In Memory Of...

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.

 "We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led, 

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies."

  (photos courtesy of: google)

Rabbit Hole (Friday Evening Movie)

"RABBIT HOLE is a vivid, hopeful, honest and unexpectedly beautiful portrait of a couple searching for a life that still holds the potential for beauty, laughter and happiness in the wake of a sudden loss that turned their world upside down." 

I saw this movie this past week and thought it was beautiful. It was a drama that didn't leave me feeling empty or hopeless in the end but instead hopeful for the future of the characters. A great story for me is one I can't quite forget and where I mentally look at it from different angles. The angles that I found so compelling were: The story of loss that was portrayed so honestly, the acting that made the story real, the simple music that would drift into certain scenes and make them more fragile, 

and the ending that was hope filled.  

*PG-13 for drug use and language 

(photos courtesy of:google

quote courtesy of:rotten tomatoes) 

Women Are Like Spaghetti

"Women are like spaghetti...everything in her life touches everything else."

Last night my sister, a friend and I, talked and laughed over platefuls of

spaghetti and meatballs. It was fun...pure and simple fun. 

Ingredients

HERB MEATBALLS

1 pound lean ground beef

1/2 cup fresh or dried bread crumbs

2 cloves garlic minced 

1/4 cup fresh basil minced 

1/4 cup onion minced

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon salt 

1 egg, beaten

*1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese 

(optional if you are serving anyone who has dairy allergies) 

Directions

In a large bowl, combine ground beef, bread crumbs, basil, onion, garlic, 

1/4 teaspoon black pepper, salt and beaten egg. Mix well and form into 12 balls. 

Bake meatballs in the oven @ 400 for 30 minutes until firm to the touch. 

Scoop and place in sauce and simmer 30 minutes more. Serve.

Photo Shoot

This afternoon, my sister and I went to Camel's Back Park to take pictures. This is what our photo shoot looked like: We found a location, we got our cameras out, we would tell each other where to stand, how to look and then...someone would come around the corner and we would get shy and pretend like we weren't taking pictures of each other ("oh look at the sky" "quick hide in that tall grass!").

We did this for about 30 minutes and then our shyness (and cold legs) won over and we called it quits. BUT I did get some pictures of my beautiful sister. 

I hope you enjoy.

(photos courtesy of: me)

Shop Girls

This morning my sister and I went shopping. 

We talked about politics in the food court, laughed while she was trying to dust sparkly bronzer all over my face (I think some got up my nose), oohed and aahed over clothes and dishes.

I loved it. 

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."

Coco Chanel
"Fashion fades, only style remains the same."
Coco Chanel

(photos courtesy of: weheartit)

Sailing

I love the water.

  On my Dream List is: One day help build a wooden sailboat.

"I keep sailing on in this middle passage. I am sailing into the wind and the dark.

But I am doing my best to keep my boat steady and my sails full."

Arthur Ashe 

"If you live a life of make-believe, your life isn't worth anything until you do something that does challenge your reality. And to me, sailing the open ocean is a real challenge, because it's life or death."
Morgan Freeman

"My goal in sailing isn't to be brilliant or flashy in individual races, just to be consistent 

over the long run."

Dennis Conner

Sunday

Nothing can tear us from

The grip of His mighty love

We've only glimpsed, His vast affection

heard whispers of, His heart and passion

It's pouring down...

His love is deep,

His love is wide

And it covers us

His love is fierce,

His love is strong

It is furious

His love is sweet,

His love is wild

And its waking hearts to life

The Father loves and sends His Son

The Son lays down His life for all

He calls us now, His sons and daughters

He's reaching out...

 and its waking hearts to life

He is waking hearts to life

He is waking hearts to life

(song: Furious by Jeremy Riddle

photos courtesy of: weheartit)

Friendship

“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”

This is a story about friendship. The lady who told me this 

story is now in her 90's. After World  War 2, there was much

 mistrust and prejudice towards the Japanese Americans. This 

woman told me that she and her husband (who had been away 

for 3 years in the military because of the war) became friends

 with a Japanese American couple. It started out with their daughters

 becoming friends, then dinner, playing cards every week,

and eventually into a life-long friendship.

She told me that people were angry and would ask them "Why are 

you friends with them?" And this is what she  said to me, "They 

were humans too. They were our friends." These two couples 

stayed friends through, sickness, distance, up until death.

I am so lucky to have heard this story. 

I hope that I will be a friend like that.

(photos courtesy of: google image) 

Brown Eyed Susan

I cannot resist, because I feel like a little girl on the night before Christmas. 

One week from today my sister Susan is coming to see me! 

I already have a list of things we will do together, restaurants 

where we will have delicious food, laughing, talking, laughing 

some more, movies, stories...the list goes on and on. 

I'm so lucky. I love her. Yep, that's it. 

(photos courtesy of: natalie garret, susan brak)

Freckles

It has been beautifully sunny for the past few days. 

This morning I only put on a light coat and by noon, I had shed it, 

rolled down my windows and let the breeze dance across my face. 

When the sun makes its appearance, so does something else...freckles. 

Yes, freckles. Across my cheeks, on my nose and up and down my arms. 

 I remember at one time being self-conscience of these 

little polka dots on my face until one day, someone said, 

"I love your freckles!"

It's funny how the things we often want to change about our faces, 

are the very things that someone else finds endearing. 

Who knows of why or what use freckles are; yet, 

I kind of like mine and would miss them very much if they were gone.”

~Owen J. McClain