Songs of Experience

Today my mother gave me some good advice.
She said, “If you no longer have any goals, then do your chores.”

There are always chores to be done.

But this does beg the question …

That’s me in the corner …

lyrics from R.E.M.:

Oh, life is bigger
It’s bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I set it up

(chorus)
That’s me in the corner
That’s me in the spotlight, I’m
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don’t know if I can do it
Oh no, I’ve said too much
I haven’t said enough

Sometimes a purchased gift just isn’t enough to show how much you love someone … so I made this painting/collage for Dave’s anniversary present. Embedded in the piece is my bluets poem and, if you look closely, a photo of the two of us!

Too bad anniversary number 9 isn’t “cloth ” but pottery.
that would have been perfect.

Yesterday, my friend invited me to stay for oolong tea while our children had an old-fashioned play-date. I felt inspired to bake a pie in celebration of friendship. It is actually more of a tart, but we call it “Betsy’s Pie” (named after another friend who taught me how to make this delicious pastry):

cream 1/2 cup brown sugar
with one stick butter.
mix in one cup flour, 1 tsp. vanilla and then one beaten egg.
next, press dough into lightly greased tart pan

layer fruit in design of choice using plums, or peaches (or apricots).
dot with 5-6 bits of butter
squeeze juice of one lemon on top
sprinkle with 2 Tbs sugar

bake for 30-40 min.
in preheated 350-degree oven

let cool before eating.
best served with a steaming china cup of tea …
with a friend who enjoys conversation.

Yum!

here is Rosie with the plum pie she made last year:

Las Mañanitas Lyrics:

Estas son las mañanitas, que cantaba el Rey David,
Hoy por ser día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti,
Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,
Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte,
Venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte,
Ya viene amaneciendo, ya la luz del día nos dio,
Levántate de mañana, mira que ya amaneció.

Translation:

This is the morning song that King David sang
Because today is your saint’s day we’re singing it for you
Wake up, my dear, wake up, look it is already dawn
The birds are already singing and the moon has set

How lovely is the morning in which I come to greet you
We all came with joy and pleasure to congratulate you
The morning is coming now, the sun is giving us its light
Get up in the morning, look it is already dawn

I love my new “appearance” on this blog, especially the pinking sheers cut bottom of the header.
Nice work, Paisley creator!

This morning Dave and I had the pleasure of accompanying our 7 year-old to a spotlight student of the month breakfast. We shared a table with 1st grader, Shawn, who kept us entertained during the certificate presentation with his many out-loud, uncontrolled blurtings (despite our grown-up “shhh’s”) … the favorite of which was, “Did you know a snake has no eye-lids?!” Of course, what made this whole scene so funny was that the theme for this month’s spotlight student was self-discipline.

Most women my age, and many younger, dye or color or highlight their hair so much so that no one knows how old anybody is these days. Men, too, are forgoing graying temples (which used to be considered “distinguished’) in order to look younger. I am re-reading Margart Craven’s “I Heard the Owl Call My Name” and today I pondered this line: “Her hair was white, which, in an Indian, means she was very old.” It used to be that with all people, not just “in an Indian,” white hair was a sign of being very old … and, hopefully, very wise. What are we avoiding when we cover the gray? What are we afraid of facing? I have vowed never to color my hair … but maybe someday I, too, will be afraid of rejection from this youth-obsessed culture and will pretend to be younger than I am. It makes me sad to think of living a lie just to fit in.

And I wonder, is it also deception if I follow my hair-cutter’s suggestion: “Just tell people your gray hairs are platinum highlights.” ?