A Beautiful Clouded Day



Wednesday my sister and I were driving by this scene
when I exclaimed,  "What a composition!"


More than a composition, it was such a beautiful scene to me.


There was one brown cow in the group.







My mother , before too long, will be residing right off the road
on the right of this photo.  This is so close
 to where we lived growing up.

The best news is my sister lives right off
this road, too, so close to my mother.
We all will be closer.



The morning started out very foggy and it was pouring rain.
Later in the afternoon, I can't recall when I have seen such
large billowy clouds against such a vivid blue sky.



At the top of the hill, overlooking the city and countryside,
is a cemetery.  I had forgotten the breath taking views from
this hill.

                                                




 You must not blame me if I do talk to the clouds.

                      ~Henry David Thoreau
                               1817-1862

Last Weekend

North of Atlanta last Friday.

My mother-in-law and me.

We always have a great time and

the most interesting conversations!

The Pub at the complex, a popular spot!  We went to happy
hour around 4:30 pm.  About an hour later,
we walked a few yards to the dining room.

Clint with his mom (in forground) and friend.

Would you say this was a thirsty bunch!

A hungry one, too!

I tried the baked covina ... it was delicious!

It was recommended (told) we try the new Chocolate
Madness Cake.  It was delicious and I could
only eat about four bites.  Honestly!

Sunday morning, before we left,  my mother-in-law and I took a walk
around the lake.  As can be seen by the water mark,
the lake is down and fountains are off.

Another cool and overcast day.

My mother-in-law and I saw these three ducks in the water
as we were walking.


Three's A Crowd!


(I made up this silly cartoon, not silly in real life
but we can laugh when it happens to ducks!)


Well, if you're not the duck!

A newly discovered painting in the Bistro.

We sure had a wonderful visit!  Thank you!  ♥

 

The Wild Life Left Behind

This photo of a bobcat taken by our friend near our old Plano neighborhood.
This photo was made in the fall of 2011.



Imagine seeing this on your roof?


Clint called my attention to these photos published in the Sunday edition of The Dallas Morning News.  These stunning photos were made near our old Plano neighborhood.  The photos in the blog post, except for the first photo, were made by Plano resident Steve Susi.  The first photo was made by Clint's friend, Paul Campbell.

I  read the rabbit population is dwindling in this Plano neighborhood.

Don't know what it is about cats, I can't help but love
them and admire their beauty.

Sound of Silence

Yesterday Clint and I were discussing silence. A little later in the day I was reading an essay in a local publication on the topic of silence.  This essay was written by Stephanie Hunt about silence and her time spent in silence at the Mepkin Abbey.  I liked a quote from her essay:




   I am astonished at how amplified silence can be.




Later this morning,  a Facebook friend, Deborah, had shared  how touched she was by hearing Paul Simon playing and singing, The Sound of Silence, at a Ground Zero memorial for 9/11.  I had not heard the tribute and after I heard it, I decided to share it on here:

Rainy Days and Mondays

It is so wonderful seeing water gushing out our down spout!


(Can't help but wonder what the neighbors think ... "what on earth
is she doing in the pouring rain, crouched down and making a picture?")  ☺


They don't know us very well or know we are bloggers.



The splashing rain on our patio table was most welcomed!

We were so water/rain deprived when we lived in Texas.  We read now the restrictions are back in force in Plano.   Clint says it affected him
in a psychological way, a negative way.


I will never complain again about rain messing up my hair!



It is a rainy day and a Monday.  As I have written in the captions in the above pictures, I am happy about the much needed rain on this Monday.  The Carpenter song, "Rainy Days and Mondays," has always been a favorite of mine.  One of my paintings (permanent collection) in The Knoxville Museum of Art is entitled "Rainy Days and Mondays".  There are no photos of it. :~/  The painting is of a woman looking out a window, I love the "window theme" in paintings.  I digress.  Someday Clint and I are going to the museum and inquire about it.

This morning Clint and I were saddened to learn one of the bloggers we follow, who follows our blogs, received some bad news.  She had cancer a few years ago and it has returned.  Her two recent biopsies have come back positive. She is such a courageous and brave woman to begin with, she sought The American Dream and is living it on her farm.  She appreciates what so many take for granted. She has the love and prayers of so many supporters.


I'm still sorting through things in my studio/office, getting it ready to be able to paint the walls my special "Serenity Blue" color.  Today I made an attempt to create some atmosphere in the chaotic room. 

I can't believe I found this book at Big Lots!  This box contained
a woman's journal with inspiring diary passages and 30+ paintings.
Also in the box is a CD that I have been playing today.


The  music is to "set the mood for contemplation, reading and writing."   It contains
works by Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Brahms, Debussy, Satie and MacDowell.


Several of the paintings from this book have already
been posted on my blog.



Books, books and more books.  It is painful to have to part
with a beloved book.  I  pared down the books before we moved.
I am hoping the bookcase I'm getting will hold them all!







Another love of mine ... vintage prints.  Here are a few.  On the bottom
left is a signed Wallace Nutting hand tinted photograph.


The cupid in the oval frame is not a reproduction,
it is an actual signed photograph.





A scented candle as part of my attempt to
add a sense of serenity to this disorderly room.



A few months ago I was telling Clint I had read "Remembrance of Things
Past" by Marcel Proust was considered by many to be the most
boring book ever written.



Clint asked me why would I hang on to a book  that
 was considered the most boring in the world?  Good question.  I also think
my answer is pretty good, too.  ☺

It makes me feel good.  I just like knowing the book is around, I like the box and
the design on the box.  I like looking at the box.  There is an appreciation
for the effort that was made writing this book.

I like it simply because if for no other reason, it looks good!



Simple Saturday

Le Rendezvous c. 1920s

Harry Pearson

I am having a magnificient time, walking, looking in Paris  . . .  stopping at the Alésia for a café
crème, hot and delicious.  Reading . . .  and being dreamy.  I like this dreamy, less productive side.


         ~Gloria Bowles, June 5, 1986




                              ♣  ♣  ♣  ♣






Early last evening I was in the midst of making meat
balls when I heard Clint say,
"You've got to see this cloud".

Running to get my camera,
the cloud was even more spectacular
with the passing of a few seconds.

 I know, I do post a lot
of clouds, sunsets, sunrises.  Can't help it, I'm
 always looking up↑

It's been a quiet day at the Ellisons.  Clint has been sick most of the week, a severe cold and severe back pain at the same time!  One alone is bad enough but together has been really tough on him.  He has not been out of the house in a few days.  I was about to get concerned yesterday but felt better this morning when he said he was better. We both are very thankful he is better.  He was just saying how these things sometimes hit us out of the blue!  How well we all know the uncertainty of making plans.

One of my daughter's cats, Phoebe, died this morning while she was holding her. I know they are sad about it, they got her in 1999.  My grandson, Canyon,  made the remark, "Well, the good news is I'm still alive".  This sounds like something a six year old would say. ☺ Clint commented on Facebook that he "liked Canyon's  honest philosophy".

Trying to get caught up with my letter writing, I have some girl friends who have been writing me such nice letters (emails). (Hey Kathy and Patricia, "You've Got Mail".)  I still need to write my very talented cousin in Florida, she is an interior decorator. We are first cousins, similar in age and have a lot in common.

As I said, it is a very quiet day at the Ellisons.  Let me end this blog entry on a somber note:




With all the sadness and trauma in the world, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person that almost went unnoticed. Larry LaPrise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey" died peacefully last week in his sleep at the age of 93. The most traumatic part for the family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in; and then the trouble started ...

Going Grand

The RMS Titanic

Today I wanted to share a little yellowed clipping that I had saved from years ago: