Georgia Southern University

 

  Last, but not least, we have Dave going back to school for his junior year at Georgia Southern.  It was great having him home for the summer and I am missing him since he went back to school.  My food bill should go way down now since I'm not feeding him and all his friends!  Although, yesterday he called and asked me if I would please send some homemade cookies to him!  lol
We went on this pontoon ride the day before he left for college for some fun in the sun, picnic, swimming  and tubing.  It was such a nice day.  Now it's back to the books for him and he seems to be doing great.  Hang in there Dave, your halfway done!   

Kayak

I'm very pleased with each advancing year. It stems back to when I was forty. I was a bit upset about reaching that milestone, but an older friend consoled me. 'Don't complain about growing old - many, many people do not have that privilege.'
            -- Earl Warren, Chief Justice
 
At different times of my life while out in my canoe, I had thought of owning a kayak.  The past year and especially the last few months,  I have been actively looking for one that would suit me well.  I had finally found one that I wanted and last week I received it for my birthday.   
 It is a Current Design Squall, 16 1/2 ft., 22 inches wide and 58 lbs.  I've already had it on the water a few times since last week and it glides so smoothly.  Being 10 minutes from the lake is tempting enough to go every spare chance I get and I hope to do just that!   
One is never too old to start something new.  :)

Brian -10th grade this year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All I said was "put the kabobs on the grill! "  

 It never surprises me how life can bring on funny moments without even expecting it.  I found these pictures on my camera as I was downloading yesterday.  Apparently my kids were having a little fun with our dinner AND my camera!  In the midst of emotions the evening before his sister was moving out, he opted to have a little fun.  It's 10th grade for Brian this year and he definitely keeps me laughing with stunts like this. 

College

  Here's Kelly,  ready to start her college experience by entering her dorm room for the first time.    She moved in today at Emory University.  She was excited and happy, but also said she felt overwhelmed.  The years ahead of her as a pre-med student will keep her extremely busy as she follows a dream that she's had since she was 8 years old.
It was hard leaving her there when it was time to go.  I held onto her and found myself unable to release her from my arms.  As the tears rolled down my cheeks, I couldn't help but think that it seemed like yesterday that I put her on that first school bus to Kindergarten. 
Yes, I am proud of her and her accomplishments.   I am excited for her in what she is going to experience and learn and I am happy that she is going to the school of her choice.  Now, if I could only stop crying!
Good Luck Kelly ....I love you!  :)

Not your typical Wednesday

The effects of today has left me with a rash of emotions.  Not sure where to start or if I even should!  lol   Some of the highlights were the police holding my painters hostage while our security alarm was going off because they tripped it while painting the windows.  Needless to say, I was on the tennis courts playing a match in the 3rd set and the score 5-4 in our favor.  After noticing my phone vibrating in my bag and a message from ADT security, I found out what was going on.  I Ok 'd the release of the painters and pondered  whether to finish out the match, or go home and shut the alarm off.  Thinking that it had been blaring for a half hour anyway,  I chose to just finish the match.  :)
Racing home, cutting the alarm, changing out of my drenched clothes,  (in between letting some lady interested in buying our car, take one of our vehicles to get it checked out by a mechanic at a car dealer)  and then rushing to the lake for an appointment to demo a kayak, I thought my day would be topped off by flipping the boat and getting wet. To my surprised I stayed dry.  :) 
Bottom line is, they finished the painting today without the police breathing down their necks,  we won our tennis match with a wide grin on my face, the lady wanted the car but at a much lower price, AND I ended up a new owner of a kayak.  :)
A day indeed!

6th Grade

 

 

 It's sixth grade this year for Daniel.  This picture was taken at  6:30am on August 1st, his first day of school.  He was up early and eager to leave.  After 3 weeks, he seems to be back into the swing of things  and doing well.  Our county started earlier this year than ever before, but we will have weeks off during the year.  Our first being the end of September.   This is Daniel's last year at the elementary school and it's off to middle school next year.  How time flies!

Desperate of change...with nothing to prove, it lingers in my thoughts...and stirs my emotions...am I closer to where I started...or just nearing the end? This feeling that I have is sketched in between the actual and here and now.....as complex as it is, the love sustains...

The end result of kindness is that it draws people to you.
            -- Anita Roddick, A Revolution in Kindness, 2003

In all the craziness of the past few days when I was desperately trying to find some peace, something caught my attention.  I was walking around the house with the painter who would be working here and saw something flutter past me.  I found this beauty of a butterfly prancing around in my flower garden.  I kindly told the man I would be back and ran to get my camera.  As I captured a dozen pictures of this butterfly, I noticed the painter standing there wondering why I would bother taking pictures when his time was money.  After a while, I noticed his expressions soften as I talked to him that we all need to notice at times the beauty that is around us.  He proceeded later in the day to talk of my roses that adorned my bushes as he painted away.  I smiled as I remembered our conversation earlier.   This one little butterfly that caught my attention flew by at the right moment.  :)

 "If you are right-handed, you sweat more under your left arm. If you are left-handed, you sweat more under your right arm."

Daniel and I went to Fernbank Museum to view the traveling exhibit "Grossology".  It's everything you ever wanted to know about the body, but were too polite to ask!  lol

 

This is a larger than life biology lesson that had 17 hands on interactive ways to discover why things happen as they do.

We had a fun time laughing at the facts and learning things that were quite interesting.

 

 

Yes, this is a gigantic nose that Dan is walking into!

We also went to the IMax viewing of "The Living Sea" while at the museum.  I always try to see one of them when we visit.  This one was narrated by Meryl Streep and set to the music of Sting. The ocean life is such an important part of life on earth and this film captured that significance.  It was added to one of my favorites and I now want to live by the ocean!  
 

 

Buford Dam to Medlock Bridge

Today was spent on the river with a group of people we met last month from our paddle trip.  The first 8 miles were nice with clear water, good rapids and lots of herons flying in the air.  Once again, we had to dodge the fly fishing lines from the fishermen.    The last 9 miles were filled with  heavy rain and fog.  I didn't expect that kind of weather, but we made the best of it.  I had to dump my canoe a couple of times to empty it out! 
This picture of Dan was taken after we came thru "rescue rock"  rapid.  I looped around the other side and paddled up to snap it.  Made for an exciting time.  :)
At the end, we were wet and hungry, but still smiling from the adventure.  I just hope our next trip will be a little drier!

At the lake

 I spent the afternoon today at the lake enjoying the water and the sunshine. How nice it was to be out there! 
I'm in the process of looking for another boat and tried a few today.  I received some good advice from the individual in this picture about some of the different kayaks.  I was leaning toward a 14 footer, but tried a 17 foot Storm from Current Design that glided thru the water with ease.  That extra footage is great for storing cargo and quick paddling thru the water, but questionable when it comes to storage in the garage!  Or lifting it for that matter! 
Whatever I end up choosing, I'm sure as soon as it's put in the water, I'll have a great time out there using it.  :) 

 

 

 

 

I found this little frog hanging alongside my door window the other evening.  Was it hanging on for dear life?  :) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some think it's holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it's letting go.
            -- Sylvia Robinson  

The days of late have been extremely busy for me.  Sometimes I feel that I have too much going on and I can't find a space to just breathe.  The pull in many directions seem to make the days slip by.  Sometimes it's welcomed, sometimes not.  Today was no exception. I need, want, and dream....has it begun?   My thoughts go rampant as the minutes go by. 
But as I exhale, the smile on my face only widens. Letting go at the end of the day can be as simple as that.   Emotions just don't lie.           

Is this Carol?

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. 
--  Alexander Graham Bell

I took this picture last month while on Hunting Island in South Carolina.  You don't see too many of these old phone booths anymore and I found myself inside and seeing if it worked.  It did!
So, I thought this would be a great picture for an entry in my journal, but couldn't decide what to write with it.  First I thought, " Underdog", "Superman" or maybe just writing about how 3 of my kids are on my shared family cell phone plan and ALWAYS going over the limit!  Couldn't decide. 
Then it hit me at  2.00am last night as I was startled awake.  My phone rang beside my bed and my heart started pounding in my chest.  Could it be something was wrong with family or friends.  As I answered my phone, I heard a female ask for me by name.  She then proceeded to say her name and her husband's name who was on the other line.  I had no clue who they were.  After a minute I realized it was a crank call.  I proceeded to hang up and still felt my heart pounding so hard it hurt.  It brought back memories of my teenage years when we had to get our number unlisted because of so many of those calls.  If they would only realize how it felt to be jolted awake and scared.  But, I guess that was their intent. 
It took me forever to fall back to sleep as I lay with my covers pulled up to my chin while I was trying to calm down.  It was at that point that I thought, "hey, remember that picture of the phone booth?........"

 

And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.  Kahlil Gibran -  The Prophet  

This day  brought blended thoughts and emotions.  At a glance it was good.... at a distance, it seemed as though depth was needed to clarify.   We have, we take .... we give all... and still,  I sit in silence .... with thoughts that need to be freely expressed and felt .... while lingering in the mix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

some things in this world you just can't change
Some things you can't see until it gets too late

baby when all your love is gone
Who will save me from all I'm up against out in this world
bright light - matchbox 20
   

With all this rain we've been getting the last few days, today was different.  It rained hard then the sun would shine brightly, then rain again, sun, and on and on.  It seemed as though the sun was struggling to stay out, but shone just enough for us to remember it will be back.   
I saw flooding today and can't imagine what some people are going through tonight in this hurricane aftermath.  Something of this magnitude can humble most people and show us that we are just a tiny part of the big picture.   
As my life goes on uninterrupted by this storm, I pray that others struggling with disaster, see that bright light and know that things will turn around.

                                      Today we went to a Braves game.  This was the first time in the last 4 1/2 years since we've been in Atlanta that I actually felt like a Braves fan.  Before this, I would usually cheer for the other team if they were in close vicinity to Pittsburgh, my hometown! Today was different.  I even had a favorite player, Marcus Giles!   
Even though Milwaukee beat us today 8-4, it was an exciting game.  Marcus Giles got my attention with his hits, while Jeff Francoeur hit his second home run in four games.  But, my favorite was the catch made by Milwaukee's Carlos Lee when he crashed into the wall in the 8th inning.   
Surprisingly, the rain held off till we started walking out of the stadium.  With hurricane Dennis in our midst, we were lucky!   
Now, what's going to happen the end of this month when we go to the Atlanta vs Pittsburgh game?  (Pirates all the way!  Don't tell anyone!  lol)

Scrumpdiddleumptious

I couldn't help but buy this chocolate bar a few weeks ago looking for a golden ticket.  :)  Did I think that I would instantly be a winner?  Yep.  I always think positive!  lol

One of my favorite childhood movies will be at the theaters in a re-make starring Johnny Depp.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory makes it's debut next Friday.  Will it be as good as I remember it being long ago when it first came out in 1971?  I think we all want the pure imagination in childhood to stay intact,  but watch it slip away as time goes by.   

There is something to say about the good always prevailing in the end and this movie is no exception.  To feel like a kid in a candy store  is something we all love. I just hope I leave the theater wanting to get my hand on some chocolate bars!   

By the way, I do think I won the golden ticket in life.  :)

110 miles, 7 days, 1 great time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.
            -- Eddie Cantor  

We are back home and thrown right back into reality.  Was it just last week that home,  job, bills  etc. were the furthest thing from our mind?  It seems hard to believe. What a trip. 

 I'm not sure where to start or even if I could articulate the great time that we had.  I filled my 170 page journal that I took along with me with written entries every night before I dozed off to sleep.  Each and every day was a new experience.  Many new friends entered my life with the same goal of reaching our last day with 110 miles behind us.  Some raced to the end leaving us in the dust, or should I say mud,  while others paddled by and talked of life, family and dreams. Through rain,  intense heat,  and hard work we accomplished the same goal.  We all made it.

 

Starting out at Buford Dam and seeing the crystal clear water had my adrenaline going.  The many shoals of the Chattahoochee River that we had to steer around made for excitement.  As we paddled our way toward Atlanta, the water  was clearly changing.  We became aware of just how this river needed to be maintained and the work that had to go into that.  This was one of the reasons Paddle Georgia was born.  

 

Some highlights stand out for me, but I can honestly say every day had many bright moments.  After the first day of 17 miles and everyone wondering how we were going to master this task, not one gave up.   With the youngest in the group being 4 and the oldest being 69, we definitely had a wide range of paddlers that totaled over 200 each day.   

 

The 25 foot high diving rock was something to do.  I saw the young boys and the men jump off.  I think I did it to throw a little mixture into the crowd!   But, on the other hand, I just couldn't pass it up.  Maybe it was the thrill of trying something new at my age.  :)

The 40 ft falls at Hilly Mill Creek was like paradise after sweating in the hot sun.  We ate our lunch at this spot, but not before we felt that cool water.  Being behind the falls is an awesome feeling as well as the massage we got by standing with the water running down our backs.  I would have loved to stay the whole day there!           

 

 

We all plan on returning next year for the trek down the Etowah River.  That one week in June where paddling each day with nothing on our minds but the scenery and the next mile in front of us, is something I look forward to.  Until then, I will treasure the memories, the new friends that have touched my life,  and the inspiration I received along the way.   Let the river flow.....  

Paddle Georgia 2005

 

I am packed and ready for my trip!  http://journals.aol.com/
eynl/Happeningsduring
theairIbreathe/entries/982 I have to drop my canoe off at the launch site today at 3, will camp tonight and be on the water at 7am tomorrow morning.  I am excited and ready for the 7 day paddle down the Chattahoochee.  Should be back home July 2 and hopefully with lots of pictures.  Wish me luck!

 

Hunting Island, Beaufort SC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We returned last night from a trip to Hunting Island, Fripp Island and Hilton Head.  It was nice to get away and spend a few days  at the beach.   I sought out this lighthouse and "dragged" everyone along with me to climb it on our first day there.  It was built in 1873, is 132.5 feet tall and has 167 steps.  

 

They tried to use "there's a fee" as a deterrent to go up it.  Right.  Needless to say, the money was given to the attendant and we were on our way.  It was fun climbing the spiral staircase and looking at how the structure was built.      

 

Everyone seemed to enjoy the view from the top following the long haul up. 

Should I say that after all this, I was the one not able to look down and actually had to lean against the lighthouse as I looked out onto the water.   Why then, do I always seek out these lighthouses!  lol 

 

 

Hanging out

 

The path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matters is that we embark.-- Barbara Hall, Northern Exposure, Rosebud, 1993
   

 I awoke with this little fellow hanging outside my front door window.  I had walked downstairs and caught the sight of him out of the corner of my eye.  Ever get a feeling that someone is around and watching?  :)   Well, It let me get close enough to take a picture as he climbed on the bricks and basked in the sun.  Pretty cool I thought.
Yesterday , Daniel invited his friend and mother to come hang out at the pool.  We talked, laughed, swam and basked in the sun ourselves for about 4 hours.  It was a fun afternoon that left me feeling a little worn out.  Something I probably shouldn't have done on tennis night.  But, we plan on having them over again next week.  It's summer and I'm loving it.  :)

What goes around comes around

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember being 18 and trying to "find myself" and thought at the time I had everything figured out.  Little did I know that it would take years before I looked back and realized that I like everyone else, made it through those times by trial and error.  I enjoyed my newfound freedom that we think comes at the magical age of 18.   I worked, studied and  even took a summer  just traveling the east coast.  If you told me I couldn't do something, then the next thing you know I was doing it.  My daughter is now at this age and I'll be watching  closely at her choices even though at a distance.  And it has already started.  A week after graduation, she decided to pierce her nose.  She told me hours before she was going to do it, which is more than I did at her age with different things.  I remember secretly piercing my ears for the first time at 16 when I was suppose to wait till 18.  (Yes, times have changed)    This little diamond on her nose will not scar if she  takes it out some day, but I see how like myself, she needed  to express herself.  I'm sure by the time she's a doctor, that little piercing will be out of there.  One can only hope. 

Book Club

  "I was, I realized, terrified of what was going on inside him, his monkness, the power of what had brought him to the abbey.  If we were going to be together-and I wanted this now with something close to desperation-he would have to want it, too, in the same way he'd wanted God, and I didn't know if I could compete with that. " 
 The Mermaid Chair  - Sue Monk Kidd  

 

The mermaid chair was this month's selection to read in our book club.  It was quite the discussion last night.  I enjoyed this book,  it's symbolism and deep thoughts that the characters displayed.  It inspired an earlier entry the other day in my journal that seems untouchable because of subject matter.  Are we too afraid of true thoughts and feelings?  This book was of a lady in  midlife who questions her conventional life with her husband and falls in love with a monk who is soon to take his final vows.   She is pulled in love between a newness and excitement and the ordinary life that she has made for herself.  Losing her "self" throughout her 20 years of marriage inspires her yearning for a true soul mate.   

 Life can illuminates a woman's self-awakening if sometimes we forge straight on.  This book is one that I would definitely recommend. 

 "But, I don't know what my cross is.  Is it doing without her now that I've loved her?  Or is it doing without the abbey?  Or is it the peculiar agony of being spiritual and human at the same time. " 
The Mermaid Chair  - Sue Monk Kidd    

My view

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait. Do not even wait, be quiet still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.
            -- Franz Kafka  

This view out my window from my desk keeps me smiling each time I look up while sitting at my computer.  This particular bird has steadily been at my feeder for over a month now.  It comes alone and is different from the other birds in my garden.  The Torenia hanging plant has brought humming birds as of late.  They seemed to disregard the hummingbird feeders and prefer the real thing.  I've had many finches, blue jays, cardinals and woodpeckers also flying around.  The assortment has been plenty and I relish in seeing them clearly this year with my corrected vision.  They bring a smile to my face each and every time.  :)

Preparing for the trip

Daniel and I started preparing yesterday for our trip at the end of the month.  We have many things to get ready, but the anticipation was present yesterday as we started marking things off our list of things to do.  I had given him this itinerary and saw the excitement in his eyes.  Hopefully this trip will be one that he will remember taking at the age of 11 with his mother.   :)  

June 25 —Day 1
17-mile tour of Buford Dam’s tailwaters, renowned as the southernmost trout waters in the U.S.—home to brooks, browns and rainbows. 50-degree water

June 26 —Day 2
14 miles through Atlanta’s backyard, the backyards of Atlanta’s upscale northern suburbs and country clubs where millionaires are almost as common as kingfishers. Here, the river offers more peaceful paddling, interspersed with a few lively shoals at Jones Bridge and Island Ford.

June 27 —Day 3
16 miles from Roswell to Peachtree Creek piercing Atlanta’s infamous perimeter highway and flowing through what is arguably the most beautiful stretch of the Chattahoochee’s 436-mile course through Georgia. Here, the Palisades’ high granite cliffs overlook playful Class I shoals. Day 3 also includes the trip’s only portage (a short one around Morgan Falls Dam).

June 28 —Day 4
15 miles from Peachtree Creek to Campbellton Road southwest of Atlanta. Class II rapid near the mouth of Peachtree Creek.

June 29 —Day 5
15-mile tour of mostly rural landscape along the Douglas/Fulton county line

June 30 It’s —Day 6 is a 15-mile tour through geological time. The Brevard Fault is the primary geological feature of the Chattahoochee through middle Georgia.

July 1 —The trip’s final day is the longest, but perhaps its most rewarding. The 20-mile paddle to Franklin takes you past Bushhead Shoals Islands (the river’s largest island complex), Daniel Shoals (the largest natural rapid ) and waterfalls at Hilly Mill and Redbone creeks.

Dreaming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's amazing how we love. 
At times I look beyond what I need to see and my answers are always the same.  The love that surrounds us continues on with familiarity.   We look, desire, and dream, but come back to the love that settles in just right.  That all too familiar nestle on the shoulder that helps us drift off to sleep while dreaming of foreign territory, seems to fit in our world.  The exciting love of long ago replaced by the comfort of that same love.  Those same passions are not extinguished, yet on a different Plain.
I find myself this morning probably thinking too much, desiring too much and dreaming as I go about my day.  I need to get my act together.   :)

Class of 2005

Kelly is graduating tomorrow from High School along with over 500 other students.  The past two weeks have been exciting with end of year events and celebrations.  The accomplishments that Kelly has made throughout her high school years are staggering to me. 

 

 

 

Her busy schedule that she endured along with work and sports has made for one busy senior year.  She jetted to the nearby college for half of her AP classes to get a head start on her "long" college career as she would say. 

Entering Emory University in Atlanta for pre-med in August will definitely be a lengthy haul, but I know she for one will be able to do it. 

 

I look forward to tomorrow with mixed emotions. I am proud, yet sad that this phase of her life is over.  I am excited for her, but worried about upcoming college life.  

 

 

I also look forward to watching her accomplish the goals she has set in life for herself and hope that she continues to smile that bright smile that she so easily gives.   The years have flown by, but I loved every minute seeing her blossom.  Good luck tomorrow Kelly.  I love you!  :) 

Beauty

 

There is no need to go to India or anywhere else to find peace. You will find that deep place of silence right in your room, your garden or even your bathtub.
 -- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Here is beauty captured in a moment.  This rose is just one of the many flowers adorning my garden this time of year.   It brings a sense of stillness and calm when I enter .  My love of gardening comes from my Dad and Grandfather, where tending to our plants were an everyday task.  One that we always looked forward to come spring.  My garden as of late consist of only flowers.  Over the years I replaced vegetables with different colors of beauty.  To me, this rose speaks for itself why.

Tennis Team

The high school tennis team finished up the season with a sports banquet last week.  The team this year went into the playoffs for the first time in the school's history.  They lost out in the second round but everyone was very proud of  how far they went.  With Brian just finishing up as a freshman, we have a few more years of watching him on this team.  He is an excellent player and I for one don't like to be on the other side of the net of him! 

Congratulations Brian!  Can't wait to see you playing in the summer league!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In my deepest thoughts
imagining you near,  
I close my eyes
and like slow motion rain 
you appear before me.
I see your smile
and go to a place that I want to stay....  

If this world revolved around us
with heartaches exiting in the wind,
there would be no room for wondering
just the clearing of the mist.  

I shiver with the thought...  

Mother's Day

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.
- Tenneva Jordan

I grew up thinking I was so different from my mother and that I would do things my way when I had gotten older.  I did grow up to do things the way I wanted, as my mother stood by in amazement.  She would always say "Carol does her own thing"! 

Am I different than her?  Yes, but not really. Probably more like her than not.   I think we all come full circle in learning this.

I found myself cleaning up the dishes at my son's apartment the other day to help out and realized I'm just like her!  She would always come and visit and start cleaning my house.  I would take it as "don't I do things right?"  while she's thinking of just relieving my workload.

I see now that I follow her in the important things that really do matter in life.  The unending love and support that she gave us is now passed to my own children through her teaching and example. I have her faith, her strength and her will to help others.  I have her nonstop work till you drop attitude, her always putting her family  in front of herself way of doing things along with the comfort that we felt  just knowing that she would be there no matter what. 

I can finally say "Yes, I'm like my mother, what's wrong with that? "

Happy Mother's Day Mom.  :)

Retreat Weekend

Brian and Kelly went on spring retreat last weekend about 3 hours north from here with 50 other teens from our church.  This was Kelly's last retreat with LifeTeen since she will be graduating this year and it was Brian's first trip.  She has tried many times to get him to go but he always refused.  I think this time changed everything for him as he plans to continue with the youth group in the fall.   

This cross of stained glass was made that weekend for them.  Each teen wrote their name  on the front of a stained glass piece, and also what they struggle with in life on the back.  This was in conjunction with a session group focusing on life's struggles and how they can be overcome.  Kelly and a couple other seniors carried this cross into church for mass when they returned from the trip.  It was beautiful. 

Academic Team

Dan and his Academic Team had their final competition last Saturday.  This group of nine students were picked from over 500 classmates to represent our school at the Academic Bowl.  There were 18 schools participating in this event.  It was exciting to see the students answering questions and trying to win 1st place.  Our team did extremely well, although missed being in the final rounds by just a few points.  But, watch out for next year, we will be back strong and ready to achieve the goal at hand.  Congratulation team!

Simplicity

Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength.
            -- Hasidic Saying  

My favorite flower is the daisy.  These particular ones were given to me last week and they look beautiful on my counter.  Yesterday as we were heading out to dinner, I noticed on the side of the highway that there were thousands of wild daisies.  They too looked beautiful in the sunlight.  There is something about this simple flower that always made me smile for as long as I can remember. 
Let's see now.....he loves me, he loves me not....he loves me  :)

Earth Day

 

 

 

 

This  photo was taken yesterday after a quiet afternoon rain.  It left the flowers crisp with freshness and shining beautifully  in the sun.  It's no wonder why I love to be outside after a rain.  :)

Speaking volumes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot live without books.
            -- Thomas Jefferson  

They say you are what you read.  I do think you can tell a lot about a person by the books that they acquire and read.  I thought of that they other day as I walked thru my bedroom and scanned my books quickly.  This basket is filled with some recent material that I have read the last few months and  is constantly  replenished as weeks go by.   They consist of  art, religion and inspirational books,  novels,  Einstein's letters, Health, More and National Geographic Magazines, along with one of my favorite books by Mitch Alborn. 
This short list describes my likes and interests.  A quick glance that  speak volumes. 

 

The day we took this picture last  Fall, Dan and I had talked about taking an extended trip with the canoe.   Talk has become reality, for our plans have been made.  In June, he and I are going on a week-long, 110 mile canoe adventure on the Chattahoochee River.  The  starting point is Buford Dam and 7 days later we should be in Franklin.  We will camp along the way with other paddlers who will be making this same trip.  We will leave everyone else at home as he is the only one that has the same interest as I do when it comes to the water.  This  should be a great learning experience for him as well as for myself. 
 I can't wait.  :)

Afternoon Tea

Yesterday, Kelly and I went to Tea Leaves & Thyme for our Friday girl time together. This is a traditional English Afternoon Tea Parlor in the historic downtown Woodstock, GA.    We had their famous scones, tea sandwiches, tea desserts and of course the freshly brewed tea of the day.  It was a nice afternoon spent talking and catching up on what's going on in her life.  This bonding time has become very good for us.  When she goes off to college next fall, I know we will both miss it.  In the meantime, I will enjoy the time we have now and start planning on what we will do next week!

 

You can make those promises with just as much passion the second time around. Such is the regenerative power of the human heart.
  -- Marion Wink  

 

 I found this tulip growing in what I thought was an empty pot from last year.  I had dumped it out in the fall, and what remained was the little bit of dirt that was stuck to the bottom.  Needless to say, a tulip bulb was forgotten in there also.  This container  was thrown in the corner of the yard with other discarded pots.   Of all the beautiful tulips that are in my front yard, I found myself drawn to it and captured this shot.   I thought of the care I gave to the other ones, while this one stood as if saying, I can do this on  my own.   :)

Brian's Birthday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My third child turned 15 last week.  Brian has grown into a teen that I'm very proud of.  He is thoughtful and bright, humorous and fun to be with.  He is the one that would give the shirt off his back without a blink of an eye and not let anyone know that he did along the way.  He would let you win at something just so you wouldn't feel bad if he thought that you would.   Brian is in the 9th grade and waiting to get his driving learner's permit. He loves to play tennis and is on the court every chance he can get.  I see him growing up faster than I can keep up with!  Where is the time going?!  Happy Birthday Brian.  I love you!

The sand in my shoe

Be master of your petty annoyances and conserve your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out - it's the grain of sand in your shoe.
            -- Robert Service
 

Monday I had my wood floors refinished.  What an ordeal that was.  They were supposed to be here between 9 & 9:30 but didn't show up till after 12:30.  I paced around the house all morning waiting, then paced some more as the sanding was vibrating the house.  I thought that was bad enough until the staining and sealing occured.  I have a  sore throat and lost my voice from the smell of the fumes.  Seems like everyone's throat has been effected but since I was here all day, mine is the worst.  This can't be good for us.  I finally was able to open the windows yesterday because it is nice outside and that helped with the air flow.  Today the second coat will be put on. 
I never thought I would be resurfacing the floor of a fairly new home of 6 years old.  Goes back a month and a half ago when we had one of the bathrooms overflowed upstairs and water ran all night. The water preceded down to the kitchen and then down further to the finished basement. (And no one heard the water running. ??)   Not a good thing.  The wood floor is only one of the repairs that needed to be done.  Thank goodness for insurance!
Now, where are they?  They were supposed to be here at 9:00!

Easter Day

 

We had a nice Easter yesterday even though we were in a tornado watch most of the day!  After Sunday mass, we had a brunch here with a ham that tasted so good.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and I would have to say ate too much chocolate.  Me included!  But, it was all good.  :)

  To will is to select a goal, determine a course of action that will bring one to that goal, and then hold to that action till the goal is reached. The key is action.
            -- Michael Hanson
  It seems as if the days are passing by with a vengeance.  I've had pictures and ideas for posting entries that have sat at the wayside as time slips by.  At the end of the day when all is done, I sit exhausted and writing is the last thing on my mind.  I am a morning person.  I wake at the crack of dawn with bright eyes and an energy that goes strong throughout the day.   My daily morning walk of over 5 miles just feeds that energy even more.  Today being Thursday, changed that schedule.  I had to be on the tennis court with my partner at 9am.  I contemplated walking half of what I do as a warm-up before the match.  I think I should have done that.  Today we lost.  Needless to say  I am also very competitive and that in turn made for a long day after the match.  Tomorrow I will find myself back on the court to work on  reaching my goal.   :)  

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Daniel and I made a trip over to the  Fernbank Museum in Atlanta during winter break from school.  We went to see the special frog exhibit.  They have over a 100 live frogs from around the world in life-like habitats. 

 

 

This slimy green looking one is a Chinese Gliding tree frog.  They have webbed feet that help them jump through the air and then stick to trees with their adhesive toe pads.  To me they sort of looked like frogs made out of silly putty!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This colorful creature is a Poison Dart frog.  The secretions are so dangerous that they are used in Columbia to coat  blow darts that are used to tranquilize prey.  These were my favorite of the exhibit because they were just so beautiful to look at.  Most of the frogs  blend into their habitat to survive.  These frogs seem to be saying  "I'm here,you want a piece of me?"  lol

 

Can't leave out the American bullfrog.  :)  I remember as a child going camping and catching these frogs.  One time in particular, I attached  a string to the back leg of a bullfrog  and walked it around like it was one of my pets.  Needless to say I wasn't allowed to take it home!  

 We also went to the IMAX showing of "Bugs, A Rainforest Adventure" and enjoyed that.   I'm feeling the urge to visit a rainforest on the next vacation!  :)  

 

 

This was a fun day for Daniel and I.  We both left the museum  wanting to own a frog to go along with the turtles and fish we already have at home.  Now, where's that string?  lol

 

 

 "If I could just see him, I could change his mind.  Even though he loves me, he can't give up his calling, he says.  All this time, I've known I wasn't a match for God.  Now God's making sure I pay for daring to think I could be."             The Sunday Wife - Cassandra King  

Our book for this month's reading club was The Sunday Wife by Cassandra King.  I enjoyed this novel with all it's different characters and was engrossed in reading  how their lives intertwined.  It was a witty, skillfully written novel that quickly became one that I would recommend.  It showed how destructive addictive love can be and left messages that we all could learn from. This novel made for a long and interesting discussion at the meeting. 
Oh, and the social part of the night was fun also.  :)

Snow in Hotlanta

Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.
Eddie Cantor
 

I awoke to a dusting of snow here in Atlanta.  Being a northerner and missing the snow, I ventured out on my early daily walk and took in the beauty of the flakes falling from the sky.   It's not the snow our family up north are getting(or my friends in Salem:), but it's unusual here and I'll take it.  All bundled up and smiling, I returned home with rosy cheeks and in a great mood.  
 What a way to start my busy day.  :)

Alpine Helen, White County GA

We took a ride about 2 hours north last week to go hiking.  We fell upon this unique alpine village nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the  Chattahoochee River.  This little tourist trap in the middle of nowhere was filled with people.  They had German restaurants,  wineries and many specialty shops along with the "alpine look" of the buildings and hotels.   I made a few purchases in the homemade candle store and the Nora Mill Granary that had stone ground whole grains.  We did the wine tasting at the Habersham Winery and visited the Nacoochee Village Antique Mall.  It was a nice little discovery for us on our way to the trails. 

The sweetest gift by surprise...

I sit here in silence listening and feeling my heart beat. The house is quiet and everyone tucked into bed. It's in times like this that I am compelled to write. I crawled out of bed after sleep refused to show and found my way here. My time to just quiet the mind.
As I sit here, the moon is beaming through the window. It has been beautiful as of late with it's fullness shining brightly in the night sky. Much noticed as always by me , it sits there alone as I do here now....but surrounded by all.
I smile with the thought.

Undertone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

caught in the undertone
and thinking this is crazy

could it be they just don't know
as I sit here watching them
that they pull themselves down
just by speaking their words?  

would they save face if only they knew
and care if they found out?

the exchange of spoken words
unaffected in utterance

Pink Floyd

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The love of music AND art  rubbed off onto my son, as I saw this poster hanging in his apartment.  Yes, he had Picasso, Dali and some movie posters, but he also had the Pink Floyd Back Catalog poster.  Each woman has art from a different Pink Floyd album painted on her back which is "Atom Heart Mother", "Relics", "Dark Side of the Moon", "Wish You Were Here", "The Wall", and "Animals".  Quite interesting I thought. 

College visit

  [Time is] the most valuable thing a man can spend.
            -- Theophrastus
I went to visit my son this past week.  It seemed like we talked nonstop during this time.  I couldn't be prouder of how he is doing with his school and how he matured these two years at college.  He commented on how we taught him well in knowing what he needs to get done to survive out on his own.  How the years of talking with him openly helped him.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  All the tough decisions we had to make while he was growing up seemed to have paid off.  The times that he was mad because of not being able to do something to the times when moving for his benefit seemed like the end of the world to him, all seemed to be worth it.  Even though he still has a way to go before he is fully independent of us, he is definitely on the right path to success.  What more could a parent ask for?  :)

Clairvoyance

Something that was lost
is now in the light
shining brightly with a smile  :) 

 

Today was my first day out and about since my eye surgery last Monday.  I had the second lens implant put into place and I will have to say that I see clearly now.  :)   It's amazing how things look to me with it's clarity and brightness.  I feel like I have everything new to see and explore.  It's no wonder that I wanted to go hiking on this day. The skies were as blue as ever and the warmth from the sun seemed like spring was already here. I had picked a hike close by instead of heading north.    It wasn't the mountain view that I always crave, but the skyline of Atlanta.  I picked this hike because I actually wanted to "see" the skyline which had always been difficult before to make out.  I wasn't disappointed.

I sit here now at my desk with a glass of wine at my side and a smile on my face.  It was a great day.  :)

 

Say what you feel
no one is listening...
just when you think you have it right
the ball falls upon
and you look as if you might need to keep going
just for you....  

18th Birthday

Kelly celebrated her birthday with a dinner especially made for her.  These 18 years have gone by so fast.  She has grown into a beautiful girl inside and out and I am extremely proud of her. 

Happy Birthday Kelly.  We love you!!

Amaryllis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
             Martin Luther King Jr.

In the midst of the chill in the air that we are having, my Amaryllis flower is blooming.  It brings a bright and fresh atmosphere on my counter.  I was given this bulb over the holidays and can't believe that it is already flowering.  It shows that with a little care and attention, things will thrive.  :) 

Kelly #32

This has been a good year so far for the girls varsity team.  They are currently 1st in the district and things are looking good for them with the upcoming games.  With 3 games a week, they have an  extremely busy schedule but they seem to get through it.  It has been fun watching Kelly play as always, but not fun seeing her bumps and bruises after the game.  Last night she had 2 goose egg bumps on her forehead from taking a charge!  Hopefully tonight's game won't be as rough.  Keep up the good playing girls!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She made this shot.   :)

High Museum of Art

"I certainly hope to sell in the course of time, but I think I shall be able to influence it most effectively by working steadily on, and that at the present moment making desperate efforts to force the work I am doing now upon the public would be pretty useless."   Vincent van Gogh

Yesterday, Kelly and I visited the Art Museum to see the works of van Gogh.  This was art from the Kroller-Muller Museum in the Netherlands and had been on display since late October.  There were over 20 paintings and drawings by van Gogh.  The highlighted painting of this exhibition was "Cafe Terrace by Night".  It was exciting to see the original of this famous painting.   For a Friday afternoon,  the museum was filled with art enthusiasts waiting to see a glimpse of beauty.  I was able to take some pictures, but not in the special traveling exhibit.  I few of my favorites were the marble sculptures and this exotic piece that captured my attention. It was a nice afternoon spent  with Kelly and seeing her enjoy these masterpieces also.