They Sold the Farm

The sign tells the story...

The Flag Fork Herb Farm and Garden Cafe has been sold.

This Garden Cafe has been a favorite place for residents in Central Kentucky and Lexington to meet friends, enjoy a cup of tea, celebrate birthdays, and enjoy some delicious food.  One of my favorite memories ... sharing tea and lunch with  my sweet Jara.  

Store merchandise has been marked down... antiques,  rings, necklaces,  pursues, furniture, plants, Christmas decorations...deep discounts...

Rhyme

Beside the cornfield

A blue tent stood

Underneath green branches

A bed of wood

The sun shone brightly

The children sang

Demons screeched

The Golden Bells rang

She took her flight

On feather of word

Healed at last

This broken winged bird

christie for she who rhymed

now at peace

copyright, 8/29/11

the retirement chronicles

it’s the first day

of his retirement

classes started today

and for the first time

in forty six years

he is not teaching

students

mathematics

he seems fine

with this change

but it is odd

different

to be at this

point in our lives

it’s a beautiful day

sunny with a breeze

we walked in the park

this morning

saw some turtles sunning

passed a man also

getting his exercise

who greeted us

by saying

“Getting old is hell!”

and then he continued

walking by the lake

while getting older

is many things

and sometimes “hell”

for the most part

it has been simply privilege

especially today

when we are blessed

with such lovely weather

pretty good health

and being able to

walk side by side

by the still waters

while the birds sing

the bright yellow flowers

shine in the morning sun

not everyone

gets to have such

a moment

we have friends

who would grab

this getting older “hell”

in a heartbeat

for they now walk alone

their eyes fill with tears

when once again

they are surprised

by the absence

of their cherished one

this is the day

the creator has made

we are wise to rejoice

in it . . .

christie walking with stan

Countdown to Football

The leaves have yet to turn and the heat of summer still dominates the days. But fall is definitely right around the corner. For my husband and I, fall is marked not only by cool, crisp air in the evenings or even yellow school buses adding 10 more minutes to the commute time of those that go to work in the morning. We can tell it's fall because pads are cracking, whistles are tweeting and the oblong projectile, affectionately referred to as the pigskin, is being tossed all around this great country. Baseball might be America's past time but football is it's passion. Fans decked out in the colors of their favorite teams will stream into stadiums across the land to root on their beloved. From grade school to college, young boys and men lace up their cleats to take the field in an organized chaos. I LOVE FOOTBALL!! I love everything from the food to the fight songs. I love the pageantry just as much as the brutal force demonstrated on the 100 yard battleground.

I've actually already been to an Atlanta Falcons football game. I even went with my friend, Akilah instead of Gus because he had to work. But don't pity Gus one bit! We are going to Ann Arbor (the Gus-proclaimed mecca of college football) to take in a historic event. It will be the first nighttime kick off in the BIG HOUSE, as Michigan takes on long hated rival, Notre Dame. He is super-excited to take in the game on Sept. 10 and so am I. I will be sure to take plenty of pictures as we Hail the Victors. Football season is the shortest of the major sports' seasons. I guess that adds to the reverence we have for it. Must...savor...the...gridiron goodness while it lasts. I pray the players have a safe season and play the game with dignity. Fellow football fans, whoever you root for (as long as it's not the Buckeyes, Irish or Spartans) root hard and be kind to the opposition. It's fun to rib the opponents but remember, it's just a game. And one last thing, ARE YOUR READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!?!?

A SIMPLE PLEASURE

Did you learn to sew as a teenager like I did? Did you give up the art long ago after clothing got cheaper to buy than to make yourself? I did. But recently my daughter insisted I help her make some things for her home. After borrowing a sewing machine from a friend, I made a couple of throw pillows a couple of weeks ago. Simple, nothing to it. Yesterday, I made a window valance. Not so simple if you're using those visual images in your head (and those words we've uttered to ourselves so many times in a store when we see something we are quite certain we could do ourselves). But after a period of measuring, placing, calculating, measuring again and again, it began to come together. I realized it must be like riding a bicycle: no matter how long it has been and how "rusty" you are, you can still do it! And the satisfaction of making something with your hands is just that, a simple pleasure.

Dog Days of Summer

Sitting outside this morning, I notice the air is cool.  What a difference from the heat wave we endured in July!   In recent days, we have been able to enjoy our dinner outside on the deck. While we eat, our dog Jackson is often enjoying a bowl of ice cubes.  In the midst of some the hottest days of summer, Jackson enjoys resting on the grass.  

Pet owners must to careful to give their pets cool places to rest in the heat of the summer.  Some dogs are even invited to teas.  Early this summer, my neighbor invited me for an afternoon tea.   Isaac is displaying  his best manners waiting for a treat. 

Earle is resting inside on a sofa...away from the heat outside.

teacher

it’s her birthday
reason for many to celebrate
she loved our children
she loved us
into being wiser parents

it’s been a while now
since she was in the classroom
teaching understanding
loving every child
every parent
for who we were
where we were

she changed worlds
for the better
loving neighbor as self
doing justice
loving mercy
walking humbly
seeing the divine
in every one

her memory
is fading
her smile
remains bright
her spirit --- joyful
her soul --- deep and wide
a fountain flowing
with love and hope

she may not remember
that when i was a
young mother
scared to death
as we say
she saved my life
but i remember
and like so many others
i rise up
call her blessed
call her blessed

amen

for eunice, august 16, 2011

with abiding love and gratitude

christie smith stephens

breaking

not particularly wanting

to put words on paper

nothing twirling in my head

requiring the pen

perhaps last week

wrung the letters

out of me

as i sought to

remember and honor him

the son of our friends

child now grown

who left us too soon

that poem

if indeed it is a poem

is too long

and probably not

the best choice to post

his passing is

too much with us

so the sweat of writing

seems something

to avoid

especially on this

warm blue-skied day

that falls hollow

on the most grieved

but tries to call me

back to the

world of the living

even as sadness sings

from the boughs now broken

of our backyard trees

under which

once upon a time

as little boys

they rode hot wheels

and green machines

at birthday parties

rock a bye . . .

christie smith stephens

august, 2011

with prayers for our friends

who have had to say goodbye

for now to their son

My Granddaughter

She knows my favorite color, what foods I like, even can predict sometimes what I am going to say. She loves for me to read to her, spend time in the garden, sometimes we just sit and talk. My granddaughter, Taylor, is a blessing from God. She greets with me with such enthusiasm, happy to see me, although I see her nearly every day. When she leaves, she walks all of the way down the sidewalk in front of my house and runs to hug me and kiss me goodbye. When she is with me, she tells me several times a day, Mamma, I love you. We have so many fond memories that we have created together. She warms my heart.

Yesterday was one of those memory creation days. We attended the Indiana State Fair. She milked a cow, pet some goats, horses and pigs, saw many exhibits, had "fair food" and played some games coming home with four goldfish, a pink blowup dolphin and a stuffed tiger. Mamma came home with some tired feet and a big smile. I was in 4-H for 6 years and am glad to see my granddaughter share the enthusiasm for the fair that I have always had.

Today, I shared a story about my granddaughter. I promise next to give equal time to my wonderful grandson, Matthew!

HOME

I recently met someone who names her homes. She has lived in several over the years and names them for that special significance they hold for her family. As I have been away from home for quite some time now, I have had some twinges of homesickness. I began to think about my home and what it means to me, and what I would name it if I were so inclined. My thoughts centered around what it would be like to be home again.......home again.......home again. That's it! My home would be called HOME AGAIN.

What would you name your home?

Ruth Anne

A ROSE IS A ROSE

A visit to the International Rose Test Garden in Portland is a visual delight. And after a rain, I was even able to capture tiny drops of water still resting on the pedals of some of the roses. Technology serves us well in so many ways that we perhaps don't appreciate. Who ever would have thought an amateur photographer could produce shots like these with such a tiny camera?

Ruth Anne

"Give me more summer."

“ Give me more summer.  And more and more and more summer.”  Elizabeth

As a young wife and mother of four, I imagine that Elizabeth’s summer must be sweet as they enjoy swimming, skating, and summer reading.

I agree…  give me more summer.  I have had a wonderful summer filled with birthday celebrations, weddings, travels, summer reading, Vacation Bible School, and cookouts with friends.  I hope that your summer has been fulfilling and rewarding.

As summer begins to fade and school routines will resume,  I am refreshed and restored.  I thank God for the rhythms of life.

In a recent conversation at a hot July cookout, I was reminded of how I can forget about the suffering of individuals when headlines slip from the front pages.   At the cookout, I was introduced to a middle-aged woman from Bosnia.  As she shared about her life in Bosnia, I sat quietly and listened.  I began to understand some personal details behind that conflict. Today, she shares how her new friendships have made her life rich. I hope that she is experiencing joy this summer.  

Living for a Cause

The church that my husband and I belong to is named Courageous Church. It is a non-denominational Christian church located in the heart of midtown Atlanta. Courageous is very involved with the community and various outreach programs. The church family is divided into "Cause Groups." These groups are designed to target and address social issues that plague our community. There is an Education team that works toward improving the conditions of the area school districts, most notable, the Atlanta Public School system. There is a group that has targeted the care and concern for widows and orphans in our city. James 1:27 tells us that authentic faith is demonstrated through the care of orphans and widows in their time of distress. Our third cause group addresses a very disturbing and real trend in our present day society. Human sex trafficking. Every night about 300 girls get raped for profit in GA. Atlanta is one of the national leaders in the Commercial Exploitation of Children (CSEC). Very difficult is the challenge that we face with regards to shedding light on and ultimately eradicating this horrible industry. Gus and I are participating in a 5K run/walk called Stop Injustice in order to raise awareness and funds for the Wellspring Living Center. Wellspring Living is a 7-10 month residential treatment program to help these victims begin to heal. It is an awesome cause and we look forward to becoming a solution to this horrific reality.

For more information please visit www.wellspringliving.org

Corn

Someone told Queen Anne
Corn is marching
In straight line formations
Standing tall
Golden feathers
Rising against blue skies

She has rushed her lace to
The side of the fields
Offering gentle presence
At the front of armies of green

Honeysuckle trumpets
Bright orange
Voluntaries at sunrise

White clouds form configurations
Named by children who have
Third eyes

It's hot August here
Where the Sycamores
Say thank you to the Wabash
And the cycles of corn
Provide structure to life
Too often in need of such

Landscapes of relative trust
Cornscapes with delicate lace
At home in Indiana
Where there are answers to
Secrets of life for those
Who look for flowers
Listen for nature's horn

Stand and move in the

Constant/Ever changing

Scape shapes of clouds and corn.


Christie, 8-1-11