sounds of silence

i turn into a pumpkin around 9 pm. i just can't help it. i prefer to go to bed when i am tired ... versus the hubs who snores from his recliner.
when i lay me down to sleep, and pray the Lord my soul (among others) to keep - i do so to the sweet sounds around me. two talkative owls who-whooing in the aged pecan tree. tiny tree frogs chirping the latest gossip. and occasionally opera from my dear neighbors house (she is a bit deaf and turns the volume up up up).
of course, i know my delightful neighbor, M. but i have yet to make the acquaintance of the other evening anchors. perhaps sometime soon i'll sit starting at dusk to sneek a peek at my companions. part of me prefers to imagine them dressed in their waistcoats and spectacles (i read too much Beatrix Potter) - chatting about the days events and what plans for the night to come. part of me welcomes the favor of a brief glimpse, a nod of recognition or a wink in their natural glory.
or perhaps i'll remain content to just drift off to sleep to their beautiful lullaby.

hello darkness, my old friend.

wedding day

this evening I got an email. the email was one I usually delete immediately - a 'chain letter' so to speak. but this one intrigued me. it was intended to record wedding dates of friends (and soon-to-be friends) in an attempt to fill in a whole year calendar. happy news.
I filled in our wedding date (now married over 30 years) and went to select 20 friends to continue the chain. much to my delight, it was hard to only select 20 friends whose marriage has stood (or will stand) the test of time. alright, I chose 22 - but who's counting!
in a throw away society, it is comforting to think that there is so much love around. love and determination. love and determination and patience. love and determination and patience and sharing.
so happy anniversary. and to my neighbor, thank you for thinking of me.

Sunday dilema

with the hubs out of town I am home alone. presented with the decision of ‘what to do today’. my answer, absolutely nothing. well. not nothing. there’s laundry (always laundry). and a little work. but the plan is to stay home all day.

my dog, Chaz, doesn’t mind if I sit in my pjs ‘til noon. or take a nap in the afternoon. or eat ice cream for dinner (as long as I share). what a lazy luxury.

a day at home presents a challenge to me as I have trouble concentrating on one task. I am easily distracted. Harry Potter three is calling me (especially now that friend T has loaned me volumes four and five), the kitchen temps me, a work project taps its impatient finger, volunteer duties pile up on my desk, the screen porch wants a visit, the internet needs searching; all have a lovely appeal.

for now, I’ll finish watching the final stage of le Tour de France. withdrawal tomorrow.

procrastination is my middle name.

what not to wear

you would never guess from my closet, but i love In Style magazine. it is part of my pedicure routine. step One feet in the hot bubbly water; step Two open magazine; step Three wish that i could wear stiletto heels (sigh).

as i scrutinize each page i often think, didn't i have something like that in my closet (mumble) years ago? 'everything old is new again' is the mantra in the fashion world - or i should be politically correct and say the trends are recycled. so i decided to Google 'fashion trends for fall' to see what i should start looking for at Kohls (or keeping from Goodwill).

Can you literally cry deja vu?

Ten Fall Fashion Trends 2009

1. Eighties redux
2. Studs and rivets
3. Shoulder pads (gasp)
4. Prairie styles (plaids, ruffles, tweeds)
5. Jumpsuits
6. Over the knee boots
7. Cut out clothing (one shoulder-ish)
8. Metallic shine
9. Carrot pants (full at hips, tapered to the ankles)
10. Black is the new black (with a dash of neon)

stop the madness.

viva le Tour

i look forward to July. for three weeks i can cycle through France and its borders. vicariously, that is. i love the Tour de France. i am not a cycling enthusiast. i do not ride. but, oh, how i love the journey. the scenery spectacular. the team strength incomprehensible (oh, what can be achieved together).

several years ago after watching le Tour, we were inspired to reroute an upcoming trip to include a town le Tour passed through, Beaune. we were intrigued by the intricately tiled roofs of the buildings. this small town was a discovery at every corner. wonderful shops; including a fabulous tapestry pillow shop, delicious (non-smoking) cafes, and friendly folk.

the original route for the trip: fly into Paris, head east to see the Christmas markets and the town of Grosbliederstroff, my ancestral home. but le Tour allowed encounters with small towns that would have been otherwise ignored in a drive by – many barely visible on the map.

the touted markets in Metz were a disappointment, commercial and tacky, but the trip was delightful. our favorite, Nancy. amazing architecture. charming cafes. gilted fountains. cobbled streets. our timing was only marred by a world cup soccer match that had happened the day of our arrival. and not the match, I am a fan, but the rowdy (defeated England) fans celebrating in and outside the bars afterward, culminating in a police raid. sadly, as those fans awoke in the French lock-up the following morning, the night before was a blur. and they went home to celebrate another day. the diversion to avoid the drunken crowd, however, did provide for a delightful restaurant discovery!

we meander under a schedule (drat!) on our way to Grosbliederstroff along the German border. as we arrive we are hungry – so we stop by a pub to grab a bite. we walk in and everyone turns to stare, er, glare. The proprietress shouts, ‘no room’ (or get out, our French is iffy). we leave. odd, the French are usually welcoming … no, seriously. so we wander across the road to a little Greek hole in the wall – a delicious decision.

after lunch, armed with daddy’s family history we find what we think is the family chapel. and find disappointed that in the town cemetery, there is no sign of my heritage - excited at the adventure nonetheless. the town is situated along the River Saar, and we walk across the ornate iron bridge, Pont de l'amitié (Friendship Bridge), into Germany. amazing.

before we head back to Paris and home, we venture further south on a recommendation from a friend (thank you, Ellie) to Lyon. there is old Lyon and new. night and day. age is beauty.

watching le Tour on television is scenic. driving through the countryside is surreal. vineyard covered hills. stone buildings. flower filled gardens.

this year as they ride through Saint Fargeau, the sunflowers cover every inch of the countryside. ‘the flowers turn their backs on the riders’, the commentator reports, ‘they only smile at the sun.’

i jot down where those sunflowers shine.

new strength

yesterday, I lost a friend. i selfishly cry and mourn my loss. i ache for his family. through all the grief, however, I made a wonderful discovery. D's wife has a blog.

R created a journal of their lives amidst the battle with cancer. with no small credit given to God. each day she writes of hope and discovery. love and compassion. the bonds of friendship. the potency of humor. the agony of defeat. and faith. unwaivering faith.

I often tout my amazement at new technology - the notion of cyberspace diaries. now I can say that I marvel in the wisdom and strength found there. such lessons to be learned. I am eternally grateful to R for sharing her most personal moments. she leaves a legacy for family and friends.

time with my friend was short. I loved each and every day we worked together. he was hardworking, diligent, loyal. he had a dry witty sense of humor. you could see the mischief in his eyes. he was eager to learn. he was humble. he was heroic. he loved his family and God. I am proud to say he was one of the best men I have ever known. and I am a better person for knowing him.

if you have a chance, read Joy, Joy in the Journey. her journal. be armed with a box to kleenx. be ready to garner her strength. be at peace.

home again

i am inspired by well written blogs ... creative and imaginative. i am amazed by the number of blogs out in space. just talking about everyday issues. cooking, sewing, children, gardening, shopping, living. it gives new meaning to a small world.
we should all take a minute and record our thoughts. these mental images are fleeting - but thought a thousand times by those around us.
i often wonder what my children are thinking at this moment. or what my mother thought about when she was my age. perhaps it is my mid-life stage that makes me more nostalgic. or just my revelation that i am blessed in this life. touched by everything around me. and how i must try harder to embrace the good around me and forgive & forget the annoyances.
so i will take this opportunity on this universal diary to share my thoughts. perhaps you'll think they sound familiar.
it feels good to be back at magnolia's end.

ps. did i ever tell you how i named my blog site? magnolia is the original name of the street where i live ... the corner of magnolia and olive streets. somewhere along the way the streets were renamed with numbers ... so lovely magnolia became basic 14th.
14th street dead ends at the end of our property. thus my garden lies at magnolia's end.