A Texas-Styled Easter....

Happy Easter!

It's a fine, breezy holiday here in Texas, after a rainy night with some pretty exciting thunder and lightning. We'd gone out treasure-hunting yesterday and I confess I kept one eye on the sky when it was getting dark and threatening with the wind blowing pretty hard. SGTex was off in the distance with metal-detector and shovel seeing what could be found. The location is an old fort, pretty impressive, actually. I do think we'll be going back earlier in the day when the weather is calmer. About the only thing I discovered was what it sounds like when a rattlesnake feels cranky about the weather, hiding out under a not-nearly-distant-enough-for-me rock tucked next to a yucca!! I froze, made a slow, 360-degree turn and then backed politely away, LOL. The find of the day was a toy Easter egg, evidently lost at an earlier egg hunt that day, so it's something to add to our collection of found memorabilia. Next time it'll be a gold coin.... ;+) What else was impressive was the beautiful pastureland of the ranches and bluebonnets carpeting the roadside. It's really wonderful getting to live here in Texas.

Last weekend we went to see "Clue," and really enjoyed A's performance. After that we hit the road and headed out to meet J & I at an old ghost town. They met us there and we came home with Seamus (who gets carsick, btw, lol). He is a darling, and is getting along well with his big brother Sebastian and big sister Sasha. We're having fun and are completely enamored of these two special puppies.

This morning we discovered a pair of doves working on a nest just across the way, right out in the open atop one of the lights on the building next door. Talk about a bird's eye view, lol.

Have a wonderful holiday and a prosperous week!

Shawn & SGTex
****

Bluebonnets and a blessing....

St. Theresa's Prayer:

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

Our friend Jan sent the above prayer to us today, and I thought it was definitely worth sharing. Thanks, Jan!

And it's bluebonnet time in our part of Texas, at last! We went hunting them on the weekend (Yes, D reminded us that you have to sneak up on 'em, and C gave us a "don't shoot toward the road" tip, LOL!!) They are lovely, and I'm so excited to see them emerge. Bluebonnets are our wedding flower, so that makes them extra special. We'll be on the road this weekend to go pick up Seamus, and part of the fun of that trip is going to be seeing more bluebonnets, as well as getting a glimpse of a Texas ghost town. That's my idea of a great way to spend a Saturday late afternoon. Earlier in the day we'll get to see A, son of SGTex, perform in his college play.

Meanwhile, it's one more day of work here in the office and then a busy Friday getting ready for the arrival of Hav-II. Stay tuned for how that all turns out. I'm pretty sure there will be something to tell, when it's all said and done....

Shawn
****

Did you ever...

...have a really, really weird dream? I mean, totally out of character for you and something so realistic and strange that it left you shocked and bothered for most of the following day? Well, sure you have. I did in the early hours the other morning, and I'm still shaking my head and wondering wheretheheck did that come from? How can one's mind go so far astray in the night? Bewildering to me, and I did an entire college semester independent study on dreams, rather than have to get up early during the winter and make it to class (awake) at 8 a.m. It was fascinating and very educational, I did well, but I can't recall anything from that study that could explain this. Then again, I seem to have other things going on regarding the subject of so-called dreams, soooo...Oh, but that's another blog entirely!!

We did something fun this weekend. In spite of being somewhat ill with URIs, we pulled ourselves together and went out to a nearby small town big deal flea market. I had a ball! Came back with some wonderful bird feeders (china cup/plate and cut glass) to use in the plants on our verandah. SGTex just put some grape nuts out there to coax the neighbor finches over. We also picked up some movies and watched one last night for "date night." I'm wondering, though...why do they call them "flea" markets? It's held every month in an old oak grove, so it was nice and mostly shady, filled with interesting sights and pleasant people willing to chat. I loved it!

And yes. There is a new Havanese puppy on the way. We're not quite sure how that happened. I guess the Cute Factor got the best of us. No, we're not rich, just totally mad for our little guy and can only imagine how 2 is going to be double-good-fun!

Until next time,

Shawn
****
photo courtesy of stamptabulous

Can't stop staring at our wedding rings....

Well, our rings came back today from Dallas and SGTex went out in the rain (!) to pick them up. They are *drop-dead-gorgeous* and we're very happy with them... A very nice way to brighten up the day!

I had an amazing, Texas-style birthday weekend. Roses, chocolate cake w/choco-covered-strawberries (that were massive!) and gifts. We shopped 'til we dropped, ate out, listened to live music at the coffee house (a song-writer of some fame was performing), and just had a great 3 days together. SGTex took the day off from work to help me celebrate (Thank you, Sir), and that means a lot.

There's catfish for supper tonight, so I'd better go see about that...

Shawn
****

photo courtesy of tacomacc.edu (amish double wedding rings quilt)

Texas Independence Day.....

Today is Texas Independence Day, the celebration of the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. That's the Lone Star above, something you see a lot of around these parts. Two things I've noticed about Texas folks: They show a lot of friendliness, and they show a lot of pride.

We just acquired something I'm getting ready to hang, maybe in the kitchen. It's a cute wooden box advertising "Made In Texas," and it says this: "You might give some serious thought to thanking your lucky stars you're in Texas." We found that in an antique store in a nearby town, and what it says really applies to my personal situation!

We're keeping busy as usual with work and play, training the puppy (when he's not training us!), planning the future and just all-around enjoying signs of spring.

Shawn
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image courtesy of downtownaustin.com

Hearts and Flowers....

Valentine's Day started early for us! There's a HUGE bouquet of gorgeous red roses on the dining room table, a gift from SGTex. (Thanks again, Darling Man) We've found and purchased our rings, at long last. The mansion is reserved for the day of our wedding, the perfect place to celebrate and have our sunset reception. All in all, it has been great!

Hope your Valentine's Day is special for you and yours...

Shawn&SGTex
****

A Texas Valentine....

I'm finding it hard to believe that it's February already! We just got back from another trip to PetSmart and as we were checking out the sunset sky was so gorgeous, amazing to look one direction and see the beautiful moon, turn and look off to the west and see what was left of the sunset. Forgive me, but it's still incredible to me to be able to look out and see so much sky, unlike Washington, where there was so much in the way, lol!! Beautiful, but still, this is really nice! I s'pose I'll always be like that.

Anyway, just dropping by to say Happy Valentine's Day coming up real soon, and that we hope yours is as nice as can be.

Shawn & SGTex
****

What a wonderful morning....

So, how was your Saturday morning? Ours was terrific. It was cold this morning (for Texas), so SGTex went gathering kindling and made a fire in the fireplace. We sat and talked, drank coffee (with brandy), and he read from The World Tribune. You know, it was really, really nice after the week we had. Yesterday was our day off too, but that was pretty busy.

The best day of the week was Inauguration Day (wasn't that great?!), made unforgettable by the arrival of My Ring (WoW!!!). Thank you, Dear Man. And the other great thing is that the new job is going well. It's so nice to be working with super people while I'm learning some new stuff, re-learning some old and forgotten stuff, which makes it all go down that much easier.

The puppy is doing great! He seems to feel that we're here to entertain him. (He's teaching us to fetch, lol). I've been wondering if he actually thinks his name really is "NoSebastian!!" Probably not... ;+)

Well, time to find my shoes and head out for PeopleStupid. I mean PetSmart.

Life is good...

Shawn
****

So we were in line at Starbucks yesterday....

...actually, one of two lines coming from two directions, and SGTex lets this lady pull in front of us. It was after 3:00 in the afternoon, and we hadn't had any coffee yet at all, so it was pretty nice of him to let her go ahead of us. To our surprise, when we pulled up to pay for our two white chocolate mocha grandes, the guy says, "Your coffee is paid for! The lady in front of you took care of your bill!" How nice was that?!! It tastes even better when it's free, and I have a feeling her coffee tasted pretty good to her, too!

Well, I just haveta report we had a fantastic New Year's holiday in Dallas. The King Tut exhibit is absolutely awesome. The city is beautiful, and the B&B is the nicest yet! We had a wonderful SGI Buddhist meeting in Ft. Worth (I met a lot of really nice people who made me feel very welcome), and we're hoping to do it all over again next New Year's! We actually made it out of town without any delay, in spite of the Cottonbowl traffic (wow), and all in all, it was a wonderful trip. That night sky with the buildings lit up for the holidays was amazing, and we had a 'to die for' view from the balcony off our room. The Texas hospitality of Peter and Dan made our stay very memorable.

And now we're back, and 2009 is in full swing. Tomorrow I start my new account (about which I'm kinda chicken....), but everything is pretty much under control. Well, the new puppy has us pretty much under his control, LOL! He's made himself right at home.

That's about it for now, so have a great week!

Shawn
***

picture borrowed from Pegasus News, Blackland Coffee Royce City

Happy New Year....

I've been wanting to use this picture of a Texas dandelion for some time, and it looks like fireworks to me, so here it is! Beautiful! I hope you like it.
Did everybody have a nice Xmas? We have, and will enjoy the holiday spirit well into 2009. We're looking forward to going to the King Tut exhibit in Dallas and will stay in a posh B&B. There will be New Year's gongyo and possibly another museum visit, too. Then on the way back home we'll pick up Sebastian.

I'm going to be starting out on a new account in January, too. New puppy and new job, all at the same time? What was I thinking?? LOL!! Life around here is about to change....

I've been thinking a lot about friends and family up in Washington, where it's been more like Alaska than the normally mild climate of Puget Sound. I'm sure it's pretty, but a little of that goes a long way, and I'm sure everyone would like the weather to simmer down. We were so blessed to be able to run around barefoot with windows and patio doors open on Christmas here, although I am looking forward to seeing a little bit of that Texas snow...(I said a *little* bit, mindya!!)


Well, SGTex has the bacon and pancakes going, so it's time to sign off and check on the coffee.

We'll be back soon with a puppy update and our upcoming trip news, but meanwhile, we're sincerely wishing you all a most blessed 2009!

Cheers!!

Shawn & SGTex
****

Christmas Cookie Rules....

1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.

2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.

3. If a friend comes over while you're making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calorie free (see rule #1), yours is also. It would be rude to let your friend sample alone.

4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.

5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have three and green ones have five - one calorie four each letter. Make more red ones!

7. Cookies eaten while watching any classic Christmas shows on TV have no calories because they are part of the traditional entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.

9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to cling!

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories. It's a rule!

Merry Christmas! Enjoy your cookies!
Shawn
****

photo courtesy of www.karenschronicle.com (Betty Crocker is a slacker)

"There is an awesome truth..."

I can’t let on to be very well-read, but one time during a period of underemployment I was at the public library and got hold of Paul Davies’ *The 5th Miracle* and something or other by Stuart Kauffman, and I would cite these 2 fellows and urge those concerned about the true story of the origin of life to join me in checking out the ol’ Wikipedia on the very very valid things these men of science hold up to the light. If they must, creationists can find M. Behe’s review of the aforementioned Davies book.

Oh, and see *Black Holes and Baby Universes* or *A Brief History of Time* by Stephen Hawking, of course.

But anyway, greetings CARM evolutionists and creationists, old friends and new who think it matters a lot where we came from, and what really happened long ago to give rise to us.

I confess a zeal for this; why, since I was 9 years old and younger, I have been on the side of reason and reality. I have been a science believer all my life. Unashamed am I that this is a type of faith; hey, it’s robust faith indeed that bases on what *can* be known and is known, ‘stead of unseen and perhaps unlikely things we are expected to believe without a whiff of evidence.

An important thrust of religious evolutionism is that our physical existence is fabulously wondrous and meaningful, not *merely* a product of, but one with the sovereign absolute.

I don’t see why the word of science should be thought hostile to religious faith or even theism, but it is even more simpatico with Buddhism. I get all filled with the spirit and excited when I consider the corroboration and proof there is to be had between Buddhism and the honest philosophy of science.

One is changed, lifted up by the news: There is an awesome truth about the expansive beginning of all things, that so-called Big Bang, and there is the elegant, wondrous truth about the physics and chemistry of the emergence of life out of the properties and programming of the material universe.

It’s a strong humanistic message, and runs joyously contrary to the negatives of hard fundamentalist religion, you know, that we are worth nothing innately and can only go wrong on our own. Science, like the merciful Buddha, holds up hope and courage for us, and some wholesome confidence in ourselves. Like a parent who says “You can do it!”

Of all faith traditions, Buddhism invests least in the supernatural and evolved (if you will) a fastidious rationalism in the millennium through China toward Japan. My master, Nichiren, stood up and introduced the Mandala very much as theoretical physicists reveal equations on a chalkboard.

Now science such as the physics of Hawking and peers gestures to an ultimate profound primary principle, a formula for the universe. In the Buddhism of the Lotus Sutra, this is called Wonderful or Myoho.

Anyway, now I’ve rattled on. Creationists, do you reckon I have bought into old Satan's lie, and all that?

SGTex
****

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

It is starting to take on a look of good cheer and glad tidings around here. The other evening we were on our way somewhere and saw a big star-like ornament shining across the way, and it was so pretty. Now there are lights going up and lawn displays and everyone is starting to decorate. We did a wonderful display outside our front door, including the best wreath ever! The tree has gone up and the lights are so pretty. SGTex is going to add more colored lights, so I can't wait to see that. There's a pretty snowflake on top and the mantel is decorated with antique cherubs, cones and pine boughs. We had company over yesterday for a little party, which was a great way to start the season. We've added a wonderful Happy Holidays playlist on imeem, which is growing.
All in all, it's been a terrific December so far! There's more to come, and we'll try to get back and update during the holidays, but right now there's some cookie dough waiting, so...
Oh~ The best part was the warm eggnog laced with cinnamon, nutmeg and rum last night (in bed!!!)
Now I call that a fine way to celebrate...

Cheers!!!

Shawn & SGTex
****

How was your Thanksgiving?

Hoping your holiday was great!
We've been kinda stretching ours out a bit. After both of us had made several trips to the grocery store for all the extra stuff I seem to think I must have on hand for the holiday (like why are there 3 cans of water chestnuts?), we finished up our work week on Wednesday, really quite late. We'd decided to take M and A to the Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving breakfast, which turned out to be more like lunch, as we were slow getting on the road. It was wonderful, naturally. I'm hoping their pumpkin strudel pie is available the next time we're there- it looked beautiful! We didn't have any, but imagine it's as scrumptious as it looks. That's such a cute place to eat (and shop). Anyway, we never did make it back home in time to get everything done for dinner, so just made the dressing and stuffed the bird, got a few things ready and called it a day. We'd gotten new furniture delivered and SGTex spent some time getting that taken care of.

So, today was more suited to making it more like Thanksgiving, and we did have a lovely dinner after a short Black Friday shopping spree, which included a new set of pots and pans and a new microwave, plus some gift items.

All in all, it's been the best Thanksgiving ever. The turkey was perfect, everything came out even. We used the best dishes, a gift from a beloved uncle. The wine and conversation was so nice, and I am deeply grateful.

Cheers!
Shawn & SGTex

Surely you've seen the 'Recipe for the Perfect Turkey'....

1 - 15 lb. turkey
1 cup melted butter
1 cup stuffing (Pepperidge Farm is good.)
1 cup uncooked popcorn (Orville Redenbacher's low fat)
Salt/pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush turkey well with melted butter, salt, and pepper. Fill cavity with stuffing and popcorn.
Place in baking pan with the neck end toward the
back of the oven.

Listen for the popping sounds.
When the turkey's ass blows the oven door open and the bird flies across the room, it's done.

Gobble, gobble...
Shawn & SGTex
****

Serendipitous Sundae...I mean Saturday....

Serendipity. That thing that happens when you're searching for one thing and get surprised by finding something else. It's usually a good thing.

I'm not sure why it came to mind, but I've always liked that word. As SGTex was heading out the door to run a couple of errands (a couple of hours ago, now...just where the heck did he get too!? But I digress), he mentioned that we should really find a name for the car, so I've been thinking about words and stuff. (Oh, here he is now...and he got DONUTS!!! All's forgiven, LOL xoxoxoxo)

Anyway, where was I? Oh, it seems that I had some time on my hands and started thinking about stuff- which is almost *never* a good thing. So, I googled "serendipity" and here I am. Images brought up this cool picture, Lordsaveme, of a serendiptous sundae. Forgive me, but I'm not even going to try and find out how they came up with it. Must just leave well enough alone.

So, where I'm kinda going with this is, on another board a bunch of us were talking about politics and had a healthy debate going. I posted something and kinda got off the track, mentioning what I considered to be a blessing (finding my wedding veil that's more what we wanted but cost even less, that sorta thing).

*Which caused someone else to ask about our plans, and I answered in some detail. *Which caused someone else to come along and, by asking a question, attempted to put me down.
*Which caused several someone elses to come along and, in defense of my Man and I, show kindness and friendship to us in a Big Way.
*Which caused us to be even more blessed, and we are so grateful.

In other words, sometimes I set about looking for one thing and end up finding something else altogether. Even better.

I like that. Very much.

Shawn
****

photo borrowed from reneeashleybaker@wordpress.com, Reuters

Where there's room in the heart, there's room in the home....

That's what my Grandma Mac used to say. I've seen that (or a version of it)done up in tea towels and embroidered on pillows, so I doubt that sentiment originated with her, but it applies. Or it should.

I don't know what actually got me thinking about it. Maybe it's pre-election jitters causing me to think about the security of hearth and home. Could be it was a phone conversation with Carol, looking forward to her upcoming visit to Texas. Or maybe it's about wedding planning. Or SGTex building shelves and organizing the storage room and me washing the good china to stow safely away until we order the china cupboard for the dining room (that comes after the wall is painted and a couple more bills get paid). I guess it could be any of those, or a little bit of all of them.

Anyway, the important thing is that our hearts are in the right place, attempting to keep our home free of all those stresses and worries that seem to come knockin' at the door these days. That's easier said than done, but we're managing, I think. We're both having some job stress (his is good stress, mine is wacky stress, lol). Days are filled with the usual stuff of working long hours, trying to keep ahead of the bills, the cat fed (she's turned into a little con artist and has figured out how to get 2 breakfasts in the morning....), the fruit bowl filled, and the garbage emptied, gas in the car (under 2 bucks/gal,now). Seems pretty normal to me.

Life is good.

Shawn
****

A Big Happy Birthday To SGTex!!!!

Sasha was the first to give birthday greetings this morning....before daylight, lol. Actually, she (the Persian Pussycat) positions herself right between the bedroom and the kitchen. She can pretty well count on getting fed. I confess that I had to giggle (while feigning sleep!) this morning. She gave a pretty good performance and was breakfasting nicely, before SGTex had even made it back to bed! Work it, Sasha!!!

Anyway, there's a big chocolate cake waiting in the kitchen, minus two bare spots where we took finger frosting samples. It's almost too pretty to cut, but we'll probably manage to take a couple of slices to bed with us....

Wish I'd thought to get ice cream....

Shawn
****

Samhain Shona Duit.....

We're coming up on All Souls' Eve, a time to fondly remember and reconnect with our beloved ancestors who have gone before us. It's also nearly time for the Celtic New Year, filled with hope for what's new and good. I think this can be a season of looking back and appreciating the past, while at the same time anticipating the future and all it holds.

Whether you celebrate a traditional, American-style Hallowe'en, or give a nod to the old ways, with doors and windows open to spirited ancestors and warm brambrack on the table, may the days ahead be filled with the blessing of renewal.

Shawn
****

To the moon....

TO THE MOON
Art thou pale for weariness
Of climbing heaven and gazing on the earth,
Wandering companionless
Among the stars that have a different birth,
And ever changing, like a Joyless eye
That finds no object worth its constancy?

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

Just stopping by on the eve of another full moon. Our sky here is heavy with clouds, but it's nice to know that above all that is the beautiful moon, so I imagine I can still feel the effect. (Blame it on the moon, lol!)

Life has been filled with busy work days, not much spare time. Lucky for us we went down to Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg and had a wonderful time. So many fun things to see and do, but mostly we just enjoyed being together. There was the cute German music, the eating and drinking, the drinking and eating, the sunshine and general ambience of not only the festival, but the town. A perfect, happy combination of Texas & Germany, all in one spot. Looking forward to next year, when we hope to do it again! It was a wonderful trip. One cute thing was that on the morning we left the motel, there seemed to be a cricket in the dresser. I thought it was charming, not being from cricket country, lol.

And yes, we just got back from the Big Road Trip (and I'm still talking about it), but still felt like it was a good thing to get away and find out what it's like to travel with an empty back seat and less than a half-ton of luggage and stuff to drag from the car to the room and back again, lol ;+). Yes, it is more fun to travel light. That's going to be our policy from now on...

So, Happy Full Moon to you all. Hoping your week is going well, and that good things are coming your way.

Shawn
****

The urge to merge....

For all of you with any money left, be aware of the next expected mergers so that you can get in on the ground floor and make some BIG bucks. Watch for these consolidations in 2008:

1.) Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W. R. Grace Co. Will merge and become: Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace.

2.) Polygram Records, Warner Bros., and Zesta Crackers join forces and become: Poly, Warner Cracker.

3.) 3M will merge with Goodyear and become: MMMGood.

4. Zippo Manufacturing, Audi Motors, Dofasco, and Dakota Mining will merge and become: ZipAudiDoDa.

5. FedEx is expected to join its competitor, UPS, and become: FedUP.

6. Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers will become: Fairwell Honeychild.

7. Grey Poupon and Docker Pants are expected to become: PouponPants.

8. Knotts Berry Farm and the National Organization of Women will become: Knott NOW!

And finally....

9. Victoria 's Secret and Smith & Wesson will merge under the new name: TittyTittyBangBang

Shawn
****

Meán Fómhair!!

This is the time when day equals night. Mabon is also called Harvest Home, the Feast of the Ingathering, also known as Thanksgiving. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it's the Autumnal Equinox.

A balanced ritual of thanksgiving, we're grateful for the fruits of the earth, while at the same time recognizing the need to share with others, in order to secure blessings during the coming winter.

May you enjoy your Autumn, finding that it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive...

Shawn
****

photo borrowed from parralore.com

It's Monday, and we're still glad to be home....

Still not a lot to say, but SGTex showed me this cute "Peanut Buddha" and I had to have it for the blog!
We're getting into the day-to-day routine back here at home, both working pretty much full time right now, so that's good. The office is shaping up, slowly but surely. Some corner shelves and the 3-in-1 have yet to come. That will be helpful as we organize. Speaking of shelves,I really suspect I'm shelf wacky. I see a closet or a cupboard or some out-of-the-way spot and I think, "We must have shelves there." SGTex has already started installation, and we're due for a trip to Lowe's before too long.

Like I said, the trip was wonderful. We saw such incredible scenery. It was amazing, really. There was especially one spot in either Utah or Arizona that was so completely desolate, yet beautiful, it overwhelmed me. We covered over 2000 miles, and when I think that was just a few states (we were in WA, OR, ID, UT, AZ, NM and TX), and there is so much more to see. I guess we'll have to start sticking $$ in a cookie jar for gas for future travels. Hopefully the prices will start to go down, rather than up.

We highly recommend the Thanksgiving Point Museum of Ancient Life in Lehi, Utah. That was really impressive! Oh, and NM corn, lol. We stopped for gas and got some fresh "roastin' ears" from a farmer, so we're working through those. Window Rock, AZ is incredibly beautiful. Astoria, OR is as charming as ever, and we really appreciated the hospitality of Mickey and Blossom at the Astoria Inn. The river-side restaurant Baked Alaska has some killer salmon with black rice!

We're back to work for now, though. In a couple of weeks we'll be heading to Fredericksburg, TX for the Oktoberfest, so will report some news about that.

Shawn & SGTex
****
(comic courtesy of the Seattle PI Bizarro 09-09-08)

We're back....

....and it's great. SGTex is presently unloading the car, at least to the degree that there will be a spot to stick the groceries that are needed, bless his heart. I keep telling him to sit down, he's making me tired, lol. A patient man he is!!!
After getting back in the middle of the night, I don't feel like I have the presence of mind to post anything interesting or profound. More later about our trip, but for right now, we're glad to say we had a wonderful time. The car ran perfectly. The weather was perfect. The getaway time was very much needed, and we're grateful.

Shawn
****

See you in September....

Just stopping by one more time before we take off for awhile. We're long overdue for some major R&R over Labor Day weekend, then will take our time on the Big Road Trip back home!

In the meantime, here's hoping you all have a wonderful end of summer and enjoy your holiday.

Best regards!

Shawn&SGTex
****

These are Astral Weeks....

"If I ventured in the slipstream
Between the viaducts of your dream
Where mobius steel rims crack
And the ditch and the backroad stop---

Could you find me
Would you kiss my eyes
And lay me down
In silence easy
To be born again, to be born again?

From the fire side of the ocean
If I put the wheels in motion
And I stand with my arms behind me
And I push another door

Could you find me, etc.

There you go, there you go...

And here am I standing in your outside rest
Trying to do my very best
Looking straight at you
Coming through, darlin...

And if I ventured in the slipstream, etc.

...to be born again...
...in another world darlin

I've got a home on high
I ain't nothin but a stranger in this world
I've got a home on high, so far away..."

Van Morrison

(My inspiration during the weeks ahead. Will be back soon)

Shawn
****
photo: Astral Dream, beaconforlife.blogs.com

Summertime in Washington....

Just had a wonderful talk with my brother in North Carolina, and we started talking about Washington. Decided to pull out one of my many Mt. Rainier pictures and put it here. Maybe he'll stop by and see it and think about summer days of long ago.

I love you, Greg!

Enjoy!

Shawn
****

Saturday night...

...and all is well. Hope it is in your part of the world.

Shawn
***

About those who declared their independence, so we could have ours...

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;

another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.

Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free!

(Thanks to Elsie for sharing this with us)

Shawn & SGTex
****

A blessed morrow...It's our WYMMD....

We've chosen the Claddagh symbol to top our wedding cake. It's very dear to us.

"....the Irish marriage symbol with the heart symbolizing love, life's purest impulse, the hands of friendship clasped around the heart, coming together to nurture and protect. The crown is symbolic of loyalty, representing love's endurance throughout life."

Sir, I want to thank you for not only believing it, but living it~~ day after day, night after night...

XOXOXOXOXOXO,ETC...!!!!

Shawn
****


photo courtesy of historicimpressions.com

Summer Solstice...of Love....

I swear, I've been waiting for a lifetime for this summer to get here!!!

Shawn
****
photo: Summer of love, allbrightmoments.com

"Keep...old shoes..."

In the process of packing up my life in Washington and moving to Texas I've had the occasion to mark some pretty strange notations on the outside of boxes. Looking back on it all, it would have been smarter to be more specific, or to have kept better track of what's in what box and how important the stuff really is, but alas, I didn't do that. At least not to the extent that I could locate anything very quickly.

On one box I've marked two stars (meaning the contents are twice as important to me than the box marked with only one star), and then I scribbled across the side of the box "S-KEEP-OLD SHOES."

Actually, if I were to open it now, I might find something really, really important inside, a carefully packed treasure. If I remember correctly, my thought at the time was that if this box was marked "old shoes" it would discourage anybody from getting inside and absconding with the objects I'd so carefully packed away.

But really, who, in their right mind, would pack up "old shoes" to move to Texas?? Seriously, any shoes that were destined to travel all the way from there to here were lucky to make the trip in a grocery sack tucked away in the trunk of the car.

If I remember right, these particular old shoes are special, to me, anyway. Black patent leather tap shoes with old grosgrain ribbon, worn when I was five years old. My friend Lori and I took dancing lessons (tap, ballet and acrobatics) from Mrs. Keller, a rather scary, middle-aged lady in black with a streak of hair she'd dye to match her scarves, a cross between punk and goth. She'd pretend to be cranky when she'd find us in our black tights and pink legs, giggling little girls all in a row hanging bat-like, upside down from the bar, making faces at ourselves in the wall of mirror across the room.

Good times. You know, I'm glad I still have my old shoes. I wonder if Lori kept hers...In some ways, I guess I grew up. In other ways, it's come to my attention that I didn't.

Better get those unpacked so one of these days I can set them out on a shelf in a china cupboard.

Shawn
***

Happy Jerusha Day...

Here it is again. We're three years into this amazing journey, and I'm so grateful we're making it together.

Bless you, Jerusha...

Shawn
***

How'd it get to be Memorial Day weekend already?

Happy Memorial Day!

Is it proper to wish it a "happy" day? I guess it might be, in the sense that we can be relatively happy, and we should be grateful to those veterans in the past who made it possible for us to enjoy a safe and pretty comfortable life in America these days.

This is a gorgeous Saturday, with big blue skies and American flags fluttering in the breeze. People are out and about, despite the price of gas. When I went to town this morning, I did notice one thing--there were quite a few people having yard and garage sales. That's pretty typical for this time of year on any given weekend, but still, there was a sense that people were wanting to do it for the sake of getting some cash, rather than just get rid of extra stuff. There weren't very many people buying, either. (I have long since given up on shopping garage-sales, a former favorite Saturday morning activity).

I'm going to try and enjoy the weekend with an attitude of *appreciation* for what freedoms we have, as well as a sense of *anticipation* for the bright and sunny days of summer.

Shawn
****

Where were you when the mountain blew?

I was in California at the time, and I was preparing to leave El Cajon and come home to Washington. I remember that morning, when friends came running in and said, "The mountain erupted!" Of course, the first thought was of Mt. Rainier, and believe me, if that happened, what I once knew as "home" would be no more. Horrifying thought. The fact that it was St. Helens wasn't good news, by any means.

I honestly hadn't been keeping up with the news, nor did I expect that in about another week, when I was actually on the trip north I'd encounter a repeat eruption and end up enduring the day from Hell. It would take too long to go into detail, but let me just say that if you ever catch a Mt. St. Helens documentary on the Discovery Channel, you'll have some idea.

I do have friends who were near the mountain on May 18th, and what they've related about their experiences would curl your hair. Campers literally blown from their tents by the blast and heat...One particular couple was up top on Mt. Rainier, having made an early morning climb, and they looked across the miles of clouds to see Mt. St. Helens go up in smoke. They made a very fast descent, to say the least. The pictures they took are unbelievable.

Anyway, I'm remembering my times camping at Spirit Lake, funny memories of Harry Truman, a real character who would tease and harrass us, just generally cussed, yet quite lovable in his own, unique way.

I'm glad I got to know Harry. I'm glad I got to have lazy times on the lake, laying in a rowboat, looking up at the mountain when it was pristine and silent but for bird songs.

Oh yeah, and Harry whistling and hollering at us from the shore...

Shawn
****

The Big Question...

So, why did I cross the road?

BARACK OBAMA:
The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a CHANGE!
The chicken wanted CHANGE!
JOHN MC CAIN:My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.
HILLARY CLINTON:When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure -- right from Day One! -- that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't about me.......
DR. PHIL:The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on 'THIS' side of the road before it goes after the problem on the 'OTHER SIDE' of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his 'CURRENT' problems before
adding 'NEW' problems.
OPRAH:Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the
rest of the chickens.
GEORGE W. BUSH:We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.
COLIN POWELL:Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road...
ANDERSON COOPER - CNN:We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.
JOHN KERRY:Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.
NANCY GRACE:That chicken crossed the road because he's GUILTY! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.
PAT BUCHANAN:To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.
MARTHA STEWART:No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.
DR SEUSS:
Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY:
To die in the rain. Alone.
JERRY FALWELL:
Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth?' That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, my friends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media white washes with seemingly harmless phrases like 'the other side. That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.
GRANDPA:
In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.
BARBARA WALTERS:
Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart-warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its life long dream of crossing the road.
ARISTOTLE:
It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.
JOHN LENNON:
Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.
BILL GATES:
I have just released eChicken2007, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your check book. Internet Explorer is an integral part of the Chicken. This new platform is much more stable and will
never cra...#@&&^ C% ......reboot.
ALBERT EINSTEIN:
Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?
BILL CLINTON:
I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. What is your definition of chicken?
AL GORE:
I invented the chicken!
COLONEL SANDERS:Did I miss one?
and
DICK CHENEY:
Where's my gun?

Many thanks to the person who shared this with us. Now, I've got some chicken to get into the oven....

Shawn
***

Making the most of May....

Wow! I didn't realize it had been this long since I've stopped by to blog. There's not a lot to say, really...Just been enjoying the springtime blooms and birdsong, anticipating the approach of summer. Some things coming to an end, the approach of new beginnings, lots of changes.

Shawn
***

Picture: Coastal rhododendron in Washington, remembering Mama

You've probably heard this one, but....

A young blonde was on vacation in the depths of Louisiana. She wanted a
pair of genuine alligator shoes in the worst way, but was very reluctant
to pay the high prices the local vendors were asking. After becoming
very frustrated with the "no haggle" attitude of one of the shopkeepers,
the blonde shouted, "Maybe I'll just go out and catch my own alligator
so I can get a pair of shoes at a reasonable price!"
The shopkeeper said, "By all means, be my guest. Maybe you'll luck out
and catch yourself a big one!" Determined, the blonde turned and headed
for the swamps, set on catching herself an alligator. Later in the day,
the shopkeeper was driving home, when he spotted the young woman
standing waist deep in the water, shotgun in hand. Just then, he saw a
huge 9-foot alligator swimming quickly toward her. She took aim, killed
the creature, and with a great deal of effort hauled it on to the swamp
bank. Lying nearby were several more of the dead creatures. The
shopkeeper watched in amazement. Just then the blonde flipped the
alligator on its back, and frustrated, shouts out, "Damn it, this one
isn't wearing any shoes either!"

LOL! Sorry, but it's the best I can do on short notice. Work was interrupted for a bit and so I'm just killing time... No, we don't advocate killing alligators and don't own a pair of gator shoes (but I have been considering getting some Gators, is that what they're called?) Yeah, this is me, Shawn, the fashionista!

Enjoy what's left of your week!

Shawn
***

Time flies....

Whew! I guess it's been a little while since I stopped by. Time to catch up! We've both been working very hard...(well, he's been working a lot harder than I have).

There's brand new office furniture waiting to get set up. That's going to be great, when we're all situated with nearly side-by-side armoires (planning a bookcase in between, easy access). I can hardly wait to have everything in place and organized. I can picture it in my mind and see that it's pretty doable, so we'll see how it actually turns out.

There was some pretty wild weather during the last week or so. Hope everybody is AOK in Tornado Alley and thereabouts. Our sweet Texas friend "apple" was worried about us and checked in, so very thoughtful, but all was well. I'm thinking March and April got their wires crossed up a bit, maybe, but today it was a lovely April day, and we took a "bloom walk" in the neighborhood.

Other than that, it's been a matter of keeping our noses to the grindstone, we've have had a bit of recreation (including seeing SGTex's son in a fabulous college production- WOW!) and best of all, in spite of everything, we're just madly in love as ever...

So, keep checking in. We're really glad to have you stop by!

Shawn
****

Like dandelions....

"So put your hand in the hand of mine, and we'll spread this love like dandelions." Toby Mac

Yesterday I spent some time on one of our message boards and participated in a discussion about love relationships. It was quite disturbing to read what some had to say about what had happened to them over the years, how they'd been bitterly disappointed, had loved and lost. To those who dared to post they were happy, the response was basically, "Yeah, maybe you're happy now, but just you wait..." Apparently it's naive and unrealistic to hope that our love is real, that it will last, that committment is meaningful...

Frankly, it shook me up to see what was said there, and I'm not really eager to go back and pay the board a visit, or at least a very long one. Sure, this morning I nabbed a good recipe that was shared by one of the posters, but I didn't venture much further down the page. I don't want to read about the dissolution of someone's marriage that's happening right now. I don't want to delve much into the sordid details and carry the sadness, then thoughtlessly let it spill onto the man I happen to love with my whole being.....because that's what happened last night. I tend to share my thoughts and ask what he thinks about it all, and before I knew it, I'd burdened him with my "lack of happy." That wasn't good.

So, this morning my hope is restored.

I've put my hand in his, and we're going to make like dandelions...

Shawn
***

Remembering Briita...

"Our little rosebud."

That's what they said about you on that March day, more than a half-century ago, the day you were born and died. Soon after, you were laid to rest on a hill by the sea. Those who loved you walked away from that little grave and kept you tucked away in their hearts. Now they, too, have gone on to what comes after this. I hope you're all together again, having a happy reunion. I'm all for reunions...

Happy Birthday, Briita.

Shawn
***

Erin Go Bragh...

"May good luck be with you wherever you go, and your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow!"

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Shawn(aka "Irish")&SGTex
****

Spring forward Sunday....

It's a great Sunday afternoon...Hope yours is going well, too! Have a success-filled week!

Shawn&SGTex
****

Mule versus mountain lion...

This story was sent to me in an e-mail, sharing it here. Told by a gent named Crayt.

"This may be a first...

A couple from Montana were out riding on the range, he with his rifle and she (fortunately) with her camera. Their dogs always followed them, but on this occasion a mountain lion decided that he wanted to stalk the dogs (you'll see the dogs in the background watching). Very, very bad decision.

The hunter got off the mule with his rifle and decided to shoot in the air to scare away the lion, but before he could get off a shot the lion charged in and decided he wanted a piece of those dogs. With that, the mule took off and decided HE wanted a piece of that lion. That's when all hell broke loose for the lion.

As the lion approached the dogs, the mule snatched him up by the tail and started whirling him around, banging its head on the ground on every pass. Then he dropped it, stomped on it and held it to the ground by the throat. The mule then got down on his knees and bit the thing all over a couple of dozen times to make sure it was dead, then whipped it into the air again, walked back over to the couple (that were stunned in silence), and stood there ready to continue his ride as if nothing had just happened.

Fortunately, even though the hunter didn't get off a shot, his wife got off these four pictures. Crayt "


Sharing the first of the images

Shawn
***

Not a blessed thing to say, but ....

...hey, it's Friday, and I find myself with most of the day off.

No, wait, actually it's more of a day on, what with errand-running to the bank, gas in the car (prices up again), antique store (selling, not buying), grocery store (FUZE 10/$10!), USPS, and one latte' later, I'm where? Back at the computer.

Isn't it fun, cramming the weekend into about 3 hours the day before, in order to not have to think about it when the work starts pouring in again? Such is life, when it's doing business at home. Wouldn't have it any other way, though, as far as working at home, I mean. All sorts of perks come with having a home office, but don't let anybody kidya, it's not as easy as you'd think, keeping on top of stuff around the house. I keep suggesting we find ourselves a housekeeper-type grandma, but so far, no go on that... And I would like to keep the work more contained within "normal" working hours and a "normal" 8-hour-day-kinda schedule, but right now that's not very doable. Maybe someday we'll take our weekends and actually end the week, or even add a bank holiday here and there...

But for now, we're makin' hay while the sun shines, so to speak, and when we're not makin' hay, we're makin' ______.
Pick one:
a. trouble
b. whoopie
c. coffee
d. all of the above

Go ahead, fill in the blank ;+)

All of the above was just an excuse to post this picture of an elegant blue heron who lives on Vashon Island, WA.
Shawn
****

What was the question? 'way back in 1998, that is...

"Evolutionists, tell me what the theory of evolution is."

"...Thanks for asking. The theory of evolution began as an elegant and plausible scientific account of the mechanism whereby new species have developed through natural selection. Its general tenets have stood up well to an onslaught of emotional and religious objections and are presently so well-substantiated as to be something of a given in the field of biology, to the great chagrin of fundamentalists.
During this century other advances in rationalist-materialist understanding have meshed with the biological evolution theory to supply a most thorough description of the development of all things, so that it is quite accurate and proper to refer to the evolution of the chemical elements and the evolution of complex chemical systems early in the history of Earth.
This debate board exists because the theory of evolution is so much more than that. Christian philosophy is so heavily invested in prescientific dogma of the supernatural that it rightly regards evolution theory as an anathema. Christians don't usually argue against other standard science---gravity, atomic theory, the germ theory of disease---but when it comes to evolution, there is an urgent and frantic denial, emotions run high and objectivity goes right out the window. Why?
Because evolution theory (and all the knowledge that is seamlessly continuous with it) has fully defined and explained what life is and how it got here. "Evolution," i.e., rationalist/humanist/materialist naturalism, has supplied answers about the meaning and value of our existence, thus outdoing and showing up the pulpit. The monumental resentment will take another century to die down. Evolution theory manifests the two vehicles to Buddhahood, Learning and Realization. It is wonder and glory and purpose and moral imperative. It is emancipation."

Posted by SGTex on September 11, 1998 at 22:59:34 on CARM

Shawn, for SGTex
***
Photograph: Salvia faranicea "Evolution"

The greatest of these...

"Love is not love that alters when it alteration finds."
W.S.

Or, in the words of St. Paul:

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowlege, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains and have not love, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing. Love suffereth long and is kind. Love envieth not. Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Love never faileth, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowlege, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things.

For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know, even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three...

...but the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13, King James Version

Shawn
***

All work and no play.....

...makes one want to stop and get off!!

That's pretty much what we did this morning, and it was a very welcome change. A really good reason for working hard doesn't change the fact that it gets beyond tough, at times. He's working much harder than I am, bless his heart (and it's greatly appreciated), so when the opportunity came to absolutely relax, we did stop and we did get off...and it was heavenly.

Even a little bit of that goes a long way!

Can't wait to do it again ;+)

Shawn
***

photo: Sea lions snoozing in Astoria, OR

Saturday's Sweethearts....

Someone posted this picture on one of the boards we frequent, and I thought it was too cute to not put here, anticipating Valentine's Day.

It also brought to mind how *it's all in our attitude*--let's face and embrace that which seems overwhelming and intimidating...

Most of all, I just wanted to share something that might bring a smile. Hope the days ahead will be filled with good things for us all!

Shawn
***

Welcome, 2008....what took you so long?

That's the thought that's crossed my mind at least a half dozen times since the last burst of fireworks on New Year's Eve. There's a lot to be said for "anticipation," but that sense of "at last" packs a lot of punch, too! I guess it's pretty obvious that we've got a lot going on in the months ahead and we're anxious to get the show on the road.

I've been listening to the song SGTex gave me the other day, Alan Jackson's "Livin' On Love." It really speaks to where my heart will be after all the dust settles and our plans and projects have come to fruition...

I guess that just about covers it.
Shawn
***

photo: Glenn Rose, TX