Tag: Observations

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Designed by a Master

ellenparkerwrites

Missouri, all of the United States, is a relatively recent political creation. If you want to view or tour structures or buildings more than two or three centuries old most people plan a trip to Europe. Or Asia. Or the northern shores of Africa.

There are exceptions — Pueblos in the American Southwest or structures built by Aztec, Mayan, and Incan civilizations come to mind.

Did you know Missouri has a gem designed by Christopher Wren? Yes, the very same brilliant architect who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

No — he didn’t time-warp to a different century. One of the several smaller churches he designed and built after London’s Great Fire suffered severe damage during WWII. It was moved — stones numbered for reassembly — all the way to the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

Today it’s in use as the campus chapel. All the interior wood work is newer, in the style of Wren’s times. It’s also a portion of the Churchill Museum, welcoming visitors from around the world.

Roman arches. Clear glass. Two features which never age.

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Out of Plumb

ellenparkerwrites

Time disguises change. Seasons come and go. Ground freezes and thaws. Objects bump against each other. Sometimes gentle — other times in haste or anger.

It’s the wear and tear of life. A firm foundation helps. Expectations in line with reality prevent mental anguish. Living things have life spans. Many inanimate objects also have a cycle of usefulness – from time measured in minutes to centuries.

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Once upon a time…when the post was set and the timbers were new…this enclosure stood straight, plumb with the building. By the time you read this, it will be gone. The wood sent off to where used construction materials rest. The post replaced, square once again with the world around it. I don’t know how long it will last. The one pictured was well over a decade. Perhaps the new one will outlast my time in the neighborhood.

 

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Add one spoonful of…

ellenparkerwrites

The scientist within me cringes when I hear someone say to add a spoonful — or a dash — or a pinch. I want to ask back — How much?

Yes, I know it’s a shorthand. It’s especially common in the kitchen. And often times the hearer understands exactly what the speaker means. One day, back when I was learning to cook, I started gathering the measuring cups and spoons and ingredients for one of my grandmother’s cookie recipes. My own mother intervened in time.

Grandmother didn’t use a measuring cup. To her a cup was the large white coffee mug in her kitchen. Our discussion that day, as I selected a different recipe, didn’t extend to spoons.

Serve one spoonful of coleslaw to each person.

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Which spoon do you want?

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Preparing

ellenparkerwrites

No, I’m not a Boy Scout. I do believe their tag line, “Be Prepared” is good advice.

I’m a list maker. I think it’s genetic. One son, one niece, and one nephew show the same trait.

A list is one, often the first step, whether it’s written and committed to memory. (As I age, written is showing many advantages.) To actually count as being prepared, however, a person needs to go further than making a list. Following it would be good. Like working through a recipe or a standard operating procedure.

In the photo below, you see some of the results of list making. Everything pictured, including the table, cover, and chair made it on my list of things to have at a local craft show. A bag of misc pins, tape, and pens even proved to be useful to others. And you’ll note my morning dose of caffeine stashed behind the display.

Prepared to meet the public.
Prepared to meet the public.
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Did they really?

ellenparkerwrites

Today I watched a large portion of a movie with a group of other adults.

It’s a biography of sorts, I’m not sure of the accuracy. But I was impressed, and a little dismayed, by the presentation of the culture. I’d expected more curiosity from the subject of the story and his colleagues.

Perhaps it’s my training and interest in the sciences which lead to different expectations. I had expected a group of college professors to test new idea out on each other within a group. The setting was not so long ago as to prevent active communication with other institutions of higher learning – in other countries and on other continents.

Did the British universities really look only inward in the 1950’s?

How disappointing.

The story within the movie — to be continued next week. But I expect the professor who has not lost recent debates to learn something important from a younger woman.

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Celebrating Pairs

ellenparkerwrites

Valentine’s Day. Hearts & Flowers. Man & Woman. Engagements & Weddings.

Sometimes good things come in pairs.

This past weekend I celebrated with Writers & Musicians. Participated in a concert with TWO groups playing Bells & Chimes. Then we adjourned to Chocolate & Punch.

A few pairs I look forward to:

Chips & Dip; Potatoes & Eggs; Sunshine & Flowers; Coffee & Conversation; Cardinals & Evergreens.

A Positive Pairing
A Positive Pairing

Do you have some favorites?

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Transporting in Bulk

ellenparkerwrites

Chemistry is the usual place for an introduction. You’re apt to meet a pint, liter, or slightly larger glass container with caution labels plastered on both sides.

Like its chemical relatives, you’ll be taught to handle small amounts. A drop here. Several milliliters measured in a pipet — use the bulb! (Mouth pipetting went out of fashion for safety reasons decades ago. I survived the practice to tell this tale.)

Industry uses larger amounts. Producing fertilizer by the ton. Adding tang to a small river of cola or vats of toothpaste.

The literature describes the 85% solution as “colorless, odorless, and non-volatile.” Still — I was reassured by the clean, non-corroded condition of this bulk container.

Would you like a drop of Phosphoric with that?
Would you like a drop of Phosphoric with that?
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My Office Wall

ellenparkerwrites

You’ve all seen the saying: A clean desk is the sign of a sick mind.

In that case — I’ve a clean bill of health. The filing, stacking – non-system is thriving on the spare bed in my office. The closet is stuffed — I really do need to get rid of a box or two to make space for the additional filing crate I purchased.

But the semi-organization appears to work for me. Give me a moment or two and I can find the correct folder or stack 90% of the time.

The same holds true for my wall decoration. Yes, two of the four walls have what could loosely be called “decor”. A window fills the east wall and the west is dominated by closet doors. So what do I look at other than the squirrels entertaining in the pine tree?

A laminated scenic place mat and motivational sayings slapped up with poster gum are the easiest to see from my computer perch. I should move some of them. They are positioned for the previous computer location — months ago.

A complimentary calendar and a paint-by-the-number done BC. (That’s Before Children – caution to any reader planning a family.) A pale map of a fictional town completes the wall hangings on the opposite wall.

Is it restful? Inspirational? Scary to any overnight guest I direct to here?

Lets go with the ever-popular — all of the above.

It won't win "home decorating" awards.
It won’t win “home decorating” awards.
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Getting SMART

ellenparkerwrites

Happy New Year!

Did you stay up late on December 31? Party hard? Regret it the next morning?

Yes, we only have 364 days left in 2015. Are you ready to make your mark on the clean slate of a year? Have you made resolutions? Set goals?

Today I have a word about goals – five actually. And I hope that they assist you in having a productive and interesting year.

Specific: Did you make your goals specific — bite size.

Measurable: Will you know when you’ve reached it? Will others?

Achievable: Does your goal hinge on the undependable actions of others? Re-work it until it’s within your control

Realistic: Is it possible? You can stretch and reach – good — but keep it within the laws of physics.

Time-Targeted: Have you got an end-point? I will do XX by YY?

SMART — good for goals.

An example I’m willing to share.   I will attend my class reunion in August.

 

 

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It’s a Wrap

ellenparkerwrites

Final Friday of 2014!

We’ve made it.

Actually, today is a holiday of sorts. Boxing Day. If you are English and either the employer of domestic help or their employee you know much more about the traditions that I do. I suppose our farming community celebrated at version of it when giving tokens of appreciation to milk haulers and mailmen. Local merchants gave gifts – calendars, yardsticks, or gadgets – to loyal customers. What’s the most memorable of these you’ve received or given?

Another task for today — if not completed amid confusion yesterday — is to separate the wrapping paper from the gifts. Careful now — we lost at least one, perhaps more, new tiny toys while doing this in haste.

Before....
Before….

Go ahead and use your own experience to form an image of “after”. And then pour your favorite beverage.

Fifty-two shiny, unblemished Fridays loom in front of us. Do you have a goal or resolution concerning them? Survival? Improvement? More reading?