home is where the coffee cup is
Feb 23 2012
A daffodil’s happy face
Smiling in the sun
A blue jay’s flight across the yard
Now two where there was one
Stir-crazy cat’s escape attempts
Thwarted by the screen
Ordered ants upon the march
On grass now shaded green
An urge within the gardener’s bones
To dig beneath the dirt
Young singles feel the call
To smile, and then to flirt
The hope, the joy, the quiet desire
For everything to be
New and fresh and full of life
For you and also me
Jan 23 2012
Over the weekend, we received a few days of sleet and freezing rain. I made a sleet cake to celebrate and this morning, the kids got a two hour delay for school because of the freezing rain. Not quite the joy that a snow day brings, but two extra hours of sleep certainly brings a smile.
Jan 09 2012
We had a mild autumn and winter has not yet arrived. I took some of the flower photos while on a field trip with Zeke this autumn in the gardens behind the Kenmore Plantation in Fredericksburg. Although there have been nights below freezing, my fourth of July rose was still blooming on the fourth of December. On Saturday, 7 January, I saw my quince shrub blooming. The quince must have decided we are not going to have winter at all. Dale put the photos together for me over the weekend and I planned to post them today. Old Man Winter must have been annoyed at being mocked, because he decided to show up today with a brief snow shower.
Sep 15 2011
As expected, the old Army motto held true. Whenever you go to the field in the Army, it is bound to rain. The storms threatened the campout on Saturday night, but held off. Sunday night, as the thunder boomed and the lightening flashed, we packed all the gear except the tent, air mattresses, and blankets into the car and van. We Manrys then huddled in our tent as the rain poured down. The tent stayed fairly dry (Always borrow a tent from Mike Katsarelis) and I slept soundly (It was nice and cool and the rain drowned out the cicadas).
When we awoke in the morning, I packed Josiah, Abby, and Zeke into the car, drove off in search of a drive thru window, and left Dale and Gabe to collapse the tent and load the remaining gear.
When we were all safely home and clean from warm showers, Dale asked me if I had a good time at the campout. I looked at him and replied, “It would be better if you asked, ‘What parts did you enjoy?’”
“What parts did you enjoy?” He asked.
“Seeing the mist rise off the mountains after the rain. Listening to Denise tell the story of her and Bob’s marriage ceremony on April Fool’s Day. Going for a hike with Fearless Leader Mary. Occasionally finding the luck while playing dominoes. Hearing Josh sing the cartoon praise song. Eating shrimp tacos with Becky, Mark, and Bonnie.. Watching Dillon’s hands turn black with ash. Hearing the retelling of Denny’s excursion in the women’s shower. Eavesdropping on the Katsarelis’ fantasy football draft. Savoring a perfectly made smore.” I said.
“O.K.” Dale said, “There are some items we didn’t have this year that we will need to bring next year: oven mitt, tinfoil, canopy, lanterns, outdoor extension cord…”
The list grew and grew as I sat in silent dread of next Labor Day weekend.
Sep 13 2011
We had a short church service at the campout on Saturday evening. Mac gave Dale specific instructions that his sermon was to be no longer than 10 minutes. Unfortunately, Dale got carried away with his preaching and in the process a few of his listeners faded out.
Dale and Mugs Manry have been happily married since June 1990. They have 4 kids: Josiah, Abby, Gabe and Zeke.
You can contact us at
dale at manrymission dot com
