4-30-09

We are working on writing down the protocols for how things are done in the office at church... today was newsletter day... how we compile it... arrange it... print it... fold it... label it... sort it... bundle it... and mail it. Mission accomplished! (I remember at the last place I worked, only one person knew the sorting~bundling~postage/mailing process... and refused to write it down for anyone, claiming it was just too complicated... and when that person was gone, we were up a creek without a paddle~!)

4-29-09

My new ring... I love it!

4-28-09

Open mouths...
like baby birds cheeping for food,
like sopranos singing a high E,
like friends saying namaste,
drinking in the sunshine,
and sharing it with me
each time I leave and enter my front door.

4-27-09

Bustin' out!

4-26-09 Annual Pie Sunday at Church

My contribution ~ Sour Cream Rhubarb Pie. (As you can see, I made an extra pie for my DH because he LOVES rhubarb pie!) Once a year the ladies in our church serve homemade pies after the worship services, and today was that day. The men always request that we do it EVERY Sunday!

4-25-09

Today I received a double dose of love and light and joy...
First, a mystery package came in the mail with some Organic Tulsi Teas and an anonymous "Happy Early Birthday!" note. My DD asked, "Did you order that?" and I said "No." "I wouldn't drink it!" she said... it's too suspicious!!!
Then, further down in the stack of mail, I found a precious letter from my dear yoga friend Susan, and in the last paragraph of her letter, she says that she ordered me some Tulsi tea and it should be delivered soon... mystery solved! Now that I know where it came from, I'm definitely drinking this tea!!! Thank you, my dear friend! You made my day today! Love you, Metta!

4-24-09

Here is Barucha doing the real thing... mousing!
It keeps her busy, as we are surrounded by cornfields full of them!
So I'm sure she is thinking of this when she plays with her toy,
which she tosses around just like she does the real ones!
Too funny!

4-23-09

My kitty, Barucha, practicing her mouse hunting skills!
This one is filled with catnip, which she loves with a passion!
Watching her play, hearing her purrrrrr, and petting her soft, shiny coat
brings a smile to my heart each and every day.
She is truly a "blessing" in my life!

4-22-09

I decided it was time to start mowing for the summer... found several areas in the yard with mice trails... and (accidentally) mowed over several mice trying to escape! Others ran over to my flowers.

4-21-09

Was driving around town today running errands, and came across this Lutheran Church in a beautiful setting... so stopped and took some pix. It has a labyrinth out back (reminds me of the one I made with my BFF!), a fire pit and a playground/picnic area on their property! Gorgeous! I especially liked the quote by John Muir! (Don't forget that you can left click on the picture to enlarge it, and then left click the back arrow to return to the blog!)

4-20-09

All day today: Torrential rains...
wind gust up to 50 mph...
hail every 10 minutes...
"April showers bring May flowers." ~Wrong!
They beat them up and tear them to shreds!

4-19-09

Today we drove to Chicago and back in the pouring rain to have lunch with our dear son!

The top four pix are scenes along the way (weird signs, flooded fields 'n such)...

The bottom two...

where we started out for lunch (Kuma's... famous for their burgers)...

and where we ended up (Flat Top Grill... stir fry).

It was nice to see you, son! You are looking GREAT!!!

4-18-09

On this morning's walk along the river, I loved the reflection of the tug boat on the still water ...

4-17-09B

Then DD came home from grad school for the weekend
so we took her out to her fave Mexican restaurant for dinner.
This Mariachi band YELLED right in DH's ear, and we literally
had to stop eating we were laughing so hard! It was hilarious!

We needed a Margarita or shot of Tequila after that!!! Ha!

4-17-09

We took our morning walk along the river again today...

and saw this bad boy up close and personal!

4-16-09

The Bald Eagles have migrated back north, so now the pelicans are coming in, so DH and I went down to the Mississippi River to photograph pelicans (they have a 9 foot wing span!) and watch barges go through the lock... a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon!

4-15-09

The pre-schoolers at our church had fun painting today.
It will be interesting to see what becomes of this project!

4-14-09

The highlight of my day... watching a bunch of purple finches on the back deck... and watching my cat watch the finches!!!

4-13-09

Just finished watching Australia... don't waste your time or money!
Seven Pounds DH and I both liked alot!
Get Smart we plan to watch Tuesday night... mindless humor!

4-12-09

4-11-09

Bright sunny skies and balmy 45*F temps lured us to the park for our morning walk today.

4-10-09

300 Easter Sunday 12 page bulletins... ready to go! Whew!!!

4-9-09

The view out my office window at work this week...

4-8-09

Found this gem sitting in the corner of the office at my new/temporary job... a paper folder! YAY! No more folding church bulletins by hand! Especially nice during Holy Week with so many worship services... Palm Sunday... Maundy Thursday... Good Friday... Easter Sunrise... and Easter Festival services. YAY!!! I played around with it and figured out how to use it, so I'm good to go!

4-7-09

A few random photos after working all day...
Thanks for the stir fry dinner, DH!

4-6-09

This baby got a workout today... my first day on the job... had to create and print and fold worship bulletins for a funeral at 4 p.m. and start the bulletins for Holy Week services! So far, so good.

4-5-09

Hosanna in the highest! Today in our church we celebrated "Palm Sunday" to remember the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem the week before he was crucified. Luke 21:8-9 in the Bible says that a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the palm trees and spread them on the road ahead of him (Jesus riding on the donkey) and they shouted "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" DH and I sing in the choir, and we sang two songs at both the worship services.

4-4-09

Fell in love with this beautiful woven scarf for $5 while out shopping this a.m. at Gordman's! It has every color in the rainbow (as well as gold and silver metallic threads which do now show up in the photo), so I can wear it with everything and anything. It will be my "go to" scarf... super soft and cute!!!

4-3-09

Catchin' a few rays...

4-2-09

One of my favorite pieces of art in my home... sculpted by a former yoga student of mine. DH calls it "Chinese Take-Out."

4-1-09

Here are some pictures I took of the church office in which I will be working part-time come Monday morning. The lady/secretary who works here fell and broke her hip and needed a total hip replacement a week and a half ago. Knowing that I am a former parish secretary, they asked if I could help out temporarily until the regular secretary is back on her feet... and I said, "Yes, I'd love to help out!" Three church members have been cleaning, de-cluttering and trying to organize the office daily since her accident and I am very encouraged that you can actually see some of the desktop and countertop! They were buried under stacks and stacks of papers and stuff, and were not even visible! I'm looking forward to the challenge!!!