Valerie's Voice – Page 27 – Musings on Life

Spanish Moss and Southern Live Oaks

It hangs like icicles dripping from the trees…not a certain type of tree, but any tree. And it’s everywhere in Savannah, Georgia, where we took a mini road trip from our base in North Carolina.

The grey-green moss dripping from southern live oaks.

I admit it took me awhile to come to appreciate the appeal of these plants but I now think Spanish moss is a beautiful sight. It is not Spanish, nor is it moss. Its name is derived from French settlers naming it Spanish beard and later it became Spanish moss.

Spanish moss is a member of the bromeliad family, an epiphyte, or air plant. It uses trees only for support, but gets its nourishment from air, sun, and rain. It does not hurt the trees it grows on.

And even more beautiful is when you see the Spanish moss hanging in the southern live oak trees. The Southern live oaks are majestic trees. Although usually identified as evergreens, because live oaks retain their leaves nearly year-round, they are not true evergreens. Live oaks drop their leaves immediately before new leaves emerge in the spring. The leaves do not resemble the oak leaves we find in Minnesota.

Southern live oaks grow to about 50 feet in height, with large looming branches hanging low and spreading far and wide, its limbs may spread out 100 feet or more.

A beautiful, sprawling southern live oak tree.

They can grow to be several hundred years old. They are the official state tree of Georgia. Southern live oaks are magnificent trees, and found all over Savannah, and the deep south we’ve read. They are picturesque.

At one historic place we visited, Wormsloe, there was an avenue of southern live oaks lining each side of the road for one mile, forming a canopy overhead. I was in awe as we drove through this exquisite scene.

A mile long avenue of southern live oak creating a canopy overhead.

This is one of the prominent features I will remember about our enchanting trip to Savannah, Georgia: Spanish moss and Southern live oaks.

Time Away

We’ve had some fun adventures on this lengthy (for us) time away from our home in Minnesota. We took a road trip to North Carolina and are staying with our son and his family. The time is going by fast; maybe because it started over the Christmas holidays, and is extending into the New Year. Or maybe because we’re visiting family and grandchildren – that is always special. I always anticipate having all kinds of time to write, but that never proves true for me. I get distracted with the days activities. We are still here, but I’m taking time to write now.

On the front porch at our son’s home in North Carolina.

Initially we had some warm days in North Carolina. We were able to sit on the front porch and drink our morning coffee, and go to a park on a sunny, 75* day and play with the new Stomp Rocket.

We also had a couple warm and sunny days in Georgia, and I wore my sandals while walking along Savannah’s Riverwalk, but now a cold front has come through and it’s a bit chilly…but not as cold as it is back home in Minnesota.

We did take a mini road trip to Savannah, Georgia (a road trip within a road trip!) and enjoyed exploring that lovely, southern city. We had four wonderful days there. One, of many, interesting tidbits from our time in Savannah is from our first afternoon when we drove through the beautiful, historic Bonaventure Cemetery, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and located on a scenic bluff on the Wilmington River.

The cemetery has acres of old, interesting tombstones and monuments with mature southern live oak trees with Spanish moss dripping from them, and rough gravel roads that create a very mystical place.

This was not your typical manicured cemetery, but it was eerily peaceful in the late afternoon as we drove around.

Rod iron gates around clusters of marble and granite tombstones, large and tall monuments, cement angel and crosses, and all manner of cemetery props are within its gates with mature trees and other greenery.

On our way out we stopped at the info center just outside the cemetery where someone commented on our Minnesota license plates. He stated we’re a long way from home and asked what part of Minnesota we were from? “Northfield,” I said. And he said, “we are too!” Two couples from our hometown had just toured the cemetery. It was a fun moment.

Happy New Year!

And so we begin a new year…new opportunities…new possibilities.

Welcome 2022!

Merry Christmas

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2: 11-14

God Bless us one and all!

Sunsets

It felt like we were driving through a sunset.

We were on our way to visit our youngest son and his family in North Carolina. Another road trip…YAY.

As the daylight came to an end on the shortest day of 2021, we found ourselves in the southwestern region of West Virginia. It was very scenic, and we were going up, and over, and down the “lesser” mountains (of the Appalachian Mountains), like a roller coaster, with a lot of curves too.

The sun was setting and the conditions were just right for a gorgeous sunset…poofs of clouds, reflecting the sun, catching the rays, turning red.

It surrounded us, and it lingered for a several miles! It was magnificent. I felt I was on a Disney ride, driving through a sunset.

It was dark when we drove into Charleston, West Virginia where we stopped for the night. The next stop…grandchildren!

Winter Lights

Christmas lights light up the dark nights during winter solstice…the longest nights of the year… here in Minnesota anyways. Lights help us get beyond the long nights and bring joy to our world.

We went to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to walk through their festive exhibition of Winter Lights recently.

It was after the big snowstorm, so the freshly fallen snow made it all the more picturesque.

Once again, the temperatures were mild for December in Minnesota, and it was a pleasant walk through the different light displays.

There was an interesting ice sculpture exhibit too, by Jennifer Hedberg.

The café was open for a snack, and the gift shop had a lot of great Christmas and other fun merchandise to look at. There were many folks out and about at this seasonal event.

I love color…and we saw color…

On our way to the arb… a beautiful sunset.

At the arb… the Winter Lights exhibit.

On our way home… individual homes with Christmas decorations lit up.

Color…it adds so much to our lives.

Another Christmas Poem

This is my writing partner’s Christmas poem for your enjoyment.

Blessings
by Sheri Ginter Eichhorn

As we gentle into winter and the holidays draw near,
my heart turns toward my loved ones, the good people I hold dear.

It is a time I cherish. During Christmas time I find
that people make more effort to remember to be kind.

We all seem to be nicer, and to be more thoughtful, too.
It brings out all the best in us and shows in what we do.

It’s a time when we remember the blessings that we share,
and it’s a time to show others just how much we care.

It seems to me that, in the end, the blessings we receive
that matter most of all to us are our loved ones, I believe.

And, though life’s not always easy, when a tough challenge appears,
It’s the hands of all those loved ones that I hold to quench my fears.

I am blessed far beyond measure with the riches of the heart.
and it matters so for me to say that you, dear, are a part

Of my lovely cache of treasures—of the people I hold dear—
and that is why I wish you love today and through the year.

My wish for you is every good that life can offer you.
A life of love and happiness and lots of laughter, too.

May all the blessings Christmas brings be yours at the holidays.
But also, may the year bless you in endless, lovely ways.

An Assignment

Write a Christmas poem.

Oh, Christmas Tree, by Valerie Bollinger

Remembering an extra special homecoming:

Bringing up the Christmas boxes from the basement.
Choosing carefully the holiday adornments.
Taking time to decorate each room.
Decorating with the grandchildren in mind.
Wanting to create for them the wonder of Christmas.

Selecting the biggest and the best Christmas tree,
Cutting it down to size to fit in the pine-sided room, 
Admiring the spruce’s perfect imperfection.
Smelling its wonderful scent,
Stringing on the lights,
Leaving off the ornaments...for now, 
Creating enchantment within our home.
Lingering in the precious moments,
Recalling cherished memories of Christmas’ past.

Waiting with excitement at the airport,
Anticipating their arrival from the international terminal.
Spotting their figures linked together...my heart skipping a beat. 
Rejoicing and giving thanks.

Pulling into the driveway at home...
Entering the house ahead of the others to turn on the tree lights...
Anticipating the joy of the little ones seeing the lighted Christmas tree. 

Coming to a standstill.
Looking in awe.
Their happy faces lighting up.
It was priceless.

Northfield’s Winter Walk

The Minnesota Explorer is a magazine that highlights different events throughout our state. Recently, it featured an article on Christmas shopping in historic small towns. I love exploring different small towns and this sparked my interest, so I did a little research. I didn’t really need to shop for anything…much of my Christmas shopping was done…but the idea of walking in and out of stores, gazing at window displays, seeing Christmas lights light up the streets, was appealing to me.

A sign outside the Northfield Library. Inside the library were some model train displays. Not as many as in the past, but still fun to see.

After checking out a couple different towns I realized all I wanted was right here in my hometown of Northfield….and…the organized Winter Walk made it even more festive.

Bridge Square at dusk, the beginning of the Winter Walk.

I love to see the white-lit Christmas tree on top of the Malt-O-Meal hot cereal building at Christmastime. When we drive into town it always welcomes me home.

The Winter Walk happened last week on a beautiful evening. The weather was mild, stores were open late, luminaires lined the closed-off main street, Christmas lights lit up Bridge square and there are some fun window displays.

The streets were filled with many folks out enjoying the activities. It was a wonderful sight.

Colorful tree on Bridge Square…Santa’s small chalet in the background.

Fun necklaces were given away, until they ran out.

Walking along the street, tasting sweet treats, drinking cider and hot chocolate, smelling the wood burning fires in fire pits – offering warmth along the way,

There were multiple fire pits along the street for people to warm themselves by a fire. The aroma of the wood burning fires added to the ambiance.

watching the horse-drawn wagons full of people go by,

looking in the store windows and occasionally going into a store.

It was delightful.

Maybe I’ll visit a different small town next year but for now, Northfield’s Winter Walk was what I was looking for.

Uncle Bob

My Uncle Bob passed away Friday night. Perhaps his Spirit heard the St. Olaf choir and orchestra performing beautiful music for the Christmas Festival, which we were attending that evening. He was 94 years young (my father’s younger brother by nine years.)

He was young at heart…he played tennis into his 80’s, had a great sense of humor and he was a strong man of faith. He and his wife of 71 years were wonderful folks who were loved by many. They retired to their home on 150 acres in Northern Minnesota with shoreline on Bay Lake, near Brainerd, in the 1990’s. They had three children and eight grandchildren and multiple great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

Uncle Bob and his beloved wife, Aunt Joyce, at their granddaughter’s cabin. August 2021

My uncle was a successful business man. He started a printing business in his basement in the 1950’s. I remember going to his house as a little girl, with my father, being downstairs among the printing equipment. Then he moved the business to a small storefront space in NE Minneapolis, before moving again to a larger building in New Brighton, as he expanded the business. He eventually sold Printcraft, and retired.

Gary and I would go up north to visit them occasionally. We stopped in and had lunch with them this summer, in August 2021. I’m so glad we did. He loved that Gary and I were both interested in the family history. He told many stories about my dad and their brother, Uncle Earl (died in 2004), and their sister, Auntie Ag (who also died in 2004). My dad died 47 years ago (1974) and Gary never met him, so it was special to hear the stories my uncle told. He became like an uncle to Gary too.

One fond memory is, for several years at Christmastime, we had a competition going…my uncle like Red River cereal, a hot cereal and a rival to the Malt-O-Meal hot cereal. When Gary started working for Malt-O-Meal we wrote limericks and read them aloud to each other on Christmas Eve. It was quite fun and something everyone enjoyed. We will reread them this Christmas.

We have many good memories of Uncle Bob. He will be missed.

May you Rest in Peace Uncle Bob.