A friend has talked me into going to a week-long yoga retreat at the end of April. It sounds like a good idea -- a great way to relax and rejuvenate after tax season wraps up. It would be grand, except I have gotten so very out of shape, I'm not sure I can keep up even with the first-time ever beginners. Oh well, I've never been to yoga class yet that didn't tell you to stretch to your own limit, and not to worry about what everyone else is doing, so I'm taking that to heart. Still, I'm trying to get a little more flexible before I go.Trying, trying, trying to just go take a walk most days -- not the gym, just take a walk. Some weeks are better than others.
Today, I was on the West Ashley Greenway -- and came upon this spectacular display of winter leaving/spring coming that was just exploding and spilling over the fence in someone's backyard.
It's going to be a little easier to walk, if I can watch spring marching in.
Mom said "$6 down the drain." She's right, but still it gave us a couple of days of wild dreaming. (We were going to be generous and do good in the world.)
It is January again. Another fresh new start. I love them. Here are some sweet little things that are currently surrounding me.
Debbie gave me the Ling Chang desk calendar years ago and I've continued to get the refills every year since. I have old folders back to 2002. Plus, I have a group of sister-like people I give this to every year. I especially like this January's pansies.
Before Christmas, I went to a pop-up art show where some of my Fiber Guild friends had work. I bought for myself, this lovely little accordion book, handmade by Kris Westerson. It is all handmade paper, including the cover which I'll show you in a minute. The quote says "Change is law and no amount of pretending will alter that reality. -- Socrates" -- and she drew the zentangles.
Here is the front of the book. I love handmade art books. I love the lovely pages, and the clever designs. There are so many bindings. If I had it all to do over again. . . but at this point, I'm just going to enjoy the ones others make.
Sandy Witman sent me this sweet set of envelopes, made by a friend out of calendar pages, pages from found children's books and other random sources. I want to learn how!!
This is one of my favorite sweet little vignettes of the holiday season -- At Mom's --this lovely camellia from her neighbor's bush that reminds me of Daddy -- and then Mom reminded me that Marie Mauney gave her this pretty vase. What a sweet and simple way to keep loved ones close during the holidays.
and speaking of camellias -- here is my own Lady Clare -- a variety that Daddy did have in our yard in Raleigh, holding it's own in my border here in Charleston.
Cynthia Hurd, age 54, a library manager whose life was dedicated to books, children, and church.
Susie Jackson, age 87, a mother figure to generations in her family.
Ethel Lance, age 70, a church custodian who found strength in a gospel song to overcome life's challenges.
DePayne Middleton Doctor, age 49, a minister whose angelic voice could heal troubled hearts.
Clementa Pinckney, age 41, a pastor and state senator who lent his booming voice to the voiceless.
Tywanza Sanders, age 26, a barber, poet, and aspiring entrepreneur ready to take the world by storm.
Daniel L. Simmons Sr., age 74, a minister who served as a model of endurance and service to God.
Sharonda Singleton, age 45, a pastor and a high school track coach who became her runners' biggest cheerleader, on & off the track.
Myra Thompson, age 59, a builder of faith who worked to restore her beloved church's properties to their full glory.
Sunday morning, June 21
Four days after their minister and eight other members were shot to death at a Wednesday night Bible study, the historic Emanuel AME Church held Sunday services with a full church and overflow crowds standing in the street outside to witness this congregation's grace and strength.
Sunday evening, June 21 on the Ravanel Bridge
A "Bridge to Peace" Unity Chain on the Ravelnel Bridge Sunday night.
Thursday, June 24, 2015
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Affordable Care Act - again
Friday, June 26 at the funeral service for Rev. Clementa Pinckney
Friday, June 26
And just before Obama arrived to speak at the funeral service, the Supreme Court once again made history and decided in favor of gay marriage.
Friday, July 7, The Confederate Flag is removed from the state house grounds in Columbia, SC.
oh my, Fried Green Tomatoes is a neglected idea. It was September, then Fall, then Christmas took forever, now it is deep into a too long winter. Is it wrong to be impatient with coming spring on Feb. 21? So be it.
Here's a bit of a photo album update:
Fall at Waterway South
As an early 60th birthday celebration, we went to see James Taylor with friends Molly & Russ Keeney from Black Mountain.-- 60th birthday? Wait, how? Surely not yet. Wow, that went fast.
Mom spent time with us at Christmas. On our annual Christmas Day walk on the beach, she found an intact sand dollar.
Very special this Christmas -- Joyce Cooper, who lives down the hall from mom at Glenaire, gave us this beautiful afghan she knitted in the 1970s. She said she did 12 or 15 of them (can you imagine?!) and everyone in her family who wants one has one. She knows I'm a knitter and thought I would appreciate it -- and she is absolutely correct in that. I love the way it looks on the red couch.
Which brings me to my knitting. Just before Valentine's Day I finally finished and mailed this sweater vest to Jeffrey. It is made with a very warm (I hope) Scottish shetland wool.Over T'giving I sent it via Mom partially completed to Winston-Salem for him to try on and needed to tink down to the beginning of the armholes and deepen and broaded the "V". I like the side ribbing in this pattern.
So now we are just trying to finish up Winter. It has been unreasonably, I mean unseasonably, cold for the SC Lowcountry -- temps in the teens for days at a time. I am working for H&R Block through April 15 and Duncan keeps getting more deeply involved with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. We have stayed pretty close to home.
These 2 beach pics were taken in lieu of attending services on Sunday Feb. 8. It was warm and nice on the beach. We walked far, took deep gulps of sweet sea air and napped in the sun. Altogether it felt we had been to church.
