Blue heron spotted two blocks from home!
Well, I think I’ve proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the longer you don’t write, the harder it gets. However, lest you think that I’ve been sitting around eating bon-bons (I have) I’d like to report that I have been extremely productive in most other aspects of my so-called life. And in the immortal words of Oprah, here is what I know for sure:
Earning money (especially by writing) is thrilling. $$$$ !
The more free time you have, the more you’ll shop — which makes you wonder why they call it free time.
Savannah antiques shop window
Easter morning is glorious, no matter what you believe.
Easter sunrise service at Yellow Bluff
Gardening fills your soul and breaks your back.
Having your daughter come home is magical…for about five minutes. Then all the worrying, micromanaging and conflict start all over again.
Co-dependence is a curse and only you can cure it.
Thou shalt not kill … but taking out Bin Laden still felt pretty good (although the kids who were drinking beer & celebrating by chanting “USA! USA!!” were a cringe-worthy embarrassment).
Travel is good.
It’s not your imagination – the weather is getting weirder and scarier.
If you want to profitably invest in anything (say, a used car) just wait until I’m jumping in and then do the opposite.
When you start doing crafts, you know it’s time to get back to your real work.
The groovy chandelier I just finished painting.
So … mea culpa, I’m sorry it’s been so long, and I promise I’m back in the saddle!
What Gives 
Betty,
Coming back to your chandelier, maybe you need to send it over to my dear friend Laura:
http://laura-griffin.com/blog/2011/05/10/chandelier-makeover/
Just, you know… 🙂
Glad to have you back in blogworld. I have been thinking about you. And have been doing some link love of which I hope to tell you more soon 🙂
Just wanted to add a little suspense to your life 🙂
Betty no one can write a blog with a few photos added here and there as skillfully as you can. A pleasure to read your post. Welcome back 🙂
Betty…the pictures are beautiful…worth a thousand words. You are an artist in all ways. The patio couldn’t be more wonderful….I’ll by dropping by for a glass of wine as soon as I can get on a plane! Keep reminding us all of the wonders of the world. Big hug for Larry.
Thanks, Didi — come down!! I’m obviously not working and we could play all day!!! (Larry says hi & we’ll be up in June!) xoxox b
Hi,
Good to have you back!!! Barbara and I leave June 1st to fulfill a promise we made to each other ten years ago……a five month road trip around the western USA. We will take the Volvo wagon[145,000 miles young] and stay in B&B, motels, friends and relatives homes and wherever we can get a clean room. Easter with Ginger, Michael and the gang was fun….we all had a good laugh at what our “gypsy wagon” will look like…..bicycles and golf clubs on top, chest of drawers built in back and clothes rack across the back seat…..we are going to do this with no suit cases.
Hi Peter — LOVE that you are making this trek!! I want to visit every national park and blog about it … but Larry only wants to go to the exotic ones!
Have a fabulous trip!!!
That patio looks like someplace where I could sit for weeks at a time. I relate to everything you said, especially the investment thing: Buy high, sell low — that’s my motto. Or seems to be.
It’s always great to read your words, Betty. And you deserve all the $$$$ you can get.
Oh, it’s not that much $$$$ — it’s just that when you’ve been giving it away for 365 days, anything that comes in seems like a windfall!
I love my patio and believe me, last year it looked so forlorn and neglected, I’m having a blast making it look ablaze with flowers & plants — unfortunately,
i never sit down so the whole thing is really just for the illusion of total relaxation — ha! As for my “investing” — just read an article today that
said it’s the worst time in 16 years — or more! — to buy a used car. So what did Lulu & I do all day? Drive all over ATL looking for used cars … pathetic!!!
it’s good to be reminded to ‘stop and smell the flowers’, to enjoy life whether it’s the light stuff or the heavy stuff, and to share with others! thanks 🙂
amen, amen! thanks for reading!!!
I think we were separated at birth! I have been thinking all the same things in the past month.
sisterhood is powerful, louise!!! thanks for reading … happy summer!
Whatever, whenever, you are writing..I am reading! Yay you are back.
xo
i’ve been thinking about you so much, Chris — hope you’re having an awesome summer… when are we going to see each other again???
Whatever you write, woman, I will read it!
And your gorgeous deck plants are really making me want to do likewise, but I’m four weeks out of surgery and can’t do the heavy dirt lifting quite yet.
fondly, Meg
p.s. Did you hear that Lucy Steinitz accepted a new job in Ethiopia, which she plans to take when she completes her round-the-world tour!
Oh that Lucy — she is truly something else! Hope you are recovering fast — if I were closer, I’d trot over with a big green plant!! Lovely to hear from you — and get your faboo quilting newsletter!!!
Tell me if I’m wrong, but didn’t you paint that chandelier before? Glad you are writing!! (to us) XoL
You have an incredible memory! YES i did paint it before – actually i painted two — but the pineapple one I totally tricked out is amazing and this one i always hated because the colors were all wrong and it just bothered me every time i walked past the room (i KNOW you understand exactly how unbearable that is…) — so I had it taken down and i spent about five days obsessively trying to get the colors right and had SOoooo much fun doing it! now I love it (but i think i have to paint the candleholders green…)
xoxoox b
Glad to see you back! I thought of you the other day when I came across a new charity that gives you the chance to give to a new charity every day. This time- only a penny! You should check it out- Penny For Your World. I bet they got the idea from you! 🙂
whenever i see anything that seems too similar to my blog, it just makes me crazy — so i try to avoid that! but i am so happy to hear from you!
how was THE WEDDING? how is being married?? hope life is treating you well — and please keep in touch!
You must be the change you want to see in the world
i try to be — but sometimes the world just goes right ahead and changes me!
Lovely Betty! Always wonderful to hear (and see) what you’re up to! The pictures are beautiful (as always) and love the “groovy chandelier”! Wishing you a most awesome day and Thank You So Much For being YOU! Sending you hugs from SoCal…Lisa
I love hearing from you, Lisa! Hope the Depot is doing great …. thanks so much for writing!!!
Betty – always good to hear from you – was beginning to wonder – but the pictures are great – look forward to the next chapter!
i was beginning to wonder, too … and the minute i get that next chapter going, you will be the first to know, Susan! Hope Robert’s graduation party was grand … CONGRATULATIONS to him on such a wonderful achievement!!!