Wednesday, April 24, 2013

with the arrival of Spring...hummingbirds

This morning the sun is shining and it looks like a beautiful day.  The only drawback is the chilly temp outside....a cool and breezy 34.  BRRRR!  But not to fret, I know it is Spring because the hummingbird has arrived.

Despite the freezing temps last night, he stayed on his perch in the butterfly bush.  He was back to the feeder bright and early.  It must have been a long flight because he has been feeding with a voracious appetite, even for a hummingbird.  I have seen two actually, but this one seems to be winning the territorial game.





I love watching the hummers.  I'm so glad they are back.  Yes, it may be cold but Spring is here.  The hummers have arrived.


Spring is here, life is good....

Lent is gone, Easter is here, Spring is sprung.  So much has happened in such a short time.  Big news for me is ...my beloved Pope Benedict has retired and gone off to spend the rest of his life in contemplation and prayer.  I must admit, it hit me hard.  I bawled when I watched those big doors close at Castel Gondolfo.  Times they are a changin', it would seem it can be too much to be Pope in this day and age.  A part of me thought the secular world had won, but I realized I was being extremely selfish, and the Church in this day and age, needed to get with the times man or something like that.  sigh....I'm rationalizing the decision, my mantra, we are not of this world keeps roaring through my brain.

But we now have a new pope, Pope Francis.  A Jesuit no less, go figure, God truly does have a sense of humor.  He is a pleasure to listen to, has a lovely smile, a joy to watch as he works the crowd, very smart, spot on when it comes to moral issues with regards to the Church, thank God.  I just wish he would put on the red shoes.  It means something, it truly does.  Pope Francis' sense of humility is endearing, but all men in that position have been humbled by the office they have been called to.  None more so than Benedict Pope Emeritus. Ah well, it will be exciting to watch him grow as pope.

Ben and I took a wonderful trip to Florida.  We stayed in a lovely resort and had the best time.  We loved it there, we wished we could stay and stay, sooooo.....we bought a house.  Actually we bought a lot, the house is yet to be built, but it will and we will be Floridians.  Surprise!  I would post pics, but alas I lost my camera.  Actually I know exactly where it is, well not exactly right now because it is missing, but I know where I left it and now it cannot be found.  Long story, but no camera now, no pics to post, so you will have to wait to see our new home.  ETA is October so in the meantime, we pack up, we sell here, we get excited and we wait.  Life man, it is good!


*note, as of this posting, no camera has been turned in.  So for awhile, I am missing the pics, bummer!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

the grace of a beautiful day....

 It snowed here...



Yesterday was a gift from God.  It started out cold, rainy, a little icy, the possibility of snow was in the news, and in the air....

See...it was wet, not sticking to anything.  You could see it, though and you just knew, it wouldn't be long before it did stick...

As I went from window to window, trying to catch those "kodak moments", I was feeling that exhilaration of a perfect day in the making.  You know the kind of day I mean.  Circumstances have taken the moment out of your hands, this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  This was a day for a good book, a hot cup of tea, and soup simmering on the stove.  Since Ben had plans for the evening, today was Butternut Squash Soup, yummy.  And all the while, the snow continued to fall....

It was so beautiful, and peaceful.  The snow covered yards exude such calm....



I couldn't coax Hercules out of his bed but I did find the birds were enjoying the day, especially the cardinals...





The cardinal color just pops against the white snow.  I got a little carried away with their pictures...



I truly enjoyed the day, I even had a nest...

It was the perfect spot.  I didn't get much accomplished, although I did read a good book.  And more than once I thanked God for the graces given on this glorious day.





Friday, February 15, 2013

good times indeed...

Going down South last week was good for the soul.  We spent some quality time with the boy and saw some dear and wonderful friends.  At the heart of it all was the Mardi Gras celebration that can only be found in NoLa.  Rain or shine, the people set up their tents, chairs, ice chests, bar b que pits, claim their spot and Let the Good Times Roll...

This year it rained, but it did not dampen the spirits of those who choose to stroll the Boulevard...


check out the sights....



This was the King, getting ready for his ride....We even saw some celebrities....

See what I mean, real celebs at this parade....

These guys are the real deal, man....sadly, it was not meant for them to strut their stuff this day, too wet...



I got around to snap some pics as they were loading the famous wagon back into the trailer, but they let me take pics of a couple of the guys.  They are so beautiful.  When you walk the street before the parade you get to watch preparations and chat with the riders, that's always fun, as they have been up for several hours and they have not been drinking water or coffee, if you get my meaning...

Doesn't he look like he is having fun, LOL!

Yeah, that's more like it...they really do have fun, as did we.  It was a great day, and a great trip.  We went to dinner with my best friend Janet and all of her family.  We laughed so much I thought they might ask us to leave at some point, but we would have laughed at that as well.  Good times.  We went to Mass on Ash Wednesday at our old parish in LaPlace.  Of course it was comforting to see our old pastor Fr. Walter celebrate the Mass in his style of chaotic reverence.  I was able to touch base with some dear friends, which warmed my heart so much, I could come back home feeling well fed, if you know what I mean.  For the man in my life, that well fed statement has a whole other meaning.  He did enjoy his fill of shrimp and crawfish. 

It was time to leave the swamps of La...






but what greeted us as we made the drive north on 48.....





Absolutely glorious!  Home again, until the next adventure, stay tuned....



Saturday, February 9, 2013

Mardi Gras, NoLa, sunshine here we come....

I apologize in advance for the repetitive use of the word 'dreary'.  It seems we just can't get away from the dreary weather.  I say dreary because here in the mid west of America we are still in a drought.  That means when we have a seventy percent chance of rain, we might see seven out of ten drops hit our yard.  It just stays cloudy and dreary looking.  See what I mean...





In all fairness, we have had warm temps and the sun makes a glorious appearance once or twice a week.  It is just enough a tease to get us out of the house thinking of the garden we will have, little projects we can tackle, only to hide behind the clouds while the wind gusts and blows, sending us back inside to continue our winter hibernation.

So with the boy living so close to the Big Easy, we figured why not Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez, ya"ll.  It should be warm, sunny, fun, just what is needed to shake away those blues.  So we pack....



notice the assortment of colored t-shirts.  These are my new favorite thing from Wally World, soft-soft and they have a longer tail, perfect for the southern warmer weather we are surely to encounter.  Plus t-shirts are perfect for parade going, throw reaching, and arm bending, if ya get my meaning.

I also needed to get a painting finished that had been commissioned...

I can't show the completed piece because it is a gift and ..well the recipient might see, so will reveal the art at a later date.  But wandering throughout the house, this is what I encounter at every turn...

Hercules is with me every step of the way...

He knows something is up, and it makes him very anxious.  He doesn't seem to remember that he will not be alone, there will be someone here with him.  There are others of us not so anxious...

"What?, I'm relaxing, getting ready for the drive."  Yes dear, we don't want you stressed, you rest, get yourself ready for all the shrimp and crawfish you are planning on consuming.  So as we look forward to some fun, warmth and sun, down at de Mardi Gras!, we understand there is a chance of rain, which means something quite different down there than it does here, so we hope for two out of three.  Not such bad odds considering.  Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez, ya'll.






Monday, January 28, 2013

it isn't much but Spring is on its way....

It's been bleak and dreary around here weatherwise.  No rain, no snow, just cloudy and dreary looking days. 

 
See what I mean, pretty bleak....

So, anyway, I was perusing my new Southern Living Magazine and came across an interesting article...

In the article it was describing how you could force blooms from cut stems of bushes you might have in your yard.  Well it just so happened that a few days before, the man in my life decided to get out and butcher, uh..I mean, trim back a bush that sits close to the shed out back.  I wasn't sure the cut stems could be salvageable since they had been cut a few days before, so I rushed right out and snagged me a few.

This is the pile of poor cut stems I picked through.  I found about four or five that I thought might work, brought them inside, cut about an inch off the bottom of the stems for a fresh cut, put them in a water filled vase, and hoped for the best.

Well lo and behold, yesterday I noticed this...

Can you see them?  The little buds are growing and popping out.

I know it isn't much, but for now it gives me hope in the Spring that is on its way.  I know that my sad looking Meditation Garden will go from looking like this...

to this...


AHHHHHH!  Spring coming to an area near you, March 2013.











Friday, January 18, 2013

2013, it's all good...

Welcome Year 2013!




 I put the last of the Christmas decor away.




 I dusted and vacuumed, changed sheets on all the beds...well almost, still working on that last one.  But as I wandered through the house, it seemed so quiet and empty.

The bedroom in the man cave is missing the boy's luggage and clothes strewn about....

The girl's room is even emptier and bare....no longer are we hearing the beat of the bass from the Boze playing Taylor's or Selena's latest.  You wouldn't have recognized this bed a week ago, clothes, boots, covers all piled on top, yet the girl would sit up in the middle of the bed happy and contented as a cat in a basket of warm towels fresh out of the dryer.  Ahhh, doesn't that sound cozy.

I don't know about you, but I don't usually make resolutions for a new year. Although I will say, this year I know of some things I would like to do.  I want to paint more, give more and Be more.  Maybe it was the beautiful sunshine we had today after the rainy and gloomy weekend I just had down south, but I was inspired to be productive and make some plans for the new year.  Set some goals for myself, if you know what I mean. 

I want to read more interesting books, see more beautiful parts of our wonderful country with my Ben, and I want to learn more about those delicious fermented grapes I enjoy so much.  This doesn't seem to be too unattainable, so stay tuned... I am hoping for a wonderful 2013 and I wish you a Blessed 2013 as well.