Friday:) Furry Friends and a Fiery Sunset

“Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under!” ― C. JoyBell C.

**************

Back to my routine, back to friends, grocery stores, walking, lunches and visiting furry friends. I’ve always loved animals, but I’ll admit, it’s been VERY nice these past few years not having to take care of two big active dogs. I can travel whenever I want without kenneling, running around, and working my world around my pets. 

The good news is, having neighbors and friends with pets, I have the pleasure of walking a dog whenever I like, visiting with cats, and guess what? I get to go home or go out for the entire day. It’s like being a pet grandma.

Bella is Mr. Mike’s little dog. She is so cute and sweet and loves me to death. When I go out for a walk,I check   and see if Bella wants to take a walk with me. She always does.

Sometimes, my neighbor Diane goes away for a couple of days, and she asks me to stop in and check on her cat. He’s cute and sweet and loves me to death. (Are you seeing a pattern here?)

This evening, after I took Bella for a walk, then visited with Parcel, I continued my walk in the unbearable heat. The air was thick and steamy with a storm on the horizon. Hopefully it will cool off a little. But, it’s just the beginning of summer, AND it is Texas, after all.

A fiery sunset to end the day. 

“Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under!” 

― C. JoyBell C.

Tuesday:) Tunes and a Terrific Sunset

“Each spectacular sunset renews my faith in miracles.”

~Toni Armenta Andrukaitis

*************************

After a busy weekend, it was nice to lollygaggle around the house with Mom most the day. Oh yes, the Comcast cable guy came around 11 to fix her tv. We were without TV for THREE WHOLE DAYS! It was torture. I’m not sure how we managed without our three or four hour “Murder She Wrote” marathons each evening from 10pm to midnight or 1am. We compensated by watching YouTube videos of how to paint roses or make flowers from coffee filters on my iPad. Not the same. No murder to solve.

So, Jeremy fixed the cable, changed out the old box, and showed us how to switch from tv to DVD. But, we failed to check and see if all the channels were there. My sister noticed tonight that the movie channels and HGTV and other stations we had before were missing. OH NO!!! More calls to Comcast.

This evening around 7, a very sweet and talented lady came to The Greens of Elgin to play piano for the residents. Oh my, she was very talented, playing classical songs, Schubert, Debussy, etc.   She ended with three songs that she composed herself for each one of her children. I only captured a few seconds because my iPhone ran out of room…AGAIN. I don’t understand why. I only have 4,054 pictures on there. Yikes!

Here is a few seconds of the talented Lanette Calhoun.

After the concert, I went for an evening walk, just in time to capture the sunset. Marvelous music and a spectacular sunset. This is my thinking time. This is my thankful time.

Friday:) Friends, Fun and a Fiery Sunset

It takes a long time to grow an old friend. 

~John Leonard

***********

Another fun Friday. I had plans to meet Karen, Linda, MaryBeth and Mercedes for lunch at Silk Road. After we sat and ordered, I shared with them that I’ve been working on expanding my horizons and working on my bucket list. Ive never gone to a Thai restaurant, so this was outside the box for me. They asked what else have I done on my bucket list. I told them that I’ve driven to Oklahoma, took a trip to Santa Fe and Estes Park, and last year, on my birthday, I took a bath. What? They looked at me strangely until I explained that I’m petrified of water, I can’t swim, and baths are scary. Oh! Everyone has their phobias. I just happen to have a few strange ones. 

It was a very nice lunch and visit with friends that don’t get together very often. But, when we do, it’s a great time. 

A little prayer doesn’t hurt if you don’t want to get an upset stomach. It worked.

After lunch, I stopped at the store to get some snacks for my Towne Creek painting group. Then, I popped into Papa Murphy’s pizza next door to chat and get a hug from Karri. Scurrying home and packing up glass paints, bowls and brushes, then off to Towne Creek. We worked on painting bowls for the upcoming Empty Bowls Charity event.

We finished painting thirteen bowls. Miss Kathy said thirteen was unlucky. I said , “No, thirteen is my lucky number,”

While the paint dried, we had our snack, pepperoni pizza, root beer floats and brownie bites. Yum!

Now for the firey sky. We’ve had some amazing sunsets the last few evenings. 

Sunday Sermon, a Sock Monkey, and Other Stuff

“You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.” ― Colette

********

It was a little chilly this morning, not too bad, but I was hoping to wear my sock monkey hat. Being the silly person that I am, I decided to just go for it. It was so fun to see the expressions of people as they approached the door. Mary and  I were greeting before  9 o’clock Mass, watching their reactions. The children really did a double take, everyone smiled, and a few people said, “I like your hat.”

Today’s Gospel was about John the Baptist, but I was more impressed with the second reading… Jas 5:7-10

“Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient.”

I thought about how patient the farmer is. We should all emulate the life of a farmer. Work hard, nurture and cultivate your crops, rely on the Lord for rain, being patient and waiting a long time before the harvest. Sometimes the rain doesn’t come or the crops are ruined, but the farmer continues to have faith and plants again the next season. He never gives up. Then, he rejoices and is thankful after the harvest.

Also, feeling very thankful and blessed today, I went around after Mass showing friends and strangers alike, pictures of my new granddaughter, Belle. Even Father Don was given a photo presentation. I lit another candle beneath the painting of the Blessed Virgen. This time it was nice to just say thank you and not ask or petition for anything. Being thankful and feeling blessed.

After Mass, Mary invited me to her house for tea and conversation. We had a nice visit. 

The cold grey clouds parted and a cheerful sun took its place. The result was a balmy evening and another spectacular sunset. It was a good Sunday.

Forget Black Friday:) It’s Black Russian Friday

Black Friday: Because only in America, people trample others for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have. ~Unknown quotes  

*************

It’s true, after contemplating about all the things I have to be thankful for yesterday, I had trouble thinking that I needed to get in my car and go shopping. I’ll admit, I was tempted by all the online bargains that filled my email inbox this morning. As tempting as they were, I refrained from making any purchases. I could use a new pair of walking shoes, as mine are more then well worn and falling apart. But, I can wait. Now, is that self control, or what?

Instead, I had a leisurely morning, a long walk, a nice lunch of leftovers, visited my neighbor’s cat while she was out of town, checked on Bella, my doggie buddy after Mr. Mike had to take her for an emergency vet visit, then an evening stroll, capturing the sunset. These are the things that make me happier than Black Friday sales. 

The best part though is…IT’S BLACK RUSSIAN BLACK FRIDAY! Cheers!

 

Amazing evening sky. This beats any shopping spree. 

Sunday Sermon, a Sunset, and Other Stuff

Franz Kafka

“Even if no salvation should come, I want to be worthy of it at every moment.” 

― Franz Kafka

**********

Sunday morning was cool and cloudy. The parishioners of St. Gabriel’s scurried through the doors after a long walk through the parking lots still under construction.

The Gospel today was the story of Jesus being asked about the resurrection and marriage. According to Moses, if a man dies without a child, his brother should marry her. A woman was married, her husband died, and his brother married her, then he died, and this continued through seven brothers. Then the wife died. Jesus was asked, at the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be. Jesus explained that all are children of God and basically all angels.

My take on it…first of all…the Gospel is very serious, but I’ll admit, I giggled to myself for a minute. Is that sacrilege? Maybe just Catholic guilt. I thought to myself,  I don’t have to worry about bumping into my husband, now ex-husband, up in heaven. He won’t be there to bump into. I felt a little guilty for thinking that, but still I was being honest and amused at the same time. So, my take on it is…perhaps heaven is only happiness, love, and joy, with no boundaries, ownership, or relationships. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. But, you won’t have to worry about bumping into bad people.

Gospel LK 20:27-38
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,

came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,

“Teacher, Moses wrote for us,

If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child,

his brother must take the wife

and raise up descendants for his brother…

********************

After Mass, I stopped at McDonald’s and chatted with my friend, Gil, then off to the store. Albertson’s had canned goods on sale, just in time for all the Thanksgiving food drives. I came home and went for a drizzly walk. My umbrella came in handy, so my walk was short lived. I stopped and visited with my neighbor’s on the corner and finished watching the Cowboys’ win. 

Later, after about an hour of sitting at home, checking emails and fooling around on Facebook, the rain stopped, so off for the rest of my walk. I was rewarded with a beautiful sunset.

Sometimes I look at the glorious sunsets and imagine that perhaps this is what heaven might look like.

Tuesday:) Today~ What a Difference a Day Makes

“When all is said and done, the weather and love are the two elements about which one can never be sure.” ― Alice Hoffman

*************

Yesterday, we had a rainy gloomy day. Today, the sun was out and it was a beautiful refreshing day. What a difference a day makes!

A view from my umbrella yesterday.

Now, my sunset tonight.

You can never be sure of the weather, but you can always be sure that each day will be a blessing.