Solar Eclipse

I was thrilled this morning to discover that while I was dreaming the eastern hemisphere of the globe was witnessing a "ring of fire" solar eclipse! One article claimed that another eclipse of this nature was not predicted for over 1000 years. For those of us who weren't there, here's a video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUuY1lyNmco

I Think Way Too Much

It's like I fell off the edge of the planet with my blog, isn't it?! October 12th was the last time I blogged. I'm stunned. Okay, well maybe not really. I've been a very busy girl. All those ideas and all that energy (Many times fueled by rocket fuel. No! Wait that was coffee.) and the driving schedule kept me going.

I finished the girls room to an acceptable stage so that they were able to have their first major slumber party on Halloween night. Everyone seems to have had a fine time trick or treating and I, miraculously, managed to get a bit of sleep in there too. =) Since then, I've tweaked the things that needed tweaking, but am I every really done? I'd guess the girls new bedroom is 99% or so done--closet-guts not withstanding. (What does that word 'withstanding' really mean? I must look it up later.) I moved the girls' beds into the 1000-times-improved-room before Christmas and gradually we'll move in the rest of their stuff. They love the new digs!

I did indeed participate in NaNoWriMo in November. I did not complete the 50,000 word goal in thirty days. Somewhere around day eight, I realized that I was losing ground with the house and it was reaching a critical crisis state with the family, so I tried to work a bit and write a bit. That worked, I guess if you think that going from writing nearly 2000 words a day to feeling victorious over 12 words is working--at that rate it might another 20 years before I finish this novel idea. Oy! My two writing buddies were initially disgusted with my verbosity, but I think they have forgiven me. I ended with 7242 words to my total and my buddies somewhat less. It gives me hope that if I had been more focused, I might have succeeded. Considering this was my first attempt to do something this radical since I was twelve, I'm actually quite proud of myself.

The holidays left me sweating whether or not I'd get everything done up in time for the onslaught of family get-togethers, just like always. Every year I resolve that next year I will get done earlier and have time to enjoy my labors, and each year I seem to fail more miserably with my goal. I presume that this comes under the heading of "Hey! That's life, what did you expect?!" And then there is always the "Gee, it's over already" chapter that seems to begin the January blahs and organizing affair while stuck inside--since I'm basically a chicken when the temps dive regularly below the freezing point. By February, I'll be dying for a road trip to Tennessee and potential warmer weather. It hits me like my birthdays, and pretty much I don't have to set the internal clock to know it's coming. Some things are just fated and you know it.

The past couple weeks have out done themselves in the thought provoking category. Nothing like life, death, and accidental near death of a friend's family member to remind one of the importance of being there with your family when it counts--be it a slip on the ice or a zombie apocalypse. (Not that I put much credence in the talk on the street about this potential!) All I'm saying is that the rushing around and making sure our materialistic needs are met are not even close to important!

I mean how could that possibly be more important than figuring out the eternal/infernal questions to your personal way to the big g-o-d (if he/it even exists for you), the state of the Union, taxes, gun control, national security, and "Is the way I show my family I love them enough?", and the list goes on and on and....!? I ask you!

As if none of this were not perplexing enough, add in the mysterious process of fudge making that does in fact seem to be affected inconceivably by the weather--hygrometer and barometer measurements--and life is absolutely inexplicable! Amazing! Sometimes our great-grandparents knew what the *bleep* they were talking about. Anybody else wonder what other true wisdom we all missed and passed off as pure silliness and could use about now?!

Ugh, my head hurts.

Ideas Flowing

Ideas are starting to flow at a rapid pace in my mind. A lot of my ideas are about what I want to write about during the Nanowrimo event, and that is exciting as I don't think I'll be at a loss for topics. I am keeping copious notes about all my ideas, but where they get recorded seems to be as scattered as how and when the ideas arrive. Some ideas are centered around various garden projects at home, the Children's Garden and elsewhere. Some are about art work I'd like to produce. Some are about home remodeling and renovation, decorating about Halloween, Halloween costume possibilities...are you getting the picture? The ideas seem endless. What's up with the creative volcano in my mind this month?

Update!

The Children's Garden has three new trees installed as of this morning! Whoo-pah! I added a weeping cherry to the list yesterday and dug it's hole this morning before the trees arrived. Installing the trees was a bit like watching the Three Stooges plant a tree. (If they ever did that.?) There was me, Jeff P. and Jeff N. (or the other Jeff, as he is more typically monikered.)

First, there was trying to decide how to get the trees into the garden. Normally, one would think this does not need too much consideration, however the garden currently has some special circumstances that needed evaluation.
The circumstances: The garden has no easy front access or side access, because of all the new grass coming up. Last night it rained (over half an inch), so all the soil was very soft this morning--more trouble. The other two sides have raised beds (4-8" high)--all ready for planting, but very wet. The columnar oak was the largest of the three trees. It's approximately twelve feet tall and has to weigh at least 200 pounds!! It has a trunk diameter of about 4 inches--no small feet!
The decision: The final answer was that some tender grass would be trod upon, as carefully as we could manage by crossing at the front and sticking to the winding path. (This path is sometimes affectionately and frustratingly nicknamed "The Drunkard's Path"--and for good reasons.)

Second, there was the hysterical process of unloading the trees from the truck bed into assorted carts or wheelbarrows. I can honestly say that getting the oak down and out to the garden was film worthy, and had us all hunched over laughing at various moments on the journey. I nearly went head over teakettles once with the honey locust tree and wheelbarrow, as it overturned with a gust of wind. (Yes, it was pretty breezy this morning.) Let that be a lesson to one and all...always lay your tree on its side to transport--especially when said tree is nearly ten feet tall! By the time we got to tree number three, the weeping cherry, the thrill had gone with the ease of this minute tree. It was only six feet tall. I took that one solo. No, challenge at all!

Third was the adventure of planting. Tools needed: one hacksaw, wire cutters, pliers, screwdriver, pocket knife and a claw-like grasp of fingers. The oak as you can imagine took all three of us to unload, unwrap, cut string , cut wire, cut bound up roots, and then not so gracefully roll into the hole. I'm certain I looked very graceful grasping the tree, walking backwards stooped over, rolling it towards me and then straddling the hole so as not to get trapped under it's two hundred pound weight. Right.
The honey locust was horridly root bound. We planted it despite it's trauma and with tender loving care, because it is guaranteed for one year. But as protection for us, pictures were taken in case they might be needed later.
The weeping cherry was a picture of perfection to plant, and was so small I was able to do it on my own.

So, after all the struggling, laughing and laboring it was indeed a good day for the Children's Garden!

Now for the rest of the story...

This fall in between doing volunteer work at the Nature centers, the Children's Garden and running children here and there for swim lessons, Science Olympiad, Girl Scouts and dance lessons, I have been busy on other personal avenues.

1.)I have contacted the university and played office ping pong to determine how I must proceed effectively with a program to A.) get a teaching license and certification, and B.) return to school for a Master's degree. I will know more after they have evaluated my transcripts, so I am told.

2.) I have made and submitted my resume. I continue to look for anything that looks appealing to apply. I am hopeful that I will become gainfully employed--ideally part time, but I'm open to full time for the right job.

3.) I have been volunteering at my youngest daughter's school one morning a week. This seems to be helping her and me to understand what she has to do in her new High Ability (or gifted/talented) class that is both 4th and 5th graders. I have been thrilled with her renewed enthusiasm at going to school. Saddened for her having less contact with her best friends during the week. Challenged in how to keep up with the emotional roller coaster that is the life of a 9 year old girl. But at the moment I wouldn't change it for love nor money! For the first time ever my child is learning a LOT and in a short amount of time. In the past she was spending her days bored to death waiting to learn one thing of value--just a kernel here and there.

4.) I have completely lost my mind, (LOL) and decided to attempt a childhood dream that will require me to spend a great deal of time in front of a computer typing. I have signed up to participate in this year's NaNoWriMo during the month of November. I keep telling myself this is completely insane, and yet the creative brain in my refuses to be silenced. Last January, I had an idea and the idea is niggling still. So I'm going to at least make the effort. If I fail at least I will have given it a shot.

So that is the long and the short of it all. May I be blessed with good fortune and moderate sanity!

It's Fall in the Children's Garden and What Do I Have to Show for It?

The Children's Garden project has continued all summer long. I have pushed and prodded it and it beginning to show signs of loveliness! The garden is all laid out and folks are gearing up to finish their parts before the garden is closed up for the winter.

1.) I completed the last of the major excavation this week--the labyrinth. Yay! Ah, to complete the mulching and planting--within the next thirty days I'll say!

2.) I have two ladies and their volunteers planting the prairie flowers in the next couple weeks, and they will be including an official certified Monarch Butterfly Waystation.

3.) I have one teacher/master gardener and her students creating the bog this Friday (weather permitting).

4.) The playhouse/classroom/storage/whatever-we-need-it-for shed was installed in the garden a while back and has a fresh coat of yellow tinted primer on it--very attractive with the green steel roof.

5.) The picket fence and gate are installed and looking like it will be painted in the spring with gusto.

6.) Four shrubs are planted in different parts of the garden. And short sunflowers matured in lovely variety. Some purple coneflowers were planted late summer in the hopes of spring green and summer beauty next year.

7.) The buckwheat cover crop used over the hot summer was a beautiful success, and has gone by the wayside to be replaced by lovely green grass.

8.) Two holes were dug in preparation for the two new trees that will be planted this week--a thornless honeylocust in the labyrinth and a columnar oak near the playhouse/multi-purpose building.

I say that's not bad for year one and about 200 hours of my time! An alphabet garden, an herb garden, arbors, signs, two child-size picnic tables, benches, a shade canopy, the human sundial and many more plantings are to come next year. Compared to this year, I think it will be a complete breeze!

Yes, I have continued to take pictures and over the winter, I may actually get them available online. I pray...

Rice Field Art in Japan

A good friend of mine sent me an email the other day about several Japanese communities creating art images in rice fields using four different varieties of rice plants. It's fascinating. The artist in me is tickled by the art image choices and the gardener in me salutes all those patient planters!

Check it out:

http://www.hemmy.net/2007/09/23/rice-field-art/