I'm almost home

Florida is behind us ... Wisconsin is ahead. As we travel, my anticipation mounts. Keith spent 2 weeks with the church folks and has an idea what we're heading to .... but it's all still in my imagination.

As we travel north, we go a few extra miles but are able to avoid Chicago and all the nasty traffic (and road construction). We enter Wisconsin late at night and my only impression is wide open skies and millions of twinkling stars. We spend the night at a typical exit motel and when we arise, the sun is shining and the day is cool and crisp. We trek our way through the countryside, approaching Milwaukee. I've been there before, but it's been a while. I'm struck that the skyline is "short" -- compared to the skylines of Chicago or Dallas, the buildings are not as tall. But there are perks -- it's somehow seems more intimate, and you notice all the beautiful church spires, which are normally dwarfed by the towers around them. Modern buildings stand next to old world architecture. We pass the courthouse -- a stately, imposing building of stone and columns. An abandoned factory has been reclaimed as an upscale mall filled with shops and eateries. As we continue north, condos and housing developments give way to fields and patches of woods. The gently rolling prairie is a patchwork of greens and browns -- the greens, lush fields of alfalfa or winter wheat and the browns, fragrant earth, worked and ready for seed. The trees are still barren from months of winter, but some are enveloped in a misty swirl of palest moss green as new leaves begin to work their way toward the sun. Other trees are tipped with plump leaf buds, full and ready to burst with spring. The hillsides are dotted with black and white cows, feasting on new grass.

We pass through intersections with the modern version of country stores and a couple gas pumps. Across the roads are dealerships selling trucks or farm implements. In the middle of this rural bliss, we come upon a factory. A factory? What could they be making here? Then we see the signs -- we are, afterall, in Wisconsin -- the factory makes cheese!! I smile and we continue on.

The streams and ponds offer a refuge for ducks and other water fowl. There are big old white farm houses, slightly worn from decades of nurturing families. They are flanked by old red barns, standing strong on foundations of stone. We arrive at the building site -- I'm excited at the prospect of the church to be built. And for this summer, there is plenty of open land where I can grow a garden.

We have enjoyed our time in Florida and it was a good winter to have been in the south and I have to admit that I enjoy some of the benefits of living in an urban area. But the land is my element, and although I have never lived here before, I am almost home.

I Smell Orange

I started my day as normally as any other -- a little toast and a fresh orange for breakfast. My kitchen smelled fresh and citrus-y for a couple hours afterward. Then I ran errands -- no big deal, but I travels took me past the Tropicana plant. We seem to be in between seasons so there wasn't much activity but there is still a hint of orange in the air. This afternoon, I did a little cleaning -- again, no big deal -- but it just happened that I used a furniture polish with orange oil. Again that scent of orange! I find it to be a pleasant fragrance -- good thing!!

I've continued to be busy with jewelry. Last week, I cleaned all of it and prepared for a show on Friday evening. I re-tagged all the earrings -- the price of silver has gone up more than I can continue to absorb and it seemed a good time to get consistent with all the labels (same fonts, same layouts, etc). I made a dozen necklaces and about 40 pairs of earrings. My racks were full for the craft show. It was the best sales event I've had since we moved here nearly 6 months ago. When I got home, it was late -- nearly 11 pm -- but I wanted to do a quick check of email. I discovered that I had a sale on Etsy too! It was an encouraging night for business -- a night I very much needed. It's been a slow winter -- I hope the spring continues to bring better business days.

One Year Ago, part 2

Today is a major anniversary for me! It marks 1 year since my second surgery (read my post of Feb 25) and I'm getting better all the time. The second surgery was considerably tougher on me and recovery has been slow, but I have been enjoying noticeable improvements, even these past few weeks. I sang special music in church last Sunday morning -- my voice was the strongest it has been for a year! It's getting to be uncommon to forget or lose things and my concentration is getting better. It's been wonderful to feel "good"!

My jewelry business is starting to pick up a little too! My Etsy shop is getting a little more visibility -- I've gotten 12 "hearts" (which are given by people who like and want to remember my shop) since the beginning of the month. I sold 4 pairs of earrings last week on Etsy and I'm signed up to participate in a cool craft show next Friday night. The show is part of a "neighborhood block party" called WestFest in a very nice development in our area. There is also going to be a concert (Gary Puckett) and it sounds like a fun event! I'm excited at the prospect!! Today, I've been cleaning my jewelry and re-organizing, getting ready.

When WestFest is done, I will be focusing on getting ready to move -- we'll be heading to our next project in WI in early May. I look forward to going north -- we'll be a lot closer to family and friends. But I have to admit, the prospect of winter in WI in a trailer isn't rocking my world! But that's ok. With last winter in upstate NY and next winter in WI, I've been viewing this winter in FL as the center of the Oreo ... the treat in the middle! :)

So life is good .... BUSY, but good! And we are blessed!