Joy from Animals

I have had three experiences with animal recently that brought joy to my life.

The first was last Sunday.  I was sitting in the car reading and I heard a bird cheep behind me.  I turned around and a sparrow was sitting on top of the fire hydrant across the street.  He then hopped onto the chain attached to the plug and, hanging upside down, drank the water that was seeping out of the hydrant.  He then left and came back and repeated the process for the other plug on the hydrant.  Too bad I didn't have a camera, but then I wouldn't have wanted to move and startle him, either.

The second experience was yesterday.  I stepped outside and heard a bird singing.  We don't get much in the way of singing birds around here.  I looked up and sitting on top of the street light was a red-throated grosbeak. His throat was so red it almost hurt to look at him.  It was so joyful to stand there and just listen.  He probably had his eyes on a girl (and, most likely, it was not me.)

The third was last night.  It was more of a learning experience that excited me.  When a cat purrs, he actually expels the air, with force, through his nose.  I did not know that the air had such force and I didn't realize that a cat purrs only on expelling the air.  I put my head down near our cat (we've had two for almost eleven years, now).  He lifted his nose up and purred in my ear.  It actually felt like someone blowing in my ear.  Although the experience wasn't life changing, I was awed by, what seemed to me, like a simple discovery.  I was also surprised that I hadn't discovered it before.

I hope you take time in your day to experience a little bit of joy.  Take even just 30 seconds to listen to a bird sing or watch a cat.  Even watching a cat sleep can be joyful.  Notice the position he is in.  Notice the pure contentment.  Focus on his peace.

Happy Pi Day!

3/14 and 3.14...  Need I say more?

Happy 100th Birthday, Girl Scouts!!!!

Monday, Girl Scouts turned 100!  Unfortunately, my slow computer didn't want to let me on to blog, so here's a late "Happy Birthday!"

One of the things I love about Girl Scouts is that it accepts all girls, including the outcasts.  I have heard from multiple women that Girl Scouts made their lives easier.  These ladies were military brats so their families moved regularly.  Wherever they moved, they had immediate friends because they joined the local troop.  In my case, I was the outcast at school, but my troop accepted me.  With Girl Scouts, you have friends worldwide.

Another thing I really admire is the positive influence Girl Scouts has on young ladies.  They help ladies that would have otherwise been unsuccessful, be successful.  Ladies that would have ended up pregnant in high-school and, probably, dropping out, instead, not only graduate high-school, but some become college graduates as well.  Ladies in Girl Scouts have grown up to become astronauts, teachers, governors and other politicians, ministers, doctors, and hundreds of other professions, all, hopefully, making our world a better place.

A Way to Improve Your Skills

I read this interesting article yesterday.  http://www.spinningdaily.com/blogs/amy/archive/2012/02/15/finding-a-use-for-junior-high-algebra.aspx  The part that really caught my attention as a blog topic was when Ms. Moore commented that she was becoming a better spinner by volunteering at a school.

When I was in high school, my orchestra director asked me why a string bassist can pick up any bass and do pretty well with it, but you give a violinist a different violin and the violinist doesn't seem to know what to do with it.  (We are pretty much talking about the average high school orchestra member.)  My answer was very simple.  A violinist tends to use only one instrument.  He rents it or owns it and that is the violin he always uses.  For a bassist, he tends to use whatever bass is handy.  Basses are cumbersome and can be difficult to transport.  For starters, he probably uses a different bass at home (if he practices) and at school.  In my case, when I was in the Flagstaff Youth Orchestra, I also used a bass from whatever school we were rehearsing at.

Each of the basses I used had its own intricacies for me to master.  By working with each of these basses and getting to know each one, I got to experience many more subtle differences than the violinist that only used a single violin.  One of the basses I used was made by the same maker and immediately after another bass I used and even they were different from each other.

If you want to become a better knitter or crocheter, use needles or hooks made by a variety of companies and a variety of materials.  If you want to become a better musician, use a variety of instruments (string players, use a variety of bows as well).  If you want to become a better seamstress or machine embroiderer, use a variety of sewing machines or embroidery machines.  (Even the same make and model can have differences between machines.)

If you want to master something, really use a variety of tools.  Learn the mood of each one.  Yes, you will probably have a favorite that you are most comfortable with (which may be different for different circumstances), but experiencing (and hopefully mastering) those subtleties will give you the skill to adapt to something unusual that is thrown at you.

Another skill-builder is teaching your skill.  It gives you a chance to experience, figure out, and try to solve mistakes you would have never made yourself.  (Two can make twice as many mistakes as one.)

An Age Ouch

There seems to be a moment for each of us that makes us feel old.  For many teachers, it is when they teach their students' children or grandchildren.  My husband comments that it was when the music he listened to in high school was heard on the "classics" radio station.

Personally, I have been having more and more little moments that make me feel old.  I remember that when our cats became seniors, it hurt.  I had quite a painful moment this last week, though.  We were making signs for vintage Girl Scout uniforms.  The uniform that was brand-new when I became an adult Girl Scout was on that list.  Worse yet, the uniform that was the one AFTER mine was also on that list!  Ouch!

Never Ask a Cat for a Gift

This weekend was my birthday.  The absolute best part was talking to all the family members that called.  I even got a line of "Happy Birthday" from my father before the phone died.

After the cats got dinner, Worm came up on our bed.  I asked him if he had got me a birthday gift.  My goal was simply to interact with him.  He looked at me and I said, "What?  You didn't get me a birthday gift?"  He promptly proceeded to burp.  I guess I should count my blessings considering that many of the "gifts" cats can give need to be cleaned up.

One of my Favorite Authors - C.A. Goody

C.A. Goody is one of my favorite authors.  She isn’t too well known, but she should be.  She is the author of a series of “children’s” books that feature Charlie the cat.  I put children’s in quotes because they are good enough that adults can enjoy them as well.  She told me her goal was to write them so an adult could read them with a child and both could enjoy them.

The books are about Charlie’s various adventures from Charlie’s point of view.  The very first one I read was “Charlie Moves to Arizona”.  It was so funny reading about Charlie discovering the Arizona desert.  It helped me realize how unique an area I live in.

I believe Ms. Goody is the only author who has written a book that both my mother-in-law and I have enjoyed.  We have totally different tastes in books and that is OK.  I figured she would be hesitant to read a children’s book, but I was pretty sure she would enjoy it.  When I handed her a Charlie book, I told her, “If you aren’t enjoying this by the end of the first chapter, don’t bother reading it.”  She didn’t even make it through the first page without laughing.

My mother has just been reading “Charlie and the Rodent Queen”.  She told me last night that she is enjoying it, despite feeling rotten.

Now, if I have whet your appetite to read about Charlie, Ms. Goody has “Charlie’s Halloween Adventures” available as a free PDF on her website.  Go on over there and check it out.  I haven’t read it yet, but I’m sure it’s good.

Oh, you need to know the website?  Here it is: http://charliethecat.com/