Category: Glimpses of Life

Minnesota weather is like a see-saw. I’ve seen hail, lightning, thunderstorms, high humidity and then perfectly beautiful days. I’m thankful … to be alive that is.

Last week during a 3 inch rainfall, I went outside to bail water away from the house to make sure there were no leaks that came into the basement. Our house only has 2 small gutters and the rest of the is gutterless. I’m not sure why they built it that way but they did.

When I stepped outside with my rubber boots, rain jacket and large bucket in hand, I noticed that the rain was running from the roof above the garage to the ground and then around the house where there is a large patch of rocks on the side of the house.

I quickly placed the bucket where the rain was coming down the most to stop the current and headed back inside to get the shovel. This was going to be quite a challenge as the rain was coming down faster than I could possibly bail it but, I was up for the challenge.

While shoveling the rain from the side of the house (which must have been 3 inches deep already) I heard a loud rumbling in the sky. Thunder. I hate thunder, well, unless I’m inside then  think it’s beautiful. Bending over to shovel more rain, I saw a flash of light about a foot to the right of me. I screamed but there was no one around to hear me.

I quickly ran inside the garage by the side door. I had almost been hit by lightning.

How’s that for excitement? Getting hit by lightning is not on my “Ten Top Things To Do Before I Die” list. No, my life didn’t flash before my eyes — does it ever really or is it just small bits of thoughts that pass? I’ve often wondered what that phrase menat.

Today clouds are again hovering and threatening rain but this time I think I’ll stay inside and just hope for the best. I’m ready to meet my Maker but I think I’d rather not spend more time in the grave than I need to. I’d rather just see Him in the clouds when He comes the second time.

I don’t often go to movies as I find them a waste of money and time, but this Memorial weekend my family and I decided to go see what all the rage was for the recently released movie called The Avengers.

We went to a movie theatre in Oakdale, Minnesota called The Marcus Theatre. The place looks huge on the outside and it’s just as big on the inside. The sound quality was really good although a wee bit loud for me. The digital picture on the screen was clear and there were comfy chairs. I had thought since the movie was such a hit that there might be a long line but with the release of a new movie there weren’t very many people at the showing we went to.

I should probably say that I don’t like violence whether it is fiction or non-fiction so my opinion will be biased.

Did I like the movie? It was okay. The basic plot is about the “avengers” saving the world from aliens. There was a lot of action and things flying around (both human and alien bodies).

I feel creepy when I see eyes that have no eyeballs or that turn different colors. It makes me squeamish so I had my hand in front of my eyes while the scenes passed. Another scene that I thought rather gruelish was when the “Hulk” pounded an alien over and over again on the ground.

Who really, I mean really, enjoys seeing these kind of things happening whether real or imagined? I am not immune from wasting my time sometimes and this was probably one of those times.

So, call me wimpy or just call me different. If you enjoy lots of action, violence and fiction then this movie is for you.

Last year I spent a lot of time removing the grass from the front yard as the grass was not healthy and quite patchy in spots. We also didn’t want to have to mow a small bit of grass.

I’ve now finished my spring cleaning of this area by removing most of the leaves and debris that fell during our spring storms. Now it’s time to landscape and I’m having a wee bit of a problem visualizing what I want done. Truth be told, I’d like to have a very simple perennial shade garden with some spots of color — kind’ve Japanese style but with no pond although we have a drain in this area.

The two two-by-fours you see are lying across the drain and the area slopes too far down. I’d like to make a Japanese type bridge that will cross this drain, 4-5 feet long, but the area seems too low and I feel I need to regrade it somehow. Otherwise I’d have to have a pretty large bridge that will reach from one side to the other and I think it will be out of proportion to the yard.

I’m wondering if I can bring in some cement blocks (like the ones on the front of the house in the picture below) then add more dirt to make the ground higher and add more rock. I’m just not sure if that will make it stable enough.

On the positive side, I have found quite a few places that have Japanese bridge kits that I can purchase and have my husband build for me. I could do it myself but as I tell my husband “there are some things that men should do.” I tell him this, not because I think women can’t do certain jobs, but as incentive to have him help.  (laughing)  Hey! It usually works!

Any thoughts out there?

I’m hoping to put in a couple of small trees that will be deer resistent and shade tolerant  along with a few other perennial plants so all I have to worry about is leaf/debris cleaning next spring. I hear there is a nursery called Gerten’s in Inver Grove Heights that I can get a lot of my plants from. I’m hoping to make a trip there sometime soon.

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There are two things in my life that I find happen randomly.

The first is what I call the deja vu syndrome. Ever since I can remember, I have always had times when I felt like “I’ve been here before” or “I’ve experienced this before.”  It doesn’t happen when I meet people as in “I’ve met you before” but only places/locations. I have always taken these moments to mean that I am in the right place in my life. Kind’ve like a sign from God affirming that yes, I should be here at this time in my life.

Sometimes there are people around me but not always. I could be out for a walk and all of a sudden have this “feeling” come over me. Has that ever happened to you? I’ve read that it can be caused by a form of epilepsy but I’m not sure I believe that. I’ve also read that it is experienced more often by people who are 25 and under but that has not been the case for me. (Click here to read an online article)

It’s funny though — I haven’t experienced this since moving to Minnesota. Maybe that means I shouldn’t be here … hmmmm … thoughts?

My second idiosyncrasy is what I call “moments of clarity.” It started about a year after I had a virus (I believe) that I picked up in Mexico. After I was well enough to take walks again I noticed that sometimes I would be walking and suddenly things around me would get totally clear as if they were magnified and I could even see the veins on leaves.

The clarity never lasts more than a minute and the strange thing about it is that I still suffer from a very mild form of visual disturbance, ie things/people move slightly when I look at them. During this time of clarify it’s as if my body has re-adjusted itself to a more perfect state.

Have any of you ever heard of anything like this or am I just a simple oddball? (laughing)

Our first 90 degree day has arrived. I’m glad I watered the plants this morning as they would have been quite thirsty right now.

Our house feels cool inside. There is something to be said for owning a house that’s surrounded by trees. The sun rises to the northeast of us and that’s where most of our trees are populated although we have plenty on the other side.

I think I’ll have 2 large trees taken out and the others thinned (a LOT) on the NE side of the house. It will be good to have more sun exposure in that direction. Perhaps that will bring fewer bugs! Ahhh — hope abounds!

We seem to have been hit with a lot of gnats this year. They are making their way inside somehow and I haven’t figured out the location yet. I have, however, been making concoctions for them. An inch of orange juice, a dab of dish soap and half a glass of water set next to the windows is killing them off even if the occasional one strays and nips me every now and again.

Autumn! Autumn! I’m so looking forward to seeing you. I know, I know — I need to learn to live in the present. I do but I still look forward to what I know will be better weather.

This past week I hired a neighbor teen to help with yard work as I still had not finished removing all the grass that exists in our front yard.

He was only able to work for an hour so I got ready to meet him outside.

• Long sleeve plaid shirt – check
• Long pants – check
• Knee high rubber boots – check
• Deer/tick repellant – check

I ran through my usual routine of spraying the repellant around the edges of my boots, shirt and pants. Then I sprayed the repellant in the air and walked underneath it (a method women use when they want to wear perfume but have it smell subtly).

With shovel and hoe in hand, I went to the front yard and started digging up some of the grass. Within a few minutes, I heard a voice “Hello Norma,” as the neighbor boy walked up to the edge of the front yard. Looking up I was taken aback. He was wearing a short sleeve t-shirt, shorts, gloves, ankle crew socks and hiking boots. “Oh, did you need to put any repellant on?” I asked.

“No,” he said. I sheepishly explained what I wanted done. He was quick and finished almost everything I needed done in that one section within the allotted hour. At one point, he asked me if I wanted a particular plant removed. “Sure!” I exclaimed. Kneeling down he rubbed the leaf and said “It’s mint. Are you sure you want it out? It will grow like a weed if you keep it so you’ll need to make sure to contain it.”

He was full of knowledge but I shouldn’t be surprised as he grew up in this neighborhood.

I wish I had taken a picture of the two of us — extreme opposites. One throwing caution to the wind and free as a bird and the other (me) wrapped up so as not to let any bugs come near me.

I still have so much to learn about living in Minnesota. The summers, I believe, will continue to be my least favorite season. In Seattle, I used to love to work in the yard on a sunny day. In Minnesota, I look out the window and think “let’s see, are there a lot of mosquitoes out today?” Then I wonder if the passing deer left any ticks behind.

Not being a bug person (I’m not sure where I got the dislike for them) I really need to learn to relax around them.

For now, entering the house after working in the yard, I remove my clothes, throw them in the washer and head for the shower to remove the repellant from my skin.

One day I’ll be like the locals and not care about all the varied insects that roam our property. On second thought, I really doubt that will happen.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that every Puerto Rican Mother’s Day is like my family’s but if it is then Hallmark will stay in business for a very long time.

It all started with me deciding to visit my mother in Chicago for Mother’s Day. Our holidays are usually held in a relative’s house who volunteers to have 20 – 40 people over. More or less but usually more.

Most Puerto Ricans are good communicators. Translation — we can talk a LOT! We are also good listeners. Translation — we have the ability to hear 5-10 simultaneous conversations at a time and are usually in all of them. The old adage “putting in your 2 cents worth” doesn’t work with us. We give 100% to our (and everyone else’s) conversation.

Keep in mind that we do this with the radio or stereo playing salsa music (volume on high) so we can hear it while talking (uhhh … well, this doesn’t work for me but it works for plenty of my family).

But I digress — back to Mother’s Day.

My sister told me that every mother gets a gift. Okaaaayyyy …. “just a small item … ” Small items add up when there are 15 plus mothers in a room. Oh — and don’t forget the cousin and niece who are mothers to their “dogs.”  Oh — and don’t forget that since we don’t celebrate fathers day we need to give the fathers a small gift too so they’re not forgotten.

So really, everyone except for the children get gifts. I think I got it!  (laughing)

The Mother’s Day event this year was at my cousin’s house who lives in a 2 bedroom flat. Luckily my sister lives in the apartment right below her as that’s where my husband went to get away from the noise. (Note: he’s not Puerto Rican so he doesn’t have the built-in noise canceler)

There is very little space to turn around in the apartment without looking into someone’s face or back. Let’s call it cozy, shall we?

The food was delicious — we had the usual rice with gandules (pigeon peas), biftec (steak), fried chicken, potato salad, a green salad and bread. There was so much rice! I think my aunt must’ve thought a much larger crowd was coming but we had a few people who couldn’t make it because of illness, etc.

For dessert we had a “funfetti” cake that my niece made, bite-size cheesecakes, a “real” cheesecake and arroz con dulce (rice pudding but Puerto Rican style).

After eating, it was time to open gifts. I think there has to be a better way than searching for the “right” person through the crowd of people. Perhaps next time I’ll alphabetize my gifts so that when I see a person I can quickly find the right one.

One of my cousins came prepared with a cart to bring her gifts to the party.

I left with 2 shopping bags full of gifts.

Gotta love this family! Our holidays are definitely organized … even if they are a little on the excessive side. And to think, all the years I lived in Seattle and missed out on all the fun.

After church we took a walk on Diamond Lake Trail. Although the lake is next to a busy street, it was actually a peaceful walk. Spring was definitely in the air with people out walking, birds chirping and buds started to bloom.

We decided not to go down these steps as it looked like it would be quite muddy on the other side. The start of a paved trail was just ahead a little ways. I always find it breathtaking to see buds starting to grow. I should be used to it at my age but spring growth always seems to take me to a place of “awe.”

This paved walkway looks a little more manageable for walking. It led to a landing where we received a wonderful surprise.

And there he was in all his glory — a red winged black bird. He had a pretty song and sang it almost the whole time we were there. I wonder if he’s looking for a mate?

He was so beautiful and didn’t mind sitting awhile while I snapped pictures of him.

Diamond Lake was recently shown on the local TV station, WCCO’s, segment “What Makes A Lake, A Lake?” The segment was quite interesting and it gave the most current number of lakes in Minnesota which is 11,842. Wisconsin has 15,000 lakes but their determination takes into account lakes as small as an acre which Minnesota does not. If we did, we would have over 20,000 lakes.

I also learned that size is not the only criteria used for determining if a body of water is a lake. The waters must be able to make “waves.”

You can read the article by clicking here.

Diamond Lake has 55 acres and is surrounded by swampy wetland. It’s a very relaxing place to go and across the street is a children’s playground.

I’m not sure how many lakes we’ll be able to explore while we live in Minnesota but every lake is unique and brings its own special kind of wildlife. This is one of the big differences between our Seattle neighborhood and our Lake Elmo neighborhood — the wildlife. Although we are considered to live in a city the atmosphere is so different and I am learning a lot in my “getting older” days.

Behind our property there is a small pond that sits behind the property line. This past winter many trees and branches fell into this dry pond (dry because we didn’t get much snow this year). Our neighbor, an elderly gentleman, spent a few days in the pond with his chainsaw cutting the wood to use for his fireplace.

Although it is not on our property, we decided that we were going to throw mosquito pellets into it as the pellets will prevent the mosquito eggs from hatching.

I have no idealistic expectations about having the mosquito population dwindle significantly since there is a large lake and a large pond across from us in two directions. But, it’s worth is shot. So far, so good. Normally we have a lot of dragon flies that feed on the mosquitoes and I’ve only seen one (1) to date.

Our pest control service man came out this week and he sprayed around the perimeter of the house for ticks, mosquitoes and other things that crawl. He asked me how the mosquitoes were doing here and I told him we haven’t seen too many yet. He was surprised as he said they are out in full force already.

Hmmm … maybe those pellets are helping.