Sunrise & Sunset – Texas Style

I never tire of watching the sun rise or set and, I never tire of photographing it, either.  There are way too many beautiful ones I’ve taken pictures of to limit this post to just one.  Although I did manage to keep it to ‘just’ five.

Spectacular Texas…

On-the-go-picture of the sunset: driving north on HWY 287 to Amarillo

Allen, Texas: sunset at the grocery store

Sunrise on Lake Lewisville at the Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House

A heron at sunrise also at Montserrat

Sitting on the dock watching a spider and the sunrise

 

Meandering with Lucy

Maybe it is the time change, but my 14-year-old Westie, Lucy, woke up this afternoon and was feeling feisty.  Lucy, who is mostly deaf and partly blind and spends most of her days sleeping wanted to play so – taking advantage of a pretty afternoon and the extended daylight – we went for a walk.

Cool temperatures, budding trees, blooming grape hyacinths, and one of those amazing sunsets turned a quick walk into an opportunity to meander.

These moments are always good.  And appreciated.

The Wonder of Playing Through the Pain

Our Jesuit community lost a student on Wednesday.  A beloved 15-year-old sophomore, who also played JV soccer, Guy was tragically killed in a horrific car crash.  This is the second death this school year that the students, staff and, families have dealt with.

It is a lot.

It is a wonder that, despite the loss and the pain, Guy’s teammates were able to bolster their courage and play tonight.

During the game I snapped a picture of my son, Ben, playing goalie.  Ben is also a sophomore and like everyone has been deeply affected by Guy’s death.  But like the rest of his teammates, he played for Guy.

The sun was setting and in the distance part of the Dallas skyline was visible. It was beautiful and made for an easier moment in a day filled with hard ones.

Daily Post – Miraculous

I have always considered the birth of a child to be a great miracle.  God is wondrous and amazing, and when I think how a beautiful new life is created by an act of intimate love, I am awed.

Our first miraculous event occurred more than 30 years ago today with the birth of our first child; our daughter, Krista.  She is a continual blessing in our lives, and I am blessed to be her mom.

Happy Birthday to our first born miracle (holding her last born miracle) You are loved simply for being gifted to us by God.

 

 

Small Business Saturday – Don’t Forget the Little Guy

If you go out and shop this weekend remember to visit the smaller, family-owned businesses, too.  Whether it’s a restaurant, retail or service, as the underdogs in this big business universe we certainly aren’t conglomerates, we are just trying to support our families and make a difference in our little corner of the world.

Come see us – you will get a higher level of customer service from knowledgeable staff, along with competitive pricing and financing options. Okay, maybe you won’t get financing options if you’re visiting a mom and pop restaurant but, if there is a problem, the owners will help resolve issues.  After all, we want to ensure you are satisfied so you’ll come back again and again.

This weekend, wherever you live, please look for and shop at the small companies that make up the fabric of your community. Give us a chance to help you and give you a better experience then you’ll get with a large company. Seriously, it doesn’t cost anything to check us out and see what you’ve been missing. And, if we can’t find what you need or get what you want than those big chain stores are just down the road.

Come see us. We need YOUR business to stay in business.

Oh – and tell your friends too.

WPC – Experimental

Our son, Patrick, is a senior in high school this year and I want some nice pictures of him.  Always looking for ways to save a buck or two I decided to take some shots on my own and see if I liked what I saw.  He’s been playing marimba for the band since his freshman year and music is a big part of his life.  Naturally, I want  to include this monster instrument in some of the shots.

Being 18 he, at first, gave me nothing but scowls and eye rolls but, then, once we had a little smile-or-else chat (that’s the polite version) he cooperated and we actually even had a couple of laughs.

Round 1 was strictly experimental and I haven’t decided if I’m happy yet or not.  We will see.

Wanting some close-up shots I enlisted the help of younger brother Ben.  These may be the funniest of the series because there is no way to crop Ben’s rear end out without losing part of Patrick’s head.  Suffice to say there will be Round 2 because the shot hasn’t happened yet.

Stay tuned.

 

Simba the Cat Oozing Energy

With the hot and humid dog cat days of summer upon us Simba is hard pressed to do much of anything. He’s not exactly oozing energy.

Until, of course, I either 1) get my laptop out or 2) we put an open empty box on the floor AND the dog walks by.

Energy….FOUND!

“Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.”
― James Herriot, James Herriot’s Cat Stories

The Daily Post – Trance at the Museum

 

A trip to the Perot Museum in downtown Dallas took us to the Gems and Minerals Hall.  An exhibit which filled me with awe as I wandered around and looked at an amazing array of treasures from this wondrous earth.

In particular, the large, and very pretty, amethyst geode was remarkable to look at.  So gorgeous with all the shiny and sparkly purple gems glistening under the bright lights -it was enough bling to send a girl into a trance!

My granddaughter, Thérèse, loved it, too!

Spending time inside an air-conditioned museum on a hot Texas day was fun.

Spending it with family was even better.