Christmas 2010

Seasons Greetings ~ 2010

This year has brought a year of unbelievable joy and deep sadness. My mother had a dream that all her grandkids would be together, and that they would meet each other for the first time and she could get to know them and they her, each of them that were siblings and had not met, could. The boys that had children and for reasons beyond her control (or theirs), could have the option of meeting if the wanted…I began the search for all these kids on the weekend we buried our mom.

One year later, this past July, they (almost all of them) gathered at our home. It was a great gathering and we got to see/meet relatives we hadn’t seen in years! Three of the four brothers were here and that was so nice! My cousin Mari (mom’s sister Kay’s daughter), her husband Roger and their son Jason stopped in for a few hours, Jim Bruckman (Mari’s brother) and his wife Susan stayed all day! It was truly an amazing weekend and the wait to see Farmer’s son Art and his fiancé Monica was almost mind boggling! They had one problem after the other crossing the states from AZ to here…they made it before the other kids had to leave. Wow…he is sure TALL!!!! He doesn’t get that from his dad J however, my cousin Jim is tall, so it probably does run in the genes…

All these nieces and nephews brought their kids…we are great Auntie & Uncle to GIRLS!! We so enjoyed getting to know them…the ages are from 5-15…can’t wait to see them all again! Oh ya, the nieces/nephews wanted something to always remember the gathering of dreams…a local tattoo artist came to the house and we all got the same tattoo, a dream catcher (grandmas dream) and the date we gathered…yes, I got one too! The search for my sister continues…

Kevin was called back to work and is working in Wells Nevada. Louanne, Kathy and I took a road trip out to see him…we stopped at the bad lands, Custer park, Yellowstone, Tetons, Wells, Antelope Island, Flaming Gorge, and a million places in between…what a stunning country we live in!

This past year brought some profound losses to our family in a span of a couple months…we said good-bye to Shirley, my cousin Kerry’s wife, Johnathan, Aunt Jo Ann’s son and the last one was Larry Martineau (Bev)…my heart is heavy for the loss yet light with the love they shared and the visions they left behind…Giigawaabamin Miinawaa (see you again in Ojibwe).

We send this note along with wishes for a very blessed holiday

Season ~ may the loving feelings remain throughout the year!

Much Love,

Kevin & Anna

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving Day~

A day set aside to give thanks and to remember those who are long gone that we are thankful for...As I am looking out the window at the snowy trees and the house is quiet, dogs sleeping, coffee in the pot is brewing, Facebook people are posting their "I am thankful for..." and happy wishes notes, a much deeper thought is forming in my heart...



Yes, I too, am thankful for all my family and friends and for the great day we are about to embark on and for the gathering of family to celebrate...as are most of us.



Today, I am pondering many things...for many years I have cooked for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and all the other "big" days...this year, I am not. My first year that I don't have to send out invitations, rush to the store for last minute menu items, or call the neighbor and beg a bit of ginger...



With Kevin working out of town this year (again), I have been flooded with invites to spend the holiday with them...I have decided to spend it with my brother Donny, his girlfriend Amy and the twins, Jolene and Jesse. The weather has broke and the sky looks crisp and cold in its stunning wintery blue...tomorrow will spend time with my good friend Louanne and bring home yummy left overs!



I am thank full for and to my Creator for the gift of my Spirit that guides me along in my path in this life. For all my good and wonderful friends who support me in my journey, as I support them. To my mother and father for offering to be my earthly parents and for teaching me to pray, to value those around me while showing me a love deeper than any I could imagine until I met my husband, and to my siblings for them being in my life.



This past summer was a celebration of family at our house...we hosted a gathering of nieces and nephews, some that had never met each other and many that I had never met, some that had not seen their fathers since early childhood...they made the trip to spend that weekend at our home, and the brought with them their daughters...WOW...I am a great auntie to a LOT of girls...all I have had in my life (to that point) was great nephews...I must say my heart grew even larger. Our phones have been busy...


Thank you for gifting me with your self in my life! Today, I will be remembering those long gone, less fortunate, working in the service, in the hospital, homeless, and feeling full of thanks for them in my life...

Remember when you are out and about...smile, because you can!

Reflecting

Sun creeping upward

Color jets across the sky

Resting in one~ness

This was a haiku that I wrote for my friend Jan, who is sitting on that rock in Rainy Lake. This was part of our writers retreat week on Mallard Island...hope you enjoyed it...

Love

This is something I wrote for our writers group, the topic was "love" and I wrote this in June of 1994. enJOY!

LOVE

LOVE: 1. A deep devotion or affection for another person or persons: love for ones children.

To ‘love’ someone, does not always mean the opposite sex. A person can ‘love’ a person of any sex. I find, I ‘love’ most everyone I meet. All people have goodness in them, some you just have to look a little deeper to find them. We all have faults. This does not mean we are bad people.

To ‘love’ someone, you must first, find ‘them’.

What does ‘them’ mean you ask? Themselves, their inner goodness, their soul (or spirit). Some people prefer to call it their ‘heart’. A heart is the muscle that pumps blood through the body.

I do not believe you can survive without ‘love’. The soul feeds on it. There are a few things a mind must do, before you can find ‘love’. One of the most important of these is, you must stop looking on the outside. Start looking on the inside. My father always said “Everyone is different, do not judge a person before you have lived their life!” Everyone reacts different to every situation in life. We are either strong in spirit or we are not so strong. The other thing we must learn to do, and it is not always easy. Is to put yourself in their shoes. To do that you must also, spend time with them.

When you can do this, you can start to see ‘them’, and it is beautiful! ‘Love’ has its own way of sneaking up on you. To have ‘love’ in your own family, you MUST learn to forgive, for through forgiveness, is the only way to find true, strong, and everlasting ‘love’. A very dear and loved friend once said to me, “If you only look for the bad in people, that is all you will ever see.” (Thank you RMMKS). My father always said, “Forgiving is the easy part, it’s forgetting that takes forever!” (Thank you Dad, and happy Fathers Day).

So take this within, ‘love’ and be ‘loved’.

I still believe this today...positivity breeds positivity...have a great day and smile, because you can!

Living on the edge...

To jump or not to jump
Is the hardest question

Living on the edge is
Always the best place to be

Jump in to the mystery and be amazed!

Smile, because you can!

I am fine and dandy...she came to say...

As many of you know this was my third summer that I spent a week on Mallard Island in Rainy Lake. I have gone with the St. Croix Writers Group as a writers retreat.
Three summers ago, when our group was on the Island, Dennis, a fellow writer, took me in a canoe and we went around several Islands and I took a ton of pictures! We found this mama Mallard and three babies. As we got a bit closer, one of the babies got stuck in between two rocks and couldn't get out as mama and siblings kept going toward safety. It didn't take long for the little one to free itself, and then was nowhere near the family...Dennis and I felt really bad...he paddled us around until we got behind the mama and two babes.

Slowly, we gently guided them to the single little lost baby. What an amazing feeling that we were able to help this little fuzzy baby...without mom, it was sure to die.

Often over the past two years I have wondered, did that little one survive? Was it a boy or a girl? Sometimes I would surmise that it was a she and that she has had babies and that she was a great mom...dreams, you know...

This year, we were able to be on the Island in July, instead of August! We had a big fire to mark the full moon, we all laughed, shared stories...then the sun sank and the moon was rising...we all grabbed our cameras and headed to the front of the Island so we could see the sunset and the moonrise!



As you can see, it was stunning!!! The moon came up and I only had my 18-55 lens which means, no moon pictures for me! I watched with everyone else and took some shots of the others watching the moon...then a noise in the water begged my attention...slapping her feet on the rock in front of me, close enough for my lens to reach...there stood a mama Mallard and her babies...OMG! I was struck with the feeling that this was the little one we saved two summers ago...she made sure I looked her in the eyes, then they all climbed up the rock and jumped off the other side.






What a true, humble blessing this was...can't wait to share the story with Dennis!!!

Smile, because you can!

Amazing Love

Family is a very special place…I got to meet several nieces and nephews that I had not had the pleasure to know. The bonding that took place over the weekend was price~less…no way to ever put a tag on that. Not sure how it when for the fathers and their children, just know that the children and their cousins and aunt and uncles, went amazing!

My great nieces…OMG! They are stunning in their outward appearances and amazingly beauty~full on the inside. They are all honest, kind, caring, loving, sharing, giving, respectful and the best of all…they LOVE to have fun, joke around, model for auntie. Even Uncle Kevin was amazed and it takes a LOT to impress him!

My cousin Jim, his wife Sue and I sat and looked at all those kids (yes, I am including my adult nieces and nephews) and could see the family resemblances in my moms family. We talked about their beauty, their ability to have great fun, which family members were like that. It was great to see all those girls chase their grandpa (or cousin for some) with water balloons and drench him…Malayna, Sarah’s daughter was so cute, she would get him good and as she was running from him she would yell “love you papa!” as she was giggling and laughing. That reminded me so much of my dad when I was growing up…lots of chasing us girls and water fights, sliding hills, target practice with our 22’s…very uplifting with emotional moments.

The best sound ever “Aunt Anna.”

The Storm is Over

Yesterday was a very, very stormy day...physically, emotionally, spiritually...all the way around…

Family gatherings can often be surrounded by little pictures of drama…and my family is no different than that.

Emotions have run very high with much anticipation and excitement for meeting siblings, cousins, auntie’s, uncles, niece and nephews that we may have never met or only talked to on the phone…will they like me? Will I like them? How will we get along, how will this change my relationship with my parents, siblings…is there enough love?

These kinds of thoughts can spark ‘larger than life’ kinds of fears and emotional ups and downs in our lives…it is my belief that we just take baby steps forward, then shine our ‘light’ in the face of fear and move forward, in love and light…enjoying the bonds of very different individual people who share so very much DNA, both metaphorically and real.

As my parents would tell me all the time…Anna, there is more than enough love to spread around…so I will close for now and update the blog later…I have love to spread…

Have a great day and smile, because you can!

Dirty Laundry

Dirty Laundry

I have this favorite shirt…it is SO nice and comfortable…it does a LOT for the emotional state, it molds to every curve and a million other reasons…it is just so darn comfy!

When the shirt gets to looking a little used, wore out…I just toss it in the dirty clothes hamper and get a new one! I use it for all it is worth, toss it in the dirty clothes…the cycle then begins all over again.

Then comes the day that I have needs like before, I look in the hamper and remember all the things gained from that “special” shirt and I dig it out and use it again! Ah, yes, this is sure that comfy, good-giving shirt…to begin again…

Well, there are many people like this in the world…I am here to say that I have been that “comfy shirt” for a very long time, for a few people…I just want to say that this shirt has now been through the spiritual washing machine and will no longer be that “dirty laundry” for anyone anymore…those days are over.

My new chapter as clean laundry…it sure feels good to not be used for any persons personal gain…the Creator sure has been good to me!!!

If you think I every used you like dirty laundry, PLEASE let me know! Blessings to you for a fresh new day!

Why do I write?

This was a question asked at writers group and it has been a topic that has come up again...here is what I wrote:

Why do you write?

When I was younger and in school, I can’t really remember a time that I was happy to be in or at school. The school put me into their system of “not so smart” kids and pointed it out often. I spent several hours a day with mentally handicapped kids and kids with serious behavior problems. I was scared to be there and to think that my label was now one of them.

I spent all my young years in special reading and math classes, some for general help. I didn’t really need it I just didn’t like school. I was not fun and the stuff we were learning was not true.

I barely made passing grades. When my dad got sick with cancer, the happiest part of that time for me was when I decided to quit school…then after my dad walked on, I decided to go back and finish…when I turned 18 prior to graduation, I decided then that I was signing myself out of all the special classes and went main stream. I ended up with very good grades…and graduated with the honor of achievement. I was so happy I would never have to read another book or write anything…EVER!

Well, that all came crashing down on me in 1990. Writing came to me when I was 25 years of age. I began to have thoughts in my head that would NOT go away…they would play over and over in my head till I wrote them down. Once I wrote them down, they didn’t bother me again.

In the beginning, I wrote short stories because I was NEVER, EVER going to write poetry…THAT would be torture! That illusion too, came to a quick end. I began having thoughts of rhyming words…then different forms of poems…then came the haiku’s! As my writing got better, so did my photography…and in those two things, lies the gifts.

I write because the Creator has something to say and I will write it down…I take pictures because the Creator has spirits in their beauty to share…

Anna Martineau Merritt, 2008

Bridges...

This Haiku I wrote for this bridge image a long time ago...thought this is a good time to share it:

Depression grips you

Build a bridge ~ walk over it

Happiness waits here

Anna Martineau Merritt

A question posed today...can you rebuild burned bridges?

I believe that with a lot of work, time, patience, compromise, willingness of both parties, it most certainly can! The best part about it is this...when you build the bridge with new respect and compromises, the bridge is stronger and wiser than before!

What I have learned in my young life is that every decision in life is a "yes" or "no" choice that we make...the best choice is always made when you think the best and worst outcomes and then make your choice based on if you are able to live with the worst outcome or not.

Sometimes the bridge is best left burned and a new one built to better avenues...

Today is the first day of the rest of your life, blessings for a great bridge building day and smile because you can...

Still

I can't tell you in words, how profound today has been for me...I have been planning a meeting of my mother's grandchildren...those that she had either never met, or hadn't seen since their infancy/toddler time. By choices made so many years ago, the lives of many have been altered...connections lost...it has always, all ways, been my mother and my believe that NO ONE has a right to deny access to these children. they have siblings, aunties, uncles, parents and grandparents, and many cousins that love them and want to know them.

My mother and I had tried over the years to connect/reconnect/rekindle relationships or locate these children. Sadly, this did not happen before my mother walked on. It was her dream to get everyone together. She would say she would love to see them together and bond with each other...this past year has been a long journey of searching and through miraculous chains of events, they have all been found!

The third weekend in July (the 17), we will all be together here, at our home...at this moment in time, each of the nieces and nephews and their families will be here...a few will be absent as other commitments prevailed. I am so excited to meet everyone and begin a new chapter in our family book of life...

I sit here still...still in the moment of absolute love for all of these children and for their grandmother who dreamed this and saw it all in the clouds and know that beyond a doubt, she will be right here with all of us on our special day...dream BIG!

Tuesday with rays

Tuesday, we had quite the storms roll through our area. After dinner, Kevin and I drove to Solon Springs, got a treat at the DQ and then drove the back roads home. We saw a storm roll over Lake St. Croix, off to other destinations north and east of Solon...the cloud formations were stunning!

On our way, the sun peaked through clouds as rays, and the feeling that filled my heart was, "prayer is powerful be thank full." I would like to share that with you as I have always, all ways, believed in the power of prayer. We may be at the end of our rope and hanging on by a thread...one simple prayer can pull you up to the top in no time flat!

Prayer helps the person saying them as much as it does the person receiving them...As you look at the rays peaking behind the clouds, imagine them as God, the Creator of all that is, showering you with divine love...know that you are blessed!

Have a great day!!!

Worth it...

These are my favorite pics from yesterday...these are the shots that made my going to Crex and out for a drive with Kevin in the heat/humidity/storm all worth it.

Once at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area ( www.crexmeadows.org ), I was so fortunate to see the Scarlet Tanager and he sat there for his picture! I thought sure he would fly, but he didn't and aren't you lucky!

The more I drove around Crex, the warmer and more humid it got and thus, the sicker I began to feel. I met up with Agogo, a friend of mine from over near Crex and usually we LOVE to shoot together...I felt so icky, I couldn't even do that! We watched a momma loon and her two babies try to stay cool...after about a half hour of that, we parted ways and we both headed home the long way.

Somewhere on county road 77, the vehicle in front of me slammed on his breaks, as then did I...a dang dog walking across the road, taking his sweet time. I was so ticked! Before I could get too mad, I noticed it was with another one and he had a tracking collar on...OMG! This was NOT a dog, they were wolves!!!! I grabbed my camera off the seat and snapped about 10 or so shots...prayed that at least one would turn out...I was lucky, one turned out and one almost...hehehe That sure was the highlight of my day!!!

After I got home, Kevin cooked us burgers and hotdogs on the grill and he treated to a DQ and a nice long ride through the back roads...the storm was just north of us, so we were able to get some great sky shots...one deer let me take her picture and everyone else took off into the woods before I could even get close...hehehehe

So, was it worth it? Ya, I believe it was...now you know how my Tuesday went...I wonder what today will bring...

Longing

As I sip my coffee, ponder over how much better I feel and writers group today...while I listen to the birds all in fluster over other birds in their "area," I find myself in the middle of a longing...a longing for the sights and sounds of Crex Meadows Wildlife Area...I look out the kitchen sliding glass doors and see a parent House Sparrow feeding a young fledgling and the longing becomes almost an ache.

I wonder how the baby swans are doing, how big are they? The Canadian Geese that were waddling across the road the last time I was there...can they fly now? What butterflies are out on the meadows...boy-o-boy does my mind drift. The sun is out today and the weather for there is partly cloudy...a great day for butterflies...and babies. Maybe I should go to writers group today...or just sit back, relax and take it easy...hmmmm

I wonder which will win out...have a great day and smile, because you can!!!

Summer Changes

Good morning!
Welcome to today, the first day of summer! As the sights and sounds of summer wipe away the images of spring, I am reminded by all the little baby creatures, that time is really moving fast!

It is now almost one and a half years since my mom walked on and almost thirty years since my dad walked on...at moments in time they both seem as tho they just happened and other times, it is as if a lifetime has past. It seems like yesterday that I was making a turn-around special trip to pick up my mom so she could see her great grandson, Joe Perkins III who was born on her birthday...I remember the times my dad and I went target practicing...the family would camp on Wisconsin Point...

As we move into this awesome time of summer, I am being reminded to keep an open heart and mind to all the different changes taking place in each of our lives...some small, some large and some just existing...and constantly keep vigil for the teacher of the newest lesson and praying at the same time, that the lesson will not be as painful as some in the past.

As the promise of summer brings about new changes in and for nature, it too, will bring about changes for us.

Have a very happy and blessed Summer!!!!

Heliotrope to the Point

As I sit here and look out the window, the sun is shining, the wind is picking up, the birds are singing, the fountain in the lower pond is splashing, a robin is digging in the flower bed and dipping it in the middle pool, the dogs are on the bed sleeping, Kevin is out for a walk that he has not been able to do for days because of the weather, the smell of the Heliotrope is dancing through the window...what more could a person ask for?

I can close my eyes and bring myself to Wisconsin Point, the most peaceful place on earth...I can feel the love of my ancestors as the lake breeze invades my senses...just as intoxicating as the Heliotrope...yup, nothing better in life...

Live in love, peace, joy, happiness and laughter! Have a great day!!!!

Looking Up

We look up when we are in desperate need of a prayer, divine guidance, scolding for something meaningless...maybe we might look up at the stars if we are thinking about it or someone else reminds us how beautiful the sky is, and we smile, look up, take a deep breath and say, ya, it sure is!

Have you ever really looked up when you go for a walk in the woods or on a country (or city) road? The trees are filled with birds of all kinds, the different designs and shapes the leaves and branches form as the sun struggles to break through...pine forests are different than leafy hardwoods and they are different from a ceder bog, and so on...when a mama bear is foraging, and she is not sure if there may be danger or not, she will chase her babies up in a tree. It sure is a sight to see!!!

Did you know that wild cats, some snakes, on occasions a fox will hang out in a tree...and even bears will sit in trees to cool of or take a snooze. So when you look up and shake your fist or ask for divine intervention...be sure of where/what and who you are shaking at. :)

When you are out and about, don't just look down, but look up...same in life...look up with your head held high and know that you are not alone! Ever! Blessings to you for a great day!!!!

When Animals Gift you with a pose...

Isn't it humbling when animals in nature choose to pose for you and allow their wonderful loving spirit to be visible for you and the world to see...that is what happened for me yesterday that the Vince Shute Bear Sanctuary yesterday. I went with two very good friends of mine and we had such a great time!

If you would like to see a few more shots, please feel free to check out the flickr photo box, click on the picture you like and have fun!!!!

Greetings!

Welcome to my blog!!! I plan to write/share my thoughts with you for each day...adding photographs here and there...stop in, share your thoughts on what I have written and stop back often!

The picture is of a field...never really get a chance to see just how stunning a field is! Stop sometime and just look...amazing what you can/will find...

Have a great day and smile, because you can!!!