Thanksgiving 2009

In homes today across Pilgrim's land
mothers and dads and sisters and brothers
and cousins and pals will
gather to play and repartee, to
repeat stories already told
at other holiday celebrations
and overeat turkey and
cornbread dressing
and mashed potatoes and
sweet potatoes and
cranberry salad and creamed corn
and pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread.
Many will pause for a moment
away from football games,
games of cribbage and watching old movie
musicals on DVD to recall
and recount some blessing,
some bounty, some beautiful
happening of the past year;
A baby born, a friendship restored,
a new job found, and give thanks to the Creator.
For others who have struggled with
saddness and loss; Feeling far removed
from Rockwell's "Freedom From Want"
their Thanksgiving is offered
in persevering hope, not dispair
knowing God will provide,
trusting in His care.

Looking Towards Winter

The view today from the old log swing looks bleak. The pumpkin orange and yellow squash colors of autumn are gone. The lake is flat, non-descript. The mid-range row of moutains are white with snow, like a chocolate bundt cake drizzled with vanilla frosting. The noble and evergreen trees seem staid and sober knowing the approaching winter is near. A raven with wings spanned wide sqawks loudly as he makes a solo flight across the expanding sky. I breathe in the cold, chilly air of north Idaho and am thankful for this place in time.

Splash of Color

It's been grey, drab
all day dreary
no blue sky
or sunshiney ray
Thoughts turn inward
casting a reflection
on the saddess of life
when foresaken by a friend
or a family member dies
Oh! where is the lightness,
the brightness to lift
one's spirit ?
To laugh with abandon and
carefree merriment
Then 4:10. Out the study room
window I see the setting sun
Brilliant. Beautiful. Domed between
the bland skyline and tops of trees
Reddish orange like the luscious lustre
of a vine ripened tomato
and I smile at the
splash of color added
to this colorless day.

Fall Leaves Fall

Fall leaves
gently fall
to the damp grassy earth
in my mother's backyard
covering the ground
in a blanket of
autumn color;
Like the golden yellow
of a golden delicious apple,
the green of a Granny Smith,
the deep orange of
a baked sweet potato
and pomegranate red.
I slip on
an old pair of
garden gloves and
grab the rake
to make piles and
piles of soft leafy mounds
soon to be bagged and
trucked away.
The task is not unpleasant
on this cool November day
I move and breathe
in the change of season
happening all around me
and am reminded of
pilgrims and pumpkins
and Thanksgiving Day

Lake Chelan, Ace Hardware, Friendly Service and Survial Items

I'm home now after a week at Lake Chelan with Margaret and Sandy. The three of us have been friends since high school and meet each November for a 'Northwest Gals Get-A-Way'. You might say we're a 'condensed version' of a larger group of friends who have remained close since those long ago school days in the 1960's. With Marg living in Sammamish, Sandy in Tri-Cities and me in north Idaho, the short driving distance makes it easier for us to get together more than once a year; Cherished time we look forward to, always wishing the other 'Bell Belles' could join us in our happy, carefree time.

Our Chelan days are lazy, easy - not planned before hand. No time schedules, or alarm clocks to wake us, we get up at our leisure to lounge around in our pj's , watch early morning T.V. and drink coffee. We share stories about our husbands and children and anquish over wrinkles and weight gain, and laugh out loud over silly things we've done, and hope to still do.

During our stay we visited favorite and familiar spots - Leavenworth , the marvleous mock Bavarian village named after Captain Charles Leavenworth; Apple Auntie's Antique Mall in nearby Cashmere , Mill Bay Casino and downtown Chelan. While in Chelan we added a new shop stop to the number of stores to browse; Kelly's Ace Hardware. Little did we know how fun and interesting it would be. It was only after the ever observant Margaret noticed kitchen utensils through the window that we even decided to walk in. I was looking for a certain type of cheese slicer, and she thought by some off the wall chance, I might find it there. To our surprise we did ! Not only did Kelly's have the cheese slicer I wanted , they also had the 'Life Hammer' Marg was looking for.

We were just about to pay for our wares when we learned how true their store moto , " Old Time Friendly Service From Friendly Folks Since 1925", really is. A smiling middle aged sales clerk, wearing work jeans and a plaid shirt hurried over to tell us more about the advantages of the "Life Hammer" and the importance of having one in the car. The three of us were all ears and wide eyed, when he said, "Come over here, and take a look at these survival items". His enthusiasm was contagious, so off we went like Camp Fire girls following after our troop leader, down one aisle then another.

He took time explaining and showing us a variety of survivalist items one should carry in their rig during winter weather. He made each one sound so vital and neccessary , we wanted to buy them all ! Margaret suggested they'd make good stocking stuffers for Christmas, Sandy and I agreed. He then led us over to the autmotive section and picked up a jug of alternative gas fuel safe enough to keep in our car in case we ran out of gas. According to Ace Man, it was good for 10 miles . Wow ! We wanted that , too. Although, I can't remember the last time I ran out of gas; I think college. Still, we all agreed , driving in northwest winters is full of uncertainty and requires good planning in case of some unforeseen road hazard. So everything Ace Man was telling us seemed to make good sense, and we took turns nodding to each other, saying, "Yeah, that's right", confirming his counsel.

Finally , the friendly sales clerk led us to a display of soy candles neatly arranged on a shelf towards the front center of the store; He carefully picked up each one and placed it under our nose so we could smell the scent . Being polite, the three of us oohed and aahed and said , "How nice", but by this time we were ready to move on, and head for the Hallmark store across the street. We thanked Ace Man for his help , bid him adieu and walked out the door still talking about survival items to keep in our car, and marvelled over the friendly service at Kelly's Ace Hardware.