Terrapin Station

Saints Francis

Francis is an important saint for me. 

The first church I chose and belonged to as an adult was St. Francis, College Station. The lessons we learned from Francis in that parish were many. We had a vegetable garden and a food pantry and an amazing intergenerational community. 

In 1996 I was fortunate to be able to visit Italy, and a trip to Assisi was a hallmark for me. 

And, I have two St. Francis statues in my yard. 

This Francis lived in the back yard at my Gramma Beth and Aunt Etta Jane's house in Houston. It's at least 35 years old. I have no idea where they got it or what the story is. This Francis toppled over once and broke in half. Ken fixed it with epoxy. I see this statue out my bedroom window each day. I love how he is looking up.

This Francis was given to me by my friends the McLeans (who I knew at St. Francis Church). They were moving away and could not fit him in. This is the figure I'm more accustomed to seeing in other gardens. The shredded green stuff at his feet is what a squirrel makes out of a bois d'arc / bowdark / Osage orange fruit:

I like to think this is their offering to him. But, really, they are just making a mess. 

Maybe.

Giant Acorn

There are many splendid oak trees on my street (West Oak Street) but there is one in particular that has these MAMMOTH acorns.  The one above really does fill my palm. 

Yesterday I was driving east on Oak and noted a squirrel sitting on its haunches in the street.  It was in the other lane, about 2 feet from the curb.  I thought, "Dude, get out of the street!"  It just sat there, frozen.  There was no one coming in that lane, but as I approached, I slowed down, because you never really know what a squirrel's going to do in that situation.  Then I realized he had a GIANT acorn clutched in his paws.  It was bigger than his head. 

I imagined him, dazed with joy and abundance, and trying to figure out where to take this awesome prize so that the other squirrels couldn't see it.  After I passed, I looked back, and he was still there.  I hope he woke up in time. Sometimes I get so fixated on one thing (good or bad!), I forget to get out of the way of traffic!

What is your giant acorn? 

There is a gracious plenty

Written early Friday morning. 

I grew up hearing the phrase "a gracious plenty" in daily conversation.  My mother would say it to indicate there was more of something (beef stroganoff, beans to snap, etc.) 

This morning, as usual, I opened my window and poured some sunflower seed out on the sill for My Friend the Squirrel.  He knows when I am supposed to get here, and if I don't do it right away he comes and stands on his hind paws and reaches up with his front paws, making himself BIG to say, "here I am and I'm ready for breakfast!")  And I comply.   Today I was in early, so I beat him to it. 

I heard him eating a bit after I sat down, and then I heard him making odd noises I'd never heard from him before...fussing noises, like the chatter when dogs get a squirrel "treed."  (This never happens, really, in our lives; a squirrel could sooner catch one of our dogs than the other way around!)

I looked over and his tail was up and bushy over his back, in the defensive posture that says, "I'm HERE!"  He wasn't talking to me; he's never behaved like that before.  I eased up and, sure enough, we had company: 

 

(my regular visitor is on the left; the new feller is on the right). 

They both have their tails up, as you see.  But the "home" squirrel more.  And the closer they got to each other, eating toward the middle, the more the scolding, and the louder!  and finally I got up and got the bag of seeds, and I said, "Guys, really...there's more.  There's a gracious plenty."  They each skittered away a few feet while I replenished the windowsill. 

Now they are drawing closer together again.  Homie still has his tail way up.  The other squirrel is a little more relaxed.  And Homie seems to be trying to EAT EVERYTHING AS FAST AS HE CAN...

Because he doesn't believe it.  People have come and gone from this office (previously a dorm room)  for the 76 years that this building has stood.  Some of them feed him.  Some of them don't.  Sometimes the room has been empty. 

He wants to GET HIS. 

This morning NPR had a story about the psychology behind super-sizing food items, spurred by the NYC mayor's proposal to restrict sales of sugary soda to 16 oz.  Here's the first line of an abstract from a study on same topic: 

"This research proposes that consumers' preference for supersized food and drinks may have roots in the status-signaling value of larger options. An initial experiment found that consumers view larger-sized options within a set as having greater status."

We want to GET OURS. 

 It reminded me of this great essay by Walter Breuggeman.  "The great question now facing the church is whether our faith allows us to live in a new way."

Friday Five: Scattered

Thanks to friend RevKjarla for posting this Friday Five at RevGals. 

So, I don't know about you, but I have had quite the scattered week.  Sometimes, life is that way, right?
 
In the spirit of Scattered-ness, I offer you a scattery kind of Friday Five:
 

1.  I lose my keys all of the time.  Even if they are in my hand, I still am looking for them.  Sigh! 
What is something you chronically looking for, if anything?

My car key, which is simply a fob with a car key that comes out like a switchblade and has one key attached to it.  Something like this, except really, it's just the one key attached.  So, small and easy to lose.  

The car came with two.  We have lost one.  This is not good!  If the one we currently have gets lost, we are SOL because they have to be obtained from the dealership for hundreds of dollars.  Sigh. 

And, I lost my glasses about 6 months ago.  Never to be seen again, apparently.  And found my spare ones in the driveway, someone having run over them.  I have a new prescription, just have to get to the Eyemasters to choose frames/get it filled.  Oh, and pay for it.  In the meantime:  squinting. 

2.  What movie are you looking forward to watching sometime in the future?  

Bridesmaids, which has been recommended as a laugh-fest.  Because although I do not like weddings or the insanity that surrounds them, I'm ready to laugh. 

3.  What is one of your favorite comfort foods?  

Carbs of any sort.  Unfortunately.  But I'm working on getting protein in there as an also-ran.  Little Babybel cheeses, that sort of thing. 

4.  Story time.  Tell us a story of one your favorite people that has touched, blessed your life.

My sister Nancy has the gift of administration.  She just does.  Earlier this year I came up with the Big Idea of a Big Birthday Party for my parents (86 and 80 years old).  I told all the family we were doing it, and then when Ken got sick, I just dropped the ball.  I couldn't think of it. (And as an INFP, I tend not to finish what I start in the best of circumstances...)  Enter Nancy, who picked up the ball and made an amazing shot from mid-court!  She created a great memory scrapbook, put together wonderful food, gorgeous decorations, and a glorious event that was really special and wonderful.  An added bonus was that all I had to do was show up and enjoy.  Thank you, sis.

5.  What do you do to focus or calm or center yourself?  

Sit or lie down and breathe, feeling the breath move through my body and acknowledging any spots of pain, tension, or other concern. 

• Walk.
• Go outside and watch birds and squirrels. 

BONUS:  Share the first thing (or second thing) that comes to your mind after your read this!

First thing:  I want to go outside and talk to some squirrels! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second thing:  I want to go to this awesome Halloween event that's happening in my town!  I am not a fan of scary things, but it's not that at all.  I have friend who is dancing in it.  It sounds FUN.

  

Repellent

Saw an ad on TV just now for the Bell and Howell Solar Animal Repeller. Here's a link to the site. I think it's disgusting.

I understand not wanting animals to tear up your trash or dig in your garden, but hey, here's an idea: don't go live where they live and expect them to stay away from that stuff. Go live in a concrete canyon if that's how you feel about animals, ok? Or, secure your trash so there's not a problem.

Sorry if I sound a little loony on this subject, but really. The birds and squirrels who share our living space are one of my great delights. I'm not always thrilled when birds, raccoons, or possums go down our chimney, but then, we've been saying for years that we need to cover that up. So really, our bad there.

If you had this gizmo, you'd have no birds in your trees, no squirrels in them either, no bats in your belfry. (Bats eat mosquitoes, did you know?)

It's true that the other day I came in my driveway to see 2 turkey buzzards sitting on the roof of my house, and I parked and ran straight out into the front yard (by that time there were three, sitting on the ground) and hollered at them, "GET GONE!" a la my Memamma. And Boudreaux chased them madly, barking. I don't have to be thrilled with all the animals that come to my house. But I give them a sporting chance...(Boudreaux can't catch anything). They are beautiful, flying. Just a little repellent, sitting on my roof. I do have a superstition or two.

The Deep Freeze

My workplace and most schools and colleges are closed today.  That's four days of the past five...effectively giving us a six-day weekend. 

How could that happen?  Well, the storm system that came through Monday night was so cold that it threw down 2" of sleet on this part of North Texas, and the lows over the past three days have gone from 9 degrees to 19.  So everything is frozen and impassable.  Our cities don't begin to be equipped to deal with roads in these conditions, and for the temps to stay this low, this long, is just an anomaly.  It hasn't happened in the 15 years I've lived here. 

I'm sitting looking out my library window.  My computer is to the right of the window and the snow is falling outside.  Last night we had 7 inches and it's piling up. 

I'm watching a squirrel dig up the sunflower seed I threw out for the birds yesterday.  I never saw the birds find it, but a bonus for this fellow.  Great example of casting your bread on the water...so to speak.  

 
Can you see the squirrel?  Just to the right of the hot tub.

I was to attend a Stephen Minister training tomorrow, but it's been cancelled.  I'm sorry because I'm really looking forward to it, but I'm not crazy about the idea of driving to Dallas before temps go above freezing, which isn't expected before midday tomorrow.  Especially since Ken is in Nashville for the National Pavement Expo, so my hardy rescuer is not available! 

Conveniently for the Great Gods Mammon and Football, for whom a grand festival is currently being prepared down the road in Arlington (Sunday afternoon), the weekend will bring us highs in the 40's to 50's.  Though more snow possible on Sunday. 

It's quiet around these parts.  I've nearly finished my library books (which I don't like...need a stockpile of books!) but have been reminded I can check out books on my Sony e-reader (I forget about that...) and am digging into some other reading, including Reframing Hope, the book for the RevGals cruise (in 22 days, woohoo!).  Also am casting on a knitting project for the trip.   The dogs are going pretty stir crazy...they go outside to pee and get all caught up in galumphing around (Boudreaux) and eating snow (Josie).  Then they have to go out again & bring in more snow. 

Reading:  I've finished the Maisie Dobbs series, which is wonderful...a million thanks to Jan for turning me on to these.  And yesterday I read Keeping Time by Stacey McGlynn.  Very, very highly recommended.  I also read the latest (for me) Stephanie Plum book, Sizzling Sixteen.  Good, but not enough Grandma Mazur for me. 

Writing:  I have a few RevGals posts to put together, and I'm writing this (a miracle, first blogging in a long time!)   And I have a Friday Five to post...with all the time in the world to consider it. 

Watch this space. 

oh, bonus photo: 

 

these are some Aunt Lugenia slippers.  Made by my Aunt Lugenia Culbreath, my Memamma's sister.  These are at least 25 years old.  Aunt Lugenia made hundreds, maybe thousands of pairs of slippers like this.  I tend to prefer barefoot, but in an old house with wood and tile floors, on a really cold day...these rock.  Here's to you, Aunt Lugenia.