Sheila's Spot - 365

Finally...back to the posts! Maybe :)

2008-06-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a watercolor workshop given by Myrna Wacknov. We talked about a lot of things that week, and one of those things was painting tissue paper. I love tissue paper in collage, but I've been informed that commercial tissue paper isn't light fast, and, instead, fades very quickly. So, when she mentioned that she painted her own, I listened to how. Tonight, I spent a few hours painting tissue paper--made a mess and covered myself with acrylics and ink, but I've got some really fun, unique paper.

Asking the Questions

2008-01-06T08:18:00.000-08:00

I’ve spent most of my 58 years knowing all the answer, and only valuing the answer, but it seems with the coming of the age of 40, there have only been questions. That unsettled me for so long—I thought there was something wrong with me, but I’ve come to know that it’s only by asking the questions that there can be growth. The questions are important, and they must be asked. I remember Sr. Mary at the Cenacle saying, “If there’s anything the Church must confess, it has to they that She hasn’t allowed the questions.” And so it is.

For too long I’ve been afraid of the questions, but at long last, I’ve come to love the questions, to look for them, to explore them—no longer looking for the answer, but instead looking for the next question. It’s not about the destination, but instead, the journey.

I’ve been reading everything I can find on Mary Magdalene—it’s been my “Christmas” assignment, and I’ve savored every morsel and loved every minute. This morning I finished The Secret Magdalene, a novel by K.I. Longfellow. It’s strictly a novel told from a totally different point of view, beautifully written, and raising tons more questions. Lots more possibilities!

There’s a short conversation recorded on page 341, that sums up what I’m trying to say. It’s a conversation between the Magdalene, Mariamne, and her friend Seth. They find themselves taking refuge in a “koinos bios, a place where lives are lived in common and in peace”, with the Carmelites. Mariamne asks Seth:

“Tell me Seth, how can you leave such a place?”

He answers instantly. “How is it my Queen Bee asks such a thing?”…”Can you, so full of questions, wonder that I, so full of questions, would come away from a place where there are only answers?” Only answers? I do not know what he means, and he knows I do not know. “They have found their answers here, Mariamne. Having found the answers they seek, they ask no more questions.”

No more questions? Impossible. I understand him now. (end of quote)

Sometimes I think that’s why I can’t find a home in institutional church—they have found their answers, and ask no more questions. And most of the one’s I’ve been in allow no questions. But questions are necessary for growth. If the questions aren’t allowed, our spiritual growth is stunted, and we eventually die. As for me, I plan to continue to question, expecting that each question will bring another and another, and so the journey continues. And finally, I’m no longer afraid that there may not be an answer. At least, I don’t think so.

1-2-08 Poor Harry! Third Act Hangs Their Show

2008-01-03T05:37:00.000-08:00

Can you just imagine being one guy among 17 female artist, trying to "decorate" walls and hang a show???

Our Circle has been meeting for one year on January 10. What a journey that's been! First working the Artist Way book, then sharing Crones Don't Whine--this group has really bonded and shared some great experiences. And yesterday was another one! Who would have know how much we would grow to care for one another! Life is full of surprises!

Following the Wind

2008-01-01T08:17:00.001-08:00

Not a good picture, but you get my drift...

The wind blows where it pleases; you can hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. Jn. 3:18

For years, I would receive a Scripture from Godde for the new year, but it’s been a long time since I’ve read the Bible and gotten any “word” from Godde, let along a verse for the year.

But it happened this morning. The wind has been blowing so much for a while now. In times past, I would have asked Godde what the wind meant, but I haven’t done that for a while, either. So a few days ago, I asked, “What’s with all the wind. It’s leaving such a mess behind (broken branches and fallen palm fronds everywhere!)…so, tell me, what’s with all the wind?”

This morning as I read in John, I came upon this verse in John 3:8, The wind blows where it pleases; you can hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

And it was one of those synchronistic moments when heaven and earth seemed to meet, and I “knew” the word was from Godde and for me and for this new year.

One of my joys is to take note of the numbers used in the Bible, knowing that to the Hebrew/Greek writers of Scripture, many numbers were symbolic and were hidden numerical codes giving the reader “new light” on a passage. The number 3 is a number representing Godde and Godde’s presence, and the number 8 is the number for new beginnings, new birth, “newness”.

So the numbering of the John 3:8 passage and the synchronistic discussion of the wind, along with a “knowing” deep inside of me, helped me receive this passage from Godde for this year of 2008.

And the mess the wind leaves behind—seems to be the story of my journey. I know that my call for this new year has been to cut some ties so that I can be free to follow the Spirit wherever. People don’t seem to understand—especially church folk, but I can’t follow the Wind if I have obligations elsewhere. So once again, I seem to find myself “loose” and “on the move”. Where will I wind up this time? Who knows, but the Wind is refreshing; I recognize it, and I “know” that I’m once again journeying with the Spirit. And it feels good and “right”.

The Year in Review

2007-12-31T07:57:00.000-08:00

2007 In Review

January – my first art show is hung, and the reception held. Actually there are 4 of us—the culmination of over a year of hard work. It is a beautiful show. Some of my favorite people are unable to attend, but, still, it is a beautiful show. I feel like Cinderella at the ball: glad to be here, but still not too sure it’s real.

A friend looses a grandson to this terrible war in Iraq—I hate this war; I hate all war. This was the closest that this war in Iraq has come to touching my own life. I feel some of my friend’s pain.

In January our Circle meets for the first time, never realizing what bonds of sisterhood will be created, what friendships will be made—or that we will be doing our own show a year later. Here’s to a beautiful group of sisters—what joy they have brought me this last year: The Artist Way Circle!!!

February – oh my…Valentine’s Day brings a real test this year. News that rattles my soul and unsettles me and my family. But life goes on, and the news becomes bearable. And we laugh again, and discover that love really is big enough to be so inclusive. This seems to be a year that will remove some of our rose-colored glasses. And we will discover that the world is still beautiful, that Godde is still really good, and that the All really is ALL, even what we’ve always called “not good”.

A few of my other “Sisters”, the Lace Sisters meet at the Land of Ease for a “girlfriend” weekend—and love on each other again. It is beautiful and needed.

March – Ken Hosmer does a watercolor workshop here, and it is a huge success.

April – The Artist Way Circle takes a day-trip to Houston to see a beautiful exhibit of the 18th-19th Century Impressionist Artists and winds up having a splendid lunch together. These women are treasures to my life right now. A bond is growing, and I find myself looking forward to our times together—like a healing balm those times are.

April also brings a little side-trip to Corpus to visit Jim’s eldest. It’s lovely when your kids grow up and invite you for a visit. Even lovelier when the visit turns out to be so good, and you realize your children are grown, and doing well, and have started to become friends instead of “your children”. That’s delicious.

Up, up and away! Riding in an airplane—and a hot-air balloon! Jim and I take a belated 15th anniversary trip to San Francisco and points north. It’s wonderful. I LOVE SF, I love California! We delight in the hairpin turns of Hwy. 1, spend a couple of nights in the mountains of Northern California, and make many memories. It is a lovely trip—and we survived! Only one little melt-down at the end of the trip. Pretty good for a couple who don’t normally travel too well together. Maybe there’s still hope??? J

May – SHE GRADUATES! Jim’s eldest daughter graduates from college—a huge step. We take a trip to Corpus for the great event!

And my spiritual direction classes come to an end. This has been a 3-year journey, with a wonderful group of people who have been so much a part of changing my whole life. I came into these classes so sure of so much, and they end with me realizing how little I know, and my whole world view changing. So what’s next spiritually? How do I incorporate all I’ve learned—and unlearned into my journey? Where do I go from here? So much has changed. So much has been undone over the last 3 years.

Then a weekend with the Lace Sisters at one of the Sisters’ new home. Another ”un-doing”. It iss eventful—and life-changing for me—and painful. Is it really all about me? Being pretty rattled, my second son plays me a song and sings me a tune, and life is beautiful again. I’m so grateful for my children—my friends who love me still and bear with me and lift me up when life has crumbled.

The next weekend another friend and I take a trip to San Antonio and paint on the Riverwalk. First time to paint “plein aire” and in public. It’s fun—must do again.

June – Life slows down a little. I finish up all of my spiritual direction assignments, continue meeting with my Circle – we’ve finished The Artist Way and started another little book called Crones Don’t Whine, and we’ve officially become The Third Act. We’ve been invited to do a show at the Gallery in January. My painting has dried up, and I’m not sure I can even paint anymore. Maybe it was all a dream and I’m not really an artist. Maybe it was all a dream and I’m not really a Christian. Maybe it’s all been a dream and life doesn’t really have a purpose and it’s all been a joke. But I keep waking up, and life keeps going on—life seem fragile, and a very close circle of friends seem so distant, and I’m not sure what’s hit me. It does seem to be all about me, doesn’t it.

July – My eldest grandchild, and my only granddaughter turns 13, with a pretty untraditional birthday party. My son loses his job, and mine and Ellen’s long-awaited day starts out quite shakily. I say things a grandmother should never say to her granddaughter—but 13-year-old wisdom prevails, tears wash garbage away, and Love grows stronger, and the day winds up being beautiful in spite of my fears and my blunders.

Mother and I head to Dallas to see my youngest and his wife and to visit them for the first time in their new home. A trip to museum, a musical, and a wonderful visit—but the wind changes at the very end, and questions are asked and answers bring disappointments. The rose-colored glasses come off again—life is different now. More decisions are made that wouldn’t have been my choice, but must be respected. My beautiful family has a “crack” in it that seems to have grown wider. What do I do now—can’t seem to fix this one.

And long-time friend’s marriage seems to have ended. Nothing much seems sacred. Real love seems to be futile. I discover a lot of anger still in me.

August – I graduate from the Cenacle’s spiritual direction program and my 3-year commitment is over. I really am at wit’s end. I feel so obligated to the Church who sponsored me, yet—I’m not even sure what I believe anymore. Still asking “Who is Jesus?” “Does all that I’ve experienced really mean anything?” “What do I believe?” “Do I believe in anything at all?” “Should I really even go to graduation—does it really matter?” But I go, and a prayer that I’ve been whispering for a couple of months is one of the themes:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. (Thomas Merton).

Mind you, it’s been a whispered prayer—not sure I mean it much, but synchronicity lifts my heart for a moment. I stumbled on it a couple of months ago, and taped it to my computer and I whisper it occasionally—and it’s read at the graduation ceremony. Maybe Godde still is speaking to me? One can hope, can’t she.

Still struggling when I try to paint. I come upon a photo of one of my sons playing his guitar. It stirs me, so I think, “I’ll try”. And woola! It works! And another—there seems to be some juice still flowing somewhere…

September – I decide to re-visit pottery classes. Maybe something inside me will jumpstart my art? And an artist I know and respect decides to teach a class at WAS-H—the human figure. I’m so drawn to paint and sculpt the human form—even though no one ever buys…why does that seem to be the only measure of success???

A friend marries in September—a Lily. What a beautiful reception, and something inside me stirs—it started with a wedding and now it ends with a wedding. There seems to be some closure inside—something for me seems to have ended. Amazingly, it feels “right”. Never sure what these “feelings” mean, but they are “true”, and I’ve come to learn to trust them.

October – my artwork begins to flow, kind of sort of, again. I thoroughly enjoy my pottery classes and my watercolor classes. We have a drawing workshop at the studio, and it’s great fun. I’m enjoying model drawing days at the studio. I can feel clouds lifting. But something else is stirring. I don’t want to go to church. I hate being “obligated” to perform. I can’t share my heart there like I can with my Third Act circle. Why can’t we talk freely in church—too many walls, and too much expectation. What do I do about the “obligation”?

November – I reimburse the Church the $1500 they have paid toward my classes over the last 3 years. I feel somewhat freer. No such thing as “holy obligation”. The only thing that keeps me going to church now is serving Eucharist. I know I have to resign that ministry as well. I need to be “free” for the next step, so I let the leader of that ministry know that I can’t serve anymore after the first of the year. A huge weight lifts.

December – The full weight of decisions made in July looms. Christmas is never easy for me, anyway—will I make it this year? One of us will be missing—a choice made. It hurts.

But there’s also something new stirring inside of me. For the first time in a LONG time. Who knows why, but I request books from the local library—books on Mary the Mother and Mary Magdalene. I find myself reading as much as I can, perusing through most books, and savoring many of them, especially the books by Margaret Starbird: Woman with the Alabaster Jar, Goddess in the Gospels, Mary Magdalene, Bride in Exile. I find my heart stirring again—for the first time in the last 3 years, I feel a “coming home”. The Bride returns—the Song of Solomon—the fires are burning again, perhaps just embers, but something is happening inside. I am captivated with the thought of Jesus and the Magdalene. The return of the feminine. The Bride and the Bridegroom. The other “half” of Christianity.

And the friend who’s marriage seemed to be ended? They are together again—just in time for Christmas.
And that’s where I am as this year winds down. The year has come and gone, and my family has survived a crisis. Only time will tell if the wound will be healed. But I made it through none the worse for wear.

And the Voice of the Bride and the Bridegroom stirs inside of me. What will 2008 bring? A year of “new beginnings”? Only time will tell.

I love “New Years”. I used to love empty journals, beginning books. I’ve let my journaling go over the last couple of years, but maybe this year some pages will get written. Regardless, the pages of my life will get written each day—some of them I write, some are written by others, and when synchronicity happens, I know that even Godde is still writing on the pages of my life. So I wait, with hope, expectations…perhaps even rose-colored glasses

Sattelite Gallery Move--Showing at LJ Library

2007-06-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

I've joined the traveling Brazosport artists' "satellite gallery". I've had paintings hanging in the Dow Beutel Building for a couple of months now, but today it was time to move them to their new location. Mother went with me and helped me lug all the paintings into the local Lake Jackson Library conference room, where we spent about an hour hanging them. They will be on display there until August; then we'll move them again.

Our local paper did a write up on me and gave my blog address as the place to go view pictures of my paintings, so I figured I might should update this site at least for today! If you want to see other paintings I've done, check them out at http://www.smconner.com.

As you can tell, I've taken a break from blogging for a few weeks. Who knows, maybe this will get me jumpstarted again. Life seems to have gotten in the way, if you know what I mean! Thanks to those of you who've told me you miss it. I love you all for noticing.

And Last But Not Least...

2007-05-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

Another new beginning... My youngest grandson celebrated his First Communion yesterday, so I went to church with is family. I took several pictures, most of which were blurry--don't know if it was me moving my camera or Eddy moving. He has a little bit of a problem being still :). I managed to get this shot of him, then the one below...
Doesn't he look like a little angel??? SURPRISE! Actually, he's a treasure, albeit a very funny one! He got to help carry up the gifts, and commented to his mom that "the bread really smelled good!" And he let it be known to his dad that the wine tasted good, too! The rest of us knew that by the way he kept smacking his lips when it was all said and done! No wonder Jesus said, "Let the little children come..." They're much more fun that we are, huh!

Another "End" or is it "New Beginning"???

2007-05-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

I took pictures of this day with Jim's camera, which unfortunately is with him in Pennsylvania until the end of the week, so I'll have to post a picture later, but Jim's daughter "Robin-Bobin" graduated from Texas A&M at Corpus Christi on Saturday. It seems hauntingly odd to be graduating Jim's daughters--I met Robin when she was only six. It's been a joy watching her grow up. I WILL post a graduation picture when I geth the camera back!

A Very Busy Weekend of Endings and New Beginnings

2007-05-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

I've shared the last three years with this group--my spiritual direction class. Friday was our last class--a day of prayer. We walked the labyrinth together.
The first time I walked the labyrinth, I walked with a large group--and I learned about community, about walking together in a large group, then finding yourself alone, with seemingly no one around, about giving those who need it a wide birth when we meet on the same path going opposite directions or giving each other just enough room to barely squeek by--whatever the other needs, about walking together with someone for a while, then taking a turn and not seeing them again, until they show up again on the other side of the "journey"...
We've walked together for three years (some of us are missing inthis photo), and now our paths seem to be going in different directions, yet we all know we're still in it together. I'm so grateful to have had this season in my life, and I love each of you that I've walked with. We still have a day of prayer in July, then graduation in August--then who knows??? One thing I've learned though, this isn't "the end", it's only the beginning of a new path--a path full of surprises, joys and sorrows, light and darkness, new opportunities for Love to be expressed through each of us to the world that waits for us--and for us to receive Love from unexpected "others" on the way.

Try reading these two books at the same time!

2007-05-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

I don't want to be-labor my point, and I'm not saying Obama is Jesus, but reading these two books at the same times is very interesting. Thought provoking, to say the least.

The Seren-Dips Graduate!

2007-05-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well, we've done it! Our Artist Way Circle officially graduated today, ceremony and all, and it was wonderful. This group of women has been "pure gift", and meeting with them and getting to know them over the past 3 months has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Each woman is a treasure! And we love ourselves as a group so much that we've decided to name ourselves the Seren-Dips (cute, huh!), and I have officially registered us with the Millionth Circle. If there was ever a forward-thinking group of women, this is it! :) Thank you Nancy Y. for having us in your home, and thank you Adalia, Annie, L'il Anna, Barbara, Ginger, Helen, Jeanette, Linda, Nancy S., Sharlyn, Sherry, and Tina for sharing your life with me. We are SISTA'S, and I love each of you a whole bunch!

Getting New Windows

2007-05-08T17:07:00.000-07:00

These young guys are taking out all my single pane energy wasting windows and replacing them with highly energy efficient double hung windows...I was thinking this morning about the "prophetic picture"--my house getting all new energy saving windows. I like the picture! :)

Reading Political Stuff?

2007-05-08T06:18:00.000-07:00

I've never read politically--used to consider myself "apolotical", until I realized that I just hadn't found "my spot", and I was being politically correct for the culture I had been raised in. But this man interests me. Reading his book has been a breath of fresh political air--he seems humble, reasonabale, and willing to listen and consider all sides. Balanced. And, yes, full of hope. I haven't hoped for this country for a long time, but there's a faint stirring of hope rising up in me. This guy isn't the magic pill, but maybe if more of us could listen, really listen to the "other"--maybe, just maybe....

Inner Authority

2007-05-03T08:53:00.000-07:00

I worked in my yard for a while yesterday, and before I knew it, I was pondering Mary’s “fiat”, her “yes”. And I’m still thinking about it this morning. I’ve wanted a “yes” as resolute as Mary’s for many years, but this morning it means more than “surrender”—more that “I’m your handmaiden—whatever you want”.

You know, I’ll never be a “virgin”, and I’ll never again have a special baby, but I really believe Mary’s story has to be mine for today, or it’s not part of a transformational gospel. Like Meister Eckhart said, not to belittle the birth of Jesus, but it doesn’t do us much good that Mary conceived the seed of God and gave birth to the Christ, unless I am able to conceive that seed and birth Christ for today. So, in light of all that…

What did it mean for a woman in Mary’s day to say “yes”? We think we live in a patriarchal age, but a lot of changes have taken place since Mary boldly spoke her “yes”. In her day, it was still believed that a woman couldn’t have a relationship with God without a man’s intervention. She had no authority on her own to say “yes”.

I was pretty impressed a couple of years ago when I found out that the Aramic word for “virgin” simply meant “without the intervention of a man”. Even to this day, many of us in our current patriarchal society are taught that the man is the head of the house, the spiritual leader, the final authority. Years ago, I felt God calling me in a definite direction, but my pastor disagreed with me. He tried to talk me out of it, and finally in desperation turned to my husband and said, “Jim, as Sheila’s spiritual authority, what do you think?” I was flabbergasted—and Jim was, too!

Women are still deemed unworthy and/or unsuitable for the priesthood or pastorate in many denominations, including my own—based on a male-biased interpretation of Scripture and the science and reasoning of 2000 years ago. We’re still spiritually relegating women to second class citizens, because of the words of our spiritual forefathers, like Thomas Aquinas who spoke of a woman’s need to be governed by others wiser than herself when he wrote: “by such a kind of subjection woman is naturally subject to man, because in man the discretion of reason predominates”. (Emphasis mine) And this is only one example of a patriarchal culture that continues to subordinate women as the “God-given order of the world.”

All that to say that Mary defied those boundaries when it came to having her own personal relationship with Love. She heard Love speak for itself, and she believed what she heard in her own heart, and she chose to act on what she heard and believed of her own volition. She didn’t wait to have what she heard and believed correctly interpreted for her, nor did she wait to have the male spiritual leader agree with her, giving her permission to continue that relationship.

In fact, when her “spiritual authority” questioned her hearing and her response, a Messenger was sent to tell him, “Listen up—Mary heard right, and what she said is true. Believe her.”

For Luke to even include the story of Mary’s encounter with God is a pretty big deal.

So that’s what I’ve been thinking of over the last couple of days. Mary led the way for us, not as a docile, quiet little dependant woman, but as a brave, bold “thinking- for-herself” kind of woman—unafraid, or maybe courageous. She believed in her own inner authority, and her story encourages me really desire to KNOW for myself. She gives me courage to do this journey MY way. And I’m grateful Luke told the story for women of today.

West Meets East

2007-05-02T08:18:00.000-07:00

We had a rare opportunity in our area yesterday; the Dalai Lama came to Houston for a visit, so of course a group of us headed to Rice University to see and hear for ourselves. It amazes me still that I am at a place in my journey through life that I can even hear another spiritual voice speak into my life--especially one from the East. But I'm there, and I welcome the balance the other half brings. Again, one of those paradoxes in life--there is no West without East, there is no us without them, and there is no complete without all the parts. My western mind has been so lopsided for so long, and my spiritual process has been so "partial"--it's a joy to be able to open to the other and to hear with an open heart instead of a closed mind. What I find is that we're all saying much the same thing. The Dalai Lama's talk yesterday was on compassion in our every day life--the same message Jesus spoke as he walked among us. And it's a message I long to hear and experience in my life--if I must err, may it be on the side of compassion.

The Dalai Lama is a humble little man with a joyful smile that radiates from inside to the outside. And he left us with a profoundly humble statement: If you've heard something today that you can use, then take it and practice it and make it yours. If you haven't heard anything that's useful to you--then just forget all that I've said and don't worry about it. That's another place I want to get to--a place where I'm willing to let go of my agenda and my "right-ness", trusting that each person I meet will find his/her own way. What a gift to have someone say, "Trust yourself to know the truth and to find your way."

After those wonderful words of wisdom and love, a few of us went and ate and shopped! A pretty grand day--one filled with simple pleasures and simple words.

California or BUST!

2007-04-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I leave for San Francisco and points north Saturday morning--a 15th wedding anniversary present! While we're gone, trusty computer's going in for a check-up--it's moving soooooooo slllllloooooooowwwww..... So, I'm signing off until May 1! Catch up with you then!

Getting a Do...

2007-04-19T13:56:00.000-07:00

No, these aren't hot fudge sundaes! I went today to get my hair colored. I usually do it myself, but I decided to go a little more dramatic. Lorena talked me into doing my red plus 3 shades, so I decided to try it.
Am I beautiful yet??? Looks like I have a ways to go!
It's more subtle than I thought it would be, but it's pretty. We'll see...

Sunday, April 15, Lagniappe--a Little Something for Susan

2007-04-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends loves the word, "lagniappe". I've never heard it before until Susan began using it a couple of years ago, I think. I'm not even sure how to pronounce it, and can never remember what it means, but Jim and I saw this little shop in Bay City driving home yesterday, and I had to pull over and snap this photo for Susan. I love you, my friend!
Susan, my prayer for you today is "lagniappe".

Saturday, April 14 - One more batch...

2007-04-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm posting way too many, but we just don't get too many chances to visit with this gal this way, so I'm taking advantage--like she said, it was quality time, way overdue. Robin's been working here at the Bourbon Street Candy Co. for 3 years now. She's enjoyed it, and they all seem to think she's pretty grand, too.
Her bosses are very nice people. We enjoyed visiting with them and seeing their "baby", the shop.
Some of Robin's work buddies making the shop's specialty. Robin, we love you, and we had a great time!

Saturday, April 14 - Dinner at Joe's on Corpus Bay

2007-04-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

Seems strange when your kids start drinking in front of you. Robin and I talked about it. My mother moved in with Jim and me when I was 53. I told her when she was thinking about coming down, "Mother before you come down, you have to know that Jim and I drink occasionally, and Robin has her belly button pierced and we really don't care." 53! I was always mortified that she would find out that I wasn't the daughter she thought. Now-adays, she really doesn't care and she's pretty cool about a lot of things, but I didn't know then. Anyway, we all had a drink Saturday evening together, and it was nice. We probably don't know it all, but that's ok, too.
Here we are about to eat, having had a wonderful day. Robin's a great tourguide and a very sweet friend.
This was one of the many signs at Joe's--I've adoped it as my mantra! :)

Saturday, April 14 - More Robin/Corpus Pictures

2007-04-16T11:02:00.000-07:00

After we saw the botanical gardens, we decided to see the USS Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier docked at Corpus. It was fun watching Robin and her daddy walking through the Carrier reading all the signs, and sitting in all the right seats: gunner seats, captains seats, etc.

I love this picture of Robin--happy and grinning from ear to ear!

Robin and her daddy in another "seat" of some kind...don't remember, but they wanted their picture made!

Saturday, April 14 A Trip to Corpus to Visit Robin!

2007-04-16T10:44:00.000-07:00

Meet Robin, Jim's oldest daughter. She's been attending Texas A&M at Corpus and graduates in May. She's had her own apartment for the past year, and she's often invited us to come visit her, but it hasn't worked out, until now. We figured if we were going to get to see her first apartment, we better go now, because there's a good chance come the end of June, she'll be somewhere else. So, the new "marriage saver" GPS in hand, we left early Saturday morning--in fog and cold--and arrived about lunch time, just in time for beautiful clear blue skies, and an awesome warm day--just right for the sightseeing thing. This isn't the best picture of Robin, but it's the only one taken in her little apartment, so it's what you get!
Meet the Trolls...these were the little ditties that Robin loved when I first met her 16 years ago this summer. She was into trolls and Barbies. It's fun seeing her collection displayed in her apartment--I love it that she hasn't grown up too much for trolls!

Friday April 13, the "marriage saver"

2007-04-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hubby's been traveling a lot lately, and he got home Friday afternoon with this little dittie--he called it a "marriage saver". Don't ask me why??? We are leaving Saturday for a trip to California, and granted, we haven't always traveled well together, but the issue hasn't been getting lost--at least not geographically! Perhaps this more a spiritual picture?? :) We used it this past weekend when we went to Corpus to visit his daughter, Robin. It was very interesting--everytime we made a wrong turn, some female Australian voice came on and said, "Recalculating"...occasionally, when I turned the way I wanted to more often than she liked, she admonished me to "Please drive the highlighted route!" Maybe that's what Jim meant? I suspect most of us could use a little spiritual GPS to help us travel "life" together well...a Guide to help us re-calculate all our wrong moves, and Someone to remind us to "drive the highlighted route". Meanwhile, it was fun playing with this little gizmo, so we'll take it to California and we'll see if it "saves the marriage"...Let you know later! :)

Thursday, April 12, New TV Delivered

2007-04-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

Well, we've gone and done it--upgraded to a new big-screen tv. Actually, this one is smaller than our old one--the screen may be bigger, but it fits in a much more compact space--I got some of my living room floor space back! Hadn't bargained for that. Got rid of Jim's big old black stereo speakers, too. I hated those things. So now we look like the Jetson's! :)

Wednesday, April 11th Yellow Roses Blooming

2007-04-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

I planted climbing roses next to a trellis by my swing several years ago, and they've never done squat--I think it's too much shade, but low and behold, I have several blooms this year! Who knew! Not nearly like my friend Susan's climbing roses, but more than I've had! I'm grateful!

Satellite Gallery Exhibit

2007-04-10T10:52:00.000-07:00

I took several paintings to the Dow Beutel Building this morning and Rick, here, helped me hang them. The Art League has several "satellite" galleries, and the Beutel Building is one of them. So, I'm officially on the circuit.

Rick was a great helper--I hadn't expected Dow to provide help hanging paintings, but they did. And they let me pull my car right up to the front door to unload, so it was a very pleasurable experience. My paintings will be on exhibit there until June.

Slow day...

2007-04-09T16:47:00.000-07:00

You can tell it's a slow day when I take pictures of the tv screen! Satellite went out yesterday, and that's always a big deal. Not only do I hate to miss Dancing with the Stars, but Mother has to miss Jeopardy and the news...Major thing!

Just got a heads up that our neighbor Ronnie is back from Iraq! He surprised us all with a visit--I just got back from across the street, but it was raining and I didn't feel like dragging the camera! Jim's going to hate that he's not home for this!

Happy Easter!

2007-04-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

Father Karl joined us from Houston today to help out with the overflow Mass. On Easter Sunday, we have one 8:00 Mass, 2 9:30 Masses and 2 11:00 Masses--usually quite a large crowd. I like Fr. Karl. He's a sweetie, and he always gives a good homily. I laughed at him this morning before Mass--he commented to one of the servers that it was so cold he was afraid he would accidentally celebrate the Christmas Mass instead of the Easter Mass.
I've never attended Mass in the Hall before, but I was assigned to serve there, so there I went. It was nice--the lilies smelled so good. Frankly, lilies, hydrangeas and azaleas were the only sign of Spring. Everyone was dressed in winter attire. There's always next Sunday.

Hope you've had a blessed day, and I hope the sun was shining where you are, and that it was warm.

Happy 50th Birthday Neighbor Carl!

2007-04-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

Left to right: Jim's daughter, Rebecca, hubby Jim, birthday boy Carl, Carl's brother Paul, and Devin, stirring the pot. Yesterday we celebrated Carl's 50th birthday with our first crawfish boil of the season--and boy, was it COLD! Looks like Easter will be frigid this year. The weather's crazy, but that's ok--company was good, and the food was great...
Wasn't he a cute kid! Notice the "over the hill" note...most of the rest of us know that 50 is only cresting the hill, not going over it, but that's ok. We'll let the young folks find out for themselves!
YUMMMMM! Hot crawfish being poured into the chest--really good eatin', with corn on the cob and new potatoes. The only thing that might have been a little better might have been some warmer weather, but if you can't have everything, yesterday was perfect!

A Wonderful Day

2007-04-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

Back row, left to right: Helen, Sheila, Jeanette, Linda, Ginger, Nancy, Sharlyn, Adalia
Front row, left to right: Lil' Anna, Annie, Barbara, and Tina. We're minus another Nancy and Sherry--we missed YOU!

Meet a delicious group of women--this is our Artist Way Circle, a group of committed women (minus 2) who have met every week for 8 weeks so far. We are tapping into our creative side and becoming even more creative in our coming together to do it. Yesterday we took a "play date" and went to Houston to the Museum of Fine Arts to see the masterpieces of French painting on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art--the Impressionist period and more. I must confess that I've never studied the old Masters, much less seen more than photographs of their work, so I was like a kid in a candy store--actually, the feeling was much deeper, but I can't describe it. It was way more than I expected.

One of the first paintings to strike me was Marie Denise Villos painting of A Young Woman Drawing. The light was incredible, and her eyes caught mine as she looked into my soul. I was stunned, and could have spent more time just sitting and looking at her. It was as if she knew me--or she knew something about me that perhaps I don't even know about myself.

And I really enjoyed te nudes painted by Jean Disire-Gustov Corbet. He was a "bab boy" whose work was sometimes condemned for being "crude", all because he included the hair under their arms or because his paintings were more realistic. Several of us mentioned the fact that someone suggested he paint angels in one of his more sensual paintings--to help it be more acceptable, and he said he would, if they could show him an angel. I especially loved his nudes in and around water, and the one I saw of the lady with the parrot. Beautiful! And yes, sensual!

But my breath was taken away as I entered the room that contained Monet's paintings. I remember back when I was in high school--he's the only artist that I remember talking about, and I knew I liked his work. I imagined myself being an impressionist artist because of him. But you know, that was a long time ago, and sometimes I think I made it all up--but when I stepped into the room, I cried. It was like coming home in a strange sort of way. O my gosh, I loved his paintings. I loved the energy, the color, the brush strokes--and I remembered, "Yes, my memories were real, and he really was my inspiration."

I could go on and on, but I won't--instead I'll move us to the next part of the day. Annie booked us reservations at this lovely restaurant, and o my! We felt so elegant and so fabulously treated as we walked into this little restaurant on Alabama street.

Pure elegance, inside and outside. Annie had gotten reservations for us out on the patio. The sky was blue, the air was dry (for a change) and cool and clear. There was a magnificent fountain and lots of lush plants all around. The service was impeccible, and the food was absolute sheer delight.
I got a beautiful grilled salmon steak, served with a salad, wine, sorbet for dessert...and absolutely some of the best company anywhere. There was laughter and enthusiasm delight as we shared a long leisurely lunch with each other. We're already thinking about it--we really must take a trip together!

Thank you ladies for being a scrumptious part of my life! I love all of you a whole bunch!

Remember the ducks????

2007-04-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, one more! Actually this was supposed to have been yesterday's post...remember my post from a couple of days ago? The pair of mallard ducks had gotten "lost"? Well, they seem to have adapted to our place rather nicely (could it be the bread I fed them???), and they've settled in. They are so pretty, and are quite tame. I wonder if there are eggs somewhere?

On With Life...

2007-04-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

Today was errand day for Mother and me--I took her for visit with one of her doctors, and I sat outside by their reflection pool and waited for her. After my breakthrough this morning, it was delicious. I saw turtles, and snapped all kinds of pictures of flowers, reflections, knot holes in the bridge, mold on the concrete--all of it. When we can find the energy flow of love and trust, everything takes on new meaning and all of it's beautiful...
Then off we went to get our nails done! Now, that's awesome! I love this little place--they have the nicest people, and it makes me happy to go there.

Clarity Comes with the Dawn

2007-04-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

The fog has lifted! I've been in a funk--let's call it what it is, depression--for about 11 days now, and I've tried and tried to figure out what was wrong so that I could fix it. I've felt as if I was being sucked under or had fallen into a pit with no way out, and I have complained for days about everything and everybody. But Love came this morning--synchronicity! When Love comes disguised as coincidence! I reached and picked up this book this morning. I started it right after the first of the year, but I never got very far, and only Love knows why I chose to pick it up this morning, but I started reading right where I left off in January, in the chapter called Intimacy. Zukov begins: Intimacy is the measure of the energy that leaves your energy system in love and trust...The experience of intimacy is not related to how others act or do not act, or how they speak or do not speak. It depends upon how energy leaves your energy system. When energy leaves your processing system in love and trust, the result is the experience of intimacy... and on he wrote, and everything began to click for me.
And these pages pointed out exactly what I had done: focused on the circumstance and the "who done it to me", instead of the experience of the feelings I had inside. You know, I know this on an intellectual level, but I keep forgetting. It doesn't matter if my circumstances change--if I am living in fear and doubt, NOTHING will be right, EVER. And if I'm living in love and trust, the circumstances, no matter what they are, or if they ever change, simply don't matter. Zukov reminded me to focus on what's happening inside of me, not what's outside of me. It's about ME changing, not everyone else changing to suit me. DARN IT ALL!! Zukov got me when he wrote: Your teacher is very patient. If you do not learn what your circumstances see to teach you, more circumstances arrive to help you learn the same lesson. This continues as long as necessary--in my case, it seems over and over again. No matter, for THIS MOMENT, for today, for right now, I'm open to love and trust again, and my insides and my outsides are "home".

April 2, What's a fork without a spoon??? Especially when you've ordered soup?

2007-04-02T04:09:00.000-07:00

April 1, A Fool's Day...

2007-04-02T03:42:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a perfectly yucky day at my house, and I had enough, so Sunday when I left to go to church, I told Jim I wasn't coming home to sit in my junk all day long again, so after church I ran some errands then I faced a challenge I received years ago in my first divorce recovery class--to go to a real restaurant and a movie by myself. I've never done that before. Where I come from, "decent ladies" never go to a restaurant by themselves, and certainly not a movie. Back in 1990 when I went through my second divorce and actally spent two rounds in a divorce recovery class, we were told to do just that. So I didn't do a "drive-thru" and get junk food, nor did I go inside a junk food establishment, I went to a real restaurant, got a table for one, and enjoyed lunch by myself. In the old days, that was considered "improper"--women who did that were only looking for one thing, whatever that was we weren't told. And I think men told us that. Actually, I think it was my mother, who got it from her mother, but somewhere along the way, I think men told women that--another one of our little pieces of baggage that says sexual misconduct--or misconduct of any kind--is always the fault of the woman.

After I finished lunch, I kept hearing the "you should go home now" voice, but I didn't want to go home. I really like Sandra Bullock, and had wanted to see Phenomenon, so I did just that--another "disgraceful" thing. I went to a Sunday matinee all by myself. I must confess, it felt strange, and I felt like the people there were whispering, "Poor thing...", but just before the movie started, another single-for-the-day woman sat at the other end of the row from me. She looked at me and smiled, and I smiled back. Solidarity. I snapped several pictures in the theater, but nothing really took. I almost deleted all of them until I saw this one again. I don't think the movie I went to was rated R? Who cares! But "Restricted" is what I've felt for the last couple of weeks. Boxed in, agitated, pacing like a caged lion, and actually pretty angry. I wish the feeling would lift...
As a review, I really liked the movie Phenomenon. And intense, on the edge of your seat, but terribly romantic movie. All the things I like best--intrigue, passion, intensity, romance, tears...all in all, my date with myself proved to be a very good afternoon. But then, one always has to go back to real life. At least the sun was shining when I walked out of the movie theater. That's a gift.

When All Else Fails...

2007-03-31T16:15:00.000-07:00

Well, when you're in a funk that won't lift no matter what you do, bake something sugary and fattening and eat! That's always been my sure-fire cure-all...so, there's a pineapple pie in the oven, and I will probably stuff myself later. I feel better already!

Lost....

2007-03-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

The only ducks we usually see here at the creek are mud ducks and in the winter. But I've noticed this mallard couple swimming by for the past few days. This morning I saw them pacing between the neighbor's house and my house. It appears they got out of the creek further down where there's a mud bank, and now they can't quite figure out how to get back in the flow of things. They would stop, look at the water, and pace some more. That's kind of how I've been feeling for the past few days--somehow I managed to find myself "out of the flow", and I can't quite figure out how to get back in. Dumpy...like the ducks I feel my self rather "lost"...I suspect the necessary change will come, and I will find myself in the flow again, but it sure feels rotten for the moment wondering how the heck I wound up here, and wondering whether I will be able to find my way back in or not?

Waiting for Hummingbirds...

2007-03-27T16:52:00.000-07:00

It's been a quiet day. I've been painting all day, and never got around to taking a photo. I was sitting on the couch and the evening sun hit this bird feeder a few moments ago and really sparkled it. I waited too long to get up and take the picture, but that's ok...this is my reminder that the hummingbirds sometimes come back in April, so I need to get the feeder cleaned up and ready and have some food on hand. BTW, today's my daughter-in-law's birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURA!

Lunch at the Local

2007-03-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

You know, my mom and I really like going out to eat. That's a bonus for Jim since she's living here with us. He would rather eat at home, but with her here,my eating out bug gets taken care of pretty often now-adays, it seems. There are two of these delicious bushes planted by the door at The Local in downtown Lake Jackson. Don't know what the heck they are, but they are scrumptious! Beautiful vivid red, and wonderful soft texture. Would love to have branches cut and in a vase in my living room! Think they would notice?
And I've just always thought this drink display was really great with all the color, so I took a photo. Seemed like the thing to do!

A Day with Mother

2007-03-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

I've kind of neglected Mother all week, and both of us were feeling a little dumpy the last couple of days, so we took a day off to "go" and see. She had heard that a replica of the Nina was in Baytown, so I looked and sure enough, it was docked at the Marina. She's a history buff, so off we went. She was thrilled to get to go on it and to listen to the history talk, and to just imagine Columbus and his crew of 25 + animals and passengers on a little boat like this. We figured either he and the folks with him were brave--or a little crazy! Her biggest wonder was how 25 men could sleep on the deck with all the snoring, belching, farting, etc...:) We are both very private people who enjoy our quiet, and this was just a little too close quarters for us!
After Baytown Marina, we headed toward Texas City to see the art exhibit hanging there (including two of my paintings), and we happened on Tookies, Jim's favorite hamburger place, so we stopped for a "bean burger". They're fabulous--big juicy beef burgers, refried beans, and crushed fritos! To die for! And Tookie's is a lot of atmosphere! You get the picture? We had a really good day, and I think it did us both a lot of good!

Meet Oscar!

2007-03-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

Meet the newest member of our family--grandpuppy Oscar Garmon! Or at least he will be by the end of next week--he's with Mike and Laura and the boys for a week on a trial basis. But I highy suspect he will fit right in. He seems to get along famously with David and Eddy and he rides in Mike's lap while Mike drives. :) Every boy needs a dog--even big boys. :)

Friday, March 24, 2007 Workshop Over

2007-03-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

Today was the last day of our weeklong workshow with Ken Hosmer, so Tina presented him with a little memento of us...
a tee-shirt from Kitty's Purple Cow, in Surfside. Earlier in the week, he had painted a bull, and he dumped this incredible green right in the cow's rump, and it blew Tina away. Green's her favorite color, but--on a bull??? So we've been telling him all week that cows were purple, not green, and now he knows. If you take a close look, you can answer his question: Where's the center of interest?

I don't "do" flowers--I love the, but I have a horrible time painting them, so I determined to do flowers this week. I did one last summer, and two this workshop--I've doubled my flower production!
Not great, but at least they're done, and I "saved my whites" better than last year. :) Hopefully Ken will be back with us next January or February.

Remember March 7th's Post???

2007-03-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

Remember the "signs of Spring" post of March 7? These little green snippits of buds have become full-blown leaves!
I've been cooped up inside all week with the workshop, but just happened to have enough brain juice left to realize: Wow! That tree has really leafed out--seems like just this week, while I haven't been looking! Seen through the screen in my kitchen window!

The Teacher Teaches

2007-03-22T16:13:00.000-07:00

Meet Ken Hosmer, a watercolorist like no other! My first workshop was with him last year. He is the best teacher! He got so much knowledge, and a real gift for sharing that knowledge. He gives wonderful lectures them does magical demos. See the gorgeous yellow roses in the background?? He "demo'd" those for us yesterday. He's a very fast painter. I love to watch him work and to listen to him as he talks to himself. He demo'd cows for us Tuesday, roses yesterday and then today...
an absolutely lovely grandma hugging a puppy. He uses awesome colors that blow us away--and yet wind up looking "real"? He uses a different technique--he paints from dark to light. Watercolor us usually from light to dark with lots of layers, but he developed "backward" painting that's supposed to help keep the darks from getting muddy. Makes for very bold color. Tomorrow we get "critiqued", so maybe I'll have some shots of some of the paintings being done by the class. Although, you must remember--this is a painting style very different from what most of us have learned, so we'll all starting out very, very beginner. :)

Dinner at Giavonni's

2007-03-21T17:53:00.000-07:00

Some of us got together tonight at Giavonni's for Italian food. Meet (from left to right: my mother Millie, me, Gay (her guy Richard is between us, but you can't see anything but his head behind me!), Sally, Nancy, Kay, Joan, Ken, and Jeanette. We went for Italian food, but Mother and I had steak, and it was wonderful!

Monday, March 20, Watercolor Workshop with Ken Hosmer - 1st Day

2007-03-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

I took my first watercolor workshop from Ken Hosmer last year in Kerrville. He's a wonderful teacher--gifted in TEACHING--not just a wonderful artist, but he's able to convey the idea to the student and he knows so much! He took his first wc workshop in 1969--so, while I was busy having babies, he was painting. :) He was the first to introduce backward painting--watercolor painting from dark to lights, instead of layering color. He begins with a unique way to do the value studies with ink sketches, so that's what we did yesterday. I'm determined to do a floral, since they intimidate me so much. That's what I worked on today, but I got so involved that I didn't even think about taking a photo until I got home. I did the two florals yesterday in class and the figure sketch this morning about 6. That's my favorite time to do anything that takes brain work! :) If you are interested in doing wc, he's a wonderful teacher, and I recommend him highly. And it seems the others in the class are enjoying him as well.

Sounds of Silence

2007-03-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

There is something magical about this time of day—holy, sacred. As I sit outside with my coffee, the world begins to wake up, and the hush is palpable, as crickets and a few distant birds begin their song.

How did we ever decide that the place to meet God was inside a building? That amazes me…it may be a good place to meet fellow sojourners and seekers, but “worship” is so spontaneous outside in Mother Nature’s cathedral.

There is a slight chill in the air this morning—a slightly damp chill—and the sky is what my Mother calls a “buttermilk sky”—little puffs of clouds that allow the stars to keep peeping through so that I don’t forget they’re there.

I think this is a holy time of day—it’s not night time, but day hasn’t come yet. It’s not dark, but it’s not light, either. It’s that “in-between time”…like stepping over a threshold from one time and space into another. I’m not here anymore, but I’m not there yet, either. I’ve experienced that in-between moment often in my life, and it seems to be when transformation is most likely to happen.

I thought I would post pictures today of the busy-ness of my day: helping hang the People’s Choice show at the Gallery this afternoon or helping set up the room for our week-long watercolor workshop featuring one of my favorite artists, Ken Hosmer. But as I sat this morning, listening to the cacophony of nature's song, I felt instead that THIS is the intention I’m setting for my day: peace and stillness underneath all the noise of a busy life.

Saturday, March 17, People's Choice Take-In

2007-03-18T05:29:00.000-07:00

Meet the ladies who greeted me at the studio. I entered 3 paintings in our local People's Choice show. When I walked through the doors about 2:30 yesterday these ladies signed me up and put my paintings with over 60 others. Who knows how many more came in by 5:00. Meet, from back to front and from left to right: Adalia, Peggy, Norma, Marjorie, Theresa, Carol, and Joan--an effecient, well-oiled machine they are!

It was also the take-in day for the Texas City show, a "juried" show. I've entered a couple of paintings in that one, as have several other artists from our area. So, we'll wait and see how well we did, and how many of us get paintings in. We're a good group, so we should do well. I'll let you know!

Bridge to Serenity

2007-03-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

My friend Jana and her husband have been working on their new home since the Fall, and I went today to see how they're coming along. They're doing the work themselves--and living in the midst of what's been chaos. But it's finally coming to a place of enjoyment. They still have a lot of work to do, but IT'S FINALLY A HOUSE!
I loved the walls that met me when I walked in--wooden walls that have been painted a soft mossy green, then distressed. This is the "great room", and it feels really great, since they haven't gotten the cabinets in yet, but they're coming! They're scheduled to begin cabinet work in two weeks--so they won't be washing dishes in the bathroom sink much longer. BUT they now have ROOM to spread out! And Jana was so relaxed. She's here at the coffee bar, while our mutual friend Susan (Red) looks on approvingly. Susan helped Jana paint and sand the walls. It looks so good, so fresh and soft!
Later we went for a ride and came upon "the bull"--apparently this big guy finds Red interesting, but he seemed a little intimidated by the buggy today! He's one BIG DUDE! Jana and hubby Morris have quite a spread--something like 400 acres! Lots of room for cows and bulls and buggies to "mud hog" through. We didn't mud hog, but we could have after all the rain we've had!

But today was lovely--warm, blue skies, and good friends. This is "fairy lane"--I swear you can almost see the little fairies flit through the trees, and you can almost hear them laughing and saying, "Catch me if you can!"
Red was driving the buggy, and seeme to have a difficult time getting into reverse! It was funny!
Here's Jana (on the arm of the chair) and Red back inside Jana's little house. Lots of windows, and lots of comfort!

Pictures are out of order, so now we're at the back of the property, where we discover that Varner Creek is out of its banks--the water is high. We park for a while and just listen to the birds and the sounds of a beautiful spring day in the country.
More cows. They don't belong to Jana and Morris, but they range on their land. They seem to find US curious! :)
I loved this beautiful old tree. Bridge to Serenity is a wonderful place with lots of charm and very good energy. It was a restful day, and it felt good to just relax and "be" with good friends. Jana, I love your house and your place, and I'm so glad "the end's in sight". Blessed Be!

Rain----------and more rain!

2007-03-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

It started raining here Sunday evening--storms all night, rain a lot Monday--then yesterday was nice and we thought it was over. But along came last night, with storms all night. Jim's in Holland, so I'm home by myself, and I'm kind of a baby during storms, so I put in my ear plugs, and turned up my two fans to make noise, and slept through most all of the storms during the night. Woke up this morning to nearly 3" in the rain gauge and the beautiful sky below.
I wondered--is the sky trying to clear? Are those patches of blue a promise of hope, or is all that gray a promise of more to come?
This afternoon, when I got home from the Studio, we had added another almost 2 inches, and baby, it's pouring outside. I put out weed and feed Sunday on my lawn. Wonder if it's been "watered in" as directed, or if all of it has watered out into my ditches? :)

BTW, I got a lot of wonderful definitions of "Beauty". Watch for them in the coming days!

Create a Quote Day

2007-03-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wake up with "snapshot" pictures in my head...this morning I woke up with this "blog photo" and knew I wanted to see how my friends define "beauty". I love collecting quotes, and I happen to think I have some of the wisest friends history has ever birthed, so let me know how YOU define "beauty", and I'll use those quotes for my "quote of the day" for a while.

A Vist With Ellen

2007-03-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

Meet dear friend Ellen! Such a sweetie! She's a new teacher--first year--so she's off for spring break, and she gave me an afternoon! What a treat! Ellen and I have been friends for years. And we have a little bit in common--her daughter's name is Sheila, and my granddaughter's name is Ellen. It was a tad confusing a long time ago, but we finally get it. Ellen, I'm glad you came over. Come see me again soon...

A Day at the Creek

2007-03-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

Jimmy watches all the action. Jim and I don't have puppies (we have grandpuppies, but none of our won), but we have all kinds of neighbor puppies. Just about the time I grabbed my camera, they all got put up, except Jimmy, and he loves it--he knows he'll get on my blog if he smiles pretty!

Bees buzz around all the flowers (weeds?)...
And ladybugs crawl in the grass--had more fun laying on my belly taking ladybug pictures! :)
And little boys fish--well, not so little, but littler than mine! :)

And I mow. This is my first time on the mower this year--Jim mowed last week. We have a "community" riding lawn mower. It belongs to Ronnie who lives across the street. We keep it running while he's in Iraq working.
After I mow, Devin next door uses it to haul, except the rope broke! Marcy takes a break and watches Devin play...
Then Carl mows--all with the same mower. We'll have to get Ronnie a new one before he gets home this summer--or at least get this one overhauled! :) I love living on the creek--what's yours is mine and vise versa! By the way, Jim put in two good days on the deck, and by golly, I think we may be pretty close to finished! Slow but steady--I think I heard that somewhere before! :)

Another Sign of Spring

2007-03-10T14:16:00.000-08:00

I changed out the batteries on the watering system. You're supposed to do it at the beginning of the season, and this is my first time. Must have been a man who designed this thing--I had to completely disconnect the darn thing and turn it upside down? A woman would have made it convenient--but then, Jim said he didn't know many practical women. Maybe Rebecca will design one that makes it easy to replace the batteries! :)

FINALLY--back to the deck!

2007-03-09T15:05:00.000-08:00

Yea!!! He's back at it! Meet hubby Jim. Last Summer we had our bulkhead replaced and the deck had to be partially removed. Jim got started, but then winter came, and Jim and winter don't mix. So, I've been very antsy to get the deck finished. Came home today, and he had started!!!! YEA!
See??? He's drilling holes--that's a good sign! I take what I can get! :)

My vision board

2007-03-08T18:57:00.000-08:00

When we came back from the Land of Ease, where we watched The Secret, we came back ready to make our own vision boards, but I got side tracked last week and didn't get to do it. BUT I have spent several days now pouring over magazines trying to find specific dream to visionate. I ran out of space on one board and had to spill over onto another--and it has a little more room for all those future dreams. I had to keep reminding myself that my job isn't to figure out how or when or the financial part--my part is to dream. It was wonderful sitting for a couple of days with my little artist child within, listening to wonderful music and dreaming: the places I want to go, a passport with every page stamped, my dream studio, and still that little red volkswagon beetle--except I want the convertible top! a treehouse (believe it or not!) to live in, big cusiony furniture, light colored walls, lots of windows, color and flowers everwhere, actually selling paintings :), the whole 9 yards. If I saw a picture I liked that made me smile, I put it there. I could do this visionating thing for quite a while! I remember a day many years ago that I had quit dreaming. But it's been so interesting watching some of my dreams come true through the last few years--so now I dream quite liberally. Who knows what might happen!

Signs of Spring

2007-03-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

We're headed into my favorite time of the year, when things begin to wake up, and all the gray turns to color. My yard needs a lot of work right now, but through the eyes of a camera, you'll never know! :)
Our lemon trees are full of buds--just what I need, more lemons! These are ponderosa lemons, and they're the size of large grapefruit when ripe. And our little tree puts out a bunch of them. One can only eat so many lemon pies!
These are babies. They won't be ready until this fall, and they'll finally be bright yellow and huge. There's a LOT of peel, but when you get to it, the lemon's really good. Jim's mom used to get three lemon pies from each lemon. I don't need more than a couple of lemon pies a year, so we give most of them away. It's a good thing you can freeze the juice and rind, but even then, I have more than I'll ever use. Makes for a good conversation, though!
And the trees will be breaking out in green in another week or two. Some of them across the creek are already light green (itty bitty leaves). This tree is full of leaf buds out my kitchen window, but couldn't get a very good picture from the ground. I love Spring and Summer, in spite of the hot. It's just a pretty time of year. There's a reason I live down South, you know!

Waking Up Creative Capacity

2007-03-06T10:03:00.000-08:00

You know, there are just days that are pure gift! I love the day I get to talk to local 3rd graders about art. They're blank canvases, pure sponges, white pages--ready for splashes of color to be poured onto. It's so fun to look out and find all these eager little faces looking up to you. Some of them already don't believe in dreams, but most of them still believe. And all they need is someone to say, "YOU CAN!"
They are all so well-behaved, sitting Indian style in their neat little rows. Takes a minute to get them loosened up and talking, but it happens. I know teachers have to have order in their rooms, but man o man, I love to let them have a little time of "dis-order"! Not much, but enough to get the wheel turning and the minds exploring...
We took it a step further this year, and they got to put a little paint on the paper. I only have 45 minutes and about 60 kids, so by the time we get this far, we're already running out of time, and there is always someone who decides at the last minute that they really want to try it. Just a mark--their name is safe, simple shapes, but very bright colors! They like the brightest colors. They smiled, laughed, and giggled when I squirted water so we could watch the colors run.

We hve a fabric show up at the Gallery, something very different. I think the kids were impressed, especially with the story dolls.
It was so fun to watch the smiles creep onto the kids faces as they actually made their mark. Didn't have to be grand--even a simple mark says, "I'm here, and I can do it!"
Future artists! I showed them an acorn today and told them it wasn't an acorn at all--it was an oak tree...these are oak trees! Unlimited potential! I hope they took a little of that thought home with them. And thanks to Tina for helping today...out of all the pictures we took, no Tina! :( RATS! But she was there!

Time for a Haircut!

2007-03-05T20:00:00.000-08:00

OK, so it's PAST time for a haircut! I've been so busy I haven't had time to make an appointment, so I called today and amazing grace! I got in this afternoon! I'm not too impressed with this photo, but perhaps it's the subject matter! :)
Meet Lorena. She makes me look pretty. :) She's trying to talk me into 3 different colors of red! So, what do YOU think??? :)

Meet Jean Weeks

2007-03-04T15:42:00.000-08:00

Meet Jean Weeks, a lovely watercolorist from Bay City, Texas. She came and taught a Saturday Art Special at our local art league. She's a delightful lady, and I love watching her paint. It's "magic". :)
Beautiful! Can't you just hear the monkeys scrambling through the rain forest? How fun!

Sr. Lois and the Enneagram

2007-03-02T15:33:00.000-08:00

Meet Sr. Lois, one of my favorite sisters at the Cenacle. If she gives a retreat, I am there! :) She taught our class today--Spiritual Direction Using the Enneagram. Sandy, one of my classmates, is explaining some new technology to Sister. Sr. Lois also loves new technology--she really gets into powerpoint and all the computer driven magic that happens when she pushes a button! :) Sr. Lois is a permission giver to the explorer in all of us. She's empowered me to push the edges when I've wanted to. And she's helped me not be afraid. I love her dearly.
And here's another one of my favorites sisters, Sr. Alice. She's my spiritual director. After class today I got to go talk to her for a while. She's held my hand and loved me tenderly through all kinds of things for nearly 3 years. She's unshakable and unshockable, two very valuable assets to have in a spiritual friend. I know she's prayed for me often. She's probably fretted over me a bit, too, but she hasn't let it show. She has remained constant, and I love her dearly, too.

Meet Makenzie Smith

2007-03-01T13:10:00.000-08:00

You know, sometimes you just stumble upon the sweetest little blessings. Meet Makenzie Smith. She was dining at El Chico with her mom and dad today when we saw her. Such a delightful little cutie.

Most of the time she sat by her dad--I think that's one of the things that struck me. I watched her dad taking care of her, and it was really special. A girlie and her daddy are something very special.
That is until he pulls out the napkin and tries to clean up matters! This was the closest I saw to a struggle between the two, but it didn't last long...
Although Makenzie looks just a tad suspicious for a while longer. She was such a beauty and it was so much fun watching her. And man, she can really say "BYE"! :) Makinzie, I hope you have a very happy life, and that all your dreams come true!

Lented Day of Reflection--FINALLY HERE! :)

2007-02-28T15:27:00.000-08:00

One of my assignments this 3rd year at the Spiritual Direction Institute is to facilitate a day of prayer, so I asked the Women's Club at St. Michael's if I could do a day of prayer for them. They graciously accepted my offer and let me go to do it however I liked. I was given a lot of freedom, which always opens the way for the Spirit to move and bless.One of the hit prayer projects was to pray with play. The ladies had so much fun collaging their prayer. Even the one's who didn't think they are creative came up with wonderful insights and art work.
And there was a lot of laughter! That's the best part about playing your prayers--the joy thing is wonderful! I've asked a friend of mine to send me photos of the ladies walking the labyrinth. It was just a wonderful day--more than I could ever ask for, but that's just the way God seems to do things: superabundantly more than you can ever ask, hope or dream!

Getting Ready...

2007-02-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow's a big day for me. I'm facilitating a Lenten Day of Reflection for 50 women at my church. It's been a big project, but I have had a big lot of fun preparing for it. I truly believe Jesus when he said, "My burden is easy and my yoke is light." This has been a lot of work and has used a lot of energy, but there's been incredible joy and just downright fun planning it, and today we set up the two rooms we will be using. Our theme is "Pray All Ways"--in an attempt to understand what Jesus may have meant when he told us to "Pray always." We will be using several different methods of prayer--the first will be to pray with nature. So, there is a table full of beautiful nature pictures and fun stuff like acorns, pine cones, sweet gum balls, and all kinds of beautiful fall leaves.
The we'll see how playing can be praying. This is our craft-y table. The ladies will make a collage, perhaps a collage mandala, or prayer circle. I did one of those last year, and used it to set my life intensions. Later I got it matted and framed it, and it hangs in my studio at home to reminde me of my purpose and what I want my life to be. I hope these ladies enjoy their prayer collage as much as I have.
One of the big ways we will pray tomorrow is with our feet. I love the labyrinth. It's taught me so much about life and my own soul journey, so I wanted to share the labyrinth with friends at my church.

Pray for us tomorrow if you will, that Love will shine on us, that grace will abound, and that Creative Energy will flow like a river!

Mother's HOME!

2007-02-26T17:06:00.000-08:00

My mother's been visiting my brother and his wife in East Texas, and I've been mighty lonely, but SHE'S BACK! She went with me to Houston today to pick up a labyrinth for our church's day of prayer on Wednesday. We celebrated her return with lunch and one of our favorite spots! I missed her so much--she's my runnin' buddy! :)

Sunday, February 25, 2007, A Trip to the Movies

2007-02-26T16:58:00.000-08:00

I've discovered I like taking my grandkids to the movies, so we do it a couple of times a year. Ok, so not very often, but that makes it special. From left to right: Emmanuel, Isaac, Eddie and David. Back row next to Grandma is Ellen--my gosh, look at that! She's as tall as I am! Good Lord, when did that happen????

We went to see Bridge to Teribethia, a very good movie, but no one warned me that it was so sad! I cried. So did the grandkids...movies with grandkids are supposed to make us laugh. Darn! I guess we'll have to try again! Courtney and friend Christin went too. We had a good time. Next time, kids, we'll try to find one that makes us laugh! :)

Saturday, February 24, 2007 Happy Birthday Emmanuel!

2007-02-24T19:59:00.000-08:00

You've met him before! This is Emmanuel, and he turns 8 Monday--and tonight was party time! See his shirt??? The kid's decided he's had enough of Texas, and he's opted for Canada! This was a Canada night all around! :)
Friend Shannon made a special cake that was decorated like a Canadian flag with "happy birthday" in French (don't remember what it said). Unique! These Garmon's are always full of surprises! :)

Everything was red and white and the Canadian flag everywhere--including this BIG one he got from Mom and Dad. Wonder if they'll fly in in their yard?

Christin prepares to serve cake and ice cream, while brother, Isaac, peeps over a friend's sholder at the camera. Nice smile, huh. All my grandkids get their looks from their Grandmother, you know! :)

Uncle Mike and Aunt Laura visit with old friends Joe and Lella--it looks like presents may be getting opened!

Christin, Mom Courtney, and Ellen watch while gifts get opened. Mom looks like she may take a few pictures! :)

Boys will be boys--cousins David and Eddy and brother Isaac and friends that Grandma didn't know--LOTS of friends that Grandma didn't know. A house full! And very high energy. They played nerf guns outside in the dark. It was a lot of fun.

This doesnt' have anything to do with a birthday party, but Ellen is quite the artist. This a beautiful piece of work that she's done. It's hanging in her bedroom. I love it!

More presents! There's daddy Barton in the background--the one with lots of hair! :) We had a great time tonight--it felt good to be there with all the family and all their friends. I love my kids--all of them, and all those awesome grandbabies. :) Tomorrow it's to the movie with Grandma! Look for photos!

Friday, February 23, 2007 As Advertised

2007-02-24T12:22:00.000-08:00

I took this photo yesterday at my local Hobby Lobby--it's still the texture thing. I love all the coors and the texture, and I've pondered wanting a colorful and well-textures life--but since I took the picture, I've had some unsettling news so I've hesitated to post. Just didn't seem pertinent anymore. But when I uploaded my camera, and noticed the "As Advertised" sign, I thought it might fit into what's happening in my life. You know, Life just isn't "as advertised". Especially if you've done it "right" and really tried hard. It's always kind of unsettling and disappointing when you find that no matter how you've tried, or how much you might have done "right", Life just doesn't seem to deliver as promised. There are unsettling suprises and many disappointments because our expectations are pretty high. But when the dust has settled, it's those surprises, those disappointments, those "unadvertised specials" that give us the color and the texture that we long for in life. It's those things that grow us and expand our hearts and our minds. So, in spite of myself, I still pray for a colorful and well-textured life--including all the dark threads and all the knotty, bumpy yard of life.

Spiritual Direction at the Park??

2007-02-22T16:50:00.000-08:00

Meet Erin and Colby. Erin's one of my directees, but today, we kind of let the Spirit direct us to Shy Pond! It was a gorgeous day, and Colby (and both of us) wanted to play. It was fun snapping pictures. Colby's such a doll, and mama's a sweetheart, too!
Isn't this just the cutest shot! He was fascinated with peeking through the bars of the playground equipment--he was coming after the camera. Something tells me he's had his picture taken before!

Ash Wednesday

2007-02-21T18:15:00.000-08:00

Today's Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, and I went tonight to get my ashes. I used to think that the phrase, "Remember, you came from dust and to dust you'll return" was almost like a threat, a reminder of our failures, but in the last couple of years I've come to see it as a reminder of the gift of being human. I spent most of my life trying to be "spiritual". At times, I even longed to be rid of this body so that I could go be with God. But the last few years has taught me the joy of being human. I love knowing that my "dust" is made of the same elements as the stars, as the dust of the earth, and as all of creation. Being "dust" reminds me that I'm one with all of the earth--all of the universe. You know, birds like being birds, rocks like being rocks, and trees like being trees. It's only humans that seem to hate being what they are. I LIKE being human. I like living on this earth in this earth suit. God incarnated in flesh, over and over in each one of us. God becomes physical in you and me. Dust is pretty grand!

A Visit to the Planetarium

2007-02-20T18:30:00.000-08:00

Rosie, Mary Jean and I visited the Planetarium tonight for our 2nd night-time sky experience together. We saw Orion last month and Moonscapes tonight. No, those aren't marshmallows! :) They are "pretend moons". And our heads are "pretend earths", and there was a demonstration that explained why we see different phases of the moon each night. Very interesting, and very visual.

And this big machine gives us pictures of the night sky from our Clute location. I've lived in this area many years and never visited the Planetarium until last month. Thanks Rosie for inviting me, and Mary Jean makes a fun 3-some! I'm learning something new--again! There's so much to learn and life is so short!

Massage - My Healing Stones

2007-02-19T16:11:00.000-08:00

My favorite time of the month! Massage time! These beautiful stones are heated in hot water, then used to rub out all those aches and pains. I have shared a lot of things with the stones--they've absorbed pain, stress, anger, disappointment, and sadness. And they give back to me warmth, stillness and infinite pleasure. My thanks to the stones.

Sunday, February 18, 2007 Remember

2007-02-19T14:46:00.000-08:00

This sign seemed especially poignant as I left yesterday--remember. Re-member--recall and put back together again. One of the gifts that we human beings possess. We have the capacity to recall, reflect, and remember. What a wonderful weekend it was!

One of my favorite picture--because it's an awesome memory, and a true word--shift happens. May as well smile about it.

Saturday, February 17, 2007, a Girl-Friend Get-a-Way

2007-02-19T13:41:00.000-08:00

Shall we try to build a fire??? It's windy, but it seems the thing to do, so we plan on building our fire at the circle. Guess what? We DID! :)

Liza joins us for a little while--another soul sister. The connection was palpable. We are connected. It's always a treasure to find another part of our "pack".

This is what I felt all weekend--an open door, and an invitation to "live joyfully"!

Now we are 4! Linda got here later in the day--now the party can really begin! :)

Two of the most beautiful women around--I love you ladies--especially early on a very cold morning. Two of my "sisters"...one's still on the way, but she'll be here soon, we hope!

Friday, February 16, 2007 Weekend Get-a-Way

2007-02-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

Since I arrived at The Land of Ease later Friday evening, I went back Saturday to get a picture, but you can pretend I'm driving through this simple gate to a whole 'nother world--a world of simple, easy pleasures--nature, beauty, and very good friends. Even though I haven't been in THIS particular spot, I'm coming home.

Valentines Forever

2007-02-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and Jim came home last evening with these beauties! I love azaleas--one of my favorites since living in Tyler many years ago. Tyler is home to the Azalea Trails in the Spring, and they are prettier there than I've seen anywhere locally. Lovely pink azaleas in a purple pot--two of my favorite colors! They guy's catching on! :)

Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T15:14:00.000-08:00

You know, love comes in all kinds of packages, especially on Valentine's Day. A good friend helped shoulder a burden with me today. It was too cold to sit outside on this swing, but this picture is a "picture" of what I was given today--the gift of "porch swing therapy". I'm so grateful for friends who simply listen.
And what better flowers to represent the day--passion flowers. Albeit, the beautiful pot of azaleas that hubby gave me are pretty awesome, too--pink azaleas in a purple pot, my two favorite colors. It's been a day full of love for me. I'm grateful.

An Unexpected Visit

2007-02-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

I got a call from my son this morning--seems this little one had a tummy ache at school, and the school couldn't get anyone. Courtney's phone was out and Barton was in Bay City working--"Can you please Mom???" Well, what's a grandmother to do? GO GET HIM! :) By the time I got there, he seemed a little better, so we ran a few errands then we came home and he helped me make valentine candies--or at least we tried! He was very responsible, though--before he did any playing, he sat down and did his homework. I was very glad that I wasn't "working", but could be home to help out. Emmanuel's such a neat kid...o, by the way, he told me something was boring today. When I questioned him about boring, he said, "Boring's like adding one plus one forever!" Now, that's a picture, huh!

Planning A Day Of Prayer

2007-02-12T19:55:00.000-08:00

I discovered dead batteries in my camera this morning, so here I sit late tonight trying to figure out how to capture my day in image form now that my batteries have been recharged. The one picture I took earlier didn't work, and I don't quite know how to be faithful to this project when I've been sitting here at my computer most of the day working on a day of prayer that I'm facilitating at our church at the end of this month. I almost said, "Forget it!" I'm too tired to try to figure something out--then my eyes landed on this book, lying face down on my desk, and it tells the of prayer and what it brings in our lives. For our day of prayer, I'm renting a large labyrinth and bringing it from Houston to our ladies. I want them to experience walking the labyrinth. Earlier today, I had this book out, writing a little history of the labyrinth for that day. I love labyrinths, and I especially delight in the labyrinth image for the journey we make to the center of our soul--the most important pilgrimage that we can make in our lifetime. I hope this day of prayer blesses our women as much as I've been blessed over the last few years of my life. And I hope walkign the labyrinth inspires some of them to begin the journey to their center.

Crowns

2007-02-11T20:38:00.000-08:00

Mother and I went to see Crowns, presented by our local Brazosport Center Stages, this afternoon, and it was a delight! The story? "a moving and celebratory musical play in which hats become a springboard for an exploration of black history and identity as seen through the eyes of a young black woman. After her brother is killed in Brooklyn, she travels down South to stay with her aunt. The conclusion finds the stand-offish young woman, whose cultural identity as a young black Brooklyn woman has been so at odds with the more traditional and older southern blacks, embracing hats and their cultural significance as part of her own fiercely independent identity. Gospel music and dance underscore and support the narrative" (that's the write-up out of program, in case you wondered!). The show was beautifully done, so funny in places that I laughed til I cried, then so moving in places that I cried again. Mother and I both enjoyed a Sunday afternoon learning about another culture, and allowing ourselves to be moved by someone else's story. Good stuff! And some really talented local folks! Congratulations on a job very well done!

Living a Textured Life

2007-02-10T07:18:00.000-08:00

I've been knitting a lot since about the first of December. I'm in love with all the wonderful yarns available now-adays, and it's a good, not-much-thinking pastime in the evening. Helps me stay awake a little longer. But it's also held some significance--there's been something happening in my heart as I've persued this little pastime. I think it hit me this morning--I want to live a fully textured life. Until I turned 40, most of my life was spent doing what was expected, believing everything I had been taught, not questioning for myself--a pretty plain-surfaced life. The yarn woven into my life was what I learned to knit on many years ago, plain and boring. But something happened at 40, and I began to ask some questions, and think for myself. And my life began to be more "textured". Over the last 3 years, it's even become more colorful--like all the yarns at my local Hobby Lobby, some soft and silky, flat and wide, rough, smooth, brightly colored, and muted shades. There's still the plain ole yarn that I first learned to knit on years ago, but I'll quickly pass it up and grab something with a little more gusto! I've decided that I like color and I like texture--I like thinking for myself. I like asking questions more than I like getting answers. I like taking risks more than I like being safe. I figure by the time I reach 60 (not too far off, mind you), I might be ready to knit one of those "artistic" scarfs, that's made of all kinds of scraps, an eclectic mix of everything life has had to offer. And that's the way I'm determined to live my life--creatively, artistically, colorfully, and FULLY TEXTURED!

Nature's Mandala

2007-02-09T15:26:00.000-08:00

I'm late posting this--time has gotten away from me. I bought some forced bulbs and planted them for my mom and me. We both needed some color for all these grey days. This is one of the tulips--one of Nature's own mandalas. They have been so pretty, with their long graceful necks turning to see the sun. I love looking for Nature's mandalas--all that creative energy, moving to make such pretty pictures.

Artist Way Circle

2007-02-07T17:43:00.000-08:00

We have started an Artist Way Circle at our local art league, and we had our first meeting today. It was a beautiful group of women, all eager to come together and help each other live creatively. There was an eagerness to learn and engage that was palpable. I'm glad to be part of this group. It feels "alive".

Bare-faced me

2007-02-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

I have a friend who posted her bare-faced picture on her blog, and another who's decided that taking bare-faced pictures is therapeutic. So, I tried it. I'll try anything once. But therapeutic?? I don't think I'm ready to say that yet. :) I am enjoying the aging process. I feel good physically, mentally, spiritual, and emotionally--better than ever. Yet, photos are real reminders that time is moving all too swiftly. Personally, I would rather play Picasso and pick up my colors and my brushes and paint away on this canvas God's given me! :)

A Little Motivation

2007-02-06T06:29:00.000-08:00

I'm in an aritst way group that's offically starting tomorrow, but I've already started. One of our tools is an artist date with the child artist inside of us, so I figured I could use a little motivation and applause. My kids used to love charts, so my artist child "Star" and I went for a shopping trip Sunday after church and bought lovely stickers and we made this "yeah for YOU" chart this morning. While I was at it, I made one for my mother who's trying to quit smoking. She could use some applause. Just hope it's not too performance oriented! :)

Eucharist

2007-02-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

I spent some time yesterday afternoon, setting up this arrangement to paint. I love Eucharist--I love the bread and the wine--the crushed wheat and grapes--and the significance. That God became flesh--that God still becomes flesh, every day, all around me. There's a song called Eucharist written by Jacque Darragh that I really like. It reminds me that people I meet along the way are broken bread and crushed grapes for me. They are Eucharist to me. You are Eucharist to me.

A Colored Pencil Kind of Day

2007-02-03T16:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I got up this morning, February 4, and reposted this blog from yesterday...I spent 4 hours on my dial-up computer last night posting a lot of pictures from the workshop I took yesterday, and by the time I got through, I was tired, frustrated, and my insides weren't nearly as pretty as this box of colored pencils. I woke up this morning remembering that this blog isn't about getting people's pictures in so they can come see themselves and applaud the "star" inside of me. It amazes me how quickly everything in my life becomes about performance! One of the neatest things about "project 365" to me, is the opportunity to learn to see through new eyes, and to journal my day in a different way. There's only a couple of people who read my blog every day--actually, only one that I know of. And she deserves more than I gave last night in my attempts to get everyone's applause. I deserve better than that. And my spiritual artist inside--my soul deserves better than that. I don't work with colored pencils too often because they take time. And I like to produce more quickly than pencils let me. But one of the best things about pencils is that as I slow down and color, my soul slows down, too. So, I got up this morning--deleted all the jumble of pictures and slowed down to the pace this page is supposed be for me. A friend of mine posted a picture of a snale on her blog the other day--slow and easy wins the race. I'm not too fond of slow and easy. And something inside of me wants a big show of applause so much that I'm willing to spend hours of frustration trying to get it. So, I did learn something besides how to use colored pencils yesterday. And this morning, I feel much less frustration. Back to simplicity.

A Day at the Cenacle

2007-02-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

One of the things I would like to do is figure out how to get my pictures uploaded in the right order, or to be able to move them once they're in this spot, but o well! :) Anyway, in the order they appear--I am in my 3rd year at the Spiritual Direction Institute at the Cenacle Retreat House on Houston, so I get to spend a lot of time "retreating". This year, it's twice a month, on Fridays--my favorite day of the week! This is my home away from home. Everytime I drive up the Beltway and see the Memorial Drive exit, my heart settles in--I'm coming home. This picture of some of the windchimes hanging on the patio.

This is the Chapel at the Cenacle--a quiet place to come and meditate, pray, or just "be". Communion services or Mass is often held in this little quiet place. Mostly, I like to just sit for a few minutes, and feel all my pieces coming home.

This is the Cenacle's labryinth. Each graduating class presents the Cenacle with a gift--one of the classes several years back built this gift, brick by brick. The labyrinth is another picture of coming home.

I love this "tree chair". Several years back, this old tree died, and instead of taking it all out, this "chair" was left. Most of us are too old now-adays to climb trees, but we can still sit in this one and let the tree hold us back to wholeness.

THIS was supposed to be the first picture at the top of the page, but--o well! This is driving in through the gate--aaaaaahhhhh...I'm HERE!

I love the trails at the Cenacle. This one beckoned me today: "Come to the Light."

A Paradoxical Day

2007-02-01T13:21:00.000-08:00

Another cold, rainy day, but this time, there's something special to really warm the heart. I met one of my dear friends, Jana, at the Center this morning to show her the art exhibit , then off we went to have a bite of lunch. A cold, dreary day warmed by friendship. That's a gift!

"Sisters" for life. I love you Jana! You make my heart sing!

I need some color!

2007-01-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, enough of the grey days! I've got to have some color, so today I planted some tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocus...we'll see if anything blooms! At least there's now an expectation, and that's half the battle!

I'm so intimidated by drawing/painting flowers, so I've decided to get a small plant a week, and just do "studies". It's another one of those things I want to learn to do, so today I just "do it", one little flower at a time.

I'd Like to be a Bird--NOT!

2007-01-30T18:14:00.000-08:00

Los tres amigos--Gosh! It's cold and dreary and windy today. These egrets caught my eye as I was cleaning house today, so I grabbed my camera and hubby's huge sweatshirt with the hood and braved the north wind to get a picture--albeit not a good picture, but still a picture...

Ordinarily I look at these big pelicans flying and think how awesome it would be to be a bird--but today??? Today they're struggling in this cold north wind...

And I'm cozy and warm inside my centrally-heated "nest". Today I like being a human being! :)

Our Own Little Polar Bear Club

2007-01-29T08:53:00.000-08:00

Lake Jackson's Very Own Polar Bear Club

One of the greatest joys in my life and in my mom's life is our water works class that we joined last year. Some of the nicest people, and a great workout. We try to go 2-3 times a week. It's really hard in the winter, because it gets so cold and rainy, but there are a few who will show up even in the cold. If we can just bear the mental stress and take the plunge, the water's usually much nicer than it is outside!

Here's Kay--Kay doesn't go far without her coffee mug. She's a joy in my life, too--one very special lady!

This is my mom (in front) and Melda--saying, "Come in Renee--the water's fine! My mom and I can't believe we've stuck with this for nearly a year. We're both feeling so much better, and now my mom has a social life! :)

This was taken before we "took the plunge". The hardest part is talking ourselves into getting in the pool. Here's Erika and my mom--you see Carl in the background. He's our brave male--our very own "energizer bunny". Guarantee, he'll be in the water first trying to convince us, "It's great!"

See? I told you so!

Potentiality

2007-01-28T16:59:00.000-08:00

Little acorns--yet, what potential lies in a little acorn. Doesn't appear to have a large oak tree inside, does it? Yet that's the potential. But only a few acorns make it to oak tree. This morning, as I was preparing these acorns to be used in day of prayer at my church next month, I wound up a little meloncholy considering those acorns that don't reach their full potential--that never become a giant oak tree. We're not even through January of this new year, and already three families that I'm connected to in some way have lost young people. First, my friend Bunny lost a 19-year old granson to the war in Iraq, then another friend, Kristi, lost a 16-year old niece in a car accident. And last night, a young man from our church lost his battle with cancer. Lost potential--no chance to become full-grown oak trees. Yet, somehow each of these kids filled the years they lived with purpose. Their lives marked many, many people. They made a difference. Still, I don't want to lose anymore kids. I want the acorns to fulfill their destiny so they can shade our world. I want kids to grow up and live to be old men and women.

Happy Birthday Diana!!!!

2007-01-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

Meet some of the members of my CHRP team (Christ Renews His Parish Team). We've been together as a team since June, 2004. Some of us got together tonight and celebrated a big step forward in life--Diana is about to be 50 (next weekend)! The 50's have been some of my most significant years, so I was very eager to send her into this time with a big "hoo-rah!" Above, from left to right, Trisha Langner, Cassie Tijerina, me, Diana (the BD girl) Miles, Peggy Robinson, and Mary Jean Adams, having dinner at Red Snapper Inn, Surfside, Texas--one of Diana's favorite eating spots!

Later we got together at friend, Rosie Estrata's house in Lake Jackson. Here's Mary Jean, Trisha, and Diana--CHEERS! :)

Someone gave Diana a blessing by baptizing her in the spirit (of champagne, that is), and Peggy sops her head so that she doesn't drip on Rosie's carpet!

Still sopping...when it rains it pours! :)

Momma Diana with son Troy--who by the way, won his tennis tournament this afternoon. Good luck tomorrow, Troy!

What a special group of people--Rosie Estrada (we partied at her house), Gina Childress and hubby Steven came in from Houston (glad they're back in Texas!), Trisha, Mary Jean, Peggy, Diana, and Cassie. We're missing some of our team members, but maybe next time!

And one more shot of the birthday girl! She looks great, doesn't she! Welcome to crone-hood, Diana. The best years are ahead girlfriend! Life only gets better!

A Couple of Things....

2007-01-26T09:25:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine wanted me to read this little ditty bad enough to send it to me in the mail. And I read it this morning. It's only 87 pages, and lots of white space, so it's an easy read, but the message is so exciting. And reading it is synchronistic for me right now--we are about to begin an Artist Way group (Circle?) at our local art league. Mostly what I want is a "woman's group" that's interested in growing creatively, whether it be spiritually or artistically. Personally, I think it's both. And that's what this book is about, except bigger. Have you ever heard the story of the 100th monkey? If you haven't heard it, you can read about it here. The Millionth Circle extrapolates from the myth of the 100th monkey: when a critical number of people change how they think and behave, the culture will also, and a new era begins. To quote the author, Jean Shinoda Bolen, "this is an unusually short book for what it purposes, which is nothng short of changing the world and bringing humanity into a post-patriarchal era." A book after my own heart. I believe each one of us is so vital to the next phase of evolution, and I want to be as big a part of it as I can, in any way that I can. You can be, too.

Now, about Monica--you remember her and Sparky from a previous post? Well Monica has awesome news. We found out yesterday that she's been accepted to SMU's Law School!!!! Kuddos, girlfriend! Here's a big High-5! :) She was surprised, but I wasn't. :)

Ok, This is All...

2007-01-25T06:57:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like the sun to warm your heart and lift your spirits. I'm very grateful for this simple pleasure. And I probably wouldn't have noticed or enjoyed nearly as much if I hadn't been inspired by Project 365--and my friend Susan--to pick up a camera. Life's little pleasures are so very grand indeed!

My Outdoor Alter

2007-01-25T06:46:00.000-08:00

I spent some time with a friend this past summer in Leaky, Texas, and she graciously allowed me to bring home these souvenirs. It's a lovely reminder of a special moment in time--a time of being connected to the earth. I've spent most of my life in my imagination, trying desperately to become spiritual, disconnected from the earth and it's physical blessings. Over the past couple of years, I begun to appreciate the stones, the earth, being a part of this physical place. These rocks remind me that even God appreciated the physical so much that incarnation happened. I believe incarnation continues to happen--God becoming physical all around us, every day, in every way. At the top left is my personal baptismal font--it collects the most precious holy water of all--rain water. I often bless myself and to sprinkle it all around me, blessing the earth and all her treasure.

Simple Faith

2007-01-25T06:40:00.000-08:00

I think this is my favorite shot taken this morning. For me, personally, it speaks volumes. Simple faith--faith in goodness, faith in a loving universe, faith in people, faith in humanity, faith in simple things.

Welcome Back to the Sun

2007-01-25T06:32:00.000-08:00

As I finished my morning read, and started to get up from my chair, this sight caught my eye! Welcome back Sunshine! A friend of mine chronicled the return of the sun on her blog a few days back--now I can understand what caught her heart as she snapped away. It's amazing, but we just don't appreciate simple pleasures, like sunshine, until we've gone days (two weeks worth!) without it. And apparently it could be a fleeting pleasure--clouds and rain are forcasted to return by tomorrow afternoon. But for the present moment...

Recipe to Warm the Tummy

2007-01-24T19:27:00.000-08:00

It's been cold and rainy here--raining for 10 days straight. I've been cold to the bone now for several days. I know that "cold" is a relative term, but you have to remember that I live almost as far south as one can go in Texas, without landing in the Gulf, and it doesn't take much for my thin blood to turn to ice. So it was nice the other day when I opened my email and found this recipe for Hot Buttered Rum from my dear "Yankee" friend, Carmen, who lives in Kansas. I made a batch up tonight, and it was very good, but it will take about 5 years worth of cold rainy South Texas nights to use up this recipe! :) One other little hint--when Carmen says to "fill with boiling water", she means fill with boiling water. Impatient as I was, I didn't wait for the water to boil--not thinking of the fact I was pouring it over "ice cream". DUH! so my Hot Buttered Rum was semi-warm this first time! Next time, I'll know better!

Hot Buttered Rum

1 pound butter, softened
1 pound light brown sugar
1 pound powdered sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 quart Haagen Daz vanilla ice cream, softened
light rum
whipped cream
grated nutmeg

Combine butter, sugars, and spices; beat until light and fluffy. Add ice cream and beat until well blended. Freeze

To serve, place 4 TBS. frozen mixture and 1 jigger of rum in a large mug. Fill with boiling water and stir well. Top with whipped cream, sprinle with grated nutmeg. Garnish each mug with a cinnamon stick as a stirrer.

And o, yeah, weight watcher's it's not! :) Enjoy!