Car Wash

We are in such a severe drought here that washing your own car is prohibited, and only car washes that recycle water are allowed to operate. Needless to say, there are a lot of dirty cars around. After a few days of freezing rain with lots of salted roads, I gave in and paid for a car wash. My Honda thanks me.

Look what I discovered

While making sure the door of our lab's warehouse was locked tonight, I noticed this pallet of boxes. Can you tell what they are?

Here's a little closer view. I called my coworker. He rattled the boxes. He smelled them. He was as flabbergasted as I was. Neither of us can imagine why they are there. They all have a "thank you note" to our office manager as part of the shipping label. Amazing.

Shadows and Reflections

A living sermon

Well. I can say I really went to church today. I'm still visiting churches, and returned for a second visit (this time attending the "contemporary" service) to a Lutheran church.

The service progressed as it usually does until after the children's sermon (on fishers of men).

Then.

A man stood up, saying he's sorry to interrupt, but he just can't help himself. He's big, scruffy, not well dressed, missing some teeth, unshaven, dirty hair in a short pony tail.

You can imagine. It is not usual for someone to stand up and speak uninvited, out of order--especially a stranger. You could just see the questions running through everyone's heads. The discomfort. I'm sure the youngish pastor was thinking "oh, my gosh; how do I control this?!"

The man said he was homeless, and had met a "fisher of men" last night while panhandling. The man asked him if he knew Christ, took him to McDonald's to talk with him, where he knelt down and gave his life to the Lord. He spent last night in the woods, and this morning a lady handed him some shoes, saying the Lord had told her to give them to him (correct size--12), and that he should go to church. He'd never been in a Lutheran church (raised Baptist), but this was the first church he saw, so here he was. He hadn't spoken to his mother in Oklahoma for 10 years, and when he called her, the first words she said were "when did you get saved?" She said she knew when she realized it was him calling her, it was because God had answered her prayers. So he's hitching rides to get home to his mother, whose birthday is next weekend. He said everyone had been very welcoming to him at church today and he appreciated it. He apologized again for interrupting, and thanked us for the friendly welcome he'd already received.

There was frozen silence for a heartbeat, then the pastor walked over and gave this man a big hug. I'm weeping again just remembering. Then the pastor said in a strangled voice: "There's our Gospel. Amen. " And sat down. He truly meant that was the best sermon that could be preached this day. Eucharist was served. Benediction pronounced.

This had a huge impact on me. I think I am a compassionate person, and I am familiar with people living on the streets from my time in Atlanta. But I just couldn't stop thinking about how rich I am, and how my (very real) "issues" are just so different from the needs of this man. I didn't sleep in the woods last night. I had a shower this morning and am clean every day. My clothes were presentable. I had money in my purse, and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I'd have lunch after church--after I stopped at Target to buy some new socks (not because I don't have any, but because I want to have enough so I don't have to use my handy dandy washing machine as much). And if I needed to get to my mother in Oklahoma, I'd buy a ticket or get in my car---after arranging time off from my job.

His name is George, this big child-man. I looked in his eyes as I spoke with him after service, and my heart will never be the same. I saw the Lord this morning. If you are a pray-er, please pray for George as he makes his way to Oklahoma and his mother.

Building a life

I spent most of today building my life. Some things were for emotional building up, making my home more cheerful, more "me." This pillow caught my eye in the store, and I smile every time I pass by my extra bedroom now.

A collection of books/movies to address various parts of my life. One day I WILL go to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, so I'm planning. The Giver is one of those books I periodically re-read, and enjoy it every time! Walking on Eggshells and Memory Prescription--well, enough said. And, having finally read Weisel's Night, I'm going to read his memoirs. The two movies on top may be the only two I watch all year, but at least I can say I DID watch a movie!

Trying to address the total person here....good music, good exercise, Scripture to drive by, fun placemats to make me smile while I eat, and sheets for my extra bed that aren't too ugly/cheapie to let guests use.

For those chilly evenings while I read, watch the movies, listen to the music...

For those who know me, it will be a surprise that I not only spent money for the above things (except the library books), but I even bought some clothes. I don't like to shop, and usually put it off until I need everything. I found some clothes to smile about (and they fit and are comfortable! I cracked up while trying on the brown slacks with green sweater; as I looked in the mirror I realized the outfit exactly matched the green walls and brown trim of the dressing room.

The reality and reflection

The sky was so gorgeous today!

On the days I have to park at the side of the lab, I am facing a hill. I like the way the sky and hill and tree look with the fence above me. I've tried to capture the "feel" of it, but have not so far succeeded. Regardless, it was a gorgeous day!

Baby Bok Choy and Tomato

Summer/Winter

The first photo was taken the day I moved into my apartment. It's the view I have each time I come up the stairs to my level, or leave my apartment on my way to the stairs.
Here's the same view this morning. I wish I'd thought about it and framed this morning's the same as June's. Well, I may get another chance with snow Sunday morning.

OK, Northerners; laugh if you must!

We got snow last night! I got all bundled up to go take pictures (the chain link fence behind the apartments just begs for photos!) when I realized it was raining. Yuck. This may be it for the winter for us, so I stood on my balcony and snapped some shots. :-)

It's Monday and back to the lab

Somehow our "dirty" lab coat rack ended up all purple....

...while the "clean" rack has a little more variety.

More color/b&w

If you are interested in more of my hiking photos, you can see them here: Crowder Hike. I've posted several times today, so keep scrolling down!

Meanwhile, I am still playing around with some of my favorite photos in color and b&w.

Color/B&W

I was playing around with some of the shots I took today, and even though the reason I liked some of them had to do with color and light, I was surprised at how they looked in B&W. This one, for example, I like even better in B&W. (I may give drawing another self-portrait a try, using this photo in B&W as a guide. It somehow looks more "doable" that way.)

Crowder Mountain State Park: Part 2

(Part 2 will make more sense if you scroll down and view Part 1 first.)
I, of course, chose the shorter, more interesting trail.
Notice the red marking. That is meant to assure me that yes, this is the trail.

And so is this.

And this too.

I kept seeing these rock groupings, covered with green growth. The photos don't do them justice. It was eerie, sort of like in Sleeping Beauty when the vegetation takes over. Any excuse to take a break!

By the time I got to the bottom of this trail (with still 1/2 mile to go back to my car), my knees were wobbly, to say the least (it was all downhill in addition to rocky). It was by far the most fun part of the hike, but I am paying for it now. Just broke out the ibuprofen!

Crowder Mountain State Park: Part 1

Phase I of my hike was a 2.5 mile "strenuous" walk through lovely trees in winter dress. The path was covered with leaves, and although parts were pretty steep, I was feeling good about my abilities on a "strenuous" trail.

At the end of the 2.5 mile trail, another 1/2 mile (including 336 steps) brought me to the summit of Crowder Mountain. I sat on some big rocks and had lunch, watching two young men scare themselves silly trying to get photos of each other standing as close as they dared to the edge.

Then it was decision time. Go down to the closer parking lot and beg a ride back to my car? Go back the way I came? (Long and by now fairly boring.) Go back via Rocktop Trail? (shorter--1.5 miles--but pretty much NOT recommended by the guy who gave me my map) Well, what would you have chosen?

Reedy Creek Nature Preserve

Finally, it is the weekend! It's been a loooong week....

The weather was nice, so I headed outside, hoping to get in some good hiking.

I did see some nice sights, but the trails were not clearly marked, nor was there any indication of how long each one might be, so it was hard to know exactly where to go.

I just liked the sun on this drain!

And I grew up with barbed wire...somehow it seems homey!

The day's beginning...

As I sat at the computer this morning, I just liked the look of my old, familiar Bible beside me.

As I leave my apartment, I always take a look at the woods behind my building. I've seen them thick and green in the summer, colorful in the fall, and now stark and thin, with the neighboring apartment and road showing through. But on sunny days, it is the pattern of shadows that make me smile.

Yesterday as I left for work (in sort of a fog, as the last couple of days have been almost entirely work and sleep...and doesn't feel like much of the latter!), this sight stopped me short. I took a quick photo, and am amazed at how it turned out. I love the leaf in the corner, and the clarity of the drops. I shot it on macro, but otherwise the photo hasn't been manipulated at all.

Start to finish

My day started in fog and mist...sort of like me.

In the middle were all sorts of things I should have taken pictures of, but didn't.
Like the massage chair in our conference room at work. Our bosses provided 15 minute massages (from a professional, not from them personally!) for everyone as encouragement through a very busy time. Or like the huge mall I visited (mostly because it was near another errand and I figured I'd get my walk in while checking out the mall....it has an Apple store!). Or like the lovely lunch I had from Earth Fare. Or the incredible spinach tortelonni I had for supper. Or the racks and racks of tubes waiting for me at work.

But I didn't photograph any of that.

The day ended (well, it was actually after midnight by the time I got home from work) with me putting away groceries purchased much earlier at earth fare. Doesn't this pasta look great?!

And so it begins...

I'm really good at being enthusiastic about the thought of a new project, and have not always been good at follow-through. With an entire year of Project 365 behind me, I am more motivated to stick with a new endeavor. So this year....Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain!

Christmas Tree Graveyard

Coming home

Oh, if I could only figure out how to manipulate this template to get the background I want....

At any rate, when I open my apartment door, this is the sight that now greets me. The table and rocking chair were both my grandmother's, and they have been a part of my life as long as I can remember. The chair was too fragile to sit in until a special someone repaired it...and recovered it, so that it's now a part of my household. Many thanks.

On leaving work

Under construction

Coming soon....

Project 365....

continued!