Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Plans

If everything goes according to plan, I will be in Guatemala this time next week.

Our church has two mission trips there a year, and I heard good things about them. When I started thinking about going, I asked the leader about it. He said the October trip was half medical. I always wanted to go on a medical mission trip, so I signed up. I have since learned there will be no medical component. Whatever. Plans change. 

Our group of eighteen will have nice accommodations in a mission house that is on a coffee plantation. In the mornings, we will be taken along some narrow, winding mountainous roads (yikes!) to a spot where we will do some good deeds. And in the evening, we get to go back home for dinner and a shower. There will also be time during the week for sightseeing and shopping in Antigua and Quetzaltenango. 

I hope it goes well for everyone. On a personal level, I hope that I - the oldest on the team - do ok! I look forward to the cultural exchange and seeing the beautiful land. Hopefully, the locals will get something out of it, too. 

Saturday, September 23, 2017

colored pencils

I don't like to use them, so I am giving them away. But first a picture.


Friday, September 22, 2017

Sales

Although it is hard to believe, sometimes people actually pay good money for a piece of art I have done. Tonight at a busy Four Friday, a nice couple came through and really liked an abstract I painted the end of last year. Then they decided to buy it! I liked the overall piece, the colors, the surprising little elements, and the good frame that complemented it, and I am pleased someone else did! I hope it brings joy to the new owners and doesn't languish in a closet somewhere. It is a surprisingly happy feeling when somebody buys something, big or small. I am just as happy when some cards are sold as when a painting is sold. It is the sense of validation it gives, as if all is not lost! Because we do spend a lot of time trying to make something from nothing. That is what creating is all about.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

at the produce stand

While I was out while ago, I stopped by the open air produce place to see if they still had any of their delicious heirloom tomatoes. Might as well enjoy a few more before summer is over. Yes they did, but the coolest thing there was this huge grasshopper that was up on one of the makeshift walls. I had to take a picture.


And what about these gorgeous pumpkins!

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Cottage Lane

The historic part of town is so pretty. I was there earlier today, and for the first time since moving here four years ago, I walked down Cottage Lane. Finally.
It is a small street that partly lies beside First Presbyterian where I went to kindergarten. And I have a memory of holding my mother's hand as we looked at art that was hanging on the spiked fence that is still there. My first art show. I hope we can have an art show there this year.
Other pix later.


brick roads

Some of the roads downtown are brick paved and add to the city's charm.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

weather and such

What a week of weather it has been in America, especially with the gigantic hurricanes striking two of our biggest and best states. I know that I can't cross the border without saying, "I love Florida!" How rough it must be for the millions who were in the paths of Harvey and Irma.
We escaped everything but some unnaturally gray skies, varying winds, and rain but we are used to daily soakings. I drove to the Arboretum for a meeting this morning in spotty showers and gusting winds. When we left two hours later, everything had changed; the atmosphere was still and the skies were a gorgeous blue with huge white clouds. As I stood outside and chatted with  others, I saw lots of the yellow butterflies (cloudless sulfur) that have been migrating through. In the garden area were even more butterflies, so many different kinds! I didn't work very hard to get a good picture, but here is a quick look. I wonder how the storms have played into their short lives.


Wednesday, September 6, 2017

moving along

Last week I did something both sad and freeing.
It was time for me to renew my nursing license. Two years ago, I decided to renew just in case an opportunity came along. Two years passed and no opportunity came knocking. This time I chose to be "inactive." For some reason there is no cost to say you are inactive, but you have to pay to be retired. Go figure. I do not like that R word anyway. Today I got a call from a nurse recruiter asking if I wanted to work. Such is life . . .

Monday, September 4, 2017

Burger Fi Love

In Raleigh tonight and got to enjoy the very best hamburger, fries and fried onions at Burger Fi.


Sunday, September 3, 2017

Bake Sale for Harvey

These cute students at the Catholic School had a bake sale after church for people affected by the hurricane. They were so enthusiastic, and their cream cheese brownies were to die for.


Church doors

Episcopal churches are the prettiest in terms of architecture. Per the sign, the building of Wilmington's St. James Parish was begun in 1839, and it occupies maybe a whole block downtown. It is beautiful from wherever you are looking. This is the tall front door, surely the original.


Saturday, September 2, 2017

the gym

Three weeks ago, I joined Gold's Gym. I was passably OK, but I thought I would get more out of life if I worked out some like I used to.
Almost twenty years ago when Ned was working for the Y in Greenville, he said he thought I would like the machines in the gym. So I joined, and he was right. The resistance exercises were the best and most needed, and they made me feel good all over! Since being in Wilmington, I have enjoyed the retired, good life a little too much. It was great for a while, but enough is enough. After mulling over the whole situation, I decided to go to the Gold's Gym that is in my area. I had never even been in one before, but it is like I imagined with lots of muscular people. Oh yeah . . . and a few like me.
So far I haven't even gotten up to the weights I was using back in Greenville, and the Cross Trainer keeps saying I have paused. Whatever . . . I am glad I am doing it.