Postcards From the Lake: Lakeside Meditating

The other day was the kind that almost doesn't seem real, it was so perfect. Warm, quite warm, but not hot and not at all humid. There was no breeze, so the lake was as calm as glass and the sky that perfect shade of blue. Everything within view was reflected in that water. Even the ripples you see below weren't there at that moment -- it was that smooth. 

The neighbors were elsewhere and being a weekday, the lake was quiet, sound broken only by the occasional fishing boat or gently putting pontoon. It looked just like this, except it was daytime, not sunset!

 

I decided to go for a swim before the neighbor's return. They have family up -- teens. Nice, but active, out in the water a lot, having fun tubing and just enjoying the summer. Laughing, playful. Just as it should be.  I love to watch them -- it reminds me of summers when my cousins and I were at the lake, sometimes with friends from home.

Postcards From the Lake: "Same" Can Be Wonderful

Truth of the matter is, life at the lake isn't particularly exciting. There are rarely dramatic moments, major crises. It's just good. And very much the same as it has been in years past. Quiet. Unscheduled. Productive. Lazy. Relaxing. Fun. And sorely needed.

 

When we were kids spending our summers at the lake, every day was full of fun and full of play. We'd be up and out of the house -- maybe enjoying the beach and most likely enjoying the water. We were back and forth between my house and my cousins, a half mile away, singing show tunes at the top of our lungs as we walked the same stretch of roads I walk now. Whenever the sun was out and the water reasonably calm, we were in the boat and on water skis.

An Odd Easter This Year!

This coming weekend is  Easter -- March 31. I'm not a fan of early Easter. I wish they'd just pick one date in mid-to-late April and stick with it! But, I don't set the calendar so you go with what you've got.

I have a lot of Easter memories -- some good, some less so. This year will be a little different because the grands are in Florida for the holiday so no annual egg hunt. 

Traditions -- When Everything Old Is New Again

 Tradition.

I love that word. It brings to mind memories of times past and occasions and activities that were so special, unique, or fun that they became incorporated into our souls and repeated over and over again. (Cue the music!)

No season seems to echo the thought of tradition more to me than the winter holidays.

Strawberry Season Redo!

I'm rewriting my "Strawberry Season" post because I accidentally deleted it (UGH!) Things I learned today -- no way to retrieve a deleted blogger post! I'll try to post-date it so it doesn't show in your feeds but who knows if that will work. If you read that one, skip this one!

Lamb Chop

A number of you commented on this photo from my last post and recognized the fuzzy white puppet with the eggs made by Rick's mom as Lamb Chop.

Lamb Chop, as some may recall, was a creature designed by puppeteer Shari Lewis, who was a part of many of our childhoods with her televised program.

Shari Lewis was a ventriloquist and her puppets, Lamb Chop, Hush Puppy and Charley Horse, made many appearances on television shows in the 1950s including Ed Sullivan's variety show and the popular Captain Kangaroo. She then had her own children's television program which was broadcast nationally.

Photo:  Wikipedia

In 1992, Shari's beloved character, the sweet little Lamb Chop (which some say was Lewis' alter ego), returned to public television in a series called Lamb Chop's Play Along. I remember the show as being quite delightful and very interactive, with lots of participation opportunities for kids.

A sceme from Lamb Chop's Play Along on PBS

And that's how this Lamb Chop came into my life! I went to one of the PBS annual meetings when the show was being launched one of the take-aways we were given was this sweet puppet, which, as you can see, made quite an impression with our first baby grand!

We also got a little finger puppet, which now sits atop my Easter Egg tree!

And bonus points, a meeting with Shari Lewis, as she signed the baseball caps we were given.

Shari Lewis died at the age of 65 in 1998 from pneumonia developed while she was undergoing chemotherapy. I will remember her as a charming and gracious woman who brought delight to several generations of youngsters.

Including this one!

Wishing You A Lovely Easter and Passover

I know many of you who celebrate Easter or who are in the midst of Passover are experiencing it in different ways than in years past. It all causes me to be rather nostalgic.

So, in honor of Easter, of days past and less distant times, a few memories.

I wish I could remember the times above, with my cousin, David. But I do remember this big rabbit below.

By the time I was  a little older, my mom and I were turning out eggs for our Easter egg tree. My tree came out for Easter, or one of them and I'll share those pix soon!

There are some big gaps until adulthood in the Easter photos! One of the things I'll miss most this year is not doing our annual Easter egg dying with our friends Mark and Jan. This is from a few years ago.

Every year we dye eggs, enjoy dinner and then watch "Life of Brian." We know all the lines -- it's almost like choral speaking!

This year we'll did eggs on our own and a ZOOM show and tell.

I'll have to get creative with Rick's Easter basket. I feel some baking coming on. But no plants or seeds this year.

We've had Easters when it's just the two of us, which will be much like this year.

But we'll miss times when we are all together.

Oh, that was a tasty Easter!

This was our first Easter with Carson.

And last year we loved Carson's first egg hunt...

...and Cam's first Easter.

The weather was so nice we enjoyed a walk to the Ditch.

There may be chocolate, but it won't be wrapped in pretty foil.

And there will be colorful eggs (which will make wonderful deviled eggs for dinner!)

There will be memories of long ago days in church choir 250 singers from age five to adulthood with a big breakfast between the two services.

And memories matter. This year will be unforgettable for many of us. For some, very sad. For most, very different. Whatever holiday you may be celebrating this season, from my house to yours...

... and from sweet Lizzie too...

...all good wishes for a healthy, happy, lovely holiday and spring.

A Few of My Favorite (Christmas) Things!

We all have them. The ornaments that must be on the front of the tree. The Santa or the angel that must have a place of honor. That special decoration remembered from childhood.

My decorating is coming along well with several trees up and lit, but with no ornaments. No, I haven't pulled out the ornament boxes yet -- probably later this week. But I've been revisiting my favorite things from Christmases past and I thought I'd share a few with you!

(Cue the music!)

This is the oldest ornament on my tree. It was from my grandparents' tree (mom's parents) and she had it after them. Now it's mine. Barely hanging together with wire, too fragile to take apart and repair. But a treasure, nonetheless.

As you might expect, many of my seasonal things have a connection to my Mom or to our family tree when I was growing up. I think (but am not sure) that she made these! There's an Andy, too.

On one of my trees, this is the first glass ball that goes up each year. We've had it as long as I can remember. (The "egg" to its right was a gift from my friend Lisa back when we were in high school or college and the small bell a Shiny Brite from my other grandmother's tree.

I love these Santa ornaments too, again from the old family tree.

And these -- the paint is chipping off and I'm sure it must be lead. But I still love them.

Always have, always will.

I've written about the Gingerman tree and the story of the giant Gingerman at the top. He is a must on what I call the "Mom" tree.

When she was ill she started making tons of little ginger guys like this one and stringing them on garlands for her friends. In a Christmas wrapping competition one year, my dad made a giant version, leaving a small space unsewn into which he tucked a pair of earrings. I still have those, too.

I have loads of ornaments like these -- photos from our different years together.

And ornaments from our travels, of course!

And what goes on the top of the big tree? Turkey Lurkey, of course! A friend and I made puppets for my Henny Penny puppet show in my puppetry class in graduate school. This is a must, albeit an unconventional topper!

I have too many collections, some started by others, like about 25 silver bell music boxes, a collection my friend Lin began for me.

And others I've chosen. I won't show you every Santa (I know -- you're breathing a sigh of relief!). Just a couple of favorites.

This one reminds me of my favorite advisor in grad school. It's the eyes and mouth of the face.

I have a few snowmen friends, too. My pal Judy gave me this silvery charmer...

...and this was a craft fair find.

 These little elves were given to Mom by my cousin, Nancy. They're so cheery!

And this was from Mom's Royal Doulton collection. So graceful for December!

I love Margaret Furlong's shell angels. I wish I had more!

 And lest you should think I'm only about the Ho! Ho! Ho!, I do have more than a few creches or nativity pieces. This is one of my favorites, but far from the only one.

So grab yourself a cookie from my happy cookie jar and enjoy.

The season is here and I'm eager to see your decorations, too!

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