Remembering Tara...

 My niece found some pictures she took at a mini-family reunion that took place years ago. Funny, how at the time, you don't realize al the memories that will return by just seeing a photo of the event. My niece sent over several pictures, but one in particular, hit home.

It was a photo of my sister and my daughter.

Next week my daughter is getting married.

And there are no new pictures of my sister.

When someone close passes away, sibling, parent, child, the shock acts as a buffer. You concentrate on immediate needs, funerals, financial issues, buying a casket...stuff like that. You don't think about never being able to talk to them again, give them a hug at a family dinner, or receiving a text from out of the blue. No, you don't think about stuff like that until later.

Until you see a picture of your sister who passed away almost a year and a half ago and you realize just how much you miss her.

That's the power of a photograph. 

That's the power of memories...

Because sometimes, that's all you have.

Bumper Crop...? Maybe, Hopefully

 I'm not a farmer, at least, I've never been called a farmer, even though technically, we have grown stuff. We've planted some fruit trees since we've moved here. One tree species that stumps me (pun, intended...) is the elusive apricot tree.

It is, in a word, fickle.

I never know if we'll ever get a crop.

Like I said, not a farmer.

I do know that if there's a late frost, the apricot trees seem to get hit the hardest. This year, our little tree seems to be blowing up with fruit, so much so, we need to thin the fruit. If we do, it looks like we'll get a decent crop this year.

One danger we continually face--or, the tree continually faces--is wind. We could power our house with the winds we get up here. Wind is bittersweet. It cleans the air, but also makes it tough in other ways. Never say never, but I believe the threat of a late freeze is over, so it's keeping the tree watered and hoping the wind doesn't destroy all the fruit.

I'll keep you posted.

The Eternal Question--Is A Fritter A Doughnut...?

 There's a national day for pretty much anything, or so it seems. Last week was National Donut Day. Personally, I prefer National Doughnut Day, but whatever. I would not have known about it except we dropped by our local grocery store and there was a huge display.

After passing the display, we entered the store and saw another display, this time a display of sugary deliciousness. Because it was National Donut Day, I made my choice...a fritter. As we left the store, I wondered if a fritter is considered a donut.

The definition of a donut, according to Merriam-Webster is:

1

: a small usually ring-shaped piece of sweet fried dough

2

: something (such as a mathematical torus) that has a round shape like a doughnut

3

: a controlled skid that sends an automobile into a tight circle of at least 360 degrees 

—usually used in the phrase do doughnuts

What I also loved was something else included on dictionary website. It said, "Less common spelling of DOUGHNUT."

Score!

We can immediately eliminate definitions 2 and 3, which leave #1...a small usually ring-shaped piece of sweet fried dough. My fritter was made of dough, it was fried, and it was round (ish). 

My ruling--yes, a fritter is a doughnut...

And I'm glad I helped support the cause.

Give Thanks...Seeing The Potential

 Random tools. At first glance, they look simple, worn, even crude. I've used some of these tools in my years--not all. Like all tools, by themselves, they're useless, powerless, but in the right hands, their power is unlimited.

My friend posted this picture on social media. These are the tools of his trade. My friend makes violin bows. He is a master craftsman and these instruments help to create the instrument.

My family likes yard sales. Most weekend mornings (except Sundays...) we load up the car--dog included--and see what's out there. Even when we don't find anything, we have fun just seeing the items and talking to our neighbors. So many times we'll come across a home with boxes of stuff strewn across their lawn and driveway. If you were to take all the tools in this picture and put them in a box atop a table and put a price tag of $10 on it, most likely I would pass it by. If you told me that using those tools (and the materials, of course...), I could build a violin bow, I'd be shocked.

This is yet another example that with simple tools, beauty can be formed. I'm grateful that many are dedicated to creating the art, learning the skills necessary that makes a difference in others. Next time I see a box of what looks like just simple tools, I hope I see the potential, and not just the simple tools.

A Great Team To Watch...Well Done, Lady Utes

 I think last season was the first time I ever watched a University of Utah softball game. As I recall, the Lady Utes won that game. This year...

The team was on a whole other level.

And they were a blast to watch,.

Yesterday, having to play two games almost back-to-back, their season came to an end. Bummer, but the team played hard and showed a lot of heart.

Not only did the Utes wind the Pac-12 championship for the first time ever, they advanced to play in the NCAA Softball World Series. To get to the World Series, they had to win several games. I recorded and watched those games--the series against San Diego State University was amazing. It would have been a blast to be at there...everyone looked like they were having the time of their lives, and when Julia Jimenez hit a Grand Slam in the fourth in Game 2 of the series, well...that's the stuff of dreams.

I've only watched a handful of college softball games. This year, a fan was born...

And I'm sure I'm not the only one.

The Little Trailer That Could...

 This morning was so perfect...how perfect was it?

It was so perfect I actually wanted to do yard work.

If you know me, that's a big deal.

Last winter I found this little trailer half-buried in the snow. I couldn't believe how much they wanted for it (low price...), but as the snow withdrew, I saw how much rust was on the thing, then I better understood the price. I bought it and brought it home. We had a welder put on a new hitch, and my brother-in-law helped wire it so it would be street legal.

We didn't know if it would actually haul anything...

Until today.

I'm happy to say, it did a fine job.

The weather this morning was perfect for working in the yard. Since we had no pressing wedding errands to run, my wife and I decided to tackle one of our remaining weed patches. Our solution? Cover the weeds with fabric and spread rocks over the top. It's works in other areas of the yard. we hope for the same result this time.

As I was transferring rocks from trailer to wheelbarrow I considered all the things that trailer has hauled over the five or so decades since it was built in a factory in Japan. It's from a Datsun pick-up, the precursor of the modern Nissan. Could they imagine as the workers assembled the truck bed that it would last into the twenty-first century--almost a quarter century into the twenty-first century? Probably not, but maybe so.

I have no idea if we'll be the trailer's final owner--it'll be a sad thing if we have to take it on its final trip. That is the way of things, however. All things that are made eventually go away, including trailers, including small rocks.

We wanted to buy a truck. It wasn't in the cards, so we picked up half a truck. So far, it's been the little trailer that could.

Happy Birthday, Sis!

 Today is my sister Kim's birthday. I've been told when her birthday is before, but I forgot it. Thank goodness for social media to remind me.

For fifty-odd years I did not know I had a half-sister, but thanks to DNA technology we discovered each other. A few years ago she made the trip to Utah to visit my family. It was surreal and wonderful and strange and perfect.

Knowing I was adopted all my life and knowing both of my siblings were also adopted, I never really wanted to know about my birth parents. I didn't feel any ill will against them. I never blamed them for their decision and I never wished I could have grown up with them instead of my adoptive parents. No, I had an incredible childhood...I was truly blessed.

But, I never considered knowing others in the families. I thought about the possibility of one day meeting or finding out who my birth parents were, but the thought of half-brothers or half-sisters was not part of the equation. The adoption agency had some information about my birth parents. My birth mother had a five-year old daughter when I was born. When I first found out about my half-sister, I thought it was her. The problem was, the half-sister Kim is younger than me.

With each passing year, the chance of me actually meeting my birth parents diminishes, and that's okay. One day I'll meet them and we can have some wonderful conversations then. For now, I'm so happy I have a half-sister. She's amazing. She works with rock bands, if you can believe it. There was a time when I wanted to be in a band--maybe not as a career, but playing music was a blast. I don't think I would have made it as a rocker...I'd have to get some serious hair extensions.

Happy birthday, Kimmie! I hope this is your best year ever.