Just cruising through the different blogs and am in awe of the talented people creating blogs. Whether blogging about recipes, art, photography, hobbies or foreign places, all interesting and offering insight.

Several weeks since I last blogged. We had a wonderful trip to Charleston then I came home and injured my back. So, definitely have not been in the mood for bending over a computer. Nothing like spending several days looking at the ceiling.

I have been in the mood for canningthe last few days! I have canned chow-chow, onion relish, pickles and pomegranate-green tea jelly. Just to make it more interesting, I came up with my own recipes for all of it. And the jelly, which was a complete invention, is really delicious, which motivated me to keep going! I was reading a recipe book and the author mentioned entering a recipe in the state fair. I may do that for the jelly next year. I will admit to one failure. I canned sweet potato butter and really didn't like the taste. Ironically it was the one recipe I took straight from a recipe book. I tried to doctor it up with maple flavoring and honey but I still don't like it. My sone loves it so I am going to keep a jar for him and toss the rest.

Today I am canning roasted pepper salsa, persimmon jam and I may can pepper jelly. I love every step of canning. You have to stay alert, time everything perfectly, be completely engaged in the process. Then, at the end, you seal it in a can and take a leap of faith that it will be worth eating. There is such satisfaction in seeing rows of beautiful food, that you have canned yourself. The only way it could get better would be if I grew the food mysef, as well.

Terrible day...worked for several hours and we are no further along than when I went in this morning. Actually, we went in reverse. Not only did we not produce anything, we came out disliking each other. Tomorrow has to be better.

Emory visit was wonderful. I felt like I was coming home. So many memories from my undergraduate years there. I will be filling the paperwork out after I get through this month so I can get started on the prep work and be prepared for next August, assuming I am accepted. They say to expect 15-20 hours a week of class work but I am actually excited about that...Iam ready to think again!
Reading through the blogs on these sites is like being able to peek in a stranger's window only you get to know what they are thinking as well. , not just doing. Since I have A LOT of travel essay books, I think these blogs are somewhat like ongoing, live travel essays. A different viewpoint, changing daily experiences, cultural oddities (including my own!)...I guess what I am trying to say/write is I enjoy voyeurism lite.

I love this illustration. It was a rare tulip that is now extinct. Semper Augustus. It was the most expensive tulip sold in the Netherlands during the tulip craze in the 17th century. They have now bred one that is very similiar called Semper Maxima.

My son is watching a cartoon in the living room while I blog. I love that he, at the age of 17, will still spend time watching a Disney movie occasionally. Most of the time he is texting with friends, playing computer or video games or chatting online. To see him belly laughing at a cartoon gives me deep pleasure that my little baby is still in there somewhere. So, I think I will go join him. I could use a belly laugh.

Insomnia...if I have it in the iddle of the work week I really don't like it. Crabbiness and just a general feeling of being on edge for the day result. On the week-end, when I know I can go back to sleep for hours, it is an unexpected pleasure. I can read, wander the house, even go outside and walk around the neighborhood. It gives me time for introspection and a sense that I am living my life outside the boundaries. Which makes me wonder about people who live their life outside the boundaries every day. Do you still get the sense of enjoyment, if you do the unexpected every day? Someday I would like to find out.

Random thoughts today, a lot swirling in my head. An exciting day...I reserved a space at Emory's open house for their MBA program next week. Hoping to start next fall on my executive MBA. Fingers crossed.
On a more philosophical note Fall is here! I find this to be the most inspiring season. Cooler weather brings energy and a desire to wrap things up by year end. Setting goals and getting my life ready to settle in for winter.
And finally, kindness. On 3 different occasions this week, people at worked have reached out with praise or encouragement. What causes people to be kind? I know some think it may be a survival instinct, the rationale being that by building communities or tribes, our ancestors were more likely to survive and thus cooperation and community have been bred in our DNA. Somewhat like a herd of gazelle. When they run the lion only gets the old, very young or infirm. I can agree with this point but I don't know that it explains the joy one feels when someone is kind to you. And we do. What do you think?

A mission in San Antonio. My son played with his marching band in the Alamo Bowl and we toured the one of the Missions.

Well, my first post. It feels like it should be something momentous. Actually, something insightful, funny, slightly sarcastic, hip and oh-so-fresh. Sorry, I am out.

Instead, I will tell you about me. 40 (barely and I certainly don't look any older than my mid-thirties!), with a teenage son who will be graduating from high school this year. I work in corporate America. I love to play with glass - stained, lampworking, enameled, fused, slumped - love it all! Not very good at it but I really enjoy learning and trying. Live in the Southeast US in the beautiful Peach State of Georgia.