The Bend in the Road

I just finished reading Anne of Green Gables, a favorite of a friend of mine and a fun, easy read between book-club books. And it really was a wonderful book. I've still the rest of the series to finish- and I truly do look forward to finding out what other adventures lay in Anne's future- but this book stands alone just fine as is. It definitely makes you think about an older time, when things were simpler but responsibilities came earlier in life. The writing is wonderful and the young girl who went on and on about fairies and other imaginings earlier in the book is speaking sensibly and maturely by the end without you ever noticing the shift. And as she and her peers go on- at the age of 16!- to begin their adult lives as college scholars, farmers or ministers, or even teachers to other children just barely younger than themselves, it really makes you wonder if today's youth could grow up that quickly if the times still called for it!

But more than anything, I just enjoyed reading about a "kindred spirit", as Anne would put it- a young girl who daydreams and loves reading, and has such big plans for herself in the world. And the closing passage touched my heart more than anything... as if it was meant just for me to read it. (And after all, aren't all things truly enjoyable in any innocent way sent by God as gifts to us, and therefore mightn't He include lessons for us among those as well?)

And so, in order to save it for myself as well as put it out there for anyone else that might get some sort of joy from it, I'll include it here:

Anne's horizons had closed in since the night she had sat there after coming home from Queen's; but if the path set before her feet was to be narrow she knew that flowers of quiet happiness would bloom along it. The joy of sincere work and worthy aspiration and congenial friendship were to be hers; nothing could rob her of her birthright of fancy or her ideal world of dreams. And there was always the bend in the road!

"'God's in his heaven, all's right with the world,'" whispered Anne softly. softly.

Best News Ever!!!

Holy crap.... this is the best news I've heard in a really long time!!!! Thanks to Sarah for sharing!!!!

http://www.kidglue.com/2011/03/14/nickeldoeon-brings-back-rugrats-doug-pete-pete-and-more/

And yes, the link in there referencing Thundercats is just as amazing!!!

My day is made!! I'm going to have to seriously consider expanding my basic cable now...

A Good Kind of Southern Evening

So, I know I'm behind. Sorry. In an attempt to get my blog/online journal back on track in as little a daunting way as possible, I've decided to just do one post for each week that I've missed and catch up that way. However, that is not what this is. I just wanted to post real quick about the Corey Crowder show I went to this weekend. I got a few pictures, though it was with my phone and the sun was setting, so they're not very good. But it gives you a little bit of an idea of the setting.

This was a partial band show. So Corey on his guitar, someone on mandolin I believe it was, and then John on just a djembe (pronounced jim-bay. I had to look up the spelling. lol) instead of his whole drum kit. And it also wasn't the typical bar show. It was something put on by the Arts Association in Newton County at The Oaks Golf Course down in Covington.

The weather was gorgeous. Not too hot, not too breezy. Corey got started a little before dusk and it was just perfect. They set up outside, right on the edge of the parking lot, with the golf course behind them. There were tables and chairs set up for everyone to sit on, as well as all the golf carts parked around the edge as extra seating. There were drinks for sale and people coming around to the tables to see if you needed anything.

It was an hour-and-a-half long set, and as the sun went down, the stars came out, and the crickets and cicadas came out to add their music to the songs as well. Off in the distance a great thunderhead hung low over the horizon and added a light show to accompany the evening's concert.

There was just such a sense of peace throughout the evening that made it so enjoyable. I definitely left that show thinking that it was one of my favorites to date. It put me in the mood for similar evenings to come. Nights spent outside- perhaps not always with the live music- but enjoying the weather and all the wonderful little details that make up a true southern night. :) Here's to many more to come...

Gorgeous day

This is the kind of day you wish would never end. I can't wait til every week is full of them. :) Hope you're out there enjoying it!

More Pictures!

I forgot to mention yesterday that I finally signed up for my first 6-week course through Showcase. I'll be taking the Digital 101 course with this guy: Ryan Nabulsi. I looked through the bios of all the instructors for this course and I'm really excited about this guy cuz I can relate so much to his background- the abrupt change in career course, etc. so it'll be cool to hear what he has to say in that arena.  Plus he also teaches 102 courses, so I'll be able to have a consistent teacher for the first couple classes while I get used to the camera settings, etc. Then once I hit 103 and expand into specialty courses, I'll have different instructors and have a chance to see some new points of view.

So I'll be sure to include any pics and results of those critiques once I get into that. I don't start til early March.

For now, here are some pics from my Chimpsy class the other week. Our instructor, Ben Rollins, was really cool, laid back. I really enjoyed his style when he showed us some of his work. We met at Front Page News for a while to go over camera settings, etc. (Remember, this was for the point and shoot class I took with Mom. I'm taking another class for my SLR through them later this month.) Then we just roamed around Little Five Points for a while taking shots using the new settings and composition guidelines Ben gave us. I was pretty pleased with a few I was able to get.