“We had ice storms, frigid days, dreary gray skies, and beautiful warm sunny weather…. all in the same week. Welcome to Texas.”
Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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A very strange week here in North Texas, but what doesn’t kill ya makes ya stronger and crazier. Just sayin’.
A week in a peek….
It is written that he who governs well, leads the blind; But that he who teaches, gives them eyes.— David O. Mckay
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A beautiful sunny Sunday. It was still chilly, low 30’s, so I got to wear my sock monkey hat to church again. Yay!
Today’s Gospel was the famous “Blind leading the blind” parable.
Jesus told his disciples a parable,
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”
My take on it…. You can’t show someone else the right way when you are blind or have something in your own eye. Straighten up your own life before you start telling other people how to live. Basically, stop hanging around with the wrong people. They will lead you astray. Rotten trees or rotten people, they will only bear bad fruit. Associate with good honest people. If you get tangled up with some rotten folks…”Run Forrest, Run!”
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After Mass, we stopped for coffee, as usual. I didn’t need anything from the store, so I went right home. I made a few phone calls. I called my best friend from high school, Diane. Today is her birthday. We haven’t talked in a long time. I also called my other dear friend and old neighbor from the late 60’s, Shirley, another birthday friend.
I went for a lovely evening walk. The sunset is always beautiful.
Then, a nice FaceTime chat with the granddaughters.
It was a good Sunday. I hope yours was too. 🤗
“Passion can be found in something as simple as a pencil and paper.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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More meditative and quiet time sketching in the Sanctuary At St. Gabriel the Archangel. The preliminary basic sketch takes a couple of hours. I’ll take a photo of the stained glass window or the statue, then finish it at home. Many hours go into a final sketch. I don’t think they’d let me sit at church into the wee hours of the night. Well, maybe they wouldn’t mind.
Now for the fun part. My Artisto phone app makes the magic happen.
“Life is short, so eat dessert first, but with friends, and all the time.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Today was our Towne Creek Young At Heart Art Group. We were working on painting bowls for Empty Bowls. It takes a lot of prep, not only to gather all the art supplies, bowls and paints, it also to prepare all the food for the feast. Helene and I always provide a fun feast.
I stopped at Fire Station 9 on my way.
Everyone had a good time painting bowls.
Happy Friday my friends. Time to put my feet up. I’m exhausted, but in a good happy creative fun way.
“Find out your talents and gifting and invest your whole time into perfecting them and becoming the best of yourself.”
― Sunday Adelaja
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We’ve been hit with a severe winter storm here in North Texas. So far, it hasn’t been too bad, just sleet, icy streets, and frigid temperatures. Nothing like last year’s disaster.
I didn’t get my sorry butt out of bed till after noon today. It was too warm and cozy under the covers. But, I was determined to do something productive today. So, I went up to my “Crap Room,” really my studio, to do some painting. Empty Bowls Charity Event is coming up, and I have a couple of bowls I want to paint and donate. I always like to paint one of my signature yellow roses. The other one is quite unusual, and will have to wait for inspiration another day.
I also have another tradition. While the iron is hot… so to speak, while I have glass paint and brushes at the ready, I usually paint a few other pieces.
Tomorrow, Helene and I will go to Towne Creek and have the seniors paint some smaller bowls. That is, if the weather allows the trip. Fingers crossed. They enjoy painting and donating their bowls for the charity event. Stay tuned…
I love sharing my talents, and I love painting my yellow roses.
“Listen to the Nightbirde’s song. Tomorrow is not always promised.“
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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I spent the entire day mostly sitting around with a hot cup of tea and a warm blanket on my lap, checking emails, looking at Facebook and chatting on the phone. A Facebook friend, Stephanie, posted a link about a young singer. When I started to listen, I thought it was going to be just another talented singer. But, the original song and amazing singer sang a beautiful song on America’s Got Talent that everyone needs to hear. If you haven’t heard Nightbirde sing, please listen and get the Kleenex ready.
It reminds me a little of Tim McGraw’s song “Live Like You Were Dying.” Except Nigtbirde’s song is more like “Live Like You Are Happy to be Living.”
“Diligence is the mother of good luck.”
~Benjamin Franklin
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So, today is 2-22-22, must be a lucky day. Helene and I went for taco Tuesday. Then we went to Station 5 for early voting. I set my alarm for 2:22 pm so I could take a photo on my phone. As luck would have it, my alarm went off while I was voting. 🤦♀️
After voting, I went over to Walmart to pick up a few supplies for our Friday Towne Creek Senior art group. We were going to make pizza, but since it’s going to be sooooo cold, I’m going to make my famous potato chowder soup and Helene will make egg salad sandwiches and I’ll bake more mini cupcakes. I managed to spend $80 on who know what? Oh look! Something shiny.🤦♀️
As I was leaving, I saw a lottery machine by the exit. I didn’t know how to work it, so I put in a dollar and pushed some buttons. They didn’t have anything for a dollar, but they had one for two, so I put in another dollar.
Then, an older couple passed by and was using the machine. I said, I’m going to watch you. I have no idea how this works. Oh! When they left, I put in another dollar and got a Texas Two Step ticket. With all that alliteration, it’s gotta be luck on this 2-22-22. Plus, supposedly it is supporting veterans. ❤️Wish me luck…🤞🏼
“As long as I’m breathing, every day is a blessing. I’ll walk, and talk, and take pictures, and write all about the wonders in my world.“
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Another wonderful week. I was just put walking and it was 79°. But, tomorrow night the cold front will come barreling through, threatening snow and ice. Here we go again. These Texas folks are going to be hoarding food and sundries. This cold snap might last three days instead of two this time. 🤦♀️
A week in a peek….
“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”
– Oscar Wilde
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Another lovely Sunday morning. A little cool, but not sock monkey hat cool.
Today’s Gospel was the very famous “turn the other cheek” story. (I have trouble with that, too….
Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say,
love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Stop judging and you will not be judged.Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”
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My take on it…
I’ve done a little reading up and research about this scripture passage, as this is a difficult one for me. But one thing I have surmised, the term “turn the other cheek” was explained as a metaphor for taking insults in stride, or not seeking revenge for a personal affront. And the pray for your enemies, well I get that. One must feel sorry for and pray for those evil doers. God will take care of them in the end.
I’ve commented on this passage before, and my quote is not quite as forgiving. “If a person strikes you on one cheek, offer the other as well. If he strikes you again, well, he better run like hell.” I truly believe that even God would not want us to be physically or verbally abused, and continue to accept more. (But, that’s just me.) And, I do pray for those who have wronged me because I think they are sick disgusting narcissistic idiots who need all the help they can get. (Did I say that out loud?)
After Mass, we stopped for our usual quick coffee. I forgot to get a picture of the 3 Amigos, but I remembered after Jerry left, so it’s just me and Helene.
Another lovely Sunday. I hope your day was lovely too.
“Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.”
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Nice quote. I like to think that I do a little of both. When I paint or draw, I like to think that I’m telling a story. And when I write poetry, I hope it paints a story for the reader. I do not profess to be a master of either art form, but I do love dabbling in both.
Tonight, when I was walking in the glow of the evening sun, I was inspired to write a simple poem… a painting that speaks.
I stroll around the pond
Each and every night
Watching as the sun sets
Painting skies of golden light.
The barren trees of winter
Silhouette the water’s shore
While squirrels and bunnies scamper
Out to play or just explore.
A bird sings in the distance
His tune so soft and sweet
Perhaps to say “Good evening”
As I pass him on the street.
You’d think one would get tired
Always walking the same way
Every evening oh so different
Wondrous sights and sounds each day.
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Toni Andrukaitis 