hodge podge

oh, boy.

so much to say.
i will try to do this quickly.


first,
i wanted to play along in
sandy's "100" theme day of posts––
which i was supposed to do yesterday––
but under the circumstances,
i did not get around to it until today.


but that's okay,
because i got an e-mail this morning
from a new blog friend
with these words
that went perfectly with the "100" theme
and with the photo i took in chicago last saturday...


she said to me,
{about her experience of losing an account}
"i decided to just open my heart and me
to all the amazing doors that can open in front of me.
and that sometimes loosing a job is a great way
to open 100 new ones
and to find a better balance and be happier."

so here is to a hundred new doors opening.
doors that are sometimes where you would least expect them.


secondly,
i will personally respond
to every single one of you who reached out.
i will spend the day doing it if i have to.
you all were so very kind.


third,
i knew i just could not stay away from my blog or from reading yours.
it was already a source of therapy, and now it really is that.
so i decided not to take a break from it,
and some of you told me the same, as did my husband.
{that didn't last long, hah?}
i'll be catching up with you all today and tomorrow.

~ ~ ~

i have actually had several pictures sitting around on my hard drive
just waiting for their turn to be posted...
several that i had added inspirations words to {the i way i like to do}.
many were perfect for this day and this post.
so... here they are.

a message to myself {and to you, if you need it}

i put this shot in because it reminded me how your words and kindness have a ripple effect.
a bit like that milk and honey i was talking about a couple of days ago.

i put this one in for you, too.
this is me singing to you... singing a tune of gratefulness.
{okay, now i'm just getting cheesy... hahaha... but i really wanted to add this photo.}

... just a few drive-by shootings that made me happy.

~ ~ ~

and below... more pictures of my sister's place... a place i could sure use a retreat to right now,
but i'm happy to be right here at home, too.
{the bright side is i'm not all by my lonesome during the day anymore.}
these are all of her guest bedroom again... where i spend most of my time when i'm visiting.
{sorry—you must be sick of the guest room.
i promise i will put different rooms up next time.}

her chihuahua {blanco},
who i like to call blancito,
makes me happy 'cause he's so darn cute.

this is my sis sleeping in my guest bed!
hey, what's up with that?
{wink}
really she's just resting in the morning
while i sit on the couch next to the bed surfing through blogs on her laptop,
or while i run around taking pictures of her place.

~ ~ ~

some of you may not follow my jorjah-b blog,
so you may not know what good news i announced yesterday.
go here if you want to see it.

and speaking of that news,
here is one last photo.
the words i added say it all... so i think that's a good place to end this post.

hugs to you!