Then there is This
Warm weather is the call of the day – the time when faces turn to the sun and hearts to the carefree days of late spring. Coffee on the porch in the early morning, a mid afternoon venture through the back pasture astride the mare that always knows just how you feel, the first taste of quiet, breezy evenings when the sun seems reluctant to sink behind the hills. We are determined this year to experience the moments instead of the seasons, to relish the whispers and cling to the reminders that life is a fleeting fancy that should be treasured for its possibilities. We are blessed with the wealth of family and friends and the joy of today and we wish all of you the wonder and warmth of the late, sweet spring.
Progress?
Stagecoach in Boulder parade (Photo credit: Jerry W. Lewis)
What were we thinking when we went from the Stage Coach as a main means of mass transportation to the “bigger than the state of Delaware” bus. Buses have gotten so big they have to put an accordion fold in the middle of some of them just to be able to get around a corner. Their size alone seems to give them a sense of entitlement, like ownership of the road, both their lane and yours, comes from the fact that they could run you into a ditch without even feeling it and the amount of fuel they use is heart breaking. In the era of the Stage Coach, the passenger traveled with three, at the most four other people, and most of them wore hats, so you didn’t have their dandruff falling on your shoulder if they dozed off on the trip, and a lot of them were carrying guns, so the fear of hijacking was pretty much alleviated. An occasional hold up, wheel break, or washed out bridge was inevitable, but it just made the trip fodder for the next letter home. The cost of fuel was minimal, water and feed, and during your trip you usually got to stop for a cup of coffee at a ramshackle but cozy place where they were glad to see you and happy to do what they could to make the rest of your journey a pleasant one. If you didn’t mind having your bones rattled and being covered with dust, the Stage Coach was a very civilized way of getting from here to there – not fast, but fuel efficient and these days that is the name of the game.
Behold the Dog
If you’ve ever watched a dog nap you know that they are much better at it than we are. They pick their spot, without concern for who might be coming through, clearly assuming it is their right to nap, wherever and whenever they want to. They are not concerned with what time of day it is or even if they will be going to bed in two hours; if they’re sleepy they find a comfortable place that is generally warm, but not over heated, and grab a few winks. They are unencumbered by worries about the volume of their snoring, or what they look like when they drool, because they are there to enjoy uninterrupted rest. If in the midst of their snooze if they suddenly become aware of a bunny in the yard or a mailman at the gate they are more than willing to abandon their moment of repose and dart, fully awake toward the object of their concern. So in general the rules seem to be – 1)nap when you’re sleepy, 2)abandon all sense of decorum for a really good snooze, and 3)a nap is not a commitment, but rather a stopover in an otherwise demanding life.
March Winds
Driving around town today was an effort in “staying between the lines” due the ridiculously high winds, which I have decided I don’t like. I know that it blows the smog out, but if you think about it, that must mean it is blowing someone else’s smog in, and frankly, clean air or not, the wind is annoying. As I drove I passed a man walking up the road, which had a measurable incline, and when I say walking I mean he was “ralking” because I believe his intention was to run, but the wind and the incline were holding him in place. He had his head down and his hand grasping the top of his head in order to keep his hat on and I couldn’t tell for sure, but I think his eyes were closed. At the time he was running by a little group of shops in town, one where coffee is served to sensible people on a windy day and I found myself wondering why he didn’t stop his pretend run and step in for a bit of refreshment. He could get a ride to his car, because we do that sort of thing around here, and drive over to the rec center where he could engage in a productive run on the windless track. It reminded me of the way we conduct our lives at times. We start out to do a thing and when halfway through we discover that the method we have chosen is impractical, way more work than we expected and as a result becoming intensely stressful, but because it was what we started out to do we feel we must finish it or admit failure. Let us remember that failure is not seeing a mistake and correcting it, failure is seeing a mistake and stubbornly making it worse. The lesson here – come in out of the wind and drink your coffee.
Pizza Summer
It is summer and you should be avoiding excess time in the kitchen. These grilled pizzas are an explosion of fresh summer flavors that will leave you feeling full and refreshed.
Start by sautéing one onion sliced thin and halved, one large bunch of asparagus, stems trimmed and cut into one inch pieces, in two tablespoons butter. Continue to cook until asparagus is tender but still bright green.
Spread the top of four Boboli Pizza crusts lightly with olive oil and grill, face down until the top is crisp, about two minutes. Dress the grilled side of the crusts with two tablespoons of Buitoni crushed tomato marinara and four quarter inch slices of fresh mozzarella. Divide the cooked vegetables between the four pizzas and top each pizza with six or seven halved grape tomatoes.
Cover the grill with two thicknesses of foil and return dressed pizzas to the heat, with the temperature turned to low. Close the grill lid for three to four minutes. Cheese should be melting when pizzas are removed to individual plates. Slice each pizza into four pieces and enjoy – a meal in itself!
For Everything
If you are looking for a way to reach a peaceful place in your day, you need look no further than your dust cloth and bookshelves, your cluttered countertop and your hurricane stricken desk. There is true serenity in order, in clean lines and clutter stored away, and it is worth the investment of your time and energy today to have what you will need tomorrow. Stacks of papers are equal to anxiety, like trying to watch a movie through a rainstorm. A certain amount of lived in ambiance is welcoming, even cozy, but shoes that can’t find their way to a closet and phone books that need to be stashed on a pantry shelf are space taking annoyances. You’d be shocked to know what a simple straightening of your silverware drawer will do for your sense of calm. Dusted books that have been edited down to only the best loved volumes, interspersed with prized trinkets and small framed family photos are as soothing as a hot bath. So roll up your sleeves and take one of these rainy afternoons to put your surroundings in order, and just watch – your mind will follow.
Front Row Seat
The Rodeo Parade is past and the streets are safe once again for the Lexus brigade without fear of getting unwanted debris on their tires, but the spirit of the day still lingers. You haven’t really lived until you’ve watched grown men dressed as trashcans dancing down Main Street Evergreen. The children were gleeful, the horses were noble, the people waving were tireless and the old cars were charming. But the true fun of the day was the camaraderie. Watching our friends and neighbors going by in the parade, feeling in a way that we know someone famous, yelling out people’s names, delighted to be part of their entourage. Around us we hear someone commenting on how great the “poms” did in their competition, someone else discussing if the boy on top of the stagecoach is Marion’s oldest or second son, a couple girls commenting on how adorable the new class of firefighter trainees are. For that morning, amidst all the noise and applause we are all family, cheering about the human ability to enjoy the simple things, regardless of what else might be going on in the world, because for that morning, our whole world is in the Parade.
Earth Maven
Do something today to celebrate the fresh new world just outside your window. Dig something into the dirt besides the heel of your boot and start a revolution of color and expansive thinking. Invest yourself in the sheer frivolity of flowers. Nothing for eating, no profit involved, doesn’t count as self improvement, just roots plunked into the soil and splashes of bright, cultivated joy coming out on top. Put in your favorites without a lot of thinking, and absolutely no diagrams, then add some water, and direct a bit of sun 
their way and wink at their soft brilliant faces whenever you pass by and see what happens. The miracle of seeds in the ground being coaxed to their beautiful splendor can do more to lift your spirits than any number of books about “being your best you”, and the fabulous part is that they aren’t really good for anything but enjoyment. Simple beauty and the wonder of floral extravagance – a garden of delights.
You Never Know
When do you know it’s springtime in the mountains? When you leave the house wearing a long sleeved shirt over a tank top and a jacket draped over your arm, knowing that at some point during the day you will need all three. You know when you keep a pair of snow boots, next to a pair of flip flops, next to a pair of gardening shoes at the back door. You know spring has come when you pass more cyclists on the road, and less buggies high centered on the drifts in the grocery store parking lot. There is no doubt that spring has come to the high country when the pick-up trucks that used to have plows attached to the front are filled with lawnmowers, tree trimmers and rakes. The elk begin sporting their sleek coffee colored coats without the clumps of patchy winter fur, the aspen start to spark to life with leaf buds peeking from every branch, the road repair crews no longer wear hoodies under their orange safety vests, the patios start to fill with friends sharing a few moments on their way home from work. Spring in the mountains might mean snow on Thursday, rain on Friday, a sun drenched Saturday and all three on Sunday, with a few other tricks thrown in between. It’s the mountains and spring has come and it is glorious!
Trifling Dessert
Let’s face facts. The best part of the meal is dessert, and when you can whip up and easy one, that has the fresh flavors of summers, it’s a must do. Here is a recipe for a refreshing Trifle that won’t weigh you down with preparation, or too much sweet.
Take a purchased pound cake and cut it into two inch squares then line the bottom of clear, straight sided bowl with as many pieces as it requires. Cover the cake with one half cup fresh blackberries, one half cup sliced strawberries and one fourth cup fresh raspberries.
Mix with electric mixer on high one quart heavy whipping cream, one three ounce package cream cheese, four tablespoons powdered sugar and two teaspoons vanilla. Continue to beat until mixture is peaked and fluffy, then cover the fruit and cake layers with half of the mixture.
Repeat cake and fruit layers and top with the remainder of the whipped mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for one hour. Top with more fruit if desired. Serve cold.
This trifle is lovely to look at and the perfect end to a summer meal!
Color Me Paisley
Sometimes we just have to talk about our favorites and there is no question that Brad Paisley is one of our favorites. We are pretty fond of cowboys as a rule, but this cowboy has won a place in our hearts and it looks like it is here to stay. Some people are just meant for the hats and boots, and Brad is definitely one of them, add the guitar and you have one the best representations of what we love about the west, about country music and about America hands down. Brad Paisley is a family man, a talented singer, song writer, and an over the top, the only guy allowed to play Santana’s guitar, guitarist. When you’re listening to his music and there is an interlude that sounds like a marching band has suddenly joined the group and they’re all playing guitars, that’s Brad – just Mister Paisley having a little fun with the strings. He has made the statement that he won’t perform a song he couldn’t sing in front of his grandmother and that seems like a good guideline, at least it’s working for him. In 2010 Brad Paisley (and that is his real name) won the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year award, as well as a career that boasts 25 breakout hits and 16 number one singles.
Wonder
Run little horse like a leaf on the wind; let the rhythm of your hooves in the grass and the dancing of your mane in the breeze carry you to the home of your ancestors. Be alive with the joy of new birth and independence and the sheer lightness of your gait. There is nothing to hold you as you find your legs and expand your spirit, for you belong to the brilliant sun and the comforting earth. Make your step sure as you stretch your young legs and taste the first wandering days of knowing, of becoming the noble being that lies in your destiny. Let the lilac blooms sweeten your sense of this brave new adventure called life, and run little, remarkable creature, colt of pure blood, for you are the hope of summer, the faith that the world is good.
Cup of Sanity
When you’ve tried everything you can think of, the fact still remains, it is Monday and there is no getting around it. It happens every week, usually just once, but that is enough, and one truth seems to remain unchanged over the years. If Sunday happens, that day of afternoon naps and dinner with family, then Monday is certain to follow, and nothing but creativity and true grit will get you through it unscathed. It is the day of the week when it just seems easier to beat someone up than hear them out, but there is a remedy that will help you check that rude demeanor at the door. Make Monday your special coffee day, not just coffee, but a coffee drink with foam and perhaps a drizzle of chocolate, and add a muffin, and eat it at your favorite coffee place, where everyone is happy to see you, even though it is indeed Monday. When you wake up on Monday knowing that this indulgence lies ahead of you it will make your first day of the week feel like a regular, lots to do, get it done kind of day, so your week will not even have a Monday but rather a “coffee treat” day. Now that is worth getting up for!
Promise Me
Can the bond between horse and human be greater than that of a great ride on a beautiful animal? A website that connects horse lovers to others of their kind, www.horse2heart.com, tells the story of a boy named Trevor who came from a life of abuse and neglect and had taken to living much of his time on the streets with a violent gang of thugs. When he came to the special school for emotionally injured teenagers he was unmanageable and seemingly hopeless, until he was allowed to participate in the work program at the stables. There Trevor was introduced to a horse named Cinnamon, who like him had been rescued from a life of mistreatment and neglect. The stable owner, Mr. Garrison, taught Trevor how to gently care for the fragile, but sweet tempered Cinnamon, and almost instantly a bond was formed. As Trevor cared for the scarred animal, his scars and anger began to heal, and the experience literally turned Trevor’s life around. Every afternoon as he finished with Cinnamon he would promise her a treat upon his return. He quit the gang entirely, stayed in school and graduated, after which he started in a full time job at Mr. Garrison’s stables. When asked how he was able to step away from his violent life on the streets, Trevor explains simply, “I made a promise to horse that I had to keep.”
We The People
Image via Wikipedia
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
back to childhood days
Image by Flying House Studios via Flickr
Looking out my window this morning I was greeted with a blanket of pure white snow that draped itself over the mountains like frosting. There was in time in my life when this would have brought a smile to my face, knowing that sledding was in my future followed by hot chocolate next to the fireplace. Instead the only thing that hit me was that the roads were going to be slick today so I better get out the door early. At first I thought nothing of this but then as I walked down stairs, the house bright with sunshine off the clean whiteness outside, the smell of coffee in the air, I stopped.
I used to love the snow, the sledding, the cold fingers and toes warming up next to fire. Why is it that I find it so hard it enjoy now? I know that our lives are busy and as adults, we now have responsibilities but that doesn’t mean we can’t live in the joy of the simple things as a child does.
Sometimes our adulthood can strip us of the one of the most precious things we have, JOY. Back in the good ol’ days many of us found joy in simple things like a fresh backed cookie, our favorite cartoon, and an icy snow day. Now, the things that bring us JOY are probably different like, an evening at home or a glass of wine after dinner. No matter what is may be…
Let’s go back to childhood days and treasure my second blissful basic- JOY.
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