Tuesday, December 2, 2014

The Christmas Earrings



One of my all-time, most cherished Christmas gifts I have received was from my son 22 years ago. He had gone with his 1st grade class to the church Christmas boutique. There, they had a special table for children to shop for inexpensive, homemade trinkets. 

He came home with a little box, tied up with green ribbon and gave it to me before Christmas. "You need these now!" he said. His anticipation was electric. I slowly opened the box, and inside were a pair of tiny jingle bell earrings. Each one had three bells ~ red, green and gold. I have worn those earrings every year since!

And, then, one year not too long ago, probably while taking off my jacket or scarf one day, I lost one of those earrings. I was heartbroken....it was like losing a diamond.

Thinking about the joy on my son's face as he gave me his gift those many years ago still warms my heart. That will always be one of the best gifts I have ever received!


Post Script ~
Last year, while reorganizing the bedroom, I found my missing earring behind the dresser! You can only imagine my delight in finding that little treasure! Merry Christmas! 


Thursday, August 7, 2014

....A Week Later....


The house is too quiet ... the silence ~ deafening. I desperately want to hear the jingle of her tags as she shakes, stretches and rearranges the blanket on her bed in the night's darkness. I miss her calm, even snore as she settles back into a deep sleep.

The morning routine is anything but. Her eyes are no longer watching my every move....from the bed...to the shower...from the floor of the closet while I'm getting dressed. I walk down the stairs solo....there are no mighty paws at my heels.

I miss her sitting by the front door, patiently waiting for me to put on my shoes and grab the phone and lead. I miss her eager anticipation of walking out onto the porch to discover the tiny treats Dona has left for her.

Stealth dog is not laying where I can trip over her ... she's not here to snatch up the bits of food that have hit the floor while I cook. She no longer magically appears as I butter the raisin toast. She is not here to lend an ear when I want to confide in her....or, to give me juicy kisses....or, to paw my leg when she wants a treat. And, she isn't here to walk with me. Yep. It's too damn quiet.

The 'new normal' leg of my journey has begun  ...and it sucks.

I miss her so much. 

My Roxie Girl.


Roxie and I try a "Selfie"




Friday, August 1, 2014

You stole my heart, Roxie Girl...♥

Sometimes, they are only in our lives for a short time. 
For us, it was love at first sight.
We are so glad you came into ours dear, darling Roxie. 










                                            




                                               
                                                            She was my girl.





                                             
...I miss you, Roxie Girl.

Adopted April, 2012
February 1, 2001 ~ July 30, 2014

Monday, July 21, 2014

Mockingbird Serenade

"Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, 
but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."
~ Atticus Finch
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been serenaded by two mockingbirds. On 'opening night', one had found a perch on the top of the power pole just outside our bedroom window. His repertoire was not only absolutely amazing...it was quite loud and continued for what seemed to be hours. As I lay there listening, I was fascinated with all of the different songs it knew; how many of them had choruses in groups of three and how there was little repetition. He even had the bark of a squirrel down to a tee!

After two nights of this gig we had a brief reprieve. However, it now seems the show has been extended indefinitely. Charlie is threatening to take action if it doesn't take the show on the road! This reminded me of the quote above...of which I gently shared with Charlie. I will admit it is hard to ignore the serenade. Shortly after we are asleep, the songs begin and we are once again awake. While sleep eluded us, I laid there listening...thinking...and remembered a story about some mockingbirds that were in our garden a few years ago.

June ~ 2006

We spent the weekend working in the garden. It was going to be another hot day ~ 90 degrees! So, we started early hoping to beat the heat. While I was busily snipping and dead-heading the climbing rose bush (next to the patio), birds were squawking everywhere! I looked up and discovered a brambly stick nest with three baby mockingbirds ~ mouths wide open ~ peeping merrily.  Behind me, hanging on the string of party lights was the parent, watching my every move.

                


I carefully, but quickly, backed off...all the while apologizing to him/her. The parent buzzed in, deposited bits of something into each mouth and was off again. The babies went silent until the parents returned. This continued all afternoon...peeping and eating.

Several nights later, I looked out the dining room window and saw a little puffy, rolly-poly bird standing on the driveway, beak in the air...peeping softly...almost in question form, while watching the sky.


Snippet from my garden journal...

I called to Charlie and told him one of the baby birds was out. He went out back to check the nest and discovered the birds had left the nest! We heard one by the wall fountain, we knew one was on the driveway...where was #3? I went back to the bush and there he was...straddling two small branches next to the nest, obviously not keen on jumping just yet!

I returned to the driveway to check on bird #1...and came around the corner just in time to see him hop under the gate to the front of the house! Cat central!!!

...another snippet from my garden journal...

 

So, I followed him. He found a nice, dark, cool place just to the left of the gate by the corner of the wall. There were several large bags of mulch and potting soil next to the wall. On the ground, kind of behind/under the stack of bags, there was a bunch of old leaves, dirt and dog fuzz that had collected over the winter. In went the bird...and again the peeping began. 

As the sun set, I went out to take roll one more time before bed. The driveway bird had returned from his brief and daring trip under the gate and was now under the stack of plastic chairs between the garage and log rack...and still sending up 'peeps'. The bird in the brambles hadn't moved and the one by the fountain could still be heard...nighty night, little ones!

The next morning, before leaving for work, I purposely closed the gate that separated the driveway from the back garden so the dogs would remain in the back yard and leave the little bird alone.

When I returned home, I headed to the back garden to see if the birds had regrouped. I opened the back door and Pete jumped up to greet me. Annie was lounging on the walkway, sitting like the Sphinx...with her front paws crossed. In between her paws lay one of the baby mockingbirds. Annie looked at me and without thinking, I said loudly, "No, Annie! OOHH!!!" Of course, remorse immediately set in; she didn't know why I was upset. She was taking care of the baby bird. I think she thought it was someone to play with. Unfortunately, the little bird was loved to death. 

I'm not sure which bird Annie had, but she was guarding its limp little body as if it were her own baby.

The Circle of Life ~ Nature's way of checks and balances...necessary, sure. Still, I was saddened to know one of the birds wad dead. And, my heart went out to the parent birds. They had worked 24/7, flying back and forth with food to the nest. One was always close by, keeping an eye on the kids in the nest.

While we didn't see the remaining two babies again, we did hear them in the distance, peeping their signal to their parents for a few days more. Then, the silence that followed told us that the babies had taken flight. This story, while bittersweet, continues to remind us that there is always something going on in the garden...and we need to take the time to stop, watch and listen. There are many more stories yet to come! 










  

Friday, May 9, 2014

What Happened to April?

Does anyone know what happened to April? 
Does anyone really know what time it is????


Shortly after Charlie's big birthday celebration, I had expected to have some down time to work on my blog, catch up on my organizing and work in my studio. Distraction hit in early April and we were off to Tucson for a 50th year celebration of the Kon Tiki Restaurant!




Four days of party and visiting family.  

My cousin, CB, Leslie, me and my Big Kahuna, Chuck!

After that, things are a bit of a blur.

So, dear blog friends....don't give up on me! There will be a new post soon!!!

~ peg

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Charlie's 55th Birthday Celebration!


Here it is....March 21st (already)...
and I just can not wrap my head around how time is flying! 
I mean, really! Warp speed!
Charlie's 55th Birthday was last week. 
Our son, Whitney, came up to celebrate with us. 
What Charlie didn't know was that Stephanie
 (Whitney's BFF) was coming with him!

As planned, we poured drinks and then went straight to game time! 
I ran across a vintage copy of Password in the window seat...
and needless to say, it was such a blast!
Dinner included barbecued fish, steamed broccoli and organic rice. 
Charlie manned the bar-b-cue and Whitney handled the side dishes. Stephanie helped....
It's always a party when these two get together!!!
After dinner, it was time for chocolate cake! YUM! 
Then, of course, it was time for PRESENTS!
A vintage Tiki mug from Whitney & Stephanie.
A new Charlie Brown mug from Charlie's God Daughter, Mia.
And, a new hoodie/jacket with a tropical logo to wear 
to the Kon Tiki in April!
A great time was had by all! 
Happy Birthday, Charlie!

























Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Sometimes I hate Technology!

Dear Blog Followers....


Apparently, there seems to be a blog glitch and I have been unable to upload photos or updates.


Do know that I am still here...trying to figure out why suddenly I cannot post new posts to the Scattered Journalist.


....film at 11.


~ peg