Lady Grey

Have you ever had a cup of Lady Grey tea? From what I can tell, it is only made by Twinings and is a lovely compliment to their well-balanced Earl Grey. It has a hint of orange and lemon along with the bergamot. A delightful aroma enhances the experience. Should you find yourself on a cold winter's day with a desire for a spot of tea, I highly recommend this one.

Putting October to Bed

Those who know me know that I have a long history with disliking (fearing?) October. A more detailed explanation can be found in my October 2009 blog. While this October has had its pitfalls, I must say that I have savored and sensed it more positively than any in a long time.

Has there ever been one more beautiful? I viewed the changing colors from Boulder to Aspen to my front yard, amazed at how we truly can see H-D without a TV screen. The first snow of the season is about to be joined by the first snow of November.

Autumn smells are more vivid than ever as well. I was in the parking lot of an assisted living center last week and smelled leaves and cinnamon - just a spicey aroma emanating from somewhere. As I neared the building, there was a stronger scent that evoked pumpkin pies or apple strudel and memories of youthful autumns flashing through my mind. At that moment I realized that October had not been the cause of my angst these past thirty+ years. Attitude had played a large part in carving the sorrow I've felt for so long.

Time to put a happier face on this ol' pumpkin!  Rejoice in the day the Lord hath made! As I remember the losses of Octobers past, I will blend in the beauty, the experiences, the joys that formed there too. Stir in a little cinnamon, and it's all good!

October Snow

The first real snowstorm of the season in the Denver area. It came in pretty much as scheduled, starting with rain and turning to snow last evening. Three to five inches on the plains, more up north and in the foothills.  It was a picture perfect display - Mother Nature at her best!


Of course, there was the media hype to wade through. Wouldn't it be nice to turn on the news without the "apocolyptic" knee jerk commentary?  Hundreds of plows, five hundred workers standing at the ready for the "worst storm of the year". (When it's the first, that's not a hard benchmark to attain...)  There were Excel Energy crews from the New Mexico to Wyoming borders ready to fix any downed lines and outages.  Yes, some tree limbs broke and there were downed power lines; there was a lot of snow in some areas. We're OK, we're tough. Once you survived the Denver Metro blizzard of '82, all else is sugarplums!


What was left of the flower beds has just taken care of itself. Once the snow thaws, I'll clean out the last pots and call it a season. There is almost as much joy in closing down the gardens as there is setting them up in the spring...almost.





Look how big the little blue spruce has gotten. I have two that were raised from tiny Arbor Day Foundation sprouts. Doug says they wreak havoc on the lawn sprinkler setup (yeah, they do) but they are a delight to watch grow. We need two more strings of lights - each - for them come Thanksgiving  Day! It is so nice to see their holiday glow from the kitchen or hot tub each Christmas.

So happy snow day to you - if you were as lucky as I to sit inside and watch the world turn white around you. And if you weren't, perhaps these shots of my yard will give you a positive feeling about the changing of the seasons and prospects for a bright tomorrow!

The Amazing Sky!

I was up early this morning gazing at Orion hoping to see a flash or two from the Orionid meteor showers. Maybe a phantom here or there, just the essence of a shower perhaps. At 5:00 am the pre-dawn sky is just awesome! Crescent of a moon, Jupiter to the west shining bright. For those who love to grab a few extra zzz's by sleeping until daylight, you don't know what you're missing. Ah, sparkling diamonds from Heaven – God’s gifts.

A Long Summer

It has been so long since I've posted here. Since March, my thoughts were so askew, they might have been like scattering leaves caught up in a windstorm. I'd been traveling a lot in my job, balancing work changes and trainings with my ever-increasing need to feel settled at home. Doug and the hot tub, the doggies and the couch - those were my sanctuaries I clung to on long flights and nights in hotels.

And then in April Doug and I made the final decision for me to retire. On a roadtrip to Vegas in May, we settled on the timing - giving notice after July 4th and retiring on Labor Day. And from there, my mind was an ongoing battle between the sense and the senseless.

• Leaving a great job when so many are struggling??
• Remaining there any longer when I was so totally exhausted??
• Could we live in our new financial situation??
• Would I, in essence, just trade one stessful situation for another??

Doug and I remained ever-prayerful, and once the table was set, the path seemed clear. September 9th I walked out at 5:00 p.m. and have not had one moment of anxiety over the decision. For something to have seemed to identify me for 30 years, it was almost surreal that not even once did I feel a sense of loss or regret. That must mean it was the right decision.

So here I am, a month and a half later...more settled and content-definitely. The doggies and I have gone from morphing into the sofa to taking daily (2-mile) walks. More often than not, they walk me. I've dipped my toes into the volunteer arena, working a little with Habitat for Humanity, preparing to help a little at a nursing center, and tomorrow I start a new adventure with helping my friend do some accounting at housing authorities. Doug and I have enjoyed the more positive conversations from the hot tub - planning for our trip to Hawaii, speculating over necessities and pleasures, generally enjoying each day as it comes. Good times, to be sure.

Praise be to the Lord for all He provides, for His steadfast love, His patience, His guidance.