Whatever Wednesday - Who's in Charleston?

Ray and I are off on adventure in Charleston, SC.  We'll be staying at  my brother's  temporary vacation home.  David and Cherie are hanging out there due to brand new first grandson.   Say hello  to Myles. 

He's the new star of the family

Quite exciting

Here's new mother (my niece), Lisa with new father, Jared and their new responsibility - Myles.  

Wonder  what Blue, the cat, will think about  this interloper?
 

Here's David holding his grandson.   I don't know if David's decided on his own name.   My father  went by Pop-Pop for Lisa.   My sister is coming to visit too.  She's been advocating  for "PeePaw" and thinks she's hilarious.  

No matter  what,  this little boy will  be loved...and spoiled. 

And  yes, you'll  get to see future  posts of our  Charleston adventures. 

Note: the formal photos were done by Valerie  Joy Photography in Charleston.  She did a lovely portfolio and Myles cooperated completely.  

Monday Moments - Bye Mavericks Season

April 11th, Ray and I enjoyed  Fan Appreciation Night for the  Dallas  Mavericks. It's been  a crazy season and they did not make the official playoffs.  But on this night, they won - absolutely played circles around  the  Toronto  Raptors. 

We also got to hear a little pre-game  special talk by Avery Johnson.  He is a man age 60 now, but was a player and coach back in the day. He did  take the San Antonio Spurs to an  NBA Championship.  Now he's in investments and also involved in basketball programs. Very personable motivational  speaker.  Nice  sense  of humor and he  gave us a variety of insights into  his career. 

Another treat - oh  yeah - a hot dog, soda, and popcorn  for  ONLY  $6.50.  Actually our hosts  treated, so it was "free" for us.  Then again, our hosts  are our  financial  advisers and they earn money from us. It's a full circle moment. 

Fun entertainment  - Simon  Sez - this is  a guy who runs a real Simon Says game very very fast during  half-time.  Tons of chosen fans were out there playing and he eliminated so many, so quickly.  It  was amusing to watch and to sort of play along. 

All in all, we enjoyed Fan  Appreciation Night

Simon Says - Have a Good Week! 
 

Finally Friday - Fiction or Life as we Know It?

 A lot of folks need to  start reading and thinking.  These works are "fiction" ???

Whatever Wednesday - Bear by Julia Phillips

 Bear by Julia Phillips is a mesmerizing novel of two sisters whose lives are upended by an unexpected visitor - a tale of family, obsession, and a mysterious creature in the woods.  (cover blurb)

Sam and Elena live on an island off the coast of Washington where they were born and  raised. Tough struggle from day to day. Both girls are in their twenties and their mother is very ill. Lack of money and future prove frustrating.  

One night on the ferry, Sam spots a bear swimming in the channel.  Next, the bear is at their home. Sam's terrified. Elena is  enchanted.  Themes of escape, dreams, and danger are intertwined as the sisters deal with their  lives.   Phillips writing is rich and very in tune with the vibes of humans and nature. 

p. 87  Sam pictured her mother's pain as swift and final. She understood better, now, what it actually was - not a glass dropped on the tile floor, one terrible burst, but a  tree required to grow over years in a limited  space. Branches  curled in, leaves dropping. A living  thing that was forced relentlessly to submit. 

p. 120  per Elena  The  bear was, briefly and beautifully, teaching them  what it  was living, helping them to make it through. 

Monday Moments - Easter Weekend

Yea for Monday - Blow some bubbles.  So  - Easter Weekend 2025 at Kevin's.   Levi was the star. He's our great great at eighteen months. Ray gave all the kids bubble guns and Levi loved the bubbles.  So  fun, so cute

Then he explored everything on the patio.   It was a gorgeous afternoon in Texas.  Kevin and Maria grilled salmon. Chris fried up some Mahi-Mahi.   Oh, we feasted

 Still exploring. 

Dakota, age 7, is  just a cutie in  her princess fairy dress.  This was during the egg hunt. 

And all the grands - Dakota, Makyla, Abby with Levi, and  Skylar

Delightful  Easter Weekend.  I hope you and  yours had a good family time, peace, feast, chocolate bunnies, and more. 

Now, have  a good  week!

finally Friday - Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle is an endearing tale of being single, finding love, passion, truth, and a key question - what is true romantic love? 

cover blurb - Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it - the exact amount of time they will be together.  Three days with Martin in Paris, five weeks with Noah in San Francisco, and three months with Hugo. 

Now Hugo is her ex but a long time best friend.  Then along comes Jake and the paper  has no time frame.  So, what is really going  to happen?  Can she really commit?   And can she tell Jake the truth - some difficult information about her, her past, and her future?

I can't say more. This book has some twists and turns and surprises. Daphne is a very filled out rich character, and I rooted for her to make the right decisions. The author definitely pulls you in.  Fun read. 
 

Whatever Wednesday - Mosaic Tile fun

The City of Bedford is creating a community mural in a tree design. Encompassing the  design will be 300 mosaic tiles painted by Bedford residents.  Ray and I went to one of the paint locations and got in  on  the action.  My first tile I picked was for  the "Warm color" section  of the tree.  I used a flower stencil and expanded from there.  

My second design  came from the "blues" section  of the mural - more for  the sky surrounding the tree. I used a sponge for the background blues for some texture, and then whispered around a design. 

Ray stayed in the "blues" area, used a stencil, and colored in  from there.  It had to be 80% blues, 20% other colors. 

And another addition  to the "blues" from Ray.  

We enjoyed our hour of creativity, and it was fun  seeing how other people interpreted the assignment. Some stuck  with stencils, others did free hand designs.   It will be very interesting to see how this all pulls together into  a colorful tree. 

Look  for  community activities.  Free to do.  Fun!  and hey - it's your tax dollars at work for something  worthwhile - ART!