From Skilled Hands

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
wich is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

ee cummings

Somehow it seems rather fitting that this is my 200th post. I have so much for which to be grateful, and my awareness is acute on this day.

It is Spring. The birds singing; the quality of the light; buds swelling on the old apple tree outside my kitchen window—-all these things are reminders that there is a cyclical nature to our lives and the lives around us. The goldfinches are sporting yellow feathers; each breeding male hoping each female will see his coat as the one for her. The cats are losing their winter coats and bulk. This was a long winter, and they needed it all.

The chickens. Bless the chickens and the eggs they are giving us, and the manure that will help our garden grow. I am grateful for their clucks and sounds that let me know they are there.

Two of the dogs have had their Spring grooming. No more winter dirty dog smell. Lily the Toy Poodle will be next—when the weather warms up a bit. Lily is really a farm dog. She has no idea she is small, tipping the scales at 8 pounds. She has herded the chickens and taken on the cats.Then she curls up in a little ball and goes to sleep.

And #1 daughter has been home this week, gracing our lives with her presence. It has been a good week, full of conversation and relaxation. We’ll be leaving for the airport soon. It is a bittersweet time for both of us.

Seeing my children grow and spread their wings reminds me that we, as parents, are really gardeners. We create as rich an environment as we can, providing love and care. We place the seedlings in what we hope is the best place, letting them harden off before we put them outside to grow on their own. We do the very best we can with the tools and information we have at any given time. But we don’t make them grow. They do that all by themselves. It is an amazing process to share. And for that, too, I am grateful.

The septic problems have thankfully been resolved. A broken pipe was the culprit, and once it was diagnosed, it was easily fixed. Temperatures in the low teens made working outside a challenge.

Today is sunny and very cold. I always forget how penetrating March cold is………..until March. I am drinking my morning cuppa watching the birds gobble seed and suet at the feeders. Soon I’ll be off to the local ski lodge for #2 daughter’s ski and snowboarding club. It’s near the end of the season around here and today will be pizza for all. This is my last year as the adviser of the ski club. I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to share the time with such a fine group of folks.

Wednesday morning was an icy one, with the roads covered with a glaze of ice. Cars stood on the pavement, unable to move. The 4 wheel drive on our Toyota helped us navigate the frozen ground, and we proceeded to the studio.

The day was a good one, with people picking up orders and just stopping by to say hello. There is something special about being in a place for a while—and we have been in Peninsula for 20 years. Folks know us, they ask about our family, and we ask about theirs.

At the end of the day, we stopped at a friend’s to have a glass of wine and some cheese and fruit. Then off to the grocery store–we got there 10 minutes before they closed—to get a few things.

Christmas morning was cold and dry. The ground was frozen so there was no mud. We are beyond the days where we had to tell our children that they couldn’t wake us until it was light outside. We were up and on our second cup of coffee well before our daughters emerged from their rooms. The magic of Christmas morning is different from the way it was in years past, but it is still magic.

#2 daughter and I made pita bread for the first time. She made falafel and a delicious cucumber yogurt sauce to take over the stream and through the woods to Grandma’s house. We shared sandwiches, veggies, and other munchies. A pot of coffee graced the table. Grandma had made her fruitcakes, strudel, mince pies and peanut butter pie for #2.

Home for the evening, quietly enjoying the time together. Grazing, watching a move, and my fingers tappity tapping the keys. A good day.

photo of Dream, by Tammy Jo Fuller, by Kari Radney

My friend Kari Radney sent me some photos that she took at the Cups of Kindness opening celebration.This is a collection of photos of pieces that were donated to the benefit as well as pieces by artists we represent at our Gallery.

I asked her if she would be my guest blogger for My Town Monday. Here are her impressions of My Town, the Village of Peninsula, population 602.

Welcome to Peninsula! Come and stay a while,
the places you see are sure to make you smile.

As the train comes in (and it’s hard not to hear it)
it shakes the ground of those who are near it.

Elements Gallery is a place filled with art,
pottery and paintings and work from the heart.

Fishers Pub, is a fun place to eat,
their food is delicious and such a great treat!

The Emporium has lots of antiques
each one has a story and is very unique.

The Winking lizard is a popular spot,
every dish that they serve is fresh, tasty & hot.

Yellow Creek Trading is colorful and fun,
with cute things to buy for everyone.

Kilted Yak, the snow gear shop,
is a place that you should stop

The Towpath is where everyone hikes,
walking or running or riding on bikes.

The Art Academy is another must see,
This place is just filled with creativity.

The Peninsula Library, with tons of books,
all waiting inside, for you to come look.

Century Cycles, the local bike store,
has monthly night rides and bicycles galore.

Love and Love, by Gwen Waight, photo by Kari Radney

These pieces were donated by students and faculty of the Kent State University Ceramics Department, photo by Kari Radney

The Giving Cup, by Nicki Lanzi, photo by Kari Radney

Suncatcher, by Merrily Sprague, photo by Kari Radney

Fused Glass by David Norton, photo by Kari Radney

Fused Glass by David Norton, photo by Kari Radney

Blown Glass Calla Lily by Sue Berry, photo by Kari Radney

Looking up at Blown Glass Plant Rooters by Michael Mikula, photo by Kari Radney

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I am so grateful to many hands and hearts that have participated in our show and sale to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. If you are so inclined, please visit our website.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

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My Town Monday, the brainchild of Travis Erwin, is a wonderful way to explore the world through other bloggers’ eyes.
Travis is taking a break for until January. Junosmom, over at Lifetime Learning, and Chris, at e-Cuniform Scratchings, are the keepers of the Marauders in his stead. Follow the links posted at their blogs and you’ll find stories of places all over this fine blue planet.

#1 daughter is a college student in New York City. She had researched her options for coming home for the Thanksgiving holiday, and had discovered that she could take a bus from NYC to State College, PA for $35.00, and a 4 hour drive. State College, PA is about 4 hours from here, as well. So it seemed like a good idea. Until Tuesday morning when the snows started to fly. A major storm was heading our way and was predicted to extend quite a distance to the East.

The drive to State College is a pretty one, through beautiful mountainous country. In good weather. During daylight. So instead of leaving for the 4 hour drive at 6:30pm, Steve left at 12:30pm. he stopped at a tourist information center, and asked the woman at the desk about the weather. She showed him the map on her computer, complete with pink and white swirls. She said that the weather was indeed a problem, but that another big issue was that it is bear season, and that bears run across the highways all the time. (Unfortunately with visibility near zero,it would be hard to see a bear.) He arrived in State College at about 5:30 pm, and went directly to the motel where he and #1 daughter would be spending the night, waiting out the storm. The bus arrived after midnight.

The next morning, the storm had passed, and they began the drive home. I had already checked with the airlines and found a flight that would get her back to NYC; the only seat left was in business class—the day before she had planned on returning—at a premium rate.

So this afternoon, I drove with my wonderful daughter to the airport. When we got there, I helped her remove her suitcase from the car, and I asked her if this was when we hugged and cried. It was.

As I drove away from the airport, back to our studio, I was so grateful for what we share. And the greatest of these is love.

Email me with your address and I’ll send your gift!

#2 daughter and I just watched Iron Jawed Angels, an amazing movie about a critical time in our history. The film depicts the fight of the suffragists who fought for the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which secured women’s voting rights. I am grateful to these courageous women, who stood for their rights, and those of their sisters and daughters, in the face of criticism, violence and injustice. It is an important story these days, one I am honored to share with my daughter, who, due to the courage and fortitude of these women, will one day join me in casting her ballot.

We all really do live in the same town; it is called Planet Earth. We share the same air, drink the same water and look at the same blue sky. All of us gaze up at the same stars and are amazed by the same full moon.

We the people can solve problems that governments have caused; we the people can share our resources with our friends and neighbors—even those whom we do not know. We the people.

In this time where CHANGE is the buzzword of the day, we the people live it and do it. We are the change we wish to see in the world. Quietly, without the acrimony of politics. In our everyday life. One cup at a time.

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My Town Monday is the product of Amarillo’s own Travis Erwin’s fine mind. Take a trip over to his site and check out the links to the other bloggers who live in our town.