family – Page 6 – Drawing on Words

Scarier than Halloween…

November 2, 2016November 1, 2016bobbibowwoman4 Comments

What is scarier than Halloween? The Saturday before Halloween, the kiddos were visiting. (not scary yet) After decorating the front lawn and eating a pizza decorated like a Jack 0’lantern we caught a whiff of a strange smell in the house. It smelled like a plastic container was melting. So, we explored and found nothing wrong in the kitchen. The smell got stronger, so we called upon Hubs to explore as well.

A few inches from the back door a plug was smoking and sparking. Hubs grabbed the plug, which splattered melted plastic on his hand and blew the breaker. It also stopped the smoking and the sparks.

Drama… yes

Fear…yes

and GRATITUDE

I am thankful Hubs (long time welder) knew what to do and was not afraid to do it.
I am thankful we were home, or our house would no longer be standing.
I am thankful that we only had one thing (our kiln) hooked up to the plug/breaker so we can take our time in fixing the problem.
I am thankful that Hub’s hand was not injured.

Oregon State Fair

October 26, 2016October 25, 2016bobbibowwomanLeave a comment

The last of August and the first of September has been the traditional 11 day run of the Oregon State Fair. It’s a friendly combination of food booths, musical shows, and critter watching during the day and bright lights, fireworks, and rides at night.

Robert, my husband, puts his hard work and love into his booth, which is part of the Artisan Village. This unique part of the fair features artists who not only sell their work, but demonstrate it. He brings his torches, kiln, supplies, and even sets up a special viewing area with safety glass.

As much work as there is, Robert loves the customers that drop by the booth. Most of the year he works in the shop behind our house (a rather solitary task). But during the fair he embraces one and all, shows them his newest marbles or turtles, and touches bases with the other artisans in the area.

The highlight of the fair is when his grandkids drop by for a hug before prancing off to visit the petting zoo or buy a special fair treat.

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This year was Robert’s 8th and last year. Sadly, Oregon has bit by bit privatized more of its attractions, on the backs of artists who can not afford doubling or tripling booth prices. He has loved it, but it’s time to say goodbye to the Oregon Fair as it moves into its new more commercialized era.

He’ll remember the fun and all the great people he worked along side in the Artisan Village. Robert will even probably take a day and visit the fair he has been too busy to see for the last 8 years. There’ll still be plenty of 4-H kids showing their cows, sheep, and llamas. Music with the crazy good smells of food booths will fill the air. There’s not a better place around to people watch. Hope you can make it there some year.

Healing

October 12, 2016October 11, 2016bobbibowwoman2 Comments

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My knee surgery was “out patient” in that I went home after I was awakened. Once I was open for company, my family came by with treats to cheer me. E7 drew the above picture. I appreciate the pink she put in my cheeks. I might also note that she got the perfect amount of gray in my hair.

N10 and J8 came with roses, Trader Joe’s vanilla meringues, as well as jokes to keep me laughing.

L9 drew two pictures which included a great deal of thought.

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The picture above is what NOT to do. This is a turtle taking its time from where it is now to “done being sick.” Don’t be like a turtle.

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The whole idea is that I was to be like a bunny or a fox (or even a bunny being chased by a fox) and get to the “done being” sick as soon as possible.

All this support for Gma could not have happened if not for my two sons and my daughter-in-laws…each precious and supportive cheerleaders as I improve.

A Man, A Dog and a Hummingbird — sanseilife

September 14, 2016August 30, 2016bobbibowwomanLeave a comment

I came upon this post by Paula Matsumoto (www.sanseilife.wordpress.com) and found the video charming. My parents passed on their wonderment when it came to hummingbirds (and many creatures roaming around their acreage in Kansas). Mom and dad would sit quietly on the porch in the early morning or the late evening at watch the hummingbirds feed. Their code, when a hummingbird was near, was to make a “hummmm” sound yet stay very still as not to startle the feeders.

Enjoy the video Paula found and passed on in her blog:

via A Man, A Dog and a Hummingbird — sanseilife

Back to school…

September 7, 2016August 29, 2016bobbibowwoman2 Comments

It’s September and I’m pulled by the whisper “back to school, back to school.”

Most consider New Years Eve/Day the start of a new year. (I mean, it’s in the name.) But for me, that’s just another party. The REAL new year starts in September.

When I was young September meant fresh lined paper, big orange erasers, pencils and glue. Ooooo and that crayon box. As I grew older it meant seeing my friends again, new clothes, spiral notebooks and pens. College life was packed with new adventures but still had the same rhythms.

As I transitioned from student to instructor many of my supplies were purchased by the University or college. Yet there were always special items here or there purchased for the pure joy of a new year (I’m looking at you, multi-colored post-it notes).

I’m retired now. Education was my calling. It was hard and exhausting, joyful and exhilarating in equal parts. While it was never EVER easy, I still felt lucky to be able to earn a living by doing something I loved. Early retirement was a choice I don’t regret. As much as I loved teaching, it was time for me to pass the baton to others with the passion to teach.

Still, it’s September and I hear the whisper “back to school.”

Clean Truck

August 10, 2016August 8, 2016bobbibowwoman4 Comments

Two little ones basking in the glow of a job well done.

(Dad, quietly doing the lion’s share of the work, still hard at work out of frame. Yup, that’s what dad’s do. *smile*)

August Skies

August 3, 2016August 2, 2016bobbibowwomanLeave a comment

August is one of my favorite months in this neck of the woods. The summer days are still long and shooting stars come out to play. As is clear, stars are the theme for the mantel.

My favorite meteor shower happens mid-August when Perseid tosses handfuls of shooting starts in every direction. Even with clear nights, we have to travel a bit to get away from the city lights to get the best views. One year we popped an air mattress in the bed of the truck along with blankets and drove out of town. What a great view. Our conversation would be interrupted with “there’s one” or “over there” with a response of “missed it” or “saw it.”

Clouds are the nemesis when it comes to star gazing and you never know when they are going to spoil the party.

Hubs and I have also tried to catch other celestial events. One morning we arose at 3:00 AM and carried our deck chairs to the front yard and set them for viewing. So, we’re wrapped in blankets near the street at 3:00 in the morning….looking up.

A police car drives by very slowly… We grin and wave. They slow down more and ask if we were “okay.” We try to explain how we are waiting for an alignment of three planets in the southern sky. They just shook their heads and moved on. We sat there like a couple of kids giggling in our blankets.

One of my favorite memories happened at work years ago, when I taught at an alternative high school. The science teacher set everything up outside the small school, preparing for students to experience a solar eclipse. As a nerd, I was very excited to see one with a real scientist narrating what was happening. The students spilled out of the building and were given safety instructions, etc. Then clouds filled the skies. Drat. We waited, hoping to see at least a little of the eclipse. Nothing. More and more clouds.

“We did all this work and it didn’t happen,” I complained to the science teacher who had worked so hard to set it up.

“Oh, it happened,” he stated. “We just didn’t see it.”

Somehow that has stayed with me for years. What a tiny speck I am and how big the universe. Just because I didn’t see something, it did not keep it from happening. Of course. There are celestial actions and reactions that happen all the time. We just catch a tiny fraction of the beauty. But when we do, it is indeed a thrill.