preface-
i have started several posts lately, but inevitably, i feel that when i haven't posted in quite some time, the next one needs to be brilliant. this is quite a bit of self inflicted pressure, so i have chosen to do what my old college friend Marshall advised me worked best for him. he was an artist and often found filling the blank canvas a far too daunting task as he was in perpetual fear that he would "mess up" his new work by having an errant line, or something that was out of proportion to the rest of the piece. he would often fail to do anything for the fear of destroying his canvas. his solution was a simple one, simply start with the mistake. he would slash a line of color across the canvas in a bold and confident stroke and then from there, he would allow the rest of the painting to form. though he shared this with me ten years ago, it has always been something i have called upon in such a case as this. so, here is my colorful stroke--
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*Simple Gatherings*

Over the last month I have been blessed to travel around the country to visit family and have found myself once again impressed by the beauty not only of the people, but of those things they hold close to them in their homes, and the landscapes of the various places in the country. Allow me to make some introductions . . .
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Before I left for my family tour, I purchased a lovely orchid to brighten the kitchen (but only after proper coaching from a dear friend of mine who is one of those illusive folks who can keep an orchid alive for years and years) His big hint? Neglect them for the most part and only water them once a week.
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First up on the tour- I went to one of my favorite places to visit two of my dearest nieces.

Penny illustrates that for some, posing comes effortlessly. . .
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While for others, it is a learned skill. . . (I fall into this category too Charlie)
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It must be said though that after awhile, I find that what I am most drawn to in children's photographs are those of them just being themselves with silly faces smeared in chocolate and all. . .
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Well, well, this little love of mine does clean up rather nicely, though not too nicely. When dressing a little girl, I have found find nothing more sublime that a child swathed in pearls (often a great juxtaposition) and so while I stayed, I allowed the girls to drape themselves in some of mine.
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After a few short days in Las Vegas, I then returned home for a brief rest before I headed out to Dallas with Brian to see the families. . .
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Mother greeted us with excess and warm welcome. . .
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where we all sat down to a simple but pristine supper. . .
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followed by a sumptuous room for my Pooh and I to slip off to by ourselves for some respite from the summer heat.
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We were able to head to the arboretum for a picnic and concert in the gardens with the parents and friends.
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(mom and dad still look good soaking up the Dallas sites)
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While later that night, our party was joined by John and Co.
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Once the Houston crowd was in town, Mother decided to impress us all by making a quiche-like side dish that was divine in its utter simplicity (I must admit that the other "adults" in the room kept scolding me for stealing off bits of this heavenly dish prior to the prayer) Know what? I still don't regret it!
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Mamie impressed us all by making homemade crescent rolls that looked like chubby happy little babies all snuggled in. (hmm, we ate them though so perhaps not a great analogy)
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Stay tuned for part two of the travels.... lobster and lamb fests!


*Side note*
My dear friends, I am aware of the fact that I have copious amounts of photographs embedded in some of my posts. I like it this way. I have found that this has become a living journal in many ways and I am stirred by photographs which is why I utilize them. No fear though, they are easily passed by!

*Souvenirs*

My father traveled to Asia on a fairly regular basis when I was a child. I recall that though it was tough to see him go, it was always tempered with the satisfaction that when he returned, he came bearing gifts! I lived for these sorts of physical evidences of his love for us. A souvenir was his way of showing us that even when he was across the globe, we were there in his thoughts. I recall him bringing home paper fans, seaweed candy sticks (also known as yucky I taste like death sticks) and mega pumped up business class travel kits. I loved it when it was my turn to get the little black travel bag stuffed with mini toothpaste and toothbrush, sleep masks, floss, etc. This is something that I still look to see as an adult. Brian learned long ago, that when he goes on a trip, I delight in seeing (and have sadly come to expect) a token of his affection upon his return. In high school after a trip to Mexico, he came back with little rocks he collected over the week in every color of the rainbow. I would have never known it was possible to find a blue rock, or a yellow one let alone a perfect pink rock. After we were older and married, he went on a business trip to a work convention and knowing how obsessed I am with quality ink flow pens, he brought me home, to my utter glee, two gallon sized Ziploc bags of nothing but quality pens. It is now roughly 6 years later, and I still have an enormous box full of them, even after allowing a few sisters to raid my stash. Now that I am taking trips on my own, I have elected to continue this tradition myself. I have come bearing chocolates, books, and then most recently, a gecko.

Don't worry, you read it right. I returned from my latest romp to the humid land of Houston, and marvelled at the little critters that I just don't see in Utah. I was wooed by the lush grass, completely forgetting that in Texas, the grass fights back with an invisible terror-chiggers. I remembered that I was once again in the land of the cockroach and lizard. When I know that though I am in their territory, it is a temporary situation, I am able to enjoy the exotic nature of their existence. After returning home to my dry life in Utah, imagine my utter amazement then when I opened my suitcase two days after getting home, and something odd caught my eye. Right there, on top of my patent leather stilettos was an actual living creature. A gecko just ran onto my shoe and watched me, likely just as amazed that he had made it through the non-pressurized stowage cabin of the airplane as I. When I finally determined that I was in fact lucid, and this creature was here watching me, I went to get a glass to remove the new found friend. Returning just a moment later, he was gone. He may be in a nook of the still untouched suitcase, or perhaps scurried off to create a home for himself in the living room, maybe is is now fast friends with Mary Morey. Ooh, poor thing. I have a house of four bored kitties who love to chase flies and bugs.

*My only thought to my new house guest is good luck buddy*