Hola Mis Amigos y Amigas!!!

Hola!

We are so glad to be home--we were very worried about our 23 year old cat, Daisy. We all were dreading getting a phone call that something bad had happened to her and we felt guilty for leaving her knowing that it would stress her out...but, she's fine! Hurray! Thanks Unnamed and M. for taking such good care of her while we were gone.

We did not miss the snow and record breaking cold here while we were down in warm Mexico. We don't mind coming back to it, but it was nice to take a break from it.

I've never traveled somewhere warm during the winter. I've just remained cold for 3 months and then felt heartened when the change of season has come. I like the different seasons, but I've discovered on this trip that I love the tropics too. It was soooo beautiful in Mexico. We saw plants of all sorts. Here are just a few:

Palms of all sorts...



Mass groupings of these purple/fuschia leaved plants
the leaves were purpley/pink!!



On the way to the beach, we saw an iguana lazily dozing and resting on a tree right next to the boardwalk.


It was grey for several days. We only had a couple of clear, sunny days, but the water was warm and inviting always.





And, there were flowers everywhere...

Amazing to go away to such a beautiful, warm, interesting place and then in a few hours come back to this.



Hello suburban squirrel footprints on our front step! Good thing I like all of the seasons.

Contest! New Quote of the Week, or talk Amongst Yourselves

I'm not here. Isn't technology great? I've written this at an earlier point and scheduled it to post at 6:00 AM. And, here it is. Magic.

So, since I'm not here, but others are cat sitting--thanks Unnamed and M.--I thought you guys could share any words of wisdom here while I'm gone. I'm running a new Quote of the Week contest. Any sage words, good advice, mind boggling ideas can go here in the comment section.

Go ahead. You must have heard something at some point that has really moved you. Someone said something that made it all fall into place for you. Share it here. When I get back, I'll look at the posts and decide who has the best words, at that moment, based on whatever I'm feeling at the time. Kind of arbitrary, but this is subjective and who knows how I'll be moved?

Hey! Maybe I'll get something in Mexico and give it to the winner! Yeah, how about that?

Contest give away--something cool from Mexico that doesn't go against the spirit of The Compact in any big way.

Contest rules: Post as often as you like. Post any interesting thing you'd like to share.

See you soon. Good luck!

I. Am. Procrastinating...

I am procrastinating because I feel overwhelmed. Nice response, eh? And, I feel overwhelmed because the time to get things done is slipping by--so I procrastinate. Mind boggling isn't it, but this is one of my long term foibles and huge character flaws.

My mom is a huge list maker and does not procrastinate to my knowledge. She gets things done quickly, especially things she hates doing, and gets on to the good stuff. She checks things off and moves on. Admirable.

I write up a list, look at it, get overwhelmed and think about what else I can do instead. Flawed.

Rock out Friday.

Espero que disfruten de la musica, and I'll see you soon when we get back.

I've Discovered Photoshop

My husband designs things for a company. Yes, things. Stuff. But, the stuff he designs is of a good quality and is ultimately used by creative people to make their own stuff. Not all stuff is bad. His stuff could be handed down to a whole new generation of stuff-users. Really, it could.

This is how we've come to have Photoshop here in our house. And now I have my brother-in-law's hand-me-down camera so I've been discovering what I can do when I combine snow, a digital SLR camera and Photoshop.

Look what I did yesterday:

This series I call, Bikes Left on Back Porch Even Though it's the Winter.

Here's a set I like to call, Evergreen Shrub on Back Porch.

Here's a shot I have named, Underside of Metal Porch Chair: Could be a Twin to a Victor Vasarely Print



Look:



See? Twins.



These are my Twigs and Plants series. I think they've turned out nicely.







Back to basics with Logs.








This one is called, I've Come Unhinged.





Here's a little something I like to call Desaturation Black and White Tree Mombo





And finally, Good Fences make Good neighbors.

But, do you think that's true? Do good fences make good neighbors? Does it depend on who is controlling the fence? What if some want to go the other side--what then?