To Denver and Back.... and bargains to be found

I live 369 miles  or 6 hours from my sister. At least that's what Google tells me.
The trip is a bit boring. SO... I find new routes mostly involving western Nebraska.  So not exactly the most scenic and I haven't made it in less than ten.  I do wander... and the shopping distracts me.

I'm realizing that I get this goofy pleasure in finding bargains. I always say I don't shop- what I don't do is window shop or mall cruise or actually buy much at retail. Except Ikea.  And along the back roads and small towns between my house in Hill City and Janet's house in Parker, there are bargains to discover.  I think I may need to start a new side blog or link - Great Thrift Stores of the World.  Hey, think big.

My bargains include wool blankets and down comforters for each of my guest beds. I've found great original art, pillows and decor items.  But right now I'm in the market for winter clothes- in the past winter has been pretty short and not too cold. Now I'm realizing this is true winter country and I need winter stuff- and well, this is the place to find it!

In Sterling, Colorado there is a great Goodwill and on this trip I found my final down comforter for ten bucks.  I wanted silk long underwear ( really, really warm but lightweight for skiing) and my route went  south to Sidney, Nebraska- corporate home of Cabela's- Land of all things for Hunting, Camping, Being Outdoors in Cold Weather.  Don't ask but I kinda got lost in a town of 6,000 and couldn't find the biggest, possibly only industry in town.  BUT, I found the Salvation Army- a.k.a. Jackpot.  Three longjohns and two long sleeve tops- all silk, all Cabela's, all four dollars each.  Retail? $49.99 for the bottoms, $41.99 for the tops. Each. Whoopee!

And the fun was just starting. Oooo- winter coats. Need that. And a Columbia down vest for five dollar. I know they're about ninety-five dollars retail. Nice.  And that's a great looking white coat with a hood. I guess seven isn't too much.  All I need now is a pair of boots.

Off to Cabela's- why, I don't know and I never made it. But look down that street- Play it Again, Sam Thrift Store.  This is a work program for the developmentally disadvantaged and they were so sweet to ask me what I want. "Can I take those to the register?"  Sure, but what I really need is some prices.  And there in the corner-  cute white winter boots. And they match to the "new" coat.  Total price? - "I put your things in a bag for you. The boots are fifty cents and the bag is a dollar."  I did give a generous donation.  Or I thought it was generous until I got to Janet's.

"You got Sorel boots for fifty cents! Those things cost about a hundred bucks."

Women's Arctic Parka

 And here's the cute coat. "Is that real fur around the hood? You got a Woolrich winter coat for seven dollars? Good grief, girl."  Turns out the coat retails for $345.00. Nice.



Happy Shopping!  And look for the bargains in unexpected places.

Umbrella of Grace

I just missed my flight to San Antonio.   I was fussing at myself, of course. “Idiot”, etc.  I was on time, I just misread the flight info and waited for 45 minutes at the FRONTIER terminal rather than the SOUTHWEST terminal.

As I rushed through the airport to Concourse C, I pulled up Southwest on my smart phone; “Smart phone, dumb woman”.  Nope- missed the 10:05 AND the 10:55.  Earliest flight at 2:10.  “Go to the gate at 12:15 and request a seat. I’ll put you in the system (in some special way I still don’t understand but I’ll trust  you) and you’ll be close to the top of standby.”

Ok- 12:00 I found the gate and she said, “Let me just give you a boarding pass.” Thank you.  Maybe this isn’t a disaster.

But… my shuttle from the San Antonio Airport to the retreat leaves at 3:00.  They won’t wait or they will and I’ll make them late.  They’ll be mad or at least irritated. Why wasn’t I more careful?  Details escape me.  Woe is me.

So I called with my sad story to the driver in Texas and she was so kind. She called me back and  “No problem. Marshal is picking up Luci Shaw at 5:00 and you can ride with them.  All is well.  See you at dinner.”

REALLY?  REALLY… I get to spend two hours with the retreat speaker?  Even if she’s exhausted and needs to sleep I wanted to at least introduce myself.  I’ve been enjoying her work so much this last week.  AND…. Her story is my story.   Godly Christian husband of 32 years.  Didn’t smoke and died of lung cancer.  She was left with multiple young adult children.  And she published her journals.

What are the chances of the two of us being at a retreat?– I didn’t know her story when God tugged my heart back to Laity Lodge and this particular retreat.  What are the chances of my missing my flight?- even if I beat myself up about it, it rarely happens.  And what are the chances of my flight coming in at the same time as a woman I wanted to spend time with?

God doesn’t deal with chances.  He’s all about redeeming our mistakes. Blessing us in spite of ourselves.  Giving us the kiss of “Relax and let Me work it out.”  I’m not sure of the theology of all this- does God orchestrate all our moves to accomplish His will?  Does He know what we’re going to do and smirks as we hustle and bustle, as we try to scramble to FIX our mistakes?  While all along He intends to maneuver us into His PERFECT will?  As opposed to His permissive will- a whole concept and theology I never quite understood.

All I know is this – His heart toward me is Good.  I no longer care how He does it. I just know that He loves me and somehow it works out.  And each time I call myself an idiot for a few seconds less.  I catch my breath a few moments earlier.  I talk to myself in a kinder voice and remind myself of the goodness of God - last time, this time, next time.  He loves me- even if details aren’t my strength.  And the nice people I was talking felt empathy, not contempt, as I rushed off to the correct terminal.

My kind, kind sister texted me- “ This is why people want to walk under your umbrella with you ‘cause you’re not holding it so there’s room for others.  And it provides exactly what you need.”

Years ago, when my lead foot was even heavier than now, I was rushing to a doctor’s appointment.  Even before children I couldn’t leave the house with margin to spare.  So hurrying ( see the lack of the word- speeding- which indicates  error or responsibility), I was hurrying to the doctor and I was in my little VW Rabbit behind a big truck full of metal junk.

AND THE VOICE OF THE LORD SPOKETH:  And my pea size brain distinctly heard, “The umbrella of My protection only goes the speed limit. “ Sheesh…. OK, fine, I’ll slow down.  I was a little sheepish.  Not really aware of how distinctly He spoke.

And as I slowed to the speed limit, the large truck sped ahead, and a BIG wheel  rim fell off the back and landed in the road - right in the spot my little car had just occupied .  As I watched it roll to the side of the road, I was so aware of the danger, the death I had just avoided.  For I was rushing to a prenatal appointment and who knows. 

Who ever knows?  I don’t care how it works.  The heart of my Father is for my good. And His glory.   Let’s hang out under His umbrella.

Flight is boarding. The adventure begins.

http://www.laitylodge.org/artist-retreat/

Festival of Books

I'm in historic Deadwood, SD.

My memories are of a run down town with OLD stuff in the display windows. One year after Christmas with Bill's family,  there was a sale- 50% off everything in the store...and  I wanted the German nativity piece in the window. "I don't think that's for sale. It's just been there forever." Well, yes, it was for sale and I got a good deal since no one could remember the price.  Later when we traveled to Germany, I found out I got a real bargain.

My kids have some memories of wandering the only main street of Deadwood and getting taffy. Or even better, watching the taffy machine in the window as it slowly wound and folded sticky strands of sugar and goo into smooth taffy.  The big treat was if a fly landed on the goo and was slowly folded into the taffy. Yum... watch AFTER you eat a piece.

Well, a few years ago CASINOS came to Deadwood. Now everything is flash and glitz.  The pressed tin ceilings, Corinthian columns and crystal chandeliers of the historic Franklin Hotel's foyer share the space with slot machines and neon "HOT Video Slots".  All the mom and pop stores that serviced the mountain mining towns of Lead and Deadwood are now large casinos complete with "All you can eat Buffet!" There is no end to the endless medicore food Americans can eat on vacation.  People come in buses, seniors mostly, on day trips.  I find it depressing.

So it's being redeemed today with the South Dakota Festival of Books.  Two weeks ago, the National Mall in Washington, DC was covered with the ubiquitious white tents that signal a festival there. Those huge tents held displays for libraries, new authors, established authors, Barnes and Nobel, Amazon and everything related to books.  BIG.

For the last nine years, the state of South Dakota has celebrated books and this  year it's only an hour from my new home. No big white tents but lots of authors. I'm about to go to a screening of a movie by a memoir writer who writes about her two years of travel.  Hey- I'm in the right place!

SO... off I go to rub elbows with people who love books.  Deatails to follow.

Blessings, Kathryn

Home on the Range

Home On The Range


Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day 


Yep- that's my fantasy!


Home, home on the range- well there is a some cool pasture land off my big porch...

Where the deer and the antelope play- I do have deer wandering through but I'd have to drive an hour to Wyoming to see antelope play.

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word- ah... reality hits.  If you leave a house in the Black Hills all September, you can return to Lord of the Flies. All those gross things trapped in my house by the terrific caulking job have hatched and died trying to escape.  My mother reminds me that last year they were shoveling them out with snow shovels... I'm merely filling vaccuum cleaner bags. Still.... this is gross.  ( You don't want a picture... trust me)

And the skies are not cloudy all day - YEAH! That's right.....except today. As I vaccuumed flies and contemplated why my clothes have multiplied like those flies.... it really is cloudy.  


So I guess there is no paradise this side of heaven.  My kids came for a week in August and we unpacked some boxes, moved some, ignored more.  I made piles in my house in the few days I had there after they left. But mostly I stayed in Rapid City and cared for my mother after her surgery. I flew back east and ran around like a crazy women- northern Virginia brings out the crazy in me.  I returned west and spent a few days vacationing with friends and family in Colorado.  Life is sweet.... 


Now I'm here- "home". In a small town where I know a handful of people- none of whom really know me. I have no internet cause I'm mooching off my brother and his is down.   I have a land line again but my answering  machine doesn't appear to be working.  My cell phone won't work at my house at all.  I'm in a Best Western coffee shop doing my internet stuff.  Life isn't exactly normal yet. 


So what is normal? Is normal having instant access to information or forcing myself to slow down and really read books instead of skim for highlights?  Is it being able to post a blog as soon as I write it or is it being patient with the process and writing anyway?  Is normal having the same people know you and put up with you anyway or is it being open to the new relationships God will bring?  And bringing your best to them. 


Could it be a season to discover who I am?  Who I want to be.  What I'm supposed to do next. More important, who I'm supposed to BE!  BEING not so much DOING. 

Lake Sheridan and my future kayak course

How often at night where the heavens are 
bright

Just a quiet spot

With the light of the glittering stars
Have I stood there amazed and asked as I gazed
If their glory exceeds that of ours 

Then give me a land where the bright diamond sand
Flows leisurely down to the stream
Where the graceful white swan goes gliding along
Like a maid in a heavenly dream 

Oh I would not exchange my old home on the range
Where the deer and the antelop play
Where the seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day







I'm home. Not exactly a range and not a swan in sight. The skies are cloudy occasionally but the home He has given me. And I'll discover the rest.