Cabin in the Adironacks

A beautiful day in October for a walk in the park. I took several autumn photos, but they all felt pretty generic to me.  I enjoy this one though.  Still

Stirrings of Spring

New life awakens with the longer days, and thinks of emerging from the cold and frozen land. It happens every year. We long for it, we anticipate it, yet still there is the element of wonder when it begins to happen.

I went back to my sewing group yesterday. It was a long hiatus, though it was much like returning after a week. The quilt that had been languishing for almost two years is on the work table and progress is being made, all the same except somewhat lonelier than before.

The quilt is a kaleidoscope pattern, and the quick count has it with close to 3000 bits. I jokingly say that it will either be nice or an abomination and I won't know until it goes together. I hope it is nice, it's for my Doctor- I happened to mention it on my last visit so now.....I hope it's nice.

Those baby's are FAST!

Caught on the Fly

DH thinks I should leave the better camera at home.

I love my job......really

No joke. I work in insurance, personal lines, writing and maintaining policies for people with their homes, their cars, their toys. My first job was in insurance, I was about 20 years old. I thought, as I sat through the occasional mandatory class, that there could be nothing more boring in this universe. Risk, legal jargon, co-signors - BAH. I went and did other things for the next twenty years.

Then, I was in a situation where I was looking for work. There was a job open in a local agency, they wanted me based on my ancient experience, and because I needed it, I accepted the job. To my surprise, it was all the same, and as I sat down at my desk I found that I really didn't need any training....just to familiarize myself with the new companies underwriting rules and the paper flow of the agency.

But, to my surprise, I found it interesting and challenging. First of all, I like efficient systems and I like to be pressed to a pretty high level - it makes the time pass quickly - and there was plenty of pressure. Even more surprising, I found that I understood the concept of the policies and could connect my empathy and concern for my clients with what I now knew they needed, rather that feel I was providing paper baloney to a captive audience.

None of us like to pay bills, and can get particularly snarky about one that the state or the bank says "YOU MUST" have. I get that, I've been there and I've had difficulty paying bills at one time or another, and I know the freakin insurance bill never stops, and never goes down. But, I've also had losses.

Sometimes, there are losses that are and remain just that. Something that is gone forever. Be it a love affair, a marriage, the death of someone close, a treasured bit of property or heirloom misplaced, it is something or someone never to be back. It leaves a hole in life, a void that eventually fills in, but the knowledge of that loss never leaves. Always, the thought of what could have been, even a feeling of responsibility or guilt remain.

I am lucky enough to be professionally placed to deal with losses that can, if not be fixed, at least be compensated. I comb through my clients policies and make sure, to the best of my ability, that they are getting the most bang for their buck. Raise that deductible, add this coverage, have a better contract. It doesn't mean anything right now, and hopefully it never will. But, if there is a loss, and its covered by that contract, instead of that void there is replacement. I strive to write a contract that will make them whole.

And that's why I forget to make those pesky personal phone calls to the gas company, or the Dr.s office or whatever I may have forgotten today.

Feeling Altruistic

Just to save anyone the span of time I spent looking for the answer, I offer you this net snag:

"Comments re Michigan Lily: This attractive lily is similar to other lilies with orange flowers, including Lilium superbum (Turk's Cap Lily), Lilium michiganense (Michigan Lily), and the introduced Lilium lancifolium (Tiger Lily). Like the flowers of Canada Lily, the flowers of Michigan Lily and Turk's Cap Lily often nod downward. However, the tepal tips of Michigan Lily curve back to the base of the flower, while the tepal tips of Turk's Cap Lily curve back and extend behind the base of the flower. The tepal tips of Canada Lily, in contrast, curve back only a little and remain in front of the base of the flower. The introduced Tiger Lily, in contrast to these native lilies, has dark bulbets in the axils of its leaves along the central stem, and its leaves are alternate (rather than whorled). Other orange-flowered lilies, whether native or introduced, typically have erect flowers. Of these various species, you are most likely to encounter the Michigan Lily in the natural areas of Illinois, although the Tiger Lily has become increasingly common."

And, just when I decided it had to be a Turks Cap Lily I double checked the leaves, and now I think it's a Tiger Lily.

If you build it, they will come