SUSAN365

Opening The Door To 2010

2010-01-10T07:43:00.002-05:00

Home

2008-03-17T10:33:00.004-04:00

"Home. The word circled comfortably in my mouth like bubble gum, swished around sweetly soft and satisfying. Home. Try saying it aloud to yourself. Home. Isn’t it like taking a bite of something lovely? If only we could eat words."
Sol Luckman

2008-03-14T08:41:00.003-05:00

Me and my trusty Sony Cybershot!

2008-03-13T09:37:00.003-05:00

The Lady Bankston Roses are just beginning to bloom. Soon we will have a riot of happy yellow blossoms, cascading over the fences and climbing the trees. Stay tuned...

Places of the Heart

2008-03-12T07:23:00.007-05:00

Those of you that know me, have heard me talk about the lakehouse through the years. Some of you have been there. It is one of those places of the heart. It is where my husband took me one week after we met, where I grew to love his family, where I learned about "Yucca", where our children spent many a vacation swimming, riding the banana boat and playing "hide and seek" after dark, where I would sit at sunrise and watch the morning awaken, where I would float on rubber rafts and windsurfers, where I spent many an hour in the kitchen surrounded by women of the family and family friends, where I played lots of games around the kitchen table, where I learned to water-ski, where I learned that "debate" doesn't mean "argument" and where I would sit on that bench(or the one that preceeded it) and watch the children swim, the ducks float by, my husband windsurf or ski and sometimes just "chill". Most recently, it is where I celebrated my 23rd anniversary.

The lakehouse is part of who I am. Thank you Pat and Ken for providing this place of joy for family and friends! Thank you John, for making me a part of the family!

Unexpected Guests!

2008-03-10T13:41:00.005-05:00

A couple of nights ago, Christy spotted three peacocks near the creek that runs behind our house. The next morning they landed in our back yard, where they hung out most of the day...even coming up onto the backporch and perching on the tables! I enticed this one for a closeup by tossing him a Cheez-it. We don't know where these peacocks came from but we certainly enjoyed their visit!

Happy 23rd Anniversary

2008-03-09T20:51:00.001-05:00

to us!

Waking Up

2008-03-07T08:07:00.001-05:00

to snow! I guess the groundhog was right.

2008-03-06T10:04:00.004-05:00

"Sticks and stones will break our bones, but words will break our hearts."
Robert Fulghum

Devotion

2008-02-29T08:54:00.001-05:00

2008-02-28T08:52:00.002-05:00

Nathan...
and the band, taking a break from practice.
(photos courtesy of my husband)

Blossoming...

2008-02-26T13:11:00.002-05:00

"Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit."
Kahlil Gibran

Dining & Dancing

2008-02-24T10:00:00.004-05:00

John and Nicole in her room at UT...the twinkle lights add to the cozy atmosphere. We took Nicole to dinner and enjoyed visiting and laughing with her. We even talked her into going ballroom dancing with us, for a little while. Good memories!

Our Tulip Tree

2008-02-20T08:43:00.001-05:00

"Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love."
St. Therese de Lisieux

Generous Hearts

2008-02-18T14:35:00.010-05:00

I ran into a friend today and she asked how my life was going. I shared a bit...we spent some time talking, crying and rejoicing together. My friend asked if I owned an IPOD, as she uses hers to listen to encouraging talks and sermons. I said I didn't have one. We parted. A couple of hours later she calls to see if I could meet with her for a few minutes. We meet and she hands me two IPODS saying, "One is for you and the other for your husband." In less than 2 hours she had purchased the IPODS and downloaded a study on Daniel because she hoped the study would encourage us. I was speechless for a few seconds. Then I started crying and said, "Jill this is too much. You are so generous. How did you do this so quickly?" She said, "Susan I was so happy and excited to do this for you...please be blessed."

I am blessed beyond measure by all the generous hearts in my life. So many of you have given monetarily, emotionally, physically and in so many ways to me and mine. Thank you for your generosity. You inspire me!

2008-02-14T09:56:00.003-05:00

"The rose is fairest when 'tis budding new,
And hope is brightest when it dawns from fears."
Sir Walter Scott

2008-02-11T13:05:00.000-05:00

"Victor Frankl's Man's Search For Meaning is one of the great books of our time. Typically, if a book has one passage, one idea with the power to change a person's life, that alone justifies reading it, rereading it, and finding room for it on one's shelves. This book has several such passages."
Harold Kushner

2008-02-08T11:52:00.000-05:00

"I swear I will not dishonor
my soul with hatred,
but offer myself humbly
as a guardian of nature,
as a healer of misery,
as a messenger of wonder,
as an architect of peace."
School Prayer by Dianne Ackerman

Randomness

2008-02-07T09:43:00.000-05:00

Nothing better than contemplating life from this vantage point. I remember doing the same thing when I was Christy's age.
We had a bumper crop of pecans this year....the squirrels are happy!
The lyrics to this song pretty much say it all for me.

2008-02-05T08:49:00.000-05:00

"The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings." -- Sir James Matthew Barrie

2008-01-31T08:45:00.001-05:00

"Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up."
Robert Frost

Salsa Verde

2008-01-29T12:59:00.001-05:00

12 fresh jalapenos, seeded and diced
1/2 large onion, diced and sauteed in oil till light brown
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
Blend jalapenos, garlic and 2 tbsp. water until creamy. Add to onions and stir. Salt to taste. Cool salsa. Serve with chips and fritos. ENJOY!

2008-01-28T10:35:00.000-05:00

"If there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life."
Albert Camus

Happy Birthday Nicole!

2008-01-26T10:06:00.000-05:00

You have brought us twenty years of joy!!! Thank you for being you.

Cheers...

2008-01-19T22:02:00.000-05:00

to Yank, Melanie, Me and John!

I Spy...

2008-01-19T11:51:00.000-05:00

a handsome guy!

2008-01-18T17:02:00.000-05:00

“Playing chess is like looking out over a limitless ocean;
playing checkers is like looking into a bottomless well.”
Dr. Marian Tinsley

2008-01-15T10:49:00.000-05:00

"Reflect upon your present blessings - of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."
Charles Dickens

Angel Spots

2008-01-13T16:19:00.000-05:00

I think there is a book out about how those little spots in your photos are really angels or something like that...sounds a lot better than dirty spots on the camera lens. lol

Sushi, Anyone?

2008-01-10T11:15:00.000-05:00

Nicole spent a couple of hours slicing salmon, avocado and cucumber, as well as preparing sticky rice for these lovely sushi delights!

2008-01-06T22:01:00.000-05:00

Hubby and I, as well as 15 other couples, are taking jitterbug dance lessons at IN THE MOOD BALLROOM. Talk about fun!! Before class, I snapped this shot of the outside of the building. If you want to see the gorgeous dance floor and learn about the couple that remodeled this historic building, go HERE.

Life Is A Duet

2008-01-04T09:20:00.000-05:00

My husband and I recently learned the duet version of "All I Ask Of You" and have had a lot of fun playing together. I am trying to figure out a way...as in find the moola...for hubby and I to get to New York to see the play, "Life Is A Duet". You can read about it here.

Adventure!

2008-01-02T10:12:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the blurriness but the photo was taken at 5:40AM and I had been up since 4AM and it is Ana's first solo flight across the country and I am her Mom. That should explain the burriness. haha This morning Ana headed out for 7 days of fun in Seattle! Break a leg, Ana...no I take that back. Don't break a leg...just have a great time!!

Time Flies

2008-01-01T21:35:00.000-05:00

Amazingly, it's been a year since I started this photoblog. A year full of joy and sorrow, highs and lows and lots of pictures! What an experience it has been to try and capture my little corner of the world for you and to share a bit of my heart...by photographing the people, places and things I hold dear! I have so enjoyed viewing my fellow bloggers photography and can honestly say I know each of you better because of it.

I intend to continue photoblogging for a while yet but wanted to stop and say THANKS! to all who have commented or visited my little corner of the world this past year.

Chalk Ridge Falls

2007-12-30T17:46:00.001-05:00

Scenic bridge over still waters
Not so still waterfall
Fern grotto

2007-12-27T11:30:00.000-05:00

"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

2007-12-23T19:14:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-21T11:32:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-20T15:08:00.001-05:00

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

2007-12-17T13:27:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-12-04T08:50:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-03T08:58:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-29T00:29:00.000-05:00

2007-11-27T23:51:00.000-05:00

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.

2007-11-26T16:13:00.000-05:00

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...

2007-11-24T19:22:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-23T10:41:00.000-05:00

"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

2007-11-21T17:09:00.000-05:00

from our house to yours!

2007-11-17T13:33:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-11T16:57:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-08T18:16:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-11-06T13:02:00.000-05:00

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

Weekend Whats Up?

2007-11-02T22:54:00.000-05:00

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!

2007-11-02T09:52:00.000-05:00

"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

2007-10-29T12:20:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-27T10:26:00.000-04:00

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.

2007-10-26T09:56:00.000-04:00

"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

2007-10-21T18:49:00.000-04:00

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

2007-10-19T10:36:00.000-04:00

Beauty For Ashes

SWEET SIXTEEN!

2007-10-16T19:53:00.000-04:00

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

Tea For Two!

2007-10-11T15:08:00.000-04:00

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

2007-10-06T14:26:00.000-04:00

"What lies beyond?"
Christy Clonts

Thoughts on Light...

2007-10-03T11:39:00.000-04:00

"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...

2007-10-01T09:54:00.000-04:00

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

2007-09-29T09:41:00.000-04:00

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.

2007-09-28T08:24:00.000-04:00

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

My First Paycheck...

2007-09-25T13:56:00.000-04:00

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...

2007-09-24T00:31:00.000-04:00

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!

2007-09-19T23:24:00.000-04:00

Guess where I went today!

Daddy

2007-09-18T10:38:00.001-04:00

“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

2007-09-16T15:56:00.000-04:00

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

Seen and Heard...

2007-09-14T17:56:00.000-04:00

Today I was the substitute teacher for five classes of 11th grade US History. Most of the 50 minutes was taken up with attendance, instructions and a test. These 11th graders were a piece of cake compared to last weeks 2nd graders. I have observed that boys talk more than girls...be they 2nd graders or 11th graders.
First Male student: Do you like music?
Me: Sure!
First Male student: Do you like rap?
Me: Mmmm, not really...mostly because I know a lot of it has bad language.
Second male student: Do you like country western?
Me: Yes, I grew up dancing to country western.
First Male student: I can teach you to dance rap. Wanna learn? (He is dancing)
Me: Nah, that's ok and how about sitting down in your chair.
************
Me: I am a really mean substitute and I will take up your test paper
if you talk while testing.
Male Student: No, you aren't mean...you are pretty.
Me: OK, I'm not mean but I will take up your test paper if you are talking!
************
Me: After everyone turns in their tests, y'all may talk QUIETLY till the bell.
Male Student: What do you consider "quiet"?
Me: Quiet enough that the teacher next door doesn't come in to see what the ruckus is about .
Male Student: OK, cool...

2007-09-07T15:21:00.000-04:00

Me and Melanie at the Ambrosia Tea Room. I had Avocado Chicken Salad and Cream of Asparagus soup. Good food...great company!

A Few Of My Favorite Things!

2007-09-01T18:50:00.000-04:00

Christy's first clarinet lesson.

Nathan, Christy and Ana hamming it up for the camera!

My recent lab results...with "A++" kudos from my doctor!

2007-08-29T11:03:00.000-04:00

"In my practice and my personal life, I have found that all negative patterns of behavior and emotion are due to unexamined pain from the past intruding into the present.
When people commit to finding and feeling that pain, they invariably learn they can not only survive it but benefit from it. They learn that their pain, from which they have tried so hard to run, is indeed their true source of power."
Keith Ablow, MD

2007-08-27T21:22:00.000-04:00

Bleu, Blue, Bleu

Texas Longhorns!

2007-08-25T17:32:00.000-04:00

This morning, Nicole(and her great b/f, Charlie) and I moved a bunch of her belongings into the Taos Coop in Austin. The location is ideal...right across the street from the University of Texas campus...and I think Nicole will be very happy there. We discovered that her co-op is just a hop, skip and a jump from the co-op I lived in 28 years ago. Small World. Here's Nicole with her new roomate, Asha. Turns out they are both psychology majors and middle children and well, I suspect they have lots in common. Go Get Em, Nicole!

Be Lights For Each Other...

2007-08-24T01:20:00.000-04:00

"The world needs all of our power
and love and energy,
and each of us has something that we can give.
The trick is to find it and use it,
to find it and give it away.
So there will always be more.
We can be lights for each other,
and through each other's illumination
we will see the way.
Each of us is a seed,
a silent promise,
and it is always spring."
Merle Shan

2007-08-21T20:40:00.000-04:00

What's in your stack?

Self-Portrait

2007-08-16T11:08:00.000-04:00

Anxiously...note furrowed brow...considering my next step. Turns out it was a step full of promise.

Rejuvenate

2007-08-12T10:14:00.000-04:00

Rejuvenate:
a : to make young or youthful again b: give new vigor to c: to restore to an original or new state

Yesterday, I was able to spend 24 hours with a couple of dear friends and rejuvenate my spirit. This "Bucket Full Of Fun"...sweetly prepared by one friend's daughter-in-law... was packed with delicious food, a fun game, cards, fingernail polish of course! and lots of love. I am thankful that for 24 hours I was able to laugh, cry, talk and dream of a brighter tommorrow. "Rejuvenation" is a good follow-up to "melancholy".

Melancholy

2007-08-09T07:20:00.000-04:00

Melancholy...depression of spirits, dejection, a pensive mood

Melancholy is the word that comes to mind as I consider this little girl sitting in a bone-dry bird bath. She holds a shell as if waiting to hear something...she's been waiting for a very long time. Whenever I go to the lakehouse I think, "something needs to be done about her." Then I walk on by.
Last weekend I stopped. I sat down on the grass and took her picture. I let myself feel the melancholy emotions she evokes in me. I knew the "shell" had a message for me but I didn't hear it until just now. I heard, "Don't keep walking by your emotions, Susan. Stop and think about them. Name them. Do the hard work of listening to and healing your spirit."
I will. I am.

2007-08-05T15:32:00.000-04:00

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."
Chinese Proverb

2007-08-02T11:13:00.000-04:00

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference.

2007-07-29T10:34:00.000-04:00

Three cuties...Nicole, Cali and Nathan..."chillin" on a warm summer day.

Barista!

2007-07-27T09:10:00.000-04:00

Ana in her Starbucks apron, looking pretty as a peach! I am impressed with Starbucks; the training they provide is thorough, the company values are admirable, the salary/benefits are above average and the product is excellent. I think Ana's found a part-time job that she will really enjoy.

2007-07-25T14:35:00.000-04:00

Me and "Lennox", the workhorse of summer.

Simple Pleasures...

2007-07-25T14:33:00.000-04:00

...walking barefoot in the soft, green grass of summer.

PeekABoo!

2007-07-22T20:34:00.000-04:00

Growing Up

2007-07-18T18:19:00.000-04:00

Nathan has been taking Drivers Ed every day for the past 3 weeks. The classroom portion is over and now it's time to get behind the wheel. WOOHOO!

2007-07-16T08:12:00.000-04:00

OK, I could tell you this photo of the Harry Potter movie poster was INTENTIONALLY blurry but the fact is, I intended to get a clear shot to entice you to go see "Order of the Phoenix". The best laid plans are sometimes superceded by better laid plans and I think this blurry shot is an example of that phenomenon. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you will be thrilled with this movie. Ana, Nicole, Christy and I think it's almost as good as the first one and that is saying a lot!

Dressed up...

2007-07-15T14:25:00.000-04:00

Monkey Grass!

For Melanie

2007-07-13T17:06:00.000-04:00

I spent a couple of hours with my sister-in-law today. We talked and cried and talked and cried and even laughed a little bit. Years ago, she cross-stitched the following verse for me and it's a perfect reflection of our relationship...

"We've shared so much laughter and so many tears,
Our spiritual kinship grows stronger each year,
We're not sisters by birth, but we knew from the start,
God put us together to be sisters by heart!"

Dawn

2007-07-12T07:39:00.001-04:00

"An angel, robed in spotless white,
Bent down and kissed the sleeping Night.
Night woke to blush; the sprite was gone.
Men saw the blush and called it Dawn."
Anon

2007-07-11T16:20:00.000-04:00

Our life's journey is full of twists and turns, valleys and mountaintops, and the occassional desolate place that we would just as soon pass by. Today I had to stop in one of those desolate places. Tommorrow I will set out for the mountains.

I Spy...

2007-07-08T14:21:00.000-04:00

several little butterflies. Do you?

2007-07-08T10:25:00.000-04:00

These two doves spent some time on our walkway today. I watched them from the window and thought about what peaceful creatures they are. The dove is a universal symbol of peace and innocence. Perhaps they are a sign for me and my precious family. Perhaps peace is coming up the walkway and will soon be at our door. May it be so.

For my friend, Susan(aka Red)...

2007-07-05T18:31:00.000-04:00

You gave me seeds from your garden. I planted and tended them with love. Today the first fantastic flower made it's debut. Thank you!

HAPPY JULY 4th!

2007-07-04T14:01:00.000-04:00

RED!
WHITE!
BLUE!

Wanna take a guess as to what they are?

2007-07-02T12:44:00.000-04:00