New Year's Resolutions

It's that time of year and I have decided to concentrate on several things.  However, to make it a little more fun I am making a commitment to do one thing each week.  I am calling this my Year of 52.

1. 52 Projects - I will work on 52 projects this year.  Some will be simple and will only take a few hours.  Some will be more involved and may take a few months but I will make a commitment to check in once a week

2. 52 Books - Simply I will read 52 books this year

3. 52 Blogs - I will commit to write at least one blog post per week.

4. 52 New Ideas - I will commit to one new idea, thought, or habit a week.

5. 52 pounds - Through clean eating and exercise I will commit to lose one pound a week.

Sunday will be my check in day!

Sunday Serenade Your Soul: Remembering Leonard Cohen

When my brother joined the name in the early 1970s he left behind all his albums.  I spent hours listening to them and in particular one entitled Songs of Love and War by Leonard Cohen.  I have loved his music and poetry ever since. While it is hard to pick a favorite song here are two that I adore.

Friday Finds: Boo Ray

Boo Ray

Sea of Lights (2016)

I had the great fortune to see him a few years ago in Athens, Ga at Athfest.  I have been a fan ever since.  If you want to check out more of his music click here. 

Hamilton Jordan - A Boy from Georgia

I have just finished reading A Boy From Georgia by Hamilton Jordan.  As most of you know Hamilton Jordan was Chief of Staff to President Jimmy Carter.  In this powerful book Jordan talks about his realizations about the world in which he lived.  Raised in Albany, GA Jordan came of age during the 1960s.  He witnessed first hand what is now called "The Albany Movement."  From the Fall of 1961 to the Summer of 1962. Many including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. considered the Albany Movement a failure because their goals were not accomplished at that time.  History has shown this was not the case.  Voter registration of African-Americans in Albany increased. Protests and marches occurred in neighboring Southwest Georgia Towns.  The following spring the City Commission of Albany removed segregation statues from its books.  And young white people like Hamilton Jordan started questioning the beliefs of their parents and grandparents. 

In 1963 Jordan worked as an intern for Senator Richard B. Russell (GA). Here, he was able to witness the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where Dr. King delivered his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. 

I highly recommend this book!

Friday Finds: Songs That Lift My Spirit

 

 City of New Orleans 

Performed by Arlo Guthrie

Written by Steve Goodman

 

Sunday: Serenade Your Soul

Sunday is my day to take stock of my week and make plans for the upcoming week.  I am trying to come up with a routine that both allows me to be more efficient and allows me to find a little peace. So one of the ideas I have is to incorporate my Sunday posts with something that makes me feel good and/or inspires me.  Today's Serenade Your Soul features two great artists:  Vincent van Gogh and Don McLean.  The common thread is my favorite painting and my favorite song.

Here is the song: Vincent by Don McLean.

Vincent van Gogh's painting is entitled Starry Night and housed at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Click here to learn more about the artist and his masterpiece.

Friday Finds: Fierce Women of Latin Music

Today NPR featured Las Mostras:  Fierce Women of Latin Music.  Click here to listen to the music of legends such as La Lupe, Chavela Vargas, and Tita Merello.

Here's another awesome song from Chavela Vargas

Friday Finds: Colorful Picture Frame

Isn't this a gorgeous picture frame?  The color is called "Sea Glass."  It didn't always look this beautiful.  This is how it looked when I found it in a thrift store.

I really liked the design but hated the outdated color of the frame.  So I decided to give it a new life. I used Krylon Colormaster spray paint.  Color Sea Glass.  Also Satin finish.  It is an indoor/outdoor paint that covers wood and metal.  It also has the advantage of drying in about 10 minutes.  I have no connection with Krylon financially or otherwise.  I just like the look, it's relatively inexpensive, and it's easy for me to use. Also, Krylon is made in America.  

This was a relatively easy project. I took the back of the frame and the glass out prior to painting. Then,  I simply sprayed the frame.  It took about three coats for me to get the look that I wanted.  

Both front and back.

And I was able to turn this my Friday Find into an interesting picture frame.  This will make a great present.  Maybe, I will keep use it myself to display a couple of photos from my recent trip to Fort Lauderdale.

Hope you enjoyed today's blog.  I'd love to hear about any upcycling projects that you are doing.

Memorial Day 2016

These photos are of the Marietta National Cemetery located in Marietta GA.  

My father

Rick gave all in Vietnam

We Shall Keep the Faith

by Moina Michael, November 1918

Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.

We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.

And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields.