Hatred Makes the World Go Round

While in the Walgreen's Pharmacy drive-through I saw a woman yelling at me through her car window as we sat and waited.
Although i could see her anger i couldn't hear her. I asked her to roll down her window.
She snarled at me and licked her lips.
She rolled her window down to say it again. F---ing Wh-te B-tch.
Over and Over...
I told her it was old-fashioned to act that way. She told me my Grandma was a F---ing Wh-te B-tch too.
Yes, we are Wh-te B-tches. ("orangish/tan" if you ask Jasper)
http://maravillastl.blogspot.com/2009/11/white-people.html
Hatred is real.

Generous Love and Progress

Generous love in the form of anonymous $100 gas card

Gas Men

Today I found the gift card in my mailbox, and the men on the lawn.

I am glad the problem will finally be fixed. But I cannot help being sad that i have several gigantic holes where many lovingly tended plants used to reside, some divisions from friends and family.

Perhaps i will take this opportunity to extend my rain garden up to that area and direct the bioswale down to the basin i dug out this fall.

Help Haiti

An opportunity to help right now...

Haiti Earthquake

Sharp-shinned Hawk

I look out the window nearly everytime I pass by this vacant house. It doesn't take very long for nature to take over abandoned spaces. We had the pleasure of watching this hawk eat a pigeon, while a bunny family huddled in the brush nearby. The Cooper's Hawk and the Sharp-shinned are nearly identical. I think this was a bit small so i guess Sharp-shinned.

Christmas Weapons

A Christmas gift from my Dad to Jasper. I really like this picture.

Friendly Brunch

Brunch with friends on a cold and snowy morning.

St. Louis Handicrafts

Click here for some beautifully sewn by a St. Louis mother.
http://dunhams.typepad.com/halfpinthouse/

Cold

It is 5 degrees right now. We are without gas (heat, hot water, dryer) for the 6th time in the last few weeks.
The process is familiar and lengthy. First the call has to be sent to a service technician. This can take all day or be just a few hours. After diagnosing the problem, a call is sent to the street department. This usually takes the longest and they get water out of the line. Then they have to call the service technician to come back to turn the gas and all appliances back on.

We have had a difficult time getting to someone who can actually help us fix the problem. But today we finally took the plunge and called the Missouri Public Service Commission to file a complaint.
http://www.psc.mo.gov/
This is an ongoing problem that has occurred in the past years as well.

The chairman, CEO and director of Laclede Gas, Douglas Yaeger made $623,333 in 2009.
His total compensation rose 32 percent in 2009. Yaeger’s perks, included a company car, club dues, sports boxes and spousal travel worth over $36,000.
Here is the full article
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/mound-city-money/st-louis-companies/2009/12/salary-bonus-rise-for-lacledes-yaeger/

According to the company, we cannot get the problem fixed until Laclede gets the rate increase they are after.

Judy Update

Judy is recovering nicely.
She turned 7 months yesterday and weighs 81 pounds.
She is turning into a long-legged and fancy lady.

When it Rains it Pours

School Room Bano

And what a difficult week it has been.
Judy was sick. Our gas was off for 3 days. It cost a lot of money to get both fixed. They are both still broken. My car wouldn't start. The electricity went off. I lost our food stamp card and pin together. I am sure i stubbed my toe once or twice.
So we had school this week in our only bathroom. The floor is heated and it was quite cozy.

But i am thankful for a home, generous family, my sister's bathtub, good and caring neighbors, space heaters, electric stoves, food stamps, and Justin's job.

I think of pioneer women when i start to feel overwhelmed. Things can always be better. They can always be worse.
I am just glad i can turn a knob and hot water comes out.

Job

Justin got a job with Aquapure in Sales. He starts on Monday. This is a relief for both of us...

An Evening Walk

Instead of locating a "colokie" we were able to hear a Great Horned Owl and see it's silhouette. I got a bad picture and then it flew to another tree.

Blizzard

There is a road under there somewhere.

Frozen Lashes

Gramma and Tullaia

It is currently 3 degrees here and windchill brings it to -13. Tomorrow's high is 9 not including windchill. We received 10 -14 inches of snow on Tuesday evening in addition to the snow we got Sunday eve.
It is fun considering we don't ever have much in Stl. Good thing because gravel roads are not top priority for snow plows. We can't get out.
I am thankful that we are not a homestead family. I am thankful this house has heat upstairs. My whole life we didn't. I went to bed reading with mittens and a hat on. I could see my breath. I got dressed while sitting on the heater.
I am still obsessed with sitting on the heater.

Fun Farm

A few days ago we were able to visit a lady down the road with LOTS of creatures, but unfortunately i didn't have my camera.
She works for the DNR and rehabilitates wildlife.
We were able to observe/pet/ride these:
peacock, chickens, cats, skunk, vulture, donkey, horse, Mediterranean donkey, bobcat babies, goats, Big-Billy goat, talking bird, cows, doves...
We wore masks to feed the bobcats, so they wouldn't grow used to humans feeding them. It was so very special to see.
Thank you Joan.

Full Moon

Notice the Oriole nest in the Tree

Maskunky Marsh Moon

Tullaia and I had the opportunity to watch the full-moonrise over the barn. It moved quickly and with ease. The sky was purple and the barn was red.
Gorgeous!

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

Taken By a Two Year Old

Breaking into Lead Me Guide Me

Death Against a Blue Backdrop

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We had the last unseasonably warm day to explore the tall grass prairie. Only one-tenth of one percent of this type of prairie remains. It is 8,600 acres of land that was purchased to restore and reconstruct the prairie and oak savanna. They have also reintroduced bison and elk herds.

We hope to visit here each time we come up to Iowa. I am so pleased it exists.

Pig Roast

Justin and Eric

I really like this picture of Nick

Dad seems to be struggling, Justin just looks giddy

Dad shot a pig, smoked it and gathered nearly my entire extended family within a day for a feast. It was delicious.
And that is one good reason to live on a farm.

Iowa Outdoors

Country Road

Pink Boot Yellow Corn Black Mud

Country Playhouse (We played here a lot.)

Gravel Silo Silhouette

Blue Stick

Gravel Boy

Over the River and Through the Woods...

Jasper and Eric

Eric and Judy

We had a packed car on the way up to Iowa for Thanksgiving. 3 adults, 3 children, 2 dogs. The trip was fine and we made it in time for the annual Stam Reunion in my grade school gym.

Little House on the Prairie

In the Powder Room

Tullaia and I were lucky to join friends at the Fox Theatre last night for the opening of The Little House on the Prairie with Melissa Gilbert. The Fox was built in the 20's as one of the first theatres with "talkie" capabilities, although the first film shown was silent.
I grew up on the prairie. The land and the show. We had fun last night.

St Louis Coyote

I just got finished having a conversation with a friend about coyotes seen at a vacant lot in the neighborhood.

We went for a noonday walk on our usual Forest Park route and there was a very laid back coyote sitting in the sun. I wouldn't have noticed it but we decided to stop and eat an apple right there.
We stood and watched it for a while before it sauntered off into the woods.

I was so excited i put chocolate in the microwave instead of taco meat.

We have seen it 3 times now. Not a great picture. It was rainy and they were all blurry.

Ozark Thanksgiving

Lichen Log

Tall Moss

Auntie and Kids

The weather surprised us with dry warmth and beauty. Justin said he likes global warming.
We tromped about. Played good music. Ate delicious food. Turned over rocks looking for sleeping snakes. Turned off the lantern and saw stars...more than 3.

White People

After a story about the Mayflower today, Jasper said he used to be scared of white people. He assumed they were going to get him too because he wasn't a "white person". He always thought of himself as an "orangish/tan person".
Racial lines are not as clear for some folks. Thankfully.

Halloween

Robot

Snow Queen

Ninja

Dragon

Lady

During cuddle time tonight Tullaia asked, "How did you trick or treat in the country?"
I only remember going into town near my Grandma's house. Eric and I dressed up like old people a lot.

Silent Retreat 3

I had such beautiful weather and the fading chlorophyll was stunning. I ventured back to Mary the Font Solitude (Sisters of Mercy).
One of the hardest parts of this is falling asleep alone, in a strange place without adequate locks.

It takes Faith
for me to lie here like this.
In quiet.
In darkness.

I know when i wake
in the shining
light of day

I will be
relieved
that i made it
through
the dark night.

Grotto Leaves

Spicebush Berries on an Old Fungi Log

My Doorway

Giant Walking Stick Strikes a Pose

Fern (Christmas?)

Except for the noisy crows, i noticed all life after several hours of watchful quiet. No one alerted me of their presence. They moved under leaves. Even a wasp's near-death experience with a quick spider didn't warrant screams or threats. Instead he shuffled along. Probably to make babies and die.
In my daily reading today, Oswald Chambers says this:
"All God's men are ordinary made extraordinary by the matter He has given them."
Sometimes the most extraordinary (and obedient) thing we can do is wait.
Be patient
not hasty
quiet
still
wait....not a natural skill of mine.
But one i think nature teaches beautifully.