Not Sweatin’ It

There is a mischief-maker running around out here, but I haven’t been able to spot him. The last straw was when I went to lock my car for the night, and the ignition key was no longer on my key ring. I considered locking the car door manually, but thought better of it, just in case my key was somewhere inside. Did I even bring a spare?

So, I put my pup in the camper, clicked on my flashlight, and began to make my way across the grassy field toward the bathhouse. When I got a few steps away, I noticed something glinting in the tall green grass. My key! My electronic key fob! My broken key ring! Yes, they were all scattered there. Extremely grateful for my find, I stooped down to pick up the pieces and realized that they were very wet and slobbery.

Hmmm...

Could the sneaky culprit be responsible for my missing warm hat and gloves that I sorely missed as Evie and I walked along the ocean for a short while at sunrise?

Maybe it explains the muddy lampshade and books that I had left in the front seat of my car as I was unpacking.

Gee, could it possibly account for the loss of air pressure in the rear left tire of my car?

What ever the causes of all the things that seemed a little “off” today...

Evie and I still took a walk on the beach as the sun rose in the sky...

We still drove the car with it’s warning light on to meet pup Lily and her “parents” Karen & Bob for a little reunion on Pawley’s Island’s dog-friendly beach...

Instead of heading out to a tire store afterward, we were offered help from Karen & Bob afterward as Bob used his air compressor to pump up our car tires...

We got our camp organized (as a hedge against future “visits” from our unknown guest...)















































And, last but not least Evie is conked out after a big twenty-four hours, and I am more than ready to settle in for a warm winter’s nap.

What’s that I hear?!

Zzzzzz,
Ronda & Evie

Location:Huntington Beach State Park, SC

My Mini Camino in my Camper at the Beach

When I made my reservations for a Month at the Beach in February, I was comparing calenders with the Snowbirds I met at this state park by the sea in South Carolina about this time last year.

My plan?  To take long walks on the beach with my pup Evie, spend time with like-minded friends, and dedicate my time to listening and responding to the whispers of God.

I begin this time with a heart full of gratitude...for my husband and partner in life Jim, for having his mother Barb living close to us in Apex since her move in early December, for my children who are pursuing their dreams in graduate schools, for my cherished extended family and friends (including each one of you giving your heart and minds to reading these words!)  and for the knowledge that none of us is alone here, rather we are conceived, chosen, nurtured, cared for, and delighted in by our God Who is Love.



Lord, you show me the path to life, everlasting joy in your presence!

Angels in Disguise

Julie, sitting two chairs down and waiting at the busy nail salon this pre-Christmas day, asked me what I was reading.

I flashed her my book, Joy to the World and said, "It's a book of Christmas reflections, something good at this busy time of year!   In fact that's why I'm here today, to slow things down and enjoy a little respite!"

The book was an early gift from the women who organized the Adoration ministry at my church.   In fact, I had just come in from a morning spent at Mass, Adoration, and bringing the Eucharistic to a man who is homebound.

“Are you an Angel?” she suddenly asked me.

Stunned, I looked at her and smiled slowly, “No... What makes you ask me THAT?”

 “Oh, it is just that people wouldn’t ordinarily talk with me while waiting to get their nails done here.”

Then she asked me if I would read an excerpt from the book she was reading on her IPhone which spoke to her and her feelings about the "middle aged slump."  I read the paragraphs she offered and returned her phone saying that it didn't really speak to me. 

"It doesn't???" and she suddenly opened up more about how she was feeling lost with her kids being out of the house and far too many family members having died.  She declared that she had recently come up with a list of "NON-NEGOTIABLES!"  And getting a gel manicure on a regular basis was one of those.  Afterward she planned to go "THRIFTING!"

"Thrifting?  Do you mean thrift store shopping?"

"Yes, thrifting!!"  There I can discover the joy of childhood memories as I look at all of the things that people have to sell.  And I can talk with others and visit in a way that is difficult in other places, like this nail salon for instance.    And the deals!  You never know just what you'll find on the hunt!"  The gleam in her eyes was unmistakable as she talked of it.

“I liked the title of the book you're reading:  To Pitch a Tent.  It reminds me of the trip I am planning this February...to go camping with my dog at the beach."

"Are you going alone??  Have you done it before?  What are you planning to do while you're there?"

And our conversation took off until my name was called.

As we parted Julie said,”Here I am getting a manicure as a sign of my independence.  But you!  You are an Angel.  An Angel with spunk!"

And we both broke into laughter.

Camping's Calm At Last

My mother says it always takes a few days to settle in when you are camping, and then all of the work of it pays off.

And that is how I feel on this third morning on the lake, my last day here.

And so after breakfast I pulled my lounge chair up to the edge of the water, and felt the cool windy air sweep across the lake and into my lap.




And I opened my book, the Liturgy of the Hours, to read the most amazing words, words that spoke to me literally right where I was, relaxed and drinking in the waters of the lake that surrounded me.

From an instruction by St. Columban, abbot:

My dear brethren, listen to my words. You are going to hear something that must be said. You quench your soul's thirst with drafts of the divine fountain. I now wish to speak of this. Revive yourself, but do not extinguish your thirst. Drink, I say, but do not entirely quench your thirst, for the fountain of life, the fountain of love calls us to him and says: Whoever thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Understand well what you drink. Jeremiah would tell us; the fountain of life would himself tell us: For they abandoned me, the fountain of living water, says the Lord.

The Lord himself, our God Jesus Christ, is the fountain of life, and accordingly he invites us to himself as to a fountain, that we may drink. Whoever loves him, drinks him; he drinks who is filled with the Word of God, he drinks who loves him fully and really desires him. He drinks who is on fire with the love of wisdom.




In Awe Once Again,
Ronda

Location:Jordan Lake

Camping's Little Culprits

When I woke up this morning, I saw a squirrel clawing his way across the skylight situated right over the top of my bed.




The sloped roof on my A-frame meant that he could scramble up the side of my camper, poised for only a moment at the top of his ascent before he slipped and fell back to the ground from where he started.

I didn't think too much of his antics until I sat down to breakfast to enjoy both the view and the toasty warm omelet I had prepared with fresh red peppers, yellow onions, and mozarella cheese, all fried up in butter and seasoned with salt and pepper.




Suddenly there appeared a gray furry head at the skylight above my dining table..accompanied by the sound of claws climbing and slipping back down the camper's side.




It began to sound like popcorn in here as squirrel after squirrel began dive bombing my little oasis by the lake, doggedly coming after the food promised by the wonderful breakfast aromas wafting out from inside.

Feeling like I was trapped in a giant bird feeder, I thought, "Oh, what can I do?"

I repeatedly lept to my feet from my place at the table to shout, to clap, and to wave my broom at the brazen and besieging rodents who wouldn't retreat no matter what I tried.




...And then suddenly I had an idea, and you'll NEVER GUESS what it was!

I turned on my camper's radio and began playing classical music on both the inside and outside speakers, yes, I did.

And you know what happened next? Those squirrels scrammed and I sat back down to finally enjoy my meal in peace.


Ronda

Location:Pittsboro,United States

Camping's Little Victories

I wonder if you can guess what that little black panel is, hanging on my camper door.

Because of it, I am filled with joy, realizing that I no longer have to conserve my 12volt battery at my nonelectric site, but can splurge on electricity to run my fan, my lights, and even my cellphone recharger...because I know I will be able to continuously recharge my camper battery...with this solar panel...as long as I am here.

Thank you, Ron & Larry, for sharing your wealth: your technical know how, your years of camping experience, your extra resources like a solar panel! and your found string.

Because of your interest in me and your kindness, you have given me even more of the "good life", something we all enjoy to greater or lesser extent out here!





Amazed,
Ronda

Location:Apex,United States

Camping's Little Luxuries

Now don't get me wrong, in my little 12' long A-frame camper by the lake I have plenty of luxuries myself. Indeed, I have a tremendous amount of comforts that our family did not have when we camped for two and three weeks at a time in the family 4-man tent for vacation each year.

Then, we slept in sleeping bags on the hard ground, lined up like sardines, mom and dad on an air mattress for added padding.

Then we stored all of our dry goods in trunks and our cold goods in coolers which we refilled with ice everyday, sorting through things that got waterlogged and tossing them out.

Now I have a refrigerator that runs on electricity or on battery/propane and keeps food not only cold for endless days, but has a freezer compartment too.


Then we cooked dinner outside in the fire or on a propane stove perched on the picnic table, now I prepare meals INSIDE my camper, though still on a gas stove.






Then we washed dishes in a tub of hot water sitting on the edge of the picnic table, tossing the water into the woods after we were done.

Now I wash dishes inside, in my sink with either carried or running water and let the water drain down the sink's drain and onto the ground.





Then we lit a lantern when the sun went down and used it to light the way to the bathhouse for brushing teeth and using the facilities before going to bed.

Now I use the bathhouse for most things, but have a port-a-potty in my little camper, and halogen lights too, to make using the facilities a little more comfortable after dark.

And then we gathered sticks and built campfires to see who could roast their marshmallow into the perfect crisp, light brown color that meant gooey goodness inside. (When my siblings burned theirs, they actually claimed they preferred the burned, charred flavor, though I highly doubt that!)

Yes, those were the days, yet even now, the good times are here too. They are ours for the asking, ours for the taking, ours if we'll venture out of our comfort zones to see what is out there, what is calling out to us, what is only waiting for us to do.





In Joy,
Ronda

Location:Apex,United States