The Next Step....

Editing and polishing almost 60,000 words. Wish me luck!

Dizzy

This is how I feel today.

Life Unfolding

Our beautiful pink magnolia tree, buds and blooms and blossoms all at one time....kind of like our lives!

Dwelling Places

Ana's Art

Art teachers from several universities in the central Texas area had a show today of their work, as well as the work of a "protege". Ana was asked by her printmaking professor to show a couple of her pieces. We were very happy that Ana was asked to be a part of this event! It was held at the Civic Arts Center and was super nice; music, canapes and lots of great artwork to enjoy!


Ana and John, her professor. It was nice to meet John and to hear all his compliments about Ana's enthusiasm for life and her artistic talent. I agreed with everything he said. haha


I am sorry that I didn't have the time to figure out lighting and whatnot, thus Ana's two pieces do not show up well. They are the two with the black frames and she used various printmaking techniques for the paper, then sketched fantasy figures and notes about their world on top of the paper. So you got to see a work in progress. It was really cool!!

Melanie and Me!

It is such a blessing to have a sister-in-law that is also your friend and soul mate!

Visualize!

I am making a "Visualization Board". I got the idea from the movie "The Secret". Christy is making a collage of things that make her happy. We began visualizing and creating this afternoon. There were pens, glue, markers, magazines, stamps, ribbons, fabric and lots of good cheer strewn all over the gazebo. Creating is messy business but oh so necessary for a joyful life!

3:30 pm, Texas Time

I made my way down to the gazebo, put my feet up and began reading my favorite magazine! Back track: At the girlfriend getaway we talked about what kind of life we want to live. I shared my desire to live an "authentic" life. Fast forward: I picked up "O" magazine at the store today and later discovered that the focus was on living authentically. What can I say? Synchronicity abounds!

Sunset over Fort Hood
makes one forget,
at least for a moment,
the loneliness
of families separated.

Excellent Eye

Karen sent me a few of the photos she took of our "girlfriend getaway". She has an excellent eye for composition and a fantastic camera. Karen, thank you for being the first "guest" photographer on Susan365!

Early Saturday morning we bundled up and explored the "Land of Ease". We found this lovely "Lady of the Ravine" to be quite a happy surprise. With her seashell held high, she seemed to be saying "Listen". We heeded her advice.

Listening!

Back Story: The tree/moon mural was painted by Liza, the owner of "Land of Ease", and covered one wall of the bedroom where I slept. Before going to sleep I asked for divine guidance as to whether I was on the right track with my life; spiritually, emotionally and physically. I dreamt of the mural. The tree and moon were perfectly clear but in the center of the moon was a large hand giving the "Thumbs Up" sign! I woke up smiling because I felt guidance had been given..."thumbs up" to the direction I was moving. Thus the photo of us making the "thumbs up" sign and grinning from ear to ear!




I leave you with a silly self-portrait and an important message.

Library Day!

Christy and I hit the jackpot at the library today! She is my cohort in crime when it comes to checking out massive quantities of books. I am leaving on a "Girlfriend Getaway Weekend" tommorrow and will post when I return! Adios Shutterbugs!

25 years of roses. A very thoughtful tradition. Happy Valentines Day everyone!

The Journey

I am blessed to have this lovely labrynth fifteen minutes from my home. Trees grow in the pathways. It is quiet there. I often see tiny yellow butterflies flittering in the grass and birds serenade me as I walk.


Today I walked the labrynth. It is a metaphor for the journey of life.


The center of the labrynth is where one sits and contemplates the journey inward. After focusing, meditating, praying or whatever you feel led to do in the center, one follows the path back out, hopefully leaving refreshed and renewed.

Doors We Pass Through...

The door to the oldest Baptist church in town never fails to capture my attention. I love the shape of this door, the contrast of the white wood against the red brick walls and that tiny window in the door always makes me wonder. So many folks have passed through this solid wood door. I suspect each one hoped to find some measure of peace on the other side. I hope they found what they were looking for.

Sunday Snapshots

This morning I stood in the gazebo and gazed at Bird Creek! I listened to the splashing of water as it flowed over the rocks. I breathed deeply. Great way to start the day!


Later, I had lunch with my sister at Ninfa's. Fun times!



Outside the restaurant, I admired the large beds of purple ornamental cabbages. Love their bold color!


To walk off our lunch, we browsed the shops at River Square Center. River Square is a mammoth remodled warehouse. It's filled with huge windows streaming with light, brick walls, solid wood beams and staircases. Ambience at it's finest.

Scrumdiliumptious!

Marinated Goat Cheese
10 oz. log of chevre
fresh thyme and rosemary leaves
crushed garlic
good quality olive oil
Cover bottom of glass container with olive oil. Slice chevre into 1 inch rounds and place 3-4 round on top of the olive oil. Add a sprig of thyme and rosemary, as well as crushed garlic sprinkled liberally. Add 3 more rounds of chevre, a liberal splash of olive oil and more garlic! Add the remainder of the cheese, another sprig of thyme and rosemary, sprinkling of garlic and more olive oil. If you are using a narrow jar, you can completely submerge the cheese in oil. If a wider jar, like the one above, bring the oil about 2/3 way up. Marinate in fridge overnight. To serve, allow the olive oil to "melt" at room temperature and then spread the marinated cheese on crackers. Fantastico!

DING DONG!

Today was Girl Scout Cookie Delivery Day! Christy bagged up the 93 boxes and delivered most of them. Selling cookies was a fun, educational project for Christy. At one of the meetings they talked about the experience. I asked her if most of the girls enjoyed selling cookies. Christy said, "Some of the girls are really shy, so it was kind of scarey for them to ask their neighbors is they wanted to order cookies. It was good though because it helped them build confidence." She sounded so grown up and compassionate. My mother's heart was proud.

Lady Bankston Rose bush growing along our backyard fence. In a few months it will be coverd with tiny yellow roses. Today I noticed that the normally green leaves had turned a lovely shade of red. I don't remember that ever happening before, though I am sure it must be an annual event. Amazing what beauty you notice when looking for the daily photo!

All That Jazz!

I couldn't resist snapping a photo of these gorgeous "Jazz" apples. The produce guys looked a bit bewildered as I bent this way and that trying to get the perfect shot. I started to explain the Photoblog project but decided it might be more fun for them to talk about the crazy lady snapping photos of the apples and eggplant and heaven forbid, the celery.

Self Portrait 3: Shadow Self

"Methinks that what they call my shadow here on earth is my true substance. Methinks that in looking at things spiritual, we are too much like oysters observing the sun through the water, and thinking that thick water the thinnest of air." Herman Melville

Hidden Treasure...

"Not all treasure is silver and gold."
Jack Sparrow

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN!

John turned 50 today! WOOHOO! He requested a southern favorite for his birthday meal; pan fried pork chops and homemade gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls. After dinner the family went to see Barrage. They were incredible! If this group ever comes near your town, go see them! After "Barrage", the family came back and had coffee and Haystacks for dessert. It was a fun evening! Oh, note the clever wrapping paper with Roger Federer on the front. I didn't know it but one of John's goals for his 50th year is to win the tennis tournament he competes in yearly. I am taking this wrapping paper as a sign that he is going to do it! Go John!

A Colorful Day!

Christy wants to paint her bedroom green. This morning we spent some time at Loewes, looking at umpteen million shades of green paint. I was almost as interested in the names of the paint, as in the color. There were your common names: Pine Needle, Bayleaf, Prairie Grass and Apple. Then there were your "exotic" and "mysterious" names: Secret Garden, Stormy Peak, Moon Tide and Mediterranean Night. Then there were the silly names, like Guacamole.

Friends Forever!

Ana cuddling with Welby! Two special souls.