Walking is the perfect way of moving if you want to see into the life of things. It is the one way of freedom. If you go to a place on anything but your own feet you are taken there too fast, and miss a thousand delicate joys that were waiting for you by the wayside. Elizabeth von Arnim

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Thursday, August 12, 2010

Storm walking and Gramma's Lessons

Sunrise 6:18
Sunset 8:07
Quite a morning walk I had this morning!  I walked along the sidewalks today, down one road, turned left, walked to the end of that road, turned around and came back home.  I only saw one other person out and she was running.  I took along my umbrella because it looked like rain.  I got about a mile from home and it started to sprinkle, then the rain came a little harder and before I knew it, the rain was coming down in sheets.  Along with the rain came the thunder and lightening.  By this time I was almost to my half way mark so just decided to keep walking.  I did have my umbrella up but the only part of me that stayed dry was the top of my head.  A tree branch broke off and came crashing down just before I got to the place.  Before long the thunder sounded farther away, the rain lessened, then it was just a drizzle and finally as I was getting back home I could see blue sky. 
No animals out and about, at least none that I saw.
Ken called me to make sure I was okay.  He offered to come and rescue me, but knowing me I'm sure he knew I would say No, I just fine. :-)
I walked 6.4 miles.  Actually it was nice walking in the rain, it kept me nice and cool!
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Yesterday as I was taking some of my clothes out of the old dresser so I could move it to get ready for my new dresser I came across something that I had tucked away on the bottom of the drawer to keep it safe.  I forgot I had put it there and was so happy to come across it.
It was some pages from a very old book that was my gramma's (dad's mom).  The pages were from her school copy book from 1912!
Here is a picture of my gramma as a little girl.

I took pictures of the pages of the book and have posted some of them here.
This first one says Cooking Lesson.
 Measures
 Layer Cake
 These two pages are lessons 12 and 15 and were obviously vocabulary words.

 I think this is so cool to have this from my gramma.  Just think almost 100 years ago she wrote this.  She was left handed and always had beautiful penmanship. 
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I think I'm going to have a lazy day today.  Just staying home.  I started another book last night and plan to read that.  Maybe do some knitting too.
Enjoy your day.  Hope you get to do something fun!
Happyone :-)
I still find each day too short for all 
the thoughts I want to think, 
all the walks I want to take, 
all the books I want to read 
and all the friends I want to see.  
~John Burroughs

12 comments:

Retired Knitter said...

Happy one! I bow to your fearless nature. That was a TERRIBLE storm in my area and at the time I was glad to be in the house with a sleeping puppy at my side. You are the "warrior queen" of the walking world!

Oh man, I would have loved to be walking with you today!!!

Retired Knitter said...

I have been wanting to suggest two books you would undoubted enjoy.

Peter Jenkins - A Walk Across America and The Walk West. Both books chronical is actual walk across America - an fascinating story and an excellent writer. Being a "warrior walker" you would enjoy his experiences.

Bill Bryson - A Walk in the Woods - this book is the story of his experience walking the Appalachian Trail (I am sure I spelled that wrong). It is funny and informative. Another book that a walker would like.

All 3 are inspirational. I have read all of Peter Jenkins books.

Rathi said...

Oh dear Karen.... This is so beautiful.... i like such treasures and they count so much in our life.... such a beautiful thing to see on a day.... :-)

and as for your walking... i think you are one brave lady...:-D

Laura said...

The picture and book of your Grandmothers is such a wonderful keepsake!
I'm surprised that she was allowed to write left handed back in "the day"! I've heard so many horror stories about kids getting their knuckles wrapped by teachers and told to write with their right. :) Sounds like she may have been spared that.

I was out walking on Monday and got caught in the rain as well! Silly me did not take an umbrella though. ;p

((Hugs))
Laura

happyone said...

RT - Thanks for the book titles. I've added them to my reading list!

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

As a child I loved to play in the rain--splashing barefoot in the gutters running with water--but thunder and lightning scare me! Glad you were safe!
I love the old photo of your gramma! She was a lovely girl, and her penmanship WAS beautiful! Mine looks like chicken scratch! Makes me a little curious about her life. Hope you will write about her life sometime! I have a little "treasure box" of old photos, letters, etc. I love to peruse them!

Vee said...

Oh I'd not have enjoyed being out in a lightning storm...ugh. You're a brave one, Karen. Yes, your treasures from your grandmother are wonderful. She really does have beautiful penmanship and I do believe that I see a family resemblance. Have you ever tried baking the cake?

happyone said...

No Vee, I haven't tried baking the cake but I will!

Anonymous said...

Oh dear! I don't think I would be brave enough to walk in a thunder and lighting storm but I do think everything is beautiful when the storm is over. The grass and leaves all seem mor vibrant and greener. What a wonderful book you have. what a treasure from your grandmother! I would love to have something like that from my grandmother.

Golden To Silver Val said...

Oh my goodness! Just look at that absolutely PERFECT penmanship. Our schools here no longer have penmanship as part of the curriculum and I think that's such a big mistake. The kids of today mostly have terrible handwriting. You know I think you should frame those and hang them in your kitchen.....what do you think? Even though they are safe in a drawer, you can't really enjoy looking at gramma's past from there.

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Mmmmmmm... Branch came down, ahead of you... Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... No I won't go sounding like your *Fussy Ol' Auntie* and say you should have gone home sooner. I want to say that, but I won't. LOL.... [Vee, are you reading this?]

Oh fantastic and precious finds! Something like that, would give me shivers, of happiness of course!

KathyA said...

What a phenomenal find!!! It's almost like she's talking to you. :)