I’m back after 10 lovely days away and several more getting settled back in.  I’ve written at least 10 posts in my head, but as you can see, none have made it here.  I took a lot of “artsy pictures” and have decided to adopt a new work for the rest of the year (it was on the wall in our cottage and seemed so appropriate):  simplicity.  Did some art so I could keep that decision in mind.  Played in the sand and surf and in the sound with my family.  Spent two spectacular days on Ocracoke, where Kathleen of Island Artworks kept several pieces that were consignment as wholesale and bought 11 prose tiles.  Husband and I walked Ocracoke both days we were there and I had such a great time – I keep thinking I could live there but I wonder if I’m the small town type.  Not only is Ocracoke a small town, it is a small town on an island.  But everything there is looks like a move set.  There are all these wildly blooming flowers around these wonderful cottages and yard vignettes that beg to be photographed.  So I did.  More to come.

I treated myself to new books:  2 by Anne Lamott, “Grace (Eventually)” and “Plan B.”  Oh, she is SO good!  A book, “The Poet of Tolstoy Park” whose premise outlined on the back of the book totally intrigued me (a dying man moves to a new town and lives a simple life), but the writing is terrible (I honest to goodness was not in the market for a brick by brick description of his building a round house).  I persisted, nonetheless, hoping that it might smooth out but 2/3s of the way through have pretty much given up.  I did take one tidbit away from it.   The protagonist learned in seminary from a former Jesuit (protagonist being Baptist) over the course of a semester to make and not to read or write.  This seemed like a good idea and so along with “simplicity” I have determined that I will do more and read less (that is right after I finish Anne Lamott and the books I just ordered because I had a $25 reward certificate waiting for me for Amazon.com when I got home).  I also picked up “A Chant for Wild Elephants” which I enjoyed more than Poet but did not find it keepable.  I didn’t feel like the writer (it was autobiography) grew that much during the course of the story – I like to see movement there.  But he is young, and his writing shows promise.

Now, If I can get Typepad to cooperate (I see that some things never change; I had hoped that time away would give them time to get their act together.  Apparently not to be.), I will being to share some of the art and photos.  The photo above is from an Ocracoke shop.

ok.  I know when to give up.  Typepad isn’t going to let me post any more pictures.  Perhaps it will be in a better mood tomorrow and I will be inclined to deal with it more.

thought for the day:  The ocean is so female, amniotic, and the waves and sand scour you like a mother with a washcloth.  Anne Lamott, Plan B:  Further Thoughts on Faith

(Never say die – I’m going to try a few small pictures here from the beach)

woohoo!