Thankful Thursday 16 - A Summer rain

I sit reading in the early evening.  Dinner is over and the washing up is done.  All is quiet as I turn the pages. Gradually I become aware of an unexpected sound.  It's raindrops falling on the roof.  I close my book and walk over to the door to peer out, and as I watch the water falling from the sky I suddenly have this need to be outside savoring this moment.

Sitting in a chair under the tap tapping sounds on the roof of the gazebo I gaze around watching puddles form on the bricks as I take in the cool refreshment of a summer rain at the end of a hot and sultry day.  The air is redolent with the fresh earthy smells of water and dirt and newly cut trees... heaven!  Fat raindrops splash hundreds of ripples in growing pools of liquid.   How does one capture the moment in pictures?  I can't, so I must use words instead.

The rain gradually comes to a stop.  I continue to sit quietly.  The chimes softly ring to the sounds of water trickling down the gutters and dripping off the trees.  In the quiet, I hear a solitary bird begin calling to another as it flies overhead.  Branches wave in the cool gentle breeze.  Off in the distance is the murmur of voices as families begin to return outdoors in the summer evening.

At this moment in the gathering twilight, all seems right with the world, and I feel a sense of peace, gratitude, joy... Eucharisteo

Retirement projects

For the past few days I have been feeling like I have accomplished very little since retiring.  It just seems like there is so much to be done.  Then I took the time to look on the calendar and realized that I have only been retired for three and a half weeks and as I have looked through some of my pictures I can see that I have accomplished more than I thought.  Here are a few of the things I have been doing.  

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Our church has been in the middle of some remodeling.  Some walls were taken down and offices moved around.  This spring as the church's librarian, I was asked if I would consider moving our library from its present location to another space as part of that remodeling process.   This was our original library.

Several years ago this room had been pretty much a classroom with a few bookshelves in it.  I painted the walls, pulled together all the bookcases and unused furniture from around the church  and turned it into a organized working library where people could come and quietly read or meditate. It has become a much used spot in the church. Now the room was needed for an office.

So I was given the challenge of turning this somewhat boring meeting room into a combination library/meeting space.

 The first thing my hubby and I did was give the walls a fresh coat of light gray paint to go with the new carpet that was laid.  I spent the first week after school got out, purging old books moving bookcases in, and placing all the books we were keeping back on the shelves.  It was quite a job and took many hours of work but I think it turned out rather well.

Wall to Wall Books with space for growth

There is still a meeting space

 

A children's Corner

A place to sit quietly and read

All that is needed is a few more silk plants and some pictures on the wall and it will be finished.

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My second week of retirement we had to have someone come out to take down some trees.

See how massive the tree was compared to the house and flag pole.  Even in this picture is was starting to turn.

From the first day we moved into our house 30 years ago this tree has been part of the landscape. Towering 65 feet, green and lush, it was its own ecosystem, home to birds and squirrels.  We even saw a raccoon or two hanging around in its branches from time to time.  Suddenly for no reason that we have been able to figure out it began to die.  By this summer it had become so brown and dry that we feared the possibility of it going up like a giant torch on the 4th of July. For our safety and the safety of our neighbors it had to be removed.

It was so sad to watch such a wonderful tree come down, but as you can see, there was no green left.

Removing the branches

Taking the tree down in sections

Making sure it falls the right direction.

Right where it's supposed to land.

Plenty of firewood for years to come.

I am going to miss that big old tree but I am hoping it will be a good change, allowing the plants and trees around it light and space to grow and spread.  Time will tell.

There is another smaller project I have been working on as well.
My daughter decided she wanted to learn how to knit an afghan from this ball of giant yarn.  It's been a few years since I have knit anything and I wasn't all that great at it even then.  I had to take a quick refresher course on YouTube before I could tackle it.  I have never used such big needles or yarn before but together we are figuring it out.  I think my daughter is going to enjoy snuggling into it when winter returns.

 In between these projects, there have been some doctor appointments, yard work and even a couple of days visiting with family in Oregon. I guess I really have been busier than I thought.
Please feel free to leave a comment.  I always love hearing from everyone.

Retirement

Not all changes are bad, but as I mentioned in my previous post, they can be unsettling, even when we have chosen them ourselves.  After much back and forth my husband and I both came to the conclusion that it was time for me to hang up my hat and retire at the end of this school year.  It was not an easy decision as I was not only blessed to be able to stay home with my children for 17 years. but I was able to follow that with 20 years of doing a job that I truly loved. I helped to open this school 17 years ago and have been there ever since.

Every fall I pulled into this parking lot, excited for a new year to start.  That excitement would continue through the seasons all the way to the end of each school year.

School Parking lot in the fall.

The flowering cherry trees in the spring in front of the school.

Early summer on the playground the last weeks of school.. 

Last week of school.

This was my little teaching area where I helped immigrant children learn to read, write and speak English.  Over the years I met children from Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, China, West Africa and the Philippines, just to name a few.  It was always so rewarding to watch them grow in confidence and reach the point where they didn't need me anymore.  I helped with special needs children as well.

Our school mascot was a hornet.  On the last day of school we had a going away party with a cake and I was given this lovely sterling silver necklace especially designed with the honeycomb and a little bee.  I am so glad to know that I will always be "a part of the hive."    This was a heart wrenching change but I am hoping it is not "adieu" but rather "au revoir" as I am planning to come back and do some volunteering and possibly substituting as well in the future.  

 

 And so as I said in my Thank You, I will wear this with gratitude and joy because of what it represents, that I was part of a remarkable team of dedicated and talented people whom I admired and respected and who taught me everything I know about teaching. 

Standing next to my Principal in the green shirt.

For those of you who are wondering what we are going to do next, we are sticking around home for the summer as we have a number of health related things to take care of in the next few weeks. Besides this is the best time to be in the Northwest as the weather is perfect.  We may take a few days in the fall.  Then we will be home through the holidays and to be here for the birth of our first grandchild.  Yes, we have another big change coming as we are going to be grandparents this winter.

I am excited to see what the future brings but I will never forget the wonderful experiences or the people who have gone before.

Musings

Last evening I was watching as a thunderstorm moved in over the lake.  I love thunderstorms, watching the sky get dark and bolts of lightning flashing across the sky followed by the rumbling crash of  thunder.  It was raining, but not that huge downpour we sometimes get with a thundercloud.  The mountains were obscured in the mist.

As I was looking out over the yard I was struck by the thought it looks just like my life feels right now, in many ways verdant green and growing yet a bit overcome by all the weeds among the flowers and a bit aged and falling apart like that old fence which was damaged by the winter storms this year.  I feel pulled in many different directions at the moment as change seems to be coming at us from all different directions not unlike a storm that suddenly blows in over a quiet summer afternoon.  And like a storm, it can bring life giving rain on the one hand and blow the petals off the flowers on the other.  Change can be a little unsettling even if it's good change, and I am a creature of habit.

After the storm was over God reminded me of his promises with this beautiful rainbow encouraging me not to feel unsure about embracing the new changes and challenges ahead for he is here and he will be there as well.

I know that I sound a bit obscure but I will be sharing more as time goes by.  Standing on the promises and looking forward with anticipation at what God has is store.

A Memorial Day Walk

One of the more popular ideas that have come along in the last 20 years or so is to tear out old abandoned railroad lines and replace them with paved walking/biking trails that connect several communities and parks together.  They make wonderful places for families to get out and enjoy the fresh air in a variety of ways.  We are fortunate to have such a trail in our community which we were able to take advantage of just last Monday on Memorial Day morning.  

Located just a short distance from the city center and the lake the trail is paved for 29 miles.  There is is also an unpaved path for equestrians to enjoy.  

There are benches along the way where one can stop to take  a rest or just watch people going by.

 
It was a pretty popular place to be that morning.  As we walked along we passed walkers and joggers as well as folks on bikes or roller blades.  

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As we walked along we passed houses and small farms nestled in the trees.  Across the road were meadows and open spaces

One enterprising fellow had put together a little free library where anyone can stop to trade for a book and even rest for a while as you look it over.  I think I will have to come back here to take a closer look in the future.

We only took the time for a quick 45 minute walk before returning home to prepare for the kids who were arriving later in the afternoon.  Memorial Day is considered the official start of the summer.  So, The Inspector fired up the grill to cook the first outdoor meal of the season and what's better than burgers with chips and corn on the cob?  Delicious! Especially when eaten out of doors.

 One thing which we mustn't lose sight of as we celebrate in the sun is the whole reason we have this Memorial Holiday in the first place.  That's to remember and thank all those who have fought and sacrificed in order to preserve our land and our freedoms.   This day there was a memorial tribute to our soldiers at the Veteran's Memorial in the center of town.

So I give thanks for this country I call home and all those who work so tirelessly to keep us safe.  May the Good Lord bless and keep each of you and your families and may he give you his peace.