Self Knowledge

I'm reading this book The Creative Call and had a lightbulb moment just now. The chapter is entitled Making Time. The exercise was to list three things to which you wish you could just say no.
As I was thinking about why I don't have enough time to do art, I couldn't think of anything to say no to. I've dropped all superfluous things from my life. So why do I feel like things are crowding in on me and I have such limited time? Ding, ding....I realize that the problem is me! I can't say no to myself.
I want to fix everything and everybody and make the world a perfect place. I do this mainly with my own children. If they have a need, instead of just telling them how to fix it, I jump right in and say, "I'll do that for you." I need to show them how (if they want my help) and leave them to do it.
Gosh, that's hard for me! I think it's all bound up in my need for verbal affirmation, which is my primary love language. I want them to gush and say, "Wow Mom. What would I do without you. I couldn't have done that myself. You're the greatest!" I need help.
What I need to do is to resist the urge to 'fix things'. Then I'll have time to develop the gifts and abilities God has given me. I'll pray for discernment between real needs and MY need to have things as good as possible for my children. I need some 'tough love' for myself!

Show and Tell: My Collection

The above photo is what instigated this post. Norwood asked what I had hanging from my collar, so I thought I'd show you my collection today since it's raining heavily. But first I need to woof a couple of things. Awwkkk! I hope I get to go out!
Okay, so here starts the explaining. ONE of these would be a nice thing for dad to keep in his office. But. Dad has three... count 'em... three. And guess what he has all packed full in every drawer of each chest?
These. He collects these. Some are junk and some are nice.
These are some of his faves - oops, some are crooked! But he also collects all things "Welsh." Hence one reason for the enormous tag hanging off my collar.
I don't know where dad found this, but it's his family crest. I think it was meant to be a key chain, but he decided to make it into a tag for me. And then he put it on my Celtic collar that has a matching leash.
Our names and phone number are on the back.
I got this tag at the annual party that the rangers put on at McInnis Park.
Here are my collars. I like them and wear them all. Some of my collars are serving as "bandana holders" as you'll see in the next picture.
The top bandana is from Alaska as well as the bottom neck warmy. You can see my x-mas and summer neckware as well as my latest pumpkin bandana for Howloween!
I think it's very ridiculous that I have so many leashes cause I mostly go offleash, but a couple of them serve as training and trial leashes. I didn't put the long tracking leash in there or the flexi.
Here's an assortment of training bling.
And here is where I keep my collection - right near the kitchen door.
And right next to my bling are pictures and stories and awards, like my Canine Good Citizen certificate. Up top is that cool picture of Sam that I won! Thanks again, Sam! And some pictures of me and Honey that I got from Honey's mom. I treasure those.
The rain is lulling me back into some Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs.

No reaction

Haven't been on much the last couple of days. I figure it's about time for an update. In my last entry I referred to a punch-throwing/car-throwing yobbo that I encountered on Sunday evening. However, the surprising thing has been the total lack of reaction to this incident from the cycling advocates whom I've contacted (Bicycle Queensland, Bicycle Gold Coast, and anyone who read the thread over at bikeforums). Especially when compared with other "hit and run" incidents which weren't quite as blatantly deliberate (albeit quite suspicious).

Granted, I wasn't hit, however, a less experienced, less cynical and less judgemental cyclist would have been. And while such incidents (fortunately) are relatively rare, this is proof that they still happen. Admittedly, the muted reaction may be partially my own fault. After all, I didn't have a pen and paper with me to record the details of the vehicle (a registration # would have been all I needed), but it does still raise one or two questions about why there is so much more focus on the supposedly "accidental" incidents than the blatantly deliberate ones. Have we just accepted ths sort of behaviour as something that can (and will) never be changed? Are advocates so wrapped up in the "building things" ideal that they pay more attention to the incidents they expect to give more credence to this mantra?

In something more positive, it hasn't stopped me from riding (why would it after Sunday night?). Yesterday morning was particularly pleasant with the low-lying cloud near Hinze Dam. That place seems different everytime I go out there, and it does serve a purpose for quick hills when I need them (and right now, I need them as much as ever!).


I'm still a little undecided about where to go this weekend. "Officially" I'm supposed to be leading the Tweed Mystery Ride to cover for Martin, but I'm not expecting anyone to get in touch now that I've taken over. If they don't, it leaves me with options. I could head for O'Reilly's (I usually do when I've had it with the world). Alternatively, I could say sod it all and jump on a train to the Glasshouse Mountains. I just don't know at this point.

Yellow fuzzy caterpillar

BugGuide to the rescue once again!
This is a Spotted Apatelodes moth caterpillar (Apatelodes torrefacta).
I had to look through 39 pages of moth caterpillars to find it, but BugGuide.Net came through again in the end. Apparently these moths are normally white instead of yellow.
Here's what he'll look like once he's a moth.
I can't decide whether he reminds me more of Cousin Itt or a Tribble.
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I should point out that the adult moth link above deserves plenty of your time if you have an interest in moths. The site, Moths in a Connecticut Yard, is full of helpful information about attracting moths.
The sugar, beer, and blacklight bait combination would probably work on some people too, but it might not be the type you'd want milling around in your back yard.
The web site author wrote a book about moths that might interest you as well.
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See this previous post about fuzzy white caterpillars. Since I wrote that, I've read that many fuzzy caterpillars, if not stinging, can be irritating to the skin.
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Edited to add:
If you're interested in bugs or other critters without vertebrae, you'll want to check in over at Circus of the Spineless. Submit some entries yourself if you're so inclined! Deadline for the first edition is Sept 28.

Blue Sky Thinking

I wandered around the garden, enjoying the sunshine and blue skies, taking the occasional photograph...

like this silver birch tree - and the chimney which George and Jonny built.





The silver birch is beautiful, provides a little dappled shade in summer, and the sap has been used by Jonny to make wine... an interesting brew.





The chimney is a wonderful addition to the house as it means we can have a log burner at that end of the kitchen, but it also helps to secure the wobbliest wall of this old building, which was built without real foundations.





Looking at the chimney made me remember this, which I bought as a broken bargain - many years ago. I loved the winky wonky roof line, the chimney stack, the colour of the roof. It cost just £10.00 for this very large chunk of pottery.

This is the 'interior' of the attic.





So really it is just the front roof and chimney with half an interior, completely open at the back with a good solid base. It is chunky and a dust trap, but I still think it is charming. Luckily, Davina agrees...because not long after we all moved here I gave it to her because I thought it looked like a romanticised version of her old farmhouse.

Lake Superior Ice Cubes

I absolutely LOVE abstract Lake Superior ice, and I think this definitely fits that description! I don't know what causes the ice to form in such a way, but this sure is fascinating. Jessica said "it looks like someone dumped their cooler out!" It was this comment that gave me the idea for the image title. This is right along the water's edge of Lake Superior at Hollow Rock Resort in Grand Portage, MN and was taken with my Canon 100-400mm lens.