Thursday, July 10, 2008

Take time to see the beauty!

This came from a good friend in an email. It is a little long, but worth the read. It really made me stop and think about taking the time to see the beauty around us!

HOW LIFE IS MEASURED~Author unknown
I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband unexpectedly and suddenly died of a heart attack.

About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important."

"Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is a way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day.
Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, "So I would like you all to make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see, it could be a scent -- perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches the autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground.

Please look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may sound trite to some, these things are the "stuff" of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time...it can all be taken away." The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently.

That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than had that whole semester. Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.

Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. When you go home, go barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double-dip ice cream cone.
  • "For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do."

  • “Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."

  • "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
    -- Author Unknown

This story made me think of blogging and how I am always looking for a picture to take and something to write about. There is so much beauty all around us, and often we are too busy to take note of it! To me that is one advantage of keeping a blog...even if it is read by very few....it has helped me look at everyday things in a different way. I'm seeing so much beauty all around me! My camera is just a point and shoot...but I still can capture lots of beauty all around. Here are a couple of shots that I took recently:

The sun behind the clouds on the way home from a trip.

Natchez White Crepe Myrtle at the end of the front porch


And finally, a turtle lost in the middle of my front yard!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day....and take time to enjoy the beauty all around you!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Fun to Read and another award!

Here's some words from Maxine that are fun to read. She always makes me smile: I can sure relate to that one. How about this?
And finally this one:
Pat from Mille Fiori Favoriti presented me with this 'just plain fun to read' award! So I thought the Maxine cartoons would be appropriate today. Thanks so much Pat! This has been a great week indeed.

I would like to pass this award on to a few blogs that I consider 'just plain fun to read.' I look forward to noting on the new blogger feature when these blogs have been updated. Be sure to visit them for a variety of content...you'll have fun doing it!

And one last thing:

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. ~Irish Proverb

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

My First Award!!

I am so excited! I received my first award! Janie at Southern Lagniappe has honored me with the Arte y Pico Award. Her blog was one of the first I came across when I first started blogging, and she is one of the reasons I have stayed with blogging. I will visit her blog, and often she will have a post that expresses what I've been thinking. I love her stories and style of writing. She writes about lots of Southern things...places I've been to and seen, and I love hearing her perspective on life. If you haven't been there, please visit her and comment on her latest post. Thanks so much Janie!


The guidelines for giving and receiving this award are as follows:
1. Pick 5 blogs that you feel are deserving of the award.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name of the link to the blog that gave it to him/her.
4. The award winner and the one who has given the prize has to show the link of 'Arte y Pico' so that everyone knows the origin of this award.
5. Show these rules on the award page
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It is really hard to pick just 5 blogs, because they all are so good and I read lots more than these 5! Having said that....

I would like to award the Arte y Pico award to these 5 blogs:

Dawn at Dawn's Day Break- Dawn is a teacher and posts about many different topics. When I visit her blog, it's like saying 'Surprise Me!'

Rosemarie at SugarPlum Cottage- Rosemarie lives close to me! She often has beautiful garden pictures, loves flea markets and has an antique booth. It's fun keeping up with another Mississippi gal!

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound- Beverly is like the Miss Hospitality of blogging. She hosts Pink Sat. each week and it seems to me hers is always the first comment on each Pink Sat. post. Also, when a fellow blogger is under the weather she creates a post reminding us to pray as she did with BJ.

Kelli at There's No Place Like Home- I enjoy Kelli's blog! She is a young mom and often posts recipes, crafts, etc. And she has the same name as my daughter.

Jeanne at Backyard Neighbor posts about places she sees and goes. I like keeping up with this friendly blogger! We seem to have alot in common.
Please visit these great blogs and leave a comment...you won't be disappointed!