Multicolored.... GERMARICANESE

Create your own flag.... http://www.wearemulticolored.com/

breakage....

do you ever wonder if there is just one more thing that can go wrong or can break? i swear ... in a matter of 24 hours:

--barkley chewed off the face of a doll that my mom made for me when i was a little girl.... (awwwwww... the pain!)

--the basketball pole that rodrigo was assembling "blew over" in the wind and destroyed my rhodedendron (it looks pathetic)

--rodrigo accidentally spilled some spicy salsa on a new table cloth

--i broke rodrigo's favorite wine glass..... :(

after finishing the dishes i think i just went to bed to avoid any other disasters...

oh yeah... never mind that the neighborhood was destroyed that night in a storm.... there must have been something in the air for all of this to happen within 24 hours...

Neighborhood after the STORM

it's been a long time since i've gone 26 hours without electricity.... (and yet that is the reality for many folks around the world on a daily basis!)

well, it certainly was a weekend of storms... i heard that "little holland, mi" made the national news by hosting two incredible storms -- one early friday morning (2am) and one on friday night.... some in the community have even said that they saw a tornado.... after seeing the storm damage in our woods, i wouldn't doubt it.


we are incredibly thankful that our home was spared and that there was no major damage.... our neighbor on the other hand was not so fortunate.... we didn't even hear the branch come down, cuz the thunder was sooooo loud for sooooo long.....






trees down everywhere... power lines down..... basements flooded..... roads damaged... cars smashed... all of these right here in our own block and a half..... we have a lot to be thankful for....

when mom and dad have no power, they even lose their water supply..... having city water here in holland is a true blessing.... even though we sat around with candles (and some vino) and settled into the dark.... we still had water. so, that was our weekend.... kudos to the many, many, power supply folks and cleaning crews who worked so hard over the entire weekend.... especially on FATHER'S DAY.

Up North.... I love being home.

There is just something "WILD" about this picture.... I wonder what's going through their furry heads!



Given that Pancho and Rodrigo weigh about the same, there was as much pushing into the water as resisting the water....


Barkley looks like he's a water fountain....




Otis Pottery.....

“Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are anger and courage. Anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain as they are.” … St. Augustine

Sarah's Key

highly recommended read:

SARAH'S KEY by T. de Rosnay - I read the book in three days. a fantastic, yet tragic read.

[editorial note: after posting the above, i spent the rest of the evening mourning the fact that i had finished reading the book.... i likened it to having said 'goodbye' to a dear friend unsure of when i will next see him/her....]

my darling niece.....

i so look forward to the day when i meet this beautiful being....

Magnificent -- (click on title to watch the video)

Magnificent by U2
Magnificent

I was born
I was born to be with you
In this space and time
After that and ever after I haven't had a clue
Only to break rhyme
This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

I was born
I was born to sing for you
I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice
From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise…

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love unites our hearts

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent
Magnificent

blogging facelift...

wow, the time i have just spent giving my blog a facelift..... now if anyone could tell me how to move the description bar down to the bottom of the title section....

southshore village multicultural event

RED


ORANGE


BLUE

another thought on blogging....

one nice thing about blogging is that while it is available for folks to read, it doesn't announce it to the world like facebook does... heaven forbid you make a comment on facebook and the whole world knows.....

the loss of blogging

you know, my home page is set to this blog and it's the first thing i see when i get on firefox.... yet, i haven't written much at all in months... and i haven't checked the blogs of so many friends.... to my dismay, many of the blogs are deleted, moved, or inactive as of 2007.... my theory: facebook has taken over. it's become THE social networking site so that only the faithful have continued to maintain their blogs.... i'm guilty of having neglected this old friend... and yet, i have so many memories and thoughts stored on this blog..... maybe i just don't have that much to say anymore... is that a sad thought or what?? where is my inspiration??