I’ve taken several shots of the morning glory already this year. It sprouted about four months ago, has grown up the arbor, and has bloomed beautiful pink blooms. And, though Summer isn’t here yet for 2 more weeks, it’s getting ready to recycle all its energy into seed for next year. I should take a bunch of this seed and scatter it all along the fenceline and see what comes of it next year. 🙂
I’m surprised this guy held still long enough for me to take the shot.
Today was a bit longer day than usual of endless conference calls. I just recalled how one summer between college semesters I was looking for any kind of job I could get. I ended up following up on an ad in the paper for telemarketer openings. I showed up. Sat down with a phone and some papers and started dialing. After a few hours I was out of there – swearing I would never do that again. You know. I could never spend all day on the phone. Talking to people.
So after finishing many more years of college and 20 years working, what am I doing? Spending all day on the phone. Talking to people. Ironic, eh? 🙂
The purple coneflower plant had a hard time this winter, but it’s back with gusto with a bunch of blooms to enjoy. This is the first one, and farthest along.
Many years ago, I saw a piece of inspirational writing hanging on the wall in a colleague’s office in Poughkeepsie, while on a business trip there. I wrote it down, keep a copy of it, and have since then taken it to heart. Unlike these perennials, you and I only get one season to bloom where we are planted. We should strive to make it our best…
Sing in the shower * Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated * Watch a sunrise at least once a year * Leave the toilet seat in the down position * Never refuse homemade brownies * Strive for excellence, not perfection * Plant a tree on your birthday * Learn three clean jokes * Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full * Compliment three people every day * Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them * Leave everything a little better than you found it * Keep it simple * Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures * Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know * Floss your teeth * Ask for a raise when you feel you’ve earned it * Be forgiving of yourself and others * Overtip breakfast waitresses * Say “thank you” a lot * Say “please” a lot * Avoid negative people * Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards * Wear polished shoes * Remember other people’s birthdays * Commit yourself to constant improvement * Carry jumper cables in your trunk * Have a firm handshake * Send lots of Valentine cards. Sign them, “Somone who thinks you’re terrific.” * Look people in the eye * Be the first to say, “Hello” * Use the good silver * Return all things you borrow * Make new friends but cherish the old ones * Keep secrets * Sing in a choir * Plant flowers every spring * Have a dog * Always accept an outstretched hand * Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life * Wave at kids on school buses * Be there when people need you * Feed a stranger’s expired parking meter * Don’t expect life to be fair * Never underestimate the power of love * Drink champagne for no reason at all * Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation * Don’t be afraid to say, “I made a mistake” * Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know” * Compliment even small improvements * Keep your promises (no matter what) * Marry only for love * Rekindle old friendships * Count your blessings * Call your mother
– H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Sheila365 has switched to a new wordpress theme!
I picked the Journalist v1.9 theme when I first started this blog in March 2010. I’ve been waiting for EVER for a new theme to be published, that I like, with a dark background, wide enough left column to be suitable for a photoblog, that didn’t have goofy fonts or other not-my-style eye candy, etc.
WordPress just published a new theme today: Twenty Eleven. And….I like it! The first new theme I have previewed that I wanted to activate.
I have made minimal changes to my existing content. I tweaked the width of some photos in several posts. I added an About page, and a few other pages which can be navigated via the menu bar at the top. I plan to expand content further, but for now am taking Twenty Eleven for a test ride.
Ooooo-weee it’s hot out. We’ve had a number of 100+ degree days. There is no escaping it. I shudder to think what the rest of the summer holds for record heat, record drought.
I happily did as little as possible today – a mental health day, so to speak.
This is a shot of the neighbor’s century plant, that I first posted about last month, now in bloom. I intentionally took it into the sun, hoping to get a nice silhouette. I like the color of the sky here.
Can’t you just hear the ground sizzling in this shot?
The sun comes through the kitchen window as it rises and shines a bright beam of light across the room.
I looked down at my coffee cup before taking the first sip and saw this crescent moon.
The swirls of milk immediately make me think of the “..clouds in my coffee…” lyric from Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain (give it a listen here).
and, oh, yeah… TGIF!!!
Today started out with a 7AM tooth drilling at the dentist that made my head hurt the rest of the day.
I decided to end it with a manicure at the salon. I should do this more often.
Monte roasted up a delicious chicken for dinner. Yum!!
The day definitely ended better than it started.
My oh my, it’s June already!!
A couple weeks ago, my friend, Teresa, told me that she was making homemade vanilla extract. I was intrigued! And I want to make some, too. It’s going to take about 2 months – so, this is not an instant gratification project.
Here’s the recipe I’m using:
Homemade Vanilla Extract
Cut each bean lengthwise, splitting them in half, leaving an inch at the end connected.
Put vanilla beans in a glass jar or bottle with a tight fitting lid. Make sure the beans are completely covered by the vodka.
Give the bottle a good shake every once in a while. Store in a dark, cool place for 2 months or longer.
The resulting extract should lasts for years. Shake before using.
Update (18 months later!): This batch turned out great. I kept it in the pantry, which is out of direct sunlight, and after about 3-4 months it turned pretty dark. I have been using it ever since. I keep the bottle topped off with vodka after every couple of uses. I just added a new vanilla bean or two as well. That way it’s become a bottomless source of vanilla extract!
Early this afternoon I was standing in the kitchen and saw a deer about 10 feet from the house. I soon realized that she had a baby with her. I was able to get several shots from between the slats of the wooden blinds. The baby can’t be very old.
After the mom and baby walked into the neighbor’s yard the fawn fell down while crossing the street. I think it was scared of a car that was approaching very slowly. The car hung around so long that the mom ran away!
We called 311 to see if they could tell us what the city might do if the baby is abandoned, and they said not much. So, we are keeping a watch to see if the mom comes back. 😦
Update: We kept an eye on the little guy all afternoon and evening. When I woke up at 4 AM the next morning, i looked out the window to see this (momma deer laying down on the lawn next to where the fawn was). Yay momma deer!
I’m glad I saw this or I would have always wondered what happened to the baby deer.
Happy Memorial Day!
Every Memorial Day weekend the Austin Yacht Club holds the 2 day Turnback Canyon Regatta – sailing about 25 miles upriver on Saturday to the K-bar Ranch and returning to AYC on Sunday.
We sailed up one year as a cruiser, but the last 2 years or so there has been little wind, and some rain, so we have decided to stay close to home and watch from our anchorage in one of the Arkansas Bend coves.
This year, however, the wind was strong – gusting in the high 20’s.
Today we hung out at the opening of Hurst Harbor to watch the boats sail by. This is a shot of Kurt and Wally on Dancer as they zipped by. I believe they took first in their class yesterday. I think they were the first Catalina 30 that went by today, as well. Nice job guys!
I explored the cove this morning on the kayak. I spotted this anchor wedged in the rocks. The falling water level is exposing all sorts of hidden treasures.
It came out easily and joins our collection of about 5 found anchors. It’s becoming a hobby 🙂
This is the Friday before the long Memorial Day weekend. And we are headed to the lake! We’ve packed up everything to spend 2 nights on the boat and made it to the cove before sunset. We’re rafting up with Marty & Sue tonight, and tomorrow Lori & Dave will join us as well.
The lake is low, 651′ and dropping about 2′ per week. It’s so sad to see the water disappearing, but we’ll keep coming back to play.
Tonight we went for a walk with our neighbors and the Austin Parks & Recreation Department through the city park adjoining our neighborhood. The City wants to turn it into an off-leash dog park. So we’re all getting ready to take a position on whether we want that in our backyards or not.
Afterwards we went out for dinner. This is a shot of a custom wood wall covering that looked very cool, right above our table… taken with my not-high-tech cell phone.
Enjoy!
Sheila365 