Mini reunion in Mesquite

This past weekend we traveled to Las Vegas and then drove to Mesquite for a mini reunion, where my cousin and his wife and my aunt and uncle live. Other than a brief severe health scare at the end of the last evening, we have a great time. We are all going to learn the Heimlich maneuver as mandatory training before our next reunion.

I will never be gambler. Slot machines the minute you de-plane and smoke filled casinos are just not my cup of tea.

These are my cup of tea:
Spas, massages, pedicure and Settlers with the cousins
Beautiful majestic countryside and vistas that seem to go on forever with colors
you only see in the West
Wonderful time with family
Sharing stories of growing up in Colorado
Hearing stories I forgot or never knew
Laughing so hard I cannot catch a breath
The smell of rosemary everywhere
Supporting our generation as the prior one faces increasing health issues

New Recipe - Carmelized Onion Risotto Pie

We are in Vermont for the weekend and have friends coming to visit. I made an onion pie recently and in surfing the web I found another recipe for onion pie that I wanted to try. I just finished making it, all ready for the oven and Coniston smells really wonderful right now. Onions, cheese, wine. I really love trying new recipes and this is the prefect place to try new ones because it is so relaxing. It reminded me of when I first started cooking in my first house and inviting people over. I always made spaghetti and when Charles remarked on that I branched out the the next time he came to visit. I made spaghetti pit. I thought that was different enough from regular spaghetti. So now I am on onion pies.

At work on Friday we were standing around talking about cooking. We decided to share our favorite recipes to add a bit of inspiration to our meals. I do sometimes get stuck and cannot figure out what to make for dinner. It would be so easy to open my notebook of recipes but sometimes there is nothing there I want to make. However, this week I made 2 recipes from there that I have never made, a cheese soup from Peg and a lentil soup from Marilin.

So far today, I have left the house twice, to take Qammi out and to go see if there was lots of smoke coming out of the chimney. It is almost noon and the other things I have done today are:

• make 2 cups of coffee
• bath
• Knit my new project which I love
• reading
• stoking the fire
• sitting on the couch
• listen to Car Talk and Wait Wait Don't tell me

I am pretty spoiled I must admit to have this wonderful place to relax in. It brings out the best in me and is a wonderful recharging place.

I think the pie will be a success. It certainly smells and looks good. It might become another page in my recipe notebook for inspiration when I cannot think of something to make for dinner.

Retiring to Vermont - Yes I have spent a full winter there

With the purchase of Coniston in Vermont more than a few people have asked "But, have you spent a full winter there yet?". I looked at the first few people with a questioning look, like "What do you mean have I spent a full winter there yet?" I think even my lovely husband has said "But we have not spent a winter there yet". In conversation with my friend Cindy we talked about the fact that some people retire to Florida or North Carolina and some people retire to Vermont. It is a very good thing that we are wired differently otherwise we would all be retiring to the same place and be on top of each other.

So yes, I have spent 22 years of my life living in a wintry climate, Colorado and Vermont. I love the snow, I love being snowed in, and blizzards. It might explain why at the first blizzard I get out in the car and drive in it. I took both of my kids out snow driving when they first got their licenses, so they would know how to drive in the snow. So that part of Vermont is clear, I love snow and driving in it, and yes I have spent 22 years in that kind of climate.

Now on to mud season. This morning I was thinking about it and kids love mud. They love to walk in it, get really dirty and squishy. Well maybe not all kids, but this kid does. As long as you can clean up and have the right boots mud season is tolerable. We looked at Coniston for the first time in March, during mud season. We could not even see the driveway for the mud, and we will made an offer a few days later. So, I don't mind mud season, because it ends and then the glorious spring and summer and fall arrive.

As long as we have heat, and layers, and snow shoes, and wood stoves and our Channel 1 then yes, I can spend a winter there.

It is a very good thing that we are all different. I would never be as excited about a sandy beach as a snow bank. If they could only invent a way to play golf in the snow then it would be paradise, this "Vermont in Winter" thing.

Channel 1 - what is it?

Our friend Dave was at Coniston this summer for a week, and at the end of the week he dubbed our front windows, Channel 1. The name has stuck. We don't have a TV in Vermont so instead we watch our 3 front windows, or Channel 1. This morning, I got up at 7am fully intending to go back to bed, but the sun was about to rise, so instead, I watched that on Channel 1. It took about 30 minutes until I could actually see the sun, but the faint light behind Mount Mansfield, and then the orange, turning to REALLY orange and then the sun was unbelievable. I now understand what the prior owner meant about the sun rises over Mount Mansfield. It is pretty pathetic that I have not see the sun rise yet, except as a digital image on Rod's camera.

Channel 1 changes, and you cannot click to get the "show" that you want. I have been waiting since August for the deer to come back. The wild turkeys did not show up on Channel 1 but they did run around the back of the house for Rod's sisters when they were here, all 9 of them.

I know when we live here full time that we will have a TV, but for now we have Channel 1 and this is exactly what we need for our relaxation when we are up here.

The leaves are still turning, the summer folks have gone home, the full-timers are getting ready for winter and some where in between summer folks and full-timers is where we are; "Watching Channel 1"

Path of Least Resistance

Today I volunteered to drive and get lunch in the pouring rain. Pulling into the driveway of the sub shop, I could either park right in front of the store or park in a quieter part of the parking lot and get wetter. I chose the quieter part of the parking lot. That is when the topic of this blog came to me but I really have no idea where it is going.

I find myself taking the path of least resistance as I get older. Someone cut me off today and I just let them do it. I wasn't even really angry, I just figured they needed to be somewhere sooner than I did. On Waltham Street tonight, a moron stopped IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET and put her blinkers on. I did not even honk at her. What was she thinking? The guy in back of me pulled around me and the pulled around her and then honked at her. At least I hope he was honking at her. It did not even occur to me to honk at her.

Maybe it is time to move to Vermont. When we are up there I have to consciously drive slower and not be so impatient. There are a lot of reasons in the news lately to move to our retreat in Vermont and get away from the chaos. Is that the path of least resistance? No that is the path to sanity I think.

Disengaged - but not really coz I am posting this

So, buying Coniston happened at exactly the right time in our/my life. I did not know 3 months ago when we put an offer on this house, that I would need it so much in late June of 2008. As we drove up last night, the closer we got, the more I relaxed and detached. I actually sat and read a book for 20 minutes last night and 45 minutes just now with my first cup of coffee. The only time I get a chance to read at home is the 60 nano seconds after I get into bed, before I fall asleep mid-sentence of my reading material.

We don't have a TV up here, and I might not even listen to the radio today or glance at yahoo news as I am entering my email account. I am going to buy the Burlington Free Press and learn about news that way, but NO FOX TV for me this weekend, no more online article from the Brockton Enterprise.

I will miss a big breaking story, and more details of the Celtics and their celebration but that will all wait until Monday morning when I plug back in. We listened to the Sox game on the way up and they were describing the duck boats in Fenway Park carrying the championship Celtics. That was enough for me last night, the verbal description.

Simplicity - less, less, less

As we pack our stuff to take up to Phelps Lane, there are certain things that will not be allowed into the new house. I am not going to take any unecessary appliances, like coffee grinders. I just ordered a hand grinder. When did we stop using hand ones to get electric ones? I actually have been using a wooden clothes hanger for drying my clothes instead of the dryer. They dry in 8 hours or less, so why do we need dryers. Rod does not know this, but will when he reads it here, but the dish washer up north is going to be sold on ebay. I have always hated dish washers; scrap the dishes, rinse them off, load the dish washer, unload the dish washer etc. Alternative, scrap, wash, dry, put away, in one cycle. DONE and put away The builder/current owner of our new house used a lot of green principles and in fact the new septic, (That he is having to install since the current one failed, wow are we lucky) will in all likelihood have green principles. More on that once we know what he installs. This cannot happen until after May 1st, since in South Hero you cannot use heavy equipment until after MUD season. So, nothing goes up unless it does not have an electrical cord, and unless we really need it. I want this to be a retreat so not too simple, but like Star Island, only what we really need. There might not be a TV although the house comes with 2 satellite dishes, one for broadband and one for TV. The only big problem from our house inspection, is a punky post on the south corner of the house. We may have to do some negotiations to get that paid for. An interesting "feature" of the house is a water drip so that the pipes do not freeze. Our first work weekend is going to be insulating the crawl space and caulking around all the windows and probably in between all of the outside and inside paneling. The inspector kept saying "this house is campy". Good thing that is what we were looking for. I am still very excited and hope is does fall apart because of the POST.

Next Step - Home Inspection

OK so right now, Rod is at 39 Phelps Lane in South Hero going through the home inspection. There will be a lot of pictures to post once he gets home tonight.

I talk to brother/real estate lawyer / Mike 2 night ago. Apparently, this is the phase where the *@^#^# hits the fan in home sales. Oh dear, the doom and gloom in me starts to panic and then the pollyanna takes over and says, not to worry. They will find things wrong, a good punch list, good stuff to know and very essential to have.

I have already booked weekends for people to visit the house. What is really good is that on 10 acres, Rod has a lot more room to escape when I have the house full every weekend we are up there. Maybe for his birthday, I will build him a tree house/cave. Our master bedroom on the second floor has an alcove that was going to be the sewing room, but maybe I should share it with him so he can "socially acceptably" be there when we have guests.

So we have been packing already to move stuff up June 1st. My only question is "Should we buy a second Settlers game for the house?"

Women's Rally a Success

Damn, I just lost my post . . .

Here I go again.

Today we held a Women's rally at church. Women who knit, write, make bamboo pipes, do ceramics, quilt, analyze numbers, sing, compose music, make prints and others which I have forgotten got together. We use a methodology called Open Space. Google that to find out what it is about.

We start with an opening circle, break into groups, have a potluck lunch all together, afternoon sessions and then closing circle. I had an activity planned for the closing circle, but threw that away when one group announced they had a song for us all to sing that came out of the afternoon session, from someone who has been blocked recently trying to compose music. Yes, we talked about blocks to creativity, the biggest being fools who say things like "That's a dumb idea" or "You can't sing" or "You can't write" or "This is not perfect". One nugget we talked about was that we are all creative, and need to get over those kinds of comments to find our inner voice or creativity.

I am always a bit nervous when I am planning these, but after today I should just relax. They run themselves, just like Open Space says.

It was a good rally.

Women's Rally a Success - the lost one found

This morning at church 20 women held a rally. I am not sure if that is the appropriate name for what we did, but that is what we always call it, since these started 8 or 9 years ago. We use a metholology called Open Space for these rallies. Today was titled Creativity and Spirituality. We start with an opening circle, decide what sessions we want to run, feed each other lunch by bringing a potluck meal, afternoon sessions and closing circle. Women who paint, knit, write, analyze numbers, make mobiles, sing, make prints, make pottery, make and play bamboo pipes, compose music and probably some that I have forgotten got together. A nugget aka seed that was planted is that ALL of us are creative. When people start saying to us "That is a dumb idea" we start to self-monitor and sometimes believe that we are not creative. Interesting, this often starts when we enter grade school. Women today realize a broader definition of creativity. We closed the rally by saying individually to each other "I appreciate you and appreciate your creativity.

I am always a bit nervous about how these are going to go, but after this one today, I should just relax. I had an activity for our closing circle planned, but that was unnecessary. A group composed a song for us all to sing sung to the tune Dona Nobis Pacem. I was in tears as we sang it.

It was a good rally.

Wondering?

Since my last post was August 28th I was wondering whether I would ever blog again.

We are always busy, but the last 6 weeks have been very very very busy.

The Sisters were here from England for the first 2 weeks of September. The first weekend we drove up to Bar Harbor and had a really nice weekend up there with them. Next time we are going to take our bikes and drive on some of the carriage roads there. We did a lot of walking on them with the Sisters.

The last week of September I was in CA for an offsite and then in San Diego CA again the following week for an HR Forum. The following week, another 2 days on Cape Cod for another offsite and this week, 2 days in RI for the NEHRA conference.

As I unpacked my suitcase last night . . . .

I WONDERED, "How did I make it through the last 6 weeks with that kind of schedule?" One foot in front of another foot, one day at a time, because for the most part I really enjoy what I am doing, because I like to be busy, this time of year at work is offsite time.

So since I have been out of town . . .

I WONDER "What dropped that normally would have happened?" There was a shift as I walked into the house last night. I don't have a trip planned for a couple of weeks. This weekend so far has been busy but relaxing at the same time. The dog got walked, THANKS ROD, the mail was retrieved and I am sort of caught up on emails. BUT, I have not sewn at all, and our fridge has next to nothing in it.

Eileen's family had a surprise birthday party for her 50th birthday today. A group of us hung around in the mid 80s. 4 of us were at the party, and of course we had to tell all of the old stories. It was really fun to see all of them.

One big unmet need is that I have not been up to Vermont to see our new nephew, Thomas Henry Russell born September 22nd, named after both grandfathers who have both died. Within the next few weeks, we must get up there.

WONDERING, Thursday night I went to bed before the Sox game was over. I had to be at the conference early the next day, and this was my thinking "If they win, I will be really happy to hear it the next day, and if they lose, I would be really irritated that I had stayed up to watch." I guess I am a fickle fan, but I was really happy when I heard.

SO, I sit watching the 6th game of the ALCS. The Sox are ahead 10-2, I could probably go to sleep right now, but I won't. There is no suspence tonight for this game. They have it wrapped up. Tomorrow night will be another late night for the 7th game.

I am planning my next knitting project. It will probably be one from my new knitting book "Jackets for Work and Play - The best of Knitters".

Glad to be back

Another ENFP Core Dump

I usually have an idea of what I am going to blog, but not tonight.

Here is the core dump, NELS was wonderful. We had a highly functioning staff and an incredible group of participants. AND I am really glad that this was my last year on staff. We ended with a worship service that allowed us to cry, grieve and leave; thanks to Art and the staff who wil be continuing. The good news is that next summer I will take a real vacation instead of a working one that I have taken for the last 4 summers.

So what am I going to do with my time? Well, there is the jacket that I want to make for Margaret, and my office/study/guest room needs to be used as a guest room at the end of this month, and the normal list of things that keep me busy.

I did not take any knitting with me this week. The staff did not know what to do since one of my signs of stress is that I put my knitting down. They figured out other ways, like it is written all over my face, and body language. I am back knitting "Pretty Comfy Socks" and am on the home stretch with them. I also have a "few" unfinished projects to work on as I listed in a prior post.

My biggest personal learning this week, is on leave taking. Apparently within the therapist community it is widely known that a common coping mechanism is to pick fights with those you love when you are leaving. Mid-week, this was pointed out to me and I really had to hold the mirror up. It is true. In the last month I have found myself picking fights with Bethany. (In checking with her last night, she does not think I have, but I think I have) It was such a gift to have the mirror held up and to recognize this. It allowed me to laugh at myself.

So another thing I am going to do more is read. SOOOOOO, I am close and am off to read "Eat Pray Love"

What is NELS?

For the next week I will be on staff at the North East Leadership School affectionately called NELS. This is my last year in a three year rotation of being on staff and I am excited and a bit sad that this is my last year. We hold it on Cape Cod at the Craigville Conference Center. I attended as a participant in August of 2004, and was asked to be on staff that fall. Days start at 7 am with a worship service before breakfast, and sometimes finish as early as 9:30 pm . It is a long and rewarding week. Participants learn leadership skills and they also participant in a Credo group, where they spend a week with a small group exploring their beliefs and composing them to share in this small group. They also are thrown into the task of putting together a worship service to share with their fellow participants. I have been brought to tears more than once during these lay led worship services.

Each year is different and each year is wonderful. There are 2 places that I go to where I detach from the TV and electronic world, Star Island and NELS. Since this is my last year, I will be looking for a replacement to have next summer,

. . . but to not wish this experience away, I am detaching now from this electronic media to travel to the Cape and enagage one last time in an experience where a staff of 8 put together a powerful learning experience for 28 other Unitarian Universalists from the North East and enable them, if they are willing, to return to their congregations, transformed leaders.

Yoga, Knitting and Meditation

In my yoga class this morning, when the teacher says "Clear your mind of any thoughts and just focus on your breath." this is next to impossible for me to do. I cannot stop thoughts from coming into my head. I can do this for maybe 10 seconds, but then another neuron fires and my ENFP mind follows that thought. I try, really I try. The same thing happens to me when I meditate. CLEAR YOUR MIND OF ALL THOUGHTS. How do you do that? So this is a continuum right, from a gazillion thoughts in your head to a few. I cannot have NO thoughts going through my head.

In fact as I sat there in yoga, or lied or stood there in yoga, I compiled the to-do list of what was concerning me for the retreat that I am about to leave for. I problem solved a couple of things I was worried about and came up with some pretty good ideas if I do say so myself.

During a check-in with one of my groups, I described knitting as my meditation. It is what calms me, gets me to focus and removes those distracting thoughts from my head. It calms my Adult ADD if that is what I have. It lets me really listen to people. In college, my friend Rachel and I knit through all of our Psychology classes. We asked each professor and only one said NO. It was pretty funny to see us focusing on the Professor at the podium and to see many of the rest of the amphitheater, watching us knit.

So when you see someone knitting during a meeting, or in a group, don't assume that they are checked-out. In fact they may be like me and more checked-in than they would be otherwise. So I leave to go be present at my retreat, with my knitting. I once said in this same group to worry about me when I lay down my knitting. That is a clear signal that I am in distress, and enough distress such that I am not able to be calmed by my knitting.