Long Hollow

There's Something About May...

Maybe I'm paranoid, but I think May doesn't like me.

Tuesday was Tom's 55th birthday. I've barely been home the past week and looked forward to having some time off yesterday afternoon to write a post here about how grateful I am for each of those 55 years... especially the 30 I've shared with him...

Instead, I spent most of the afternoon doubled up in pain on the couch until I drove myself to the emergency room, where I spent the rest of the evening.

I was sure it was a gall bladder attack. It hit right after eating one of my veggie omelettes that I drown in picante sauce, and the only other time I've had pain like that (other than labor for each one of my kids) is after eating a spicy Thai salad several years ago. My friends with experience told me then that it sounded like a gall bladder rebellion.

Not life threatening, so when it subsided a bit, I just called and made an appointment for today with my doctor and tried to get comfortable on the couch.

But I couldn't. When it didn't go away after a few hours, and even felt like it was getting worse again, I thought I better get a second opinion, or I guess third, if you count Google, and off to the ER I went, in such a rush I didn't even grab a book.

To put it into perspective, I think it's been over thirty years since I went to an emergency room for myself. Who has time for that? I didn't even go when I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest two years ago. 

In May.

Ah, May. Why don't you like me?

Shingles had attacked me the previous May. Or maybe that year it was the super duper urinary tract infection... only the second one I've had in my life... and shingles was the year before.

At any rate, last May I held my breath all month, wondering what disease or affliction would hit me out of the blue. Surprise... I made it through with no surprises! I thought the May curse was broken. 

I guess it wasn't.

On the up side, my internal organs passed all of yesterday's tests with flying colors. An hour after the morphine shot, my pain went away and hasn't returned. I'm flummoxed but relieved! I think the doctor was flummoxed, too. He called it a stomach virus, gave me a prescription for nausea medicine (which I didn't and still don't need) and released me to my dear friends Mary Kay and Joe. (I couldn't drive myself home because of the morphine.)

Also on the up side, these random May afflictions remind me to not take my health for granted... or anything for granted, really, because things can change in a split second, can't they? So maybe May is just being a good friend, keeping me humble and on my toes. And grateful when things go right.

After all, a month that celebrates mothers, welcomed my husband into the world, and gives us beautiful flowers can't be too bad, can it?

(I'll still be glad when June arrives.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Super Moon and other Sweet!s of the Week

I've already jumped onto the Weekend Express, but I'm taking advantage of a pit stop to post my Saturday Sweet! List from the past week before I get whisked into the next one...

 

Saturday: catching the Super Moon low on the horizon; waking to the sound of unexpected rain

(Not the best capture, but enough to trigger my memory of standing on my friend Nancy's back porch watching it rise in the sky over the pasture.) 

Sunday: Mass with dear friends in a beautiful historic church; sunlight streaming through stained glass windows; barbecue chicken plates benefiting a volunteer fire department; a quick visit with your son, future daughter-in-law, and grandpuppy; Gruene, Texas, even for just a quick stop

Monday: an omelette made with fresh veggies from a friend's garden; new tires on your car; spending time with your baby girl 

Tuesday: your husband bringing you flowers; finishing tasks that weighed on your mind

(from a yucca plant that was knocked over in the thunder storm)

Wednesday: soft raindrops on a morning walk; box turtles resting near a pond; sleeping dogs; friends responding to a prayer request; grilled cheese sandwiches a la Tom

Thursday: an unexpected paid work day (cha-ching!); second graders; Ocean Week in an elementary school; storm clouds making way for sunshine long enough to walk your puppies

Friday: gathering with friends and 1/3 of your kids for dinner, even if the band (and dancing) is rained out; sunsets and storm clouds over a lake; rainbows

 

Hope you all had a wonderful week and the next one is even better. And in case my Mother's Day post runs a few days late, Happy Mother's Day to all of you who have experienced the joy and heartbreak of motherhood, whether you ever gave birth or not.

Here's a flower for you...

(the onions are blooming!) 

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!

Traipsing through Cemeteries and other Sweet!s

It might seem unusual to wander through a cemetery on your birthday, but that's what I did yesterday.

There's a small one dating from the 1850's down the highway toward Marble Falls. When I heard it was blanketed with bluebonnets, I couldn't wait to visit it. There's just something about wildflowers growing beside a headstone that I find quite beautiful.  A reminder of fragility of life, the cycle of life, of life after death.

How appropriate for a birthday, especially one that falls on Good Friday, right?

After exploring the cemetery, offering prayers for the souls of those resting there and their families, we drove on to Marble Falls, where we visited a few eclectic antique and art shops in the old part of town (Tom and Daniel are such good sports!), and enjoyed dinner at a restaurant overlooking the lake.

Best of all, later that evening I got to share the traditional birthday cheesecake with all three of my kids. 

Just icing on a week full of sweet! moments...

Sunday: fields of bluebonnets and prairie verbena; pizza from a brick oven; sitting on the back deck on a beautiful spring night with your son and talking for hours

Monday: daily chats with your mom; finding a pair of shoes in your closet you'd forgotten about; butterflies; talking about your day over dinner with your sweetie

Tuesday: four-year-olds... especially their smiles and hugs and imaginations; working with a friend; reading a new book

Wednesday: a surprise birthday lunch with friends; creme brulee; a vineyard, caliche road and tin roof glowing in moonlight

Thursday: birthday cards in the mail; a birthday call from a dear friend and your uncle; practicing the drums; a full moon welcoming your birthday

Friday: greeting another birthday morning; breakfast, courtesy of your husband and son; birthday surprises in the mailbox; birthday wishes via phone, email and Facebook; bluebonnets blanketing a cemetery; sharing cheesecake and a movie with all three kids

Saturday: a lazy Saturday at home 

I hope you had a week full of sweet! moments, too!

 

The Day Before 53

Butterflies flitted around me on my walk this morning, hopping from flower to flower too fast for me to capture in my camera. (The one above is from last week!)

I imagined they were celebrating the beautiful morning... dancing a springtime jig of joy. It was contagious - I felt joy rising inside of me in gratitude for the sunshine, the blue skies, the color popping up around me, and especially for the chance to turn 53 tomorrow.

Life isn't perfect, but it has moments of simple glory that can soften the darkness with a whisper, enough to help us see beauty in those less glorious moments. I've been blessed with tons of those moments.

But suddenly I saw indecisiveness in the butterflies' glorious dance... an inability to settle on any one flower long enough to drink much of its nectar, to truly enjoy it or benefit from it.

Was I like the butterflies, hopping from one job or hobby to another too quickly, not allowing myself time on any to truly absorb them?

Ah, birthdays always make me think too much.

I decided not to worry if I'm hopping in too many directions or not. Sharing a birthday with Good Friday is enough to reflect upon. What better gift could I receive than the one Christ gave to me?

I have already received some sweet birthday surprises, though... a few cards and phone calls, a party with friends next weekend, and (bless you Mary Kay, Conni and Karen!), I get to go see the hit Broadway musical Mary Poppins when it plays Austin next week!

My gift to myself will be to re-focus on my health... getting enough sleep, eating right, and making my workouts a priority... and also to focus on each moment at hand, rather than letting my brain wander too far into the past or the future... or onto Facebook when I'm supposed to be writing.

All three of my kids will be here for a while this weekend to help me celebrate Easter and my birthday. Icing on the cake, for sure! Unlike my zip-lining adventure last year, I didn't have a desire to cross off any big Bucket List things for my birthday, other than visiting Enchanted Rock again, and we already did that.

I imagine, besides going to church, we'll just hang around the house, walk the dogs, watch a movie, talk...

Okay, I admit I'm hoping for at least one game of ping-pong.

But whatever we do, it will be perfect, and I know I'll be reflecting on all of it, tucking it away in my heart and giving thanks.

God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.

~Voltaire

 

Adding to my collection...

I started substitute teaching again.

Three years ago I started a (mostly) full-time job and, except for Voting Day and a couple of quick visits to talk about writing to students, I didn't step a foot into the schools during that time.

I missed it, and I'm so grateful the district accepted me as a sub again. Over the past few weeks I've reviewed color patterns... read Peter Rabbit aloud for the first time in more than a decade, as well as voiced a part in the last act of Othello...  watched a stage performance of "The Emperor's New Clothes"... enjoyed a documentary hosted by Peter Jennings about the 50's and early 60's (three times!)... learned about the dangers of drinking and drugs from Hollywood Henderson via VHS... and overheard some heartbreaking home life stories.

I'm not going to be the popular sub... at least not at the high school... because I don't care if the kids like me or not. I'm there to follow the teacher's directions, period. And, if possible, get the kids to learn something while they're under my watch.

After raising three kids and subbing for 15 years (plus one year on the payroll as the elementary school librarian) I'm on to all, or at least most, of the tricks. But I still have a soft heart and those kids can be really tricky. I'm sure they're going to pull one over one me every once in a while because they can also be interesting, considerate and funny.

I'm hoping to sub as much as I can until summer vacation starts. Unlike other jobs I've had in my life, this one gives me a good feeling, like I've actually done something positive with my time. It's also a great source of material for my children's book!

And, of course, the main reason I'm taking time away from my book for anything else is we need the money. I'm just grateful that I've been able to gather a flexible collection of jobs I enjoy:

1. Writer
2. Photographer (Art and Portrait)
3. Blogger
4. Book Reviewer
5. Substitute teacher
6. Winery Bistro waiter
7. Independent Silpada Representative
8. Substitute church secretary
9. Personal historian (although I haven't made much progress on this one!)

I feel like I've forgotten one or two...

Oh, well. It's hard to focus when this is what's going on around me...

So gorgeous! The world is exploding in color!

I pulled over to take this on my commute to #5 yesterday. And to sigh.

There was an art show going on around the estate, so during some down time, I grabbed my camera and walked around...

This was my favorite, by Shakti Sarkin. I didn't go home with it, though. The price? $1350. 

Made me wish I could add 'artist' to my list.

Here are a few other pieces that caught my eye...

I believe the art will hang around for a month. But we also have a new permanent addition to the Bistro. A pizza oven!

You can see Chef Sean is happy about it...

...but this is going to be sooooo detrimental to my waistline...

I love pizza.

I love my jobs.

If you miss me on Facebook or FlickR or in the comments section of your blog, now you know why! (Thanks for missing me, Patti!)

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!

Enchanted Awesome-ness

Awe is the finest portion of humankind… In awe one feels profoundly the immense.

~ Goethe

We sat under a dark sky sprinkled with stars, catching up on each other's lives. The warm breath of the bonfire chased away the chill and the song of the creek drifted to us from the darkness.

After a few short hours, Tom rose and faded into the night, returning with a bucket of water which he poured onto the fire. It sizzled and popped and sent golden sparkles up into the sky to compete with the stars.

"Time to go to bed! We've got to get up early!" he barked.

"Yessir, Bossman!" we grumbled, grabbing chairs and bottles and trudging up the trail to the house. 

But when my alarm shocked me awake the next morning, I was grateful Bossman had ordered us to bed. Otherwise we would have stayed up half the night, mesmerized by the fire and the stars and the joy of seeing each other again.

Which means we would have gotten a late start this past Saturday and never experienced the view from the top of Enchanted Rock, a granite dome that is the center of many Native American legends, because, shortly after we made it through the gate into the state park, it closed due to the capacity limit.

 

On a beautiful spring day in the Texas Hill Country, everyone wants to go to Enchanted Rock...

 

...even though there's not much to do but climb, sit, and stare...

 

...wonder at the life growing even on top of a huge granite rock...

 

...and maybe sneak a kiss.

 

But somehow, that's enough.

 

On the way back down the Rock, however, the formations bring out the kid in you. You find yourself wanting to climb again.

The trick is getting back down...

At any rate, thank you, Bossman!

(Before reaching Enchanted Rock State Park, we introduced our friends Robert and Shari to the waves of bluebonnets on the Willow City Loop, and afterwards, enjoyed lunch in Fredericksburg at the Altdorf Biergarten Restaurant. Best Reuben sandwich I've had in a long time! I'll share those photos, as well as a few more from Enchanted Rock, on Confessions tomorrow.)

Texas and other Sweet!s

I spent this glorious spring day with Tom and dear friends Shari and Robert driving through the hill country... ooh-ing and ah-ing at fields of bluebonnets, hiking up Enchanted Rock, and eating in Fredericksburg. I'm sunburned and dog-tired, but happily so. (Pictures to follow... you can probably imagine how many I took!)

I have to give Tom credit for spotting this single Bluebonnet growing right in front of our house. For some reason, bluebonnets are rare down in the Hollow. One year we tried to plant some, but as I told a friend, the birds must have eaten the seeds and pooped them out elsewhere.

Thank you to whatever bird planted this bluebonnet standing so tall and proud, like a true Texan...

I just love it!

..."Proud Texan" leads me to this next photo that some guy named Steve Redman posted on Facebook. It's spreading like wildfire... at least among my Texan friends. I have no idea where he got it, but I love it, too.

Yes, we do think like this. But we also laugh at ourselves for thinking like this. Does that help make us a little less obnoxious?

"I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that.  It is a mystique closely approximating a religion.  And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people dare to inspect it for fear of losing their bearings in mystery or paradox.  But I think there will be little quarrel with my feeling that Texas is one thing.  For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America.  Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study and the passionate possession of all Texans." -John Steinbeck, 1962

"If a man’s from Texas, he’ll tell you. If he’s not, why embarrass him by asking?" - Travel writer John Gunther, The Best of Texas.

 

And now for more sweet! moments of the past week...

 

Saturday: your Mama's tuna fish salad; watching basketball with your Daddy; bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes on a hillside at sunset; the smiles on your puppies' faces when you arrive home after a road trip

Sunday: driving empty highways at 4am to retrieve your daughter from a 22-hour bus trip; a great sermon; a red-tailed hawk, soaring through the hollow; watching movies with your daughter before she heads back to college

Monday: a bluebonnet growing in the Hollow; ducks gliding across a pond; four-year-olds discovering patterns and pretending to be airplanes and kitty cats; walking familiar halls after years of absence

Tuesday: knowing your puppies are indoors, safe and sound, on a stormy morning; a glimpse of more ducks through the trees, even though they fly before you can snap their picture; a call from your father-in-law, letting you know he's out of the hospital 

Wednesday: a walk before dawn, the Big Dipper ahead of you and a glimmer of sunrise behind; no line at the post office

Thursday: lunch with friends; coming up with a good excuse to drive downtown for a daughter hug; watching ducks fly away from you, even though you didn't have time to snap their photo (again!)

Friday: reading Othello aloud with high school seniors; a (mostly) clean house, just in time for the arrival of sweet friends; sitting around a bonfire with friends under a sky full of stars, talking and listening to a rushing creek

Saturday: fields of Texas wildflowers; sharing the view from the top of Enchanted Rock with friends; real German Reuben sandwiches

What were some sweet! moments of your week?

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

 

Flowers for Juana

Today my friend Juana will be celebrating her husband's life at a funeral Mass in Spain. She lost him unexpectedly last week, just 20 days after she was able to join him there, eager to start the next phase of their lives after living two years with the Atlantic Ocean between them.

It's some consolation to her to know his death brought life to others... she says "A man of his age has his liver. A boy of twenty-one on dialysis - his kidney. Another kidney to a another boy of 30 and A 17-year-old boy has recovered his sight thanks to Pepe's cornea." But still, my heart breaks for her.

I can't remember how or when I discovered Juana's blog, Between USA and Spain, but even though Juana and I have never physically met, we clicked and became fast friends.

She started her blog to chronicle the days until she and Pepe could be together again. He was starting a job in Spain; she was staying in Atlanta until her youngest daughter graduated from college, then she would join him.

Through her blog and photographs, Juana introduced us to her entertaining, (crazy!), loving family... she shared with us the pain of living apart from the man she loved... she took us with her to visit him in Spain.

Through her words I got to know Pepe for the wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend he was. I could see his sense of humor and his kindness. I could see the joy they felt together, felt their strong love, and helped her count down the days until the airplane took her across the ocean to be with him again for more than just a visit. 

Juana, I can't be there physically to support you today, but I'm following Jen's lead and sending you some Texas Hill Country wildflowers. Not as pretty as Jen's Costa Rica beauties, but as I'm watching them pop up along the roadside again here, they make me think of you and Pepe, and the many seasons of life. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the flowers comes much love, as well as prayers for strength and peace, patience and comfort.

"My heart trusts in the Lord, and I am helped." ~ Psalm 28:7

 

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

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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!

It's already Saturday? (Sweet!)

I'm in a calm spot between a busy week and a busier weekend. We've been blessed with spring-like weather, lately, and I admit I'm ready for it to just stick around. Wildflowers haven't yet ventured our way, but we're being serenaded by birds and frogs and a running creek. Storm clouds and sunshine are taking turns painting the canvas above us.

Middle son is home this weekend which called for a celebration: pizza, wine, and a Netflix double-feature last night (I finally got up the nerve to watch "Interview with a Vampire"! Plus another movie that was pretty good but I can't recall the name. Guess it wasn't that good.)

Even though it was a busy week, I remembered to keep track of my sweet moments. Hope you did, too!

Saturday: a morning walk with girlfriends and dogs to wake your husband in his tent across the creek; fresh kolaches; a sunshine-filled afternoon with friends in a vineyard; kitchen counters overflowing with BBQ, King Cake and tons of other food; a house full of your longtime friends...dancing, laughing, talking; toasting your friendship with shots of Patron followed by cinnamon-sprinkled orange slices

 

 

Sunday: a road trip with a friend with hours to catch up on your lives; being part of a circle of support for a friend mourning her husband; snapping photos of an alligator (from a safe distance); dinner with view of the water; sharing a beautiful sunset with friends; hugs from your parents

 

 

Monday: breakfast by your Daddy, hours of unrushed time with your parents; a quick visit with your sister; missing traffic on your way home

Tuesday: sunshine breaking through morning fog; the wisdom of Winnie-the-Pooh 

Wednesday: Grand Prize on a SheWrites giveaway; a quick visit with your daughter; a phone call from a sweet friend you haven't talked to in a while; sitting on the porch swing on a summer-in-winter evening with your sweetie

Thursday: a puppy's face at the door, first thing in the morning; getting your run out of the way before the sun comes up; a walk along a running creek at dusk with your sweetie, and capturing a photo of the first star of the evening

 

 

Friday: dramatic storm clouds; wind whispering in your ears; pizza, wine and movies with your sweetie and middle son

Saturday: sleeping in before the rush of a busy weekend begins

Hope you've had a week full of sweet moments, too!

Friday the 13th

Up late last night, writing and coming through on a months-old promise of photos to a sweet friend.

Reset alarm, later, later. Finally staggered out of bed at 6am to kiss Tom before he hit the road.

"Happy Anniversary!" he tells me.

My sleepy brain scrambles for the meaning behind his words. Through the fog, it hits me... Today must be a Friday the 13th, just like the day we got married almost 30 years ago.

And he remembered.

That's just one reason I love him.

 

It was a beautiful Friday the 13th for me. I hope it was for you, too!

Ssssh! Don't Tell my Mom! (plus the Shutterfly winners)

Life has gotten crazy busy.

My oldest son and his girlfriend are heading here this evening, joined by a few of his 'old' college buddies who are driving in from Dallas. Tomorrow is his birthday and he's letting me celebrate it with him for the first time in years and years... well, since he left home for college. It will be a late night celebration, and simple. Just pizza and ice cream cake. But it will warm my heart getting to see him (briefly) on his actual birthday tomorrow.

However, come to think of it, it might only be his sleeping 26-year-old face I get to see; I have to leave for work relatively early and they'll probably stay up late tonight, which means they'll sleep in before heading out for another celebration downtown tomorrow night.

But I'll take what I can get and be grateful!

So... today I'm cleaning house. Not just a room here or there, but the whole dang thing, top to bottom. As soon as I finish with my writing duties, I'm going to put something energetic and old (like me) on the stereo... something like KC and the Sunshine Band or James Brown or Elvis... and become a dancing, singing, cleaning, whirling dervish.

I'm hoping to finish in time to drop in on a Christmas Bunco party tonight and visit with women I never get to see anymore before running back home to greet my oldest baby. Then there's work at the Bistro, a college graduation and more Christmas parties on this week's calendar, plus decorations and cards and photo editing and writing assignments hovering over my head. 

Which means something's gotta give, and as usual, it's sleep... enough that those little dark circles are appearing under my eyes.  I've also missed a couple of workouts this week because of extra jobs that popped up, blessings I can't turn down.

But please don't tell my mom - she'll worry. And don't tell my kids - I'm always nagging them to make sure they get enough sleep. Oh, they'd love to throw this back on me!

One thing I'm not cutting out - not yet, anyway - is my morning walk. Before it was even light this morning, Belle appeared at the window next to my computer, begging to get started. Max stood a few steps behind her... a black patch on the dark porch... and that was unusual; he usually lets her do the begging alone, happy to relax in his bed on the front porch until I step out the door.

I could hear the rain hitting the roof. I guess they were as relieved and excited by the steady, light rain as I was... and I was glad they were eager for a walk. Cool, rainy days are the most beautiful when you're out in them, wrapped in a warm jacket and protected from total drenching by an umbrella. Colors deepen - greens, browns, golds, rusts - and everything glistens, bedazzled in crystal drops. 

No photographs. It was too wet to risk my camera. Belle's begging at the window again now, though, and the rain has stopped. Perhaps I'll wander out with my camera before I get busy cleaning and capture some of the rain bling...

But then... that's why my house is so dirty. All those, "But first..."s.

Ah, well. I'll just go ahead and share a couple I took the last time it rained and get busy cleaning...

And now, I won't drag it out any longer. Here are the winners of the Shutterfly card giveaway... 

Congratulations to Hilary at The Smitten Image, Gail at Louisiana Belle and Walker at A Woman's Page! I'll send you each the codes for your free 25 cards!

I wish everyone who entered could have won. I really hate leaving people out and I loved hearing all of your sweet! moments. Thanks for sharing them!

 

"The Best Laid Schemes..." (What happened to Monday and Tuesday?)

According to my calendar, I'm in Galveston right now, visiting my friend Ann, finally getting to see the cute little Victorian house she's fixing up and browsing through some wonderful eclectic shops.

Things don't always go according to plan, though, do they?

Instead of strolling the tourist-free beaches and staying up late talking and laughing with my dear friend, I've spent the past two days glued to this old computer, spending hours and hours on projects that should have only taken half the time.

(I'm beginning to wonder if shoveling coal into it might make it go any faster. I don't think it could hurt!)

Ann's free days evaporated, too, anyway, complicated by family schedules. We're going to try again in the next month or two. Why are our lives still so complicated?

I'm grateful for the work that's keeping me glued to the computer, though. One is a photo shoot from a couple of weeks ago that forced me to learn Lightoom. I'm by no means an expert, but I've learned so much, thanks to tutorials and photography friends (thank you, Beth!) and learning something new is so much fun! (And frustrating. And agonizing.)

Unfortunately, one thing I've learned is that my E: drive on my computer has gone kaputz. Nothing like a few hurdles in your path to keep you on your toes, right?

The second project was a review for BlogHer with a quick turnaround, as in, I learned about it yesterday and the deadline was this morning. And I (pretty much) turned it in on time. Ahem.

It wasn't a typical product review... more of a personal essay on health and aging and menopause, so I was happy I was chosen for the project.

I can't believe it's already Wednesday, though. Here are a few highlights from the past few days...

 

My mother turned 80! Middle-son Daniel went with me for the celebration at my parents' house. I enjoy road trips with Daniel - he helps me find good radio stations and doesn't mind me singing along loudly, even when I don't really know the words. 

It was a quick visit with family, highlighted by fried Gulf shrimp, birthday cake, breakfast by Daddy, plenty of coffee, Mexican food, and my mother in a birthday sombrero... 

...which matches this one of my dad from last month...

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Oldest-son Tommy ran his first full marathon! If you knew all the nights I stayed up with him while he struggled to breathe with his asthma, you'd really understand how very proud I am! And how relieved I was that he crossed that line, safe and sound and breathing!

This photo was snapped by his sweetheart, Kirby. She completed her second half-marathon that day. 

Yay, Tommy and Kirby!

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I won a blog drawing!! This cute cup featuring a 'doodle' by Cyndee at Eloise's Collage arrived in my mailbox Friday. I love it! Thank you, Cyndee! 

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Remember the Thanksgiving Comes First campaign? Thanks to Suldog, I found out about a petition to "Tell Target to Save Thanksgiving". If you want to add your name, click HERE.

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It rained yesterday! I mean, really and truly rained!

Well, not enough to capture a photo of the actual rain, but I did get one this morning of a dew-covered wildflower...

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Last but not least, Hilary at the Smitten Image awarded me a Post of the Week for As if I were beside you... Thank you, Hilary!

(Click the icon below to go read the other POTW and see her wonderful photography.)

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I hope you're having a wonderful week, even if your plans went agley like mine!

(At least I wasn't left with "nought but grief an' pain"...)

 

...The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

~from To a Mouse by Robert Burnes

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.

Dancing, friendship, butterflies and the Jake Carr Band...

Tom and I ventured into enemy territory Friday night: we went dancing in College Station.

Considering we have one University of Texas graduate and one still in attendance, that's tantamount to treason around here. (College Station is the home of Texas A&M... UT's arch-rival.)

But we had a good reason to go there! We went to hear our friends' son play... he's the drummer in the Jake Carr Band, an up-and-coming country-ish musical group full of talented kids. They opened for another band (JB and the Moonshine Band) at a Bryan/College Station landmark: the Texas Hall of Fame. 

I call it a landmark because it's been there since 1978. It only took a few minutes for Tom to realize he had been there before.

"Did you come here with Debbie?"

"Yep."

Hmmm.

I know all about Debbie. Tom even called me "Debbie" once when we first started dating.

Needless to say, I made sure we got out on that dancefloor. He owed me! Plus, the Hall has one of the best dancefloors I've ever seen - I think the best since Gilley's in the days of our youth. Huge! No danger of bumping into anyone else, no matter how wild they get with their elbows and their twirling.

But back to why we were there...

The Jake Carr Band is really good. Sam Duncan, on the drums, is really, really good. Remember that name!

Plus he's so dang cute! Here he is with his beautiful Momma, Shari...

And here are some shots of the band... I bet we'll be hearing them on the radio before too long.

College Station was just the first stop on our weekend away. The true destination was our friends' place, nestled in the tall pines northwest of Houston.

Did you know that when the wind plays in those giant trees, its laughter sounds like rushing water? I had never noticed it before - perhaps it's because I miss the sound of our little waterfall so much.

That's the kind of weekend we had - slow and relaxing, where you have time to listen to the wind playing in the trees. Just the kind of weekend we needed.

We went for walks in nearby Tomball, full of great antique shops, where I was very, very tempted to buy this...

...because I've always wanted one and it was a great price.

But even a great price is too much these days, especially when I have no idea where I'd put it or what I'd do with it. That used to never stop me, but in these days when I'm dying to de-clutter, function trumps everything else.

We also took a long walk beside a nearby river, where my drought-weary eyes found colorful relief in the form of purple morning glories, clumps of red, white and yellow wildflowers, and even the butterflies I've missed so much this year, like this beauty... 

An old stable, buried under vines by the side of the road, caught our eye. We stopped to explore, not realizing until we were telling it goodbye that some of the vines were poison ivy... (Yikes! Where's the Benadryl?)

But we still used it as a "couples" photo backdrop before leaving (stepping up a few feet, of course!) 

Our sweet hosts, Robert and Shari...Thank you both for such a wonderful weekend!!

 

 

 

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 

A Top Notch Day

It started like this...

Belle's face peered in from the pre-dawn darkness, much earlier than usual. I had just stumbled from the bedroom, still groggy with sleep.

She seemed nervous about something. Stepping outside, I knew right away what had her up so early, wanting our company...

...The frogs had a croaking chorus coming from the pond, so loud I knew the full moon could hear it through the misty clouds. Belle had probably forgotten what that sound was, it had been so long since there was enough water in the pond to make the the frogs sing.

I reassured her and stepped back inside. Thirty minutes later, when she was still peering in at me, I gave in and stepped back outside to rub her ears, and this is what I saw...

 

I knew it would be a good day.

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Daniel had an interview downtown. I tagged along to visit the State Library.

It had been ten years since I'd done any research there... it was completely changed! Bigger, more modern... and even a snack room for patrons now. (In the 'old' days, my co-genealogy-nut friends Susan and Donna and I would stand on the steps and eat our lunches.) I caught on to the new microfilm readers, thanks to a lesson from the sweet girl working the Library, and even found a few tidbits on 1880's taxrolls. (Are you yawning yet?)

Something that hasn't changed is our beautiful Capitol building, just across the street from the State Library and Archives building. 

 

 

A scent captured my nose, sending me whirling back into my childhood and memories of catching honeybees in glass jars (released soon afterward, don't worry.)

 

 

Japanese Ligustrum... complete with bees. Too bad I didn't have a glass jar with me! (I took more photos around the capitol - you can see them HERE.)

After Daniel's interview, he introduced me to this Austin icon, used in the movie, Dazed and Confused...

 

 

We both ordered fried chicken and it was, indeed, Top Notch!

But the best part came after we got home and took the puppies for a walk. After just one day of rain, the pond has water again! It might not look like much to you, but it's beautiful to me!

 

The air hummed with dragonflies. Where have they been hiding? They flew too fast to capture their photos, but across the pond, I came across this splash of color, such a welcome sight after months of gray and brown...

 

 

As if all that wasn't enough, this is how the day is ending...

 

 

Hope your day was Top Notch, too!

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!)

 

September, Oktober(fest) and my Friday Favorite Photo

"By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

With summer’s best of weather

And autumn’s best of cheer."

-   Helen Hunt Jackson, September, 1830-1885

 

Wednesday night, alone on the Bistro patio after a special banquet, I bent over to un-velcro a small cushion from one of the metal chairs. Triple digit heat had given way to a cooling breeze whispering over the vineyard. An acoustic guitar strummed a beautiful song through the outside speakers.

I turned to remove another cushion and that's when I saw it, the orange orb hovering on the horizon, smiling down on the grapevines. The beauty, the peace, they total SIGH of it all froze me in place for several moments. I could have stayed there, doing nothing but soaking it all in with all of my senses for hours.

I love September... I love full moons... so that's why I chose the one above as my favorite this week. 

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My boys are on the edge of a European adventure. They're in Chicago as I'm typing this but jumping on another plane this evening, headed for Munich to experience an authentic Oktoberfest, visit castles and all that fun German stuff.

In a few days, they'll head for Prague, Czech Republic. Another place I've longed to visit.

I'm unashamedly living vicariously through my sons the next few days just as I did with TG when she traveled to Spain a few years ago. 

A photo of them at the airport would have been my favorite photo of the week, except I wasn't there to see them off. They left early this morning from San Antonio, along with Tommy's girlfriend Kirby. We met up with her in San Marcos last night to trade Daniel for our grandpuppy, Josie. We'll be puppy-sitting for the next week or so. (Max and Belle are very excited!)

In Chicago, the trio are meeting up with Kirby's cousin Matt before taking off on the next leg of the adventure.

All I've asked for are lots of photos and, if possible, something with "Czechoslovakia" written on it. Heck, it could be a napkin for all I care, but "Czechoslovakia" has been my favorite word for as long as I can remember... it's just so much fun to say. I love the rhythm of it, the way it dances around in your mouth. Try it!!

(I can't believe they traded "Czechoslovakia" for "Czech Republic"! Not nearly as much fun, in my opinion.)

Since I don't have a photo of them, passport in hand and loaded down with luggage, and because their trip is throwing me back into my own memories (a sure sign I'm getting old, right?) I'm adding one of me with my friends Donna and Laura, on the edge of our own European adventure way back in '76. (I'm the brunette on the right.)

Under that brown hair, I truly believed this was just a preview of many European trips to come. I'm only 52 now - even though I haven't returned yet, there's still plenty of time for my brunette 17-year-old self to be right, isn't there?

But even if I never get the chance (more like, have the money), I'm so glad my kids have the travel bug and are taking advantage of the opportunity.

Please join me in praying they have a safe, fun adventure (and bring their old mom lots of photos!) Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changing Seasons (and my Friday Favorite Photo)

In the soft gloom of an autumnal day,

When summer gathers up her robes of glory,

And, like a dream of beauty, glides away.

~Sarah Helen Whitman
American poet, 19th century 

 

Summer has slipped quietly away, packing her triple digit robes of glory and heading south, I guess.

Autumn now greets me these mornings, wrapping her chilly arms around me, sending me back inside for a light jacket. But I welcome her - she's my favorite season. She takes my hand and pulls me outside to revel in her crisp mornings and blue skies. She invigorates me, reminds me there is still time to finish what I hoped to accomplish this year.

The past few days have been especially glorious, with mornings cool enough to rock on the front porch for hours, sipping coffee and getting lost in the pages of a book. I'm enjoying the weather so much I feel guilty, remembering our desperate need for rain.

I felt especially guilty this morning when the smell of smoke hit my nose as I stepped outside for my walk; because of the cool temperatures, my mind first smiled, somehow totally forgetting the nearby wildfires, imagining instead of a cozy campfire or a woodburning stove. 

But in a millisecond I remembered the devastation and glanced all around, feeling fear rise inside of me. Nothing near us, thank God - smoke is just drifting our way, I guess. I prayed hard for rain and sent an apology to the victims of the wildfires out into the smoky air.

We took advantage of Summer's lingering sunshine and warmth this weekend by playing in a nearby lake with family and friends. (The sunset photo above was snapped from the car on our drive there. Click HERE for more photos of our weekend.) What better way to wish Summer well on her journey and let her know she'll be missed?

But for me, Summer doesn't officially end until I retreat to the coast for my 12th Annual Port Aransas girlfriend weekend. It's a wonderful way to celebrate the end of Summer and welcome Autumn... days are warm enough for sunning and playing in the water, mornings are cool enough for a run on the beach and coffee on the balcony.

Best of all, I have plenty of time to reflect on changing seasons of all kinds. 

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

 

 

 

 

Headed for Adventure, a Crape Myrtle Update and Saturday's Belated "Sweet!" Report

Tom and Daniel headed out this morning for several days of fishing on the coast. Would you believe TG and I weren't invited?

But that's okay with me. I wasn't even tempted to tag along. When I say they'll be "on the coast," I really mean "on the coast"! They're planning to park the truck right on the beach and just stay put. 

Despite my love for the sun and sand, my idea of a vacation at the beach includes an air-conditioned high-rise condo decorated in blues and greens and cute beach decor. Oh, and also with a balcony looking far out over the water where I can sit with my coffee in the mornings and a glass of wine in the evenings.

And I'll get exactly that in about two months. 

So, have fun, guys! Be safe! TG and I will miss you while we sit here holding down this (air-conditioned) home fort!

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My poor baby crape myrtle trees. Only one is budding, and it hasn't made much progress in days. Every morning I haul buckets of water up the stone path to them, whisper encouraging things and say another prayer for a good soaking rain. 

Sigh.

At least their leaves are still green. And summer's not over!

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Now for my week of sweet! moments... 

Saturday: whacking and killing a centipede without its legs scattering all over the laundry room floor (why, yes, I do have a photo! But for the sake of the skittish, I decided not to share it. Yet...); a quick trip into a Goodwill store and finding treasure.

Sunday: spotting a silver fox running cross the road right in front of you on the way home from church.

Monday: a summer morning on the back deck; the sight of three spotted fawns lounging in the shade, waiting for their mamas (and the sight of their mamas joining them later, soothing your fear that the kids were abandoned!)

 Tuesday: stealing a few morning minutes to play your drums for the first time in months 

Wednesday: another sighting of the fawns, this time with their big brother (who keeps an eye on you as you walk by!)

Thursday: the quiet of a college computer lab when you need to write 

Friday: a perfect Reuben sandwich; more bargains at Goodwill; an afternoon with friends and my camera in an old Texas courthouse square full of eclectic shops and architecture.

Saturday: hummingbirds; an icy limoncella (or two) with friends on a hot Texas evening; Mary Kay's chicken enchiladas; selling some jewelry!

What were some of your sweet! moments this week? (You are keeping track, aren't you?)

 

Why, Thank You! (and my Friday Favorite Photo!)

Thank you to everyone who said a prayer, crossed their fingers or in some way tried to steer Tropical Storm Don more to the north, providing us with a better chance of rain to ease this drought.

However, I just saw this post by my weatherman on Facebook...

Dear Don,
Thanks for nothing.
Sincerely,
Central Texas.
p.s. Emily...we're counting on you.

It seems pretty official that Don left us in the dust. Literally.

But, I know God knows what he's doing, so I guess South Texas and Mexico needed the rain more than we did right now. Perhaps this "Emily" is the answer to our prayer, so please keep 'em coming!

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Did you read my Face in the Mirror post a few days ago? 

When my my blogger friend Suldog read it, he was inspired to write his own Ode to his Face.

Hop over to his site and take a look HERE. (Warning - his version is definitely rated at least PG-13. Maybe even R.)

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. ~ Charles Caleb Colton

... and I'm sure that includes parody. So thank you, Jim!

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Glancing at my stats the other day, I noticed several hits from a site called Best Posts of the Week. It seems someone nominated my Week of Moons post on my photography blog as a 'best post'. 

 I have no idea who it was, but who ever you are, thank you!

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Last year I spent a few days with my creative friend Ann in Galveston. I fell in love with an antique frame she had turned into an earring holder.

A few months later I came across a different version of the idea in a magazine and alerted my friends to be on the lookout for old photo frames so I could make my own.

My friend Mary Kay, as usual, wasn't satisfied with just finding me a frame - she went on to create this wonderful earring holder/display for me, as well as two others to use for my jewelry business. 

One thing is obvious - I need more earrings!

No, that's not it. What's obvious is Mary Kay is amazing - and an amazing friend!

Thank you, Mary Kay!

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I took the day off for some junking/photography fun today. Along with Mary Kay (see above), her friend Claudia visiting from Colorado and TG, I spent the day enjoying old Georgetown... 

...and kicking myself, because I can't even count the number of times I've been in Georgetown over the past 15 years for soccer games, college visits, doctor visits, eating out, visiting friends... and never took the time to explore the wonderful town square, full of eclectic shops and beautiful architecture. 

Thanks again to Mary Kay for finally getting me there and to Claudia for lunch at the Monument Cafe. It was a wonderful day.

 

Look at this bench made to look like a book, sitting outside of a bookstore - I LOVE it! That's Claudia and Mary Kay just a little ways down...

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But that's not my favorite photo of the week. I picked this one of the purple flower because it's no longer there - the drought was too much for it.

But in this photo, it looks like it's dancing, doesn't it? It had fun - truly blossomed - while it was here.

(It's also posted HERE on my photography blog along with other flowers that defied the drought and bloomed anyway, at least for a little while.)

I also love this photo because it's such a tiny flower that you can't even see its beauty unless you get up this close - and that's such a great lesson about true beauty and paying attention, isn't it? It's often worth taking a closer look at things that it would be easy to ignore. 

Hope you had a wonderful Friday and didn't miss a thing!

 

 

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.

 

 

 

When work doesn't feel like work.... and Saturday's "Sweet!" Report

Never, ever did I dream of being a waitress. And yet, here I am, spending a Saturday dressed in black, small apron neatly tied around my waist, order pad in hand...

Life is so funny.

I've stumbled into a job that feels like a hobby.

Don't get me wrong... I work at it!  I sweat from being on the move the whole time... besides waiting tables, I also bus and wipe them, clean windows, do laundry. I even cleaned a toilet one day. And electronic cash registers can be tricky, especially when you have split tickets. So much to learn!

But I'm not complaining. For some reason, I love it! Mostly the learning and social parts, but even the cleaning.

How could I not? After a drive through the hill country, I arrive at this... (taken through my windshield, but I think you can get the feel of it.)

And then there are the random samplings of smoked duck, fresh polenta, chocolate torte and tastes of estate wines...

How did I get so lucky?

It's not a full time job, but it's a wonderful weekend break, even if you're working there. Dining there would be even better.  I urge you to visit if you're in the area: Flat Creek Estate. (You won't regret it - people have actually told me they were tempted to lick their plates. It's that good!)

And now for a few of my Sweet! moments of the week...

Monday: a red-tailed hawk swooping silently above your head; soft mornings; chocolate cake for dinner; calling a friend you haven't talked to in a year to wish her a happy birthday

Tuesday: revising two chapters of your book; Mexican hats beginning to blossom again when you thought they were all dead.

Wednesday: discovering a new purple blossom along the road; a call from your oldest son; grilling chicken breasts to perfection, despite forgetting about them a couple of times.

Thursday: Belle lying calm and still enough to rub her tummy (in other words, without her twisting and kicking and gnawing affectionately on your arm.); revising another chapter in your book and finally getting around to posting photos of the old truck you took weeks ago.

Friday: HP x 2 (Harry Potter and Half Price Books with your kids!)

Saturday: a soft morning breeze blowing down the deck; work that doesn't feel like work; fresh polenta, carne guisada, and watermelon from the chef's garden; a good ending to a movie when you keep expecting something to go wrong.

 

I hope you had a week packed full of sweet moments!

"The End" of an Era (and my Friday Favorite Photo)

This is the book that was the beginning of the end.

Each evening for years and years, Daniel, TG and I would huddle around a book on the couch, taking the adventure together, a chapter at a time. I would read out loud, relishing the warmth of my two little ones cuddled up against me.  

Tommy had broken away on his own when he discovered the Goosebumps series in 3rd grade, devouring them one after another as fast as he could. Speed is addictive: he couldn't slow back down to our pace, savoring bites of the story, a little every day.

TG, Daniel and I were usually each reading something else as well on our own. But every night we'd come together for a special book. We'd take turns choosing it. This is when I introduced them to the Lord of the Rings, Call of the Wild, Black Beauty, Tarzan, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, the Wizard of Oz series... 

And then Daniel won a drawing in the school book fair. He got to pick any book he wanted, up to $15 value. We hadn't heard of the one above, but it looked promising. It had a cute cover, interesting-enough story line, and the kid on the front even looked a little like Daniel to me.

I didn't expect much from it, but I hadn't gotten through the first chapter before I felt jealous of the writing. The kids were irritated when I would stop reading in the middle of a critical scene to comment on some gem of a phrase or description. 

That, plus they didn't want to wait 24 hours to know what happened next. It was mutiny on the couch. What could I do?

They drew straws to see who got to read it first. Within a couple of days all three kids had finished it and I finally got my turn. I'm sure I was through it within a day or two, also.

There was no going back after that. We tried to rendezvous over a book a few more times, but they'd had their taste of independence: our Reading Hour fizzled to an end.

All because of Harry Potter.

With each new HP book, the scenario repeated itself... drawing straws, all-night reading sessions, keeping your lips sealed until everyone had read the book. (You could hear the sigh of relief after I closed the book - I was always last.)

Meanwhile, my kids grew and grew and grew. HP movies were made and we'd dutifully buy our tickets and watch them, but we were never satisfied. Admittedly, I always enjoyed them because I've never been able to remember details of books as well as my kids - they're harsh critics, let me tell you! I raised a fine litter of critical reader-geeks!

With that in mind, we didn't rush to be the first in line to see the final HP movie. It was one excuse, at least. Can you guess my other excuse? I hated to say goodbye. 

Yes, the book was finished long ago. I shed my tears back then, said goodbye to the characters, but I knew this movie was really the final goodbye to that era - an era of faces buried deep into books and kids who were shorter than me... of long summer days full of discussions about plot and character, good and evil. 

But I couldn't resist any longer - today I sat with my two twenty-something-year-old kids who'd known Harry and company half their lives... who'd grown up with Harry and Hermione and Ron... munching tons of popcorn and Milk Duds, reliving the last decade while watching the end unfold before me... the end of an era.

(Guess what we did after the movie? Dropped into Half-Price Books, of course!)

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And now, my Friday Favorite Photo, totally unrelated to Harry Potter. My crape myrtle is getting closer and closer to blossoming... I feared it had changed its mind due to lack of rain, but then I noticed this bud... I think it's going to make it!

 Hope you had a wonderful, magical Friday!

 

 

 

Connections (my Friday Favorite Photos)

A few years ago, inspired by my lifetime friend Ann's blog, I started Long Hollow. It was pretty scary putting my thoughts and words out here for all the world (at least it felt like all the world) to see. But I stepped through the fear and did it anyway. 

I had no idea back then what kind of adventure I was stepping into... I had no idea where it would lead me or the people it would connect me with.

Blogging not only kept me writing, it opened the door to photography for me - and that's why I've spent the last hour up on my road waiting for the clouds to pass so I could capture an image of the full moon. I have no idea if I got a good one or not, but it doesn't really matter. I wasn't even going to try this month - I'm just so tired, and come on, one full moon looks like another, right?

But thanks to my competitive spirit and connections I've made through my blog and photography who were posting their own photos (Debbie!) or emailing them to me (Ray!)... and thanks to Tom calling me to "Hurry! Come see the full moon!" ... I grabbed my camera and headed outside. I would have been so sorry if I hadn't.

My first Friday Favorite Photo isn't of the moon, though. It's of a postcard from Maureen, one of my virtual connections. I didn't have time to participate in a postcard trade she mentioned on her blog, but she sent me one of hers anyway ... a postcard of one of her gorgeous photographs.

A few days later I received a set of postcards from Jill, created from her beautiful photography, the prize in one of her fun photography/blogging games. Jill is another connection I made through my blog... a friend who has critiqued, encouraged and supported my blog and photography almost since the beginning, pushing me to grow and learn.

For now, both of the postcards are in places of honor in my library. One day I'll frame them... but for now I like to flip them over to read the handwritten notes.

I'm not sure what I expected when I wrote that first blog post, but I know I could never have imagined the connections I've made with such talented, sharing, supportive people. Thank you to all of you! You are truly blessings in my life!

 

Saturday's "Sweet!"s on Sunday

Years and years ago, I worked weekends, the natural consequence of rotating twelve hour shifts. First one weekend of nights, then one weekend of days and finally! two weekends free.

I hated it. Once I quit, I never, ever wanted to tie up my weekends like that again, but here I am, twenty years later, trying out another weekend job.

And so far, surprise! I'm really enjoying it!

Isn't it funny how time can make such a difference?

Of course, now I'm working just six to seven hours, not twelve. 

With twelve hour shifts, there's no time for anything but work, eat, sleep. Now I still have time in the morning to walk, workout or go to Sunday Mass, and in the evening there's time to write, watch a movie, or meet friends for dinner and dancing, which is exactly what I did last night.

Plus, once my other job completely dries up, I'll have big chunks of time during the week to write and work on developing my business in a quiet, empty house.

But my enjoyment despite exhaustion, throbbing feet and aching back is such a mystery to me that I've tried to analyze it. This is what I figured out..

...I like being around people. I like helping them and making sure they're happy. I also enjoy staying busy, being part of a team, moving as opposed to sitting still, and working with upbeat, interesting, diverse characters. It helps to be in a beautiful place where I can sample wonderful food and wine (only so I can share my opinion with our customers, of course.)

Have you guessed? I'm working in a winery restaurant. It's like traveling to Tuscany every day (and the closest I'll get to the real thing for a long time, that's for sure!)

I don't think of it as a career, not the end of my road. But I think I'll enjoy the scenery along this section of it.

Speaking of roads, I treated myself to some Panda Express Orange Chicken this week and listen to this fortune in my cookie...

"Your road to glory will be rocky, but fulfilling."

Fulfilling. Can we ask for more? I hope this one comes true.

I love Panda Express fortunes!

Here's another one I got that day (a two-cookie visit!)...

"Chances of glamour and excitement are coming to you."

Well, I won't hold my breath on that one, but I'll keep you posted!

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And now, here are my sweet! moments of the week. I hope I'm never too busy to take notice of these!

Saturday: sun, water, friends, mimosas, photography, margaritas, barbecue, sunsets, wine (don't judge me - I was with my girlfriends!)

Sunday: listening to your parents' stories in their own words and capturing those words in their own voices

Monday: switching radio stations just in time to hear one of your favorite songs (in my case, Ted Nugent's Stranglehold. Oh, those drums in the beginning!)

Tuesday: watching a great blue heron fly in a circle around you just so you can snap some photos (I'm sure that's what it was doing!); finding out the little green bird you saw last week was a female painted bunting!; helping your son plan his trip to Germany (next best thing to planning a trip for yourself!)

Wednesday: spotting a roadrunner in a tree (alas, no time for a photo); a tiny fawn skittering across the road to safety in front of you (alas... no camera); finally installing the Photoshop Elements your friends gave you for your birthday 2 months ago, despite missing all these great shots

Thursday: a call from a sweet friend; helping your son shop for a new suit; Panda Express fortunes

Friday:  new yellow and white flowers popping up in the woods and along the road, despite the drought; a sweet puppy staring in through the French doors in the hopes of catching a glimpse of you; making it through the first day of a new job without totally blowing it

Saturday: sharing a wonderful meal, a dance floor and a subtle, yet striking, Texas Hill Country sunset with friends

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend! And if you go out to eat, don't forget to tell your waiter thank you and cut 'em some slack! They might just be in training!

 

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!

Just Three Things (and a Friday Favorite Photo)

I'll be traveling today, driving miles of highway in my air-conditioned car, singing along to the radio, probably dancing in my seat and drumming on the steering wheel, perhaps swerving off the road to capture something in my camera (because I can do that when I travel alone.)

(Don't worry, Mama I promise I'll be careful.)

But there are three things I want to share with you before I leave...

First...

Have you see the previews for Larry Crowne, that movie with Tom Hanks as a middle-aged college student and Julia Roberts as a teacher? I really want to see it because I've been an "older" student off and on for 20 years. (Currently "off" because we don't have the money right now.) I get the feeling Tom Hank's experience is a little different than mine has been, but I still want to see the movie, because, well, it's Tom and Julia.

Plus I haven't been to the movies in quite a while and I'm craving it. I enjoy watching movies here at home, but there's just something different about sitting there in a theater with that big screen in front of you, speakers blaring so loudly you (hallelujah!) can't hear the couple behind you talking.

Okay, actually I crave movie popcorn. But I really do want to see this movie.

I discovered two bloggers who might make that happen for me, and if not me, then maybe you. If you're interested in winning tickets to see Larry Crowne, then go to MidlifeBloggers or The Fifty Factor and follow their directions. Pretty much, you just have to leave a comment and later a winner will be picked by random selection. I hope it's me. Or you. (And if it's you, I hope you take me with you.)

Even if you're not interested, you should go read Joanna's blog post at The Fifty Factor that leads up to the giveaway. Hilarious!

Second...

This one is for all you movie-loving, screenwriting, film producing readers out there. A few months ago, my creative and multi-talented high school friend Byron Tully, along with his friend Weatherford Bradley, created Indie Friendlie, a site that showcases filmmakers and films who don't have the budgets or marketing departments to get them into theaters. There were a few glitches with the initial site, but I'm happy to report Indie Friendlie is back, even better than before! If you're a film lover of any kind, go check it out!

Third...

You need to go read this post by Gail at Louisiana Belle that I read yesterday. It's a wonderful post about graciousness, as in being gracious to someone even though you'd really rather throttle their neck, based on Gail's personal experience with a certain person. It teaches a great lesson, but besides that, it's an honest and funny post, one of those that will stay with me, especially when I want to throttle someone's neck.

Here's the link: Noreen Update.

Go check it out, but first, take a look at my Friday Favorite Photo of the week...

There are only a scattered few of these stubborn yellow flowers continuing to bloom against the odds. I don't know how long they can hold out, so I chose this photo of one especially bold bloom as my favorite of the week.

Hope you have a wonderful 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

 

Time, Water and other missing things (plus Friday's Favorite Photos)

I walked at dusk, a tangerine glow still lining the horizon, not quite snuffed by the night sky. The wind blew hard, but it was comforting, like a friend's reassuring hug, and its roaring in my ear was a lullaby, soothing.

While the puppies hunted for lizards and rough-housed in the sand, I turned inward, flipping through my thoughts, trying to sort and organize and figure out why I feel so scattered, why I feel someone has stolen minutes from my day.

I just can't get as much done as I used to and I don't know why.

My brain feels as dry as the land around me, and that doesn't help. My words and thoughts are wilted, sluggish, thirsty for more writing time.

And yet, hasn't my time for writing always been like that, just bits and pieces shared by so many different projects that they're worn thin like tattered hand-me-downs, tossed aside into the nooks and crannies of my day? What's different now?

Maybe it's not the amount of time, but the rhythm of my day. Maybe it's the other things competing with space in my brain...things like jobs and money, dreams and reality, love and heartache, concerns about family and friends.

Maybe it's just the weather.

But the wind blew my cloud of melancholy away. Despite the heat, the drought and the horsefly circling me, preparing to strike, it was a beautiful evening and my blessings are too numerous to count.

Here's one... My sister Brenda got the okay from her doctor to put weight on her hip. She's back home again, with her husband and cat. I know she appreciates how Mama and Daddy embraced her and cared for her while she recuperated from hip surgery, but three months is a long time to be away from home and I'm happy for all of them.

Yeah, maybe I'm dropping things lately like so much loose change slipping through my fingers, but I've also taken care of a few to-do's that have waited patiently for my attention, such as finally posting (and selling!) stuff via Craig's List, starting back on writing my book semi-daily, cleaning up my hard drive to free up some space... um, maybe that's it. But that's something.

By the way, did you see the full moon this week? I always count it as a blessing, one that helps me put the trivial things of my life into perspective. I remembered to take a few shots of its progression - they don't do it justice, but they're still my Friday Favorite Photos picks, reminding me to stop, focus, breathe, be still.

Oh, and here's a favorite quote from the week. It has nothing to do with anything else I wrote - I just like it...

Preconceived notions are the locks on the door to wisdom.

Merry Browne

Hope you are having a wonderful Friday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloom Anyway

Conditions may change.

No, scratch that. Conditions will change.

That's just life.

No matter what condition you find yourself in today,

whether drought or flood or somewhere in between,

look for ways to nourish your spirit

(they're there, I promise)

and bloom anyway.

"Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within your control, and some things are not."

~Epictetus, Greek Stoic philosopher

Rising Up, Grateful (plus some "Sweet!" moments and a belated Friday Favorite Photo)

Do you ever have those mornings when you're so mentally drained or physically tired you just want to pull the covers up over your head and skip that day altogether?

I do. Not often anymore, but I still do every once in a while.

On those mornings I remind myself that each and every day, good or bad, is a gift from God. We give educational and "tough-love" gifts to our kids, so I guess we shouldn't be surprised when some of the ones he gives us aren't all sunlight and butterflies.

I think back to my own words in a previous post I wrote (click HERE) and pray that God will direct my footsteps. I pray he'll keep me out of my own way... keep me from tripping myself up.

If I'm here, there must be a reason and I need to stop overthinking everything. I need to trust, have faith and give thanks.

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.

Prince Siddhartha Gautama Buddha

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

Now to my Saturday Sweet! moments of the past week...

Saturday: hot Texas sunshine, cold water of Lake Travis, wind in my face

Sunday: group hug with dear friends, in prayer over too many tragic community stories

Monday: ping-pong on the porch; homemade vanilla ice cream; floating in a backyard pool and yakking with friends

Tuesday: word that your son has an upcoming interview for the job he really wants

Wednesday: watching your twenty-something son try on new running shoes, remembering the days in Pay-Less when they were all small, testing out new shoes by running down the aisles and jumping up and down

Thursday: blue skies, dry roads and an air-conditioned car when there are dozens of errands to run 

Friday: a few hours of unexpected (paid) work; figuring out something on your own; recovering what you thought was lost forever (see below...)

In yesterday's post, I shot a virtual arrow of distress out into Internet-world, asking for help. Only two people responded at all. Even though they didn't have concrete answers, I appreciated their support and suggestions (thank you, Deb and Liz!)

It made me wonder... Is anyone else out there? Do they just not care? Or is everyone else just as ignorant as I am about these things?

The latter made me feel better, so I went with that. (see my Update below!)

The good news is, I figured it out by myself. At least partly ... maybe temporarily ... but at least enough to recover the lost photos and save them onto my computer. It took a few hours and I'm not finished yet. Today I need to figure out a better system. 

Here's what I did...

I unplugged the external hard drive, waited awhile, plugged it back in, and then, barely breathing, checked the folder. My heart soared to see those precious photos back again. From now on, I'm going to keep my external hard drive unplugged unless I need it, although I couldn't find information about that written anywhere.

Live and learn... I'm just grateful I had a chance at a re-do on this one.

Update: Since I posted this, I discovered my sweet sister Brenda sent out emails to several professional photographer friends, asking if they could help. And another friend, Shirley, let me know she said a prayer but didn't comment because she didn't have any advice.

It just shows that things aren't always how they appear to be. My apologies and gratitude to both of you and anyone else who is trying to find an answer for me. 

And now, thanks to my oldest son, part of the puzzle is solved: The mystery photo of the two girls is one of his, from a semester he spent in Costa Rica. Now how it jumped from that folder (also on my external hard drive) to this latest one is still a mystery...

Anyway, here's my belated Friday Favorite Photo, recently recovered... a reminder of a wonderful day on the lake with friends (possibly my one and only day on the lake this summer) as well as a reminder that even on choppy, turbulent days, some bit of beauty, light or peace can be found.

Wishing you sweet moments on this Saturday!

 

Never Give Up (and Another Sweet Saturday)

My bougainvilla is blooming.

It might not seem like a big deal, but in this dry hollow where the wildflowers are fading, I longed for a blast of color.

I thought it was too late, thought I'd been too neglectful. The original blossoms were long gone; it wasn't dead, but it was down to mere green foliage. But I thought, what the heck? I can at least try!

So I moved it to a sunnier spot, remembered to water it every day.... and hoped.

Look what happened...

 

And now for this week's Sweet! moments...

Saturday: Witnessing the fireworks and excitement of a UT commencement - from an air-conditioned birds' eye view.

Sunday: Breakfast with friends...lunch with family. Out-of-town guests making it back home safely.

Monday: Still having your mom just a phone call away when you really, really need to talk.

Tuesday: A walk at dusk, the trees silhouetted against a salmon-pink sky, the wind whispering in my ear.

Wednesday: Marshmallow clouds full of silent lightning. Good customer service.

Thursday: Drinking coffee and yakking with your son at his kitchen table. A quiet place and a big chunk of time, just for writing.

Friday: Movie Night! Plus Friday is just Sweet! all by itself!

 

What were your Sweet! moments this week?

Hope you're having a Sweet! Saturday!

I'm off to enjoy the sun instead of complaining there's not any rain.

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!

 

 

Tough and Beautiful, inside and out. That's my Mom.

My mother, a pony-riding, chin-up champion tomboy, grew up... 

 

 

 ...to be one of the most beautiful women in the world, inside and out.

She's only 17 in the photo above.

I certainly didn't look this glamorous, elegant, or self-confident at 17.

I'm not sure I ever have! 

 

She's a combination of strong, soft, tough, sweet, gutsy, generous, confident, sensitive, sharp, compassionate, independent, loyal and determined that makes the cast of Magnolia Steel look like a bunch of cry-babies.

 

It's no wonder she caught the eye of my handsome, shy highway patrolman Daddy.Did I mention she was smart, too? Smart enough to know a good thing when she saw it .
(And of course, he was that smart, too.)

 

She's the one who taught me you can do anything you put your mind to, or deal with whatever life plops in your lap.

(I want both of these dresses!)

 

No, that pretty little girl up there isn't me. That's my big sister, Brenda. I wouldn't show up for probably two more Easters.

But the little cowgirl in the next one is me.(I never have had my mom's sense of style. Hers comes through even in a watermelon shirt.)

 

Maybe I didn't inherit her sense of style, but I did inherit a passion for lifelong learning. Judging by the serious (annoyed?) look on her face, I bet she was studying for one of her college classes when I took the one below. (But my gosh, isn't she gorgeous?)

She taught me there are times to buckle down and be serious...

 

...but mostly she taught me that life, even with its ups and downs and its quirky sense of humor, is still fabulous.

She taught me to appreciate every single day the good Lord gives me on this earth.

She taught me that no matter what's going on your life, you can find something to laugh about...

 ...and a ready laugh is beauty's secret weapon, inside and out.

Happy Mother's Day, Mama! Thank you!

I've linked this post to Jillsy's latest blog hop, because I guess it's obvious I think my mom has always been a glamorous beauty. Check out the other Mom Tributes below, and feel free to add your own. You don't have to have a blog - a FlickR or Facebook photo will work, too.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you who have mothered someone at sometime in your life!

 

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

 

 

Faith, Hope, Love (what would I do without my friends?)

 

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."

~ Albert Schweitzer

My friend Jillsy sent this to me last week -  my prize for contributing the most bird photos to her Tweet Around the World blog hop. I was expecting a set of her beautiful cards (she creates greeting cards from her photographs) and that would have been wonderful, so this was a huge surprise, and of course, just what I needed.

All I could think was, how did she know? How did she know I needed this boost, this reminder, this encouragement? 

Some days I feel I'm going crazy, trying to do too much, chase too many dreams at once. I wonder if I should just give up and be practical, focus on making money now rather than pour my time and energy on a maybe later. But there's a clock ticking in my brain that I can't stop; it makes it tough to put those dreams off any longer. Yet I know we need money now, so I also take on projects and jobs that will pull in the green right away.

Jillsy says she has a placque just like it and she keeps it near her desk so she can look at it often, draw inspiration and strength from it, and keep going. She knows me well enough now to know I need it, too, I guess.

For now, mine is waiting to be hung on the wall in my future office, a constant reminder of her encouragement and support.

 

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

 

Saturday afternoon I met a group of friends for a late lunch - they called it my birthday lunch, and that was fine. I'll use any excuse to get together with them.

But they got me a gift, and even though I should be upset with them for it, how can I? They pitched in together to get me this...

 

Yes, Photoshop Elements 9! Can you believe it? I still can't! When I opened the box, I'm sure my jaw dropped.

I bet I even drooled a little.

For their part, I think they realized I wasn't going to stop posting photos of them on my blog and Facebook, and they figured this was as much a gift for themselves as it was for me; I can whittle a few pounds here, smooth a few wrinkles there, snip the gray hair.

And I promise, girls, I will! Thank you, thank you, Darla, Rae, Leslie, Gwen, Debbie and Donna!

As if that wasn't enough, they also gave me these...

...a wine stopper and a cross magnet (do they know me or what?) and framed reminder of the love of my friends and the faith they have in me - the faith I need to have in myself.

 

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

 

I've often used the "pebble in a pond" analogy when trying to illustrate consequences to my kids - every action we make creates ripples that affect other people. Good actions equal good ripples, bad actions equal bad ripples. 

I didn't state it as eloquently or elaborate on it as far as Baron Batch did in his beautiful essay on those ripples. My friend Berniece emailed it to me recently, along with this note: My father found this in the paper, then my sister mailed it to me. I will be having my students read it in class. Very inspiring, just like your writing. Love, Berniece 

After I read it, I was humbled by Berniece's words, because Batch's essay is so good. It was also just what I needed to read. Full of hope and encouragement to never give up.

What a wonderful ripple from Berniece.(Read Batch's essay HERE.)

 

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

 

Okay, I started this post earlier in the week and planned to finish it up last night. 

But yesterday, mentally and inspirationally drained by a day's work, I opened my mailbox and found it stuffed and overflowing with more faith, hope and love.

First, this beautiful package from my friends Shari and Robert...

I hated to unwrap it, it was so beautiful!

But I did, and look what I found...

Shari knows I love vintage roses (I have a 'Rose' bathroom!) and also, see that bit of lace at the top? ... it's a remnant of a doily handmade by her grandmother - how much more inspiring can that be, to have her give me a bit of her own grandmother's love?

But that's just Shari and Robert. I'm lucky.

 

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

 

A large box took up most of the mailbox. Inside I found another beautifully wrapped package...

...a gift from my creative, artistic friend Annie K.

She knows what I love, too - this is a hand-decorated journal, full of blank pages waiting for my thoughts, and sweet, encouraging reminders on the outside... 

Thank you, Annie!

 

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

 

This morning I sat at the computer to really and truly finish this post ... but, ever the procrastinator, decided to first glance at my emails.

One from Jillsy caught my eye right away: "OMG!!!!!!!!!" was the subject. Inside, in all caps, she let me know Pioneer Woman had chosen my photo, one of my brother Donnie, for Group 3 of her Brothers Photo Assignment. It's one of a series I took of him for a blog post just as he pulled up to our house on his Harley, after an adventure to Montana last year.

Having it selected was sweet, but what made it sweeter were these words from Jillsy: "I'M OVERJOYED!" She's the one who introduced me to Flickr, Pioneer Woman Photography, and so much more.

(So many ripples she has sent my way.)

When I added the photo, I really had no hope of it being selected. 

Well, I guess I had a little hope, sprinkled with teensy seeds of faith in miracles.

This is proof that dreams can come true. Maybe it's a little dream, but they count, too - they're what keep you moving to the big ones.

 

 

So I'll keep dreamin' ... thanks to my friends.

And I'll try to do a better job sending out ripples of encouragement, faith, love and hope.

You keep dreamin' too! 

Take it from me - they just might come true!

(I added this post to focus52 - this week's theme is 'Hope'. Click HERE to see the other contributions.)

 

Wining and Dining, Texas Style (my birthday part 2 - and my Friday/Saturday Favorite Photos)

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.  ~Voltaire

 

Texas has a lot of vineyards and wineries. I bet some of you didn't know that! We noticed one outside of Wimberley named Driftwood and decided to drop in on our way to the Salt Lick.

When I say "we" I mean  "me". Tom doesn't care for wine, but hey, it was my birthday!

And it was also Rachel's birthday! Her 21st! She was there with her parents. So of course we had to have a picture together. 

 

(My hair doesn't look too bad, does it, considering it was just released from a zipline helmet and it was at least 120 degrees in that room? Thank you, Michael!)

(This is what Tom wants for his birthday.)

Driftwood is actually a little town... the location of The Salt Lick Bar-b-que (the original). I had never been to the Salt Lick, although it seemed everyone else had been, so I used my birthday as an excuse to get Tom to take me. I was so tired of hearing everyone else rave about it!

(Tom wasn't waiting on me to finish snapping pics - he was hungry!)

Let me tell you... it lived up to it's reputation.

And let me tell you something else... Wednesday afternoons at 4pm is the time to go. No one else is there. From what I've heard, if you go on a weekend, expect to wait in a long line!

But I understand why now - it's divine!

Tom's brisket is this good or better, which is saying a lot because this was damn-good, but Salt Lick's ribs, turkey, sausage were melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and the potato salad and cole slaw were the best I've ever eaten. 

(Sorry, Mama.)

 

 (This lasted me two days - Wednesday's dinner and Thursday's lunch - yum!)

The oak trees and picnic tables called to me, so we tarried a little outside, and guess what? We discovered a winery next door...

Since I was hitting legendery Austin places, how could I not stop at Poodie's Hilltop Bar & Grill when I spotted it on our way home? Poodie Locke was Willie Nelson's stage manager for three decades - he ran the bar on the side ... it's one of those unpresuming spots where big names drop in unannounced.

Very unpresuming.

We didn't recognize anyone famous, so we took our drinks outside to a deck overlooking the western horizon, imagining how beautiful the sunset must be from that vantage, and wondering about Peggy... 

A long drive home, through Marble Falls, along twisty, turning hill country roads faced us, so we didn't wait around for sunset on the deck. 

We made it home just at twilight, in time for a quick walk with the dogs.

And then, another surprise from Tom... a beautiful card and cheesecake! 

Now that's the way to welcome 52.

 Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. – Mark Twain

 

P.S. Update on my sister - she's much better and was released from the hospital this afternoon. She's weak and still on antibiotics, but able to eat again. Yay! Thank you for your prayers and please keep them coming! There's still that hip surgery she needs to recover from... !

A Father, a Son, a Sunrise - my Friday Favorite Photos

Backpacking for days in the semi-wilderness of Big Bend, just Tom and Daniel ...

That's how they've spent the past several spring breaks, except for one, sharing moonlight, sunlight, water and a tent ... and engraving memories in their hearts they can share forever.

Memories like this sunrise they witnessed from a cliff, waiting in the silent pre-dawn darkness for the first moment of its arrival...

 

Memories and experiences like this are father-son glue, bonding them forever, and I'm so grateful they've spent this time together - so grateful they want to spend time together. 

(Daniel's my son for sure - he took over 600 photos so I could experience their trip vicariously. He's such a sweet kid. I'll share more later. Happy Friday!)

 

 

 

Weekend Arrivals

After a rowdy, adventurous beginning, Spring Break opted to slow things down with a hammock-napping final weekend. (Just a figure of speech - our hammock met its demise, with the help of Belle, last spring or so. I need to remind Tom to put that on his Craig's List, um, list.)

So we didn't actually nap in the hammock, but we did rock on the porches, play lazy ping-pong, take lots of walks with the dogs, and watch tons of movies. A perfect weekend! (I've listed all the movies we watched at the bottom, if you're interested.)

Besides Daniel and TG, look what else made an appearance in the Hollow this weekend...

Crape Myrtle buds, colorful promises...

...beautiful Blue Gilia...

...the kids' collections of porcelain, handpainted Easter Eggs, treasured gifts from my mother ...she didn't paint them, but for more than 21 years tracked down artists who would...

...and the Super Moon, like a bright orange cherry smack dab on top of this perfect weekend (more super moon photos HERE at Confessions.)

And now, the movies...

Thursday night , we watched "Zombieland" ... definitely not for weak stomachs (it's about zombies, after all) but creative and my kind of goofy-funny spoof ... which is why I can't figure out why it triggered the first nightmare I've had in years!

Friday night I snoozed through "Lord of War", a depressing Nicholas Cage movie. (He's an arms dealer, depressing enough, but I felt the end had a mixed message.)

We watched a few gems though. Have you seen "City Island" with Andy Garcia? According to IMDb it came out in 2009, but I don't remember hearing anything about it. I thought it was sweet and funny. We watched that Saturday night, then I stayed up with Daniel and TG to watch Kurt Russell battle "The Thing" (TG had never seen it.)

Okay, I confess I snoozed a little through it, too, but stayed wide awake all the way through the next feature (a triple feature night!) - "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" with Neil Patrick Harris. (Among other things, this is what I love about my kids, how they introduce me to funny stuff I'd never know about without them!)

If you haven't yet seen Dr. Horrible - and you like creative, slightly silly stuff - you need to watch it. It's short, only about 45 minutes. In fact, it's so short, we sat through it one more time Sunday night, after watching "Time Bandits". (Dr. Horrible is much better and a third as long. No offense, Time Bandits groupies.)

 

 

Blue Doors and Old Books - my Friday Favorite Photos

I've been unplugged most of today, spending time with my weary travelers, enjoying Daniel's photos from Big Bend and soaking up the sunshine. (I'll post a few of his photos later - he got some great ones!)

Now Tom's not-so-patiently waiting for me to watch a movie, so I promised this would be a quick post. But I have to share my favorite photo from this past week, a blue door that leads into a beautiful chapel in Salado, Texas.

(For more photos of Salado and the chapel, click HERE.)

And guess what? This image of old books that I posted last week made Explore on FlickR. That really caught me by surprise - I snapped these in a hurry at Daniel's apartment, and then just had some fun playing with different treatments.

I believe its popularity had more to do with the books than the photo, proving books are still beloved. And that makes me very happy.

(But having it hit Explore made me happy, too!)

 

 

Drops of Light in the Darkness

Wildflowers are waking up, dotting the caliche roadside. Mostly yellow for now, although Tom said he spotted some small blue ones. (He cheats - he has bifocals and can wear his glasses all the time.)

So yesterday morning I switched camera lenses and turned my attention from the treetops, where I'd been searching for birds, hoping for at least one sharp, close-up portrait, to the ground, searching instead for those splashes of color. Flowers are model subjects, remaining perfectly posed, unless the wind feels mischievous, unlike those birds who taunt me with their song, but refuse to show themselves, or fly at the first lift of my lens in their direction. 

To my surprise, I found quite a few baby blooms of different types yawning and stretching out their petals that I swear weren't there just a few days ago. It's as if an alarm clock rang, and they all arose at once.

And that's why I chose this one for my Friday Favorite... a drop of light against the lingering grays and browns of winter.

I'm dedicating it to the people of Japan, who are suffering the effects of this morning's earthquake and tsunami and mourning loved ones, as a reminder of the light that can conquer darkness, that can survive the cold clutches of winter. I pray for the souls of the deceased and for peace in the hearts of the survivors. I pray they find light in this darkness. 

"When tough things happen, God is not an accomplice; He’s a companion."

~ Gregory Boyle