Benni Missing

photo by Shannon Mucha

Benni had been with us for 12 years, I hardly know America without her. On Sunday night she didn't come in for dinner. We searched the woods around us for hours, put up fliers, called and visited neighbors, but she has disappeared. She was about 15 and had been sleeping a lot recently. Even though we didn't expect her to live much longer to have her just disappear and be gone, a whole part of our life over so suddenly, is just so sad.

We have heard of dogs who go off to die, and it would be in her character to not want to bother us with a messy death. I can't believe that she went out of our door one day and never came home. I love you Benni, the Rocket Dog. I miss you on your bed and wandering around our house. I will always love you and remember you as the best dog we could have ever had.

She had a good life, I am glad we gave that to her.

It actually snowed today!

For the first time in our 12 years in the Houston area it snowed today.

We were doing school and Lily asked what was falling from the sky, I looked out and said 'that is snow' so we all went charging out in to the front yard. After years of reading storybooks set in snowy places, think Narnia, my kids got to see real snow falling from the sky! We even got Annie up from her nap to experience it and dug the hats and scarfs out of the toy box for the occasion.

We took a walk in the 'snow'. After about 30 minutes it was gone. But that was a joyous 30 minutes, we celebrated with hot chocolate covered with marshmallows and whipped cream on top. Mark had put on a fire earlier in the day, so we had the whole winter experience!

Thanksgiving 2008

For Mark's love, devotion, steadfastness, vision, protection, friendship, companionship, cheerleading, intensity, adoration, honesty, constant forgiveness, dedication, straight forwardness, being a Godly, devoted husband, father, church elder, business man and attorney.

For Matthew's intellect, kindness, passion, interest, tenacity, logical mind, brilliance in math, language and grammar, love & speed of reading, understanding, insight, loyalty to family and friends (Luke, Ricky, Ben, Zeb, Conrad, Joshua, Mr. T, Zane, J and Reese), tenacity, even temper, consideration, quick mindedness, honesty, excellent eye-hand coordination (in juggling) and physical ability (brown belt in Kuk Sool Won).

For Lily's easy going nature, beauty, love of beauty, constant creativity, love, attention to detail, poetic eye, steadiness, broad tastes, openness to change, sense of fun and excitement, grace, gymnastic ability, physical strength, loyalty to her friends (Savannah, Edward, Mr. T, Abigail, Hannah, Reagan and Jeadyn).

For Laura's consideration, ability to learn and grow, love, little hands, creativity, cuddles, energy, intensity, brightness, insight, sensitivity, poise, focus, single mindedness, strength, her naturalness in front of the camera, how she inspires art in me continually, fearlessness, attention to detail, clear memory, tenacity.

For Annie's sweetness, funny ways, continual delight, smile, joy, love of her family, chattiness, quick mind, adoration of her daddy, maternal instincts, passion for dolls, books and going to bed, understanding, independence, love of her siblings and little friends (Mahali, Nomi and Hope).

Pledge of Alligence

We say the pledge each day before school. I realized today that Annie, who is 2 1/2 could pretty much say it. This is too cute!

Beautiful Day

Heaven would make sense if every day looked like today. It was in the 60's, the sun was shining and we had no where particular to go. I worked on a art piece for my book while Annie painted on wood beside me, Mark & Matthew went to Karate and the girls were playing outside with the Clark boys. The back door was open, the kitchen clean and it was fresh and sunny, lovely.

After Mark and Matthew got home they got to work on the 'path', the others joined in. We are carving out a sculpture walk in our forest, inspired by the same in Dublin. Our plan is to make the path and then invite church friends to create family sculptures to display along the path in next years art festival.

By the time I made it out they had moved tons of rocks to line the initial part of the path. I got the rake and spent the rest of the day along side Mark and the kids marking out the path. We wound it around the back part of the forest with a big loop, perfect for playing chasing on. Kids running, laughing, helping, enjoying. Laura wore many different costumes, Annie cared for dolls, Lily trampled down that path with her best buddy Edward, Mr. T axed limbs out the the path and Matthew trimmed plants and built a log wall with Mark.

When they got tired and wandered off to play other places I got my iPod and filled up my mind with art and ideas as I raked. We made good progress, our path is taking shape. I can so envision adding sculptures to the path.

Mark made steak for dinner, lit a fire and we watched a family movie. Then the kids played in their rooms while Mark and I watched the movie 'Hulk', which I enjoyed until the big fight scenes at the end, but I was processing photos the whole time so the time was not lost!

We had brownies and ice cream for desert, bundled up in our warm living room.

I love my family. I love my home. I love my husband. I love my art. I love my life. Thank you God for all my blessings.

post for me

I have not looked at this blog for over a year. I re-read some posts and am SO pleased that I recorded our life a little in this way! I am so glad that I took that time to record stuff that seemed so obvious back then, but are details that I may have forgotten had I not.

I am wondering if I should journal here again! I have my art blog, I have my photo blog - which show parts of me, Shona, my vision. But what of our daily life? Will it disappear in details (at least I have the pictures) if I don't write is down?

I am so glad this is a private blog, no one can see it, unless they have an old link. I can really be me, not that my artful life is not me - but I am less free to say everything as I am conscious of creating a brand for my book, but here - who cares is I say something politically incorrect? it is my blog I can say what I want to. I hope Blogger never goes out of business or I will loose this record.

Airfield

Yesterday we went to a lovely garden near my Mum's home called Airfield. It has an old house and coffee shop/art gallery, a petting zoo, car museum, art studios and the most bizarre, beautiful gardens we have ever seen! The oddest plants were layered on eachother in a manner that is untraditional. The kids loved playing chase around the little paths and then climbing in the trees and on the sculptures in the grounds. It kept raining so we had to go in and out of the house, which was fine with me as the cafe was lovely and had a mixed media art show going on!

The kids were really into tree climbing.

Scones

Hmmm, scones. Nothing quite like them in the US. They are best with butter and jam. They are like a cross between bread and pastry, not soft and fluffy, but easy to slice and a bit crumbly, slightly sweet, but still savory. We have already eaten tons of these in the week we have been here. Every coffee shop and supermarket sells scones, and we dutifully buy them.

People's Park - Sunday

We went to a local park Sunday to watch an outdoor movie on a giant screen, the movie was a cartoon 'Happy Feet'. The place was bustling with families. There was an organic market and people selling their handcrafts. When the sun was out it was lovely, but when it went in it got pretty chilly.

Who let that child go without shoes?

There were people selling art and organic food. This market is there every Sunday.

Day out in Dublin

Matthew, Mark and I spent the day out in Dublin on Saturday. Granny stayed home with the girls and their cousin. This photo is of the Four Courts on the Quays. I took it from the car!

We visited the National Museum of Ireland and learned some Irish history.

We spent time in 2 different bookshops, which are across the street from one another: Hughes and Hughes and Waterstones, this photo is the top floor of Waterstones, many a poetry reading I attended here back in the day!

We spent time in coffee shops.

Dancing

The kids cousin came over to granny's house last night, they made up dances to themes that Matthew suggested, even Annie joined in.

time on the wall with the neighbors

Kitchen sink

This is my mum's kitchen sink, the bit on the right is the draining board. Bread is always on tap in the bread bin.