“As It Should”

July 2025

Heading out this morning to document the impact on last night’s continual rainfall, my memory dipped back onto a different July deluge that flooded homes of friends and family. That time, the highway construction nearby added debris that dammed huge parts of the drainage ditches designed to take unexpected, heavy rain.

This morning’s walk by those same areas showed everything working as planned. Further into the park, sections normally dry pooled with new swimming areas for our ducks. Some parts, normally sidewalks accessing the lake for fishing, sat submerged. I left feeling confident that all of the predicted weather for the rest of this week will spread out toward the wide banks and lower areas surrounding the park, with the lake, parched from previous droughts, absorbing most of the water. 

Everything going as it should.

2025 debris

Copyright 2026 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

“Three Steps Back”

Summertime adventures abound with friends and family. Our household, though, moves into a different direction as car troubles, air conditioner woes, and plumbing disasters syphon away time, energy and money. This triple blow twenty years ago would’ve battered us into despair. 

Age and experience now shield us.

Been there. 

Done that. 

Phrases that reassure because it isn’t the end of the world as we know it. It’s simply stepping back into a zone we’ve visited many times.

We cope by shifting to small indulgences for the rest of the summer until we regain our footing and can step ahead again. 

One small indulgence. Mini-roses!

Copyright 2026 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

One indulgence is free! Listening to music! SUPPORT artists and musicians like IOUNIO by liking, sharing, commenting and SUBSCRIBING!

"Greek Teas"

   

            When we lived in Dover, Delaware, Mom and her friends gathered most mornings for coffee and gossip. Each woman served from lovely china sets that included coffee pots that matched their cups and saucers. Mrs. Hurley, who was born and raised in Wales, always steeped a cup of tea for me. Her hospitality warmed my five-year-old soul as much as the savory brews.

            By the time I was nine, my mother purchased all kinds of teas for me to try. Her favorite, Constant Comment, always resided in the pantry. Sometimes she prepared a black tea as dark as coffee and laced with milk and sugar. She picked up different mint teas and green teas that stayed light with gentle flavors. My love of teapots sprouted when we moved to Illinois and became entwined with my passion for tisanes.

            My delight with teas and teapots makes me an easy person to shop for when it comes to my birthdays, Christmases or anniversaries. Finding teas from other countries to bring to me became a quest for my husband and son. The internet and Amazon opened up a plethora of options with them researching the health benefits of various infusions. Their passion for all things Greek led them to discover their most recent gift to me: Greek Mountain Tea, Diktamos, and a Greek herbal cocktail of Marjoram, Sage and Diktamos. These ancient teas medicinal benefits include relieving respiratory infections, easing stomach and digestive problems, and lessening rheumatism. If you want antioxidants, just steep a cup each day. They’ve become a family favorite already.

Copyright 2022 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

           

 

           

                    

"Zeros and Ones"

            Conversations lately dive into “what if” the economy gets hacked. What if all of those “ones” become “zeros” with accounts wiped clean? At the moment, I have $3.00 and a handful of quarters in my purse. Trusting that our system works, and that no criminal mind or terrorist group will implode our financial system, means there’s a cross of faith I wear daily.
            Would the people who always have “ones” step forward to care for those who have nothing? Would estranged families reunite to stand together?  Would the best each of us has to offer spring forth in collaboration with neighbor helping neighbor? Would our communities, towns or cities share resources freely? Would state and national governments pull together, providing food, shelter and safety for each citizen?
            What will be the crisis response if more than towers go down?
            I believe those of us who can will share and care.
            I believe in unity.
            I believe in cooperation.
            I believe in decency.
            I believe in sunrises.    




       
Copyright 2024 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

"A Lesson In Art"

  

            Take a few moments to check out the latest art from JCMG STUDIO! These wonderful and unique black and white designs let you wear art every day. I love supporting local artists and this is such an easy way to embrace original artists at a time by selecting and wearing their designs.   

https://www.jcmgstudio.com/

Supporting original artist and musicians becomes extremely important in today's artifical world! All you need to do is SUBSCRIBE to help musicians and artists like JCMG!

Copyright 2023 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman