This is what you get...

When you combine equal parts...

French Braid tutorials

and good wine

With an extra helping of ME.  

A really sad attempt at my very first ever french braid.  Notice...I have baby find hair so you can barely tell what the heck is going on with my hair.  

Another glass of wine please!

Seattle is pretty...

...Even on a drizzly day, even when I'm wearing my glasses because I broke my contacts. Even on a day like this, I seriously love this place.

What do you know about Bhutan?

I'm not sure if you've heard about Bhutan's GNH (Gross National Happiness), but it inspired this artist to create an online art installation chronicling some of the people of Bhutan and what makes them happy...what they wish for.  The balloons symbolize happiness and the colors are as vibrant as the people.  I recommend taking a look and a listen.

One of the things that struck me, a brash American girl, is that so many of these folks are very soft spoken, even shy, hesitant to share such private thoughts; the artist/chronicler is so clear-spoken and delicate in his approach I found myself smiling ear to ear at these exchanges.

Enjoy and have a blessed Sunday!

Part VI

Psalm 104, verses 26 through 30

There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

Part V

Psalm 104, verses 21 through 25

The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

Somewhat Silent Sunday

In the stillness of creeping fog, even shouts are muted.

Footsteps fall in quiet plunks upon the ground.

The middle of each word spoken fills with a cool, rounded breath.

In the fog, the ugliness is forgiven by a cloud's progress.

Part IV

Psalm 104, verses 16 through 20
The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

Part III

Psalm 104, verses 11 through 15
They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.

By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

How Do You Mend...?

I just finished watching Beyond Borders, which means any trace of mascara is gone from my eyelashes.  My heart is bare and I'm wondering.  How do you mend a world that is unravelling at the seams.  There is prayer and there is action...and there is also conviction.

I wish they hadn't Hollywooded the film with a love story.  There would have been enough love without it.

"He was my first save, 10 years old. So thin he could barely stand. But he still found the strength the bury the rest of his family. We have no idea what courage is... He used to write me little notes. He helped me in the clinic. He was good. He was sweet, he was good. He wanted to be like me, I liked that. I mean, it was silly and childish, but it made me feel good about myself. So I took him with me to London, you know, my talisman, my courageous Africa... - pauses - How could I be so bloody stupid? How could I be so totally selfish? The point is... he was my friend. He had a name. So now I HAVE to remember him. If everybody I lose has a name..."

Part II

Psalm 104, verses 6 through 10

Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.