Over twenty years ago now…yikes…our oldest son was in college. At one point he moved out of the dorms into college apartments and he needed a desk. We went to the local big box store and picked out a desk that he and Gary assembled.
The best photo of my desk before I began to paint it. I forgot to take a “before” picture.
Who knew that when we bought that inexpensive desk so long ago, it would be with us today and be so functional. I have been using that desk for many years. It is a nice size. I’ve grown accustomed to it, and I like it. When I went looking for a new desk, I couldn’t find one quite like it, so I gave up looking and decided to transform the desk I had.
I used chalk paint, a product that has been around for a few years, and has good ratings. There are a lot of color choices too. I was hoping it would work as well as the reviews said. The only prep work is to clean the surface with a degreaser, let it dry, and paint it. And usually one coat works, it said in the instructions.
So I gave it the “old college try”…and it did work well, although I did have to put a second coat on the top. But I’m sure that is user error…I’m not the best painter in the world.
The color I chose is Silverado Sage. I like it.
I was happy with the results of this paint job. I was happy for the low-cost transformation and the easy process of painting the desk.
The writing assignment was to write a joyful memory of night. Joyful is not the right word for my story, but it is an unforgettable night memory…
It was a dark and stormy night (in 2014)…
We had a delayed start to our day, as we headed north to our vacation destination: Zongoene Lodge, a beautiful resort on the Indian Ocean in Mozambique, Africa. The hired drivers of a 15-passenger van were late to arrive at our apartment.
Our 2 1/2 month old granddaughter, in 2014.
When the driver’s arrived, seven family members filed into the rented van, with everyone’s luggage. Our son, his wife and 2 1/2 month old daughter, and Gary and I, piled into our son’s car. Finally, we were on our way. We drove out of the city on a good four-lane highway. After a couple of hours, we turned off the highway and started driving down a muddy, dirt road that had been washed out by all the rain from the previous night.
Our resort was still 35 kilometers away (22 miles). As we drove further into the countryside, the road got muddier, the puddles got deeper, and the ride got bumpier. The road was rugged, full of ruts and major pot holes, with large standing mini-lakes and water flowing over the road. You couldn’t see the potholes through the mud puddles.
By now the sun was setting, and it had started to rain.
Looking out over a few flooded areas towards our resort and the Indian Ocean. (2014)
Tim and Gary were in the front seat of our son’s car, Baby Zoey was strapped in her car seat in back with Andrea and me. The van, with the two hired drivers, and seven others from our party were behind us. The road kept getting worse. At one point, about 14 km in, our car slid down a steep hill and almost toppled over, but we made it to the bottom and stopped along side the road. We waited for the van, and watched it slide down the hill. I was praying it would reach the bottom without tipping over.
Once the van stopped, the angry drivers got out and said they would go no further. One said he had not been told the road would be so undriveable. But how could we have known the rains would cause such a mess?
Now that we were all stopped, it was obvious nobody was going to go any farther without help. But how? We were in the middle of nowhere, at night, in Mozambique Africa – a dark sky, made darker with clouds, and no traffic or traffic lights or city lights within miles and miles of where we were stranded…with a 2 ½ month old baby! Hmmm…I said to Andrea…”it will be interesting to see how God gets us out of this mess.”
Well, unbelievably, Tim’s cell phone worked. He was able to call the lodge. The manager rounded up twofour-wheel drive vehicles (one belonged to a guest of the lodge) and they came to rescue us.
We waited over an hour when we finally saw headlights coming our way. The manager of the resort was in one of the vehicles. We transferred our luggage and rearranged the twelve of us into three vehicles. Once everyone and our luggage was out of the van, the van drivers stepped on the accelerator, spun their tires in the mud, turned the van around and sped away…madder than a hornet’s nest (after demanding more money.) They drove back up the hill (unbelievably they made it) and headed back to the city, while we headed to the resort, another ten miles down the dark, flooded, washed-out dirt road. We had all been dispersed into different vehicles with strangers, in the middle of nowhere, trusting we would all end up in the same place in a short while.
Grandma, Avó (Portuguese for grandma) and baby Zoey in 2014.
The resort owner drove Tim’s car, since he knew the road and could maneuver the dangerous spots. He led the way. Dan, Tim’s friend, was a good sport. He ended up in the bed of a pickup truck bouncing all the way back… in the rain! Finally, we all made it to the resort at midnight, after a very scary ride. We all let out a sigh of relief and a praise to God.
The staff had been waiting for us to arrive and had prepared a special drink to toast us as we walked into the lobby of Zongoene Lodge. A toast to our safe arrival, a toast to welcome us, and a toast to a night none of us would ever forget!
This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
First morning light…6:35 am 10/1/24
7:03 am on 10/1/24… the moment of sunrise.
7:04 am on 10/1/24…here comes the sun.
A couple hours later we trekked up Oberg Mountain and saw more beautiful colors of a different kind. Once again, I was grateful to be able to hike this trail, and was thankful to have the opportunity to do so.
10:00 am on 10/1/24…Oberg Lake
10:00 am on 10/1/24
10:15 am on 10/1/24…a view out to Lake Superior on the Oberg Trail.
10:30 am on 10/1/24… one of seven outlooks on the Oberg Trail.
And back at the cabin…the lovely, wispy clouds.
2:30 pm on 10/1/24
The sky was constantly changing, but the waves continue to roll in, year after year, reminding me of God’s faithfulness.
7:43 pm on 10/1/24… the cabin backlit by the early evening light.
8:30 pm on 10/1/24 …the end of our day, fire light on the rocks and a stunning display of stars overhead in the night sky.
While driving south into Faribault last week, I noticed a sign advertising a flea market for the upcoming Saturday. I mentioned to Gary that maybe we could host a stand at the flea market as a way to sell some of our stuff. We stopped in and found that a $20 donation to the History Center was all that was needed to reserve a spot. We thought we could recover our $20 and maybe make some money, while recycling our useable, but unwanted goods.
The flea market started in front parking lot of the historical society. We were in the back section.
So, we signed up and had two days to gather and mark our stuff. That worked out well… since we didn’t have weeks to think about it…just a day to gather, and a day to mark.
Setting up at 7 am.
We didn’t know we would end up with an ideal spot for our tables. We were under a shade tree the whole time, from 8 am -2pm. We had a money belt, coffee, and donuts …we were settled in for an adventure.
We did sell our things at a good price…cheap. We did get rid of a lot of our stuff. It was fun to people watch, and we had a several good interactions with people.
There were some interesting characters…one guy admitted to buying our stuff for cheap and told us he will sell it for a profit next spring! Good for him.
Enjoying the people watching, and interactions.
One guy was enthralled with an unusual buoy off a fishing net that my mother brought back from Norway in 1969. He said he’s never seen anything like it, and he bought it.
We had a wonderful spot for our tables.
I printed up a story for the glass canister I had for sale. After an older woman from my church passed away years ago, her son gave me her one remaining painted-glass canister jar, which he knew I liked. She had told me she wanted metal canisters when she set up housekeeping in the 1940’s, but because of the war she had to settle for glass. A customer at the flee market saw that story and said she had to have the canister.
The Rice County Historical Society’s old church and school in the background.
It made me feel good that some of our items were really appreciated, and going to good homes.
This new adventure for us, selling our wares at a flea market, was fun. We hope to do it again sometime.
I went through another fun box while decluttering…my Barbie and Ken dolls …I have two original dolls from the 1950’s.
I can’t remember when I first got my Barbie and Ken dolls, but I do remember spending time playing with them. It was fun to change out the outfits and set up a house for them with cardboard furniture, back in the late 1950’s.
At that time, if you wanted Barbie to be a nurse you put on her nurse uniform and nurse cap. Back then, you had to change her outfit for a specific activity, these days you just buy a different Barbie!
In July I took out my old Barbie and Ken dolls, in the original black carrying case, with all their paraphernalia, and let our oldest granddaughter play with them. She found a cardboard box and cut out doors to make a house for Barbie and Ken, just like I used to do, and played quietly in the corner.
The box full of Barbie and Ken’s paraphernalia.
In decluttering our grandchildren’s play area, I gathered up the box and the carrying case and decided to organize it, to get Barbie and Ken ready to move. I had fun going through the many dresses and outfits I had for Barbie (not so many for Ken, but a few).
The accessories are amazing too…I had three pairs of shoes for Ken, and four pairs for Barbie, plus a pair of slippers! Not bad having matching pairs after all these years.
There were knitted sweaters with matching hats, undies(!), sun glasses, swimsuits, purses, luggage, and cardboard furniture.
I love the knitted coat and sweater, with matching hats. I wonder who knit them? I’d love these for myself!
I remember having more cardboard furniture, but I’m not surprised there are only a few pieces left.
After thoroughly enjoying examining each outfit, I dressed Barbie and Ken and strapped them into their carrying case. I hung the clothes on the rack in the carrying case, using all the cute, miniature hangers I had. I tucked the rest of the clothes into the case, adding the cardboard furniture, then latched the box.
I enjoyed my playtime with Barbie. She and Ken are all ready to move again, tagging along with me as they have over the past 60-plus years.
This morning I went for a walk with a friend in Carleton’s lower arb. As we walked near the river, an eagle flew out of a tree in front of us and flew across the river to the other side. It was amazing to see it up close…the wing span was large.
The eagle flew from one side of the river to the other
I thought of the verse in Isaiah 40:31 “…but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
It was a majestic sight and a wonderful reminder that as I am hoping in the Lord these days, He will renew my strength.
I like radishes!
And…my friend surprised me with a bunch of beautiful radishes.
We are slowly going through all the stuff we have stored in our basement, in an attempt to downsize. Some things are easy to go through and get rid of, other stuff… not so much. I find it easier if I can go through boxes while sitting outside on our deck. The weather was conducive for that when going through my playbill box several weeks ago.
The contents of my playbill box.
I have collected playbills over the years. After each performance, when I stashed a playbill into the designated box I kept downstairs, I thought to myself, it will be fun to go through these someday. Well, that “someday” has arrived. And it was a lot of fun!
This is one of my all time favorite plays/shows. We also saw this play in London, in 2003. I didn’t find the playbill from that performance.
I have saved a lot of playbills. Although I tried, I can’t say I’ve saved one from every play or concert I’ve been to, but there were hundreds, a box full, dating back many years…into the late 70’s. I found it interesting that some playbills did not have the year on the program. Really?! And one or two didn’t even have the name of the theatre.
Miscellaneous playbills.
I have always liked going to plays and concerts and had fun looking at the many different playbills from those I’ve attended. I looked over each one of them.
When we lived in Ohio for two years, I auditioned to dance in this traveling show.
The most memorable was from 1979, The Red Glove Review in Sidney, Ohio because I danced in that performance. It was a community event I auditioned for, was selected, attended rehearsals, and danced in the production. I enjoyed that a lot.
I went to see A Year with Frog and Toad with a coworker, as a retirement celebration.
We saw this play at the Historic State Theatre and two other times: at The Chanhassen Dinner Theater and at the Northfield Arts Guild (NAG).
The Nutcracker Ballet.
Our one time at the Grand Ole Opry, in Nashville, TN in 1984.
I separated the playbills into various piles. There was a large pile from St. Olaf (with a few from Carleton). Other venues included: Northfield High School – band concerts and plays,
The NAG – Northfield Arts Guild (our community theater), various church programs, our boy’s recitals and science fair programs, the Merlin Players in Faribault and the Paradise Center for the Arts, Eisenhower Community Theatre (Hopkins), Commonweal Theatre, Old Log Theater (it has recently closed),
Northrup Auditorium, Children’s Theater, The Ordway, Orchestra Hall,
Concerts at Orchestra Hall, including from summer Pops Concerts in the 80’s.
Taylor University, Calvin College, Chanhassen Dinner Theatre,
Playbills from the Chanhassen Dinner Theater.
Sight & Sound Theatre in Pennsylvania and Missouri,
I’m missing a couple of productions playbills that we have seen at Sight & Sound.
Rock & Roll Revival and Over & Back venues in Northfield.
I also have playbills from a concerts/plays we attended in Vienna and London.
A fun concert we went to in Vienna, Austria.
We saw The Mousetrap in London (2019) and came home and it was put on by St. Olaf students a few weeks later. We also saw the plays My Fair Lady and The Lion King in London.
My favorite all-time story is The Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. I watch a DVD every Christmas season and have attended many plays in different venues over the years.
This is one of my favorite playbills because it’s The Christmas Carol, and it’s sponsored by Dayton’s Department Store.
We went to a twist on The Christmas Carol a few times. The Gospel According to Scrooge was performed at a local church.
I will continue to go to The Christmas Carol productions when the opportunity presents itself.
The playbill for the opera.
Another event was my first and only opera; La Finta Giardiniera…an Opera Buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was held at my favorite venue on St. Olaf’s campus, Urness Recital Hall in 2006, and performed by St. Olaf students. The definition of Opera Buffa is: “a lighthearted and often very funny form of opera that typically depicts everyday characters dealing with everyday problems”. I don’t remember the plot of this opera buffa. I do remember thinking it will be the last opera I attend. Ha!
These days, the new mode of operation for some venues is to recycle the programs to reuse for other performances. From now on I will try (old habits die hard) to leave my playbill behind, as I will no longer be collecting them.
This is my oldest playbill…no date (!) but it might be from the 60’s, and it was held outdoors in South Dakota. I went with my parents.
I believe going through this box is one of several trips down memory lane in store for me.
Henri J.M. Nouwen’s prayer*, that I posted a few days ago, came to mind when I was cruising on the Pacific Ocean one afternoon. I had some free time and decided I wanted to get out on the water. I booked a coastal cruise. There was an additional fee to get on the upper deck, which I decided to pay… I did have a coupon so that covered the extra cost. I’m glad I chose that option. I was the only one up on the deck. There were twenty-six friends in the main enclosed deck below. They were having a good time. But I was blessed to be on top.
It was amazing to see the SEA and reflect on Nouwen’s prayer. The ocean is unfathomable and incomprehensible. When one is looking out over the vastness of the water, towards the horizon it seems never ending… as Henri compared it to the never ending love of God.
“O Lord, [you are the] sea of love and goodness” (*Nouwen’s prayer).
“Out of your love I came to life, by your love I am sustained, and to your love I am always called back.” (*Nouwen’s prayer).
I was feeling a little vulnerable from all that’s happening in life right now, so when many kindnesses were shown to me on this cruising adventure, I teared up.
To begin with, the ticket taker was friendly and warm, and engaging (I was first in line).
Boats moored outside the harbor.
I boarded the yacht and immediately went up to the upper deck. One cheery crew member came right up to greet me and hand me a menu. She came back a little while later to take my order, but I didn’t order anything.
A bit later, I was sitting on the top deck by myself, and the captain came out and started a conversation with me. He was interested in my story. He was so kind.
Again later, the cheery crew member came back to check on me. She wondered if the music was too loud (it was a bit – so she turned it down). Then she started to chat with me, and showed a genuine interest in me, that I found endearing.
That afternoon boat ride was a wonderful reminder of the power of kindness, and the sea was a beautiful reminder of God’s love.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo Buscaglia
“Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today.” Amy Leigh Mercree
I get an email each morning, in my inbox, from Henri Nouwen Society. Currently I am in California with my son and his family, along the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This prayer came through while I was here, and spoke to me.
Dear Lord,
Today I thought of the words of Vincent van Gogh: “It is true there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea.” You are the sea. Although I experience many ups and downs in my emotions and often feel great shifts and changes in my inner life, you remain the same. Your sameness is not the sameness of a rock, but the sameness of a faithful lover. Out of your love I came to life, by your love I am sustained, and to your love I am always called back. There are days of sadness and days of joy; there are feelings of guilt and feelings of gratitude; there are moments of failure and moments of success; but all of them are embraced by your unwavering love. . . . O Lord, sea of love and goodness, let me not fear too much the storms and winds of my daily life, and let me know there is ebb and flow but the sea remains the sea.
While driving up north you leave the busyness of the city and daily routines behind, and life slows down. The scattered lakes among evergreen trees, blue skies, fresh air, loon calls and the full, super moon reflecting on the water…
Morning has broken…offering an easy, peaceful feeling.
…all its natural beauty reenergizes and restores…and it feels a little closer to heaven.
So, when I saw a coaster with the saying “Heaven feels a little closer at the lake” I immediately purchased it for my friend. Every year she invites me to her cabin on Daggett Lake, near Crosslake, Minnesota, and every year it does seem we are a little closer to heaven while we are there.
And so it was again, this past week, up at the lake.
