OK, go ahead. Laugh. But all day long I have been very excited about picking up my repaired clarinet. I keep humming that old Supremes song Back in my Arms Again. I had brought the clarinet to a shop an hour away for repair; the rear register key was stuck. My teacher had tried to oil it and help me, but it was rusted shut – in less than a year since I had it …
Last week while cleaning and sorting, I found some 1/4 inch elastic. This had been in short supply. I had gotten mask kits and made twenty masks for local health care workers, but had been cobbling together something each time I did go out Now that I had elastic I faced something. What had initially seemed like a short disruption in routine, this virus has become something we will need to work around for a …
Each year I am reminded of one Mothers Day when I was quite young. In those days there was a sharp line between women’s work and a man’s job. My Dad, however, had grown up in restaurants and kitchens and knew his way around them. On this Mothers Day he had dried some dishes and headed out the back door to hang a dish towel on the line. As he was doing this “woman’s work,” …
As we headed to lock down here, I realized I wasn’t going to see some of my favorite people – farm kids. And they would be home trying to stay engaged with school work and avoid boredom. So, the idea of “distraction packets” was born. Creating these packets was fun and I avoided boredom as well. The first week I sent a mailer with a sheet of postcard stamps and a bunch of postcards from …
Remember Ken’s chainsaws I couldn’t start? Well, I offered them to a younger guy, and he was downright excited about them. He took them only on the condition he could help me in the future. Last week he arrived with his tractor with forks bucket and winch attachments He carved out a few days to help clean up wood damaged in last summer’s storm. This afternoon he took his equipment home Thank you, Ryan!
Today, after a couple weeks of home exercise, I swam 50 lengths ( a little over 3/4 mile) in 45 minutes. Not sure if this is a personal best, recent old lady best or what. Just know that exercise is paying off more quickly than I ever expected. Swim strokes with power!
Last night I started moving around the furniture. Out went a rug I never liked. I swept and washed floor, set up a fan to dry the wet floor, and then I set up an area I can lay a mat. It’s my new at home exercise space! Although I had cleared space and had been doing tai chi on the west side of the main floor, I recently ordered a video from public television. …
On this sunny day I returned to the pin loom project. Although I had already laid out the pieces to determine how I wanted them before joining them, I was interrupted by the coming of a guest who would sleep in that bed. So I pulled them. and in the meantime I found more short pieces of yarn and made more squares. I even made more of the neutral in between squares. But today I …
November 15, 1952, sixty-seven years ago, Ken Keppers entered this world Using his many skills, he created his own world of pottery, produce, beekeeping, black smithing, maple sugaring, tending animals, baking, and so much more Twenty-three months ago he left this world. I think of him every day – several times. And I believe I shall always miss him. And feel deep gratitude for the years we did have
Thursday is my wedding anniversary. I see progress; just after Ken died I would wake up crying each month on the 19th – even before I realized the date. Ken died on 12/19 and we were married on 9/19 So Thursday September 19th has a sort of double whammy effect. I miss Ken, and now believe I always shall miss him. And I feel gratitude. Wasn’t I fortunate to meet him!
