“Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.” ― Bill Watterson
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Complaining about the weather is a national pastime. Here in North Texas, we went from hot, hot, hot and dry, to … hot, muggy, humid and rain, rain, and more rain. This rain puts a damper on my daily walks, but that’s why God created the umbrella. Well, He actually didn’t create it, but he made the guy who invented it and brought it into existence. Same thing!
So, as not to be negligent on my daily inspirational walks, I took some photos from under my umbrella.
The ducks really enjoy the rain. The pond is way over its banks, so they can just waddle in and go kerplonk.
“Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under!” ― C. JoyBell C.
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Silly me, I thought a nice vacation visiting family in Chicago would welcome cooler temps and lovely evening breezes. Wrongo! It’s been in the 90’s. I went for my morning walk, hoping to get 10 loops around the side of Mom’s building, but alas, after 8 loops, I started feeling queasy and stopped.
Isn’t that a pretty view? Tall mature trees and beautifully landscaped grounds. Then, there’s a busy street on one side, but that’s OK.
A pretty lazy day, just hanging out with Mom and my sister. By 7:30, the sun was starting to set and hide behind the tall trees. The temperature seemed a little cooler, so I thought I’d try and get a few more loops before dark. It was about 85 degrees with a slight breeze. I managed 10 more loops. Yay! The sky was lovely.
“Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under!”
“Just reminding everyone that it’s Monday, just in case any of you were feeling overly optimistic.”
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A good way to start your week is with a Monday. Ha ha! I like every day that ends in “y.” It was a good week with good friends, good food, and St. Gabriel’s ground breaking ceremony. That’s a lot of good stuff for one week.
Ecclesiastes 3King James Version (KJV)
3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace………..
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My daily walks are often the inspiration for blog posts, and today was such a day. It was a “ducky” kinda day. On my way to Zumba, I had to wait a few minutes while a family of ducks meandered across the road right outside my driveway. They’ve been strangely marauding the neighborhood the past few weeks. Usually, they are nestled by the pond two blocks away, but these crazy ducks have been sightseeing.
Why did the duck cross the road? …I give up! They could just fly, right? If I could fly, I wouldn’t be walking.
Now, this brings me to the sad part of the …”To every season…” Yesterday, on my walk, I saw the dozen or so duck eggs neatly clustered under a tree, waiting to be hatched.
So safe and secure. I couldn’t wait to see the new fuzzy babies waddling around in the pond.
This morning, most of the eggs were sprawled on the grass, several feet from their safe haven. A predator? I prayed it wasn’t some mean children. I felt so sad. Then, I wondered if the duck parents saw this. Do ducks mourn, feel loss, get upset? How could they not. New life without a chance to begin.
When I looked closer, I noticed one egg on the grass that hadn’t been harmed. I had a plastic bag in my pocket, so I used it to place the egg back under the tree with the remaining two or three that were not taken.
I hope these eggs have a chance to come into the world. Just when I was the most sad, I saw a momma duck under a different tree. She was either laying eggs or sitting on her brood, but it made me realize that life goes on. There are losses, and there are renewals. “To everything there is a season.” As in nature, as in life.
Can you see the mamma all huddled and protective under the tree? Let’s hope these eggs have a chance. New life, new beginnings.
“Artists see with their hearts. They bring beautiful color, magical music, and wonderful words into a not so perfect world. A gift they share with everyone.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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I like to think of myself as an artist, writer, and amateur philosopher. Student of many, master of none. I am a work in progress. Here is my day in a nutshell. (Because I’m a nut.)
I woke up at 7 am, checked emails, wrote a letter, called Mom, drove to Zumba, busted a move and thank goodness not a hip for an hour, glowing red faced, changed, drove to Art Club of McKinney meeting by 10, lunch with fellow artists, visited friends at Sweet Spot Bakery on the Square, went over to the Martin Place for Elaine Adam’s memorial art exhibit by 4, scurried home, went for a walk 5-6, and now writing this blog, then off to a divorce support group at 7-9. This is a typical day for me. I LOVE IT!
Well, never got this posted before my support group. It’s after 9:30 pm, and I’m finally able to take a breath and finish this post. This group session tonight was an eye opener. It makes me realize how very lucky and truly blessed I am. All I can say is…and this is not like me at all…but the world is truly F’d up. I need a drink!
Now, for some photos of my day… Art Club of McKinney guest speakers.
Lynne and Jeni won prizes for the monthly member artwork.
Lunch with the art gals at Cookie’s Mexican Restaurant.
Elaine Adams’ fantastic art show memorial at the mARTin Place. A beautiful tribute to a lovely and talented woman.
Elaine’s sweet husband of 61 years, Gil, family, and friend, Lynne.
The sky was gloomy and drizzly, but the sun kept trying to peek through while I walked.
The local ducks two blocks away from their pond were having a picnic on a neighbor’s front lawn.
The abundance of rain and intermittent sunshine have coaxed all the flowers to break out in beautiful blooms and the grass is lush and green. On my daily walks, I have the pleasure of being a part of this miracle. The rose hedge around the path near the pond has become a sea of red petals.
Everything’s coming up roses!
Now, here are more beautiful flowers from Martha’s Iris Garden in Mellissa.
Here’s Miss Martha tending her garden. She’s an amazing woman.
“So when you’re cold
From the inside out
And don’t know what to do,
Remember love and friendship,
And warmth will come to you.”
― Stephen Cosgrove, Gnome from Nome
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It was cold outside today! OK, not cold like…Chicago, Boston, New York, Green Bay or Alaska cold, but cold for McKinney. Saturday evening, I was sitting outside at Sweet Spot Bakery in a T-shirt, sipping iced tea and catching some rays. It was 77 degrees. Today, the high was maybe 33 or 34.
Normally, my neighbor Diane texts me the night before to say what time we are walking in the morning. She just said, “No walk for me. Too cold.” So, I did what any dedicated resolute walker would do. I didn’t set my alarm and slept in and stayed under the covers until 10 am. Ok, I’m wimpy, but let’s face it, I’ve been in Texas 11 years. I’m spoiled. But, I am from Chicago. 33 is Bermuda short weather to a native Chicagoan.
I finally slithered out from under the covers, made some hot tea, did some chores, checked my e-mail and Facebook, had lunch then bundled up like an Ewok Eskimo and went for my walk. It wasn’t too bad out, although I didn’t see any other nuts out there walking. (Neither rain, nor snow, nor gloom of day… Or whatever?)
So, here’s my week in a peek. A pink peek.
So, wherever you are, I hope you are staying warm. Hopefully Spring is on the way.
Oh yes, a weeks worth of nails, lucky pennies, and big bucks. (Saving the world from flat tires.) Remember the time a few months back, when I found a $20 bill in the street? Well, last week, I found 3 lucky pennies, a dime, and a $50 bill and a $1bill. I looked up to the heavens and said, “Thank you Lord for your generosity and the money, but, you do realize that this is only Monopoly play money, don’t you?” No response!
“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
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In honor of Dr. King, I’d like to share a few quotes. I especially like this one about faith. Sometimes the first step is the hardest and the scariest,
“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.”
― Émile Zola
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I started out the day with a quick walk/jog. I only had 45 minutes before getting ready for church, so I couldn’t walk my usual hour, so I jogged a little and walked a little. I’m too old for that jogging nonsense. Next time I’m getting up earlier.
After Mass, I went to the Square for breakfast at Snug, then over to the Heard Craig Gallery for the second day of the Centennial and closing reception. I did more painting, and Sherry offered to video a better demo of my painting a wintry Christmas scene. The one I did yesterday, I was holding my iPhone in one hand and painting with the other. Not so easy.
A surprise visit from our very dear friend and fabulous artist, Laura Moore, just made our day. We miss having Laura Moore’s Gallery on the Square.
I didn’t get a chance to hear all the guest speakers upstairs or get any of the cute centennial cake, but I did have a bunch of cupcakes. I’m not even a big cupcake person, but I was hungry. Painting must make you hungry.
It was another long day, but spent with talented artists, surrounded by wonderful artwork.
The drive home was also a work of art. Another evening where God painted the sky with His amazing palette.
Toni Andrukaitis 