Spiraling newness

I was asked today "what's new?" as someone was racing past me. Did they really want to know what's new in my life, in the world or was it just a rhetorical question? My reply? "Nothing." My thoughts were screaming "are you serious? Nothing??" Why is it that I hold back responding while my brain is thinking that the zillion new things going on in my life has me scrounging for something familiar? "Nothing"? On the contrary. My thoughts went directly to my daughter who is graduating this weekend and moving to Phoenix. With that, should I worry about her living close to Mexico and the swine flu threat or is the former Mexico President that is speaking at the Emory Commencement enough of a concern for me? Or does the proximity really matter with this virus? I then blinked and thought of my Dad who just this past weekend was hospitalized because he passed out while driving. Heart condition? Stroke? Tests proved negative, but getting back in that driver seat is something new to really think about. And yet another blink had me thinking of my best friend who is trying to move to California to pursue work. But "nothing"?? Really??? What I should have answered was "did you know that today the art world is stirring up controversy that Van Gogh didn't really cut off his own ear, but his jealous live-in did it?" I think the race would have stopped at that note.

Mixing it up and Feeling Good

Once again, and old song resurrected the other day on American Idol.
This particular one goes back to the 60's, was written for a musical
and has been sung by many artists. I like this version from Muse and
thought I'd post it here. If anything, you know how I feel. :)

Comfortable silence

Canoe race

First and second place this year at the CRBI Waterfest Canoe-a-thon last Saturday. Our son and his girlfriend tried hard to beat these old timers, but something about the tortoise and the hare came to mind all through the race! :)
The 13 miles brought us in at 2 hours 43 minutes!

Coosa River Basin Initiative

This is the River Race that we've been participating in for the last few years with my canoe. The race is next Saturday the 18th. I'll let you know the results!

Surpassed our fund raising goal of $500 donation to CRBI. Yea! The overall money raised this year at the festival doubled. This supports clean water on our rivers! :)

The perfect sounds

I would have to say that the sound of rushing water always has me
mesmerized. From scoping out the Natahala River for a possible kayak
run to hiking on the Appalachian Trial, this past weekend left me
breathless and wanting more. Escaping to my passions, I was not disappointed.

Bruschetta di Pomodoro

Yes, it tasted as good as it looks! I picked these tomatoes at a farm while in Florida last month. There's something about a fresh tomato that seems to zest up anything you make. The smell alone while picking them was enough to have my mind racing with numerous recipes to satisfy that sense! From bruschetta to marinara sauce and everything in between, those tomatoes tasted every bit as good as that first taste while standing in the acres of plants with mud on my heals and a smile on my face. :)

Revealing volumes

"I believe in your love for me. I believe in my love for you. I believe that every remaining beat of my heart belongs to you, and I believe that when I finally leave this world, my last breath will carry your name." The Gargoyle ~ Andrew Davidson




These lines came from the last book I read and stood out to me instantly as I fell upon them. They reveal volumes while standing on it's own. It's always a nice surprise when something like that happens while engrossed in a story. Almost as if those lines are in bold print highlighted just for you, that make you stop, reread and say... I wish I would have wrote that.

Kayaking to Mound Key Island

Dan and I went on a kayak trip to Mound Key while in Fort Myers, Florida. The Island is accessible only by boat from the south end of Estero Island. We had a great time at this archaeological site that was framed with mangrove trees. The shell mounds on Mound Key are more than 30 feet above the waters of Estero Bay and the highest point for miles around. It's almost all an artificial creation from 2,000 years of human activity. When the first Indian inhabitants arrived on Mound Key, the fish and shellfish were abundant around the island. As the centuries of fishing and shellfish collecting went by, discarded shells, bone, and pottery piled up! As time went on, the island grew larger and higher. This really was a interesting island to explore. Plus, it was fun because we were the only people on the island that day. Hopefully we'll get back there someday to do more exploring. :)

Perfecting the art of being overlooked

Hand written with love

I love a hand written letter. The kind you not only put thoughts into, but all your senses to make it happen. A letter that can be held in your hands and know that the sender also held it. A letter that sometimes holds smudges of ink or stains from tears to have it expressed.

As a teen I stumbled upon such letters that were written by my parents to each other. I kept going back to that pile that was neatly tied and surprisingly stored in the fruit cellar, and read them over and over. I decided then, that somewhere along the way, I would have a neatly tied pile of my own. Hand written with love expressed. Mainly, a letter filled with words written only for me.

As the years went by, I have written many cards instead of buying them preprinted. I have attached pictures along with the text of what I wanted to say with heartfelt love. And I have written many verses that clearly would be good enough for a Hallmark card. Since life has a way of twisting things around, I would say that there could indeed be a neatly tied stack if they were all compiled.

But it's those memories of a hand tied pile of long ago that seem to stand out in my mind. That time when I first fell in love with a hand written letter.

BE a breath of fresh air

Sometimes, all it takes is a wave to feel like a breath of fresh air just gripped your being. When the acknowledgment shows its face and it's just enough to settle and exhale.
How great is it that this flower, awash and full of life, stands out amongst the decaying leaves of Winter as if waving. It brings new life while prompting smiles at it's mere existence. It radiances BE the breath of fresh air. How can we not love that? :)

Motionless

So it goes, pale blue colored
standing afar, lingering
focus made, radiance
stumbling words, humbled stance
heart expressed, coming to life
words melting
intense cry chasing the sound
..."not you, stay there"....

Simplicity

Back to basics this year in the making of my wreath. Putting aside the ornate one of last year, I chose to make a wreath with what I had on hand. Limbs from a tree and pinecones that were thrown askew outside, I set out on the task. This was the first of my decorations and perfect for what I want to accomplish. Simplicity.

Apple or Pumpkin? :)

Thanksgiving of childhood years can bring back such fun memories. This year as I was at the hectic part of getting dinner on the table while everything was still hot, I received a text message from my cousin. I haven't spoke with him since the family reunion in July so I took the time to respond. He was at his parent's home with siblings and family also waiting for dinner. All he text was "I'm waiting to see if they're putting me at the adult table or kids table". That's all I needed to laugh hysterically for the memories came flooding back. Every year when we were young, our three related families got together that included us 7 kids. We in turn sat at the kids table separate from the adults and wondered which one of us would be lucky enough to sit with them at "the important adult table" the following year. As our knees grew closer to the card table's top, we thought surely the next year we'd be there. Never happened. We stayed at those small tables until our late teens when all of a sudden our significant others added too many for the occasion and dinner was split and had at three different homes. It wasn't until later in years did we realize that we had the best of the two tables. We had laughter and jokes, teasing, competitions of who could eat the most while balancing the table on our knees, along with conversations like why do we have to choose between apple and pumpkin since we just wanted both! But most of all, we had cousin camaraderie that has lasted over the years. When the line "kids table or adult table?" can be said to any one of my cousins and it produces a smile with laughter , you know we actually were at the important table. Pie anyone? :)

In line...right?

Stealing my heart with just a glance...

it keeps me trusting. How can it be any better than this?

Towards me, away from me. Breathe into my life... saving me.

Amicalola Falls

Fall in northern Georgia is beauty sprinkled with the crisp air that I love. Though far from my hometown of Pittsburgh, I've come to enjoy this season in the South. With every turn on this particular day, the trees looked as though they were ablaze. Hiking through this splendor of color was amazing and I was thrilled to be there on one of their peak days. I couldn't decide whether the journey to the Falls was better than the destination of the Falls itself! Isn't that how life is suppose to be anyway? Although...maybe another drive there would help decide. :)

McIntosh Reserve to Franklin County UCR Paddle Trip Oct 24-26, 2008

This is one of my favorite trips every year that Dan and I take. The cool crisp air along with the many shoals throughout this section, make for a great weekend of paddling. We began at McIntosh Reserve campground and 20 miles later concluded in Franklin County. At one point, I paddled off to a different section around an island and saw two eagles flying above. The contrast of the birds against the blue sky was amazing.
Looking forward to other days on the water. :)

Roar of Silence

Moments stand still. Every turn in view shows the dream...speaking the thoughts produce a smile, but in defeat the roar of silence plays forth. Avoiding those places, the presence gives solace.