Marcia Lynn McClure

Fern Tales

2008-07-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

The only houseplant I can grow…Boston ferns! What’s weird is this…most of my friends who have an otherwise uncanny green-thumb with houseplants…can’t seem to grow a healthy Boston fern for nothin’! Therefore, I’ve decided that it’s an inherited trait!

When I was a kid we had this Boston fern…it was my great-grandmother’s (my mom’s grandmother) (My dad’s grandmother owned a fern that, at one point, was so big, it was finally repotted into a porcelain bathtub!). Our fern sat on this dark-finished table and, when I was very, very little (much smaller than I am now, naturally), I used to curl up on the little shelf and play under that fern! What adventures I had! Of course, I’d always end up in the arms of my hero (proxy-the large rocking chair which had once belonged to my grandpa).

Here in fact, is a lovely glamour photo of me with my parent’s fern! As ever the fashion trend-setter, I grew as did our fern. (Look! Off to the right you can see what my sister and I now refer to as, “the sacred cloth!” All through our childhoods, this marvelous metallic woven cloth nestled under our Christmas tree! Year after year after year my sister and I would sit in awe at its blue metallic beauty! Oh, what a magical cloth it was! Well, one day, several years ago, I asked my mother, “Mom…where did you get the sacred cloth?” Her response, “Oooh! That was an old cow show blanket we used at the fair one year!” Nice!)

Anywho, ferns seem to be in my blood! I have only ever lost one…on our move from New Mexico to Washington. I think the weather change was just too traumatic for “Fernetta,” as my friend called her.

I have four ferns now…this large one being the oldest and most durable! I started this fern in Ferndale, Washington (how apropos, eh?) about 7 years ago! Originally it was about eight inches in diameter. The amazing thing is, when we moved to Colorado three years back and ended up trapped in a blizzard in Wyoming…this fern froze and died down to about five short little fronds! It’s growing at such a rate that, even though I haven’t repotted it for three years…it’s busting at the seams! Here are two photos of about 4 weeks of growth…Sandy with it in May and then another photo in June! Yowzers! I need a higher table and a bigger pot!

This second little fern I started in May two years ago and it was about eight inches in diameter then as well. As you can see, it’s quite happy living in the opposing corner of the room on top of an old trunk that our cat, Jed, thinks is his personal nap-throne! (As you can see…this fern was having a better hairstyle experience in May than it was in June! I sort of know how it feels.)

Two other ferns I have are still struggling through relocation trauma…however, considering they’re only a year old, they look pretty good! Not as full and as long as these…but getting there!

And now you know another one of my secrets…I can’t grow any other houseplant to save my life! But…I can grow a mean Boston fern! At least that’s something…right?

Morning Walks

2008-07-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

The sites one sees on one’s morning walk, eh? Not to mention the scents one smells, right? These past few summer mornings have been lovely! The comforting aroma of cow and horse manure wafting over the breeze—the low-hum buzzing of the bumble bees as they flit from thistle blossom to thistle blossom in their rather heavy, bumbling-bee manner—the birds perched on the posts and singing their morning songs—the bunnies hiding in the grass! All of these things combine to make my morning walks so soothing—so greatly needed!

Wishing I could share it with you, I snapped a few photos this morning…just a few little views so that you can see a little bit of what I see when I’m walking in the fresh morning air!

As I stepped away from the house, I glanced down to see the clover, pasture grass and those little miniature daisies lining the dirt road as if Mother Nature had planted them there just to brighten my day!

Mmmmm! As the fresh morning air greeted me, my little bird friend (he/she is there every morning and just sits chirping away as I pass) greeted me with a friendly song! (I need to get a bird book and look up this little guy!)

Next, the bumble bee trail met me! These guys are huge! You know that scene in “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”…the one where the guy is holding onto the bee…well I’m tell you, when one of these guys comes buzzing at you…it’s like a ‘point of view’ shot from that movie! Kind of gives me goose bumps (the bad kind) every time one zooms across my path!

Here’s the fence post…the place where I turn around and head back for home! I love this old post for some reason. You can even see Pikes Peak in the background there!

And here’s one looking down my driveway! You can sort of see the house nestled there among the trees across from the barns!

I didn’t see any bunnies on my walk this morning, but a little ground squirrel was there as I walked up toward the house. See if you can find him in the first photo before you see him up close in the second!

And now you, too, have seen a few of the sights I saw on my walk this morning! It’s a lovely walk! Wish you were here…we could ramble along the dirt road for hours just dodging giant bumble bees, listening to birds and savoring the wonderful, comforting scent of manure!

The Nevilles

2008-06-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday night was fabulous and it was all about my kids and the Neville Brothers! Let me explain a little…years and years ago I discovered Aaron Neville. His duets with Linda Ronstadt (All My Life is one) released in 1989, are still some of my favorites and way back then Aaron Neville entirely captured me. A couple of years later…after Aaron Neville had received some great response from the duets, he released a solo album, Warm My Heart. This album with its soothing southern-sounding songs and especially Aaron Neville’s voice affected me like nothing else ever had. Oh, I don’t know…it could’ve just been my age or the time of life I was in…but whatever it was, Kevin and I loved Aaron’s music. Our whole family…even our little, little kids…did!

The fact Aaron Neville was from New Orleans added to our intrigue of course…Kevin is from New Orleans as you know…and we soon discovered Aaron performed with his brothers…The Neville Brothers. Naturally, we gave The Neville Brothers a try, too. The result…we LOVED them! A little funkier than most of Aaron’s solo stuff, the Neville Brothers were fabulous in a similar, yet different way.

Almost instantly we discovered a song by the Nevilles called, Bird on a Wire…the rest is history…and, odd as it may sound, for 16 years Bird on a Wire has been sort of like our family’s theme song. We listened to it on road trips, dubbed it to a hot air ballooning video we sent to friends one Christmas, and all through our lives it has come to mean something deeply personal to each of us. Although the Neville Brothers didn’t write Bird on a Wire, they did add a lyrical and melodic bridge to the song that touches me more deeply than I can even begin to explain. (I’ll copy the lyrics below.)

So, with that tiny bit of information…which doesn’t come near to explaining how our family loves Aaron Neville and the Neville Brothers…I’ll tell you about last Thursday!

My sister-in-law Jodi got to go with Sandy, Mitch, Trent and I because Kevin was sick (don’t worry…the Neville Brothers are back in Colorado Springs on September 11^th and I secretly bought tickets for me and Kevin to go…he never reads my blog so it’s safe to tell you!). Anyway, we were fortunate that mapquest gave us goofy directions to the amphitheater where the Nevilles were performing…fortunate because we were late enough to have to sit on the grass at the very base of the stage…which of course means we got to stand up right there in front! And I mean right in front!

Look…see the photo flash bleached out head to the left…that’s me! And, yes…Aaron was that close!

I’ve included a couple of other photos…me and Trent expressing our excitement as we impatiently wait for the Nevilles to appear. Don’t we look happy? That’s because we were!

Here’s Jodi, Mitch and Sandy easing toward the front of the stage during Dr. John’s opening performance!

At last, the Neville Brothers took the stage! Now, you must understand…these guys are mature! Art Neville (the eldest brother) is 71, Charles is 70, Aaron is 67, and Cyril is 60! And yet…you cannot believe the performance they give! One of my favorite visions of Aaron Neville is his performing while playing the tambourine. He’s so ultra cool, with these giant, solid as a rock forearms and cool sleeveless denim vest! It just all looks so out-of-character when you first see him, right? (Did you know he was married to his wife for almost 49 years before she died last year? You should read the article on Aaron and his wife Joel…very tender!)

In short, we all loved the concert! My kids and I “lived a dream” being so close to people who had touch our lives with such force…and didn’t even know it. The Neville Brothers ended their concert with Aaron singing, Amazing Grace. (Be sure and pause the playlist first.) It was beautiful. I’ve got a rather pixel-ish, bad sounding, little digital camera clip of it here for you. They are all deeply religious and their conviction is something you can absolutely ‘feel’ whenever they perform.

Anyway…just a little rambling about an evening last week that was epic in my life, and the lives of my kids. We hated for it to end, but it was fabulous! If you haven’t ever given Aaron Neville or the Neville Brothers a try…you should! Here are a few more photos to scroll through…just for fun!

Link to article about Aaron Neville and his wife: http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2007/01/the_hardest_homecoming_aaron_n.html

Bird on a Wire

Like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Like a fish on a hook,
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.

If I’ve been unkind,
I hope that you can just let it, let it go by.
If I have been untrue,
I hope you know it was never to you.

Like a bird…free
There's a bird…free

Like a baby, stillborn,
Like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
But I swear by this song
And by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee.

Don't cry no more
Don't cry…
It's completed,
Oh, it's finished,
It’s been paid for

Like a bird…free
There's a bird...free
Like a bird…free
There's a bird...free

Like a bird…free,
There's a bird…free,
Like a bird…free,
There's a bird…free,

Like a bird (free)
On the wire, (free)
Like a drunk (free)
In a midnight choir (free)
Don't cry (free)
Don't cry (free)
Like a bird free (free)
Free

Like a bird free (free)
Free
….

ABC Tag

2008-05-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

Just for fun…someone sent me this Blog Tag and I discovered how very uninteresting I really am!

ABC TAG:
A = ADVOCATE FOR: Preserving the Past both in written form and with tangible evidence.

B = BEST FEATURE: Sense of humor?

C = COULDN'T DO WITHOUT: Autumn!

D = DREAMS AND DESIRES: More moments of serenity and fewer worries.

E = ESSENTIAL ITEM: Bra!

F= FAVORITE PAST TIME: Organizing and looking at photographs!

G = GOOD AT: Writing!

H = HAVE NEVER TRIED: Rat meat!

I = IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS: Purchase rural land and never allow it to be developed!

J = JUNKIE FOR: Bacon!

K = KINDRED SPIRIT: Anne Shirley!

L = LITTLE KNOWN FACT: I love Slim Whitman songs!

M = MEMORABLE MOMENT: Standing at Ruth’s grave with Patsy out in the pasture all those years ago…

N = NEVER AGAIN WILL I: Accidentally drink OxyClean!

O = OCCASIONAL INDULGENCE: Double feature movies!

Q = QUOTE: “It’s better to be happy in a cardboard shack, than to be alone in a castle. All you get for your money is a heart attack-I’d just as soon alleviate the hassle.” Nowhere With Love-Harry Connick, Jr.

R = REASON TO SMILE: Sweet memories of family and friends!

S = SORRY ABOUT: People who are suffering…for whatever reasons.

T = TAG SOME FRIENDS: Marnie L. Pehrson

U = UNINTERESTED IN: Rap music!

V = VERY SCARED OF: Spiders!

W = WORST HABIT: Over-eating!

X = X MARKS MY IDEAL VACATION SPOT: Albuquerque, New Mexico!

Y = YESTERYEAR DECADE OF CHOICE: 1980’s

Z = ZODIAC SIGN: Leo

But I Left My Sticks in Marnie’s Truck

2008-05-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

My visit to Chickamauga, Georgia to see my sister and her family was wonderful! Green, plush, slathered with historical sites and wonderful! There are so many little tales I could tell, but as I was showering this morning I realized something awful…I left my sticks in Marnie’s truck!

You know Marnie, of course, but what you may not know is that Marnie and my sister, Luanna, are really good friends and that Marnie lives near my sister! That’s how Marnie and I met…through my sister. Anyway, I couldn’t possibly go to Georgia to see my sister and not see one of my best friends who lives there, too! So one day my little niece, Sara, and I went to visit Marnie on her beautiful acreage in Ringgold, Georgia! Marnie, Sara and I wandered through the grass and green onions (green onions grow wild there) just enjoying the sunshine and looking for treasures. (Here’s a photo of Marnie, her dog and my darling little niece walking along. No…Marnie doesn’t really have alien antennas…I just wasn’t paying attention when I took this photo.)

The day was beautiful!! Everything green was greener than I’ve seen in years! And the sticks…well the sticks were great! There’s nothing like a good stick. Especially if you pick them up in a place you want to remember. So, as Marnie, Sara, Marnie’s dog and I were meandering toward Chickamauga Creek, I found a great little stick! It was actually probably more like a part of an old tree-limb, but it was moss-covered and dry…old and wonderful! Naturally, I had to have it…something to remember having been at Marnie’s. So I picked up the stick and the three of us continued our little walk. Marnie took a quick detour to look for her missing goats and then we found ourselves on the banks of Chickamauga Creek.

Marnie loves Chickamauga Creek...it inspires her in her writing and you can see why! Can’t you just imagine Marnie sitting in the green, green grass on the bank of this creek here…dogwood blossoms drifting down upon her little shoulders as she pens a tale of a Yankee soldier and his southern sweetheart? Chickamauga Creek...actually, Chickamauga itself, is an incredibly historical area. One of the most significant battles of the Civil War was fought here, and if you stand quietly, listening to the creek as it travels along, inhaling the scent of the trees and grasses…you can almost hear the past whispering to you. I think you’re beginning to see why I picked up the stick…I knew that every time saw it, held it, thought about my walk with Marnie and Sara to the Chickamauga Creek…I’d think of Marnie out there on the creek bank reliving history and writing away.

As we headed back to Marnie’s house…all too soon, I might add…we veered off the beaten path we’d taken before and into this lovely stretch of grass paralleling the creek. There I found another stick! It was just as interesting as the one I’d found before…and of course, I didn’t want the first stick to be lonely…therefore, I knew I had to have the second stick, too! Picking it up, I studied it carefully. Yes—another wonderful stick to remember Marnie and our lovely walk with! Wonderful!

Eventually, we headed back to Marnie’s house, Sara, Marnie’s dog and sticks in tow. We ate some left-over birthday cake, talked, and Marnie showed me some Cherokee artifacts she’d found as a kid and the hammer she’d made in college. It was a great afternoon and I was just glad I had my sticks to remember it by.

When it was time (my sister had been in town for a short chemo treatment), Marnie, Sara and I piled in Marnie’s pickup and headed down her driveway to meet my sister. That night, as I sat reflecting on our lovely walk, the creek, the men who had so long ago fought on those same banks Marnie visits now, I thought, “But I left my sticks in Marnie’s truck!” It was true! In my haste, and with everything else I was carrying when I transferred Sara and myself form Marnie’s pickup to my sister’s van…I’d left my treasure-sticks! Of course, I instantly called Marnie and told her not to throw my sticks away. At first, she thought I was nuts…asking her to ship old sticks to me. Still, once I explained their value as sentimental treasure…she understood.

Rocks and sticks have always been one of my favorite treasures to remember places by…and I need my Marnie’s pasture sticks! I need them so I can set them right next to the Albuquerque cottonwood tree sticks I have. You know…the old cottonwood tree sticks I picked up about eight years ago in Albuquerque down on the banks of the Rio Grande…the cottonwood tree sticks which have the dry cicada shells still clinging to them. Of course, I keep those sticks in an old jar so that the cicada shells don’t get smashed. (I loved to hear the cicadas in the trees in Albuquerque. I miss their summer song so much!) So anyway, you can see why I need my Marnie sticks! I loved my trip to beautiful Georgia! I’ll have to tell you the story of my sister and the giant moth. But for now…I just can’t believe I left my sticks in Marnie’s truck!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada