SYW: Week 11 Sisters, Solstice, Storm Clouds, Memories and More

Hello, Monday! Here we are again with more questions — and answers — about our world.

Question 1:

Siblings and birth order. All right, this is going to touch upon some emotions. I’m a second child, a second daughter, in fact. There were three girls in the family, all with names starting with “J” – Jill, Judith, and Jan.

Sadly, we lost Jan to cancer a few years ago, and I still miss her greatly. She left behind a loving husband, one daughter, and one grandson. Today, she’d be a grandmother of four. She’d be so happy.

I drew this portrait of my sister as a young woman.

My older sister, Jill, has also had serious health issues. In November, 2015, she was admitted to a skilled nursing facility and placed on hospice care. She celebrated her birthday in December, and since I’ve been learning to draw I decided to surprise her with a portrait. It’s not the greatest, but it meant a lot to her.

The good news is that in February, she was released from hospice and is now at home in an assisted-living facility. She still has many health issues to deal with, so thoughts and prayers will be appreciated.

Question 2:

Would I rather be a passenger in a car or a driver? There’s no easy answer to that one. It depends on where I’m going, what I’ll be doing, and who else might be driving.

I love my little two-seater. It’s impractical, but so much fun to drive.

I like this question, though, because it gives me a chance to show off my little sports car.

Generally, I like being in control of my life — and my time. As often as not, it’s easier and quicker for me to jump in the car and go wherever I want without waiting for someone else. If I’m running errands around town I definitely prefer to go alone and do the driving.

On longer trips, though, I much prefer letting my husband drive. He’s always done a lot of driving, and it doesn’t seem to bother him. I like to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Question 3:

Storms. Lights out. What do I do? Do I light candles? Do I grab a flashlight? Both.

I photographed these storm clouds from our front porch last summer.

We live in the Midwest, an area where severe storms are part of life. In the spring and summer we have tornadoes, in late autumn there are ice storms that take out power lines, and winter brings blizzards that can shut down everything — including power — for days.

Needless to say, we’re prepared. We have an LED “storm lantern” that provides a great deal of light, plus a large safety flashlight tucked away in a corner of each room. No matter where we might be when the power goes out, it’s easy to find a light. I also keep lots of large pillar candles around, and I like using them too on stormy nights. I’ve often sat around a table and read by candlelight.

 

Question 4:

When my real iguana died, my daughter gave me this realistic-looking plastic one.

Five favorite types of animals.

Easy.

In no particular order:

• Horses
• Dogs
• Cats
• Lizards
• Rabbits

I’m also a bird-lover and bird-watcher. Many years ago, I apprenticed — very briefly — to a master falconer.

Bonus Question:

Little William with his big sister, Kaylee

 

What am I grateful for from last week, and what am I looking forward to in the coming week?

I’m grateful for our newest grandbaby — William David. He’s our ninth. He was born on Wednesday morning, weighing in at 7 pounds and 9 ounces.

This week, I’m looking forward to visiting with Kaylee, William, and their happy parents. I’m also looking forward to doing a few new art projects. Unless the weather turns cold or rainy, I might also be able to make a drive to St. Joseph, about 1-1/2 hours away, to visit with my sister.

 

May your world be bright and beautiful this week and may your memories of family and friends bring you joy.

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