Throughout my years of working with children; I often paint, color or draw right along with them. We talk. We share. And when they're finished, the real work begns.
I was reminded the other day of a water color painting I'd done along side a child I was working with. When she asked me what it was, I teased that today: "I am a 5000 pound blue and purple balloon." We laughed together.
Recently, I'd been feeling the same. Taking action is important to me. I knew there was a diet in my future. The old reliable cabbage soup diet always gets me back on track to eating healthier. The week of regimentation gets me feeling lighter and rids me of my most recent bad eating habits.
With cabbage soup, cabbage soup and more cabbage soup; I try to make the other foods that are allowable as pretty and artistic as possible. I find I enjoy them more when I've invested a little time in preparation...and then, the color and designs are all so pretty.
Today's the last day. I'm only feeling like a 2500 pound balloon, but I'm on the road!
I don't know about you, but ever since I was a little girl; red checked table cloths of any kind always felt welcoming to me. Do red checked table cloths evoke any special memories for you? Here's to a red-checked table cloth kind of day!
Ending well is important to me. Sometimes I'm better at it than others. I always say goodbye to the places in my life when I leave. Before I left for four months in Cadrieu in 2005; I kissed the corners of Columbus Street and said "Be Safe". (We all know what happened there.) When I leave the Chatette I have a spot in the center of the tunnel and a corner stone on the front of the house by the road that I kiss. It's one of the reasons it's important to me to leave on my on and return on my own. I need to be able to let go and to reconnect my way. Not everyone understands that.
Another thing I do is wander around and take photos. These two are "last day" photos-from outside in and inside out of the kitchen window. I find comfort in knowing it will be waiting for me when I return.
A Saturday morning bike ride to Rose Nicaud and an afternoon visit to City Park with Eric, Stew and Louie boy, provided me with two amazing examples of females in "public art". Others might call it "graffitti", but both of these examples are breath taking.
While I was catching my shot of this young girl, a gentleman walked by and told me that she was painted by a famous artist who was here right after Katrina. He also pointed out that she has been "plexi-glassed" for protection. Hooray for that!
Then, on the ticket booth for the "The Music Box" in City Park, this woman was painted on one side of the building. So much was swirling there that caught my eye, it wasn't until we were leaving that I actually realized that she is breast-feeding.
During our day of "Retail Therapy" on my last trip to Ferguson, Kat and I ended up at the Barnes and Noble in Ladue. You see, "our" Barnes and Noble on the corner of Lindbergh and New Halls Ferry Road had closed. Each book store that closes breaks my book reading heart a little further. My fingers itch to hold books in my hands.
We looked at the bargain books-many of which were tempting, but I chose an old friend from the bargain section: Elizabeth George, the award winning author of the Inspector Lynley series, and many more. I was introduced to Inspector Lynley by my friend Greg in Cadrieu. The stories are all set in the UK, and have been used as the basis for a British Television show. Long before I'd fallen in love with Martin Walker's, Bruno, Chief of Police; I'd welcomed Inspector Thomas Lynley and his family, friends and colleagues into my heart. I'd read them all, so I had to look closely at this one to make sure I hadn't already read it. (Yes, I have been known to buy things I've already read.) I was in luck! Written in 2012, I knew I was safe.
Richly written , the lives of all of the characters are masterfully woven into each murder mystery. Although the mysteries are solved, the characters and their lives go on. As has happened with so many others, "Tommy" Lynley, Barbara Havers, the St. Pierre's and many others always felt like they were living in the Chatette with me. Now, what a change...they are living on Columbus Street too. I imagine they might be wondering what in the world has happened here-they were kind of used to our life in Cadrieu where they could wander and relax in the midst of their latest mystery. To be honest, they have made an even easier transtion to Columbus Street than me.
I highly recommend all of Elizabeth George's books. Start at the beginning of her list, and keep going. I can promise you won't be disappointed.
For me, I'm happy to see that after suffering a devestating loss; my old friend "Tommy" Lynley has been working hard to do his best to move on. I'm not sure I approve of his choice of the woman in his life at the moment, but it's a process and I have faith he'll face this dilemma and solve it like he does the rest.
Hold a book in your hands today! Books need love too!
I've known that many of my Write_On letters should be reaching their destinations during this week, since I'd mailed the bulk of them (20 plus) from Ferguson. I've received messages and emails of thanks, but this morning I received the photo above from Mike Edwards. What fun to see the opened letter with the contents spilling out onto MIke and John's sofa! I chuckled at the little pieces of decorative tape once more. With the decorative inserts inside, you don't want to lick the envelope to close it. I also made sure to write "Open Gently" on the point of the flap of the envelope...so far so good it seems! I plan to continue Write_On to meet my goal and thensome. I have some outstanding deliveries to be made to some very special people.