The statues in the zoo

A few years ago I took my grands to the Tampa Zoo.  It's in Lowry Park and is a lovely zoo.  I've been there several times, and remember what a laugh it was back in the early 70s when we first moved to FL.  But by the 2000s it became a place to enjoy and learn for intergenerational fun.

At the bat exhibit my grands decided they were also hanging upside down, thus their hairs being "pushed" against gravity.  Not sure about how they knew what a bat's facial expression might be!

We were out early in the morning to beat the heat, but the Koala was determined to still sleep-in.

Did she really want to pet the goat, or not?  Hope you don't mind my interspersing some animals with the grandchildren's pictures.

Yes, that's exactly the pose for the penguins..maybe less the shades and sandals.

My favorite exhibit...

Oh look, he's thirsty for water!

 Isn't that cute!

Guess that's enough looking through fences at zoo animals for today.  I'm giving this post to Sepia Saturday, even though these statues are alive.  Come over to see other folk's posts where there may be some statues that are man-made (HERE).

Happy Spring everyone!

I'm kind of late.  Somehow this year spring has been such a struggle.  Maybe because the days that normally swing back and forth, and the days that are gentle, just haven't been anything like it this spring.
I'm thinking weather and seasons are going to be changing with more and more drama in the coming years.  Just my guess.

The first blush of promise that daffodils were coming...at the beginning of March.  I was so happy to see them.

Cut when freezing rain was on all the flowers for over 24 hours...March 17-18

These are troopers!  Taken March 18, 2014, and they are still beautiful on the 20th.

Living with limitations

A friend mentioned one day, there are a lot of people who have trouble understanding the condition of having invisible pain...
I agree.

I also think it's sometimes hard for me to remember that I have limitations, which aren't pain but are the sensible things I know I should do to prevent pain.

For me pain is an incessant cough, which leaves me hurting in my ribs, gasping for breath, and often peeing my pants I cough so hard.

That cough from hell was with me 3 months this last winter.  And I had maybe a week when I got over, in between each month.  I found that something was really happening in those weeks I felt good, which brought it back.  I continue to have intermittent short coughing spells, not so insistent, but with a loud mucousy sound which people think is maybe catching.  It isn't or I'd have gotten over it by now.

I've seen specialists, and am continuing to do so.
But just common sense led me to figure out that recuperation at 71 requires patience.  Just because I feel better, I cannot resume going for half a mile walk.  I cannot go on day long trips, or take plane rides that get postponed requiring staying up for hours into the night.

So now I'm on the cusp of almost being well.  And today I had a challenge.  A phone call asking me to help an acquaintance, who had asked for a meal to be brought to him following a day or so with hospital tests.  He said he had to cut back on things he did, and was asking for help.

I talked to another person who also was called to help.  I said how I've already said no to a task that I probably could achieve on a computer, but that I was trying to limit how many new things I took on.  I really want to be well.  Shopping and cooking and delivering a meal sounded like a lot.

So I called the man back and said I couldn't bring him a meal.  I explained that if I did more than I already had planned for the day, it could possibly set me back in my own health.  He understood, having just received the same advice from health professionals.

My cough is almost invisible, until I inhale some chemicals (like incense) or dust particles when someone shakes some clay dust around.  That's when people see what I am dealing with.  The rest of the time I can sit quietly, talk with a group of friends, and walk around.  I can even throw some pottery, but at a much reduced rate than maybe a year ago.

Today I noticed I have avoided doing a lot around the house.  I don't really have funds to have someone else come in and do good cleaning.  I decided rather than feeling overwhelmed by it all, I'd just start things.  I could start the dishes, and the rest would wait till another sinkfull of suds.  I could start cleaning litter boxes, and scoop the other one tomorrow.  I have approached the things that most need to be done.  When I run out of spoons in the drawer, it's time to wash dishes!

The 2 cats I live with make sure to get their food every morning.  That's my alarm clock.  I am able to go shopping once a week, and maybe go pick up a take-out dinner once a week.  So far I've paid my bills pretty much on time.  I mostly keep track of the medicines I take.  I've delivered pottery orders on time too.  But I really have let myself down while trying to slowly take care of myself and my environment.  I feel really guilty about this.

Getting on line, writing blogs, it's an escape from running the vacuum, from putting things away, from cleaning out the things right outside the front door.  Honestly, when a friend came over, she saw a broken bird bath and a shelf full of dead plants in little pots.  Nice welcoming if you want something ghoulish.

I know lots of people are recuperating from one thing or another.  These invisible limitations are so difficult, not only for my friends to give me support, but for me to acknowledge and accept.  Drat it all!

the work of a church

Here's our minister, Rev. Michael Carter.  I don't know how many other white congregations have a black minister, especially in Southeaster US...but we do.  We're currently working to be able to have a full time minister in the next 5 years.  At this point we have increased Rev. Michael's time from half time when he started a little over a year ago to 3/4 time now.

As a congregation that is tolerant, accepting, eager to help others, and diverse as all get out, we have lots of energy going different directions.  We are proud to be a Green Sanctuary, and a Welcoming Congregation to all LGBT folks. We look hard and seriously at racial issues since Rev. Michael has been here.  We look hard and seriously at many issues that require standing up against injustices.

I'm on the Board of Trustees this year, and for at least another one following, and I have the office of Secretary to the Board.  I also sing in the choir...when my coughing is under control. This week I'm helping while the Office Administrator is on vacation.

Each week I meet new people and welcome them to become part of this growing community.  And most important, I see friends who have become close in the 6 years I've been here.  I've jumped in and done several interesting and sometimes challenging tasks for the congregation.  Now I'm trying to keep my activities in balance with my physical limits.

Look at the pretty red and white cloth that is on a table under the daffodils.  The cloth was made by women who are members of our Partner Church in Transylvania (now Romania, but formerly Hungary.)  The Unitarian Church is the official church in the tiny town where our Partner Church is located.  There are very few members in that church, and the town is gradually diminishing as well.  Nobody knows how long they will continue to have their visiting minister come on the long and poorly paved road to give them any services.  Our women's group has had an annual "yard sale" that is much more than that term, in order to raise funds to support our partner church.

Our church is on a growth swing at this point.  We are moving toward renovations and improvements to the building, as well as more programming for the interests of the community.  I'm glad to be part of a monthly LUUnch bUUnch, a discussion group that Rev. Michael facilitates.  He and another member have also provided a weekly evening series of classes about Transcendentalism (which had a lot of Unitarians in that movement.).  Another evening program has been a monthly series of videos and discussion of various TED talks, facilitated by various members (including myself.)

The latest interest for me is an upcoming series of classes called the "Wild Quest" for Women and Girls, focusing on the Divine Feminine.  (This class still has a few openings and starts next month.)

I encourage you to check out our web page if you want more information about our little congregation.   Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley (UUCSV)

But I'm not writing to proselytize.  (Hey I spelled that right the first time.)  Well maybe I am a little.  I have no idea who my readers are, if any live within driving distance, besides friends who either already go to this church, or maybe have their own faith homes.  I just talk about lots of things here on my blog, and today I felt like sharing this important part of my life.

How do I know it's important?  The amount of time I spend there - the rich relationships that are founded around activities and friends who I've made there - and my own spiritual growth which continues to have stimulation there.

Next Sunday a dear friend, Cathy Holt, will give a workshop on Heart Speak, a way to have improved communication at 1 pm (March 23).  I'm looking forward to immersing myself in this, to remind myself of things I probably already know, but could sure use a refresher course.

The service on Sunday morning on the 23 will be by another dear friend, H. Byron Ballard, who will give us a real Pagan celebration of the earth changes that this season brings.

Tuesday night is a program with Rev. Michael talking about membership.  He may show the DVD I've seen before about a church that grew and grew and grew.  Honestly, I would be happy to stay about this size, maybe twice the current number in members, but that's about as much as I can feel comfortable with.  I already don't know all the people who are members...and I know that's going to continue unless I'm busy after church on Sundays meeting many of the newcomers.  They are our growth, our life as an organization, and besides, I find such interesting people come to UUCSV!

I also hope more young families with children will check out our liberal religious education.

I raised all three of my sons (from the 70s till the 90s) in Unitarian Universalist congregations.  It was really important for me to have them learn about all world religions before they chose as young adults what they would believe in for their own spiritual paths.  This just doesn't happen in any other church that I know of.

Why would any parent not want their child to have all the information available for this important choice?  I hear uproar coming from those who are firm believers that theirs is the ONLY WAY.  Do you know how many people are now UU's who were raised in that "Only Way" system?  Think about it for a moment.

You can subscribe to our weekly news (Current) and our monthly Newsletter on line...in case you want to know more about what is going on.

Lee and Robert

These goofy guys (and their wives and children) were among those who first started our congregation about 14 years ago.  We moved into this building 10 years ago July.  I'm gathering up some of our history in the stories of the first people who started the organization, to honor their efforts, and to record their words for archives.

I love St. Patrick's Day

...from green beer to the great step-dancing to drumming.  Ahhh.
Shamrocks are beautiful, if somewhat weedy once they are established.  "Erin go bragh!"

I need to read seriously the Irish history which includes some of my ancestors, as well as the Scottish ones who were forced to move to Ireland by the British.  I don't know which side is right or wrong. And lots of wonderful music has been written.

I love the myths.  Bridgid.
The ancient sites.  Newgrange.

So I will salute St. Patrick's day, which was brought by the immigrants from Ireland to the US...and still goes strong each March 17.  Erin go bragh!

St. Patrick's Day Parade, Dublin, Ireland

And especially a toast to my son who was active celebrating St. Patty's day this weekend.  I hope he's feeling up to going to work on the real St. Patrick's Day!

still here

Well, you know what I was doing those 2 days it was 70 outside...don't cha?
The chair is out in the drive /patio, and a table next to it.  I've finished several Laurie R. King books this week...and I did put sunblock on my face too!
Then the winds came...and the chill returned.
Why do I think this March should be any different than most of them?
The daffodils have survived 2 nights in the 20s.
And today we're going back up to 58.

Yesterday's sunshine was only 40 degrees.  But let's not measure our lives by the temperature, the wind, or the rain and/or snow.  Sun and clouds are part of our cycles.

My life is to be measured thus.  I saw this on FaceBook the other day, and saved it. I need to read it again and again.  Thus another cycle.  Learn, forget, learn, try to live it, forget for a while, learn again.

And before you read it, part of its poignancy to me is that I've been doing a sinus cleanse for the last month by drizzling salt water through my nostrils once a day.  Lots of saline fluid has helped my allergies.  So now to raise that to another level...

An ageing master grew tired of his apprentice’s complaints. One morning, he sent him to get some salt. When the apprentice returned, the master told him to mix a handful of salt in a glass of water and then drink it.
“How does it taste?” the master asked.
“Bitter,” said the apprentice.
The master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake and once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water, the old man said, “Now drink from the lake.”
As the water dripped down the young man’s chin, the master asked, “How does it taste?”
“Fresh,” remarked the apprentice.
“Do you taste the salt?” asked the master.
“No,” said the young man. At this the master sat beside this serious young man, and explained softly,
“The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains exactly the same. However, the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things. Stop being a glass. Become a lake.”
~ Meditation Masters

Joy

A great Aunt I missed meeting

Annie Lou Gibbs Rogers Wilson b. 3.10.1879 Huntsville, TX, or Willis, Montgomery, Texas,
d. 7.11.1956 Corpus Christi, Nueces, TX (Hitchcock Texas may be where she's buried).  The two birthplaces are because Huntsville is given on her death certificate.  But it also has her father's initials penciled in "incorrectly."  Her father was William Sandford Rogers...not M.T. Rogers. 

My grandfather's sister.  I wonder if I met her when I was little?
I doubt it.

But it's always possible.  Mmm, think back to when I was 7.  Were there some Wilsons we visited?  Or did they visit my grandparents?  Maybe part of my grandfather's 72th birthday.  Well, I'll post pics of that event, and hope one of the people in the crowd might have been his sister.

 

 August 28, 1949 My grandfather, George Elmore Rogers.

The following photos must have survived the fire in my grandparents' home in Fort Worth many years ago.  I think I posted them before...HERE

I just had a go-round with Ancestry, where dear Aunt Annie Lou's husband is listed twice and they won't allow me to merge the listings, saying they are related and it will shift things in my tree.  Darn right, the daughter is listed under one of Patrick Henry Wilson's postings, and there are 3 other children listed under the other husband also Patrick Henry Wilson, and all kids have the same pair of parents.  ARGH.

Anyway, I'm going to send this out there to hope someday I'll get Ancestry straightened out. Nah

Soup Supper at UUCSV

The children and parents and other church friends gathered last night for sharing soup and a movie.
 

Strangely enough, all the children were girls.  (Though one young man did have some dinner and left pretty early, since he was a teenager, you know)

So here is my recording of some of our fun. (I admit I left before the movie, having tasted some wonderful soups!)

Backyards and children

Edited June 2014
A backyard view, fences are also a good topic.
I think I'll pull a couple of photos out of the files...and send you over to Sepia Sat. March 8, 2014 for other Sepian's posts at the bottom of that site...just click on their names, mine will be there.  And if you're inclined, it's really easy to join in the fun.  Don't forget to make a comment too about whatever you've posted when you sign up your own link to your blog.

My sister was born on Feb 3, 1946, so she and Mommy might have been home from the hospital.  Anyway, look what we got to play with in Dallas, TX!  This was new and fun for me...though I had not a single glove on, but those mittens are hanging by their strings from my cuffs.  I don't know who the young man behind me might be, and I am all of 3-1/2 years old here.

Then here we have a child size swing (probably made by my father who loved to do projects like this) and myself on left at about 5-6, and my sis age 2-3.  Houston, TX.

Fast forward to when my own sons sat in our backyard in Windsor, CT with elder Marty (5 years old) showing young Russ (less than 2) a wild daisy.

a Massachusetts ancestor

Well, happy birthday to GGGG Grandfather David Pulsifer of Ipswich, MA.
Born March 4, 1716, died Dec 2, 1783, either in Ipswich or Bunker Hill, Boston, MA

And there are so many different "facts" that at least I have a copy of the record (in pen and ink writing) of his birth.

The Ancestry channels have added wives to his life, at least 3.  And brothers by the same name, as well as sisters and children galore.

I did know that he was the direct line of Lucy Pulsifer Granger, who was one of the first to leave MA and travel to Texas.

I won't try to sift through the rest of the records...many of which may be cousins.
I very much doubt that he traveled to CT to marry someone there, who ended up dying in New Hampshire.  But it's always possible.

I'm just glad that of the records that seem more feasible, there are 4 more generations older than his.  That's one of the oldest stretches in US families, at least for my family.

Three states easy breezy

Strange rust orange metal fences around Kingsport, TN

Climbing over and around mountains with blue skies and fluffy clouds

The view out Wendy Welch's store's front door in Big Stone Gap, VA

Welcome to Duffield, Duffield Daze, and Daniel Boone Heritage Trail...which includes an eagle perched on a pile of stones...lots of fun signs to look at, while being a passenger with a camera!

We got silly after 2 hours driving, and needed to stretch our legs.  Plus there was half a double wide mobile home taking up both of the lanes in front of us, going about 10 miles an hour.  Time to take a break and share smiles.

This ice is going to be around a while longer, I'm afraid.

I can't remember where NC left off and TN took over, then finally VA.  Fun trip of 2.5 hours drive each way.  And great weather too!

Happy Independence Day Texas

On this day in 1836, Texas became a republic. On March 1 delegates from the seventeen Mexican municipalities of Texas and the settlement of Pecan Point met at Washington-on-the-Brazos to consider independence from Mexico. George C. Childress presented a resolution calling for independence, and the chairman of the convention appointed Childress to head a committee of five to draft a declaration of independence. In the early morning hours of March 2, the convention voted unanimously to accept the resolution. After fifty-eight members signed the document, Texas became the Republic of Texas. The change remained to be demonstrated to Mexico.

From http://www.tshaonline.org/day-by-day/30565

I'm not a Lone Star Gal any more, and didn't even realize this was Texas Independence from Mexico, and the first of the declarations of the State's independence was voted upon by those 58 gentlemen 178 years ago (I think, counting on fingers and toes).

I know how proud my father always was to be a Texan, wearing cowboy boots through St. Louis with a smile on his face, and I assume a bit of an accent when tipping his 10 gallon hat (much less actually) to the ladies.

My mother not so much outward demonstration, after all, she was a lady.  But they both moved back to Houston after they retired, to live out their lives in the humid heat which I avoid.

So glad to have been born there, lived in at least 3 of it's cities, great state.