Rites of passage

The summer of busy, crazy, wonderful is waning.  The main event for this year was our son Joshua's wedding.  As in life, he (and his lovely bride, Tori) decided to do things their way.  To say that their nuptials were "outside the box" would be an understatement.  They completely blew up the box!
Now, don't get me wrong.  That's NOT a bad thing.   Many people have beautiful weddings.  They follow the prescribed wedding agenda .  We have attended many, many of these weddings and have enjoyed the beauty and pageantry of each and every one.  That being said, I must admit that Josh & Tori's wedding was so "them".  There was beauty, pageantry and a sword-fight.  Not what you'd normally expect, but if you know these two amazing people, you wouldn't have been surprised.
While Mother Nature had different plans  than they did for the day, everyone rolled with it like seasoned pros.  A little rain was not about to put a damper on this celebration.  Eventually, even Mother Nature decided that she would grant them a boon on their wedding day, and stopped the rain.
Perhaps those raindrops were the tears of joy from loved ones, no longer with us.  Their way of saying "We're watching, we wish you could see our happiness for you.  We love you."
Whatever the reason, the day was beautiful.  Not in the sunshiny way, but in the dreamy, dewy, "soft focus" sort of way.

As a parent, you wish for your children to be happy, whatever or whomever they pursue in life.  The happiness and love that shone in Josh & Tori's eyes on that special day is a testament to their happiness.  And, in the end, that's all a parent could want.

Our wish for them is that they continue to be the team that amazes the world every step of the way.

Happy trails to you......

The title of today's blog is a reference to a song by Roy Rogers and his wife, Dale Evans. For the youngsters in the audience, just Google them. For the rest of us, we know who they are and can probably all sing that song. And sing we did.
Tuesday we celebrated the passing of my Aunt Eva. She had lived for 100 incredible years. (Yet any of us would tell you she's gone too soon!) Eva was my fathers oldest sister. The family matriarch for many, many years.
As with any passing, family gathers together to share the grief and the love. With our family, we also share the stories and the laughter. Maybe that is what makes our family so special. We have a difficult time staying somber for very long. That's not to say we can't.....we just don't! Many things in life can be depressing. Many things can get you down. Our family has always had the ability to look on the bright side. No matter how bad, there's always a bit of blue sky to celebrate. Something good to bring us out of our funk.
Aunt Eva summed it up best. "Life is beautiful" was not just her signature saying, it was the core of her belief. And we all believed. We still do.
It's for that very reason that when we all gathered graveside to bid our final farewells, we gathered close, held each other and sang "Happy Trails".
The memories, the stories, the life lessons will live on. Most importantly, the love lives on. It runs through each of us, connecting us by a golden thread. Our family tapestry is beautiful to behold. Thank you, Aunt Eva for helping us to weave. We love you. Until we meet again, happy trails.

Another Christmas, come and gone

The presents have been opened. Vast quantities of food has been consumed. There's miscellaneous bits of ribbon and wrapping hiding in strange places. That can only mean one thing.....Christmas, once again, has come and gone.
As usual, it was a wonderful day. Actually, our celebrating spans a couple of days. Trying to work with everyone else's holiday schedule makes it more like an open house for a few days. This year, the holiday continues for a few more days. Tonight we'll celebrate with neighbors. Tomorrow, Josh should be home and we get to do the gift thing all over again!
As I get older, I see Christmas from a different angle. Gone are the days when Christmas Eve meant staying up late to be sure Santa's gifts were wrapped and the stockings were filled. Now everything is wrapped and ready to go way before the day arrives. No longer do we struggle with the "slot A into tab B" instructions. The milk and cookies are shared by everyone, not just left for Santa.
While some of the chaos has been removed, it's been replaced with a wonderful feeling of family. Having the kids here for Christmas still makes the day for me. As they have gotten older and moved away, their visits mean even more. It's a time to catch up on their life. A time to just look over and see their faces. To know, that for a brief while, our family is together again, under the same roof.
While some things change, others remain the same. There still has to be a new ornament on the tree with their name and the year written on it. There had better be egg-nog to drink. Certain cookies are baked only at Christmas. (Although I don't know why...they could be made any time of year!) But if these things weren't present at Christmas, there would certainly be a void.
Our family has expanded. We now have the joy of grandchildren! But, over the years, our "family" includes friends near and dear to us. While not related by blood, they are just as much family. I'm sure you have special folks like that in your life too.....the ones you can call, anytime day or night. Good news or bad, they're there to share it with you.
To me, Christmas boils down to blessings. The blessing of family. The blessing of health. The blessing of wealth. For although we may not have monetary wealth, we are the richest folks on earth.
Wishing each of you a happy, healthy and blessed New Year!

Made in America....are you sure?

I recently went to a well promoted craft show. National talent, something for everyone.
Well, that much was correct. There was something for everyone. From inexpensive doo-dads to the same types of log furniture you might find in upscale catalogs. There was one major problem. The majority of these "crafts" were not home-made.
As a crafter, I know the time, money and effort that goes into making a quality product. There's a little bit of me in each item I make. It doesn't matter if it's yarn spun, a basket woven or soap batched. I take pride in each and every item I make. I know, for a fact, that other folks who create feel the same way.
So, it offends me to be offered an item (at a craft show) with a made in China sticker on it. Not that there's anything wrong with the folks in China making things. I just feel that a craft show is not where that should be show-cased.
There's a big push on to have folks buy items that are "made in America". I agree with that sentiment. But the frustration comes in when you believe that you are buying American, only to find that you've been duped.
To me, a craft show should be just that. A gathering of artists selling their wares. With the amount of talent in this country, you should be able to find whatever it is you're searching for. Might you have to pay a bit more for that item? Probably so. Will it hold up better than its foreign counterpart? Most definitely!
That unique brooch you bought may become the next family heirloom. The handthrown pottery may be passed from generation to generation.
Here in America, skilled artisans are still making things that last. Items that will stand the test of time.
This holiday season, please visit a local craft show. The kind that is held in a school gym or a church basement. More often than not, you will see the person who created their wares busily working on their inventory....making more goodies for all to enjoy. Feel free to talk to the artist. I know it's almost as nice to chat with customers as it is to create what they will (hopefully) buy! It may be a small step in the "made in America" movement, but every movement begins with a single step.

How much is that doggie in the window?

The one with the waggly tail.........there, now that you'll have that song stuck in your head all day, I'll get to the meat of this blog!
For years, I have lived with a dog or two around the house. Whether it was my first puppy, a cocker spaniel, that I got when I had my tonsils out or our big white Great Pyrenees, I've always had a dog. Nothing against cats, we have those too, but I love my dogs.
My first recollection of a four legged friend was Buffy. He was a big, furry, rust colored, babysitter! My Mom knew that if we were outside with Buff, he'd keep us safe. He never let us get near the road or go anywhere we weren't allowed. He was a beautiful animal. I suppose that if we had had a different kind of dog, my first impressions might not have been so good. That might have made me anti-dog. But that's just not the case.
I can honestly say something good about just about any breed of dog. (Well...in all honesty, maybe not chihuahuas or the other "pocket pooches" out there...) But, to each his own!
I bring all of this up because I am looking for a smaller dog. Not the aforementioned pocket pooch, but something spaniel sized.
Our resident pup these days is a husky-shepard mix. She's a beautiful, smart and just plain great dog. The problem is, I think she knows that I'd like a smaller four-legged friend. Sensing that, she tries her best to accommodate me by laying in my lap every chance she gets! Maybe in the winter it won't be so bad, but this time of year it's a bit much. Plus, huskies are pack animals....I'm just trying to add to her pack!
So I've been watching Craigslist, checking the local shelters and looking at all the possibilities that my future daughter in law, Tori, has been sending my way.
All the animals I have ever owned have "found" me. I never had to actively search out a pet. I'm not one to go to a pet store and peruse the windows. Until last week. I decided to stop by our local pet shop and see what they had available.
There were big dogs, little dogs, teeny tiny dogs and four legged furballs that I think were dogs. I chatted with one of the guys at the store, a former work colleague from my dairy days. He said he had just the pup for me. I waited to see what he thought would be my perfect little pal.
Out he came with a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. She was beautiful. It was love at first sight. We played for a while, then I gave her back. I couldn't just buy the puppy and bring her home. I had to find a time when Rick could "meet her" and see what his opinion was. That opportunity came a few days later. We went back to the store and played with that little pup again. So far, so good! Rick seemed to like her! Looks like we found our newest family member.
Until I asked "how much was that doggie"....
I know that the price of everything is going up these days, but I just about fainted when we were told $1800. I realize that includes a three year "warranty", her AKC paperwork, etc., etc. But, WOW.........
I cannot justify spending that much money for a puppy. Yes, she was cute, adorable and all of those things you want a puppy to be, but, WOW........
Guess sticker shock hits all sorts of things!
Needless to say, the hunt continues. I know that the perfect dog is out there. He/she just needs to find us and let us know. Who knows, maybe old Buff is working on that right this minute. He always did watch out for me!

Whatever happened to hats?

Whatever happened to women wearing hats? There was a time when every well dressed lady had many, many hats. There was a hat for each occasion. Ones for just going about town. Ones for special occasions. Ones to work in your garden with. Ones to keep you warm during the cold winter months.
Nowadays, if you see a hat on a lady, it's most likely a baseball cap. Oh, how we have digressed. Not to say that baseball caps don't have their place, but as a form of fashion, I feel they are lacking in style and grace.
This past weekend I was privileged to attend a bridal shower for my young cousin, Sarah. On the invitation it requested that all the ladies in attendance wear a hat of some type.
Oh my....what a picture the gathering made. Everyone wore some type of head-wear. There were beautiful picture hats, straw hats, fedoras and fascinators.
Two things stood out as I looked around the room. First, we discovered that it's a bit of a challenge to hug someone while wearing a wide brimmed hat! (Perhaps that's where "air kisses" started!)
Second, I noticed that folks carried themselves a bit differently. A little taller, a little prouder, with a bit more grace and elegance.
And when it comes right down to it, isn't that part of what is missing in our lives today? For a few hours, we were of the elegant set.
I have had a love of hats for as long as I can remember. Of course, I come from a long line of hat lovers. My Aunts had a hat for any occasion! It was a wonderful experience to see many of their hats at this shower. While they were watching the festivities from above, we were enjoying telling tales of the hats that they have passed on to us. Once again, that golden thread that weaves through each of us cousins was shining brightly.
I know my Aunts (and my Mother) were smiling down on us as we carried on a family tradition.
Perhaps it's a tradition that needs to be revived in this country. There's just something special about a hat.

Turn the page

We each have times in our lives when a chapter closes. Some can be abrupt, some may linger, but they are usually for the best. Turning a page allows us to move forward.
I was given the chance to closeout a chapter of my life when I discovered I was still part owner of a house in Louisiana. Now, I'm not talking about a lovely vacation cottage on the ocean, or a beautiful southern style home on St. Charles Avenue. No, this was a nice little house in a quiet suburban neighborhood.
I drove to New Orleans with the intentions of cleaning out the house and putting it on the market. While that was accomplished, it was a week full of memories. Old photos, old friends. New friends and new beginnings.
I first must publicly thank my former brother-in-law Gary and his lovely wife, Kat, for housing me during my stay. My original plan was to "camp out" in my former backyard. I was informed by my oldest son, Matthew, that I was " in NO WAY sleeping in the backyard like a hobo"! So, instead I was treated to a lovely home in Uptown New Orleans. Both the home and the people who live there were warm and welcoming.
Throughout the week, as I worked on cleaning out the house, folks would stop by. A "blast from the past" was a common occurrence. One day there was a knock on the door and there was an old family friend and his beautiful daughter. His son and my boys had played together as children. We had taken family trips together...whether camping or to the beach..our lives were intertwined. A visit from the next door neighbor was a treat. Hearing how the years had treated them made time disappear.
While sorting through the years in the house, there were wonderful discoveries....a small windbreaker worn by both boys, a set of Matt's favorite dinosaur sheets, and tons of photographs.
Everything was sorted through. Piles were made......who wants the handmade tiki mug & stein collection? Josh, which mugs do you want? Who wants the sails for the boats? Who needs furniture? Everything that had life left in it was sent on to live somewhere new.
The antique bedroom set was broken up, but each piece went to a person that needed it. I know they will be well loved for many years to come.
I can't end this blog without thanking a few more folks along the way....My former brother-in-law Ray for the muscle and moral support. Kate for her tireless work on a hot day for a lady she had never met. Peter for keeping me laughing. Marcia for reminding me that friendship is a strong bond that time does not erase. And last, but not least, my son Matthew. His help (both physically and emotionally) made this journey worthwhile. We started the chapter many, many years ago.....it was a blessing to have him by my side as I turned the page.