1. Driving through lower Georgia, we discovered delightful little back bugs called "Love Bugs!" The descriptive name is because they fly around in twos --- figure it out, I'm not going to tell you what they were doing --- but it was ALL THE TIME. Those prolific bugs could totally cover the windshield in slime in a matter of minutes. Apparently, the locals say, that the bugs are also acidic so you've got to remove their dead bodies from your car quickly or it will ruin the paint!

2. Our best nostalgic meal on the road was in Moultrie, Georgia --- Krystal Burgers and Peach Milkshakes. Oh, boy, did that take me way back.

3. On an evening walk along the beach, my husband found a shell to take back to our villa. I heard it fall off the kitchen counter that night, but left it on the floor. The next morning it was walking all over the living room carpet! We had temporarily kidnapped an angry hermit crab!!

4. While enjoying a dinner time stroll on a boardwalk leading to a restaurant at the end, a darling little blond boy "adopted" me! His dad was with him, but he was asking me all kinds of questions as I photographed the birds and sunset. Within a few minutes, he had wrapped him tiny hand around my index finger and we ambled together down the pier. It was so adorable!

5. The tackiest tee-shirt I saw on the trip was in Panama City --- it boasted "White Trash with Green Money!" Nope, not worn by Britney Spears, but by an older biker chick. 

Bonus Highlight:

Funniest name for an establishment at the Panama City Beach --- Tan Fannies, a topless bar!

My art exhibit opened last Friday night at the gallery crawl and I had a wonderful evening. I got some encouraging comments about my art work and a few surprises that touched my heart!  People enjoyed reading about my explanations about each piece --- it helped them understand the work better.

Two of my sisters came to visit and we got a few minutes to look at the paintings together before the opening reception.

"Seeds of Despair" --- One of the staff at the college told me my exhibit was the best they've had there! I don't believe it, but every artists loves hearing that kind of crazy talk.

"Saved Joy" --- My exhibit was paintings depicting different emotions --- a theme I plan to continue. Somewhere between this painting and the next, a young woman started crying. Her friend comforted her and later the woman who had been crying told me she had really been moved by the exhibit. We never know what other people are going through, but I'm happy she found something meaningful to her.

A couple of the touching stories from Friday evening involved children. One young girl signing her name in the visitor's book kept asking her mother how to spell "beautiful!"

Another little 18-month-old girl, in her daddy's arms, was in front of her favorite painting, "Fearless Falling," singing a song she had made up about it. Awesome!

On Monday, after the opening, my daughter and I went so she could see the entire exhibit of 11 paintings in one room. We took lots of photos and tried to keep the plants alive and well!

"Ahead of Depression" looks back at Rita.

Mentally, I'm working on my next two paintings that I hope to start as soon as I return from vacation.  My plan is to post each one of my paintings on my art blog, You Art Here, with the thoughts behind each painting.   ~~~ Hugs, Rita B

1. My son-in-law had surgery this week. He's improving, but a few extra prayers wouldn't hurt!!!

2. My art exhibit opens tonight at the town's first ever art crawl.

3. My two youngest sisters are coming to see me this weekend!

4. My yard is getting it's first rain since summer began.

5. My house is cleaner than it's been since before my surgery!

Have a great weekend, Streamers, as mine will be too busy to blog!!! ~~~ Hugs, Rita B

Today marks a solemn occasion for our nation. We are thinking of those who lost their lives and we are praying for the families left behind because of terrorists.

Today we pray for healing. We pray for an end of violence. We pray for peace. We pray for our military on the front lines. We pray for our churches. We pray for the leaders of the the world. We pray for our nation to find the right path into the future.

Today we pray for an end to terrorism.

~~~September 11, 2007~~~