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First of all… Happy New Year! I can't believe this is my first post of 2015. I have had so many ideas for posts, but alas, no time to write or publish them.

Have you picked a word for 2015? I have, but I'm going to save it for another post. I hope you don't mind. I just hope I actually publish it before 2016!

Yesterday was my dear friend Darla's birthday. We spent hours on the road together Friday driving to Houston in the rain to be by another friend's side as she said goodbye to her sister. I enjoyed getting to spend time with Darla, and see my other friends Rae and Ann, and Ann's kids face-to-face (for the first time in 20 years!), even if the reason was bittersweet. 

My mom is much better, thank you, and by all reports is progressing in her physical therapy. She still has a long way to go before she can come to our house again, but I'm grateful for a move forward, however small. 

I broke down and ordered a new iPhone, just in the nick of time. My old one had been warning me it was getting sick (rebooting in the middle of a phone call!), but I ignored it as long as possible. Yesterday, it was really acting whacky, moving in slow motion, but just like the cavalry coming to the rescue, the FedEx man drove up with my new, shiny gold one. Whew!

Photography has, by necessity, fallen by the wayside over the past year. I admit I've missed the camaraderie of my photography friends. So I was elated to receive an invitation to join a 365 FlickR group by a friend I first met years ago in my first 365.

The same day another friend tagged me for a 5 day black & white challenge on Facebook. I'm not going to pressure myself to post something on FlickR every day this year, but these challenges are great motivation to pick up my camera and see things in a different way, and to reconnect with my blog and photography friends.  

Putting on my Realtor hat, I have a long-awaited closing coming up Friday for a client who has been waiting months for her new home. Also, I spent a day last week exploring a ranch and learning more about farm & ranch real estate. And I'm almost finished with my luxury real estate online class. 

My Christmas tree and decorations are still glittering throughout my house… however, technically we're still in the Christmas season until this weekend. I put off decorating, so I might as well enjoy it as long as possible!

Anyway… here are some other sweet!s from my past week and a half…

 

Monday: getting back into your daily routine; a walk on a frosty dawn

Tuesday: experiencing a taste from your childhood again… La Colmena Mexican candy from 40 years ago that is being manufactured by the same family again and available online

 

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Wednesday: exploring ranches with a client; listening to stories about old Austin; greeting the new year with sparklers and good friends

 

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Thursday: a visit from your brother-in-law and his family, including your goddaughter; sister-in-laws; a house full of kids and dogs

 

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Friday: knowing your brother-in-law and his family made it safely through the ice in West Texas on their way home to Arizona; joining with other friends to help another say a final farewell to her sister

Saturday: the sun returning after days and days of wet, cold, and gray; watching "Cat Ballou" with your mom

Sunday: visiting with friends after church; getting to spend time with your oldest and his wife while helping another friend celebrate her 50th birthday

Monday: your new iPhone arriving via FedEx just as your old one is giving up; invitations from photography friends to join in 1) a 5-day black & white photography challenge and 2) a FlickR 365 Photo Group with friends you met via FlickR years ago; making time for photography

 

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Tuesday: light from the pre-dawn full moon splashing into your house; news that your mom is making progress in physical therapy; a creative handmade greeting card from a friend in your mailbox

Wednesday: watching your puppy hunt for lizards on a crisp morning walk;  finally posting your overdue sweet!s

 

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Here's to new adventures and overflowing blessings to all of you in 2015!

 

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things.

~John Burroughs

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15 responses to “New years, new phones, birthday wishes, and other overdue sweet!s”

  1. Wolf pascoe Avatar

    Did you get the Big phone or the regular?

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  2. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    The regular. That's what took me so long to finally order one… I couldn't decide which one to get! I finally decided the regular was all I needed and that I preferred the 'smaller' size. So far I really like it!
     

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  3. lisleman Avatar

    is the pick a word for the year – the new thing? I’ve been seeing it more and more. Happy faces on those nephews and niece.
    Less photography – less enjoyment? Are you still banging on the drums?

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  4. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I think the 'word for the year' thing started a few years ago. It's big with bloggers. 🙂 I'm finding I need a balance with my photography. I had stopped completely because of a lack of time, but find if I invest a little bit of my time in it, it's great therapy. The drums are great therapy, too, but alas, still no time for them. Sigh. 
     

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  5. Lady Fi Avatar

    Glad you got your new phone just in time!
    What sweet shots. Wishing you a wonderfully happy year.

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  6. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Thank you! Happy New Year to you, too!
     

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  7. Tabor Avatar

    Just wanted to answer your note on my blog in that the Cosby family art is a private collection of great works by mostly black Americans. They have invested lots of money in art…not worked creating art.

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  8. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Oh!!! Thank you for the clarification!
     

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  9. Jennifer Richardson Avatar

    I think we should all give ourselves loving pats on back
    for the fact that we post at all during or around the holidays:)
    Geesh, they can pull the rug out! Glad for each of your sweets;
    always celebrate along with you the beautiful things of life.
    It helps to cultivate that garden.
    Love and light and lift to you,
    Jennifer

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  10. Hilary Avatar

    A mostly sweet week.. some literally.. some bittersweet. Please let me know how the new phone fares out. I’m thinking of getting one soonish. And I’m not sure which of the two options to go for.

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  11. Lily Lau Avatar

    Happy New Year to you too Barbara! That new phone was really necessary, how could you stand that old iPhone for so long!?

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  12. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I just couldn't decide on what I would get next!
     

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  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    So far I'm really liking the 6. I think the 6 plus would be too big!  I think it has more storage, but i try to dump what's on my phone pretty regularly anyway, so that doesn't matter to me. Good luck deciding!!
     

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I'm really liking the new phone. It's the 6, not the 6 plus, but it's plenty for me. 
     

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  15. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Keeping track of these definitely helps me cultivate my garden! Wishing you a beautiful 2015, sweet Jennifer!
     

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