Sad neglect no more

I love my Traveling Tea Lady blog but I have gotten sidetracked from it in the past years. Since my adventurous trip to Alaska the last 2 weeks with Beth, I have a new resolve to write. I was so inspired by the travel writers, tweeters and photographers on the Princess Cruises P.R. Twitter trip. The people I hung out with were mostly young professionals with lots of enthusiasm and brain power.

One of the Tweeters has a web site and business called "MidLife Road Trip". Rick and his wife, Denise were on this trip and I loved meeting them. Rick follows people as they realize their mid-life wishes fulfilling their bucket lists. This got me thinking about what would be on my list. I had a weak dream board wish list but nothing I was very excited about. I reminded myself of all the awesome things I've already been blessed with and have done so I decided I want to make two lists: 1)Things I've Done and 2)Things To Do.

I also realized I live in rather a small world. I have no idea of some of the possibilities of things to put on a "to do" list. This past week I rode in a helicopter and landed on Yanert Glacier in Alaska. Doing something like this was not even on my radar. I had no idea something like this could be done. It turned out to be a life changing experience standing on frozen tundra so isolated that only a helicopter could get me there. The silence, the beauty can't be described in words. I can only say I felt exuberant seeing this heavenly glory.

My goal now is to continue to find this exuberance in my everyday world. I will watch with new eyes, a camera in hand and live in expectation of what each day brings. Meanwhile I will continue to write out my "to do" list and start working at crossing things off.

My first Parrot Head Club Meeting

Last night I had Rex drive me to the other end of Denver for a "Colorado Parrot Head Club" meeting. It's for Jimmy Buffett fans. There are 300 registered members but this monthly meeting usually gets 30-70 people on the enclosed patio of a very nice Mexican restaurant. There was a 3-man band from some of the members and drinks and dinner. I met people that I've seen on line on "Meetthephlockers.com" . It was so fun. On the way home, we stopped while Rex ran into the store so I took out a book and kicked off my shoes and waited. The rest of the way home, I noticed how uncomfortable my shoes were....probably because I didn't have any socks/hose on with them. I couldn't wait to get home to get them off. They are nice shoes and they never bothered me before. So, finally back at home, I went to take my shoes off and I realized the problem....they were on the wrong feet!!!!!! Don't ask how many margaritas I had!!!!!

The Book in Me

A couple of weeks ago I decided it was time to start writing the book I've been thinking about for a year or two. I had read in a magazine that the entire plot wasn't necessary to have in mind to start writing. So, I declared the start of my book. I excitedly told my husband what I wanted to do. To my surprise he started grinning and I inquired as to his reaction. He said the week before he was ordering books from Amazon and saw two books that he thought I might enjoy and he ordered them for me. He was going to surprise me with them. But now, he said he had to tell me. The first book was "Will Write for Shoes, How to Write a Chick Lit Novel" and the second book was another how-to-write-a-novel by Janet Evanovich. What perfect and wonderful confirmation that I was to write this book. And to my delight, my idea was a definately chick lit, so I had my genre already established. I started writing that very night, even before the books arrived. I have enjoyed planning my characters, plots and twists. I try to write as often as possible but some days slip by without a typed word. It's frustrating when that happens but I also turn that time into more planning and thinking about the story. The books my husband had ordered have arrived and I'm still busy reading them. They are a wonderful help and full of ideas I wasn't aware of. I am looking forward to having a revised manuscript in hand and on it's way to a publisher. Wish me great success!

Baby and Me

What a joy I have to look forward to every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoon! Little three month old Abbi arrives at our house to play with Grandma (and sometimes Grandpa, too) for a few hours. Her daddy drops her off on his way to work and Abbi keeps me entertained until her mommy gets off work. I'm learning all the likes and dislikes of this new little family princess. The first thing I learned is that if the temperature of the bottle isn't "exactly right" she will fuss and not take it. Once I get it perfectly at "her required temperature", not too hot and not too cold, she will happily drink it down. Next, I can expect an overflow from little Abbi. A little burp can easily preceed a milky drip down my blouse, pants, even surrounding my watch as it continues it's path to the floor. I always have a burp cloth or towel very close by when a bottle has been had! Once Abbi has been well fed, she is a happy little princess and she coos and smiles and plays with her baby toys. Fisher Price toys gets another round of entertaining in our home once again! As soon as Abbi starts to squirm, I've learned a secret to getting her to quietly drift off to sleep. I offer her a pink Binkey and I hold her closely in my right arm and gently kiss her little cheek, up the side of her face to her forehead. She must like this as she closes her eyes and is sweetly asleep in no time at all. Now as a Grandma, I can get by sitting in the rocker and holding Abbi for the total duration of her nap. As the rest of the family is aware, if one tries to put her down, her nap will be very short lived. While she is so tiny, there is nothing I'd rather be doing anyway than cuddling my littlest granddaughter. Her cousins, Jeb and Maddie, will be here in just a few short weeks. They are so excited to be meeting their baby cousin. What a party we will have! Babies are the best of God's wonderful creation! I've been so blessed to have nurtured so many little ones in my life!

Having Fun

Yesterday, while shopping in Silverthorn, CO, I went into a small store and the clerks were joyous and laughing and the atmosphere was elevated and lovely. They greeted me and asked what I was looking for and I said "oh, nothing, I'm just having fun". They totally embraced that idea and we had a great, quick exchange of joy before I left to rejoin my family. It was a refill of my own joy coming in contact with these 2 ladies...and I believe we can go out and keep refilling the world!

Passing the Baby

Having a newborn in the family to gaze at is such a delight. When that newborn is a cuddly, sweet little girl this grandma can't resist her. This is what caused my scene-inducing episode at church Sunday morning.

As our family grows I find I'm not the only one in the pew anymore at Sunday mass. The kids are coming with their significant others and we almost fill an entire pew now. So, last Sunday, I arrived at 10:30 mass early enough to claim a whole pew. I went in first, followed by youngest son, Matt and his girlfriend, Kelly. We spread out to hint to others, "don't sit here", as more family is on the way. Soon my middle son, Andrew arrived with his fiance, Sarah. They climbed into the pew over Matt and Kelly and sat in the middle. Next arrived Sarah's mom, Lynne She also climbed over Matt and Kelly. All the while I kept scooting further down the pew. Finally Mary and baby Abbi in her carrier arrived. They slipped into the end next to Matt and Kelly who moved down.

Now, what was wrong with this picture? Grandma is at the farthest end from her little treasured Abbi. I usually am spoiled and hold Abbi through mass so this was a problem that needed to be fixed. I leaned over and motioned for Mary to send baby Abbi down the line to Grandma. I could see some quick whispering and giggles at the other end and then slowly it happened.

The cutest little two month old girl, dressed in a white ruffly dress and bright pink sweater started her venture down the pew to grandma. From Uncle Matt to Kelly she went. Matt whispered that he thought she'd be taking awhile to get to me as everyone loves her and wants to cuddle her. Next Lynne held her and whispered "she's so cute", then on to Uncle Andrew who passed her to soon-to-be Aunt Sarah. Now Sarah is not one to share Abbi as we both always want to hold her. Finally, Sarah passed Abbi to Grandma's waiting arms. I was so very blessed and happy to be holding our little cuddly bundle.

Abbi smiled and entertained the people around us who must have watched the passing of the baby. After all, how could they have not seen what the deacon-of-the-mass' family was up to?
Then, it happened little Abbi's lower lip came out into the cutest little pout you've ever seen. She was telling Grandma she wasn't happy anymore. Even her pacifier wasn't going to make her feel better. She was just plain tuckered out and was ready to sleep. So proud Grandma took her to the back where she walked her gently. At one point I stopped and asked a young man standing in the doorway if Abbi's eyes were closed. He started to laugh and said "not at all, they are wide open." Abbi just liked cuddling with grandma and seeing the sites at the back of church. Eventually those little eyes grew heavy and she quietly went to sleep. I slipped back into our pew and finished mass. After mass I felt a tap, tap on my shoulder. It was a sweet lady who must have been observing our mass time antics. She came to congratulate me on my grandbaby. I guess it proved we were noticed! Of course, Sarah was waiting at the end of the pew for me to give baby over to her...I usually tell her "one more song" but this time, the songs at mass ran out and I let Sarah carry our family prize from the church.

Piano Keys Plays Laughter

Recently I've come to terms with the need to find a new home for an old piano that has graced my living rooms for the last 15 years. This piano has been dragged through 4 homes without even an accomplished player in the home. In all these years I have had only 2 sets of talented fingers upon these keys. The potential I had once thought possible never bloomed into a flow of lovely music within my home. With such a history of this neglected dust collector, I started my earnest search for another location for this lonely, large, heavy, over-sized white elephant. With this quest in mind, I was distressed to start noticing things like a big painted sign in front of a lovely home that said "Free Piano". Also, in discussion with others, I heard tales of other pianos that were not going anywhere even after being advertised in places like Craig's List. I was getting the definate idea that these days a piano was difficult to unload.

Now this particular piano does have a story, as do most things in my home. I think it's an important part of the story to tell you how I became the owner of this piano in the first place. It's one of those times I suppose I should have said "no" but hind-sight is 20/20.

I was living in Plano, Texas, driving a multitude of daily carpools for my five children. Upon returning home one afternoon, I found a message waiting on my phone answering machine. It was a friend who said "I have a piano you can have if you want it. Call me." I had been to this friend's small apartment and had never seen a piano. What was she talking about? Where would she have hidden a piano in that little apartment? As much out of curiosity as anything, I called her back. This previously unseen piano had been "in residence" at the Catholic Worker's house in Dallas and now needed to be moved out immediately. For a mere $35.00 delivery fee, I could have the "free" piano delivered to my house the next day. Not knowing the full talents of my five children yet, I thought maybe this was something meant to be. So the piano arrived at my door as planned.

Over the years, the piano survived a house fire inspite of it being against the wall where the fire started. It had held the Christmas Dicken's Village, framed family photos, CD players and large candle sticks. Most recently it had held my husband's wine glass as he relaxed in his nearby recliner. It reminded me of unused exercise equipment, it was used for everything except what it was intended for.

As the family gathered to celebrate Dad's birthday, I noticed our oldest son had driven his large, utility truck and had it parked out front. I started out with suggestions that he load up his remaining stuff that had been left behind when he moved out 3 years ago. Then in jest, I suggested he take the piano. To my surprise and delight this seemed to interest him. He said he knew someone who would be interested in it. He also had in his large truck a heavy-duty appliance mover. It didn't take long for the three brothers to get in gear. The piano easily wheeled to the door where it was loaded on the large dolly. Then the fun began! First of all, it was discovered that the piano was sitting on the strap needed to wrap around it to keep it in place, so the piano was carefully tipped to find the strap. This was a delicate procedure so as not to break the front legs. With that problem solved, it now became a challenge of how do seven people get a piano up into a large truck? I had the best seat to watch the shenanigans that were unfolding. I was holding baby Abbi and sitting in a rocking chair at the front door observing my family and the delimna before them. I watched as they sized up the piano and the truck and moved around the scene trying to come up with a plan.

The truck had a sturdy metal ramp, only it was narrower than the piano. With the piano on it's end, middle brother climbed up the large dolly to tip it back to push it closer to the truck, only the piano was so heavy, his full weight wouldn't tip the piano back. He leaned back and pulled on that dolly until it finally gave way and his feet once again touched the ground. He was never one to give up easily. Then, two others went to the garage and pulled out a large piece of plywood. This was placed over the metal ramp, but the problem now was bridging the gap between the plywood and the street. Another piece of board was found to fit in this spot. Little by little things started coming together. The biggest question remaining was if the ramp was strong enough to hold this heavy piano as it rolled up the ramp. There was only one way to find out. So with four of the strongest people in the group holding onto the piano, it was pushed up the ramp. I could see everyone holding their breath as the piano went into motion.

I'm sure the neighbors heard the cheering as the piano rolled into the truck unscathed. It hadn't been easy and it had taken the better part of 40+ minutes. With smiles all around everyone felt a huge accomplishment and headed home soon after.

It's now the next day and as I sat writing this tale, I got a phone call from my son with the truck. He was calling to tell me that he definately found a home for the piano. His friend prefers this piano to the one he already has. His friend even played piano as a child so it's now in talented hands. The piano that is being replaced isn't in as good of a condition as mine was and it weighs about 100 pounds more. I'm relieved it isn't mine to worry about. I am curious, though, as to what will happend to it. I did ask my son to let me know where that other piano goes. The saga will be continuing as I got some hints that it might not be a pretty story.