Today my not-so-baby-boy turned sixteen. Sixteen! Wow! Here's my boy eleven years ago, when he turned five.
And here he is now, on the threshold of becoming a man, deep voice, strong as an ox, so much taller than me, but still gentle with animals and females.

I love talking with my boy. He'll spend long hours telling me about particle physics or nanotechnologies or the dutch artist Mondrian or some other topic which has grabbed his interest and he's researched.

This morning, after the requested breakfast of homemade waffles, he worked out with his dad and I, then he helped his dad adjust the clutch on the motorcycle. When Bubba came home from her nanny job, we had lunch together, ran some errands and then came home and finished putting together and frosting his german chocolate cake. It was a good day, a blessed day to be able to be with one another.

He is finding his way. What he wants to 'be when he grows up' changes often - from lawyer to research scientist to physicist to computer game designer to software designer to investment banker to teacher to chef to psychologist. He's smart and kind and considerate. He remembers the most amazing complex details and grasps concepts that I can not begin to understand. He's always thought mathematically. He has a way with animals and small children. Although he does not express it often, he has a definite artistic streak - it shows in his cooking and his writing.

I am so proud of him and I love him so much. I feel so blessed to have Boy as a son and to be able to watch him grow and change. I wish and hope for the best for him, for him to be happy, to give back to this world, to grow and learn all of his days and to spread joy and peace in his path and for him, in time, to find and nurture a good love.

Slogging along on the capelet . . . about eight inches knit.

Chugging along on the shawl, only about ten inches to go.

Knitting going slower than normal - had to deal with arthritis and migraines and such - that's life!

Spring cometh

Warmth returns to the earth here in the Northeast. I saw little green buds beginning to pop on trees today. I also saw crocuses blooming - bright flashes of color here and there - brings such joy to my heart. As the earth warms, spring smells begin to blow on gentle, warm breezes. Birds sing by day, racoons scream passionately at night (guess you can't have one without the other). The great horned owls are nesting again, I can hear them at night close to the house. DH was quite happy, he has spent much of the last two days on the bike. I've enjoyed riding with him, smelling the smells of fertile earth, fresh water flowing, green things, listening to the birds, feeling the heat of the sun on my face. Coming home at night, exhausted from the fresh air. Thanking God for the glory of his creation and the joy of being able to live in it. Each day I am alive with my family is such a priceless, sweet gift - I am so very, very grateful.

It's funny how much attitudes and outlooks can change with the advent of sunshine and higher temperatures.

Today the sun broke through for the first time in a week or so (except for the occasional sporadic bursts before the big storm earlier in the week) and the mercury climbed up to 53 degrees. People were smiling and walking around without their coats. Life seemed more hopeful, somehow. Even though nothing new came in today, somehow, life didn't seem so . . . so difficult.

Smiles. How much one's spirits raise when the sun shines and people are smiling. Breathing comes a little easier, the chin lifts a little higher. The barbarians weren't so close to the gates today. It was a good day.

There's a button (way) down on my (almost lost) sidebar (yeah, I'm trying to fix it) for another Heather I'm holding in my prayers. I hope you'll think warm thoughts of her and her family, and perhaps if you feel the desire or are able to, maybe donate a little something for her trip to the Mayo Clinic. Good guys at the Mayo Clinic - my father-in-law would not be alive today if not for them and the guy who got him in and drove the care for him. I think a lot of the doctors at the Mayo Clinic.

04.17.2007

Cold, grey and rainy today. The river is down some, but still raging. Having a hard time getting warm, fighting off a migraine. Breathing deep, hoping new clients are in the works and old clients will pay their bills. Watching other small business owners sweat, too. Breathing, praying, trusting in God.

Nor'easter

This is how our river normally looks - notice the nice deck down by the river and the sedately gurgling water:

With the Nor'easter which hit yesterday, here is what the river looks like now. You can see the one piece of deck left, getting ready to be sucked downriver:




Over the last twelve hours, the river has flooded well over 35 feet past its banks. I do not think that the last of the decking will be there tommorrow.

Easter Cake and Tombo

Just walk away and leave the cake.

I like this picture of DH - pensive, quiet . . .

Easter Bear

Out in the woods here, the Easter Bunny sometimes gets lost and we intead are visited by an Easter Bear. Over 6 feet tall, and when you bang pans to scare him off, he runs up a tree. Sadly, though, he doesn't leave any chocolate eggs or jelly beans . . .