Day 1277:Sewing with April

What a treat!  April and I did a little sewing project together today.  She wanted to put a lace inset in a t shirt.  It may seem like a small thing, but it was sweet and satisfying to do something girly with my daughter-in-law!  Probably, they will only be home one more time at Christmas before they move to California.  So, it's even more delightful to have this time together.

Yesterday, I swam 320 lengths and 140 today.  If I had done just twenty more lengths, I would have hit my goal of 25 miles for May and June.  24.9!  I should have done the math before I entered the pool so I would have a target. Live and learn.

Karen Sue

Viv

Asiatic lilies

Day 1276: Lunar Max

News came this afternoon that another classmate passed away today.  I can hardly believe how many of our dear friends have died.  Each time I learn of another passing, I can't help thinking about how very blessed we are to have each other and our health.  How much time do we have?  Life can change in a moment and we must live each day to its fullest.

It made me swim even harder.  Burn calories, work muscles, stay limber, keep kicking, breath.  Don't think about friends dying. Swim, hike, love, learn, keep moving.

Colin, April and Molly

Lunar Max

Day 1275: Graduation 2015

Graduation is always a moving experience.  Proud parents, beaming graduates, final speeches by class leaders, last performances by stellar musicians, thoughtful comments from award presenters, humorous and practical advice from our guest speaker, topped off by tears and cheers.  Lovely.

Our class gave three awards in honor of the three classmates who passed away in the past year.  All were quiet, gentle and humble souls.  Two lived modestly, worked hard all of their lives and were ill for a long time.  The third spent all of her adult life in mental hospitals.  We grew up on the same street and were in classes all the way from elementary to high school.  Her life was incredibly sad.  No one we chose matches her experiences, but certainly her sweet, gentle nature.

There are two basic requirements for the recipients.  First, they can't be getting any other awards.  It's always stunning to me that wonderful, talented kids are totally overlooked.  Second, their personal characteristics and values should closely match those of the deceased.  All of our choices were good students with strong work ethics, decent grades.  There are a zillion awards.  Why weren't they chosen for any of them?  Anyway, they got the Class of 1967 Memorial Award and that's pretty special.

Pride parades were held all over the country today and this year there was lots to celebrate.  Marchers were jubilant!   Despite the cool, wet weather in NYC, it looks like they had a great time.  Opponents are going crazy, especially the far right candidates.  They look like fools.

No swimming for two days means I probably won't reach my goal of twenty miles in June.  Plus, the water temp must have dropped significantly from the high of 82 on Friday.  It will be difficult to take the plunge tomorrow.  Oh, well, my body needed rest and mending time.

Emma singing "Goodnight Moon" at graduation

Day 1274: They're here!

We're so happy to have Colin and April home!  

No time or inclination to write!

Chautauqua Firefly

Day 1273: An historic day!

Pure joy!  The Supreme Court ruled for marriage equality!  We are ecstatic!  The long struggle for equality before the law in marriage, for dignity for all couples, for recognition of this esteemed union, is over.  Marriage is marriage and a marriage in NY is now valid in all states.

The decision was 5-4 with Justice Anthony Kennedy casting the swing vote.  He issued the following statement for the majority.  It captures our feelings perfectly.  I'm sure his words will go down in history.

"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.  In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.  As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that my endure even past death.  It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do understand it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves.  Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded fro one of civilization's oldest institutions.  They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law.  The Constitution grants them that right."


On top of this joyous moment, the President gave the most extraordinary and moving eulogy for Rev. Pinckney today and then led the mourners in singing "Amazing Grace."  His speech not only comforted grieving guests and mourners around the nation, it was also a call to action to correct inequalities in every aspect of our conduct and public policy.  He addressed removing the Confederate flag, putting up obstacles to voting, employment inequities, reducing the availability of firearms, poverty, poor schools, hopelessness and unemployment.

I love President Obama!  In every circumstance for six years, he has acted with dignity, reserve, compassion and principle.

Penny Kelly in 2015

Three new lilies bloomed today!

Day 1272: Quest party 2015

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 to preserve the Affordable Care Act!   

Good new for millions!

Perhaps tomorrow the ruling for same sex marriage will be issued.

Quest gals

Quest guys

Quest kids playing in the pool

So happy to see people actually having fun in our yard.

Lydia, Molly, Josh, Denali, Anna, Lydia, Haley, Emma, Kirsta, Dustin and Jake

Everyone watching the 2011 Quest video featuring the Class of 2015

Day 1271: Retirement Party 2015

Five more colleagues joined the fellowship of retired teachers today.  Each year, the union sponsors a party to honor these teachers and give them a warm send off.   For past retirees, it's an opportunity to see old friends and catch up on their news.  Tonight was wonderful because our school nurse, Susan, is retiring and she was accompanied by her beautiful new grandson, sons and daughters-in-law.

We were so very fortunate to have spent our careers, actually most of our lives, in Fredonia schools.  Although there were lots of challenges, as I look back, our troubles were minor compared to the obstacles, demands and political assaults that teachers face today.  We went through so much together throughout those years and became great friends. We still are and that's a blessing.

Day 1270: Family coming home!

We're getting ready for Colin and April's homecoming on Saturday.  They'll be here a whole week, although they have many obligations with April's family and their friends.  If we just get a few breakfasts together, we'll be happy.  There was a ferocious storm early this morning so today was the perfect day to get the house ready.  It's amazing how dirty the upstairs rooms get even without anyone living up there.  When everything was in order, it was time to jump in the pool.  The water was 80 degrees, actually warmer than the air.  And I tallied another 250 lengths.

 All over the nation, people are calling for change.  Remove the Confederate flag from public life.  Now!  Amazon, e-Bay, Walmart and Sears will stop selling all Confederate paraphernalia.  Why were they selling it to begin with?  MONEY! And now, they're afraid of losing business if they continue selling the stuff.

The South Carolina legislature voted to remove the flag.  Other states are also jumping on the bandwagon to remove Confederate symbols from public view.  Why did it take a church massacre to accomplish this?  When so many African Americans have been murdered and abused for so long, why did these particular murders prompt the change?  Why has it taken 150 years for the south stop fighting the Civil War? Suddenly their heritage is being repudiated.  What will the backlash be?

I'm so glad for this seismic shift, but I am also doubtful about the motivation.  Why can't Americans recognize that each and every life has value? Why was the murderer of nine people in a church taken into custody without incident when twelve year old Tamir Rice was shot dead in two seconds while holding a toy gun?   I am rambling because I am struggling with all that has happened this week.

Brilliant red astilbe is bursting through the hostas

Day 1269: The Confederate Flag

Tonight, Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina called for the Confederate flag to be removed from the capitol.  At the press conference, the governor was surrounded by dignitaries including both of South Carolina's Senators and some of its US Representatives.  Most interesting was the presence of Reince Priebus, the Republican party chairman.

It seems this is a calculated political move because the presidential candidates were floundering around, tripping over their tongues.  They made equivocal statements like, "Oh, it's not my place to tell the citizens of S.C. what to do about their flag."    They were far more worried about losing the votes of the white citizens than actually standing up for an important principle. They are under pressure from the business community, too, because now groups around the country were threatening boycotts.  It's a cynical move with questionable motives.   While I'm glad the flag will finally be taken down, it's because of the tragic loss of nine lives.

The other issue is timing.  Rev. Pinckney is to lie in state in the capitol on Thursday and visitors must walk past the flag to reach the capitol.  Will they be able to take legislative action before Thursday.  My guess is they will expedite it, fearing for the optics of the situation.   President Obama will deliver the eulogy for Rev. Pinckney on Friday.

Today, I finished eighteen miles for the season.  (I made a math error yesterday) My arms and hands are exhausted, but I want to hit twenty-five by the end of the month.  That will put me five miles ahead of last year's schedule.

New blossoms today

Chautauqua Cha Cha

Spacecoast Firestarter

Japanese Iris

Day 1268:To my husband on Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day to my Husband

On this holiday that we both dislike, I want to thank you for all you have done for me, our three sons, our daughter-in-law, our students, community and nation.  

Thank you for always

teaching our sons to be kind, thoughtful and responsible men

supporting them without judgement in all their struggles

cheering in times of great success

moving their stuff repeatedly

offering medical advice and mental health counseling

sharing their passions

educating them with lessons in nature and humanity

opening their eyes to the wonders around them

keeping our family history alive

being a model dad to our kids and thousands of others

Sharing your skills and knowledge with the whole village

saving lives

planting trees

protecting the earth

serving our nation and community when called upon

rescuing the lost and comforting the sick

encouraging the wounded and fearful

building sets and supporting dreams

teaching kids to love the wild world

coaching them to do their best

keeping them safe and secure

And for me, thank you for

supporting my dreams

staying out of my hair on writing days

reading and critiquing drafts

carrying the tent 

bringing flowers

sharing in my cares and joys

being a friend to my friends

filling the car with gas

cleaning and treating the pool so I can swim

being my lifeguard, coach, first-aider and weatherman

washing dishes

cleaning the cat litter box

lowering the toilet seat

being ever watchful for my safety

comforting me when I’m grieving

adventuring together around the world

staying healthy so we can have many more years together

Loving us all unconditionally through all time

Day 1267: Audubon Society

I spent the day at the Jamestown Audubon Nature Center taking a series of photography classes.  The center has an impressive array of workshops, classes, photography walks and activities for kids.  The sessions were very interesting and informative, especially the class on manual mode.  The most useful information came from Shannon, one of my former students, who gave me a brief lesson on f stops.  That should improve the quality of my flower photos.  Although the shot below has intense color, good composition and beautiful subject matter, its clarity is not perfect.

Lavender Blue Baby

Steve, on the other hand, spent another day searching for a woman who walked away from home several days ago and hasn't been seen since.  For the last three days, at least fifty police, sheriffs, conservation officers, firemen, corrections officers and search team members have been combing wild territory near South Dayton.  It was rough terrain and he came home with bleeding arms and water logged feet.  Two of the canines picked up her scent on Thursday and followed it to a road where it disappeared.  That has raised some serious questions.

On another search front, the two escaped murderers have been spotted in Allegany County near Friendship, NY.  A massive manhunt by hundreds of officers has been underway for two weeks. Rt. 86 is closed down while US marshals, canine, special ops and aviation units search every "gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse,  henhouse, out house and doghouse" in the area.

Day 1266: Speechless

The horrific events in Charleston have left me despairing and profoundly sad.  Hatred in raw form has again exhibited itself in the killing of nine precious souls while they prayed in the AME church.  They welcomed the murderer into their prayer circle and were so nice to him that he considered not shooting them.  But then he reconsidered because he was afraid no one else would do it if he didn't.  This man is not insane, he's a murderer.  This was a long planned, calculated act.  And yet, the families forgave him and asked God to forgive him.  The family's testimonies were stunning in their compassion.  Yet, the perpetrator remained impassive.

More subtle contempt is being revealed in people's responses.  The confederate flag continues to fly over Charleston.  Defenders say it's part of their history.  Then put it in a museum!  It represents repression, slavery, rape, lynching, degradation, beatings, torture destruction of families.  All other flags are flying at half mast, yet the confederate flag cannot be lowered by state law!  It's a crazed mentality and abhorrent practice.

A representative from the NRA today blamed Reverend Clementa Pinckney for his own death and the deaths of the other victims because he voted against possessing guns in churches.  Blaming the victim for his own murder!  A despicable comment from an ignorant, cruel person.

The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remained hopeful throughout his long struggle for justice despite the endless vicious attacks.  When I listened to Rev. Pinckney's speeches, his wisdom, restraint and kindness reminded me of King.  Such a terrible loss.

I thought after the shooting of twenty first graders at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown that perhaps that was the mass murder that would finally change minds and hearts about gun control.  The horror of losing those precious children and their teachers surely would spur action.  No.  Sales have boomed since then.

King said, "We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools." Apparently, at this time anyway, we are fools.

Lovely clematis

Day 1265: Charleston

Emanuel AME Church 

Reverend Clementa Pinckney

Cynthia Hurd

Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton

Tywanza Sanders

Myra Thompson

Ethel Lee Lance

Susie Jackson

Reverend Dr. Daniel L. Simmons

Depayne Middleton Doctor

Another heartbreaking day of tears, grief, anger, and despair. 

Day 1264: Station Eleven

For book club, we read Testimony by Anita Shreve.  Generally, I find something valuable about every book we read, but this one was a real stretch.  It was so disturbing that I decided not finish it.  It's the story of the rape of a fourteen year old girl in a Vermont boarding school by three older boys.  The girl was complicit and probably a sociopath, but still a minor.  Shreve related the story from the point of view of all the people involved in or touched by the events.  The girl, the boys and their parents, roommates, the headmaster and his wife.  Each chapter had a different voice and the speakers shared their perspectives on the event.  As the story unfolded, we could see how the events impacted each person's life.

Even though I couldn't read all of it, we had a fascinating discussion, first on the book and then on unrelated topics.  I love when we spend the whole night laughing!

Instead of the assigned book, I read Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel.  It's a post-apocalyptic novel set in the present and near future.  A terrible pandemic caused by the Georgian flu spreads across the earth and kills millions leaving only isolated settlements.  Civilization as we know it, ends.  No transportation system, no communications.  It was very reminiscent of the middle ages when waves of the plague wiped out a third of the population.

Traveling between the settlements is a group of survivors who call themselves "The Symphony."  They've forgotten or abandoned their names and instead are called by the instrument they play, like the flute or the conductor.  The troupe also contains Shakespearean actors.  Their motto is taken from Star Trek: "To survive is not enough." They meant that life without art and music is not worth living.

I picked up the book in the Atlanta airport and didn't put it down till I finished it.  Suspenseful, thought-provoking, and poetic, the characters drew me in and held on tight.

Day 1263: Boot sucking mud

More rain this morning.  Heavy drenching rain.  Clearing and steamy by noon.  Creek's rushing, yard's flooded, mosquitoes are buzzing. The deer visited overnight and snacked on my lilies.  We debated whether to spray last night, but knew it was going to rain.  It was a gamble we lost.

I suited up in long pants and a long sleeve shirt over my swim suit, donned socks and knee high boots to tackle the property line garden.  Globs of mud came up with the roots and spattered all over my face and clothes.  Sweat dripped of my nose, but I kept going.   Mud sucked at my boots as I waded through the swampy garden, yanking tall weeds.  Thirty feet of the worst overgrowth is under control.  Stripping off filthy layers, I flung them on the steps and jumped in the pool.

After pulling weeds and another mile in the pool, I could barely lift my arms.  That's ok, it was nothing a Mexican sundae couldn't fix.

More lilies from Atlanta

Koi pond

Day 1262: First mile swim of 2015

Blue Angel Hosta

The hostas are thriving from the plentiful rain.  In fact, some have nearly doubled in size.   The Blue Angel hosta is spectacular.

I slept in late and then worked all day long, as usual.  Weeding, raking seeds, trimming, swimming.  I'm keeping a close eye on last year's daily totals so I can reach 100 miles, but it's a rigorous schedule.   Nevertheless, I did 200 lengths, for a total of five miles this month and ten miles for the season.  Only 90 miles to go!   The big questions are whether my elbow and the weather will cooperate with my goals.

Fairy gardens are very popular now!

The colors, the patterns!  Oh my!

Mixed berry jam day lily

Day 1261: Irish Royalty

Irish Royalty

In my view, this was the best day lily of the entire show and I must have it! It's lush, rich in color and texture and wonderfully fragrant.

 I'm thinking about creating a new "heritage" bed that would include lilies with names related to our families.  We saw quite a few during our tours.  Several of the gardeners had theme beds, including two who had tributes to the Wizard of Oz.  Nancy has beds with themes of cats, flight, the Bible, and food.  Steve and I are drawn to clever names and have several related to the fire service, but we have not made any particular collections yet.

Three sisters, so happy to be together!

Next year, we'll be in Louisville for the tour when Nancy's garden will be featured.  That will be a lot of work, but we're all happy to help.

We had such a great time in Atlanta that we decided to do it again in 2017 in Virginia Beach.  

Don't miss all the lovely lily photos that I've added to the past few days.

Day 1260: Day two of tours

I fell asleep before I could write my blog.  Both Laurie and I barely slept Friday night so we were exhausted.

The gardens we toured on Saturday were just as spectacular as Friday's.  Photos will tell the story better than I can.

Little Giggles

Upgrade by Jamie Gossard

Day 1259: Spectacular gardens

By 6:45 am, we were loaded on buses and on our way across the area around Atlanta to four amazing gardens. Each possessed a distinctive character, reflective of their owners.  The climate here is ideal for day lilies and many other more delicate flowers.  Along our routes, I was struck by the mammoth magnolia grandiflora trees.  Many were fifty feet tall and thirty or forty feet across with their huge white flowers shining out like Christmas lights.

Our first stop was at Shady Rest gardens in a rural area an hour away from Atlanta.  Located on three acres of rolling hills, the owners have created a remarkable retreat with several quaint cabins, koi ponds, terraced beds and novel, fairy gardens which are Laurie's favorites.  They created intimate settings within a large space by carving out smaller gardens each with its own personality. We loved their Wiard of Oz bed that was decorated with a small tin man, ruby slippers and lilies named for the famous characters. Lots of cats roamed about the property and visited with guests.

One of Shady Rest's many kitties

Next was a smaller and more serene garden on the Etowah River.  The owners had maximized the views of the river and capitalized on the plentiful sunshine. They had a unique stone house and had restored an old barn to become an inviting guest house.

The third garden was set in a suburban neighborhood on a cul de sac.  Astonishingly, they had over five hundred varieties of day lilies and many companion plants on that small plot.  That's where I first saw the best of the show lily called Irish Royalty.  Magnificent!

Our final garden stop was at the Kennesaw Mountain Daylily Gardens.  They have five acres, a thriving hybridizing program, two acres of seedlings and thousands of named lilies.  They are the folks who hybridized Irish Royalty and just released it this year.  I must have it!

Tomorrow, we are loading up at 6:20 am!  The sights are worthy of the long days and short nights.

Day 1258: Atlanta AHS convention

Today is Nancy's 60th birthday and it was the first time in many years that the three sisters could celebrate it together.  Laurie and I are no substitute for Glenn, but we did our best to make her day happy.  Plus, she heard from her daughter, son, grandchildren and lots of friends.

The hotel is fabulous, but it's strange to be here without Steve.  We discovered the pool is on the roof and the three of us had it all to ourselves for an hour late this afternoon while everyone else was at a happy hour in the lobby.  We definitely had the better deal.  

As a registration gift, we each received two new day lilies, plus there were many for sale.  Lots of temptations!  I'd love to add to the gardens but there are no sunny spots left in our yard other than the pool!  

Day 1257: Another retirement

Today, Steve turned over forty years of EMT instructional materials and records to a new Instructor -Coordinator.  It was a bittersweet day.  He invested so much of himself into preparing new EMTs for so long and was so very proud of the program he built.  He initiated the defibrillation program, MAST trousers and lots of other advances in prehospital care for Chautauqua County.  The new folks were not interested in preserving any of the historical records or outdated equipment.  I'm sure they didn't mean to be insulting, but they turned their backs on the past and spoke excitedly about the changes they will make.

They were talking about how Alstar Ambulance Service had started the first paramedic program in the county two years ago.  But that isn't true.  Steve was in the first paramedic class back in 1984 and became one of the first six paramedics in the county.  Too few people have a sense of history and they  don't appreciate the efforts of those who were the pioneers.   After helping sort and toss out stuff for a while, he had to walk away and let go.

We're glad that we'll have autumns free now to travel, explore and have adventures.  Two or three nights a week from August to December for all those years was quite a strain on him and a great sacrifice for our family.  And he has to realize all the lives that have been saved because of his instruction.  Think of it.  Twenty to forty students per year became EMTs.  They in turn served their communities, helping the injured, rescuing accident victims, comforting the sick and grieving.  I am so very proud of this courageous, dedicated man I call my husband.

A lovely white peony I discovered on our walk

I spent time working with my iPad today to try to figure out how to upload photos to the blog on it.  No luck.  When I return from this trip, I will make appointments with one of the Apple geniuses to get all my devices to work together.  For the next few days, I'll be using the iPad so my blog entries will not have photos.  Too bad, considering I'll be touring some of the best gardens in the entire country!  Don't worry, I'll add the pics next week.  

So, I swam 150 lengths today.  That gives me 700 for the month of June so far. Last year on this day, I had only tallied 50!  It was a slow start to the season.  I'm eight miles ahead of last year's pace.  I hope I can sustain it!

Day 1256: Rainy days and Mondays

The radio started going off about 6:15.  Someone with chest pain in Westfield needed help.  The dispatcher put out the call and no one answered.  Steve got up to listen.  The dispatcher toned out Portland, then Brocton, then Ripley.  Steve took off to respond and then finally someone from one of the nearby communities responded.  It happens too often and I feel so bad for the fearful, sick people seeking help and it doesn't come for a long time.  There is a serious shortage of EMTs in rural areas around the country and Chautauqua County is emblematic of the problem.

I spent the day getting ready for my trip to Atlanta with my sisters.  It should be a hoot!

Flowers from the succulent garden on Temple St.

Day 1255: Cassadaga Expansion

Quest is growing again.  Tonight, when we arrived in Cassadaga to do a presentation for the school board, we were warmly welcomed by the district superintendent.  Two of his step children had participated years ago and so he was already sold on the program.  He asked how many students were participating from the other schools.  One from Brocton and four from Silver Creek.  Well, he said, I'm hoping for twenty-five or thirty!  His high hopes are encouraging, but I don't think he realizes how terrified kids are of peeing in the woods.  After just a short talk, the board decided to vote tonight.  They don't mess around!

It's both exciting and a bit terrifying to add another layer of complexity to the program. It's more parent meetings, more logistical arrangements, more scheduling conflicts, more medical issues, more instructional days.  But, it's also more community ties, new friendships, leadership opportunities, increased appreciation and stewardship of our environment.  So many positive outcomes are possible.  Oh, but so many responsibilities and so much time!

Will new leaders ever emerge from the veterans or new recruits?  Unknown, but we'll keep trying.  Kelly is very eager and full of ideas.  Her level of commitment is needed in Brocton to energize the program or we will have to cut their eighth graders and keep their awesome student leaders.   Can we hang on till number 30?  It's a year by year decision.  Stay tuned!

Back deck bedazzled! 

Day 1254: Just a few pots

The tally of pots I've planted and arranged: forty-five containers of flowers, ten containers of vegetables and herbs.  Plus fourteen gardens.  There's only one garden left to weed and two gardens to mulch.  And it's not even summer yet.  My elbow is healing, so I was able to do the weeding and swim a half mile.

Several of the finished pots, ready to be placed around the decks.

Puddle's Garden

It's been a long time since we've had game night at our house, probably since Christmas, so we got together and played our first game of dominoes with Rachel and Mary.   We didn't laugh as much as we usually do, but we were all tired.  Steve had walked five miles for his fire department fund raising route and then helped me with the mulching, so he was exhausted.  He's done a route thirty-eight out of his forty years in the department.  At least this one was close by.