People of the Time

 Dsiderata Poem - Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Short Story

The years flew by…

Birth to age 15 - Lots of physical activities and book reading. Many friends, all ages, all races, all religions. Musical involvement; choirs, bands, orchestra. Arts and crafts. Horses.

Age 15-20 - Boyfriends, modeling, horses, marriage and first child.

Age 20-25 - Pain, frustration, rebellion, three more children, divorce. 

Age 25-35 - Marriage, two more children, horses, friends, motorcycle and snowmobile trips, physical and emotional injuries. Betrayal.

Age 35-62 - Satisfied, productive, healed, new friends, new experiences, beach, retirement. Loss of family members and friends. New family members.

Age 62-80 - Productive in crafts, baking, cooking, new friends, sharing. Happy. More new family members, more friends died.

Age 80-85 - More new family members. Loss of more friends. Unsettled, self sufficient and responsible, less social, less independent, less motivated, more accepting, more judgmental.

 

HGTV - Hometown Takeover - Montrose, PA

Yes, it is a very old and quaint town. We have lots of history here. The majority of the young folk don't stay, however. "It's not about living, it's about life and the quality of life." But - there are big problems of drugs and many active warrants exist for multiple reasons, including child support. There is crime, despair, anger.

We moved here in 1972 after visiting for 12 years when my parents built their summer log cabin on a lake. Our family was immediately accepted and welcomed by the locals. We had a home built to accommodate all of us. The school system was and still is very good. YAY!  When our children flew the nest, and my parents died, we moved into the cabin. We have always had good neighbors. The town has been growing through all those years. We now have Pump and Pantry, Dunkin' Donuts, MacDonald's, Tractor Supply, a Price Chopper, Rite-Aid and other much larger business changes and improvements throughout the years, some very good to the community in general. That doesn't stop crime and terrible potholes in the roads. We are thankful for having a very competent volunteer fire company and ambulance service, up-to-date hospital, wonderful new library, historical society, laundromat, spirits store, beer store and a medium sized hometown market so close to where we live. Many small restaurants do well. The restored movie theater! I MUST include that. There are some small shops but they are disappearing quite quickly now. The rents are high. Local churches are Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalian, Catholic, Baptist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Evangelical Free, Seventh Day Adventist, and other non-denominal and community ones. There are excellent veterinarians and a well-run large animal shelter. Bed & breakfasts are handy and beautiful. There are many professionals such as attorneys, dentists, accountants, educators, engineers, architects, artists, authors, photographers and others in town. A golf course that has been here since 1898 is still in full operation. There numerous fabulous festivals, parades, activities and community celebrations too. It would be too much to list or describe them all but I think by now you might be getting the idea that this small town, the county seat, has it all, even two funeral homes. It still needs "something" and I wonder what that something could be. Personally, I liked it here better in the 60' and 70's. I just want to go back to the town that had all we needed. Life was slower. Traffic was less. More peace prevailed. Everyone knew each other. Everyone cared.

We like it here. We'll stay.

This bit is not about the surrounding area, with farms, orchards, and parks and beautiful natural lands. That is for another day.

Alive and Well

I know I'm jumping around today. I go from a sad death to a very beautiful live critter. Be assured I did NOT kill this beautiful lady who came to visit me this afternoon. I first saw her right in front of the window behind my computer! I know she wanted me to take her picture. I got out my clean glass jar and picked up my camera and captured her and brought her inside for examination. She's not a rare one around here but also is not a danger to any one except her prey.

After her photo shots she was then released to rebuild her spiral wheel-shaped web and catch her dinner. I had interrupted her work. 

"Orb weaving spiders are harmless to people and should be left alone. It is tempting to say ignore them but you should take the opportunity to watch these fascinating creatures. And they are quite photogenic for anyone with a camera. At any rate, they will die on their own as the weather becomes colder."

She was shy at first...

Then she uncovered her body a bit...

And then exposed her full  figure in all its glory!

Marbled Orbweaver 

(Araneus marmoreus)

The genus Araneus has about 1,500 species worldwide, making it the largest of all the spider genera. Araneus marmoreus is found throughout all of Canada to Alaska, the northern Rockies, from North Dakota to Texas, and then east to the Atlantic. It is one of our showiest orbweavers.

Description

Adult female marbled orbweavers are 9 to 20 millimeters in length with very large abdomens that are mostly orange with brown to purple markings and spots of pale yellow. Occasionally the abdomens are nearly white in color. The cephalothorax is yellow to burnt-orange with a central dark line and dark lines down either side. The femora and patellae are orange. 

Argiope trifasciata female

Araneus marmoreus female

http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/uf019.pdf