Category Archives: Home and Hearth

Emotional Health, Family, Goals and Dreams, Health and Long Life, Home and Hearth, Music and Theatre, Uncategorized

Leave a Legacy

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The Grandmas and Selah 2

Originally uploaded by sarahgrace

Its number three on the aforementioned Bucket List; but right up there with number one on mine.
My three children are by far the greatest thing that has come out of this challenge and chaos called life.

They are not mine to buy and sell and use and own; but, they are mine to love, and to provide wings for. They are the primary recipients of the LEGACY I long to leave. A legacy that includes:
1) Plenty of music and musical opportunities
2) A classical education
3) Rewarding work ethic
4) The proper tools and gifts to help the tree grow in the way it is bent
5) Freedom to be oneself, who one is meant, by the Creator, to be
6) A well of memories and experiences to grow on
My professional friend has a large matted gold frame on her office wall. The frame proudly displays all the major accomplishments of her life: diplomas, professional licenses – and a portrait of her three children. I could not illustrate it better. Children are a heritage from the Lord. They are my life’s magnum opus. Children’s Children are the crown of old age. I must be old, because I have a three jeweled crown.

Emotional Health, Family, Goals and Dreams, Health and Long Life, Home and Hearth, The Cabin, The Petty Pace, Uncategorized

Reflect (#1 on the Bucket List)

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Grandma MM

Originally uploaded by ein feisty Berg

“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants…….The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word. But the worries of this life…choke it, making it unfruitful. Matthew 13:7 and 22.”

Over the past several years, I have repeatedly heard speakers lamenting and pointing out the fact that houses are no longer designed with front porches on which to sit and talk with family and neighbors at the end of the day. Companionable reflection rarely happens in our activity laden or television choked lives.

When we moved to the cabin, the porch, or deck, was rather rickety and precarious. Doug reinforced and replaced the pile and beam supports. I bought two patio benches for our anniversary the first year. For a few years we made a nightly habit of sitting and reflecting on the trials and successes of each day. It was a good habit. Reflection is healthy; for the individual and for relationships. By and by the worries and cares of life choked out this reflection time. Once again the struggle to survive became all consuming.

Now I am once again in a place, a time, of reflection as I work on my book and “feel my pain.”

In a previous post, I quoted Christian Counselor, Maryellen Stipe as saying (in part)
“When you fill your life and brain with obsessing … fixing …you mood alter on that (worrying, catastrophising, planning to control the chaos, etc) and you do not feel your own pain, or take care of the issues in your own life. You are so busy living someone else’s life that you don’t live your own life or dreams or purpose”

Reflection.  Reflecting on the pain and the joys in life.  Getting emotionally, mentally, spiritually healthy.  Definitely on my list of 10 things I want to do before I die.  How about this year?

Emotional Health, Goals and Dreams, Home and Hearth

Eine Feisty Desert

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In order to facilitate my writing and emotional health; I have removed from Eine feisty BERG to Eine Feisty DESERT.  Well why not? Edward Abby wrote Desert Solitaire and other books while cloistered in the road house at Pack Creek.  Ellen Meloy writes of her love affair with the desert in The Anthropology of Turquoise. But, why would I leave the Mountain?  Because of our acute financial and debt state; which forces sale of the cabin. I am quite content and undistracted here. I have an open, airy, light filled studio apartment in which to place my computer, piano, musical instruments, books, and precious and essential trivia. It is a convenient location for my college daughter to visit.  I am closer to grandbabies.  My son is successfully enrolled in a 5A school.

What more could a writer want?  Look for the answer in what I write.  Look for good things from my pen and plume.

Family, Home and Hearth, Music and Theatre, Uncategorized

Launch

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launch

Originally uploaded by ein feisty Berg

A Golden Birthday
My youngest just turned 17 on the 17th and therefore dubbed it a golden birthday. He even asked if he happened to be born at 1700 hours – I told him “yes, somewhere in the world, I am sure it was 1700 hours. 1743 to be more precise.”
In 17 short years he has accomplished many things that still remain only a dream for me: performing internationally, singing on TV, soloing on the stage of Boettcher Concert Hall with the Symphony, creating movies, playing bass, jamming, forming, and performing with a band…
He has also done many things I have never dreamed of doing and will probably never attempt: back-flips on a trampoline, wall flips in a school hall, snowboarding, skateboarding.
He is also very tech savvy. As we were downloading this picture from his cell phone camera, he ran into a snafu and called, “Dad, what do I do now?” Doug (who can figure out anything computer or mechanic when given time enough) said, “Here, let me see,” and reached for the mouse. We all groaned (given time enough is the key word here), and said, “No.” Doug exited the room and Philip figured out the problem and had the pictures downloaded and accessible in 15 seconds…..Sometimes you only have to offer unwanted help to a teenager to get results

Family, Home and Hearth, Music and Theatre, Uncategorized

Launch

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launch

Originally uploaded by ein feisty Berg

A Golden Birthday
My youngest just turned 17 on the 17th and therefore dubbed it a golden birthday. He even asked if he happened to be born at 1700 hours – I told him “yes, somewhere in the world, I am sure it was 1700 hours. 1743 to be more precise.”
In 17 short years he has accomplished many things that still remain only a dream for me: performing internationally, singing on TV, soloing on the stage of Boettcher Concert Hall with the Symphony, creating movies, playing bass, jamming, forming, and performing with a band…
He has also done many things I have never dreamed of doing and will probably never attempt: back-flips on a trampoline, wall flips in a school hall, snowboarding, skateboarding.
He is also very tech savvy. As we were downloading this picture from his cell phone camera, he ran into a snafu and called, “Dad, what do I do now?” Doug (who can figure out anything computer or mechanic when given time enough) said, “Here, let me see,” and reached for the mouse. We all groaned (given time enough is the key word here), and said, “No.” Doug exited the room and Philip figured out the problem and had the pictures downloaded and accessible in 15 seconds…..Sometimes you only have to offer unwanted help to a teenager to get results

Home and Hearth, The Petty Pace, Uncategorized

Ben Feisty

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Feisty Berg, Ben Feisty, Mighty Mountain, Terrible Mountain; ornery and challenging.The beauty of the sun setting on 10 inches of snow yesterday as I took my only walk of the weekend.  It makes one want never to leave such a place.The irritation of rising at 5:50 AM in 12 degree weather and donning heavy robe and coat over the two nightgowns, lacing up snow boots, negotiating slippery stairs (no snow to sweep first this morning) to trek to the outside entrance of the basement where the alternate potty is.  Now that makes one want to take the first train toward civilization. On the other hand; who needs a train when one has the world at ones’ fingertips with high speed internet?  I should feel guilty for complaining: others are homeless and without electricity. Dear readers, I must run.  Today I must prepare for three holiday and concert performances AND post grades via the internet.  Happy Monday!  

Emotional Health, Family, Goals and Dreams, Health and Long Life, Home and Hearth, The Cabin, The Petty Pace

Life Right Now

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Life right now is:Teaching K through Sixth Grade Music

Teaching private piano lessons at home

Rehearsing the children’s music and drama team at church for a Christmas production

Rewriting the Mythical Musical for the 6th grade at school so that everyone who wants to speak can have a part

Encouraging and challenging a talented 16, almost 17, year old

Getting the Cabin ready to show and sell

Feeling hopelessly weighed down with debt, bills, and splintered relationships

Knowing that I have changed and that some around me may never

Loving the fact that another young adult has launched and is a successful college freshman

Struggling to light a woodstove after 6 years of practice and success

Searching for kindling in the snow

Sweeping up the mess of sawdust and chips after lighting a fire

Trying to keep sinks clean when the men are working dirty jobs

Going outside and down stairs to the composting toilet because the septic holding tank is full

Putting my boots on and lacing them just to walk to the car or the downstairs

Actively trying to find and build relationships with other women while knowing I may move soon

Wanting to give my best to those close to me and knowing I am empty emotionally, and bankrupt financially.

Remembering to make my walk and sunshine time a priority as a spiritual, emotional, and physical health prescription

Why do the essential things always get crowded out in the clamor of the urgent?

Family, Home and Hearth, Uncategorized

Thanksgiving (Monday Before)

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Oh the joy of having the house ALL to myself, ALL day; to cook, and clean, and sing, and organize and create and write at the computer without interruption.  I am off for Thanksgiving already and “they” are not. 

Oh the secure thankfulness of knowing “they” will all be home again tonight and I will be a more gracious member of the family for having luxuriated in solitude in my own way in their absence. 

Young mothers, I do not record this to make you envious; but to give you hope.  Your day of solitude will come, so go ahead and roll with the chaos for the present (smile). Nor do I feel guilty about expressing my joy and thankfulness at the solitude.

When one wishes to be alone; one does not want to be alone forever; just for a little space of time, to enjoy a bit of tranquility and soul nourishment.   Let us enjoy and be thankful for all the simple things in life:  sunshine, rain, warm fires, watching children grow, and……having a few hours to oneself! 

Family, Goals and Dreams, Home and Hearth, Uncategorized

Labor Day

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Andrea 2Originally uploaded by sarahgrace

Labor Day
Happy 19th Birthday, Andrea! You were born on Labor Day in more ways than one.
Unlike your older brother’s narrative which begins, “Mama played the organ at church on the night I was born….” Yours begins with a family Labor Day picnic and two goals regarding your birth: 1) We would make it to the hospital; 2) Your father would be present; both to drive us to the hospital and to attend your birth. Our goals for your impending arrival were made challenging by the fact that we lived 20 minutes from the hospital. “Not to worry,” said the OB, “I am 5 minutes away and I will meet you here.” “Famous last words,” retorted the expectant mother, “I was only five minutes away when Kev was born and the OB was 5 minutes the other direction. Neither of us made it to the hospital.” Goal number two was also challenging. At the beginning of the fiscal year the office manager at the radio station where your father was employed issued an ultimatum, “No days off without two weeks prior notice!” Properly cowed, we sat down and figured as near as possible your arrival date. Let’s see, older brother was three weeks early. Maternal tradition says girl babies are earlier than boy babies. We don’t know whether this baby is a girl or boy. Bingo, we will begin vacation one month prior to due date. Uh, its only a two week vacation, what if the baby is over-due? The radio station staff laughed us to scorn (but made no flexible changes in policy). Radio personalities must be on the air regardless of holiday, but your father’s vacation began that Monday. So, that is how it came about that your dad and I got to attend Labor Day picnic together with my extended family. It was a wonderful outdoor affair with fried chicken and the traditional water fight (sans the pregnant lady) and I did plenty of joking with aunts and family members about how apropos it would be to give birth on labor day. After dusk we picked up the trash, packed up our left over salads and returned to our respective homes. As I climbed into bed around 9:00 PM my water broke. We were on our feet and in the car instantly. Walking in the emergency room door I confronted the receptionist and said, “My water broke, the contractions started in the car and I have babies fast, please admit me immediately.” You were born at 11:05 PM.
Oh, yes, the radio station announced it to the whole listening world the next morning around 6:00 AM. Love you bunches! Always have and always will.