1. Christ came
I have hope because Christ came just as He promised.

2. Picnic in Santa Barbara with FitzgeraldsSaturday we met at Shore Line Park for soup and cheese and crackers before heading to see the Hobbit 2. The best part of our visit was, of course, visiting with our friends. The Fab Five gave us a lovely teapot and cozy and special tea. It is lovely and will be enjoyed very much. I am to write to send them one day a month for a quiet evening that we will share via skype 🙂

3. Christmas Eve and Day
Wolfgang and Maria Schimpf came to church at 4pm and then to our house for Chicon Gratin and Apple blossoms, Mom and Papa came to eat with us and then we all went down the street to their house to play games to celebrate the Eve. Christmas Day Robert and Beth also joined us for breakfast, story, carols, and presents. We even went for a short walk although it was 80 degrees.

4. Kim T
Had a pleasant conversation with my friend Kim on the phone. Looking forward to seeing her in Long Beach sometime within the coming week.

5. Friends
Thanking God for the many friends He has given me.

For more than six months I have had my hands full with other things and not had the time to blog. I miss it. Primarily I miss visiting sites of fellow bloggers and the friendly exchanges I have enjoyed so much.

My involvements will not permit a full scale return to the blogosphere but I hope to pop in from time to time.

Last September I concluded all the classes I decided to take at the art school. October 5th I took up a part time job to supplement graphic freelancing. It consists of helping women leave lives of drug and alcohol addiction and find the peace and purpose they were made for.  Though this part of my life has been very challenging I can honestly say it has been worthwhile. In November of last year I also took on a rather large start up company graphic/planning job. Nothing like feeling over your head to make you grow.

What am I looking forward to this summer? My recent visit with Dawn, Sis, and Nikkipolani were the highlight for me. I told Nikki that I wanted to go back to Texas for a week and help Dawn refurbish her atelier/studio. I love projects like that.


The atelier is the building in the top left of this photo.

Today was going to be one of those catch up days. I had planned to be at the garage when they opened in order to get an oil change for the car. When I woke up however I was so tired I thought I would just rest a few minutes longer. I woke up an hour later.

By the time I got there cars packed the small drive area. I waited at the service desk. They know me so well there I don’t have to give them any info. “Don’t suppose I can have it done while I wait?” I queried.  “Sorry, no. pretty busy already but we can have it for you this afternoon.” I thanked the chief and called my true blue brother for a lift. I waited out front and was glad I had brought a jacket. It was sprinkling! Now if only it would rain.

On the way home I realized I had not brought a house key with me. “Oh but I left the side door open,” I said.  ‘No, it’s locked,” said Robert. “I brought back your crock pot this morning while you were out and locked the door on the way out.” So I stopped by his place to get my extra key.

Next on the list was the post office. I send out a newsletter for some friends and needed about 125 stamps. When I got to the post I realized that today is Columbus Day. The post is closed. I wasn’t the only one standing there with a disappointed look. I went over to the stamp vending machine to see what I could do. They didn’t have any rolls of stamps but I could buy books. “Well, that will do,” I thought. But then you could only buy 3 books at a time and I needed about 9. In the end I had to use three different credit/debit cards to make the purchase. While I stood at the side table stamping my letters dozens of disappointed people came in. “Is it a holiday today?” “Is the post closed on Mondays?” “Is it closed all day?” “Oh, I forgot.” “Well, that’s that,” they said.

From there I went home to mow the lawn. Walking up the drive way I saw a little face peering out between the sheer curtains of the living room. Sammy was perched on the back of the sofa staring out. But there was something different about her. I looked more closely as I came up the walk. She had something all over her head. What was it? When I came in I went over to her and took a look. She was covered in cobwebs. Emmaline’s fur was dirty and her paws black. “Now where have you two been?” I wondered. I went to the kitchen and checked the pantry door to the garage. Robert had left it ajar when he brought back the crock pot and these two adorables had been rummaging around in the dusty garage getting cobwebs all over themselves.

Tonight I found Em scratching her chin on the velcro strip of my arm band.

Last week I completed my coursework at The Art Institute of California-Orange County.  The nice thing about finishing classes is all the scrumptious dinners one has in celebration. My family took me to a fine place for prime rib which I love and Nikki took me to Buca’s for some marvelous calamari. Monday night we had some friends over for dinner in the garden which only prolonged the enjoyment of the season.

The cooler weather arrived just in time.  It is so pleasant to enjoy a good meal with friends and in the loveliness of the evening in the garden it is all the better. The cats wanted to join us and took turns being cute at the window, trying to pull the curtains back and slide the glass door open. They were somewhat consoled when our guests oohed and awed over them after dinner.

This morning I heard the voices of two men talking and laughing in my back yard. Somewhat curious I peered through the studio window and caught sight of two cable men trying to find a way through the rose beds to the telephone pole in the back corner. After I called out hello they explained they needed to get to the pole. I suggested they take the path behind the trees along the fence as I didn’t want them to get scratched up going through the roses. “Too late!” they laughed. I must say they were good humored about it.  This winter Nikki and I will be moving roses. Cable men aren’t the only ones who can’t find a way through the maze.

Now that I am out of school and arranging business affairs, I know that I shall be busy in a different way but am hoping I might be able to blog again. I miss you all. Perhaps I will be able to be a regular again if only once a week.

Lately I have been volunteering at a video company just to get some hands on experience. One of the guys there recommended some classes at the college in my town.

So….. I went to the “Smart Start” Saturday event to check out the courses.

The lines were long, the day was hot, but everyone was very friendly and helpful.

Believe it or not they have more video courses than the specialized school I have been attending and the professors my friend highly recommended. Among the new courses offered this fall is a digital photography course that would have been interesting and a documentary film class and an editing class.

Everything is already chock full this time around however so I will have to wait a term if I decide to go to school there.

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