GOOD INTENTIONS!!

I had every intention of doing some sewing this weekend. It is now Sunday afternoon and I've not yet started. I get the feeling I won't be sewing.

Until the next time.....

Another HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Today is Harry's birthday. The picture above is one of my favorite pictures of him, taken in Iraq several years ago. Janelle shared a copy of this picture with me when she was doing some photo editing, sending, and sharing. (Thanks again, Janelle!! This is one of the best!)

It is difficult to describe Harry in succinct terms. He is a highly complex individual, but there is no one better with whom to share adventures and outings. He is fun to work with in the kitchen as we create exotic (or not) concoctions. He is 'game' for new things without hesitation, whether culinary or a destination. He has been there to help me in countless late night emergencies (trips to the ER), with mechanical failures during heavy downpours (flat tires in a parking lot), by providing rides to and from the hospital as I was admitted for various surgeries, and by offering calming moral support during visits to the principal's office when discipline problems with my wayward son arose so regularly. I can only hope that I am there for him in a time of need as much as he has been for me.

Harry is brutally honest, and at times "brutal" is putting it mildly. Yet there is a fairness to his rationale, even if, at the time, it isn't quite apparent. He never minces words, always speaks his mind, and LOVES to talk about any and every thing!!! (He'll deny this one, but it is true. We once spent several hours on one phone call.... and we only live a few blocks from each other. He says I am the one who goes on and on during a call, but he can definitely hold up his end of any conversation, and there are times when I have to admonish him for cutting me off and/or not letting me get a word in edgewise. Another thing he will deny!!)

When all is said and done, meeting and getting to know Harry and Janelle over the past 10+ years has been a blessing in my life. (It took me long enough to figure it out, didn't it???) Janelle has provided a glimpse of what having a daughter is like amidst the chaos and testosterone of raising nothing but my boys. Ross has mentioned that he considers Harry a positive male role-model; a very good thing since a male role-model, whether positive or otherwise, has always been in short supply for most of Ross's life (excepting his Papa, of course).

Tonight we are going for a special celebratory dinner. Afterwards we will enjoy a traditional birthday dessert. (Alas, I do not have enough candles to torch the thing... I mean it isn't large enough to hold all the candles... I mean I can't afford all that wax!!!) All kidding aside, I am looking forward to the evening.

Harry, happy birthday to you... and many more! Thank you for being a part of my world.

Until I change my mind,

Gena

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WES!!

This past Thursday, June 19, was my oldest son's 19th birthday. Life has been busy for all of us, so I haven't had the chance to make mention of it here... until now! Unfortunately, I don't have any of his baby pictures on this computer. The pictures I've shared here are a few that managed to get transferred to the hard drive when the computer was upgraded. The final picture at the bottom was taken a couple weeks ago.

Wes was born in Lubbock, Texas... but we didn't learn of his birth until about 5 weeks later when we adopted him on July 26, 1989. It was a thrilling, yet scary time. We'd never been parents before and, while we were positive we were going to be the best parents that ever lived (what new parents don't think this way??), we were unsure about so many many things because we didn't realize what would be involved when caring for this newborn with his particular needs.

While skipping all the details, Wes has been a delightful son. He has a great personality and loves people. From the earliest age it was said that he never met a stranger he didn't like. Wes always was... and remains... my best helper. He mows the yard better than any professional lawn service. Since he was old enough to walk he has loved to vacuum the house!! What mother can't appreciate that trait in one of her children!!!?????

Wes is funny, caring, loves animals, works hard, sets a good example for his younger brothers, knows right from wrong, knows how to be a true friend, and is respectful to adults. He is well liked by many and loved very much by his family. I can't imagine what life would have been like without Wesley in it. He has certainly made my life better, more complete, and happier. I thank him for being a good person. I thank his birthmother for choosing to give him life, and I thank God for blessing me with the privilege of raising him as my son.

Happy 19th Birthday, Wes!! Hope the years are kind to you and you have many, many more happy ones to come.

I love you!!!!

Mom

WHEW!!!!

Lawwdy, but it's hot outside!!!! Usually I can float in the pool and feel refreshed just skimming the top of the water. Today was a different matter. It was be IN the water or suffer from the heat. (The body on the left is my 17 year old son; what little you can see of him.)

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers in my realm. There are many. I hope the day is made special for each of you in its own way.

Until I stop melting....

BLAST FROM THE PAST???

The mail carrier has been good to me the last two days. Yesterday I received the final installment on a king-sized Christmas BOM started last summer. Today I received the first installment of a Mystery BOM from The Fat Quarter Shop. Several others are doing this BOM, and a picture of the finished block was already featured on the website, so I am not giving away the mystery by showing my completed block. It was fast and fun. The fabrics are luscious!! The colors in the picture below don't do the prints justice... and that is after I did tweaking in the photo editing software. The blue is the softest of frosty, icy blues. Great on a hot day like today.

And there is my blast from the past. I once again did some sewing!!! Am surprised I remembered how to maintain a 1/4" seam allowance!

Until I post again.....

CAN YOU BE A REDNECK......

... if you start the day by admiring your "crops" and thinking that each baby tomato is cute?



.... if the first sunflower to open in the yard makes you smile and sigh with contentment?


... if the baby rabbit at your Grandmother's house is worthy of a photo and a resounding "awww"?

.... if you go to a nearby County Fair and see the "beauty" in the picture below?

... if you get a happy, squishy feeling when you see the cow and her 5 month old calf?

... if you get even "squishier" when you see the cow/calf pair below with evidence the calf is very new (the umbilicus is still attached)?

.... if you see this magnificent young bull and admire the power and strength in his form?

Can you be a redneck if you go to the Tractor Pull and think it is every bit as fun as the NASCAR races?


... if you think no county fair is complete without a Midway and a ferris wheel?

This was the adventure of the weekend. We drove to Hunt County, Texas for the annual county fair and 4H exhibits. It relaxed my soul and being to the fullest. Nothing vulgar was seen or heard; no public rudeness was witnessed; no disrespectful children were mouthing off to parents, and everyone was friendly to complete strangers. I had so much fun.... I must be a redneck!

Until another day.....

SUMMER IS REALLY HERE!

It's been another adventure-filled, action-packed, work-focused week. (Are those real words?) The highlights, as always, were the weekend activities.


Last night we went to hear the Dallas Symphony Orchestra perform one of its free "Symphony in the Park" programs. Featured selections ranged from famous classics to contributions by modern composers (John Williams' Raiders of the Lost Ark). After the concert there were fireworks to end the evening. That means it is "officially" summer despite the upcoming summer solstice three weeks hence!


The thermometer outside is certainly not having a problem with its declaration of the arrival of the dreaded arid season. We are now consistently in the middle or upper 90s and the morning lows never budge below the 80 degree mark. The water in the pool is already 85 degrees and by the end of the summer heat will be more bath-like than refreshing cool.


The photo below was taken during the symphonic event. Listening to live classical music has never ceased to conjure a memory from my days in elementary school art class. My absolute favorite activity in art class was "free art" when the teacher would play a classical selection and we were instructed to draw what we were hearing in the music. This memory is so completely burned into my mind that no matter when I attend the symphony I am reminded of the pleasure it afforded me in my girlhood days.

But alas, the only artistic media available during last night's performance was that of my camera lens and what God was "painting" to the music. Here is a photo of the colors swirling in the sky as we listened to Valse from Swan Lake, Opus 20 by Tchaikovsky, the Russian composer.

And speaking of the camera lens, I've been playing again. Several weeks ago I was taking photos of rose buds and other spring flowers. The bud shown below was in Harry's backyard and was positively perfect (the bud; not my picture-taking ability).

Next to taking pictures and the on-going quest to capture the perfect photographic moment, I've been playing with photo editing software. I experimented with some of the features and edited the same photo shown above until it became this photo. First I made the entire photo into a black&white version, then "painted" the color back into the petals only. Interesting results.



Until the next time...