Chalk Ridge Falls

Scenic bridge over still waters
Not so still waterfall
Fern grotto

"Between the banks of pleasure and pain flows the river of life.
If you spend much time on either bank
you will miss out on life."
Nisargadatta Maharaj

The View

from my front yard...a beautiful full moon casting it's light over the neighbor's brightly decorated yard. Mesmerizing.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Dinner

What will you be serving? I spied this delicacy at Walmart and had to capture it for all you gourmet cooks!

I recently celebrated...with those nearest and dearest to my heart...my 51st birthday. My goal for this year is to be thankful for each day that I am given.

Family

A little belated but here is the 2007 Thanksgiving photo. Not everyone could gather this year but this lovely group included John and I, Nathan(on my left) and Christy(in front of Nathan). John's brother David, his wife Melissa and their four precious girls were in attendance. We gathered for this day of thanksgiving at the home of the matriarch and patriach of the family...Pat and Ken. It was a special day!

Here we are in the tunnel of lights! This photo was taken on my husband's cell phone...by a kind woman full of holiday cheer.

May Your Holiday Season Be Full Of Light!

Peace

This past weekend, my husband and I spent two lovely days at the lakehouse. We sat on this bench a good bit...resting in the peace of our recommittment to each other.
The lake water was still and peaceful...a lovely view from where we sat.
In the evening, we strolled along Lake Marble Falls, taking in the amazing Christmas light display. I think this photo best captures my hope for all of us.

Water's Edge

This was an oops photo that got me to wondering how many batteries I've gone through during this "365 Photoblog Year". I probably don't want to know.

Today I spent a couple of hours playing some old favorites. Do you remember "One Tin Soldier"? I can not play that song without crying. Here's why:
"....So the people of the valley sent a message up the hill
asking for the buried treasure, tons of gold for which they'd kill.
Came an answer from the kingdom; 'With our brothers we will share
all the secrets of our mountain, all the riches buried there.'

Now the valley cried with anger; mount your horses, draw your sword
and they killed the mountain people, so they won their just reward.
Now they stood beside the treasure on the mountain, dark and red,
turned the stone and looked beneath it,
'Peace on earth' was all it said."

Fireplace Meme...

thanks to Kim and Sandie. Today was rainy, cold and perfect for sitting by the fire!

"Sometimes we come to life's crossroads and
View what we think is the end,
But God has a much wider vision and
He knows it's only a bend --

The road will go on and get smoother, and
After we've stopped for a rest,
The path that lies hidden beyond us is
Often the part that is best.

So rest and relax and grow stronger
Let go and let God share your load,
And have faith in a brighter tomorrow
You've just come to a bend in the road."
Author unknown

Happy Thanksgiving

from our house to yours!

One cord of wood, neatly stacked...makes me happy just looking at it. This "stacking" was a family effort and it will reward us with many a cozy fire this winter!

Fly Away

One sturdy airplane
plus one talented pilot...
equals one beautiful sunset at 7,000 feet!

Nathan, back row second from left, and the crew from the homeschool advanced band. We are fortuanate to have a beginner, intermediate and advanced band, as well as two very dedicated teachers that are willing to teach any instrument the kids want to learn!

Christy, second from left, singing an african song. Great concert!

Weekend Whats Up?

Incredible Performances; high notes that made me jump and low notes that made me shiver!
Cloodle, Scultorades, Sensosketch, Cameo, Humdinger...some of the activities that Christy, John and I undertook while playing Cranium!
Handyman Husband...he can fix anything he sets his mind to...
My shadow self raking leaves in the backyard.
Papa and Christy setting a trap down in the creekbed. I wonder what they will catch?

BOO!

"Hippy" Christy on the left and "Pirate" Nathan on the right..."Ninja" friends Mary, Rachel and Hannah, in between. They raked in 6.5 pounds of candy Halloween night!

Birds Eye View

Christy hung out on the rooftop for an hour or so; picking up pecans, taking in the view and resting in the sun. Reminded me of myself at about that age.

Fall in Texas

The first red leaf on our Red Oak tree! Leaves turn late, if at all, in Texas. One learns to enjoy the smallest patches of color.

"There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before."
Robert Lynd

Kids

Nathan, Nicole, Ana BugEyes and Christy chillin in Austin!

Beauty For Ashes

SWEET SIXTEEN!

Happy Birthday, Nathan! I am blessed to be your Mom!
BTW, nice coffe cup.

Tea For Two!

Christy and me at Middleton's House of Tea. Wonderful tea and scones, wonderful conversation, wonderful daughter!

"What lies beyond?"
Christy Clonts

Thoughts on Light...

"We find the light only after total defeat of our attempts to deceive and outwit it."
Vernon Howard

"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars."
Og Mandino

"Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
Chinese Proverb

Good Friends...

Karen and Paul! Thank you for your hospitality and love! Oh, and Paul, thank you for fixing the date on my camera. I tried and tried and tried, without success, and you managed to transport us from 2003 to 2007 in a matter of seconds. YAY!

The Band

Shane(bass guitar) and Alec(electric guitar) and Nathan(drums)
Nathan and Jake(electric guitar)
Alec and Nathan
The quality of my photography leaves something to be desired...but the guys are top notch! Oh, the name of the band is "Why Johnny Can't Read". Clever.

"One can never consent to creep
when one feels an impulse to soar."
Helen Keller

My First Paycheck...

in over 21 years! O Happy Day! Can you see my name? In case you can't see the amount, it is a whopping SIX DOLLARS AND 74 CENTS! This check, minus FICA and Medicare of course, is for the substitute teacher training I attended. There are many great reasons to teach, but money is not one of them! Nevertheless, I was pretty excited about my first check... even if the amount is miniscule.

48 Hours...

at a "Beginning Experience" weekend resulted in the following:
new friendships
lightbulb moments
tears
laughter
new ways of thinking
forgiveness
chocolate
clarity
hope
AND a spring in my step!

Guess where I went today!

Daddy

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou

Sunday Scenes

STEAKS...cooked to perfection!
SEAMSTRESS Nicole...diligently sewing as Nathan and Christy look on.
SERENE Ana...journaling in the gazebo.