Yowza Spirit

Sacred in the Ordinary, Installation #7: Beauty in a Seed Pod

2012-02-06T11:44:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, words simply cannot describe a moment

when pure magic meets the morning.

Such was the case during my walk-about this past Saturday morning. The temperature was in the 40s, the sky was blue, the sun was shining. Many times I have strolled alongside the front edge of the brush-line on my way to get the morning paper. Many times I have scanned the multiflora rose that invades the hillside. Many times I have marveled at the lines created by the various wild grasses.

And during each of those strolls where I surveyed the natural landscape,
I have passed a cluster of tall stalks, each sporting large seed pods that have the texture of aged and ancient driftwood.

I have stopped to study their curious textures. I have stopped and taken in the interesting vignettes they create with their empty husks.

Yes, countless times I have glanced at those tall stalks crowned with those ancient looking seed pods, and each time I simply continued on my way to the mailbox.

But not this past Saturday morning. On this morning, Mother Nature had woven her magic. On this morning, sun-reflecting, cotton-candy white floss-like fibers were spun like pure angel's hair from the seed pods that had opened.

Pure magic. Pure wonder.

So pure, that I will not attempt to describe the experience with words...but rather,

will bow to their wondrous beauty by sharing these photographs that I snapped

on this magical Saturday morning of Milkweed** seed pods

that had burst open in all their glory.

**Asclepias L. (1753), the milkweeds, is a genus of herbaceous perennial, dicotyledonous plants that contains over 140 known species. It previously belonged to the family Asclepiadaceae,

but this is now classified as the subfamily Asclepiadoideae of the dogbane family Apocynaceae.

Milkweed is named for its milky juice, which contains alkaloids, latex, and several other complex compounds including cardenolides. Some species are known to be toxic.

Carl Linnaeus named the genus after Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, because of the many folk-medicinal uses for the milkweed plants.

Pollination in this genus is accomplished in an unusual manner. Pollen is grouped into complex structures called pollinia (or "pollen sacs"), rather than being individual grains or tetrads, as is typical for most plants. The feet or mouthparts of flower visiting insects such as bees, wasps and butterflies, slip into one of the five slits in each flower formed by adjacent anthers. The bases of the pollinia then mechanically attach to the insect, pulling a pair of pollen sacs free when the pollinator flies off. Pollination is effected by the reverse procedure in which one of the pollinia becomes trapped within the anther slit.

Asclepias species produce their seeds in follicles. The seeds, which are arranged in overlapping rows, have white silky filament-like hairs known as pappus, silk, or floss. The follicles ripen and split open and the seeds, each carried by several dried pappus, are blown by the wind. They have many different flower colorations.

Sacred in the Ordinary, Installation #6: Music of the Soul

2012-02-01T06:19:00.000-08:00

Alas for those that never sing, 

But die with all their music in them!

 ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

This daily inspiration (thank you, Mr. Oliver Wendell Holmes!!!) arrived by e-mail this morning. I read it over at least three times before I sat back and let the words take hold inside my head. Once they took hold, I sat here and thought about how many times I have "turned off"--or maybe I haven't allowed myself to "turn on"--the music in my spirit. Why? Usually it is because I have allowed the clutter of the days to push the songs away. Now, I have enough where-with-all to know that when I invite music into my day, I sing. So why do I ever push the songs away?

Why? While I'm questioning things, a one-liner quotation that I keep on a shelf in my studio sneaks into my thoughts--"Ideas become real at the point of action." OK. That does it. This morning I choose to accept the invitation to let my thoughts sing, to let my ideas sing, to let my hands sing through creating. And so, here is one of the word-songs for today.

It is the first day of February, and the weather here in Western New York continues to write its own musical score of surprises.

Yep - just yesterday, I awoke to a chilled breeze rushing in through my bedroom window (I keep that window rolled open ever so slightly to allow in nighttime breezes) and our landscape covered in snow--snow that looked like beautiful, creamy shaving cream. The song for yesterday was slow, comprised of deeper notes, calmer notes.

That was yesterday, when the temperatures were in the lower 30s in the morning, but by the end of the day, had risen into the 40s...and were predicted to rise even higher by today...go figure.

This morning...I awoke to a new song, a song of soft breezes, warmer breezes playing through that same window next to my side of the bed. Hmmmm...."A sure indicator of the promise of a good day," I think to myself before throwing back the comforter and greeting the day...and it doesn't look like I will be disappointed.

When I walk into the dining room, I stand at the front windows and take in the landscape. While grey rain clouds stretch from east to west across the upper skyline, green grass stretches in rolling waves across the lawn below. Sure, here and there, little blobs of shaving cream snow appear...but, mostly it is green lawn and trees and brush without a speck of snow lying on branches. The overnight rains have performed their magic, erasing the snow. This morning's song begins with a lightness, comprised of brisker notes, lilting notes.

Hang in there with me, I'm getting to the part where Mr. Oliver Wendell Holmes' words arrived with a purpose for me today.

It is during these winter-going-into-the-promise-of-spring mornings that I find myself mesmerized by the birds that return to the brush line at the far end of our front lawn. I am mesmerized by all of the birds, but I am in love with the cardinals. The male and female cardinals return in force. They find their separate perches and sit, doing their bird yoga-zen thing for scores of minutes. Stately. Regal. Brilliant. They sit as if knowing they are performing for an audience.

If the temperature is just right, they leave their brush-line perches and fly like little bottle rockets to the garden beds surrounding the two berry-laden shrubs that stand on either side of the front sidewalk. There, they begin an operatic performance. They dance alone or in pairs, they pick and pick at the mulched bed--finding precious berries that have dropped from the shrubs. They hop about, drunk with happiness. They fly from shrub to shrub to shrub, sometimes clutching branches that hang at an awkward angle, sometimes clutching branches that literally hang perpendicular to the ground. And they sing--beautifully they sing. No, it does not matter to them, the angle of the branch; they celebrate the day and they sing.

As their celebrations fill the air, their songs fill my soul. And so, I believe that today I choose to be like a cardinal celebrating the promise of Spring...I choose not to let the music die inside of me today. No, today, I sing.

Sacred in the Ordinary, Installation #5: Ripples of the Universe

2012-01-29T10:33:00.000-08:00

Do you believe in the concept of a "universal ripple"?

I think about that concept almost every single day...and have come to believe that we are merely players in the ripple story of the universe. Let me share with you yet another example of why I have come to believe in this idea.

Last night and this morning, a very interesting sequence of events occurred…(1) last night--a total blackout due to high winds off of Lake Erie; (2) this morning--3 quotations--eerily connected to the tale from the night before--appear in my e-mail inbox via the daily inspirational thoughts shared by Jonathan Lockwood ...

"Universal ripple?" I ask myself..."I think so", I nod. Here's how my little ripple story unfolded.

Last night, I experienced my first "black-out" at our new Hilltop Casa. Yep, there I was, semi-alone at home with just me, myself and I and my sweetie pie and shadow-pal, Galaia, (our 18-year-old cat). Jack was out for the evening--playing at a private gig with The Boys of Summer, a WNY band for which he is the new bassist.

So there I was, in the studio space in our sunroom, music by Eilen Jewel filling the nooks and crannies of the entire house, a blank canvas covered in gesso waiting for its new face, and me attempting to envision and create another new painting. Frustration was running a little edgy since what I was seeing in my mind and what my energy was generating on canvas were ending up in quite a disconnect. I just couldn't "see the light" (sorry, couldn't resist that play on words!).

But, I deviate from the ripple story. Anyway, I had just squeezed acrylic paints onto the palette--dark violet, Payne's gray, and Titaniaum White--had just stirred them into an acrylic, somewhat psychedelic glob, and was beginning to let the rhythm of the music guide brushstrokes onto canvas. When...in a nano-second...deafening silence and blinding darkness. For whatever reason, my intelligent self responded calmly. In that immediate darkness, my mind pieced together a couple of relative facts. Fact 1: there were 50+ mph gusting winds and blankets of snow and ice crystal blowing across Lake Erie, which lies due west of our home; Fact 2 our new "Casa" sits open to the world--atop a hill, in that direct easterly path from Lake Erie; and, Fact 3: the gas stove heater in the sunroom was still burning so I wouldn't freeze.

Was I surprised? Yes. Did I panic? No. Did I act out of calmness and resourcefulness? Yes.

With a combination of reasoning and forethought, I had placed flashlights in every room after we moved to our new home at the beginning of this winter season. But you know what I'm thinking? I'm thinking that it wasn't necessarily my reasoning or forethought that brought about that action...no, I'm thinking that it was that after about the 30th person, upon hearing where our new home is located, had said to me, "Good luck with the winds and snow. You do have a generator don't you? My thanks go out to all of those friends! Immediately I grabbed the flashlight from the kitchen cabinet and checked on Galaia. Silly me. She's a cat...she can see in the darkness...and so, with her amber-gold eyes, she slowly stared into my eyes as if to say, "Mom, I'm trying to get some rest here." I love that little girl.

Well, then...I heard the universal ripple whisper a message-- to light some CANDLES! Without missing a beat, I went to the candle drawers (yes, there are two drawers in the built-in buffet that I keep filled with all sizes of candles!) and gathered up an armload of those little waxy wonders. I went to the china cabinet and took out the candelabras. I went to the china cabinets and took out crystal bowls and platters.

And then I set about creating candle vignettes throughout the entire front portion of our home--candles in the living room,

candles in the dining room, candles in the kitchen, candles in the sunroom (errrr...guess for the moment, it was the dark-room).

Once all of the votives and tapers were lit, I stood there, amid the flickering and rippling glow of candle flames.

No panic. No disappointment.

No irritation.

Just calmness and serenity.

For 3 hours Galaia and I enjoyed the glow of candle light.

For 3 hours there was no sound but the gusting wind outdoors.

For 3 hours, there was nothing electronic to break into our solace.

For 3 hours, it felt as though time stood still.

And now, in the spirit of going full circle, I return to my initial question about the existence of a universal ripple.

Is there a "universal ripple" in the universe that often times we miss or are too busy to note?

I do believe that ripple is never-ending, forever-moving. And it was just this belief that came front and center for me again this morning when I opened my e-mails to read the daily inspirational thoughts sent to me by Jonathan Lockwood.

Read them and see if you find the synchronous rippling of the universe in last night's candlelight adventure and this morning's inspirational thoughts about--you guessed it--how it is better to light candles than curse the darkness!

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. 

Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude

 of those who have lighted the flame within us. 

- Albert Schweitzer 

 It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. 

- Chinese proverb often quoted by Eleanor Roosevelt  

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. 

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. 

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

(Reprinted from "Daily Inspiration-Daily Quote" by Jonathan Lockwood Huie, 1.29.12)

Sacred in the Ordinary Installation #4: Umbrel Flower Heads in Winter

2012-01-27T09:36:00.000-08:00

A few weeks past,

with the valley below and our hillside lawn filled up with snow,

I embarked on one of my "walkabouts" to engage in the beauty of the day.

It was there, at the edge of our front lawn,

where the slope of manicured grass meets the wild and untamed brush,

I beheld one of nature's many sacred gifts.

Set against the linen-white snow,

bare and spindly, grey-black branches topped off by wheat-toned umbrels

rose up to greet me like miniature holy grails full of hope.

They rose up--divine and delicate--and offered this story:

that the snow will melt--

that the warmer days will return--

that the cycle of seasons will roll on.

Sacred in the Ordinary:

Umbrel Flower Heads in Winter

(A Gardener's Note:

The seeds are formed where the umbrel--meaning umbrella-like--flower head was.)

Sacred in the Ordinary Installation #3: In the Distant Mist...

2012-01-16T16:03:00.000-08:00

While walking the hillside at our home,

my daily sojourn was suspended when I was greeted by

the morning mist that lay--as soft as a whisper--upon the distant landscape.

The serenity found in such a sacred moment

slows time and stills the soul.

Gratitude.

Sacred in the Ordinary Installation #2: Red Berry Delight

2012-01-14T14:52:00.000-08:00

January 14, 2011...

Snow falls lightly and fills up the landscape...

I set out on my "first ever" snow shoe walkabout,

and am soon encapsulated in silence...

shrouded in whiteness...

as I make my way through bare brambles and branches...

I stop to take in the occasional tap-tap-tap of a woodpecker in the distance...

and then...

I come upon red berries--nature's beauty marks--and I hold my breath.

Such delicacy...

much joy.

Sacred in the Ordinary: Installation #1; Fly Me to the Moon Frida

2012-01-13T18:51:00.000-08:00

As I begin yet another period of soul searching,

I find that I am drawn, yearning, to document moments that bring me to a standstill.

The sacred moments that still my spirit, my Self.

The sacred moments in the Ordinary.

And so, I share with you...and invite you to ponder the Beauty...

and the Bounty in the Ordinary.

Sacred in the Ordinary Installation #1:

Fly-Me-to-the-Moon Frida

First Snowfall Walk to the Mailbox (1.13.12)

2012-01-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

Peace.

As I walk down the driveway and look back up at our new home,

I pause to give thanks.

And so...I invite you to stroll with me to pick up the morning mail.

I invite you to enjoy the beauty of the freshly fallen snow--

this, our first REAL snowfall of 2012--

and to breathe in the crispness of the winter's air.

Enjoy...

in-joy, Susie

Lily Dale Adventure

2011-09-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

Summer has almost come and gone here in Buffalo, New York...and with the summer sunshine and blue skies calling me outside, my "hibernation" from blogging continued.

But autumn is fast approaching, and with the cooler temperatures and shorter days, I hope to hop back into the blogging saddle and continue to share little slices of our lives in Western New York.

Soon...soon...I will once again and sit down to write to you all -- but for now, come walk with me along this single sidewalk in Lily Dale...smell the fresh air, gaze at the canvas of cosmos and portulaca...and dream of days filled with happiness and love.

Giddy Up...from your Texas Gal

Hibernation Hiatus from Blogging...Spring Is Around the Corner!

2011-03-09T08:24:00.000-08:00

My goodness.

It has been far too long since I last sat down

at the computer to journal little life snippet-stories.

I would truly like to pass blame for my Blogging Absence

along to the long, cold winter we have been experiencing...

but truth of the matter is that I got found myself sidetracked by

an immersion into all-things-facebook! Giddy up...

and, what an immersion of life-energy that has been! Not only has it

fueled happy and invigorating connections with dear friends, but the facebook-fanatacism has re-ignited

creative thoughts and playful ideas!

YOWZA...with joy at the promise of spring lurking around the corner

of a month of Mondays, I find myself yearning to return

to the world of YowzaSpirit blogging.

From my home to yours,

I share a few of the snow-inspired snapshots from this winter.

Life IS good!!

Holy Crepe!

2010-08-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

Jack and I recently spent a wonderful, restful and playful weekend in Lewiston, NY, to celebrate Jack's birthday. One of our outings was to attend a Wine and Food Festival at Artpark--and it was there that we came across this vendor--Holy Crepe! What a thrill it was to watch the artistry of this young woman as she worked. Enjoy! After working on this post...I'm HUNGRY :)

Festival of Art...Lewiston, NY

2010-08-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

This past weekend offered up blue skies...the perfect setting for the annual

Art Festival held in the village of Lewiston, NY.

Despite the high humidity (what's up with THAT here in Western NY?),

the event fed the soul and the spirit as people strolled up and down Center Street.

There were musicians--

this young man's rendition of "Hallelujah" stopped festival-goers in their tracks...

and this young violinist (in a trio of entertainers) mesmerized...

and the acapella singing of

Jymn the Singing Mime filled the air with style and grace

(note the play guitar he strummed during a few of his songs :) )...

and there was the happy music provided by

the trio known as the Gringo Mariachis

(the guy on the left with the accordian is my new "fav" LeeRon--of LeeRon Zydeco)...

and, last but not least,

the artistic "voices" of today's youth

"spoke" through their Chalk Art creations.

Indeed, in Lewiston, NY,

on a beautiful, fine August Saturday (2010)...

we were once again reminded that LIFE IS GOOD

Old Man River & LeeRon Zydeco

2010-08-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

Hidey-Ho...we spent a fabulous Thursday afternoon at Old Man River, a local favorite food shack across from Niawanda Park at the Niagara River. In photographs - here's what a lazy, late evening provided for us in the form of food and fanny-shakin' zydeco music.

Funky and fun...the patio

the lip smackin' lobster and clam cuisine

and, of course, the cajun-spiced music of LeeRon Zydeco

Hidey-Ho...

It was a "Clam Jam" with Mr. Clam for certain...

Dug's Dive on Lake Erie

2010-07-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hidey-Ho....I am way behind in posting summer blogs...

so behind that I'm giving myself MAJOR permission to use the upcoming series of blogs as journal entries...

simple, surfing-style snippets...hidey ho!

Yesterday, we headed out Route 5 to Dug's Dive that is located

on the Outer Harbor just outside of Buffalo.

Once we arrived, Jack met his new "little buddy" -- Dug! :-)

Check 'em out.

We ate on the back porch that allowed a view of the harbor and Lake Erie.

Then we headed down the Outer Harbor a bit to Gallagher Beach

to watch some of the wind surfers...

zip across the bay area...

and take advantage of "gale-like" winds that were blowing ashore.

HIDEY-HO...away we did go!

Garden Walk...

2010-07-11T11:02:00.000-07:00

Summer is definitely in full bloom in our neck of the country. Everywhere you look, gardens abound with rainbows of color...reds and yellows and purples and pinks and whites and oranges--all such a treat for the soul.

And so, I wanted to record a little "garden walk" of my own by capturing the flowers that greet us every day as we walk outside our side entry door to be greeted by our frog bird bath standing guard over our home and the basket of lobelia and geraniums and thousand bell petunias...

down two short steps onto the driveway and stroll alongside our home (facing east)...

stop at the front northeast corner of the house...

turn left and walk up two flagstone steps onto our front walk that parallels our home...

and onto our front patio where we sit at the black wrought iron table under the red umbrella to find ourselves embraced by little gardens brimming with gerber daisies, coreopsis, salvia, black-eyed susans, sweet allysum, poppies, verbena, pincushions...

A slice of heaven for sure.

Hosta La Vista...Baby

2010-07-10T16:30:00.000-07:00

After moving to Tonawanda, NY, I began a whole new adventure in gardening…and one of my favorite plants that I mixed into our front rose bed was a hosta…what specific type of hosta I don’t recall…but it has grown into a gorgeous and huge treasure with leaves that are “dimpled with ripples” and blooms that are as "fragrant as sweet gardenias".

In doing a bit of research, I found that these unique shade-to-sun loving perennials—with foliage ranging in color from green to blue to yellow and all combinations and sizes from dwarf 3” tall specimens to large 3’ tall monsters—are easy to grow in this region.

As luck would have it, my neighbor, Sarah, invited me to join her on a little excursion to the “hosta farm” run by Jerry Murray http://www.murray-bros.com. We hopped in her SUV and headed to Orchard Park. Little did I know what lay ahead.

When we turned into the winding drive that led to the “viewing area” it looked pretty much like any other country garden nursery, but as we drove around the slight bend in the road there were hostas everywhere—to the right, to the left, up ahead…OH MY! We were promptly greeted by the owner’s grandson, who handed us a three-page document that listed about 350 varieties of hosta (with details for each plant) that they had for sale.

We began walking about the “viewing area” that meandered throughout the grounds—which allowed us to see each different type of hosta in its mature size! Fabulous. While there are far too many specific hostas to write about in this brief blog…here are a few snapshots to whet your appetite.

I left with six new hosta treasures: three Blue Mammoths and three August Moons. They have now found a spot in our gardens.

Hidey-Ho...Hosta La Vista, Baby!

RED, RED, RED: There's Something About...

2010-07-09T07:27:00.000-07:00

...a vase of red gladiolas in front of a sunlit window

(our home in Tonawanda, NY)

...a red bench atop aged, old bricks lining a park path

(community park in Lewiston, NY)

...a solitary red rose in front of sweet lavender

(community park in Lewiston, NY)

...a red fire hydrant on a steamy, 96-degree day

(Cobblestone District in Buffalo, NY)

... red gerber daisies against a backdrop of yellow coreopsis and purple salvia

(our garden in Tonawanda, NY)

...red petunias under a canopy of pink spirea

(our garden in Tonawanda, NY)

La Dolce Vita

2010-07-02T06:25:00.000-07:00

La Dolce Vita...La Dolce Vita...La Dolce Vita....mmmmmmm

Indeed....it IS the "Sweet Life" at La Dolce Vita, (www.iloveladolcevita.com)

located on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo, NY.

This well-appointed and inviting restaurant is on our "go-to" list of favorite spots for relaxing and enjoying a fantastic meal and a glass or two of vino--all while enjoying the bustling sidewalk activity.

Recently, on a pleasant June day, Judy D. and I spent a lingering

3 hour+-lunch visit on the front patio--

and not ONCE did we feel as though we had to hurry and finish

so another customer could be seated.

SWEET!

We ordered a Runfolo Salad (absolutely delicious!)

and bruschetta (tastefully divine!)...

We arrived under sunny skies...

watched from under the canopy as those skies darkened and the rain came...

and then left when the sun re-appeared.

Yowza! Life IS Sweet at La Dolce Vita

Red Tulips....

2010-07-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

oh, me; oh, my...there is "Something About Red Tulips"

that sends my spirits soaring...

I cannot recall ever planting bulbs in Texas (while many other gardeners did, I just never attempted it). It was during my first spring in WNY that I discovered the sheer thrill that the "bloomin' bulbs" brought me while on walks about the neighborhood. As I'd take in the splendor of the blooms, my subconscious noted them as harbingers of sunnier and warmer days to come. Everywhere I'd look...there would be these gorgeous blooming peepers...a brilliant oil painting against the dark green lawns...delicate yet stately flowers painted the landscape with hues of yellows and reds and pinks and purples and even more colors of the rainbow. YOWZA!

So...off to Home Depot I went (hidey-ho)...bought me a bulb shovel/planter (whatever it is called) and some packages of daffodils and tulips...(check out my daffodil blog from months past to find out the type of tulip...for the life of me, I can't remember the name right now...oohahhhhh)...

Take a "peek" at the glory our red tulips in the front flower bed brought us each day.....la la la la la, life IS good....

Jimmie Vaughan & Lou Ann Barton @ Artpark!!!

2010-06-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

Here we are in Western New York...in Lewiston, NY, hanging out at Artpark on a gorgeous Tuesday night (June 22, 2010), sitting on the gentle slope of a hill overlooking the Niagara Gorge...gazing at Canada across the gorge...soaking up the slant of sunshine under a grey-blue sky...all the while absorbing the fabulous Blues of Austinite musicians extraordinaire Jimmie Vaughan and Lou Ann Barton.

Go figure...we move from Austin, TX, to Buffalo, NY...and then as if kissed by the gods, for one evening, we return in spirit back to the Lone Star State through the tunes of Jimmie and Lou Ann. Now - that's a winner of a way to enjoy the nighttime if you ask me. So doing our part...we said "hi" to everyone and smiled as if they were our best friends...yes ma'am, we did our part to help Keep Austin Weird...hidey-ho

Life IS good...the evening proved magical...and the music swayed our souls.

River Grill on a Sunny Sunday Afternoon

2010-06-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh....yes, indeed, summertime is bringing some much yearned for sunshine and laid-back afternoons for relaxing and re-energizing. This past Sunday afternoon, June 20th, my gal-pal Beth and I headed for a couple of hours of girl-time at the River Grill. Beth is retiring from an education career (as a 2nd grade teacher) and so we decided to grab a couple of hours and get-away from the chaos that defines the end of a school year and to celebrate her new journey.

Billy McEwen and the Soul Invaders (www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VOy7Dgkbtw&feature=youtube_gdata) were playing at the River Grill on Aqua Lane (don't you love the image "aqua lane" connotes!)...and so off we went.

For a couple of hours we forgot about all of the "to-do" items on both of our Everyday Life Lists as we took in the throaty blues of Billy's band; their music eased our souls while we slowly sipped our drinks (mine a mojita; Beth's a glass of Reisling) and enjoyed an easy conversation.

So for Beth and Susie...that laid-back sunny, summertime afternoon of Blues reminded us both that, indeed....LIFE IS GOOD!

BBQ & Blues

2010-06-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

BBQ & Blues Bash…2nd Annual Event...looks like summertime has finally arrived in the Queen City!

…and accompanying its arrival are the outdoor festivals and events that are in full swing! This being my third summer season in the Buffalo area, I’m still amazed at the unlimited opportunities to enjoy outdoor events of all kinds—culinary, fundraising, music, theatre, wine tastings, art, crafts, tours, celebrations…and more.

To make the most of things, my goal is to blog in “summertime snapshots”…leaving me more time to actually be out enjoying the great outdoors! Hi-Ho….here I go….

Friday evening (June 18), Jack and I joined our friends Larry and Barb at the 2^nd Annual BBQ & Blues Bash that was sponsored by Labatt Blue and took place in the Cobblestone District of Buffalo.

Needless to say, the event , which was a fundraiser for Gateway-Longview--an organization that benefits at-risk children, was a huge success as all in attendance were happy to pony-up the ticket fee for a great cause.

The all-you-can-eat BBQ buffet was delicious (to date, some of the best pulled pork we’ve tasted in the area)…

the cold “brewskis” and glasses of wine flowed with unlimited refills…a handful of Buffalo Bills (Lydell Sargeant and Cary Harris) autographed posters for Susie...

and a few of the Buffalo Jills sidled up alongside Jack...

the guys--Jack, Don (Barb's brother) and Larry--kept things lively...

and Susie kept on dancing...

but all said and done...the highlight of the evening were the fabulous Blues tunes provided by Billy McEwen and the Soul Invaders.

For hours, we celebrated--music, conversation, laughter, food, and drink…not a bad way to salute a near-perfect summer evening in Buffalo, NY.

When the evening drew to a close, we were reminded once again that, indeed, Life IS Good!

Yowza….

SPA-tacular Full Moon Howl for the Salvation Army Emergency Shelter (Buffalo, NY)

2010-05-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

SPA-tacular Full Moon Howl

April 28, 2010

A gathering of Yowza Elves in the Spirit of Giving and Gratitude

to support the

Salvation Army Emergency Shelter in Buffalo, NY

Oh, my!!! The entire evening was, indeed, “SPA-TACULAR”--due to the generosity and kindness and beauty of the women who came to “howl out loud” through their giving of spa items to the Salvation Army Emergency Shelter http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use_buffalo.nsf/vw-text-dynamic-arrays/AFD2F02C04D2D23E85257488006B3D87?openDocument.

You know, I was going to write in detail about the entire event, but the saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words” truly speaks more loudly and more clearly to the success of the gathering than any lengthy blog I could attempt. Suffice it to say – the collective spirit and heart and energy and love of the women who gave of their time and donations was overwhelming.

46 WOMEN:

That’s right—46 fantastic women from the Buffalo-Kenmore-Tonawanda, NY were responsible for the evening’s success…

877 DONATED SPA ITEMS:

   Yowza! Yowza! Yowza! Before it was all said and done, 877+ spa items were donated to support the women who might find
   themselves residing at the Salvation Army Emergency Shelter in downtown Buffalo, NY. 877 items! That’s right…46 women…
   877+ donated spa items. Oh, me; Oh, my! Life IS good!

And so, rather than writing and writing and writing…here is the story of the magical evening through photographs.

The Invitation to Howl

Guests of Honor

Carolyn Hillman, Director

Margie Delgado, Resident Manager

Salvation Army Emergency Shelter Buffalo, NY

Party Goodies...Nibbles...Drinks...Decorations

Yowza Elf Giving

Yowza Elves:

So I’ll leave you with a thought:

What if…

what if more Yowza Elves begin to gather in the spirit of gratitude and giving? What if these Yowza Elves gather, then more elves gather, and at each gathering they encourage others to

“Catch the YowzaSpirit and Pass it On”….

What if…

Phew! The evening came and went…and the Goodies are now boxed for delivery to the shelter.

Yowza...Catch the Spirit

2010-04-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

Daffodils & Tulips & Our Red Umbrella…oh, My!

Ok…this blog will be a bit brief as I am taking advantage of the scrumptious sunshine that has finally arrived by spending a great deal of time relaxing beneath the red umbrella that graces our front patio…yep, I love to just sit and think or write letters to friends or read the next books for book group or chat with passers-by or listen to the birds or drink a glass of wine or...well, you get the picture, right? :-)

OK…here’s the "daffodil and tulip" scoop.

The rose flowerbed at the front of our home is truly a legacy to the Ross family (the only other family to have lived in our home since it was built in 1934). It was in either 1935 or 1936 that the late Mrs. Ross planted the hardy bushes with their aromatic pink roses (I have yet to find out the name for the rose).

In that brick-lined flowerbed those roses have bloomed for over 70 years! At one point last year, Jack and I considered removing the rose bushes because of how large and somewhat unruly they become, but then our hearts won over and a late fall “haircut” (well, actually a crew-cut is more like it) was the course we chose. However, since we cut the bushes back so drastically, our little flowerbed looked empty and lonely. So as if I were staring at a blank canvas…

I began to imagine….

You see, one of the many things I love about this region is the abundance of all kinds of flowering bulbs that burst into bloom in the spring—so I decided it was time to try my “Texas-gardener-turned-Tonawanda-gardener” hand with them!

Just as the frigid temperatures of winter began to take hold last year, I grabbed my newly acquired “bulb shovel” along with the bags of Narcissi King Alfred daffodils and Apeldoorn tulips I had purchased.

I was on a “maiden” journey for me—to create a “sea of yellow daffodils and red tulips” that would bless us with their beauty in the spring.

By the time I finished planting the one hundred or so bulbs, my fingers—despite the thick gloves I wore—and my nose were frozen…but my hopes and expectations were warmed as I imagined each bulb nestled in the ground, merely resting through the long winter months in preparation for their emergence in the spring.

Well…those cold, dreary months of winter are slipping away (or at least we’re crossing our fingers that they are)…and the “blooms” of my labor are bringing us (and our neighbors) an awful lot of joy. I will have to get back to you with pics of the tulips…they are still teasing us with their “yet-to-open” buds.

I can’t wait for fall (yikes….did I really just say that???) so that I can plant even more bulbs all about our yard and flower beds. Guess that is one way to get through the winter, eh, knowing that come springtime, nature will grace us with her flowers.

Life is good! Yowza!

Yowza Elves Gone Wild: Holiday Goodies, 2009

2010-04-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

SNAPSHOT: Yowza Elves Gone Wild…

for the support staff at the Salvation Army Emergency Shelter

(downtown Buffalo, NY)

It has been a while since I last sat down at the computer to write…but such is life! This past month and a half has been a veritable blur of life activities, but little windows of time for catching up on my blogging are finally opening up.

Ironically, though, as these blocks of time for writing are occurring, the warm weather and blue skies over Western New York have returned on a regular basis. Needless to say, I find myself wanting to be outside enjoying the lure of spring rather than inside sitting in front of the computer.

To honor this lure of being outside and enjoying this fabulous spring weather, I will use a series of SNAPSHOT BLOGS rather than longer pieces to record some life snippets.

I began my volunteer connection with the Salvation Army Emergency Shelter late last year, and that partnership has brought a great sense of personal joy and fulfillment. Most of the work I am doing for the shelter involves room makeovers (from painting to re-designing to re-decorating to whatever the need that I can handlew). However, it dawned on me that some "Yowza Elves" work I began back in Austin, TX. could continue right here in the Buffalo region. With that thought in mind, I was excited to invite some of my WNY “Elf-Spirited” friends to help honor the shelter’s support staff--a staff of beautiful women and men who are the heart and soul of this agency and who work tirelessly to keep things running smoothly and successfully!

So, at Christmas time (’09) I sent out the call to a handful of gal-pals to “come & play & give a bit of themselves”...they didn’t hesitate to answer the call with a collective YES! Yes ma’am…this small circle of elves with good hearts gathered at my home and we iced cookies, decorated brownies, filled hot chocolate bags, collected books for reading...and more.

There was Elf Beth.

And Elves Trisha & Pat.

And Elves Anne & Judy.

And even our honorary elf…

my precious cat of 16 years, Galaia!

Our first Yowza Elves “gift” of giving was to surprise the shelter’s support staff—all 17 of them—with individual plates and bags of holiday goodies in thanks for all they do to help others.

One of the key ideas behind being a Yowza Elf is to remain in the wings, so to speak, as unnoticed and invisible as possible. You know, kind of like the tooth fairy!

How fun that we were basically able to pull off the surprise…which filled us with the joy of knowing that we, a small circle of Yowza Elves, could put smiles on the faces and feelings of importance in the hearts of the staff!

cele-BRA-tion...Yowza Style

2010-03-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

cele-BRA-tion…Yowza Style

What is a "cele-BRA-tion" you might be wondering? Well, a "cele-BRA-tion" is a celebration imbued with true Yowza Spirit…that’s what it is!

The Back Story:

On one of my walks around the neighborhood last summer I met up with Sue, another “walking gal”. We walked and talked as we enjoyed the gorgeous day. Somewhere in the midst of non-stop conversation, I discovered she volunteers (cooking dinners for the homeless) at the Little Portion Friary, a local Buffalo, NY shelter.

Aha! My mind raced; my energy bubbled. Visions of Yowza Elves danced in my head. I wondered, "Could this be an opportunity to see if I can continue in Western New York with the Yowza Spirit work I had begun in Texas?"

The Need:

I asked Sue what ONE thing might a group of women be able to do to further help the women at the shelter. She didn’t hesitate: “Bras,” she said. “Hmmm…bras?” I mused. Suddenly I imagined the scene—a gathering of women in my backyard, my gift of wine and appetizers as a thanks for the generosity of these guests, their gifts of gratitude and giving by filling a bucket full of bras of all types and sizes for women in need.

The Gathering:

So there you have it. Invitations were created and delivered. RSVPs came in. The beautiful summer weather cooperated. And over 30 women showed up. And show up they did with bras of all makes and styles and sizes in hand. When all was said and done, these bras were placed into not one, but several buckets. (Bras were even sent by my gal-pals back in Texas!) The spirit of the gathering was filled with laughter, conversations, joy. And the outcome of the first Western New York gathering for a Yowza Spirit “cele-BRA-tion” was a huge success.

The Gifts:

When all was said and done—we presented Sue (our guest-of-honor for the event) with over 100 bras! Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would end up with this number of bras. 10 bras…Maybe? 20 bras…how great would that be? 30 bras…could we dare hope? But…over 100 bras…amazing! Simply amazing that over 100 women would be gifted with a new bra!!!

The depth of giving that night reinforces the belief that “ideas become real at the point of action.” When presented with a chance to help others in need, these women stepped up and reminded the universe that no “bookend” can be placed on the generosity of good people.

YOWZA!

Snapshots...Yowza Album 1

2010-03-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Album 1:

fall, 2009, Western New York

Kenmore, NY; Buffalo, NY; Lackawanna, NY; Tonawanda, NY

This photo is of an autumn full moon, 2009, taken from our driveway...Kenmore, NY

The reflection pond behind the Erie County Historical Society and Museum

(the remaining structure from the 1901 Pan American Exposition held in Buffalo, NY)

has a mesmerizing affect upon one's spirit.

While strolling around the pond, this is one of the many reflections that evokes a sense of serenity.

In Lackawanna, NY, there are two absolutely grand and stunning architectural treasures--

the Our Lady of Victory Basilica and the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Garden.

As you drive along the Niagara River toward Lackawanna, you pass old warehouses and factories and storage silos--remnants from days when the steel businesses were thriving.

Somehow, you don't quite expect to find these breathtaking

structures, but there they are, grand palaces--

one of stone and marble, the other of glass and steel--

both of which have withstood the stress of time.

...and this last snapshot was taken from the shore of the Niagara River

(Tonawanda, NY, fall sunset, 2009)

YOWZA!

Going Green at Malone's Irish Bar and Grill

2010-03-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

I've only lived in the Buffalo, NY, area for about two years, but one thing for sure--they know how to celebrate. While St. Patrick's Day is honored by a lot of folks only on March 17--that's not the case here. No ma'am. Things go "GREEN" for a whole week...and I must say that New Yorkers definitely know how to pay tribute to "all things Irish". Last night we joined in the "green movement" with our neighbors Tom and Carole at Malone's Irish Bar and Grill -- and we loved it! Their granddaughter, a member of the Irish Dance group Rince Na Tiarna performed...and they brought even more life to an already pretty lively group of people. These dancers are amazing performers.

Life can't get much better, can it? Spending time with friends, enjoying good food and drink, receiving great service, and all the while toe-tapping and clapping to a professional performance by an award-winning group of Irish dancers...now that's a nice way to experience a little Yowza snapshot of life, eh? Malone's really was a perfect place to toast to life. What a way to create a Yowza memory--embellished with the spirit of St. Patrick, shamrocks, green beer, leprechauns, Irish dancers, corned beef, potato soup, Irish stew, folks donning green hats and boas and beads and glasses and t-shirts and more. Yowza!

2010-03-12T07:41:00.000-08:00

Yowza! Yowza! Yowza!

For me--that one single word has come to encapsulate so much of what it means to live an intentional life, a spiritual life. Let me try to pinpoint what the word "Yowza" has come to mean to me. That one word encompasses so much--a soulful spirit...a gratitude spirit...a giving spirit...a playful spirit..a heart spirit...a creative spirit...a joy spirit...a loving spirit...a let's-do-a-cartwheel spirit...a let's-gather-with-friends spirit...a let's-live-life-fully spirit...and so-much-more spirit. For several years now, my life has found a new center when I live and share the Yowza Spirit, and so I think it is time to enter into the "circle of bloggers" with the hope that others will "Catch the Yowza Spirit...and Pass It on".

Because life can become hectic and demanding at times, I decided that I would give myself permission to use this blog when the spirit calls and when time allows. It is my intention to sit down on a regular basis to share the Yowza Spirit...but if there are lapses in entries, please don't throw this "baby out with the bath water". Most likely, if you haven't heard from me in a bit, then it means that the spirit of life has grabbed me by the arm and pulled me right smack-dab into the middle of things. Enough said.

To set this Yowza Spirit blog in motion, let me share how it all began.

Many years back, I participated in a creative writing workshop at a women's writing conference. The session was one in which we were to discover our "barbaric yawp". The session felt like many other writing circles--a session where one is invited to tap into the inner spirit, the creative spirit...but this time, we were asked to stand up and shout out the one word that bubbled up from deep within our creative core and that begged to be loosed into the universe. So there we were, a group of women writers--eyes closed, crayon poised above a blank sheet of newsprint--waiting for the first note of music so that we could free up our creative ideas and imaginings. Hmmmmm...I had participated in activities like this many times, and at first it felt a bit like I was just "going through the motions" of participation. The music began, my crayon met the blank page, I sat there for a while and then began doodling (remember - my eyes are closed). As the music played and images and thoughts danced on my eyelids, I felt it--a little "seed of a word" taking root in my stomach, taking hold and then moving up and up toward my heart and then the word burst into full bloom. That's right -- I shouted out my barbaric yawp--YOWZA. (And I was not alone in the shouting of these yawps...women, at different intervals, whispered or spoke or shouted out their yawps into this writing circle.) The energy was electric. My heart was happy. I felt giddy. And that is when Yowza began to define a part of me. Since that writing session, I have found my happiest and most fulfilling life moments when I am in the Yowza Spirit.

And so it is that I now enter the circle of blogging to share the Yowza Spirit. I will allow the blog spirit to bubble up--to take on a bit of a a life of its own through shared stories, photographs, gatherings, writing and who the heck knows what else. I will little stories of the good things that Yowza Elves are doing. I will invite you to be a Yowza, too. See you back here soon - Susie