My Birthday Weekend in Maryland in September

Dear friends,

I'm a little late posting this, since it's been almost a month! I just didn't get finished editing. Not that you were holding your breath or anything...

So anyway, in my Simple Woman's Day Book post for August, I mentioned that I planned to go to Sarasota and St. Petersburg, Florida for my birthday weekend in September to see art museums and botanical gardens. I booked my hotel room and planned my itinerary - and then I changed my mind. 

Instead, I found a cheap flight on Frontier and decided to go "up home" to Maryland to see my sister Barb and my dad and their families. Dad and I share a birthday, so we were able to celebrate together! I got there on a Thursday evening and left there around Sunday noon. 

En route, in Orlando airport -
with only my backpack for luggage.

On Friday, my birthday, I spent the day with my sister. She had an appointment in historic Sykesville, so I wandered the boutiques and the indie bookstore A Likely Story until she was done. Then we enjoyed crepes at the French Twist cafe.

A Likely Story

My sister Barb at the French Twist

St. Paul's United Methodist Church

Next we went to Barnes & Noble to get some presents for my dad. She and her kids and I all bought him magazines, because she remembered he once told her the birthday cards were a waste of money when you could buy a magazine instead. She bought him an ancestry one, and I bought one on military heritage - both of them are interests of his. I splurged on copies of Bella Grace and Southern Cottage. 

We all met up at Bob Evans for our birthday dinner!

my Maryland family

On Saturday, my nephew Doug (a high school English teacher) kindly drove me down to the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC. He loves it as much as I do. 

The cathedral is full of creative beauty - so I still got my art fix. I accomplished my goals and got to see my family!

The Behind the Scenes tour was full, which is just as well since we could instead go to the very first ever African-American tour there. One thing that made a profound impression on me is that Ms. Williams would simply say, "Walk with me," when it was time to go to the next part of the cathedral. It was like she was saying, "Come along on this journey and learn with me..."

Doug and I with tour guide Jackie Williams -
note that I am wearing my rose window T-shirt from
Notre Dame, since I am a cathedral & stained glass lover.

Mosaics portraying Biblical characters
as people of color (which they were)

Needlepoint kneeler pillow honoring the legacy of
African-American educator Mary McLeod Bethune

Francis Asbury
Early Methodist circuit riding preacher
Namesake of my seminary and my church.

After our visit at the National Cathedral, Doug surprised me with a trip to the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America. The buildings and gardens are beautiful and inspiring!

We picked up Chipotle on the way back to my sister's house, where I hung out for the evening with her family.

The next morning, I attended New Hope Lutheran with my dad and Anny. I love to see what they have created with their hands recently: blankets, quilts, baby kits, school kits, homeless outreach bags, and much more. They will be donated to both global and local community relief organizations. Anny personally knitted up a bunch of baby hats and I think she worked on the blankets, too.

And then, shortly after that, it was time to go back to the airport to fly home to my Florida family!

I hope you enjoyed the pretty pictures!

Blessings,
Virginia

"Over Utah in January" - 10 Years Later

Ten years ago today, I attended the funeral of my grandmother Margaret Driggs in Salt Lake City, Utah. I had little idea what to expect, since I had never met any of the extended family via her second marriage. (My dad's stepfather, Dr. Howard R. Driggs, was much older than Grandma. He was born in the 1870s into a polygamous Mormon family with 22 children. I have never been Mormon.) And all I could think of, as far as Utah terrain goes, were the salt flats we had driven through way back in 1976 on a family vacation. I was in for a surprise! On the airplane, looking down over Colorado and Utah, my breath was taken away by the gorgeous snow covered mountains. I took out my journal and started writing, and my poem "Over Utah in January" was born. 

Today, I post this with love for my step-second cousins whom I met at the funeral and reception near Salt Lake City. (Thank you to Dan Christensen for reminding me of the anniversary of the funeral.)

Over Utah in January 

by Virginia Knowles

I am in the sky looking down on

Vast speechless stretches 

  of frozen white

Curved round and round by

Slicing crevices and streams

And human roads 

  abandoned though they be

Foothills then soaring 

  mountains beyond

Majestic tall yet distant small

From the sky where I look down

Clustering pines

  (wilderness steeples)

Defer to barren ground below

Shedding to it cumbering, 

  nurturing snow

Upright spires green

Evergreen over branches, trunks, 

  rough and woody brown

Rooted deeply into ascending slope

Yet as living arrows aiming high

To the sky where I look down 

Up and over mountain towers, fly

Peering through mottled fog outstretched

Amid earthy upturned layers, variegated ripples

Shadow clouds now upwisping 

  sharply angled peaks

Oh! These are of no human 

  construct or design

Not even marked by 

  footprints in pristine snow

Just fingerprints, signatures divine

Where winter earth meets winter sky

Yet in the valley 

  I see manly habitation

In patterned rows, 
casual curves beneath the mist

Nestled in yet beckoned 

  to a deep and high communion

Only bold ones venture 

  beyond certain fringes

Strive upward, breathe hard, 

  ascending steep, behold

Some faithful cannot climb 

  but still lift souls to see

To know and long to know

Others seem content merely to stroll 

   in evenness beneath, below

Oblivious to wonder

I am in the sky looking down

Then gazing up in awe at Him

Who gazes down in grace on me below

On me, who sees and longs to know

Wedding Preparation!

My daughter Joanna got married to David a little over a week ago! She's my fourth daughter, and this was the third wedding in our family. I was not overly involved in planning it, since it was out of town and she had an eager army of sisters and friends. I'm better for some of the hands-on projects at the end.

The flower girl basket...

...hand-painted and embellished with lace!

The ring box...

The supply kit for helping set up at the church...

...which came in really handy when I discovered that they needed signs for the guest book and gift tables, and I just happened to have picture frames, ivory paper, and calligraphy pens.

The bride's father, grandfather (my dad), and three brothers at the rehearsal, looking mighty dapper.

My seventh (and youngest daughter), looking so grown up!

One of my four grandsons, the ring bearer, who is just turning three. 

...rehearsing with little sister, the flower girl.

The rehearsal dinner, under the oak trees on the church lawn...

...twinkly lights, and my oldest daughter and fifth daughter.

The next morning, day of the wedding, is also my oldest son's 20th birthday! We celebrate at Dunkin Donuts. I love his hugs!

Off with my third daughter to Target to buy last minute supplies for making boutonnieres and corsages. I threaten to buy a Cinco de Mayo wreath for my hair.

Sitting on the floor at the salon where the bride and her bridesmaids (and this mama) are getting all dolled up - and making boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen. I have never seen flowers like these yellow balls before.

Two of the bridesmaids!

The maid of honor...

...and the mama. That's me.

Mom of the bride and mom of the groom, both very blessed by this wedding of our beloved children. She's an amazing lady.

My fifth daughter, one of the bridesmaids.

And here's the bride, ready to go! Isn't she gorgeous?

Stay tuned for photos of the wedding and reception!

Virginia