“Friends come in all shapes and sizes, and always full of surprises.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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St. Gabriel the Archangel Church has so many ministries, activities, and formation groups available for parishioners. I only belong to a few, but I do love the 60+ group the best. It’s just a potluck get together hosted at the home of one of the members. Everyone brings food or beverages to share. We get to visit with long time friends or meet new people. A fun social event.
Lots of food and friends.
When I got home, I went out the front door to try and get a photo of the beautiful full moon. I’m not sure if it’s a perfectly full moon, but it sure is bright.
The flag made an awesome foreground. Look who followed me in the house. My furry neighbor friend Juno. Uh oh!
“Lots of people talk to animals… Not very many listen though… that’s the problem.”
~ Benjamin Hoff
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I’m glad I went for a morning walk because it was dark and rainy this evening, Plus, my friend the horse was in his pasture, the birds were singing, and my favorite face greeted me when I opened Facebook this morning.
Miss you Mommo! (Photo from Over 10 years ago.) We were laughing so hard because her ice cream was melting faster than she could lick. Thanks for visiting me with your smiling angel face.
When I was walking this morning, this guy saw me from across the street and came sauntering over to the rails to say hello. We talked a while. Yes, I speak horse.
I’m actually getting pretty fluent in several species of bird whistles. This guy and I had a nice conversation.Oh, look at this beautiful bird. He was too far away to converse, plus he was busy looking for fish for his breakfast.The wildflowers around the pond were lovely.
“Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms” – George Eliot
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What a lazy Friday. I didn’t even poke my head outside until 7:45 pm when I decided to take a walk. The temp went from 90° at 6 down to 82° at 7:30 with a nice breeze. The birds were chirping, my friendly neighbor horse was out grazing, and the sun was setting. A perfect evening.
Last week I was talking to the cardinals. I’m learning to to talk to this guy now. Not sure what he or she is, but we had a nice conversation.
And a lovely sunset at the end of the day. Now, you can see why I’m inspired to walk every day and write poetry about the awesome sights and sounds on my way.
“Trying new things is the only way you’re going to learn what your passions are.” – Lauren Skonieczny
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Yesterday, I received an early morning call from my good friend Thelma…AKA Sherri Murphy. Well, it wasn’t really early. It was 10am, but that’s early for me, still in my jammies. She said she knew it was Taco Tuesday, my standing lunch day with Helene, but she wondered if I’d like to go with her over to The Mill House Lunch Bunch Series and speaker presentation at 11:30. We could catch up with Helene for lunch later. Hmm? I wasn’t familiar with that series. I’ve kind of been out of the loop and art scene since, 2020 B.C. (Before Covid.) (feel free to borrow the B.C. analogy.)
Sherri explained that a very talented local photographer, Erin Brown, was going to give a photographic presentation of her trips to Iraq and Kurdistan. It sounded pretty interesting…
Description Join us as MillHouse Studio Photographer Erin Brown shares her photographic journey through Iraq and Kurdistan. Erin is friends with humanitarian Heather Mercer, one of 24 aid workers arrested in August 2001 by the Taliban in Afghanistan in connection with their work with the Germany-based Christian aid organization Shelter Now International. She has now founded the Freedom Center in Iraq, a center for education, professional opportunity, social connection, and ultimately, an enduring hope. Erin Brown has been on two trips with Heather as she began the founding of the Freedom Center. As a photographer, Erin captured the spirit and hope of the people along the way. Join us as she shares her journey. Lunch Bunch Speaker Series is an informal conversation around topics of interest to members and nonmembers. Lunch is not provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. All are welcome. The event is free.
We arrived at The MillHouse over on the east-side, 610 Elm Street, a little before 11:30 so, there was time to take a little tour of the beautifully renovated old factory. I hadn’t been there in a couple of years. The MillHouse is “a social, co-working, and creative gathering space for women to flourish, offering art, photography, and wellness studios.”
Such a beautiful place. Erin shared a wonderful presentation of her journeys, friendships, experiences, and close calls as she photographed her way through Iraq and Kurdistan. The portraits and the people tell a story with their eyes, don’t they?
Just hearing the stories and seeing the smiling faces of the people Erin photographed made me realize how fortunate and blessed we are here in our country, and how much we take for granted. Most of these people have little to nothing, have gone through such difficult times, yet they can smile. They are not smiling for the camera as much as they are smiling to show that life is good if you see the good in life. Thank you Erin!
And thank you to my good friend Sherri Murphy… I mean… Thelma, for always inviting me on new adventures. (And usually last minute… the best kind.) Love, Louise.
“The most awesome scenes, sights, and sounds are often found just around the corner. Just open your eyes.”
~ Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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I’m ALWAYS in awe of the awesome sunsets just around the corner on my evening walks. The colors are so vibrant. I always imagine God up there in the sky, wearing a big black beret, splashing the sky with a huge paint brush dripping with fun fuchsia, awesome orange, radiant red, and gorgeous gold. (I love colorful alliteration.) I love my sunsets.
Totally unfiltered, just pick and click. My pretty pond… also unfiltered. Just how God painted it tonight.
Now, here’s an added attraction. On the other side of the road across from the pond, there’s a lovely house set back from Wilmeth Road that has horses. I haven’t seen them out by the fence for a while, but tonight, this beautiful brown horse sauntered by. I walked across the road to say hello and take a few photos. I felt bad that I didn’t have any carrots or apples for him. He was very friendly.
I was trying to get a little glimpse of sunset behind him.“Hello! Did you bring me anything?”
Another beautiful “AMAZING” Sunday. It’s nice to be back at 9 o’clock Mass and seeing old friends and celebrating the Mass together in person.
Today’s Gospel was the story of Jesus saying,” I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” The comparison is to vines and branches that cannot exist if cut off from the branch…
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a branch — and withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire and are burnt.7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for whatever you please and you will get it.
My take on it… if we remain faithful and true to God’s word, we will flourish. If we abandon our faith, we will be cut off and wither and die. I think that can relate to anyone cut off from the sources of life like water, food, air, etc. Our bodies can’t survive without those sources and our souls cannot survive without the source of our faith, kindness, and love.
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The rest of my day was AMAZING as usual, and a nice evening walk in the warm evening air, followed by a chat on the phone on the park bench with my old friend Debbie. Yah, she’s old, but so am I.
“You may run into some gray clouds along your journey, so hold on tight to the sunshine within you.” ― Christine E. Szymanski
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This evening’s sky was filled with fabulous clouds that escorted me on my evening walk. Some people may see the same sky and the same view, but each night, I see a totally different and magnificent masterpiece in the sky.
My first loop around the pond.My second loop around the pond. (Can you see how just a few minutes can make such a difference?)A different view in the southeastern sky.Now, you see why I love my evening walks.And guess what? It’s Friday, my friends. You know what that means. Happy Black Russian Friday…CHEERS!
“On this dark dreary Saturday, I discovered there is NO beautiful sunset without a sun. But, there’s still beauty all around.”
~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis
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Yuk! Another drab and dreary day here in North Texas. I hadn’t poked my nose out of the house since Thursday, not even to get the mail. So, today, I mustered up all my mustard… (play on words) and dragged my sorry butt out for a walk.
It was dark and misty at 5pm, usually my amazing sunset photo time. But, I didn’t let it get me down. I decided to see what other beautiful and glorious sights and sounds might lift my spirits. I was not disappointed.
Across the street from the pond, two beautiful horses were out grazing in the pasture. Maybe it’s a pasture, or maybe it’s just the front yard of the old farmhouse where a recently constructed road skims across the once open field. I remember seeing these horses when they were just newly born, romping around, then flopping down in the tall grass next to their mommas.
After making around 5 or 6 loops around the pond, I stopped at a bench to just breathe in the misty air and appreciate the birds flying by. Then, up again for a few more loops.
This bare tree was an inspiration for a few lines of a poem that rattled around in my brain. (TBA)
I even reveled in the artistic beauty of this rusty storm sewer cover that I cross paths with hundreds of times on my walks. There is beauty every where if you only open your eyes.
“A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.”
— Walt Disney
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Several of my friends like to pick a word on January 1st to inspire and motivate them throughout the year. I’ve been using the same word for my mantra for several years. Most of you already know it… AMAZING. I am amazing, I do amazing things, I am an amazing mother, sister, friend, writer, artist, and all around amazing human being. My perception is my reality.
Even though I have the same Word and mantra, I do like to set little goals for myself throughout the year. I try to walk every day and write every day and do something creative. I’ve been writing this blog every day for eight years. Yikes! 8 years? My goal in 2013 was to see if I could write something every day for one year. I guess I’m an over achiever, or just a creature of habit, maybe both. But, I love looking for something beautiful, inspirational, fun or creative to share everyday. It gives me a purpose.
Yesterday, when I was looking for some small plastic containers to put my famous black eyed pea salsa in, I found a zillion container bottoms but NO lids. Where the heck were the lids. I finally pulled out every dang container from the cabinet and messed with a zillion lids and bottoms until I found three that worked.
This ain’t the half of it folks! I left that mess on the floor yesterday, and promised to organize that cabinet today. It was a Herculean task, but I did it.Every container has a lid and bottoms are stacked and nested and lids are banded according to shape and size. (Let’s see how long that lasts)
After I finished, I did some laundry, and remembered that I had another zillion containers that I’ve saved or bought to use for sharing cookies and brownies for friends, neighbors, and my Firemen. Oh no! I pulled out a bunch more stuff from the laundry room. That will have to wait till tomorrow. I’m exhausted.
Yikes! These are going into a big bin and maybe stored in the garage or find a new home. But, tomorrow is another day, Scarlet.
I guess my New Year’s goal should be to declutter. Alas, I am a pack rat/hoarding/crafting/ baking artist. We don’t throw anything away.
But, I did get out for my evening walk tonight. The sun was out after endless days of endless rain. I put in 2 miles and enjoyed every minute.
Toni Andrukaitis 