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

IT DON'T COME EASY

I don't ask for much , I only want trust

and you know it don't come easy ...

This heart of mine keeps growing all the time

And ya know it just ain't easy...

Ringo

It don't come easy! I am still trying to get it in gear! Today ended up less productive than I had hoped, at least in a physical sense. Meaning I (along with my body) accomplished little. My brain however, had another banner day! I don't know why it seems so easy to give myself credit for the physical work, but more difficult to give myself credit for the mental work. I know by purposely being vague, I leave you wondering about this important mental work I am doing. "Is she some sort of rocket scientist?" No, she's not. And I don't mean to be vague, it's just easier this way. To much to explain; even too much to sum up! Let's just say it has to do with practical and theoretical problem solving, my own as well as alot going on in several of the lives I love. Kind of a "perfect storm" of occurrences, changes, and more than a wee bit of drama. This combined with the fact that I am a muller, a ponderer, and an empath, well, that makes for one busy brain. Anyhoo... later this evening I decided to get outside and take a ride. Now THAT was a good idea; distracting and even relaxing! I don't think I've saddled up in two months! It was a breezy (if balmy) evening and we went way down to the end of the street. I always feel a bit like I'm in a parade because children love to see a horse and rider coming down the street; they often run out to wave and greet us! Even big people seem to find it charming, usually smiling and waving. Dogs, not as much, but they don't bother us; Tango's not afraid of dogs. Tango is always such a good fella even when he hasn't been out in a while... he's such a standby! After we got back, I let the horses graze on some of the juicy (hear needing to be mowed!) grass in the back yard for a little while I sat on the swing and watched them. No work here, physical or mental! Later I tarried a bit in the barn after feeding everyone, chatting with the goats and enjoying the twilight, the breeze, and the night sounds starting up; for me, this is the perfect sedative for a busy brain!

When I got back inside to get dinner fixed, Chico showed me a letter from the school about his non-regulation haircut. So after dinner I gave both guys haircuts; I cut enough that I won't have to again before school is out. "Oh, Dude! Freshcut!" Chico hollered from the bathroom when he made it to the mirror to check out my handiwork. "Man, I'm gonna get it!" Apparently when you get a NOTICEABLE haircut (as opposed to ?) all the other guys hit you upside the head and yell "Freshcut!!" Who knew? I've never heard this before...then I informed Cub halfway through his cut..."uh...it's coming out a little short :)" To which he replied "Grr." Not growling, just saying. Grr. I like that, because unlike "Freshcut!", I can use Grr. At least I don't think I can use "Freshcut!" Kinda reminds me of Menthos *the freshmaker* but again, I can't really work with that. I never trained professionally to cut hair, but I can pull it off. I have cut my own tons of times. I may not be good, but at least I'm fast! I do not let a small thing like not exactly knowing what I'm doing slow me down on a haircut. Hair grows back. So what!!! (although if you cut your bangs one inch short it may take a while. Yes, you know who I'm talking to Miss Shortybangs!!) OK... enough silliness; Gotta get up EARLY ! Grr :) Love, RED

SPRING GREEN

Well it is spring here for sure! Aren't the mesquite trees amazing? I've been running the air conditioner the last two days which is a bit of a bummer because it's not even that hot yet; just so durn balmy. It's like living in a terrarium! The last two weeks have been very busy and quite mentally exhausting as well; tonight I feel a little numb as much as tired. We were so fortunate to get to spend alot of time with BratB and her family last week, and as always, that was a true blessing. It is so wonderful to be around someone who knows all about you! There is no need to explain anything, which leaves more time for redundant inside jokes (our favorite shared hobby (ferrule))! Spring break is over and now the school year is on the downhill slide; it's almost summer!! Our youth group had a leadership retreat this weekend to plan our summer, including our summer mission trip (a little fun and a lot of service work!). It went well, but these trips with the kiddos really take it out of me; I'm not sure why. It's like spending the day at the beach ~ I never DO much but always end up exhausted anyway! Maybe it's a sensory-overload kind of thing. Also, the kids are already registering for next school year and that has not been entirely drama-free; but I mean that in a good way. I'm so proud of my sons and the fine young men they are becoming right before my eyes! I have found some relief for a couple of other issues that have been plaguing me as well. The mental work is the hardest part! I am waiting for the super-duper-spring-cleaning me to step up and whip everything around here into shape, but I haven't seen her recently! Maybe she's hiding at the gym... that's one place I surely haven't been lately! :) Anyway, I'm in a physically lazy but mentally busy phase right now. Procrastination is often my worst enemy, especially when I'm not at my efficient, organized, "leading the charge" best. I had a meeting today that I knew would be mentally taxing so I kept the rest of the day clear to allow everything to percolate. I even took an afternoon nap. I hardly ever get a chance to do that! SO.. maybe tomorrow I'll go to the gym and see if that super-maid me is hiding there and get her back on task around here :) I hope you have a good, productive Tuesday too! Love, RED

DUMB OL' COUNTRY BOY

I love this song! It gets stuck in my head all the time! Oh ~ and I do think the singer is ALL THAT!!! I don't care if he IS a dumb ol' country boy !!!

THE PERFECT STORM

THE RED WHEELBARROW

so much depends

upon

a red wheel

barrow

glazed with rain

water

beside the white

chickens

William Carlos Williams

Wow! This week has been the perfect storm as far as everything going on at once. BratB and her family are in town for spring break, high school registration and the big home track meet for Cub and the two little goats under the weather and needing a little extra time twice a day! Plus just all the normal (if you can call life normal!) stuff that always needs taking care of! What a week! It all went well - we all met at the track meet yesterday and Cub had a great meet - achieving a couple of "personal bests" despite the 40 mph wind! Then BratB's girls came back with us for pizza and a sleepover -a great night! Full plate today, full plate tomorrow, full plate Sunday! Half plate Monday so I will catch up then.

I love the simplicity of the poem above and the perfect picture it paints in my mind's eye. BratB read it in a college English class and mailed it to me because she said it reminded her of me. That was over twenty years ago!! I still love it. Here's my version :) Love, RED

THE CORAL GATE

so much depends

upon

an old coral

gate

shimmering with dew

drops

beside a spotted

goat :)

HAPPY EASTER!

THE DAY BEFORE APRIL

The day before April

Alone, alone,

I walked in the woods

And sat on a stone.

I sat on a broad stone

And sang to the birds.

The tune was God's making

But I made the words.

Mary Carolyn Davies

The boys get home tonight and BratB and her family get into town as well. Yay! School also starts tomorrow. Boo! Hope you have a wonderful Easter surrounded by friends, family, and loved ones... Love, RED

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?

Tim has told me that he is having a hard time leaving a comment (yes, when he is not watching goats or chewing sticks he actually has alot to say!)... You too? I know...you just need to create a Google account, then sign in first; after that it's pretty simple (even a border collie can do it!). I'm not sure why this has to be so hard, but it seems to be! It was for me too. I am a computer idiot! :)

Step by Step : (Get a pen and so you can write down your password and put your hands on it again when you need to)

1...Go to "comments" at the bottom of any blog post.

2...Scroll down and choose "No Google Account sign up here"

3...Type & retype your email addy. This will remain confidential unless you check a block (later, and don't..) to make it otherwise; No, I will not even know who you are unless you choose to give that away yourself; that info stays with Google.

4...make up a good password with ten or so characters and with numbers and letters... something weird and wacky ... and WRITE IT DOWN EXACTLY before you proceed.

5...Type & retype password.

6...Make up a name you want to show when you comment (*random friend* *hunny bunny* etc.)

7...Type in weird letter code (you will have to do this everytime; it will always be different, but if you mis-type it will give you another chance)

8... Check "accept terms of service" box

That should be a done deal. Now go back to my blog. In the upper right hand corner, hit "sign in".

Put your EMAIL ADDRESS (still confidential) and your password (which you wrote down) and check the box that says "remember me on this computer".

From now on, when you visit the blog, first thing just go to that same upper right hand corner and hit "sign in".

It should recognize you. Every month, when my computer takes its "bath", I have to re-type the info, so write it down and put it somewhere that you can find it. Remember, your "username" is your EMAIL ADDRESS (not the cute name you made up). Re-check the "remember me" box, and you should be golden. Once you are signed in, if you go to the comment page it should say "You are posting as *hunnybunny* "or whoever you chose to be and all you will have to do is type the weird letter code. I hope this helps. I just did it step by step myself and made it thru... if I can , so can you! Love, RED

PS) I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR YOUR WACKY COMMENTS!!!! (No excuses MarnieSan!)

IT'S SUMMER!!!

Break out those swimsuits! Just kidding! Of course it's not summer yet (you still have time to work on that beach bod :), but it is just around the bend for South Texas; it will be here before we know it! Truly, today I'm not writing about summer, so much as an attitude of summer, which makes me think of my dear friend GirlTracy and the summer we spent so much time together. It was one of the most relaxing, fun, carefree summers I've enjoyed as an adult!

The two of us had volunteered as chairpersons for the decoration committee for our kids' preschool's annual fundraiser, The Dinner Dance. This is no folksy clambake; it is a out and out shinDIG complete with sit down buffet, fancy linens and flowers, BEAUTIFUL decorations (if I do say so myself!), live auction and a dance on the huge back lawn of the fanciest mansion for miles around! I like to describe it as a wedding party with no wedding. That's how much planning goes into i! There is always a theme, and at the end, when it all comes together; all of the contributions of each committee - it is simply amazing! It is the small preschool's only fundraiser, and year after year it pulls in enough to operate the school for the following year while keeping tuition affordable to most.

ANYhoo... we started planning and scrambling for donations of supplies in January. We started hitting up our committee (actually, that was more GT's job; she's an awesome task-master!) and planning work days on the weekends. They were always at her house because she had a big shop and a huge fenced yard with tons of toys for all the kiddos; we could actually get work done and store our large half-finished projects there as well. We talked to each other on the phone several times a day and did alot of running around together too. In short, we became good friends. She appreciated my artsy nature, my sparkling wit, and our kids got along like peas and carrots :) I appreciated her shoot-from-the-hip ability to make people step up, her droll, tell-it-like-it-is sense of humor, and her all-around competence in any task. We pulled it all together - our "Night in Rome"- and several people told me the decorations were as good as they had ever seen! How rewarding!! What a team we made!

Well, with the Dinner Dance done and gone, and shortly thereafter school out for summer, we continued our friendship; maintaining our daily phone conversations, we began walking together and getting together on weekends as well. My then-hubby was overseas for six months, and her then-hubby was always working, so we would just hang out and let the kids live it up. For being such a natural-born manager, I haven't met many people who know how to relax and let go like GT does! I would say, "Gosh, I should probably get the kids home..."

"Why? IT"S SUMMER!"

"Well, I guess you're right... what's the hurry. Should we bathe them? They're filthy.."

"Why? They'll just want to come back outside and get dirty again. You know they won't stay inside! Besides, IT"S SUMMER!"

Or I'd be at home some evening, all involved in my same ol' routine and she'd call. "Come over! I'll make your favorite noodle salad!" (Girl, you know how I love your noodle salad!)

"Oh, I don't know; I have laundry going and was going to clean the bathrooms..."

"Oh PLEASE, Girl!! Get your butt over here! IT"S SUMMER!!!"

I miss her and those days. What a wonderful summer that was! And although I do like to putter around my house doing this or that, and don't ALWAYS want to be swept away, sometimes I do get a bit too focused on the day-to-day tasks and resist getting out and doing something out of the ordinary. Sometimes I might can even be a bit... er...well... STUBBORN (gasp!) and can use a little push or pull!!

I've had a pretty relaxing spring break week; accomplished a bit, worked a bit, done nothing a bit more! Hey - IT"S SPRING BREAK!!! TG, I love ya Girl!!!! Maybe you can visit soon... maybe this summer (?) I know you have lots on your plate and everything... But hey!! I know what you'd say! Love, RED

INTERVAL FOR LAZINESS

This will be better than all of the climbing -

Let the road wind wherever it will;

There is a time when nothing is better

Than listening, looking, just sitting still.

Here is a log, as a cushion for thinking,

Here are green trees as a shadow for rest;

There is a time when going on further

Takes too much effort, and stopping is best.

I can remember the turn of the roadway,

Where tang of the mint and tang of the pine

Met in the wind - and to think of that meeting

The rest of the way I can gladly resign.

Perhaps I have found it! - the secret the old know,

That nothing ahead is so pleasant to find

As just sitting down, in the shade or sunshine,

Rocking and dreaming of what is behind.

By Helen Frazee-Bower

SUBSTANTIALICIOUS!

Our culture has vastly overvalued the lives of the rich and famous. Our children no longer hunger to be good citizens, but merely well-known ones. In our misguided quest for heroes, we've made fame the most coveted virtue. But when our heroes cease to do heroic things, and we still venerate them, where does that leave our culture? It is time to restore balance. Let's boycott celebrity and celebrate instead all the unnamed warriors trying to make a positive impact on our daily lives.

Lynn Nottage, playwright

from the Oprah Magazine

April 2008

I got the new Oprah mag in the mail today. It's a treat; I usually really enjoy it, but today, I was irritated twenty pages in. Why are the models for wrinkle creams twenty-two years old? What could that possibly mean to me? An Ikea ad for a new kitchen setup boasts of the same woodsy walnut cabinetry and deep tones that every 70's kitchen had, but in most cases, has long since went the way of the dodo! It's time to go back to that? Walnut and avocado green? Turn a few more pages and it's a new Kohler shower with "multiple shimmering tiles - digitally controlled - that give you water, sound, light, and steam." Is that what what I've been missing in my life? My shower ain't got multiple shimmering tiles! The insert-mini-mag shown above looked promising - "reimagine you" -"simply revolutionary". On closer inspection, it's just one big ad for a bunch of crap I need so I can "reimagine myself as a suburban legend". All I need is all new garden tools, new cool clothes in the hottest spring shades, new spring shades, a new grill, bedroom set (with life's hectic pace, don't I deserve a sanctuary?), kitchen appliances, videocamera, GIANT mower ("reimagine yourself as the alpha neighbor" it actually says! ), new patio set, margarita machine, 80 qt. stainless steel portable cooler with bottle opener with convenient cap tray ! (because it's SO flippin hard to deal with finding a trash can!), solar patio lights, etc., on and on, ad nauseam.

I don't mean to sound harsh here, but is this the meaning of life? Keep replacing our stuff (which we already have too much of) with newer stuff, half of which was already "in style" (whatever that REALLY means) then "out of style", but is now back "in style"??? According to whom? It bugs me because it doesn't seem real. And it isn't real. If we know what we like, then why can't we just get that stuff and keep it (!) actually stick with something? If we didn't jump to redo-refurbish-redecorate-re-wardrobe every time "they" say it's time for a "brand new" (as if!) look, maybe we really could reinvent ourselves. But for the better; in a meaningful, purposeful way. Maybe we would find the time on our hands to do something real. Like start a garden. Or write a letter to a government representative. Volunteer at a community center, food bank, soup kitchen, or the humane society... Learn to play the piano or the tuba - whatever! Doing and redoing and redoing just for the sake of it is not progress in my opinion. It's busy work; it's killing time; it's anesthetizing oneself to what is really happening in our world!! Which we can never change if we don't first NOTICE.

Anyway, the reason I chose the piece above is that I think all the celebrity lifestyle splashed everywhere has many of us buying into the bigger, fancier, more-is-more philosophy. But so many of the rich and famous are so unhappy; just read the rags at the checkout counter! It's a sad thing when many of society's heroes are hollow. Not real, not substantial. BratB called this morning and interrupted my thoughts to tell me that our new word is "SUBSTANTIALICIOUS" (so what if she found it on a Snickers bar wrapper ? :) Suddenly it all clicked! That's what I want to be!! I want to be the real deal; if I'm gonna reimagine myself I'm gonna do it right! I'm gonna be SUBSTANTIALICIOUS!

OK! I know I've been ranting and I'm probably on your last nerve anyway so let me just get it all out! I don't want to further irritate you, BUT, the kitchens so in style now with their dark cabinetry, recessed lighting and sleek stainless appliances will be going "out of style", and it won't be too long, either. I'm sorry, I'm just telling it like it is. Once a look gets affordable and mainstream, "they" have to come up with a "new" look to keep us coveting, craving, and spending! Probably an informal, spacious, bright white kitchen! Then, it'll be time to rip out the dark stone floors and re-do those cabinets again :) OR WILL IT??? You, and only you (and Donald Trump) can decide! Peace and Love, RED

THE ULTIMATE REALITY SHOW!!

IT'S SOYRIZO!!!!

So! Last night I had the house to myself since my kiddos are visiting their Dad this week. I wanted to watch a movie, just not enough to get off my toucas and go rent one, so I turned to the television (it's ok, last night NOT technically a schoolnight, spring break and all :). Wow - is there anything on television but reality shows anymore? Do you not just love the above video? (it has taken me two weeks to figure out how to get a video on my blog so please watch it! It's funny! I promise not to inundate you with them!) I watched about ten minutes of ABC's The Bachelor - why oh why would a woman put herself through that? I am embarrassed for all of them! Some of them are accomplished young women; what are they thinking? Oh, well! I finally settled on the last half of a LMN movie with Shannen Dougherty (again, why?).

When that was over I went rifling through the icebox to find some dinner; again, I could have gone out and picked up something nice; maybe some shrimp noodles, had I the inclination to venture out. But no, I settled on soyrizo. If you are from South Texas you know that taquitos (breakfast tacos, not the weird crunchy frozen things from Costco) are practically their own food group, and of that food group chorizo (spiced Mexican sausage) and egg taquitos are the KING! (my opinion, anyway!) No, they're probably not good for you but they sure are GOOD! A couple of weeks ago I found "Melissa's SOYrizo" in the produce section. "Meatless soy chorizo/ vegan/ 60% less fat than chorizo/ no cholesterol/ looks like chorizo/ tastes like chorizo/ You won't believe it's not chorizo!" The first time I fixed it I think I undercooked it a bit and I did not add any seasonings. The boys ate it and said it was good, but asked what was different. Last night, I sauteed it until it was nice and browned; seems like it takes a little longer than the real thing. I added salt, pepper, eight eggs and three small taqueria hot sauces. This time it was really good! I went ahead and made it all up into taquitos then wrapped them so they'd be ready to pop in the microwave this week. Maybe eating taquitos all week is a little excessive, but - Hey! It's SOYRIZO! I highly recommend it to anyone out there who loves chorizo (and would like to just eat it every day, all day, like me :)

Since I'm just rambling on today, I thought I'd update you on all my previous posts that have left you hanging (I 'm sure you've been lying awake nights :) I'll go from most recent back and I'll make it quick:

HOUSE PAINTING PROJECT: (from post: It's Official!) Well...stalled. The weather has been off and on rainy-windy-rainy-windy for the last two weeks; not the best painting weather. Yesterday the wind gusts were up to 60 mph! Is that really necessary? How did CHICAGO get the "Windy City" title? Anyone?? Also my friend MissD has informed me that my color choice is U-G-L-Y (it ain't got no alibi) so now I'm filled with self-doubt and angst. What the heck is wrong with the color of shrimp, anyway?

FOUNTAIN FISH: (post: Just What I Needed) They are alive and well. "Deep red" looks a little worse for the wear, but it has a couple of small new leaves. Because of my desire to get "different" goldfish, I chose whitish/calico ; not knowing that unlike their vividly (though common) gold colored cousins, they would be practically invisible in the pond. I have to catch the cascading water in a pitcher to stop the ripples while using a flashlight to locate them! So that's been really rewarding...

LOLLY: (post: Le Amour!) Lolly has settled in well. She still gets overly excited when we come or go and barks too much but she's coming around. Not only does she chew sticks like Tim, she collects them, leaving two or three clustered together in random piles around the yard (between the random tunnels that Schatze the doxie-mix has dug). She's completely recovered from being spayed and she's had all her shots. We really get a kick out of her; the boys mostly refer to her as "Spaz".

LENT: (Givin' it Up) As you know Lent is almost over with Easter's arrival this Sunday. I have done very well with both my sacrifices; schoolnight tv (uh, except last night) and a grudge. (almost gone, that's all I can say about that :)

LONE STAR COUNTRY STORE: ( I Can't Wait!) Hmmm. They opened Saturday and I went to see it on Saturday. While I'm sure it will be alot of peoples' favorite store, I wasn't thrilled. Sorry LSCS! But I thought the prices were a little high on feed; which would be the main reason I would go. But it is bright, clean, and spacious with freshly-scrubbed young employees in western wear, so it will still do well without my business. And yes, I was just a little disappointed.. *sigh*.. can you say "prom syndrome"?

LIL' BABY GOAT: ( If Three is a Crowd, What's Five?) He has settled in as well. He and Esteban are BFF's and hang out together all day. They call each other if they get too far apart, and butt heads, climb trees, and do other fun stuff while the fuddy-duddy lady goats lay around and chew their cuds. I'll have to get some pics of them in the trees; it's so cool to see them up there!

And now we are all caught up. If you haven't read some of the past posts you may be saying whaa...? but that's allright too! It's all there somewhere if you want to know what the heck I'm talking about :) Have a wonderful, wonderful day... Love, RED

HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY!!

AN IRISH BLESSING

May you always have work for your hands to do;


May your pockets hold always a coin or two.


May the sun shine bright on your windowpane;


May the rainbow be certain to follow the rain.


May the hand of a friendship always be near you,


And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you!





I'm not sure who these strange looking leprechauns are, but I am sure they would want to wish you a Happy St. Patricks Day !! *pinch* Love, RED

A HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR

Bays, greys, chestnuts and roans;

The colors of most of the horses I've known.

Perlinos, cremellos, claybanks and duns;

Palominos who shimmer like gold in the sun.

Piebalds and skewbalds, appaloosas too;

Sorrels, browns and grullas (who are blue).

Socks, snips and blazes, dapples and stripes;

And for bad guys and good guys, classic blacks or whites!

The horse in the picture is Sombra when she was four years old. If you are a horse person you already know the grey horse's story; born black or bay but each year more and more white hairs come in. By four most greys will be a deep shade of gunmetal grey; by six or seven, dapple grey with a bluish cast. By the time a grey reaches twenty to twenty five, they will be mostly white (see next post). I love that about having a grey; your horse changes from year to year!

As I've told you before, I was born horse crazy. I could never satisfy my intense desire to know everything about them; the names and traits of each breed, the colors and markings, and the care and training of them. I checked out every horse book from the library at least ten times, commited every page of it to memory, and when we would visit other people's homes I would check out their encyclopedias for information, and most of all, photographs! (what Google Image search would have meant to me back then!!) I learned to draw horses by copying photo after photo after photo... I have drawn thousands of horses in my lifetime, no kidding! Every breed, every color, every pose! I used to make up these elaborate tests on the colors of horses, with drawings of horses of every hue, and make my sister take them (nevermind that she had no real interest in horses, much less the various colors they come in, but, Hey! that's what little sisters are for, right Kiks?) Those were the days of loooong lazy summers and no all-day kids television programming, back-to-back summer camps or video games! I'll have to try the horse color test on my boys; although somehow I predict it might not be such a hit! (Thanks, Kiks, you were always a great sport... quick! what's a yellow-gold horse with a black mane and tail? That's right! See? Betcha wouldn't know that if it weren't for me!)

When I inherited Tango, his previous owner and I mused over his color. He's registered as a bay (reddish-brown with black mane, tail, and legs), but that's not correct. His dorsal stripe and mealy muzzle prove that he's actually a bay dun with the pangare factor. WHAT?? I know, that's more than most people would ever want to know if they asked, "What color is your horse?" :) But now you know anyway! I have always been drawn to the more rare colors in anything, not just horses. If I see a field of Holstein cows, which are usually black and white spotted, my eye will be drawn to the one brown and white. But in the horse world brown and white paints are more common, so it would be the black and white that would grab my attention! And who can deny the beauty of the Weimaraner, with its singular silver coat? Or the one albino parakeet in a cage with the yellows, blues, and ubiquitous greens? So if you've read the interests on my profile, and thought "What the heck?..", now you know. I'm not some weirdo with a thing for albinos (please, no offense to anyone who may be an albino, I AM fond of albinos!). On second thought, maybe I AM a weirdo! This whole post definitely has a "weirdo vibe" about it, doesn't it? OK, next time we'll talk about something more normal :) Cubby and Chico, off to the beach today, say " Go Spring Break 08!!" Love, RED