For the past six months I have been wearing a beautiful handcrafted necklace of Turquoise and black glass beads. It is the precise length for my diminutive neck and everything from tank tops and skirts in the summer to velvet and candlelight in the winter. A workplace friend designed and presented this necklace to me on my birthday. She now has a number of designs available at http://www.sonothomemade.blogspot.com/ Check it out! And be generous with yourself and others.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Ben Feisty
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!
Thanksgiving (Monday Before)
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!
Pursuit Goes to the Movies
Ever notice that the difference between a Guy movie and a Chick Flick has to do with pursuit?In a chick flick the guy pursues, provides, and protects. He quite often does this romantically; flowers, chocolates, love-songs, etc. In a Guy movie the guy goes out and conquers the world and then returns and proudly waits for the girls to shower him with applause or swoon at his feet.Still other movies are blockbusters because they show a team effort between the sexes. Pursuit, provision and protection are all two way streets. I think the Fellowship of the Ring series from a few years back was a good example of team effort. Every character had a role and destiny to fulfill and there existed a good deal of traffic on the two way street of pursuit, provision and protection.
It Worked!
Ta Da! Here is the photo that goes with the post below titled “I Write and I consider myself a writer.
Today I Became a Queen
Yes as a symbol of my advancing (ahem) years and maturity, and in an effort to gather like minded friends about me for walks, book discussions, writing inspiration, and general yakking and philosophizing, I founded my own Red Hat Society Chapter, “Purple Mountain Majesty’s Little Red Writing “Hood.” My title, of course, is Her Purple Mountain Majesty I, and I look forward to adding Majesties II, III, IV and up to my list of walking, talking, reading, and writing buddies. Our ‘Hood will meet as often as possible to hike and write and read what we have written and talk about what we have read and wear what we have red (and purple).
Lack of Pictures
As you may have noticed, it has been awhile since I posted pictures. I know; even the newspapers know; that a story just falls flat without pictures. Well, I have added some to my flickr sight, but I have been unable to blog them. I am waiting for instructions from tech support.
Labor Day
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.
Wanting Well
Originally uploaded by ein feisty Berg
Wanting Well
There are so many things I WANT to do: take a walk each day for exercise and waist control, finish a sewing project, clean the house thoroughly, write on my two novels, practice all my music instruments…and of course, be working toward the 10 things I want to do before I die.
There is nothing wrong with wanting or strong desire. In fact, the one who has ceased to want anything for oneself and lives only to sacrifice for the dreams and goals, wants and desires, of another has crossed the line into unhealthy co-dependence.
Likewise the one who thinks only of his or her own goals, dreams, and desires; with total disregard for the dreams and needs of those who people the world called ‘family and close friends,’ has tipped the balance toward the unhealthy.
Finding the balance can be a challenge.
She’s Precious!
selah_2Originally uploaded by ein feisty Berg
She is tiny, dark haired, delicate; in short, she IS the embodiment of precious!
Besides being a trendy sounding, up and coming, girl’s name right now, some of you may recognize “Selah” as a Biblical term from Psalms. My translation calls it a “musical term of unknown meaning.” The music teacher in me is fine with that! My pastor and other scholars have said it means, “pause and ponder what you have just read.”
Little Pause and Ponder Musical Term’s full handle (although I perfer Handel) is: Selah Summer Ann. Her full name tells me an entire story. She is the one and only girl and will remain the youngest child. Here is the reason for my interpretation.
Drew’s middle name is Alan (maternal grandfather’s name).
Beau’s middle name is Bradley (paternal grandfather’s name).
Selah’s middle name is Summer Ann (name of maternal grandmother and middle name of paternal grandmother).
There you have it, Friends and Relatives, this little family is complete and I will pause and ponder this blessing of grandmotherhood for at least four more years while Andrea goes to college.
Dear Reader, may your tribe increase; and if your tribe is complete, may your completed tribe truly be a heritage from the Lord.