Velvet Brick

Taking A Sentimental Journey

2010-04-21T17:47:00.016-07:00

Those of you who know me know that I am passionate about flying.... airplanes... airports....anything that has to do with the ethereal thrill of flying 36,000 ft. through cummulonimbus thunderheads or looking down at the patchwork quilt of America's heartland. I am plain stooooo-pid about flying and my poor friends have to indulge me now and then when I go ga-ga over something that has sparked my passion in full blaze!

I have posted about my amazing son who is the 'payload specialist' for a World War II B-17 bomber stationed here in town. There was an airshow at another local airport over the weekend and when this beauty of an aircraft was heading down for the 20 minute flight, my son texted me and my class and I were able to go outside and see him fly over!! It literally takes your breath away as this silver craft lumbers low over rooftops - 4 props pulling it smoothly through the sky.

This weekend, I was lucky enough to be able to fly on this bird back to home base after the airshow. I have never flown in anything close to this, and the anticipation, as always, was like Christmas Eve when I was 4 years old - I could hardly wait! I arrived at the airport as the crowd was making their last rounds through the airplanes on display and the show was starting to wrap up. I milled around taking pictures and walking around this aircraft, touching its wing, fuselage...with a distinct sense of disbelief that in a couple of hours I would be airborne in her.

Even better to the day were my friends, J and M, showing up to watch me take off! J is an aviation nut, like me. They brought their camera for a few shots of this beauty taking off with me in it! As luck would have it though, there was one seat left on the return flight.... one seat left. Hmmm.... a bright idea put to my son soon had J with a 'window' seat on our flight! His wife, M, is just a gem and SUCH a good sport! She was happy to drive my car to the other airport and pick us up! How sweet is that? She goes to an airport with her hubby for a photo op and ends up waving bye to him as he flies off !! And then she has to drive up to go get us!! What a trooper she is!!!

A briefing of in-flight procedures and a buckling up, and we were soon on our way! After getting clearance for take-off, we soon rumbled down the runway and were airborne!!!

The flight was AWESOME!!!!!!! We cruised at about 1,500 ft. over town up north back to home base. Once at that level, we were able to unbuckle our seat belt and 'move about the cabin'...HA! We were instructed as to where we could, and could NOT, hold onto! Grabbing a bare cable could be hazardous to our health as that cable CONTROLLED THE PLANE!! Here's son and I airborne and lovin' the experience!!!

And son and J - two aviation nuts enjoying the ride and the view!!!

The flight only lasted about 25 minutes - including the FLY-BY we did of the departing airport control tower (a la 'Top Gun' !! Woooohoooo, baby!!!!!!!!!!!)

Once we were on terra firma, we had a job to do! Wipe the oil off of the underbelly of this craft, baby! Rag in hand, we proceeded to wipe her down! Another thrill! We learned so much information about this airplane and the how's and why's of it all!

It's taken me two days to come down from this high....and to be honest, I'm not sure that I have all the way yet!! This was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill and I'm so grateful to have had the chance to do this! Thanks, son.... you are the BEST! It was a thrill to soar with you!!!

Wandering

2010-03-04T19:40:00.016-07:00

When one has an amazing student teacher, and one's classroom and kiddos are in very good hands, one's mind and eye tend to wander towards other things that surround them....

and one looks closely....

and waits....

and watches....

and notices....

and delights....

A Rose By Any Other Name...

2010-02-21T16:22:00.017-07:00

I received a rose last Friday....around noontime. It was very unexpected, but then, sometimes those are the best kind of flowers in life....

meet Rosie

I've had a very difficult time getting over losing my sweet Ross. I've gone back and forth as to whether or not I should get another dog - maybe I will, no, I won't.....maybe I should, no, I can't.....I miss not having a dog around....no, I miss not having Ross around..... and so on......

Our wonderful school secretary is such an amazing spirit and she volunteers at a local animal shelter. She's often brought a dog with her to school for the day from the shelter and there are several teachers who are now the proud owners of such lucky pooches! Who can resists those eyes?? That tail??? She's been so kind, gentle and gracious with me as I ask her about the dogs at the shelter every so often. We'll talk about those whose pictures I've seen when I've visited their website.... I even went up to visit one recently, but my heart held me back from saying 'yes'.

Well, such same routine happened last Friday morning...and sweet B casually mentioned that there was one sweet pooch whom I should check out on the website. I truly forgot her mentioning anything until around 11:00 am. My student teacher was with my class, so I checked out the website and saw this whiskery face with a big, black nose! I immediately dialed secretary B....and within 5 minutes, we were one our way up the street for a quick 'lunch'....at the animal sanctuary. I met this sweet face, and although there was angst, turmoil and anxiety - um...all on my part, she was totally fine with the event..... I said 'yes, I'll take her!' Rosie came back with me for the afternoon in my classroom and my kiddos are absolutely smitten with her. We had a good chat about pets, how to get to know a new dog, and how to let Rosie sniff their hand to become familiar with them. Later, during Friday Free Time, my desk became decorated with notes of love ....
Rosie is joining a family of 5 cats. They seem somewhat put-out about her presence. Skittles, however, was seen rubbing against Rosie's legs this afternoon. She also pulled rank when Rosie got a little too friendly - as only a cat can do. Rosie has a propensity to chase, and she seems to think that our cats are wind-up toys for her to do just that! Olivia hopped upon the wall and Rosie was not sure what to make of it - other than to just wistfully stare.....

I think she'll be okay with the cats as she gets used to them....they are more than capable of defending themselves and letting her know how we roll in this house! We've spent the weekend visiting my vet for a thorough check-up and stopping by the pet store for a new pink leash and collar and some chew toys. She sleeps on the bed like a log and has no problem hogging her side. She's using the pet door and learning how to go up and down stairs....they seem to intimidate her a bit. We've had some real bonding time and I think she's feeling comfortable with her new home.

This evening I went to dinner with some friends and left Rosie alone for a couple of hours for the first time. I wondered how she would do .... and I made sure to put things away, have her chew toys out, water and food in the dish, etc. She got in the car with me, so I had to back out of the garage, close the garage door, turn off the engine, go around and let her out of the car and in the front door - just so I could leave the house by myself. I think she took the separation rather well, don't you??

I guess we have some work to do..... Rosie.....I have to go to work tomorrow morning....

When It Rains It Pours

2010-02-07T08:39:00.014-07:00

Yes, I am still alive. No, I have not forgotten about my blog nor my visitors. Oh, trust me on that point! I don't know how many times I've thought of what the post would look like as I've traveled this path the last few weeks. But it's a beautiful, sunny, rained-last-night morning and with a cup of Winter Blend coffee (Trader Joe's seasonal brew) at hand, I'll tell you the story.

Almost three weeks ago I was quietly fixing dinner on a Wednesday evening. After chopping some onions and a tomato, I rinsed off my favorite knife, started to reach for the olive oil and stopped...."hmm.....

"Is that a sound I hear?? I think I hear something.... Hmm..... it sounds like it's coming from...... (I bend down over my left kitchen sink opening).... down here......" I open the cabinet door below and, sure enough, a faint, little whiny noise was coming from my hot water line. I thought it was the little knobby thingy going out after 17 years. We wouldn't want to have it bust while I'm at school and have a major issue, now would we??? So, dutifully, I called a plumber that evening who would come out pronto the next morning to replace it.

Wrong.

Long.......very long story short...... it wasn't the little hot water knobby thingy that needed to be replaced. Nope. And it wasn't going to cost me $100. As a matter of fact, I'll just let this tell the story.....

Yes, that is a jackhammer that you see John using to tear up my foundation (and my bank account). Yup. I had a leak in my foundation ..... two feet down. But as Ron Popeil says....

But wait!!! There's more!!!

As Doug, from the sonar place was using high tech equipment to pinpoint the leak earlier in the week, a storm of huge proportions visited. As I was sitting in my family room watching and waiting for him to determine the leak's exact position, I noticed something amiss in my dining room. I got up and notice three wet spot in a line in my carpet. "My cat did this?!!???" I'm wondering????? No way!! Looking upward to see why water came downward revealed the answer..... my ceiling was leaking!!! Actually, little rivulets of water down one wall and drippy-drips along the soffet of the other was more like it. I stared in disbelieve....and horror....and more disbelief.... then a thought drifted through my mind.....

"My name is C....and this is my life's path!"

Ahhh...it all made sense now.

But wait!!! There's more!!!

"BEEP...BEEEP!!!! This is a weather alert. The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for the east valley!"

Of COURSE they have. And why not?? Just blow my house of horrors down the street and be done with it!!!

I placed another call to my insurance company. Water Mitigation' is determined to be needed - pronto!! Two guys showed up with three of those blowers that blow up those inflatable jumping toys for kids birthday parties and a big dehumidifier. They cut square holes in my walls and attached plastic tubing to them to dry them out. The dials were turned to 'high'.... and I felt like I was sleeping in the parking lot of a Mack Truck truck stop for three nights.

But wait, there's more!!!

The second night, while I lay in bed watching the news, my smoke detector chirped twice. "Hmmm..... I wonder why it did that..?" I didn't think much of it and went to sleep. I thought a lot more of it the next morning when none of the electrical outlets in the bathrooms worked. No hair dryer, no curling iron....nada. Ah, yes...the dehumidifier had been plugged into the downstairs bathroom outlet.... hmm.... interesting. I simply thought that the GFI outlet in daughter's bathroom had been tripped. I tried to reset it but couldn't, and thought that it had finally given out. So wonderful son came over and replaced it.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. After an hour, he gave up.

I placed another call to the company who is 'restoring' my home. Electrician Kurt showed up the next day...and the next. After 4 1/2 hours, he was befuddled, betwixted and between. He could NOT find the source of the problem. Of COURSE he couldn't. So he rewired that circuit up in my attic, said I'd probably see him again because he wasn't sure he really liked the way he did it.

"My house won't burn down because of an electrical fire, will it???!!??"

"Nahh.....it shouldn't."

But wait!!! There's more!!!

The cause of all the little water drops INSIDE my house obviously has to do with my roof. Ahhh, yes. The ambiguous roof damage story. I get a call one day at work from a guy whose up on my roof! He tells me it's OBVIOUS that this is all due to storm damage and that my insurance will cover it. Thank goodness, because I've heard horror stories of how insurance companies are very strict about whether they cover roof damage or not. If they deem that my roof is in disrepair due to 'lack of proper homeowner maintenance' or my ever-lovin' need to dance on my roof under the monthly full moon, I'm S.O.L. But J.C. assures me while standing on my roof that this is basically a no-brainer. I come home to this....

I'm fine with my roof looking like this, but I'm marking the days until my homeowners association sends me a notice telling me that I am out of compliance with the CC & R's....

What I wasn't fine with was a call a week ago asking if the roofer had been to my house. I had no idea....I was at, um...WORK.... "Well......" says Diane. "He says that your roof repairs won't be covered because the damage was not caused by a storm. It was lack of maintenance by the homeowner, so... um.... your insurance company won't pay to have it fixed."

"Don't tell me this, Diane." was my reply. That's about all I can truly type here.... not because the following conversation was more fiery than a sailor getting ashore after 15 months at sea, but simply because typing the words doesn't give the intonation of my voice justice. Trust me on this one.

With some Divine Guidance from above, however, Aaron comes by the house last Monday to give me the low-down on how this restoration job is going to roll. He also delivers the good news that my insurance company WILL cover the roof!!! However, because we haven't been given the official go-ahead from the insurance company yet, I will refrain from doing my happy dance until such call is received.

For the last week, a lock-box has been on my water bib and nice man Mark and his assistant, Jose, have been putting my kitchen back together and tearing my dining room and living room apart. Mark told me that I would need to unload my 'new' hutch that my sister and brother recently gave me of my mom's.... *see recent post. God forbid if anything was to fall over if they tried moving it. I told him I would empty it this weekend so that they could move it tomorrow. I came home Friday to this......

OH, THIS CAN'T BE GOOD!! I thought he said I had the weekend to empty it!! It's moved??!?!An old ex-marine moved my mother's crystal glasses???? I ran around the front to see this....

I don't know how he did it, but everything was just fine!! We'll work out the details to moving it back tomorrow.

I'm sure my account is now flagged in bright red. Two separate claims in a 24-hour period. Two separate deductibles, too. Companies and people have been in and out of my house like I'm holding a two-week open house. I've talked to Diane, Aaron, Jose, Shawn, John, Kevin, Mark, J.C., Mary, Darin, Kevin E., and more that I can't remember. I'm not thrilled with having people in and out during the day while I'm at work, but it's not feasible to be home for a week or two and 'watch' people work on my house. I also am not comfortable with M being in and out during the day.... but I am putting faith into God and praying that He will cover my home, my daughter and myself with safety as we work our way through this latest situation.

But wait!!! There's more!!!

As I type this waiting for a call-back for someone to come snake my drains because they are clogged and the toilet doesn't want to flush down, I work on keeping this all in perspective and giving thanks and gratitude for what I have. This, while grand it is at the moment, is minor in the big scheme of life. There are millions of people who would give their eye teeth to have my problems right now. I have come to a quiet resolve to embrace my life and the path that I am on...for I am blessed.

I wish for blessings to find you.

Go, Saints!!! : ))

Treasures of the Past

2010-01-18T14:31:00.007-07:00

It's a wonderful winter day...... a day off to reflect about dreams. Cloudy, rainy, blustery, wintry........ a perfect day for oh, so many reasons! One of which is a recent treasure that was given to me by my brother and sisters. Upon my dad's passing, many sentimental items of my mom's were given to me....items that have no monetary value....but are rich in the sentimental value that I have for them. A week ago, my brother and sister brought over a curio cabinet that was still left from cleaning out dad's house. I wasn't sure where I would put it, but got that figured out yesterday when I passed on to my son his great-grandmother's radio and lamp that have resided with us for 20+ years. In its place is now my mother's curio cabinet and treasures of hers now adorn the shelves.

I put on a pot of coffee but couldn't stop unpacking, washing, drying and setting up the cabinet. I was surprised at how excited I was to set this up! The coffee could wait a while.

My mom had three of these beautifully etched glasses. I don't know the story behind where these came from....which is unusual. I only know that I love them....and find their story curious.

A gold-plated vase that was my grandmother's. Mom passed it down to me many years ago.

A porcelain yellow rose on a porcelain branch. As a little girl, my favorite kind of birthday cake was white with white frosting and yellow roses. Sweet mom always got that for me. Truth be know, it is still my favorite kind of birthday cake.

A sweet cranberry glass vase. I had bought two of these one day...one for me and one for my mom because we both loved cranberry glass. I still have mine, minus the cord. But to have my mother's back was a full circle.

As a child, my brothers and I would spend the summers with my grandparents in Iron Springs. Every day we drank out of Grandma's cactus glasses - so iconic for a little scamp of an Ohio girl in Arizona. I'm not sure what happened to Grandma's set - I think they ended up getting broken or shuffled around. So imagine my glee when visiting my Grandma's sister, Aunt Ann, in Colorado I discovered that she had a set of the same glasses!! They were given as a free gift with a fill-up from Blakely gas stations back in the '50's and I've always had such a spot in my heart for the memories they hold for me. Aunt Ann was happy to pass her collection to me, where they have sat wrapped-up in a cardboard box in my garage for probably 15 years. That all changed this morning.

I remember when my Mom bought these from J.C. Penny's back in the early 70's. She just thought they were so pretty and they have endured for 30 years. For some reason, I've always liked them because my Mom liked them.

My new cabinet graces my home with cherished treasures. I sat down with warm cup of coffee, finally, and simply admired it. Two cups later, it was time to check a few things around the house outside before the huge predicted storms arrived.

A walk of my garden had me standing in shock and awe at this little spot....look at these iris buds!!! They were NOT there yesterday! I know because I planted some freesia bulbs there yesterday and those stalks were not there!!!

Garden Happy Dance !!

I love how the buds are the same soft, periwinkle color of Mr. Garden Wizard!

Hmmmm......... I wonder if he didn't have something to do with this when I wasn't looking!?!

Speaking of surprises, as I was planting those freesia bulbs yesterday, I pushed some garden bark to the side to find a spot to dig in and lookie what I found!! Daffodils sprouting through! I had received blooming daffodils last year as a gift and planted the bulbs here - and lo and behold, they are getting ready to spread yellow happiness in my garden!

I love the juxtapose of our ash tree.... autumn leaves clinging with their last bit of stubbornness, while fresh new growth bursts out all around!! Add in some bare branches and I have a tree of autumn, winter and spring!!

Time for some homemade lemonade!!

Out my kitchen window was my mulberry tree, loaded - not with mulberries (it's not that type of 'mulberry' tree) but with cold, puffy birds! They aren't as keen to the weather as I am!! They are predicting rain ALL WEEK LONG!!! (does her rain happy dance!)

How is winter looking in your corner of the Earth?

Solitary Shadow

2010-01-03T13:36:00.027-07:00

Of late, my mind has gone to the dogs. Literally. Last week I visited our local animal shelter with my good friends 'just to look'.... I've thought about getting another dog from time to time, but my heart just hasn't been ready since I lost Ross last July. I was quite smitten with a beautiful dog at the shelter - Waldo - and we had a wonderful love fest. He has a beautiful, kind, gentle spirit and after a talk with my daughter and my good friend, S, I made the call to say I wanted to give Waldo a new home. Alas, this beautiful animal had just been adopted hours earlier. I am positive that fate had a hand in this and I am very okay, for I know that Waldo sleeps in a warm, loving home at night now and that if it had been meant to be, it would have worked out differently.

Our weather has become absolutely beautiful. Every so often, the words 'I should go for my walk today' drift through my mind - only to be immediately scolded by my heart's armour -

"You can't. Ross isn't here anymore. You can't go for your walk without him. It will be too hard to do. Too many memories....just too many memories of when you and he would go for your walks."

And I have acquiesced every single time - sure that my heart's armour spoke truthfully....and not feeling strong enough to prove it differently. Until today...The words to walk drifted by me again, and yes, the amour had its say as well. But, I decided that with the new year, came new beginnings. So during church this morning, I decided I would take my walk when I got home. And I would take it alone.

So with laces tied up, and a good-bye wink to Skittles laying in the front garden, I took my first few steps.

Around the first corner I looked upward and asked my buddy for a little help on this first walk without him. As I did, I saw a contrail rise above a bird in this tree and smiled at the irony of this picture - a creature that flies naturally while a man-made version soars miles above.

Soon, these guys were telling me how irritated they were that I had disturbed their late morning nap as they waddled towards the water's edge - especially the one in the middle!! Ross never gave them chase, but was so intrigued with the scents around!

As I rounded the bend, my path was before me....and I had to take slow, steady breaths as I remembered how I would put Ross back on the leash and hear the children at the upcoming tot-lot always say 'Look at that dog!'

....slow, steady breaths....

The sun felt warm and I thought of how this was the place where I would be ahead....Ross off the leash again and taking his sweet time gathering scents along our way. A quick 'Come on, Ross.' would bring him running to me with a smile on his face and his silky white and black fur waving to the rhythm of his running stride. He'd race past me, only to be stopped by a curious scent at another bush up ahead. This was my favorite part of our walk.

Winter's quell has finally brought barren trees as leaves finish their annual fall....
....revealing hidden treasures among the boughs.

Over the bridge I went, but this time I was the leader...in a parade of one.

A rainbow trout swam lazily in the winter sun past a

white down duck feather floating on top.

Red berries clinging onto bare branches... this is where Ross would whine and whine as dogs would run along their back fences - barking at us incessantly! This was our least favorite part of our walk and we would briskly pass those yappy dogs as I'd soothe Ross' nerves with a gentle 'It's okay, Ross....it's okay....'

Beauty all along my path.... below me....

....and above.

On the way home I pass by one of my favorite trees -ornamented with bird's nests. By now, Ross' pace would slow just a wee bit ... and soon we'd be home to slurps of cool water and a good, good feeling.

Yes, there were some tears as I wound my way around our route - noticing that there was only one, solitary shadow along the way. Memories are still very fresh and my heart's armour is still protective of me. But I tell myself that I did it....I made our walk alone.

Or did I?

Maybe, just maybe...

I really wasn't alone after all.

Christmas Blessing

2009-12-24T10:54:00.006-07:00

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,

and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
LUKE 2:8-14

Angels Don't Always Wear White - Sometimes They Wear Fatigues

2009-12-22T12:31:00.003-07:00

Behold an early Christmas gift that showed up on my doorstep yesterday!! An angel dressed in his fatigues!! Let me explain....

I attended the funeral for my little student's mother yesterday morning.... it was a beautiful, simple, very emotional ceremony. Afterwards, we went to their home for a warm reception. I'll admit....I was worthless. The food and kitchen activities were being handled by wonderful women from our school. Family and friends gathered and visited and children ran up and down the stairs while a video of this beautiful mom taken from her family way too soon played on the television. I found little J, and once again, she jumped up on me for a long, tight hug - and at one point, I was embarrassed by myself, for I felt that the tides had turned a bit and that she was comforting me more than I was her. After paying my respects, I quietly left.....

I had a few gifts to buy for my son and daughter so I attempted to go to several stores to get these....well, I was a total idiot driving around town.... I couldn't focus, got lost, had tons of doubts about what I had planned on buying for them, etc. I finally made it into one store and was looking through all of the picture frames (I am going to give the picture of J and her family to them next week, I've decided) when someone called out my name. I turned around to see one of my wonderful parents whom I have known for many years and her boyfriend. Let's be honest here....

I looked like shit.

I was embarrassed by how I looked - puffy, red eyes...make-up cried off.....sorrow in my heart as I feebly attempted to find some Christmas spirit among the left-over items on the store shelves... We exchanged pleasantries and good wishes and I went on with my shopping....

When I got home, I was absolutely spent. Four days into my winter break, and I was worn out, cried out and so behind in what I felt I needed to do to be ready for the big day this week. I fixed myself a snack since I hadn't eaten all day and just as I took the first bite, the doorbell rang. "Crap!" I thought....

M couldn't tell who it was and so I went to the door. A quick glance through the window showed a military man standing at my door. 'Great!' I thought. 'Now they have military men selling magazine subscriptions door to door!' I opened the door and started to say "Yeessss..... ??" .....
but before I could even say the sound for the letter 'y', I gasped, screamed and burst into tears, for standing at my door was this wonderful young man!!! Who is he? He is a former student of mine...from many years ago!

This is Nick - a new recruit who enlisted into the Army Reserves this past September. Back in August, 1998, I was fortunate enough to be hired as my daughter's 1st/2nd grade substitute as her teacher went on maternity leave. I was to begin the school year with her class (who was returning back to her from having done 1st grade with her) and I was her sub through Thanksgiving. The children all knew each other, as they had been together the previous year. But I received a new little student Nick, one day - I believe his family came from California. He was quiet, shy, cute and a bit moody about all of the changes he was going through. There were days he would quietly be a bit stubborn about doing his work. I tried my bag of tricks to get through to him - none of which were very successful. Finally, out of sheer frustration, I walked the class to P.E., but told Nick to come back to the classroom with me. We were going to have a pow-wow about his behavior. And we did. I'll never forget Nick sitting in that little blue plastic chair by mine. His hands in his lap. His bottom lip sticking out. His brown eyes looking sad. And his jaw set firm as I told him how the cow ate the cabbage. He stoically listened to everything I said showing no emotion and saying nothing. Afterwards, we walked back to pick up the class from P.E. in silence and I was sure that I had turned him off to me, school, everything with my hard-nosed chat with him that day.

But something in this young boy didn't give up on me. No, Nick never gave up on me.

Through the years, as he went through the intermediate grades, he would come by my room every so often to get a hug and say 'hello'. I would ask him how he was doing, how school was going, how his family members were doing. We'd visit for a while, then I'd hug him, tell him to take care and go back to the rhythm of my day. Nick moved on to junior high and high school - even being in band with my daughter and I'd ask her if she had seen Nick and how was he. Occasionally, I'd see him riding his bike around the neighborhood and we'd sometimes run into each other at the store, etc. Often, Nick would show up at my home out of the blue and we'd catch up on how he was doing. A couple of years ago, Nick had a period of time, like so many young people do, where some choices he made weren't the best for him. I was ticked at what I heard he was doing and scared, too. Yet, when he would come by, I'd always have a hug for him and listen to his world.

This past summer, the doorbell rang one hot day. There was Nick. I hadn't seen him in a while and he looked great! He had just spent the day at the V.A. hospital getting his physical done....he had enlisted in the Army Reserves! I was happy, thrilled, shocked and ... yes, scared. How can you not be scared for anyone who is in the military?? He spoke with confidence, excitement, focus and direction. I listened to his future, his hopes, his life before him and I couldn't stop thinking of how much this young boy was growing into such a wonderful young man!! He promised to keep in touch with me as he hugged me and left....

And he did. Here he was now, sitting in my family room - confident, strong, happy, secure and full of love for what he is doing!!! He finishes up in February and will be stationed here in the valley. He will be heading out to Afghanistan within a year. He and M had a wonderful visit, too - these two classmates who have known each other since 2nd grade.... And he was so sweet as I would occasionally get teary-eyed throughout our visit..... my emotions already raw and then to be graced with his surprise visit. What a blessing I was given!!

The time came that he had to be going. He gave me another big, huge hug as he put on his jacket and hat. He's staying with his family and catching up with his friends. We exchanged emails and he will keep in touch with me. I told him how very, very proud I am of him and how happy and great he looks!! He knows my door is always open to him.

I received the most wonderful of Christmas gifts today - a visit from my Nick. It reminds me that, each night when I lay my head down to sleep, there are untold numbers of men and women all around this world, like Nick, who are standing post in the cold night, huddled in a tent or foxhole, or tending the wounded who give their lives to keep me safe and free..... to keep us all safe and free! May God bless each and every one of them and their families.

Yes.... angels don't always wear white.

Picture In Your Mind...

2009-12-20T15:41:00.016-07:00

It's been a month since I last wrote .... I've been well-aware of this. I've thought of blogging several times, but not having the right picture has dampened my little light of inspiration. However, today is a day to post, to think, to ponder, to reflect....but this time, the picture will be from your mind and not from my camera.

It has been a pensive time; many irons-in-the-fire and things to do......and, yet, a time where the focus of people that I dearly love keeps seeping through my crazy days.....like a quiet little rivulet of water, salted by tears.....

Tonight I will be attending the rosary for the beautiful, young mother of one of my students. This woman endured a very long, painful fight against an illness which eventually took its final toll on her 3 days ago... Thursday, I maintained normalcy in my classroom and guided my kiddos through a pajama/pizza party and a ride on the 'Polar Express' as my heart quietly hurt with the knowledge that my little student would soon learn, herself, upon her return home that afternoon that her beautiful mother was no longer there. I thought about her all that afternoon and all evening long. Friday morning...greeting my kiddos outside the door upon the chilly morning's bell ring, this little girl was the last one to come running across the grass towards the line. I had the other children go on inside as I walked back through to greet her and give her a hug. Instead, as I bent down, she jumped onto me - throwing her arms tightly around my neck and her legs around my body....

and she sobbed..."I miss my mommy."

She sobbed into that soft spot between my left shoulder and neck....with a tightness in her arms and legs around me that I have never felt from a child before....ever.

She didn't let go for over 20 minutes....clinging to me like a bear cub to a tree...her grip never easing up, as if she was afraid that she would fall if she did....

We were needing to walk over to a holiday show at the neighboring junior high pronto...
but there was no way I was going to interrupt this child's moment of grief....
so a wonderful staff member took my class over for the show....

...and J and I sat at my desk....

...and I held her for those 20-plus minutes and let her cry.... and cry.... and sniffle..... trying to comfort her and her heart while the horrible reality of what had happened in this precious child's world settle down around the two of us in the silence of my classroom like soft, cold, winter snowflakes....

Later that morning after the show, J sat with me in my rocking chair and she and I told the other boys and girls of the news.... that her mother had passed away. A child-like gasp answered back.... and then tears fell from classmates who had known of J's mother's illness months ago, but, as children so wonderfully do, had held out hope for a happy ending to this story, too.

Cards vividly illustrated with crayons, colored pencils and markers soon came to be.... floating pink hearts with scalloped borders, yellow flowers on green stems, stick children holding hands and hugging with smiling faces under rainbows..... words like 'love', 'sorry', and 'friend' danced across the white card stock with invisible hugs of love folded inside each one. A grosgrain ribbon of spring green tied the gifts of love into a bundle that J would take home and, hopefully, remind her of how much we love her and how sorry we all are for her and her family. Her deep brown eyes were finally dry and a beautiful smile bowed between her dimpled cheeks as she carefully tucked the bundle into her pink backpack and zipped it closed.

Tomorrow I will attend the funeral service for her mother. And I am lost....lost as to what to say, lost as to whether I bring her something.... a teddy bear? a bracelet? Or what about the picture of her and her amazing family taken at our flag ceremony last month when she won the bike for the 'Character Counts' award that was just given to me a week ago...her beautiful mother smiling with a bouquet of pink-tipped cream roses in her arms? I've been planning on buying a frame for it and giving it to her.....but now I wonder if it's too soon to give that picture to her??? Will it make her feel even worse? Make her cry even more?? Miss her mom even more?? I don't want to cause her any more heartache....

..... I don't know....

I just don't know.

I sat quietly in church this morning - looking like a bump-on-a-log....staring off into space as 'Angels We Have Heard On High' surrounded me.... trying to hold back unexpected tears and trying to be still enough to hear what God wanted me to do... hoping for direction...an idea... a "That's it!!!' epiphany as to what to do. All I could come up with that didn't seem like a feeble attempt at helping was calling Dad and asking if I could help with anything today... Maybe the kids needed to go shopping for new shoes for their mother's rosary tonight. Did the girls have dresses or did the boys need some dress pants?? Maybe there was an errand I could do for them, or was there something that I could bring them...... Dad was wonderful and family members were there helping him out so all was good. But he did tell me that he would probably need help later on....after everyone leaves and goes back home...

Concurrently, two women whom I adore and admire in so many, many ways fight the fight of breast cancer and my thoughts, love and prayers fall on them daily. Updates, hugs, happy hours, .... each encounter is a precious one for me.

I find myself feeling the focus of this next week or so is not a flat screen t.v., a wii, or diamond jewelry or whatever the store ads try to entice us to buy. I find myself, in a bit of a panicky way, wanting to gather my family and friends into a tight, tight circle....and hug them and hold onto them...and feel their body warmth and hear their laughter in my ears and see their twinkled eyes...... I want to hold onto them all so very tightly...

like a bear cub clinging to a tree.....

...for they are the gifts in my world this holiday season.

May Christmas blessings surround you and your loved ones this week.

Playing - A Treasured Past-Time

2009-11-21T17:39:00.013-07:00

Ahhhh..... Autumn has left me mellow and drinking in all of the wonderful colors that I see.... It's been way too long since I took some photos with my oh-I-so-love-it Nikon. I had no intention of taking any today, either....too much to do before the big Thanksgiving feast here on Thursday. But an impulse prevailed over dusting and so I tippied out to the back yard for a few pics of my flowers. Upon loading the photos up, I discovered these... taken after the Ya-Ya trip up to the cabin a month ago. We had gone on a forest walk and collected treasures along the way. Once I got home, I arranged my goodies in an amazing wooden bowl that I had picked up recently.... I love the textures of the pine needles, pine cones and the sprinkle of peacock feathers among them.... so I played with my Nikon one afternoon....

I can't seem to get close enough to nature....

Our patient, Skittles, is doing fabulous! She is ornery, growing her back hair in and back to roaming back and forth across the street or lounging out on the 'sitting rock' - taking a lazy sun bath in the autumn afternoon....

A few weeks ago I visited the nursery and brought home a treat for da kitties... Skittles was all over the catnip and apparently its effect was grand!......

...for soon.... this was da baby Skittles.... schnoozing on the porch swing.....

Today I played in the garden with my Nikon.... not worrying too much about settings or lighting....

just simply playing....

a new rose bush - proceeds of which went to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Fund...

.... um, yup.... a picture of birdseed in my 'reclaimed' bird bath feeder....

...this little guy is in my old antique sink garden....

...as is this little one, too....

I ADORE pansies!!! And I think little 'johnny-jump-ups' are just the sweetest! These little fellows have a place at the base of my bird bath and jacaranda tree...and seem pretty darn happy about it all!

Simply beautiful.

As I was shooting this cutie, I notice a red dot moving around on the right yellow petal - a little eensy-weensy red spider!! Do you see him??

A little bit later I was hanging some laundry on the clothes line and this beauty caught my eye...just laying there...so I grabbed my camera again and began shooting....

...only to be interrupted by someone....

...who couldn't resist playing in the leaves, himself....

A busy week ahead with excitement - a real family Thanksgiving will be this Thursday and I can't wait. Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday of the year!! Pumpkin pie, my Mom's famous Waldorf Salad, a 20 lb. turkey and my awesome dressing and my world-famous gravy are on the menu. My sister is coming over Wednesday evening with collard greens, garlic mashed potatoes and her suitcase because she's staying for a few nights....we can't wait!!! Are you busy with plans for the days ahead, too? Do share what they are....

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!! : )

Welcome to Arizona, Pioneer Woman!!

2009-11-07T14:09:00.009-07:00

Do you follow The Pioneer Woman's blog like I do?? Oh, don't you just LOOOOOOOOOVE her?? I never tire of visiting her on the ol' cattle ranch - herding errant cattle, baling hay, brandin' and the likes. I love her photography section and refer to it often to help me understand my Nikon. Her confessions, humor and take on life are akin to having a cup of coffee with your ol' girlfriend....

This lovely lady has published her amazing recipes and food photography into a grand beauty of a book and as luck would land, my local independent bookstore hosted The Pioneer Woman, aka Ree Drummond, this past Thursday evening. Several of my friends, my sister and I galloped over for a quick dinner at the cafe next door and an evening with our favorite cowgirl. We were not disappointed!!
Ree Drummond was adorable! And charming, humble, kind, funny, witty, gracious and patient! She talked a bit about life on the ranch as a blogger, and now, author and her style was ingratiating. Soon, she took questions and comments from the audience and we laughed and chuckled throughout the variety of them. The line for the book-signing was loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong.... and at some point, we contemplated about leaving our books to have her sign them later on and then picking them up the next day. But I just HAD to meet the woman whom I won that fabulous red mixer from!! Plus, I had a couple of questions I needed answered.....

After much patience, and propping my foot up on a post (um...I seriously injured my leg in a fall - I am doing you a HUGE favor and sparing you the horrific pictures of my bruises - and as my camera went flying across the concrete as well, I'm thinking that is why these pictures are fuzzy..boo-hoo!!) we were in line for our turn with The Pioneer Woman! She was sweet as could be and seemed a bit curious about my name, Velvet Brick, as she wrote it in her signing on the title page. I assured her that it was my blog name and not my 'stripper' name! After gushing about how I had won one of her mixer contests and her commenting "Hmmm.... Velvet Brick...that sounds familiar.....' as she continued writing, I was able to ask her my burning question. I prefaced it with "I can take the truth, no matter what it is..." then I asked...."Did the cow with the prolapse... um... is she okay???"

Yes, that was my burning question. I've needed to know the answer since reading about it on her blog. This was my chance and I wasn't going to pass it up!

What a relief it was when Ree replied that said mama cow was just fine - she had come through that ordeal a-ok!!! Yeeeeee-hawwwwwwww!!

My sister, friends and I are all a-giddy over our beautiful cook books!! Signed by The Pioneer Woman, AND her sister-in-law AND even by her mother-in-law; who were traveling with her on this leg of her book tour journey. We're planning on having a Pioneer Woman cookout with each one of us bringing a recipe from a section of her gorgeous cookbook! Ree's asked that we take pictures and email them to her - with pleasure!!

Treat yourself and pick up a copy of this book or put it on your 'wish list' for Santa Claus - you won't be disappointed!

Retreat

2009-10-17T08:23:00.029-07:00

I never tire of this view. Our cabin view out the front window of the enchanted forest. The ya-ya's and I headed up the highway to that corner of the Earth that smiles for me. A beautiful log cabin nestled deep within the woods is home for 4 days and 3 pitch-black nights. We unloaded the Tahoe - and one would have assumed that we were moving in for a month! We do have a tendancy to bring tons of gourmet treats and goodies in our celebration of life in the forest. But no matter. We soon were settled into our cabin with the best of comforts and a beautiful view before us.

Here's my girl soaking in the peace and tranquility. I gifted her with the knitted hat - complete with 'fall bling'!!! The peacock feather, however, was a gift to her from 'Handsome'! It looked beautiful on her and she wore it all the time - such a sweet spirit with a beauty that is timeless and enduring.

A lone sentry among the tumbled remains of majestic ponderosa..... the aftermath of human carelessness.

But God's hand touches this place and renewal is in full swing.

Sapplings abound....

....as do critters

and flowers among the pine needles....

and there is a wealth of autumnal beauty to be seen....

.... much autumnal beauty, indeed.

relax,

renew,

reflect,

recharge,

respite,

relief,

retreat...

That's why this corner of the Earth smiles for me.

Home

2009-10-15T19:39:00.003-07:00

I'm home....

from being at 'home'.

Inside Out

2009-10-10T18:11:00.018-07:00

I'm back! I know it's been a while since my last post, but, truly, things have been busy, busy around here. The Fall Fairy showed up a few weeks ago and decorated with an autumnal touch!! Little amber lights glow around my doorway and beckon fall to come inside.

The Fall Fairy is always welcomed here at this home....

In fact, we eagerly anticipate her visit a bit more than Santa's!

I love my fireplace and can not wait to celebrate the first fire of the season!! The logs are waiting and it's almost ceremonial when we strike the first match!

Even Lucy is decked out in her fall finery!!

My bedroom has been a kitty recovery room for the last two weeks. Skittles had surgery to remove the lump on her back. Unfortunately, the news was not good and it will more than likely come back. But she's doing great, was SUCH a wonderful 'patient'...(if you knew her, you'd appreciate that statement - she has a bit of an 'edge' in her personality!!) and is outside today for the first time. Lessons I've learned this year on loss have served me well in dealing with this latest event.

The weather has been glorious and I have found myself sitting out on my back patio almost every morning and every evening. I've even dined by candlelight several times to celebrate being able to be OUTSIDE again!!! There have been days when I haven't even turned on my computer...it's hard to be inside when it's so gorgeous outside!

The song of autumn is being sung by everyone!

Today was spent doing errands, finishing two knitting projects and getting the car ready for a trip up to my favorite place on earth! It's fall break and my ya-ya's and I are making our annual trek up to the cabin in the middle of the ponderosa forest and we are like kids packing for Disneyland!

I need some time to relax and rest. To stop. To breathe. To unwind. To be. What do you do to renew?

Autumnal Abundance

2009-09-20T10:46:00.004-07:00

Merry Christmas To Me!!

2009-09-13T15:25:00.017-07:00

Yup! Christmas came early to this house! Yesterday morning my son came over to help me with a 'little' job around the house and after some raspberry-filled Munchkin's from Dunkin' Donuts out on the patio, we ended up going shopping instead! It wasn't planned, but you know how sometimes those spur-of-the-moment shopping trips turn out to be some of the best?? Well, let me tell you, Christmas came early to this house!! I've coveted one of these for several years now and any time I see someone with theirs, I think "Gosh, I wish I had one of those.... do you know what I could do with one??!!??"

Behold my new present from Santa (aka myself):

That's right! I got a new CHAIN SAW ON A TELESCOPING POLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Behold its glory and omnipresence!!! Behold it's power and possibilities!! Behold its promise of dead branches gone!! Isn't it gorgeous??!??

After a bit of assembly and some oil to get things lubed up, the time came to power this baby on and get to work - and WORK we did! Actually, I should state right now that of ALL of the branches we cut, my son did them all, but one. To tell you the truth, he was stunned by the shear power of this little gadget and after the first 'little' branch came spear-heading down into the ground, impaling itself upright and proving to be more like 18 feet tall, he was like a little boy with a new choo-choo train to play with! Of course, others gathered to witness the greatness, too!

We spent 4 hours trimming off branches from my back jacaranda, my pine tree in the English Garden and my front jacaranda. He even cut up 20 foot branches by detaching the chain saw and cutting them up into firewood logs for his outdoor fire pit! This toy works like a CHARM and made child's play of every branch we tackled. It was awesome!!!

Yes, there were a few bumps in the road - like me falling flat over the extension cord - in front of prospective buyers for the neighbor's house. (I'm sparing you pictures of my bruises - trust me, they are not pretty.) An injured thumb was acquired on the way down, too. We started early in the day to avoid the desert heat, but there's no way to do that at 1:00 in the afternoon. It's never a good sign when it's 100 degrees outside and you're getting 'the chills' (even after drinking plenty of water). But we managed and I dragged, raked, carried, stacked, crushed, swept and trashed all of the big limbs, broken branches, pine cones and other debris into the driveway for bulk trash pick-up this week. And the result is this:

It makes me want to do my happy dance!!

After a cold, cold shower and more water, the Magster and I headed over to son's house and I treated everyone to a pizza dinner (and ibuprofen, too!). So I don't get that macro lens for my camera this year....it's okay. I'll just place a big red bow on my chain saw and carefully lay it under the Christmas tree. (Oh, I hope my tree is okay with that!)

And the beauty of all of this????

Bulk trash pickup week for the month of October!!! I can't wait!!

Is There Really Such A Thing......... ??

2009-09-09T18:51:00.008-07:00

......as too much of a good thing????

Can you really love the clouds too much? Can you see too many clouds?? Can gorgeous clouds of all shapes, sizes and colors become too much? Too many??

Last night a bestest friend invited me out for dinner with her family and a cousin from 'across the pond'. We went to a wonderful steakhouse up on a mountain here in our desert land. All afternoon the thunderheads had been building - some releasing their rains, others lying in wait for a later pour. Heading to the restaurant, I could hardly keep my eyes on the freeway; the bank of clouds was unlike any I had seen all summer!!! OHHH, I wish I had had my Nikon with me!! We were seated in a comfy booth by the front of the restaurant - with its floor-to-ceiling windows and let me tell you .... the view was nothing short of SPECTACULAR!!! There were several huge thunderstorm cells surrounding the valley and the lightning was unbelievable! As the sun set, wispy pinks, lavendars, steel blues and grays shared the stage - with bumbly cloud tops illuminated by bolts deep within. Through all of this, plane after plane after plane glided in on their approach and decent at our airport....like brilliant diamonds hanging by invisible threads ... dancing through the energy of the storms unfazed. Wonderful company, an excellent steak and the most incredible display - compliments of Mother Nature and God.

I know there's such a thing as too much roast turkey, or too many 'nectar-of-the-gods', or too much chocolate (well, fortunately, that's a very rare occurrence!)....

but clouds????

.... never.

From This To This

2009-09-05T11:18:00.014-07:00

When you wake up to this.... and this.....

and it's so dark that your garden lights look like this....

and you begin to hear this....

and you start to feel this...

and the scent of the desert rain makes you do this....

then you have to make this....

???

2009-08-27T17:19:00.002-07:00

"Where'd she go??"

"I dunno. She's been gone for like, two weeks."

"Did she just quit her blog??"

"I dunno."

"She wouldn't do that, would she?? Just up and quit her blog??"

"I dunno."

"Maybe she's just busy. With school. Yeah, that's it! She's just been really busy with school! You think?"

"I dunno."

"You don't know much, do you?"

"I...um... dunno."

A Gold Star For Everyone!

2009-08-14T16:38:00.004-07:00

We made it through a successful first week of school! Can I get a yeeehaww!!????

It's hard to believe that I'm easing back into the routine of school already, but it's that time of year!!!

On Monday, I welcomed 29 first-graders to my classroom and let me tell you....they are a wonderful group of boys and girls. I somehow always get great kiddos which make for a wonderful class.

My parents are just as kind as ever...truly! It's been a pleasure meeting them and visiting with them!

It always takes a few weeks for all of us to get settled into a new routine. The heat and humidity have made for some long afternoons and recess duties. By the time I get back to my room from making sure little ones got on the right bus, I'm drenched! So a cool shower once home always refreshes!

Plans for tomorrow? Sleep late. Drink creamy coffee outside. Grocery shop. Do laundry.

What are your plans for this weekend?

Do share!

In The Meantime, In-between Time....

2009-08-09T15:56:00.003-07:00

While I get back into the rhythm of a new school year, watch this. Why does it make me smile with tears? And why does it make me want to tell my girlfriends (and guyfriends) to be prepared...?!!??

The Object Of My Possession

2009-08-03T05:00:00.001-07:00

Ohhhh... it was bad! Very bad, indeedy! When I'm possessed by the creating bug, it can be brutal, I tell ya!!

You saw what my kitchen looked like earlier!! Well, multiply that x3, and you get an idea of what it was like around here! No counter space for poor daughter to fix a piece of toast. A full laundry basket. Cats clutching their stomachs and moaning for food as they collapsed on the floor at my feet. Piles and piles of junk mail and bills spilling off the counter. So many telephone voice messages left that my inbox was full! A tank of gas lasting more than 4 days in my car. Neighbors beginning to whisper among themselves questioning if anyone still lived here.... it was just awful!

Hehehe...and so worth it!
A friend and I visited a local paper arts store last week and I picked up a 7-gypsies blank book....oh, the possibilities! With a stack of some of my favorite photos and tons of papers and embellishments, the creative bug had plenty of goodies to lure me in with....

The title is a quote that is my favorite - 'Let the beauty we love be what we do.' - rumi

I started out highlighting some of my favorite photos with a basic plan in mind....

....projects usually take on a mind of their own....

See how you can pull out the close-up view of the sunflower from behind the photo??

I love little hidden treasures like that!

Several of the pages are 'envelope' style, like this one with the butterfly. Inside are pictures you can take out of my gardens.

And, of course, one which talks about having someone walk a tough road with you. Notice the little 'creature comforts' paper behind the right picture? I tore that out of my spare Simple Abundance book - it's a wonderful entry about the importance of animals in our lives.

I had a soldered charm that I made several years ago sitting on my kitchen window sill...and it went the with the theme of this paper, so I glued it on!! I guess it had just been waiting for me to make this book!

This is probably my favorite page.... a real twig, carved jadeite leaves hanging from twine, a mini-card with a recipe to make a soothing massage oil, and an envelope page that opens up to reveal pictures of eggs inside...and a little hummingbird hanging beside it.

Of course, I have to have a page dedicated to Autumn! Inside are pictures of my autumn nook up in the woods. The other page features a tag I had on my vision board of my camera.... which has come to be!! Inside, an assortment of pictures of my view of life... from front row, of course!

Have you ever noticed how much beauty is above your head?? Oh, there is! On the right, I have a little group of photos of things I've captured above....

The back cover.... which I think I love almost more than the front! Shhh...don't tell the front cover I said that....

The sweet little tie that binds the book closed is a twill ribbon with the word 'journey' printed on it along with the definition.... I thought that was just perfect!!

Has the 'creative bug' bitten you lately? I don't think they make a repellent for it! I think when it bites, it bites hard! What have you created of late?? Do share!

What Do You Say We Have A Contest?!!?? (Winner Announced)

2009-07-30T16:06:00.030-07:00

**UPDATE** - We have a winner! Congratulations to comment #7 - Jane!! Your bag and scarf will be on their way to you before the first autumn chill! I loved reading what fall means to everyone - there were many common threads, and yet, many unique reminders....just wonderful! Thank you to all of you who played along! You are amazing spirits and I'm grateful to have you visit me!

Original post:

When the temperature outside is this.....

....and Skittles does this.... (can you believe she's 14 years old and lays out in this heat??? Our home IS air-conditioned, cat.....you COULD come in!)

... it makes me think of this....

....and this....

I use it as a mind game...sort of a 'survival technique' to make it through the loooooong, hooooooooot days of summer in the desert - and to keep my mind from constantly questioning why anyone with a lick of sense would LIVE in a desert ....!????!

And it also makes me think that it's about time that I held a wee little contest for all of you who so kindly visit me! Did I say 'contest' ?? Why, I do believe I did!

I went shopping to one of my favorite little stores, Trader Joe's. Do you have one near where you live? I love visiting this eclectic place - you can find the greatest little treasures there. I scored a bag there that I just love! It's one of their little reuseable shopping bags and I just had to have one.... I mean, two..... no wait a minute, I mean three. I am going to use one as my new 'school bag' for everyday use... isn't it cute?? I love the shape and size of it - perfect for toting my lunch and other goodies that I take with me. I'm also crazy over the design, print and colors of it!

Guess what? I got you one, too! Oh yes, I thought you needed one, too!

To put in that sweet little bag, I'm throwing in one of these .... a hand-knitted scarf made by moi for you - all in autumnal colors (the name of the yarn color is 'harvest'...don't you love that??)

.....and with the prettiest variegated ribbon fringe on both ends! I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I know!!

You'll be glad you have it when that first autumn chill greets you one morning!

Is it beginning to cool off in here a bit??

I also picked me up my favorite kind of Luna bar... Toasted Nuts 'n Cranberry. I wuv these... and they are sooo good for us women, too. Oh, and look! A new sweet little green tin of Trader Joe's Green Tea Mints. I wuv these, too, and ran out, so into the basket a new tin goes....

Wait a minute! There went two tins! And an extra Luna bar!

OHH! A Luna Bar and a sweet tin of mints is heading into the bag with the scarf for a lucky winner of our contest.

So here is the way to play. Leave a comment for this post telling what your favorite thing is about fall. (This includes you 'lookie-lou's' who visit regularly but seldom, or never, leave a comment. Come on! Be brave! Tell us why you love fall! It's easy! See that thing down below that says '_____ touchpoints' ??? Just click on it and you'll be good to go!) Maybe you love the change of weather. Maybe the leaves burst with color where you live. Do you have a certain dish that you tend to prepare only during the autumnal season? Well, tell us about it!! Only one entry per person, please. Deadline for leaving your comment will be Sunday @ midnight - MST. A winner will be randomly selected and announced Monday morning.

Good luck, everyone!

Photography 101

2009-07-26T10:38:00.065-07:00

I love learning new passions! Love it! Yesterday I was a student in a class taught at my home by this amazing woman!! Six of us 'newbies' had an afternoon course in the basics of digital photography with our digital slr cameras. Tami is an amazing woman on so many levels and I truly could not do her justice here...but you should wander over to her blog and take a peek at her talent - it will sooth you and renew you! (I told her yesterday that some days after I get home from school, a visit to her blog has my nerves calming out and a sense of peace settling in.)

A digital slr is a wonderful piece of equipment and sadly, I never learned the ropes of my film slr years ago - I used it in 'auto' mode like a point-and-shoot! Shame! So, when I made the purchase of my new slr (um, which I am returning....for a good reason- more about that later!), I also made the commitment to USE it as it was intended - which is NOT as a point-and-shoot. This meant that I had to learn about aperture settings, ISO (which I SO didn't know what it was, but I do now!!), shutter speed, lighting...all the basics. Tami lead the six of us through the basic points of our camera's features...man, you should have seen the excitement that filled the room when she showed us the little thing-a-ma-bob by the view finder that moves up or down to bring the picture closer in focus for us 'I don't see so well' gals - we were downright giddy!!

There was a lot of this going on..... don't we look like we know what we're doing??

It's awesome the way Tami conducts her class because she gave us time to actually practice setting our camera to different settings, comparing shots and experimenting. We went out back to learn about different types of natural lighting and practice taking shots with various settings.

Note: these shots are SOOC (straight out of the camera - no editing)

Well...you know me.

Clouds.

I am totally drawn to clouds. All the time. I never get tired of looking at clouds...

....or flowers.

I can't get enough of flowers.

I see a flower, and I want to get as close to it as I can....

...as if I want to crawl deep down inside of its petals...

I must have been a ladybug in a previous life.

This isn't one of my better shots (sorry Tami!), but it was a sweet one of how fun our class was - isn't that important for any kind of learning?? Learning should be FUN!!! And I'm excited to do my 'homework' with my camera, too!

It was such a great afternoon!

We learned that every picture tells a story.

What story does this one tell...?

Goals. I've always believed in making goals. I think back to all that I've set for myself over the years. Most of them I've made. It feels so good to be achieving another goal!

What are your goals?

The Moon Must Be Aligned With Jupiter...Or Something Like That!

2009-07-24T18:11:00.010-07:00

I, like you, love visiting some of my favorite blogs....I'd say I have about 15 or so that I routinely stop by and say 'hello'. A recently new one was guided my way by my friend, J, who has her own blog As I See It. Her little button and post regarding the very insightful, Brene' Brown, found me bookmarking her blog. (**that's where I got the sweet button on the left side that says "I Live and Love With My Whole Heart...run over there after you finish with me and get the button for your own blog!) Well, the other day, Ms. Brown held a contest for one of these sweet little fellas, and I won one!! Let me just happy dance for a moment....! I can only IMAGINE what word might be on the one that flies my way (as I think there are different ones). Needless to say, I was vewy, vewy excited!!

Another blog which I happened upon earlier this summer is Ree Drummond's The Pioneer Woman! This gal speaks my language and there is so much information about cooking, life on a ranch, just life!...and yes, can I get a 'Yeehaww!!"...PHOTOGRAPHY!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeelll, she, too, has contests, and earlier this week she held one for two of these little babies:

A Kitchen-Aide Artisan Mixer -

IN RED!!!!!

AND I WON ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

And out of over 19,500 entries!! What are the chances of THAT happening?? (I know, I could actually figure out that number, but I'm not using that side of my brain while on summer vacation....thank you very much!)

Lordy Be!! Good Golly!! Say what??!!???

I have to go happy dance around my kitchen.... just a second.... be right back...

I don't know how in the world this happened, because this kind of thing NEVER HAPPENS!!! Maybe Jupiter aligned with Mars, or my zodiac sign traveled through the house of Saturn, or the new moon sprinkled unseen luck down on me...who knows!! But I am excited, humbled, grateful and giddy at the prospects of two packages showing up at my humble abode!

All this goodness has me thinking that I need to give back with my own little contest soon....

think so??!!??

Oh-Oh!! I feel another happy dance coming on.... gotta go!!!!

Reptilian Raider

2009-07-24T06:48:00.009-07:00

Gambit

aka "Lizard Lips"

And none too happy that I investigated what he was keeping watch over in the kitchen corner this morning with a guilty gaze when I plopped down the stairs. A peek around a bag of 'brick' supplies revealed a sweet little garden lizard, complete with his tail!, but scared and definitely not feeling the love! A quick rescue and relocation out to the top of my garden wall found Mr. Lizard shaking the marbles out of his head at his having a second chance at life!...much to someone's chagrin! That's okay, Lizard Lips....go eat your cat food!

KABOOM!!!

2009-07-22T15:33:00.015-07:00

This place looks like a bomb went off!!!

I was bitten by the creative bug yesterday, and I've been possessed ever since!! My kitchen has become my 'studio'...and it is woeful!

This is the kind of thing that I love to do, but during the school year, I am just too drained to do it...so when the mood strikes, I ride it out!! Yeeehawww!!

Every nook, counter top, table, chair, ANY PLACE has been used! Papers, markers, cardstock, paints, glitter, pliers, glue, trimmers, stickers, embellishments....

M left today to drive to California with 6 friends for a 5-day vacation...and she seemed more than happy to be heading out while Mom is in her possessed creative state! Does it look like I'd be making dinner tonight in this kitchen....does it??! I think not.

I have things stacked upon other things. I've lost things. I can't find some things. I've thrown things out!! Why is creating such a messy experience??? I dunno.... I even used my cast iron skillet for something.

And what am I making, you might wonder?? What is behind all this creative energy???

A book...

A little ol' book that will features some my favorite pictures that I've taken.

I'm making each page as I go, with a picture, or two, or three, being the inspiration behind that page's theme. I'm crazy over it and love seeing where each page's design takes me. There's still a LOT to do, especially with the embellishments, but the journey is so enjoyable!

Does anyone else go through this??? Where do YOU create? In your kitchen? A spare room? Your own studio, perhaps??? Does your family have to work around your creative clutter??? Or are you neat when you create??

I'm reading 'Simple Abundance' again (I try to every year...have you ever read this book??? Oh, if not... you really should. It is SUCH an amazing journey to read, and then re-read) and so many of the daily passages really strike a note with me. So I went to a used bookstore yesterday and bought a perfect condition copy. Why?? To cut up!! That's right! A couple of my favorite ones go perfectly with some of my pages, so I'm cutting them out and tucking them in the pages of my book! I love it!!!

I burned the late-night oil last night, and I have a feeling this will be the fashion for tonight as well!

I have a photography class being held here on Saturday afternoon..... oh man.....

....think I can get this all cleaned up AND clean house before then???

...we shall see!

Good To The Last Drop

2009-07-21T08:59:00.010-07:00

Oh, what a present to wake up to this morning.... the lightning warned of an impending boom and the thunder rumbled and bumbled through dreamy sleep! A peek out the window caught my surprise - RAIN!! Typically, monsoon storms are all talk and no action (similar to the male species), but this time, rain came along with the flash and dance of a storm that sparked up last evening.

And I couldn't resist....

Everybody got a much-needed shower this morning! I can't even remember the last time my garden felt the coolness of actual RAIN and not hose water!! Vincas, portulaca, rosemary, sage, a snail vine, my poor beleagured rose bush, chives....all reaching up to capture every drop that plops their way!

Yup.....

....every single drop.

Thank You

2009-07-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

I want to thank you, my dear blog buddies and friends, for all of your kind thoughts, hugs, prayers and comments about my sweet Ross. Your gentle words truly helped ease the hurt. I have heard from so many of you in so many ways, and I value all of your love and support. You are wonderful spirits!

We are all doing well. Yes, it's still a tender time. There is still sadness as each one of us is trying to find our rhythm without our Ross around...and healing a hole that is in our hearts. We sure do miss him.

But I was so blessed to have had 'my goof' in my life, and I am counting my gratitudes for all that that sweet, adorable dog brought to, not just me, but everyone who knew him. His imprint on my heart will be there until my end.

I have his brick in my window right now. Apparently, this is my summer craft, and it takes me back to when I was a kid at church camp. This whole 'brick' thing is soooo simplistic. But, for some reason, it's been the medium for celebrating lives around here of late. I'll be putting it out on my patio at some point when it's not 115 degrees outside! Ahh..yup... that's what it was today.

Time.

It truly is a healer.

Ross

2009-07-17T12:12:00.009-07:00

I was lucky enough to call this beautiful spirit of an animal my own 3 years ago this month. Ross. He was a dog rescued from the pound. He was in horrible condition and in need of much love, medical care and a good home. I didn't set out to get Ross. I was at my Starbuck's one morning, and his foster mom was stopping in to get a cup of coffee. I was sitting outside at a table and she asked the girls behind me if they would mind holding his leash while she ran in. The girls were all over this sweet, gentle, furry creature and I couldn't help but take notice. I had recently had to have my Molly put down due to severe arthritis, so the last thing I was thinking about was another dog. But there was something about this spirit that pulled me towards him...and soon I was down on the pavement petting and talking to him. His foster mom and I visited for a while as she told me his history of abuse and neglect, his diagnosis of Valley Fever, imbedded burrs, other issues.... and how she was helping get him back on the mend. Well....an appointment was set up and the foster mom and head lady from the Border Collie Rescue Organization came over to my house for a 2 hour interview to see if my daughter, myself and our home would be a good fit for Ross. It was deemed so, and Ross became part of our family two days later. At the time, I was going through a very difficult divorce, and I'll always remember what the lady said to me towards the end of our conversation.... 'It sounds like you need Ross just as much as he needs you.'

It was true.

Ross melded into our 5-cat family with absolutely no problem. He truly was the perfect, perfect, PERFECT dog. We had our routines of dog bones in the morning, walks at the riparian area, trips down the sidewalk to get the mail, 'flip-chip' treats and rolling in the grass. We played a game on my bed of him trying to roll me over - I always put up a 'fight' each time, but I always let him win in the end. Each time I drove into the garage from being gone, he would squeeze through the doggie door and come over to my car door and stand up to lick my hand and welcome me home. Every time.

Ross also became a fixture at school - because I have a great principal that let's me bring my dog!! My kiddos loved on Ross when he would visit! They petted him, hugged him, kissed him and read books to him. He loved coming to school and would say 'hi' to everyone in the office and workroom, then he would happily trot down the sidewalk to my cottage - he knew the way! He even had his picture on our yearbook page among the kiddos and was our 'Top Cat' one week... he was a part of our world!

Four months ago Ross was diagnosed with lymphoma. The diagnosis knocked me down because it just seemed to come out of the blue and he was so young. A treatment plan of steroids helped keep the symptoms in check and allowed him to continue to live a good life. But the last couple of weeks I could tell that the cancer was starting to take its toll, and on Tuesday, after a distressed morning, Ross walked over, put his chin on my knee and looked me in the eyes....with those beautiful brown eyes of his with so much love and spirit behind them. "The time has come." he told me. "You need to let me go."

And so I did.

I am absolutely heartbroken. More so than I thought I would be. I have done things to remember him this week that I have never done before.... a memory brick made with pebbles, grout and tears. His empty collar now hanging on my bed post. A picture frame ornament hanging on my life tree for years...empty... now filled with his picture. A visit to the riparian preserve to just sit, watch and remember. And tears beyond what I thought I would cry.

You need to know...I am NOT a dog-person. Cat-person, yes. Dog, no. I've always had dogs throughout my life, and I've been in this position many, many times before. I'm a pragmatic person when it comes to elements of life and death and I believe wholeheartedly that it is a gift we give our pets to let them finally be free of hurt, pain and suffering. But this has knocked me down. And I am heartbroken with tears and loss....for my Ross.

Ross. The rescued dog who did the rescuing.

Run free, my dear buddy....my goof....my good boy.....

Run free.

Welcome To My Hell

2009-07-13T18:47:00.018-07:00

This is a picture of my monitor desktop.... please notice the blue box above. To the right of the cloudy sun image. See those triple 1's ?? That, my friends, is the afternoon temperature here in ~~hell~~ my neck of the woods. Or, um...neck of the desert, would be more accurate. The Sonoran Desert, if I am to be precise. Yes, I know the humidity was at 12% and it could be described as a 'dry heat', but trust me...heat is heat, and at 111 degrees, it is HOT!

I tend to be a desert rat, and the heat doesn't bother me too much. I'm often found driving around town with my windows down when the heat is well over 100. Yes, I have air-conditioning...but a little hot breeze doesn't bother me all that much. Do you know when I DO get truly 'hot and bothered' ? (well, other than watching a Johnny Depp movie)...well, do ya? It's when I work out in my yard. I've been known to throw a 'whatever' glance at the thermometer and fire up the chain saw, or clean out the garage, or weed my garden, or whatever catches my 'must do right this minute' eye. I've paid the price several times, and one truly must respect our climate and never overestimate our body's abilities to cope in this type of environment. The evening news is constant with weather reports, heat advisories, and pundits guesstimating as to how long this will last (3rd week of October, my friends) and when we can expect a monsoon storm to fire up so as to cool us down (they need to follow the air energy for a better prediction, but that escapes their mentality, for some reason). Water, sunscreen, shade, hydrate, hat, loose clothing, more water, more sunscreen...all words thrown out at us desert rats to help us stave off the effects of living in an oven.

But I have two words for you that you won't see the cute, fine-looking weatherman on Channel 15 ('Be-Still-My-Heart-Bill") utter during his evening weather segment....and one need merely look into my refrigerator to see my trick of the trade....

No...not tomatillo salsa (yes, I made a new batch). And it's not cold beer... although many swear by it's powers. And it's not my ice coffee, or beef stew or sour cream. Look on the top shelf...sort of left of center....see that little skinny bottle standing there... ahhhh yesssss..... two words that make me happy dance...

body spray

Bath and Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena Body Spray to be exact. Wait a minute...body spray IN DA FRIDGE??!!! Oh yes, glasshopper! Let me enlighten you to my way of coping!

But first...let's have a little 'girlfriend chat', shall we? Let's make our 'pinky pact'... okay...

Ladies, you know what's it's like to be hot...and I don't mean your little black 'down-to-there' dress or your pink bag of new thongs from the Victoria's Secret semi-annual panty sale!! I mean shirt stickin', 'sweat rolling down the middle of your back and further down your crack' kind of hot! The kind of hot where you look like you stepped out of the shower after lugging in the groceries from your car. The kind of hot where, if no one is home, you flip the ceiling fan switch to 'hurricane' and flop yourself down butt-naked on the bed, spread eagle, perhaps, and let the wind blow!!! And if they ARE home, you tell the kids that they can play any computer game that they want to and fix their own favorite snack while mommy locks the bedroom door and has at it!! The kind of hot where you literally peel off your clothes in the laundry room...and might even need to call for some help, at that!!! And when you get down to the undergarment layer, it's a toss-up between the laundry basket or the trash can!!

It's not a pretty sight.

Well, here's a little something to help you through the summer feeling fresh, cool, and staying clothed!!! Body spray in the fridge!! I have mine handy all summer long and truly, when you come in from being out in the oven, nothing feels better than a ice-cold spritz of cool lime, or sweet pea, or whatever your fancy desires on your neck or face! It's inexpensive, readily at hand! (And the man of the house leaves it alone - he's after his own kind of bottle!) You can find these little gems all over town!!! The one on the right is, again, from B&B Works (rain-kissed leaves), but the one on the left is from CVS pharmacy (creamy fig)! For less than 4 buckaroos!! That's a bargain!

Target, Wal-Mart, Walgreen's - everyone has their own little fancy-dancy version for your cool-down enjoyment! And all kidding aside, the other day I decided to 'bark' my garden. I came in sweating like a pig and red as beet! I grabbed my bottle from da fridge, spritzed a couple of ice-cold spritzes and I truly got a SHIVER down my spine from the cool tingle! WOOOHOOO!! (No, I was not compelled to light up a cigarette afterwards. Thanks for wondering.)

So as you are out and about the next day or so, stop by the 'I Think I Need To Buy Me A Little Present' counter and pick out a flavor or two! Oh, here's another hint... keep one by your bed...a spritz on a hot night and on the sheets makes for a comfy rest! Before you know it, you'll be feeling so cool, you'll be slipping on your thong or that little black dress 'cuz you're ready to look hot!!

Follow The Leader

2009-07-10T06:17:00.013-07:00

Do you see it? Floating over there on the right? That little pink cotton-candy cloud...that looks like a heart?

Yesterday evening I read some very good news about a dear lady whom I adore. A doctor's visit brought good news and much relief! After leaving my comment on this great outcome, I was compelled to go out my front door...see what was happening out there for a different change of view. One look at the sky had me...well, you probably know... running back inside to grab my camera.

The twilight sky above me was filled with a whole parade of pink cotton-candy clouds....drifting up from the south and headed west to follow the setting sun. And they were all being lead by this little guy...

It was kind of funny, but seeing this cloud reminded me of God's love for Aunt Teresa and how He has her safely in His heart. It reminded me of all of the prayers that were said by so many on behalf of her and her beautiful family....people from across the miles all taking a few minutes to ask for His help and His blessings for them. It simply reminded me of love.... that He has for us, and that we have for each other.

May you catch a cloud parade floating through your twilight evening this week, too!

It's All About Perspective

2009-07-06T17:52:00.013-07:00

For Mother's Day, my son gave me a sweet little miniature rose bush. I planted it in the little terra cotta pot that came with it and then spent the next 3 weeks trying to apease its tempermental attitude about exactly where it wanted to reside. Outside? Inside? Window ledge? Corner of the counter? There were a couple of days when I thought it was a goner...but the two of us have finally found the perfect spot...on the window ledge above my kitchen sink. It loves the north light of the day and seems to thrive with the hour of desert sunlight it gets just before dusk. New growth is sprouting and two of the sweetest pink buds have been shooting up from two strong mini-canes. Last night I smelled this little one, not thinking much could come from it...boy, was I wrong! The most beautiful scent of sweet rose perfume swirls above the opening petals...amazing! I'm excited to see how long this beautiful plant lives on as I've never had very good luck keeping miniature roses alive. But so far, so good!
So good, in fact, that I could soon be found sitting on top of my kitchen counter - positioning to get just the right lighting, angle and yes, shot. Have I told you that I am stupid over my camera?? I am. Totally. Completely. Nikon, I love you. Don't ask me what my apeture setting was on this shot. I have no idea. My ISO? I SO don't know!! Lens? Uh..yeah... there's a lens on my camera. Is that what you meant? Clueless I am about my settings and the details...but no worry, because in a few weeks, this sweet gal is going to teach me about those things, and more, regarding my beloved Nikon. Until that day, I simply play around and shoot...and shoot...and shoot! BECAUSE I CAN!! That's the beauty of digital photography.... you can take 20 shots to get the perfect two for your blog!! That deserves a 'happy dance' moment.... excuse me for just a sec...

okay.... back from 'happy dancing'!! Where was I?? Oh yes...up on my kitchen counter. I closed in just a little bit closer and got another shot. I can't believe this shot!!! Perfect? Oh, probably not at all! But it more than thrills me that I am able to get a shot like this with my most beloved Nikon. This is exactly what I was looking forward to doing all these years as I wished for such a piece of equipment. So please excuse my indulgence as I continue living the lesson that I learned recently... to enjoy life again and to

take time to smell the roses along the way.

Green Gold !

2009-07-05T17:28:00.010-07:00

Last week I had the unique experience of visiting a new supermarket that has opened in our area. My friend, S, and her friend from Arabia, S, had gone and taken some wonderful pictures of it. Wait! Pictures, did I say??? Of a supermarket??!!?? Si, mi amigos!! The market is Hispanic-themed and it is HUGE!! It is an amazing store with a meat counter unlike any other I have ever seen, along with a seafood counter, a cheese bar, a bakery that is total eye candy and much, much more!! The fruits and vegetables are glorious and sooooo inexpensive! Yesterday I bought a bag of beautiful limes...are you ready?? Four pounds for $1.59!!! There must be 15 limes in the bag!!! I could go on and on.... and I truly should take pictures next time and take you on a tour!

But let's move on to the golden part of this post.... the jar above. I had a craving for Tomatillo Salsa and made my way to 'little Mexico' for the ingredients and I wasn't disappointed! I whipped up a batch in my dad's Cuisinart - a memento for me to have - and it's been chips and salsa around here ever since! I'm sharing ~~what I threw into the food processor~~ my recipe so that, you too, can savor the goodness! By the way, this is made with 'tomatillos'...not tomatoes, however, you COULD make it with tomatoes and it would be wonderful.... wonderfully RED!! Tomatillos look like green tomatoes with a papery outer husk. They are a staple at Hispanic markets and many grocery stores carry them, as well...I know my Fry's does. They are so worth the effort to find and use!!

Tomatillo Salsa

(aka 'Edna, call the neighbors...this stuff is GOLD!!)

10 tomatillos - husked, washed and cut into quarters

1 bunch cilantro, stems removed

4 garlic cloves - peeled

juice of 2 limes

1 jalapeno pepper

salt to taste

Throw everything into the food processor and pulse until you get a mixture that is 'bitty consistency'. (Don't ask me what the technical meaning of 'bitty consistency' is...just pulse it until it looks like my picture.) Taste to adjust any seasoning/salt. Pour into bowl, grab some homemade chips and put in a movie to watch as you taste heaven. Pour any leftover (HA!) into a container and refrigerate. This salsa is excellent on fish, eggs, burritos... but not on doughnuts. Enjoy!

You're welcome.

Riddle Me This

2009-07-05T13:04:00.005-07:00

So...

what do you get when you make coffee without using the filter basket when you brew it???

A new coffee maker.

Glory Be!

2009-07-04T08:03:00.007-07:00

What a wonderful day it is today! The birthday of our nation! The materializing of this great country! The beginning of a union that has far exceeded those early expectations first dreamed about so many, many years ago! Oh, if those pilgrims could see our country now! Oh, if the founding fathers who toiled and stood firm in their vision could see their baby now!

When I was a little girl in Ohio, I spent my whole Fourth of July day eagerly anticipating the upcoming fireworks show in our area. I would constantly check the clock for the time to come for us to pack up the green Oldsmobile and head out with chairs, blankets and thermoses. I would look at the sun hung in the sky...darn if it still wasn't daylight out!! I would wish my parents a 'happy anniversary', but be more concerned with the fact that there were going to be fireworks tonight!!! I would help my dad hang the American flag on our front porch - its meaning enhanced after he returned from a tour of duty in Viet Nam. My brothers and I would get to set off sparklers. I'd be running around - a scrabbly, toe-headed bundle of uncontained energy - chasing fireflies around my back yard. A cleaned-out pickle jar, a hammer and a screwdriver and I had made them a home...complete with a mattress of freshly picked green grass and a twig from the elm tree for them to perch on. They could have cared less about the twig. Or the grass for that matter. My neighbor, who was a classic 'bad boy', but had the most charming of grin, showed me how to make firefly rings. I couldn't do it myself, so he made me one. I thought I was all that and a bag a chips as I pranced around my back yard in the twilight of the day...waving my glowing finger around to my brothers and best friend neighbor. Soon we were given the word 'Time to go!' and shrieks of excitement poured out! We drove out to the area, set up our place and waited, again!, while swatting mosquitoes and passing the time with restrained frolic. Then it would happen....the first thunderous boom of the firework being launched. We'd turn our eyes to the sky - hoping that we weren't just imagining that sound we had heard, and sure enough! An explosion of gold, white, red and blue glitter would puff out into the black background and gently rain down! The fireworks had begun and so had one of my favorite times of growing up back in the midwest. To this day, I never tire of fireworks...and to this day, I still have the little toe-headed girl giddiness in my heart for them.

Much has changed since the early settlers and forefathers set forth to create a new nation. Dreams realized, and dreams lost. Progress made, and lives lost. Words spoken, and fists crossed. Horror dropped, and hearts embraced.

I've never traveled off this continent of mine. I've never been to Europe or Africa. I've had many friends who have gone, who have seen other places, even lived in other countries. Maybe my cards will hold a future trip for me, some day, too. But this much I know to be true....there is no other land on this big blue marble that I would rather live in than this land. This land is my land. This land is your land. And despite our shortcomings, our weaknesses, our mis-steps....we are still a nation of love, of peace, of hope and most important....of humanity. We honor the human spirit. If for no other reason, that last trait is what sets us apart from any other community on this globe. We honor the human spirit.

I wish for you a day of family, friends, fun and FIREWORKS!!! God Bless America!!! Land that I love!!

For A Moment

2009-07-01T20:13:00.001-07:00

What Else Could I Do??

2009-07-01T09:39:00.010-07:00

When one wakes up and sees this.....

...what is one to do????

Why, make these...of course!!

Blueberry Scones

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup sugar

pinch of salt - about 1/2 teaspoon

5 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter

freshly grated nutmeg

about 1/2 cup milk or buttermilk

about 1/2 cup frozen or fresh blueberries

In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in butter with fork until pieces are about the size of peas. Stir in nutmeg. Add half of the milk, stir slightly and then add the rest as needed. You want a dough that is ever so slightly moist, but not like batter. (If dough is too sticky, add some more flour - a tablespoon at a time) Gently stir in blueberries until just combined. Turn dough out onto floured surface and push together gently to form an 8-inch circle that will be about 1-inch high. Do not knead the dough - the less you handle it, the lighter your scones will be. If you play around with it like it's play-dough, you'll be baking bricks in your oven!

Place dough onto greased baking sheet. With a big, sharp knife, cut the dough circle into fourths and then eighths - no need to separate the pieces. Sprinkle top generously with sugar. Bake in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes. Scones are done when they are lightly brown and gently 'talk' to you (yes, you hold the tray up to your ear and 'listen' to the dough...you'll hear little bubbly, crackly sounds!) and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm with soft butter.

Prepare to be hugged and kissed for your efforts.

I Love To Take It For A Ride!

2009-06-29T18:31:00.013-07:00

OH WHAT A DAY IT'S BEEN!!! The box is opened and the contents removed...slowly and gingerly. The battery is charged. Each component has been unwrapped....very carefully. One at a time. Every so often I've had to stop .... and just take a breath and let it all sink in. The lens has been attached with slow, exact movements. A sigh of relief let out when it is accomplished. Daughter encouraged to return to her reading in the other room because the nervousness of someone watching me open my camera was too much pressure!!! Memory card inserted, power 'on'.

OH. MY. GOSH !!!!!!!

I'M IN HEAVEN!!!

SEE??? RIGHT DOWN HERE...

I spent a good deal of time today reading my manual trying to 'get to know my camera'. A few trial shots were easy enough, but they are more to find out what I can do without knowing what I am doing... does that make any sense?

I got some nice little shots and these are SOOC - which is big photography talk for 'straight out of the camera' (no editing with Photoshop, etc.)....not only do I have to learn how to work my camera, I have to learn the lingo as well!! I absolutely love how the tinge of purple comes through on the belly of this cloud. Pretty.

I just thought this little pillow-puff was sweet.... wouldn't you just love to sit on top of it and float around?

Rays from a setting sun...

One of the reasons that I chose a Nikon camera is because I own a Nikon film slr camera which I bought about 10 years ago. One Christmas, I received a telephoto lens as a present. It's a beautiful lens and I know it wasn't cheap. As I researched information on digital slr's, one of the questions I wondered was if my lenses from my film slr camera would fit on a new digital slr. The information is varied about it and the odds were more with me if I stayed with Nikon...no guarantees, but a better chance of them fitting the camera body if it was the same brand. Well, Edna, call the neighbors, CUZ THESE BABIES WORK ON MY NEW CAMERA! WHOOOO-HAAAA !! Excuse me while I do my happy dance!!! Be right back!

Okay....back!

Now...for the big kahuna.....the picture that has me giddy....

...yes...it's a spider... Daddy Long Leg, to be exact. So why does this little fella float my boat???? Because he's in focus and the BACKGROUND IS BLURRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is the type of photo that I've drooled over taking with a digital slr for years!!! I'm not sure how I did this shot.... I was playing around with settings and this is only the 12th picture that I've taken with my new baby. But it's a start and I am so excited about being on my way to taking some wonderful pictures - I can't wait to learn as much as I can about this type of photography!! If any of you have any suggestions for me, please feel free to leave a comment - I value other's knowledge and experience!! Wheeeeeee!! Thank you, Mr. Spider, for holding still and posing for me!

Stay tuned for an upcoming post about my new electronic toy....yes, other than my camera..... any guesses what it might be? J, no telling!! : ))

Susie, Sisters and Savoring

2009-06-28T19:04:00.012-07:00

It's been a wonderfully crazy weekend full of gatherings, friends and family! My friend, S, who writes this blog, hosted a party for a friend of hers who writes this blog! Susie came from Saudia Arabia to visit family and friends and it was amazing to meet her in person!! I have followed her blog for some time now and have learned an amazing amount of information about life in that part of the world! Susie is just an absolute sweetheart and we had so much fun! I was able to visit with her on three different occasions and feel so blessed to have been able to spend precious time with her.

Yesterday afternoon my sister, K, came over with food, movies and pajamas in hand! We had an impromptu sleepover a month ago at my daughter's graduation party and it was so much fun, we planned another one! Since 'Mr. Flew' put the plans on hold last weekend, we were kickin' it for this weekend! After helping her unpack everything, we grabbed iced-teas at Quick Trip (have you tried their plain iced-tea with a 'shot' of the peachy white tea for flavor???? Oh.my.gosh!) and headed out for pedicures! It was a blast!! Girlfriends really do need to do this together sometimes...it is such a fun, and relaxing!, way to spend the afternoon! Twenty pink tootsies later, we came home and watched a 'chick flick' while trying to keep cool in the desert heat..ugh!

I had a few goodies for K and one of them was this...

I bought us a set of wine glasses from IKEA (such a deal!!) and I made her a wine charm for her glass.... simple beads with a silver leaf at the end! It was as cute and 'charming' as could be and we both used ours! We had quite the feast planned - K being the head chef tonight! She marinated a beautiful fillet of salmon in wonderful spices, then covered it in a layer of chopped dill. Next, she placed it on a cedar plank and grilled it.... IT WAS SO WONDERFUL!! It literally melted in your mouth with the most delicious flavor. K also made a Chinese citrus salad that was tops! A side of artisan bread and fresh cantaloupe and we had a beautiful feast fit for two sisters with pink toes! Terramisu was dessert - oh, if you insist! We settled down and ended the evening with another movie before calling it a day.

This morning I made blueberry scones and scrambled eggs for breakfast before we headed out to the cemetery to pay a visit to our parents. Orange tulips decorated their crypts and it was a sweet morning to do this together. Afterwards, we went to a new market in town that is truly like stepping into Mexico! I've never seen so many beautiful items piled high! Fruits, veggies, the meat case...oh.my.gosh!! (I'll keep quiet about the most surprising thing I have EVER seen in a meat case - K had to finally drag me away from it!!!). K loaded up with some amazing items for a dinner with her son later on and we came home yakking away about the whole weekend. We got her packed up with all of her goodies and hugged and planned on doing this all again.

***ANNOUNCEMENT!!*** - NIKON is here!!! It arrived yesterday - so unexpectedly early!! I have not, repeat, have NOT opened it yet! Why??? Well... two reasons... I bought myself a new little electronic 'gadget' yesterday before K came over and I wanted to get it all set up this afternoon and focus on it. I've been dying to open IT up, but didn't want to while K was here, so I've been playing with it this afternoon. (Oh my gosh...so COOL, IT IS!! ) Can you guess what it might be?? I'll post about it at another time. Secondly, I want to take the time to savor opening it, looking at it...just enjoying the moment of it all, instead of whipping it out of the box for the sake of opening it. Does anyone else do this???? You know... buy something really special but take your time to opening it/use it??
Or...am I the only one...?

Daughter and I have a little errand (ahem) to do tomorrow involving a auto collision center, so after that, I will be spending the day with my new baby toy...NIkon! : ))

All This Bliss Is Wearing Me Out!

2009-06-23T17:58:00.008-07:00

I'm tired. I mean tiiiiiiiiiii-eeerrrrrrrd. You know the kind of tired I'm talking about. The kind where at 9:20 in the morning, you are so wishing that you were home, in your pajamas, snoozing on your sofa instead of teaching children in summer school about geometric shapes. The kind where you drive in a daze to work, then when you turn off the engine, you don't remember the trip! The kind where Starbuck's doesn't even make a drink with enough shots of double-espresso to keep both of your eyes open for a minimum of 5 minutes. Did I say that I was tired?

I did?

Oh good. Cuz I'm tired.

The reason is simple. Lack. Of. Sleep. The protagonist is a little trickier. It's not because of my neighbor's barking dog. Or a sick daughter (like last week). It's most certainly not because I watched 'Jon and Kate mess up the lives of their children 8!' on t.v - what's entertaining about watching a family implode at the expense of innocent children?!!. Nor is it because I'm swinging from the chandelier with some super hunk man in my life. HAH! It's not a new puppy. Or that I've gone on a painting binge in my house! Nope. The reason is...

BLISS!

As silly as it sounds, I can't sleep because I'm so excited! What about? EVERYTHING!! Summer school being over in two days! Summer vacation starting in two days! My new bundle of joy arriving even sooner that expected! Days to read a book, work on a project or piddle in my garden! Mornings to spend out on the patio sipping creme brulee' coffee and watching nature pull back the covers of night. Having happy hour with women who are my strength, inspiration and buddies through thick and thin! An upcoming weekend with my sister - oh my, I can't wait for this event which we had to postpone from last weekend due to Mr. F. Lew! I haven't felt like this in a long, long time.

Last night I was so excited about my camera order that I couldn't sleep. No, really...I couldn't sleep! I read, tossed, thought, watched t.v., thought some more, tossed and turned some more, had some dark chocolate (at least 72% cocoa to receive the benefits of dark chocolate, by the way), checked email....and still I couldn't get to sleep...

until after 4:00 a.m. By then, what's the point? And this isn't the first night that this has happened these past couple of weeks.... try like the 8th or 12th??!??

My chica, N, had to laugh at me today. I stopped by her home for an impromptu visit on my way to the grocery store. I had dark circles under my eyes. Yesterday's hairstyle. A slightly slower brain. I told her it was due to the fact I couldn't sleep last night. 'What's wrong?" she asked with a concerned look of arched eye-brows. 'Nothing!" I replied. 'I'm just so full of joy" I said, with a matter-of-fact, mono-tonal delivery and half-opened eyes, slumped on her sofa. She laughed! "All this bliss is wearing me out!!" I muttered.

And I couldn't be hap.... pi....... e..... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

It's True! I'm Expecting!!

2009-06-22T21:13:00.006-07:00

After much planning, researching, decision-making, and effort, I am please to announce that I am expecting...

A NEW CAMERA!!!

I can't tell you what a big deal this is!! I've always had a passion for photography and yes, I do own a Nikon slr camera with two lens - but it's a FILM camera, people!!! FILM!!! And yes, I did get a new point-and-shoot Sony digital from Santa last Christmas. But I have wished, pined, drooled and dreamed about owning a digital slr for years!! It's even on my 'vision board' that I created last year. I can give you 58 reasons why I should NOT get this camera...and I have fallen on those reasons for all of these years. Too expensive, other things to spend the money, put the money in savings, new brakes for the car. All valid reasons for not buying my dream camera....and these reasons have served me well all these years.

But recently I had an event that slapped me upside the head. I travelled a two-week road of high emotions and anxiety. The details are not important any more, but the lesson of it was not lost on this student. I told my chica as we walked through the parking lot that last day and got into my car that I knew exactly why I had had this little journey and what God was trying to teach me. I was to enjoy life. I was to live life with passion and joy! I was to let go of so many of the restraints that I had put on for the past several years and live my life with passion and joy again!!

During those two weeks, I had made mention that if things worked out, I was going to buy myself this little gem. My chicas and friends amended my comment with 'You should buy it regardless.' I've remembered that. Oh, old habits are hard to break and every time I've come close to maybe buying myself 'my' camera, I've fallen back onto one of those 58 reasons why I shouldn't. I've wrapped myself up tight in my restraints and shoved the idea out of my mind.

This weekend was spent in bed with the flu....and once again, this notion floated back and settle down in its comfortable chair. Thus, there was time spent online researching, investigating, comparing, shopping, reading .... for a dslr. Ten times I decided to do it, and ten times I talked myself out of it.

Apparently 11 is my new lucky number.

Today I was, once again, drawn to research some more - and things took a turn. I was all set on a different model of this camera, with a higher price. But I accidently stumbled upon a website (one of about 30 I've read) that highly recommended this little baby. After considering purpose, finances, and potential, I switched my sights to this one - and found it for just the perfect price for my budget. A few clicks later, it was ordered and will be here in a couple of weeks. I could cry.

So, it is with great JOY that I announce that I am expecting a bundle of joy named NIKON!!! Pictures will be coming!!

Because

2009-06-21T20:49:00.005-07:00

...it's Father's Day and I miss him greatly
...I got a wicked case of the flu and have been in bed for 3 days
...I'm so behind on things I need to do
...it's a beautiful flower
...I thought you needed this picture to start your week with
...just because

*Photographer's note: this is the same flower pictured a few posts ago (Sun and Flower) but taken in the afternoon with the sunlight coming through the petals from behind as opposed to the prior photo taken in the early morning with the light hitting the front of the petals....cool, huh?

Channeling Johnny Depp

2009-06-14T10:56:00.010-07:00

Have you ever had a hankerin' for pancakes? You know the kind...' momma-made' pancakes? With slides of soft butter and puddles of syrup? You have? Me too! This morning was one of those hankerin' mornings...and since I be da momma, I got crackin' in the kitchen! I was defrosting a bunch of bananas to make banana bread at some point today, but I got to thinking...hmmm... banana pancakes.... hmm.... sour cream.... hmmm.... let's see where this goes.....

Truly, I dumped stuff in a bowl, mixed it up till I was satisfied with its consistency and content, then made the pancakes... I am not a perfect measurer when it comes to things like this... too much experience under my apron tie to be constrained by numbers. But I have done my best to 'standarized' the recipe for anyone wishing to try it. And do. You won't be disappointed!

Banana Cloud Pancakes

2 cups Bisquick mix

1/3 cup half-n-half

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup sour cream

1 egg

2 mashed ripe bananas

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

dash of sea salt

Combine mix, half-n-half, milk, sour cream and egg. Mix with fork until fairly smooth. If mixture is too stiff, add a little more milk, teaspoon at a time, to achieve desired consistency for pouring. Mixture should still be somewhat thick. Stir in mashed bananas, nutmeg and salt. Heat your cast iron skillet (you DO have a cast iron skillet, don't you??) with a little vegetable oil on medium heat. Pour batter in and cook about 4 minutes on first side, 2 or 3 on the other until golden brown on both sides. **These pancakes will PUFF UP and rise high! Don't walk away and do a load of laundry while making these - you need to keep an eye on them so that they don't burn!

Yell upstairs and tell daughter that you've made banana pancakes and prepare a little plate for her after she yells back down that she's picked up an extra shift at work and has to leave in 10 minutes. Smile with happiness as she hugs and kisses you after wolfing down said pancakes on her way out the door.

The sour cream and mashed bananas give these such a rich moisture content and allows the batter to rise higher than usual pancake batter. The pieces of banana are yummy to bite into, too! Enjoy!

By the way.... is it just me or does my pancake up there sort of look like a pirate skull with a toothy smile and a melting eye-patch?? Maybe I need a 'Jack Sparrow' fix today.

Treasure Box

2009-06-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

So let's talk projects....yes, LET'S!! I have a little treasure box that I just love! This gem sits on my desk in my kitchen and it's just one of those things that I love....is that wrong??! I don't think it is. Sometimes you make something that you just adore! As Martha would say...'It's a good thing!"

This box started out as an assembled, unfinished package of parts from IKEA! Yes, IKEA! I don't remember the exact price, but I believe it was under $20...easily. Probably more like $12. I wanted something to hold my various goodies for scrapbook journaling. I had pens, doo-dads, cards, ink pads, and other thing-a-ma-jiggies that needed a place to be. It was easy to assemble - just a hammer needed to put it all together. Once done, the next step was to put a finish on it. After sanding it down for a smoother surface I mixed a couple of colors of acrylic paints from my craft store...a combination of soft green, salt-water blue and a sprinkle of cream and gave it a good coat all around. After it was thoroughly dried, I took my sandpaper and scuffed it up a bit, especially at the edges and corners...not much...just a shabby touch! Now it was time to decorate it! On the top, I modge-podged pieces of tissue paper, scrapbook paper, printed vellum and a picture of a little nature girl! She was adorned with vellum leaf wings embossed with teeny glass pebbles.

I also made an embellishment out of microscope slides, used copper tape around the edges and glued it on. She even has a little jewel adorning her hair... can I tell you? I found that on the pew at church where I always sit on Sunday... I took it as a sign from Higher Up that she needed a little bling!

On this side, I wrote out the wonderful poem 'The Road Less Traveled' and modge-podged it on. Then I adhered real dried autumn leaves, some 'leaf' vellum and some leaves carved out of a type of jade. I also used a rub-on word, 'foliage' , on the side. Afterwards, I gave it a coat of modge-podge to seal the deal.

For one of the front drawers I modge-podged some tissue paper that I received from Starbuck's years ago when I bought a mug there as a gift. They wrapped it in this wonderful cafe'-colored tissue paper with beautiful scripted words on it.... don't ever throw goodies like that out!! I loved the words on it. Then I added 'letter' stickers to make my own verse over the tissue paper. For the drawer above, I simply glued some scrapbook paper of a leaf under a glass 'puddle' then glued it on the drawer a drawer pull...love this!

For one of the mini-drawers on the top row, I photocopied an antique picture, glued it onto some soft pink cardstock, ripped the edges, and fancied her up a bit with some glitter on her hair and along the edges. I also stamped my little 'naughty' verse, then gave it a top-coat of modge-podge. The other two mini-drawers are plain...I guess this is still a 'work-in-progess'!

The beauty of this type of project is that you can do it up in any way you wish!! I love mine and use it all the time. Think about the little goodies you could store in yours!! And don't you think this would make an awesome gift for that sweet someone?? I bet you have some papers, embellishments and doo-dads of your own that would be perfect for a project like this!

See ya at IKEA!

Back By Popular Demand

2009-06-11T13:38:00.018-07:00

A few days ago, a friend and I were reminiscing about blogs, mine in particular. She mentioned one of my posts from a year ago...saying how she howled when she read it! I must admit, it was a good one. I remember it well when I wrote it and what the impetus was that compelled me to put down my dust rag and Pledge and head straight to the computer! We laughed about the subject for a while and she asked me how she would go about rereading it. To spare her the treasure hunt and for those who might be new visitors here, I'll rerun the post today. It's from last June, and even after reading it again today, I STILL haven't changed my thoughts about it!! In fact, I might be even MORE incredulous at the whole idea!! Grab something cold to drink, sit back and enjoy, dear friends!

**DISCLAIMER** The following post is not for the faint-of-heart, children under the age of 18 or prudes. It contains adult subject matter and those fitting into the categories as described are highly encouraged to either head over to another site or log off now.

So, I'm in the process of cleaning today. The patio. The rugs. The dust. The bed sheets. I'm also catching up on a few phone calls, installing Photoshop onto my computer and checking the cat's ears to see if the mites are gone. It's been a productive week - both mentally and physically. I visited with a woman earlier in the week to help me get myself 'unstuck' as well as I started a 'body cleanse' program (from Trader Joe's) to help detoxify my body....I figured if I was going to detoxify my mind, might as well throw the ol' bod on the train for the ride, too. I'm feeling like my t's are crossed and my i's are dotted. : )

Then...

I saw it...

in the last issue of my now-cancelled Oprah magazine...

an article about "Brown Betty"... ?????

HUH????

Oh yes, ladies! Just when you think you've got your act together, your bills paid, your house dusted, laundry done and food in the fridge...you might want to double check something else.... do you have gray hair 'down under' ????

Heaven forbid if you do!!! BUT WAIT!!! You don't have to endure the embarrassment of being gray 'down there' any longer! Grab yourself a box of 'Brown Betty'! In 10 - 30 minutes, depending on the amount of gray (and how stubborn it is), you, too, can put on that 'finishing touch'! As the ad reads:

betty™ products are especially formulated color dyes for the hair down there. In less than one year, over 100,000 happy customers are using betty to naturally match their hair above, cover gray or just for fun! Whether you're a blonde (be a true blonde now!), radiant auburn, rich brunette, raven black or want to try hot pink for fun, our easy to use no-drip formula gives you the perfect finishing touch!

Oh yes! Hot pink for FUN!!

FUN??!!???? How much fun would I have running around town with a pink patch?? Really! Tell me!! At 51, is my life going to be enhanced, filled with unbridled glee and will I have a smile on my face because I'm pink???!!??

And thank gawd it comes in a 'no drip' formula! That's a relief! I wonder...do you have to do the classic 'patch' test before applying it to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction to it in the process??

But wait!! There's more!!

If I'm really feeling fiesty and so Californ-I-A, there's Malibu Betty - not to be confused with Malibu Barbie, although, now that I think about it, Malibu Barbie probably wishes she had some Malibu Betty for Malibu Ken to enjoy.

You've got to be kidding me..seriously! And if you're single, like me, who do you share this with?? Do you smile smugly at your girlfriends over your margarita at happy hour and say coyly...

"Notice anything different about me?" ...

and then drop your pants??!???

Do I stand in line at the post office, quietly giggling to myself, because I spent $20 bucks (gas prices, be damn!) for a box that has turned me into a 'radiant auburn' in the 'land down under'???? I mean really!! You've got to be kidding me!! It's all I can do to remember my appointment for my hair on top!

And all this time, I thought 'Brown Betty' was a dessert.

Sun and Flower

2009-06-10T20:00:00.004-07:00

5 Bucks' Worth of Chain

2009-06-06T21:21:00.010-07:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you accomplished sooo much?? Today was such a type of day for me ... oh, and add in that it was fantastic!! I sooo needed a day like today to wash away any remaining stress, to recharge my batteries, to center myself, to catch up, to 'stabilize'. It's been a long time since I had a day like today and I made the very most of it.

First up - this little gem!! "What is it?" you might ask? A new clothesline! Um, yep...things like this can float my boat. I spent the morning outside reading the current book for my sweet book club and oh my...is it an awesome read! (The Book Thief by Markus Zusak) The weather is absolutely gorgeous and I sipped my coffee and read while the hummingbirds played chase and the sounds of a wonderful Saturday morning drifted by. On the top of the laundry list were my quilt and two sets of sheets. The clothes line quickly filled up and I wasn't done! After pondering the situation for a minute, a quick trip to Lowe's was in store...so off I went and soon I returned with $5.10 worth of new galvanized chain. That's right...chain. I use a chain for my clothes line and love it! A hammer and nails were all I needed to add a second length and voila'! In no time, my new line was full of summer sheets drying in the lazy morning sun.... perfect! Best five bucks I've spent all week! It became one of those days of projects popping up - mixed in with a little 'break time' for more reading. A day for:

...watching a neighbor attempt to trim his mesquite tree with a power saw on the end of an extension pole...man, I covet that tool! Do you know what I could do with that?!?

...drying bed linens and a quilt out in the summer breeze and dappled sunlight

...flipping and turning the mattress so that it wears evenly - truth be told, it's probably been 1 1/2 years since I last did this! When did you last do yours??

...sinking into the story of a young girl in World War !! Nazi Germany - a genre soooo not my type...and yet, running over to my patio table to steal a few more pages between my odd jobs of the day

...cleaning the tarp that covers the bar-b-que grill and hanging it on my new clothes line to dry while I cleaned the grill, too

...getting the grill's propane tank refilled and then wrestling that bad puppy back in place good and tight - it gave quite a fight, but I won!

...dusting and deep-cleaning my bedroom - sort of my own 'extreme make-over'. My goal was a clean bedroom with 'sweet pea' air freshener (a la Bath and Body works), summer-dried sheets and a freshly-made bed - goal met!

...cleaning my bathroom - okay...let me just spare you the graphic details which involved poses unnatural to humankind, cleansers all over myself and paper towels and rags all over the place!! I deep-cleaned it all, and it's sure purty tonight!

...making my bed up, spraying the sheets with 'creamy fig' body mist and fluffing up pillows - YUM-E!

...catching my breath as I cleaned out behind the bed while flipping my mattress. There...there they were...OH MY GOSH! My pearl earrings! I lost them almost 10 months ago. I thought I had checked there thoroughly. Since I couldn't find them, I sadly assumed that they had fallen into the little waste basket by accident and I'd never see them again. They were a gift from my ex-husband and ones that I treasured. I was so very sad to have lost them...he always treated me to sweet little gifts of jewelry and those were probably my most favorite. As I reached for things behind the bed, reminding myself how I had lost them, and had never found them, I saw two little dusty white things along the baseboard. Would you believe I looked at them twice and DIDN'T CHECK THEM OUT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THEY COULD BE MY EARRINGS??!!?? ...and on the third time of glancing at them, I reached down and found out that they WERE MY MISSING PEARLS! All odd jobs came to a halt as I gave thanks for finding them...and took a few minutes to remember...

...folding clean clothes and sprucing up the kitchen

...letting it be 'theirs' ... and not making it mine

...trimming that mulberry tree - which STILL taunts me!! (see older post)

...watching planes on their final approach...and those up high streak across the blue sky

...cutting up and starting to throw half of a watermelon from a week ago into the compost bin, then realizing that the birds might like to have a summer snack, so putting it out in the middle of the yard and watching the grackles, doves, sparrows and mockingbirds bicker and maneuver for position all day long - man, they LOVE watermelon!! Thankfully, Ross has shown no interest in it...yet. There's still the cover of darkness tonight!

...sipping pomegranate green tea and sneaking a few more passages from my book

...fixing rosemary chicken, grilled asiago cheese bread with garlic and sliced garden tomatoes for dinner...along with a glass of pinot noir (hmmm... someday I'll have to post about what I think 'pinot noir' stands for...

...being charmed...again...by the Gamby! It's so nice to be back on steady feet again! : )

The Cat Days of Summer

2009-06-04T21:13:00.007-07:00

In my next life.....

I want to be one of my cats....

I'm just saying...

Lesson Learned

2009-06-03T06:31:00.004-07:00

Can you just drink in this gorgeous beauty?? A gift from a ya-ya yesterday. Oh yes... yesterday.... a day I've longed to get over with for the last 12 days. A day that brought good news ... and much relief. So much relief, in fact, that I barely slept all night. I have been up since 1:45 a.m. Couldn't sleep, despite my best efforts. Too much disbelief...too grateful...to relieved.... to sleep.

This was a sight that greeted me this morning as I sat on my porch swing, sipping my creamy coffee and watching as morning woke up. Can you see them? The soft rays of light reaching up? Ahhh...yes.... they are a reminder from God, no less. A reminder of the lesson I have learned these past 12 days. What lesson is that, you might ask? Ahh, glass-hopper....a simple one.

To live life.

To open myself up to what life has to offer me. To break my shell. To let go. To enjoy life with gusto again.

Plain and simple.

Lesson learned.

May Baby

2009-05-30T17:09:00.004-07:00

Ten of these toes are 18 years old today....

Can you guess which ones they are?

As if there wasn't enough happening during May Madness, we celebrated one more milestone at this home...Mag's 18th birthday! I acquiesced to her wishes and we are celebrating the day very low-key.... no party, no balloons, no announcements, no cake (if anyone wants some, there's still some graduation cake left in the freezer!). I think we are both a bit partied-out from all of the excitement from the last couple of weeks. So low-key it is! I treated us to birthday pedicures as our little mom-daughter celebration! She has big plans with friends to go out tonight, spend the night at her brother's, then go to church with her girlfriend. She's spending the day the way she wants to, and that seems to be the best present of all!

Happy birthday, my girl! You've come so very far with your sparkly turquoise tootsies..... may they continue to carry you down wonderfully happy roads for many more miles to come! xoxo

Tantalizing

2009-05-28T16:25:00.004-07:00

they tempt...

and tease...

and taunt....

and travel on....

Wrapping Up, Regrouping and Remembering

2009-05-25T09:59:00.055-07:00

It's been a biz-ZZZZZZZZZ week and the dust is just beginning to settle a bit. Saturday we hosted an open-house for the Magpie in honor of her graduation. Ideally, I would have thrown together a video of her pictures from baby to now, but I had no time to do this. After having a few bouts of 'mother's guilt', I came up with a different idea. I wanted to create a board that our guests could sign for her with words of wisdom, love, etc. Last summer I had created a 'vision board' for myself and the same sort of design came to mind for my project. So in between all the craziness of the week, I made her this:
My idea was to have paper and pens out, and at some point, each guest could write down a little something for the Magpie. I set it up at an antique school desk in my living room - pens, paper and a cute little tablet of note tags.I also did the same thing I had done for my memory board - taking brads and 'bubbles' and gluing them onto pushpins for guests to tack their notes onto the board with.
Last night I had a chance to sit down and read the tags that everyone wrote and oh my... it was simply amazing the kind words, love, and uplifting thoughts that everyone gifted Mag with! It turned out so much more than what I thought it would and she is thrilled with it! It is now in her room and reminds her of how many people she has in her corner!
It was a great afternoon and we were so touched by how many friends and family came! Great people, indeedy!
After I read her memory board and had a chance to take a breath from EVERYTHING that has been going on; checking things off in my mind, it dawned on me....Miss Magpie's birthday is THIS SATURDAY - SHE'LL BE 18!!! ACK!! Someone stop me from bringing out from the freezer the leftover graduation cake for her birthday! I guess I'll figure out something later on this week.... I have no more brain power right now to plan another shin-dig!

The weather has been just gorgeous these last few days and this morning I was able to let some more dust settle. I sat out on the patio with my creamy coffee and just let time stand still for a few. As a teacher, this is such a luxury. To be done with the crazy, harried ending of the school year and ALL that it entails, the planning and preparing for Mag's graduation night and her open house, the routine of everyday life and a million and one things that this month brings....it's been 'May Madness' and I am so glad to have it almost done with. I've been able to get reacquainted with my garden and back yard - oh, how I have missed them!
A basil plant that I bought a week or so ago has been waiting patiently for me to sink it into the garden dirt - and so I did! It's happy as ever now in its new home..and so am I! One of my favorite salads to make in the summer is caprese salad and skipping out to my garden to snip fresh basil just can't be beat! Happy growing, sweet basil!

Remember my gift of pussy willow branches a month or so ago? I've had them in water ever since and all of the little buds have opened into soft, fuzzy pussy willows - love them! But I have some branches with young, green shoots growing off the main branch and I'm excited to try to grow them into pussy willow bushes. I planted them in some soil this morning, made a little greenhouse with a baggie, and we'll see if they, do indeed, put down roots and grow!!

Recently, I posted a photo of my mutant tomato plant. During a recent storm the darn thing was blown over- it's so full and heavy!! Well, Friday morning I had a melt-down (no doubt from all of the stress of late) and despite having a zillion things to do, places to go and a whole house to clean, I found myself heading out to my yard. I looked at my tomato plant and....despite my inner voice reminding me of all I had yet to do, I picked up my pruners and made that 'first clip'. Gardeners know just what I mean...you make that 'first' clip, and it's all over. You can't just make one...because you make one over here, then oh, right here...and wait, let me get that stem there.... and before you know it, your heavy plans and mile-long lists are on the back burner! I probably spent a good 1 1/2 hours working on my tomato plant and other important 'putter' jobs here and there in the garden. And it truly calmed my nerves and settled my mind a great deal. It also reinforced what my spirit knows to be true...I'm meant to be outside in nature doing something creative with my heart and my hands. It's where my soul is the happiest.
After clearing out some dead stuff, and pruning it waaaay back, my plant is only half the plant it was, but it is sooo much happier! So happy, in fact, the next day there was a touch of blush on those sweet green globes! And this morning, I have a couple almost-ripe red presents on the vine! Such awakening!
Today is Memorial Day - a day to remember and honor those who have served our country with strength, bravery and in many cases, with their lives. The older I get, the more this day means to me, because in our world, freedom is not to be taken lightly nor for granted. Take time today to offer up a silent prayer for all of those who have served, to those families of our brave armed forces and to those who are no longer with us. Because of men and women all over this world manning command stations, sitting in an A.P.C. in the desert in Iraq, silently gliding underneath the ocean's surface or sleeping on the ground in Afghanistan you and I are able to have a cookout, spend time with our family and friends and go to bed tonight without worry for our safety. May God bless them all....and may God bless America!

She Did It With Class

2009-05-20T22:19:00.009-07:00

That's my girl! All ready for the big ceremony... Miss M graduated from high school Wednesday night....and she did it with class!!

The ceremony was held at our university's activity center and it was awesome!

Hard to see, I know...but that's my girl receiving her diploma! Teary moment! The most teary moment, however, was when we found each other in the crowd! See that setup in the corner - those white panels under the trinitron screen? That's where the symphonic orchestra was sitting. I didn't realize that she was part of that, too, that night. We were texting each other and she found me, but I couldn't find her...I was looking at all of the student down in the rows of chairs. She texted me and told me she was in the orchestra ('duh' moment for me, here...she's only played in the band, or orchestra or symphony for ..let's see... how many years has it been? Oh yes... NINE years!!) and to look there for her. I did. And there was this little hand waving back and forth at me....IT WAS HER!!!!!!!! THAT'S when I really got teary-eyed. To think that in this big place, with thousands of people and all sorts of activities going on...two people connected across the space with little waves to each other. It was a wonderful way to celebrate a long, hard road that we both have walked together these past 4 years.
Afterwards, I was able to wait above the wall as the graduates emerged from the 'tunnel' leading out of the ceremony. Hugs, kisses, 'I'm so proud of you!!' and a lot of friends along with fireworks and a sea of humanity... I captured my 'little girl's' proudest moment!

I'm in the middle of getting things set up for an openhouse celebrating her accomplishments tomorrow. Yesterday was the last day of school and today was 'sign out' day. Time to try to relax and celebrate! Did someone say PAR-TAY??? : ))

Overwhelmed....

2009-05-19T16:00:00.007-07:00

....because it's almost over.

Over for my class as their teacher.

Over for my daughter's days in high school.

And I am overwhelmed. Over-tired. Over-worked. It's a bit of a challenge to enjoy these days when one is like this. Cume folders, report cards, taking down the room, planning celebrations to close out our time together, meetings, end-of-year proceedures, pizza ordered, correspondence, and upteen million other things that teachers have to do during the day....and...oh yeah... make the day purposeful for 28 students.

This is a difficult time for me as I say good-bye to my class. You see, I am a 'looping' teacher (not to be confused with 'loopy', of which I truly am). I start with my class as 1st graders, they go home for summer vacation and then return to me so that we can do 2nd grade together. So I am their teacher for two years, and they are my world for two years. In less than 48 hours, I will spend the last of our 360 days together and send them on to 3rd grade. Every time I say 'good-bye' to a class, it is always harder than the last class before them. These kiddos are nothing short of amazing, loving and intelligent in all ways. Their compassion and kindness are unsurpassed.

I have been working like a crazed woman for the last two weeks on the video I make to send them off with of our last two years together. It has consumed my every spare moment, and I had to ask for help from a colleague, who has helped me out immensely. Today, I made 28 copies of the final cut - a gift for each one of my kiddos as we say goodbye. Today, my class and a wonderful class mom presented me with a book that they wrote for me about me - each child reading his/her page...it was touching and beyond beautiful....and left me a moppy mess of tears.

In 24 hours, I will be attending my daughter's graduation from high school at our university. Have 4 years gone by already?!?? Is she at the end of her senior year?? How did this happen, where was I and where did the time go?!? I will attend the ceremony by myself, and I am afraid of this a bit. I don't want to be presented with the situation of having to be magnanimous to my ex. It's not what I had dreamed of for this day. But there is a reason that it is playing out to be so, and so it is. I think I am afraid of a flood of emotions from both her graduating and saying 'good-bye' to my class hitting me all at once. I hope the people I sit by are understanding...and carry extra kleenex with them!

The other night I made a 'memory board' for her. I'll post it next time. I just got my camera back from the shop where it had to be taken apart because of a speck of something deciding to get behind my lens... unbelievable how much a speck can end up costing! Tonight, I am letting myself catch up with the times...now that the video is done. Tonight I am letting the moment sink in. Tonight I am not doing school work. Tonight, I am letting the emotions find their seat.

Because, in a blink of an eye....it will all be over.

Awesome Authors!

2009-05-11T12:00:00.009-07:00

Cleared for take-off! And we did - up to Minneapolis for the International Reading Association convention. Our flights were amazing and, once again, I watch in total awe as this hunk of metal flies above the earth and delivers us to a new part of our country!

...beginning our decent into Minneapolis.... the clouds were puffy balls of cotton floating along on a parade! Check out the housing of this engine... serious thrust, folks!! Awesome! OH! I almost forgot... we flew on a 737-700 series on this leg of our journey..... SAAAAA-WEEEEETTTTT!!

This was my first time visiting Minneapolis and it was such a wonderful city to visit! The people were very friendly and the city was clean, easy to navigate and welcoming to all of us! We spent our days at the convention attending author seminars, workshops and symposiums. We also walked for miles up and down aisles and aisles of exhibitors: publishers, vendors, and everything in-between that has to do with the wonderful world of reading!! The opening session featured guest author, Khaled Hosseini, who wrote two wonderful books: The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. His speech was humble, soulful and educational. I was honored to have been able to hear him speak of his passions.

Later, I attended an author's session featuring five of the most talented authors of children's literature; one of whom was Annie Barrows. She is the author of a series titled 'Ivy and Bean' which is geared towards 2nd - 5th grade girl readers. But that wasn't what grabbed my attention. When she was introduced, the coordinator also told us that she was the author of the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I literally had to stop myself from jumping up (in front of about 200 other educators) and screaming "ANNIE!!! I LOVE YOUR BOOK!!! OUR BOOK CLUB JUST READ IT A FEW MONTHS AGO AND I LOVED IT FROM COVER TO COVER!!! I LOVE YOU!!!" Fortunately, I was able to contain myself, but it was close. She later was doing a book-signing in the exhibitor's hall for her publisher - look how close I was to her!! I ran over and bought her 'Guernsey' book from another vendor then ran back, got in line, was #3! (score!) and got her autograph in my book! I gushed about how much I loved her story and she was so sweet! She even gave me the recipe on how to really make a potato peel pie!! Love this woman!

But wait! There's more!! The author of all of those Magic Tree House books that my class and I have read (we're on number 21!)....MARY POPE OSBORNE!!! My kiddos and I are NUTS over the escapades of 'Jack and Annie' in this series! I bought two of her newer books and she signed them... and, of course, I gushed over how much we love her writing! It was almost a fluke that I even found the off-the-beaten-path room that she was signing in...it was wonderful to see her!

So let's talk about my buddy, Sharon Creech. She wrote a book several years ago titled Love That Dog. I remember reading it in an afternoon one summer day at Starbuck's and the tears just streaming down as I finished it. I have always had a soft spot for the woman who wrote such a touching, poetic story. Well, last year in Atlanta, her
publisher was offering free copies of her new book-to-be Hate That Cat, of which I got a copy of. Let me just say, I LOVE that book, too! So here she was in Minneapolis, signing copies of her book. My friend, Miss K, and I got to visit with her as she signed our books - can you see how thrilled I am to be with another fantastic author?!!?? I just can't get enough of them! Sharon was so kind and friendly...just a gem! And score! Got her new book-to-be that's coming out later in the year!! : ))

One of my favorite children's book characters is Skippyjon Jones..... written AND illustrated by this wonder of a woman, Judy Schachner. She is a stitch! She did a presentation of her home, her cats, her studio and her life and she's just as charming and funny as she is talented! After her presentation was over, I skippeeeeetoed over to her publisher's booth and waited in line for over an hour to have her sign her books for me. She mentioned that she remembered seeing me back in the session smiling at her - and she said that made her feel comfortable! You can't help but smile around this charming lady! : ))

Now, for the moment that has me dazed! This gentleman is Todd Parr - author extraordinaire who has written touching books; my favorite being It's Okay to be Different. I read this book each year to my new 1st graders, so I've been a fan of his for quite a while. He gave a wonderful speech earlier in a session and it's obvious that this man has overcome much in his life and has worked even harder to achieve his dreams and goals! Any whoo... afterwards, we ran over to the exhibit hall and got in line to have him sign his books. This time, his books were only $1...can you believe that?!??? That's almost unheard of! So I grabbed two and my friend grabbed a couple for him to sign for her grandson. As our turn approached and Mr. Parr was signing my books, it suddenly dawned on me - I can afford to buy each of my kiddos a book! (Side note here....as my 2nd graders head up to third, I always buy each student a book to have as one of my gifts for them. I've been searching for the right book, but with 28 kiddos, it can get expensive, so I've been distressed about this situation after searching for something and not finding anything that I could afford.)

I asked if I could buy 30 books, and they couldn't have been more kind about it. Then Mr. Parr said 'I'll sign them for you, too!" I told him that that wasn't necessary - he had so many people in line and so many other books to sign! But he insisted, so we set it up that I bought the books, left them there and then I returned later after he had had a chance to sign them all. When I came back, he was just leaving and we were able to snap a quick pic together....even though I am worn out, haven't eaten all day and a bit bedraggled, I was THRILLED beyond to have such a wonderful gift for each of my kiddos and from such a wonderful author! SHHHHH.....THIS IS A SECRET, SO YOU HAVE TO PINKIE-PACT THAT YOU WON'T TELL THEM!! I've ordered reprints of this picture and will be pasting a copy of it inside each book for them, as well. I can hardly keep quiet about it.... help me out, will you?? : ))

I could go on and on about how much I got out of hearing these talented people talk of their passions, their teachers, their crafts and their lives. I want to be one of them when I grow up! We saw and did so much in Minneapolis - too much to recount. It was just an incredible experience in every way and I am grateful beyond to have been able to go. It was hard to leave.

But return home, I must. So down the runway we rumbled again - and sailed west at 38,000 feet above this planet. On our approach, a beautiful sight was out my window....the Four Peaks mountains were below me, the sun was beginning to sink to my west, and the full moon was beginning her ascent to my east. Bright. Round. Pure. Ethereal.
Do you see why I love to fly???

Reflections in Glass

2009-05-10T14:17:00.007-07:00

The most happiest of Mother's Day to all of you dear moms.....

The years have lessened the tears and soothed the hurt. But I'm not sure the 'missing her' will ever go away. I don't think it will. After my dad's recent passing, my brother and sisters gathered the things up in the home. I went over soon after to get a couple of things that had been my mom's which had no value whatsoever to anyone else but me; such as an ivory sand dollar encased in a glass paperweight. I had bought that for my mom from J.C. Penny's when I was about 19. She proudly kept it on her desk at work (she was an executive secretary to an associate superintendent with our school district) and I so distinctly remember seeing it on her desk everytime I visited her at work; which was often! So when the house was being dismantled, I wanted to gather that gift back - which mom had kept all these years....about 33 years!

As my brother handed me this little stack of items that they thought I would want, there was this picture of my mom.....and I gasped slightly and then the tears fell. This is my mom's high school senior picture. I remember it so well sitting on the music frame of my grandparent's piano up in their home in Iron Springs. As a rambucious toddler and child, I was all over the place, but I would take the time to climb up onto the piano bench and sit there - staring at a woman's face whom I didn't really recognize at first. (They had to tell me that that was my mom the first time I saw it!) I remember studying it - the smile, the nose, her hair style, the beautiful pearl necklace. This beautiful woman was someone I didn't know...a senior in high school working at a bank and aquiring top-notch skills to become one of the best secretaries around; something I tried to eummulate, but was never, ever quite as good at. Each time we came out from Ohio to visit my grandparents, I always was welcomed by my mom's beautiful smile from the piano.

This picture has been in my dad's 'office' room for the last upteen years. I had forgotten about it. So when my brother handed it to me, it caught me off-guard in several ways. I have it now in my home, by two other pictures of my mom. It is a family heirloom of which there is no other copy. It is unique and priceless.... just like my mom was.

As for the sand dollar...it now has a place of honor on my desk at school. I can sometimes be found picking it up...studying the amazing design of it...remembering the story behind it and the full circle of which it has traveled.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. A Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women that I know who give of themselves without end, who love their children despite their trials, who embrace their role of 'mother' and would give everything they have for their child. It is an honor, priviledge and a blessing to be able to watch and hear your stories of your children, no matter how old they may be. May God bless each one of you and your beautiful 'babies'.

Ready To Rumble!

2009-05-02T06:00:00.007-07:00

Oh baby! As you read this, I am making sure that my seat belt is securely fastened and that my tray is in the up-right position. My carry-on bag is tucked underneath the seat in front of me and all of my electronic devices have been turned off. I will ~~act interested but be too busy looking out the window~~ watch the flight attendants describe emergency proceedures and take a look at the emergency proceedure card in the pocket in front of me. That's right, folks... this gal is airborne!!!

I am sooo fortunate to be able to attend the International Reading Association's convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota next week. I attended last year's convention in Atlanta and had such a wonderful time - in so many ways. I am so excited because the opening keynote speaker is Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns! Another author, Greg Mortensen, who wrote Three Cups of Tea, will also be there. As will Sharon Creech (Love That Dog/Hate That Cat). My favorite part of last year's convention was attending classes with authors. I loved hearing about their craft, their inspirations, their techniques, their passions! Facinating, I tell you! I got to meet Jerry Spinnelli and he signed my books! I attended a breakfast and a luncheon featuring authors and teachers with insight on children, teaching reading and keeping up the work we do as teachers, despite the bleakness that faces our jobs.

But, as those of you who know... my biggest thrill just may be the fact that I'm flying on an airplane!!! Aviation has been a passion of mine since my 'little girl' days. We would all load up into the green Oldsmobile, stop at Kentucky Fried Chicken and get our little box dinners, then drive to the airport on a Sunday evening. My dad would park our car off the road along one of the runways and take out the transistor radio that allowed us to listen to the pilots talk to the control tower. We'd hear their numbers/call signs, watch the lights as they approached, feel the rumble in our chests as the plane roared by on take-off and watched in silent awe as the runway lights silently blinked on as the sun sank behind the far-off hills. Licking our fingers and being careful not to spill, it was Sunday dinner at its best and it instilled in me a life-long love of planes, flying, airports and all the comes with it.

To this day, I am kicked into high gear with the smell of jet fuel, the rumble of the turbine engines, the sight of the control tower and the beauty of what seems to be impossible...a mass of metal lifting off the ground and flying miles overhead. The rumble of the plane as the engines whine louder as we roll down the runway...a thrill! When you feel the plane leave the concrete and the shift in the weight as we all become airborne is a thrill!! The G-forces as you are pushed back into your seat on ascent...is a thrill! Turning?? A thrill!! Turbulence, well.... except for two extreme cases I've experience out of Honnolulu and approaching Baltimore, a thrill as well! The sound of the landing gear being lowered as we come in for a landing... a thrill! The slight strain of the seat belt as we land and shift from acceleration to coming to a stop...a thrill!

This year I will be traveling with some of my friends from last year and a new one, too! I am so very grateful for the opportunity and the chance to broaden my life experience! New territory, new city, new experience - and I can't wait!! I'll wave as I fly overhead!! I'll be in a window seat!!

Made of Honor

2009-04-26T16:05:00.019-07:00

As I said in a recent post not long ago....where did the time go?? Last night was Senior Prom night for my daughter. She's been planning for this night for a month or so now. She and a group of friends (about 35 in all) got all decked out for the big night. A limo was rented, dinner reservations made, an after-prom party set up and a billion calls made back and forth! Funny thing is though, my daughter didn't have a date for prom. No one asked her to go. Even funnier, that didn't bother her one bit! (Let me just interject here for a moment... I feel somewhat awkward when I go out for a meal by myself, let alone my SENIOR PROM??!!? I can honestly say I would never have had the nerve to go by myself...never!) She happily shopped for the perfect dress, shoes and jewelry. It all looked stunning on her! Yesterday, she and her girlfriends got their nails done - Miss M now has acrylic nails and is 'in love with them!!!' She visited a salon and had her hair done, too. (Miss M's wonderful 'fairy godmother', Ms. S, made sure of it that Miss M had what she might have needed for the finishing touches!) By the hour of 5 p.m., pictures were being taken at a beautiful location and everyone was hugging and admiring how nice they all looked!

Where did the time go, I wonder....?

Soon, Miss M will be graduating from high school and turning 18. She's extremely brilliant. I asked her recently what her g.p.a was, and her nonplus reply was "It's 4.60 or something like that..." ??????? She's received scholarships to the three in-state universities and has pretty much decided on one. She continues to work part-time at her job, take the trash out on Sunday nights and take Ross for a walk each day to the mail box.

Perfect she is not. She's my daughter, remember? There was the one little incident of clip-clopping down the sidewalk in the middle of the night after 'getting some air'. And the time the police were at my house wondering why my car was parked in an unfamiliar neighborhood and where my daughter was, while all the while, totally unaware, M and her friends were enjoying ice cream at the local Sonic. I refrain from going into her bathroom unless it's deemed an absolute necessity. I'll never figure out how she ~~crams things in with no possibility of being cleaned properly~~ loads the dishwasher and calls it ready to run! No, she's not perfect...and I wouldn't want her to be.

Miss M has carried herself with grace, dignity and a strong spirit these past several years. She's made deep friendships, has endeared herself to her teachers and taught her mother a thing or two about 'moving on'. She's kept her focus on achieving her dreams and working hard. She's been true to her heart and to her spirit. And, oh yes....she's done it all with honor.

That's why she is my Maid of Honor.

My FlyBoy

2009-04-19T18:58:00.017-07:00

My son, D, has always loved aviation - um...he comes by it naturally... ahem. He's been training to be a 'loadmaster' for a real B-17 bomber that is stationed at a local airport. This week the crew was taking people on flights from one city airport to another - I forget how much it was...I think several hundred dollars - but what a thrill to ride in a B-17!!! D and the crew have been flying since Friday back and forth. This morning they performed 'touch-and-go's' at a former airforce base before heading over to another airport to begin flying their passengers. D asked if I could pick him up after their last flight and drive him over to the other airport to retrieve his car. Are you kidding? Me? At an airport?!?! Ha! You don't have to ask me twice!! D gave me the call late this afternoon and I headed out to watch them land....a favorite pastime of mine! Scanning the skies....

There they are!!
Here they come!!!

My gawd it's awesome...and my boy's on it!! Come in safe....come in safe....

What a beauty....how cool!

A-W-E-S-O-M-E !!!!!

Taxiing in ... man, I'd love to be on that thing!

This is soooooo cool!

There's my boy! All decked out in his flight suit!! Very nice job, you guys...very nice job, indeedy!

I'm proud of you, son.

Something To Be Said

2009-04-19T13:07:00.034-07:00

There's something to be said about...

...painting the patio trim - a year after the job was done!!....
...hanging a new string of lights to replace the burned-out ones....

...staking up a mutant tomato plant that has gone nuts with growth...and only one tomato!

...a quilt drying on the clothesline while the dog snoozes underneath....

...weeding the garden and cleaning it up...

...all while a friend squeeks and skeeters at the world below...

...discovering little tiny pansy seeds! I've never seen this before!!

...sticking your nose deep inside one of your irises that hasn't bloomed for the last serveral years and this morning made its appearance... and drinking in its heady fragrance... remembering childhood days....

...while someone else, namely Gambit, sticks his nose into the rosemary...

...finding the perfect spot for my mom's sundial...now in my garden...

...Bella, who insists on helping in the garden...and munching on a leaf of a newly sprouted catnip plant!

...sipping a tall iced cafe mocha after a job well done....

...and sinking your tootsies into the soft grass of spring.

Soaking Up The Weather

2009-04-18T22:38:00.018-07:00

Oh...last Saturday was one of those treasured days...a rainy day...

It was cold, wet, fresh and just beautiful in my book! I wish we had these kind of days every week, but alas, I am a desert rat. That's why I treasure days like these - they are so few and far between. And, it will probably the last one we have until the monsoon season kicks up - and that's not until July!

The next day, Easter Sunday, was absolutely glorious! Sunny, fresh, light breeze, low 70's.... ...perfect for sitting out in the fresh air and reading a bit. As you can see, I had company. Oh! By the way....we had A BEE at the lavendar that afternoon!! She buzzed a bit, but was not happy when I pulled my chair up, so off she flew and I have not seen her since. Do come back, sweet bee!

School was busy this week with our end-of-the-year field trip to my favorite museum!
The kiddos had a blast and everything went perfectly!!! The animated dinosaurs and the monsoon storm/water fall are a big hit! The next day was 'Field Day'... 13 stations of fun and games! It's one of my kiddos' favorite days!!Today I was ready for some R & R.... but it was just as busy. My yard got mowed and looked so nice afterwards. At the same time, my refrigerator was being repaired...oh joy! I had cleaned house last night, so today was laundry and other such Saturday duties!

A good friend had a birthday yesterday...and I FORGOT IT! I felt awful! So I quickly threw a garden party together for us to celebrate! Crackers and brie cheese, olive oil with rosemary and thyme with bread for dipping, a big garden salad with artichoke hearts and cranberries and seared tuna. We sat outside with lights and candles and it was just a beautiful evening. We soak weather like this up, for soon, the hot days are just around the corner.
Wait a minute! Why is the birthday girl bringing ME a present?!? An antique creamer bottle with beautiful flowers from her garden! How beautiful! How sweet!
Tomorrow promises to be just a wonderful! What's on your agenda for the day???

It HAS Been A Good Friday!

2009-04-10T22:03:00.016-07:00

A day off is always a treat...and mine began in my garden with a camera and a cup of creamy coffee. Sweet peas were having a parade this morning - love this color! It was a very pretty morning with a slight cool breeze, whispy cirrus clouds and thoughts of getting a pedicure tossed around.

I thought about a gift I bought myself several days ago.... a box of cards, but not just any cards. These are by Louise Hay, a wonderful woman who teaches of empowerment, positivity and the joy of life.

Inside, a deck of the most inspiring cards await...with beautiful illustrations...

one side has an affirmation....

and the other side has an extenstion of that thought...

It really is like a 'treasure box' of sorts!

**If you're interested in these, check out amazon.com - **

they have them at a smokin' price - 33% off! And they qualify

for free shipping! Oh, and check out the ones by Dr. Wayne Dyer

- 'Inner Peace' - they're my fav, too!

After reading through some of them, I skipped off for the much thought of pedicure - pink tootsies, please! A few shopping errands were next, which included a teeny bottle of green glitter fingernail polish... for some reason I got this notion that I needed to paint my fingernails green! Actually, they look more like clear polish with little flecks of green glitter - springy, kicky and fun! I love the teensy bottle, too!

A quick shower and change, and the door bell rang - my chicas and I were jumping into the 'margarita taxi' to head out for 'ahora de feliz'!! We met up with our great friends and had a wonderful time enjoying the weather, the laughs, and, of course, the nectar of the gods!

Such a good Friday it has been!

Update on my baiting of the bees...

I have not seen any bees at my lavendar yet, although they are enjoying a purple flowering bush in my garden about 8 feet away. I keep hoping that one of them will wander over to my lavendar and discover a

whole new feast to be had!

In the meantime, my lavendar is soooooo happy and thriving!!

You Did What?!!?

2009-04-10T20:43:00.011-07:00

My last post made reference to my 'smudging' my house the other day...two weeks ago, to be exact. I've been asked about that comment a lot, and asked what it means. Let me give you a brief background....

A good friend of mine moved to Seattle several years ago. She has been renting her house here and usually has had good renters. However, last summer, she had a young woman renting that turned into a horrendous nightmare. This renter was back on her rent, evasive, and the saddest part, left 4 dogs in the sweltering house for 5 days without electricity (read that as no air conditioning) food or water in the middle of July!! Folks, down here in July, it can, and does!, get to 110+ degrees!! My friend flew down and spent almost two weeks dealing with the police, animal control, and the woman's relatives as she (MY FRIEND) packed up this renter's belongings (including pots and pans and undies!), repainted the house, had to have it recarpeted and other damage repaired before it could even be shown again to new prospective renters. It was a horrible time for my friend and I felt so badly for her. We talked constantly and at one point, I mentioned that she needed to clean her house out of the 'bad spirit' that was in there after the horrible things that the renter had done in it.

Now, before you roll your eyes and head over to tmz.com for the latest in celebrity news, bear with me. You see, I do believe that energy is all around us...and if you think about it, you know it as well. The energy you feel when you walk into an office, a friend's house, the store... we've all sensed that feeling of 'this is comfortable, this is icky-feeling, this is homey, this is going to be a 'score' shopping trip', etc. A home has the same type of energy, too.

So, back to my story.

As my friend and I talked about this, we became more serious about it. I did some research on the internet and found that one could perform a type of cleansing ceremony to remove negativity from a home. The tool of the trade was something called a 'smudge stick'. I called a local market and, sure enough, they had them. So I got one for my friend, found a 'smudging ceremony' on the internet - a prayer of cleansing to be said while walking through each room with the smudge stick burning - and once the house had been fixed and repaired, my friend performed this ceremony in her home. By doing this, she removed the negativity and ugliness that the home had 'seen', so to speak - cleansing it anew. I'm happy to report that she soon found new renters who have proven to be good ones and all is happy in her humble little abode!

Now to the present.... a few weeks ago I was talking with my friend and made that comment that maybe I should do the same thing in my home....and I said this jokingly! But as we sort of laughed about it, I began to think seriously about this. You see, I love my home. But my home saw much sadness and ugliness for several years. I've spent 3 1/2 years working to bring peace and comfort back into my home, my life and that of my daughter's. It's been a long journey, and as much as I have done in terms of doing the typical steps towards healing, I will confess, that it has been difficult feeling at peace in my home. I have two rooms which I keep the doors closed to all the time; rooms I never use because of memories. There are times I've been haunted by memories of events, things done and said. I've often felt like a stranger living in another person's home.

As I tossed our converstaion around in my mind, I realized it wasn't a joke. I realized that I had nothing to lose and a lot to gain by 'smuding' my home. I needed to get rid of the negativity and bad ju-ju that had settled in! I called my friend to have her remind me of what we had done last summer, and I was soon on my way to the same market. I purchased a smudge stick made of white sage and cedar that offered 'space clearing, strength and new beginnings'. Perfect!

I had cleaned house the day before and later that night, daughter headed out for a while. I wanted to do this alone and without distraction. I found a ceremonial prayer online that filled the bill for what I was looking for and was comfortable with and I began. I lit my smudge stick and proceeded in a certain order throughout the rooms. It took almost an hour to smudge my house - I repeated the prayer in every room, every closet, the garage, my car, my front yard and my back yard. It was a quiet, meditative time and truly, I feel like the energy within was cleansed. Afterwards, I set the smudge stick in an empty bird bath in my back yard to let it slowly burn itself out.

My daughter came home about an hour later.

'What's that smell???' she asked, with typical teenager distain.

'I smudged the house!', I replied - all happy and full of positive energy! hehe... "I got rid of the negativity and bad ju-ju!"

Daughter walks up the stairs and into her bedroom. Three seconds later I hear 'great.....', again, with some distain in her voice, as she takes in the smell of smoky cedar and sage that lingers in her bedroom.

Yes, my home may have smelled like pot for a while,

but the bad ju-ju is gone!!

Home Sweet Home!

Pussywillows

2009-04-04T09:31:00.009-07:00

Know what these are? I bet you do if you're from the midwest or east side of the country....they're pussywillow branches! A true sign of spring in many hearts and one of the most unique 'blossoms' ever! A dear angel at work brought these to me....we sort of have a 'pussywillow' history. Years ago, at one of her baby showers, she received a gift of a bunny rabbit figure, covered completely in pussywillows! I was so struck by it since you hardly see pussywillows in any form out here in the desert. I think she was so struck by my reaction, and since then, she will frequently gift me with some pussywillow branches picked up at the local market.... I treasure them and, as corny as it sounds, I do take a trip down memory lane when I receive them.

Growing up in Ohio my backyard was my playland. I played among the pussywillows, the forsythia bushes loaded with their delicate yellow blossoms, the 7-foot tall purple lilac bushes amassed in their splendor (I would frequently make a bouquet of them and put them in a little vase in my bedroom), the camellias in their pinks and reds, and oh my gawd... the irises...THE IRISES!! I would sit beside them in the grass, studying them and inhaling their fragrance! I played among elm trees with their 'helicopter' seed pods as toys, the pine trees...my favorite being the Colorado Blue Spruces. The pansies and snapdragons were often breakfast for the secret bunnies which hid among my neighborhood. In the fall, our maple and sugar maple trees rendered their splendor - with me ironing flaming leaves between pieces of wax paper to stick on my bedroom window glass. There was a 20-foot mulberry tree that my friends and I would climb with a bucket - loading up as many as we could pick, climbing down, rinsing them in my mom's aluminum colander, then sitting on my patio as the sun set, eating our tummies full, with purpley-black juice running down our arms.

Nature was my earthly salvation.

And still is.

But I digress....back to the pussywillows....

In a box out in my garage I have a sampler that I began designing almost 20 years ago. It was to tell the legend of the pussywillow. What? You've never heard of it? Oh, let me tell it to you....

Once, a farmer happened upon a new litter of kittens on his property. He was angry at this, gathered them up in a burlap bag and tossed the kittens into the cold waters of the river which ran by his farm. The mother kitten paced back and forth along the banks of the river...meowing for her kittens and in great distress. As she cried out for her babies, the willow trees heard her cries and took pity on her. They bended over, dipping their long branches into the cold, swirling waters of the river. The kittens clung onto the willow branches for dear life as the trees lifted them out of the river and placed them safely down on the ground by their mother.

So the little furry, gray buds of the pussywillow that you see are the baby kittens being rescued...

A present greeted me this morning...my first rose on a new bush I planted about a month ago. Oh, to be honest, I'd had the bush for about 4 months sitting in my yard in its container....but, unfortunately, I soon hurt my knee after buying it and was not able to plant it in my garden. That changed a month ago and this little gem was stretching up in the morning sunlight today! It's small and surely could have used a shot of fertilizer a while ago, but it's sweet, fragrant as it is beautiful and just brightens up my little garden out there! Good things DO come in small packages!

I did my taxes last night after getting home from work. My house is clean (oh boy, IS it clean....I 'smudged' my house last Sunday...I'll have to tell you about that in another post!), daughter is off to do a list of activities and I am giving gratitude for my health, my family, my job, my wealth of friends and grace from above. I am keeping many in prayer as the times upon us are difficult and bring tough challenges to many whom are my friends.

Blessings to you this day.

Baiting the Bees

2009-03-19T08:22:00.005-07:00

The other morning I had the wonderful pleasure of spending time with my ya-ya's. We sat on R's back patio, draped in a veil of white netting around a table of strawberry scones, rich coffee and springy pink tulips. R's patio is a haven for birds and bees, literally! I was captivated by the most happy of french lavendar plants in, of all things, a chiminea stack! This plant was big, airy and a banquet for the sweetest of honey bees! They lazily floated from purple blossom to tiny purple blossom as the morning sun kissed their gossamer wings. A soft buzz sang as these worker bees enjoyed their morning feast and it was mesmerizing to watch them go about their business; unaware that they were entertaining a soul of nature. I realized that I wanted a happy lavendar plant with buzzy bees on my patio, too!

So off I went on my quest. It took me to Wal-Mart, Lowe's, Home Depot and Trader Joe's...the later having two french lavendar plants....they were harder to find that I had thought! A big terra cotta pot from Wal-Mart was the container of choice and a bag of garden soil for their foundation.

As Ross laid nearby, I planted my lavendar with tender care...not wanting to break off any of the precious, fragrant stalks. A soft shower of water to freshen and clean it up afterwards was all it needed.

My bait has been set.

Oh, bees....!!!!

Taking Off The Mask

2009-03-18T20:10:00.007-07:00

This post is raw.... and not of my usual style.... just so you know. I can't count how many times I've thought of composing this post, only to negate its purpose or value or place...and move on. I've thought of what I would say and, perhaps, what I wouldn't say....

...and I have left the page blank and empty....

even though my heart is heavy and full.

Part of this comes from the side you let others see of you when you blog. I'm a basic gal and what you see is truly what you get. I don't know how to be phoney. I wear my heart and my emotions on my sleeve and my face... I could never play poker because I have absolutely no talent in masking my feelings.

But truth be told, lately I have masked my feelings.

Truth be told... I'm struggling. Struggling to make sense of events that have crossed my path.

Life does throw you curves. We all do hit potholes. We climb out of them. We get back on the road and continue on. I'm sure you've done your fair share of this, have you not?

But lately, it seems as if I am questioning 'it all'. I lost my dad 3 weeks ago. Two weeks ago I found out that my ex is now homeless. And today, it was confirmed that my dear, sweet dog, Ross, has terminal cancer. He will not be with me much longer.

I am numb.

I am weary.

I am weepy.

I am questioning 'it all'. Why so much my way? Why, when I finally get back on the road, another event comes around the curve? Why soooo, soooo much loss.... in such a relatively short amount of time? Why such hardness? Why such heartache...... ?

I am angry and bitter - shamefully, at God. I ask Him why? Why take so many precious things from me? And then, take a young, sweet dog who is adored by my students and school...a dog who saved me as much as I saved him.... why must he be taken from me, too?

And no sooner do I weep these words and thoughts, then I think of those who sit by their child's hospital bed...hoping beyond hope for a miracle... those who have no food for their family dinner, those who face illness, those who are alone.....how they would give their life for my problems, for my events.... and I am ashamed that I feel as I do. There are so many in this world who suffer in ways unimaginable. I know there are so many who have it so much worse than me....and here I am feeling overwhelmed over my 'life events'.

I also really don't believe in my heart that God makes bad things happen to people. He is not a punishing God. He is a God of love. I guess right now, I'm not feeling the love. I tell myself there must be some kind of lesson that I am suppose to learn in this, but to be honest, I'm tired of learning...I'm tired of this 'school'. I don't want to learn these life lessons anymore.

But this is life. Life happens. Be it good. Be it bad. Life happens. And the learning of lessons continues, whether I am a willing student or not. I firmly believe that the universe has me walking this path for a purpose, for a reason. I just wish that my path crossed John Mellencamp's sidewalk once and that we went for a ride on his Harley...but that is not going to happen!

I've tried to forge my way through these last six weeks with as much strength and grace as I can. I'm trying to build these two things up, as well, for the days ahead with Ross. The inevitable is not going to be easy.

The next week or so will find me indulging Ross in all of his wants, until his beautiful brown eyes tell me that the time has come. The next week or so will find me apologizing to God for my anger and asking for His grace to cover me. The next week or so will find me trying to figure out how and when to tell my students about our beloved Ross. The next week will find me trying to understand the purpose and value and point of this new lesson. The next week or so will find me trying to remember to be grateful for all of the blessings that I have in my life.

So if I am quiet here, if I am a bit silent, I hope you'll understand.

Wondering

2009-03-14T12:51:00.009-07:00

.... where

did
the
time go ??

My Many Colored Days

2009-03-08T11:18:00.007-07:00

signs

of
spring...*Thank you, 'dear friend of a birdie'..... you are an angel and I send you love and a hug....whomever you are! ; )

The 'Brady Bunch'

2009-02-28T07:32:00.011-07:00

What you're looking at is a first..... the first photo of all seven of us 'kids' from the union of Mom and Dad over 28 years ago. We were the scruffy version of 'The Brady Bunch' and we gave 'Carol and Mike' fodder for many of those 'in the bed' conversations. We haven't always seen eye-to-eye, but with struggles and strife in life, come lessons of wisdom and acceptance. The coming together started five years ago when Mom passed away. This week brought us even closer together. To appreciate the poignancy of this photo, you'd need to understand that between some, there has been over five years of no communication. That we were all able to put aside our qualms yesterday at our dad's funeral and come together for a photo, and actually SMILE is a testament to each one!

The memorial service was the best with touching memories of my dad shared with such a great gathering of friends and family. There were many laughs, probably a few more tears and even more gracious, a coming together of people that I might not have believed had I not seen it with my own eyes. Definitely, a hand of grace was over us.

Yes, even in death...there is beauty and grace.

The Gift To Go

2009-02-23T18:11:00.013-07:00

A little over five years ago my mother passed away after five years of enduring a horrendous illness, innumerable medical procedures, hospital stays, countless doctor visits and so many other events that it would be impossible to document. Throughout it all, she maintained optimism, dignity, her beautiful spirit and unfailing grace.

I, on the other hand, was a mess. I was angry at her illness, at God, and shamefully, at her, at times, for not fighting hard enough, in my distorted view. I wanted her to live. I wanted her to get well, get better. I wanted her to continue to be my mom, even though I knew in my heart that she would never be well and whole again. I continued my campaign for her recovery vehemently. Ultimately, she passed away.... of which I had no control over.

I had no control over it. None.

She died. And I couldn't stop it.

Today, my dad passed passed away. He had been in the hospital for the last two weeks. Triple-bypass was performed a week ago and his recovery was being hampered by mild liver disease and 'sick' kidney function, but we were optimistic for his recovery, albeit, a long road ahead. I have been with him since Friday. Feeding him ice chips. Wiping his forehead. Kissing him. Telling him how much I loved him. Holding his hand. Getting the nurse. Pushing for pain meds to be administered. Adjusting his pillows. Putting balm on his dry lips. Keeping in touch with family and friends...even those estranged for nearly 16 years.

New tests administered yesterday revealed that he had only hours left with us.

It has been grueling, painful, sad and surreal.

But there has been beauty and grace in the process. Along with all of the tears that have fallen and words whispered into his sweet ear, I was able to give him a gift that I couldn't give my mom. Not one that was to be opened with his sore, bruised hands, not one that cost me a penny, not one that was the wrong size, color or style. No, this one was the perfect gift.

I gave him the gift.... to go.

Friday night, weak and struggling with each breath, dad said to me as I bent over and stroked his face..."I'm dying." And he was. But instead of protesting, instead of saying "No, you're not!", instead of making light of it or chalking it up to the pain he was in, I smiled. I looked into his watery blue eyes, ran my fingers through his silky gray hair and said, "Dad, if you need to go, then go. It's okay." I kissed his forehead twice; telling him "I love you. This one is for you, and this one is for Mom when you see her. Tell her I love her and that I miss her."

Four times he told me that he was dying. And each time, I told him that it was okay to go.

Because as much as I was angry at his illnesses, mad at God, afraid to loose another parent, weary of pain and hurt and wanting him to continue to 'fight the fight', I learned from Mom's passing that there was something much greater for me to do. I couldn't control the diseases that were wearing his body down and taking him away from us, but I could, hopefully, give him love, comfort and peace in knowing that we were here to support and love him through the process.

And so .... I told my dad that it was okay to go.

And go, he did. Surrounded by his children, and, I hope and pray,

with a gift in his heart.