Bucket List

On my bucket list

 (you know, the list of things I think I want to do

 before I kick the bucket)

is to learn to watercolor.

I have a years long collection of

books, paper, paint, and brushes,

hoping that by collecting those things

I could do it!

For a year I have painted and painted,

 now have lots of ugly painted paper

and have reworded my bucket list item

from learn to watercolor

to just be good at it. 

I have felt really hopeless.

Then, my very talented, patient, teacher, artist friend, Nathalie

(click on her name to check out her blog)

sent me a tutorial to try.

She knew it was something I would like

New Mexico - Hatch Chilies

Here's MY finished painting:

Ta DA!!!

Thanks, Nathalie.

I'm back at my Texas home for

a couple of weeks and

as soon as I made a molehill out of the mail mountain,

I had these chilies framed and on the wall of my

chili pepper kitchen.

My chili pepper collection started when

my good friends,

Pat and Charlie Reynolds,

answered God's call to Guatemala.

They sold and gave away everything that wouldn't fit

 into their vehicle and drove south.

The sweet grandson we share was only a month old

when they left - he's eleven now.

Their beautiful Chili Pepper Woman

came to live with me.

Walking into my kitchen reminds me of

New Mexico Autumns,

when roadside vendors are roasting chilies.

Once on a motorcycle trip to New Mexico,

we were overcome by the rich aroma of the chili roasters

and packed our tiny ice chest with chilies.

We could smell them all the way home.

Since I have already rambled all over the place,

here's Pat making chili rellenos in my daughters kitchen

Now where was I headed with this?

Oh, yes!

My bucket list...

....maybe I can learn

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

(Philippians 4:13)