Another study spot ...

I overheard Nelson tell somebody last weekend, "She's always in her room studying." Since then the number of studying locations has doubled, and now includes this slate-stone patio in the back corner of Nelson's yard. It was really too cold to enjoy it for much longer than the length of time it took me to nab some photos, hence we didn't take time to bring the chair cushions out of the garage. Even G.T. (the cat) needed a warming spot. Most of the stone slabs were buried beneath the back of the garage or in this spot, so we dug them out, levelled the dirt,and then arranged the stones. The chairs we rescued from a "dump pile" in front of someone's house during last fall's annual clean-up day. The cushions were $60, so the whole project cost very little more than that, plus a few afternoon's labor. Either shade or sun is available -- depending on which spot the weather dictates. Since my laptop computer is wireless, I can just as easily work outside as in.
The new term begins June 7; when the weather's nice, this is where I plan to be.

Crosswinds Prayer Garden -- about 5 hours later

Nelson and I got a digging-break today. But I couldn't stand the suspense and had to see what Brent; Steven, the facilities manager; and a few other guys had accomplished. Nelson's at the top of what will be the first waterfall. In my mind I can just see little tots with their toes in the streambed or in the pond, letting the fish kiss their toes. And it will be good for staff to have a place for a meditative break, too. For me though, this will be a great place to "play".

Crosswinds Pond Progression

Lots of progress since the 4/30 post. These photos were taken at 2 p.m. today. The streambed digging was Thursday (finishing in the rain) and Saturday. Last night Nelson and I detailed the pond and, then, today Brent, the pond expert, came in to help the crew fine tune and line the pond with landscape fabric, underlayment, liner and rocks.

The black box (a filter) at the top of the photo is the top of the first waterfalls which will snake toward the left and then to the right, drop down another foot into the stream bed and finally into the actual pond, which is about 11x15.

More later -- but now it's time for class

Stats...

Making some measurable progress again ...

RUNNING: I ran 4x400s after a one-mile warm up on the cinder track tonight -- 2:7, 2:4, 2:3 and 2:3. Final tally: just under an 8:16 mile pace. And I dropped a full minute off my 3-mile times between April 10 and May 2. At 31:53, I'm still a long way from my 29:50 5K last September but still pleased. When I started running in February (after my two-month post-injury hiatus), I think I just went too hard too fast and caused a setback. The elliptical and cycling I did in December and January just didn't accomplish as much as I had hoped. Tonight though I actually felt like I was running and it felt good.

ACADEMICS: A's on both midterms (composition and legal ethics) and I'm back on my schedule (which is 1/2 to 1 week ahead of deadline). Ten months to go, the Lord willing.

JOB GOALS: My resume is updated. Once the academic advisor looks it over, I can send it out and hopefully find a job to supplement the part-time job I now have.

Anyway I am making progress again at least. Life is cyclical ... challenges, goal adjustment, progress, then a setback and more challenges ... . Like most folks I suspect, I would prefer to remain in a progress state, but the most learning seems to occur during the challenging times. I learned something out of the struggles with running this winter. School is a learning experience, too; I've had awesome professors who have been willing to work with me. They and my co-workers have been good team members.

God IS good and sometimes we get a glimpse of His goodness. If, during the challenging times, I'd recite past instances of God's presence, it would make it so much easier to act on faith and with hope.

Meet Rosy, the newest "grandkid"

Maggie (age 3) meets Rosy, an Angora goat Daughter Anna Maria told me by phone today that this is a "bottle goat", meaning it is bottle fed four times a day. Rosy wouldn't or couldn't hold her head up long enough to eat naturally, so Anna Maria and Steven rescued her. Besides Maggie, Anna Maria and Steven, Rosy's new family members include my oldest granddaughter, Eliza Grace (4 1/2), Frannie cat and Azul the dog. I guess the Johnson clan is becoming quite a menagerie. AM said she's not sure how Azul and Rosie would get along if left alone; Zuli seems torn between trying to play with the tiny goat (about the size of a toy poodle right now) and trying to chew it like a dog toy. (photos by son-in-law Steven Johnson. Retrieved from http://homepage.mac.com/steverinojohnson/iblog).