October Poems of the Month

October's Party
by George Cooper
October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
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October
-author unknown
October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down-
October is red
And golden and brown.
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Listen
by Humbert Wolfe
Listen! the wind is rising
And the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings,
Now for October eves!

Happy Halloween

From Little Pumpkin Ezme and me!

Pumpkin Costume courtesy of my mom~ Thanks!

Happy Birthday Brother!

Today is my little (but bigger) brothers 25th (yikes) birthday! Happy day Josh! I love you! Wish I could take you out to dinner on your day, but we'll have to do it another time!

Wordless Wednesday

Mt Hood from the air!

Photos taken 7/06 while I was flying home to WY.

"Sturdy as an Oak"

Alternately titled... "What came first; the acorn or the oak?" somewhat resembling the ever sought out answer to "What came first; the chicken or the egg?"

As I have been walking my neighborhood, and for that matter, other locations this fall, I have been noticing and picking up acorns and acorn caps. I recall earlier in the year picking up pine cones for a craft project at work. It is a good thing I have deep pockets in the pants I wear when I am out walking. :) I am doomed, or rather destined, if I have kids to have kids who pick up anything and everything on their way anywhere. You never know what "treasure" you are going to find while you are out and about.

As I have been picking up acorns and admiring the beautiful and colorful leaves of the oak I have to question the origin of the saying "Sturdy as an oak" or "Mighty as an oak." I did lots of internet searching and can't find anything that leads me to an answer.
However, I have found the etymology of "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow" (the closest answer to my question):

Meaning

Great things may come from small beginnings.

Origin

The word acorn doesn't come from 'oak' and 'corn', as is popularly supposed, but from the Old English 'aecern', meaning berry or fruit. The tree genus Acer comes from the same root. Before oaks were mighty they were first either great, tall, sturdy or even just big.

Examples of early variants of 'mighty oaks from little acorns grow' are found in Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde, 1374, "as an ook cometh of a litel spyr" [a spyr, or spire, is a sapling]

Thomas Fuller's Gnomologia, 1732: "The greatest Oaks have been little Acorns."

And in an essay by D. Everett in The Columbian Orator, 1797: "Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow."

The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations states that 'great oaks from little acorns grow' is a 14th century proverb. Unfortunately, they don't include any details to support their view. The 'mighty' version is known, in the USA at least, from the middle of the 19th century. It appeared in A. B. Johnson's The Philosophical Emperor a Political Experiment, 1841.
Copyright © Gary Martin, 1996 - 2009

Besides the etymology of the phrase, I had seen a little bowl of silver acorns in a store. They were labeled "Good Luck Acorns," so the search for acorns being good luck symbols also began. This is what I found:

During the Norman Conquest, the English carried dried acorns to protect themselves from the brutalities of the day. Considered to be an emblem of luck, prosperity, youthfulness and power, the Acorn is a good luck symbol indeed! It also represents spiritual growth. (http://www.whats-your-sign.com/good-luck-symbol.html)

I, needless to say, have a bowl full of acorns and acorn caps now. Trying to decide if I should use them in a craft project, or let them just sit there and be lucky and bring me prosperity, youthfulness, power, and spiritual growth...who couldn't use all those things?!

Welcome to this day!

It is Friday! Woohoo! The following photos are of the painting that Mother Nature created to greet me, and many other Portlanders for the morning. Really, the pictures don't do it justice, but this was the view that said good morning to me when I opened my front door today.

The clouds were moving very quickly. The two pictures were taken only moments apart and you can see the change in light and color.

Off to work. Then during the lunch break a small group of us walked to Portland Nursery for their Annual Apple Tasting. I don't think I've tasted so many apples and pears at one time, in one place. Wow. Look at that line! The apple cider was pretty much amazing, also. The weather was perfect for a walk and being outside for a little mid-day excursion on a Friday.

Wordless Wednesday

Taken Sept '05 at Neahkahnie Mountain, Oregon Coast

My World is a Little Darker Today

I'd like to say that I don't often bring my work home with me. However, that is not the case. I don't actually physically bring my work home with me (well, not often anyway), but I most definitely bring my work home with me on an emotional level. I don't know how I couldn't. This evening, I felt it. This goes against some peoples beliefs and opinions that you should put up barriers and boundaries when working with people in the "helping profession." Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with this, in most regards. I consiously made the decision to pass that boundary, or ignore it if you will, for a particular situation. I have never regretted that decision.

The hard thing in my line of work is I lose people. Always. It is part of working with the elderly. It always gets to me. How could it not. Sometimes I am more touched by the loss of someone than other times. One instance is a particular client, or "participant" as we call them. I can't explain the connection, but it has been there since about day one of my working at this site. I would decribe her as the light of my life. She most definitely was and is one of them. I love her, truly. I also love her family. She resides with her daughter and son-in-law. They sort of adopted me, in a way, and allowed me to be a part of their life, of their family. I will forever be grateful for the blessing they have been.

This weekend has been sort of melancholy, and maybe my heart knew why and was preparing itself. This evening I was making my bed, doing laundry, typical weekend chores on what, in all appearances was a typical weekend. My phone rang, the first time all day, which isn't uncommon. The caller ID stated the number was "Restricted." There is only one number that calls me that is restricted. I actually sat down before I answered. I knew what was coming. It was 'M' and she told me my dear 'B' had died. I cry again thinking about it. She immediately invited me to their home, again, welcoming me into their world. 'B' was going to be "laying in state" so to speak for the evening. I was invited into their realm to see 'B' and say goodbye. I said I'd be right there. How could I not. I needed to do this for myself. I knew I'd regret not going if I didn't go. I made my way over to that side of town.

There was a black cloth hanging from their porch light when I arrived. I was greeted by an open door and by open arms. I was escorted to B's room, where a single candle was burning and a single rose was in a vase on a table at the foot of her bed. I held her hand. I cried. I remembered all the times we have had together. The ups, the downs. I thanked God that she is no longer in pain. I thanked God for allowing me to be a part of her life, of her family.

After I said goodbye I joined the family and we shared memories. We laughed. My eyes still stung. I felt at peace among them. I always do. Thank you for that. And bless you.

A Little Nostalgic

Nostalgia: (noun)
1. A wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one's life, to one's home or homeland, or to one's family and friends; a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time
2. A bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past.

I visited my college campus today. It was a sort of nostalgic experience, well, a very nostalgic experience. I drove by the campus in March when my Mom was visiting, but haven't walked through the campus in over a year. There have been so, so many changes. The field where I used to watch very exciting soccer games and more laid back baseball games is no longer in place. The library has relocated to a brand new building, where that soccer/baseball field used to be. Other offices/buildings have relocated. Married student housing homes, where friends of mine lived are either moved off their foundations, windows boarded up and sort of suspended midair are clustered in one corner of the campus, or those still on their foundations are all blocked off with doors ajar and looking very rundown. The Holman Apartments, my abode during my Senior year have been renamed the Coates Apartments.

I parked my car near the new Concordia Place Apartments. I thought it was so strange to have a residence area on the complete opposite side of campus. We'd always talked about how the residential area was on one side of campus and the scholastic area was on the other side. The sides mingle now. I made my way to the center of campus and started my self-guided tour at the brand new George R. White Library and Learning Center. This was a 'monsterous' building for this campus. I remember thinking that when I saw the framework in March. Even though it is big, it is now campus "hot spot" I can tell. There were actually groups of students working/studying together. There were study rooms. There was learning going on. Not that this hadn't happened in the old library, it had just happened differently because of the layout and size of the library. This was exciting. There is Cafe 1905 (the year Concordia was founded) that is run by Sisters Coffee Company...a company run by the family of two Concordia Alums that I went to school with. There are three floors of books, periodicals, classrooms, faculty offices, study rooms, etc. I strolled each floor. Somewhere in the depths of the library is a thesis I wrote. I never did find it. Truthfully, I wasn't looking that hard for it...just a thought that something I wrote is somewhere within those walls. The lights are censored. They turn on when you walk under them...at first I thought I was seeing things, then I realized that only when I walked under the lights would they turn on. Nice feature. After scoping out all the floors and peaking in windows, etc. I made my way back out into the sun. I wanted to go to part of the campus that was old and familiar.

I headed for Luther Hall...the main building on campus. I felt like I was a student again going in the back door and all. Checked out my old stomping grounds in the Admission Department. I spent so many hours there. Walked by offices of my former profs, all of which had changed and moved. It is amazing how much has changed, but also how much has stayed the same. I walked out and through Hagen Center, which has always housed the dining hall and used to house the library. Pretty much the same. Out again, and over to the old "residential area." Even walked on a path that Marc, the maintenance and groundskeeper when I was a student, had put in. I stopped and looked at a campus map and was shocked to see they'd renamed Holman, like I said earlier. How weird. They have also moved the bookstore and ELS classroom south of the campus about 4 blocks. Again, how weird.

I stopped and saw the windows of the rooms I had lived in during my years as a student. Remembered my first day on campus, meeting friends that I still have and events that happened in those places. I was amazed when I thought of how we had all changed in these past eight years. My brother reminded me the other night that I have now officially been out of college longer than I was in college. Where has the time gone? What have I done? Even though it seems like forever ago, it also sometimes seems like just yesterday.

I don't recall having been this sentimental about my college years before. I was today. I don't know if it is because I have finally moved past the "I'm so ready to not write papers and study all the time" mindset, or if it is because I truly loved the time (which I did-when I wasn't studying). College is one of those times (very few times, if not the only time) where you are in-between in life. Not quite an adult living in the 'real world', no longer a kid living at home. Don't get me wrong. Even though I enjoyed my college years, it wasn't the classroom hours, papers, books, etc that I miss. It is the friendship, commradery, knowing that there are people all around you sharing in your goal: graduating with more knowledge than you entered with. It is the people I miss, walking out your door and passing friends who live a matter of feet from you. Staying awake late into the night for an "all nighter" before the big test.

My body was all sorts of screwed up during college. Going to bed at 3, 4, 5 am. Rolling out of bed for a 9am class (where most are still in their pajamas) and then back to your room for a nap until your next class. There was one span of time I'd go to bed, or rather, take a nap between 6 and 7 am after working on my thesis all night. I'd get up, go to work, go to practicum site, go to class, go to work, go work on thesis until all hours and then back to the nap. Why'd we do that to ourselves? How'd we live through it? I really would die now if I attempted to make my body follow that schedule. Anywho, lots of memories-mainly of the people, the experiences, the times both fun and challenging.

These pictures are partly for my Mom and Dads benefit as they are the ones who spent the most time on campus while I was there and would appreciate the pictures in helping to establish landmarks.

Above: The building on the left is the gym (where the graduation ceremony was held). I was standing about where home plate would be if it was still the baseball field. The building on the right is the library/learning center (where outfield would be).

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Below: The new George R White Library and Learning Center. Pretty much an amazing building. The thing I really liked was the amount of natural light that comes in...with all those windows it will be a nice place to be during gloomy Portland days when all the light you can get is good and welcome.

++++++++++++++++++++

Above: The back of Hagen Campus Center where the dining hall is. I as standing about where Left Field would be, next to the Theatre Building.

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Below: DAD--this is where the Hospitality House that you stayed in was at. Crazy, huh?! Now standing in its place are the new Concordia Place Apartments. I was standing between the gym and the theatre.

New Concordia Place Apartments

The trip up to NE was enlightening for me. I am glad for the growth and change that the campus has gone through, but also now know how the alums who visited during the 100 year anniversary felt when they saw all the changes the school has gone through between 1905, when it opened as a boys school, through the time it became a co-ed school to a college and then to university by 2005. Here's to more change and growth in Concordia's future!

Gathering

Lately, I've been gathering for the winter, much like a squirrel does. Why, you ask? I don't know. Maybe it is something in the air? Cute little bugger ain't he?

Wordless Wednesday

Pictures brought to you from Yucca Valley CA; courtesy A. Malloch 9/09

Dear World: I was tired, thought I needed a break......I was right!

I think the title says it. I was tired and needed a break. And I didn't even realize until I took that break, how much I really did need it. Work has been crazy for like, the last year, at least. Nothing unusual with that, excpet that my co-worker missed a week of work because of a family medical issue, and I was covering part of the vacancy of another position. I figured I was doing 2.2 peoples work in 1 persons working time and day. I had previously taken today off, but also decided to take Friday off. ABSOLUTELY the BEST decision I've made in a few weeks, at least.
I did a lot of "relaxing," or I should say fun and not pressured things at a relaxing pace. I only had one thing scheduled for each day and then had a list of other things I'd like to do, but weren't essentials. Here is my "Things Accomplished List." (Yes, I do keep a list of things I've accomplished, it runs parallel to the to-do list. Anal, I know.)

I:
-did dishes (loaded dishwasher, ran it, emptied it, and did my other dishes by hand-yes, I was behind, slightly)
-washed my windows (inside and out, except 2 that I couldn't reach without killing myself if I would happen to fall)
-cleaned my bathroom (I've cleaned it recently, but I REALLY cleaned it, mirror and all)
-visited a friend, her husband and son, went shopping with said friend and saved her lots of money with Joann's coupons, love them! (Out shopping in the middle of a work day was an odd phenomenon)
-watched a movie loaned to me by another friend
-did laundry (3 loads I think) washed, dried, folded and put away
-cleaned off/swept my patio
-swiffered (wet and dry) and vacuumed floors
-cleaned my kitchen (again, I do this often, but this was a cleaning session where I moved EVERYTHING on the counters and cleaned under/behind everything)
-rearranged kitchen cupboards (who knew doing this could provide more room, well, okay...I did, just hadn't done it in a while)
-cleaned my room, finally put away all those clothes that have been piling up on the bench (yes, behind again)
-cleaned living room/dining room (this was EASY, all the mess was in my bedroom! :)
-decorated for my FAVORITE season
-hiked Mt Talbert (love this place) (also became accutely aware that I have been neglectful to my hips and the daily exercises required to keep them operating at optimal performance-ouch)
-went to the Greek Festival with a friend, saw a lamb being roasted over fire, saw dancers, didn't eat any of the food! because I really can't :( It smelled good though!
-watched another movie with aforementioned friend. Not sure I'd watch "W." again, but interesting to see. And post movie, good conversation with a little Portugese learning attempted, unfortunately, not retained
-bought a 2010 calendar (all Oregon scenes--I am excited to start writing something, anything in it-I do have a few things already that I can put in)
-toured covered bridges (Hooray!! See previous post for pictures/details)
-made dinner for a friend who is a new mom, delivered said dinner and spent time with new mom and baby. Held a sleeping baby, held a crying baby and oohhed and aahhed at him.
-put the fans away from the summer
-worked on fixing a clock...hope it stays fixed this time.
-went to a grocery store at least 4, maybe more times
-probably did a few other things, one would quite possibly be "bore my readers," but I'm fine with that....

All 4, yes FOUR, of my days off started the best way-sleeping in-waking up before the alarm went off though (which is peaceful), a cup or two of hot (well warm) tea to start the day and love from a four pawed, black beauty. And it was all at my own pace. A lot was accomplished and a soul rejuvenated! Do you need to take a day off?! I highly recommend it!

Above photo

Fun Pictures from Covered Bridge Day

Here are some non-covered bridge pictures from my covered bridge trip:

I love Silverton. I forget until I visit everytime. The above is a Norman Rockwell "recreation" as a mural on the side of one of the buildings downtown. There were four total.
Church steeple in Silverton

"All viney"

Loved this tree! Both pictures are the same tree/different angles.

Whitewashed barn

Covered Bridge Tour

For several years, I have wanted to see and walk across a covered bridge. Today, I did! About a year ago I found out that there are several covered bridges in Oregon! Hooray! I started doing some "research" and was able to find listings of all the bridges, along with directions to them all. The downfall? The directions were all from Salem, Portland, Corvallis, etc. to the specific bridge. There weren't directions from one bridge to another, to another, etc. Not that I could find anywhere. So this spring I decided to look at a map online and map out my own directions for the bridges I wanted to go to. I decided Fall would be a good season to go...catch some colors along with the bridges (though not much color was apparent yet)! Danielle graciously accompanied me. We had a grand time. Things I learned: 1) make sure that you have cleared out the memory of your digital camera...that way you don't have to delete picture by picture while you are walking to a bridge; 2) make sure you charge your camera batteries fully (Danielle's camera died on our second to last bridge); 3) you can eat too much lunch, we both did; 4) 184 miles, 125 pictures, beautiful scenery, doing something you've always wanted to do, and lots and lots of laughter with one of your closest friends does AMAZING things for the soul. Enjoy the virtual tour: (more pictures, not covered bridge related, but taken today will be in a seperate post)

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Bridge #1

Gallon House Bridge

Built 1916

Spans Abiqua Creek

Howe Truss Design

Driving through the bridge!!


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Bridge #2

Stayton-Jordan Bridge

Built 1998

Replacing Jordan Bridge lost to fire in 1994

Spans Salem Power Canal

Howe Truss Design

*Note: I envisioned my wedding (if there ever is one) occurring at this location. Loved it THAT much!

Smile, Stephanie and Danielle!

Danielle on the bridge.

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Bridge #3

Shimanek Bridge

Built 1966

Spans Thomas Creek

Howe Truss Design

Slats on the windows.

I really liked the color of this bridge. It was a nice change of pace for all the white bridges of the day.

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Bridge #4

Hannah Bridge

Built 1936

Spans Thomas Creek

Howe Truss Design

This bridge has a "sentimental" aspect to it, for me. One of my dear cousins is Hannah. I took lots of pictures for her. Now I need to find something called Rebekah for her twin sister. Anyone know of anything?

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Bridge #5

Larwood Bridge

Built 1939

Spans Crabtree Creek

Howe Truss Design

This was what was left of an old mill we think.

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Bridge #6

Hoffman Bridge

Built 1936

Spans Crabtree Creek

Howe Truss Design

We liked that this one had windows versus being completely open on the sides.

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Bridge #7
Gilkey Covered Bridge
Built 1939
Reconditioned 1998
Spans Thomas Creek
Howe Truss Design

Reflection of the underbelly.

Me on the railroad bridge running parallel to the Gilkey. My eyes are closed. :(

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Hope you enjoyed the visual treat. So glad I am now able to cross something else off my "to-do list!" If anyone wants to see some bridges let me know! I'll take you on a tour! Everyone should go once!

COVERED BRIDGE

The covered bridge that spans the creek.

Built many years ago,

Has seen so many changes and

So many waters flow.

-

As horse and wagons clopped along

Upon the wooden planks,

This bridge watched many happy sights

Along the river banks.

-

Wildflowers blooming lavishly

Birds flying toward the sky,

Chipmunks and rabbits scampering,

And lovers strolling by.

-

It's seen much joy and happiness,

It's witnessed war and strife,

But now its old and growing gray,

It has passed the prime of life.

-

A new highway by-passes it,

You'd think its work was done,

But that is not the case at all,

It's work has just begun.

-

Folks drive by to see it now

And watch the water flow,

And marvel at the life span

The bridge of long ago.

-

Flowers still bloom lavishly,

And lovers still stroll by,

The bridge is painted red now,

To catch the eyes of passers by.

~Unknown

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Untitled

“What stories could these bridges tell
If they could only talk?
They’d tell us of the one who rode
And those who had to walk.
-
The rich, the poor…those in-between
Who used their planks to cross,
The soldier, farmers, businessmen
In buggies, sleighs, by “hoss”.
-
Like sentinels these bridges stand
In spite of flood and fire,
Their rugged, stalwart strength remains
Our future to inspire.

~Unknown