tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29983976781346428592024-03-13T14:45:59.458-07:00Motherhood and MusingsTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07533586694180618718noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998397678134642859.post-15746117628862723382013-01-02T16:22:00.003-08:002018-11-08T13:12:01.208-08:00Happy 2013!<br />
<div class="blogbody">
Happy New Year!<br />
Remember me? I'm still alive!<br />
Got pretty busy, had to prioritize and focus. Started a new job, left that job for another, got rid of the chickens, house is still in the middle of updates. I'm still trying to lose 15lbs. But here I am.<br />
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Since we last talked, girlchild has played a lot of soccer and ROCKED swimming last summer. Boychild is still trying to find his niche. Soccer, basketball, football, swimming - you name it. Happier to just play legos and Minecraft. -- Don't ask me about the last one, I still don't get it.<br />
Me? I'm more focused on working on me and on working in general.<br />
Follow me along.<br />
I'm back.<br />
<!-----></div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07533586694180618718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998397678134642859.post-77939426405585170772010-04-02T07:43:00.000-07:002018-11-08T13:13:29.877-08:00Getting ready for a celebrationAround our house we are busy getting ready for a very busy and special weekend.<br />
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My dad and mom (as in the Motherhood, Musings and Mom) are currently enroute to our home...as I type...right now...so exciting!! This is not a common occurrence. The last time I saw them was at Thanksgiving when they came to visit us. I had plenty to be thankful for! I have wanted to talk about my Mom but I haven't sat down to write about her. I plan on doing so after she leaves but just know that my Mom is very special to me for so many reasons. I treasure every moment. I encourage you to do the same with your loved ones. Right now. Stop, pause, pick up the phone and call your Mom, Dad, sister, brother, etc. and tell them that you love them. The laundry and dishes will wait. Call them just to say that you were thinking of them and that you love them.<br />
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So getting back to this weekend. Yes, Easter is Sunday. And my parents will be here to celebrate. And my bathroom is not cleaned, my floors aren't mopped, laundry isn't finished and I've got 3 piles of papers and junk mail to sort through. I am giving them the evil eye right now. Hate all those papers. Pick them up, look at them, put them back down. They are still there. Sometimes I daydream about just shredding them all and not giving them a second thought. Not the bills of course, but the other 'stuff'. So you see, I should be cleaning right now, or baking something yummy, instead of updating my blog. Procrastination is my best friend. But I will get to them and also to getting in the crawlspace to pull out the Spring and Easter decorations that I've failed to have displayed around the house for the past couple of weeks. Just kinda spaced that. Oops! But we are working on it. My daughter reminded me when she came home with these.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7YGUxOHOiI/AAAAAAAAAEU/ufBOngujkA0/s1600/easter+cupcakes+006.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455554952485616162" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7YGUxOHOiI/AAAAAAAAAEU/ufBOngujkA0/s320/easter+cupcakes+006.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Cute. Made by my little miss. She's the creative one.<br />
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And while I was looking for Easter and 'celebration' ideas (more about that later too!) I came across a great idea for Easter baskets by <a href="http://somethingtodo-jamie.blogspot.com/2010/04/tisket-tasket-hardware-store-basket.html">Jamie</a>. Go check it out and her other great ideas. Just love it!<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7YIiR3ZpgI/AAAAAAAAAEk/fWimG2XM8rw/s1600/basket1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455557383610279426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7YIiR3ZpgI/AAAAAAAAAEk/fWimG2XM8rw/s200/basket1.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 150px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7YIrd1w9rI/AAAAAAAAAEs/WV6Iyo0CAEE/s1600/basket2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455557541443466930" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7YIrd1w9rI/AAAAAAAAAEs/WV6Iyo0CAEE/s200/basket2.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 150px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07533586694180618718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998397678134642859.post-40417169317539837502010-04-01T14:54:00.000-07:002010-04-01T14:56:08.460-07:00Love my girlsAlmost too pretty to color.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7UWQLCcMHI/AAAAAAAAAEM/uWgj-IOygH8/s1600/eggs+007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7UWQLCcMHI/AAAAAAAAAEM/uWgj-IOygH8/s320/eggs+007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455290990725967986" /></a>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07533586694180618718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998397678134642859.post-39478727942022358752010-03-31T16:04:00.000-07:002018-11-08T13:15:33.157-08:00In progress<s>We</s> (ahem, ok DH is actually doing it while I supervise) are still working on the island. <s>We've</s> DH added the beadboard, new trim, primer and two coats of a Martha Stewart onyx. It is drying while I type. Next step will be adding a sealer/clear coat and then putting the doors and drawers back together. I haven't decided yet whether I should sand some of the edges and add a glaze to those areas or leave it be as is. Here she is right before she got her second coat of paint:<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7PWKBvLX1I/AAAAAAAAADs/pUyzt9OQ3IA/s1600/Kitchen+001.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454939041429151570" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7PWKBvLX1I/AAAAAAAAADs/pUyzt9OQ3IA/s320/Kitchen+001.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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I know, those countertops with wood trim are ugly. Can't wait to rip them off! But can't you see the improvement already?? <a href="http://tresmarie.blogspot.com/2010/03/out-with-oak.html">Goodbye oak!</a> Amazing...the power of paint.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7PWUPCMGfI/AAAAAAAAAD0/7p89kCgk_t8/s1600/Kitchen+002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454939216797243890" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7PWUPCMGfI/AAAAAAAAAD0/7p89kCgk_t8/s320/Kitchen+002.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Of course after the island we'll tackle the other cabinets and hope to do a white with a glaze. We've budgeted for a pretty granite counter and new sink. I tried to convince dearhubby on a farmhouse sink but for whatever reason he has a 'thing' about them. (eye roll) So we'll likely end up with a nice charcoal color sink. My inspirations at the moment are:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7T1Ttp2cEI/AAAAAAAAAD8/5gvSBYOHnlU/s1600/kitchenwhite.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455254767673962562" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7T1Ttp2cEI/AAAAAAAAAD8/5gvSBYOHnlU/s320/kitchenwhite.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 305px;" /></a><br />
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But I'm also really digging these green ones.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7T1hbv9CUI/AAAAAAAAAEE/oWBuuaKnD_s/s1600/grn+cabinets.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455255003385891138" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7T1hbv9CUI/AAAAAAAAAEE/oWBuuaKnD_s/s320/grn+cabinets.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 256px;" /></a><br />
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What do you think???Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07533586694180618718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998397678134642859.post-37297144709586873832010-03-29T11:09:00.000-07:002018-11-08T13:16:34.974-08:00Out with the oak!We're taking the plunge and updating the kitchen after looking at ugly golden oak cabinets and dated countertops for over a year. We had originally budgeted to rip out the cabinets and put in all new beauties, but as fate would have it hubby was laid off again and we blew the budget on paying bills. Now that he's back to work we are eyeing our tax return and we realized that we had some money to play with. Along with a vacation and fixing our patio which looks like it's forming it's own set of Rockies (more about that later) we are going to spend part of it on our kitchen. Yea! When we moved into this house in 2008, we started by getting a few appliances and replacing the nasty-ass ones with stainless. The kitchen was a mess and had been "updated" by the Realtor and some fly by night outfit. The fridge that was left here had serious things growing in it, even after it had been 'professionally cleaned'. I should have taken pictures but it didn't last 24hrs after closing before I posted an ad on <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/">Freecycle</a> and it went happily away to someone's garage.<br />
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So now while we have limited funds and I'm dreaming of granite, we've decided to go down the scary path of <span style="font-weight: bold;">PAINTING</span>. You heard it, painting the oak ourselves. Hubby and I. I know, crazy. And because I realize this could be disaster in the making, we have decided (umm, I have convinced hubby) that we should start with just the island as a starting off point. You know, test the waters, see if we are getting ourselves in way too deep. Crazy people? Yep, that's us. Did I mention that I have family coming to stay with us on Friday?<br />
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So here is a look at that ugly island.<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7E1c6IdFPI/AAAAAAAAADk/ww4f6NW16d8/s1600/065.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454199394479707378" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S7E1c6IdFPI/AAAAAAAAADk/ww4f6NW16d8/s320/065.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Ignore the pizza boxes and weird angle. The Negotiator took the pic when he was playing with the camera a while back and I forgot to take 'before' pictures - so this is as good as it gets.Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07533586694180618718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998397678134642859.post-5558196505817701972010-03-25T09:20:00.001-07:002018-11-08T13:18:14.300-08:00Spring in DenverSo this is what Spring in Denver is like. I know you're thinking bulbs and trees flowering, grass sprouting, birds chirping...but Denver weather = cray cray.<br />
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One day it's like this:</div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S6uNi9_YhMI/AAAAAAAAACY/4VBbi04tAT0/s1600/002.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452607405757596866" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S6uNi9_YhMI/AAAAAAAAACY/4VBbi04tAT0/s320/002.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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The next it's like this:</div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S6uN72cuiQI/AAAAAAAAACg/_gC47m9m5TI/s1600/006.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452607833229920514" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S6uN72cuiQI/AAAAAAAAACg/_gC47m9m5TI/s320/006.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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No joke. Hello, Spring in Denver.Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07533586694180618718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998397678134642859.post-2135336886099918612010-03-17T07:45:00.000-07:002018-11-08T13:09:27.288-08:00One could do worse than be a swinger of birches<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S60QRqueNiI/AAAAAAAAADU/yCbVvtESMgM/s1600/birches.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453032619528566306" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CCrusPfMIQI/S60QRqueNiI/AAAAAAAAADU/yCbVvtESMgM/s200/birches.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 150px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
Freshman year. English class. Homeroom. Assignment: To memorize and recite a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost">Robert Frost</a> poem. Little did I know that I would remember this forever. That teacher did us well by assigning us to memorize a group of words that when put together provides a sense of peace in an otherwise chaotic life.<br />
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Today, I can't imagine spending the time to memorize those words. I can only dream about having time to take a notebook under the trees and to write while listening to the wind rustle the grasses. Mothers, you hear me. Who has time for that?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Birches</span></div>
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<span style="font-style: italic;">by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Frost">Robert Frost</a></span></div>
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When I see birches bend to left and right</div>
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Across the lines of straighter darker trees,</div>
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I like to think some boy's been swinging them.</div>
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But swinging doesn't bend them down to stay.</div>
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Ice-storms do that. Often you must have seen them</div>
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Loaded with ice a sunny winter morning</div>
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After a rain. They click upon themselves</div>
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As the breeze rises, and turn many-colored</div>
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As the stir cracks and crazes their enamel.</div>
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Soon the sun's warmth makes them shed crystal shells</div>
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Shattering and avalanching on the snow-crust--</div>
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Such heaps of broken glass to sweep away</div>
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You'd think the inner dome of heaven had fallen.</div>
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They are dragged to the withered bracken by the load,</div>
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And they seem not to break; though once they are bowed</div>
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So low for long, they never right themselves:</div>
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You may see their trunks arching in the woods</div>
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Years afterwards, trailing their leaves on the ground</div>
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Like girls on hands and knees that throw their hair</div>
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Before them over their heads to dry in the sun.</div>
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But I was going to say when Truth broke in</div>
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With all her matter-of-fact about the ice-storm</div>
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(Now am I free to be poetical?)</div>
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I should prefer to have some boy bend them</div>
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As he went out and in to fetch the cows--</div>
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Some boy too far from town to learn baseball,</div>
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Whose only play was what he found himself,</div>
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Summer or winter, and could play alone.</div>
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One by one he subdued his father's trees</div>
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By riding them down over and over again</div>
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Until he took the stiffness out of them,</div>
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And not one but hung limp, not one was left</div>
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For him to conquer. He learned all there was</div>
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To learn about not launching out too soon</div>
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And so not carrying the tree away</div>
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Clear to the ground. He always kept his poise</div>
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To the top branches, climbing carefully</div>
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With the same pains you use to fill a cup</div>
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Up to the brim, and even above the brim.</div>
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Then he flung outward, feet first, with a swish,</div>
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Kicking his way down through the air to the ground.</div>
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So was I once myself a swinger of birches.</div>
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And so I dream of going back to be.</div>
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It's when I'm weary of considerations,</div>
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And life is too much like a pathless wood</div>
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Where your face burns and tickles with the cobwebs</div>
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Broken across it, and one eye is weeping</div>
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From a twig's having lashed across it open.</div>
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I'd like to get away from earth awhile</div>
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And then come back to it and begin over.</div>
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May no fate willfully misunderstand me</div>
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And half grant what I wish and snatch me away</div>
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Not to return. Earth's the right place for love:</div>
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I don't know where it's likely to go better.</div>
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I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree,</div>
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And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk</div>
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Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,</div>
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But dipped its top and set me down again.</div>
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That would be good both going and coming back.</div>
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One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.</div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07533586694180618718noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998397678134642859.post-14274663553219102092010-03-15T13:27:00.000-07:002018-11-08T13:29:53.297-08:00Why Tres Marie?Why the weird name?<br />
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BECAUSE my father calls me 'Tra Marie' and always has. Oh, and "Pumpkin", but that sitename is probably already taken. <br />
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BECAUSE when I was 13 and everyone wanted to change their name - like a 'y' to an 'i', or dot their 'i' with a cutesy flower or heart, I dreamt about legally changing my name to something that sounded cool, French, different. I decided that I wanted to sign my name as Tres Marie with the little accent...Trés. And then, that phase passed and braided ribbon barrettes were in.<br />
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BECAUSE it represents multiple generations in my family. And, as an adoptee, family and connections are important to me. My Grandmother's name was Marie Therese and her mother was Theresa Marie. A friend suggested that I should name my daughter 'Tessa Marie' to carry on the tradition. But, the name Tessa conjured up images in my head of the circus fat lady. No offense to any Tessas out there in blogland! But I didn't want to think of elephants and peanuts every time I called girlchild in from playing in the backyard.<br />
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BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE when faced with coming up with a blog name at bewitching hour (kids' bedtime) nothing else came to mind.<br />
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It is what it is. Roll with it.<br />
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07533586694180618718noreply@blogger.com0