak just above the trees and ran up the street to see where it landed; it disappeared behind a house next to the paved path to school. I planned to search that backyard after school. It took about an hour but I did find a weird rock; it looked like rusted metal but without the weight, was smooth and burnt.  My Dad took it to the local science museum but they couldn't identify it, so I tucked it away as my little bit of the greater galaxy.

This weekend I got it out and thought it would be interesting to share. Our planet is amazing but to think we are surrounded by the vastness and mysterious expanse of space is beyond incredible. The intersection we on planet Earth have had with the universe these last couple of days shows how puny we are compared to the power of some falling space rock.

Distractions

Weather has been milder here after the last bit of snow. Today started with thunderstorms but now a chilly wind is moaning around the corners of the house and rattling windows. Climate change must be a significant element since we in the Midwest are having very unseasonable weather. The blizzard on the East Coast seems a typical winter occurrence.

Anyway, I have finished my stalled hat, which will be a birthday gift for my youngest. I could not sleep last night with the thunderclaps, so I knit the body of the hat and finished the decreases today. It is a snug lace beanie pattern called Boardwalk by Elizabeth Pedersen which I found as a free download from www.Ravelry.com. I used Cascade 220 yarn in a lovely ruby, color #9404. I enjoyed the pattern although I had a bit of trouble with the decreases counting out. It does look quite nice and I will probably make another. My model "Aloise" was a fun Christmas gift, so she will be showing off my hats from now on. Do click on the photo for a better view of the knitted stitches.

I am working on another short story. Unfortunately, a bit of writer's block has hit so I thought I would get away from it for a while. My dogs, Emma & Wendy got a lovely damp walk this evening too.

Capricious and creative

Four inches of snow appeared over the weekend and it was an odd silent snow. We had been outside at 9:30pm when the weather was cold, clear and dry but by 11pm the dogs were out romping in two inches of snow while huge flakes fell. No wind, no storm, no weather prediction, just snow! It all melted in a few days and now it is spring again. Today temps are in the fifties, lots of sunshine and the flower bulbs are sprouting. My daffodils are now four inches tall!

I have tried to maintain my hibernation mode but I think I am "out of the cave" for the season. My knitting  has not been as compelling either as I am dawdling through my latest hat... Outdoors is a beautiful distraction with all the little shoots and birdsong. Do you think spring is here for real in February? I half doubt it, as March can be such a cruel month but I will enjoy every sunny day.

My son and I went to a couple of estate sales this past weekend and I found some darling wooden shoes from Holland. I filled them with some silk spring flowers and I think they are a cheerful addition to my table, at least until some of my garden bulbs start flowering for bouquets.

The dogs have been thrilled with a few more walks and I have been enjoying my tea and a book on the front porch.

Is it or is it not wintertime?

 I am beginning to feel a bit weather obsessed considering earlier this week saw temperatures around 68 degrees and today, there are snow flurries. My seasonal mindset is truly being messed with!

I consider, no actually plan on, January and most of February to be hibernation months; time to snuggle under my duvet and read a good book, knit soft wooly items and warm my hands on hot cups of tea. I do not want to be compelled to catch some sun outside or consider extra errand running because the roads aren't snowy. I am perfectly happy hunkered down and taking some extra vitamin D.

So today, in honor of the return of proper chilly winter weather I made soup. This recipe I originally got from my friend Trish, but I am always tinkering with ingredients and now it is a bit different. Enjoy!

                                    Hamburger Soup
1-lb. ground beef, browned in skillet & drain off grease
 In a 6 QT. soup pot-saute in olive oil until soft, about 3-5 minutes
2 large onions, sliced
3 stalks of celery, chopped or 1 zucchini, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced

Add to the vegetables:
2-14.5 oz.cans low sodium beef broth
2 cups water
2-28 oz. cans of peeled whole tomatoes, slice & dice, add all juice
Season generously with oregano and black pepper

Once the soup is simmering:
Add in the meat & 1-1/2  cups uncooked elbow macaroni
Cook 30 minutes uncovered, over medium heat for mild bubbling, so the pasta cooks
Top with fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Makes about 8 generous bowls
-------------
For a quicker put together SKIP the onions,broth & water. Do saute the celery &garlic, then  
Substitute 3-10.5 oz. cans of Campbell's French Onion soup with 2 cans of water for each soup can
Follow on with the recipe as written

Rock stacking and other distractions

You can be going through life, blithely wasting time or doing the serious stuff and then stumble to a point when you realize you have aged, possibly a lot. Normally I go through my day using a brain that speaks to me in my twenty-something voice. It's only when the physical body disappoints or one goes looking for a small item from the past that no longer commonly exists, realization dawns, times have changed ...

Big changes we expect, stuff like technological interfaces with our lives and popular music, but it's the minutiae we overlooked back when and then consequently don't expect to have vanished today. It surprises us and personalizes the loss, eliminating a bit of our own history. Certainly each generation feels a similar tug of the "good ol' days" for this very reason.

Take round glass marbles for instance, you used to be able to buy them anywhere, today it involves a serious shopping search. Certainly nothing is too hard to find online, but I wanted them NOW! Marbles no longer linger in little net bags in the toy departments of the usual discount stores. Oh, the days of Woolworth's 5 & dime! I finally located some in the silk flower/craft area at the dollar store. Subsequently feeling somewhat regretful of the dozens I threw away, after bruising my instep on stray marbles abandoned on the floor by my children. I guess it can be said we are all "losing our marbles!"

Hotel keys... Yes, I know the key cards are wonderfully convenient but the last time I stayed at a local historic lodge, the desk staff offered for sale, the old metal room key and fob at checkout. I purchased the huge brass key for a couple bucks and I am pleased to own that bit of memorabilia. My children will never know the worrisome responsibility of keeping track of a room key to avoid the expensive replacement charge. Pity, since many amusing family legends grew from the earnest searching for mislaid keys. Today, a few minutes at the concierge desk and a new key card is in your hand stress free.

Does every home still own a dictionary, no not on the computer, but an actual book copy? A hefty tome where you look up words by hand, exercising the side of your brain that retains the ABC song. I think we are losing valuable skills to the ease of Spell Check. More and more often I am seeing dictionaries at garage and estate sales. I have to admit I am very pleased with my one dollar purchase of a 1983 copy of Webster's Unabridged, a full 2,289 pages including 16 outdated color map pages. We have fondly dubbed this reference "the big Dic," for obvious reasons. Viva Scrabble challenges!

Well, today has been a rock stacking day; meaning little accomplished but thoughtful towers were erected albeit temporarily, as a distraction from mundane chores.

Enjoy the read

I guess if I talk about writing I should provide a short sample for public consumption, so here is an excerpt from a recent piece: 

     Morfman shoved the door of the El Agave restaurant open with his free arm. A white plastic bag containing chicken nachos was swinging back and forth, cutting into his hand. Rushing up the street he felt an odd, prickling sense of someone too close, yet glancing over his shoulder he saw little out of the ordinary. Quickly turning down a side street, he felt better moving among the shadows of his poorly lit neighborhood.

    “Kid, he’s gonna see us if I take the turn,” Ancho said as he braked, looking in the rear view mirror at the  young passenger.

     “Do it or you’ll lose him!” the skinny, dark haired girl said peering over the seat to watch the man’s progress.

     Slowly edging the cab around the corner Ancho watched this intense kid focus on the man with the bag of food. “Watcha doin’ followin’ this guy anyway?” he muttered as he inched along the dark street.

     “None of your business...” she snarled, suddenly throwing open the back door of the cab, stumbling as she launched herself from the vehicle into the street. No one took her seriously, not even if it was their job to listen, she thought. Vaguely, in the darkening distance she could still make out the swaying white food bag. She moved quickly, sneakers soundless, disguising her progress from shadow to shadow.

     Morfman could see his building and quickened his pace; edgy that’s what he felt. Maybe it was just hunger, but he could feel his anxiety rising and sweat was clinging to his forehead. He was almost at a jog when he ducked around the closest corner, deciding to double back and wait.

     Ancho couldn’t believe this kid, jumping a fare! Grabbing his keys out of the ignition, he slammed the cab door and followed the kid. Pounding heavily on the pavement he thought he saw her ahead crouched next to a building. Out of breath, pushing himself, car keys held tight in his sweating palm, he lurched ahead another fifty feet. He practically fell upon her and she screamed; punching and kicking at him as he tried to grab her shoulders. His car keys fell to the sidewalk as the toe of her red converse hit his groin.

     Morfman heard screaming, his stomach seized. Not again, he knew that kid had tracked him down. Relentless she was, amazing her determination to claim him, very creepy actually. He left the food and took off at a run; angling away from the commotion on the corner. Spotting an abandoned cab, he yanked the door open, jammed his pocket knife into the ignition and the engine roared to life. Throwing it in reverse, he careened over the curb, onto the main road and hit the gas.

     Ancho rolled on the sidewalk as the kid calmly walked away from the crowd. He watched her stomp that guy’s bag of Mexican food to mush. Disgusted he crawled to his knees, snatched up his keys and saw his cab was gone.

Well, that's the snippet of a short story. Feel free to leave comments or suggestions. Today, it is snowing and in the teens for temperatures, thus I am fueling the creative fires.