Fall is coming.....

An incredible shot by George of the horses coming up for their breakfast.
It is good to be in Southern Indiana in the Fall!

I was lucky enough to get to go riding with Deb (Southern Indiana's answer to Rowdy Yates) and George (aka Ankles) today. It was raining, it was misty, it was kind of cold in a really humid way. But, as Deb pointed out, NO bees and NO biting horse flies! That made it good for me!
George moving his horse out of the barn in spite of 'Mr. Looks for Carrots' interference....

Deb rides an Arabian stallion - and is he ever beautiful. I can't do him justice with a picture - I think George will have to get the good shot of him.
Deb has taught yoga for many years - the rest of us shouldn't try getting our foot up to our belt buckle to get on a horse.

Pretty guy, isn't he?



Beautiful even when wet!

George doing our safety check and gives Romeo a pat

Rounding the bend back to the barn - notice who is lurking over to the right...


"Got carrots?"

"I smell carrots!"

"Look me in the eye and tell me you don't have any carrots"

All is well! Deb saves the day!!!!!

We all need a carrot and a pat from time to time.
Thanks Deb and George - it was wonderful as always!

Peggy's Nifty - she's 60!

Yep - if we are lucky - it happens to all of us!


The Hostess (looking darned good at 60!)

The host! Drew 'The Guy'!

The Sisters!

The beatiful home

The backyard, all ready for guests

The party favors (thank you, Peggy!!!!)


I will let you figure out what duck is what duck...and there were many, many more. The Beagle Duck has moved in with me!
And last, but not least, Daniel, the Server!

Now for the guests!
First, the young man who is responsible for the framing and sharp imagery of most of the pictures following! Luckily, our Eyvette brought Taurus to the gathering and it was quite a pleasure to meet him and his photograph skills. Thank you, Taurus!

Gina, Tiffany, and the Pizza Man

A whole lot of people I don't know:

And those who are near and dear to my heart!




More people I don't know:

Gina and the Pizza Man again

And the Grand Finale - Pin the Tail on the Donkey! Yes - this was Peggy's idea. We are playing for the Grand Prize of the Rubber Ducky Nativity Scene!
Phyllis spends Vicki around and away we go!



It was a tie! So Peggy decided the tie-breaker - tossing the Rubber Ducky Nativity Scene over her shoulder and may the best woman win!

Who won? I don't know her but she was tall enough to outjump Princess!

It was wonderful to be at this gathering, celebrating the birthday of our dear friend, Peggy, and to get to spend the afternoon with terrific people!
Thanks, Peggy and Drew and Susan for all of your hard work!

Into Bhutan opening evening September 3, 2011

The last of the opening pictures! Those of you who know me should be aware that I now have a new camera and that there may be quite a variation in the quality of my pictures while I am learning. It is an Olympus XZ-1 and I purchased it with the thought that it will minimize the impact of the essential tremor on my pictures. It is not the traditional 'point and shoot' but has many features, most of which I get very confused at times. I am studying and learning but, meanwhile - hard to tell what I will be posting here! Fortunately, I met the wonderful man in Nancy's life, Dick! He does know cameras and has sent me some of his pictures and saved the day (or blog). He is my new hero - and here he is!

Thanks, Dick!

Meanwhile, back to the opening...

Arjia Rinpoche has given Cecily and Nancy kata as a token of gratitude for the exhibit they brought to the TMBCC to share with the community.
So - what is a kata and why is it so cool? Here is a bit of information that I pieced together with Marietta this morning - Marietta had the misfortune to be manning the phones at the Tibetan Center when I called this morning about the kata:
Offering a white scarf--called a kata--is an ancient Tibetan tradition. The color symbolizes purity of intention and aspiration. An ancient Tibetan adage says that giving and receiving go hand in hand, like breathing in and breathing out--it is an a universal karmic principle that the more you give, the more you receive, which should not necessarily be understood in material terms only.

There was something for almost everyone that evening - pictures from the fashion show of Tibetan and Mongolian garments. Very nicely organized in a professional manner by Lynne - you can see her at the microphone in some of the pictures. They had quite a rack of clothing in the back and were changing quickly - these are just a few of the models:

And the final walk of all the models together

Very wonderful food served in the Cultural Center kitchen - thanks go to Lisa who arranged all of it and is also the Center Marketing Director. This picture was taken during the set up. I didn't get a picture of all of the tasty dishes. Mostly because I was hungry and I was eating!

Lots to look at



Lisa with Cecily and Nancy - another good shot by Dick!

Steve hypnotizing George and Deb.....well - not really.

The monks favored us with singing/chanting, very melodius and it feels very soothing to me. I don't understand the words without the book but they way they do it is just....soothing.

Cecily, Nancy, Steve, and Mariam - all from Chicago .... and this is The End.