Long Hollow

Five Things on...Friday? (A Long Hollow Update)

1.

I kept forgetting today was Friday. It just felt like a Saturday. Does that happen to you?
Okay, now I'll get on with the update... 

 

2.

For the first time in two or three years, my crape myrtles are sprouting buds.

Except for snapping this photo, I'm trying to ignore them. I get this feeling that if I pay too much attention to them, they'll disappear. Fingers crossed they bloom!

 

3.

The mustang grapes are turning purple. One of these days I swear I'm going to learn how to make wine from them! (Alas, it won't be this year.)

4.

Baby American Beautyberries. I've been keeping an eye on them. They are the most beautiful berry, such a brilliant pink. And according to Wikipedia, they can be made into wine, too...

I'll keep you posted on their progress.

 

5.

Mountain Pinks are going crazy.

I love them, even though I can't make wine from them!

"None can have a healthy love for flowers unless he loves the wild ones."  
-  Forbes Watson 

 

Linking with Random 5 Friday

 

Five Things on Friday

 

 

1. Our property is dotted with small iron crosses, marking the resting places of so many precious furry or feathered or scaly loved ones we've been blessed to know. I miss them all. The one above is Charly's and Frankie's.

 

2. I will never get rich monetarily through my blog, but the friendships I've formed because of it are priceless. I've met so many supportive, encouraging, talented friends, and two of them have recently published books. I didn't hesitate to buy them because they are both wonderful, evocative writers, and I feel confident touting them here even though I haven't had time to read either one.  

Love Always Wags Its Tail, by Kathy H. Porter, is a collection of short essays about the dogs in her life. Wolf Pascoe shares what it's like being an anesthesiologist in Breathing for Two.

Follow the links to their blogs and you'll find information about the books. (I received no monetary compensation for these shout-outs - only friendship and support for my own writing.)

 

3. The next time you go out to eat and the place is packed and you start to get irritated because you feel your waiter is ignoring you, please take a deep breath, realize you are not the only customer in the place and that he/she can only do so much at one time, and please, please, please remember your manners. Thank you.

(Oh. And if the website suggests reservations, either make a reservation or don't get upset if you can't be seated. Especially if you're bringing 7 of your friends.) 

 

4. Back at the beginning of January, I decided I would start getting up at 4:30 a.m. instead of 5:30 a.m. so I would have time to work out and/or write before heading to work, if someone happened to call me out. (That's the life of a substitute teacher - you have to be flexible!)

Well, I finally did it. Once. This week. Yay, me!

 

5. For the past week or so, I've spent hours tormenting myself, listening to one You Tube video after another of potential songs for the mother/son dance at the upcoming wedding.

I just sat here at my computer and cried and cried. It was beautiful agony, I tell you, reliving those mom memories. But here's one that made me laugh, even though I wouldn't do this myself..

(Actually, that theme from the Ninja Turtles brings back so many memories, I almost started crying in this one, too!)

 

Nancy at A Rural Journal inspired me to start my Five Things on Friday, although I mutilated her better-alliterated version, 5 Facts Friday, so I encourage you to read hers and add your own if you're so inclined! And I remembered Mrs. 4444 has a regular Friday Fragments hop, so I'll be linking up there, too. It's a great way to tie up all those loose ends from the week!

Hope you have a great weekend!

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. 

Just counting a few of my blessings... (my Friday Favorite Photos)

 

1. Rain on my windshield! Before heading to Houston yesterday, I swung downtown to drop some things off for TG on campus, and I heard an unusual sound... raindrops on my car! And then it actually rained on me all the way to Smithville or LaGrange. It wasn't enough to wash the dust from my car, but I'm grateful even for this small amount. Tom says a little even fell at our house, hallelujah! At least we know it remembers where we live!

2. My parents back at home; specifically, Daddy out of the hospital. Nothing more to add. That's enough!

3. Being able to catch a photo of my great-niece Haila smiling. I love this one of her and her daddy, Evan, my brother's son. They were in Houston visiting from Wyoming and I'm so glad I was able to run down to see them. I've been told Haila never fusses, but just before I arrived, she woke from a bad dream and cried and cried a good part of the time I was there. When she wasn't crying, she was on the move. This is a miracle capture!

4. My sister Brenda can walk without her cane! Just a few steps and she keeps it handy, but still, that's a major accomplishment and a beautiful sight to see. I haven't seen her since her hip surgery 5 months ago - how can that be possible? To say she looks much better would be an understatement!

I returned this evening from a quick trip to my hometown to attend my friend's husband's funeral. As you can see from these photos, I packed a lot into 24 hours... long overdue visits with my parents and siblings plus hugs (and tears) with my lifetime friends at the viewing and funeral.

I wish I'd had more time, but I'm just grateful I was able to sneak down there at all. I have to work tomorrow.

I'm hoping to fit another trip in soon for a second interview with my parents and to gather with the other Deer Park Divas around our friend. She's doing great now, but we all know the next few months are going to be tough.

This next week I'm focusing on getting organized - I have no deadlines to make me crazy although another book is in the mail for the next BlogHer Book Club review. I'm looking forward to it, though. These book reviews have kept me reading all summer.

The last one I read was Faithful Place, by Tana French - a wonderful love story/murder mystery with the kind of writing that makes me want to go revise everything I've ever written! You can read the full review HERE on BlogHer.

I have several friends and quite a bit of family over there on the East Coast and even though I've been on the road, I know there's a hurricane headed their way, so I'll be praying it's a dud like the one aimed at us a few weeks ago! And if not quite a dud, that its damage is minimal. Stay safe, all of you!

 

 

 

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

My excuse for not doing laundry...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

 

Detours (and my Friday Favorite Photo)

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

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

Whew.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

And now for my Friday Favorite Photo!

I picked this one of Max because...

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

b) he's eating! 

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

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

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

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

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

Have I mentioned it's hot?

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

But then, heat makes your brain fuzzy.

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

But I've noticed there are no mosquitoes!

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

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

Let's see...

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

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

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

Have I mentioned it's hot?

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

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

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

 

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

~me

 

 

 

 

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!

 

 

"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!

 

Smiles (and Friday's Favorite Photos)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

How could you see this face and not smile?

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

But there's more...

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

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

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

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

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

 

‎"We do not smile because something good has happened;

rather something good happens because we smile." 

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

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

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

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

 

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

New Directions and Aching Feet - plus Friday Favorite Photos

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

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

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

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

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

1. I'm exhausted

2. I enjoyed it

3. my feet hurt

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

5. I hope they feel the same about me!

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

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

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

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

Hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!

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!

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweets on a Saturday and (another) belated Friday Favorite Photo

I have a good excuse for posting my favorite photos of the week today instead of yesterday...

I spent yesterday morning on the University of Texas campus, snapping photo after photo of Daniel dressed in his graduation robe and cap in front of the Tower, the Littlefield Fountain, Battle Hall, a row of beautiful old oaks, a turtle pond, a greenhouse... and then a few more without the robe and cap.

I knew my favorite of the week would be one of those so I waited until today to post it. Er, them. (I can do that because it's my blog!)

Professionals took photos of him before and after graduation, but honestly, they weren't very good. I decided to give it a shot getting a better one myself.

And, by golly, I think I did!

He was such a good sport, strolling around campus in his robe for an hour or so in the heat, giving me ideas on where to take the shots, standing wherever I directed him, letting me take "just one more, Daniel..."

There are a few shots where his face reflects, um, less exuberance than I felt, plus a few silly faces and one yawn, but I love those, too. And somehow he managed to keep pulling out smiles for me until I decided I had enough.

It was so hard to decide what to post as my favorites, but this first one is a classic pose for Daniel and that's why I chose it.

(He's struck "The Thinker" in Yellowstone National Park, Arizona, Big Bend... everywhere! Maybe I should create a coffee table book of all those Thinkers...)

 

I picked this next one even though he's not in his robe and hat because it was one of the last I took, and he's still smiling!

Plus, I just think it's really good of him. 

 

I love the colors in the first one, but also like it in black and white, so you get both versions.

 

(I'll post some of the others later, either here or on Confessions.)

 

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

Saturday: finding "treasure" at a church garage sale (extra Sweet! - just spending $2 for all of it!)

Sunday: pink toenails!

Monday: a walk down a country road with two goofy dogs on a hot summer afternoon

Tuesday: progress on a project (in my case, my book)

Wednesday: finally selling something you posted on Craig's List after being stood up half a dozen times, and deciding it was worth all the hassle because they're such sweet people

Thursday: soothing notes from a daughter's flute floating out from behind a bedroom door

Friday: early morning photo shoot with new college graduate/son; hearing a big brother giving job interview advice to his little brother.

Saturday: waking energized from a full (and rare) eight hours of sleep to a wide open day, full of possibilities

Now I'm off to wrestle my to-do list into a manageable size. Hope you have a fun, or productive or whatever-you-want-it-to-be Saturday!

If you have time, share some of your Sweet! moments from the past week with me.

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

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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!

 

Attention: Computer and Photo Geeks... HELP! (a Friday Photo Mystery)

It's Friday, which means normally I'd be sharing my favorite photo of the week with you.

Instead, I'm sharing this one, a photo I did not take of two girls I do not even know in a place that does not look familiar to me at all.

Does anyone else recognize them or the place?

My computer tells me this was taken on January 10, 2005 with a Kodak V550 Zoom Digital Camera, which I do not own. Also, I'm not sure where I was on January 10, 2005, but I would bet a lot of money, I wasn't near these two girls.

No offense to them, of course. 

Unless they had a hand in what happened. Then I wish a lot of offense on them!

You see, somehow this mystery photo ended up in a one of my three most recent folders, which includes the one that previously stored all the photos from Daniel's graduation - all of those of him getting his diploma, smiling with us afterwards, my three kids crowding together acting goofy for the camera, my parents who were bound and determined to be at his graduation and just glowed with love and pride, the fireworks lighting up the UT Tower - plus some wonderful ones from this past weekend of Daniel with the dogs, a day out on the lake, and of course, my usual flower shots.

I say "previously stored..." because all of those precious photos are now gone, replaced by a flat gray rectangle or an "Invalid Image" message. One or two appear to be there, but when I open them, they've been mostly gobbled up by globs of bright pixels.

Hence, no favorite photo of the past week. They're all gone.

In my very last folder, this image of the girls is all that's left, period. I suspect it had something to do with the elimination of the others, kind of like "Survivor" in JPEG.

But I really don't know. How could it do that? Does anyone out there have an idea what happened? Has it happened to you?

How the heck did someone else's photo get onto my camera/computer?

I'm casting suspicious glances everywhere. Is it my computer itself? Is it my external hard drive where all my photos are stored, and not saved anywhere else, unfortunately? (How could I be so stupid? <sigh>) Is it my Picasa program? Or some kind of virus that snuck in from somewhere else and landed on my external hard drive?

Just how do I prevent delinquent girls like these from sneaking in and stealing my digital treasure if I have no idea how they got in or which lock I need to replace?

The good thing is, they are only photos. I still have the memories the images represent, and thank goodness I posted a few on my blogs. But I am very, very sad about it. I wish now I'd posted all of them.

Anyway...Happy Friday! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. But again, if you have any information or advice or suspicions or theories about that mystery photo and my lost treasure, please, please, PLEASE share it with me! Thank you!

 "Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. When you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace for God is awake.

~Victor Hugo

 

 

 

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!

 

 

A Sweet Saturday (and my Friday Favorite Photo)

Last night we heard our middle son's name called, watched as he walked across a stage in his cap, gown and stole, watched him shake hands and receive a piece of paper that essentially read "Congratulations! You did it!"

That's why I waited until today to post my Friday Favorite Photo...

Congratulations, Daniel!!! We're so proud of you!

I haven't forgotten to look for and record a Sweet! moment every day - I just haven't had time to post them every day, as I intended.

Instead, my new idea is to post them all on Saturday. Hope you'll pop in each week and share your own favorite Sweet! moments with me!

Here are a few of mine from this past week...

• Saturday - Dancing to the music of Los Lonely Boys under a bright Texas moon.
• Sunday - Being able to wish Tom another birthday (joined by 2/3 of the kids: Extra Sweet!)
• Monday - Having someone to call for help when you need it, because all of us need help every now and then.
• Tuesday - Waking early enough to say Goodnight to the moon before it slips under the covers and Good morning to the sun as it rises for the day. 
• Wednesday - Unpacking boxes of well-worn, well-loved children's books that transport you back in time to a couch, snuggling with your little ones, reading before bed. 
• Thursday - Puppy dog smiles, pure joy and unconditional love. Sweet words from friends.
• Friday - Witnessing someone you love reach a long-awaited, hard-fought goal.  

More photos later, but we're off to continue the celebration... Hope you're having a Sweet Saturday!

It's Our 49th Anniversary! (Sweet! #9)

Yes, we've been married for 49 "Friday the 13th"s now, starting with our wedding day.

Tom is the one keeping count. This afternoon he greeted me with "Happy 49th Anniversary!" 

I don't know how he does it - I can barely keep track of my age these days, but it makes me feel good that he does; it's easier to ignore him when he's grumpy and helps me overlook all of those empty Diet Coke cans and various tools left lying about.

Knowing you matter to someone else and they're glad you're in their life.... Sweet! #9

So we're celebrating tonight! I paid bills and he headed into the garage to start cleaning up in there.

Nah, just kidding.

Oh, we really did those things, but that's not the celebration. I just knew better than to procrastinate those bills. Now I've got to finish reading A Jane Austen Education by William Deresiewicz for my latest BlogHer Book Club Review (due this weekend! Argh!) and THEN we'll snuggle up and watch a movie together and I'll try hard not to fall asleep. 

(Disclosure: I'm an Amazon Affiliate, so if you click on that link and buy the book from Amazon, I get a few pennies for my piggy bank.)

It's Friday, so here are my favorite photos of the week, for obvious reasons if you've been keeping up with the state of the Hollow...

Hope you've had a wonderful Friday the 13th!

P.S. I waited until I had permission to post this. It's another wonderful story - I hate to admit it, but better than mine - of why 13 has been given a bad rap and can actually be a lucky number...

When I first went to M.D.Anderson 34 years ago, the patient number they assigned me (which you keep forever) was 131313. I took one look and thought, "Oh, no, you don't... I won't take that number!" Then just as quick, I thought, "Wait a minute... are you going to be superstitious or are you going to trust in God." So I kept the number and although there has been a few bumps in the road, I'm still here enjoying life all these 34 years later. And what a wonderful life it has been; I can say that there are very few things on my Bucket List that I haven't achieved in those years. Also, through all these years, every time I check-in for all the multitude of tests each year, they all look at that 131313 and say, "Oh, my goodness, I would NEVER have accepted that number!" which gives me a chance to speak of God and faith. I would say that the number 13 (in triple no less) has NOT been unlucky for me. God is good.

Amen! Thank you for letting me share your story, MJ! (Anyone else have a good Lucky 13 story? I want to hear it!)

 

Craig's List ... Sweet! #3 (and my Friday Favorite Photo)

Finding just what you've been looking for at a price you can afford on Craig's List.

Tom must have realized I was never going to give up on my dream of a library.

I'm sure he was just as tired of seeing dozens of boxes of books lining the downstairs walls as I was frustrated that all my books were still in boxes.

I think he also realized he would never have the time or money to build custom shelves from scratch, as he had planned. 

Guess what he found on Craig's List this week?

It's just a start, but oh, isn't it a lovely start?

Eventually they'll go all the way to the ceiling and perhaps be painted white (they're all different types of wood), and if we can figure out how, I'd like to turn two stained glass windows we've had stored for ages into cabinet doors. 

But even just as it is, I'm in book-lover heaven.

Finding just what you've been looking for at a price you can afford on Craig's List.

Sweet!

What treasures have you found on Craig's List, or at garage sales, or flea markets... ?

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

I know I'm not the only one.

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

For Diana's sake.

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

 

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

I hope all of you have a joyous weekend!

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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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

 

 

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... !

Belle, The Circus Dog (Favorite Friday Photos)

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

Now I believe it more than ever! 

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

(Where's Ellen's number?)

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

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

She loves dirt the way Max loves water!

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

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

But I don't mind.

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

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

He who hesitates is a damned fool. ~ Mae West

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

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

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

Happy April Fool's Day!

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!)

 

 

 

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 

Hurray for the Weekend! (and my Friday Favorite Photos)

I can't believe it's already Friday again, and I haven't yet mentioned what a fantastic weekend I had... a week ago! It was a weekend with friends, and that's always wonderful, but what made this even better is having friends meet friends meet friends...

It started simple enough. Shari and Robert made plans to come visit for a night of dancing. Then our gypsy friends Jay and Chris let us know they'd be swinging through our way on the very same weekend in their travel trailer. They are on a cross country adventure and blogging about it on the way at Chris and Jay's Odyssey.

We hadn't seen Jay in more than ten years - he had been Tom's Coast Guard commander in a previous life - and we had never even met Chris, the woman who snagged him out of an entrenched bachelor lifestyle. So after quick introductions and hamburgers, all of us went dancing, and met another set of friends there who no one else knew yet - Debbie and Kevin.

And then (can you believe there's more? can you keep up?) Saturday night friends of Jay's came over for dinner. Don and Kathy actually live in our little town, but we had never met them! 

Don and Jay also knew each other from the Coast Guard - they were both stationed in Puerto Rico in the late 60's, early 70's. I enjoyed listening to their stories, and talking genealogy with Chris and Kathy. 

Sunday morning Tom and I were up early for our Austin Marathon adventure (if you missed it, click HERE and HERE) but were able to just relax on the porch and visit with Chris and Jay the rest of the day. (Shari and Robert had to head back home Saturday.)

And that's my idea of a perfect Sunday afternoon, just rocking on the porch with friends.

No photos of our night dancing, but here's a blast from the past - Tom, me and Jay on his sailboat in the Chesapeake Bay, circa 1984...

And here's Jay and Chris in our "front yard" this weekend. (She's a professional photographer, among a zillion other things, and professionals make me camera-shy, so I wasn't my normal snap-happy self. I've got to get over that! But my desire to have a photo of them made me overcome my shyness. If you like beautiful photography, check out her website HERE.) 

So here we are on the brink of another weekend. It won't be nearly as much fun, except for a little get-together tonight, but if the forecast for sunshine holds out, I'm hoping to get a lot of work done around here.

Especially since Tom picked up this little beauty on Craig's List yesterday for almost nothing! 

Sure, it needs a new paint job, but the a/c is cold! And it runs! Talk about an answer to a prayer - we (as in "Tom") really needed a work truck around here, since he traded the old one in for my little Elantra and TG rolled the Suzuki Samurai last year.

As beautiful as the truck is (you realize, don't you, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? Tom thinks it's beautiful and that's all that matters!) that wasn't my Friday Favorite Photo. 

This is... 

Today is full of sunshine, but we had several drippy mornings this week, and this raindrop-dotted plant along the road caught my eye. I'm not sure what it is, and haven't had time to look it up, but I like the way the raindrops bling it up, don't you?

And because last Friday I was busy getting ready for the action-packed weekend (which means I was frantically cleaning house!) I didn't put up last week's Favorite, so here it is... my shot of February's full moon...

Happy Friday!

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

So I did.

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

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

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

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

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

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

So there.

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

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

Belle meets Snow...

More of Belle and Max...

Harvest Complete - my Friday Favorite Photo

 

Do you remember the photo above from way back in the fall, before my camera smacked the concrete and all I had for weeks was my zoom lens with which to capture images of Long Hollow? 

Well, last weekend, if you remember, my fabulous "I-can-fix-anything" husband fixed said broken lens, the one that allowed me to get in a teensy bit closer than my zoom let me, so I made up for lost time with that lens this week on my walks, especially Wednesday morning when Long Hollow was dusted with frost...

 

 

I've been wanting to capture this image of a completed harvest for a long time.

(I took more from around the Hollow - the frost was beautiful! - but I'll post them tomorrow on Confessions. It's Friday night, I'm pooped, and it's time for a movie with Mr. Fixit.) 

Hope you had a happy Friday! Just remember...

"Only Robinson Crusoe had everything done by Friday."
~ Author Unknown

 

 

Gone to the Birds - My Friday Favorite Photos

"For Sale", the new sign says, and oh my gosh, why haven't I finished my book and become a millionaire yet so I could buy this property?

It's posted in front of 'the park', one of our favorite walk destinations, and, yes, I did snap a photo of the sign for some strange reason, but no, it isn't my Friday Favorite Photo because it makes me sad ... the puppies love playing in the park! There's not another spot like it along the creek where we walk. How will we explain this to them, that it's suddenly off-limits?

I hope the new owners like dogs.

Not that I blame the current owners for selling the property - they never come out here anymore. They didn't intend to build a home here, just use it for camping. We can only hope the new owners continue that tradition, although lately the trend seems to be buying and actually building.

I guess we started that trend, didn't we?

Anyway, knowing it might be off-limits to us in the future, the puppies and I passed by the sign and headed to the park this morning, and then went exploring a little beyond it along the creek, now dry. 

And that's where I came across these first two little guys who posed so sweetly for me, albeit a tad far away, and in the cardinal's case, caged by bare branches. But at least they didn't fly away at first sight of the camera like they usually do.

To the best of my Google-searched knowledge, this is a Cedar Waxwing, cropped in close. Not a great photo, but I love that there's so much diversity out here! We had swung back by our pond, hoping to sneak up on that dang heron again.

He wasn't there, but there were plenty of other birds darting from willow to willow and I just snapped these for fun and practice. From where I stood, yards and yards away, I couldn't see the yellow bellies or the crests... what a wonderful surprise when I loaded them onto the computer and got a closer look!

...and I had no idea this bird was blue when I took his picture from the road yesterday morning...

Surprises and beauty I don't recognize without my camera  ... what I love about photography! 

The wildflowers are off on vacation, but at least I'm finding a bit of color when I look up. Even if I can't see it right away, now I know it's there!

If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come.
~Chinese Proverb

Happy First Birthday, Belle! (my Friday, um...Saturday favorite photos)

Dear Miss Belle,

It's hard for me to imagine now, watching you run down the road in front of me in that funny way you have, where your rear-end flies up higher than your head, that I ever debated the puppy question at all. 

When I see Max's face light up at the sight of you, his beloved puppy ... when I see him ignore his pain to play with you, I feel ashamed and selfish that I had doubts about bringing you to our home.

I forgive you the blankets you've shred to pieces ... the old shoes, towels, gloves, everything you've scavenged from the neighborhood and left on our front porch ... even the deer leg and dead field mouse ... because of the joy I see in Max, and the love you give to me.

I won't mention Frankie - I'm not sure what happened there, so it's better to just let the past go. I'm certain of one thing... if you had anything to do with Frankie's demise, it was purely innocent. I know this because I see nothing but innocence in your face ... innocence, love and joy.

You are a lover, living to love, to give, to experience life. Your exuberance is contagious.

You make me laugh.

What better feeling is there than being greeted by a dog who wiggles from head to toe like a Slinky toy, nose wrinkling in a grin, unable to contain the joy she feels at the sight of you? 

How can I scold you when you jump up to lavish my ear in wet affection, or accidentally pinch my arm with your teeth when you give me your tiny 'sweet kisses'?

You've added sparkle and energy to our lives. And joy. Lots of joy.

We should have named you Joy.

Happy first birthday, Miss Belly Wiggles Joy Shallue, and thank you.

Love, 

mom

We finally meet you!

You meet Max...

Ear kisses for Daniel...

Off on the first walk...

Just remembering...

Months later, you're right at home and we're wondering what we did without you!

Dogs are miracles with paws. 

~Attributed to Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy

 

This is my contribution to the Focus 52 creativity project found HERE. 

Out of the Silence, Music

Out of the silence, Music.

Out of the darkness, Light.

Out of uncertainty, Promise.

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone. This verse came to me via email, a Christmas card from a friend. I love the simplicity of it and wanted to share it with you.

I'm bleary-eyed and worn out, still working my way down a neglected Christmas to-do list after spending a late night hanging out with my kids and their friends, hearing their stories of work and travel and life after college, wondering how these kids who I swear were in high school yesterday got so dang grown up. (Our gift exchange started early - the gift of time with each other.)

But it's a good "worn-out". I've been relatively stress-free all day because I'm only focusing on the things that truly matter. Quality over quantity, and by quality, I don't mean expensive, I mean thoughtful, sincere, given with love.

Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door

the dark night wakes — the glory breaks, Christmas comes once more.

~Phillips Brooks

So I'm off to (attempt to) make Spinach Enchiladas because I know TG loves them. I doubt if mine come close to the ones at Case Ole, but I'll try. That's my gift to her. And I'll make chicken quesadillas for everyone else, because I know they do NOT love Spinach Enchiladas. Even the ones at Casa Ole.

For my Friday Favorite Photo(s), I'm including a few from a get-together at my friend Darla's house last weekend. Her home was full of Christmas spirit ... there were the beautiful decorations, flickering candles and food ... a gathering of wonderful long-time friends, for which I'm very grateful ... and the approach of a first Christmas together for Darla and Roy. This time last year they had just begun a friendship which blossomed quickly into a romance, then soul-tingling love, and culminated in a June Wedding.

Seeing them together helps you believe in magic and miracles and Christmas wishes come true.

Out of the silence, Music...

 

 

 

A Belated Friday (or Saturday) Favorite Photo

Yesterday morning when I started out on my walk with the dogs, the sun was just an orange candle glow barely cutting through the darkness on the horizon. I could barely see the road, and if the dogs stepped off of the white caliche, forget it - they just melted into the black on either side of me.

But light came quickly - first a soft gray wash over everything, then hints of color appeared, like someone was dabbing the scenery with a brush...a touch of gold on the bordering weeds, some green on the cedars, a bit of blue in the sky, clouds of pink, wispy stripes.

TG is home, with a job (hallelujah!) but since we only have two running vehicles, I have to shuttle her two and from work, which means I have to get an earlier jump on my morning routine. Hence, the walk in the dark. I enjoy having her home again, though, and I'm grateful I get to spend that time with her in the car every day.

The dogs were a little confused about the earlier start, but I think they enjoyed it. I know I did...the rest of the day was busy and rushed, and the memory of that calm dawn was a nice place to slip away to when I needed to catch my breath.

Tom brought Daniel home yesterday afternoon, but I didn't even get much of a chance to visit with him before we had to head out the door to a Christmas party. I've been trying to make up for it today...snatches of conversation while swapping out loads of laundry, snapping photos of him splitting wood for his dad, discussions on books and movies. And he'll be here several days, so I look forward to movies and games of ping-pong and more discussions.

Speaking of ping-pong, his friend Austin is here, and we're about to go play. Daniel just poked his head in the door to remind me. It's too gorgeous of a day to spend anymore time on the computer!

So my Friday Favorite Photo is this one I snuck of Daniel, even though I actually took it this morning. But it's my blog, my rules, and I'm already a day late anyway, right? (I'd include one of TG, but there's that promise of no photos...) 

Hope you're having a fabulous Saturday!

 

 

 

 

Home Again - My Friday Favorite

Today I'm just living, as in focusing on each moment, especially the good ones, and not letting myself get swept away into the next one too quickly.

It's been a crazy, snowball week with lots of emotional ups and downs and too many hours away from home. I've lit three candles in the church in one week - that should tell you something.

Waking up to Friday was such a relief. And this has been a full day itself, of mostly good moments, including lunch with my middle son Daniel, a good phone conversation with TG, and now time with oldest son Tommy, home for the weekend. His girlfriend Kirby is pulling up even as I type this. Details will follow, but for now, after a movie and lots of catching up, it's time to call it a day.

I've taken tons of photos this week but haven't even had time to look at all of them.

It doesn't matter; the sight of Tommy sitting at the table would trump them all as my Friday Favorite... not the best photo technically or of him, but it reminds me of all I have to be grateful for...all the ups of the week rather than the downs. 

(I wish the other 2/3 of my kids could be home this weekend, too, but they're finishing up finals - please say a prayer for them!)

Hope you've all had a happy Friday full of sweet memory-moments, too!

 

 

A Boy and his Grandma - my Friday Favorite Photo

Because of Thanksgiving, I missed posting my Friday Favorite Photo last week, so I think it's only fitting that I post one from that holiday weekend today...and since today is my oldest son's 25th birthday, I think it's only fitting that I post one of him.

This was my favorite, hands down, that fit both categories...

 

Tommy and my mother have always had a special bond, as you can see from that photo as well as these next two...

And from this one, you can see he's just taking after his Daddy...

(This post is also just another excuse to wish Tommy a happy 25th birthday, roaming the streets of New York City!)

The First Frost and other Friday Wonders (my Friday Favorites)

Autumn hasn't finished moving in...one glance down the Hollow and you'll see plenty of green mixed with the golds and oranges, and I'm not talking about the leaves on evergreen junipers or live oaks. 

However, this morning Winter reminded Autumn its days are numbered in the form of a light frost...sort of a white sticky note. I'd say it's a hint of more to come, but here in the Hollow, we rarely get more than a light frost in the dead of winter anyway!

In honor of the first freeze, for my walk I pulled on the white knit cap I've had since I was three (I've never found a better one) and my mismatched stretchy gloves (navy and black, close enough!) I love the briskness on my face, as long as my ears and hands are warm.

The frost was visible in the air...my white-wispy breath drifted up, joining the glaze on the surrounding hills. 

I've been in a photo slump lately - not much has changed around here, and I've already got quite a collection of wrestling dogs, autumn leaves, picturesque weeds, fence posts, and the last blooming wildflowers. 

But today I climbed out of my slump; photo ops just clamored for my attention...

...sunlight glistening on the frost...

 

...a hang glider cruising the skies above me in the Hollow...

 

...and tonight, a mostly-full moon...

I hope you had plenty of fun surprises today, too.

Happy Friday!

Friday Favorite Photos - Still Running and Playing

I pick these two photos as my favorites because take a look at Max - in the first one, he's running! And in the second one, I caught him mid-prance, playing with his puppy, Belle (you can see a bit of her in the foreground.) It hasn't been more than a month that we thought his running days were over - he was limping so bad. We just knew he was on a downhill slide to being totally lame, thanks to his elbow dysplasia (ununited anconeal process). 

He's still limping, but would you believe the cooler weather has helped? Most days, he's frisky and, at least once on our walk, he initiates a game with Belle, letting her pounce on him, bite his leg, and play the way dogs play.

I have to turn and walk away. Just like I did when my oldest son and his friends pulled out those dang boxing gloves.

But there's another reason I chose these photos as my favorites...but it will take a little more explaining...bear with me, please...

The rain surprised me this morning...a pouring rain that washed through the Hollow. I thought our walk was washed away with it, but moments later it had slowed to a drizzle.

A drizzle the puppies and I can handle, so I grabbed an umbrella and started down the road. I never even opened the umbrella, though - by the time I hit the road, sunlight and gray clouds were battling it out in the sky.

As it so often does, the sky mirrored my turbulent mood...sunlight struggled behind the clouds, illuminating the edges, try to break free of the persistent gray veils...doubt, worry and questions blocking my view of answers, resolution and peace. 

They're the same dark clouds that pop up every now and then, trying to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to be doing with my life. What should I focus on with the little amount of "dream" time I have? Is it enough to accomplish anything with? What is my dream, for that matter? What should it be? I'm 51 and still trying to figure it out.

Oh, some days I know. Some days I'm sure of it, full of confidence and determination. Then other days, like this morning, I wake up wondering if I've just been wasting a lot of time.

A friend thinks I should focus on photography, start promoting myself as a wedding photographer or take portraits. It flatters me that she thinks I could possibly do this...but I know enough about photography now that the glitches in the idea glare down their noses at me: I don't have the right equipment; I can't afford the right equipment; I don't have the knowledge. I don't have the time to gather the knowledge. 

(I subscribe to half a dozen photography newsletters that I neatly file in a folder in my email inbox, for later...when I have time to read them...)

But the thing is, that's not my passion. Photography is an obsession and a stress-reliever and I want to get better and better...and if I can make money at it without a huge time investment, that's great, but my dream has to do with writing. 

Most of my writing time I spend on this blog. I love blogging - it brings in a little bit of money, plus it's my old-time hobbies of journaling, scrap-booking, and letter-writing all rolled into one. But I'm left with just a small portion of time for my book, which is supposed to be my Big Thing.

But when I look at other blogs...oh, geez, it makes me wonder why I even bother! Should I just quit and focus on my book? Or should I give up the book altogether and focus on my blog? Then I stop to pay bills, and think, should I forget them both and just focus on finding a second better-paying job to help us get out of debt?

(Is your head spinning yet?)

My faith steps in here...I truly just want to do whatever it is I'm supposed to do. If I can figure out what that is...

(Lord, I'm listening!)

I didn't fall into total despair, don't worry. I'm used to this battle - I've gotten pretty good at stepping to the side as a bystander.

It's a good thing, because the sun and clouds took turns all day, both inside my head and outside. I still haven't heard any trumpets or a loud voice announcing clear instructions. And at this point I don't expect to.

Last night two friends told me they enjoyed reading my blog, and I believe them. I have friends tell me that sometimes and I know they don't really read it. Some of my best friends don't read it. That hurts a little, but reading blogs takes time. I don't get to read all of the ones I enjoy every day, either, so I guess I need to cut my friends some slack.

But through my blog I've met some fabulous people and discovered some wonderful blogs. I believe it's a path I'm supposed to continue along, at least for a little while. 

I really don't believe in coincidence anymore...I think I'm supposed to trying to juggle all of these things, my blog, the book, photography...even my drums..although I don't see the benefit of it. Perhaps the end goal isn't my success at any of it, in the world's sense of success, but just the path they lead me along...the people I meet along the way, the lives I touch, the lives that touch me.

So that brings me back to the photos of Max. In them I see a dog who ignores a handicap to go after something, still believing he can catch it. I see a dog who ignores his pain to play with his puppy because he knows it makes her happy, and because of that, it makes him happy. 

Don't give up the chase. Make others happy.

Damn, he's a smart dog.

Thanks, Max.

 

 

 

Friday Favorite Photos... Autumn Leaves, Pond Fairies and more

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold.

Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall.
 

Originally a French song, "Les Feuilles Mortes", with lyrics by poet Jacques Prevért. 
Recorded as "Autumn Leaves" by Johnny Mercer and many others...

This is such a melancholy song, but the lyrics are so visual and just go with the season, don't you think? For me, autumn is a time of reflection, and if not for the sunshine, I would easily drift into a melancholy mood. I'm dramatic that way. And yet it's still my favorite season...

Autumn is taking its sweet time moving into the Hollow. Changes are evident each morning, but they are subtle...as if an Artist slips in at night, painting one tree at a time...

And that's fine with me - it means a protracted Autumn Leaf photo season. I hope you're not sick of them yet, all of these fading oranges and yellows and browns. Soon enough, everything but the live oak and juniper branches will be bare. 

So my favorite photos this week are from a walk Tom and I took with the dogs last Saturday. I had a long list of things to do, but heck, the sun was shining, the blue sky was calling me...how could I resist? (for more shots of our walk, click HERE. For more signs of autumn in Long Hollow...if you're really not sick of them...click HERE.)

I only allowed myself two "autumn leaf" photos. It was tough trying to choose, but I picked this one of a vine, because I don't think I've ever noticed autumn colors on a vine before... 

...and this baby oak tree, just because it's so cute! 

Despite the clear signs of autumn, we still have plenty of yellow blossoms lining our road (and a few lingering purples, too!) I love getting in close and seeing the amazing details.

In a way I dread the coming days of no color, but I suppose we should be grateful for them as well; otherwise I wouldn't appreciate the color so much...

We lingered awhile beside a pond, letting the dogs swim and explore. I was mesmerized by the dozens and dozens of blue damselflies darting here and there and everywhere on the surface...going so fast it was hard to capture them in my camera! From a distance, I could imagine them as tiny blue fairies...

And last but not least, I love this one of my Baby Belle. It's rare to catch her this still...she's as energetic as those damselflies, but you can tell she's growing up...childhood just goes by way too fast, so I'll put up with her pouncing and jumping and chewing, because I know it's not going to last forever.

For two posts now, I've neglected to mention what I'm grateful for (although I am listing them on Facebook, so I haven't completely forgotten to be grateful!)

Tonight, I'm remembering to add them here...

*I'm grateful for hot coffee and cold mornings and the chance to enjoy them both on my back deck...in the rocking chair I got from my sweet friend Gwen. I think of her every time I sit in it...

*I'm grateful for the glorious sunshine pouring on us the past two days, but I'm also grateful for the rain on Wednesday...not just because we need it, but because if it weren't for the gray days, I'd take these sunshine ones for granted.

*I'm grateful for the wonderful writing I came across today...two blog posts that are so wonderful that I want to share them with you. Take the time to read Thanksgiving Comes First by Cricket (it really should be spread nationwide!) and Go Gently, Speak Kindly by Aileen via The Magpie's Fancy. You'll thank me, I just know it. This is the kind of writing that inspires me and makes me jealous all at the same time. Sigh.

*Oh, and I'm grateful I get to see my middle son this weekend and spend time with good friends I haven't seen in a while.

What are you grateful for today?

 

Friday Favorites - Halloweens Past (plus a prayer for my Daddy)

It's Halloween weekend, and you won't find a single witch, ghost, goblin, or scarecrow on the premises...there's not even a pumpkin on my porch, much less a jack-o-lantern.

No, I'm not against Halloween. I love it! It's always been one of my favorite holidays! (And I do not believe that means I'm a bad Christian.)

I hated when they switched the school Halloween Carnival to the generic "Fall Festival"...hated when the traditional Halloween parade through the elementary school, while "The Monster Mash" streamed through the loudspeakers, was replaced with a book character parade in November - not that I have anything against book characters, of course (except when they told the kids who they had to dress up as!) but why couldn't they do both?

I wished, more than anything, that my kids could experience Halloween the way I did as a kid (for a trip down that memory lane, take a few minutes to read blogger Suldog's Halloween rant, "Why, When I Was Your Age..." It really took me back, let me tell you!)

Even when I was mostly grown up, but before I had kids, I carved jack-o-lanterns and put up decorations. Once the kids came along, I had a blast rounding up costumes, whatever they wanted to be. We scoured garage sales and resale shops all year for pieces. 

Tommy quickly went from pirates and ninjas to...whatever you call something in a black hood with a creepy face...and pretty much repeated it every year, with slight variations in make-up and weapons.

I couldn't sew very well, but I was creative and quick with a hot glue gun...my pièce de résistance was this Snow Leopard costume Daniel requested (nose and ears are made from a recycled nebulizer mask and felt.)

TG added a tutu a few years later and voilà! she was a Ballerina Snow Leopard! That should have won some Creativity Award, don't you think?

I even ventured near the sewing machine one year and made capes (gray for Gandalf and red for Little Red Riding Hood...I know I have a picture of her somewhere, but I couldn't find it!)

But now...

    1) the kids are out of the house, gathering their own costumes...

    2) We live a mile down a dirt road - no trick-or-treaters in their right candy-hungry mind will be venturing out this far. And those who live in the area will be carpooled to a more densely populated neighborhood (I know from experience!)

    3) Is it really Halloween already? Without school programs on the calendar, and artwork to go on the fridge, the days - the holidays - just zoom up and blur together.

Can you tell I'm wallowing in Halloweens past, mourning the passing of those frantic days? Without the kids here, there just seems to be no point in all the fuss.

I'm not sure why, because I enjoyed it before I had kids...maybe having kids during holidays is like going from plain vanilla ice cream to a banana split with the works. Plain vanilla tasted divine until you added all the toppings. Now that the kids are gone, decorating without them here is like trying to go back to plain vanilla. Why even waste the calories if you can't have the hot fudge, whipped cream and cherry on top, too?

Sigh.

Also...please keep my dad in your prayers today. He flunked his stress test last week, which indicated a blockage, so now he gets to undergo a heart catheter procedure this morning. Thank you! And hallelujah for modern medicine! 

This is an old photo, obviously, but one of my favorites of us together.

Timing - my Friday Favorites

I hoped to put my morning walk off until later, when the sun was higher (better light, better photos) and I had finished my work-out (the longer I put it off, the less likely I am to do it! It's better to catch myself before I'm fully awake!)

But Belle spotted me through the window; immediately her face lit up and her excitement erupted into a full body wiggle (she is the wiggling-est dog I've ever known - like she's made of a Slinky!)

Could anyone resist that? I dropped what I was doing, grabbed my camera, and headed out the door. 

And I'm glad I did, because otherwise I wouldn't have been on the road, at the right place, at the right time, to witness Belle's first encounter with a tarantula.

Poor little thing was just minding its own business, trying to cross, and suddenly had to deal with crowds and paparazzi!

(No dogs or tarantulas were injured during this photo session, I promise!)

P.S. Jillsy Girl Studio Cards

My friend Jillsy, photographer and blogger extraordinaire, has spent the past three months developing Jillsy Girl Studio Cards, a beautiful collection of cards for every occasion featuring her amazing photography. Click on the badge below to go to her site and take a look for yourself!

Drifting in a Sea of Grass (Friday Favorites)

There was something different about my walk yesterday morning. It felt magical, like I was in a Disney movie... everything washed in a golden light. No humidity. No bugs. Just perfect. Dreamlike.

Maybe that's it... maybe I was still caught in a dream, still a step behind from a late night writing. If so, it's just more reason to stay up late. It was glorious...

Max was already limping, I was running late, and I remembered having a hard time getting the dogs away from the carcass of a deer or whatever it was we discovered down at the bend in the road the day before. It was too far gone to determine the species exactly - but pretty sure... hoping... it wasn't human. Vultures were standing guard, watching us from the tops of the nearby telephone poles. Creepy.

So yesterday we veered off the road toward the creek... and discovered a wonderland, this sea of wild grasses. The dogs became black smudges forging a trail, and I waded in after them, thigh high... in some spots, waist high.

Ticks. Snakes. They both crossed my mind, but I brushed the thoughts aside and just stepped carefully, making my way to the pond, its surface a perfect mirror to the trees, bushes, and brush surrounding it. The dogs went for a dip, then sniffed and explored nearby while I snapped photos and gazed, mesmerized, at the sea surrounding me, amazed at the simple beauty of a field of grass. 

In wilderness people can find...an experience of the eternal mystery...a sense of the sacredness of all creation. ~ Sigurd Olson

 

 

Morning on a diamond-studded beach - my Friday Favorite

A week ago (has it already been a week?) at about this exact time in the morning, I was walking along a near-deserted beach, camera in hand. I snapped at least a dozen shots of this one little bird - so you can imagine how many photos I have from 4 days spent there with dear friends. It's going to take some time to go through them all.

But this one caught my eye right away... the sparkles on the beach and in the waves remind me of diamonds... of luxury... and to me, there's nothing more luxurious than feeling I have all the time in the world... like there's no where I need to be other than a near-deserted beach on a perfect Texas autumn morning, camera in hand, snapping away at a little sea bird eating breakfast on a diamond-studded beach.

 

Want to see more images from my weekend on the coast? I'll be posting more here and on Confessions... soon. Like I said, I have a LOT of photos! Check back tomorrow...

Gold and Mist, and an Autumn Sunset - my Friday Favorite Photos

"Autumn begins with a subtle change in the light, with skies 
a deeper blue, and nights that become suddenly clear and 
chilled.  The season comes full with the first frost, the 
disappearance of migrant birds, and the harvesting of 
the season's last crops."
-   Glenn Wolff and Jerry Dennis  

Hallelujah, it's Friday! (Friday Favorites)

This has been a fast week, one of those that keeps gaining on you even when you quicken your pace. So part of me says "Hallelejuh!" and the other part says, "Dang it!" because I had so many things I hoped to accomplish before today. But Friday was too fast for me. 

The weekend has its own agenda. Actually, there are two possible agendas and I still haven't figured out which one will win. I hate that, not knowing what I'll be doing tomorrow.

But tomorrow is tomorrow and it will take care of itself. I have today in my hand and I don't want to waste it, worrying what will come next.

My favorites this week are random, much like the thoughts flitting through my head this morning.

First, splashes of yellow along our road. Yellow means summer, right? I know all the talk is about Autumn, but I'm still sleeveless and flip-flopping here. It doesn't feel much like fall. Besides, summer isn't over until I have my weekend with the girls on the coast, still ahead of me on the calendar.

 

These next two... well, I'm headed out the door for my morning walk along our road with the puppies, snapping more photos and talking to God about the things on my mind... they were easy picks! Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Friday Favorite Photo (Friday Already?)

I'm packing my days so tight these days that if this week was a suitcase, I'd be sitting on it right now trying to zip it up!

So Tom shouldn't have been surprised that I neglected my half of dinner-duty today. Yes, it's true. I forgot to take something out to thaw.

That's okay, though, because my husband is a resourceful, creative cook. French Toast for dinner is delicious! Thank you, Tom!

Without further ado... here are my picks for the Friday Photos of the Week. You can guess why... oh, and please excuse the messy house you see in the background. My half of dinner-duty isn't the only thing I'm neglecting these days!

Friday Flounderings and Favorites

Gray skies. Gray thoughts. 

Thinking of disappointment on my walk this morning, for some reason... how people who are close to us may disappoint us - our friends, our family - but how easily and often we also disappoint them, with our words, actions, or non-actions.

The government disappoints us, like our episode with the dam and our property rights (or non-rights)... our bodies disappoint us, getting old before we're ready to slow down... time disappoints us, going too fast or too slow... and we disappoint ourselves by missing a rare opportunity when it's offered or not following our dreams or wasting time or by forgetting to show kindness to someone or a million other ways...

We're human, though. Even the government is just a bunch of humans trying to do right by everyone (or so we hope, anyway) which is ultimately impossible, so all of this is to be expected, I guess. 

Joy does not depend on sunny circumstances, good news, or happy endings.
It comes from knowing that whatever happens, God loves me;
that whatever happens, He is preparing a better place for those who love Him.
- Phil Callaway

That helps, but the gray skies still hover inside and out, even though I'm excited that I'll be seeing all of my babies this weekend. It's just one of those mornings. I trust the sun will come out soon...

In the meantime, here are my Friday Favorite Photos of the Week. My first one is technically from last week, but since I somehow skipped a Friday Favorite post, I'll share it now. 

I barely noticed this little guy on the side of our road when I was driving by one afternoon - it was before the rains came and he was covered with road dust... caliche-colored, blending in.

I stopped and put him on the floorboard, then once home, me, Tom, Belle, Max and Haley escorted him through the woods to a spot on the creek downstream from our ponds and released him into relatively deep water (safe from the puppies.)

I briefly thought of keeping him as a pet - I miss Frankie and the diversity he added to our household - but, no offense to turtles, I just don't think he could compare to Frankie in personality. Besides, Frankie chose us. I'll keep my fingers crossed we're lucky enough to be adopted again.

They're both pretty cute, aren't they? (This isn't Tom's normal smile - he was copying the turtle, but the turtle was a smart ass and ducked into his shell just before I snapped the picture.)

 

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

The second one is proof that if you just open your eyes, you'll find wonder in the world. The puppies and I were on our morning walk... I was snapping my routine daily photos of the dam (we learned we have to keep on eye on things there) and so I was filled with those gray thoughts like this morning's, when I just happened to look down. There she sat, this emerald beauty, living proof of the ultimate Artist... of his miracles and the beauty he placed in this world for us to find. Not-so-hidden treasure, if we'll only take the time to open our eyes and see it. (For more dragonfly images, click here.)

 

No Time-Squandering here, Ben

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of.

~Benjamin Franklin

I don't think I'm guilty of time-squandering. Even with my tennis shoes on, Time is outrunning me these days. Another weekend has snuck up on me and I haven't really mentioned the last one. Maybe I just haven't recovered from it yet!

But I captured a few moments of it in my camera. I think I'll multi-task and post them here as my Friday Favorites of the Week.

Friday night, before heading out to dinner, we posed for pictures. I was determined to get Tom to smile...

After dinner (too late for Eddie V's happy hour, so we went to Olive Garden. Still yummy!) we were in the mood for music, so we headed to our friends Jim and Liane's Hootenanny ... it was hot but the music was awesome, and we celebrated Jim's birthday...

(for more Hootenanny photos, click here.)

Saturday we had a surprise call from Jennett, a good friend we haven't talked to in ages and haven't seen in even more. We're determined to change that before the end of the year. Jennett and Keith were Tom's neighbors when we first met, practically family for years. How do we let Time get away from us like this?

That evening we met several longtime, newly reconnected friends for dinner at Gwen's house... delicious spaghetti, salad, cheesecake, and a new game she taught us - "Chubby Bunny". For some reason, I've lost my taste for marshmallows...

Sunday afternoon, the Girl and I packed my little car full of her belongings and headed to campus. It was move-in time again. Man, this summer went by fast!

On the way, we stopped at a CVS Pharmacy so she could print out some pictures. Little did we know, while we were toodling around with the photo machine, a car-jacker went into action in the parking lot! When we stepped outside, we faced something straight out of a cop show - the suspect getting frisked, police running around, their cars and a fire truck filling the lot, reporters asking me questions. Very exciting! I had her take pictures as we pulled away so we'd remember...

Yeah, I know... you don't really see anything, but that's the wonderful thing about photographs - they trigger floods of memories. You might not see what was going on here, but one look at these, and I see it clearly.

(No moving-in photos. A promise is a promise.)

It was after midnight before we got to bed that night. We had a visit from another longtime friend, Lisa, who had attended a wedding with her friend Cheryl at a place just down the road. We insisted she stay with us afterward and so we stayed up yakking. It was well worth it, though. I wish we'd had more time - I always enjoy spending time with Lisa, but I enjoyed meeting Cheryl, too. She's older than me (I won't say how much) but just spent a week camping in the Grand Canyon - something I would love to do and now I think I still could! She also had a photograph published by National Geographic several years ago, so I got to talk photography for a little while.

No pictures of them, though. I didn't even think about it - that tells you how wiped out I was by then!

This weekend will start a little later than the last one did - tonight we're just hanging out at home, about to watch a movie, pay some bills, catch up on laundry... but it promises to be just as full of friendship and memories, starting tomorrow. You might have to wait until next Friday to hear about it, though. I'll try to sprint a little faster and catch up with Time.

At any rate, I hope you have a fabulous weekend, whether you squander time or not!