Spring? Maybe.

Well, my front yard is now finally nearly 100% snow free. The back yard - still pretty much under snow cover. However, the flower bed in the back of the house is now beginning to sprout some flowers. The daffodils are coming up and there are a few buds, and I spotted some lovely purple flowers along with one lone white flower. I'm not sure what these are (they were planted by the previous owner), but it's nice to see some color in the backyard.

April?

Well, it's April 8th, and here are the current views from my front door and back window. I'm really, really, really tired of the snow. We had around 100 inches this year, and it's not going away.

It's been a long winter - emotionally and physically and I'm more than ready for a change.

How It Got in My Pajamas I'll Never Know

"I shot a moose in my pajamas. How a moose got in my pajamas I'll never know." Groucho Marx

I don't think I'm alone when I say I've always liked moose. Judging by the number of stuffed moose available here in Maine, I think that a lot of people are fascinated by this creature. Which is why ever since I moved here I've been trying to spot one. Everytime I see a Moose crossing sign on the highway (and I'm not actually driving) I keep my eyes peeled to the side of the road and into the fields and woods looking for one. I've heard colleagues and patrons at the library tell of their moose sightings and been totally envious.

Which is why I was so disappointed one day last week when I came home and was looking through the mail. There, on the front page of one of those free shopper newspapers was a photo of moose. The caption said that it was seen at a location about 5 miles from my house. A spot I drive past everyday on my wy to work! I thought that the moose was long gone and that once more I'd missed a moose.

So Saturday night Steve and I are on the way to the airport in Manchester NH to pick up our son who was flying in from Colorado. I was looking out the window, not looking for moose, but just lost in thought. It was dark out, but as we passed this field I thought I detected a dark shape against the snow.

"I think I just saw a moose!" I shouted to Steve.
"Are you sure?"
"I think so."

So Steve turned around and drove to the spot where I saw the shape. Apparently I was not the only one, because two other cars were pulling off at the side of the road. Steve drove up a little ways and pulled into a closed business that adjoined the field where I saw the shape. We got out of the car and looked, and sure enough, there was a moose! She was just standing there, not moving. One other car pulled into the lot and that couple got out, too. We all just stood there and stared at this moose. After a few minutes we were on our way to the airport.

After picking up our son we drove to the same spot. Sure enough, there she was. This was now after 11:00 PM, and I don't think she had moved. Of course, we didn't have our camera; our son tried to take a picture with his camera phone, but it was too dark. The next morning we went back with the camera, but the moose was gone.

When living in Illinois we saw deer all the time; once on my bike I saw three bucks. And in Vermont a bear cub ran through the woods past our cabin. So now I've seen a moose. Pretty amazing.

Storm

This morning a storm came in right before I went to work. The clouds were especially interesting. I grabbed the camera and got some great photos and video.

Here's another video:

Half Century of Progress?

Well, this is it. Today, September 12, 2007 marks the beginning of the second half of my life. The last half of my life. At least, I hope it's the last half. And not the last quarter. Or less.

I'm not sure how I feel about turning 50. Friends say it's no big deal. It's just a number. What matters is how I feel inside. But it is a big deal. Birthdays are a time to look back at where I've been and to look forward at where I'm going. And looking forward is kind of scary. Up till now looking forward was exciting, with lots of options and a lot of unknown. Now I feel it's just a lot of unknown, and not as many options.

But, life is good right now. After the turmoil of the past year I am beginning to enjoying life again. I'm not sure what lies ahead, but I will try to enjoy every day and savor every blessing that comes my way, letting the Lord lead me.

Thinking about today also reminds me of past birthdays. My 6th, when my mom gave me a surprise party, and I was so surprised I stood there stunned and shy for the entire party. My 10th, when I got my flute. My 20th when college classes were cancelled due to the tornado that had come through the night before. My 30th, when I had whiplash due to a minor car accident a couple of days earlier and wondered if this was what it meant to be old. My 44th, when no one felt like celebrating because of what had happened the day before.

One of the best memories was my 5th, pictured above. I'm on the left with my sisters looking at my brand new dollhouse. My mom brought a cake to school, and later that day my sister Mari and I were on Kid's Korner, a local kids TV show hosted by Kanyon Kid. The highlight of the show was when Kanyon Kid interviewed the kids, asking their name, age and what they wanted to be when they grew up. I wanted to be a movie star, and informed Kanyon Kid that my favorite movie star was Loretta Young.

When we moved my husband almost threw out the dollhouse. He saved our marriage by making sure it made the cross-country trip to our new home.

Oh, and I still want to be a movie star.

It's been a Long Two Years...

It's been two years since my last post. I don't know why, because there have been a lot of things I wanted to post here, but just never did it. It's often difficult to find time to sit down and compose my thoughts in a coherent way; but I'm going to try now.

In the past two years I've participated in the MS 150 bike ride (only actually riding 110 of those miles), took a new job, sold the home where I've lived for over 20 years, said goodbye to people I love, and moved 1000 miles away to New England.

For nearly 6 months I lived alone while Steve stayed in Chicago to sell the house. For the past 4 months we've been trying to make this new house a home.

To say this has been difficult would be understatement. It has been absolutely heartwrenching, and there were times I didn't think I would make it. I'm still not all the way there yet, but God is good, and during the lowest points I felt His comfort::

The day I was mowing the lawn and discovered a wild blueberry patch in my backyard.

Those mornings when I think I can't face another day , I go out on my deck and hear the sillence and watch the peacfulness of the woods.

The kindness of a husband who has to live with me, and has stayed with me for 25 years.

The times at the beach, just watching the water and digging in the sand.

I still miss my friends, family and home. I'm still struggling with a new job, by not having good bike riding opportunities, and lack of a decent Mexican restaurant. I hate that my son is 2000 miles away.

But I know that things will get better, and that God works all things for good. I cling to that hope, and keep going.

Randy Powell

As the mother of a former teenage boy I am interested in books that appeal to that group, especially those books that might appeal to teenage boys who don't like to read. For the past few years I've been impressed by the writing of Randy Powell. Powell has an abililty to capture not only the problems faced by the adolescent male - relationships, choices in life, but he does it with a light, somewhat humorous touch. Many books for Young Adults focus on the darker issues faced by teenagers, and while these are important books, many young teens are often looking for something a little less heavy. Powell also captures the emotions and relationships of this age, and manages to have his main character always learns something new about himself without any didactism.

One of my favorite Powell novels is "Three Clams and an Oyster," about three friends who are part of a four-man flag football league. When the fourth member of the team proves unreliable, they spend a weekend desparately looking for a new teammate. As the weekend progresses the friends learn something new about themselves and each other.

Find out more about Powell's books at www.randypowell.com

Down the Rabbit Hole

I just finished a great book - it's a children's book, but I think that adult mystery fans will also enjoy it. It's Down the Rabbit Hole: An Echo Falls Mystery by Peter Abrahams. It's the story of Ingrid Levin-Hill, a 13 year old soccer player, aspiring actress, and Sherlock Holmes fan. When a local eccentric woman is murdered, Ingrid finds herself in the situation of having to solve the murder without implicating herself. She must do this while struggling with algebra, playing soccer and starring as Alice in the local production of Alice in Wonderland. Add to the mix a moody older brother, a crotchedy old grandpa, and ambitious parents. Oh, and a possible new boyfriend, whose father happens to be the chief of police. It's a great mystery, and although the reader has a pretty good idea of how it's going to end, Abrahams keeps us interested to the end by creating such a likable heroine in Ingrid.

Another great Young Adult mystery series is the Missing Persons series by M.E. Rabb. This is the story of two sisters who change their identities to escape their wicked stepmother. As a result, these two Jewish sisters from Brooklyn are now two Gentile sisters in Indiana. They become involved with the local PI, and help solve mysteries while avoiding being discovered. Great characters and location along with interesting stories make this a good series.

Betty and Me

In 1967 I was 10 years old. One of my Christmas presents that year was the Betty Crocker's New Boys and Girls Cook Book. This was the 2nd edition; the first was published in 1957. I spent hours poring over the recipe, bugging my mom to be allowed to make things. Fortunately, my mom was the type to encourage us to be self-reliant in the kitchen, so I could bake to my heart's content. My favorite recipe was for Hot Fudge Pudding, which became a regular dessert staple around our house.

A couple of years later, I was in Junior High, and took the required 2 years of Home-Ec. After that my time in the kitchen was limited - I had other activities, and frankly, it was the 70's and I was trying to get away from the whole domestic thing.

But my relationship with Betty Crocker was not over. One day during my senior year all the girls in my class had to report to the Home-Ec room (a place I tried to avoid), and take the test for the Betty Crocker award. This was a standardized test with a short essay question. I took the test and thought nothing of it. A few weeks later it was revealed that I had won the Betty Crocker Family Leader of Tomorrow Award for my school. Probably one of the truly major surprises of my life.

From there I went on to college and majored in Political Science, graduated and moved to Chicago. One of my roommates had a Betty Crocker cookbook, and I began poring over the recipes just as I had with my Boys and Girls Cookbook, discovering that just because I had no interest in becoming a domestic diva didn't mean I couldn't enjoy baking. For my birthday I asked for and received my own copy of Betty's cookbook. I still have that cookbook, and faithfully use it to this day. My son's favorite au gratin potatoes are from there, and I use her pie crust recipe to create pies that people rave over.

So it was with great anticipation that I picked up Finding Betty Crocker: The Secret Life of America's First Lady of Food by Susan Marks. Marks, who once worked as a tour guide at the Minnesota Historical Society, has devoted years researching Betty Crocker, and "her" influence on American society from the 1920s, when she was introduced to the public, to today, where she continues to reign strong among marketing "personages." The book is a fascinating look at how cooking has changed over the years. When Betty was first introduced, new electric stoves were replacing woodburning stoves, demanding the need to teach a new generation of women things that their mother's had done differently. Soon, Betty was handing out advice over the radio, and even on television. Marks also examines how Betty's look has changed over the years, all a result of careful market research.

I enjoyed reading Finding Betty Crocker. It brought back memories of my own Betty experiences, and even led me to dig out my old Boys and Girls cookbook, now tattered beyond repair. Maybe I'll make some Hot Fudge Pudding for dessert tonight.

While at the Garden of the Gods I saw an interesting bird. I think it was injured as it was hobbling through the parking lot. I took lots of pictures so that I could look it up in my bird book when I got home in order to identify it. Well, I've looked through the book and still can't figure out what it is. Can anyone help me?