Thursday, December 31, 2009

ADJUST YOUR SAILS

I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. - Jimmy Dean
With only a few more hours of 2009 in front of me it is time to think about 2010 and what my goals and resolutions are going to be for this New Year. First off I hope to produce more art. I really want to work in a studio environment and concentrate on making more art quilts for sale. My mosaics are only collecting dust if they aren't in gallery and available for public sale. I think most artists enjoy the creative aspect of their art and not the marketing of themselves. Rejection isn't something that is POSITIVE!! Since I have had my foot surgery I can hopefully increase my walking so that some of my extra weight can come off. That has been something that has been bothering me for almost two years! I know I face physical therapy and that won't be fun, but walking my dogs is a great motivating factor to get better!! Another resolution is to use my computer time more efficiently. I love corresponding with my cyber friends and will continue to keep you informed with all that I am doing. My photography is really important to me and so I hope to integrate more of it in my art. My photoblog is updated everyday so if you haven't visited it in a while please do: http://www.photoblog.com/TWOZEES/
We hope to sell our home in 2010 and start the next phase in our lives. Not sure where we will move but I hope whatever we find will give us many hours of pleasure decorating and setting up a new home that both of us will enjoy. So as the quote above suggests: YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE WIND BUT I CAN ADJUST MY SAILS...

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

RUBY JANE

Ruby Jane is the next great picker, fiddler, songwriter, and singer with an amazing career in front of her. She is only 13 years old! This enormously talented up and coming bluegrass performer is going to be at GRUENE HALL on January 3rd. I would love to go hear her play. You can listen to her below:

Monday, December 28, 2009

THE ROSE HOTEL

Tonight is the concert I have been waiting for!!! Robert Earl Keen is coming to the House of Blues to play. Sure hope he plays songs from his new album; THE ROSE HOTEL. You can hear some of it if you follow this link. http://losthighwayrecords.com/artist/releases/release.aspx?pid=1763&aid=223

Saturday, December 26, 2009

SUNSETS

There is nothing prettier than a sunset over water. We were in Galveston a few years ago and I took these of my kids sitting by the bay. What makes a sunset so calming to watch? I don't even want to know any scientific reason what makes them so colorful. I just want to feel the good vibes!

Friday, December 25, 2009

MY HOME TOWN

Americans, it seems, still have a love affair with the West. Texas was the big winner in the Census Bureau's annual population estimates, which were released on Wednesday. If and when we sell our house we will be joining that love affair, too. But can you really count two native Houstonians in that mix? Yep, both Perry and I are born and raised in Houston. Of course, if you add "a wish" into that mixture, and we could move anywhere in the USA, I doubt it would be to Houston.
Ha...

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

FEET

You never realize how important your feet are until something goes wrong. I had a bone spur that developed due to arthritis in my right foot. I tried dealing with it by having injections of cortisone and trying to find shoes that would fit my foot. But after almost two years I decided to go ahead with having the spur removed. It is considered a simple operation by most orthopedic surgeons BUT when it is YOUR foot it is a different matter. I had my surgery on Friday and so tomorrow they will fit me in a walking boot. This photo was taken before the surgery.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

PHOTOGRAPHY

I love taking photographs. I love the way my camera feels in my hand. I like seeing the world through my view finder. I feel like I am hiding inside a box and I can witness what is happening on the outside. Here are a few photographs I have taken lately.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

HOSPICE SANTA CLAUS

A Santa Claus volunteer leans in for a girl who just received a candy cane at a hospice care center. John Scheuch, Santa-America's executive director, says these kids sometimes ask difficult questions. "I visited a 6-year-old who asked Santa, 'What is it going to be like when I die?' After a gulp and a deep breath I said, 'I don't really know, but I do know you will not be hurting or in pain anymore and that can only be more pleasant.' Then we spoke of other things." Santa-America

Sunday, December 13, 2009

GRADUATION WEEKEND

Last weekend my middle son, Lane, graduated from The University of Texas in Austin. We are so proud of him and all he has accomplished! Here are some photos from his graduation.
Check out his image in the jumbo screen!

Friday, December 11, 2009

SUPERFOOD STATUS

Chocolate has all but been elevated to "superfood" status. And the good news keeps rolling in. That is great news to me! I am not one of those crazy chocoholic types but I do love a piece of the creamy delight in my mouth sometimes.

So here are three more reasons why you may not want to be too quick to break that chocolate habit. (As long as you're hitting the dark stuff.)

  1. Chocolate makes you smarter.
  2. Chocolate weakens heart attacks.
  3. Chocolate has a cavity-fighting compound.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

WHICH DO YOU PREFER?

I was so bored last night that I decided to post on my Facebook page a poll about toilet paper brands. It has become quite the talk of my friends!
How about you? What is your favorite brand?

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

DECLUTTER DELIGHT

Most of you know we are getting our house ready for sale. That means getting all the clutter out and making the rooms look larger than they really are. I should be an expert at it with all the TV watching I do of HGTV. I could design, stage, paint, update, and sell anything since I have spent so much time watching all those shows. Here are some photos of our front study. It hasn't looked better! Those are Hickory wood built in cabinets. Notice how uncluttered they look? Tomorrow the granite floor will be buffed.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER

DECEMBER 8, 1980 was the tragic death of John Lennon. Check out this link and watch the video.
It is their mission to create documentary films to enlighten and change the world. This is their first film called STRAWBERRY FIELDS. http://www.eimagine.com/

Monday, December 7, 2009

SULAWESI COFFEE

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite coffees that we found at our local Starbucks store. It is called Sulawesi. It is a full-bodied coffee with a dense cocoa finish. Many coffee tasters use words like "herbal" and "spicy" to describe the complex flavor present in the best Sulawesi coffees. Unfortunately Starbucks doesn't carry this coffee year round. So if you want to try it you better go to your Starbucks ASAP.
I found this link by COFFEE TALKEE. He talks all about the different beans that are for sale at Starbucks. Check it out for yourself: http://coffeetalkee.com/my-starbucks-coffee-bean-reviews/

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

ROCK ON

It was really nice having everyone home for the Thanksgiving holidays. Lane was having fun playing the guitar for Mia and Noah. He taught them the "ROCK ON" sign and the grrrrrrr that shows how tough they are. Mia built a small tent under the sofa and ottoman. Noah found my big floor pillow and carried it around the house. Yogi even got in on the fun following them for dropped morsels of food.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

WEDDING PHOTOS

Here is the link to all the wedding photos I took at my niece's big day last month. http://gallery.me.com/kathyzieben#100264 It was in Austin and I had so much fun snapping away. They were all taken for my own pleasure, I wasn't hired to do it. Here are just a few of my favorite images in case you don't want to scroll through the whole set at my gallery.