Archive for the ‘Home’ Category

MAY DAE

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Two daughters {the rest of the story}

Stephanie May

Steph with special effects by Stormie

Due June 30, Stephanie surprised us by arriving mid-May, before we’d exhausted the baby-name books searching for the perfect description. But the official hospital person arrived to record the legal information and we named her. Her middle name is for the beautiful, delightful spring month in which this bassinet-full-of-joy came to us, turning life upside down in happiness. {Perfect.}

Stormie Dae

Stormie in Taiwan

Very long story, the shortened version of which is, “Stormie” was a done-deal, but Stormie also happened to arrive during a freak ice-storm/snow- blizzard in Iowa following such sunny and lovely days, her siblings had already been splashing in their wading pool. Dae seemed a natural variation to the stormie day she was born. A {Dae} to remember.

They now blog.

Stephanie and Stormie are known for being very creative, intuitive, resourceful and savvy. Today they have the launched MayDae the blog, with more exciting pursuits to follow. You will L O V E it!!!! Happiness.

www.maydae.com

Naturally you will also always find the link on my blogroll below!

Fashion, decor or opinion ~ whatever strikes their fancy. Plus eye candy!

Posted in Home, Mi familia, My most unforgettable people, Photos of the Fam, Stuff I actually think | 7 Comments »

Keeping Watch

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

But I will defend my house [realm of responsibility, family, home, God-given appointment]

against marauding [evil, destroying] forces.

Never again will an oppressor overrun my people,

for now I am [keenly aware, eyes wide open, warily prepared] keeping watch.

Zechariah 9.8

watchful synonyms: alert, all ears, attentive, careful, cautious, circumspect, guarded, observant, on guard, open-eyed, prepared, ready, vigilant, wakeful, wary, wide-awake

Posted in God's Word, Home, Marriage, Mi familia, Stuff I actually think | 3 Comments »

7-Minute Showers

Monday, January 4th, 2010

I attended my denominational Bible College in the late 70’s in Minot, North Dakota, of all places. Let me just say, anything you have ever heard about how cold it is in North Dakota did not really tell you how cold it is in North Dakota!

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The education you get at Bible College isn’t always about the Bible.

While there, the school’s Buisiness Administrator, dear Brother Huwe, issued a call to limit showers to 7 minutes in the dormitories to save on resources by lowering water usage. There was a lot of grumbling about this. But I? Law keeper that I am? I followed the rule and had it down to a science.

In fact, I never quite got over it and and have actually nagged my own family and shaken my head when I have heard some one running more than a 7-minute shower, tsk, tsk. Because despite everything a woman my age has to go through to be presentable, that’s right - I can still do it. I can shampoo and condition, suds-up, lather, loofah, pumice, slough, wash, scrub, shave my legs, and rinse all within the 7-minute time limit, doggone it!

But I don’t have to.

I am 50, for crying out loud. I have been around the block a few times and if I want to take a longer shower, I am going to do it. I have saved resources! I have re-used, re-cycled, and re-purposed things carefully over the years. I am prone to frugality and finding a deal on the most mundane things. I ebay and craigslist and utilize coupons (sometimes) and am rather gifted at seeing the beauty in things and people that others might not and am not afraid to invest myself and a lot of elbow grease in restoring and refurbishing and giving new life.

I figure by now I deserve time exploring the fancy massage shower head Dave installed a couple of months ago. With all due respect to Brother Huwe, I plan to take it up to 10 or 12 minutes this winter and by spring? Who knows?

Posted in Home, Memories/Melancholy, Stuff I actually think | 3 Comments »

Full of Thanks

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Last year’s list of things to be thankful about: http://www.jeanierhoades.com/stuff-i-actually-think/so-thankful

Today.

I walk in the door just before dark while a twilight indigo still colors the sky. Home from a wonderful Heaven Fest meeting where we thanked God for what He has allowed us to be a part of and dreamed big dreams for 2010, Tredessa pulls up to the curb from the same meeting to visit. Into the house she goes, arms full of her current Christmas projects, so excited to pour her love into the gifts she is planning for her siblings. Dave has been working on the “big” tree, stringing 5 or 6000 lights on the 12-footer. The whole lower level is ablaze in light, Stormie in the kitchen baking her famous pumpkin pies with Martha Stewart’s dough recipe. Spicy cinnamon scents the pre-Thanksgiving air, even as Christmas music is playing. We are moving furniture to accomodate the people who will join us around the table tomorrow to give thanks.

The house is warm and happy. But I can’t resist the deepening blue sky and nippy air so I head out for a vigorous walk through the neighborhood. And I think about simple things that make me happy and things I am thankful for and how sometimes I have selfishly pouted over not getting what I wanted when really, I have been blessed so far beyond what I even deserve. I am blessed. I need to say it more, I need to recognize it more. I need to remember and speak it out and be grateful for all that has been and all that is. I have been blessed. And it is the simple stuff that just makes life so rich, isn’t it? The little things, the silly surprises and the unexpected moments of grace – the stuff we almost forget to acknowledge. So as I passed houses lit up in the emerging night, already smelling good food as my neighbors are surely preparing for tomorrow like we are, I listed off simple things for which I am grateful, deeply thankful and I thanked God, from Whom all blessings flow. He has been so good to me.

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5 little reasons to be thankful: Gavin, Hunter, Guini, Gemma and Averi

Simple things for which I give thanks:

a gentle rain…the smell of rain (not enough of that here)…being able to remember the lyrics to any 1970s song because I lost so much memory 3 years ago-it makes me happy to be able to sing along with Karen Carpenter (“Long ago and oh so far away…”)…currently having 2 really great-fitting pairs of jeans – seriously! That is a miracle!…that pumpkin pie with whipped cream is going to be so. flipping. awesome!…true friends, true even when you are a crud…new friends – so much ahead, but you just know when you have met a “keeper”…old friends, because they knew you “when”, in a certain time and space and even though you come from nowhere, they remember you somewhere in time and they become your roots and your home, the keeper of the proof of you…and good friends, the ones who count forever even if you don’t get to see them as often as you’d like…I’m thankful for the tire swing where I first started singing love songs from my heart to Jesus…autumn colors and what my friends are now calling “Jeanie green”…

…the brilliantly-colored sunset I witnessed from the Northern Hills Church cafe during our meeting and all sunsets I have enjoyed this year…sunny days are here again!…crystal-clear views of snow-capped mountains these November days that remind me of God’s faithfulness…I am happy about things that make me smile a real, genuine, heartfelt, eye-wrinkle-inducing smile (“polite” smiles aren’t, really, and forced smiles are tragic)…wry humor…my old mangy, but o-so-loving dog…quiet mornings and strong, black coffee…the girls downstairs singing “My Heart Will Go On” together- right this second-very loudly, so cute!…don’t you just love music?….

…a full moon…3 jackets from the beautiful Stef at the swap, I love jackets because coats make me too hot…the fireplace in the early dark morning so when I get out of the shower I can remain toasty and being hot is a good thing…google, that’s right, google.com, I love it. It has changed everything for this information junkie…I am thankful that dark chocolate is actually good for your health…

…So grateful for the seed catalogs that will be arriving in the next couple of weeks reminding me that these short days and long nights will have an end and spring will come just when I think I cannot go on…good conversation…funny conversation…Tredessa and Stormie are on a singing spree having moved past “My Heart Will Go On” to “Hotel California” and then Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” It is making me smile an eye-wrinkle-inducing smile…I am thankful for a movie or book or point of view on some one’s blog that teaches me something or surprises me or just plain entertains me…for anything that can actually entertain me, because that is not an easy feat…Can you believe the girls are singing “Dancing Queen!?”…that’s entertainment!

…for God trusting me to be a mom…for God just giving me 5 grandbebes and all the ones to come…for great siblings and parents and a husband who has endured me…for the great GRACE of God (the Holy Spirit empowering me to be who He called me to be and to do what He called me to do)…for these things and more, I am thankful. And I am humbled.

Tags: thanksgiving
Posted in Garden/Food/Seasons, Home, Mi familia, Stuff I actually think | 2 Comments »

Slice of Life

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Late afternoon.

A golden autumn sun pours in to the living room in full, bright force as Gavin runs from the front door and sails through the air in his magnificent jump down the stairs to the family room. He lands bent-knee in perfect Spiderman form, delighting his two sisters and his little cousin. Sweet sugar and spice girls squeal and clap and shout their praises while they run in circles throwing their heads back to laugh without reserve.

Guini is alternately power-serving her pink balloon like she is on the Olympic Volleyball team or kicking it down the imaginary kitchen floor soccer field. Gemma’s teeth make small squeaky noises against her balloon as she tries to bite it while Gavin reports on his high scores at school today in between masterful leaps into the air. Sandy-the-Dog is quite happy indeed to see the popcorn and M & Ms flying through the air as an unexpected afternoon snack. Full of sass and spunk and decked in a purple t-shirt and black gauchos, Averi saunters across the room with her hand on her hip, and up on her tippie-toes, just like I did at her age!

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At exactly 3:52 pm

Out the window in the brightly-lit, sunny street we spy a pearly-white Nissan Maxima pulling in the driveway. Rocky is here! Rocky is here! even Averi cries out. All 4 kids and the dog do the happy dance, as if Rocky were a super-hero or a beloved friend returning from a far away land. He comes in the house to hugs and children jumping up and down and exclamations of love and we realize we are in the middle of a spontaneous party of delight. You can practically see the confetti flying through the air.

These are the moments.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Tags: Grandkids, moments
Posted in Grandkids, Home, Mi familia, My most unforgettable people, Stuff I actually think | 3 Comments »

Snow Day

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

This is Gavin in our yard a couple of days ago.

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BTW-Gavin’s grandpa bought him a leaf-blower, an apparatus I have always spurned in favor of an old-fashioned rake. But maybe I’ll end up actually liking it. I know Gavin does.

This is the same yard today.

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Pictured: left, from the front door (inside the house!); right, out the back sliding glass door (from inside the house!)

Early afternoon update: looks like we have about 6″ and they are saying it will double before it is over. Other areas of the city already have 12″ or more.

Schools are closed. Wal-Mart is full of frantic people buying milk and toilet paper. I called Tredessa to make sure she had everything she needed to be snowed in for 2 days (which is what they are “promising,”) and her reply was, “Yes. I just got some movies.” I laughed because I was more worried about food and she just wanted to be sure she had enough entertainment to get her through. FYI, The Westword published a list of the best snowy movies to watch on a snowy day, which you can view here.

My main complaint.

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Pictured: out the back door.

The weather guys are telling us to anticipate a crazy, snowy winter during this El Nino year. Which is fine, but I am going to complain ahead of time that today is a beautiful, snowy-Christmasy-type-day and on Christmas, it will probably be 63-degrees and sunny, as it so often is in Denver in December. I don’t have to like that.

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My secondary complaint.

I just got back from 8 rainy days in Missouri. I needed my Colorado sunshine!

I should just shut up about it.

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Pictured: from the front porch (I actually stepped outside!)

I know. I know. Everyone else in the snowy-universe is thrilled. Tredessa has her movies. Everybody is making chili and Tara is baking her very first ever pumpkin pie from scratch (even baking her own pumpkins!). So, the world is joyfully on hold, the kids are out of school, the snow continues and I will live.

1-3 Feet of Snow Possible according Denver’s Channel 7

Tags: snow day, snowy
Posted in Garden/Food/Seasons, Grandkids, Home, Mi familia, Photos of the Fam, Stuff I actually think | 7 Comments »

The Amber Elixir

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

“Tea! thou soft, thou sober, sage, and venerable liquid…thou female tongue-running, smile-smoothing, heart-opening, wind-tippling cordial, to whose glorious insipidity I owe the happiest moment of my life, let me fall prostrate.” ~Colley Cibber, Lady’s Last Stake (I first read it on the invitation my daughters, Stephanie and Stormie, extended inviting me to tea.)

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“Bread and water can so easily be toast and tea.” ~Author Unknown

The Tea, as I understand its’ purpose to be, was merely the opportunity for Stephanie and Stormie to try out as many rapturous recipes on us as possible. Things such as Blackberry Napoleans on shortbread and scones with raspberry preserves or fresh Devonshire Cream, finger sandwiches, and fancy tea cakes were among the wondrous offerings. Then there were the perfectly-brewed teas: Earl Grey, Peach and Chai Spice, to choose from. Luscious chocolate truffles and handcrafted candies awaited us as well. They just cooked and baked and created and delighted us all.

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Stormie and Stephanie also took the opportunity to use the mix-and-match dishes and serving pieces they both collect. There was China as old as the 1930’s and pieces from the 40’s and 50’s as well as “vintage” linens from the 70’s mixed with things from Anthropologie’s vintage modern and oh-so-hip wares.

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“If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are too heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you.” ~Gladstone, 1865

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Pennants and garlands were sewn from papier and sprinkled about for color and fun. The effect was timeless and frolicsome and playful ~ grown women enjoying a tea party like little girls.

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“Another novelty is the tea-party, an extraordinary meal in that, being offered to persons that have already dined well, it supposes neither appetite nor thirst, and has no object but distraction, no basis but delicate enjoyment.” ~Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, The Physiology of Taste

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All true tea lovers not only like their tea strong, but like it a little stronger with each year that passes. ~George Orwell, “A Nice Cup of Tea”

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“Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. And whoever this ‘Earl Grey’ fellow is, I’d like to have a word with him… “ -Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek, The Next Generation

The Earl Grey was smooth and sweet (without sugar, thank-you very much) and I have enjoyed the Earl on several occasions since the tea. Yes, he was that good.

“Tea with lemon please” ~Jerry Seinfeld

Sandy-the-Dog takes her Tea with two lumps of sugar, if you please.

They just did a great job and we all felt so polite and honored and classy and well-fed.

Thank-you Stephanie and Stormie. I am available for recipe-testing anytime. It was magnificent!…Mom

Now don’t you want to join us for tea very soon?

Tags: Add new tag, tea party
Posted in Garden/Food/Seasons, Home, Mi familia, My most unforgettable people, Photos of the Fam, Stuff I actually think | 7 Comments »

Scenes from a Good Summer or “Reunited and it Feels So Good”

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

Ode to the Family of my Summer, for I shan’t and mustn’t acknowledge an autumn which does not truly begin until the September (or Autumnal) Equinox, on the 22nd day of this month ~ yes, just a couple of days from now, but still. Despite the fact that my sweet daughters, Stephanie first and then Stormie, have brought me a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks each (how sweet are they??), I won’t purchase my first until it is truly autumn. I must sing of my love for the summer until the last verse fades softly…

Ross and Norma with grandkids and great-grandkids

Dad and the brothers visit

Press close, bare-bosomed Night! Press close, magnetic,
nourishing Night!
Night of south winds! Night of the large, few stars!
Still, nodding Night! Mad, naked, Summer Night!
~Walt Whitman

Joe’s wife, Robin with my dad; hanging on “Moslander Mountain”

Ross the Boss, Mrs. Moss, and all the Little Landers (Jeanie, Joey, Timmy, Tami and Danny)…except Tim didn’t come this year, but the rest did – with their spouses and children.

It was a divine time, full of remembering and creating new memories. Cousins kidded and cajoled. Siblings sought to reconnect. Dad told us where we came from and gave us insight for our futures. Mom cheered us all on and hugged the stuffing out of us. Love was in the air and in our hearts.

Gerron, Jordan and Austin being dudes

Tredessa, Grandma Moslandr and Uncle Joe

Sister-in-Law, Dawn.

Dawn and Dan Moslander of Hobart, Indiana

Dawn and Dan share family secrets

Just the other morning my sister-in-law, Dawn, whom I have known and loved since she was 14, emailed me these beautiful sentiments about The Moslander Family Reunion:

“I took you all in during our time spent together. Kinda like a wonderful meal! I feel full, but want to take in some more. Good memories, but missing everyone.”

Cousins Rocky and Corbin having fun at the Phipps farm

Riding horses at the farm.

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Brothers telling fish stories, no doubt

So blessed.

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Me with little sister Tami and her husband, Gerron; Jordan and Rocky-best cousins forever!

I love my family. I am so blessed by wonderful parents and amazing siblings who have married so well. They have gifted me with extraordinary nephews and nieces. And everytime we are together, all is right with the world.

Aunt Tami with her nieces; Aunt Tami pulling me into silliness.

“In every conceiveable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.” Alex Haley

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Mom and Dad.

Whom I have also sometimes (with great affection) called “Mammogram” and “Pap Smear.” Not sure how they feel about that! This is the result of these two people.

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All my love to family, both near and far, both born to us and joined by love.

Related posts:

Scenes from a Good Summer ~ Heaven Fest
Scenes from a Good Summer ~ The Grandbebes
Scenes from a Good Summer ~ The Garden
Scenes from a Good Summer ~ Puerto Rico

Previous posts about the Moslander family reunion:

Tags: family, family reunion, moslander, ross moslander
Posted in Garden/Food/Seasons, Home, Memories/Melancholy, Mi familia, My most unforgettable people, Photos of the Fam, Songs I am singing, Stuff I actually think | 2 Comments »

Scenes from a Good Summer ~ Nourished by Time in the Garden

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Another Ode to Summer, for I shan’t acknowledge an autumn which does not truly begin until the September Equinox, on the 22nd day of this month. Yes, school is back in session. Yes, the nights are cooler, some mornings even crisp. But I must sing of my love for the summer until the last verse fades softly…

“I walk without flinching through the burning cathedral of the summer. My bank of wild grass is majestic and full of music. It is a fire that solitude presses against my lips.” ~Violette Leduc, Mad in Pursuit

Black dirt. Green grass. Blue sky.

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Baby pepper plants taking over where lettuces and radishes have been as spring turns into summer.

Sunshine in my heart.

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Peppery, edible Nasturtiums.

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July 15th was the first red tomato day. They have been steady ever since. Snapdragons grow in odd spaces among the rocks and borders.

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Steady, brilliant potentilla blooms yellow all summer long. Hollyhocks rule the world.

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As many unplanned flowers grow here as the ones I actually placed. Seeds from year’s past in re-used pots shout “surprise” throughout the long, summer days.

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The self-seeded and stately sunflowers, heliotropers all, each have their own “face,” their own look and personality. This is the Crowned Prince, not the flashiest or most obvious, but the smartest among them all. He observes everything happening in the garden, including my bungling attempts at transcendence in soil, and wisely discerns how to bring healing and balance, extending grace where needed, though undeserved.

“Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden, that its’ fragrance may spread abroad. Let my lover come into his garden and taste its choice fruits.” Song of Solomon 4.16

And now? I dine on fresh produce and cut little bundles of flowers and enjoy the reward of dirt under my nails, and pulling weeds and nurturing seedlings and digging holes and watering young plants and hauling manure and mixing plant food concoctions and enduring the heat of the day and being attacked by mosquitoes and cussed out by mama spiders and pricked by thorns and enthralled by the scent of five types of basil and beguiled by the perfume as I caress the thuriferous leaves of the rosemary in passing. I am compensated so far beyond any effort I have invested. In the garden is food for my soul.

Tags: garden, summer
Posted in Garden/Food/Seasons, Home, Stuff I actually think | No Comments »

Glorious Morning

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

“Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye,
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy…”

From William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 33

Update on Life.

It is a Monday, a glorious, beautiful Monday morning. Heaven Fest is 5 days away. Robbin and Jake’s wedding on Saturday was a delightful and joyful event, going off without a hitch. There will surely be facebook pics posted soon, somewhere?…

My friend Pearl’s dad died Friday. He had been ill for some time, but it is still never easy. I only met him once or twice, but I know him through the big, loving family he raised, through his daughter, who is a woman to be praised. He is whole now, and with the Lord, he has gained life.

The Great Outdoors.

Last week’s late afternoon or nighttime thunder showers have saturated our yard to a new level of green, it being August in the arid-Rocky-Mountain-region, and all. Dave mowed and trimmed yesterday and I have spent the morning enjoying the bird-song, the gentle breeze and my time with the Lover of my soul, pulling a weed or two, harvesting a few tomatoes (leftover quesadilla with thick, juicy slices of red goodness for breakfast) and an armful of beets (to be roasted for dinner…I will try to enjoy them). The upside-down tomato, now in its’ place for about 5 1/2 weeks is boasting 5 little spheres of future deliciousness.

Dwight Schrute on The Office: “First rule in roadside beet sales, put the most attractive beets on top. The ones that make you pull the car over and go “Wow, I need this beet right now.” Those are the money beets.”

I’m reading a provocative and poetic book.

From Eternity to Here – Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God by Frank Viola. I started before family reunion and am just entering part two (about halfway through). It is so good. I have so little time, but I am enjoying it thoroughly everytime I open it. Fresh revelation. Resonating reminders. Goooooooood stuff. Join me?