Where's my ark?

This is what greeted me behind in the back of my place this morning:



Zeus wonders where the nature trail went:

Really? I mean, REALLY?

Maybe it's just me, but I don't think God wants me to win. I mean, win what? And what if the guy in the car behind me is on the other side? Does God really waste his time picking sides? Jesus seems to suggest a different idea about winning and losing anyway... "whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."

Living History

The Upstate History Museum opened an exhibit this morning entitled "Weaving Our Survival: Upcountry Stories of WWII". The exhibit features many oral histories, and my dad is one whose interviews are featured in the exhibit's interactive narration stations. He describes growing up in the Depression, signing up for the war, liberating concentration camps, Dachau, returning home, and how the war changed the course of his life. Of course, the editors had to leave out much of his 2 hour interview, but the portions they used are wonderful. They even used a quote from his interview to highlight on the wall of the exhibit:
"It's like you'd gone to hell, you know. And you had been really."

Kyle's Living Room

I love going to Open Studios every year. Over a hundred local artists open up their studios -- whether they are in their homes, garages, whatever -- for the public to come in and visit. It's a great chance to meet new people, learn about art and get exposed to local artists, and enjoy the great fall weather. Last night I visited Dabney's and Kyle's studios. I love Kyle's eclectic sense of decorating, her whimsy, her artwork, and her dear personality.

Unexpected Drive

Wonder what goes on at the end of this private drive that's so unexpected? This was my sighting of the day on my bike ride with my friend Beth. We did 16 miles.

Nov. 4: Friends: Father & Daughter

Nov. 2: Yellow

Nov. 1: Morning Light

Just a few faves from Halloween...

Halloween

End of the season

Last night was a disappointing end to a really wonderful season. While the Knights lost big (and had an injury), they know that they did a great job for the first season of football.

Beaver Dam Free Will Baptist Church

Along the ride....

My ride today....hopefully pictures will follow!

Plantation ruins

Day is done, gone the sun

Sorghum field at sunset.

A perfect day of solidude

About 2:00, I realized that I was living a perfect day. I didn't set out to, but it just unfolded that way. I have a lot going on in my life right now, things that aren't pleasant or enviable. There's a marriage that's dissolving, a child at war, another child who can't understand why the marriage is in the place it is. There's a job I lost 3 months ago, and a depleted account. There's a living situation that's up in the air. It's new territory everywhere I look. But those are the time when your soul gets stretched in good ways too. I'm learning to meditate, to pray more meaningfully, to know my own inner voice and to trust her. I'm more attuned to every day's reality.

Before our beach house is sold, I am enjoying a few days of job-hunting from here. Since everything's internet-based anyway, why not? Given the choice between a small dark apartment, or a roomy beach house.... hmmmm.... that's a tough one. I have had a few friends down, but for the most part, I've been alone. Solitude isn't unwelcome.

So back to my perfect day: I awoke at 5:00 am and went to lie out under the stars... it's so clear, and the Milky Way was perfectly visible, along with Orion, the Pleaides, and a multitude of other constellations. I went back to sleep, then made frech toast and bacon and coffee....my breakfast of choice. I walked Zeus on the beavch, then went for a bike ride to a nature preserve about 5 miles away. I rode around the loop of the preserve, and took a detour out to an isolated beach. There I took a swim and walked for about an hour. I finished the loop, and stopped for mint chocolate chip ice cream before coming back to the house. The doors are open, the temperature is perfect, the skies are cloudless. It just doesn't get much better.

Quiet space to think

At this point in my life, a quiet space to think is a welcome thing.

In honor of the day....L'Chaim

Election Day

What have YOU done?

I found this list and thought I'd answer. If you'd like to comment with your own answers, or ask questions, please do; or share the list on your own blog.

01. Start your own blog -- Yes
02. Sleep under the stars -- Yes, truly under the stars, along Highway 1 on the Pacific ocean on the beach.
03. Play in a band -- No
04. Visit Hawaii -- No
05. Watch a meteor shower -- Yes
06. Give more than you can afford to charity -- No
07. Go to Disneyworld -- Yes but only once when I was a kid
08. Climb a mountain -- No. I've been ON some big ones skiing or hiking, but not actually climbing a mountain
09. Hold a praying mantis -- Yes
10. Sing a solo -- No, just a solo part in a duet or choral number
11. Bungee jump -- No, but I did hang by my hair off a cliff (caught in a metal rack while rapelling) for over an hour
12. Visit Paris -- Yes
13. Watch a lightning storm at sea -- Yes
14. Teach yourself an art technique -- Yes
15. Adopt a child -- No, but I did have an exchange student for a year
16. Eat sushi -- No
17. Walk to the top of the Statue of Liberty -- No
18. Grow your own vegetables -- Yes
19. See the Mona Lisa in France -- Yes
20. Sleep on an overnight train -- Yes
21. Have a pillow fight -- Yes
22. Hitch hike -- Yes, in Greece with three children
23. Look at the rings of Saturn through a telescope -- Yes
24. Build a snow fort -- No
25. Hold a lamb -- No
26. Climb to the top of a lighthouse -- Yes
27. Run a Marathon -- No
28. Ride in a gondola in Venice -- Yes. Well, it was more a water taxi than a gondola, but let's not be technical!
29. See a total eclipse -- Yes
30. Watch a sunrise or sunset -- Yes
31. Hit a home run -- No
32. Go on a cruise -- Yes
33. See Niagara Falls in person -- No
34. Visit the birthplace of your ancestors -- Yes, in a general sort of way. We went to Scotland, but not to a specific town or anything.
35. Visit an Amish community -- Yes
36. Teach yourself a new language -- No
37. Have enough money to be truly satisfied -- Yes
38. See the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person -- No
39. Go rock climbing -- Yes, although it was the rapelling I was there for, not the climbing
40. See Michelangelo's David -- Yes
41. Sing karaoke in public -- No
42. See Old Faithful geyser erupt in person -- No
43. Buy a stranger a meal at a restaurant -- Yes
44. Visit Africa -- Yes
45. Walk on a beach by moonlight -- Yes
46. Ride in a helicopter -- No
47. Have your portrait painted -- No, but I've painted the portraits of others!
48. Go deep sea fishing -- No
49. See the Sistine Chapel in person -- Yes
50. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris -- Yes
51. Go scuba diving or snorkeling -- Yes in Bermuda and Mexico
52. Kiss in the rain -- Yes
53. Play in the mud -- Hmmm. Not that I remember.
54. Watch a movie at a drive-in theater -- No
55. Be in a movie -- No
56. Visit the Great Wall of China -- No
57. Start a business -- No
58. Take a martial arts class -- No. I don't think yoga counts as "martial". :-)
59. Visit Russia -- Yes
60. Serve meals at a soup kitchen -- Yes
61. Sell Girl Scout cookies -- Yes
62. Go whale watching -- No
63. Get or send flowers for no reason -- Yes
64. Donate blood, platelets or plasma -- No. My needle phobia precludes this.
65. Go sky diving -- No
66. Visit a Nazi Concentration Camp -- No. But my dad liberated one.
67. Adopt a pet from a rescue shelter -- Yes
68. Pilot an airplane -- No
69. Save a favorite childhood toy -- No
70. Visit the Lincoln Memorial -- Yes
71. Eat Caviar -- Yes
72. Make a quilt -- Yes
73. Stand in Times Square -- Yes
74. Tour the Everglades -- No
75. Visit the Viet Nam Memorial -- Yes
76. See the Changing of the Guard in London -- Yes
77. Drive a race car -- No
78. Ride on a speeding motorcycle -- Yes
79. See the Grand Canyon in person -- Yes
80. Publish a book -- No
81. Visit the Vatican -- Yes. Saw the pope too (John Paul II)
82. Buy a brand new car -- Yes
83. Walk in Jerusalem -- Yes
84. Have your picture in the newspaper -- Yes
85. Read the entire Bible -- Yes
86. Visit the White House -- Yes
87. Kill and prepare an animal for eating -- I guess if you count fishing with my grandfather, I did the killing thing. But the preparing? No.
88. Hike the Appalachian Trail -- No
89. Save someone's life -- No
90. Sit on a jury -- No, I was called for jury duty but never sat on a jury
91. Meet someone famous -- Yes, mostly politicians. Billy Graham.
92. Join a book club --Yes
93. Own an iPod -- Yes
94. Have a Facebook page -- Yes
95. See the Alamo in person -- No
96. Swim in the Great Salt Lake -- No, but I did swim in the Dead Sea
97. Cross country snow ski -- No
98. Hold a snake -- Yes
99. See DaVinci’s Starry Night in person -- Yes. Well I saw Van Gogh's Starry Night. I don't think I've heard of DaVinci's Starry Night! :-)
100. Read an entire book in one day -- Yes