My name is Katherine J. Krein. I lost my father in June of 2013, and then I lost my mother in November of the same year. After they both died I went through a mind-warping number obsession that has taken me years to control. This is my story. It is now 2025. I still use this site to post some poems and thoughts. My obsession has faded, however, I still notice the numbers. Faith, hope, and love is what guides me now.
Before Easter I was researching palm plants because I was curious about the use and meaning of palms at Easter. Along the way, I discovered the plant seen above. This came to my attention because one of its common names is Ponytail Palm. It is not really in the palm family. I prefer to call it by another of its common names which is Elephant Foot. I ended up purchasing one because it is an attractive addition to a table in our living space.
While doing this research I also learned a little more about a quilt square I found among my mother-in-law's quilt supplies and fabrics. It was in a plastic bag with a note from where she had purchased it. It was made by a Hmong artist who had immigrated to Minnesota.It is pictured below.
Hmong elephant’s foot print on a flower cloth (paj ntaub).
The elephant foot motif can be found in many cultural items of the Hmong. Some have this motif as a tattoo.
This was learned during my casual research for my own edification, and I am definitely not an expert on the subject.
When I think about elephants I think about their strong matriarchs that can make or break the success of their family units.
Elephants keep crossing my path. Recently my husband bought me a bracelet with elephants and amethysts since it is my birthstone.
I am not going to read too much into the elephant symbols frequency in my life. I do come from a family of strong women, and I will leave it at that.
Catching up on kitchen tasks, consolidating pantry items, and using ingredients that have been waiting to be used, has given me inspiration. This inspiration gave me the creative energy to try something new. An abundance of walnuts needed to be used. I was already planning pancakes. I found a bag of flax seeds I had forgotten about. The addition of ground up walnuts and some flax seeds should make the pancakes more nutritious. I had a jar of new maple syrup that I was anxious to try. Coffee and apple slices were added to make a simple and delicious breakfast.
Life is moving forward, and I am getting back to old routines, adding a few new twists along the way. The work will continue. I am not ready for a white glove test.
The Japanese Cherry trees are blooming early. The pink in front is very old.
When looking out our front bay window, all we see is pink covering the branches. It spreads dominantly across our view.
The white cherry in the back garden are daughter saplings from the older trees that had to be cut down. The fluffy white spreads out joyously, fulfilling their family legacy.
The little dwarf iris you see here were planted as bulbs long ago. Six were planted, though I never see more than two or three.Their bloom is brief. These two were spotted early morning on a dreary rainy day by the mailbox.It was voting day, and I had an early morning errand to run. Their appearance cheered me up. My reward for such an early morning.
The Camellia japonica is named "Kramer's Supreme". It is planted in the back garden in front of my bedroom window. This past Friday I spotted the first fully opened flower. I cut the branch to bring the flower inside to spread cheer and beauty to us all.
The tulip magnolia trees at my school are looking very pink with buds already beginning to open. A white cherry in my garden is already showing blooms. The vernal equinox is a week away.
My daughter is all grown up. This does not stop me from looking back at old pictures.
The icons of yesterday have been replaced.
Spring break will arrive the week before Easter. Hopefully the weather will allow me to start my garden clean up. Birthday celebrations will take place.
Life moves forward. Some things happen in a flash.Some things need a slower pace. Survival requires flexibility.Perspectives will shift. Love and faith must be constant factors. We work hard and pray for luck.
The sun was shining through our kitchen window this morning. I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. Something was outside in the evergreen next to our dining window. Upon closer inspection, I spotted a young blue jay. The thought of a peanut search went through my mind since blue jays covet these. This was my inspiration to go outside. I looked at our indoor weather station. The weather outside was warm enough to venture out and explore.
"Kiss of the sun for pardon. Song of the birds for mirth. You're closer to God's heart in a garden than any place on earth." (written by Dorothy Frances Gurney)
My garden needs work, though my focus was not on this. I opened my metal container filled with peanuts and took out several handfuls. The blue jays and others should be happy now. Going outside was a brilliant idea. I spotted the first crocus for 2024. My heart filled with joy, and I was inspired to go get my old Nikon. The corner where the Lenten Roses grow was packed with blooms. We are in the season and Easter will be here at the end of the month. My daughter's first birthday was on Easter Sunday, and this year it falls again on her special day.
Thoughts of my family were guiding me today. Recently I found my parent's fraternity and sorority pins from their college days. When I went to retrieve my old Nikon out of my old camera bag I noticed a connection. I think my interest in photography was inherited from my father. Today it struck me that I must have been subconsciously aware of this when I chose my bag. Can you see the connection?
My dad’s old fraternity pin. Delta Tau Delta at University of Kansas (KU)My old camera bag’s brand logo.
My garden looks ready for spring. I feel ready for spring. Renewal is bursting out all around me and I feel the spirit of God is with me.
There used to be a National Aquarium in Washington, D.C. It was located at 1401 Constitution Ave., Washington, D.C. It was permanently closed September 30, 2013. Fortunately we were able to visit it before it was closed.
I was especially drawn to the seahorses. Their bright yellow coloration made them stand out in the dark. The pair stayed close to each other and often wrapped their tails around one another.
Since this time, I have learned that the scientific genus name for seahorse is called Hippocampus. In neuroscience the hippocampus is a structure hidden within our human brain. We have two hippocampi, one in each cerebral hemisphere. The hippocampal neurons string together the past and future in our minds. It forms part of our limbic system which is associated with hunger, pain, pleasure, satisfaction, sex, and instinctive motivation. I imagine the hippocampus holds many secrets.
Another resident of the D.C. aquarium was this sea turtle. I imagine it also holds some secrets somewhere, though it does not have a hippocampus in its brain, nor do the seahorses from our seas.
The other day I was sitting in one of my classes, that has the chairs arranged in a big circle without desks, and I looked across the circle and a beautiful blue National Aquarium sweatshirt caught my attention. I had recently spoken to the girl wearing it. She reminded me of a girl that was in one of my classes years ago. Not only does she look similar, she also has similar mannerisms and speech patterns. I had asked her during our previous class if she had an older sister. She said, “no”, and she added, “I am from Peru.” I smiled at her and told her she reminded me of a former student.
Her sweatshirt brought back to me fond memories of my family’s numerous visits to the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. It is located about an hours drive from our home. We had been members at one point in time since we went about twice a year when my daughter was younger.
I had purchased a few souvenirs over the years since their gift shops are very nice and help to support the aquarium. Here is one of my favorite purchases which I still wear to this day. It is one of my favorite work-around-the house shirts. At the time of purchase I had recently completed the whole series of Harry Potter books written by J.K. Rowling, and therefore I felt as if I needed to purchase this Hairy Otter shirt. It makes me laugh.
As you can see, it has been well worn, and it will continue to be worn.
One of my favorite attractions at the National Aquarium was the Dolphin Show. The dolphin picture posted above is from a visit during the year 2010. Here is another picture from the same visit.
National Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland in the year 2010.
I believe they did away with the show venue in 2011. Today in 2024 they still have dolphins, but the experience has evolved into something other than a show like above. I read that their hope is to return all the dolphins to the sea by 2026..
Seeing the student’s blue sweatshirt has inspired me to make plans for us to go and revisit the National Aquarium in Baltimore. It has been too long since our last visit. I hope we can see the dolphins again before the year 2026.
Love grows all around, though some seeds sit fallow in the ground. This red dahlia was grown in honor of my husband since it bore his name. Is this lovely butterfly a Viceroy or Monarch? Whichever one it is does not matter in its taste for nectar.
Some morning are filled with gray light. The sky and clouds lack the warmth you want. A morose mood shrouds your vision. Prayers do not come readily to mind. It might take a coffee or two to shake off this mood. Lifting yourself up for the tasks ahead of you Will take a little longer on mornings like this. It is days like these when you need prayers the most. Pessimism is knocking. Do not open that door of grief.
This picture was taken outside the door at Meadowlark Botanical Garden in Vienna, Va. I think the year was 2011 (Update: I went back to the original file. This picture was taken 10/12/2008)
Here is the picture of the succulent wreath that was my inspiration for my 2023 holiday wreath. I found the picture today.
I still plan to improve on my own wreath-making. My second wreath will be more seasonally appropriate. Wish me luck.
2/11/24– Today I decided to include a picture of my 1st attempt at a succulent wreath. My next attempt will not be holiday themed.
movingforwardslowly 