Tending my Soul Fire

Dennis and I met 54 years ago. From the very beginning he has been “the wind beneath my wings”: seeing my strengths at times when all I saw was failure, supporting me through two bachelor degrees and two masters degrees, encouraging me to pursue some wild ideas, and loving me without reservation or hesitation.

My spouse, Dennis, and I at the bus station as I began my trip to the international singing camp in Ghana in 2023.

Taking time to do what makes my soul happy!

Family

A hug attack from all but 2 of our grandchildren during a family reunion in the summer of 2021.

Family has always been central to my life and well-being. I grew up in an active and loving family. With my spouse I raised five sons. And now we have eight grands (the two oldest–in college–weren’t at this family gathering). We love to spend time playing with these wild ones.

Playing Outside

Breakfast and chatting around the fire with Saskia, 8-year-old granddaughter.
Hiking with granddaughters Saskia and Anais.
Camping with granddaughter, Zoe.

I have camped my entire life. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting around a campfire, listening to the wind in the pines as I fell asleep, and hiking with my family. Now I spend time sharing the joys of cooking outdoors, of hiking in woods and along singing streams, and of eating breakfast while chatting around a campfire.

I also like to dabble in a garden. Though not a serious gardener, I love the smell of the earth and flowers, the fresh cool air of weeding in the early morning, and the thrill of buds emerging into full flower.

Recently I’ve taken up disc golf. I love being in the woods, walking among the trees. Our son, Jeff, has created 18 holes that wander through the woods and fields, over the pond and along a stream. Lots of time to chat as we play!

Disc golf with grandson, Miles.

Music

Music always feeds my soul. I like to listen to music. And I LOVE to sing. I especially enjoy folk music from all over the world. I sing with the Triple-H Singers in our retirement community. In each of the past three years I’ve gone to a singing camp where I have learned music from Ghana and South Africa, from the Black Gospel traditions, from Appalachian and Shape Note traditions, and from Ukraine.

I learned this Akan song of thanksgiving at an international singing camp in Ghana in 2023. The only recording I could get of it was one I took on my phone so my voice sometimes overwhelms the rest of the group. The harmonies are beautiful so I hope you can hear them.

Sewing

I like to make N95 masks a little fancier and make them match what I wear. I also like to make and wear hats. In this picture I wear a newsy-style hat with a short bill. The hat is patterned teal and turquoise. The hat has a black brim and bill. The black N95 mask has a piece of teal fabric sewn on the from so that it matches the hat..

I like to wear hats and since COVID, I’ve learned that hooking the mask elastic over buttons on the hat saves my ears (and is easier to put on and off without fighting with my earrings!) So I like to add a piece of fabric to the front of an N94 mask to make it match my hat and outfit. I now decorate an N94 mask as a small birthday gift for friends in our retirement community. It is a very popular item!

Another fun project was sewing a crazy fish Halloween costume. I don’t get to wear it much but I sure have fun with it when I do. And I had fun making it!

I made a fish "costume" several years ago. It has a bright pink shiny head which completely covers my face and head. The fish body, complete with fins, and the fish tail hang down my back. I used shiny purple fabric for the body and tail.
My son, Greg, is pictured in the suit jacket I tailored for the celebration of commitment he and his partner hosted. The jacket is medium grey-green wool. He wears it with a bright multi-colored knitted vest and pants of a darker grey-green with a thin stripe that matches the color of the jacket.

My son, Greg, asked me to make a “jacket” for the Committment Celebration he and his partner were hosting. I thought, “Sure, I’ve made a couple of sporty corduroy jackets.” He wanted a more tailored suit jacket! With a lot of patience and significant encouragement and help from my sister I did it! I had fun but I doubt that I’ll ever attempt it again!