New Orleans

   I just got back from a sister trip to New Orleans.  We rode the Amtrak down.  I got on in Fulton Ky, Louise in Memphis and Jane in Jackson.  It was a great trip down.  It was also the day after the election and I wasn't in the minority as an Obama supporter on the train.  Both my sisters are Republicans but I tried not to rub it in too much.  We sat in the observation car and watched Mississippi roll by, talking the whole time.  It was something we had talked about doing for a while.  It felt great to make it a reality.  We arrived in New Orleans about 3pm and walked about a mile to our hotel.  We went down Bourbon street and found some good food.  The next day Louise and I took a city tour which was interesting.  Henry was our tour guide and he showed us the rebuilding in the Ninth ward and told us tidbits about the history of the city.  We ate muffaleto's at Central Grocery and Beneignts at Du Mondes.  I found a cool sweater in the French Market.  We sat outside of St Louis Cathedral and listened to the street musicians play jazz. We enjoyed the State museum.   The next day we went out to the Garden district and shopped some on Magazine street.  We got to celebrate Louise's 60th birthday with her on Sat.  It was a really good trip including the train to get there.  I'm just so glad we were able to do it.  Chicago is on our itinerary for our next trip.

The Election

  This past Sunday there were two letters to the editor in the Paducah Sun warning that "Obama, Democrats have nation on brink of economic, social ruin"  and  "It's our Christian duty to vote for leaders based on biblical truth"  The first letter talks about a socialist agenda and urges us all to vote for freedom from the oppressive anti religious regime that is obamaism.  The second letter proclaims that if we continue down the same road (killing babies and same sex marriage) nothing but God's judgement awaits us and we may already be experiencing it. May god have mercy on us.  This letter was written by an 86 year old retired Baptist pastor. 
   These views should not surprise me because I hear them from coworkers all the time.  But they do alarm me.  I want to shout that I am a democrat and I am a Christian.  These two beliefs are not incompatible.  I'm also tired of being made to feel ashamed for being a democrat.  The second letter talks about biblical truth and anyone who has read their bible can immediately recognize that the bible is not a simple book.  It requires study and there are many conflicting stories.  There are biblical admonishments about divorce, lending money, women cutting their hair, having slaves etc etc.  The bible actually has very little to say about homosexuality. So why do some Christians hang everything on one verse while ignoring others?  What the bible does teach is that Jesus spent his time with the outcasts in society- the lepers, widows, the poor, the Samaritans.  He also taught that we should love our neighbors, which are not those people that are just like us.  Our neighbors are the lepers, the poor, widows, those from other countries, and even homosexuals.  How can man proclaim homosexuality a sin when scientists cannot even tell us the cause of homosexuality.  Would we condemn a child with Down' s syndrome? 
    I know that if we take the bible literally it doesn't all add up.  I also know that I am voting for a President of the USA not a spiritual leader.  I want a president that can lead this country through tough economic times.  Obama has been doing this for the last 4 years. Based on that, I believe he deserves another 4 years. 

Decisions decisions.....

    I hate having to make big decisions.  Maybe I've never been good at it.  I'm more the type that just goes along with the flow not always realizing the direction I'm floating.  I guess I can be impulsive and I do like new challenges.  A few decisions I've been proud of is marrying my husband and becoming a nurse practitioner.  I'm also glad I spent time at home with my kids when they were little.   Not too long ago I made a job decision that I look back on and regret.  Now I'm faced with another job decision and I feel paralyzed by it.  How in the world can I decide again?  Can I rectify my other mistake or am I doomed to repeat it.  I don't totally understand why I screwed up so that's not good as I'm looking to make another similar decision.  I wonder if there's a process I can follow.  Some kind of systematic steps to follow.  I think I'll list pros and cons of both possibilities.  And then I'll pray and look for any kind of guidance.

Bike Relay

   This past weekend I had a great time.  After working on friday, we drove down to Memphis.  I joined other friends down there to do a 24 hour bike relay for St Jude.  Our team was the cyclepaths and we raised about 7500$ for St Jude.  We started riding at 6pm and continued until 6pm on Saturday.  I think everyone thought I was crazy to be excited about going.  We road on Riverside drive and pitched tents in Tom Lee park.  I slept under the stars like a baby.  I woke up Sat morning and enjoyed a yoga class overlooking the river.  The food was great as well as the weather.  I felt such a sense of peace and thankfulness to be there.  Memphis is really my home town although I have alot of mixed feelings about it. On Saturday I felt nothing but love for Memphis.   Family came out and offered support.  Our 8 member team got along great and enjoyed ourselves.  I'm still savoring the weekend.  We're already thinking of next year.

Birthdays

  Last year I got to celebrate my birthday with my aunt who celebrated her 100th birthday.  It was such a special day.  Aunt Lora has since died.  This year I celebrated one of those milestone birthdays.  As fate would have it, this year's birthday was miserable.  Right before my birthday, my boss at work came to me and said administration wants to cut back hours and this could affect my job.  Then I went home to get a speeding ticket in the mail.  I hate those photo cops.  I think it's a sleazy way to make money.  So we have a camping trip planned for the weekend, and a new dog to take.  My husband greets me with news that he has found a home for the new dog.   Logically I couldn't turn down a home for a soon to be large dog that needs shots and to be spayed and fed puppy chow for at least 3 more months.  And this doesn't even consider all the things she'll chew up and the time required in training, but it made me sadder.  As it turned out we threw out all logic and decieded to keep her.  What can I say- she can swim  and we named her Ginger. 

 

So while we were camping I went over my data plan on the cell phone.  I haven't ever done that before and didn't get any kind of warning.  And then my toenail came off.  Happy 50th birthday to me.  Yes I'm whining. 

Nature's Bounty

 The garden is running my life about now.  I have done everything I know how to do with zucchini- relish, bread, cakes, and jelly as well as an ample supply in my freezer.  I am done with zucchini.  Now for the tomatoes.  Friday I canned 10 quarts of spagetti sauce.  Today I made a batch of salsa.  I'm glad to have some tomatoes this year- Last year we didn't have any.  We're freezing them too.   The peppers are everywhere.  My husband eats them and some we have frozen.  We actually had corn this year too.  That's a first for our garden.  Our sunflowers look pretty majestic.  They will make some nice pictures and bouquets and food for the birds.   They are my personal favorite because they don't require much work on my part and are so pretty.

25 years of Nolan reunions

   We just got home from our annual family reunion.  This year it was in Hot springs, Ark.  There were 29 of us altogether.  The reunion included granny, four sisters and one brother and our families that includes grandchildren now.  There were two babies under a year and a 2 and 3 year old plus some school age kids too.  It's great to see how we have grown.  This was our 25th year to have the reunion.  It was so good to catch up with everyone.  We had some good meals together and did a little sight seeing in hot springs.  We also had a cousin come to share a day with us with lots of good genealogical information and pictures. How lucky we are to have Eugene in the family.  We all  enjoyed ourselves.   

Cats

  I had the thought recently that if I could only have one pet, it would be a cat.  Not that I don't love my dogs and birds but cats are so easy and so loving.  I always remember having cats but we didn't aquire a dog until I was 4.  The dog was more of a long term project requiring quite a bit from us.  Cats have always been independent and adaptable.  My Memphis cat has been a good example of this.  Cats can live inside or out, the city or country.  Grandma's cat disappeared for 6 months before turning up a half a mile away in a barn.  He was none the worse for wear.  And nothing is better than  a kitten.  No one can be depressed that owns a kitten.  It's entertaining to just watch them.  Right now we have 6 cats in the immediate family.  They all have their own personality- some more likeable than others, some don't get along and others seem to like each other.  A cat in the lap is a wonderful thing.

Saluda Girls

   On the first weekend in May, a group of women gather together in Saluda, NC for the  weekend.  We have been doing this for 20 years now.  It started out as stay at home moms wanting a break.  My friend Millie's in-laws had a summer home in Saluda.  It started as 5 or 6 of us in 1992.  Mainly we shopped, talked and ate.  Over the years it's grown into so much more.  Our numbers have grown and we have all gotten older.  Our kids have flown- some really far away and we all have aging parents to care for.  I have moved away, so for me it's a homecoming each year to catch up with my friends that I miss so much. Millie and David own the Saluda house now and they care for it as the family heirloom that it is.  The house has been in the family for 4 generations and it was built as a summer house to escape the heat of Cuba. Thanks to Millie and David, it is still serving as a wonderful escape.  It welcomes you with a large porch, old trees, lots of beds and games and wonderful memories.  Going to Saluda is like having a warm quilt of love draped around your shoulders.  These are friends that you can be yourself with and confess everything.  They are never shocked and they even still like you.  I always learn something new at Saluda.  This year for the 20th anniversary we did a winery tour.  It was really fun and we think we've found a driver for future adventures too.  There were 13 of us there this year from GA, KY, TN and DC.   I feel so fortunate to be part of this group.  

Paducah and Quilts

  This past week Paducah Ky hosted it's 28th annual Quilt show.  I doubt that I would have ever attended if I didn't have family that quilts.  My mother grew up quilting and made her first one at age 19 as a young married woman.  It was the way that scraps of fabric could be used to make something useful.  It also became a creative expression for those that did the piecing of the quilts.  The actual quilting was laborious, so women often got together to share the work.  I'm happy to say that women are still getting together in quilting guilds, bees or shows, not so much to hand quilt together any more but to share ideas and fabric and friendships.  All of this was very apparent this year at the quilt show.   
       My older sister has been sewing forever and more recently quilting.  She owns a gammel quilting machine and turns out hundreds of quilts every year.  For a number of years she has been coming to the Paducah quilt show and I go when I can.  I really consider it an art show.  The work is awe inspiring and mind boggling.  I still have no concept of how these women can make life like paintings out of fabric.  Even some of the simple techniques seem a bit complicated to me.  (My seamstress gene has never been fully developed)  As I long as I'm the recipient of such family heirlooms, I doubt I'll have any reason to develop it either.
    Paducah has been blessed by hosting these quilters for the last 28 years, both economically and spiritually. The quilts come from as far away as Japan and Australia. It's amazing the way women (and men) all over the world can find inspiration in the everyday. Quilting has come a long way since my mother made her first quilt.

  

   

Bikes and Blooms and contradictions

  Recently I got myself a new ride.  My old bike was a faithful friend.  It's been with me from Canada to the gulf coast and I hate to get rid of it, but it was starting to show it's age.  My new bike is a commuter friendly trek.  I've ridden it to work for the last two days and loved every minute of it.  You see I'm a practical person and,  it feels so much more right to me to use my muscles and energy for something useful like commuting.  The gym will always seem artificial to me.  Let me haul some mulch or garden any day to burn calories.  Anyway my new ride has a basket and a light and I'm so proud.  I can't wait to take it camping soon.

       This spring has just been unusually early and extra pretty.  The azaelas and dogwoods have been gorgeous. (My new white azaelas have bloomed this spring)   I have some beautiful wisteria and lilacs. My new buckeye tree bloomed.   I love growing flowers.  This goes against my above practical nature but I have gotten over it. My husband can grow food- I put my efforts into flowers.  I felt guilty for just a little while.  I have really enjoyed my flowers this spring.

Spring Anniversary

   I spent the most gorgeous day yesterday outside weeding and gardening.  My wonderful husband of 26 years (as of yesterday)  worked outside also redoing the chicken house.  The hens clucked all around us approving of the work while the dogs and cats lazed around in the sun.  I have lilacs on the kitchen table, all the fruit trees, azaelas, and dogwoods are in bloom and the wisteria is budding out.  It's been such a mild winter, which might make the spring less beautiful, but it hasn't.  They grass has been cut and it was just one of those perfect days.  There is alot of work in front of us, which sometimes makes spring less than enjoyable to me, but not yesterday.  It was a gorgeous day.

     We have had chickens for 4-5 years now and like anything else after some time doing something you discover better ways to do that thing.  So my husband pulled the chicken house out and cleaned it up.  We had put a screen floor in it thinking the chicken manure would fall through.  That didn't happen and it was hard to muck it out.  So now the house has a wood floor and built in nest boxes that can be accessed from a part of the house that chickens can't get into.  So we'll  have a place to store their food and hopefully won't get chicken poo on our shoes when gathering eggs.  I think we'll paint it and maybe call it the hen hilton.  The ladies are obviously missing their house since a few hens have taken to daily inspections and lay their eggs in the new nest boxes while my husband works around them. 
    After our day of work, we went to Doe's one of my favorite places to eat steak last night and then to the movies in Paducah.  It was a wonderful day of celebration and thankfulness for 26 years together.

Ash Wednesday

    Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.  I attended service last night and recieved the ashes on my forehead.  It is a powerful service and humbling to remember our mortality.  A reading from Isaiah 58:1-12  included the verse about being like a watered garden.  This will happen for us when we feed the hungry, do justice and bring the homeless into your house.  Fasting and wearing sackcloth will serve only our own interest, according to Isaiah, which is interesting to hear.  Growing up Catholic, Lent was always a big production.  We tended to give up something, usually in a food category.  In the Episcopal church Lent is less emphasized, which is a relief.  Discipline is important to our spiritual life, physical well being, and work life.  But discipline comes from with in and should be encouraged, not legislated.  I am still pondering a spiritual discipline that would be appropriate for this Lent.  It's hard not to think in terms of food about discipline. but I am trying to expand my options.

Memphis the Musical

  Back in October me, my two sisters and two daughters went to see Memphis the musical in Memphis.  I kind of talked my sister into getting us tickets, not really knowing much about the show or what we were getting into.  I was blown away by it.  Maybe since I grew up in Memphis, I had a connection that not everyone would.  But I loved the music, the story line, the actors,  everything about it.  I've played the music over and over.  The previous October we all saw Wicked and we  agreed that Memphis was much better. 
I haven't heard alot of hype about the show but we all loved it and can vouch for it.  If you get a chance it's worth seeing.    

Basketball

  I love this time of year.  It's basketball season and it's a great to live in KY.  It wasn't always like this for me though.  I grew up in TN and football was king.  We made the trek to Neyland stadium on saturday more than once.  But in 1995 we moved to KY.  As we looked for houses, I noticed that people did not just have one basketball goal-they would have two making a court.  Soon after moving here, UK won the NCAA championship.  It got me hooked.  I found I loved watching basketball.  It's so fun when you have a winning team to follow. Everyone around me is watching basketball too.  Right now is a great time to follow basketball in KY.  Murray state has an 18-0 record and UK  has a winning team too.  We're still a month away from march madness.

New Year's Cleaning

  Something about a new year puts me in the cleaning mood.  No spring cleaning for me, it's out with the old and in with the new for 2012.  As I'm putting up Christmas, I'm organizing and tossing.What good is it to have stuff if you can't find it when you need it?   I open a drawer or a file and I'm contemplating what can be tossed.  I still have a file folder marked school which contains old school reports and act scores and kats test scores for my kids- which are 25 and 21 now.  Just tonight I went through a container of dress up clothes the kids had.  There was alot of potential in that container, so it got reorganized.  I keep looking around and wondering why do we have all this stuff?  I know we could live just fine with alot less.  I took a box to the Habitat restore last week and my yard sale box is full again.  I have a closet of clothes to take to the consignment store.  I haven't even really started on the papers yet.  The end of the year is a great time to organize those financial papers and get rid of everything except the year end summary.  It's good to be in this mood.  I feel productive.  I wish it lasted longer than January though.  Unfortunately this mood can be compared to all the people that show up at the health clubs in January.  This cleaning and tossing can be a mood driven activity.  I wish I knew how to sustain it.