Rest

I went to confession tonight and this statue of Mary and Jesus was lit outside the sanctuary.

Visiting Bob

Today I stole a few minutes from my daily running around to stop at the grave of my brother, Bob. May he rest in peace.

Drive-by shooting

Snapping photos while driving is probably not the greatest idea, but you do what you have to...

Just a reminder

This bumper sticker is a stark reminder that someone's loved one is away at war. If it were my son, I'd want to remind people, too.

Old and new

Monkey See. Monkey Do.

Two views from the hygienist's chair today. At least they didn't have the monkey film playing at the mammographers.

New life

I hung out with my friend Beth today, and we stopped by the hospital to visit her newly born niece, Rebekah Rose. Afterwards, our husbands joined us for impromptu dinner back at our house....we haven't done that in years. New babies, old friends....what could be better?

Can you guess?

OK, one more Mardi Gras picture. I've left out several people, but couldn't let these two pass. Can you guess what celebrity convicts they are?

Mardi Gras jailbreak activities

Let's get a few things cleared up, just to begin with....


Dealer's ready for a little blackjack


Mike Tyson breaks out



Courtney Love shows off her veins and needle marks. That "Stage Makeup" class is paying off!

Mardi Gras celebrity convicts

Tammy Faye Bakker



Bet you didn't know that Zsa Zsa Gabor and Tanya Harding used to be college roommates!


Martha Stewart


Sts. Paul and Peter


Heidi Fleiss


Hansel and Gretel (they were imprisoned once, in the oven of the gingerbread house....remember?)


Tricky Dick


Patty Hearst

Mardi Gras party food

These photos are just for curious friends...otherwise just scroll down to see the 365 photo for the day:




The menu:
Hot Crab Dip
Meatballs
Layered Pesto Spread
Hot Spinach Dip
Fresh Corn Madeleines with Sour Cream and Caviar
Rumaki
Caramel Brie with Fruit
Chocolate Cinnamon Spread with Ginger Snaps
Spice Nuts
King Cake

Remember, you are dust...

and to dust you will return.

Stopped in its tracks

I'm playing catch-up with my blog. Here's the photo from Tuesday. I pass this everyday doing carpool, but it's in a hidden curve, so I've never noticed it until today.

With apologies to Mitt Romney, et al

You know how you pass something every day and don't even notice it? Well, I posted this sign the day we moved into this house, oh, 18 months ago, when the hardwood floors had just been refinished. I 'saw' it today as I was cleaning for my Mardi Gras party. I'm not sure whether to trash it or not....I'm still not sure I want any in the house...

I think it is time for new tennis racquets

Makin' bacon

This is what happens when we cook bacon in our house. Almost without fail. The guys finally told us today to just start making extra for them.

Cadmium Yellow Light

I wish I could say this was taken because I'd been painting today. No, it's because I need to clean my palette! I'm not the neatest painter, and leave my brushes and palette way longer than I should.

Cold, lonely frog

This frog lives outside my front door. This morning he looked particularly cold and lonely, glazed as he was with ice.

Art class

Today we moved off painting for awhile and are working on charcoal drawings. As usual, I'm wanting to get to the good stuff by shortcutting the groundwork. My instructor is showing me how to set up the composition.

Mast General Store

I'm a sucker for this downtown landmark. Who can resist barrels of candy sold by the pound and the ambiance of an old-fashioned general store?


If it annoys you for there to be more than one photo posted on the 'Photo-A-Day' blog, read no further. I usually stick to just one, but I'm feeling frisky today. Here are a few others:

The Lay of the Land

This topographical map was at Mast Store, and so my camera is on my town, pointing north, between Hogback Mountain and the Lookout Tower.

Aging Abstract

This was shot at the old mall, which is being demolished, presumably because a new mall will somehow be better.

The O's Have It

Ol' Glory

It's nice to see the flag back up after being at half staff for the month of January.

Backhoe art

Favorite scarf

Touareg status report

We've been in the car a lot this week. Bill has had the occassion to make a few funny observations on the experience. He notices everything, and I - as these will show - do not. The term "Blonde" comes to mind.

Observation #1, made as he is rummaging around looking in vain for some quarters for the air machine: "You know, you have more thumbtacks in your car than anyone else I know. I mean, other people may keep theirs in the trunk, but in the actual car? Yep. You have the most. And you have them conveniently located, too. Right here in the front so they are always handy."



I think what happened was I was putting up "Lost Dog" posters around the neighborhood (that would have been in January of 06 with our other dog, Zorro). I never brought the thumbtacks back in the house, and there they've sat for a year now in the car. I guess they're convenient if I ever want to engage in a little passive aggressive road rage, but otherwise, I really can't think of a good reason to keep thumbtacks in the car. Quarters probably WOULD be more useful.

Observation #2, made at the air pump, immediately following Observation #1: "Hey Bethie, come here a minute. Do you notice anything about this tire?" (He had already commented on my car being out of alignment, a condition I never notice as I'm driving. No photo was taken to illustrate my alignment woes.)
Me: "Um, I guess the outer tread IS getting pretty worn down."
I'm feeling fairly proud that I've answered correctly and have noticed my deplorable tire wear.
He stands, waiting for more. I offer no more comment.
Bill, pointing: "That's not where the valve belongs."

Like mother. Like daughter.

We met dd today for lunch, as we drove through Charlotte on our return from Duke. I snapped this one, and just loved her expression here. Rarely does C show vulnerability and tenderness....she's more the strong, loud, funny, larger-than-life type. Seeing her tucked under her dad's arm, looking sweet and tender, made me happy. I'm happy as I think about our relationship with her; she was the most difficult child EVER. I swear. (I had professional counselors concur on this!) To see her today, very much her own person, happy, enjoying college, loving and at peace with both her parents...it's enough to make a parent feel fulfilled.

Krzyzewskiville

Yes, we were in Gothic Wonderland, but no, we weren't at the game! We were on a college visit, and got to see the campus when all the buzz was about the big game last night. Since we were travelling, I'm downloading a few more pics of some of the small things I noticed. In such a gorgeous environment, when everywhere around you are photo moments, I tend to try to find something that isn't the big shot (the front of the cathedral, the quad, etc.).

Channeling Ray Charles

M plays a wicked piano. Tonight he was playing "Georgia On My Mind" with his eyes closed. He's also working on Moonlight Sonata, Tarantella, and the Maple Leaf Rag. Bill suggested I link a sound clip...maybe one day I'll figure out how to do that!

Granddog

That's what my dad calls him.