Tenkiller Lake

Sun shining and a light wind blowing made it a perfect day to begin discovering 10 Killer Lake.  It is only about 20 minutes south of us in Tahlequah, so when I made it home from work it was a very easy fast discussion to try out a hike, or at least a walk!

This part of the lakeshore has gravely rocky beach.

 Learning how to use my new walking sticks Harold gave me for our Anniversary.

Still kind of brown out, but you can feel the Spring right around the corner.

Happy Heart Day

It is a good day, probably a great day to be happy.  One of those peaceful joys that fill you up from your toes to the tip top of your head.  Some days are good for the giddy joys, the excited overwhelming ones, then others just make you feel complete.Sunlight reflecting, the birds starting to warn us that Spring really will come awake a sense of hope and expectation that brightens the day..
 A tulip plant and a baby rose bush definitely add to my state of joy along with the chocolates sitting on the table.  The fact that our Anniversary (number 24 today) and Valentine´s Day fall together gives a multitude of sweet surprises.  I did do my part, first with a Happy Heart Cake.  Healthy and yummy to boot, before I rushed off to work.

Happy Heart Cake

1 3-4 c. whole wheat flour
1-4 c. ground oat flour
1-2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking powder.

1  1-4 c. milk
2 eggs
1-4 c. oil
1-4 c. molasses

1 1-4 c. pecans.
brown sugar

Mix dry ingrediants together. Mix liquids seperately.  Stir together.  Blend in half of pecans, crushed.  Pour in 8x8 pan.  Decorate with remaining pecans, sprinkle with brown sugar.  Bake 375 for about 25 minutes. .

Page Views

 I wonder why I am doing my blog.....  I checked the stats and I have a regular audience of 1, oh wait, that must be talking about me!  The good news is that I am viewing and observing my life as it progresses.  I am seeing the humor, experiencing the pain, correcting the grammatical errors and hopefully learning from the mistakes of this human journey. The question of how to build a following excited to read my meanderings still remains a mystery.  If you, out there in cyberspace, are now reading this it signifies that my audience has doubled, which is pretty good statistics for the day!
  I am definitely not a technology guru, but I am learning how to function in a technological world.  The plan is to make it at least a few steps past the functioning level, of course technological advancements happen so quickly that those few steps have a difficulty in advancing my capability past the beginner stage.  One of the problems is that there are so many things available through technology that it is difficult for me to focus in on anything specific, so something that should be giving me more time in my existence sometimes saps or perhaps better said Zaps my time before I even realize it is gone.  I shall blog away though living in my little bubble where the sun is allowed to shine even though the day may be cloudy, that way maybe I won´t have to buy the fancy lightbulbs that can replace the sunlight!!

quiet mornings

I love quiet mornings when I am the first one up and have the world to myself, before interruptions and responsibilities burst in and shatter my contemplations.  There are mornings when you wake up full of excitement for the things to come, but then there are days like today when I get to slowly creep into the day letting my thoughts wander and enjoy the possibilities of existence.
It is a gray day outside, no sign of sun yet, but it is amazing how in our little insulated boxes, heated and cooled, that we don't even realize the birds are singing - until we choose to open a breach in our bubble of man made security, whether a window or a door, and allow the outside to enter and become a part of our world.
Like I said, sure love my quiet mornings when I can contemplate and allow my thoughts to roam, to soar and take flight along with the birds.  It was a nice journey this morning, and didn't cost me a thing except for to disengage my body from the bed.

Torn Rotator cuff

So shoulder has been achy hurting for a while and finally got to the point that I wanted to take some Ibuprofen for it.  Decided it was time to go to the Doctor and figure out what was going on and how to fix it.  He did this lovely little test where you hold your arm out to the side at shoulder height, and then he pushes down.  I guess if you scream or yelp it proves that you might have a problem, yes I kind of did that!  That quick blast of pain surprised me.  Dear me!  Referred now on to an Orthopedic specialist to see what step comes next.  From what I have now read it is common for  a "degenerative tear in the rotator cuff of the dominant side"  translated meaning: the arm I do pretty much everything with, is the one that is having a problem.  Will be doing some creative teaching in order not to be writing on the board so much!  Thank goodness for technology, nothing like something to inspire me to use it more.

Don't Jiggle

When I first started teaching my children, some of whom were in their teens, sought to give me good advice.  It definitely wasn't the kind I learned in my teaching courses.  They told me to make sure that when erasing the blackboard to make sure not to jiggle.  They explained that if you go from side to side with the eraser it helps avoid such unknown embarrassments. 
When teaching I always try to think of our complaints when studying and avoid requiring the same frustrations of my students.  One major task I despise is group projects.  If they are ones that students do in class that works fine, but as soon as they require outside time inequality sets in, with one or two students doing the lion's share of the work and a couple going along for the ride.
  Anything that involves learning and  fun at the same time should be high on your list of things to include!  This is easy as a language instructor with all the resources available.  I love showing students Disney songs in Spanish and the surprise on their faces when they recognize the music and find out they can look up something on their own.The realization that learning can be fun is a great start to a life long pursuit.  I am always in class before it is time, so having a Disney song on before we start works out perfect, doesn't take up class time but gets everyone in the mood.  Two of the favorites for today.

Mulan in Spanish!!! 

MULAN

ALADDIN

PERFECTION....Are we there yet???

NO, Nope, Nada, No way, but sometimes we sure wish!  If I were not the first person to tell you I am far from perfect, then my children would probably be happy to explain it to you.  It is like the road trip, all the kids in the car wanting to know, "Are we there yet?"   In this instance we are the ones quite often asking, because we want to arrive finally!  So easy to make mistakes, then those feelings of less than perfection make us struggle with our own peace of mind and sense of self.  Maybe just like those road trips -when you are passing amazing scenery, spending  time laughing and talking together or just chilling as the miles go by, maybe the same needs to be said to us that we say to our children:  We need to enjoy the trip, quit stressing so very much about what we have yet to accomplish.
Thus I come to the name of my BLOG.  I left out the D (on the and) on purpose an that's a fact.

SNOW transformations

It snowed today, big fluffy flakes, about four inches and for here that is a lot. I looked at it during the day and thought how I didn't want to go out and get cold and wet. Tonight I decided to go out, because I wanted a picture of it, discovering that the more I walked the more enchanted I became. I remembered so many years ago when with a thrill we would walk through the snow and kick it up in the air to watch it fly. The feeling of accomplishment of having my footsteps be the first ones on the fresh clean sheet of snow. Creating a snow angel and laughing as we barraged each other with snowballs. The excitement and challenge of sliding with the possibility of falling into it's cold embrace. I considered and questioned myself as I walked through the silent drifts over what I have allowed to happen to me. What pushed me into being a spectator instead of actively participating in this fluffy substance we call snow? My nose now still tingles from the cold and my toes may never thaw, but I took part, I participated, I remember and I remember it well.

 

 A world transformed by the magic of snow and the 

subtlety of night

Seminary Hall, Northeastern State University

Nighttime transformation in the solitude of snow

Dementia

  This is one of the harder topics so many of us face.  It is not death that causes me fear but the process of dying.  My aunt is one of the dearest kindest people I have ever known.  She has always taken care of others and reached out to help anyone in need but now she can no longer care for herself.  Still she tries to care for those around her, wanting to make sure I have a bed to sleep in and something to eat whenever I walk into her home.  This past week her dementia worsened to the point that for her safety we have to have someone stay with her at all times. Gratefully one of the ladies who normally comes in a couple of hours a day has agreed to move in with her.  My aunt is still very cognizant of her surroundings most of the time, so when we told her that her helper needed a place to live she was quite happy to help her by opening again her home to someone in need. 

  We were able to take her out to meet one of her dearest old friends for lunch today and it was pure joy seeing them smile together.  We arrived at the restaurant with my aunt in plenty of time before they got there though so I had time  to help her eat - because her fingers, that earlier in life rebuilt houses and cared for me and my children, were not able to hold the fork  long enough without cramping for her to eat.  It was a Mexican restaurant that we have always enjoyed with her, yet her comments so many times about how wonderful it was to find pure Mexican food in town were a delight to hear, knowing she was happy with the moment.

 She has a small dog that sits continually by her side, or in her lap, loving her and helping keep her warm -but also barking like crazy in warning, protecting her from the world, whenever anyone comes to her door.  This constant companion is amazing in the strength he gives her.  It was hard to leave this wonderful woman, who says thank-you and shows gratitude for the smallest things around her to take the three hour return drive home, thinking and hoping for a next time when I can wrap my arms around her and let her know how much I love her.  I will rely on my calls when I can hear her wish me blessings,  "God Bless, and have a good life."