Author: cometsgirl

I lost one of my dearest friends two nights ago.

He was a gentle man. A wise man.

A man devoted to his God. An Episcopal priest.

A man devoted to his husband.

A man devoted to his children and to his grandchildren.

A man devoted to his friends.

A man devoted to the art of flower arranging and the art of presenting flower festivals.

A lover of Edisto Beach.

A lover of dogs.

A man who loved riding in my Miata. Top down. We marveled that each of us could still get in and out of that car.

Oh how I will miss John T

The wintry weather was to began sometime in the night. Below freezing temps. 1” snow. Some snow flurries expected.

Instead, it was closer to 4” of snow. And many snow flurries!

How to begin this day? Well, a warm fire was a good place to start.

The many windows in the casa where I’m staying here in Taos, offered wonderful snow views.

One of the llamas down the road looked so cool in their garb.

Several hours after the snow storm began, it felt like it was time to take a drive.

But first I needed to remove the snow off the car. It was loaded.

I found a broom to knock down snow, and to sweep the 12” of snow off the ground around the car.

Then I headed north.

Lots of white joy!

Then my friend called; she wanted to have a look-see of all the snow beauty.

Off we went.

“Snow was falling, so much like stars filling the dark trees that one could easily imagine its reason for being was nothing more than prettiness,” Mary Oliver

 “the act of doing good or promoting the well-being of others …”. I’ll come back to this.

But first…

Driving north from Albuquerque to Taos takes two hours or so. Unless you stop for lunch,

and coffee. This Starbucks was fairly new, and I’d not noticed it on previous travels. It was a good stop not only for my Cortado, but the conversation about the words at the entrance. It’s a Tewa phrase referring to the Pueblo of Pojoaque in northern New Mexico, meaning “Water Drinking Place Village”. Isn’t that wonderful?

It was a beautiful drive, culminating with a stop at the Friendship Tree at sunset.

As it was Feast Day of the Epiphany, we decided to go to church. St. James, Taos, had a 7:00 evening service.

It was a beautiful service. One thing in particular was the choosing of a word for the coming year. I had only recently heard of this practice.

Epiphany star words are guiding words which are often chosen during Epiphany church services. The word is then used to focus on one’s spiritual journey for the new year, inspired by the star that led the Magi.

The chosen word serves as a spiritual prompt for the year, encouraging deeper meaning and connection with faith.

We were invited to take a star without looking at the word on the backside. I chose a star, then turned it over.

My word. GOODNESS

For me, I see goodness as showing love, mercy, generosity, fairness and kindness to others. All others.

Here’s some goodness for me this afternoon.

I’m headed to Taos, New Mexico, on this day of Ephiphany.

“Epiphany commemorates the day the Magi (Three Wise Men) arrived in Bethlehem to visit baby Jesus, completing the journey that began on Christmas Day, marking the “revelation” (meaning of epiphany) of Jesus to the world.”

I think Taos is a natural for my Epiphany journey. Beauty, wonder, joy. Hope, promise.

I’ve found that traveling to the high country of New Mexico in January can be very quieting, opening opportunity to listen, to hear.

I’m really looking forward to Epiphany in this special place.

Come along. Traveling mercies.

I intended to write a blog on my flight home last week, or soon after I was home.

After I arrived home, Christmas took hold of me for a time. This blog is meant to wrap up my recent travel to Houston, which was my last trip in 2025.

I’m sitting in front of a beautiful evening fire as I write. A blue-northern blew in yesterday, taking us down to the twenties.

There is beauty in a warming fire.

Looking back on my last day in Houston…

I found beautiful worship at Holy Family Episcopal Church. Worship is intentional, beautiful, and fills my soul.

My friend worships here. She also serves as a priest when needed. I love worshipping at Holy Family. I’m so glad it’s her church.

This Sunday was the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Holy Family has such beauty in its spaces. It’s hard to believe the building was a former meat packing facility.

Lunch was at a favorite restaurant. I’d not been there for a good while; my return was really delicious.

Later we attended a concert at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Cypress, northwest of Houston. It’s where my friend was rector for over seventeen years. I loved being in this beautiful space once again. This was my sixth, and final, concert in 2025.

Before we drove home, we stopped at a long-ago favorite.

Best ever!

There’s a new dawn just ahead.

Come along. Traveling mercies.

A year ago I came to Houston for the December concert at the Bayou Bend cistern.

I was determined to return this December.

We entered a cool and darkish space

Ars Lyrica presented Ring in the Peace, a musical journey from the ninth century onward.

The cistern experience was curated by Mexican-born mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte and a percussionist.

It’s so moving to hear voice and percussion as you stand silent and gaze downward, watching the colors change.

One could hear the soloist slowly coming toward us. Then passing by.

Continuing along the path, her reflection seen below.

Just like the Taize music from the evening before, it was memorizing.

I had a chance to speak with Cecilia as we exited. A beautiful young woman, with the gift of beauty of voice.

The season of Advent is a time for us to silence ourselves to allow us to prepare for the coming of Jesus. For me this means times of quiet. Both the service of Taize and the cistern sights and sounds, gave me the needed quiet.

Driving home had its own quiet ways.

Several hours after I arrived in Houston, my friend and I attended a church service in the chapel of The Church of St. John the Divine.

A Taize service of Comfort & Joy.

As we entered, we took a lighted votive and placed it near the altar. As I set my candle down, I remembered those I see no longer.

The service consisted of readings and Taize chants. These chants are short and repeated over and over for a time. It’s mesmerizing and quieting.

Driving home afterwards, there was a sea of lights

A Night Prayer (from A New Zealand Prayer Book)

Lord, it is night.

The night is for stillness.
        Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.
        What has been done has been done;
        what has not been done has not been done; 
        let it be.

The night is dark.
        Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of
        our own lives rest in you.

The night is quiet.
        Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
        all dear to us,
        and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.
        Let us look expectantly to a new day,
        new joys,
        new possibilities.

In your name we pray.  Amen.

Now quieted, we stopped for ice cream on the way home.

Today I take another seat in my chair in the sky. This will be my 16th trip in 2025. Wow!

I’m headed to Houston. A year ago my best friend and I attended a concert in the old cistern in downtown Houston. The cistern had been restored to a level where tours could be given. And concerts featuring a small group of singers. With awesome lighting to accompany the voices. We vowed to return.

Cistern Illumnated

“Take a luminous journey through light and sound this holiday season with Cistern Illuminated. This multi-sensory art experience transforms the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern into a transcendent spectacle of color, echo, and optical illusion.”

Ah, a luminous journey….I’m in!

Since the cistern was planned, other opportunities have presented themselves. It’s going to be Advent season-related experiences the next few days; art, music, worship, meals, and the cistern. Such riches!

Oh, and Texmex dining.

Travel well.

I’m on a super-sized high!

I am mid-air as I fly home after a short three-day visit to Texas. It was short, but it was filled with joy.

I loved being with my son and his wife for a couple of days.. Talking, gabbling, laughing, story-telling. Watching comedian Leanne Morgan on Netflix. Enjoyable days.

Then I had my day with my grandchildren, Georgia and Jack.

It began with Starbucks. We always begin with Starbucks.

They each have new jobs. Jobs they like. Listening to them talk about what each job entails and how they navigate their responsibilities, made me so proud of them. It was so interesting and I was filled with gladness. For them. And for me for them.

We were on a quest for books. I give books to my family every Christmas, and I wanted Georgia and Jack to chose their books.

We ended up at Folklore Grove.

Here’s the gist: “Folklore Grove is a unique, independent bookstore in Arlington, Texas. Known for its fantasy and folklore titles, local authors, and disability representation, it is located behind a bookshelf inside the Smash Toast sandwich shop. It offers a curated selection of books, including hidden gems, and aims to create a cozy, magical space for the book community.”

It’s definitely a unique bookstore. And we departed with books for my Texas family.

We left the bookstore hungry. We knew just where to go; our favorite. Cane Rossa for pizza!

We ate and talked with equal gusto!

Eventually it was time to go home to spend time with parents and dogs. And to watch Navy beat Army. By one point. My son spent thirty years with the Navy, so we were thrilled with the win,

We celebrated with Texas BBQ!

Georgia’s partner joined us, bringing more joy as we sat around the table. We told family stories as we devoured the BBQ.

On this mid-December day, I am 4 and done. I have enjoyed lunch with each grandchild this Fall. Imagine! I’m struck by how much they want to have lunch with me. I certainly love lunching with each of them. What a gift we give each other!

Travel well.

Not to be confused with the Final Four basketball tournament…

I’m half way through my travels to see all four of my grandkids this Fall. Yes, it’s still Fall until Saturday.

Driving, actually riding, through downtown Atlanta never fails to present interesting images.

Today Dallas/Keller/Arlington is my destination. These names run together for me.

Georgia and Jack await my arrival, as do I.

My traveling was easy, quick, smooth – with beauty beneath me.

M son greeted me as I walked through the door that led to baggage claim. It’s always such a sweet moment.

When we arrived at my home away from home, my daughter-in-law and Gypsy-dog met me before I could get out of the car. So LOVEly.

Traveling mercies.