perspective

Otis and shaky

Otis was a little younger and smaller.

Poem - nice message

A few months ago I went to a session about self compassion and I just ran across this poem that the speaker shared with us. Wanted to share it in case it resonated with anyone else.

Fire
by Judy Brown

What makes a fire burn
is space between the logs,
a breathing space.
Too much of a good thing,
too many logs
packed too tight
can douse the flames
almost as surely
as a pail of water would.

So building fires
requires attention
to the spaces in between,
as much as to the wood.

When we are able to build
open spaces
in the same way
we have learned
to pile on the logs,
then we can come to see how
it is fuel, and the absence of the fuel
together, that makes fire possible.

We only need to lay a log
lightly from time to time
A fire
grows
simply because the space is there,
with openings
in which the flame
that knows just how it wants to burn
can find its way.

Mei's bashed in face - a deer hit me

Pictures of a bird bath and possible news

Hi,

I have applied to program to go to China for 10 days next July. It is an education program to promote global education. I should know soon if I am accepted. Just giving you all a heads up about it.

Also, this is the picture of a birdbath my neighbor made using some of my left over ceramic pieces. I think it is really cool.

Better Late than Never!

We made a surprise trip to Baton Rouge in January. Had a nice visit with Brad's siblings. Edith is keeping VERY busy as usual and doing very well over all. Went to lunch with Kelly and Kathryn at the Magnolia Cafe. The highlight was a viewing of the new bridge to New Roads. Actually, no joke intended, it was an impressive sight. Getting ready to head out for 11 days to Fla. Feb. 16-28 to watch McKenna and Keaton while Erin and Matt go to a vet conference in Las Vegas. (Sure...a vet conference) Brad says he's staying the whole time...we'll see! :-)

All is well here.

Blog history

Phil has been looking into ways to save our blog entries for posterity and possibly moving it to a different website. I will let him take the lead on that since my only reason for starting the blog was to share information and pictures between us. I like this site and I like the one he is suggesting so I will be happy with either one.

Phil will tell us more, I hope, and then we can all take a look and comment.

Surprise Snow...

No I did not get the BIG snow but we did get a surprise snow. I went to bed at 11 watching the moonlight through my window and volia, woke to wonderland of snow. Oh I am putting my Super Bowl Snack in this post in the spirit of the weekend.
I love an orange called Cuties

Big weekend

Friday was Tina's birthday and They Might Be Giants concert. Started the evening at Habana's and forgot to take pictures of the beautiful food, but Jack and I had seafood paella. Then we went downtown to drink beer at a grocery store across from the concert and watched people stand in line until they opened the doors. When it got close to the time of the opening act (Jon Coulton), we strolled in and got about the same standing room we would have gotten if we had stood in line for an hour. We felt pretty smug.

Saturday I went to a traditional Burn's Supper that a friend of mine was involved in. I enjoyed it, but if I go again I will make sure I go with someone actually interested in Burns. My table barely knew who he was and the conversation ran to opera and themselves mostly. Haggis was very good though. Again, forgot to take pictures - didn't even take my phone with me.

Sunday morning we had brunch at a place called Chez Z with Trevor and Tina. I did take pictures of the food - it was great - and we took a ride in Trevor's new ride - a new, black Soul. Yes, let the puns and jokes begin. I forgot to take a picture of it because on the way out to his car a woman backed into me and I was so distracted that I forgot to take a picture of either her car (should have gotten her license) or Trevor's car. But it is a nice car and I think he will really enjoy it. Much above my level of daily luxury, but I love my little red Fit too.



Lobster and shrimp omelet - Jack's breakfast






Tina's Cream Brule french toast with Rum sauce!






Trevor's Chicken and Waffles






My Surf and Turf Benedict - steak on one English muffin and poached egg on crab cake.

Jack and I shared so we could try both and we had a small helping of the cream brule french toast so that we could try it. It was all great!

krispy k is watching

krispy k is now now checking in on what you ward people are up to or not up to as it were.

Kelly w and Mother b

As I clean out and purge I come across fun stuff...she was telling me to go fix her an Old Fashion... do it quickly and make it strong!

Happy Birthday Robert Burns!

Today is Robert Burn's birthday. I have a happy hour with colleagues this afternoon. I really do not like happy hours - never have - but I am on the executive committee for this organization and we have to take turns hosting them. I chose this one so I can actually celebrate Rabbie's birthday on the day. We had a mini-Burn's supper last Friday. It was really a get together with people who went to Scotland last June and we turned it into a sort of Burns Supper since I was bring haggis and Neeps & Tatties. We had fun, but not enough singing for my taste.

I am going to a more formal Burn's supper on Feb. 4 in Austin. It will be different going to one that I am not actually organizing and cooking for.

Feb. 3 we will go to see They Might Be Giants with Trevor and Tina. It is Tina's birthday. We have seen They Might Be Giants almost every time they are in Austin. They continue to be my favorite band.

That's about it for now.

Year of the Dragon

Ruby in church garb!



Kathryn gave me a very cross look when I said that it must be a new year  on the Chinese calendar because my ass be draggen.  Actually, all is well here. In case I have not formally invited you we are having a baptism week-end on Easter week-end.  The baptism service is on Saturday before Easter at 7:00 p.m. with Otis and Ruby being baptised and the rest of us re-renouncing the devil and all the evil forces in the world.  Toby, Tanya and the kids will also be here and we will have a crawfish boil, Easter-egg hunt and fireworks display on Easter afternoon. It should be great fun.  Please join us if you can.

Etremely Loud, Incredibily Good

I just watched the film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close--- one of the great movies of the decade to me. Tense, on the edge of my seat, soulful, mournful but real in an unreal way. If anyone goes, or has already gone, I would like your take on it. it is very unique... yet predictably not predictable.

Take your hankies..

Hello out there?

Hope everyone had a good holiday.  We had a nice visit with Diana and Brad.  They were in town for some sort of party having to do with a sporting event that took place in New Orleans that we will never reference again. Can you get to eastern Tennessee without going through Alabama?