Favorite Memory Prompt

I haven't been using the June writing prompts but decided to try another one today. Life has just been so busy, including reconnecting with a little sister I hadn't seen in over 30 years. It was amazing! I may share more about it at some future date, but what I will say today is I am beyond happy and feel so blessed!

Now to the prompt. These are written with a 5 minute timer and unedited. The point is to push myself to write a little bit each day when possible. I'm doing the June 8th one today. 

8. Describe a favorite memory of a summer evening. 

I'm in our yard, mid 1960's. It's dusk and grandma is sitting in one of the lawn chairs. Grandpa points out the moonflowers. They are opening up! It's a magical sight to see the yellow blooms slowly unfolding into full bloom as the warm evening gets darker. As I look past them, across the gravel drive and the grapevines growing over the metal double loop fence, I can see the neighbors white house and big red barn in the distance. To the west the mountains look blue in the darkening sky. The fresh summer smells drift in on the warm breeze. Our old calico mama cat is tracking one of the giant moths that are attracted to the moonflowers. My sister and I watch it all with delight.

© 15JUN2022 ajjahner

May Prompts #4

 And it continues... I am almost caught up on prompts. 

17. How has your writing life evolved in the past three months?

I have become more desciplined in the writing of morning pages, also called the sowing seeds of creativity. I have finally pulled out my book, dormant since 2013, and started to read through what I had and making notes for changes and additional story ideas. I have found a new confidence in my writing ideas and abilities. I have spent time on a few creative writing projects and prompts. I have done a few more blog posts. I feel my writing is moving in a positive direction, one that will bring fruit. One that will take me to my next level of writing. I credit this to the class on The Artist's Way which I signed up for through Grow Me a Story.

18. Write about a time when a wise woman made a difference in your life.

I can't bring one specific moment to mind. My mother and my grandmother both imparted so much wisdom and faith to me in very different ways. They are the women I would go to when I needed counsel, along with a couple of dear friends who were also will to listen and give thoughtful, compassionate advice. I don't choose to go into detail on any of this. I will say that finding a wise person who will listen with their heart, as well as their ears, and will thoughtfully speak from their heart is a priceless treasure. be they woman or man.

19. What is your favorite flower that blooms in May? Why?

I get excited by any flowers that bloom in May. Here in the Treasure Valley that can change from year to year depending on the changeable Idaho weather. Most Hyacinths and Tulips have bloomed and are gone by early May, as well as the Forsythia. My favorite of all the flowers is the Lilac and this year it is still in bloom! I love the purple color. I love the heady fragrance. The look of the delicate little blossons. They also remind me of my grandpa. He loved them too! He pruned our bushes into small trees and they were beautiful! I have a photo of him standing next to his last Lilac "tree". It was as tall as he was, and so beautiful. Lilacs are the flowers of happy memories and the early sign of a beautiful summer season to come.

20. Use the word "garden" as your prompt today.

Garden. I see grandpa out weeding, pruning, watering, harvesting. He was the gardener, as was his father. I am not a gardener. I can barely keep my houseplants alive. I do appreciate a lovely garden though. I have memories of rose gardens in parks in Caldwell, Nampa, and Boise, Idaho. My husband and I visited a rose garden on our honeymoon in Portland, Oregon. We also visited the Japanese garden while there. It was so serene and peaceful. I love a garden that is green and simple, with water features, rocks, sand, and statues. I also love a garden that is an explosion of color. It's like a party for the senses with all the different fragrances and the varying shapes and colors of the blossoms.

21. What was the last article or book you read that inspired you? Why was it inspiring?

Saturday, which happened to be the 21st, my sister brought me a very rough, beat up copy of the Amplified Bible with both Old and New Testaments. It had been gifted to her by our grandma after grandpa had passed away. She has now gifted it to me. It was originally given to our grandpa by his parents in 1965. I sat and thumbed through it, reading highlighted passages. It was inspiring, not just because of what the scriptures said, but because it had been held and marked and cherished by my grandpa. It is the second Bible of his I am privileged to own. Well loved books like this one are an inspiration. Something to treasure and to reread again and again.

22. What color caught your eye today, and why?

Blue. It started with noticing the beautiful blue sky when I opened the front door to get my Sunday paper. Blue is the color I chose for 2022. I was also wearing a blue Star Wars t-shirt. As I sat sipping my morning coffee, I realized how much blue is already in my home. A blue curtain at the kitchen window. A blue and white quilt hanging over our sliding glass doors. Different shades of blue from cobalt to a seafoam blue green. Little dog salt and pepper shakers; book covers like Harry Potter, a Vera mystery, and more; a dark blue Old Navy metal cup I use as a pencil and pen holder; the blue pen I an writing with. Blue all around, and more to come as it's my current favorite color!

#growmeastory

© 23MAY2022 ajjahner

Clothing Purge...

I'm in the process of an extreme clothing purge. I've emptied closets and drawers of all my clothing, except winter coats. Pursuant to advice in "The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up" I piled it all on my family room floor and am going through it a piece at a time. The photo below, from about 1976, is proof of my hoarding. I found that shirt, a hand-me-down from my grandpa, still hanging in a closet. I can barely get my arms into that once baggy, grandpa shirt, now over 38 years old! Why was I keeping it? I guess it reminded me of grandpa, and Halloween fun, but it's way past time to let it go! It's still in great shape, so it's going into one of the donation boxes.

This is me, in about 1976, after a Harvest Party, wearing my grandpa's clothes. 

Explanation of the photo... I'd borrowed grandpa's shirt, and his painting pants, for a costume to wear for a Harvest Party at my church. I'd just washed my clown make-up off, because my face was on fire, and mom came in and insisted I pose for a photo in her newly wallpapered bathroom. She was really proud of all the work she'd done. How could I refuse?

Anyway, this clothing purge is just phase one of my organizing project. I'll try to keep you updated on my progress. I'm excited to make some big changes in my home!

Burning Leaves...

Vintage Autumn Print

November is filled with so many memories. One of my fondest is raking up piles of oak leaves. My sister and I would have fun jumping in the leaves, while grandpa continued to rake under the birch, the crab apple, and the willows, then he would take them, one wheelbarrow load at a time, and roll them out to the burn barrels. I still love the smell of burning leaves during autumn. That aroma is much more rare where I live now, as my little town has grown so large. The fields have been replaced with houses and shopping centers, and there are restrictions on burning in city limits. I may have to toss a couple leaves on the barbecue, and see if the smell still evokes the same feelings.

© 11NOV2014 ajj

Remembering Grandpa

Sending birthday greetings heavenwards, to my grandpa!  He was born 100 years ago today!  I'm sitting here on this snowy morning, sipping a cup of hot coffee, and reflecting on my years with my grandpa.  What a sweet, amazing man he was.  He made such a difference in my life.

I stayed with my grandparents off and on from the day I was born, then permanently when I was just 8 years old.  I'm not going to write a long story about him, just a few descriptive words...

• grandpa, father
• minister, man of tremendous faith, believed in the power of prayer
• loved his family, proud of every new addition to it
• loved me unconditionally 
• looked for the best in people 
• taught me to be generous
• sang in his beautifully off-key voice with joy 
• loved to laugh, and his laughter was contagious
• loved nature, gardening, birds
• always made time for people
• dressed well, even when spending the day at home
• had beautiful handwriting
• loved words and learning
• remembered your name...

I always expected grandpa would live well beyond his 100th birthday.  He loved life, and this beautiful world we live in.  He had a vision for a better, more peaceful world.  I still carry the same hope in my heart.  

Wishing each of you joy and hope.  

Wishing grandpa a very Happy Birthday.  I will always remember...

About Dad

I had two fathers in my life.  My biological dad, and my grandpa that raised me from the age of 8 years old.  I have posted about both of them previously.   Go to Happy Birthday Dad, to read about my dad and see a couple of photos.  Go to Fathers Day Reflections to read about both, but with a little more focus on my grandpa. 

My Dad... around 1956

What stands out to me as I think about my dad, was his absence.  I remember him telling me how he'd never lived up to his dreams.  How he should have been there for me.  Even as I told him it was ok, I really did agree.  He wasn't there for me.  Whatever drove him to make the life choices he made, it did have the effect of creating a void with his children.  I loved him anyway, but I always wished for more.  He never came to a piano recital, or a school performance.  He missed nearly every birthday.  He was absent.

How do you love a person like that?  I can't tell you, I just did.  I loved him deeply.  I saw myself in him, but I vowed I'd never let my children feel that kind of abandonment.  On the good side, he made me laugh.  I loved hearing him sing.  I treasure every moment I spent with him.  There weren't enough moments, but each brief visit was special to me. 
 
I was privileged to spend more time with him before he died.  He had come back into my life, just not soon enough.  Before long, we found out he had cancer.  Then he was gone.  Memories of my dad are bittersweet, but the sweet outweighs the bitter for me.


© 02FEB2012 ajj

Day 11 - Beginnings, In Regard to Relationships

I can't let today go by without mentioning my grandpa.  Today is his birthday and thoughts of him have flooded my mind.  With people I love, there are certain signatures that they imprint into my memories.  This happens at the beginning of any type of relationship for me.  Over time things are added to that list, but there are always the very significant ones.  With my grandpa, it is the following:

His laugh - indescribable, infectious, pure joy
His prayers - heartfelt, sincere, coming from a deep commitment and trust
His singing - off-key, joyful, with gusto
His hands - strong yet gentle, raised in worship, reaching for a handshake, turning the pages of his Bible
His eyes - laughing, brightest blue, seeing and still loving

In the beginning... with God, with family, with friends.  There are things which make an imprint, they are written on our hearts.  These are the important things.

Grandpa & Grandma... Love...

Day 10 - Beginnings - Thoughts on Food

Only thing I disliked more was the chicken spread!

I thought I'd take a look at the beginnings of my relationship with food.  My earliest memories consist of Campbells Soup, Wonder Bread, Hot Dogs, Rice a Roni (always served with Mom & I singing "Rice a Roni, the San Francisco treat, Rice a Roni, The flavor can't be beat"), and the occasional pepperoni pizza from the restaurant Mom worked at.  Grandma and Grandpa had some interesting items to add to my food memories, Spam, Hominy, Deviled Ham and Chicken Spreads, Canned Sardines, and Chung King Chicken Chow Mein.
 
Loved: Wonder Bread, Soup, Hominy, Hot Dogs, Rice a Roni, Pizza, & Sardines

Hated: Spam, Deviled Ham, Deviled Chicken, & Chung King Chow Mein

Couldn't find a photo of the whole sardines

Don't get me wrong, Mom and Grandma both made some wonderful meals.  Grandma was an especially good cook, but times were lean and sometimes the budget couldn't afford a nice roast or chicken.  It was called making the best of the situation. Most of these foods were inexpensive, though I don't know about the Sardines.  Grandpa would buy them occasionally and share with me.  They were the tiny, whole ones, packed in oil.  They came in those cans with the metal key!  Do you remember those?  I loved it when I got to be the one to pull off the key, place it in the slot, and turn, turn, turn until the lid pealed open!  Many things came in those "key" cans.  Once in a while, we even got a big ham in a can.

Mixed memories of Spam... not all bad.

I remember a picnic where mom served our hotdogs on white Wonder Bread, ketchup oozing through the soft bread.  I was about 5, and I thought it was delicious and finger lickin' messy-good!  Grandma would take hotdogs, slice down the middle but still connected, dip in her homemade pancake batter, and pan fry.  I loved those!  She also did the same with the hated Spam, and it became acceptable dinner fare for me.

We ate as the budget dictated.  Most of our foods were fresh, and you didn't toss a potato because it had grown "eyes" or had a bad spot.  You cut away the bad, and tossed the rest into the stew pot.  Bones from the ham, chicken or roast were simmered and made into soup stock.  Everything that could be used was used.  I feel a little shame that I've allowed myself to be so finicky and wasteful at times.  Another Resolution... Be Less Wasteful!

I hope this brings back some of your early food memories.



 © 10JAN12 ajj

Reflections...

Autumn is always a time of reflection for me.  Today is especially poignant.  October 7th was my grandparents anniversary.  They married very young.  They weathered so many things that life tossed at them, and made a decision to stay together, through the wonderful and through the sad.  That decision wasn't made once, on that long ago wedding day.  It was made over, and over again.  When the storm winds came, when doubts assailed, when tears fell like autumn rain, they made the decision to stay. 

As I look back on my life, I can see where their example influenced my decisions to stick it out.  Not easy, but it was right for me.  I'm not saying some folks shouldn't part ways.  I've seen lives begin again, in beautiful ways, when two people realize they are creating more pain than joy.  For me, working through the hard times has made me a stronger, happier person.  I have a husband who really knows me.  He knows me better than my own family does, and so far, he hasn't run screaming from the house.  I am so blessed. 

On this crisp, cloudy, beautiful autumn day, I can say that I am happy for the journey.  For all of it!  Bumps in the road, storms, tears and all.  The hard times have made the sweet, even better.  Remind me of that, the next time I'm having "one of those days" and am feeling inconsolable.  Sunshine and cool breezes are just around the corner.  God doesn't leave us... we leave Him... just tell me to turn around and look.  He is right there.  Love is right there, and it was there all the time.

Happy Birthday Dad...

I was about a year old when this was taken.

Grandpa & Grandma (who raised me) and my Daddy

I still miss my dad.  Today is his birthday.  My dad didn't play a big role in my life, but you couldn't help loving him.  He was funny, interesting, and well... I was always told I was stubborn, just like him.  It's true... I am! 

I loved to hear him sing... he sounded a little like Merle Haggard, and he had a great laugh.  He's been gone for almost 21 years... seems like only a moment ago.  Gone, never forgotten.  Sending love heavenward...

Cousins...

Today I'm thinking of cousins... and aunts, uncles, grandparents...  Most of my social life growing up was either at school or one of the three-times-a-week church services we attended (plus a Wednesday morning Bible Study and in the 70's, a Saturday night youth service).  The exceptions were the occasional family gatherings.


I loved those family times.  When it was at our home, where sis and I lived with Grandma and Grandpa, it brought additional love and laughter into the house.  Occasionally, it also brought a bit of bickering (a favorite Grandma word... can you kids stop bickering).  I remember one "incident" with cousin Paul (I'm sure it was my turn... lol!), and about a billion with cousin Kent (he loved to tease... right Laur?), and I was always so nice...  Okay, I exaggerate.  Anyone will tell you that!  Then there was Kevin... he was the quieter, fun one who loved making Paul laugh.  David was the baby.  At times, some of the other cousins were there; Diana, Debra, Lisa, Kristen, Karol, Jack, Sally.  Sometimes my brother Tommy or my brother Ronnie or Timmy, Marcus, and little Tammy.  Sweet times.

The thing is, we grew together.  We shared life experiences that are unique to our family.  Like the time my dad showed up drunk, made me cry (he was sharing all his lost dreams and wishes), and got run off the property... not for the first time either.  Or the night Grandma went after the bat!  My memory is her with the broom, Grandpa with a brown paper bag.  She knocked it down in my room, and Grandpa scooped it into the bag and removed it from the house.

Pie... there was always pie.  A fruit pie cooked by Grandma; Rhubarb, Gooseberry, or Apple.  Cream pies made by Aunt Pat; Chocolate, Butterscotch, Yummmm!  The grownups got soda... once in while, the kids got some too!  R. C. Cola or Pepsi!  There was always ice cream or sherbet, or the best of both... Double Delight!  A lovely swirl of vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet!  My favorite, next to Butter Brickle.

I remember sitting by the closed door to the living room, listening to the grown-ups talk about life, God, whatever... and feeling so safe.  Listening to 45's on my little record player.  I remember climbing the Crab Apple tree in the front yard.  Softball, Truth or Dare, Statue, Hide and Seek.  Running, laughing, sharing.  Playing outside long after dark.  Poignant, precious memories of life... of cousins.

01-11-11

I love when numbers line up in certain ways.  Like today's date, 01-11-11.  It's my  cousin-in-law's birthday... she's married to my cousin... I don't know if that's an official category for in-law's, but whatever!  Anyway, Happy Birthday to Robin!  Like I told her on FB, today she really is #1!

Actually, she's a #1 in my book every day of the year.  Robin is one of those people who just makes you smile.  She's always got a hug and a laugh for you.  If you're in her home, she's the most considerate hostess... making you cups of coffee, making sure you're comfortable.  It's like a vacation within a vacation!  I haven't had the fun of a visit since my 25th Anniversary trip in  2006.  Here is Robin...  (Hint: click on photos to enlarge)

Robin, showing her flower display (yes, I made her pose for this)

Always making the best of everything, Robin took an old broken down dresser and transformed it into a showcase for flowers.  She said she was channeling Leah, my mom, who had a knack for making "something" out of nothing!  Robin, I hope you are having an amazing birthday!  Sending love and hugs your way!

Kent, Robin, Grandma, Grandpa, Jenn, Andy at Camp long ago...

Also must send "up" a birthday greeting.  Today would have been my Grandpa's birthday.  Yes, I still miss him... the twinkle in his eye, the love he had for people, his commitment to God.  He loved the fact that he shared a birthday with Robin, his oldest grandson's wife.  Happy Birthday Grandpa!  Thanks for the love and the laughter...

Happy Christmas!

I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas.  My morning has been filled with joy.  My older son came over yesterday and spent the night, so I got to have both boys home on Christmas morning!  Loved that!  We were all up very early to open gifts.  I've had Mastering the Art of French Cooking on my wish list for a long while... I got it, plus several other lovely gifts which included Carole King and James Taylor "Live At The Troubadour" and Nora Ephron's book "I Remember Nothing" (which is how I feel a lot of days... Lol!).  I am now going to have to get serious about cooking!

I got a "Grandpa" living Christmas card this morning... a huge, gorgeous pheasant in my back yard!  Tried to get some photos, but my little camera just isn't good at distance shots.  Here is the blurry pic!

He was so much more colorful than this image shows.  My Grandpa loved pheasants, in fact the signpost in their front yard was a pheasant with their name under it.  Having this pheasant show up was a fun Christmas surprise!

Take a moment to visit Michelle Palmer's blog.  She was the winner of my giveaway, and recently hosted one of her own.  She posted about the giveaway in her December 21st post.  Click Michelle Palmer Petals & Palettes to visit her blog.  I love her amazing artwork.  I think you will too!

Well, it's time to go make my salad and get things going for dinner.  Have a lovely day and a Very Merry Christmas!

Blessings!
Nita Jo

Sunday Scribblings - Phantoms & Shadows

#147 -- Phantoms & Shadows is the prompt for this weeks Sunday Scribblings.
Things and people, times, places, events and how your memory has treated them. Are there people you try to remember more clearly, phantoms you'd like to reach back into the past and take a firm hold of? What do you remember of your early school years? College years? Your grandparents? First pets, first houses, first friends? Do you have a good or poor memory? If you could go back to any particular time/place to recall more vividly what it was like, what would that be?

Here is my response to the prompt:


Memories. They come flooding in like a heavy rain. Laughing with my little brother. Squeezing Mom's arm (our version of a hug). Living out back yard adventures with my little sis.

Digging bare toes into the dusty ditchbank. Dropping to my knees to watch the water skippers. Caught one! It looked huge in my small hand. I gently let it drop back into the water and it glides smoothly away across the surface. "Come wash up for dinner!" Grandma calls to me from the back door.

We sit. Grandpa says the blessing. I listen as they talk about the day. Sis keeps kicking my leg under the table and I'd like to smack her a good one, but I know the penalty is too high. Instead I give her the "you'd better stop it right now or else" look. She just grins. It's hard to be mad at a face like that.

The back yard is warm and breezy. Grandma sits in the white metal lawn chair. Sis crawls on her lap with a book. "Wead this to me Gwamma." It's "I Like Kindergarten" and I listen as I search in the thick lawn for a four leaf clover. I found one once. I keep it pressed in my Bible.

As the sun begins to set, the moonflowers start to open. I watch with fascination as they turn from bud to bloom. Yellow, like a summer moon. I can smell the sweetness of the copper roses in the air.

Memories come and go. I must remember to put them to paper while they are here. Too quickly they fade into the distance and are forgotten.

Copyright January 2009 - ajj

Mondays, Blessings, Change...

Well, another Monday is almost over. I like Mondays. Beginning of a new work week. For me, that means trying to get back to the huge list of organizing/cleaning projects that never seem to completely disappear.

PJ had his doctor check today. He is to go back to work as he feels able. He's thinking of trying a short day tomorrow, if he feels as well in the morning as he has today. It's a blessing that he has had such a quick recovery!

Another blessing... Lucky 13 gets to sit in with a local Chamber Orchestra tomorrow night. He auditioned for the conductor during Christmas break. I think it will be a great learning experience and a wonderful opportunity.

I've thought a lot about my Grandpa Evert the past couple of days. His birthday would have been the 11th. He was a blessing in my life and taught me so much. If I have only a grain of the faith he had, I have an abundance.

This quote reminded me of Grandpa...

"He was a person who, if he did not exactly love change, had learned to welcome it, to stand in the shifting winds with a continuous alert curiosity about whatever might come next. I think this is the secret...of a different sort of youthfulness..." —Mark Doty

I'm not sure who it actually referred to, but Grandpa never seemed as old as his years. Well, at least until the last year of his life when his health declined. He had a curiosity about life and learning that I think kept him younger than the calendar indicated.

I've heard that the secret to youthfulness is to continue learning, changing, and enjoying life. I'm giving it a try!

Father's Day Reflections

Well, I made it through another Father's Day. My dad passed 18 years ago but my grandpa, who holds the title of "father" in my heart passed, away just under two years ago.


First dad... He was a funny, warm man who popped in for the occasional birthday or holiday. Sometimes he'd bring my brother with him. That was always a treat! Sis and I loved playing with RR. Dad would usually pick up a guitar at some point and start playing "Keys to the Kingdom". He had a Merle Haggerty kind of country voice. Grandma would often harmonize in her low, low alto/tenor. Good times!


Dad became more of a regular fixture in our lives after the birth of my Sis's first child. The first grandchild... a granddaughter. I remember he brought her a stuffed Garfield the cat for her first birthday party. Two years later, Sis added another granddaughter, and I added his first grandson to the family. Two of my favorite pictures of him are with his first granddaughter and grandson. The final years we spent getting to know him were very special ones, filled with shared stories and laughter.


Grandpa became "father" to me when I was 8 years old... long story to be saved for another day. Anyway, he was the best. A gospel minister who loved to sing in a painfully offkey voice, but the joy that came with that voice was infectious. He drove my sister and I to school every morning and he had made up a little tune that we all sang together. "The sun's gonna shine this morning..." we'd chime in "Yeah, yeah, yeah" (a kind of Beatles after part). It would set us off laughing. Grandpa had a laugh that would lift the heart.

Here I am at Christmas time at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

I just found this photo recently and I love it. Grandpa almost always had that smile on his face! I couldn't find the pictures of my Dad with the grandkids so I'll have to add them at a later time.

My grandpa loved to garden. He tended the vegetables and flowers with equal care. He loved his grapevine and his gooseberry bushes. For years, he mowed the lawn in an old pair of slacks and a white button up shirt... usually long-sleeved. I still remember when he was given a denim jacket and a pair of jeans. He put them on, and he looked so out of character. My whole life I had never seen him in jeans!


My grandpa took special pride in a lilac "tree". He carefully tended one slender lilac branch, pruning away each year until it had thickened into a trunk and grew into a beautiful little tree. There were some who laughed at his little "stick" in the ground that were later amazed at how lovely it turned out to be.

I love the fact that I have so many good memories to dwell on. Sure, there were some hard times, but I have so much joy to remember. I like to think there were lessons learned from the difficulties, but the best lessons came from the love and the laughter that we shared.