tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23575373723442441082011-10-22T12:30:24.248-06:00Four Sons. Everyday Spillage. Mopping up the meaning in life.Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.comBlogger2021100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-39416078420322187072011-10-22T12:17:00.007-06:002011-10-22T12:30:24.265-06:00

Hi Friends.Long time no see.Looking for new content? You won't find it here ... so head on over my active blog. It's a little different than The Spill. I can't spill the way I used to. No time. But if you're still game, you can check out my simple sentences.I'm writing at:kelley j. leigh'Come on over!~Kelley

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-33173149851588178432010-04-22T07:40:00.011-06:002010-04-22T08:46:53.680-06:00

....The Spill has moved down the street. It's just a hop, click, and a jump from here ... and it'll be worth the trip.Come on over!The Spillwww.kleighjar.com................................

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-81513023155217925552010-04-08T11:19:00.015-06:002010-04-08T20:43:19.581-06:00

More thoughts from the microwave ... Cutting Edge Technology: The Amana Radarange.Last week, I wrote about Microwave Orphans and a trait my sisters and I inherited from my mother. We leave things in the microwave, beeping, and forgotten. When we're together for reunions or visits, our shared microwave forgetfulness becomes humorous. "Who left their tea in the microwave?" (Some of you admitted to

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-27731976610814578002010-04-04T09:48:00.002-06:002010-04-04T09:55:07.145-06:00

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-61556583376583017732010-04-04T05:31:00.016-06:002010-04-04T07:24:10.546-06:00

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."Isaiah 53:5"Now Thomas ( called Didymus ) one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus appeared. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-7122854086755669502010-04-03T08:04:00.026-06:002010-04-03T21:00:56.633-06:00

In honor of Easter and the holy possibility of new Life and new beginning -- I am reposting an article about a childhood friend, and the quiet business of becoming. "Life is a Tire Swing" image by Pamela MurphyAlleys and Backyards.Andee Harty lived down the alley. She had long brown hair, an easy smile, and a golden retriever named Nugget. Andee’s real name is Andrea. We walked on concrete

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-77989071125792562772010-03-30T18:09:00.020-06:002010-03-30T19:01:55.412-06:00

Before& After. Tackling the Mess.The day of reckoning arrived. The hallway linen closet had gained a will of its own and needed to be tamed. Piles of towels and sheets had been displaced in the laundry room for weeks, waiting for their designated cupboard parking spaces to clear. Two full Goodwill donation bags helped clear the space and I won the battle! The closet is redeemed, for now. There's

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-90551375456942252372010-03-25T19:37:00.012-06:002010-04-04T07:51:34.465-06:00

The apparent origins of maternal 'smothering.'.........................................................................................................................................................................Claire/ Wife: "You think I smother our children?!"Phil/Husband:"It's not your fault, honey. 'Mother' is already in the word. You never hear of anyone 'sfathering' their children to

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-19422118250949166712010-03-25T12:15:00.013-06:002010-03-25T15:14:43.982-06:00

An abandoned mug and a beeping microwave. Today's reminder to respond to the quiet beep of our kids.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Beep. My microwave oven has a beep which usually goes unheard. I pop the lukewarm coffee mug in for one last warm-up. I hit 'reheat'. The familiar microhummm begins. I head off to do

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-79312158371188418962010-03-23T13:48:00.027-06:002010-04-04T08:07:09.780-06:00

Looking at my cheap bathroom scale. Step on. Step off. The needle slips back and forth, left and right of the benchmark mark. The baseline moves from 2 pounds to 299 pounds to 0. The needle lists away. I adjust it back to "0", again. How much do I really weigh?Enemies and Allies. Depending on the day, I can believe what I want to believe about my shape. My clothes are like my confidants on the

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-58495439527650217882010-03-21T05:17:00.002-06:002010-03-21T05:43:24.355-06:00

A Prayer of St. Francis of AssisiLord, make me an instrument of your peace;Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury,pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy.O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto be consoled as to console;to be understood as to understand;to be loved as to

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-25828132342897801062010-03-19T09:46:00.009-06:002010-03-19T11:13:28.606-06:00

Dogs on the road. For no reason, one of my sons aquired a catch-phrase for car dogs. A dog traveler would pass by in the back of a pick-up, or pant at us out the window at a stoplight, and my son would say, "Well, helllooo Biscuit." All dogs were Biscuit, the same way comman man is named John or Jane Doe. It was understood among us, and always funny..Jane Doe Arrives. A couple years ago, a cute

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-43272305877648473872010-03-18T07:10:00.015-06:002010-03-18T09:31:12.893-06:00

Part II: Lessons from the Barking LotPillow Talk. I was tired of carrying my loveseat pillow around the resale store. Turns out, the comforter I was considering as a match had already been sold. So, the pillow and I headed back out to the parking lot. "Where's my car?" Fatal error. I hadn't paid attention. My car was nowhere to be found.Parking Lot Fail. There have been times when I have wandered

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-87503167168073535782010-03-16T07:27:00.007-06:002010-03-18T09:28:12.307-06:00

Breakfast will never be the same...(Another batch of unexpected refrigerator guests, compliments of Isaac.).

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-140325408681452922010-03-14T09:39:00.003-06:002010-03-14T09:43:36.507-06:00

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count.It's the life in your years."Abraham Lincoln ....

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-44023475422045238772010-03-12T05:30:00.035-07:002010-03-14T22:17:25.901-06:00

A random sketch of a fly, and the difficult flight of faith.Reprint Post: Written, April 2006Beyond the windowsill, Pikes Peak looms large, immovable, dusted with snow and pink light. On the windowsill, the same pink morning sun bathes a big clumsy black housefly. The pink makes me think it’s a she. “She” is flipped on her back, wings buzzing, frantically attempting to right herself. Legs kicking

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-6854266597229652522010-03-10T08:30:00.014-07:002010-03-11T17:42:15.594-07:00

Being twin-car-families with strangers in a small town can cause embarrassing wave mix-ups and serious parking lot confusion. Lessons from the Parking Lot:Unlocked We used to have the same big old maroon buffalo ( a.k.a. GMC Suburban ) as another family here in town. Friends of the other family would mistakenly wave at me now and then. I didn't mind. It was funny to see the wavers suddenly

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-79876336390997588772010-03-08T09:32:00.034-07:002010-03-10T07:45:01.633-07:00

A Floating Black Suitcase. July 19, 1999, Martha's Vineyard. JFK Jr. and his wife were still missing when the wreckage of their airplane started to appear. "There is always hope," said Coast Guard Lt. Gary Jones, "But unfortunately, when you find certain pieces of evidence, you have to be prepared for anything." U.S. Coast Guard officials confirmed that debris from the aircraft was recovered in

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-78243580531576958682010-03-04T09:55:00.003-07:002010-03-04T10:10:58.627-07:00

If you haven't seen this video-gone-viral, check it out ...(My sons keep me updated on stuff like this).

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-19947082327563397632010-03-03T04:07:00.021-07:002010-03-03T07:25:59.924-07:00

Oh, the irony.There was nothing free about my last freelance job. I am now in a season of writing other people's projects and I have a lot to learn. The nuances of proposals and bids and time management are still clunky. I'm practicing the new juggling rhythm. My last job seemed simple enough. It was a re-write. Take one article, re-write it four ways. The topic, how to create a relaxing

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-16422269985907418962010-03-02T11:37:00.005-07:002010-03-03T07:28:08.733-07:00

Our driveway is challenging. The truck guys that came to pick up some furniture weren't expecting the icey uphill turn ... it didn't go well. 'No 'furniture spill' to report. Everybody got where they needed to go. But, we all relate to the panicky sweaty feeling of driving too close to the edge. In honor of today's driveway mishap, let me remind you to take it slow today. Nothing that

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-58553411799303837452010-02-28T08:01:00.024-07:002010-02-28T21:16:58.317-07:00

This morning I randomly remembered. Triggered by a song, I was suddenly back in the water. My memory sent me back to my baptism. 5 years ago, standing up to my waist in water, in front of family, friends, community, I made a statement. It was about dying to my self and publically choosing a new Life. The watery submersion symbolized my commitment; like putting on a spiritual wedding ring.

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-17399763539813729852010-02-25T09:47:00.001-07:002010-02-25T09:50:09.984-07:00

Avoid eye-contact. Do what you have to do....

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-77238610143819824982010-02-24T10:21:00.004-07:002010-02-24T10:32:18.825-07:00

Entirely Uneggspected.You never know what may be lurking in the fridge. This morning I reached for a normal egg carton in order to make scrambled eggs and encountered this (pictured) posse of resistance staring back at me. I have my suspicions about which son was behind it.

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-84998947864216426992010-02-23T12:24:00.051-07:002010-02-24T14:56:36.601-07:00

In life's most loosely-woven and frazzled seasons, sometimes simple pleasures show up as gifts that sew themselves into the tangle. These days I have 5 new threads in the fray. A handful of things have brought unexpected relaxation and/or happiness to my frazzledom. Nothing profound. Just 5 little things. I'm sharing them.FIVE NEW THINGS.1. Sage TeaSteve and I stopped at a greek restaurant

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-28152070371487848462010-02-16T09:14:00.017-07:002010-02-16T21:13:00.707-07:00

Where have I been? Juggling.I'm that lady in the picture, juggling worlds. There are seasons when days and weeks take on a familiar rhythm, like a juggler's constant catch and release. And lately, I've been feeling like some mean instructor has been tossing extra objects into my circle at an accelerated pace.I usually think of my life in segments like classes in a schedule. In each, I am

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-54941847821540225782010-02-14T14:45:00.005-07:002010-02-14T14:56:58.573-07:00

Happy Valentines Day.Not prone to swimming in the wider current, my son Isaac has opted to create and celebrate his own Valentine alternative. So, just in case you agree with my fourteen year old, I now also wish you a very"Happy Singles Awareness Day." ...

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-10644836427161062602010-01-30T11:57:00.016-07:002010-01-30T18:27:10.997-07:00

The last week of January brings two different birthday cakes to our table. At 20 and 12, my oldest and youngest sons have now both officially made silent wishes, blown out their candles, and started a "new year" of life. While they look ahead, I look back. I usually carve out a moment to pause on the days that mark the first breaths of birth. So, in honor of two birthing days and the labor

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-38040776527745439612010-01-27T13:09:00.031-07:002010-01-27T20:03:00.738-07:00

A Heavy Metaphor My good friend Grace is extremely thin. "How thin is she?" She's so thin that you can't see her if she turns sideways. Seriously, I love Grace's qualities. Sometimes she's hard to find in a crowd because she's unassuming, like a shadow or a wallflower. Because she's quiet, sometimes I forget she's around and I feel bad about that. But I've never seen her be judgmental,

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-36060455749065963362010-01-25T17:21:00.015-07:002010-01-25T18:41:32.859-07:00

This is the first in a weekly series entitled, Green Beans. "Part One" begins this true story of a homeless woman who unexpectedly came to our house for Christmas. It was a day to remember with lessons that I'm still trying to absorb. Watch for installments over the next couple of weeks or until the story ends ... Green BeansPart I: Mrs. Claus Presents were under the tree. Fat knit

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-44508789286023237372010-01-24T04:06:00.002-07:002010-01-24T04:06:00.228-07:00

"The only value of our life is that it is a gift of God.""No Man is an Island"Thomas Merton(1915-1968)

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-2492066559700947342010-01-22T08:41:00.012-07:002010-01-22T18:34:29.519-07:00

Sometimes the brightestofdays startoutgray.~kleigh (Pictured: A cold front moving in on Pikes Peak. This morning, 8 am.).

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-64976019710482638742010-01-21T12:56:00.008-07:002010-01-21T13:23:16.224-07:00

A short clip of my son Isaac in a video teaser meant to inspire people to 'Regift.'Find more videos like this on Woodland Park Community ChurchDesigned by the Worship Arts Creative Team, at Woodland Park Community Church, this little snippet is one part of a larger Christmas campaign which was targeted to inspire people to 'Regift' their resources, talents, time to people in need. Isaac doubled

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-81516160441486789372010-01-20T07:37:00.012-07:002010-01-22T09:50:03.069-07:00

Struggling for what to say ...My last post was a nod to the earthquake's aftermath. Since then, I've been conflicted about how to re-engage with my blog. How do you restart conversation after devastation? A shared catastrophe like Haiti makes everyday life feel trite in comparison. Consider This: Hundreds of thousands of people are dead and dying in historic human tragedy, and, next on The Spill

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-79938556877562231972010-01-14T13:56:00.014-07:002010-01-15T16:03:31.188-07:00

We are made of the same clay.We love and grieve the same way.We are shaken up.We are mothers.We are taken down.We are brothers.We cry the world's fall under the rubble of walls turnour desperate gazeto our creator's holy face.No us. No them.We.We are Haiti.~kleigh__________________________IMAGE:Port au Prince, Haiti -- 1.13.10A mother sits in the makeshift field hospital awaiting aid for her

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-57701984577693060422010-01-08T04:00:00.014-07:002010-03-18T09:09:10.328-06:00

Dear Mr. Repair Man,During a year of much appliance repair you have offered me a lot of unasked-for advice, and now, I want to return the favor. You must become very frustrated with your customers. I'll bet you often have easy answers to a simple problems. No doubt you get impatient with clients who arrange an appointment -- only for you to arrive and push the “On” switch and have something run

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-22137092919924222592010-01-07T10:31:00.006-07:002010-01-07T10:45:02.847-07:00

Last year we had a spill of appliance repair and replacement. Over the course of 12 months the oven, stove, dishwasher, trash compactor, vacuum, garbage disposal, refrigerator, washer, dryer all had to either be repaired or replaced. Here in a small mountain town, the competition for appliance repair isn’t very aggressive. So, you take what you get. What did I get? Repaired appliances and a

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-29794262555175366892010-01-04T10:05:00.005-07:002010-01-04T16:35:15.017-07:00

A word of thanks from the blog author ...

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-64489208202383097802010-01-03T17:01:00.016-07:002010-01-03T22:08:35.964-07:00

Here we stand at the turn of a new decade in a young century. Between what has passed away and unknowable tomorrows I find myself pondering, "What lasts?" The foundational element of my faith demands that I love God and love people, so the following quote is a relevant answer to my question. Here describes a lasting and worthy pursuit. For 2010 and beyond ... love.~Kleigh"Suppose I speak in the

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-38957395516006068132009-12-30T08:03:00.004-07:002009-12-30T08:54:00.823-07:00

The house is empty but for one sleeping son and the dog at my feet. At 6 a.m. the floors were thumping with big footed searching and loading. Skis, snowboards, helmets, gloves, backpacks all made their way out to the truck in several quick loads. Husband, sons, and friends packed into the truck and headed off into the dark morning, bound for Loveland. Silence. It's been a long time since the

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-40119100935552609492009-12-29T10:03:00.009-07:002009-12-29T10:28:19.700-07:00

This link came from one hilarious Spill reader, in response to Blanket People (12.24.09). Since The Police are on my top dozen list of favorite music from high school, I'm posting it.YouTubes like this are proof that some of us have far too much time on our hands -- or serious priority issues. Doesn't it just make you wonder, "How did they think of this?" And then, "Why on earth did they spend

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-18611143741899825562009-12-28T13:24:00.045-07:002009-12-30T09:10:25.058-07:00

When I was a little kid, my birthday marked my new calendar year. The difference of that one day gave me permission to be someone entirely new. I'd blow out the cake candles and imagine that my previous year evaporated like the smoke dissipating. "That was when I was EIGHT. Now I'm NINE. I'm different." All of my embarrassments and failures from the previous 12 months where sent away --

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-38865169950087287272009-12-25T02:18:00.002-07:002009-12-25T02:18:00.283-07:00

Merry Christmas.

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-29382352655235315522009-12-24T08:43:00.003-07:002009-12-24T09:08:31.777-07:00

Linus was my favorite character on Charlie Brown. He was musical, quiet, observant, and had a blanket. That was me as a kid. So, when Linus stepped out of the chaos of the season and on to center stage to speak his famous little monologue about Christmas, I felt proud for us 'blanket people.' More important, was his message. So here's his monologue, a straight quote from the Bible. And it

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-9190197320593014182009-12-15T11:01:00.020-07:002009-12-16T07:23:06.968-07:00

Andrew Witt & Bandwww.andrewwittmusic.com(Pictured from left, Andrew Leigh, Andrew Witt, Pedro Quinones, Ian Krug)Last weekend, I got to go see Andrew play, in a new band, for the first time. Actually, we've done this kind of 'band' before. But back then, it was a hobby, not a career. Andrew and Ty were in a band for several years during middle school and high school. Their band "Doxology" has

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-5174361372896328212009-12-10T08:40:00.011-07:002009-12-10T13:32:41.433-07:00

It’s a kid’s version of winning the lottery. This week, extreme cold iced the streets, froze our breath, and closed the schools. When the scrolling text on the bottom of the television screen finally announced “Teller RE-2, CLOSED” my sons all smiled and exhaled a relieved, “Yesss!” The lottery was won. Homework halted. It was freedom for a day at our house. Snow days magnify overlooked parts

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-70800524906772957072009-12-08T13:12:00.014-07:002009-12-08T21:39:47.350-07:00

I am now stepping into the mud of web world. This month, I am launching my personal website. Go ahead check it out. Browse around. And most of all, please leave comments. What do you see? How's it working?What do you think?Really. Be honest.I'd love to hear you input.~KleighKelley J. Leighwww.kleighjar.com[clAy] jar dot com....

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-87039610896234829862009-12-02T17:53:00.019-07:002009-12-07T12:03:39.662-07:00

It's a hospital phone call none of us want to make. My friend Heather made that call three years ago. In the conversation below, she's talking to her mother about her 3 year old daughter, Grace. Her husband David is out in the hallway, holding their 7 month old son, Jacob._____________________________________I could barely speak the words, because to speak them to anyone outside of the hospital

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-8724411833623207172009-12-01T20:34:00.037-07:002009-12-02T16:55:07.685-07:00

Hello, again! I've been away from The Spill for a bit. This should explain ...re·pair (rE-pâr)v. re·paired, re·pair·ing, re·pairsv.tr.1. To restore to sound condition after damage or injury; fix: repaired the broken watch.2. To set right; remedy: repair an oversight.3. To renew or revitalize.4. To make up for or compensate for (a loss or wrong, for example)* My computer has been with

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-38451428658534285352009-11-26T20:18:00.014-07:002009-11-26T21:16:03.059-07:00

For Thanksgiving: The prayer of an unknown confederate soldier. He speaks the kinds of blessings that most of us aren't brave enough to request. .Like the unknown soldier, may you discover your own richest blessings in unspoken prayers. Happy Holiday.~kleigh. Soldier's Graves at the Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), 1861.."I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-29546957024456684562009-11-24T18:21:00.011-07:002009-11-24T18:37:34.280-07:00

This just in ...Tuesday, 6:30pm, Thanksgiving Break.Tonight, we were pondering going to a very popular teen girl flick, newly released in theaters this week. Isaac (14) wanted to go to the movie, but then he discovered that he had to go with his parents and explained (this is a direct quote):"this could be socially destructive to my ego." As a solution, he requested that we go to a theater that

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-52941479068540484302009-11-24T04:03:00.017-07:002009-11-25T08:45:05.166-07:00

Thinking about gratitude...A fearsome list of possibilities, and a thankful prayer about things unseen. In a house with four boys, there are an infinite amount of probable crises that might happen, at any moment. Our days have contained skate ramps, new drivers' permits, rocket experiments, zip lines, sleeping bag stairway races, rock climbing, snow sleds racing downhill between trees. And that's

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-52907107268869220152009-11-23T08:37:00.007-07:002009-11-23T09:07:47.160-07:00

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.~William Arthur WardGratitude is the memory of the heart.~Jean Baptiste Massieu, translated from French Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-42081138550613993092009-11-17T18:28:00.038-07:002009-11-19T08:58:08.950-07:00

It's been a crazy couple of weeks with one thing after the next. Pages of my random scribbles and notes are waiting to be deciphered. They are my only hope of remembering much of anything that zoomed by these last days. I'm not kidding. My brain acquired a small memory leak when I hit 40. Benjamin Franklin said, "A small leak can sink a great ship." So I'm thinking my prognosis is not good. .Pen

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-84774865646590529062009-11-12T11:23:00.027-07:002009-11-12T22:07:57.399-07:00

Creating a Space of Your Own. It's hard to be creative and cheap. And, it's a challenge to find personal space in the home of a big family. In case you are looking for your own, here's how I found mine.The only place available in our full house is a rectangle at the end of my bedroom. There is a picture window and sunshine. It works. But initially, the jumble of bed space and studio made the room

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-61645264291960471232009-11-09T13:53:00.010-07:002009-11-10T06:34:16.957-07:00

Continuing in a series about my artist friends .... today, a shameless plug for a really great children's book.Rarely does a bed time story model healthy positive touch between father and daughter. As the rare exception, the simple words of "The Goodnight Thing" are sweet holistic inspiration. Rich Hurst captures a spiritual and physical bond between parent and child. And, the sweeping,

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-70448862973655047122009-11-08T04:21:00.000-07:002009-11-08T04:21:00.357-07:00

The power of words spoken by a child. "I am Somebody."

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-59261221446460034692009-11-07T12:06:00.014-07:002009-11-07T15:54:25.741-07:00

Even the most talented artists end up doing the most unlikely side-jobs. Making a successful living as an artist usually demands a Whatever-It-Takes attitude. Before Mona Lisa, Leonardo DaVinci also worked as a scientist and an inventor. For a time, Renoit was a shoe-tailor and a dress maker. And before his multiple 15 minutes of fame, Andy Warhol made greeting cards and designed graphic rain

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-27523982272105048292009-11-05T07:23:00.014-07:002009-11-18T15:41:17.994-07:00

Continuing in a series about the artists in my life, and the way their art impacts my world. "We seek out campsites by rivers and streams. The flow becomes gurgling white noise for tent sleep. The water play becomes the work of sons and brothers." ~KleighStream work has always been Steve's job. He is a Dad who gets in the stream with his sons. This running tradition would not exist without

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-4994822015226843892009-11-04T07:38:00.020-07:002009-11-04T19:33:36.047-07:00

Boys on the Table. My friends Lois and Adina had a furniture painting business. In the past, they have also collaborated in designing and painting backdrops for the Thin Air Theatre Company, at the Butte Theatre in Cripple Creek, CO. They used to spend hours in an abandoned casino, painting realistic scenes, doors, and walls for stage productions. One time I went to go visit them while they were

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-53598432934114089702009-11-02T07:17:00.010-07:002009-11-02T08:26:29.786-07:00

Spillby AdinaMaybe it's the mountains that attract this type. Maybe these people have an inner magnetic that just irresistibly pulls me where they are. Maybe it's because my brain is so grossly lop-sided to the artistic and abstract right-side. There's no making sense of it, but a bulk of the people I know and love are artists. They are painters, sculptors, writers, dancers, and musiciansThe

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-8632653611362779982009-10-30T10:00:00.011-06:002009-10-30T11:07:20.614-06:00

The Evidence of Musica.k.a. Guitar Picks in the DryerThe pile by the door was everything he needed. An amp, guitar cases, backpack, stage cases, and a computer. The morning sun wasn’t up. Wind and snow whistled by the door as it opened and closed and opened again. The pile shifted from our door into the back of the pick-up. My son’s life shifted from our house to the road. Goodbyes. The same

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-69261662189203942162009-10-28T16:11:00.034-06:002009-10-29T11:47:28.044-06:00

Today was a crash not a spill. Nobody was hurt. The damage can be fixed and something very important was exposed. It all started with my winter storm car crash.It was supposed to be a sharp right turn but my steering wheel couldn't navigate the slide. My car careened across the ice. I took my foot off the brake and tried to steer with the slide. No results. I resigned to the crash and sat

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-25264815433394091382009-10-27T07:32:00.020-06:002009-10-27T18:28:14.672-06:00

SPILL OF SUNSHINE.This morning on the Peak_____________________________________________________________________Larger.Creator.Smaller.Created.Big.God.Little.Us.Some days, it's good to be reminded.~KleighPhoto taken in my front yard today @ 7:30-ish a.m..

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-32261394591640427482009-10-26T08:23:00.024-06:002009-10-26T19:46:11.558-06:00

A Big Picture. There is something about the Matrix movies that makes me want to work out until every one of my muscles is visible ('not going to happen). I want to fight for what's right, like Neo. I want to be Trinity. And, it's not just about the cool flowing coats and the slow anti-gravity moves. That story wakes a deep place and makes me long for supernatural ability to fight for what's

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-22837480326251796352009-10-23T04:30:00.011-06:002010-01-20T14:45:37.941-07:00

Today’s spill in question is another laundry room incident. This one turned into a small flood of water ... and cat food.I’m now officially too old to leave anything unattended. It's dangerous. I can't leave a pot of water heating on the stove if I’m not in the kitchen. I can’t turn on the lawn sprinkler, or leave the car running while I ‘run in’ for a minute. A minute is enough time to forget

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-29387663518765382092009-10-22T09:28:00.002-06:002009-10-22T09:31:38.151-06:00

....

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-71695759609194805082009-10-21T04:30:00.016-06:002009-10-22T17:14:27.576-06:00

A red light, coffee, and a better path.This re-run post is about one very significant life spill. _____________________________It's hard to lay loved things down. It's hard to start in a new direction -- even if it's a good direction. Sometimes it's brought on by a job, an addiction, or a relationship. There are times when we just know ... that thing is no longer what's best for us.

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-83385326561613369742009-10-20T07:27:00.028-06:002009-10-20T18:45:13.412-06:00

This is quite unplanned. The Spill is now in a series about things that spill. Because, frankly, things have been spilling. Yesterday, it was potatoes. Today, it's bleach._________________________________________________________________A Difficult Morning.We are experiencing alarm clock dysfunction. Between 5:45 and 6 a.m., three different digital horns beep to deaf ears. It's probably my fault.

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-1138763590340459442009-10-19T13:15:00.037-06:002009-10-20T10:04:20.855-06:00

Apparently, I have a potato issue. The grocery store doors slid open, I pushed my cart out into the parking lot, and a small brown object rolled out into the road. Then another ... and another.... and another. There was a small parade of rolling potatoes tumbling across the crosswalk before I figured out that the escaping russets were mine. The bag sitting on the bottom of my cart had come

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-73388866401050210872009-10-18T04:35:00.000-06:002009-10-18T04:35:00.260-06:00

Silent Monks, singing the "Alleluia Chorus" from Handel's Messiah. Don't miss this. I'm not kidding.

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-3170624423669403242009-10-16T04:16:00.036-06:002009-10-16T19:07:30.223-06:00

Memory Music: Part IVContinuing in a series of posts about the way music unlocks memory ... today, I'm strolling way back into childhood.Swing MusicAndee Harty lived down the alley. She had long brown hair, an easy smile, and a golden retriever named Nugget. Andee’s real name is Andrea. We walked 6+ blocks to Roosevelt Elementary school together, day after day, year after year. Sometimes, she

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-24160101903701705002009-10-14T04:30:00.013-06:002009-10-14T12:32:26.561-06:00

Huey & Me. Minneapolis, 2006How did I forget Huey? A friend just reminded me about Huey Lewis and the News. So now my High School Favorites list has to be revised. Add Huey. But I'm not going to add a youtube of "The Power of Love" or "Do you Believe in Love" or "Walking on a Thin Line." Why? The music is worth turning up. But the video cringe factor is killing me. I just can't watch

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-85262237014538732762009-10-13T09:40:00.007-06:002009-10-13T18:04:38.402-06:00

My sister Kim, a.k.a. The Human Search Engine, just sent me this link. In this hilarious experiment, several sculptors attempt to sculpt a replica of Lionel Richie's head while blindfolded. It's a re-enactment of the blind sculpture at the end of his famous "Hello" video. Even if you're not a Lionel Richie geek like me, go look at "The Hello Experiment".Thanks, Kim!

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-41995388705013894282009-10-13T04:00:00.010-06:002009-10-15T12:17:58.377-06:00

Memory Music: Part IIIThis 1984 MTV video by Lionel Richie was completely dreamy as far as I was concerned. My friend Maureen Blandford and I had some odd ongoing conversation about this song because I was a dork about it, trying to act like I was already "sick of it" being overplayed on the radio right after it came out. She kept trying to tell me that it hadn't been out long enough for me to

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-40184074331983077892009-10-11T19:25:00.032-06:002009-10-15T12:19:47.238-06:00

Memory Music Part II:Continuing in a series about the way music unlocks memory...Chicago.I talked about this in my last post. Chances are good, you have a song that sends you somewhere. You have a lyric, chorus or bridge that brings a feeling that you haven’t had since ‘that day.’ It’s a God moment, an unexpected death, a year in school. Or maybe, a romance, a birth, a childhood friend, or

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-45168946360491079032009-10-09T12:48:00.025-06:002009-10-13T10:16:29.193-06:00

“Old days. Good times I remember ... take me back, to a world gone away ...” ~Chicago What music did you listen to when you were a kid? This past weekend, I was reminded that ‘back in the old days’ everything I loved came from the radio first. No iTunes, no Napster. We had radio, albums, and cassette tapes. That's it, unless you count the 8 track player. Which I don't. And even though MTV

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-13253404885838264942009-10-05T17:18:00.028-06:002009-10-06T12:42:07.559-06:00

Milwaukee Airport 10.05.09Airport security check. This morning I was standing in Milwaukee's long security line with my shoes off and it occurred to me that there is no other place besides a locker room, where I undo my belt and strip it off among strangers. Where else are we all forced to shuffle next to each other, in our socks? That long human conveyor line is like a whole other culture with

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-63536176770287879332009-09-26T09:01:00.005-06:002009-09-26T09:20:35.339-06:00

Same dog, different day... It looks a bit more like September around here again. Happy Autumn, everybody!...

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-60283542840172280272009-09-23T17:32:00.005-06:002009-09-23T17:53:25.293-06:00

Maybe our dog is just as perplexed as we are.Pix: Continuing September Snow, 9.23.09

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-20241188175876100752009-09-22T11:31:00.007-06:002009-09-22T12:14:53.531-06:00

Today in the garden ...The clouds on the Peak are threatening more snow and the leaves on the aspens are still green. It feels like summer and winter just had a head-on collision. And I'm wondering, "What happened to autumn?" .

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-51812759509644029362009-09-21T11:58:00.002-06:002009-09-21T12:03:25.700-06:00

It's the last day of summer, and my garden is covered with snow. Does this seem right to you?...

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-82296520290310059012009-09-19T20:40:00.020-06:002009-09-20T16:27:02.010-06:00

Today's thought is an ancient poem, and famous. Most all of us have probably heard it read at a hospital room or during a sacred service. Some parts of it can probably be retrieved from somewhere in the cobwebs of our childhood brains. It's a sketch of God, written by an Israeli king who had been a shepherd as a boy. The words are a comfort and hope, and they come from David, the poetic

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-64294235675827116452009-09-18T18:34:00.007-06:002009-09-18T18:44:55.137-06:00

"The gym is an oven full of music, sweat, and disappointment."Isaac, (8th grade) giving advice to his younger brother Lucas, (6th grade) before his very first middle school dance, tonight.

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-52480788429844140002009-09-16T04:39:00.011-06:002009-09-16T07:31:49.284-06:00

Sodium bicarbonate in a heavy orange bag. Arm and Hammer. I just bought a 12 pound bag of it at Sam's Club. I'm not kidding. 12 pounds of baking soda. And it cost a little less than 5 bucks.It's a personal test. I'm conducting a cleaning trial. The heavy duty bag of white powder is going to start helping me clean my house for less money and in a greener fashion. Until today, I was really

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-72427634978679446712009-09-15T19:22:00.008-06:002009-09-16T07:19:23.134-06:00

It has to happen, sooner or later. The kitchen must be conquered. When the garbage disposal continues to vomit into the sinkWhen the fridge opens, and I involuntarily reach to catch whatever might be falling outWhen I wander into the pantry and wonder if the food is being held hostage by the chaosWhen the pots and pans are stacked so precariously that none can be retrieved without a deafening

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-24734036244028347242009-09-09T05:19:00.013-06:002009-09-09T14:41:46.463-06:00

"Caution: This sign has sharp edges. Do not touch the edges of this sign.Also, the bridge is out ahead."

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-11393592337474405712009-09-08T20:08:00.027-06:002009-09-09T14:48:21.201-06:00

I have a phone aversion. The phone is not my friend. And, it's a little awkward to talk about. Because, if I admit how much I hate talking on the phone, my friends and family will assume I'm talking about talking to them. It's a tricky phone line to walk, because you will end up thinking you shouldn't call me ... ever. It's a hard thing to speak, because conversation is the lynch pin for

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-74351878706331104332009-09-04T16:13:00.007-06:002009-09-04T18:15:34.850-06:00

The Colorado State Fair finishes up this weekend, down in Pueblo. The first time we went to the fair as a family was back in 2001. All six of us smashed into one of those trailers where you dress up like robbers & outlaws and a photographer snaps a couple antique-looking old-fashioned pictures. This week, we returned to the photo trailer and put on the costumes. 8 years later. Can you spot

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-54865147586794347352009-09-02T14:48:00.005-06:002009-09-04T18:12:30.486-06:00

Pictured below are the bears that wandered through, yesterday. A mom and two babies -- black and cinnamon. They emptied our neighbor's feeders and lounged around long enough for us to stand around on our patio and enjoy a good long look.Thanks to Tina for the great pictures!!Enjoy.

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-10137563934484496562009-09-01T15:58:00.037-06:002009-09-04T07:29:40.714-06:00

"That's not clouds. It's smoke." This haze blew in today after traveling around 800 miles. The smoke is a sky trail from the forest fires that are now burning in California. Somehow, the world feels closer-in when the breeze from a distant disaster blows through your front yard.I remember back in 1980 when the ash from Mount Saint Helen's volcanic eruption blew across Chicago. I was walking to

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-19467156272070311312009-08-30T13:41:00.009-06:002009-08-30T21:43:21.922-06:00

I just walked around the yard and gardens snapping random pictures. You're welcome to walk along with me ...

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-48283298987239450542009-08-29T08:36:00.006-06:002009-09-04T07:30:55.274-06:00

Consider this post as a moment of silence in honor of my friend -- a mom who is remembering a daughter lost unexpectedly in a car accident, 10 years ago. Tiffany would have been 29 this year but as her grave marker says, her physical life stopped at 19. Like so many Mom's who experience sudden loss, my friend's life had to go on somehow. I've been privileged to learn much from her epic

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-63888914024998933352009-08-28T05:29:00.001-06:002009-08-28T07:15:53.906-06:00

We speak a universal language. It's hardwired into all of us. Bobby McFerrin proves it in another way. Check it out.P.S. Thanks to Nikki for posting it first!

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-41499151629853706432009-08-27T11:13:00.005-06:002009-08-27T19:46:27.946-06:00

This is what we look like ... 'in case you were wondering.Family Reunion, 2009

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-82882510541523198622009-08-27T08:15:00.017-06:002009-08-28T10:52:01.703-06:00

Yesterday was the first day of school here in Teller County. Small bundles of parents gathered outside the kindergarten doors, getting their 1st instructions and waving goodbye to their tiny little people in tiny little backpacks. Middleschoolers scrambled to find friends in their homerooms and at their lunch tables. The empty parking lot at the high school was crammed full for the first time in

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-31289398229319294912009-08-21T12:44:00.019-06:002009-08-27T19:39:01.634-06:00

Today, I was sitting at a fast food spot with my husband when my cup started talking. It wasn't just announcing the latest Meal Deal. My medium sized ice-coffee was talking to me, and to everybody around me, about me. The red words framed in the middle of my cup, explained to me what was happening. Were it not for those words, I would have gone the rest of my day without knowing. Turns out, the

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-4816024388405507322009-08-17T11:55:00.007-06:002009-08-17T18:40:15.908-06:00

The Big Group. These pix will have to be worth the 1000 words I can't write right now.   It's time for me to unpack and catch up on the million details that were waiting for me after the big family reunion. In the meantime, here's what our group looks like.  This is a representation of 8 family units from all across the country.  And, we all know, pictures like these only come around once in a

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-76006890470134251632009-08-05T04:28:00.010-06:002009-08-05T17:21:22.286-06:00

It's paint-by-numbers poetry. It probably offends true poets everywhere.  I wrote this poem by following a template on the web. And it was pretty fun. I'm going to have my sons each write one while we are on the road to a family reunion next week. At least two of them will not enjoy doing it at all.  So be it.  I birthed them.  They owe me.You can write your own "I AM" poem, or have your friend,

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357537372344244108.post-17746473317523604992009-08-04T10:05:00.005-06:002009-08-04T10:13:17.595-06:00

A Facebook friend posted this picture today stating that, "Little kids at family reunions are the best part."  'True that.I love the way this tiny little girl is mirroring the panting old dog.  Precious.Just passing along the cuteness. Posted by Mark Kraakevik, Photo by Jim Jefson.

Kleigh (clAy)http://www.blogger.com/profile/17578664783467374996noreply@blogger.com0