Good intentions and black clouds.

If any one is still reading here, I apologize for my absence of 2 months.  I had the best of intentions when I started my blog nearly 3 years ago but intentions also require action. 
1. Blogging was going to help me focus on my art and creative practices and be an encouragement to  others.
2. Blogging was to be a way to keep friends & family informed about my life and make new friends and connections.
3. I would keep it positive and upbeat (most of the time) and learn from it just as I learn from students when I teach.
I think I did pretty well for a good part of the time.  I stayed with it pretty regularly and started 2011 choosing the word, "Harmony" as my theme. I was going merrily along until March when a brick wall jumped in front of me. My resolve has been greatly tested.  It's been a lesson; one I didn't necessarily want. In the end I'll probably be stronger for it.  Life does get in the way when you're making other plans. Be flexible.  Much of the last few months I have felt like the Charlie Brown character under a black cloud or Alice falling in to a deep, dark hole. It wasn't just feeling sorry for myself but also the tragedies in Japan; around the country; and the world. Feeling sorry does not help anyone so I am getting busy to do what I can in each situation.

Summer is here and while not my favorite season, I am determined to mark the change with resolve. I am working on attitude AND action.  I will do what I can and let God take care of the rest. I WILL get back to my art.
Today I'm working on digging out of the funk as I work on cleaning up from the plummeting hail storm we got Tuesday morning. I can be Thankful for the much needed rain; that Karl got a crew to do the major yard cleaning; and we are safe. A new roof will happen in due time and I will replant a few annuals in the ground and pots for color. I will hope someone comes to buy the house as I work each day to keep it in presentable condition. Tomorrow I will celebrate a good friend's 60th birthday and next week I will escape to camp to visit a good friend I haven't seen in ages. I will come home on the 4th and get ready for a PARTY.
Elliott & Celeste are getting married. They have chosen to go to the courthouse. We will celebrate here with family & friends.  We don't have a lot of time (we worked on prep for Ashley's wedding for most of a year) but it will be fun & festive.
I tried 3 times to upload a video to make you smile but you'll have to go to my facebook page to see Karlie's joyous abandonment.  Be inspired.

What spring brings.

I started this on my iphone on Thursday but couldn't figure out how to get pictures into it; now it's Sunday night & I'm still having techno issues. I'm sure it's mostly my brain and the need to rest.  

 We've been down south, Austin & Wimberley.  Today we celebrated Easter with family. Karlie got the hang of candy in eggs pretty quickly and she & the cousins gave us cause for lots of smiles. Thanks Mitra, Marcus, & Mary Chess for hosting a wonderful fun day.  The food was great too.

Spring took a while to get here but then in rather typical Texas fashion lasted a few minutes before jumping into HOT.  If time had allowed we would have gone swimming this weekend. Sadly this change of seasons has been accompanied by violent weather and fires. Much of west Texas is abaze. A  good portion of the state really, really, really needs rain.  Thankfully we got a bit of the wet stuff here this evening. I hope there were no tornadoes or damaging hale with this line of storms. We had tornadoes where we were in Arkansas last weekend and that was scary.I guess there is always a bit of drama associated with change and it's no less so with our efforts toward moving.  It's been a while coming but a big step happened last week.

It feels rather strange and I have lots of mixed emotions but it's time to move forward.  Our house is officially on the market.  Life as we've known it for 24 years is about to change. Now I hope it happens fast so if you know anyone who would like a well loved (I mean that in the best sense) house in north Texas, please send them this way.  In the meantime, hope all your changes are good ones.

Re Entry

When I started blogging I intended it to be a forum to share my art & adventures and for the most part I've done so fairly regularly.  If there are any readers still checking in, I apologize for the month long absence.  I'll just say that March 2011 was mostly a dark period that I am glad to have behind me.  My hurdles are nothing compared to the tragedy in Japan and I hope everyone is finding some way to help there.  

I am working on being hopeful.  I am inspired by the promise of spring and hope for new beginnings. I am stenghtened by loving family & friends and especially words of my father which Ashley reminded me of in her blog post on March 10, "I just hope & pray every thing will be alright". 

Even in the greyest times we need to look for the bright moments. How can you not smile at this kind of innocent abandonment of care?

At the Dallas Quilt Show, Lu Peters & I won a red ribbon for Roots & Routes, the 3rd in our series of collaboration quilts.   (Sorry, I'm blocking the ribbon but I promise it's there & now on my wall for further inspiration). 

It is April. The pecan trees are budding. North Texas natives say that is assurance that spring is really here.  I hope it's a season of promise & beauty for everyone.