About Me

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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

InSPIREd Sunday & Mosaic Monday - Back on the Grid!


Hello Blogger Friends - this is my first posting since August 23rd!  I'm actually a bit nervous composing this post.  Almost like I've forgotten how to blog it has been so long.  After months of internet problems, I decided to get a new computer and went with an all-in-one with touchscreen and Windows 8.  I was just getting started with learning to navigate everything when things in my family fell apart.

Those of you who know me through Summit Musings and Facebook know that I--as do most of you--have primary caregiving responsibilities for older family members.  In my case, Diva Sister fell, spent time in the hospital and rehab during late August - September.  I just got her settled back in her apartment the end of September.  At the same time, my older brother in Tennessee went into the hospital where he received a devastating diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer.  He too was in and out of hospital and rehab and finally went home under hospice care the last of September.  Of course, I wanted to be with him on his final journey--while dealing with Diva Sister-- so was driving back and forth between Kentucky and Tennessee to help with his care.  Sadly, he completed his journey last Tuesday--at home where he wanted to be.

So, now I'm trying to get some normalcy back in my own life and that includes blogging!

This is the Convent of San Francesco in Tuscany, Italy.  I took these photos on a garden tour of Tuscany in 2000.  Look closely in the center of the photo and you'll see the campanile, or bell tower. The Convent is now a hotel and rehabilitation center for troubled boys and young men.  (click on the photos to enlarge)


In this mosaic you see the old stone paths and walkways around the convent.  Terra cotta urns and planters made locally from the red Tuscan clay line the paths and this single red rose climbs the convent walls.  A common "hen and chicks" grows between the stones.



Here you have a view of the side garden and notice that each window has its own planter of red roses.  A proud bronze peacock perches on the wall overlooking the well-tended garden.  The boys and young men work in the gardens and the hotel as part of their rehabilitation.  The discipline and responsibility--and hard work--was believed to help many turn their lives around.


Linking to InSPIREd Sunday and Mosaic Monday .

23 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello Faye, I am sorry for the loss of your brother. And I hope your sister is feeling better too. My prayers go out to you and your family! I am happy to see you back and posting, the photos from Tuscany are beautiful. Thanks for sharing, have a happy week!

Sally in WA said...

Sorry about the loss of your brother. Thanks for sharing today. It's a beautiful old convent.

Janis said...

Welcome back to the blogosphere Faye...gorgeous pics. Hope your normal returns soon! So sorry for the loss of your brother. Hope Diva sister gets settled back in also! Good to try new things (new computer/windows 8) good for the brain!

Unknown said...

Glad you are back.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

When it rains, it pours sometimes...sorry to read of the loss in your family.
Your mosaics from Tuscany are very nice.

betty-NZ said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is a gorgeous place. I find it interesting that it has found two new purposes in life.

EG CameraGirl said...

Oh my goodness, Faye. You certainly have been busy for the past few months. I hope everything returns back to a more normal pace now so you can get back into blogging comfortably again.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I'm so sorry you've had such a hard summer. These are beautiful photos for mosaics! Sweet hugs, Diane

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i'll be thinking of ya. sounds like a rough time in your life. prayers & thoughts coming your way. so sorry for your loss. ( :

gorgeous pics. i had missed you gone from the bloggy world & i was hoping you were traveling for fun.

Unknown said...

Looking good, Fadia! Nice post to get the blog ball rolling again.

Jo's World said...

You have been missed! Condolences in the loss of your brother, I am betting you were a real comfort to him.

Jo in MN

My Little Home and Garden said...

I hope that blogging does in fact bring some sense of calm to your life after the loss of your brother.

TexWisGirl said...

i am sorry, faye, for the loss of your brother and the struggles for your sister. i do hope things will return to 'normal' for you.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your brother passing - I still ache from losing my brother suddenly in 1996 - the loss hurts - the memories heal. It is good that you could be with him on his journey, that is a blessing.

I've missed your blog posts - hope you can settle back into "normal" once again.

Gorgeous photos - what a lovely place for troubled youth.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your brother passing - I still ache from losing my brother suddenly in 1996 - the loss hurts - the memories heal. It is good that you could be with him on his journey, that is a blessing.

I've missed your blog posts - hope you can settle back into "normal" once again.

Gorgeous photos - what a lovely place for troubled youth.

joanygee said...

Welcome back! Sorry you have had such a lot on your plate to deal with. What wonderful pictures; you have been to some amazing places. Jxx

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Sorry for the loss of your brother, Faye. I hope your sister is doing well now and things get back to some sort of normalcy for you.
Your photos are just lovely. Good to see you again.

Lane Mathias said...

What a rough couple of months you've had, Faye.

It's great to see you get your blogging chops back.

Brian King said...

My condolences on the loss of your brother! I hope your sister is doing better. Sorry to hear about all the family distress. I'm glad to see you back, but I wish it was under different circumstances.

Brian King said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Living Life said...

We've missed you Faye! It's good to have some normalcy back. So sorry for the loss of your brother.

Your photos of Tuscany are simply fabulous!

Our photos said...

You have make beautiful photos!
Greetings, RW & SK

Saun said...

So sorry to hear about your brother. I too have been trying to get back into blogging land we lost my step dad back in May. So we have been trying to get my mom settle in she can't decide if she wants to sale the house or stay in it. The only problem if she stays it's just way to much work for her to keep up. Any way glad to see your back .

Saun