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"Every time you wake up and ask yourself,

What good things am I going to do today?,

remember that when the sun goes down at sunset,

it will take a part of your life with it."

- Indian Proverb

11/360

They endure...







despite my best efforts to neglect them to death.

10/360

Just Because...

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I'm glad to be doing Carmi's Thematic Photographic again. While I've enjoyed looking at all the entries each week, I've missed posting photos myself. Right back in there squeaking in at the last moment. (That I'll be trying to change.)

This week's theme has beem Far From Home.

Sunset in Silver City.

Once this was my home and will always be my hometown,

but now, especially after the passing of my dear mom,

when I'm here I feel far from home.

First glimpses of O'ahu.

In June 2009, I took my dislocated knee

(I didn't know it at the time)

and went to Hawai'i with my daughter

Sweetanlo and some very dear friends.

Kailua Beach

So lovely, so windy. Perfect for the Kite Surfers there.

Kailua Beach

I loved watching the waves.

Me, far from home

with Koolau Mountains behind

En Route to Ethiopia

Doesn't get to much farther away from home for us

LemLem playing soccer on Entoto Mountain w/Genet

LemLem on Entoto Mountain, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The irony is that this Ethiopian beauty, sitting on the mountain

overlooking her hometown is actually far far from home.

A long long trip, almost home.

My daughter Sweetly posted some great Far From Home pictures, here and here.

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Family.

Pastormac (on the left) and his brother

Pastormac's brother came to town on business. He's a conductor and had been invited to conduct our state's first-ever intercollegiate All State Choir. We were all thrilled he was able to stay around a few days more to enjoy time with our family. (And a day longer when his flight was cancelled due to snow in the east.) It's been a very long time since he's visited. He treated us to movies, eating out, bowling, games, and general fun.

I really married into an amazing family.

Most of the gang with Pastormac & Uncle A.

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Haircut!

Sweetly was long long over due for a haircut. (Finally! mom got around to making her an appointment with the stylist.)

Before

Looking pretty shaggy.

Time for a new style.

After!

Two thumbs way way up!

She's four inches lighter.

So lovely.

3/360 - 6/360

Already a failure on my picture-a-day, I'm trying not to give up on the whole doing the whole 360. And I likely would have, if not for the encouragement of Sweetly and Sweetanlo to keep at it. So I'm plugging along for a while longer.

Pastormac's brother, Andy was in town for work last week and stayed a while longer to enjoy some family time with The Production. Today he tried to go home but his flight was cancelled due to snow in the east. We were sorry for him but pleased to have more time together. So he took us out for bowling and dinner.

Took these photos while we were out.

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They're fiercely loyal and deeply devoted to each other, strikingly similar but also a study in contrasts. They make me absolutely crazy and yet bursting with love. And somedays, I still marvel that they're mine.

2/360 - They're a pair.

1/360

Once upon a time, I used to blog here. But unlike some friends I have who find writing to be cathartic, writing is difficult to me and I sweat over and mull each word. So when life became so full, I just didn't. And every time I tried, I just couldn't.

But, after a full year's hiatus, I'm back to give it a go. My daughter, Sweetly, and I are going to post a photo (at least) a day. We're starting a few days past the first of the year.

I'm doing a 360 - a full turn around from not blogging at all to posting at least a photo a day for rest of 2011. Maybe I'll be inspired to write some other posts too.

For now, a photo will do.

1/360 - Afternoon Light on the Sandias

There's never a bad time - winter, spring, summer or fall, to gaze upon these majestic Sandia Mountains.

Hope and Expectations

Happy New Year! Welcome 2010



“A new year is unfolding – like a blossom
with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within.”

Come to the Manger

Angels called the shepherds in the middle of the night.
Come to the manger. Come and see.

Baby is born who will bring the world light.
Come to the manger. Come and see.

Light so bright it’ll chase away darkness
Come to the manger. Come and see.

He will bring salvation to everyone who harkens.
Come to the manger. Come and see.


Come, come, come. Come to the manger.
Come, come come. Come and see.
Come, come, come. Come to the manger.
Come to the manger, come and believe.


Star in the East bid the wise men, come!
Come to the manger. Come and see.

Witness the birth of the virgin’s son.
Come to the manger. Come and see.

Traveled many miles their gifts to bring.
Come to the manger. Come and see.

So they could worship the new born king.
Come to the manger. Come and see.


Come, come, come. Come to the manger.
Come, come come. Come and see.
Come, come, come. Come to the manger.
Come to the manger, come and believe.


The Lord is still calling to the hungry and the lost.
Come to the manger. Come and see.

Sinner, you are welcome. Won’t you count the cost?
Come to the manger. Come and see.

Born to die so that you may life
Come to the manger. Come and see.

Make the choice to take the gift he gives
Come to the manger. Come and see.


Come, come, come. Come to the manger!
Come, come come. Come and see!
Come, come, come. Come to the manger!
Come to the manger, come and believe.



Come to the manger words and music written by David Megill

Photo Hunters - Curve(d)

Photo Hunters - Curve(d)

Saint Francis Cathedral. Santa Fe, NM

Influenced by the French-born Archbishop Lamy and in dramatic contrast to the surrounding adobe structures, Saint Francis Cathedral was designed in the Romanesque Revival style - round arches separated by Corinthian columns and truncated square towers.

PhotoHunt

Photo Hunters - Technology

Photo Hunters - Technology

I better cut this conversation short. Think she's onto me. I'll text you tomorrow.


PhotoHunt

Thematic Photographic 74

Carmi's Thematic Photographic this week is orange.



Yeah, I had a hard time seeing past this amazing dessert to anything orange in this picture too. Yummmm.

Photo Hunters - Bird(s)

Photo Hunters - Bird(s)

Sitting on a beach in Hawaii this summer, his little guy came by to visit me while I was watching everyone in the water. He was pretty perplexed why I wasn't out there with them. Or maybe he just wanted to know why I wasn't eating anything. He is a red-crested cardinal and he made me smile.


More birds here.

A Miracle of the Heart

Laying awake for hours waiting for it to be time. A bumpy taxi ride. Washed-out muddy streets. A locked metal gate opened before us. A long driveway. Up six steps, we are ushered into the care center living room.

And then this:



My son. The first time I am able to take him in my arms. To kiss him and tell him I love him. We are together. My heart will never be the same.

Red

Thematic Photographic - Leaves Two

Leaving leaves behind this evening. But before we do I have just one more picture to post for Thematic Photographic this week.



Autumn 2007. This was the first fall my baby experienced here in the Land of Enchantment. Can't believe it was two years ago. We went out in the backyard for another first for her - a family photo. We took many pictures that day and this was one of them. This one must have left a more lasting impression on her though, because she talked about it for months and months afterwards..."Remember when we threw those leaves in the air...?"

Thematic Photographic - Leaves

This week Carmi's Thematic Photographic theme has been leaves. I've been mulling over whether to post anything or let it pass.

Then today Carmi, with a picture of fallen leaves, challenged us to shift our focus toward one who might otherwise not be seen or heard. I immediately thought of this photo which fit both challenges.



He is neither the oldest nor the baby. He is a middle child.
Sometimes, that is a difficult place to be.

Photo Hunters - Bags

Photo Hunters were in search of a picture of "bags" this week. This was a challenging one for me, until I stumbled on this picture.

Photo Hunters - Bags

Last fall, our family had a bake sale to raise funds for Free Wheel Chair Mission. We baked brownies and sold them outside our neighborhood drug store. Our goal was to raise enough money to buy one wheel chair for around $50. We were so thrilled when, at the end of our time, we had raised enough through the sale and donations to buy three!!








Bag it.

Skywatch

Kailua Beach, Hawaii

Yesterday it snowed here in the Land of Enchantment. Brrrrr! I hadn't expected winter to arrive this early - was hoping it would hold out for a few more weeks. The cold and snow wouldn't be such a bother except that our heater isn't working, and won't be until Monday. Brrrr! So I pulled on a sweatshirt and tried to think warm thoughts. Ahhhhh....my mind took me back to a wonderfully warm day I spent at Kailua Beach this last summer. I would love to be back there until Monday. Who am I kidding? I would love to be back there until next spring.




Gaze at more skies - SkyWatch Friday.