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Hummingbird – a tiny gift & miracle of life

September 27, 2021August 30, 2021 by Sherry

What can fly backwards, has wings that beat up to 80 times per second, has the smallest eggs in the world, can fly from full speed to an instant stop and built a nest on my front porch? If you guessed a hummingbird, you are correct. A beautiful momma (the way my daughter spelled it when she was a little girl) hummingbird wove an intricate nest on the wind chime on my front porch. It was a tiny gift which delighted and brightened my spirit each morning while I prepped and stained my house.

hummingbird - a tiny gift — Momma hummingbird in nest,
Photo by slc

Norma K. wrote in a blog post at Woot & Hammy, “Hummingbirds, in their seemingly carefree and happy flight, remind us to live in the moment and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Also, because they often seem to appear out of nowhere, they remind us that joy is unpredictable and can often be just around the corner.”

Devoted, momma sat on her nest and only left the nest to eat. I gave her plenty of space for a couple of weeks so I did not scare her away. Then, she allowed me to work staining pretty close to her nest once. She was becoming used to me. I began posting photos on Facebook of the two baby hummingbirds after they hatched. They were a tiny gift; smaller than a dime at first.

I chronicled their growth via photos. A bench in the entryway allowed me to get up to their level without much interruption.

Then it was time for them to leave their overcrowded nest. The larger of the two took the courageous attempt of flight first. Unbelievably I was there to witness and capture it on video.

My cousin Kevin commented in a post that it must be a sign when he saw the hummingbird photos on Facebook. So I looked it up. Norma K. reports, “Hummingbirds have a long history of folklore and symbolism in native cultures. The Aztecs saw them as messengers between them and their ancestors or the gods. In Native American culture, hummingbirds are seen as healers and bringers of love, good luck and joy. In Central America, they are a sign of love and will bring love to the person who spots them. While there is no direct mention of hummingbirds in the Bible, they are sometimes considered to be a messenger from Heaven, gently nudging us to move on and release the burden of people or things that have passed and can no longer be a part of our lives. Some people also see them as signs from Angels, reminding us to follow what makes us happy and to enjoy the present moment.”

Two days later, the smaller baby bird took its chance at flight but with not as much grace as his sibling. He feel to the ground, gathered his composure and tried again. He made it out to my birdbath where he could bask in the sun. Then another unbelievable thing happened. Momma came back. She affectionately greeted her young child.

Not believing what I had witnessed over the last several weeks, I couldn’t help but to look back at the little woven home perched on the wind chime. It was now an empty nest. While I was sad to be an empty nester, literally, again, I was also thankful for the beautiful and tiny gift I was given.

What do hummingbirds symbolize to you?

…hummingbirds are a reminder that our happiness lies within us.
Norma K.

Footnotes: Today, while sitting on my deck reading Louise Penny’s A Rule Against Murder, a hummingbird came out of nowhere buzzing right up to my face as if to say hello before flying off. I wonder if it was one of “my” baby hummingbirds? I want to think so.

(Note: This blog post was originally written in 2020 but I forgot to publish it. I found it recently. Sorry about that!)

Birthday memories

August 23, 2021 by Sherry

It is early Sunday morning and I’m driving alone down the paved highway to my Twin Sisters Peak hiking destination near Estes Park, Colorado. It is also my 62nd birthday. Suddenly the concrete path in front of me reminds me of my long solo drive to Iowa for my father’s funeral back in 2013. My dad would have been 88 today; I shared his birthday. We shared many birthday memories including separate birthday cakes, meals at the Amana Colonies and many birthday phone calls, including our last birthday call before his passing.

Today, in my side pocket of my hiking pants is the once gold plated pocket watch I gave my dad when I was 18 or 19 years old. Engraved with an “O” on the outside and the words, “To Dad With Love,” on the inside, it was a special gift.

When I was a little girl growing up on the farm, my dad wore a pocket watch tied with a shoelace instead of a chain. The other end of the shoelace was fastened with a safety pin to a front pocket in his blue striped overalls. Often times he broke the glass face so I purchased a watch with a cover like a locket. The watch came with a chain and a small pocket knife attached.

After retiring from farming full time, my dad moved to a small home in Palo, Iowa. Within a few short years, the 2008 Cedar River flood displaced him from his home. During the clean up phase of reconstructing my dad’s house, the treasured pocket watch was found. It survived but now wears a yellow tinged face.

I toted dad’s pocket watch throughout my hike today, rubbing it once in awhile for good luck and to remind me of dad. I loved sharing my birthday with dad and today I shared my hike with him; he loved Colorado. Since his passing in 2013, my birthdays have been bittersweet. This year I wanted my birthday memories to be happy and they were. Happy birthday dad, with love!

She shed structure’s progress – window view

July 12, 2021 by Sherry

It has been nearly two years since I began my she shed project at my mountain cabin property. The she shed structure’s progress has encountered several road blocks along the way. That first summer it took several months, instead of days, to improve the build site and complete the custom designed Tuff Shed properly. Last fall, improvements to Sherry’s She Shed were halted due to the Cameron Peak wildfire evacuation. Then, winter set in. Now, I’m back at it with some help and the she shed structure’s (say that three times fast) progressing again.

I recently hired a family friend and master carpenter, Matt Tanner, to install a window I purchased at Home Depot last fall. I asked him to install it with the bottom sill about 32″ from the floor so my desk can sit right underneath it. Matt also added 2″ x 4″ bracing around the small windows on two sides of the shed. Little did I know at the time, but I saved a ton of money since I purchased the materials last fall. Building materials are now outrageously expensive.

Once Matt finished installing the window and bracing, I was able to complete the insulation installation. Finally, the she shed structure’s progressing and now it has a window view.

neighbor's rubbish pile — Neighbor’s Rubbish Pile, Photo by slc

P.S. A hiccup I’m dealing with now is the neighbor’s new rubbish pile on their property but is also near the entrance to mine:

Traveling solo in Van-Geaux

February 23, 2022June 16, 2021 by Sherry

Traveling solo has been around for years. Many articles and books have been written about it. Tour companies cater to the solo traveler. Senior solo travel expert Janice Waugh of Solo Traveler World “…estimates that probably 75 percent of solo-traveling seniors opt for a tour, but there are certainly some who choose to explore completely independently. ‘I think that as long as you’re fit and healthy and adventurous, then it works well,’ Waugh says. ‘Those who go independently, it’s very interesting to see the response of the world to them. It’s very welcoming.'”*

Cyndy Miller-Hughes, a friend and former colleague of mine, retired in 2018 after 32 years as an educator. She has been traveling independently since. I met up with her recently to examine her “new” way of traveling solo in Van-Geaux.

Sherry: What were you most looking forward to in retirement?

Cyndy: Travel

Sherry: I understand you purchased a small van for traveling. Why this particular van?

Cyndy: It is just the right size, drives like a car, and has everything I need.

Sherry: Did you have it customized?

Cyndy: It was built out by Cascade Campers in Nevada City, California.

Sherry: Does it have a name?

Cyndy: Van-Geaux…I went to grad school at LSU…Geaux Tigers!

Anxious or worried? Just sing, sing a song

June 2, 2021 by Sherry

Sing, sing a song
Make it simple to last
Your whole life long
Don’t worry that it’s not
Good enough for anyone
Else to hear
Just sing, sing a song
Sung by The Carpenters, 1973

Over the past year, I have been reading a series of books by Samuel Dickey “S.D.” Gordon. “In the early 1900’s, Gordon was a widely traveled speaker in high demand. A prolific author, he wrote more than 25 devotional books, most with the phrase ‘Quiet Talks’ in the title.” Currently, Quiet Talks on Service has been my morning page turner. When I read the following passages recently, they reminded me of the song by The Carpenters. I think they go hand in hand in today’s crazy world where many, including me, have felt anxious or worried more than ever. The following are Gordon’s words from over a hundred years ago. I hope they speak to you as they did to me….

Anxious for Nothing.

“In Philippians, chapter four, verses six and seven, are the words that contain the rules: ‘In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.'”

“The first rule is this, anxious for nothing. In other words, don’t worry. Deliberately refuse to think about annoying things. Set yourself against being disturbed by disturbing things. Say to yourself, it is useless, it has bad results, it is sinful, it is reproaching my Master, I won’t. That is the first simple rule.”

Thankful for Anything.

“The second helps to carry out the first. It is this, thankful for anything. Thanksgiving and praise are always associated with singing. When you feel the worry mood creeping on–it is a mood that attacks you–when it comes sing something, especially something with Jesus’ name in it. These temptations to worry are from the Evil One. He can come in only through an open door. Remember that. Yet the open doors seem plenty. Even when we trustingly and resolutely keep every door of evil shut the circle in which we move will open doors upon us. Singing something with Jesus’ name in it sends him or any of his brood off quickly.”

“Some one asked me if whistling would do. She was a busy housewife and said that was her rule. I have gone to singing myself. But maybe whistling is just as good. I’m inclined to favor giving it a place within the range of this rule.”

“There’s a bit of deep, simple philosophy here. Music is divine. There is no music in the headquarters of the enemy. He has used it a great deal on the earth. That’s a bit of his cunning. But he always has to steal it from God’s sphere, and work it over to suit his own crafty purposes. Music, singing, is an open doorway for the Spirit of God to come in, and come in anew and move freely. Its sweet harmonies found their birth in the presence of God where sweetest harmonies reign. Lovers of music should be lovers of God, for He is the one great Master-musician.”

“We should use the musician more in our days of battle. And God has wonderfully provided every one of us with a music-box of sweet melodies. If we would only open the lid, and let frequent use wear off the rust, and sing His praise more. In music God speaks to us anew with great power. This is the second rule, thankful for anything.”

Prayerful about Everything

“The third rule helps to make both first and second effective. These three are closely interwoven.”

“There’s a morning coming, always a morning coming, with the sunshine and the chorus of the birds. Love’s discipling touch that seems at the moment like anger is only for a moment. The loving favor is for always, a lifetime of eternal life.”

“Again David says, ‘Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee.'”

“…if a thing is big enough to concern you, it is not too small for Him ‘because He has you on His heart.’ For your sake He is eager to help in anything, however small in itself it may seem.”

“Peace is the gentle even flowing of the river. Joy is where the waters go bubbling, leaping with ecstatic bound, and forever after, as they go on, making the channel deeper for the quiet flow of peace.”

“These three rules really mean living ever in that Master’s presence. When we realize that He is ever alongside then it will be easier to be anxious for nothing, thankful for anything, prayerful about everything.”

Anxious or worried? Sing, sing a song….

Volunteering – the game has changed

February 23, 2021 by Sherry

I will find out when we are allowing volunteers into our schools as we would love to have you. 🙂
–School Principal, February 11, 2021

This is the response I received from a middle school principal after asking if I could help with reading development at her school recently. Children have been out of their traditional classroom setting for almost a year now. Has the volunteering game changed too? I can substitute at a school, but I cannot volunteer at one.

Years ago, before becoming a full time high school teacher, I volunteered at a middle school in Loveland two days a week. I worked exclusively with four students, identified by a teacher, who were behind in their reading development. I tested them on their ability to recognize sight words, brought in materials for them to make their own flash cards, and brought in fun reading materials, like Shel Silverstein poetry, to read out loud with me. We worked one-on-one and we saw results.

Literacy has always been a passion of mine. My thinking is that if you can read well you can do anything.

Head, Heart, Hands, and Health

February 3, 2021 by Sherry

In the late 60’s and early 70’s my Mom and Mrs. Olmstead lead a rural 4-H club for our family and others in the farming community. I joined at the age of eight, the earliest you could join.

4‑H Pledge

I pledge my head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
and my health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

While I was in 4-H for nearly 10 years, I held every office: historian, secretary, treasurer, vice-president and president. 4-H taught me how to refinish furniture, cook, bake, design, sew and garden. My favorites were interior design and gardening. I also learned how to give “talks,” speaking and presenting in public. I guess you could say we learned practical hands-on life skills as well as leadership and service.

making valentines — Valentines for Nursing Home Residents, Photo by slc

Recently the memory of making “tray favors” for nursing home residents came to mind. We assembled the little cups of mints, etc. at home and then took them to the facility where staff put them on the resident’s lunch trays. Since my Mom is now in a nursing home, I thought this Valentine’s Day I would replicate our favors by making valentines for my Mom and for the 30 residents she lives with. I plan to mail them and then Mom can hand them out. She was excited to hear about the plan and to see the ones I had made so far during our Zoom call last week. I think my former 4-H leader approved.

As I get older it is fun and exciting to remember some of the things I did in my youth. We tend to forget about these little memories like being in 4-H but they had such a profound impact on our lives.

Do you have a similar memory you now cherish? Please share.

Hummingbird – a tiny gift & miracle of life

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Birthday memories

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She shed structure’s progress – window view

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Traveling solo in Van-Geaux

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