The Gift of Listening

Silence is a source of great strength
Lao Tzu

You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time
M.Scott Peck

To listen fully means to pay close attention to what is being said beneath the words. You listen not only for what someone knows, but for what he or she is. Ears operate at the speed of sound, which is far slower then the speed of light the eyes take in. Generative listening is the art of developing deeper silence in yourself, so you can slow our minds hearing to your ears' natural speed, and hear beneath the words to their meaning.
Peter Senge

One Woman has someone who truly listens to her. Listens and does not speak a word until she is finished. It touches her heart. Thank you!!!

Mom Is Still Amazed

I just read my daughter's blog. I shake my head and smile as I read what she wrote.

I agree totally with her and I was just as protective of her, sisters and brother.

http://blondemomblog.com./

It is just that the years when she was home with mom - she was so quiet and perfect in every way that I never saw this aggressive spark in her (and some of the vocabulary used). But - that is what your protective nature for your children does. During her childhood I was aware of her writing talent - all I can say is "she pleases her mom".

Anyway this gave me a morning smile. Read the link where she also posted something.

I can just see her out with her camera, writing about this and maybe on television!!!

Regarding - One Woman's life - it rained all night and very windy. My rocking chair on front porch is in another location. Plan a trip to the city this morning to clean on garden.

Will not stay long but something will be accomplished. With the wind, who knows - maybe all I was going to do has blown away - wishful thinking.

Also, my number one son is on American soil.

Inside Day

She welcomed being inside today. Did some inside chores and took this picture of books by her chair. Most of them have a book mark in them. Seems she has not been very disciplined with her reading. So many other things to distract her. Mentally planning her garden, looking out windows to view birds, quickly taking an image, and just daydreaming - when she is not running errands or on computer.

Enjoyed reading some of John O"Donohue's "Bless The Space Between Us". Also, spent time going through some of my hand written journals that go back many years.

Renew thyself completely each day: do it again, and again, and forever again.
Chinese inscription cited by Thoreau in Walden

It is raining and O.W. is recovering from many phone calls to phone company about her air card.
On the phone with technical assistants (that is what they call them) for hours yesterday.
Everyone told her something different and nothing worked. The last call - and of course - they are in another country - was the straw that broke the camels back.

Downloading something on computer so that air card could be re programed and half way through the download - which half took about 25 minutes - the download would stop. Went through this procedure twice.

The last person that was helping her said he could spend no more time on this, he had other customers and someone would call her later. She lost her temper and her emotions took over - asked if he could not see her through this procedure, since hours had already been spent trying to correct the situation - he said "no". Phone company later apologized for this employee.

So upset that she could hardly sleep last night. She wishes she did not get upset so easily.
But then maybe it would affect other people the same way.

So bottom line - the air card is being replaced. So hopefully the new card works satisfactorily.

Sun is suppose to shine tomorrow and she will be back in the garden.

Spring Fever

Yesterday required a trip to the big city. Hope the blood work is fine. The city house looks fine and Spring is a few weeks ahead in that location. The windows across the street - will soon be smiling - her son will be home.

Back to the country, Callie is sitting in the front field waiting for her mistress to return. This puts a smile on her face. A quick change into her old (favorite) clothes and 60 buttercup bulbs are planted along with a clump of peonies from an old neighborhood.

Plants are being put on screen porch, birds love the new feeder, blue birds starting to occupy their homes and when evening arrives - One Woman's heart is smiling as she captures another beautiful sunset in the country.

Her Spring wish list: To spend less time on computer, pace herself with all she wants to accomplish, to keep her health, to enjoy this time of life and age gracefully.

As she reads this - she realizes she is continually redundant!!!

Special Guest, Buttercups and Sunflowers

Judy, one of the twins came to visit. Why have I always referred to her and sister as "one of the twins"?

It was a special visit and time of sharing. Memories of another time and place ... flood my mind... She brought me a bouquet of about 5 dozen buttercups. They are in the middle of my old table. They smell wonderful. I do not remember this flower having such a wonderful scent. Maybe it is because there are so many of them.

She also brought me a box with dozens of the bulbs, a mesh hanging (looks like a sock) Finch

seed holder. I have never seen one before. Also brought some seeds for large Sunflowers.

I love Sunflowers and the birds do also.

Her mother was one of my mother's younger sisters. These girls take after their mother with such a kind and gentle manner. A hug and "I love you" - touched my heart.

My Aunt Betty - passed away a number of years ago. She suffered from Alzheimer's and Judy was one of her main caregivers.

A nature path was made from my garden through the woods on this beautiful day. I will enjoy putting a special feeder or two along the path. This was not something I planned - it just kind of happened. I can hear my son's voice echoing in my ear "mama please do not clear the woods".

My kitchen garden area is so small that it was just prepared without tiller. Planted some green onions.

Enough for now - another beautiful day to enjoy.

How True

A beautiful and busy day yesterday. What a difference an hour drive South makes. There are signs of Spring everywhere in the city. Has not quite made it to the country yet. But it is on its way!!!!!

Time in the country and time in the city.

It is one of those March days when
the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold
when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade

Charles Dickens

Joy Is - Sometimes Looking Back

What a difference a year makes!!!!!!! Posted this one year ago. Seemed to have lost one picture - trying to post this again. Need to get off computer and start my day.

TOP PICTURE WAS TAKEN LAST FALL AFTER HOME WAS FINISHED - It tells me that a lot has been accomplished in a short time. Now my gardens are my next project.

Old Entry..........

I just returned from the country. I planned on staying all day and had packed my lunch.
Mud - Mud - Mud and no sunshine. But the workers were busy and I can see the progress.

Stayed about an hour and a half and headed back to the city. I was eating my lunch driving down the road.

When I returned this was sent to me. How can this grandma not smile and feel happy - when looking at this joyful little face.

They were so excited about this trip (mom doing some surveying to write a story). Wonderful accommodations came probably at a good rate. One little one in a conversation last night "oh grandma, it is beautiful here and we have our own room with twin beds - you should have come with us". I was invited but with all that is going on with building and selling I thought it better I stay home.

Joy is the feeling of grinning inside Melba Calgrove

Joy sent to One Woman this afternoon

My Smile For The Day

My granddaughter Sarah has been in love with the French Horn for almost as long as I can remember. Grandma admires her discipline and dedication to this musical instrument. In fact, at the moment, I cannot think of any one else in our family that has been this passionate about a musical instrument. She never goes a day without pursuing this passion. When she was young - her grandma use to ask her - why the French Horn -why not the guitar, violin or piano? Grandma is familiar with these instruments but not the French Horn.

Sarah attends North Western in Illinois.

A phone call received yesterday from her (I love calls from my grandchildren) to tell grandma she will be attending the Music Academy Of The West in Santa Barbra, California - this summer.

A true honor as not many horn players are offered this opportunity.

A very special time is in store for her. http://www.musicacademy.org/

Since 1947 the Music Academy of the West has fostered a uniquely joyful engagement with music. Each June 140 gifted young classical singers and instrumentalists, selected entirely for their talent, gather for eight weeks in Santa Barbara to study and make music with illustrious guest artists, conductors, and faculty – all to the delight of participating audiences. We invite you to take part in the incomparable Music Academy Summer Festival.

Needless to say, Grandma is proud of her and sends her love.

On a lighter note - It is Spring Break time in our area. My daughter told my little granddaughter they were going to have a special day. Going somewhere with beautiful plants and water. My little one replied "are we going to "Home Depot"? My daughter had in mind lunch and the wonderful scenery at Opryland Hotel. Home Depot like Lowe's at this time of the year, beautiful plants arriving. I love wandering among the plants and sometimes have the thought "I could take my lunch and sit on one of the garden benches".

Tuesday Morning

Orange cookies in the oven. I have enjoyed this recipe many times. It is from Nan at
http://lettersfromahillfarm.blogspot.com/. They are so simple to make, good with tea, and I put several in a bag when I am going to be out in car and running errands. May put some in a bag and put in the mailbox for the postman.

A blog that I am surely enjoying is http://sharonlovejoy.blogspot.com/ I have several of her books and was delighted to find that she had a blog.

As I read her sharing about her life, interests, gardens, writing, and residing in Maine and California - I cannot help thinking - it is my kind of life. Sometimes a part of me feels she is my twin.
I have not been near the ocean in years and somewhere deep inside I almost feel that is where One Woman belongs.

Sharon is writing for Lowes - look it up - today's "Barefoot in Paradise" will make you smile.

One Woman, wears shoes only when necessary!!! Will be pleased when I have a velvety lawn and go barefoot near the woods.

Another cloudy and cool day but I am thankful for finally having a good nights sleep. I always sleep because I stay busy - but for 3 nights no sleep and weird dreams. A problem that plagues me resurfaced a couple of weeks ago and I do not like to take medication. Almost to a fault --- but several times a year it is necessary and I have immediate good results.

I was disappointed to find that seeds I had saved from flowers - had not been dried properly.
In my hurrying back and forth between 2 homes it is a wonder that more then seeds were not done properly. I hope a lot of plants reseeded themselves in the city garden.

I have meat thawing (could make this without meat and do not eat meat often) and will make a taco salad for lunch. Usually chop greens, a layer of black beans, meat, salsa and a handful of chopped black olives, tomatoes and avocado. Some corn chips and fruit tea and my cookies should be nourishing enough.

Enough rambling - must get busy!!!!

The Cabin, Storage Room, Garden and Marinated Chicken

For many years she talked about a cabin in her woods

On this misty, rainy and cool day - she has been going through items in the storage room.

A door in the guest upstairs area goes into a room over the garage. In the future it could be turned into a special room - but at the present time it is her storage room. So much downscaling and much has been given away and passed on. Most of these items only have a meaning to her. She is not ready to part with these memories "today". Also, her little girls love to play in this room.

In the closet are about 15 boxes of pictures. Baby pictures, wedding pictures, special times and pictures that use to sit all of her home and hang on the walls. Pictures before the time of her digital camera. In a way - she misses taking pictures, picking them up at store, looking at them and putting them in baskets that family and guests would look at. Also in the closet - a wedding dress - her daughter has no where to hang it!!!!

She came across this little cabin. Her son gave it to her one Christmas, many years ago. I think he use to hear me talk about the dream of a cabin and thought this might help her!! (it is a napkin holder) Her new home in the woods does not exactly look like this - but guess it is more practical for her and family visits. She did choose to have the Hardy Board siding the color of the bark of a tree.

She took a picture of her future garden from the upstairs window. This area was all woods a year ago. Some plants have been moved from previous home and she wonders what will grow in this somewhat shady area. A lot of the plants are surfacing. The front of her home sits behind a crop field and is sunny. She plans a small kitchen garden with herbs in this area.

Spring - you have a surprise in store for this One Woman.

Nothing has tasted good to her lately. 1/2 chicken in the freezer was thawed and marinated for several hours in an Italian dressing - it was good - along with green beans and squash from the freezer.

Enough rambling on this Sunday afternoon.

Good Reading Day

It has turned somewhat cooler and a misty rain. She heard the doorbell - the mailman with a package - 3 books that were ordered from Amazon. They would not fit in the rural box on the road. For years this is her same mailman. She remembers him from living in the old farm house. Pleased, he brought them to the house.

"Comfortable With Uncertainty" by Pema Chodron

"Awakening The Spine" by Vanda Scaravelli

Both of these books were recommended by her son. He will soon be arriving in the states and this mom is so "happy".

Vanda Scaravelli, lives in a villa on a farm outside Fiesole, among the hills of Florence, surrounded by cypresses and olive trees. It would be a dream come true to visit her. She was born in 1908.

"Love Heals by Shannon Peck" - I do not remember where I read about this book.

It may have been from one of my favorite sites http://www.mermaidhealing.blogspot.com/

Have a peaceful weekend - wherever you are on the planet!!!

Oh, I have bluebirds visiting my houses.

Special Day

Grandma was going to post some pictures and have a few things to say.

But her mom - says it best.

Happy Birthday "my little girl".

http://blondemomblog.com/

Future Wide Open

My daughter posted this picture this morning. Mom and grandma is "borrowing". I looked at it and for the first time could not tell which granddaughter this was a picture of.

One granddaughter is 4 and the other is 7. Birthdays coming up soon for both of them. It seems like yesterday they were born.

I see so many different talents - then maybe that is just the grandma in me.

The world is so different from when my children were growing up. It was a simpler time years ago. These little ones are exposed to so much.

The sky is the limit is the way this grandma "thinks".

Time - you are going too fast!!

Relieved

She dreaded the eye appointment so very much. For weeks the ongoing cold weather, being inside to much, an unusual amount of sickness and deaths among many she knows - was doing a number on her.

She is aware she has been diagnosed with Sjogrens- an auto immune disorder. She has some arthritis, no tears and extremely dry mouth. She uses products to help and it has not phased her for she has the outlook that there are much worse things that could affect her health.

The continual dryness in her eyes began to be so irritating that she went to local optometrist.

Oh, a grim report. Possible retina damage and he suggested plugs in her tear ducts and said a plastic surgeon would have to do it. Also was told that cataracts were evident and she needed surgery. No wonder she was dismayed.

So a trip to the big city to the one of the best ophthamologist. She was so nervous as she waited for her appointment. She sent healing thoughts to every part of her body as she sat waiting. This doctor is so kind and has such a calm nature. Probably 10 years older then her and said he would never retire. Asked her how old she was and when she shared the 70 plus mark - he smiled and said you are a youngster. Also, when Tabor commented yesterday she compared her to a young sapling. She does not know about either of these statements - but with her somewhat childish nature - she smiled because she does not feel like either of these descriptions. But then most of the time she feels like either a young or old spirit in an aging body.

As the examination continued she looked like Frankenstein with the yellow and red medication still surrounding her eyes. Conclusion, her retina is just irritated "good." Next - no cataracts. Next - She may stay the same and that is good. But if it progresses she can have the tear ducts closed - no plugs, which he does not recommend. A 5-minute procedure which is usually very helpful.

A new eye drop was introduced. She has used every kind and find them irritation. This was soothing!!

So - she has shared that she is feeling like herself this morning - whatever that is. All of this sharing makes her very aware that you sometimes need second opinions.

Mama, Grandma and One Woman is going to enjoy a day home in the woods!!!

Beautiful Morning

A busy morning, and tried to get an image of the beautiful moon shining through the trees.

A trip to the big city for a much needed eye appointment.

My heart is not in it as it is going to the high 60's today.

Yesterday a perfect day with my youngest daughter visiting with my two little ones.

One Woman even planted a small row of lettuce.

Wherever you are - have a great day!!

Television - Update

Early morning vegetable soup was prepared and a sour cream pound cake. Then on to store and
television progressed up to a 26 inch. It is all set up and I will hook up the dvd player in the morning.

This size is fine for the loft area - I think!!! Will see....

Eventually something more then my rural rabbit ears will be installed. Since I did not plan on having a television in this woods home - there was some wiring not installed at building time.

My present to do list - more gravel and grading on the drive, brick walk and steps, several truck loads of mulch for my garden, 6 pine trees, a few flowering trees and bushes, more brush cleared, and every beautiful flower I can put my hands on for my new garden. Also contemplating some kind of garden shed with an attached area to pull my truck under. This would also be a good area for Callie. Most important city home may you have a new owner soon.

Evening entry from One Woman