Solstice Sunrise

Solstice Sunrise at Woodhenge, Cahokia Mounds Illinois

Saturday morning found us at the Mounds at 7:00am waiting for the sun to rise at 7:15. It was a nice morning - not nearly as cold and windy as it usually is on Solstice morning at the Mounds. The archeologist from the Cahokia Learning Center was on hand as usual to give an interpretation of the Woodhenge - how it was found, some history and such.

Across the road where there are several more mounds and open fields of grass grazed herds of white tail deer. I tried to get a picture but they were so far away that my camera on my phone couldn't get them in the picture except as small dark dots on the landscape. But there must have been over 50 deer in all the fields as we pulled up. They were beautiful.

After sunrise we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast as is tradition. Our good friend Charlie was there and so conversation never faltered! :) Naps were acquired once we got back home

Odd week

This week has been an odd week.  I’m not sure what really constitutes ‘normal’ around here but this week was not on the normal curve of things.  Bill and I went up to my mom’s house on Saturday where we met my sister and we proceeded to further clear out stuff so we can sell the house.  I don’t know why I always get ‘talked into’ taking more stuff every time I go up there but I did.  We had originally planned on bringing home the glass top for the desk that we brought home a few months ago – we had forgotten it the last time we were up there.  But somehow we ended up bringing home a whole pickup load of stuff and there is still a pile in the dining room at mom’s house yet to get.  How does this happen?

I was really hoping to get the rest of everything cleared out so that we can start the selling process but alas, while we got a lot done, there is still things that need to be taken out and cleaning up to do.  We are planning on auctioning the house and contents (what is left) so we have to now go through websites of a few auction houses in the area to find one that will come out to the house to auction it off.  I really think we will get the quickest sell this way as this is a little town at the corner of No and Where in Illinois and no one has any money these days to pay full market price.  The house needs work so I don’t feel too bad letting it go for less.

Got home on Sunday night and as we were turning into the subdivision Austen’s car was sitting out in the middle of the cul-de-sac and Aubri was trying to call me on the cell phone.  Seems his power steering was out and they both needed to be at work.  Just after we pulled into the drive, Erik and Meghan pulled up in Meghan’s car and Erik hopped out and ran into the house to change his Cardinal shirt (they had been to the Cardinal game) into his Racanelli’s shirt and he took Aubri to work and covered Austen’s shift.  That brought Erik home after 10 and he was supposed to drive back to school that evening but I convinced him to sleep over and drive back in the morning – 5 hours starting at 11:00 is too late in my opinion!

Erik got back to school ok the next day and Austen started his quest to find out what was wrong with the car.  He drove it over to Dobbs auto (I hate that place but it’s close) and they didn’t call him back until Tuesday morning with the bad news that it was the power steering pump and they would have to replace the entire assembly at a cost of $1100!  Wow!  Bill suggested he check to see if it was still under warranty and since he also thought the part was a dealer only part that it might actually be less expensive to take it to the Mazda dealership and see what they could do.  Unfortunately the warranty expired last month (figures) and the cost will be about the same since they have to work on some electrical stuff as well.

So, Tuesday evening when I got off work, I picked Austen up from the dealership and took him to Enterprise rent-a-car.  Now Randy used to work at Enterprise and we have never had so much trouble renting a car before – I even used them in South Caroline in August when we went to Tom’s graduation with no trouble but jeeeze!  These people wanted a pint of blood and my firstborn male child just to rent a car for 3 days!  Seems that a debit card is not good enough to rent a car- you have to have a credit card or fill out a resume of your finances in triplicate!  I was not at all happy with them but Austen needed a car so we did it.  They had promised him a compact car but when we got there they had NO CARS so they gave him a Chevy Colorado for the same price.  Austen didn’t really care what car it was as long as it got him to work.

So I left Enterprise, stopped at Weight Watchers to weigh in and then was off to Cahokia Mounds for a memorial service.  I posted about that earlier this week so I’ll leave those details out for now but I did get to see some folks I haven’t gotten to see in a while so that was nice and we all went to Cracker Barrel afterwards for dinner and really had a nice relaxing conversation.

Today I have to make the rounds to the Electric Company to pay the bill, go to the bank, and then class tonight.  Bill is pulling the trailer up some time today so that we can leave in the morning for Columbia MO for a weekend camping festival and hand fasting of some friends.  More seeing of folks not seen in a while – hopefully we have a stress free and relaxing weekend – although the weather forecast is for rain all weekend!

Godspeed Brother Don

Last night Don Newman's chosen family and friends gathered at Cahokia Mounds inside the Woodhenge Circle to honor his life. The brotherhood of the spear, to which Don was a proud member, stood watch while we shared stories and memories of Don inside the circle. While we sat there the full moon rose over Monk’s Mound
in the east:



(Sorry the picture is so dark but it was... dark outside. If you look to the left of Gabriel's shadow standing guard in the east you will see a small red spot on the horizon. That is the moon rising.)



(This is a picture of it after the ritual was over and the moon was higher in the sky - and not quite so red.)

After the ritual we all went to Cracker Barrel for dinner and more remembrances of Don.

Godspeed my brother in light!