BiddiesInMyBrain

Flower Communion Tomorrow

Tomorrow is Flower Communion at church and we are bringing extras for those who forget - don't want anyone going home without, and since we have such a bounty here it is a joy to pick and choose the best to take in. While we were out there we found that the peonies were blooming and most of the blooms were too heavy for the stems and were on the ground... so we picked those as well - and they smell just incredible. In the pic the roses on the right are for flower communion and the peonies in the pink are home just because.

Then we came in and since I had the camera out, I decided to snap a few pics of Crash. This is the best one - he was trying to pose and all, so they all came out a little goofy, but this does capture his tenderhearted side. And, he's relaxed. Yay for that!! We're having a very gentle, kind, enjoyable day.

I'm a little worried about Jen today - she didn't want to go outside at all this morning (she usually has one of us up by 6:30 a.m.) and I had to practically kick her out at 2 this afternoon. She's been sleeping all the rest of the day. Hmmm. Will be keeping a sharp eye on her into the evening.

::happy sigh:: I am, however, just going with the flow today. Haven't felt this good since ... well... I don't remember when. I am not questioning this, I am not picking it apart... and I sure as heck am not going to do anything deliberately to spoil it. I'm just going to float through it and smile.

Gotta have some days like that once in a while, no?

Calling Up the Forgotten

Well, I wrote the national VFW folks to see what they could do about the Pioneer Cemetery since there are two vets from the War of 1812 buried there.

I have also contacted a branch of the Ottawa Indians to see if they might know of someone interested in helping preserve the cemetery since there are remains of Native Americans buried there.

In other words, I am stirring, stirring, stirring. I wish I were closer... I would be there, stirring like crazy.

Meanwhile, I am enjoying the sounds of a neighborhood... the birds, the leaves with the light breeze, the lawnmowers (yeah, really, I am enjoying the sounds of the lawnmowers! LOL), and the sounds of kids playing. It's just a zen moment for me. And the smell of honeysuckle in the neighborhood is heady... can't escape it. It's ... wonderful.

Crash is teaching a lesson, and I am looking forward to just... working quietly and enjoying the day. Thunderstorms tonight, but for now, it's just heavenly.

I'm wondering if it's the day, or if my new anti-depressants finally kicked in. LOL Whatever answer, I am not questioning it, and I am not knocking it. ::chuckle:: This is how life should be lived.

Playing with Telephoto Lenses

So I went outside a little while ago and started playing once again with my telephoto lens. I had some problems with it a couple of years ago and had been frustrated enough with it to put it down in that whole intervening time... but decided to try again today... and voila!! Crisp, clear pics taken 100 feet from the subject! I photoshopped the squirrel because my light meter didn't quite catch the huge changes in light from sun to shade, but I am very pleased at the moment. Anyway. Here they are.

Old Indian / Pioneer / United Brethren Cemetery - Ottawa, Ohio

This is a copy of a report I wrote in the summer of 1998 attempting to urge the town of Ottawa, (Putnam County) Ohio, to renovate and restore their Pioneer Cemetery. Not only did they not do it, but through their neglect, they allowed it to fall into utter disrepair again after all the hard work we put into it.

Native Americans take note: This is a known Ottawa Indian burial ground - the last known one in Putnam County. This graveyard should be recognized and kept up with some reverence.

Veterans take note: There are at least two War of 1812 vets buried here. They deserve recognition.

And yes, I am angry about this situation even now, ten years later.

• Smaller File Size (6M): Download pioneer_cemetery_smaller.pdf
• ***Larger File Size (35M): Download pioneer_cemetery.pdf

IMPORTANT NOTE: The larger file size does not have *that* much better resolution on it. My suggestion? Download the smaller file size, and if you see something that truly interests you or is vital to your research, contact me and I will scan it in color or do a direct scan from the original document to which the text refers (I have many of the original documents here at home and will donate them to the appropriate body when I am done with them - they were collected by my great aunts); this report scan is from a ten-year-old printout since the original data file has been lost, so some of the images are less-than-stellar, even on the "original" (note the print "waves" on the pictures - not so great from ten years ago).

Oh. Yes. Page 22 is missing. I have no idea where it went. If you need it, you might contact the Putnam County District Library in Putnam County, Ohio... they were given an original copy of this back in the day and may still have a copy. If it wasn't lost in the Flood of 2007.

Speaking of the Flood of 2007. I don't see Ottawa doing *anything* for this cemetery any time soon due to the flood - they are still reeling from it, and may never recover they way they want to. But we need to keep watch - this is an endangered property and must not be lost to development. Help? I'm in Memphis, TN and can't very well oppose the actions of the Village of Ottawa from here... anyone local willing to help out??

Gently Rocking Myself in Peace

I started out the day in kind of a furor, but right now I feel very much at peace and kind of zen-like, and while I am not gloriously happy, there is sort of a gentle calm around here that is keeping the world at bay.

Crash is sitting here reading for a few minutes in between school and teaching before he goes to book club tonight, and the kitties and dog are all softly shnuffling and asleep - including Boots who is warming my neck and purring quietly.

I've gotten a lot done today even though I was able to sleep in - the HVAC folks couldn't work in the pouring rain today, so I got a morning reprieve - and I went to a lovely lunch with friends of mine... but still, it was a lot of zoom zoom zoom there for a while...

Now? I am going to take a short nap when Crash leaves, then work my way into the homework I have sitting here in a nice neat pile. It shouldn't be too bad... but while I am feeling zen is probably a good time to look at it; when I am wound up is not.

It'll be nice to curl in with the kitties, though. They have the right idea about all that right now.

::languid smile::

OH BOY! I've been BUSY!

Let's see... where to begin.

Well, Saturday we went to a wedding down at the Ornamental Metal Museum at the River - it was at sundown and it was simply... gorgeous. Got a bunch of pics of Crash as well as a couple lovely ones of the river... and a bunch of great ones of the family (though I don't have permissions to repost *those* here, so you won't see them here) The river pic I like the most will be below.

Then, I actually made it to church on Sunday. Yeah, ring the bells, mark the date - I made it to church!! LOL I was so glad I went, too - it was a nice day to go, and I got to see oodles of people I hadn't seen in ages. ::smile:: It was wonderful.

Monday, the HVAC folks came and started in on the cutting for the regsters and all for the heating and a/c - and the computers and tv and all other electronic equipment as well as all the glassware and all had to be put up and covered - until last night. We will have to recover the TV later today or tomorrow when they cut the return in the back of the house, but that's ok - I don't mind.

Anyway, I had to be out of the house all day Monday and Tuesday - my asthma doesn't tolerate much in the way of allergens and dust in the air - so I sat outside and read books and tended to the garden (yes, there are oodles more pics in the May 08 photo album).

Today I am reorienting to what needs doing (lots) and how much I can get done while working around the contractors (lots) so things are really going quite well. I'm in a great mood, though tired, and just plugging along. Crash is playing a show tonight, so it's going to be a late night for him, but he'll be home when he gets here... and I can't wait to see him.

Hope y'all are well. ::smooches::