Shades of Blue

Tucson

2012-01-02T20:22:00.000-07:00

Building a shed

2011-10-12T06:53:00.002-07:00

At the community garden.

Birthday

2011-09-13T07:25:00.004-07:00

One more birthday came and went.

Snapshot

2011-09-01T15:51:00.000-07:00

Park creatures

2011-08-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

Ants

2011-08-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

Reside in the garden.

Sunshine

2011-08-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

Nature

2011-08-19T07:48:00.000-07:00

Porto

2011-08-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

Porto, Portugal. A city I heard about often while living in Mozambique and later had a chance to visit. This picture was borrowed from here.

Way back when

2011-07-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

In Mozambique.

We played.

Dear Lord

2011-06-14T07:03:00.002-07:00

"Dear Lord, I will remain restless, tense, and dissatisfied until I can be totally at peace in your house. There is no certainty that my life will be any easier in the years ahead, or that my heart will be any calmer. But there is certainty that you are waiting for me and will welcome me home when I have persevered in my long journey to your house."

- Henri J.M. Nouwen

Wayne Dyer

2011-06-09T03:12:00.001-07:00

Words of wisdom - Dr. wayne Dyer.

Personal development

2011-06-08T14:56:00.002-07:00

Things change but the unknown causes discomfort. Everything that shows up in your life is something to express about, says Wayne Dyer.

June's Sunshine

2011-06-05T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Rule of 5 in Youth Development

2011-05-16T05:04:00.001-07:00

It was the second Derek Peterson presentation I attended.

Derek's mission is to teach communities/parents what it takes to help youth succeed. For more information visit his website,

Dust devil time

2011-05-15T12:03:00.002-07:00

Spring is here

2011-04-30T15:00:00.000-07:00

Reading

2011-04-27T01:45:00.000-07:00

Click pic to enlarge.

Renewal

2011-04-25T10:50:00.000-07:00

Shopping with Dad

2011-04-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

Click pic to enlarge.

New Growth

2011-04-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

Sweetness grows in my garden.

Snapshot

2011-04-21T10:48:00.000-07:00

Spring in Arizona

Homesteads

2011-04-18T04:42:00.001-07:00

In Phoenix, AZ.

Work

2011-04-16T02:12:00.002-07:00

"Words don't move mountains. Work, exacting work, moves mountains."

- Danilo Dolci, Sicilian poet and social activist

The chicken dance

2011-04-15T04:48:00.001-07:00

Fun, fun, at a school event.

Japanese Friendship Garden

2011-04-13T04:25:00.001-07:00

In Phoenix, AZ

Families

2011-04-11T04:53:00.001-07:00

Are made from this.

Play time

2011-04-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

Both puppies, but she's bigger...

Chocolate

2011-04-05T01:32:00.000-07:00

Click pic to enlarge

Aikido

2011-04-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

Aikido. At the annual children's festival at the Japanese Friendship garden.

Entrancing.

Summer Winds

2011-04-03T00:18:00.001-07:00

Nurseries are one of those places where a lot of what I like about nature is packed in one place.

Simplicity...

2011-04-02T05:19:00.000-07:00

... is found in the park.

Ben's Bells

2011-04-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

Kindness... Share it.

Ben's story is found here.

I practice what I preach

2011-03-27T07:33:00.000-07:00

Passing it on... I learned from Sara, and I shared with Marni.

"If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it."

- Margaret Fuller

F.I.G.G.

2011-03-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

For those of us looking to garden but lacked a space this opportunity was perfect. You can find information about the garden here and here.

Our plot is planted. Like Amanda says in the article above, it feels good to dig in and watch life grow,

A woman's bag of tricks

2011-03-20T18:52:00.001-07:00

Click pic to enlarge

Age issues

2011-03-17T17:39:00.001-07:00

Click pic to enlarge.

Gammage in the dark

2011-03-15T05:05:00.001-07:00

I was there recently for an awards ceremony. It is so sweet to walk the grounds at night.

Off to the gasoline hole

2011-03-12T17:03:00.000-07:00

When you fail to replenish the fuel in the big white van...

you must rely on the old trusty bike to get you to the gasoline station for an emergency gallon or two...

Around town

2011-03-07T05:31:00.001-07:00

There are some parts in Phoenix and surrounding towns that must be seen from time to time just because they are fun to see...

I think urban planning is an interesting endeavor.

The weather outside is FANTASTIC!

2011-03-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

March weather is what I live for in Phoenix.

The weeds like it too, but together we enjoy the outdoors.

The Book of Love

2011-03-04T05:44:00.001-07:00

The book of love is long and boring

No one can lift the damn thing

It's full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing

But I

I love it when you read to me

And you

You can read me anything

The book of love has music in it

In fact that's where music comes from

Some of it is just transcendental

Some of it is just really dumb

But I

I love it when you sing to me

And you

You can sing me anything

The book of love is long and boring

And written very long ago

It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes

And things we're all too young to know

But I

I love it when you give me things

And you

You ought to give me wedding rings

And I

I love it when you give me things

And you

You ought to give me wedding rings

And I

I love it when you give me things

And you

You ought to give me wedding rings

Disobedience

2011-03-03T16:18:00.000-07:00

The term 'disobedience' is not appropriate because any law that does not protect and enhance human life is no real law."

- Sister Anne Montgomery, R.S.C.J.

Locally grown

2011-03-02T05:32:00.001-07:00

Harvest for Humanity feeds the community in need.

Volunteer and help out.

Cakes

2011-02-28T06:08:00.002-07:00

Nothing Bundt Cakes is certainly a boutique like bakery specializing in a certain kind of cake as the name indicates.

For those of us who are in love with pretty things found only in boutiques, this is a place to visit.

This is a model of the large cakes.

The little ones are a perfect way to sample the various flavors available.

They are simply sweet and tasty. And they come with forks.

Phoenix

2011-02-23T05:27:00.000-07:00

The Phoenix skyline.

Stomaching the truth

2011-02-22T16:13:00.002-07:00

The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."

- Flannery O'Connor

Books

2011-02-21T05:40:00.000-07:00

When your favorite bookstore is about to close, you go and buy books and whatever else looks like a bargain.

The place was packed with people thinking the same thing I was thinking.

These were a dollar each.

This one book is really more for knitters. It is packed with stories about knitting which means very little to me. Is there one about crochet?

School Bus

2011-02-20T06:44:00.000-07:00

I worked on a project that will decorate a wall of a middle school.

I found this clip art.

And turned into this. Snowden helped me with some of the painting. I am super happy about this accomplishment.

Humility

2011-02-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

Humility is attentive patience."

- Simone Weil

Pretty Places

2011-02-15T12:13:00.001-07:00

Tucked away in a local gym, this little boutique exists.

I stop by to get a glimpse of pretty things that make me smile.

The African in me found this suit whimsical.

Courage and consistency

2011-02-13T14:08:00.001-07:00

"Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage."

- Maya Angelou

Morning Bliss

2011-02-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

Early morning driving is beautiful.

See?

How much food

2011-02-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

Click pic to enlarge

Current Events

2011-02-02T18:06:00.000-07:00

click pic to enlarge,

Humility

2011-01-28T18:04:00.002-07:00

"Humility leads me to do anything I can do in any situation without having to do everything in every situation."

- Joan Chittister

Important Questions

2011-01-27T11:38:00.000-07:00

Click pic to enlarge

A celebration of kids

2011-01-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

The local orthodontist celebrates his clients by throwing a party.

It was fun.

Goodness

2011-01-17T09:11:00.000-07:00

For a daily dose of goodness and confort I stop by here.

Prayer

2011-01-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

"Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action."

- Mohandas Gandhi

What love can do

2011-01-10T11:28:00.002-07:00

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

To develop oneself

2010-12-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

Group think - a mode of thinking where participants strive for unanimity... It' s kind of like being part of a blog community where self expression unites all. I felt compelled to create this space after the passing of my father as if I needed to place bits of myself out in the universe. An eloquent writer I am not, so I use pictures who always have much to share, if only you look closely. I have benefited from the time I have spent thinking about Shades of Blue and what I might share in this my little corner of the universe. I hope you, who I see reading this right now, can see what I see and be richer inside as I am. Here's to more time spent being closer to the spirit living inside you.

The feel of Christmas

2010-12-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

A walk outside to enjoy a few sparkles.

The table awaits the food prepared just so.

Sangria sweetened with tangelos and pomegranate.

Brussels sprouts, carrots, and yams before cooking.

Ham.

French bread pieces which will be toasted and used in the stuffing.

The tree.

The desserts.

And it was a good Christmas...

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T00:02:00.001-07:00

Season's blessings to all.

These walking feet

2010-12-23T11:30:00.002-07:00

Have you given some thought to feet, your feet, and what freedoms they bestow on you?

My photo essay on my feet... and the shoes they wear... or not.

The Giving Tree

2010-12-22T04:07:00.003-07:00

The Giving Tree. That's me. As seen by Snowden my daughter, who places me in the middle nurturing all members of the family, dogs included.

:-D

Humility

2010-12-21T10:59:00.002-07:00

"The way to Christ is first through humility, second through humility, third through humility."

- Augustine of Hippo

Cacti

2010-12-21T00:12:00.000-07:00

Nature's beauty lives in Arizona.

Kleiners

2010-12-20T04:58:00.001-07:00

Four generations of Schroders have been making a batch of Kleiners at Christmas time. This danish tradition is traced back to TJ's grandfather who made it for his family in keeping with his homeland celebrations.

Crisco for frying.

The dough is taken out of the refrigerator.

TJ starts to roll it.

It has to be thin...

He cuts the strips.

Grasshopper loves these cookies... She lobbies for them every Christmas and likes to roll them.

Snowden and I did the frying. We have a very nice batch of sweetness to enjoy over Winter Break and share. That is, of course, if our cookie monster in residence doesn't devour them quickly.

2010-12-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

These trees stand out in an otherwise man made green desert. I love them.

It reminds me of the brilliant colors of the east coast.

A Ria a Preto e Branco

2010-12-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Splendid Torch

2010-12-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

"Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for a moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."

- George Bernard Shaw

What are your capacities?

2010-12-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

"We all know well that we can do things for others and in the process, crush them, making them feel that they are incapable of doing things by themselves. To love someone is to reveal to them their capacities for life, the light that is shining in them."

- Jean Vanier

Who's the Boss

2010-12-09T16:46:00.002-07:00

Click pic to enlarge

Giving - my way

2010-12-01T01:14:00.001-07:00

Christ does not save all those who say to him: Lord, Lord. But he saves all those who out of a pure heart give a piece of bread to a starving [person], without thinking about him in the least little bit."

- Simone Weil

I am thankful for ...

2010-11-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for ...

Her...

And her.

Chandler's New City Hall

2010-11-22T16:26:00.001-07:00

Chandler has a new City Hall. And everyone celebrated.

Fall

2010-11-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

To be Loved.

2010-11-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

"Don't struggle and strive so, my child./ There is no race to complete, no point to prove, no obstacle to conquer for you to win my love./ I have already given it to you./ I loved you before creation drew its first breath./ I dreamed you as I molded Adam from the mud./ I saw you wet from the womb./ And I loved you then."

- Mpho Tutu and Desmond Tutu, from Made for Goodness

It's cold out there

2010-11-14T15:19:00.000-07:00

And in here too.

Weekends are perfect days to sit be the fire and work on unfinished projects requiring computer use.

To Be Alive

2010-11-08T13:53:00.002-07:00

To be alive is to be broken; to be broken is to stand in need of grace.

- Brennan Manning

Volunteers

2010-11-07T05:38:00.002-07:00

This firefighter volunteered to show elementary school kids what his job is all about.

The clothing they wear.

The hat.

Oxygen.

Shoes and radio.

Getting ready to test the hose.

Sounds of Music

2010-11-05T04:31:00.001-07:00

Girls tapping a song they learn in music class.

Awareness

2010-11-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

"Awareness requires a rupture with the world we take for granted; then old categories of experience are called into question and revised."

-Shoshana Zuboff

Warner Farmer's Market

2010-11-02T05:46:00.001-07:00

It is thrilling to have this market so close on Saturdays. I stumbled into it this last weekend as I drove by, and had to stop and visit.

Glendale, AZ

2010-10-31T06:05:00.000-07:00

Beautiful houses in an old part of town.

Humor

2010-10-29T05:12:00.000-07:00

Humor and laughter are not necessarily the same thing. Humor permits us to see into life from a fresh and gracious perspective. We learn to take ourselves more lightly in the presence of good humor. Humor gives us the strength to bear what cannot be changed, and the sight to see the human under the pompous.

- Joan Chittister

Pumpkin Carving

2010-10-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

We got together with friends on a Saturday afternoon to carve pumpkins.

It was fun.

Fall in Arizona

2010-10-19T05:20:00.001-07:00

Green grass and fallen leaves.

Tempe Town Lake

2010-10-17T10:50:00.000-07:00

Tempe Town Lake gets water.

This man made lake has become a center of activity in tempe. The water was missed by many.

Balance

2010-10-08T02:04:00.001-07:00

I weep a lot. I thank God I laugh a lot, too. The main thing in one's own private world is to try to laugh as much as you cry.

- Maya Angelou

The Post Office

2010-10-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

As I drove through here today, I remembered the countless times this spot has connected me to my far away family and friends.

I do enjoy the old fashion way of communicating through the post office.

In my backyard

2010-10-06T06:53:00.001-07:00

Look what I found in my backyard.

Melons!

It's Fall!

2010-10-04T08:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is Fall, even if the temperatures here hover close to 100 degrees.

Halloween decorations coming up soon. Have a blessed day.

Creative Campaigning

2010-10-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

I ran across this over the weekend...

She's a candidate for a local school board.

I call it creative campaigning at the farmer's market.

Saturday Morning in Phoenix

2010-09-29T16:00:00.002-07:00

Quieter streets...

Engaging your State Representatives

2010-09-27T15:53:00.001-07:00

I recently had the opportunity to listen to Representative John McComish.

I find these experiences very valuable and informative.

The Phoenix Public Market

2010-09-26T15:52:00.000-07:00

Last week I made a trip to the Phoenix Public Market.

Downtown Phoenix

It's a place where on spends a pretty penny. but so much fun to visit on a Saturday morning.

Freedom and Ownership

2010-09-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

Bit by bit … she had claimed herself. Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

- Toni Morrison, in Beloved

Negotiations

2010-09-22T12:12:00.002-07:00

click pic to enlarge