Monday October 24 2016   A WEEKEND RETREAT

Although the date above is Monday, it is truly only Sunday night as I write these words.  It has been a memorable weekend and a wonderful time of relaxation.  My friend and I have been at a country cottage for the past three days and tomorrow (Monday) we head home.  We plan for a busy last day and I may arrive home too late to have time to write a blog.  So, on this last evening, my friend sits in front of the fire in the living room reading the book she bought at “Crazy Frank’s Flea Market” in Readstown Wisconsin.  Crazy Frank’s Flea Market will always be remembered by me for its restroom! 

When you travel in Wisconsin most of the places on the map are only accessible from back roads.  And when you travel in Wisconsin towns can be quite far apart, thus, so are the toilets.  We stopped at a little gas station/grocery store so I could run in and use the restroom.  A large bold note on the door informed me that unless I was a paying customer I was not permitted to use the restroom.  The note told me to use the public restrooms; however it didn’t tell me where the PUBLIC RESTROOMS were located. (Just for information sake’s:  I would always rather use a PRIVATE RESTROOM).  I asked the store clerk where the public restrooms were and she pointed across the street.

We drove across the street, which was about a block away, and she was right.  There were three public restrooms situated by a ball park.  THREE PADLOCKED PUBLIC RESTROOMS!  So off we drove, mission unaccomplished!  Then we saw Crazy Frank’s Flea Market forlornly located out in the middle of nowhere in a huge building with a parking lot on the side of the building.  All of a sudden I had the desire to go browsing at the Flea Market.  So we both got out and meandered around the building (me circling the outside parameter where restrooms are usually located) as I quickly browsed the hundreds of displays on the way to finding that little public/private room.  Whew!  I made it.  NO NOTE ON THE DOOR!  That was the nicest public restroom I’ve ever been in.  I think the door even locked.  To be truthful, I didn’t really care if it locked or not!  I didn’t even care if it had toilet paper.  Crazy Frank’s was awesome.  I even bought something; a homemade jar of Amish hot pepper butter!  I haven’t tasted it yet, but I’m sure it will bring back a fond memory!

This four day trip turned out to be a bit more expensive that I expected.  I brought all our food already prepared so we didn’t have to go out to eat so that wasn’t the problem.  However, on the way to our destination, La Farge, Wisconsin, we stopped at THE SHOEBOX (shoe store) in Black Earth, Wisconsin.  And I purchased two pair of shoes.  I blame that on my friend Ginger.  When I told her we were approaching The Shoebox she asked if we could stop so she could buy a pair of much needed shoes.  The SHOEBOX is quite a ways from our house and it is where Dave and I always purchase our shoes because we get such good deals.  So, I killed two birds with one stone.  I saved on gas by taking advantage of buying shoes while I was on my way to someplace beyond and, I wouldn’t need to take the time to come back another day.

And now the weekend is almost over.  And by the time this is published it will be over.  I will have lived the moments, and they will be part of my past.  Even as I sit here this Sunday evening I ponder at how the time could have passed so quickly.  It really does seem as if my life is but a blade of grass, here today and gone tomorrow as the Bible says. 

I taught Ginger how to play two different kinds of card games, fed her the good food I brought, stayed up late each night, slept in each morning, went sightseeing, stopped at all kinds of different shops, had a cup of salted caramel ice cream (a premeditated occurrence),  fed the pig our leftover food scraps, fed the chickens our leftover eggshells, swung on the porch screen, looked at the amazing night sky filled with galaxies, had a tour through a three story log cabin built in the 1800’s, entertained a guest for dinner, petted the sheep, stroked a horse, loved and petted every kitty cat I came across, dispensed “wisdom” to anyone who would listen (at least my opinion of things), ate popcorn at a beautiful antique shop, TREASURES ON MAIN, in Westby, Wisconsin, and kept the fire burning in the fireplace.  I also wrote poetry each day which I will share with you in Monday’s blog.  We have no Wi-Fi at Trillium (the Airbnb in which we are staying).  While we were out on Saturday my cell phone hooked into a guest WiFi and received a message that an aunt in California had died.  It was a busy weekend and a memorable weekend.   

One more day of leisure, (if you count repacking to return home)!  The good part is I never mind what I am doing; I just enjoy doing.  And right now, I am going to be “doing” by getting ready for bed.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

And now it is truly Monday, the day the above blog will be published.  We had another wonderful day and arrived home by 8:00 p.m.  I am unpacked, leftover food is put away, a load of laundry is in the washer, I’ve done the first proof-reading of what I wrote yesterday and it is only 9:41 p.m. 

I will add the poems I wrote this weekend.  Each poem is about something that took place while I was at Trillium Farm. Though Trillium is not an Amish farm it is  located deep in the heart of the Amish Countryside.  It is quiet, serene, wild, rustic and rugged.  Dave and I stayed there for a week or so each autumn for about 20 years.  I discovered that it is truly the one place where I can go and experience complete relaxation.  It is one of my favorite places to be. 

 

LIGHTING A FIRE IN THE FIREPLACE

Kathleen Martens

October 21, 2016

www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

Unhurried flames in laze refrain

Stubborn log all space clogs.

Burning fire has no desire

Meager aim causes disdain.

 

Paper burns at rapid pace

But the blaze loses face

Though nurtured so steady and slow,

The embers will not glow.

 

On cat’s feet a burst of heat

Flames burst with scorching thirst

Casting light on its flight,

A myriad sight burns the night.

 

It comes to life with setting sun

In vigor sound pops un-shunned.

Roaring tongues as if with lungs 

Upward plunge through stick rungs.

 

Warmth surges with licking urges

Heat returns as it’s earned.

All is well, cold is quelled

Because a tree was burned for me.

 

 

THE LITTLE LOG CABIN

Kathleen Martens

October 22 2016

www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

Nestled by the road

A little cabin stands.

Many years

It has looked over the land

 

In disrepair

Covered by trees

Barely discernible

For eyes to see.

 

So many stories

Tucked between her walls,

And now her structure

To disrepair falls.

 

All alone,

Un-needed, unloved

Her wounds cut deep

In corners doved.

 

Empty windows

And crooked doors

Decaying logs

And sagging floors.

 

Until one day

One man came along

Rescued the cabin

For a song.

 

And into the shanty

He poured his heart

To give his new cabin

A brand new start.

 

Day by day

And piece by piece

He is restoring her value

So it will not cease.

 

He cleared the land

Provided fresh air

All around the structure

Because he cared.

 

And ever so slowly

He is giving new birth

To the lonely cabin

To reveal her worth,

 

Built a new foundation

And replaced logs

So her structure

No longer bogged.

 

New windows installed

Floor no longer sags,

But to finish

Time seems to lag.

 

Persevering one day at a time

Love is poured out

To make the little cabin

Both beautiful and stout.

 

She proudly stands

With a new shiny roof

And with her green donning

Seems quite aloof.

 

Slowly but surely

Two hearts become one

And again in the future

It will protect a son.

 

Slowly repaired

Standing grand by the road

Someday she will be

An intimate abode.

 

 

IN A CATHEDRAL ALL MY OWN

Kathleen Martens

October 23 2016

www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

Quiet reverie in country silence,

Contemplation of God’s gifts.

Meditative thoughts in blissful calm

Seems to right all the wrongs.

 

Tranquility of God’s loving heart,

Serenity of mind during interlude

Creates a passion of gratefulness

To fill the hours with quietude.

 

Simple pleasures still exist

In the heart free to all,

While in the presence of God

As on his name I reverently call.

 

Sunday Sabbath in countryside

In a cathedral all my own.

Amidst the grandeur of God’s creation

My spirit worships at His throne.

 

 

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Kathleen Martens

October 24, 2016

www.visionsofpoetry.com

 

Isn’t it nice

There’s no place like home?

Yet so much fun

There are other places to roam.

 

A time of relaxation,

Rest and reprieve,

No work to be done

Raking garden’s leaves.

 

No toilets to clean

Or beds to change,

Just time to rest,

No appointments to arrange.

 

But just one problem,

Time speeds by too fast.

The days seem to fly

And they just don’t last.

 

And now I am home

To all my mess,

And the busy schedule

Of time’s duress.

 

But I’m already planning

Next time away,

Perhaps a year

I should like to stay!

 

But then I remember,

There’s no place like home,

Regardless how fun

It may be to roam.

 

Thank You God for safe travels.

Thank You too for all the wonderful people I met these past four days.

Thank You Lord for all the amazing experiences I enjoyed.

Thank You for the grandeur of the beautiful countryside.

 

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU!