Solutions

   

HM Patterson & Son  Oglethorp Funeral Home, Atlanta Georgia- Oct 6, 2012

Sometimes red boots are the only solution.

the white t-shirt

From my other blog

May 3, 2012  - a Small Stone 

the white t-shirt   by Teri H Hoover

His swaying white t shirt...
comes to a stop.

The tired runner begins to walk. 

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg VA- May 3, 2012

Thanksgiving

                                                                   Buffalo Mountain, Floyd VA- Nov 8, 2011

Like the leaves - November is almost gone. 

I have not been inclined to post much this month. It has been a good month.  A bit like running a marathon. I was well prepared, so I am doing ok.

One more week and the "man with a plan" will return, I cannot wait. He will laugh to read this. Yes he will. I am not a "lovey dovey" sort.  And he kinda, sorta thinks I do "better" with out him home. Better... better than what?  I do get lots accomplished while he is away- and he misses out on all my misgivings, as a I push myself forward.

Lucky guy.

The list looks like this. I hung curtains in the living room, and bought a new ladder just for the occasion, removed all the leaves out of the backyard garden,(well until last night, when Mrs Willow dropped her remaining leaves) dug up the iris bed, fixed (spackled and painted) various holes around the house- (they have been there for about 5 years), started a new quilt, got Christmas packages in a state of readiness, client work...LOTS of client work, and of course my daily walk with my dog.

So, in this time of thanksgiving, I say thank-you to all the friends that walked with me, took me to movies, had dinner with me, sent me emails or commented here,and  and kept me in their prayers. Ah, the prayers!! The prayers are what carry me through any given day.

I could minimize my efforts to get through this month, but I won't.  Learning to stay balanced, even in every day life, is a good thing. Moments of re-balancing. Balanced in faith.

So I remain thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends,

and blessings of thanksgiving shared with all.

I am off to Philly for Thanksgivng- and I leave in just a bit- SOOOO exited  

xo teri

a last bouquet, backyard garden-Nov17, 2011

A Light in the Lantern

Backyard Garden, Blacksburg, VA- July 14, 2001

This is a test... this is only a test. I mentioned this lantern in my last post-there are  four of these little lanterns and I just finished cutting the tulle for them and packed them away.

Most things are piled neatly- well mostly neatly in the dining room. Nine days... But we leave for the Jersey shore tomorrow. Doesn't everyone go to the beach before their daughters wedding?  I am actually pretty relieved about that... I just cannot think any more about what I may not have done. I was up until three last night. This time it was not the wedding really. It is the thoughts that bubble up around events such as weddings.  The longings and wonderings, and that circle of thought that leaves one feeling diminished. I took a walk today  and wrote this on my other blog. And despite being a bit anxious I know God walks with me keeping my little lantern lit.    

`

the space between the clouds

`
 

Starting July 1,  I will once again be participating in writing one small observation- like the one below- onto my writing blog. Click the link above if you would like to learn more about jumping in the river!
`

the space between the clouds

from my writing blog

A small stone Gathering

Turf Grass Research Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-June 29, 2011

An over zealous angle must have been in charge of sweeping the heavens today.

The wisp free sky was the color of  a child's brand new wading pool.

`   

One more day in June... 23 days until my daughters wedding. I could not sleep last night again. This is the second time in a month... I never have problems sleeping. This time it was centerpieces for the tables-which the mother of the groom and I have taken care of. From my perspective 567 miles away things are almost too ready.  The sky is almost too clear and blue.  So I am thinking about table center pieces at 2 in the morning because I wonder should I be doing more? Does my daughter feel my support? What am I forgetting? How can I not start succumbing to the odd feelings that I am not doing enough. Whoa there now -Breathe. So it appears I will continue to remind myself,call myself back to balance. Like I did last night - breathe and ask God to let me be a blessing in what ever way I am needed. That helped a lot. But now as it comes to night time again ...cue the ominous music.

`

Safe Passage

 Green on green to soothe the hungry heart.

 

Remembering the road blocks-

how could one forget!!

`

Finding safe passage back to balance.

`

 Remembering all I need will find me `

If I am patient and walk with God and not run on ahead.

grace falls on me like a breath.

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg, Va- April 8, 2011

The two mile circle was kind to this wanderer today- thank you for lifting me up in your hearts.  Here is the heart that was laid before me as I approached my home. blessings- teri  


the small observation -

- new-
The saturated green of a  rainy day
brought my heart back from the perfectly round hole
of yesterdays loss.
`

Perseverance

The rain bounces 

off the hood of my black raincoat.

Pop,pip,pip,pip,pop-

Memories of dad's popcorn ricochet inside my head.

Pepper ruefully regards the rivulets of rain 

pouring off her shiny black coat.

In our slick black coats-

Wet paws-

Wet booted feet-

We 

sidestep

trampoline puddles filled with jumping raindrops.  

Blacksburg, VA- March 15, 2011

Two Mile Circle

Blacksburg, Va- March 10, 2011

The Two Mile Circle

(or Yesterdays Walk)

Heavy and wet-

Torrents of rain

Cold and damp,-

I saw snow flakes.

There was reluctance, and procrastination.

I called it contentment

There was avoidance by napping.

I said I was tired.

Getting dusky-

                      the

                               rain

                                           stopped.

Ever so annoyed I put on a coat and a rain coat over that.

I was NOT going to carry a dumb umbrella.

I put on my hat and my gloves,

miserable in every way
I did not want to be back to walking through drab.

Pepper black lab and princess of all that is right with my life-
looked at me quivering in anticipation-- "a walk? oh really!! A WALK!!! Oh I just can't stand it -
          I
                am
                    so so so so so
                           SO

                       exited.!!!"

  "What? You say it is cold and wet?
                             What?  A Walk- oh a walk..."

So out we go.
It was so much better when I was writing small stones- walks were full of wonder.
Even though it was January.

But now this month I march with the discussion of faith on my mind.
Nothing is tidy, nothing stays were I put it.

Just when I think I can express things clearly the fog rolls in, someone tracks mud on my ideas, the dog throws up on the rug, I notice my closet is too full,I loose my train of thought, a plant needs watering, the phone rings, a brother gets evicted from his house, a bowl shatters, and most of these things I could handle before I thought about faith...
Or
Or what?
Or I just knew the sky would clear, the mud got wiped up, the rug got cleaned up, I removed a a piece of clothing and that was enough, I laughed, brought water to the plant, answered the phone- or not. Did not fret about my brother, yelled at the dog for breaking the bowl, and moved on.
Or did I?
Half way home - I begin to warm up, my heart lifts, I know I will be alright.

Yesterdays stone-
My faith in understanding faith
Made a two mile circle in my mind
Good thing I left and came back home.

Today I was mercifully gifted with two perfect permissions to breathe- and when I mindfully breathe I allow room for faith- even if I don't understand it.

Fiona's writings on Perseverance -
(I am taking part in Writing as a Spiritual Practice this month with Fiona)

My Daily Calendar reminder -"Patience is the best remedy for most trouble..."
"It is not good to have zeal without  knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way." Proverbs 19:2

May your guideposts to faith always come at just the right time. But know this~ if you loose your faith there will be those of us praying you through. Blessings- teri

Returning

Blackcreek NY- February 28, 2011

~walking through

the snow~ 

    together

a moment of bliss~

I have been away a lot... It seems I have been going away most of my life. And all I want to do is stay. I want to stay home. This last trip was an unexpected but necessary one.

My bother D~  has  been suggesting (for quite some time) that I head back to Buffalo. I have not been back since my nephews funeral -( a year and three months-) every time I thought about going my stomach tightened and my brain short circuited.  Long story short I went back to Buffalo over the weekend and just returned last night.

Everything went well-  I rode up with my brothers step-daughter - she has a lot to say so I had no time to be overcome by anxiety about going back.  I stayed the first night at my brothers house and then went to my parents house for lunch on Saturday. At 2 I went and had a nice visit with my 100 year old grandmother- I brought the quilt her mother made and turned the conversation to her childhood- it was a special time.  I then returned to my parents home and we went out to dinner and had a wonderful meal and lovely time.  I then stayed there that evening and slept with a dead pope, just kidding- (My mom is into Pope John Paul II and the room I slept in is filled with books about him or written by him.)

In the morning I went to my childhood church for mass with my parents. In the "that is not a coincidence department" there was a baptism planned for that day- the child's being baptised had my name, Therese Marie.

I left my parents home after lunch and visited with my youngest sister for a while- she showed me all the rooms she has painted and we went to an antique store. I left there at 4 and headed 2 hours away to visit my other sister and spent the night there and the next day. (The photo above is from our time spent walking on her land.).


My next trip is not unitl March 17th-

16 Days Later

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg VA- Dec 5 2010on

or 

Walking with Autumn

Reprise

Walking with Autumn

Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg, VA- Nov 19, 2010

(click photo to enlarge)

Even while the color of autumn winds down- there are spots where a bit of warm, afternoon light will give that yellow leaf just the right amount of love to make it shine.

And in the underbrush you may find
some brilliant shades of red-

hoping to catch your eye.

 

But the rest of mother nature has let go of so many things.

as she prepares for winter.

Last Years Path

Black Creek NY- July 27, 2009  

I was walking

toward

the 

saddest 

oversight

 I have 

ever

made.

I tell myself I could not have known.

I tell myself my love was true.

 We held your hand,

We touched your face.

I kissed your forehead.

My heart is filled  with tears-

We should have stayed.