Post Thanksgiving

November 28, 2015
Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. We have much to be thankful for:  our family, children, grandchildren and greats.  we so enjoy listening to the grand kids talk about their academia experiences.  We continue to live active lives vicariously  through them.

Our big tree has gotten lots of publicity this week in the printed word.  Visitors are coming to take a peek and I enjoy being a guide. Tom has printed p more maps so hopefully they won't get lost if we are not here to guide.

Big tree

Yesterday as we were returning from the hospital where I had been all day having my throat and stomach examined, a reporter from the Advitisor democrat was here to interview Tom and take pictures of our white pine which is officially the largest in Oxford County.  Tom  let me in the house to rest and took Leslie on his ATV to the tree.  I'm sure it was a scary ride as I have not yet braved the trip on the back of the ATV.Reporters are brave people.
Since is was my birthday, Beth served the delicious cake she had mede and we had a little celebration of my 82nd. She made a lovely warm scarf and matching headband for me and Tom bought me a silk scarf and the foot bubble bath.
today is just an ordinary day with my two students.  My adult was her this morning and I will have my little one this afternoon.  I enjoy both of these.  They are both smart in their own ways and it's fun to see them grasp music.

Approaching 82

Tomorrow I will make the 82 year old mark.  I know this because the house smells delicious from the birthday cake my sweet daughter and best friend just made  I will eat it on Tuesday as I will be in the hospital tomorrow having a procedure to check out my throat.
Tom and I had many adventures yesterday shopping.  He bought me a foot bath that bubbles.  We also shopped for Christmas toys for the little tykes.
I'm beginning to work on Christmas music for my churches.  It's fun to pull out the various books I have and play through them and choose the appropriate ones for the upcoming Sundays.
I'm planning on having a little Christmas Tea recital for my two students, one adult and one child.  It will give them an opportunity to play before a tiny audience.  I have always enjoyed teaching and when I see a student begin to grasp concepts whether musical or academic, it gives me such pleasure.  I hope to be a blessing with my music as long as I'm able.  Right now, I seem to still give people enjoyment.  When I feel I"m no longer doing justice to the music and the LORD, I will surely step aside. I can't last too much longer.

LIfe's travels

We don't plan anymore road or cruise trips, so here it the best we can do.  I will try to find adventures on our way to the doctor's, grocery, or physical therapy.  Look for these next adventures.

Forrest critters

Yesterday Tom saw a barred owl in the woods and two ruffed  grouse when he was 4 wheeling.  This morning I was going to walk Mora and fortunately saw a fox in the back yard where I was about to take her.  I quickly got her back in the house and ran to get my camera.  He was too far away to get a good photo, but Tom thought he was lame.  He was limping.

Later today, I took Mora out and didn't realize the yard was full of turkeys.  She had fun and soon the sky was full of turkeys getting out of her way.  Our forest critters seem to be everywhere in this 60 degree mid November weather. I walked the Luella trail by myself as Mora refused to go with me.

Yesterday I started giving piano to a teacher friend of mine.  I forgot what it was like to give lessons to someone who is old enough to understand what you are trying to do.  But then my little one came for her lesson and she had practiced better, so all was not bad.
I would like maybe 2 more students, but I hesitate to advertise.

I don't have much time, but if I can help someone find happiness with music, it will give me great pleasure.

Life's adventures, good and bad

It is true that life is a series of adventures and how we respond to these adventures shapes our lives.  We all love to relive our vacations and the good parts of the kids growing up, but when life deals us lemons, do we make lemonade or choke on the acidity?

Last week when the well had a problem and the testing stirred up the water, it was an inconvience.
Later that same day, when the washer broke and thought I needed 4 inches of water all over my kitchen,  Tom quipped as we were frantically sweeping rushing water out into the garage, " The floor has never been this clean." That was actually true and I had to laugh amid my struggles with too much "mop" water.

Yes, that was an adventure that I could have done without.
However, earlier that same day, I was riding on the back of the 4 wheeler, as Tom drove  us into the woods.  The pretty leaves are all gone and most trees stand naked, which allowed me to see that running along in the woods off to our side was a deer trying to keep up with the 4 wheeler.  As the evergreen trees on either side turned  our trails into  dark mysterious tunnels, we sped on down, past the beaver dam and the rock debris from the mine explosion.  I got off of my ride at the mine and walked behind Tom to the North East corner of our 100 acres.  The river had been turned into a large lake, thanks to more beaver dams. It was overall a very good adventure and we had no mishaps.  That adventure happened just hours before our water disaster. So I look at this as a balance of adventures.  Lemonade?

What will today bring?  I have not idea.
Some more good adventures have been trcent surprise visits from long ago friends.  As we age, memories are about all the real adventures that we have left.
I should get ready for the day and have more coffee as I await the delivery of my new washing machine.