TURNBULL - My Maiden Name

For those of you who read my blog and think I was insenstive regarding "Suzanne Turnbull"...my maiden name is Turnbull.

Thus my remark about a 'distant relative'....not that she looks like the bull sculpture!

Now stop the emails!

:-P

Friday In Stratford

Every year, Bob and a fellow teacher take 50+ high school student to see a Shakespeare play at Stratford. Every year, I am invited along to be a chaperone.. humorous because Bob knows my low tolerance for hormonal, egotistical 14 - 18 year olds! Below are a few pictures of our day.

"Iron Will"

Sorel Etrog

Large Bull, 1969

Speaking of bulls..... a distant relative perhaps?

I decided to walk back into town along the river and came across this swan. As I walked toward it, it angled itself across the pathway and hissed at me. At first, I tried walking onto the grass to bypass it. But evidently, it considers all of Stratford it's own personal kingdom.

To make a long story short....

51 year old woman runs down the brick path with honking, hissing swan in hot pursuit!

Swam: 1

Marni: 0

...

Reflection - My Daughters

To Melinda and Rachel - who will be 26 in Saturday.

It seems like yesterday your Dad and I were rushing to the hospital at four in the morning, frightened beyond belief because you were on your way - 10 weeks early. Your Dad, cursing the absence of any police cars, although there was no traffic and the roads were clear. So intent to make sure he took care of me and his babies. Me, sitting quietly, moving deeper and deeper into myself as the reality of our situation took hold.

You both know the story of your rushed birth: the ambulance ride to Saginaw, Dr. Foltz and his monster hands, Dr. Chai (the janitor) and of course, poor Dad wandering in the hallway until he could get into the delivery room and witness your birth.

What I think of now is the incredible beauty of certain moments.

Melinda, your little leg kicking in the air as they worked to stabilize you. I didn't know if you were a boy or girl but I knew I loved you. Your spunky little knee and foot gave me reason to hope.

Rachel, your eyes staring at me as they stopped next to me before rushing you to the neo-natal unit. Your expression was as old as time and I knew you'd fight to live.

There are so many memories of both of you that I feel overwhelmed with love and gratitude for your lives and the small part we have played.

You are loving, generous and gifted women and I am proud to be your mother.

May you continue to grow as individuals, true to yourselves and always feel the love and support of your friends and family!

Early Happy Birthday, Bubbles & Squirt!

Our Weekend

Removing all the patio stones and plants from the front of the

new deck in preparation for the steps. We were planning to wait until spring to build the steps, but I've had near mishaps with Cassie when she tries to catch a squirrel and literally launches herself off the deck. It's hard to dodge an 85-pound cannonball! Maybe a railing or a shock collar would be a better idea?

Had to relocate eight mum plants at the height of their bloom cycle....groan.

The result of 2 1/2 hours of work!

4 x 6 x 10's and 4 x 6 x 8's cut to make the frame, drilled and bolts attached.

Insight: I'm way to old for this kind of work!

Pattern for the inlaid stones is on the deck. Notice the huge butterfly net hanging from the shepherd's hook? I use it to catch my mongo-goldfish when I move them from the pond to the basement for the winter.....which is another story. They started out as baby goldfish and now each of them are between 8 - 12 inches long. I'm thinking about a fish dinner this fall....

Found this beautiful Ivy Leafed Morning Glory twined in my snapdragons.... Compliments of a passing bird. The bloom is a vibrant blue in the morning and fades to a light lilac by evening. Each bloom lasts one day....am hoping to get a few seeds to start a plant next year.

Humor

There are times in my life that I question my own sense of humor....is it dark? irreverent? impish? a coping mechanism?

On Saturday, I picked our mail out of the box and noticed two envelopes from Aquinas college. No big deal, Melinda and I both receive mail from them.

Then I noticed the first was addressed to:

The Parents of
Marni J. Rose

I actually thought my glasses were giving me problems....adjusted them and looked again.

Nope, still "parent of Marni j. Rose"

The next envelope was addressed to me .... notifying me I had made the Dean's list...that was nice.

Later as I'm telling Bob and Melinda, I started to laugh and then explained myself. My thought is to send the envelope back to the college in a separate enveloped with the following note to the mailroom:

To whom it may concern:

Please forward all future correspondence to the Parents of Marni J Rose to:

St. Anthony's Cemetery
2345 Erie Road
Temperance MI

attn: Plot 338

Please do not expect a speedy response.

See why I question my humor?

Rodin and My Thoughts

Today, I am taking the day off of work to study and start a research paper. I'm back in my regular routine....work, school and all the other obligations which tug at me constantly. Truth be told, I'm yearning to be back on vacation!

To make myself feel better, I'm sharing some of my favorite Rodin's.....enjoy!

"The Call To Arms"

This scrulpture mesmerized me with the intensity of feeling which Rodin captured.

The dying combatant and the avenging angel.

I found myself wandering back to gaze at it many times.

"The Prodigal Son"

This was also one of my favorites. The simplicity of the lines

evoked such a feeling of surrender that I was captivated.

At first my thought was total surrender but I was puzzled by the hands.

One is stretched open and the other clenched.

I couldn't help thinkging the clenched hand a symbol of the human resistance

to total surrender to the Divine....

"The Mighty Hand"

This reminded me of creation. The power man has been given.

Frightening in its intensity.

Rose Family Reunion

Group picture ... Thanks to Sandy's whistle, we were able to pull this off!

Over 70 relatives travelled from all over the US to attend.

* It was difficult to realize, WE are now the older generation! groan

Front row: Barb, Sue and Mary

Back row: Paul, Bob, Mark, John and Don

Their parents would be proud!

The Rose Outlaws!

Kim (John), Marianne (Mark), Denise (Don), Marni (Bob), Sandy (Paul)

It always amazes me how well we all get along!