Breakfast

I've been on a porridge spree for a bit, loving those
itty bitty packages of preflavoured instant stuff
so convienient!

I ran out of them.

So this morning I pulled out the bag of slow cook oats from the cupboard

The cat (Barbarella) has this habit of sinking her teeth into anything grainy that
happens to be left out in plain sight.
This morning's victim was the bag of tortillas.
She chews through the plastic and messes up a few pieces then runs away

The bag of oats had a few toothy holes in it,
so I internally scolded her and proceeded
measure water
put on to boil
measure oats
mix in
stir wait enjoy

sugar,
cinnamon,
spoon

I'm half way through the bowl
when I notice ...
A sunflower seed?
hmmm
kinda dark for that.
Oh.

hMMM
what's that other off colour brown spot
OH!

Mouse turd
and maggot in my meal this morning
Lovely

I'm going back to toast.

The bike

Just came inside from my second bike ride this week.
Did I mention this is the bike that won an adventure race?
(though it wasn't me riding it)
I can hear it dripping in the entry, hung like a wet sweater from it's hook
snow cloggled treads coming free from the icy coat.
I love this bike, beautiful full suspension by Specialized,
Tom (my brother) gave it to me two Christmases past.
Gave me a little present, the wrapped contents feeling like a book
opened up to find , "no it couldn't be" " what?" thoughts going through my head
as it was revealed to be a bike manual
and sent to the garage to find it.
WOW, definately one of the most meaningful gifts I've ever recieved.
I cried.
My old bike, well past it's prime,
though having been top of the line for it's first owner
had come to a state where about fifty metres was
the maximum distance I could ride it without something
either puncturing, slipping, or outright falling off.

I must say this gift came at the right time in my life
Winters have been times of deep depression for me
and none so much as these last two
Not to say posessions are the solution to depression
when my real need is to trust in God,
(and perhaps a sunlamp)
But wow what an unexpected blessing.
THanks Tom.
I know it is over a year ago.
but I'm thankful every day for that bike.

Ah the lovely fumes!

SO , so , so
I am refinishing my floors in the studio and gallery (as well as the gallery shelves)
Some might think this should be a summer job,
you know the type where the windows should be open and fans on...
well not for me. As midwinter after Christmas is slow time, it's the home reno show here
and oh how the wafting odour of polyurethane lulls me to sleep

I am actually quite amazed by the ability of my furnace to carry the vapours
so quickly throughout the whole hose
Guss that shows something for duckwork

THe thougth has crossed my mind to maybe move out for a day or so
but I love my home, and the comports of ti
Friends have sluggested, inpinionated even
that geese camelskulls cud be affection my mine
I donut thing sew
Toil necks thyme
Got an other goat to putt on the flower.

Prayer Retreat

Amazing
what a few hours of intense spiritual focus can do for your outlook
I'm tired, wiped out
but intensely encouraged by the beginning of this retreat.
Tomorrow I dig into the ice monuments with the teens.
Strange how plans change.
more later

Storm

Stuck here an extra day at Mom and Dad's
4-6 inches of new snow!
Roads closed or not advised
Will try again tomorrow

Here's a pic of some snow to warm you up

So many things to write about

At work a few weeks ago
During a period of being depressed about where I live,
I was listening to this guy I'd never heard of
speak to the students and staff at work.
Sigmund Brower had everyone enthralled and engaged
for the hour he spoke.
His focus was on writing well,
but an aside had him commenting on small town life
and how he believes the internet will become the equalizer
in allowing people to do what they love
and live cheaply out here,
while maintaining contact with peers.
The example he gave was
of a potter in a small town who loves to make little pots
and can use the internet for promotion
Everyone turned around and looked at me .
Sigmund had no idea about me (till later)

Saturday got to hang out and learn from Cindy Morgan, Sigmund's wife,
Greatly enjoying hanging out and being creative with others for a day
We came up with a title for a song
"That's what matters"
and then went off in pairs to conjour up some lyrics
we brought them back and she took them to the keyboard
hearing the short clips of her interpretations
blew us away, a short perusal over the sheets we handed in
and then bang bang bang onto the keys
and out came a fabulous range of music
each set of lyrics matched both the words and the writers of the words.
What an amazing gifted woman.
Definately doing what she is supposed to!

Then that Saturday evening
Cindy and Sigmund performed at my church
only a sparse number of people showed up
the concert was fabulous
and Sigmund's talk again both entertaining and encouraging.
Afterward, I gave them a teapot as a thanks gift
and ended up having them over to my house.
Trading pottery and talking of a future creative workshop.

Such a cool couple of days.
God is good

Found This

Found this quote on a random Next Blog jump

"
That was the first thing I had to learn about her, and maybe the hardest I've ever learned about anything--that she is her own, and what she gives me is of her choosing, and the more precious because of it. Sometimes a butterfly will come to sit in your open palm, but if you close your hand, one way or the other, it--and its choice to be there--are gone.-Barbara Hambly (Dragonsbane)
"