Life
« Previous Entries Monday, June 30th, 2008Tying up Loose Ends…
Today is the last day for this challenge! I am planning to leave the links up through July 10th for people to post links to their wrap up posts and May/June reads. For those of you who forgot to post links to reviews in the early part of the challenge, you may feel free to post those links to the May/June reads link page. There were 60 people who signed up to participate. So far 15 have completed it (based on the links to wrap ups). This was a very fun challenge to host…and for those wondering, I will be hosting it again in January 2009 (with perhaps a couple of changes). Thank you to all who participated…hope you had fun!
UPDATE on Northern California Fires
As of today, my husband and I are no longer being directly threatened by the two fires closest to us. The Withrow fire and the Shingletown Ridge Road fire are both 100% contained. We also did not get the predicted thunderstorms over the weekend which were a huge relief. Thank you to all who commented or emailed me and who kept us in their thoughts and prayers.
Unfortunately, although we are breathing more easily, there are still many Northern Californians who have been evacuated or who are under the threat of evacuations from fires. In Shasta and Trinity counties combined (per the CalFire Website) fires have burned 48,000 acres to the tune of $9 million. Currently 2 homes have been destroyed and 230 homes are threatened. Many of the Northern California counties (including Shasta County) have now been declared a State of Emergency, and also Federal Disaster areas. Your continued thoughts and prayers for our communities are much appreciated.
Thursday, June 26th, 2008Update on Northern California Fires
Thank you to all who have commented here or emailed me and are keeping us in their thoughts and prayers. We have been under the threat of evacuation since Sunday afternoon. There are two fires burning close to our home.
- The Shingletown Ridge Fire has burned 675 acres but is 100% contained (not controlled) at this time. This fire is 3/4 of a mile south of our development. Photos of this fire are posted at Redding.com. That site posts updates throughout the day on the largest fires in Shasta County.
- The Withrow Road Fire has burned 500 acres and last night was reported at 40% containment. However, listening to the scanner this morning they are reporting the 40% containment at the western edge of the fire is being lost…more engines are being requested; unfortunately no planes or helicopters are flying due to the very poor visibility (smoke) in the area. This fire is located approximately 2 miles northwest of us. Our development is uphill from this fire, which makes it at risk if the fire were to grow or the winds were to change (currently winds are coming out of the south so the fire is burning north now - away from our home).
Updates on the fires are posted periodically at the CalFire website.
I have lost track of the number of fires currently burning in Shasta County. Engines and support are coming in from Nevada and Oregon as well as other parts of California. National Guard helicopters have been sent up here, but are grounded due to poor visibility. We are expecting the Governor to declare Shasta County in a State of Emergency, which would help us to get more funding to pay for the cost of fighting these fires.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge the courage and hard work of our firefighters. They are simply amazing and doing a tremendous job. So far NO STRUCTURES have been lost to any fire in our county. This is astonishing given that so many of these fires are burning near homes.
My husband and I are ready to evacuate if need be…the most important thing is our lives and the lives of our pets, so we won’t stay if things deteriorate here. But, we hope we will remain out of the danger zone. Your continued good thoughts and prayers are appreciated and comforting. Please keep ALL the residents of our county who are near these fires in your prayers. The strain of uncertainty is perhaps the most difficult to deal with…
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008Fires in Northern California
The last two days have been an exercise in faith and anxiety. My husband and I reside in Northern California - Shasta County…where 154 fires are currently raging due to lightening strikes this past Saturday. We have been on high alert to evacuate our home in the mountains just east of Redding, California in Shingletown due to a 475 acre fire burning about 3/4 of a mile from our home. The smoke filled air is claustrophobic and except for the drone of the planes and beat of the helicopters, there is no sound. No birds. No wind whispering in the pines. In the last 24 hours we have had two “threats” where we thought we would be evacuated immediately. Our cars are packed; our trailer is hooked to the jeep and ready for some antiques if the need arises. I’ve selected a dozen books to take with me - and photos and important documents and the hard drive of my computer, and some needlework I have crafted. For 24 hours we had no power. Luckily that was restored about 12:30 AM last night. I alternate between extreme anxiety to feeling optimistic and faithful to the skill of the firefighters.
Updates on the fires are not good here. We are relying mostly on our scanner for the most recent information. To get a sense of what is happening, you can read our local news here. We are most concerned about the Shingletown Ridge Fire, but the Bear Creek Fire (now called the Kirkman Fire) is also a concern as it is a mere 20 miles directly west of us and is at 2400 acres and no containment.
I will be hopefully able to update my blog today and catch up on emails and my Google Reader…but, my concentration is not so great right now and so if I am quiet for a time, you will know why.
Prayers for all residents of Northern California, especially those being evacuated and living in fear of losing their homes is appreciated. We are hearing that the Governor may be sending us National Guard units to prop up our fire crews…and I hope that happens. Some fires which are currently not threatening homes are being allowed to burn unchecked due to a lack of resources.
Monday, March 31st, 2008Utopia, Dystopia, Messtopia - An Essay
Cynthia Ozick is an American writer who has written poems, novels and essays. She was on the shortlist for the Man Booker Prize in 2005 for her novel Heir to the Glimmering World (aka: The Bear Boy). Reviews for her work can be found on this site.
Recently I discovered a short essay authored by her for Zoetrope All-Story in which she writes (with a great deal of humor) about the concept of Utopia. Ozick has us consider the idea that Utopia is really about less about inspiration and more about tyranny: ‘A utopian society, even when it pledges the abolition of tyranny, is tyranny’s dollhouse.‘ She points out that the twentieth century has experienced failed utopia in the guise of Hitler and Stalin.
Instead of striving for a utopian society, where a universal view is promoted, Ozick offers another choice - that of Messtopia.
It is characterized by a thousand asymmetries, a thousand dissonances. No arms lift in unison; there is every variety of dress and face.
She envisions a society where citizens are not required to behave alike or think alike; where the idea of a carefree childhood still exists. She challenges utopian thinkers to give up their views of perfection and instead embrace the messy freedom of Messtopia.
Orzick’s essay is brilliantly constructed to challenge our current wave of thinking - our view that to be united we must all be the same. She uses humor effectively to show the folly of utopian thinking.
Readers wishing to read the essay in its entirety, may find it on line here.
Friday, December 21st, 2007A Season for Joy
During this Christmas season, I am reminded once again of the tremendous gift of life we have been given - and which we should celebrate with joy.
May Ashley’s first Christmas at home (rather than in a hospital bed) be filled with joy and peace, laughter and love. Merry Christmas, Ashley!
Crafting
The days are getting shorter and the nights leave behind frost on the ground. About this time every year I feel the pull of my craft projects…the desire to curl up in front of the fire with a cup of tea and a needle; to surround myself with bits of fabric and colored threads; to make tiny stitches and watch a picture develop.
This is one of my current projects:
I started this at least 15 years ago! But, I’m slowly getting it done. It’s counted cross stitch and stitched on tan 18 count Aida.
Lest you think I never complete anything, here are some of my finished projects from years ago:
Pattern is by Barbara Bourgeau-Richards - Counted Cross Stitch stitched on 18 count Aida (finished 1991).
New England Sampler - Counted Cross Stitch stitched on 18 count Aida (finished 1993)
Victorian House - Counted Cross Stitch stitched on 18 count Aida (finished 1990).
I’ve made a lot of counted cross stitch projects, and also done some Hardanger - but, these I’ve given away to various friends and family and unfortunately did not take photos of them!
Thursday, September 20th, 2007Ashley’s Story
Ashley has had transplants, cancer, chemotherapy and many struggles to survive during the last two years. Trish posted the photo above in August - and I actually CHEERED to see Ashley looking so strong and healthy and happy.
But, this week Ashley is struggling again. She is in the hospital and she is very, very sick. Her family is asking readers to surround their little girl with prayer - and so, I am sharing her story here. Whatever your belief or faith, however you gather strength - I ask that you share that with this little girl who has an inner beauty and spirit that is truly inspiring.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad!
It’s memories like these that make me so very happy you’re my dad!
Wish I was there to celebrate Father’s Day with you….
Love, Wendy
Prayers For Nattie
This morning the world lost a bright and shining light. Natalie lost her battle with cancer.
It is hard to understand why a person with so much to live for would be taken from us so quickly. My heart hurts. I think of those she has left behind and my grief and tears are for them - not Nattie, who I know is with God now - but for her children, her parents, and her friends who will have to live their lives here on earth without her. There are very few people who can reach across cyberspace and move another’s heart as Nattie did. Even as she lay in a hospital bed, battling for her life, she thought of others - dictating words for her daddy to write on her blog to sooth and update her many friends.
She was special.
And she will be missed.
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There are times when a person touches one’s heart - it’s inexplicable - but there you have it. A fellow blogger and a member of some of my Yahoo book groups (including my group - ANovelChallenge) is battling cancer. I don’t know why Nattie has touched my heart the way she has, but I feel connected to her. I don’t know Nattie very well. I love reading her blog. I find her wit and her faith uplifting. When I heard she had been diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer, I felt a deep hurt, a kick in the gut, a feeling of disbelief. Nattie is young and has two children. She is determined to fight this cancer.
And so I’m asking people who visit my blog to join Nattie’s friends and family in healing prayers.
Nattie’s daddy is posting updates to her blog, which you can find by clicking on the photolink below.
Not Just Another Ordinary Day
Sometimes life seems so ordinary - getting up, checking emails, making coffee, going to work, shopping for groceries, paying bills, going to the post office, watching a few of your favorite TV shows…and then doing it all again the next day. Lately my life has seemed to have a mind of its own; I feel like I am rushing around doing the necessary things and then falling into bed at night exhausted. Every now and then I need a miracle or some magic to remind me that life is more than menial tasks and obligations.
Yesterday I drove out to Triple Creek Ranch to volunteer for a special event - a group of adults with developmental disability were coming out for two hours of riding and learning about horses. The event went smoothly and there were lots of smiles all around - exactly what we always hope for! After it was over, I helped pick up tack and put things away and as I was getting ready to leave, my friend Carla said: “Oh, the mother cat moved her kittens into the office. I meant to tell you!”
The mother cat is a stray. She is aptly named Spooky as she avoids people like the plague and will bolt whenever anyone gets near her. She delivered kittens high up in the barn about three weeks ago and since then had been routinely moving her kittens to keep them hidden. Now she had moved them to a spot where we could actually put our hands on them!
Carla, Dwayne, Cherry, Alycia and myself tromped into the office, pulled aside some boxes and there they were, three teeny-tiny balls of fur sans mama!
There is nothing like a baby animal. I scooped one of the little guys into my hands - his bitty bones felt frail beneath my fingers, his fur was pure silk against my cheek. He opened his blue eyes and released a little “mew” into the warm air of the office. I cuddled him, stroked his miniature ears, gazed at his perfect features. I held a miracle of creation in my hands. My heart filled with love - an ordinary day became something special.
Last night as I settled into bed a warmth still glowed inside me - and I was reminded that life is not just a series of menial tasks. It is much bigger than that.
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