From the Nicole Nordeman song, "...and so it will be as you are recreating me ...", the song feels dated now, popular Christian music has become numbing as the Gregorian Chant seems to me to intentionally  be - I'm saying, the "simplicity and repetitiveness of the lyrics and notes" lends the music to encouraging a trance like, mindless, state of flow maybe over the congregation.  I'm to trying to get in to that today - I'm observing that music has taken a different track and it might even be difficult to trace the path from there to here.

 Here's what N.N. has said about her song, Every Season.

 ‘Every Season’ was my way of saying ‘I’m not going to let Gods’ sovereignty be ruled by my emotions or circumstances or I’ll be all over the map for the rest of my life,”  she explains.

 I like that.  That's why I posted the vid to the song.  I've been walking, usually for around two hours a day, and it gives me an opportunity too reflect on the changes in nature.  A recent delightful discovery, or new awareness, is I suddenly realized that I can see the movement of the sun, the azimuth, as the morning dawns over the tree line beyond the river.  I loved noticing that (over time) from my quiet coffee spot back in Auburn.  It seems an incredible gift to enjoy from the back porch here.  Owls are still calling to each other and deer are wading in the water as the sun begins to paint the day.  It's windy today and the trees, all leaved out in green, are undulating as though to a song only they can hear.  Rain is in the forecast. I can smell it's promise in the air.

This week my walking buddy and I will mark the 36th year of our journey together.

I had just finished college then - boy does time fly (when it's not dragging along)!

I gotta run for now.

Every Season - Nichole Nordeman

Max - 5 months

Pics for SAMSON rehearsals

manipulated pictures taken during SAMSON dress rehearsals

And, I suddenly wondered where Austin Opera gets the singers for their Opera Chorus - because I may want to do that : )

It is such a pleasure to sing great works again.

Roger Scruton, new to me, actually has a lot of interesting things to say.  I've been reading and watching his work that is available on line.

Lisa's Italian Creme Cake recipe

Icing roses "piped" on by V ... she does that so well!

You'll definitely need to double the icing recipe.  I used pecans in the icing between layers, but kept the top icing smooth.  Also, I think this cake wants larger pecans in the cake batter and very finely chopped pecans on the sides with the toasted coconut.  This cake is at it's best served very cold, just short of frozen.

Easter dessert this year (and very hopeful to become an Easter menu tradition).

While we are talking about Easter traditions - this was the only Easter basket in our home this year ->

a pie "bunny" and the start on soup crocks for little miss

Alright, so, I'm not going to do those 52 lists.  Some of them are just too ... here: List the people who brighten your day (skipping/silly...like too silly, they are all pretty silly), List your favorite quotes (see side column).  List the things you treasure most ... and that is definitely going to be "the things which can not be replaced or repeated, as important people and various life experiences ... joy.  When ever joy is happened upon, those are the most treasured treasures.  I think "stuff" passes away but those moments and those people who help you become who you are becoming for "next" remain and are the pearls of value.  The pearly portals to eternity.  Those treasure you do take with you (I think).

Bigger picture = the dam (background)  from the spillway side where the walking trails are "improved" and maintained. 

Upper right = red line entering picture is where I stood to snap the bigger shot.  Those rocks ... I believe they are "crawling" with rattlesnakes!  I've seen rattlesnakes there and I've seen sticks that look like rattlesnakes there ... both are alarming!  Would you believe a young woman, 30ish and certainly old enough to know better, climbed up that rock wall and came over the barrier at the midway point on the bridge?!? (The smoothly arched part of the red line is the bridge.)  I am generally highly unlikely to comment on anyone's, and certainly a stranger's, behavior or choices BUT when she came over the edge from climbing that wall I said ... You know the rattlesnakes are "active" this time of year, right?  She didn't have a clue.  Fortunately, she took the note  graciously.  She said she didn't think there were snakes around here.  Uh ... yeah.  Last week I saw a coral snake not more than two foot from the paved trail.  Yes ... snakes ... love rock piles ... love rivers ... love Texas hot.  If there were a list of "what are you afraid of" snakes would be at the top for me.   

Lower right picture = the elusive black squirrel.  I don't know if it really is a black squirrel or even if there is such a thing as the black squirrel, but whatever it is, I've seen them only here, in the rocks, and they are really hard to spot.  They blend right in and the shoot over and under the boulders with lightning speed (probably dodging snakes is my guess).  This one is a baby.  He was on the lake side of the dam.

The weather is mostly fine and I've started walking a couple hours (or more) a day.  Yesterday I had a nice visit along the trail with the most normal Vietnam era Vet that I've become acquainted with.  He served as an officer in the marines.  Also noteworthy was his little dog, a mix of chihuahua and Cretan hound.  I like the dog's calm yet alert disposition.

Really bad weather over where four of my family members  are ... it's glorious here today.  Recent storms have cleared the air of pollen.

I'll do some of those lists ... .