Creative Endeavors

January has been a good month. It’s a little warm for the season and Portland has had little rain. The sunrise is beautiful and the trees are so green. My herb garden perished in one freeze earlier and the roses aren't looking very happy but there is a feeling of an early spring in the air for us. Mount Hood, however, had a great avalanche that poured down like a river. No skiing for me; not like I’ve ever been but I always wanted to try.

We had new keys made for the car because they were lost and it took a good two hours for new ones so I made myself comfortable in the Panera Bakery near by with breakfast. There are a couple new restaurants in the Mall I am excited about trying them out. The best part is I can walk around and stay warm while burning calories slow but sure. It has been a challenge for me this winter but I am hopeful. I decided to get the spinal shot instead of the surgery, at least for now.

Lisa and I went swimming for our aerobic class and the people were so welcoming and friendly. It was difficult but I looked forward to the hot tub afterward. Then we went to a sushi bar near the mall that used to be Dunkin Donuts. I love sushi and theirs was so fresh. Janna and I had gone the day before for their opening.

Shadow has been such a loving companion while Fred is away training.

I am busy designing a cake for my grand-daughter Taylor’s birthday. Her mom wants to take it to a special cake bakery and have it created. Lisa is having me do a special name design for her nephew to hang on his wall. I have several other art projects coming up or waiting to be finished as well. I am looking forward to teaching watercolors in February.

The puppies are growing so fast. They are taking on individual features that are so precious. They follow their mother around but she is trying to wean them in a desperate attempt for some alone time. She will even bring them her food. They bark and wrestle so much except for one little girl Janna calls Sunday. She loves the human touch, to be held or left by her self calmly. She is small and looks like Milea. Holly is turning silver already and looks like her daddy. They are teething and will chop down on anything.

Since the computers hit the market so many other new tools and gadgets have come out. Makes me wonder how we ever survived without them; like instant messaging, mapping and locating communities. Pocket phones and games that even children take to school. When I was young my mother used to yell outside or ring a cow bell unless she knew I was at a friend’s house; but then that was in the country. Daddy had a CB radio and would follow my whereabouts with his friends when I went to the movies or parties. One time a young man from school asked to sit next to me at the show. I was with a group of friends and we were all too young to date but I let him. To my surprise my baby sister came around the corner and asked to sit on my lap. I turned around and there were my parents. You can imagine how I felt being at the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong person.

I don’t think young people really date today. Courtship has lost its importance and chivalry died before I went to school. This is sad because relationships are rushed and communication with that special person isn’t really developed. My children partied or went with groups to one of their friends houses. My talks with them were pre-historic and foreign. Lost were the days of learning to sew and cook together, although I am sure some families still share those experiences. The basics of learning things have turned toward a mirage of electives and experiencing for themselves. Marriage is more of an event or designer’s convention it seems. The financially cost is greater than the personal investment in each other. More and more I am grateful for my husband and the things we shared in our early years.