The first electronic introduction … that first date … the fireworks shooting with the first kiss … discovering antiques, books, photos, music, food, church, and children together … long distance testing of the relationship … the “what-ifs” if we marry … sharing hearts … love … the proposal … wedding plans developed …wedding vows shared … marriage for our lifetime … sharing a home … sharing our families and friends … making life together … ebbs and flows like a lake shoreline … likes and dislikes … all a part of the journey. So happy I am on this journey with my husband, Dean Gall.
Category Archives: write
Sea Shells
My stepson visited the South Padre Islands during his spring break. He shared this lovely photo. These sea shells have so many different designs, arranged in the sand based on species, time, water, sun, the whole life system. Below is a poem sparked by the photo …
Our lives are like sea shells in the sand.
Arranged on a palette, seemingly haphazardly.
A beautiful seascape with the ocean, sun, wind,
and sparkling sands highlighting.
Small, significant, striped, or speckled shells.
Ridged, in the rough, raw, reckless, and ruffled.
Omnipresent, opaque, oval, and an oyster’s home.
Is your life smooth sailing right now?
Or does it feel hollow echoing sounds,
reminders of voices from the past?
Storms interrupting life?
There is a Pearl awaiting discovery.
Through Art Only
Oscar Wilde once said, “It is through art, and through art only, that we can realize our perfection.” Art forms are many, and more is the artist in each of us. The contrast of a black and white landscape captured through the camera, the colored palette made from a weaver’s loom, the Gothic design of an architect’s arched door, a foodie’s crisp salad greens garnished with red nasturtium, artisan apricot beer accompanied with the baker’s cracked wheat bread, the wind sounds slowly dancing from a flute, the flow of a poet’s words; these all are the artist’s perfection. I find journaling and blogging the avenue to keep my artistic mind going. Time is an element for most of us, but I encourage all to take time to at least journal your thoughts. You never know what inspiration will come to you … Relic stepping stones for the garden are my next artist’s project. I cannot wait to mix up some concrete and artistically arrange my “finds” into a one-of-a-kind design.
Below is the gothic doorway of the Carmo Church in Lisbon, Portugal. I found the photo on the internet. It emphasizes the gothic arch. Accompanying it is a photo of my home parish All Saints Church in St. Peters, Missouri, a gothic style church. The parish was founded in 1823.
Mocha Love
This spring morning was crisp, you know a hot cup of coffee, mocha, or tea morning! We had not had one of those mornings for a few days as we have been experiencing early summer weather instead of early spring weather. Not that I am complaining! Someone on FB captured an unusal shape in their cup of mocha this morning. “Mocha Love ” I call it … Gratitude and love filled my first thoughts this morning. I am so thankful for a loving husband and family. I spent last evening with my elderly grandfather. He lay on the hospital bed after having his middle right toe removed that morning due to a chronic infection as well as a stint put in his leg to aid with circulation. Yet he talked and laughed hour after hour of childhood memories, my father’s and uncle’s childhood stories, and the present day events. I have missed out on so much, busy about my own life, parenthood, grandparenthood, working, and now the greenhouse adventures. Yet I left late in the evening from the hospital with such a warm heart … “Mocha love”, I call it. It carried to my morning and throughout this day.
Contrasting Weather
I watch the weather like a farmer. I grew up with this ritual, and continue. Spring seems to bring the storm fronts, but its started early this year. Above normal warm one day, and then comes that front bringing clouds and rain followed by cooler air. This cycle continues. St. Louis’ record high for today is 84 degrees set in 1990, and record low is 1 degree in 1948. The norms are 54 and 35, yet today we are currently at a sunny, clear sky 71 degrees. It is gorgeous! I took a stroll around the block during my lunch break. The crab apple and bradford pear blossoms are busting out today! A walk to the indoor pool after work will be refreshing, though still too cool for an outdoor pool! The next front is due in on Wednesday. This contrasting weather creates a beautiful palette for us to behold. Clouds, storms, rains, sunshine, and rainbows … Is not this a picture of life?
Thoughts
The brain can distort your thoughts if you have an acute infection, fever, tumor, Alzheimer’s, lacking certain vitamins and minerals, or severely dehydrated. Non-prescription and prescription drugs and anesthesia can distort things in the brain as well. I have a colorful picture of the brain I found on Photobucket, a bit of art if you will in hopes for brighter days to come. Yet life is not too colorful these days, a gray palette. My father has a brain tumor, and underwent surgery this past Friday. His thoughts are distorted right now. Words come out wrong or no words at all. Previously, we know his distortion has been caused by the tumor, but now we are not sure if it is post-surgerical swelling that is causing the distortions, or other things now. Prayers are requested for my father’s full recovery, and strength for my mother and family.
Pen & Paper
The written word seems foreign now. Particularily I am talking about the old-fashion long-hand letter writing and journaling. You know … what we did before Word docs, Word Press, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Some of our famous poems and quotes were birthed in these letters and journals. Authors such as Thoreau, Twain, and Whitman are American classics. “Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart,” writes William Wordsworth. So I regret I have put aside my pen and paper. A letter or two to my estranged aunt, uncle, and cousin while wrongful imprisoned would be good for them as well as me. And I regret that I do not journal each day as I once did. In was my sanity through the most difficult days in my 1st marriage. Garden journaling would be so therapeutic, like gardening is.
I have found a writer’s colony in the Ozarks. My new husband and I will visit there this weekend. We have in mind to write a historical novel based on real characters we have known in our lives. These characters are full of whit, adventure, and stature. We are in the autumn years of our lives. And we have much to say as the winter years come quicker than we like to think …
Perches In The Soul
Slow Is Simple
A child’s life moves in slow motion though they run and play with full speed. My granddaughter Ella wants to experience life to the fullest, yet slows down to view upclose a green frog hopping in the garden. Life is simple as a child. Slow is simple. Simply said …
Green frog in the garden, a child’s bauble, maybe prince charming, a fairy tale in the making …
Reflections
Missouri is experiencing a winter blast on this New Year’s Day. Daydreaming about sunny days at Hilton Head Island (October 2010) and Valhalla on Island Lake in Minnesota (July 2011) … wishing to be in warmth and sunshine … I reflect where 2011 went and where 2012 is going like the sunrise and sunset …
For 9 months in 2011 Dean and I were apprentices for an organic farm called EarthDance Farms in Ferguson, Missouri. We enjoyed it so much that will do more than same as “sophomore farmies”. We purchased our very own greenhouse so we can play in the dirt even more. Here is a photo of Dean & I as Santa & Mrs. Claus for Ferguson’s 4th of July Parade themed “Christmas in July”. We celebrated our nation’s freedom with our EarthDance friends before the Minnesota vacation to Valhalla to see old friends. My 33 & 1/3 high school reunion came in September, and Rainer’s homecoming court in October.
“A mirror reflects a man’s face, but what he is really like is shown by the friends he chooses.” Proverbs 21:19
So glad my husband is my best friend, and together we choose good company.












