Double J Hacienda and Art Ranch

Double J
Originally uploaded by SiouxCiySue

This is the former Seybold Guest Ranch in Mimeral Wells TX. Tonight they showed Kent Barker and Peggy Wolf's photographs.

Here are some other photos from the Double J, too. If you ever get a chance to visit this beautiful place for music, art, or yoga/meditation. Do it. You won't fine better singer/songwriter music, art...contemporary, traditional, photographs, assemblages, you name it, food (tonight was Cajun with a desert of fresh peaches stewed in a liqueur and served with fresh currants and cream), yoga seminars and meditation workshops, massage therapists, rooms for over night. All this overlooking the Brazos River in the North Texas Hill Country. You can't beat it!

My Ring

Dawn, at Call Me Grandma Dawn, asked me about the ring I am using as my avatar right now. She asked if I had written about it, and I had not, so here goes.

Raf and I met in the early summer of 1976. I had moved to Nashville to attend Scarritt College, majoring in Christian education. He had come to Nashville in a band...a most deadly musical thing to do. I was working three jobs, one of which was at the Upper Room Museum where tourists came to see a carving of the Last Supper. Raf was working as a tour guide for Gray Line Tours. We were both divorced, I with three daughters, and I believe the first thing we each said to the other was that we were divorced and never, ever wanted to marry again. We were married the next May 5. God placed us in Nashville...me from Texas, him from Ohio. We would never have met had it not been God's doing!

Anyway, when we married, we were as poor as church mice! So we opted for two gold bands and fore-went an engagement ring. Jewelry never has been particularly important to me, so it was no problem. However, in the past five years or so, I have sort of wanted an engagement ring. I spoke of it to our baby, Christi, and she told Raf. So for Christmas two years ago, he found this beautiful ring and gave it to me. As far as material possessions go, it is my favorite.

And that is my story, and I'm sticking to it! Thanks for asking, Dawn.

Oh, the avatar is Photoshopped, so it doesn't quite look like the real thing.

To everyone all over the world, have a blessed and safe Labor Day Weekend or whatever the weekend is for you, and watch next week as we fly off to Canada and on to Alaska. Before we leave I will be posting a contest for an Alaskan and a Canadian souvenir. And I will be posting photos and a travalogue on this blog via my iphone through Flickr.

Show and Tell Friday

My Show and Tell this week is in my front garden where I have three statues, two of angels and one of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our grass is beautifully green this year. More so than in the past, and the vines and other growth are also growing quite well. It has been a fairly wet summer, especially for us here in Texas, and it has been a blessed relief.

One of the angels I bought at our church and the other was given to us upon the death of some family member...can't remember who because it's been years and years. The Blessed Virgin was give to us by Patty and Floyd who also gave one to our friends Remo and Cynthia. We had all been in confirmation class together.

I hope you all have a blessed weekend! Happy Labor Day!

Skywatch Friday 7 -- my third week

Contrail headed southeast in a powder blue sky, framed by oak trees.
Mineral Wells, Texas
August 28, 2008
90˚F
noon
Nikon Coolpix P2

A Meme from Aunt Eleanor

Aunt Eleanor sent this to me as an email, and I liked it so much I decided to make it a meme here on my blog. I am going challenge two people to do the meme, as well, and we'll see where and how it goes. My challenge is to Pea and to Barbara. And I challenge anyone else who would like to do "A Meme from Aunt Eleanor". Let me know if you do it, so I'll be sure to read it!!

Just copy and paste and check off the things you have done and answer the questions at the end:

( ) Gone on a blind date
( ) Skipped school
(√) Watched someone die
(√ )Been to the USA
(√) Been to Canada
(√) Been to Mexico
(√) Been to Florida
(√) Been on a plane
(√) Been on a trail
( ) Been lost
(√ ) Been on the opposite side of the United States (East and West Coast)
(√)Gone to Washington, DC
(√) Swum in the ocean
(√) Cried yourself to sleep
(√) Played cops and robbers
(√) Played cowboys and Indians
(√) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Sang Karaoke
( ) Paid for a meal with coins only
(√) Done something you told yourself you shouldn't
( ) Made prank phone calls
(√) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(√) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Danced in the rain
( ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(√) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(√) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
(√) Blown bubbles
( ) Gone Ice-skating
( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors
(√) Gone to the drive-in movies

1. Any nicknames? Susie Q or Sioux City Sue
2. Mothers name? Rose Elizabeth
3. Favorite drink? water or Dublin Dr. Pepper
4. Tattoo? no
5. Body Piercing? one in each ear
6. How much do you love your Job on a scale from 1-10? What job??? I'm RETIRED!
7. Birthplace? Stephenville, Texas
8. Favorite vacation spot? mid-coast Maine or an Alaska cruise
9. Ever been to Africa ? no
10. Ever been to Europe? no
11. Ever been to Asia? no
12. Ever been to South America? no
13. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? yes
14. Ever been on TV? yes
15. Ever steal any traffic sign? no
16. Ever been in a car accident? yes
17. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle?? 4 door
18. Favorite salad? Ceasar salad
19.Favorite pie? cherry
20. Favorite number? 18
21. What is your favorite animal? cat
22. Favorite Holiday? Christmas
23. Favorite dessert? pie
24. Favorite food? seafood
25. Favorite day of the week? Sunday
26. Favorite brand of body wash? lemon, patchouli, or lavender soap
27. Favorite toothpaste? Sensodine
28. Favorite smell? rain
29. What do you do to relax? a massage in Wimberley, Texas, or reading
30. How do you see yourself in 10 years? traveling, reading, writing, in other words, the same as I am now

Texas Summer, Yum - Wordless Wednesday

Check out other Wordless Wednesdays.

3 More Braclets

Blogger is acting funny, so I'll put my comments here. I finished the other three bracelets today, and I have them in the little mesh bags...which are lavender, but look white in these photos.

Today we also ran to the "blinking light" half way between here and Stephenville where John is in his final semester of his bachelors in business. We had ordered used books, as usual, and two had not come in until today...when one came in. He's having homework in it, so he needed it now.

Tonight we will go the the county precinct town hall meeting...just to check it out. Then tomorrow we go to Fort Worth for food, last minute travel items, and Raf has a "Remain Faithful" board meeting at the diocese office.

I was hoping to work on the cactus I began last week, but I didn't, so my goal is next Monday. We shall see!

Bracelet This Afternoon

I'm making several bracelets as gifts right now. I love the way this black and white one (moss agate separated by beads) turned out with the bead in the middle which really pops! I have a pink one, a green one, and a brown one left to do.

Today was a blessed day. We went to church, and there was a wonderful crowd. We ate barbecue (pulled pork) sandwiches at Baker's Ribs. I like pork barbecue much more than beef. In other words, Southern barbecue rather than Texas barbecue. Then I worked on some projects, including the bracelet, laying out the other three I am making, then we took a drive, rented a couple of movies, and came home. We have baked potato and bacon with salad for supper...in about an hour.

Show and Tell Friday

Kelli at There is No Place Like Home sponsors Show and Tell Friday. I haven't participated for a while, but I want to get started again.

The photo above is from my living room. The table is one of the many antiques I inherited from my mother. The bowl was one I bought for Raf for his birthday several years ago. I got it at an antique place in Graham, Texas. The plate was given to us by Barney and Margaret when they saw the bowl...it matches so well. They had gotten it from an artist in Lubbock. The cat and angel were both given to me by Carolyn and Darrell at different times. The covered trinket bowl was made for me by my friend Cea who lives in Austin. I get lots of compliments about this little grouping, and I love it!

SkyWatch Friday (my second week)

After a week of glorious rain, cool (70˚F) weather, and a shower early in the morning, the sky transformed into a clear, clean, powder-blue, the sun shown gloriously, reflecting through the Rose of Sharon glowing with the sublime light, dazzling with rain drops.

Place: our front yard in Mineral Wells TX
Time: 11 am, August 21, 2008
Temperature: 85˚F

Wordless Wednesday -- What Fur?

Cactus Monday

I am endeavoring to get back into the groove of drawing and doing mixed media. I am FINALLY finished with the quilt...although I have another one due in November...and we will be gone 2+weeks in September and in October. But NOW I am trying to draw again. I love than Teri, of Teri's Painted Daisies, paints a cactus each Monday, and I am going to try to join her in this. So here goes. The prickly pear cacti are in fruit now. I finished the quilt so late yesterday that I didn't really have time to complete this, but I intend to do so. This is graphite and colored pencil on moleskine.

Meme - 6 Random Things About Me

I have been tagged by Susan of Penless Writer to do the 6 Random Things About Me ..meme.

Here are the rulz of the game...1. Link to the person who ‘tagged’ you!2. Post the rules on your blog!3. List 6 random facts about yourself!4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post!5. Let each person know they have been tagged by commenting on their blog!6. Let the tagger know the entry is posted on your blog!

As Susan said, "I have posted so many things about myself it is going to be hard to find 6 more random things about me but I'll try."

1. When my daddy came back from World War II it was his desire for me to have a horse, so he bought my first horse, Dolly. I was 4 when he came home. Dolly lived in our back pasture until Daddy and Mother bought some acreage in the country. Later I had a horse named Belle, but her foal, Sis, was my main pony. I rode barrels in the rodeo on Sis.

2. I am an only child, and sometimes I just needed to get by myself and hide a little bit, so I would go to the back room behind the garage. This room opened onto the pasture and chicken yard and was where Daddy stored grain for the horses and feed for the chickens. I don't think my parents ever knew of my hidy-hole.

3. Mother took me to church, during the War, for the first time when I was 2. I had never been away from her and my grandparents, and she expected me to kick up a fuss, but when she sat me down with the other children I said, "Bye", and got busy playing, ignoring her completely. She was disgusted!

4. As an old child I had to make up siblings and friends to play with. I pretended Roy Rogers was my brother, and I my boy-friend was the Range Rider! As I had a horse, I usually played cowboys on horseback with by best friend, Dianne.

5. I was baptized when I was eight years old in the Methodist Church in Bluff Dale, Texas. This was at a summer revival meeting held by two family friends. I "felt my heart strangely warmed", as John Wesley put it, but my parents would not allow me to be baptized that night and made me wait until I had spoken with Brother Turner, the preacher at the revival. He told them I completely understood my faith, and I was baptized the next night.

6. I have always wanted a brother...didn't particularly want a sister, but I was always lonely, in a funny way, as a child, even though I had many friends and loving parents. I did have a cousin with whom I was very closed until adulthood, but once he married, we were no longer close. I have since become close to a different cousin, on the same side, and we talk and visit whenever we can. I think it's sort of sad to have no one who has the same memories you do. That's the way of the only child.

Here are my 6 choices to participate: Barbara, Teri, Margaret, Michelle, Teresa, and ArtBrat. Please leave me a comment and let me know when and if you participate.

Un-Christian Shock and Awe

I wrote the following email to our parish this afternoon and decided to share it online, as well.

For those of you who were unable to attend mass today, during announcements Father Swickard addressed the misinformation being reported by Katie Sherrod in her blog, Desert's Child, by the both the Dallas Morning News, the Fort Worth Star Telegram, and by many, many liberal bloggers around the world. You see, these people who are more interested in being Episcopalians than being Christians, more interested in secular humanism than in the World of God received, and they would like to get us up in arms with each other and therefore paralize us in our battle with Satan over what is happening in the Church today.

During coffee hour there were copies, with handwritten editorial commentary, of Ms. Sherrod's blog being circulated. I have no idea where they came from, but if you saw one of these, please note that it was written by a person who would like, at least, to see our diocese and our churches fail, or at most, follow her secular humanistic approach to the life, a life which is not Christ-centered. They try their best with shock and awe, but we are not fooled. We know the Devil when he raises his ugly head.

If you are interested in further understanding what is REALLY going on with regard to this or any other matters of the diocese, please go to the diocese's website, Fort Worth Diocese , and read what is happening. If you would like to speak to someone on the diocese office, please call them or fax them at these numbers: Telephone: 817.244.2885; Fax: 817.244.3363; Toll Free 1.888.777.1811, or you are welcome to email them at contact.diocese@fwepiscopal.org . But please do not take Katie Sherrod's, or any other person's, word alone regarding what is going on in our diocese. Please go to the source or contact Father Phelps at 817-308-6355 or Father Swickard at 940-325-1851. Raf is both St. Luke's delegate to the convention and on the Remain Faithful committee, and he can be reached at 940-682-5896.

You are encouraged to attend meetings and voice concerns. This is a time for discernment. Don't be fooled by people who want to hurt us and our church! NOTE: When we returned from church, Raf received this from Chad Bates, chairman of Remain Faithful, and we felt you would want to see it as well:

I received this early this morning from Bishop Iker and the clergy members of the Standing Committee: To the clergy, The following statement has been released jointly by Canon Charles Hough, Fr. William Crary, Fr. Christopher Stainbrook, and Fr. Louis Tobola in reference to the document released earlier this week concerning a June meeting between them and Bishop Kevin Vann. Bishop Iker and the Standing Committee have asked that it be conveyed to you via Ad Clerum. It will be sent to all convention delegates and alternates as well.

From: Fathers Crary, Hough, Stainbrook, and Tobola Date: August 16, 2008
To: The Clergy and People of the Diocese

We wish to emphasize: 1. That the documents and our conversation with Bishop Vann solely ever represented the four priests named. 2. In retrospect, we regret our choice of timing for starting these conversations. 3. We deeply regret the phraseology of the document which has caused hurt and division. 4. We remain fully committed to the goal of this Diocese, as plainly stated by Bishop Iker, to realign with an Orthodox Anglican Province.

Respectfully submitted, The Very Rev. William A Crary, Jr. The Rev. Canon Charles A. Hough, III The Very Rev. Christopher C. Stainbrook The Rev. Louis L. Tobola, Jr.

Joy and I also visited St. Andrews this morning, where we were very warmly received. Dr. Dickson read the statement as well as quoted Bishop Iker's statement to Dr. Dickson from earlier in the week that "he (Bishop Iker) would resign before leading the Diocese to the Roman Catholic Church". Dr. Dickson clearly and unequivocally announced this issue is now in the past, and it is time to move forward. After the service we had many discussions- primarily centering around the timing being ripe for us to expedite moving forward with the formation of an orthodox Anglican Province in North America. I have not met with any knowledgeable lay person who is not fully supportive of us pushing for this Province formation, and I firmly believe God is calling us to act now- rather than have delays. Your Executive Committee is united in the need for this. Strategically, it should also help with our second vote, as well as the votes in Quincy and Pittsburg as it eliminates yet another thing the revisionists try to use - and that is us joining the Southern Cone - even if it is intended to be temporary. If we can show progress even going in the direction of the formation of a new Province, it should help our cause greatly. Please all of you put this to prayer. As was announced at our Mobilizing the Faithful conference last month - Remain Faithful intends on being a strong lay voice supporting this formation. We are in the process of planning a convocation to help expedite the formation of an orthodox Anglican Province for North America for late September. More on that soon. A press release is being drafted to state our intentions and desires to move forward asap, as well. You will receive a copy when it is distributed. God Bless- Chad Bates

Skywatch Friday

Our North Texas sky was gray this morning as a much needed rain storm had passed by during the night. Since we are almost always in a burn ban situation in North Texas, the rain was a welcome relief, and once the storm had abated, the sky became a bright, clear blue with white, puffy clouds floating over our post oak-filled yard. Mississippi Kites whistle overhead, buoyant and graceful, as they pursue flying insects (see the little black dot in front of the cloud). At 3 pm the temperature is a lovely 83˚F, a great relief from the 100˚F+ weather of the week before.

Check out other Skywatch Friday photos!

Ricky Skaggs at Stephenville

20080813200338
Originally uploaded by SiouxCiySue

We are sitting under the stars listening to Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder at the Birdsong Amphitheater in Stephenville, Texas, with John, Beth and their friends. My hometown!

Bethy's 13th Birthday Quilt

Bethy is into country music and horses. Her favorite colors are lime green and purple. She will be 13 on September 11 while we are in Alaska, so I am finishing this lap quilt for her to give to her before we leave. It's been fun to fine the colors and the designs together. I am backing it with purple minky.

The Read Story

Since late last night many, many liberal "remain Episcopal" types have flooded the internet with cries that state that "secretly" our priests and bishop are setting us up to move to the Roman church (and personally that would be fine with me, if we could have an Anglican rite). These mean-spirited folk, Katie Sherrod for one, are going out of their way to paint our conservative bishop and clergy as having horns and a tail. Frankly, I think they are so afraid, maybe of what they profess to believe, that they would say anything to try to damage those of us who want to remain faithful Christians. We, the remain faithful group, are much more concerned about saving our immortal souls and those of others than we are of being labeled "Episcopal".

Anyway, the blogs and reports have reached the bishop, and this is his response to them. I do not intend to link to their blathering, but I will link to our Remain Faithful group.

A Statement by Bishop Iker on Roman Catholic Dialogues

"I am aware of a meeting that four priests of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth have had with Bishop Kevin Vann of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth on June 16, 2008. After a year of studying various agreed statements that have come out of ecumenical dialogues between Anglicans and Roman Catholics on the national and international level, these clergy expressed an interest in having a dialogue on the local level and asked my permission to make an appointment to talk with Bishop Vann. The stated goal of these official Anglican/Roman Catholic dialogues (which have been going on for over 40 years) has been full, visible unity between the two communions.

"The priests who participated in this meeting with Bishop Vann have my trust and pastoral support. However, in their written and verbal reports, they have spoken only on their own behalf and out of their own concerns and perspective. They have not claimed to act or speak, nor have they been authorized to do so, either on behalf of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth or on my own behalf as their Bishop.

"Their discussion with Bishop Vann has no bearing upon matters coming before our Diocesan Convention in November, where a second vote will be taken on constitutional changes concerning our relationship with the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. There is no proposal under consideration, either publicly or privately, for the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth to become part of the Roman Catholic Church.

"Our only plan of action remains as it has been for the past year, as affirmed by our Diocesan Convention in November 2007. The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth intends to realign with an orthodox Province as a constituent member of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

"By God’s grace, we will continue to work and pray for the unity of the one holy catholic and apostolic church."

The Rt. Rev. Jack Leo Iker
Bishop of Fort Worth
August 12, 2008

John's Fan

20080808184206
Originally uploaded by SiouxCiySue

John brought this fan back from China.

Light a candle for Tibet

20080807210011
Originally uploaded by SiouxCiySue

I just lit my candle @ 9 pm central daylight time. This candle is a prayer for all peole in the world who are not free.

Testing air me again

20080807191503
Originally uploaded by SiouxCiySue

Michelle told me she couldn't see my iPhone photo, so I testing again!

Mineral Wells, Aug 7, 2008

Mineral Wells, Aug 7, 2008
Originally uploaded by SiouxCiySue

Our new Pella windows were just installed! If you get Pella, be sure to have Luis install them!

Mineral Wells, Aug 5, 2008

Mineral Wells, Aug 5, 2008
Originally uploaded by SiouxCiySue

I just uploaded AirMe to my iphone. I took this photo to test and see if it worked. It did, and now I am sending it to blogger to see if I can follow up this way. Too cool!!!

Methodist Conference Officer

Here's a clipping I found when I became a youth director for the first time at age 18, in 1961. I had been conference officer for the Methodist Youth Fellowship in 1960. About this time I learned there was politics in the church...of all things. It made me sick, and still does today!

I actually didn't stay in Wharton long, for my father had been transfered to Denton, Texas. A minister friend, Jimmy Mobley, and I prayer long and hard, and I was directed by God to go to Denton rather than stay in Wharton. My father died that November in an automobile crash, and I was so blessed to have been with him for that extra time before he died.

I finally pursued a masters' of Christian Education, and worked in a local church for a time, but God had other plans for me and placed me in public education where I taught for over 20 years.

My Great-grandparents

I am cleaning my studio and FINALLY getting it set up the way I want it!! I am scanning old photos and news clippings. I found these two photo. They are two sets of my great-grandparents.William Sebastian and Didama Elizabeth Bowden, Rising Star, Texas

Anna and Johan Ficke, Rechtebe, Germany

Bishop Venables' Thought on Lambeth and the Anglican Communion