Sounds of fall

Only one day left of August ... and Tuesday September hits.  There is a chill in the morning air, the comforter stays on all night, cozy is a word that I think of in the morning, and even the wind sounds different.  The leaves sound crisp without the heaviness of the humidity.  Rain drops sting a bit as they hit my skin and the sweatshirt has come out of the closet.   But last night we needed another trip to the beach.  Even the lion is wondering if summer really has to end.

The Open Seat

A crowded bus. Folks anxious to arrive at their destination. How many more will fit? A mother with a baby. Businessmen and women heading home on a Friday afternoon. Folks on their way to a weekend adventure. We just wanted to get to the airport ... a day of training ... planes awaiting. How many more can get on the bus? "Please let the lady have a seat" "Folks there is plenty of room." "Mary Anne put your suitcase up here" "Oh there's room for my back pack." "Please let the lady with the jacket have a seat." The path opens and I realize he is talking about me. When did I get so old?

I do not own a red hat yet ... nor do I have a purple dress ... and last I checked my hair is still blond (okay, a little white). Mary Anne is the one with grey hair ... I was the one with the jacket.

Connections and Elegance

Why were trains stations designed so elegantly in years gone by? Think about it ... Union Station in Washington DC (1907), Grand Central Station in NY City (1913), St. Louis Union Station (1890s) Chicago Union Station, (1925), Stockholm Central Station (1870s). The grand halls of train stations ...

The train station in years gone by were the meeting point, entry to city. A waiting place. Think about these places ... places of connection ... places where folks met one another ... journeyed to new places. Imagine being an immigrant and arriving via train to one of these fine places. Functional ... yet beautiful.

How many people have connected with one another at train stations?
Why do I feel so cozy when I get to a train station.
As simple as the one in Sacramento to as elegant as the one in Washington DC.

I think this weekend I'll stop by the train station in Rochester.
Check back ... I'll post a picture!

Feelings

It's in the face ... That's where are feelings are so evident. And yes, I think even dogs express emotion. I wasn't sure if this was more like a mug shot or just a look of loneliness. As I was readying for work in the morning he stood and looked at the door.

If this were a child .... what words would you use to reflect the expression? Loneliness? Sadness? Rejected? Using these words helps our children develop and become emotionally healthy. And it is okay to acknowledge the emotion. By acknowledging the emotion we acknowledge the core of the individual. We show how much we value another.

So next time you see a grumpy check out person ...

"Gee, it looks like your having a bad day"

The Tastes and Colors of Summer

Fresh tomatoes.  

Hopefully this weekend I might even put up some spaghetti sauce, or 

maybe enchilada sauce, or even chili sauce. 

 But put these with .... 

and you almost have my favorite summer sandwich.  

Bacon lettuce and tomato ...

 on sourdough bread ... 

with mayo of course!

Then there are the fresh herbs.  

This bunch in basil, oregano and tarragon.  

They will soon join the sage which is drying in the basement!

Finally the summer corn prepped for the winter soup and meals.  

The compost pile is getting full just with this weeks activities

Summer sure is full of color

Messy

Things just sometimes feel really messy ...

and I don't know how to sort things out.

Nothing on the plate is tidy

It is just all messy.

Perhaps I could cover it up with sweet syrup

That doesn't work

Perhaps a dollop of whip cream

That doesn't work

Perhaps melted butter

Nope ... that doesn't work

The engineer in me wants out

order

tidiness

organization

So how do I get from one to the other?

Living Each Day

God continues to be revealed in our lives daily. Sometimes I think revelation comes through an exchange between two people, the rays of sun bouncing off the living room floor, the hug of a child, the waters of baptism, an assembly of people, lying in bed in the middle of the night, a passage of a book, the bread, the wine.

With each revelation I move beyond the literal to the what can be. It moves beyond what is seen to what is not seen. God's revelation is what is beyond / behind the words.

God continues to be revealed through faith.