LEBH SHOMEA ~ PART V

9:26 am ~ I just got back from a bike ride! On my way to the white garage I saw another green jay but he wouldn't stay still long enough for me to get a picture. At the garage I picked a big blue bike with no gears, and set off. I decided to head out on the main road toward the highway. There was a nice breeze and the sun was still low enough in the sky that it was pleasant, but I could already tell that it will be hot later on. As I rode, I saw deer, cows, cardinals, orioles, squirrels, lots of wildflowers, AND the most perfect little grass plant ever, growing up through the pavement on the road. I stopped to take a picture as my brain fumbled for a certain line from "Desiderada" that to me, it expressed perfectly; here it is:

Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

I love that! I rode down maybe a mile or so then turned back. When I reached the white garage, I detoured onto a caliche road that continues past the vulture palms and the old stables. It is really pretty back in there, the path being so deep in shade that it almost seemed like twilight. The little road meanders along a creek bed that, while surely a torrent at times, is now empty save brilliant emerald green grass so perfect that it almost looks like a carpet. Delicate little wildflowers dot the grass and the whole scene looks like something from a fairy tale. I half expected to see Snow White come by gathering the little flowers :) As I stood there trying to balance on my bike admiring the little glade a movement across the creek bed caught my eye. It was a BOBCAT! I was so thrilled I could hardly believe my eyes! I have never seen any species of cat in the wild much less the notoriously shy bobcat! As quickly as I had spotted it, it was gone! And to think I was going to have to keep this news to myself! I continued on a little farther and then stopped again. I must have stood a full minute before I realized there were deer, lots of them, loafing in the shady brush. It's amazing how invisible they are until your eye picks them out, like those hidden pictures in kids' magazines.

Once back by the garage, I decide to circle by the office and see about settling up so I won't have to worry about it tomorrow, on Sunday, when the Vespers service is after breakfast. It was open, so I cruised back to my dwelling and fetched my wallet. Back at the office I parked my bike in a giant stand of oleanders and started up the porch, where Father Kelly and I met, me coming and he going. He said "Hello," which encouraged me (as I used to tell my boys ) "to use my words." :) "I thought I would settle up with you today instead of tomorrow, if that would be convenient," I said a little uncertainly. He made a little bow indicating I should precede him into the small office on the left. He is tall, bookish, and courtly with a soft, measured voice and very direct gaze which I had also noticed this morning at Vespers. We sat down and he asked my name. "Ah, here you are..." he said as he found my name in the small ledger. "Let's see... two nights; that will be $84." I made out my check for $90 and told him maybe they could buy a bag of corn for the deer and turkeys with the extra (if that will buy a bag of corn nowadays :) He smiled.

"About this evening," I said, "I would like to take a bike ride after supper, but last night the white garage was already closed when I got there. May I go and get a bike before supper and set it by my dwelling?"

"There is no need. The door will be closed, but not locked. You are welcome to let yourself in and get your bike; only please close the door while you are out. Bats and raccoons," he said.

"Because raccoons WILL steal bikes," I said, with the straightest face I could muster :)

"I don't know about that, but they WILL nest in the garage." His tone was matter-of-fact, his face was straight too, but his eyes were twinkling!

"Thank you, Father." I made a little bow of my own, then returned to my bike, smiling.

LEBH SHOMEA ~ PART IV

I believe in the Kingdom Come

Then all the colors will bleed into one ~

bleed into one ...

But yes, I'm still running.

You broke the bonds and you loosed the chains,

carried the cross and all my shame ~

all my shame ~

You know I believe it...

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

No, I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

U2

8:16 am ~ I woke up this morning with this song in my head, which is probably no coincidence because there is a book of sermons based on U2 songs that I thought I would look for in the library. I had a few minutes to just lay there listening to the birds outside before my alarm went off. I showered, dressed, and set off for the Vespers service. On my walk I had to detour to get a closer look at some javelina rooting around in a clearing. There were several of them which paid me no mind; I'm thinking the wildlife here have it pretty good! Also I noticed that the vultures were still in their palm trees. Apparently they sleep in! (too early for anything to have died? :) I never knew so much about vultures!

The Vespers service was nice; the chapel is tidy and spare. The scripture read during the service was from the book of John, chapter 21 : verses 20 - 25

Peter turned around and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them ... Peter asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord? What sort of death will he die?"

Jesus replied, "If I want him to live until I return, what is that to you? You follow me."

So the rumor spread that the disciple wouldn't die! But that wasn't what Jesus said at all! He only said,"If I want him to live until I return, what is that to you?"

I am that disciple! I saw these events and have recorded them here.

Then, much to my surprise, we were to pair up and discuss for a minute what this scripture meant to us. This one was pretty easy for me. Here we see Peter, Jesus' right hand man, worried not about his own task at hand, but instead with what was going on with John. Was John getting a better deal? Had Peter been dissed? I think our human tendency to think this way is one of the reasons Christianity has a bad name to non-Christians. If we all gave the same amount of attention to our own thoughts, motives, and actions as we do to those of others, how much better would things be? We all have our own lives, our own gifts, our own handicaps, as we travel our individual paths. Who are we to judge another person when most of us have enough trouble taking care of our own business. To me, the message is simple. Seek my purpose, and do not allow myself to become discouraged, distracted, or feel superior as a result of comparing myself to others. That's a pretty tall order in itself, don't ya think? I have another favorite from the book of Matthew that goes hand in hand with this.

Matthew 7 : 1-5 ~ "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye yet pay no attention to the plank that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite ~ first take the plank out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

A good reminder for me; do what I am supposed to do, and let go of what I think others are supposed to do. Easily said; much harder to do! Anyway, when the service was over we all set out for breakfast at the big house. Over my raisin bran and coffee I did have an interesting thought. The people here are a very diverse group in age, race, background, etc. We appear very different. Yet without jobs, cars, houses, spouses, or voices, we all seem pretty much the same; eating, walking, praying, resting. The line between self and other felt a little blurry as I sat there slowly chewing, feeling the breeze through the airy little curtains and focusing on all the ordinary morning sounds. My spoon in the bowl sent up a little clatter. The bird songs floating in from the window were a conversation, the screen door's muffled closing and the footsteps in the hall rounded out the feeling of life-as-usual and the whir of the refrigerator seemed as though it could have been the sound of the blood coursing through my very own body. I sat there until everyone had gone and for another few minutes alone. Walking back to my dwelling I listened to my every footstep and took care to avoid every single ant on the little sidewalk, already busy with their day's work.

LEBH SHOMEA ~ PART III

8:15 pm ~ Dinner was good! They rang a bell five or six times to summon us. I waited until I saw others arriving at the big house then I walked on over. I felt just a teeny bit nervous, not knowing exactly what to expect. The dining area contains several large tables spread through three or four large rooms. In the main room a table was spread with food where guests serve themselves buffet style. There looked to be about ten people aside from myself. We had sandwiches, salad, fresh vegetables, and some kind of little upside-down cake. It was a light but ample evening meal. Actually, I found it a little more uncomfortable to sit and eat facing others without speaking than I would have making small talk, even with strangers. All of the sudden, it seemed inappropriate to allow my eyes to rest where they chose; I felt my gaze might be perceived as invasive! So I found other things to look at while I ate, particularly the windows with their airy curtains ruffling in the breeze. It was a little weird, but I'm sure it wouldn't take too long for it to feel normal enough.

After supper I walked to the white garage hoping to nab a bike for a little ride, but it was already shut up. I walked around it looking for a smaller door, not wanting to try the heavy (noisy) roll-up garage doors. No luck. Around the back is the little path to the old stables so I walked that way. The back part of the stables, probably once the tack room now houses white fantail pigeons and they have access to a little outside garden as well. As I walked back to the main path I noticed that vultures (ALOT of them!) were circling an area just over another little path, at every altitude, from right overhead to way, way up. Passing a big clothesline I took the path into what really would be called a thicket. Even though it was still pretty light outside, once along the path it was so deep in shadow that my eyes had to adjust. Very cool, and a little mysterious! Once in the thicket I could hear all kinds of rustling and fussing and could not figure out what it was... scanning upward, I realized that the palm trees were already full of vultures, settling in to roost for the night. Who knew vultures roost in palm trees? Not I! Every few minutes, another one would land and everyone would have to shift, readjust, and defend their spot. It kind of reminded me of arriving early for a movie to get a good seat and get all settled in for the previews, just to have a noisy, popcorn and coke laden family with a bunch of noisy kids come in at the last minute and take over the seats right in front of you! I guess even in vulture society, thoughtful planning types feel aggravated and inconvenienced by those wacky, spontaneous, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants type!

I watched the vulture drama play out for a little while longer then decided to walk over to the Chapel where the Vespers service would be held in the morning. It had cooled off considerably and as everything fell into shadow the breeze seemed to pick up a bit so I had a seat on one of the brick planters out front. Birds and insects were on the move everywhere I looked, preparing for nightfall. I sat there for about an hour just enjoying everything going on around me, which would have seemed like nothing had I not the time to be still and notice it. By the time I got up and started to head back to my dwelling it was almost dark.

10:30 pm ~ After returning to my dwelling I tidied up and read for a bit. Before bed, I sat out on my little screen porch for half an hour or so. They turn off all the outside lights at night, so it is DARK! Once my eyes adjusted though, I could see that my little dwelling was surrounded by deer, moving completely silently through the darkness like ghosts.

LEBH SHOMEA ~ PART II

5:30 pm ~ I had a nice little walk but it is hot outside! Now I am more familiar with the layout of the place. I walked over to the white garage, and over to the old stable. I didn't see one other person, everyone is probably inside waiting for the evening cool down. On my way back , I wandered into the big house and ducked into the library. It was cool and dark inside and felt good after my walk. I looked around for a little then selected a scrapbook about Lebh Shomea and went out on the porch to read. The old house is really beautiful! After about an hour, I headed back to my dwelling and read until I fell asleep. When I awoke, I was delighted to see that the little clearing in which my dwelling sits was surrounded by turkeys! There were about ten hens and maybe seven toms. A little ways off, two toms were just standing there all puffed up. They are truly bizarre, and it's hard to believe that this puffed up - 3D - crepe paper -looking spectacle can morph into the long-legged, super fast, streamlined bird in the blink of an eye! Time to wash and dress for dinner; I am hungry!

LEBH SHOMEA ~ PART I

You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts; and when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime.

And in much of your talking, thinking is half murdered.

For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold his wings but cannot fly...

There are those that have the truth within them, but they tell it not in words. In the bosom of such as these the spirit dwells in rhythmic silence.

Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Today I am off to the abbey Lebh Shomea for a two day retreat. I have been looking forward to this for a few weeks. I put a link for you over in the margin with more detail, but basically, it is an abbey set on acres of rugged South Texas brush country where guests of all spiritual paths are welcomed and silence is observed in day to day life. That's right... you DON'T TALK! Anyone who knows me might be surprised in my interest and desire to visit Lebh Shomea because, well, I can talk alot! But I also am silent for hours at a time all the time and am very comfortable with solitude and silence. So I am to arrive around lunch time, be given a tour and necessary instructions and be left to my own devices for the weekend!

1:00 pm ~ I am here. The drive in was beautiful and I saw a green jay! That's a great omen! I also saw deer, turkeys, and all sorts of birds everywhere. I stopped at the main gate where I checked in and they called ahead to announce my arrival to my guide. As promised, she was waiting for me at the white garage in her golf cart. She invited me to hop aboard, and we set off for my tour. There were more deer (everywhere) which are so tame that they yielded to the cart only reluctantly :) She showed me the whole place, and we ended up at my dwelling, "Peter", which is just outside the big house. The big house is beautiful; there's alot of history here and I am looking forward to checking out the library. But first I moved into my little dwelling. It is about 18 by 18. There is a tiny little screened porch with a chair. The main room is crisp and spare, with a cute little white bed and a desk, chair, and bookshelf. The sheets have been line-dried; I can smell them just standing in the room. I love that smell; it reminds me of sleeping at my grandmother's house. There's a small sitting, or reading room with a chair and a window, and a bathroom connected to a roomy closet. Mmm... the towels smell good too! Basically, this place has all I need; I could live here. I'd probably need a pet, though :) Instead I went outside and fetched a softball-sized ball moss I had seen on my way in and after arranging my books on the little bookshelf, gave it a place of honor there. I am a huge ball moss fan; they seem so perfect and self-contained to me. With my pet moss in place, and my things neatly stowed in the closet and bathroom, I decided to go out for a little walk.

CARE PACKAGE !

A friend is your needs answered.

He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.

He is your board and your fireside.

For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

And let your best be for your friend.

If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know the flood also.

For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?

Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

From the Prophet, Kahlil Gibran

I was so excited to see a package waiting when I drove up the other day! Was I expecting anything? No... wait... maybe I was! If you'll remember I had cast out a request to the universe to please, please, PLEASE replace my favorite shoes, and I had a little idea that the universe had gotten my not-so-subtle hint! I saw that the package was from BratB and I was sure! The universe had come through! Was I surprised that the universe would use BratB to deliver messages or goods? Heck no! The universe has been doing that for a long time ;)

So I tore into the package! A book (Eat, Pray, Love) she read and has been wanting me to read ~ this will give me a shove to finish reading Towing Jehovah which Pastor Will lent me. How exciting! Party favors left from a recent birthday extravaganza ~ giant balloons, water guns, bubbles ~ Yay! Fun stuff! The doll with the extra head (shone?) that THEY were smart enough to purchase for $1.49 at the little grocery in Port A, but we passed on ~ and have been regretting ever since! Now I know the photo isn't that good, but can you see that the doll comes with two heads? Sweet! And for only $1.49! That's like less than 75 cents per head, and the clothes and body for free! The best part about the doll(s) is all the funny stuff written on the packaging; it has been translated from Chinese and some of it is rather humorous...

(capitals & punctuation theirs, not mine :)

"interchangeable skirt or pants with shone and sandals" (shone?)

"MODERN AND ELEGANT IN FASHION COMPLETELY NEW TO COME INTO THE MARKET"

"its my happy time, I will go out shopping dancing, together with my friend it's the wonderful day"

and finally, "You Can Create Your Life In A Fancy Way You Have So Much To Do, you Can Maxing and Matching And Swapping All Kinds of Cool Style Fashion With This Many Option, you Will Look Great For Every Occasion"

I love this doll!! Anyway, BratB's cool, Fancy daughter has decided to share custody of her with our family! I have her proudly displayed in my dining room for now. But I like to move things around, so I may max, match, or swap her about throughout her stay. I believe she'll be with us through June, is that right B?

So, back to the package... is that all? I don't see the... AHH!! there they are, shoved back in the box, hesitant to receive such lavish praise and affection. My shoes!!! I mean formerly BratB's shoes but now MY shoes!! We were surprised to discover that we had bought the same pair around the same time and while I LOVED them and lived in them (everyday), she found them stiff and blistery (which turned out to be a good thing for me (sorry BratB, not to rejoice in your pain :)). So, just to see the difference, be sure and scroll down to the post "Let's Get Some Shoes" and see what these $9 beauties will look like in two years ! But for now, I keep hearing Reunited by Peaches and Herb playing in my head and the shoes and I are making up for lost time. Who needs Many Fashion Option, I will look Great for every Occasion it IS the Wonderful Day!! Love, RED

YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE

You have to believe in happiness,

Or happiness never comes.

I know that a bird chirps none the less

When all that he finds is crumbs.

You have to believe the buds will blow ~

Believe in the grass in the days of snow;

Ah, that's the reason a bird can sing ~

On his darkest day he believes in Spring.

You have to believe in happiness ~

It isn't an outward thing.

The Spring never makes the song, I guess,

As much as the song the Spring.

Aye, many a heart could find content

If it saw the joy on the road it went,

The joy ahead when it had to grieve,

For the joy is there ~ but you have to believe.

Douglas Malloch

This is from a small tattered book my mother picked up this week at her church thrift store; Verses I Like ; selected by Major Edward Bowes. There is a wonderful foreward written by Theodore Roosevelt, one of my favorite presidents. It is running over with jewels of poetry and verse, which as you know, are also some of my favorite things :) Life has been busy this last week, and will doubtless be so till school finishes this month; however, I will make time to post some of these wonderful selections along with some of my favorite photos daily. Hope you enjoy! Love, RED

HEIFER INTERNATIONAL

One of my young friends from church who is painting and re-decorating his room asked me if I would paint the United Methodist cross and flame on his wall for him. It only took me a couple of hours; some of the other kiddos at his house commented how they would like to have me paint something on their wall... which got me thinking...

Heifer International is my favorite charity. As much as I love organizations that try to protect wildlife and the environment, I believe if we fail to address the needs of an ever-increasing population, trying to limit how they use their land and their natural resources is futile. That's why I like Heifer so much. The gift of livestock has the power to change someone's life ~ it can be the beginning of financial independence for a family living in poverty. Plus ~ well ~ of course I just LOVE the idea of giving someone an animal! For the last two years my family has donated a goat to Heifer in BratB's family's name for Christmas ~ What gift is more wonderful than that? :)

$1000 buys a Milk Menagerie ~ "One quality bred heifer, two goats, and a water buffalo ~ four milk-producing animals for hardworking families hoping to provide a better life for their children. With training for recipient families, each animal in the menagerie will produce gallons and gallons of wonderful life-sustaining milk. As the families pass the gift of offspring to neighbors in need over time a Milk Menagerie will end hunger and despair one child, one family, one village at a time." This is from the Heifer International website; I've put a link to their website in the right margin if you want to check them out.

So I think I'll take on these projects for the kids in my extra time and ask for a time-appropriate gift to Heifer. It would be fun for me, I'll get to paint a lot of different things, strengthen the bonds I already have with these kids, and we all get to donate to a wonderful cause. I'm going to email the kids my offer and go from there. How cool will that be?? I'll keep ya posted... Love, RED

THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE HORSE!

WARNING: YOU MAY NOT WANT TO WATCH THIS! This video contains very disturbing images. It is so sad how animals can suffer from the ignorance, apathy, and cruelty of the humans they depend on. The before and after pics of the horses that got a second chance bring me to tears. Most of these forgotten souls do not end up so lucky. Horses' feed and medical care is expensive and owning them requires time and attention on a daily basis.(not to mention safe fencing, farrier visits, etc.) Owning a horse should never be taken lightly. Breeding should be left to the breeders; just like cats and dogs, there are too many horses out there already that can be had for a song. That's how they end up in situations like this. It's always the animals that pay the price :(

HIDDEN LIVES

We need to learn the deep and enduring value of the hidden life.

When I think of hidden lives, I think of mothers of small children. I think of compassionate men and women that are caring for elderly parents. I think of highly capable and qualified individuals , who, it seems, for the time being, are completely useless. I think of students still in the classroom, preparing, preparing, preparing. It's the hidden life ~ the life where lasting lessons are learned.

Charles R. Swindoll

~ from "Bedside Blessings"

a daily devotional Ma gave me for Christmas 2006 ~

This has been running through my mind since I read it the night before last. The down and dirty work of caring for those who can't care for themselves, facilitating the lives of others from behind the scenes, the weathering of illness, tragedy, and life-altering changes, as well as the shoring up and preparation for future challenges ~ these often thankless jobs are every bit as important as the ones which our society validates and pays you for! If you know what this is all about my hat is off to you; Keep up your good work and your sincere efforts will be rewarded. That much I know...

"ALL YOU NEED IS EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT"

I don't know who said that but I cut it out of a magazine years ago and have heard it in my head many times since. Simple AND true! Love, RED

LET'S GET SOME SHOES!

I just painted this cute little box last week to corral our (feed the animals/move the sprinkler/walk to the neighbors' house) shoes that live right outside the kitchen door in the garage. I am pretty proud of it, especially since Cub made fun of me for pulling it out of someone's trash pick-up pile last month; he said it would never amount to anything! But I believe Martha herself would be proud! It's a good thing!

I have to admit it took me at least thirty five years of living to finally come to the conclusion that, even though it requires an extra step, it actually saves time to slip on different shoes for outside jobs. I already spend enough time cleaning up what everyone else tracks in; no need to track stuff in myself!

A couple of times last week, I left the garage door open when I went to feed the animals. The little dogs went in and three times, Lolly dragged one of my flip-flops out into the yard. Ha Ha ~ cute ~ but no biggie. The first day I had to think about it for a minute... "Hmm, now I KNOW I had both shoes..." The second day I was in on the joke and walked right out to recover it. But on the third day, the shoe was nowhere to be found! I walked all over the yard; looked high and low but no shoe! Oh well... I figured it would turn up. It did, but two days later and in the sad shape you see above! These are my FAVORITE wear-around-the-house shoes. I bought them a year or two ago at Payless for $9 . If I would have known how much I would wear them, I would have bought four pairs; maybe even six! Anyway, you can see from the pic that even the "good" shoe was on its last leg! In fact, I had quit wearing them out and about and had bought a nicer, newer version of them. But the new shoes aren't the same so I'd wear them out (in public) but then get back home and put on my Old Faithfuls! I actually tried to throw the old ones away when I got the new ones; I almost did! But I couldn't do it!

Alas... they are gone now :(

If ONLY I knew where I could get another pair... anyone? ANYONE? :) Love, RED

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

JoAnn Castle playing piano on the Lawrence Welk Show, which ~ believe it or not ~ I love now that I'm all grown up! I used to watch it when I was a kid, of course once I was a teenager I thought it was too corny. Nowadays I like to catch it on PBS on Saturday nights. The musicians are all so talented ~ though she's my favorite! I find Her joy and love of music totally contagious! And BratB ~ do you see shades of the Kiera Knightly simper in those lips? Now we know where she got it! :) Hope you get a kick out of JoAnn! Love, RED

THE SHINY LITTLE HOUSE

I wish, how I wish, that I had a little house,

With a mat for a cat and a hole for the mouse,

And a clock going "tock" in a corner of the room

And a kettle, and a cupboard, and a big birch broom.

To school in the morning the children off would run,

And I'd give them a kiss and a penny and a bun.

But directly they had gone from this little house of mine,

I'd clap my hands and snatch a cloth,

~ and shine, shine, shine.

I'd shine all the knives, all the windows and the floors,

All the grates, all the plates, all the handles on the doors,

Every fork, every spoon, every lid, and every tin,

Till everything was shining like a bright new pin.

At night, by the fire, when the children were in bed,

I'd sit and I'd knit, with a cap on my head,

And the kettles and the saucepans,

~ they would shine, shine, shine,

In this tweeny little, cozy little house of mine!

Nancy M. Hayes

Cute, Huh? I love it though personally, I'm way more likely to be painting, straightening or rearranging than shining anything. I'm less of a cleaner and more of a tidier, although I'm always trying to do better... (baseboards ~ baseboards ~ don't forget the baseboards!) I once had a revelation in a friend's lovely bathroom that even the baseboards were spotless... before that I'll just admit, my housekeeping was on a level that you would be so lucky as to SEE a baseboard, much less CLEAN a baseboard! And I got it ~ you've got to clear the clutter so you can see the baseboards; once that is done, the cleaning is a snap! I didn't accomplish this overnight, I simply began letting go of stuff that was weighing me down (and keeping me from seeing my baseboards!) Nowadays in my house, baseboards are the wrist on which I take the pulse my house's cleanliness ~ 1-800 howz my house look? ~ They don't lie :) (or is that a :( ? Now, that's just MY little quirk ; yours might be fingerprints on switchplates (not to name names here!)... or whatever! Please don't feel defensive or think I would ever judge you by your baseboards, I wouldn't! But you can sure tell alot by mine! Love, RED

SONG FOR A LITTLE HOUSE

I'm glad our house is a little house,

Not too tall nor too wide;

I'm glad the hovering butterflies

Feel free to come inside.

Our little house is a friendly house.

It is not shy or vain;

It gossips with the talking trees,

And makes friends with the rain.

And quick leaves cast a shimmer of green

Against our whited walls,

And in the phlox the courteous bees

Are paying duty calls.

Christopher Morley

Busy, busy, busy! I've been taking care of all sorts of little things that have needed taking care of and it feels so good! It always makes me wonder why I procrastinate in the first place. I actually really enjoy the satisfaction of a task well done; even one so mundane (and dirty) as cleaning out the garage!

I love this sweet little poem and it does remind me of my little house. I have another poem about a little house for you, but it is late and I am very tired from a hard day's work so I will save it for tomorrow... Sweet Dreams :) Love, RED

WOMEN IN ART

This is so cool! At certain points it almost seems to come alive! Beautiful...

FUN FACTS ABOUT BB

1) She's a big help with school projects :)

2) BB is short for BlockBuster, where we found her.

3) She's my first calico-type cat; I always wanted one.

4) A calico in which the would-be black part is striped is called a "tabbico".

5) Or a "calicabby" :)

6) She has trained me not to allow my hands or feet to hang off the side of the bed. (ever!) I even remember in my sleep (!)

7) Every morning she gets in Cub's gym bag while he's packing it. I think she wants to further her education!

8) She just turned one year old *Happy Birthday BB!*

9) It was REALLY fun having her and a Christmas tree at the same time :)

10) Her favorite toy is a sparkly red pipe cleaner.

11) She will not allow me to have a phone call in peace; I have to go in another room and shut the door behind me (or have my fingers and toes bitten; my choice :)

Hobbies : taunting dogs, ambushing dogs, taunting big cat, ambushing big cat, taunting bird, ambushing people's feet, ambushing hands and feet carelessly left lying over edge of bed, stealing pens and pencils, lounging on dining room table, sleeping in bathroom sink, attempting to clean all litter out of litter pan, sitting on "forbidden bookshelf" when the lady with the spray bottle isn't looking, stealing taquitos (right out from under the spray bottle lady's nose), dragging sparkly red pipe cleaner about triumphantly, Oh, and did I mention helping with school projects ?? :)

TGIF Yall!!

BEYOND YOUR CANVAS

"Stop there!" (holding his hands as though to frame her face) "Did you know that you are a Leonardo, smiling at things beyond your canvas?"

Cecil to Lucy, Room with a View

I love the Mona Lisa. I also have always been fascinated by the American Indians, so my take on the Mona Lisa combines the two. I painted her just for myself! I love things that don't quite match up, don't belong together but are together nonetheless, or aren't quite what they first appear to be. Incongruity. Goats in trees, pancakes for supper, simultaneous rain and sunshine. I like for my first notion to be challenged; I like to be forced to take a second look. Two of my wonderful friends were too quiet to make much of an impression on me at when I first met them, but as I came to know them I came to know what treasures they truly are, and appreciate their company all the more ESPECIALLY because of our differences! I know for sure that in everyone we meet, there is more than meets the eye and you truly cannot "judge a book by its cover." I hate to be sized up on a few little assumptions; I am way too complex, idiosyncratic, and even self-contradicting! Who's not? :)

Not only are we limited by the"canvas" another person shows when we first meet them, we are limited by our own canvas as well - our perceptions and our own little world view! I sometimes have to remind myself that the way I see things is not necessarily the "right" way, just the way that makes the most sense to me. Being a good friend means jumping into the other person's canvas as best we can, if only so they have company there. Rarely does it work to try to bring someone else around to our way of thinking. And even so I'm smiling because all you've just read IS my way of thinking :) How does it look from your canvas?

Love, RED

"In order to express our sense of reality, we must use some kind of symbol: words or notes or shades of paint or television pictures or sculpted forms. None of these symbols or images can ever completely satisfy us because they can never be more than what they are ~ a fragment of a reflection of what we feel reality to be."

Fred Rogers, from The World According to Mister Rogers

VIP FOR A DAY!

I feel the need... the need for speed!!!!

Maverick & Goose, TopGun

Anyone who knows me knows I'm hardly a VIP, in fact, I'm an anti -VIP! I don't crave luxury, privilege, or special treatment. On the contrary, I take some pride in how little all that means to me. And now, with that being said, I have a good story for you :)

A few weeks ago, my dear friend "K" emailed me to tell me that she had recently spent some time with the Mannix family, who are mutual friends from my our old "Navy days" in California. Kevin Mannix is now serving as the Commanding officer (affectionately termed "the Skipper") of the Blue Angels, and the LOVELY Mrs. Mannix and I go way back (it's hard to roll the dice when you're laughing THAT HARD!!). Kevin relayed to "K" that he would like to offer that the boys and I attend an upcoming airshow as his guests. So we all got hooked up via email, and with a wee bit of schedule juggling, I had a plan. CDR Mannix had even offered to include a couple of extra tickets so the boys could invite friends along ~ Sweet! I never told the boys, and I set it up with the other parents to remain a surprise. The boys knew we were doing SOMETHING on Sunday ~ something out of the ordinary~ and by the beginning of the week they had figured out that these friends were somehow involved, but they were still clueless as to what we were doing. Because I will tell you ~ I can keep a secret!! As the weekend approached, I was hounded with more and more questions - "Why can't you tell us? Won't you just give us a hint?" and "Who's gonna be there?" along with lots of guesses.

Sunday morning finally rolled around and I woke up Chico and his friend who slept over and gave them a little direction as to what they should wear and what they should take. Meanwhile, MissS, at whose house the other boys had slept, was doing the same. We loaded up in the car to go pick up the others and be on our way. But as I began to back the car out, I noticed it didn't feel right. It almost felt lopsided, as though - "surely I can't have a flat tire (?)" -so I hop out, and yes, I could and did have a flat tire!! And not just kinda flat- completely flat!! And it was time to go! I thought for a moment (what's Plan B?) and figured I'd call MissS and start my search for a Plan B there. Sure enough, she and her DH came to the rescue, so fast-forward twenty minutes and the boys and I are en route (only barely behind schedule) in her ESCALADE; which again, luxury is not my thing, but it is NICE!

Through email Kevin let me know that our tickets would be left at the front desk of his hotel, and that we probably wouldn't get a chance to visit because on Sundays they leave very quickly after the show to head back to Pensacola. That was a bit of a disappointment because we hadn't seen him in three or four years and I knew the boys wouldn't really remember him unless they got to see him again up close and personal (although he's TOTALLY unforgettable (!) but they were young :)

As we cruised down the highway (in VIP style!) the questions kept coming; the suspense was driving them crazy! When I pulled into the hotel parking lot, they were completely confused! Feeling quite smug and self-satisfied, I told them I had to pop in to pick up something, asked them to wait in the car, and headed for the front desk. I smiled and gave her my name, and asked for the tickets. "I have nothing for that name", she responded.

("WHAT??") So I repeated my name, and threw CDR Mannix' name in too for good measure, but got the same result. Again - time for a plan B! At the last minute that morning I had re-checked the name of the hotel and scrawled it, along with Kevin's cell phone number, on a slip of paper which was back in the car in my purse. I thought surely, he must already be at the field by this time and would probably not have his phone on him, but he did. It turned out he was still at the hotel and told me he'd meet us in the lobby in a couple of minutes. "C'mon yall! We're going In!" I told the boys, who had no idea WHAT to expect anymore! "Is it someone we know? Is it someone famous?? Is it Tony Romo??" (LOL!! "Tony, I've asked you to meet us here today because...") Anyway, a minute later Kevin came into the lobby (in regular clothes) and I gave him a big hug and re-introduced him to my boys - "Boys, you probably won't remember him but this is my friend Kevin Mannix.." then I introduced him to their friends. I could see a flicker of recognition in Cub's eyes as he struggled to place him! Chico and the others were super polite, but obviously at a loss as to the meaning of this introduction! So I (only a LITTLE dramatically) re-introduced him as "Commander Kevin Mannix and OBTW, he's THE SKIPPER OF THE BLUE ANGELS!!!!!" :) THAT got 'em!! He chatted with us for a few minutes and handed me the VIP passes and it dawned on them why we were there! "We're gonna get to see the Blue Angels!!"

Kevin had suggested we might want to grab lunch before we headed out and that seemed like a good idea. He recommended the Subway up the street, and the boys agreed that sounded good. Then he thanked us for coming, and we said our goodbyes. A few minutes later, we walked in Subway and two Blue Angels (in regular clothes) were ahead of us ordering their sandwiches. How could we tell? Because they certainly have a look about them AND their rental car had a big Blue Angel decal on it. Cause that's how they roll!! We were all too shy to approach them, so we just stole glances at them until they left! We got our food, started eating, and in walked Kevin (still in his regular clothes). This time the boys weren't so shy, and they had a chance to talk with him for a few minutes while he waited for his food. Then he once again thanked us for coming, told us to enjoy the show, and left. On our way out, two more Blues had arrived, already dressed in their blue flight suits and turning EVERY head!

The VIP passes entitled us to special parking (in our Escalade :), very special treatment from everyone Navy that we came in contact with, and special seats -front row-center of the show - Excellent! It was great!! There were some amazing stunt pilots in smaller aircraft, and a few other military demonstrations, including one by the newer version of the F/A 18 (which my DXH used to fly) - the F/A 18 E/F "Rhino". The boys were off roaming and I was just kicked back in the sparsely-populated VIP section with my sandals off and my feet up on a chair. The flight demo was awesome, the jet was LOUD, the background music rockin', the sun hot and the breeze perfect... It WAS perfect! I felt almost as though I had gone back in time, back to a time when this kind of thing was so normal for me... I fought back the tears as, for the first time in a LONG time, I allowed some of that love and pride I used to feel for the Navy to wash over me. Because beneath it all - during that time the Navy was a huge part of my life too! I realized maybe (perhaps necessarily) I had thrown out the baby with the bath water when it came how I had come to view my life in the Navy. Because beneath it all - I had an experience of a lifetime and met some friends of a lifetime during those years! And that is all part of who I am today; even if it seems foreign now. And for a few perfect moments, my past and the present made perfect sense, and were seamless :)

A bit later, the boys were all back and in place by the time it was the Blue Angels' turn to perform. They were so excited and IMPRESSED to see CDR Mannix all dressed up in that blue flight suit and being introduced with all the pomp and circumstance that accompanies the Blues' show. I LOVE IT! I could see them perform a thousand times and never tire of it! The show was awesome - the speed, the sound, the power!!! The sneak pass is my favorite! One of the boys turned to me and said, "so a couple of hours ago we were talking to this guy at Subway, and now he's flying over us at 700 MILES PER HOUR!" Yeah ~ pretty cool!! The boys LOVED the show! I LOVED it too! We had a wonderful day !! Thank you SO much CDR Mannix!!! We were thrilled and honored to be your guests!!! YALL ROCK!!! Love, RED

PS: next time I'll expect to see YOU there too Mrs. Mannix ! LOL! I'll bring the dice!!

THE LUCKY ONE

A song for your Saturday by the incomparable Alison Krauss and Union Station. Marnie-San and I were the lucky ones when we saw them perform on the steps of the Hanford courthouse in California a couple of years ago. They sound every bit as good live as they do here. I love many female vocalists, but to me, she is perfection! She's also an excellent fiddle player! I heart Alison Krauss... hpoe you enjoy this too ~ Love, RED

YO DAWG!

I'd like a different dog
For every kind of weather -
A narrow greyhound for a fog,
A wolfhound strange and white,
With a tail like a silver feather
To run with in the night,
When snow is still and winter stars are bright.

In the fall I'd like to see
In answer to my whistle,
A golden spaniel look at me.
But best of all for rain
A terrier, hairy as a thistle,
To trot with fine disdain
Beside me down the soaked, sweet smelling lane.

Dogs and Weather
Winifred Welles

What a week it's been! I found the time to take Tango out for a short ride this evening - how that saves my soul! Afterward, I sat out on the swing and just hung out with the dogs. It's common knowledge that all the different breeds of dogs were purposely bred to have their own talents and abilities, but I still sometimes am so amazed by how true their personalities and quirks are to their breeding! All three of my dogs are mixed breeds, but still, they are all so like their dominant breeds.

Schatze is a dachshund mix. She digs. It is her passion; her obsession. She cocks her head and, apparently, hears goings-on beneath the surface of the earth. She has multiple holes, tunnels, and holes connected to tunnels under construction in parts of the yard at any given time. She likes to spend time in the house, but when it's time to go out she races straight out to her "work zones" to check things out! When I had to have some work done on the septic system a year or so ago, she supervised. She stayed clear of the heavy machinery, but remained close enough to keep tabs on the progress being made. She was so impressed with the speed and ease with which the backhoe did it's work; she stood on the mounds of dirt and her eyes gleamed with excitement! I could see the little wheels in her brain spinning; it was as though she was imagining what great work she could accomplish if she could only control that machine! (Ah~my kingdom for thumbs...Oh and legs longer than four inches:) She loves her kibble and I have to watch her weight, but her hard work in the field helps to keep her waistline in check! Big downside: she always has dirty paws! Our beloved MeeHa brought her home to us as a gift, knowing we were looking for a small female mixed-breed dog (primary stipulation - CUTE) and she fits the bill perfectly! I can live with the digging (like I have a choice!). Doxie's were born to dig! That's how they roll!

Tim is a border collie mix. He's got the looks of a border collie, but lacks some of the keenness they all exhibit. He's a little dorky. I'm not sure what he's mixed with but his big round head makes me think he might be part Lab. He's obsessed with the horses and the goats and all they do. He's about as interested in digging as Schatze is in the big animals; as in not at all! He's not fascinated by soil or what lurks beneath it; he has livestock to watch! He also likes to hang out inside a bit, but is always eager to get back outside to his real job. He's a workaholic! He's also a beautiful athlete - fast, nimble, and superbly toned. He can jump anything. Or almost anything! He's Cub's favorite and sleeps in his room at night. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better all-around good dog!

Lolly is a poodle mix. She's something else! I know poodles are supposed to be really smart so I'm just thinking she's such a nut because she's still a puppy. She's clueless when it comes to digging or livestock, but will live through the other two vicariously now and again and get all up-in-arms and excited about their projects; just to lose interest and collect sticks to chew which she then leaves in untidy piles around the yard. That's okay with me, because I'm usually the one who collects the sticks before mowing (mesquite drop alot of sticks). I guess her hobby is sticks; that and jumping up and down at the back door barking like a soprano warming up her vocal chords. Really, some of the sounds she can make are amazing - I swear one night she actually sang "do - rey - mi"! AND she's quite the acrobat - I know poodles are often circus dogs because of their acrobatic prowess; that and their supposed intelligence (!). Again, I'm hoping as she matures we will see more of that. So far she's more of a clown :) But we love her and she's been a happy addition to our household!

I've had a couple of other dogs and also have noticed how much their personalities resembled the descriptions in the breed books. I guess it shouldn't be so surprising - after all - it's in their blood! They are who they are for better or worse! How 'bout your dogs? Do you see it too? Love, RED