** More News and Updates Forthcoming **

* Sometime today, I promise, I will write more about the wonderful weekend conference in Iowa.

* Also, I have some new ideas concerning my blog and will share those when I figure them out completely!

* Until then, I'll be doing other jobs inside, listening all the while to the beautiful little red cardinal singing ♫♪ outside nearby. It makes me smile, not only with my mouth, but with my eyes, and my entire being.

(photo courtesy: statelibrary.ncdcr.gov)

"My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather."-- Loire Hartwould

** Norman Rockwell **

Today is the anniversary of Norman Rockwell's birth. He was born on February 3, 1894 in New York City. What an immense talent he had, and how fortunate we are because he shared it with the world. I've been a fan of his for as long as I can remember. Over the years, I've purchased coffee mugs, note cards, Christmas cards....maybe even a deck of playing cards.....all with his beautiful and delightful drawings on them.

Sometime soon after September 11, 2001, I came across the charming collector's plate: "Freedom from Want". I don't remember if I saw it in a store or online, but it immediately offered such a sense of nostalgia and hope and goodness, that I knew I had to buy it. I hung it in our dining room and it was the perfect image
for our Thanksgiving dinner that year. When discussing it with one of my daughters-in-law, she said she knew instantly what gifts to buy me for Christmas and upcoming birthday. Below are all four of the "Freedom" plates. From top left: Freedom from Want & Freedom of Speech. From below left: Freedom from Fear & Freedom of Worship.

(photo taken by Becky 2/3/10)

In honor of Mr. Rockwell, I promise to stop & admire these plates more, instead of just passing them as I walk by, going about my daily chores. Happy Birthday, Mr. Rockwell. You have enriched my life!

"The secret to so many artists living so long is that every painting is a new adventure. So, you see, they're always looking ahead to something new and exciting. The secret is not to look back." -- Norman Rockwell

* All The Books in My First Blog Contest *

I just remembered this afternoon that with being gone for the retreat and trying to write about that.....plus today being Groundhog Day, and posting about that, I'd forgotten to list all the suggested books during my contest last month. So, here they are, in the order I received them, by title, author, and person who sent it.

1)  The Help, by Kathryn Stockett   (Pat W.)
2)  Cracker Factory, by Joyce Rebeta-Burditt  (T'mara G.)
3)  Rhyme Stew, by Roald Dahl  (Daisy)
4)  Mrs. Whaley's Charleston Garden, by William Baldwin  (Claudia)
5)  Mama Makes Up Her Mind, by Bailey White  (Karrie)
6)  Sleeping at the Starlight Motel, by Bailey White  (Karrie)
7)  Old Songs in a New Cafe, by Robert James Waller  (Karrie)
8)  Book of Unhold Mischief, by Elle Newmark  (Janel)
9)  Face Down Upon an Herbal, by Kathy Lynn Emerson  (Janel)
10) Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan  (Donna V.)
11) All the Numbers, by Judy Merrill Larson  (Teri S.)
12)  Ellen Foster, by Kaye Gibbons  (Cathy C. H.)
13) City of Lights, by Lauren Belfer  (Susan Bono)*Editor at Tiny-Lights*
14) The Intelligencer, by Leslie Silbert  (Lisa Ricard Claro)
15) Goodbye Glamour Girl, by Erika Tamar  (Krysten)

So, there you have it! Looks like a wonderful variety of books that these women loved enough to want to share with others. Awwww......so many books, so little time!

"I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things." -- George Robert Gissing

** HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY! **

And now, a few words and photos from one of my favorite movies: "Groundhog Day", starring Bill Murray.

"Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cold out there today."
~~~~~
"Hey now, don't you tell me you don't remember me 'cause I sure as heckfire remember you."

                                        
"NEEDLE-NOSE NED?...NED RYERSON?"  ..... "BING!"

                                 (photos courtesy imdb.com and archive.dailypicture.net)

"IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL! ..... LET'S LIVE HERE!"

"Love is the answer. Shine on us all. Set us free. Love is the answer."
   -- EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

** A Life Changing Experience **

I am not exaggerating when I say this past weekend has changed me. And in such positive & powerful ways I may not even be able to convey them, nor may I want to, at least not completely. What? Me, speechless? Yes.

I will surely post more information and photos later, but for now I just wanted to let everyone know I'm home.

"Looking back, you realize that a very special person passed briefly through your life, and that person was you. It is not too late to become that person again." -- Robert Brault

*Day Two of the Writer/Retreat - Saturday Night*

(Joyce Rupp & Mary Kay Shanley: our presenters, during a break)

This writing workshop....this spiritual retreat, has been an absolutely amazing experience. I hate to think that at noon tomorrow it will be over. It's been a wonderful gathering of 30 marvelous, unique women. We've had writing "assignments" to do each evening, we've listened and learned during the day, we've laughed, we've shared some of our inner thoughts, we've sang, & even learned a beautiful dance....The Elm Dance.

I can't begin to convey all I have learned....especially about myself.....in this short workshop. The first night's assignment was to free-write about three different people who have affected our lives...either positively or negatively. Then we had to break it down into just one person, and then into just one aspect of that person. I found that very difficult. In my second night of free-writing (last night), I found myself writing about some of my own emotions that I had either never thought of in that way, or not thought of, at all.

I've met women I will remember for a long, long time, hopefully forever; although I'm sure I will never see most of them again.

When the opportunity and wherewithal comes again for something this incredible, I will definitely be there!

(Getting some snacks during a break)

All photos courtesy B.P.

"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself." --Alan Alda

** Day One of the Writer/Retreat **

Good Morning! Brrrr...it is COLD here in Des Moines. Of course, I knew it would be, but somehow it's still always a shock when you actually FEEL it! Temp last night was below zero-something. Temp right now is 4 degrees, with the ever popular "feels like" -8! High for today a whopping 15 with low tonite -5. We are just so grateful that it's dry, though....no snow, sleet, ice...all that lovely precipitation. There are still piles of snow everywhere, from the blizzard that came through about a week ago and with these temps, they won't be melting any time soon.

I say it's Day One today, but we really began last night from 6:30 to 9:00pm. So far, I'm really glad I came. A couple of things were said in the first few minutes of the presentation that were so "coincidental" that I felt as if I was truly meant to be here. More on that later.......

One not-so-good thing: The Hotel. It's clean and convenient.....right next door to the meeting place (another blog about that later, too) but, not the best service and there aren't enough electrical plugs in our room!! We had to unplug a lamp, to plug in my laptop....And we had to move the microwave onto the bathroom sink for a few seconds while I warmed up something to eat! Ewwww!! Oh well.....we aren't complaining....yet!

Okay...Gotta get going. We had a writing assignment last night that I still need to go over! More later!

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection." - Anais Nin

** Tomorrow is the Big Day **

(photo courtesy of transitionsabroad.com)

Tomorrow, Thursday January 28th, I'll be on my way to Des Moines, Iowa. My fabulous husband is taking a couple of days off, to drive me to a women's writer retreat/workshop! He is such a great guy!

I've listed some of the information below. The line that really got me is the sentence below, in blue ink. Doesn't that sound fantastic? I'm sure I'll be blogging about it!

Coming Home: Writing From the Soul

Presented by: Joyce Rupp and Mary Kay Shanley

A Winter Retreat for Women

(Thursday evening through Sunday noon)

Visualize being with a group of vibrant women who are tending their souls in a light-filled, cozy room with a fireplace glowing on a clear winter’s day. Add to this, the development of writing skills that help express what is hidden within the deeper self. All this awaits you on this retreat, plus the joy of relating to others equally intent on greater discovery and celebration of their purpose and direction in life.

Joyce Rupp offers her extensive experience of spiritual growth through creative ritual and reflective conferences. Mary Kay Shanley brings her respected skills of teaching at the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival and other national writing workshops to lead the group through inventive processes that develop and hone writing abilities.

Limited to 30 Participants.

"A writer never has a vacation. For a writer, life consists of either writing or thinking about writing." -- Eugene Ionesco