Old Stones of Provence

It is Mosaic Monday once again. Boy, do the weeks go by quickly! Please join Mary at Her Little Red House to see more lovely mosaics.

Pathways

I guess you are getting tired of postings about France. I have a years worth of photos I could post but will stop soon. Around every corner of the hill villages of Provence there are paths to take and roads to follow. I will never stop being enchanted by the possibilities that are promised by these unknown roads not traveled. They can't possibly all be followed, but they are there and I guess that has to be enough...

Colors of the Earth

Roussillon is one of my favorite of the French cities I visited. The colors of the earth were amazing. Sometimes it felt almost as beautiful as southern Utah :o)

Mary at Little Red House is hosting Mosaic Monday once again. Check it out.

Joy

 "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you've forgotten the words."

             

 This is Joy. She and I have been friends for a long time.  We like to travel together. We get up at the same time, we like to eat a lot and are always hungry at the same time, and it doesn't take either one of us very long to get ready in the morning. She is my travel companion of choice. She pushes me just a bit to get out of my comfort zone and makes me see things I might be to lazy to make the effort for. I really love her for that. And I just plain love her. She is a woman who knows the song in my heart. And she often sings it back to me.

Halloween Birthday Boy

Today is our sweet son's birthday. He doesn't like to have his picture taken but I do have a bunch of when he was young. He is a great person and a wonderful son. I just wanted to tell him happy 35th birthday :o) We love you, Mark!

Bee Still...

 While taking photos of these beautiful berries I spied this little guy. He just sat there without moving so much as a wing for the whole time. He never did move. I don't know if bees hibernate or if he was sick or just what his deal was but it gave me a chance to get up close and personal for a clear shot.

Maybe he was just a very trusting bee. But he sat still and sun shone upon him...

Home Again, Home Again

I'm home from France and needless to say had a wonderful trip. Who cares if the wind blows and the temperature drops. Not me. France is a lovely country with gracious, people. And you know what? They don't hate Americans. They may not like our foreign policy, but they have been nothing but wonderful to me. They want to learn about all kinds of people, just like we do. 

I learned something that I have been wondering about. I have tried to drink  wine for years now. And I just haven't liked it. I decided to get an expensive glass and see if my opinion was a result of the relatively cheap (I know, I know) wine I have usually chosen. Well I went to a really nice (expensive) restaurant while on my trip and ordered a $20.00 glass of wine. I really did. And guess what. I didn't like it either. So I guess I just don't have the taste buds for it. Give me a bottle of beer any time...

The End is Near

Only a few days left here in France and we'll be headed home. I am trying to take the advice of my dear friend, Lin, to breathe it all in...

Wish you were here

We have been having a lot of wind. They call it Le Mistral. It comes in from the northwest and it is said to drive men mad. Since buying two sweaters and a turtleneck or two I am fine with it. Alas, my biggest problem right now is that my pants seem to have shrunk in the suitcase. It has happened to me before... But we are seeing a lot of beautiful sights and eating well :) But then when do not eat well...

Surprise

Hello from France. This trip has been planned for a long time. I've been here a few times before and am really a Francophile, meaning I love it here! I'm at an internet cafe writing. The keyboard is different so it is slow going. Next time I'm going to figure out how to put a photo on :o) But for now I'll just say bon journee.

Mosaic Monday - Zen

I'm feeling the need for a bit of zen right now. I'm trying to get ready for a big trip. I'm on my way to France. Can't wait. But Daughter has been sick with the flu for a week, we've been trying to get Son's condo ready for a renter and then there is the day to day stuff that isn't getting done while I have the kids. Not to mention that I am spending large amounts of energy "willing" myself not to get sick too. Since I am the type of person who gets stressed when too much is going on at once I chose to make "zen" the theme of my mosaic this week. These photos make me feel peaceful. If only for a moment...

Head on over to Mary's Little Red House for more Monday Mosaics.

End of Crabiness

OK, I'm not crabby any more. I found my camera. The thing is , I had asked my husband AND my son to look in a certain place (my son's condo that we are sort of rehabing) and neither one of them could find it. I knew I had looked in every place I could think of and still no camera, so on a hunch went over to the condo and whadayaknow, there it was. It took me less than 10 seconds to spot it. So, I'm happy about that and not happy that I didn't have one in Seaside but the happy outweighs the not happy, so episode over... 

And I told you I had a picture of a crab. This is a blue crab in Maryland. We let it go...

Caught in a Web

I have just come back from a wonderful couple of days in Seaside, FL. It is a lovely place and I spent it with a wonderful long time friend. Thanks so much Debby.

Why am I crabby after such a lovely mini vacation? Well, it has nothing to do with my last, less than sunny post. I actually feel much better now that I've adjusted to my medication. But... I've lost my camera somewhere. Have you seen it? If someone finds it how will they know who it belongs to? I couldn't take any photos in Seaside. And there was plenty of subject matter there! I'm going to France in less than two weeks and I need a camera. It isn't something I want to spend money on right now. Especially since I know that when I get the new one home the old one will magically show up. All I can say is humph!

And I know this isn't a crab. I have crab pictures, but I just loved this spider and wanted to show it off :o)

If you want sunny, don't read...

This week has been sort of weird. I started a new medication and just haven't felt myself. I feel like the fly whose wings are tiring. I'm sure it will pass. It always does. But hovering is hard...

Happiness

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Mosaic Monday with Bees

I have been noticing the bees. I love to watch them work away, oblivious to the watcher. Unless you get too close and then they dive bomb you. I don't think they mean anything by it. Just a little warning. "I'm busy here. Get that camera out of my face." Hmmm. Come to think about it, not unlike my human subjects...

It is Mosaic Monday once again. Thank you to Mary at Little Red House for hosting. Go on over to see some beautiful photography and creativity.

Signs of Age

 I'm out in the sun a lot. Do you think I need a little wrinkle cream?

Role Playing

I have had a lot of "titles" in my life. Daughter, student, nurse, wife, mother, partner, artist, friend.... But far and away my favorite title of all is grandma. The kids call me "Rosie" (it came to us in a dream, but that's another story).Where else in your life can you have this (which just happens to be toast cutouts with Nutella and strawberries along with a refreshing Shirley Temple) for dinner and then maybe if you are still hungry you can have apple slices with cheese cut in the shape of butterflies...

 

Focus

Sometimes the picture seems out of focus. Maybe there is a tiny bit of what is going on that we can see clearly at any given moment. But I just have to remember that even the parts we can't see clearly have meaning and beauty. I have to have faith that the picture will sharpen again or I'll see another part of the scene because of something as slight as a passing breeze.

Maryland Mosaic

I took so many photos during my week in southern Maryland. It is so beautiful there, mere minutes (well 60, but relatively mere...) from two major big cities. And while the cities are exciting and beautiful in their own way, give me the peaceful countryside any time...

Mary, at Little Red House, is hosting Mosaic Monday again. Go there for some lovely photo collages.

I Was Born a Traveling Man..er, Woman

Lin wouldn't hold still while I took her picture so I had to grab hold of her. I always tell people," I am going to take your picture. It can be good or bad, your choice..." I had taken another one of her right before this but I promised I wouldn't post that one :o)

 

 I had a wonderful trip to Southern Maryland. My dear friends Suzi and Lin showed me a wonderful time. I felt pampered. And yes, Suzi and I are holding hands. At the last minute I thought you should see the little stream that is flowing down the middle of the National Botanical Gardens in Washington DC. It is a DO NOT MISS if you ever go there.

Remembering

My sister is trying to get everyone to fly their flags tomorrow  I don't have one right now so I am "flying" it here. Let us all remember...

Brunch

One thing about going on a trip is that I don't feel any guilt about over eating. I'm not sure why this is but I guess it's just part of really enjoying yourself. So, I've been exploiting my "trip" status to the max and have overeaten a bunch. This morning it was brunch at another friend's house. These were friends from our early Navy days in Puerto Rico. How wonderful to rehash old times. And it goes without saying that the food was superb and we, well, you know... overate!

On Vacation

I am in Maryland. We lived here for a few years, many years ago. I made some dear friends here and love to come back to see them. We have been to Baltimore and Washington DC the last two days and today are resting and just catching up. My friend has a sweet life here. She and her husband have a lovely home on Solomons Island, in southern MD. So beautiful. Her son lives next door and her mother behind. They all get along. We spent a while today picking tomatoes from her son's plants. We don't get good ones in Florida for some reason so I have been eating them like apples with plenty of salt. Mostly over the kitchen sink.

I'll be here until next week so may not get another chance to blog, but I am having a restful time and hope to be refreshed when I get home.

Shade

It is pretty sunny here. We get some afternoon rain but almost every day we get sun. It is nice to have colorful umbrellas around.

Good News and Bad News

The good news is I finally captured one of these little guys. And the best part is it was on the tennis court, a place where I spend a lot of time. So, I was able to combine two of my great loves, tennis and photography. The bad news in that the poor little guy (and others like him) hang around the tennis courts hoping to snag a meal. But they just keep coming up dry (so to speak). They are SO frustrated! But they don't give up. That will be my tennis goal as well. I may become frustrated, but I won't give up!

Imperfections

At first glance this is a gorgeous butterfly. But if you'll notice, there is a hole in her wing. She still does her job, she can fly just fine and look at those legs. You know what? I still think she is gorgeous. Hole and all...

A Sign

Yesterday I lost my team tennis match. I was the only one on the team who lost and I was really bummed out. Well, after all, we all want to win. Anyway, I was sitting there on the bench watching the last team finish with a win and I looked up and saw this cloud. I thought "Someone" knew that right then I needed a little love. I quickly pointed it out to a friend by which time it had morphed into a duck. So I know it was meant just for me... You'll notice that there is a little chunk out of the heart. I guess we all have those, don't we...

Critters

In the grand scheme of things, they all have their part to play and are beautiful in their own way. Please drop by and have a walk in the woods with Mary at The Little Red House. You'll see some gorgeous mosaics for Mosaic Monday there.

Some Days

Some days I feel like this....

Some days I feel like this... And that's life!

Color

My daughter has been through an unhappy marriage and divorce. She still struggles quite a bit with the whole thing. It hasn't been that long. One of the things she has done to make herself feel better is to make her home as homey as she could get it. And for her that meant to make it the happiest colors she could think of. I think she has done a wonderful job. You can't help but be in a more cheerful mood when you go into her house. This is just a tiny piece of it...

ABCD

It has been a busy couple of days for us here at the homestead. The kids are spending the night with us tonight. But the exciting news is that Natalie came home with homework today (kindergarten) and is really starting the process of learning to read. She has been trying to sound out the words and read to Nick, who really isn't interested in listening to her. But I'm listening! She can't know, at this time, how much reading has meant to me in my life. I will be so excited to share my favorite books with her. A new adventure is beginning...

Monday Mosaic

I just don't think you can miss with daisies. They are the commonest of flowers, and flowers that are often overlooked. But every time I see daisies, I SEE daisies. Don't know why really. They just make me happy...

For some beautiful mosaics go on over to  Little Red House.

Playing Around

I played in a tennis tournament yesterday. We played a LOT of tennis. The equivalent of three matches in one day. For an old lady like me that is a lot. But I can mostly keep up with the young girls... They may be better but I never give up and go for everything. My partner and I didn't win but we had a lot of fun. Stacey is one of a kind. She works hard and I don't see her very much but there is some kind of connection there. I am old enough to be her mother so it is amazing to me that we are kindred spirits. And I consider myself very lucky. She's a peach!

Breakfast

I can't think of a better way to start my day. Unless someone had fixed my cheerios for me...

Bad Hair Week

This reminds me of my hair lately...

Suffering For My Art

The weekly challenge on Flickr is "Wildflowers". Well, we have quite a few roadside wildflowers around here. So, after tennis today I'm out with my camera squatting down to get close-ups of these little beauties. All of a sudden I get this stinging on my ankle. Ants! And not only on my ankle but while I was in my squat position they marched up my tennis skirt and under and... well, you've heard the expression "ants in your pants". I'm here to testify that it does happen. I will spare you the details and a photo of my behind, covered with itchy, stingy ant bites.

Monday Mosaic on Tuesday

 

I forgot to do the mosaic on Monday so I'll do it today. I really don't want to miss a week. 

Go to Little Red House to see more awesome mosaics.

I Don't Like It

I really don't. I never even saw okra until I marrried my husband. It is a mainstay at meal time in Oklahoma. I usually just avoid it. If Steve wants some he has to go to a restaurant . Too slimy for me. And then the other day I saw a row of flowering bushes. When I got close to them I could see that they were okra plants. The flowers were delicate and beautiful. I guess the good often comes with the bad :o)

Sweetest Flower

I have been absent this weekend. Mark moved to Gulf Shores and it was a tiring ordeal. We had two strong friends to help, though, and that made it much easier than it might have been. The new job started today and I am waiting to hear from him. I kind of have to go on the premise that no news is good news and that it went o.k.

This photo was taken last week in Wal-Mart. I took Little Missy to get her school suppplies. She saw the flowers and had to smell each bunch. She commented after each sniff saying that these were the sweetest ones. Of course, they really didn't have much smell at all, as these kinds of bunches don't, but I just kept thinking that I was the one beholding the sweetest flower of them all.

Come On Down

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach-waiting for a gift from the sea." Ann Morrow Lindbergh

Now you all can see what I get to look at whenever I want. Why don't you come on down and have a sit by the sea. It is dynamic, moving, mysterious. It's hot too! But coming up is my favorite season at the beach. The vacationers will have gone home, the parking lots will have spaces empty, and the sand won't burn your feet. I still have to wait for a couple of months but I can start looking forward to the weather we love in Florida. I take a little folding chair, my camera and a book to read. Mostly though, I just look out at the blue, waiting for my gift from the sea.

Trust

We had a lovely morning for swimming. Nick and I went over to Uncle's pool and we had the pool all to ourselves. Nick hasn't gone swimming enough to be really comfortable in the water so he has to trust us a lot. He trusts me...

Uncle, not so much. I keep telling him that I have earned the trust and if he wants it he has to quit teasing the kids. But then he is an Uncle and that is what his Uncles did to him.  And really, the kids will love him for it someday. But they don't love it now...

Space Girl

 

Reach for the stars little girl!

Rose Mosaic

 

It is Mosaic Monday. I am going to try to do this every week. I think they are really pretty. I could never do this on my own. The computer does it for me of course. Nice to have a servant of sorts.Want to see more of these beautiful mosaics? Go to Little Red House

Shells

I am copying this idea from a fellow, albeit much more advanced and experienced than I, blogger. I loved the quote so much and I did read the book, after all. A couple of times even.

 

"Perhaps middle age is, or should be, a period of shedding shells; the shell of ambition, the shell of material accumulations and possessions, the shell of the ego." Anne Morrow Lindbergh

This is a thought I often have. That it is time to divest ourselves of stuff. Just helping our son to pack his small place is a chore. I can't imagine trying to pack up all the stuff we've accumulated in 38 years. I think I will stay in this house and let my kids deal with it after we pass on to greener pastures. 

Busy, Busy, Busy

I really had planned to write at least a little something every day. But life gets busy and best of intentions get left by the wayside. Our son, Mark, got the job he has been waiting for. And he has to move. It is only an hour away but he still has to have a new place and get all his stuff ready to move. That's where I come in. We've been busy this weekend getting an apartment and packing and stuff. Well, it does make for some together time. And that is good... I'm going to miss him a lot!