Valerie – Valerie's Voice

Litter

The Faribault Flyers Bike and Ski Club picked up trash last week. The club adopted a portion of highway 60, out of Faribault. This means the club has committed to pick up litter along both sides of the highway section, at least twice a year.

Gary and I are members of this bike club and were available to help. It was a windy day, and that was challenging…keeping the plastic garbage bag from blowing away, or its twisting and dumping all the contents out. But, the sun was out and it was a mild temperature.

We were all given fluorescent vests to wear. The traffic on this particular highway is heavy, and a little dauting at first, being so close to the road with the cars whizzing by. We were given garbage bags to fill, then instructed to leave them on the side of the road to be picked up.

We divided into four groups of four or five.

We were told mark with a bag… and do not touch… drug paraphernalia or firearms, if we came upon any. I found what looked like a small firearm. I did pick it up because I was fairly certain it was too small to be real. It ended up being a large cigarette lighter in the shape of a gun. Sigh.

This small, heavy, metal gun that was a lighter.

It felt good to be outdoors on this spring day, while picking up the discarded pop and beer cans, liquor bottles, miscellaneous paper, fast food bags and cups and utensils, cigarette lighters and cigarette butts (the worse). I think there is a mentality that cigarette butts are not litter, so smokers just throw them out the window. There are a lot of them!

Full trash bags set along side the road for pick-up. We filled 35-40 bags, in two hours.

It felt good to participate in this community service. There were several of us from the bike club that showed up to help. Many hands make light work, although it was still hard work. We had a handy, dandy picker-upper which worked well. It reduced the amount of bending over a little bit, during our two-hour shift.

Six months from now, the club will set apart another afternoon to collect trash from the same section of the highway. It’s one of those jobs that is never ending, but I think we make a difference.

Square Dancers

My childhood friend, Diane, called me a couple weeks ago, to wish me a happy birthday. We have exchanged the same birthday card since 1979. It has become a treasure. Diane called to say I would be getting the birthday card late this year, because she was “snow birding” in Florida and forgot to bring the card along to send to me from there.

It was fun to chat with her awhile, and catch up on our kids. She told me this story.

In 1953, my father built this house that I grew up in.

When Diane’s mother passed away, several years after her father died, Diane’s son bought his grandparent’s house. So, he now lives in the house where Diane grew up, and across the street from the house where I grew up, in Northeast Minneapolis. It’s wonderful to know the house is still in her family. Her parents built their house in the early 1950’s, as did mine.

A special wall painting discovered under the paneling.

Diane told me her son has done a lot of updating and remodeling of the McKinley Street house, and currently he’s working in the basement. He began tearing the old paneling off the walls. Underneath he found the typical cement blocks, but also a surprise.

Taking care to preserve this special painting.

Back in the late 50’s, Diane’s father painted two life-size square dancers on the cement block wall. I had forgotten about them, but remembered them as soon as Diane mentioned it. A few years later, when her dad finished off their basement, he covered up the square dancers with paneling. Diane recalls that when her dad covered up the painting with paneling…he said, “it will be interesting for someone to discover these dancers someday.”

A moisture control was brushed over the wall painting, to help persevere the painting.

As Diane’s son was tearing down the paneling, lo and behold, he exposed the painting of the square dancers.

Little did Diane’s father know at the time, it would be his own grandson who would discover his special treasure on the wall, under the paneling!

Trees

I noticed the other day, we have tree images in every room in our house. We never planned it that way.

This canvas print of the Sycamore Gap tree, that was felled by vandals last year in Scotland, hangs in our foyer.

I do love trees. And I do love nature.

A water color by local artist Kathy Miller…of trails on St. Olaf campus. This painting hangs in our dining room.

I love birds and critters, sky and clouds, flowers and trees, sunrises and sunsets.

My own artwork, while creating art with my granddaughter. I hung it on the refrigerator! 😉

I try to be out in nature whenever possible, and I try to bring some of it indoors.

These three metal trees hang in our sunroom.

I took photos of my tree images to share. They are as varied as live trees themselves.

Another metal sculpture that hangs in our living room area.

Also in our living room – an old piece of folk art – a jewel tree made by my late Auntie Doll.

And I am reminded of the “tree poem” by Ilan Shamir that “gives advice from a tree.” The poem is often abbreviated, and seen on bookmarks or plaques.

And this photo of the Lake Superior shoreline hangs in our bathroom.

Advice from a Tree

Stand tall and proud.
Go out on a limb.
Remember your roots.
Drink plenty of water.
Be content with your natural beauty.
Enjoy the view.

The entire, beautiful Advice from a Tree poem gives even more advice. You can read it here.

This back-lit tree plaque hangs above the fireplace during winter months.

A print of an illustration from a children’s book, hanging in our bedroom.

Truthfully, there are even more tree images (and flowers and birds and…) around our house. We were surprised when we realize how many we had hanging around, or should I say, standing tall.

Into The Deep

The Galleria’s spring flower show, Into The Deep, opened last week.

An annual flower exhibition is created every spring by Bachman’s, and it’s a delight to walk around indoors, and see all the beautiful and colorful representations of the theme, made with flowers.

This year’s theme, Into The Deep, included a great variety of sea floor images…

It’s easy to use your imagination while viewing these wonderful, artistic displays.

Hidden in the flowers are terrariums with tiny “mermaid gardens” inside a clear, acrylic globe. I liked this idea.

The challenge is to find all eight of them among the different scenes. I think mermaids are becoming as popular as fairies.

There were also sea creatures: jelly fish, a school of yellow fish, lobster claws, sea horses, octopus limbs, o my…

On a weekday morning, we arrived about 10 am and it was comfortable viewing the displays. An hour later the crowds had begun to grow (no pun intended-ha!).

Then, it was fun to people watch, and see so many enjoying this amazing exposition. But, we could only image it would get busier and busier as the day went on. We left to make room for others.

For me, the flower show builds excitement as I anticipate seeing spring flowers out-of-doors soon.

The show goes through April 7.

Happy Easter

More Music

I’m grateful all the ways my life has been, and is currently, touched by music. I do appreciate music, although there is so much I do not know about it. The multitude of different musical instruments is amazing. I certainly appreciate musicians; their dedication to their craft and the practice they’ve endured, creating outstanding music for others to enjoy.

It’s nice to be able to attend concerts at the two colleges in Northfield. Even though I may not know much about the compositions, or composers, I can’t help but think I am changed in some way by hearing the beautiful music. Music is good for our souls.

Recently, we have been to several musical events…the St. Olaf Orchestra concert, a Boston Trio recital at Urness Hall (on St. Olaf campus), and the Rock and Roll Revival, a musical extravaganza put on by Northfield High school students.

Each were unique, each were performed by amazing musicians, and each were enjoyable.

The RRR (Rock & Roll Revival) has been put on every other year, for a total of sixteen times so far, by the high school students. It features rock and roll music, from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. The high school kids put on a stellar and energetic performance. It’s always fun to see them in action.

I saw this box of 45’s in an antique store. These records were popular in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Most are without their sleeves, except for one or two.

And, this year’s RRR brochure was especially clever.

The brochure itself was square, with a 45 phonograph record printed on the front cover.

The picture of this “45” looks so realistic. The brochure was such a fun enhancement to the RRR.

The inside pages listed the songs to be performed. This brochure was then placed into a white, paper sleeve just like how the original 45’s were packaged for retail sale back in “my day.” What fun!

The brochures were tucked into these white sleeves, to represent a 45 phonograph record.

Music is very much a part of my life… from praise and worship songs and hymns on Sundays, to multiple and different opportunities presented to me from many other venues throughout the days, including my new Zumba class! We dance to lively, hispanic music.

Whether it is formal concerts, singing to ourselves or in church, or even hearing the birds sing their songs in the great outdoors, music is all around us…and I am grateful.

I would add to this saying on this card I received; .”And for all our saddest days, there is music.”

Piano Lessons

There are a few things I remember about music lessons from when I was younger. First, I remember the fluteophone, a white plastic wind instrument. A quick check on the internet tells me they still make them. Next came the wooden recorder, another flute-like, wind instrument. I’m not sure what I learned from them.

I also took piano lessons, but I do not recall when they began. I remember my piano teacher was the wife our pastor at Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, but her name eludes me. I’m grateful my parents decided to give me lessons. I do remember playing the piano a lot (maybe I was even practicing). Our huge, used, upright piano was in our basement and I spent hours down there either playing the piano or sewing (our sewing machine was down there too.) Later, my parents bought an organ and I learned to play that. It’s all so very interesting to think back on this because I do not remember wanting to learn to play the organ…I guess I did at the time.

I didn’t keep up with organ, or piano, although I wish I had, of course. I still have several of my piano books and sheet music. I look at them now and realize I can’t play the pieces any more.

Our sons took piano lessons and we bought a used, spinet piano for them to play. The only use the piano gets now is if I sit down to play occasionally, for fun. A friend and I use to play duets together, but unfortunately, she moved away, and so the piano sits… (we’re willing to give it away to a good home).

I consider music a universal language. All people, from all nations, read the same notes and measures and rests etc… When our exchange student from Japan lived with us, we used to play the piano together. We both could read the music language.

I am grateful my parents took me to my music lessons. I believe it helped me develop an appreciation for music. Even though I didn’t go further with music in my own life, I’m thankful for the music that is all around me, in so many different aspects of life.

March Celebrations

Our family has many reasons to celebrate lately.

Our fifth grandchild, Mila Hope, was born on March 19. A sweet, healthy baby girl.

I celebrated my 71^st birthday on March 20^th.

Gary and I are celebrating our 46^th wedding anniversary today, March 25.

Our two grandsons celebrated their birthdays this month.

And, we celebrate Easter early this year…March 31.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow….

A Few More Photos

I want to post a few additional photos from our road trip in the southeastern states.

The beautiful Pineapple Fountain in Charleston, South Carolina.

Special artwork using paint and sweetgrass, on display in Hyman’s Seafood restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina.

We were surprised to see this bobcat one morning in northeastern Florida.

These fun boats caught our eye. The boats shaped like cars were docked at an outdoor restaurant where we ate in Clearwater, Florida.

We tried boiled peanuts for the first time, and liked them. We ate at Hyman’s Seafood restaurant. The Hyman family has been at the same location for over 121 years (five generations). It started out as a Wholesale dry goods store then changed to Hyman’s Seafood in 1987. The restaurant has a great reputation.

Some “funky birds” in a park in Dunedin, Florida.

In Myrtle Beach we tried fried green tomatoes, for the first time, and liked them.

Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

An Alien Has Landed

In addition to cleaning up my flower gardens in the fall, I also clean up my fairy garden. I remove the fairies and paraphernalia, wash them up, then store everything away until spring.

Then I place a winter scene in the garden, with a single component; a fairy sitting next to a snowy tree. Even though, in “normal” winters, snow covers it up for most of the season, it’s fun to place this ornament outside to have a winter fairy scene too.

Of course, this non-snowy winter the garden has not been covered in snow, and you can see the fairy and tree easily.

However, it has been invaded by an alien.

The other day as I was walking by, I noticed a small figure next to some glass mushrooms I forgot to put away last fall. When I picked it up, it looked like an alien. I trust it’s a friendly one.

I will add him to my ever-changing and expanding fairy garden this spring.

It’s fun to know others notice this whimsical little world, tucked away under a rose bush in my back yard.