Change Is Hard

September 3, 2009
by dawnkinster 7 Comments

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Katie 1839 We’ve had the best weather for the past couple of days, highs in the mid 70’s, sunshine, no rain, blue skies, puffy white clouds and occasional gentle breezes. And even better I’ve been working most days shifts from 5 to 9 p.m. so Katie and I have the whole day together. I can’t think of a better way to end the summer.

Of course we’ve worked on our obedience skills…and I’m getting better! No, really, we’re working on heeling and sit and stay and recall. Plus we’ve done a fair amount of playing too; her favorite at the moment being Frisbee out in the yard. And we’ve gone on a walk through the neighborhood each afternoon. She’s having fun with all the activity.

Have to say my favorite thing is sitting on the deck with a good book. While I’m reading, she’s on deck alert, watching out for those rascally rabbits or chipmunks or squirrels. Kind of wears her out. She’s asleep, upside down on the sofa now, getting prepared for another big day tomorrow.

Well, sort of asleep.

September 1, 2009
by dawnkinster 10 Comments

Experiencing the rural library

Trees 1106

Sometimes I work at urban libraries and sometimes I work at libraries in rural communities; that diversity is one of the good things about my job. Driving home from work the other day though, I realized for sure that at heart I’m a rural librarian. There’s such a sense of community in small towns, and the library is such a big part of that community. Plus I get to enjoy great commutes, far away from freeways and traffic jams!

Here’s a few snippets of conversation and questions from a day at a rural library:

A father and son stop in, they are regulars each week – sometimes several times a week. Usually they pick up a few books and a couple movies; the books for the son, the movies for Dad. This morning a book the Dad had ordered was ready for pickup. As I scanned his library card to check out his movies the message popped up that he had a book on the reserve shelf. I reached around for it, and Dad’s eyes lit up. Then he whooped for joy, which caused his son to jump in surprise. Seems he had forgotten about the book, and now he was excited to see that it had finally arrived. The bookworm son looked at his Dad in a new light. They were both talking excitedly about books as they left.

Someone else came in looking for a book they’d heard about on public radio. Didn’t know the author, or the title, just had a few hints of what it might be. “But it sounded really interesting!”

A wife came in to find World War II movies “or anything with Nicole Kidman in it” for a husband who was ill at home. Usually he came to the library and picked up her reserved books, now it was her turn to find things he might enjoy. We searched all the available movies and found several for her, some classics, some more recent. The husband is looking at a long convalescence so she’ll be back.

A youngster came by and asked me “Does your chair have shock absorbers?” I thought a moment and then said that I thought it probably did. He proceeded to explain to me just how shock absorbers worked and I thanked him for the information. Librarians can never have too much information.

A patron, new to the community, ventured into the library. After receiving her card she wandered off exclaiming that it had been a long time since she’d had the chance to explore a new library. She was so excited, it was fun to watch her discover the fiction and become instantly absorbed.

Someone wanted information on fibromyalgia, another needed a mapquest directions to a wedding way down in a big city far far away, a third was looking for a childhood friend and wanted help with the internet. You just never know what people are going to ask of you.

At the end of the day one of the last patrons picked up a brightly colored flier that advertised the local farmer’s market. It was bright yellow, and in John Deer green declared across the top: “FARMER’S MARKET on THURSDAYS.” She turned and asked me–“What day is the Farmer’s Market?” Sigh. Sometimes you don’t really need an advanced degree for the job. Sometimes you just need to be able to smile. And read.

August 30, 2009
by dawnkinster 6 Comments

A weird walk in the park

Katie 1833 Katie’s as wound up as a spring lately. Too many rainy days, or days when I’ve got to work, or both. We haven’t been to the park in a long time, no doggy school, no long walks anywhere. She’s out of control with energy. So today, given I’m not working and it’s not raining, we went to a park.

She was off and running as soon as her little feet hit the ground. We were in a park that has softball fields, soccer fields, a water playground and picnic areas. Of course we had to explore all of it, which was easy as there had been a cross country race earlier, and the white line on the ground used by the cross country team went by all the interesting places. I’d just say; KATIE! Walk the line and she’d run down the white line. Well. Sometimes. Once she chased the shadow of a hawk that was soaring overhead. Silly girl.

We were exploring all the nooks and crannies of the park when she came across this big piece of ash. Katie 1834 I read in the paper yesterday that there was a big house fire nearby, and this ash was from that fire. Once I noticed the first piece I noticed a lot of other pieces of ash on the pristine ball fields. It made me sad, as it represented the loss of someone’s home and probably all their belongings as well.

Along the way we came to a big sledding hill. Hmm…I thought, being my father’s daughter, I wonder what you can see from up there? Well, Katie wasn’t interested in the least to climb up that hill after walking all over the park! She looked at me as if to say: That hill? Not going up there Mom. Katie 1835

And then she laid down to make her point. I guess I’ll have to climb the hill another time, probably by myself.

Katie 1836

I loaded her up in the car and we went exploring, to see if we could find the house that had burned down. It wasn’t far away, and this is what is left.

funky art 008 funky art 009

I bought the paper, and found a picture of it taken while it was burning. It looked like a nice house. I’m feeling so sorry for the family that lived there. Lukily no one was home when it burned. Still…

Trees 1102 Pulling into our subdivision after our adventures we saw a whole big flock of young turkeys along the side of the road. There were 8 or 9 of them. Can you see them in this picture?

Katie and I are thanking our lucky stars this afternoon after our weird walk…she’s off to take a nap and I think I’ll mow the grass and think some more about how lucky I am to have her and a house and a family. All safe and sound.

August 28, 2009
by dawnkinster 12 Comments

Back to the future

Earlier this week I had a day off and I didn’t have any other appointments or commitments. A whole day to myself! It was rainy and cold, but still, a whole day off to myself. I have a number of “things to do” on a list I keep in the back of my mind for just such a day. Most of them would be more fun on a sunny warm day, but you take what you can get. So I headed off to Hidden Lake Gardens, about two hours south of me and just north of a town I lived in when I was a little girl. My folks used to take all four of us there on occasion; I can remember a narrow road and big willow trees near a pond which held the best thing of all: swans.

Back then there was no such thing as the internet, heck we still had rotary phones, but today I can share the gardens with you by providing this link:

http://hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu/

And these pictures I took on my dark and dreary cold rainy afternoon trip. Which was, by the way, a blast from the past. (You can click on the first picture to make it bigger, and then move through them by clicking on the “next.”)

Sadly there were no swans at the small pond, but the willow trees were there. And the winding drive through the woods was really fun. I could just image Dad maneuvering our big station wagon full of kids around the hairpin curves, the rear view mirrors just fitting between the trees.

At the rare conifer garden it began to rain in earnest, so I packed it in and drove the rest of the way to the town I lived in until I was ten. Nothing much looked familiar as I drove into town. But I just stopped thinking and let my heart drive the car and low and behold, with only one missed corner, there I was in front of the house we all lived in way back in the 60’s!

Hidden Lake Gardens and Adrian Aug 2009 079

I sat in front of the house long enough that someone finally came and looked out the window. I moved along then, not wanting to appear to be a stalker! When we lived there the house was gray with either white or black shutters. I say black, my Mom always said they were white. She was probably right. The house next to the one I lived in is for sale. I went online later to see what the values are on that street and was amused to see they are just a little over 10 times what my parents paid for the house back in 1961.

Driving around the neighborhood memories popped into my head, along with the names of friends who had lived in some of the houses I passed. I even found the first little house we lived in initially when we moved to town; the house my two brothers were brought home to from the hospital when they were born, almost 50 years ago.

The only way I could find my elementary school was to drive along the route I walked way back when I was five. I remembered my Mom saying I had to cross two “big” streets, so again I just let my brain follow my heart, and there was the school. Funny how much you can remember when you stop trying.

On my way out of town I stopped at the public library where I first discovered my love of reading. It looks like a castle, doesn’t it? It’s a museum now, but when I was a little girl we came to this building once a week; we were all allowed to pick out books for Dad and Mom to read to us, and later, for us to read aloud to them.

Hidden Lake Gardens and Adrian Aug 2009 086

In front of the library is a sculpture of a little boy in glasses, reading a book, sitting on top of the world. That wasn’t there when I was a kid, but it sure is cute!

Hidden Lake Gardens and Adrian Aug 2009 083

I stopped at a diner for some supper before leaving town, read the local paper and remembered. Everything here was the same but not. Since I had been so young when we left, I didn’t have clear memories of much of the town, so changes didn’t feel like changes to me. The main buildings of my youth— my homes, my school and my library were still there, still largely unchanged, a time capsule waiting for my discovery.

This place was the beginning of who I am today. The preamble to the now. It’s nice to know that it’s still out there.

On the way home, listening to a country station I realized through the haze of my musings that someone was singing the chorus to a song: “There’s too many memories for one heart to hold.” True.

August 25, 2009
by dawnkinster 5 Comments

A librarian's recomendation

new-jersey-08-482

Typically a librarian’s recommendation involves a book. But last night, a couple of hours before close I remembered I had a long commute to my work location today, and thought it might be nice to have some music along the way. So in a lull between patrons I purused the CD collection. Did you know that you can borrower music CDs from your local library? Check it out! The first one I picked up turned out to be a winner.

It’s done by Peter Boyer and the Philharmonic Orchestra, along with several well known actors, and it’s called “Ellis Island: The Dream of America.” I listened to part of it on my short drive home. As the music began my eyes immediately welled up; it sounded like something I would love to do with a group of musicians, interesting and heart stirring. And then the first actor spoke, and the tears slid down my cheeks. These are the words of immigrants who came to Ellis Island in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, read by actors of similar ethnic backgrounds. The music flows behind the words, and between the readings it swells.

new-jersey-08-4811

When I visited Ellis Island in the spring of 2008 I listened to several recorded accounts of arrivals at the island, the hopes and dreams, the stories of loss and renewal. These are similar short versions of individual stories. Each tugs at your heart. And makes you realize how lucky we are to be here, most of us just by virtue of being born. Check your local library and see if you can borrower this CD for a bit. You won’t be sorry.

But then, I’m a sentimental sort of soul.

August 20, 2009
by dawnkinster 8 Comments

Darn! It's almost fall already!

Seems like I haven’t really gotten around to noticing summer this year, what with all the rain and cold. Finally we’re getting typical hot muggy days and nights filled with thunderstorms, but it’s only a couple weeks till Labor Day! Kids around here are getting ready to go back to school; some districts are already back in the classroom! How can this be? I look around for evidence that it’s still summer, but I found these things that are convincing me fall is just days away:

Farmers are rolling hay into bales…

trees-1047

…and milkweeds are forming pods.

trees-1073

The goldenrod is blooming everywhere…

trees-1070

and the fields of grass are drying to a toasty brown.

trees-1066

The grocery store looks like a flower market in Italy with all the mums for sale out front….

trees-1089

…and today, as I was driving home from a rural library across the fam land, taking pictures of beautiful clouds…

trees-1079

I noticed off in the distance this flock of sandhill cranes. I’ve never seen so many, there were almost thirty of them close together in one field.

trees-1081

I guess they’re getting ready for a flight to warmer digs.

I will be sad to see them go.

August 19, 2009
by dawnkinster 6 Comments

Technology and a Sheltie

katie-1460 On occasion Katie gets interested in what I’m doing on the laptop. I don’t know what it is, maybe the clicking of the keys, my concentration or more likely the sound of dogs barking on bits of video I watch. Who knows how a Sheltie mind works.

Tonight I was watching a six minute video on a Sheltie rescue site out of Utah. Many of you follow the SheltieTales blog, but some of you probably don’t. If you have time, go check it out at http://sheltietales.com; they currently have about 20 Shelties living in their house and they do amazing things. Anyway this video clip is some of the dogs hanging around outside. As a Sheltie owner myself I can’t imagine having that many! Multiply Katie by 20…that would be crazy! The dog in the video with the bandaged leg had surgery today to remove his leg. He was found wandering after being hit by a car and the leg was ruined. He seems to be so happy in the video, safe and having fun with other dogs. Such a cutie!

Anyway, I was watching this video with the sound off so Katie wouldn’t wake up. But she must have noticed that there were SHELTIES on the video because by the time it was over she was on my lap watching intently. I know she recognizes others of her kind when we travel to classes or other events, but I can’t tell if she understood there were Shelties in this video. Maybe she was just attracted by the movement. I don’t know.

But it was fun to watch her watch them. Next time maybe I’ll turn on the sound for her! She’s gone back to sleep now. I guess the fun is over.

August 17, 2009
by dawnkinster 7 Comments

Camping laments

katie-648

No work tomorrow, a warm evening and an eager Sheltie all point toward a night spent camping in the backyard. So after the nightly news concluded I pack myself, several pillows, the cell phone, house keys and Katie up and we head out into the darkness. As always, she prances excitedly out to the tent and plops herself down on her pillow in front of her window. I settle in myself, happy to be out there again.

But it turns out neighbors up the road are having some sort of party that includes loud cars and raised voices, even dogs barking. Katie doesn’t barked once, though she sniffs a bit at her window before settling down with a big sigh, then rolling over onto her back, her favorite sleeping position. Me, I’m a person who likes to sleep curled up on my side, but my hip aches, the result of five very busy hours on my feet at work this afternoon. No way to be comfortable except flat on my back which just isn’t conducive to sleep for me. I roll around enough to wake Katie up, and she stands over me as if to say “MOM! Just settle down, will you? A girl needs her beauty sleep, and you’re keeping me awake!”

Far off lightening flashes and a hint of thunder floats. Or maybe it’s just another car out on the road. Hard to tell. I shift again. Now my arms and neck ache. And I’m hot. Katie sighs and goes back to her window, checks everything out and curls up in sleep. I roll over again; fling off the covers.

Somewhere off in the distance I hear it begin to rain and soon rain taps on the roof of the tent. Katie is so sound asleep she doesn’t stir until I wake her while zipping closed the windows. Even then she just rolls back over onto her back. I listen to the rain, enveloped in the sound, cozy in my space. The temperature begins to drop and finally I nod off to sleep.

But I should have used the bathroom before I ventured out. And taken some asprin for my hip. Turns out Katie is as excited to go for a walk when we’re headed back to the house as she was when we were headed out until she figures out that she’ll get her feet wet. Rather than argue with her at 3 in the morning I carry her across the backyard and put her down in the house. I notice how loud the refrigerator is, how cool the air conditioned air.

As I wait for the asprin to kick in, writing this and watching evangelistic television Katie is curled up at the foot of the bed after letting out still another big sigh. Turns out if you are a Sheltie you can sleep anywhere. Regardless of how silly your Mom is.

August 14, 2009
by dawnkinster 5 Comments

Cruising

funky-art-003

This weekend is the “Dream Cruise” here. It’s a weekend where people bring out their vintage cars and cruise on Woodward Avenue just like people used to in the 50’s and 60’s. It’s a pretty big deal, people from all over the country come, along with their cars, just to cruise Woodward.

Katie and I went to the park this evening and then went out scouting for cars. We didn’t go all the way down to the cruise itself, that’s crazy down there, and after all I had the crazy girl with me. Two crazies do not a good thing make. But we found a couple of cars parked in areas near home. And we saw lots more driving by, heading for Woodward. funky-art-0011

So, if you like classic cars, and want to learn more, here’s a link: http://www.absolutemichigan.com/dig/michigan/the-woodward-dream-cruise-a-detroit-classic/

August 13, 2009
by dawnkinster 7 Comments

Trickery

katie-1659

I forgot to post anything for Tricky T-day this week. We (Katie and I) are still working on weaving through my legs. She still doesn’t understand what the point is, though she has taken to rolling over whenever I ask her to do anything, just in case.

This morning I recognized a behavior she has learned on her own that has a bit of trickery to it and I thought all you dog owners (or do they own us?) out there would enjoy the story. Katie says it’s OK to tell, even though I am sort of ratting her out.

In the house we have a few windows and doors that allow her to see the back yard, and the road the runs the length of our property. She always lets us know if something is in the backyard (like a rabbit, or a chipmunk or a DEER!!!!) and whenever something or someone is walking on her road. Being a Sheltie she can hardly help herself. We used to get up and go see what the problem was, then assure her she did her job and she could stop barking now. Sometimes we picked her up and carried her away from the offending view.

Lately we’ve been too lazy to get up. If we’re on the sofa, watching television or working on our laptop, we’ll call out to her, ask her to “COME!” and if she stops barking and runs over to us, she got a “GOOD GIRL!” and a bit of dog kibble as a treat. We kept a bag of treats on the coffee table. Well. Don’t ever say that dogs don’t reason stuff out.

I’ve noticed the past few mornings that as I am on the sofa watching the news, or checking emails on the computer she will be off in the breakfast room, or at the door to the deck. Then she’ll let out a couple of yips or a long low growl and than RACE back around the sofa to me and look at me expectantly. Hmmm…I’ve gotten up a few times and checked outside. Nothing. I think she’s barking at nothing at all, then running over to get her “GOOD GIRL!” and especially her treat!

Little stinker! Has she got us trained or what?