Rodents

What type of things make you think of your childhood? Is it a particular smell or sound? 

My childhood included lots of sunburns, (LOTS of them), lots of salt water, lots of sea shells, lots of tar stains on the bottoms of my feet, (you'll understand if you're from SoCal), a total fascination with rain since we didn't get much, lots of stubbed toes since I was usually barefoot, and a warm jacket. Yes, you read that right. I always had a good warm jacket. It's a necessity when you're a rodent.

My particular type of rodent was of the rat variety. Specifically "Rink Rat". My cousin put me on ice skates for the first time at the age of 3 and the die was cast. I have always been most comfortable breathing that unique rubber mat funk that is a part of the ambiance of every rink that has ever been built. Someone told me once that it was because there was mold under the mats from all the water. I don't care. I love that smell. 

I don't remember ever NOT being a part of that Rink Rat society. I was there all the time and of course, started working there the moment I turned 16. It never seemed like work, and I did it all. Running the box office, the "door", the rental counter, the skate shop, guard on the ice floor, sound booth, and playing on the Zamboni. 

I never wore socks because I never rented skates, had calluses on the outsides of my pinkies from lacing skates, and my hands often smelled like oil from sharpening skates. I knew all the brands and understood what "hollow ground" and "Specials" meant, how to use a jig and an oil stone, and that REALLY good ice was made from hot water. I also understood the rink culture. Like what the first aid room was used for........... and it wasn't first aid! I didn't spend any time in there. Being able to skate for hours was too important. I've always had more than my share of energy and the rink was a good place to get that out of my system. And wonder of wonders, I had my own key to the place. I could and did go at any time of the night or day to get my fix. 

I started out on figure skates, but set those aside when I discovered the wonders of going fast. My first major purchase was a pair of kangaroo hide, offset speed skates. They weren't easy to walk in because of the length of the blade and the fact that the blades were both set as far to the left as they would go. They weren't built for comfort, but for speed, and I loved them. Membership in the speed skating club was the best and I was a faithful attender at practice sessions each week. Hockey skates soon followed, and I actually still have those. They were more comfortable and much better for playing broom ball. Maneuvering was way easier and they had rounded blades that didn't break the ball as easily. Figure skates were the worst for that!

I'm back in touch with many of the other rats from my youth courtesy of FaceBook. It was a great time of shared experiences and personal growth. And to this day, every time I walk into any building with an ice floor, and smell that rubber mat funk, I feel like I'm going home.

Thanks to my mom's pack rat ways, I still have beauties like this!

My second home. And yes, there actually WERE palm trees growing through the holes in the roof. We spent fun times sitting on the roof warming up after spending hours inside.

211 West Katella Ave.

We had a beautiful winter mural at each end of the rink. On this end, to the left was the sound room and the lockers. 

In the locker area was a clock which spelled out "Glacier Falls". Someone was brilliant!

To the left of the clock were wooden plaques that spelled out the rules. Mmmmmmmmmm, never really cared what they said.

My red nylon jacket. Once again, thanks to my mom's saving ways. 

Prescribe and teach these things.

Let no one look down on your youthfulness,

but rather in speech, conduct, love,

faith and purity,

show  yourself an example

of those who believe. 

1 Tim. 4:11-12

My Other Projects

It's Already August??!! 10 on 10

Once again, time moves too fast!! Some kids are already back in school, and before we know it, regular fall and winter activities will be starting up!

Today, I'm wringing the last little bit out of the summer!

Breakfast with friends. But I forgot to take a picture of the friends. So....... you get the idea.......

Working on some projects for Resurrection Upcycle

Pick a color, any color. None of these, actually.

 The weather: "Wait five minutes if you don't like it"

Out of the rain, and back to clean up

The handsome half got his hands of some of these babies. I love to eat them, but have never cooked them.

All purpose solo dinner

He who overcomes, 

I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, 

and he will not go out from it anymore; 

and I will write on him the name of My God, 

and the name of the city of My God, 

the new Jerusalem, 

which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. 

Rev. 3:12

Linking up to: Rebekah Gough

New Business Anyone? 10 on 10

For several years, I've toyed with the idea of starting another small business. I had one when were newly married, and it was very successful but this undertaking is of a whole different sort. So at the urging of friends and family, I realized it was time to "fish or cut bait". There are other phrases that my dad used to use to convey the same idea, but those don't need to debut here......... It's a rainy day, so it was a good one to spend some hours on this new endeavor. We'll see if it flies........

And what better way to end the day than with all 5 Guys!?

She does (her husband) good and not evil

All the days of her life.

She looks for wool and flax

And works with her hands in delight.

Proverbs 31:12-13

Resurrection Upcycle

Linking up to:Rebekah Gough

Career Goals 10 on 10

I never claimed to be a Rhodes Scholar, but it wasn't until just recently that I realized I had accomplished my career goals. The fact that this realization took so many years to acknowledge is something I just choose to ignore. 

All I ever wanted in life was to be a wife to an amazing man, and mom to some amazing "Bigs", and then at the perfect time, to add a bunch of amazing "Littles" to the mix. Time spent with these short people is followed by everything except for spending time with Dude. That would be my more handsome half. He is "Dude". I am "Leelah", "Weewah", "Wee-aht", or "YA!", depending on which little is trying to get my attention.

Life would be perfect if ALL the "Bigs" and "Littles" lived in my town, but that is not the case. I do have a few here, though, so I enjoy regular time spent with the locals. That is what compromised most of my day. 

I have the most phenomenal career EVER!

Little #6 was born 3 weeks ago. He fits in quite nicely as my lock screen. Proves I got the 10th started very early. Or ended the 9th very late. Whatever........

Another new family member returned with me from South Carolina just a week ago. This is Jack. 

Meet little #2, Prince "My shoes ARE on the right feet", and little #5, Prince peel a lot. Everything that can be peeled, must be peeled. Crayons, sandwiches.....

On the way home from a quick shopping stop, we enjoyed the flower baskets along Main St. It's officially summer!!

"Bob" is learning all about cars.....

....and getting a little love."Bob" was kidnapped earlier in the year. A full accounting of his adventures since February will be documented at another time, but I assure you, he's had a wonderful time, and no ransom will be demanded for his return.

Today, the boys learned a little about the finer points of tossing water balloons. 

The day ended with a nice picnic on the porch. 

And a rousing tune on the garden chimes.

And now it's time for a little finish work on the latest decor project.

One of the questions I often ask the littles is "are you having a good day?" In fact, some claim I ask it TOO often! But this was a good day.

For everything created by God is good, 

and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 

for it is sanctified by means of the Word of God and prayer.

1 Tim. 4:3-5

Sea Horses and Other Beasts

When I was five years old, dad loaded the family into the yellow Rambler station wagon and we set out for Long Beach to my Aunt Mary and Uncle John's house. I think the intention was just to visit. The gatherings of moms family were always very............... loud. A lot of talking. A lot of loud talking. With some loud laughter thrown in. 

The family called my Uncle John a crazy Lithuanian. He brylcreemed his hair straight back, always had a tan and smoked stinky cigars. He also told funny stories. He had served in the military and in fact, he and my Aunt Mary, moms older sister, had met while both serving in the Navy. She was stationed in Washington D.C. and came home with Uncle John. I understand it was quite the surprise.

I found him hysterical because he put such a funny twist on things and he was always so sweet to me. I don't know when I noticed the first time, but he was missing a pinky finger. I was fascinated by that, and finally screwed up the courage one day to ask him about it. He said he lost it when he was picking his nose. "Jammed my finger up my nose, pulled it out and that thing was gone!" My status as "high functioning blonde" started when I was extremely young, so of course I believed it, and spent a fair amount of time trying to get a look up his nose to see if the stump was still there. His finger was actually shot off in World War 2. 

Aunt Mary and Uncle John had an itchy mohair sectional of the very latest chic mid century vintage. It was black with sliver sparkles in it. Isn't it weird the things you remember? On this particular day they also had a puppy. When we walked in the door, this little brown flash of lightening ran toward us and of course, my brother Ming and I thought he was the best thing ever. Up until that point, we didn't have pets, but when Uncle John saw how taken we were with this puppy, he immediately told us we could have him. Never asked my dad if it was ok, just said he was ours. Who knew when we got in the Rambler that day that we'd be returning home with a wiener dog named Toby? Dad was sure that John had picked him up in a bar. I'm not sure what that connection was, but it seemed pretty important to dad.

"Tobias T. Mutt" went on to live until after I was married, and was a big part of not only my growing up years, but also my courtship with my husband. As a kid, he had some fish, guinea pigs and a desert tortoise but never had a dog of his own. My better half spent endless hours wonderfully amused watching Toby fall asleep while standing up. His legs were only a few inches long, so it didn't take much of a nod to smack his snout on the cement to wake himself up. To me, it was "just Toby." To my handsome boyfriend, it was a barrel of laughs. 

During my childhood, I also had lots of fish, water turtles, hamsters, the guinea pig and desert tortoise I inherited from my boyfriend when he went away to college, and sea horses that I had gotten through mail order. They were pretty cool, and even had babies in my care, but met their maker when my cousin tried to "help" by feeding them hot dogs. 

Little brother, Bunns, came along about a year after we got Toby. By then, Toby had gotten used to being the baby of the family and loved by all, and was quite depressed when mom and dad came home with the new baby. The rest of us could do anything we wanted to do to Toby, but if little brother just pointed at him, it sent Toby into fits of snarling and barking. 

Toby is no longer with us. But I'm glad that Bunns is still around. 

Then God said, 

"Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind;" 

and it was so. 

God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; 

and God saw that it was good. 

Genesis 1:24-25

1964

Early 70's

Around Town 10 on 10

When you hear someone say they're from the south, you usually think of gracious plantation homes, gentle accents, magnolias and beautiful southern women. Well..... I'm from the south. But MY south includes deserts, tie dye, beaches and granola folk. I'm a homegrown product of Southern California. We've moved all over the country since leaving the land of fruits, flakes and nuts, but I never imagined in a million years that I would end up in the mid-west. And yet, that is where I find myself. I live in the exact geographical center of the state of Ohio. And we've set a personal record by living here longer than any other place in our married life. 

This little town is known as the "City of Respect" and holds its place in history as the birthplace of the tomato. I kid you not. Evidently a city father propagated the very first domesticated tomato. We even have an annual Tomato Festival with a queen and everything. So, next time you bite into one, you'll know where those little red beauties got their start. The township sits on the National Road which was originally intended to run between Cumberland Maryland and the Ohio river. I'll admit, I lived here quite a long time before realizing the historical gem that ran just a few streets from my door.

So, here's a peek at my little piece of America's heartland. Enjoy.

The towns history is captured in a beautiful mural on the National Road. We just call it "Main St."

Yep. Our little Main Street is famous.

The mural sits right across the street from the old hardware store. Every mid-western town needs at least one vintage neon sign.

We also have a tank that sits proudly in front of the VFW. 

There are lots of working farms and this one right across the street reminds me so much of the farms in Lancaster Pa. Yep. We lived there too.

We have some beautiful architecture and this is much smaller than it appears. It's known as the Tower Building.

And we have our fair share of irony. Why is that you ask? Because you can't get any further to the rear of the property than this little garage. All the parking is actually in front of it.

This is a community of contrasts. On one road, we host the beautiful Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral, but just a few streets away......

.....there is an abandoned Quonset hut. These were used by the military all over the Pacific theater in World War 2 to house personnel and supplies. I even got in on the fun when the military sold them as surplus and my school district in California picked up a few to use as additional classroom space. They were hot and stinky. I'd love to know how this one landed in the middle of a farm field in Ohio only to be forgotten. 

I'm always amazed at what I find in this little town. This is a Lustron Home from the early 50's. Built from steel. All steel. Top to bottom, inside and out including the shingles. Contrary to popular belief, it's steel construction actually makes it extra safe in lightening, but hanging pictures is a challenge. It's been several years since I spoke to one of the residents, but as far as I know, it still belongs to the original owners.

I'm many years and a long ways away from SoCal, but for now this is home. 
And more interesting than I ever realized!




For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Cor. 5:1




Linking up to: Rebekah Gough