1975

My sister was googling the places of our past and found this picture from when we lived in Neuquen, Argentina. This is my seventh grade class, escuela primaria#121.
Can you find me?
My teacher was Srta. Marta Torres, I had her in fifth grade and didn't like her, then again in seventh grade and I loved her. I think the reason for my dislike in fifth grade was that we had just gone back to Argentina after a year of furlough in the U.S. and I was struggling to adjust. As a lefty the fact that my handwritting is straight up and down, instead of slanted to the left is all due to Miss Torres. She made me practice and practice, she was fiercely unyielding, and I'm grateful.
The second girl from the left in the back row was my best friend, Miriam Bonelli. Her family was considered wealthy and owned a boat and went on vacations, but she was always self-conscious because people called her fat. (She wasn't at all fat, just large boned, it seems that Argentines are even more image conscious than Americans). Poor girl, I wonder how her life turned out?

Back to the daily grind

It's been non-stop work since we got back, until today. I now feel a little more caught up, taxes are done, all bills paid and paper work caught up. I have had a hankering to do some jewelry design but will have to put it off for a while.
A while back I posted that we were putting our business on the market. We did this as a step of faith, wanting it to be in God's timing. He very clearly said "not yet".
Alan and I had agreed that if we sold the Mazda RX8 we would not only have the money to pay the broker, but also, take it as God's stamp of approval on our plans. Well, the Mazda didn't sell. Over time we realized that we should be grateful that we have steady income in an economy were so many have none.
Ironically, we now have a person interested in buying the car, but the business is no longer on the market, our perspective has changed. God knew we needed some time to reflect.
On a different note:
Any ideas for my next ladies Bible study? What I need is a simple devotional . (Very basic but at the same time thought provoking -remember my audience). I thought I could start with having everyone answer several basic lighthearted questions about themselves (like a Facebook survey -something fun), and then go on to a spiritual question (such as "what lesson do you want to learn in your spiritual life". Here I could use my own example of wanting to learn true joy). Now, I just need a wrap up mini-devotional, and this is were I'd like some input.
No pressure, but I need ideas ASAP

Mexico Vacation

Due to EXTREME pressure I will write a post about our vacation. (OK it was just Kim -who knows me too well- requesting expansive news with at least a couple of paragraphs and photo's). I have some photographs but not nearly as many as my relatives would have, had they been the one's vacationing in Mexico! You KNOW who you are (...Rita, Kim)
I love plants, animals, mountains and ocean, (and suddenly feel guilty that I didn't include people in that sentence! Let's just say that I am coming to appreciate people more than I used too).

Here, orchids growing in the wild

Bougainvilleas
I cried when I saw this. You can't tell very well, but the bottom story is a huge open room, the pillars are covered in bougainvilleas, and fresh breezes flow through. You can see the mountains in all directions. When we are all in heaven together I will have you over for dinner in a room much like this.
This is a bathroom that I liked (really the only nice bathroom I came across. Our home bathroom has spoiled me)


These flowers are very blue, a color we don't see often here in the US. They grow as a vine.
Another fascinating flowering vine, look at the curly woody stem

We took a steep path to the base of a mountain and found this river, it's crystal clear with a sandy bottom. Just beyond those big rocks you could hear a waterfall. (I was wearing sandals at the time and couldn't quite get there to photograph).
Pretty cows, roaming loose.

More bougainvilleas

And the ocean. This was not a swimming beach and the waves crash pretty hard onto these rocks. I liked this colony of birds.



Not pictured. While on a boat at sunset I saw the huge tail of a whale in the distance. It was a tremendous thrill.
The next day on yet another boat, I was asking God to let me see some dolphins, it appeared He wasn't answering my prayer, but then one of the crew members told us to look down into the water right at the front of the boat. And there racing us, just like dogs chasing a car, where four dolphins! I wonder if there is a lesson there, sometimes I don't realize that God is showing me something wonderful because I don't know where to look.


And finally, (excuse my video skills, I've just discovered the video function on my camera)...
The Ocean

Chopped Jicama salad

Have you ever had Jícama? I first tasted it in Mexico, we were hot, dusty and thirsty and bought one from a street vendor. The vendor sprinkled it with lime juice and chile powder, and it was tremendously refreshing.
Here's my take on these flavors:

Chopped Jícama salad

1 Jícama, peeled and cubed
1 red jalapeño, seeded and finely diced (or two)
1 orange, peeled (duh!) and cubed
1 avocado diced
I didn't have any but I'm sure some chopped cilantro would be wonderful
pinch of salt (optional I guess, but I think it brings out the flavors)
juice of one lime (absolutely essential ingredient)

Mix all, serve with tortilla chips if desired
A nice glass of Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc would go very well with this.

Happy 101

Thanks Kathy!
Now it's my turn to follow the rules and share some great blogs with you.
I only have one person left to tag and that would be my friend Amy. I have no idea how to link to her blog.

Here are the rules:


Copy the award image into a post.


- List 10 things that make you happy.
- Tag 10 bloggers who brighten your day. They have already been tagged. (I don't read very many)
- Put in a link to their blogs. (Don't know how to do this)
- Notify the award receivers.

- Recipients should link back to the sender’s blog. Sorry Kathy, don't know how to do this, I'd ask my boys if they were available.

Here goes, 10 things that make me happy, in no particular order.

1. There is a pond at a nearby state park. You can only reach it by canoe, it is perfectly round, surrounded by trees and overgrown with water lilies. Usually there is a stork sitting in a tall tree. When I die I want to be cremated and have my ashes strewn there.

2. My calico cat who sits outside my office window every day and though once wild and untouchable now loves me enthusiastically. She helps me understand how God loves us and how His love changes us.

3. Color. Color makes me happy.

4. Really well prepared food. Food that has layers of flavor that build and complement each other.

5. Cooking. Don't always achieve #4 but that is always the goal.

6. Sweet toddlers.

7. Semi-precious stones. These tie in with my love of color. The book of Revelation talks about them quite frequently and Ezequiel 28:14 talks about walking among the fiery stones. Can't wait to see them! So...when I make jewelry it has a deeper significance.

8. My orchids, especially the phalaenopsis that Alan gave me years ago. I'm happy every time I see it's cheerful yellow blooms

9. Genuine changed lives in our church family

10. Friends and family who are helping me to (finally) feel that I belong.

Have I mentioned that I have some very interesting customers? A great many of them have become friends over the years. One of them is my wacky friend Karen, a professional photographer.
Today she came in for a car repair but her very first statement was: "I hate your facebook profile picture, I brought my camera". She then proceeded to set up this humongous camera on a tripod and posed me behind the counter. Now, I know that both Rita and Kim will be very shocked that I allowed myself to be photographed. I myself was shocked, but what can I say? She sure made me laugh!
Anyway, I thought I would share this with those who will appreciate it the best.

Calmer day

After a series of weird events including Alan's pants catching on fire and Daniel's car breaking down in Chicago at 1AM things are much calmer today. And so I feel ready to share something light-hearted.
I have some very interesting customers. One gentleman drives a truck and makes deliveries all over the country. He e-mailed a picture of a delivery of a luxury port-a-pottie. This is something I have never thought about, but evidently there is a whole different toilet system for celebrities.
Here he is delivering one to a ship:



And here a picture of what they look like inside:





Quite different from any port-a pottie I've ever visited!