Long Hollow

Hello There

Has anyone even missed me?

For the past few days, I've been holed up in my office, focused in a way that's unusual for me, fueled with determination to finish editing photos from a shoot last month.

(I know! Shame on me for taking so long! I do have the relatively good excuse of getting my new computer, having to load software and learn how to do what I need to do, bit by bit. Still, shame on me...)

But I'm happy to report I finished the photos last night and mailed them off to my friend today. I also mailed a shoebox full of thank-you notes to friends who helped me get this dream computer that I'm staring at right now. I never, ever, ever could have gotten it without them, so the writing of those notes had also been hanging over my head, occasionally tapping me on the shoulder, and even sometimes tripping me when I walked by. 

I forgive them because I appreciate the reminders, but you can imagine how relieved I am to have them out of my house!

(Now I know my friends that they're addressed to aren't checking their mailboxes every day and tsk, tsk, tsking me on my lack of manners, or planning to de-Facebook-friend me because of it. But it's one of those things you feel inside, that you know you need to take care of and the longer you put it off the more it eats at you.)

So, whew! that's done.

During my outing to the post office, I also mailed a ring to a friend. This is a dear friend who lives a couple of hours away, who I just happened to visit this past weekend on the premise of her hosting a Silpada party for me.

This ring is the replacement to one she bought several years ago from a different Silpada representative. The stone had fallen out and I took care of the exchange for her. (Silpada has a lifetime guarantee.) 

I've been holding onto the replacement ring for a few weeks now. I mean, why mail it when I would be going to see her soon anyway, right?

It's weird...I remember the very moment this weekend when I realized I had forgotten to bring that ring. I was standing in her kitchen and it hit me hard, like a frying pan. Thank goodness Nancy was (sort of) forgiving and didn't hit me herself with a frying pan.

And hallelujah! that nagging feeling that I'd forgotten something went away...

Tom came along with me for the weekend and we had such a great time. Nancy and Paul are teachers who live out in the country, as in cows and chickens and kittens and sheep and tractors and gardens overflowing with cucumbers, squash, potatoes, peppers... overflowing enough that they loaded us up with fresh garden treasure... that now overflows bowls in my kitchen...

It had been a couple of years since our last visit to their house. Time always brings change, but this time the change was pretty obvious: an oil rig squatted in the pasture between Nancy's house and her in-laws'.

Oil is the new hot crop in those parts, especially after the drought of the past couple of years. Ranchers have had to sell cattle because they couldn't feed them. The oil boom is a huge blessing!

And that's why they forgive the rig its gawky incongruity with the surrounding countryside. In fact, Tom would really love to get one, too!

But I had looked forward to getting some more photos of Nancy's cows, and was disappointed that the rig had scared them off to some distant back forty. 

Thank goodness the Mama cat had had more kittens...

...and even though for some reason I felt too intimidated on this trip to snap any photos during Mass of their gorgeous, historic church, I did snap these afterward...

Nancy and I also went for a ride down the highway on a Kuboto RTV to meet members of their sheep herd (mostly to see the brand new babies) but I'm going to post those on my photography site, um, later. Hopefully tomorrow.

But there are still some of those items on my to-do list tapping me on my shoulder, so first and foremost, I'm going back into my shell to get them done before they start tripping me as I walk by. 

#1 on that list is "make progress on my book." 

Wish me luck!

Vintage Airports, Engaged Couples, Dark-Eyed Juncos, and other Sweet!s of the Week

We've known him since he was a baby, but when Justin gets married next month we won't be at the wedding. He and his beautiful bride-to-be Pati are tying the knot in Mexico, and as much as we'd love a few days at an ocean side resort, we just can't swing it financially. 

That's why his mom and dad threw an engagement party for them last weekend, so we and all the rest who couldn't be at the ceremony could celebrate with the couple.

The best part.. it was a surprise party! I love surprises!

They thought the surprise was just a flight in this small plane...

They didn't know it would land at a different airport where friends and family waited to party with them in a vintage airport terminal.

 

Did you catch that "vintage airport" part?

It was the 1940's Air Terminal Museum - the original art deco air terminal at Hobby Airport in Houston, currently being renovated back to its glory days and filled with all sorts of vintage airport memorabilia. Very cool!

I took one or two photos... ahem...

Bob, Justin's dad, decorated the tables with flags and maps and tidbits on the history of Justin and Pati's love story.

As you can see, we sat at the Istanbul, Turkey table, where Justin and Pati's story began.

Bob's so creative.

Believe it or not, I also took some photos of the cute couple! 

 

Ah, young love. Very sweet! 

And now for a few other sweet!s of my week...

Saturday: seeing your husband after a week apart; surprise parties; dancing, dancing, dancing

Sunday: breakfast by Daddy; parakeets running wild; tutus and cowgirl boots; a slumber party with your sister and mom

Monday: finding out you won a beautiful sketch by TexWis Girl; a call from a dear friend; an afternoon walk with the puppies after a fun weekend with friends and family; new growth on a beautiful tree you didn't think survived the drought

Tuesday: the sun rising early enough to fit in a walk with the puppies before work; a call from another good friend; two hawks hamming it up for your camera (okay, once on the computer I realized they were those vultures again, but they really are photogenic!)

Wednesday: time before work to walk your puppies, switch the laundry around, and run two miles; high school juniors reading and writing children's stories; packages in the mailbox; baby frogs; finding out Hilary at The Smitten Image awarded you a Post of the Week for one of your photography posts

Thursday: hours to get lost in your writing; answered prayers for a friend; your mom calling, worried about you because you haven't checked in with her yet today

Friday: veggie omelettes; eavesdropping on teenager's conversations; a mailbox stuffed with the box containing the beautiful sketch you won, a dark-eyed junco by TexWisGirl Theresa of The Run*A*Round Ranch Report

Isn't it precious? She's so talented!

Theresa also enclosed one four- and one five-leaf clover in a sweet card. Bonus sweet!

Thanks again, Theresa!! 

I hope the next week is filled with bonus sweet!s for all of you!

Earth Day and an Apology to my Puppies

The dogs' bowls were empty. Max had wandered around the corner of the house, probably on down to the doghouse, calling it a night. Belle lay near me, gnawing on a bone. 

I had a few hours left in the day after seven hours (on my feet) at the winery and a long walk with the puppies. Potential to-do's flipped through my mind like cards in a rolodex...

And yet there I sat, butt frozen to my rocking chair, mesmerized by the rhythmic chirp-chirps of the crickets, the bass croaking of the frogs, the steady singing of the little waterfall below me.

I rocked and watched the blue of a cloudless eastern sky deepen... watched a blink of a crescent moon appear in the west... tried to think of a way to describe the color of the sunset...

No clouds. Nothing dramatic. Just a golden, pinkish, blue...

...and that's when I heard it, the buzzing in my ear. Mosquito. Time to go in.

But despite the mosquitos and other bugs, Earth is a great place to live, isn't it? 

Happy Earth Day!

Now, the apology... 

In yesterday's post, I mentioned a dead armadillo we discovered on the property, and that we suspected our puppies, trying to protect us from great danger, had something to do with its demise.

Well, I think everyone knows armadillos are pretty harmless. 

But coral snakes aren't, and we're pretty sure the dogs also had something to do with the demise of this one pictured below...

Red and yella kill a fella. Yep, coral snake. 

We found it dead and decaying on the side of our driveway back in March, and yet I never once posted about it. Oh, I intended to, but there's that time thing...

But that's no excuse. I should have bragged about my ferocious, courageous, heroic puppies at the time, so that's why I'm officially apologizing to them now.

Will you forgive me, Belle and Max?

Pretty please?

Pretty, pretty please? We'll take an extra walk tomorrow...

Whew. I think I'm forgiven.

Sweet dogs.

Sweet Earth. 

 

Adventurous Kids, No Dead Armadillos on the Porch, and other sweet things

My kids are off adventuring this weekend. I'm living vicariously through them. That's my right as their mother, isn't it?

The oldest and his love are in San Diego... yesterday they caught a glimpse of a migrating grey whale while kayaking!

The other two are off caving, separately. One in Austin and one a bit west of here.

A portion of my book takes place in a cave, so I asked them to take notes and photos for me, and they graciously agreed. (I had plans to go caving myself last weekend as research, but didn't make it because of my birthday party. No regrets!)

I love, love, LOVE it that these babies of mine love exploring and experiencing the wonders of this world, even though it keeps me on my knees praying in hyper-drive. 

On another note, is it just me turning a year older or has time suddenly shifted into a higher gear? This past week has gone by in a blur. My head is spinning and I've trouble keeping track of what day it is, much less my email!

But I managed to keep track of my Sweet!s, and here they are...

Saturday: being totally blown away and humbled by the generosity of your friends and family; a friend's beautiful paintings in person; sweet friends' faces you didn't expect to see

Sunday: Mass with your husband and son; the greening of a vineyard; fresh brick oven pizza; enjoying the last episode of season one of The Game of Thrones with 2/3 of your kids; finally getting a chance to play with your new Mac computer

Monday: new computer technology (amazing!); butterflies and dragonflies; friends who find you things they know you'll love at garage sales

Tuesday: high school theater classes; getting paid to watch the movie "Gandhi"; evening sunlight turning weeds into art

 

(the fish that swallowed Gepetto in Pinocchio - the artist is the girl on the left)

Wednesday:; finishing a good book; being able to help your baby; photography workshops; the frogs' midnight chorus welcoming you 

Thursday: watching the night sky turn into a cloudless sunrise; a fourth-grader's definition of happiness; teaching adverbs to fourth-graders

Friday: sleeping in; a day off to play with your new computer; new running shoes, long overdue and half off the regular price; sharing a quesadilla and a movie at home with your sweetie; your dogs not dragging the dead armadillo up onto the porch

Saturday: a wiggly, grinning puppy, first thing in the morning; dragonflies filling the air; pink cactus blossoms; your kids doing research for your book for you, and calling to let you know they're okay

Um, did you notice the 'dead armadillo' thing up there? I spared you the photo I took of it (it's a sickness, I tell you, taking pics of everything!)

Tom and I discovered the poor deceased thing on our walk Friday afternoon. In fact, he almost stepped right on it.

We suspect our dogs had something to do with its death, but have no proof. If they're guilty of its demise, I'm sure they only did it to protect us from great harm.

Sigh.

I really am just grateful they didn't feel the need to deposit that nasty thing on the front porch as is their usual custom with dead animals. We're making progress!

Vultures have been partying around here, as you can imagine, soaring through the skies. Since I didn't post the armadillo's portrait, I'll leave you with the vulture's... I bet he added the dead armadillo to his sweet! list!

What were your sweet! moments of the week? Share!

An evening walk... and other sweet!s of the week

Tom and I have gotten into the habit of an afternoon walk down to our pond and along our little creek. The blue skies, golden light and exploding colors are irresistible.

First, Max wades into the pond up to his neck, letting the water penetrate his thick fur and cool him down. Belle ventures to the water's edge for a drink, but prefers to wallow in the sand of the road.

(Strange dog.)

Once Max is back on dry land, and dutifully shakes to share the pond with us, we cross the dam dotted with prairie verbena and fleabane, watching for poison ivy and blackberries, checking to see what trees are returning and which ones didn't survive the drought. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on the slender ones with the beautiful bark that line the creek. So far I haven't spotted any buds, but maybe they're late bloomers...

It's possible, right?

We head up the hill a bit, then cross over to the little cemetery where Jake and Maggie and Char and Sylvia and Sylvester and Spanky are buried, marked with small iron crosses. (That's two dogs, one Siamese cat, two gerbils and a tiger salamander, if you're wondering. All beloved pets.)

We pass the old, twisted cedars and scramble down a small slope to a path that runs along the creek, following it back up to the little waterfall where we search for minnows and tadpoles before crossing the little rock dam.

The water is rising a little every day and you can't cross without getting your feet wet now, but we don't mind. We aim for two large limestone slabs resting on the bank of the creek just a bit downstream, where we sit and talk about our days. Max wades back in, but Belle gives us kisses and lets us pet her before they both scratch out cool spots in the earth under a rock overhang near us and nap until we decide it's time to head back to the house.

I imagine heaven to be very similar. 

At any rate, it's a sweet way to greet the evening.

Every spring is the only spring — a perpetual astonishment.

Ellis Peters

 

Here are a few other sweet! moments from my past week...

Saturday: sitting on a rock near a running creek with your dogs and husband, watching tadpoles scurry under the surface 

Sunday: a spring morning that makes you hear Cat Stevens singing "Morning Has Broken" in your mind

Monday: watching a great documentary on the 50's and 60's... and getting paid for it!; an overdue phone call that settles the Mama Worries growing in your heart; a drive down to the lake with your sweetie

Tuesday: progress on your book; homemade migas for lunch, with enough left over for tomorrow's breakfast; playing the drums for the first time in two or three weeks; hearing happiness and relief in your babies' voices 

Wednesday: playing the drums for the second day in a row; a new book in the mailbox

Thursday: long phone conversations with a dear friend; spending time with your daughter; tortilla soup from Santa Rita; a walk near a creek at dusk

Friday: living in a small town where, everywhere you go, you run into someone you know; butterflies; Catholic Church fish fries, followed by Stations of the Cross; Belle's grin when you come back home

I hope your past week was full of sweet! moments... and the next will have even more! Share your favorites here!

What the heck...? (Calling all bird experts!)

Last week on a morning walk, I heard the neighborhood hawk calling. I ducked through some bushes to this pond, but instead of the hawk, this bird flew out, squawking, startled. 

In turn, I was startled, and even though I lifted my camera and snapped a couple of shots, they aren't good photos. I thought I was seeing our Great Blue Heron, returned from travels in wetter climates. 

But this sure doesn't look like our regular Great Blue, although it's about the same size. Could it be a young one?

I zoomed in on this next photo, so it's a little grainy, but you can see the colors on his/her wings.

Any ideas?

Follow-up... thanks to my bird expert friend, Liz White, I'm convinced the Hollow was blessed with a visit by an American Bittern on its migratory way back north. Just a lucky sighting on my part! 

Catching My Breath (and other Sweet!s)

I haven't blogged in a whole week. I think that's a record. 

Snippets and ideas for posts have popped in my head - random words are scribbled on scraps of paper all over the house and in the car - but I haven't been able to stop long enough to work them into full posts.

This morning Life is moving slower and I'm hoping today I can focus my attention on those poor, neglected Good Intentions and Need-To-Do's I see moping in a dusty corner.

It's been a fun week, though. No exotic vacations or anything, but just Life and all of the challenges and adventures and love it provides. There have been beautiful spring days that turned into powerful thunderstorms with blustery winds and cold temperatures... which meant stinky country dogs cowering in the laundry room... but we're back to Spring and warmth and outside dogs now.

While I'm grateful for the rain, I'm not so grateful for the mosquitoes it awakened. They buzzed and bit me every step of my walk this morning. You can be sure I'll thoroughly douse myself with repellent every morning from now on.

Yesterday, TG fixed me breakfast... a delicious sauteed veggies/scrambled eggs concoction she prepared every morning over Christmas break that set my stomach growling with its divine smell. But it was always several hours after I'd already eaten.

I'm too lazy to go to that much trouble myself first thing in the morning, but yesterday I slept late after a sleep-deprived weekend and she woke up early to prepare for a Spring Break trip to the coast... which means we woke up at the same exact time! So when I saw the eggs and veggies coming out of the fridge, I worked out a deal with her involving laundry.

One of the best deals I've ever made! It turned out to be just as delicious as it smelled, and sustaining enough for a day on the run that included seeing her disappear into one of five chartered buses for an overnight drive (and praying the whole way home for their safety!)

Sunday morning I met a blog friend for the first time in person. Non-bloggers (or non-FlickRers, etc.) probably don't understand how exciting that is.  They might have trouble understanding how you can become friends with total strangers you connect to online but have never seen face-to-face, but I can assure you those friendships are just as real as any other. 

Wolf, of Just Add Father, was in town for a dad blogger conference. He delayed his flight home to meet me, Tom, and 2/3 of my kids for brunch downtown at the Driskill Hotel's 1886 Cafe and Bakery. It was just like meeting a long-time friend I hadn't seen in a while. 

Wolf is a pseudonym (he explains why he uses one on his blog) so we had some fun taking this photo below. I wanted one I could post here. (I'm sure the people sitting at nearby tables were wondering what the heck we were doing!) 

We chatted awhile on the sidewalk after eating, but knew it was time to part ways when my kids (ages 20 and 23!) got restless and started roughhousing on the sidewalk. 

Some things never change!

Actually, we needed to leave anyway because Wolf wanted to walk around and see the Austin sights before heading for the airport, and we wanted to get back to the house to visit with my oldest and his fiance before they had to leave.

They were in town for a wedding. After the reception on Saturday night, they brought friends back to the house with them and all of us were up really, really late visiting and laughing. I always enjoy seeing those grown-up kids, even though it makes me feel old, wondering how these kids who I swear were in middle school yesterday are now out of college, working, married...

Totally worth getting only 4 hours of sleep.

No, really it was.

<yawn>

Anyway, Sunday afternoon I grilled chicken and enjoyed a quick dinner with them, before dashing off (late!) to my writer's group meeting.

Even after all this time, my book is still a misshapen piece of clay. Writing is so dang hard. But with these women's input and guidance, it's beginning to take shape, although it still needs lots and lots of pinching, molding, scoring...

It's tough - even painful - but I'm grateful to them and willing to do whatever work is necessary to have a finished piece by the end of the year.  

Saturday I took a short road trip along Highway 281 to San Antonio. A friend of mine hosted a Silpada jewelry party for me.

Highway 281 runs through the Texas hill country and several small towns... a beautiful drive, even on a rainy day like Saturday. I spotted my first bluebonnets, splashes of blue drizzled along the roadside. I promised myself I'd drive out this week on a sunny day and take some photos.

Jewelry parties are always fun, what with the food and drinks, the sparkly silver bling, and meeting lots of interesting women, but this one was especially fun because Jackie and I went to high school together, but didn't really know each other until just recently. We reconnected thanks to Facebook and discovered we didn't live that far from each other.

Here we are with another high school friend, Marilyn, who came to the party. She lives even closer to Jackie but they didn't even realize it until recently.

And here I am with one of my dearest friends, Nancy, the first person I met when we moved to Lago. She now lives near San Antonio, so she and her daughter took advantage of the situation and came to the party, too. 

You just can't beat reconnecting with friends, playing with pretty jewelry, and making money at the same time, can you?

The rest of the week was a blur of writing, reading, subbing at the high school, trying to catch up on emails, and watching the Hollow explode in greens, blue, yellows, pinks, and purples. I'm hoping not to get lost in the busy-ness of this week.

I do want to mention Tuesday, though. I spent the day swim suit shopping with TG in preparation for this trip to the coast. There's always more under the surface than shopping, though... there's talking, laughing, sharing, and just soaking up the sight of her.

In one store, going through a clearance rack, I came across the perfect shirt to describe the way I feel...

We took turns trying it on and snapping pics with my iPhone, but in the end, I just went ahead and bought it. How could I not? It was cheap and fit perfectly, in so many ways!

And now for the official Sweet! report:

Monday: time to be still and breathe, sitting on a rock beside a pond, listening to running water and chattering birds, watching silly dogs and flirting dragonflies

Tuesday: hours spent with your daughter... shopping, talking, laughing; finding a really good fortune in your Panda Express cookie

Wednesday: porch swings; flowers and tree buds popping out everywhere

Thursday: finishing a great book; high school one-act plays

Friday: rainy days when a drought is fresh in your memory; some of your kids home for the weekend

Saturday: clouds sitting on hilltops; roadsides sprinkled with bluebonnets; a job that lets you catch up with 'old' friends and meet new ones; sangria; staying up late visiting with your kids and their friends, who used to be kids but somehow turned into adults; the birth of a great-nephew and photos on Facebook

Sunday: meeting a blog friend in person for the first time; brunch and people-watching at the Driskill Cafe; an afternoon with your son and future daughter-in-law; a writing group that keeps your ego in check

Monday: sleeping in after a sleep-deprived, busy, busy weekend; spending time with your baby girl 

Wishing each of you a week full of sweet moments!

Spring Fever

This afternoon I sat on a sun-warmed rock beside our pond, watching tadpoles scurry about just under the surface. A finger of wind traced ripples, sending drops of sparkling sunshine scattering like shooting stars in front of me.

Butterflies flirted with flowers. Dragonflies flirted with each other. 

Max and Belle waded, drank, relished the cold and hot on their bodies.

And I just sat there in silence, caught in Spring's spell... oozing gratitude out of every pore in my body... 

 

"It's spring fever. 

That is what the name of it is. 

And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want,

but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!" 

 ~Mark Twain

 

Sky Blue, Sketches, and other Sweet!s (and Bittersweets) of the week

Sky Blue is my favorite crayon color of all time.

Today, God picked it to color the sky. I could imagine him sprawled on the floor of heaven, opening that big box of 96 (the one with the sharpener,) pulling out the Sky Blue, then, with side to side strokes, filling in the entire sky. 

For hours I lay under it on a folding lounge chair of the same color... even reading from a book with a Sky Blue color... wearing jean shorts, flip-flops, and a tank top the same shade of green as the new grass and fresh tree buds, my skin soaking up the sun like the dry winter ground soaks up the spring showers.

I rarely read for hours in a row like that and it felt so good to just lose myself in a story. It helped that I could call it "working"... it was the latest BlogHer Book Club book I'm going to review. I can't tell you the title yet, but I can tell you that I can hardly put the dang book down.

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Yesterday I came home from work to find a mysterious manila envelope on my desk. The name on the return address looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place it.

 Inside I found a heart-melting sketch of my Max puppy... 

It turns out my sweet sister commissioned a wonderfully talented friend of hers, Susan Bromlow, a high school classmate, to sketch this drawing from one of my photos of Max on my blog. Susan (as you can see) is a talented artist. Click HERE to view more of her work.

What a sweet surprise and precious treasure! Thank you so much, Brenda and Susan! 

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Here are a few other sweet moments from the past week....

Monday: a good report from your doctor; lunch with your husband who took the day off

Tuesday: paychecks in the mailbox; an hour on the phone with your oldest, just catching up; clearing out closets and giving things away; a new part time job, helping with the income you need to keep working on your book without finding a full time job

Wednesday: hearing, then seeing, two red-tailed hawks streaking through the Hollow; a golden sunset that fills the sky and stretches to the horizon

Thursday: a gorgeous blue Mexican Jay couple, straw in beaks, busy building a nest; a last-minute, long-overdue catch-up lunch with friends; meeting lifetime friends from out of town for a spur-of-the-moment dinner 

Friday: walking at sunrise; another paycheck in the mailbox; bees buzzing fragrant mountain laurel blooms; daffodils and redbuds; your son's face, up close and in person

Saturday: making an unhappy customer happy again; spending time with both sons plus your future daughter-in-law and her family; an amazing sketch of your puppy arriving in the mail box; a friend's support of your writing

Sunday: sleeping in; an afternoon spent reading in the sunshine

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Before I could publish this post, Tom's dad called to let us know Tom's Aunt Marg had passed away. Please pray for the repose of her soul and for her family. Hearing of her death isn't sweet, of course, but the memories of her in my heart sure are.

Soon after Tom and I were married, we traveled to Wisconsin to meet his dad's side of the family. Aunt Marg opened her home to us, hosting a corn roast and sharing tons of family photos and mementoes.

A few years later, she spent about a week with us. In turn for teaching me how to cross stitch (I became an addict for several years) we took her to Gilley's where she even rode the mechanical bull.

                                   

Summer before last we saw her again in Wisconsin at a family wedding. It had been several years since we'd last seen her... maybe a decade... but she hadn't changed a bit, still as feisty as ever.  She even got out on the dancefloor!

I'm so grateful TG was able to meet her - they really clicked - and for all the memories I have tucked in my heart. Please keep her family in your prayers.

Rest in peace, Aunt Marg. We love you!

Sunsets that Kiss the Sky, Silly Things That Make Me Cry, and other sweets of the week

I'm late with my sweet!s. It feels like a whole month was stuffed into last week...highs and lows, late nights and early mornings, and miles and miles on the road. I've only been home long enough to sleep the past few days. I haven't even gone on a morning walk with my puppies since Friday!

I had to ignore Max and Belle's puppy dog eyes once again this morning so I could make it to my allergy doctor appointment on time. Somehow I missed the past two yearly check-ups. But that just means I've been asthma-free! A very good thing after a lifetime of asthma, of doctor visits and pills and shots and too many trips to the emergency room to count.

But listen to this... based on high scores on my peak flow and lung function tests ("better than average!") I don't have to see him again for another year and a half. Now that's sweet!

Keeping track of the sweet moments in each day has become a habit, hallelujah! Some days I'm better at it than others, but overall I spot them much easier and more often than I ever did before. I know there aren't more sweet!s... I'm just keeping my eyes and heart more open to recognizing them when they grace my way.

I urge you to try, too, if you're not already. It puts a lightness in my heart I would never have imagined possible.

"Even in the midst of all this pain and sadness I see something beautiful."

~ Claire Bidwell Smith

Earlier this week I admitted to a friend that I don't cry as easily as I used to. It kind of worried me, in a way, but I thought perhaps it was because I'm better able to accept the bumps, roadblocks, detours that come in life.

But then the next day Lisleman (from A Few Clowns Short) sent me a short film - he said he knew I'd like it because I'm a writer.  That's pretty sweet! by itself. 

Well, I did like the film. In fact, I loved it! So much that by the last scene I was sobbing! Happy, sad, bittersweet tears, all at the same time. It is one of the most creative, best made, sweetest films I've ever seen. I also realize I'm kind of a book addict, and that probably has a lot to do with why I love it, but I truly think it would bring at least a smile to everyone's face.

Here's the link: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Lessmore 

If you watch it and love it, please let me know. If you don't love it, well, okay, go ahead and let me know that, too. I promise I won't hold it against you. 

Well, I promise I'll try not to hold it against you.

(P.S. Lisleman just let me know it won an Oscar last night for Best Animated Short Film. Yay!)

Friday night I attended Stations of the Cross, something I try to do at least once during Lent... step out of my busy life and really reflect on Christ's sacrifice, his Passion, the last moments of his life on earth, on the fourteen significant moments between his condemnation to his placement in the tomb. I try to consider how I can apply them to my own life. 

This year the Stations in our church were done a little differently than in past years. While our priest moved from station to station, Aaron Neville crooned "Were You There?" in between the readings. He wasn't actually in our church (I wish!) but our priest played a recording narrated by Father Jeff Bayhi with Aaron's sweet voice singing in between.

I enjoyed it so much, I searched and found this little 3-minute clip to share with you. Just one of the fourteen stations. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

 

 And now for a few more of my Sweet!s from the past week...

Monday: the sound of a running creek at the bend in the road; a tip on a writing gig from a friend; an afternoon hunting fossils with your husband

Tuesday: ponds filling with water; arriving in Houston just ahead of highway-clogging traffic; laughter blending with tears

 

Wednesday: supporting your friends and loved ones in times of heartbreak and grief; treasured time with your parents, sister, and cousins; talking to a rooster and a chicken in a parking lot; warm days that turn into soft evenings; reminders to not waste a single moment of your life 

Thursday: prayers answered in the way you were hoping for;  your blog chosen as one of five finalists in About.com's Favorite Friendship Blog contest; your friends voting for your blog; witnessing a sunset that kissed the entire sky

 Friday: eavesdropping on a conversation between the wind and the treetops; a "Happy Friday" email from your son; time for reflection and Aaron Neville singing "Were You There?"; movie night at home with your sweetie

Saturday: dinner and board games with friends; Siamese cats; making it home safe and sound when your car is dripping oil; a friend who wants a text letting her know you made it home safe and sound

 

 

Sunday: vineyards in winter; your husband fixing your car, bringing it out to you at work (and driving his back home); the smell of warm foccacia bread; red chili chocolate cake, especially when you're starving; the support you get from a writing critique group

What were some of your sweet! moments this past week? Please share! (If you wrote a post, you can share the link in the comments.)

Hope this week is full of sweet moments for you!

Fiction, Fires, Family... and other sweet things

Bonfire sparks drifted up to the sky where clouds parted like curtains and stars crowded the stage, accompanied by the singing creek beside us. No moon softened the darkness - the pitch wall of night rose just beyond the reach of the firelight. 

There was a time not too long ago when I would have feared the darkness, imagining all sorts of danger lurking where my eyes couldn't see. But last night I hugged my jacket around me, craned my neck up to stare at the stars and felt nothing but awe at the beauty of the night and amazement that I ever felt fear standing in its darkness.

I had spent the past day and a half immersed in the world of children's books, listening to authors, agents and editors sharing their stories and experience, offering advice and encouragement to those of us still only dreaming of publication.

Standing there watching the stars break through the clouds, hearing the sizzle and pop of the fire, the trickle of the creek, the frogs singing in the distance... it all just added to the impression that this is a magical world where dreams can come true...

...Especially the small ones like sleeping in for the first time in weeks and meeting my cousin Pat for lunch after two years of trying to match our schedules (which is just ridiculous because she only lives an hour away!)

Pat's a genealogy addict like me, except she's still actively researching. I've had to put myself on a 12-step-program, otherwise I'd get nothing else accomplished!

A few years ago we spent a Saturday tracking down family cemeteries and visiting the Bell County Museum, where we discovered a photo of 'the oldest house in Bell County' hanging on the wall. 

According to writing on the photo, it was built by one of our ancestors. She sent off for a copy of it and today presented me with a framed canvas copy, along with copies of other family mementoes and letters she knew I'd treasure. 

 

 

Well, she's the true treasure! But I was enjoying our time together so much, I completely forgot about getting a photo of us together as I'd planned.

Next time... and by golly, we won't wait another two years for it.

"Our most treasured family heirlooms are our sweet family memories."

~ Unknown

******************************************************

 

And now, here are a few Sweet! moments from the past week I remembered to record...

Monday: puppies, stretched out warm and cozy in the laundry room on a rainy, cold morning; making Valentine cyclops cookies with your Valentine

Tuesday: sharing Valentine cookies with your middle son and heart-shaped chocolates with your daughter; a "Happy Valentine's Day, Mom" call from your oldest; searching for fossilized hearts with your sweetie beside a lake, followed by dinner by candlelight and a funny, romantic movie 

Wednesday: a chicken quesadilla for lunch, shared with your honey who decided to take the day off; a little bird outside the window posing for your camera; a job that lets you eat pizza, play with jewelry, sip wine, and catch up with friends while you 'work'

 

 

Thursday: a rare day spent totally at home; a puppy's face in the window reminding you to take a break from the computer

Friday: the sound of raindrops on your umbrella; familiar faces in a roomful of strangers

Saturday: the rain stopping just as you leave the house; a day spent listening and learning from authors, agents and editors; watching the clouds give way to stars; bonfires on a crisp night 

Sunday: late Mass so you can sleep in a bit; a glimpse of a huge red-tailed hawk flying past; a long-overdue lunch with a dear cousin/friend

Hoping you had a week full of sweet!s and are blessed with even more in the week to come! (Share some of yours here!)

Snowflakes and other Sweet things

Winter remembered us here in Austin this weekend.

Right after lunch today, I headed up the pathway to my car, loaded down with jewelry, catalogs and order forms for a Silpada party at my friend Darla's house. Raindrops speckled the stones, but only one or two drops hit my head before the rain turned to sleet, sounding like glass shattering when it hit the dry oak leaves surrounding me.

Sleet and rain took turns keeping my windshield wipers busy as I made my way down the highway, and then, halfway to Darla's, there they were... huge snowflakes swaying around me in a slow dance through the air. Winter's kiss of apology for forgetting us until now... for teasing us into believing Spring had arrived.

Just those teensy bits of magic made the cold and wet worthwhile for me, even if they were only momentary blips of white though my windshield.

And now, here are a few other sweet moments I noticed this past week...

 

Sunday: Mass with your son and sweetie; your husband filling up your car on a cold day when you're sick so you don't have to on your way to work

Monday: being able to take a day off when you're sick; Campbell's chicken noodle soup; a phone call from a friend; Mucinex

Tuesday: robins filling the trees all around, singing up a storm; surprising yourself by being able to run thirty minutes on the treadmill despite being sick; homemade chicken soup sizzling with cayenne

Wednesday: a flexible schedule that allows you to run into town and see your daughter during the middle of the week; progress on your book, even if it's not much

Thursday: a mostly full morning moon shrouded in mist; a cardinal perched at the top of a juniper tree, facing the rising sun and singing joyful praises; a mailbox stuffed with new books

Friday: driving through the Texas hill country under a cloudless blue sky with your sweetie; an evening spent with dear friends, enjoying great food, wine, laughter and conversation

Saturday: time for a walk with your puppies and sweetie before work; helping to make half a dozen Valentine's Day celebrations special; giving in to your tired body and watching a movie at home rather than heading out for another late night

Sunday: snowflakes on your windshield!; getting together with friends and making money at the same time; hard-hitting critiques from your writing group that will make your book better; your son and future daughter-in-law's wedding website

I hope you had at least a teensy bit of sweet magic yourselves this week!

Good Dogs, Brave Duck

Monday morning my head was floating somewhere in the clouds when the dogs and I climbed the path to the little pond in the hills.

Belle seemed excited about something, rushing to the top of the path.

That brought me down to earth in time to ready my camera and snap this...

 

 

...before this happened...

 

 

 

I was kicking myself for not bringing my zoom lens that morning when I noticed this little guy still hanging out at one end of the pond... 

 

 

(I say "guy". It could be "gal". I admit I know nothing about duck gender! Perhaps I should use some gender neutral word but I'm too lazy to think of one. "Guy" it is.)

Anyway, this little guy seemed totally unruffled about me, my camera and the dogs.

He just kept swimming nonchalantly around the pond, perfectly fine with being left all alone and the sole focus of my paparazzi antics.

I could even imagine him calling out "Chicken!" to his friends in Duck Talk.

 

 

To their credit, after Belle's initial excitement, my sweet puppies totally ignored the ducks.

They didn't even bark, just made their way down to the water's edge for a quick dip (Max) and drink (Belle) and then headed back to me.

I was so busy snapping the little guy I didn't think to capture one of my puppies until they were in this totally uninteresting pose, but I felt it only fair to add it to this post.

They were such good dogs!

 

 

Ever the optimist, the next morning I brought my zoom lens.

My optimism was rewarded.

The ducks were back!

 

 

And they didn't fly away!

Just kept paddling around the pond, oblivious to us, having a great time.

 

 

 

And all because of one brave little duck.

 “One person can make a difference and every person must try.” ~ President John F. Kennedy

I'm sure JFK would include ducks in that statement, don't you?

But that's not the end of the story!

Yesterday, guess who I spotted paddling around on our own pond?

You guessed it!

 

 

 

Brave duck!

 
And guess who was more interested in what Max was doing back at the house than in a little duck swimming around on the pond?

 

 

 

Yep. Good dog.

These are ring-necked ducks just taking a winter vacation in our neighborhood, according to this website.

I hope they come back next year!

"Hey Lady! You forgot FUN!"

Oh my gosh, I did! Thank you, Squirrel!

I can't believe in my list of important 'F' words, I forgot one of the most important ones:

FUN!.

It wouldn't be much of a year without that one, would it?

So, let's recap...

(from my previous post...)

In 2012, I'm going to put up Fences to structure my time... I'm going to corral those thoughts and Focus on one project at a time so I can experience Finishing something. 

I bet that's an amazing feeling.

My other 'F' words for 2012... Faith, Fitness, Friendship, Frugality and Financial Freedom. 

Oh, and Forgiveness... another awesome 'F' word...

And woven in and out and around all of it, I'm going to have Fun.

(How could I forget that one? Gosh, I'm such an airhead...)

Okay, sorry for the interruption. Carry on...

 

Just popping in...

...to say thanks for the prayers for Max.

This morning he didn't just use all of his legs on our walk, but even trotted a little and played with Belle, pouncing and prancing and twirling so she couldn't bite his ankles (her favorite move.)

I believe in the power of prayer and I know those you offered made a huge difference. Max's days are numbered, I realize that. There will come a morning, sooner than I'd like, when he's worse, rather than better, and the day after even worse than before.

But I'm grateful today wasn't that day. I'm sure Max and Belle are grateful, too, so thank you from all of us.

My reflective mood continues, which I guess is a good thing since we're now in Advent. Tonight I'm going to Vespers for the first time - it sounds reflective so I'm looking forward to it, except for the smell of burning incense, which I'm sure will be hanging heavy in the air. (Funny how I burned incense all the time as a teenager but now I don't care for it!)

This past week many bloggers posted about gratitude. A video posted by Gail at Louisiana Belle reminded me to watch for the wonders of each day, to remember each one is a gift to live like it was your first and your last. That way you cover all your bases. (Click here to hop over to Gail's to see it. It's almost 10 minutes long and features some beautiful time-lapsed photography, but if you don't have that much time, start it at minute 5:20.)

I can't remember if I've posted here about the photography business that has dropped into my lap out of the blue, but I finally shared some of the photos from my first shoot, as well as lessons I've learned, on my photography blog HERE. I got lucky - great models and perfect weather. (Thank you Candace, Cornell and God!)

The photo below seems to be the hands down favorite. 

Now I'm off to Vespers... (I just love the way that sounds!)

Hope you have a wonderful evening!

 

 

 

Summer, a fading memory

A splash of light from my iPhone guided me through the dark to my car last night. The wedding guests were long gone and only one light glowed in the winery Bistro behind me. 

Pausing in a clearing, I gazed up at the stars crowded around a sliver of moon. My frosty breath rose to greet them, along with a regret of never learning the constellations beyond the Big and Little Dippers. 

Frost coated the windshield of my car, although it wasn't even midnight. I dug my community college ID from my purse - it's good for scraping ice but not much else these days - and wished I had my gloves.

My headlights cut through the darkness on the winding road leading home through the hills. I seemed to be the only person out driving. Tom had left the porch lights on for me, a welcome sight, and Belle greeted me near the road, but inside, the house was silent; everyone was already snug in bed.

I turned off the lights and snuggled under the covers myself, not even thinking one thought about my poor plants, the aloe and bougainvillea I'd faithfully watered all summer, trying to help them survive the drought.

This morning I feared I'd find nothing but wilted, frozen leaves, but the aloe was still fresh and green, and fuchsia blossoms still dotted the bougainvillea. The rock wall where they're nestled must have retained enough afternoon sunshine to protect them through the cold night.

Max, on the other hand... that poor puppy can barely stand on his dysplasia-cursed elbow. I guess the cold gets to him like it gets to the rest of us feeling our age in our joints.

He was determined to join me and Belle on our morning walk, though. His face fell when I suggested he 'stay', so I said come on, then. He hopped along mostly on three legs, but his face shone, he was so eager and happy to hit the road.

Belle and I walked slow, following his pace for the most part. A few times he found a soft spot in the woods where he'd lie down and rest.

His appetite was down again this morning, too - I hand fed him a few pieces where I'd hidden his aspirin and he readily took it from my hand, as well as his glucosamine supplements, but otherwise had no interest. Belle seems to be on a sympathy hunger strike - her bowl is untouched and I refuse to hand feed her!

So the bowls are back on the kitchen counter. I'll try again later... maybe with a few pieces of cheese or some other goody in there. No more hand feeding, but I have no qualms against bribery.

Meanwhile, here it is a cold but sunshine-filled Monday and the week ahead is going to fly by, faster than usual, I believe. I'm going to be wearing a dozen different hats, trying hard to give each a fair share of my time without stressing over any of them too much, or spending hours hatless from indecision about which to wear next.

I'm grateful for each one and that's what I'm going to (try to) keep in mind. 

I hope all of you have a beautiful, busy, fulfilling, love-filled and peaceful week!

(And if you have a minute, please say a little prayer for my Max. Thank you!)

 

God's Little People

The world is a much smaller place than it used to be for me, thanks to blogging. I've connected with amazing people in so many different countries.

Through one of them  - Joan at God's Little People - I've become aware of the overabundance of stray cats in Greece. Joan is devoted to rescuing them, and her stories and photos both break and warm my heart.

After many of her readers asked how they could help with her rescue efforts, she came up with a fundraising idea: 

I am delighted to introduce these quality cards made from a selection of my favorite images of the cats that I have rescued and I love the idea of them now being part of raising funds for themselves. These cards are now listed in my Etsy shop and ALL proceeds goes towards food, neutering and medical care for all the cats (and the dumpster cats I daily feed). Winter has set in and feral cats just keeps dropping into the garden and I've finally given up counting the numbers! But I now daily feed approximately 45 cats and as you can imagine the cost constantly rise and I won't compromise on the quality of food. Many of the cats that live in the wild desperately needs a proper food to keep them warm. 

You can donate/purchase in the following way:

One large blank card with a colored image mounted on carton (that enhances the colors in the image)for $5  or a set of three small blank cards with black/white images mounted on black carton (and a white paper slip inside for your message) for $10. 

Whether it's one large card or a small set of three cards - they all come with white envelopes and a label on the back with the  Pythagoras quote I use under my blog title: "We share with animals the privilege of having a soul." Cards and envelopes are neatly tied with a burlap string and carefully wrapped in tissue paper. 

 

Visit Joan's Etsy Shop HERE and read more about Joan and her cats (including precious images of them) HERE.

(I'm not compensated for this post in any way except for the good feeling of potentially helping Joan help those sweet kittens.)

The Chase (and this week's Sweet!s)

There I was, walking along with my puppies on our dirt road yesterday morning, the sun just barely peeking into the Hollow, when suddenly Max and Belle caught a whiff of something exciting and took off in a full run.

I thought they would stop after a few yards as they usually do, but to my surprise, they continued running all the way around the next curve, disappearing out of sight, leaving me all alone. 

I just kept plodding along, expecting to see them come trotting back to me any minute, so when I heard movement in the woods to my right a few minutes later, I assumed it was my puppies. 

But then I heard movement again, just a few seconds later in the same area. Through the trees I caught a glimpse of a deer, closely followed by Belle and Max, heading back toward the house.

Max, old man that he is... well, I expected he would just head on home after such lengthy runs. He'd be worn out!

It was a beautiful morning, though, so I decided to keep walking as far as the curve, as usual, and then head home. No reason why I should call my walk short!

Next thing I know, there's a crashing sound from the woods ahead of me and, one after another, deer popped out, dashing across the road.

And then... I couldn't believe it... out popped Max and Belle, still on their heels. Max was still running!

They all disappeared into the woods on my left. I kept walking but wondered where they might appear next!

Belle returned first. It was a few minutes before Max emerged from the woods... mouth foaming, a rust-colored leaf hanging from a bit of drool from his mouth, but obviously very pleased with himself. 

It was a good morning.

 

And now for the rest of the Sweet! moments of my week....

Friday: watching your friends' son play the drums in public; dancing; staying up late, eating peanuts, catching up with friends

Saturday: pancakes and bacon; talking 'cat' with Nala; garage sales and antique stores with your husband and friends; Shari's taco soup; watching home movies; the sound of the wind through tall pines, like rushing water

Sunday: sitting on a back porch, listening to crows and other birds, sipping coffee and chatting with your friend; breakfast tacos; walking along the river, being silly; exploring old barns

Monday: your son's first day at a new job in a new town, the answer to his prayers; working on your book; rain after a drought; a 30-day free trial of Lightroom; meeting friends at a Junior Forum Christmas show; Victorian houses

Tuesday: playing the drums; learning Lightroom; voting; two days in a row of rain; getting to bed before 11pm

Wednesday: sunshine and a brisk wind on your morning walk; Belle running and running and running; Daughtry singing on the Today Show while you're on the elliptical; finding free presets for Lightroom; a call from your oldest, reporting that he loves his new job

Thursday: the full moon resting on silhouetted treetops; a morning photo shoot with a red-tailed hawk; lunch with friends; discussing family history with your son; remembering to snap the full moon

Friday: having your camera in hand when a herd of startled deer cross the road right in front of you; watching your old dog run and run and run

Saturday: an orange dawn; a road trip with your son; helping your mom celebrate her 80th birthday

Yes, I'm headed out to see my mom today. Tomorrow is her 80th birthday and most of us will be gathering this evening to help her celebrate. That will be the sweetest moment of my week, I'm sure!

My oldest can't be there - he's running his first marathon this weekend. I'm so proud of him!

Hope you've had a week full of Sweet! moments and the next one is even sweeter!

Morning Gifts (and So-So Photography)

Belle's silhouette, a blacker black than the pre-dawn darkness, drew me through the French doors and out onto the deck this morning, but the golden orb resting on a nest of treetops just over the deck railing is what sent me scrambling back inside for my camera.

I snapped before making the right adjustments, just wanting to capture enough to jog my memory.

After fiddling with the adjustments, I snapped a few more as the moon dropped fast below the treetops, like a celebrity ducking from the paparazzi.  Still not great photography, but more of a resemblance to the color as I saw it. (These are straight out of the camera.)

An hour later, when enough morning light had trickled into the Hollow to see the road, the puppies and I headed out for our walk.

I spotted it right away, as soon as I stepped into the clearing, as you will when something new appears in a familiar place.

It didn't move. Was it a bird or merely a plastic bag caught in the branches? 

I raised my camera, grateful I'd chosen the zoom lens this morning, snapped a shot, then magnified my capture for a closer look. A head appeared at the top of the white. Streaks of dark through the body.

It was a Red-Tailed Hawk! Oh, my!

I'd heard his call in the Hollow for years. Caught glimpses of him soaring in the distance or perched briefly on the tops of telephone poles. But I'd never seen him just sitting still for longer than a second... in essence, posing for me.

Alas, he was too far away to capture any crisp clear photos of him, especially with the clearing still bathed in dawn's shadows, but I snapped away, made adjustments, slowly stepped ever closer, and hoped for the best.

Eventually he tired of the photo shoot, or perhaps just felt I was getting too close. Spreading his wings, he dropped, then swooped across the clearing right in front of me. Given the split-second choice of fiddling with my camera adjustments to try to capture him in flight, or just watch him fly...

...I chose watching.

And sighing.

And giving thanks.

P.S. Would you believe during the whole hawk photo shoot my puppies sat very still beside me, just watching and waiting? This is their very favorite spot to run - plus they love to bark at the wild things around us - and yet they just sat there. Yet another morning gift. Sweet puppies.

As if I were beside you...

…Grieve not,

   nor speak of me with tears,

but laugh and talk of me

   as if I were beside you…

I loved you so –

   ‘twas Heaven here with you.

                                         ~Isla Paschal Richardson

 

In the last couple of weeks, several of my friends have had to say goodbye to their beloved pets. Enough that it seems off-balance, somehow... sort of extreme, like the recent weather patterns. An oddity of nature.

But then, most of them are older pets, treasured members of their families.  Perhaps it's just this age we've reached ourselves; puppies and kittens we gave into for our young kids have grown up beside them, gradually become more ours than our children's, and are reaching old age before us.

It's tough watching them grow old. Yet while we don't want to see them in pain, we don't want to let go and say goodbye, either.

When Jake, our old Black Lab, died years ago at 15, our vet sent us a card with the Richardson poem, above, printed inside. Reading it the first time was like having Jake speak to me - I knew it was exactly what he would tell us.

Of course it makes me cry even now when I read it, thinking of Jake, his "sister" Maggie, my precious kitty Char, sweet Chewy and Charly, little Frankie bird... there are so many impressions on my heart made by "God's Little People" (a term used by a blogger friend who rescues stray cats in Greece) and I wouldn't be who I am today without the blessing of them in my life.

Now we see our sweet Max aging fast. Eternal puppy on the inside, visible in his eyes, goofy grin, and playful spirit ... old man on the outside, obvious in his graying whiskers, limp and dragging rear leg.

Pythagoras said "Animals share with us the privelege of having a soul."

I believe this, too. I know it from looking into their eyes. I know it from the ache in my heart when I've had to say goodbye.

I also believe we could learn a lot from their sweet souls about love, honesty, faithfulness, joy...

To all my friends who have recently...well, ever...had to say goodbye to their furry or feathered or even scaly best friend, I'm sharing this poem with you. I hope you hear their hearts speaking to you when you read the words, as I did, and that it brings you comfort, as it did, and still does, to me.

 

…Grieve not,

   nor speak of me with tears,

but laugh and talk of me

   as if I were beside you…

I loved you so –

   ‘twas Heaven here with you.

                                         ~Isla Paschal Richardson

Prayers for Haley

Daniel heard whimpers from the edge of our porch. Following the sound, he discovered our neighbor's dog, Haley, lying in the dirt. Cuts covered her body - her eye, her paws, her belly, her thigh - blood oozing, but thankfully, not pouring out.

He helped her up onto the porch. She couldn't walk on her own.

We called our neighbors and, with much effort, Daniel helped carry her up to their car for the trip to the vet.

Initially we thought (and feared) she'd been attacked by something - a coyote, perhaps, or bobcat. But Haley's tough and we couldn't imagine what could have gotten her to this extent.

But now it appears she was hit by a car - and that upsets me almost as much as the idea of a rogue coyote or bobcat attacking in the middle of the day. 

Because from what I know of Haley, she doesn't chase cars. And we live on a rocky, bumpy dirt road. No one should be driving fast. How could they not have seen her? 

And there's no way they could hit her and not realize it - it would be like hitting a boulder, she's that solid. Why didn't they stop?

The neighbors promised to call and give us an update this morning when they hear from the vet. Please keep this sweet little girl in your prayers! (As well as the driver who hit her; if they can hit something like this and keep driving, they definitely need prayers, too!)

Update on Haley...

No broken bones! She has a "separated pelvis" or something like that, but it will heal on its own with time. Thank you for your prayers. She really is a sweetheart.

 

And with just a few inches of rain...

Last week, I took these photos of the pond in the hills...

As you can see, I use the word "pond" lightly...

Instead of a pond, I think it had become a nightclub for raccoons! Looks like they have some pretty good dance moves down!

 

But then, something magical happened... It rained!

All it took was one good soaking two-incher on Sunday, and look...

"Yay, the neighborhood pool is open again!"

Now, it might look pretty nasty to us, but Max was in heaven!

He felt pretty frisky after his swim and wanted to play. I think he hurt Haley's feelings and she wandered off for a bit, but Belle was up for some rough-housing, as usual.

I'm so glad we got that puppy.

She's the perfect match for him.

Haley ventured back and Max apologized. That's my boy... quite the gentleman.

And then he attacked Belle again.

(Don't worry. They're just playing.)

(No, really. No one was hurt!)

(I'm serious! Although one day they slammed into me when they were playing like this and jarred my back...)

Anyway, to make up for these violent scenes, here's a wild onion bloom I discovered in our little front yard. I hope it helps you regain a sense of peace. 

I don't think they're supposed to be blooming right now - this drought and then the rain has everything all mixed up. But I'm not complaining!

 

Rain is grace; rain is the sky condescending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life.

~ John Updike 

Retreat to the Sea

 For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),

 It's always our self we find in the sea.

~e.e. cummings

 

For the past few weeks, I've felt like a jumping bean, hopping from one project to the next, never quite finishing one before moving on to another, mentally filling to overflowing a shelf labeled "Later".

I had lost my balance, knocking it aside somewhere in my zeal to conquer my dreams, get organized, and make money, all at the same time. No matter how hard I tried to breathe, to focus on each moment, I couldn't stop that little hyper bean inside of me that couldn't just enjoy the present but had to continually jump ahead, or sideways, or backwards.

Then Thursday afternoon I stepped onto Mustang Island.

One look at the waves rolling in, rolling out... one deep breath of the salty air...one note of the symphony of crashing waves and cries of seagulls...

That's all it took for the stillness to return, as if the waves and the air loosened the knots and cleansed my spirit. The symphony soothed me... a lullaby chasing away the helter-skelter bits of thought in my brain.

I find myself at the extremity of a long beach.  How gladly does the spirit leap forth, and suddenly enlarge its sense of being to the full extent of the broad, blue, sunny deep!  A greeting and a homage to the Sea!  I descend over its margin, and dip my hand into the wave that meets me, and bathe my brow.  That far-resounding roar is the Ocean's voice of welcome.  His salt breath brings a blessing along with it.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, "Foot-prints on the Sea-shore"

That's why my friends and I run away every year to the sea. This was our 12th annual retreat, a time to reconnect with these friends, but also with myself.

To think of nothing, but to see and experience everything.

Year before last, we encountered Laura Bush on the beach and discovered Stoney LaRue. Last year my high school Divas joined us, and although the numbers made it tougher for me to spend time with everyone as much as I hoped, priceless memories were made.

This year I had no expectations, especially considering the highs of the past two. I only craved simplicity and silence. I hoped for sun, but would have smiled at raindrops.

But it didn't rain. Thursday afternoon's storm clouds cleared out and blue skies ruled the rest of the weekend. Thanks to this year's drought, there were no mosquitos. And on our one night of dancing, we had plenty of dance partners for a change, including some who knew how to spin me around country-style.

This year, I didn't worry about running every morning or about waking at the crack of dawn to photograph the sunrise each day, although I did manage each of them once.

This year I read. I wandered with my camera. I prayed. I met an artist, Marilyn Lindholm, who asked for one of my photographs of a rainbow umbrella and invited me along on a photo-staging of wine glasses and driftwood.

I spent hours listening to the waves, watching porpoises, seagulls and cute little seabirds, drinking Bloody Mary's and talking about life with fifteen other wonderful women, including my sweet sister Brenda, healed enough from her hip surgery six months ago to drive herself to the coast. She even made it down to the beach and the swimming pool. (Thank you for all your prayers for her.)

Hanging on to the stillness will be a challenge, I know. I felt that restlessness waking up with me Monday morning with just one glance at my to-do list. But if I close my eyes I can hear the waves, reaching in, pulling out, reminding me to hang on to the rhythm of life, and leave the rest behind.

It helps to have some photos. I haven't finished going through the ones I took, but here are a few...

A magical moment... My friend Cheryl spotted this little Yellow Warbler cowering in a corner of the boardwalk. He hopped on her finger and stayed put for an extended photo shoot. She thought he was injured and was trying to decide how to take care of him when suddenly, whoosh! he was gone, flying out over the dunes. 

Such a sweet little thing. And what a model!

Schools of fish teamed just offshore, so the pelicans and seagulls (and even a few porpoises) were going nuts. 

There's always at least one woman who feels a need to give everyone something - this year it was Mary Kay and her niece, Tiffany. I've given up protesting.

How could you protest something like this, anyway?

We always treat ourselves to dinner out one night - can't beat fresh seafood straight from the gulf! 

A table for 16, please...

Me and my sweet sister... (note the 'character scar' on my nose, my souvenir from our little wreck a couple of weeks ago.)

Where I lived for two full days...

In my normal life I can barely sit still through a movie, yet I had no problem lying for hours on a hard plastic lounge chair. Go figure.

Mary Kay, the University of Texas Longhorns #1 Fan! (We stomped Iowa State!)

These precious little girls kept us all sighing over their cuteness on Saturday. I took dozens of photos and I don't even know them!

You can imagine how many photos of sea birds I took - I'll post most of them on Confessions later (uh-oh... "later" is already popping up.)

There were almost as many dogs as birds at the beach this time! Total exaggeration, of course, but there were a lot. I loved this trio of ladies... Lucy, and, um, ah, I can't remember the other two but they started with 'L's. 

Our traditional photo of the whole group just before final hugs and heading back to the real world, mostly in different directions. 

Spotted this sign in the restroom of the restaurant and ran back with my camera, ignoring the stares. I think it pretty much sums up our weekend.

Answered Prayers

It's a toss-up which I love the best, autumn's electric blue sky stretching cloudless from horizon to horizon or summer's sky of robin blue, dotted with cloud-dogs and cloud-dragons and cloud-ships. 

But even I, lover of blue skies and sunshine, can appreciate the beauty of a stormy sky, of the grays and pinks...

 

...of the drama and excitement, the battle between darkness and light...

 

 

...how the darkness makes the light brighter and how the light opens up new colors and levels in the clouds and the sky and the sunlight...

 

 

...how gray and dark can hold such promise of life, how they can ease anxiety and be the answer to the prayers of millions.

 

It took two days but these clouds finally opened up and let rain fall on the Hollow and much of Central Texas this weekend.

Hallelujah!

But even before the rain, and even if it didn't rain, I was grateful for the storm clouds.

Even I get tired of blue sometimes.

(Taken with my iPhone while my camera enjoyed a little R&R at the camera spa...what a great invention, the camera/phone! I still missed my camera, but having this kept my separation anxiety from being too, too bad!)

 

Morning Rituals

The air felt stagnant and thick as I walked up to the road. The sky wasn't gray or pink or blue, just a weird mixture of the three. No hope of rain, no beautiful sunrise to make up for it, and not a whisper of a breeze.

The puppies bounced beside me, eager for our walk, but in my head I heard, What a blah morning.

I immediately stopped that thought in its tracks, though, firing back...

I'm breathing. I'm walking. It's a beautiful morning! 

It's been slow, hard work, but I'm finally learning to burst those melancholy balloons before they take flight.

Sure, there was that haze over everything. Then, when the neighbor boy drove past, the road dust hung in the air, frozen in place (not literally 'frozen' of course - it was probably pushing 90 degrees already, at 7:30am.)

The dirt fog didn't stop Belle and Max from playing, though. They saw the beauty of the new day. Max ran at full gallop... TWICE! Usually once is all he has in him, if even that much get-up-n-go.

I'm not sure what, if anything, he was chasing. He just ran for the joy and ability of running, I think. Lounging in the cool of the laundry room during the heat of the day must be agreeing with him.

Belle ran, too, a dog cyclone whooshing round and round and round us, until finally diving into Max who promptly bit her neck. 

Not hard, of course. It's their ritual. A dog thing.

Back home, I tipped a little water from their drinking bucket into the pie plate/bird bath we keep on a stump near the birdfeeder, watered my bougainvillea, whose blossoms have become like fuschia jerky, dried on the stem, and then dumped the rest of the water on our poor loquat tree, all golden and green and drooping.

It's a direct descendent of one that grew in front of our home in La Porte. I believe that one has died, as well as the one in my parents' yard, an offspring of the original and daddy to ours.

I hope the baby makes it, the last in its line.

I refilled the bucket then filled a watering can and lugged them both up the walkway to appease my poor crape myrtles, whose buds finally gave up trying to open. They sit on the boughs like pieces of stale pink popcorn.

Beside them, my miniature rose bush is dying. It had been hanging on valiantly, but I'm afraid the guys didn't notice it when I was gone last week and neglected to water it. My fault. How would they know? It doesn't look like a rosebush right now.

Especially right now.

Finally, I took the empty containers back down to the house, refilled the bucket (again!) for the dogs (and the birds and the squirrels) and, stepping back into my air-conditioned refuge, glanced at the clock and wondered where the heck my morning went...

Please, sir, could we have some rain?

 

An Ode to Texas Summers

Max stood still, letting the pond water soak through his thick fur. I watched him from a patch of shade on the hill above and marveled at the miracle of this pond.

Rain is a distant memory, the lake has become a river, triple digit temperatures and blue skies seem neverending, and area wells are drying up ... yet here this small bit of water remains, nestled in the hills above the curve in our road. 

We made a beeline for it this morning. I hadn't walked with the dogs since Thursday. Daniel filled in for me these past few mornings when I just didn't have time, but the puppies seemed happy that I was joining them again.

Even in a drought, even when the flowers are fading into memory and few of the photos I take are worth sharing, my morning walks feel like an indulgence, a quick retreat from the world where I can sort through my thoughts, pray and breathe. 

I've missed them.

I've missed the quiet and the sunshine and the morning breeze and the dogs racing into the woods after imaginary prey or rough-housing on the road. I've missed stopping to snap photos of them running ahead of me or the clouds above me or sunshine splashing on everything...

..or flowers, what's left of them, like the ones below. 

The Mexican Hats have lost their hats...

Mornings are the only time to walk these days. The heat lingers well after sunset. 

Which reminds me of this little poem...

 

Ode to Texas The devil wanted a place on earth Sort of a summer home A place to spend his vacation Whenever he wanted to roam. So he picked out Texas. A place both wretched and rough Where the climate was to his liking And the cowboys hardened and tough. He dried up the streams in the canyons And ordered no rain to fall He dried up the lakes in the valleys Then baked and scorched it all. Then over his barren country He transplanted shrubs from hell. The cactus,thistle and prickly pear The climate suited them well. Now the home was much to his liking But animal life, he had none. So he created crawling creatures That all mankind would shun. First he made the rattlesnake With it's forked poisonous tongue. Taught it to strike and rattle And how to swallow it's young. Then he made scorpions and lizards And the ugly old horned toad. He placed spiders of every description Under rocks by the side of the road. Then he ordered the sun to shine hotter,  Hotter and hotter still. Until even the cactus wilted And the old horned lizard took ill. Then he gazed on his earthly kingdom As any creator would He chuckled a little up his sleeve And admitted that it was good. 'Twas summer now and Satan lay By a prickly pear to rest. The sweat rolled off his swarthy brow So he took off his coat and vest. "By Golly," he finally panted, "I did my job too well, I'm going back to where I came from, Texas is hotter than Hell."     Coy D. Martin

 

My brother-in-law sent that to me. (Thank you, Ralph!) 

As a Texan, I found it rather offensive in some parts (Texas is heaven, not hell!) but the last two paragraphs describe our summer weather so well that I found my sense of humor and felt I should post it. 

Plus, I just happened to have a recent photo of a prickly pear... 

 

 Have a great week and stay cool!

 P.S. I just had a call from my mom - Daddy has been released from the hospital! Yay! The doctors still aren't sure what was wrong, but whatever it was, it's all better now and he's been thoroughly checked out and given a stamp of approval. Thank you for all of your prayers and good thoughts!

Saying my own prayers of thanksgiving now!

Not Fit for Man or Beast (a Friday Favorite Photo)

My excuse for not doing laundry...

Who wants to do laundry with two big stinky shedding dogs sprawled across the laundry room floor? This is where they spend much of their time these days (and part of the nights - it doesn't cool down quickly!)

I swept up enough dog hair off that floor the other day to knit a small sweater. Ugh.

If today's temps top 100, and in all likelihood they will, it will be the 65th day of triple digit temps in the Austin area. The record (set back in 1925 or so) is 69.

What's wrong with me that I hope we beat the record? But, you know, we've suffered this much... I figure we should at least get on the record books, right?

I'm not sure we have enough clothes to hold out on laundry that long, though. Sigh.

A quick update on my Daddy... he's still in the hospital, getting about every test I've ever heard of plus some. So far he's passed them all with flying colors. I told him I hope they stamp him "Approved" and send him home soon.

The problem is, there's definitely something wrong and they haven't figured out what it is yet. I'm still praying they find it and it's something minor and quick-fixable, because an extended hospital stay isn't easy on him or my mom.

In the meantime, I'm under orders from that same mom not to worry and not to head that way. "We're just fine, thank you." So I'm just continuing along on my regularly scheduled program, keeping tabs on them via the phone and my sister. (But ready to drop everything and jump in the car, if necessary.)

Thank you again for all your sweet words of reassurance and comfort, and for your prayers.

Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

 

Detours (and my Friday Favorite Photo)

This has been one crazy, zig-zagging, bouncing, stretching-myself-across-so-many-things-I-think-I'm-going-to-pop kind of week. One of those weeks where everything is high priority and you just can't procrastinate any longer. So you just do it all, period, and try your best to get some sleep.

Things like a writing deadline, a book review deadline, a contact list to compile and a group email that had to go out, a BlogHer assignment, a Parish Council meeting, eye doctor appointments x 3 of us, my car inspected, our anniversary looming, my sister's birthday, a dozen blog posts swirling in my head waiting to be born, a new FlickR project, my refrigerator filter glowing orange, watering a friend's plants while she's out of town plus trying to keep our own alive...

Whew.

All of this on top of my two day jobs (weekday and weekend) overlapping so I have only one day off in 9 days right on the heels of a quick trip out of town to a wedding. 

I confess I didn't even think about housework of any kind this week or do more than glance at my three-page to-do list. 

If it weren't for Tom, TG and Daniel helping with cooking, laundry and whatever I ask them to do around here, I really would have popped, I'm sure.

Of course, it's not over yet. I work both days this week at the Bistro; we celebrate our anniversary tomorrow night (we're thinking dessert at Sonic at sunset); reading and writing deadlines still loom, the filter light still gives me an orange wink every time I open the fridge door, my car still isn't inspected (shhh! don't tell!), I haven't started the FlickR project, and my laundry is overflowing...

But the good news is I'll have time to take care of most of these starting Monday. The bad news is it's because one of my jobs ended, which means one of my paychecks. The good news is that means I'll have more time to focus on my book and my businesses, and I'll still be moderating the Jobs4Autism website.

I haven't decided if I've come to another detour in my life or if I'm actually stepping back onto the main road. I've taken so many detours I'm not even sure what the main road looks like anymore. Some detours were results of my own decisions; some just plopped down from no where, forcing me to veer in a new direction.

I came across this on a blog today, written by Baron Batch, a Texas Tech to Pittsburgh Steelers football player/writer:

"The funny thing about all roads is that at some point they all have potholes, speed bumps and detours. However, the durability of your vehicle is what allows you to reach your destination regardless of your traveling conditions."

Baron's post is a tribute to his faith and a reminder of the value of detours in our life. Instead of playing in his first NFL game this week, he tore his ACL. He writes...

"Trying to understand Gods plan will bring insanity, trusting it brings peace."

So much wisdom in one so young! I aspire to have that kind of faith and pray my kids do, too. I hope we all have durable vehicles! (I wish I could be confident that when my own kids face detours in their lives, when things go wrong as they always will, they hear my voice whispering, "Have faith, have faith.")

 

And now for my Friday Favorite Photo!

I picked this one of Max because...

a) it's taken with my new 50mm lens! and 

b) he's eating! 

(He stopped eating for awhile last weekend when we were gone. Got me so worried! Dang dogs.)

Now that I think of it, Max himself was a detour. We had decided we weren't going to have any more dogs. Then that starving puppy wandered up and stole our hearts...

Hope you've had a wonderful week... hope you have a great weekend...  and hope you look at the detours in your life as opportunities rather than bad luck.

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

It's HOT! (and Friday's Favorite Photo)

Have I mentioned it's hot?

I don't even know how many triple digit days we've had now. Heck, I can't even remember when the high was less than 105!

But then, heat makes your brain fuzzy.

Even at dusk, when the puppies and I venture out for another walk, it feels like we're roasting in a convection oven.

But I've noticed there are no mosquitoes!

That's a good thing! And it got me to thinkin'...

...maybe, just maybe, there are other good things about living in extreme heat and drought conditions.

Let's see...

• The dogs don't need to wear their "electric" collars - it's too hot to wander up the hill to Miss Ginger's! They're happy sticking close to home with no extra motivation to do so.
• No need to fire up the weed-eater - nothing growing except a few scraggly weeds in our little front yard.
• No muddy shoes to track clumps of dirt into the house.
• Pink mornings.
• Beautiful golden sunsets.
• Lots of sunshine and blue skies!
• No need to feel guilty about staying inside and watching a movie on a Sunday afternoon instead of working outside on a dozen potential projects. (That one's for you, Tom. You're welcome.)

Ummm... that's about all I could think of so far. Can you think of any others?

And now, for my Friday Favorite Photo, although the one of the little guy up there is a close second. Or maybe it's a tie. Usually the squirrels skitter away as soon as they see us, but he let me get several shots. Of course, they're all identical because he didn't move a muscle. He was too comfortable.

Have I mentioned it's hot?

Anyway, here's my other favorite photo of the week. I've been focusing on sunshine, in all its personalities, since we have plenty of it these days. I love the streaks of blue and the drop of moon in this one.

"Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new-created in all the freshness of childhood."

~"Evangeline" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
American poet, 19th century

 

"Hope you have a wonderful Friday and a week of beautiful skies!"

~me

 

 

 

 

If mornings could last forever...

Max has finished eating and lies still at my feet. We both stare out into the Hollow. 

Cicadas hum. Birds chatter back and forth. Heat hasn't yet white-washed the cloudless sky - its crisp blue stretches like a fresh-washed sheet from horizon to horizon.

A cardinal whooshes from one tree to another, just a flash of red in the corner of my eye. 

It will be unbearably hot here later when the afternoon sun turns its face this way, but right now, a soft breeze tumbles along the covered deck where I sit, ruffling my hair. In this morning moment, it's a perfect summer "aaahh".

Belle still munches from her bowl; once again, she balked about even starting on her food until Max was almost finished.

Part of me is impatient. I'm already running behind! I slept in a little because I stayed up late writing, but was still up early enough to walk before the sun took control of the road.

The light was perfect for snapping photos of the tiny buds defying the drought. I knelt in weeds, snapping away at a fresh Mexican hat, until Belle nudged me, waking me from my trance and reminding me we needed to move along.

I suppose I'll give her a break now and swallow the scolding on my lips. 

Max finally stands for his treats then ambles off around the corner, probably headed back to the cool doghouse. A tiny wren lands on the edge of the deck, just a few feet away from Belle's bowl. He cocks his head, surprised to see us, and high tails it down to the backhoe, landing on the steering wheel, where he proceeds to sing and sing and sing.

(Probably 'fuss, fuss, fuss' would be more accurate, but I prefer to think he's singing to me. And it does sound lovely.) 

Meanwhile, Belle licks her bowl clean, takes her treats and stretches out behind my rocker.

Still, I sit. 

A squirrel climbs to the top of a tree, just beyond the deck; shaking limbs mark its progress. Another breeze whispers past me.

Belle sighs.

I sigh.

I could sit here all day...

...if only mornings could last forever.

 

 

 

Smiles (and Friday's Favorite Photos)

Oh, I had big plans for yesterday, all spelled out in a realistic and do-able list of things to accomplish on my day off.

Besides the usual - my morning walk with the dogs, their breakfast on the back porch and my work-out which I always dread and want to get out of the way as soon as possible - I was eager to activate my new iPhone. I'm finally entering the "iWorld", although still a bit behind everyone else with a 3G because they're cheap and 4Gs aren't.

Once I had my new phone up and running, I would tackle the rest of my list: pick up a few groceries, try out a new recipe, clear the mound of paperwork from my desk, pay some bills, work on my book and blogs and photos ... until it was time to shuttle TG to her summer class at the community college.

However, I forgot about Murphy's Law. To activate the phone, I had to install iTunes on my computer and that turned into an all day ordeal, involving downloads and uninstalls and phone calls to Apple.

Sooo... I'm still using my old phone today. Sigh. The pretty, new, shiny iPhone is back in its box waiting for my next day off to be brought to life.

But this morning I'm still smiling, inside and out, and here's why...

Belle greeted me, all wiggles and grins and squeals of delight, as soon as I stepped out the door.

 

How could you see this face and not smile?

Then Max pranced around the corner and even though Belle bit his ankles all the way up the walkway, he kept grinning - he puts up with the pain and irritation (to a certain extent, anyway) out of love and appreciation for her playfulness. Seeing him smile makes me smile.

But there's more...

I know we need rain and I would welcome stormy skies, but in all honesty, a blue sky stretching cloudless from one rose-kissed horizon to the other makes my heart soar.

My bougainvillea continues to bloom, brightening the browns and grays with splashes of deep fuschia.

Bird tracks zig-zag and criss-cross the dirt in several spots along our road. Perhaps a roadrunner or the goofy doves that cluster in that area, but they remind me of my Frankie-bird and that makes me smile.

I received a text yesterday from someone very dear to me, someone whose heart suffered deep loss just a few years ago, someone who I feared would never rediscover the joy in life, letting me know he'd found love again. He's happy. That didn't just make me smile - it made me cry with joy!

Even if I didn't have all of these things to smile about, I'd find a way to smile anyway because of this Japanese proverb I came across yesterday...

 

‎"We do not smile because something good has happened;

rather something good happens because we smile." 

So find a way to smile today, somehow, someway!

And now here's my Favorite Photo of the Week...

This just says "Texas" to me, because where but Texas will you find a cactus growing beside a vineyard? 

Maybe there are other places, but we Texans always like to think we're unique. Being a Texan makes me smile - as well as getting to work where I can see cactus growing beside a vineyard.

 

Happy Friday! Tell me what makes you smile these days.

New Directions and Aching Feet - plus Friday Favorite Photos

For the past decade of my life, whenever the trail I was following narrowed to a dead-end, a new path would suddenly appear. Now I've begun watching for those trailheads. At times it feels like I'm wandering through a maze - if I think about it, it seems a little scary, but I just need to adjust my vision a bit and it becomes a big adventure.

It is rarely - dare I say never? - the path I would have chosen for myself, if I had my druthers. These aren't trails I've pursued in any form or fashion, but along each one I learn something new, either a skill or some aspect of myself, that helps me when that path hits a wall and the new one appears.

If I had my druthers (I know you're wondering) I would spend my days with my camera and a laptop, alternating between traipsing around Texas (or the world!) shooting photos, and sitting in my rocker on the back porch, capturing the words in my head and sorting them into stories.

But because I haven't figured out how to pay the bills by doing either of those, I'm forced to spend most of my time doing something else for a paycheck. Without a degree or any set area of expertise honed by years of practice, that's getting tougher, but add to it my age and my impatience with jobs that don't challenge me or that bore me... um, what was I saying?

Anyway... my old job is dwindling down (the company is moving) but a new one popped up and today was my first day. I'm not sure if it's okay with them to be specific on my blog about it, so I won't say much, except this...

1. I'm exhausted

2. I enjoyed it

3. my feet hurt

4. it's not something I ever wanted to do and probably wouldn't do anywhere but this specific location, but, be that as it may, I think I'm going to like it and might even be able to handle it. 

5. I hope they feel the same about me!

It's a weekend job, totally away from a computer (probably a good break for me!) so if I don't answer your emails or visit your blogs from Friday through Sunday, it's nothing personal! I'm just pooped!

 And now for my favorite photo of the week. I had planned to post something different from later in the week, but my computer is being ornery and won't let me upload the latest photos from my camera, so you could say these are my default favorites.

First, the purple prairie verbena, still stubbornly blooming. I love these flowers, for their color and their grit.

Next, Max wading in his own pond. The water is already almost gone again, but at least he had his own backyard pool for a few days.

Hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!

It was a dark and stormy night...

I dreamed rain pelted our tin roof, hard, and thunder shook our windows.

Then I realized it wasn't a dream and, snuggling under my covers, dozed off again, grateful.

"Mom? Dad?" I woke again with a start, disoriented. Glanced at the clock. Midnight.

"We had a power outage. You probably need to set your phone alarms." It was TG on the other side of our door. "Oh, and the dogs want in."

I peaked out of my room. Lightning flashed just then, revealing the spectral silhouettes of two dogs peering in through the french doors.

Under cover of darkness, I snuck into the leaving room, snatched my phone from out of my purse and almost made it back to the bedroom before another flash of lightning cast its light on me like a deer caught in the glare of headlights.

I knew they could see me. I could imagine their big brown eyes gazing at me, pleading.

I hurried into the bedroom anyway, set my phone alarm and slipped back into bed. 

Then the voice started. I tried to ignore it, but it persisted.

Max is old, it chastised. He's scared. You should let him into the laundry room. Poor puppy, what about his heart?

Okay, okay, shut UP! I told the voice. Rolling back out of bed, I stumbled downstairs, slipped outside and peeked around the corner at the doghouse. "Puppies?"

Belle poked her head out and tilted it that way she does. So cute.

"Come..." Before the words were out of my mouth, she was running toward me, Max right behind her.

And then they were in the laundry room. And then... they shook.

And shook.

And shook.

Ugh! I didn't think about them being wet!

I grabbed a couple of beach towels, ruffled the water out of their still wet fur, turned off the light and slipped out, grateful for the stained concrete floor in that room that hides dirt and is so easy to clean.

Finally, I crawled back into bed. I was wide awake by then and just lay there, listening to the glorious sound of rain on our roof for over an hour before finally drifting off...

This morning I walked in a world washed clean and fresh. I swear, there were green things popping out everywhere! Maybe the rain just washed the dust away, but it sure looked to me like someone had come along and dribbled green paint all through the Hollow.

Birds sang a little louder and a water puddle even waited for Max and Belle at the curve in the road. They were ecstatic!

Tom took a walk on our property this evening and reported we have a foot of water in the big pond and three feet in the little pond (the minnows have a reprieve!) It's just June... we have two hot, dry months ahead of us, so no doubt they'll eventually dry up again...

But today we'll be grateful for the blessing of this rain.

And also for this sunset...

Thank you, Lord!

If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God. 

~Gilbert K. Chesterton

 

Puppy Dog Mornings (and a week of sweets)

I follow a certain ritual almost every morning, finding a spiritual, mental and physical balance that goes completely out of whack the rest of the day...

I begin at the kitchen table, enjoying a first cup of coffee and my healthy cereal (topped with blueberries and Greek yogurt) while reading something inspirational.

Right now it's Hope For Each Day by Billy Graham, a small book of daily readings I snagged at a garage sale.

As night's shadow lifts, I can make out Belle's silhouette through the French doors, full of hope, waiting patiently for our walk to begin. As soon as it's light enough to see the road, I give in.

On my way out the door, I grab my camera to get my daily photography fix, usually repeats of the same old shots... puppy dogs, dirt roads, fence posts, dusty flowers, clouds, bugs... mostly puppy dogs... just captured from a different angle, in a different season...

While walking and snapping photos, I pray the Rosary.

...Multitasking at its best.

Back home, I trade the camera for the dogs' food bowls and meet them on the back porch. While they eat their breakfast, I rock in my chair, sip on another cup of coffee, and gaze at the Hollow, savoring the quiet of the morning a bit more before the rush of the day begins.

Either before or after our walk, and before I can talk myself out of it, I squeeze in a physical work out, alternating cardio and free weights.... very important (I stress to myself when I protest) because the rest of the day I sit (sit, sit, sit, hour after hour...) in front of a computer. 

Is it any wonder that mornings are my favorite part of the day?

What are your mornings like?

Share! Share!

And now for my week of Sweet! moments...

Saturday: Manual labor ... muscles straining, sweating dripping from your nose - a wonderful change from sitting, sitting, sitting in front of a computer.

(Yes, I really do enjoy it! Every once in a while, anyway. Tom, Daniel and I spent a few hours clearing the brush out of the dry creek. They cut and sawed while I dragged and tossed. Belle and Haley supervised from spots in the shade. Max hid in the cool doghouse.)

Sunday: Celebrating a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice with barbecue and a slideshow depicting scenes from 80+ years.

(Our priest, Father Joe, is retiring this month. At 84, he deserves the break, but it's still bittersweet for me.);  

Sunday Sweet! #2: Rescuing a Blotched Water Snake. 

(Well, Tom rescued it by yelling at Max to drop it before he "played" with it to death. It had a small cut, so we kept it in a terrarium for a few days, then he released it down by the creekbed.)

Monday: A walk at dusk, first into a blue and pink pastel sunset, then back along an empty dirt road glowing from moonlight (blogged here.)

Tuesday: Your sister released to walk again three months after her hip surgery (#2) Sitting on the back deck near the splash of a full moon, listening to music with loved ones and sipping a glass of pinot noir.  

Wednesday: Glancing out the kitchen window just in time to see two great blue herons fly past. 

Thursday: Standing in a small clearing before the sun strikes full force... just you, a towering granddaddy oak and the melody of birdsong. And goofy dogs, of course.

Friday: A breeze so strong on the back deck that when you close your eyes, you can imagine you're sitting on a condo balcony above the beach in Port Aransas instead of above a dry creek in drought-cursed Central Texas.

What was your favorite Sweet! moment this week?

(This post is my contribution to the Focus52 linkup at TwoScoopz - the theme this week is "Morning.")

It's not too late!

Have you entered the $100 Visa card giveaway yet?

The one sponsored by BlogHer and Purina where all you have to do is click on this link HERE to go to my review blog and leave me a comment telling me about a special moment you share with your dog or dogs each day? If you haven't, you're running out of time! 

So go! Hurry! Do it now! The comments close tomorrow evening.

I hope you win! (Please share your comment here, too!) 

Gratuitous photos of my cute puppies...

Wake at Dawn (and my Friday Favorite Photo)

Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.

~ Khalil Gibran

I rose early to see a loved one off on a tough adventure, with a prayer that their perseverance pays off... either that or that they learn to be flexible if things don't work out the way they want.

I've learned one of the keys to happiness is flexibility - no road stays straight and you have to learn to handle the curves. But wouldn't life be boring otherwise?

While the morning was still soft, I walked with the dogs to a small pond nestled in the hills. I wouldn't want to swim in its murky, brown-gold water, but for them, it's an oasis in this dry hollow. Tom told me our pond only has about 10 gallons of water left in it. Last time I wandered that way, I startled the the blue heron. I wonder if he's still hanging around? I doubt it. 

We still have wildlife around though. Every day Max and Belle team up for a Bunny Chase. Thank goodness they never actually catch them. Yet, anyway.

This hillside pond is down by a third of its normal size, but it's still deep enough that a turtle dove out of sight before I could snap a good photo of it. I took a few shots of the dogs, but they mostly just wade in up to their chins and then just stand there, happy for the cool water seeping into their coats.

Not as exciting or rare as a turtle shot. See what I mean?

Until Belle gets out and wallows in the dirt. 

I guess that's not so much exciting as just plain goofy. I've never seen a dog who loved dirt like she does. I swear she's part pig.

She just makes me laugh.

This past week was the tortoise and the hare for me, sprinting past but also seeming to take forever, full of emotional ups and down, highs and lows, questions, celebrations, tears, hugs and laughter.

It reminded me to take life one day at a time - one minute at a time if necessary, and to celebrate each and every one.

To be grateful. To stay flexible. To love and love and love.

I believe in love and its power to work miracles, don't you?

Now we've rolled around to another weekend. It's not going to be the one we planned but it's beginning to look like a good one, anyway. Daniel's home, and we'll spend time with friends and perhaps even get out on the lake before it completely dries up.

Oh, before I forget, here's my favorite photo of the week. On a walk last weekend, I spotted something yellow just off the road. I moved closer and discovered this...

...a small colony of tiny cactus, barely visible among the rocks, boasting gorgeous blooms that towered above the spiny bumps. Most of the other flowers have all faded away because of the drought, but here was this beautiful, wild splash of yellow.

In all the years we've lived here, I've never seen these. I guess it's possible they've popped up and I just didn't see them, but they are so bold I believe I couldn't have missed them. The cacti are small and easy to ignore, just blending in with the rocks.

It's amazing to me that they bloomed so brilliantly in conditions that challenged the other flowers. In fact, it seems things have to get pretty rough before we're blessed with the best this tiny, easily overlooked plant has to offer. 

It's like that in our own lives - it's often during the worst of times or the biggest challenges that we discover hidden blooms, strengths or talents that have been dormant inside of us.

These little cacti remind me to be grateful for the rough times that force me to surprise myself with new blossoms... and that life itself is full of (wonderful) surprises!

 

 

The moon, my honey and Los Lonely Boys...

Saturday night, a Texas moon smiling down on me and Tom by my side, I had one of those Aha! moments.

I realized I was finally experiencing Austin with all five senses in a way I hadn't yet in the nearly sixteen years we've lived here.

I could feel it in the just-cool-enough breeze blowing through the courtyard of Stubb's Bar-B-Q, taste it in my jalapeno brisket taco, hear it in the music of Willie Nelson's son, Lukas, and his band, Promise of the Real and then even more in Los Lonely Boys, those sons of San Angelo, see it in trees and old stone buildings bordering the courtyard and in the diversity of the other fans ... young, old, straight, gay, preppy, hippie, Austin Weird, every race and color imaginable ... and even smell it in the air, an intermittent wafting of barbecue with a hint of... is that marijuana?

Yeah, that's Austin.

Stubb's doesn't allow detachable lenses (discrimination!) and I don't own a point-and-shoot or an iPhone, so I don't have any photos from Saturday night, just these images impressed on my mind.

But here are some photos from the rest of the birthday boy's weekend...

A happy breakfast a la me and Daniel for the birthday boy

Walking with the boys, Kirby and...

...the goofy dogs.

The boys spotted this beetle (just like old times!) Anyone know what it is? 

Ping-pong!!

Cheesecake!

A birthday wish...

...and a nap.

Not bad for #54.

Happy Mother's Day! (and Sweet! #4)

It didn't take me long to break my own Sweet! rule - I didn't post one yesterday. But I've forgiven myself and will just get back on track today with this one...

Listening to soulful music sung live and loud by the Shake Russell Trio and Michael Hearne right in my own livingroom, surrounded by music-loving friends.

Sweet!

Details coming on that later...

Today, quite appropriately for Mother's Day, but mostly because I'm plain tuckered out, the Word of the Day is Relax! I've spent the day hanging out with 1/3 of my kids, specifically Daniel whose finals are mostly over with so he could afford the time to come home this weekend.

The other two couldn't be here, but they called! (That's a bonus Sweet! for sure!)

Daniel's done a great job filling in for all of them, helping get the house back in order, watching a movie with me and just talking.

(Tom disappeared - we discovered him back in bed, snoozing away. I think he takes a nap every Mother's Day!  I don't begrudge him, though, especially this year. He worked and cooked like a maniac yesterday, preparing for the home concert.)

I missed seeing my own mom, but enjoyed talking to her on the phone. 

I'm sending good thoughts and virtual hugs to all of you mothers out there - and special prayers for those of you who have spent the day aching from the loss of a child or your own mother. 

And now, something to make you smile and remind you that "motherhood" isn't necessarily something defined by genetics... (thanks for sending this to me, Rick!) ...

Sweet! #2

Glancing up or back or out of a window just in time to see something that makes you forget what you're doing for a few moments and just sigh.

Passing our French doors yesterday morning, something on the edge of my vision caught my eye. I turned just as a Great Blue Heron glided past our house, following the line of the creek up the Hollow. I watched him until he disappeared beyond the trees.

Sweet!

He's not an uncommon sight around here, but seeing this huge bird flying silently never fails to amaze me and fill me with a sense of awe and wonder. He comes and goes suddenly and is gone just as fast, and I've given up trying to capture the moment in my camera - I'd rather just stand still and watch.

Have you experienced anything like this? What moments fill you with silent wonder?

Thank you, BlogHer!

I think I've mentioned this before - I'm a book addict. I have boxes and boxes of books stacked in the boys' rooms downstairs, waiting for the library Tom has promised me  (and promised me... and promised me...)

(Okay, in his defense, he built this whole house ... even finished out my closet while he barely has a rod to hang his shirts on, so I understand a proper home for my beloved books isn't high on the priority list. Really I do. Sigh.) 

Anyway, back to my addiction...

Books fill windowsills and mismatched bookshelves that are scattered around the house. Books are stacked on tables, fill cabinets... you get the picture. I just can't throw a book away or resist "adopting" a homeless one (for the right price, anyway.)

But I think I've also already mentioned that I don't take time to read anymore - not books, anyway. Not often. I have good intentions and dream of reading all of the books I adopt, but the reality is they sit waiting, neglected, while I spend my hours trying to make money and chase the dreams I've put off for so long.

I miss reading a good book. There's nothing like it, getting sucked into the pages, caught up in the lives of the characters, becoming oblivious to everything around you, laughing, crying, getting mad.

Growing up I spent hours reading, and when the kids were younger we shared dozens of books over the years, 30 minutes at a time, every single night. When they got older, summers would find me next to the pool with a book in my hand while they splashed around with their friends.

Now they're grown up and I'm too busy trying to make money.

And that's why I'm so grateful to BlogHer - they started a Book Club and asked for reviewers. Immediately, I raised my hand. Not only would I be sent a book (for free!) but I'd be paid to read and write a review. Not much, mind you, but any little bit was enough justification to me.

The first book I read for the Book Club, Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks, is a historical fiction, a genre I love, but it's been awhile since I read one I enjoyed this much. It was tough to put it down! It's about the first Native American to attend Harvard, although for me it was more of a coming-of-age story about a young girl named Bethia who befriends him.

If you're interested, click HERE to read my review and others on BlogHer. (But if you decide to buy it, please come back here and click on my link!)

Now (thanks to BlogHer) I'm reading a memoir - A Jane Austen Education, by William Deresiewicz. After my adventure with Caleb's Crossing, I was tempted to jump into another novel, but this one called to me for some reason, and I'm glad I picked it. Stay tuned for my review later this month.

Besides giving me an excuse to read, BlogHer also recently gave me a chance to try some new dog food (well, for Belle to try some new dog food) and to give readers a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card.  I won't give any of the details away here, though ... if you're interested, click HERE to read my review on Purina Pro Plan Selects and see how to win.

Okay, I'll tell you this much - all you have to do is leave a comment on my review blog (not here) to be entered to win. (Although I love reading your comments, here, too!)

You'll also get to read a little about me and my dogs and see some cute pictures of them. And also find out how to increase your chances of winning!

Good luck, and I hope you're having a great week!

Royal Wedding, the Sequel. Yes, I'll be watching. (And my Friday-ish Favorite Photo)

 

On a summer morning in 1981, I stumbled up the stairs and into my condo after a twelve-hour night shift, turned on the television, plopped on the floor, and watched the fairy-tale wedding of Diana and Charles.

Despite the cynicism of my 22 years, I guess I believed in the fairy-tale, and must have said an envious prayer as I watched, because just two months later I met my own prince.

My life turned out to be the happily-ever-after story, not Diana's. At least as much as anyone's can be these days. (Knock on wood, quick!)

We appeared to be nothing alike, but for some reason I identified with Diana - her relationship with Charles seemed similar to a long-term relationship I had at her age ... I understood her struggle to please, to gain attention, the battles with bulimia and anorexia and self-esteem. (Thank the good Lord mine didn't result in marriage.)

I had two sons in a row, just as she did. And my oldest son even looked like William for many years (I'm not the only one who said so.) 

Because of Diana, I became a Royal Watcher. Not in excess, but I watched the interviews, the news blurbs, read the books. When she died, I cried, glued to the television for days.

I know I'm not the only one.

I really don't understand it. It's against character for me, but there you have it. And for the same reasons I don't understand, I'll be up early - really early - this morning watching Diana's son tie the knot with that lovely young girl Kate, praying that after their fairy-tale wedding, they live happily-ever-after.

For Diana's sake.

The commemorative mug above was a birthday gift from my sweet friend Kim a few years ago. Thank you again, Kimmy!

 

And now, this goofy capture of Max is my Friday-ish Favorite Photo, because the look of delirious joy on his face as Daniel pets him is a mirror of the joy I felt having all three kids here.

I hope all of you have a joyous weekend!

Pausing for a moment to look back

The window beside me frames a pre-dawn indigo sky separating from the black treeline - soon I'll be able to make out Belle's black body sitting patiently just beyond the French doors, head-tilted, waiting for our walk. 

I've climbed from the rapids my life has become to sit here on the bank in the quiet and take a breath, think about the past weekend and the week ahead, before diving back in and getting carried along in the swift currents. I can get moving so fast, from one thing to the next, that I sometimes forget to stop and savor.

Easter weekend overflowed with blessings ... kids, dogs, food ... dancing, Mass, dinner with friends. We walked a little, worked a little, watched movies, rocked on the porch. I took lots of photos but have barely had time to look at them.

Last night a dear friend from the past stopped by with his wife, and then I made a boomerang trip downtown to pick up TG for a doctor's visit this morning. I'll return her to campus, put in a few hours of (paid) work, and then prepare for a meeting this evening. Tomorrow night I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a reunion with another friend. Swirling around it all is a looming deadline - or two or three.

I refuse to let myself feel over-anxious about any of it. I'm determined to keeping breathing, keep my eyes open and enjoy the ride. I'm blessed.

Oops, the sky is now a soft gray and the trees are green. Time to dive back into the rapids. I've enjoyed this little break with you. Hope you have a wonderful week!

 

 

 

 

 

Long Hollow Updates and my Friday Favorite Photo

I watched her glide from one end of the hollow to the other, riding the gusty wind currents like a surfer rides a wave, shifting ever so slightly to stay in the drift. She went all the way from my left to my far right without a single flap of her wings. Beautiful.

I don't have a photo - I didn't want to take my eyes off of her.

I love the feel of the wind in my hair and on my face. I love the sound of it talking to me, whooshing through the tree branches, making them dance. For me, it's the feeling and sound of joy and renewal, invigorating and energizing.

Except danger, in the form of fire, can ride the wind just like this morning's hawk. When it does, the trees don't dance ... they burn, along with everything else. They're burning in west Texas already.

We need rain.

I love the sun and the wind, but we need rain.

This used to be our pond.

It's down to the original creekbed now. (Yes, that's the d*&% dam in the background.)

As long as there's at least a puddle of water, though, Max is happy. Just enough to get his belly wet - that's all he needs. See him smiling after a quick dip? 

We might be investing in a plastic kids' pool soon.

**********

Remember the centipede that terrorized our home a few days ago? I'm happy (very happy!) to report that it's dead.

I discovered it stretched out, beautifully straight and still, on the floor downstairs yesterday morning. I took advantage of the situation and snapped several photos of it, including this one, so you can see how long it is.

It's actually a small one! Any larger and the Raid we sprayed around its fortress couch wouldn't have even slowed it down.

Oh, and thanks so much to all of you who mentioned the possibilities of babies, by the way.

Ahem.

**********

Aspirin is really and truly a miracle drug! Remember not too long ago I thought Max was going downhill fast and would be lame soon? Well that boy is like a puppy again, now that he gets 500 mg of aspirin twice a day. He prances, pounces on lizards (okay, tries to), wrestles with Belle, and runs again. Really runs! 

The difference is amazing! I'm happy.

**********

My sister Brenda is out of the hospital again and getting stronger by the minute. She is even beginning to walk with her walker (farther than just to her wheelchair!) But please continue to pray - she's got three months to go with no pressure on that hip. Thank you!

**********

My favorite photo this week has nothing to do with any of that - I just like it. I'm loving the flowers while they last, which won't be long, if this drought continues. (I found out from a blog friend this is called Blue-Eyed Grass. Perfect! Thanks, Gail!) 

We need rain!

Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger.

~Saint Basil

 

 

Going Greek and Meeting Bacon

As a college drop-out, I had no personal experience with sororities - just my fraternity of chemical plant technicians ... a fraternity of hardhats and steel-toed boots, you could say.

So I confess to a case of the jitters this past Friday night as I headed downtown for a Wine and Cheese Social. I would be meeting other moms with daughters in TG's sorority. I had worried over what to wear... jeans or dress slacks? What does "modern casual" mean, anyway? I opted for nice jeans and heels, with a dressy blouse and more jewelry than I normally wear. But I just knew I'd stick out, that my social deficiencies would be obvious.

With relief, I noticed I hit the halfway mark between the most dressy and the most casual. And I believe I blended in with the rest of them quite well. I met some of TG's friends and their moms, then she and I drifted out by the pool and had a good chat, all by ourselves. That was the best part.

She's a doll. A smart one.

I'm a lucky mom.

That was Friday night, just the beginning of a Mom/Daughter Weekend...

The next morning, after coffee and danishes in the sorority house, and a fun non-buying shopping excursion at the Domain, we nabbed Daniel from his apartment and headed to downtown Austin. In a Living Social-newbie frenzy back at Christmas, I had bought three half-price meals at Mongolian Grille ("$20 worth of food for $10"!), and they were about to expire.  We couldn't let that happen...

We ate our money's worth for sure, but I think we walked it off afterwards. First we headed in the direction of an Art Festival we'd heard about, but made a U-turn at the $8 per person entry price. Instead, we meandered through downtown, finding plenty of free art and interesting things to see everywhere we looked.

Santa, for instance...

Wall art...

 

Our feet (reflected)...

(Note to self: even out your britches before snapping next time.)

 

A herd of segway tourists...

 

And Bacon...

I'm so glad TG spotted her! I walked right on past, oblivious. But at the mention of a baby pig, I hurried back, introduced myself to Matthew (Bacon's daddy), snapped a zillion photos, asked a half-zillion questions (she's one month old; she'll only get a few inches bigger; when she needs to go potty, she lets him know by pulling on a rope attached to a bell with her mouth ... and she's only a month old!)

...and then begged to hold that sweet baby pig. Matthew's friend offered to take some photos...

Isn't she precious?

Tempting. Very tempting.

I reluctantly handed Bacon back to Matthew and we finished up our walk and dropped Daniel back home. The Mom/Daughter weekend finished up at a boutique, where we munched on quesadillas and taquitos from a nearby restaurant while ogling clothes we couldn't afford, which was actually fun because few of the others bought anything, either. And we got goody bags. Goody bags make everything fun, but then, it was fun just hanging out with TG a little longer.

I made it home in time to watch a movie with Tom - Stone of Destiny, which apparently got a Rotten Tomato award, but I liked it. It's based on a true story, I think more than most "based on a true story" movies are.

Sunday was a 'try to catch up' day, but we managed to squeeze in a game of ping-pong. I let Tom beat me this time - just so he won't get tired of playing, of course.

(Not really. Now I feel guilty. He beat me fair and square. I'll get him next time...)

I hope you had a wonderful weekend, too!

P.S. Please continue to keep my sister Brenda in your prayers as she recovers from her hip surgery, as well as my parents who are caring for her. She's already had to battle a stomach virus and now she's back in the hospital with a bladder infection. Thank you in advance!

 

Belle, The Circus Dog (Favorite Friday Photos)

I've mentioned before how acrobatic my little Belle is, that I thought she must be descended from circus dogs... 

Now I believe it more than ever! 

Would you believe she has learned to stand and walk just on her hands, er, front paws?

(Where's Ellen's number?)

Nah, not really. It's April Fool's Day, remember? This is the best I could come up with. It's a real, untouched photo alright, but this is just the goofy way she runs... I keep expecting her to flip all the way over!

But the focus52 prompt this week is "silly" and right away I thought of my sweet, silly Belle, who bounds like Tigger when she runs, who makes me laugh every day, who radiates joy with every fiber of her being. 

She loves dirt the way Max loves water!

She might just be the goofiest dog I've ever owned - and that's saying a lot!

One thing's for sure... it's a dog's life around here...

But I don't mind.

In honor of April's Fool's Day, here are a few of my favorite 'fool' quotes...

A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool. ~ William Shakespeare

He who hesitates is a damned fool. ~ Mae West

Showing off is the fool's idea of glory. ~ Bruce Lee

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally. ~ Niccolo Machiavelli

Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it. ~ Henry David Thoreau

Happy April Fool's Day!

Gypsy Dogs

Gypsy dogs love an open road ... a new scent ... an empty field with tall grass.

Gypsy dogs love adventure.

They don't care that you took a day off work to lay electric wire around a perimeter to keep them in, to keep them safe, or that you worry about them and miss them when they disappear.

They don't let sore elbows, weak hips or even electric shocks on their necks keep them from new discoveries just beyond the horizon or at least beyond that electric wire you buried.

They're free spirits. Wanderers. Gypsies.

Dang dogs. Back to the drawing board, I guess.

Maybe a dog run between the trees...

I wrote this last night - I'm happy to report that, as far as I know, Belle and Max stuck close to home today, as good guard dogs should, and earned the big bucks we pay them.

(We don't actually pay them. It just sounded good.)

I say "as far as I know" because I don't really trust them, and suspect they snuck away farther than they were supposed to, but somehow they were there every time I checked today, or at least within calling distance.

Except one time.

But then they showed back up. Eventually.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow. I might have dogs in the laundry room.

I wonder if they iron?

 

March Winds and Loose Ends

The March wind is up early this morning, rushing through the Hollow, as if it were cleaning house, preparing for April. 

And I feel like I'm a leaf caught up in the wind, spinning this way and that.

I'm not complaining. I'm just having a tough time finding the ground again. I'm feeling dizzy from the spin. So much is going on, so many undone things on my list (so many lists!), so much just under the surface on the verge of breaking out, announcing a new season.

I guess in a way, I'm trying to be like the March wind, busy, busy, busy, trying to sweep and clean up the old leaves, and yet keep everything else moving along.

Other people have much more on their plates than I do and seem to accomplish so much more without getting overwhelmed. I'm beginning to realize I have a pretty small plate. I'm just having a tough time accepting that fact.

So anyway ... here I am on a Saturday morning with a long drive ahead of me, and what happens? My eyes pop open after just a few hours of sleep, my brain clicks on, and I had no choice (after an hour like that) but to get up and get moving.

I spent a wonderful day yesterday with a friend, away from computers and lists, and capped it off by joining more friends for dinner outside at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse, dancing and listening to the music of Drew Womack. Usually a day like that will affect me like a deep breath, a relaxing sigh, but as wonderful as it was, this time that relaxed feeling didn't last very long. My brain keeps zooming to places in the future or dwelling on other issues I have no control over, or just focusing too much on those damn lists that keep growing longer instead of shorter.

I'm trying to take all of my own advice about letting go, focusing on the moment, counting my blessings ... and it does help. For a bit.

I know I'm not the only one feeling whisked too fast by this March wind - I glanced at Facebook this morning and saw this post by a friend ... a reminder of how to find shelter from the wind (thanks, Doug!) ...

For a moment I felt overwhelmed! Another weekend. Kids with MANY places to go. Soccer game, track, church event, back to High School, back to church event, Sunday Church, meeting friends, worrying... I felt a touch that gently reminded me just how blessed I am to be busy, with a wonderful family! Thanks Lord!

As I step back into this day, I'll do my best to stay on the ground, stay in the moment, and not allow the winds to sweep me completely away.

Some good news about Max and Belle, though - they've either stopped their wandering ways (or learned to be more sneaky about it.) Miss Ginger hasn't called in three days now!

I'm so glad because I do love those goofy dogs!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend - don't let the March winds sweep you away!

Not again! Dang dogs (and birds!) and "Johnny Baby" revisited

I knew it. I could see it on their faces yesterday when we tried to get them into the van. 

Yep, it's true. They love Ginger more than me.

Or at least Ginger's yard. Or dogs. Or driveway.

Something up there is irresistible to my dogs - worth the trek through the valley and up the hill.

Maybe Max is in love?

At any rate, Ginger called this afternoon to let me know my dogs were hanging out at her house again.

(How embarrassing! I feel so rejected!) 

I had to take off work and head back up there in the old mini-van (the only vehicle we have they'll both fit into. I'm glad we haven't sold it yet. I'd hate to have to squeeze them into my Elantra!)

I let Max know my cut in pay this week was coming out of his allowance. No more expensive joint-therapy food and supplements for him, if this is the thanks I get!

(Not really. Totally empty threat. But don't tell him that.)

Once we were back on our dirt road, within a hundred yards of our house, I made them get out and walk. I'm not sure what that taught them, but it made me feel better for some reason. (I used to do that with the kids when they were younger and fighting or just being rowdy and not listening in the van - once we were on the dirt road, out they'd go! hehehe)

My point with the dogs was, I didn't want them to think they could walk up there to Ginger's, have a good time, and then expect a cushy ride home from me. Oh, no! You only get a cushy ride for the dangerous sections, and then, out you go! Take that and don't forget it!

Dang dogs.

So guess what we did with them this afternoon?

Yeah, that's right. We took them for a long walk. It was a gorgeous afternoon - how could we not take them for a walk?

Dang dogs.

Now Tom has some work ahead of him. Either string up one of those electric fences in a small area and put one of those shock collars on Belle (I worry about putting one on Max with his heart issues) or build two runs in the woods. They'd have to be sturdy for these two dogs, anchored in concrete a mile deep! And do they even make harnesses large enough for Max?

Dang dogs. Like we don't have enough projects around here...

While Tom's working on that, I'm going to be busy stalking birds.

Spring is moving into the Hollow even as we speak, and the birds are all atwitter about it. But they're all atwitter from a distance, and they're irritatingly camera shy. Even when they're fifty yards away and up in the tops of the willows - so far away I know whatever shot I take isn't going to be clear and sharp but I want to try anyway - at the first movement of my camera, SWOOSH, they're off in beautiful synchronized flight. 

I think they're taunting me.

But the game is on. The stakes have risen higher, because Jillsy has a new challenge this month - bird photography. And she has sweetened the deal by promising "a little something" from her - most likely some of her beautiful cards.

And that's why I'll be stalking birds while Tom figures out how to corral our adventurous puppies.

If you want to play along on "Tweets Around the World", click the image below for the details. I'm also posting it in my sidebar for future reference (so I can see how I'm doing!) and adding the blog hop Linky to the bottom of this post.

 

While I'm rambling, I need to give a shout-out Happy Birthday to my youngest brother-in-law, John. His birthday was actually last week, but that's how it is these days, behind on everything. (Tom just made his happy birthday call. We are birds of a procrastinating feather, that's for sure...)

So happy birthday, John! (Click HERE to see my really good "Happy Birthday, John" post from last year. He's an amazing guy, a Phoenix policeman who coaxed a confession out of a murderer, so if you missed it last year, you really should read it. I used to be so good at these things...)

Max and Belle's "Awesome" Adventure

Max, curled up in his huge porch bed, stared out into the nearby woods. Belle lay nearby, stretched out in the dirt, gnawing on a piece of Dad's firewood. 

Beyond her, Max spotted a squirrel sneaking closer and closer, determined to scavenge a bit of bird seed from the ground under the feeder. He'd done his fair share of squirrel-chasing, but today it just didn't sound like fun.

Max sighed. It was a perfect day - the sun was shining, there was a light breeze blowing - what a waste to spend another afternoon dozing on the porch. 

His elbow didn't ache so bad anymore. His hip bothered him a little, but he wasn't ready to just give in to old age.

And by golly, he wasn't going to! Scrambling up, he headed into the woods.

"Let's go exploring," he told Belle.

She looked up at him, tilting her head. "Huh?"

"Come on! Follow me."

And off they went. Not in the same old direction Mom and Dad always took them, but a new and different direction - off into the unknown, Max leading the way with only a slight limp, and Belle, grinning, trotting along close behind.

Before too long, their noses took over, as one new scent after another popped up to be explored. They zig-zagged their way through a valley and up a hill, and there they found the most amazing place ... a yard full of something soft and cool ... like water, only not wet. There weren't any rocks or sharp, pointed plants or burs or anything, just this soft, cool, fluffy stuff.

A woman stepped outside of the big house and spoke softly to them, petted them. She didn't shoo them away, but invited them into a special gated place where other dogs were playing. Friendly dogs.

That was fun for awhile, but the lush lawn out front called to Max, inviting him to stretch out and soothe his aching muscles. (That had been a long walk and tough climb from the Hollow!) He and Belle found a way to escape the gated area, but instead of heading back home,  they lolled the afternoon away in suburban luxury.

Time seemed to stand still. Neither of them noticed the sun dropping lower in the sky. It was only when the red minivan pulled into the driveway and the woman stepped out and hollered their names that they thought, "Oh, crap! We're in trouble now!"

The ride home, crowded into the minivan with angry parents, wasn't nearly as much fun as the hike up to heaven ...

 

The end. 

P.S. Max and Belle are grounded for two weeks and we're re-thinking Max's aspirin therapy. Apparently, it works too well...

P.S.S. We're not really re-thinking it. We're not cruel. Just mad. Dang dogs. And they aren't really grounded. (How do you ground a dog?) We went for our normal walk this morning. I think Max is limping a little bit more, but he tried hard not to show it.

Dang dogs.

 

 

 

 

Good morning, Snow! (My Friday Favorite Photos...)

I woke to a Winter Wonderland, Central Texas style (translation: an inch or so of snow) 

Not quite enough to cover the rocks, but hey, you northern people, don't laugh! It's like icing on a cake, and you know, icing makes everything taste better! Or in this case, look better... and also justifies freezing our tushies in those teens temps.

It was a surprise to see the world of white out my window when I finally awoke; when I went to bed - and it was pretty late by then - we'd gotten nothing but some sleet and frozen rain.

Tom and I stayed snuggled under the covers for awhile this morning (because the house was so dang cold!), entertained by coverage on the television of adventurous drivers slippin' and slidin' on the highways, until it hit me FIRST that the dogs were still in my laundry room past their potty time and SECOND the snow wouldn't last all day so I better get my rear-end out there and enjoy it while it lasted.

So I did.

I threw on some clothes, started the coffee brewing, and headed off on a walk with the puppies to work on my Snowy Day list. (Bless their hearts, they had managed to "hold it", if you know what I mean...)

As far as my walk went, two out of three isn't bad. (See yesterday's post, if you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about... )

1) Catching delicate flakes on my tongue: The snow had stopped, but the wind played housekeeper, dusting the snow flakes off of the roof and leaves. It was tricky, but I managed to catch several on my tongue.

2) Make snow angel: I took advantage of the dogs running off into the woods after something to lie down on our road and move my arms up and down. When I tried it with them nearby, well, forget it. This might not be the best snow angel around, but it's mine...

3) Build a snowman: I confess, I forgot about this one at first. It was after my camera battery had died and had to be recharged, and I went out for a second round of snow that I ventured to build a snowman. Right away I realized two things: first, there wasn't enough snow left, and second, my hands were really, really cold and it wasn't fun. So no snowman. Sorry.

Not really. I'm actually not sorry. My hands were really, really cold, dang it, and I could tell it wasn't going to be a pretty snowman - too much mud and dirt getting mixed up in the snow. But Tom grabbed one of the sections (pretty much a snowball) and stuck it in the freezer as a reminder of the Storm of '11.

So there.

Instead, I took a photo of my vintage '80 snow boots in the snow...

And here are a few more shots from my walks in the snow today. I'll post more tomorrow on Confessions...

Belle meets Snow...

More of Belle and Max...