Monday, July 28, 2008

New Beginnings and Fun Surprises...

New beginnings...why are new things so much fun? I've put off starting a blog for a long time - but have succumbed because so many people seem to be having so much fun with theirs (especially the hoards of knitting blogs out there). This blog isn't meant for mud-slinging - its meant for a creative outlet, for absent friends to keep contact, and for fun.

Buddhism teaches that new life and reincarnation does not necessarily mean that we physically die and come back to life - it can be having a new experience, or learning a new thing - and moving on with life thereafter. With each new experience, your life is different. And so, we have this fabulous new technology that not only is fun to use, but can be a useful tool to track (and share) our experiences, and our constant rebirth as creative and intelligent human beings.

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A couple weeks ago, my parents adopted a new kitten who is cute as a button. They had sworn that they wouldn't get another one when I took my cat, Eddy, to live with us, but I knew it wouldn't take long. He was scared at first...but now he runs fast and loose.



I like to keep plants...well, I like to try and keep plants. And I was so delighted when I spied this happening in one of my fave plants:



It is so beautiful, and has come right on time for my theme of new beginnings.


So, if I said that our vacation was a week of outdoor fun, I would be wildly exaggerating. Despite our best laid plans (and the kayak on the roof of my car), we really didn't get out much. We went for a rainy hike on Thursday, and a quick paddle and swim on Friday. It was nice to get away, but the rain wasn't quite what I was hoping for. Although, the sun did shine our entire drive home! But we did make the best of it. We relaxed a lot, and it was a good to meet some of Dennis's extended family. We were planning on visiting the UMaine Presque Isle (North of Ordinary!) to see their science museum. But, it was disappointingly closed for renovation. But we did stop to see the Jupiter, which, along with all other eight plants, is along Rte 1 in between Presque Isle and Houlton. It stretches 40 miles, in a scale model of our solar system. It is pretty neat.




And, we were surprised by a lovely crocheted afghan from his great aunt Geneva. I am usually not a fan of finished crochet projects - but this afghan is breathtaking. And I love every stitch of it.




So now we're home and doing laundry, putting away our vacation trinkets, and sighing with satisfaction about a vacation well done. :)