Build it….they will come.

 

This ball park is located in one of our local retirement communities.  I’ve seen the guys out playing when driving by in the past and today decided to stop and watch. 

 

There was a very nice gentleman standing in the shade by the fence and I struck up a conversation with him.  Seems the guys play every Tuesday and Saturday – five games a day.  They’re on teams formed from the community and range in age from late fifties to early eighties!!

 

 

It was inspiring to see the hustle and teamwork happening on the field.  It’s good to keep moving….slows down the aging process.

 

PS:  We have a winner!!!  Mary Beth from Small City Scenes was the first to Guess That Novel!!!  It was indeed The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway.  And, yes, I did tell my father-in-law what the picture was for. :)  He was very accommodating and just laughed.

I’ll try and have another Guess That Novel up for Monday.  Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Guess That Novel!!!

 

I was able to work out another picture for this week.  I’m telling you, I giggle like a kid when I’m doing this. 

Okay, guess that novel!!

 

When Pigs Fly….

This was the beautiful sunset we had on Monday evening.  What a colorful way to end Valentine’s Day.

Do you see the pig flying?

Here’s My Little Valentine….

 

Today Mom and I went to visit Amanda and new baby, Shaelyn.  She is the sweetest little thing. 

 

And I do mean little….she’s so tiny. Compare her foot to Mom’s thumb.   But she has really long fingers and toes. 

 

Maybe she will grow up to be the piano player her Grandpa Bob always wanted to be.

 

Here she is in Great Grandma Leona’s arms.  A little bundle of joy.

 

PS:  I need to get busy because I’m out of  pictures for “Guess That Novel”.  I have ideas, just haven’t gotten out to get the pictures. 

I want to congratulate Ciel from Versailles Daily Photo for being the first to guess “How Green Was My Valley” by Richard Llewellyn!  If you haven’t read this book, I would highly recommend it….or read it again if you have already.  I want to thank you all for continuing to play along with me….it’s  been so much fun.

Guess That Novel!!!

This isn’t the best photo.  I was a little limited, but I think you’ll still be able to figure this one out.

I was at the top of a mountain looking back across the….hmmm. This is another deviation from my rules. It was actually written by someone claiming to be Welsh, but proven to be English. But it was a favorite of mine in my teens. 

Good luck!

Pretty in Pink…

 

 

 

Tulips

Eager to be seen

Cups of sweet nectar within

Spring’s delicate gift

 

I’m as eager as the lovely tulip….early Happy Valentine’s Day!

Flowers, flowers….

 

I’ve been trying some of the suggestions from the instructors at the photography class and some hints from a book my brother shared with me.

 

I love tulips. They are so soft, but have so much texture. 

 

 

 

This is one of the suggestions about shooting flowers from a different perspective.

 

 

I just love flowers and I always seem to have some around to practice taking photos of.

 

“ Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1844

Shaelyn has arrived!!

 

Yesterday, I spent some time at the hospital with my niece in labor and delivery. I had to head out to other responsibilities before the big event happened.

But last night at 10:10 little Shaelyn arrived.  She was 6 lbs. 7 oz., 18 1/2 inches long, and had a head full of hair.

I have no pictures – yet.  You know I will as soon as I can.

Welcome to our world, Shaelyn Faye.

 

I want to walk here….

 

but since I can’t, I’ll just have to dream about it.  I’m not getting out and doing any picture taking right now.  This obviously was taken earlier in the year.

PS:  Any suggestions on how I can get the header picture to fill the header? 

You Want Results….

 

Wait a minute.  Just because I went to the photography class doesn’t mean I’m going to get better any time soon.  I need some practice time.  Hopefully tomorrow I’ll have a little time to play around with some things they told us about.

Oh, the pressure!!  :)

 

 

In the meantime, the winner of yesterday’s “Guess That Novel!!!” was Kathy of  Ramblin' Kathy.  Actually, you all got it right, but Kathy was first. But then maybe it’s better to have more winners. Yea, I like that….you ALL get to be the winner! 

Grapes are kinda expensive right now and I tried two or three “tools of wrath” before I decided I liked the hammer best.  It was a lot of fun. I had grapes flying everywhere and got splattered with juice to boot! 

Guess That Novel!!!

Here we are already at the fourth installment.  I'm not very good at delayed gratification and started doing these twice a week now....Mondays and Thursdays. I also seem to be having trouble with staying within my own set of rules. So I just might get jiggy with you guys sometimes. :)


I’ll not tell you the cost of shooting this photo…not just yet anyway.

PS; I just checked "jiggy" in the urban dictionary and I hope you guys know which meaning I meant! :)

I’m Certifiable…

 

in so many ways, actually.  But in this case, I’m talking about my diplomas from the Nikon Photography Schools I attended this weekend.

I had a wonderful time with my brother, Glen, learning so many interesting things.   The range of information the instructors shared was amazing. They needed to engage the most novice photographer – me, all the way to professionals who invest thousands of dollars in their equipment . 

It’s going to take some time for things to sink in, but I’m pretty sure if I can find my owner’s manual, I might actually understand some of what it says. :)

I’m out and about…

 

This weekend I’m going to a Nikon Digital Photography seminar with my oldest brother, Glen.  Saturday is Introduction to Digital SLR Photography and Sunday is Color, Light, Technology. I’m really excited and looking forward to spending time with Glen.

Then Sunday afternoon I get to go to Bill and Tracy’s for a Super Bowl party which for me really means a let’s get together, visit, eat good food, and listen to the guys yell about the game party. :)  I can’t wait!!!

I’m out and about and probably won’t be able to visit my blogging buddies this weekend. See you on Monday!!

 

This is a picture of picture that Glen took while in Sweden. He had it enlarged for me and I had it framed. Isn’t if beautiful?

The Rock House…

 

On our latest road trip, Annie took us to a rock house built back in the 1920’s (I believe) way out in the wilds in Tonopah, AZ.  Now consider, Arizona only gained statehood on February 14, 1912. This was a beautiful home at one time, but has been ravaged by time, fire, vandals, and weather.

We are looking over what was once a sunken rose garden on the south side of the house.  There was a rooftop garden, the fireplace was made entirely of white quartz, they had a well, generated their own electricity and had a garage on the north end of the house.

 

You can see what remains of one of the wooden headers above a window charred from a fire.  The stone is all local and had to be carried to the sight sometimes from a great distance.

 

 

Even though we were within a quarter of a mile from a major freeway, you could loose yourself in time gone by and imagine what it must have been like.

 

The views from every window or doorway were breathtaking.  I can imagine at night all those years ago, it would be pitch black.  I could almost hear the coyotes howling in the distance.

 

 

“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. “   Matthew 7:25

 

Yesterday’s winner of “Guess That Novel!!” was Diane of  Desert Colors!  I liked Brian’s guess though too…maybe I would have needed a dagger to make that one work. But then it wasn’t an American Classic Novel. Some people may not think Arsenic and Old Lace was either, but I get to decide. :)  “Guess That Novel” will be back on Monday.  I’m having way too much fun doing this.

PS – Randy is totally correct.  Arsenic and Old Lace was a play by Joseph Kesselring.  I am sorry to be misleading and I may need to re-title my theme…  “Guess Whatever Whacky Thing Comes Into My Head!!!”  :)  Thanks for playing along.

Guess That Novel!!!

 

Here we go….

 

I am so loving this!!!

We Were Birds of a Feather…

 

Sunday I had such a wonderful day out with Tracy, Kathy and Annie.  We laughed and walked and ate and of course, took pictures. For hours on end we were birds of a feather. 

Here are a few other birds I saw along the way.

 

This is an Osprey.  I love how they use their “fingers” to make subtle changes in movement.

 

I took this from the bridge over the Hassayampa River.  These Egrets were quite a long way off, but if you get too close, they fly away.  I love how they each have a reflected friend.

 

These are more Egrets.  Some are sitting atop the Gillespie Dam while others are below standing on the spillway. It was amazing to see so many together.

 

 

 

We startled this one from the tree where her/his nest was.  It immediately headed high into the sky on a thermal.  I believe it might be a Red Tailed Hawk. There was a pair that rode the thermal until we left. I didn’t have the longer lens on for this shot. Sorry.

It was a beautiful day spent with wonderful “birds of a feather.”

For my “Guess That Novel” players we have a new reigning champion this week. Liz from Bellingham Daily Photo!!  The novel was indeed “The Scarlett Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I was worried about you guys and maybe jumped the gun with my hint. I’m loving this so much I want to play too!  You can tell from the content of the letter, I started out giving you some clues. Dear Nathaniel – the author and some hints as to what the story is about.  But you know me well enough to know I couldn’t stay serious for too long ergo the country song lyrics. :)

I think this is going to become a Monday and Thursday theme. I can’t do just one a week!!

Guess That Novel!!!

 

Here we go with the second installment of “Guess That Novel!”

 

For those of you who haven’t played before, here is the first installment complete with rules.

I can’t tell you how much fun I’m having doing this.  I have on occasion felt like a kid again. :)  As I said, some of these may be easier than others.

Showering Shaelyn…..

 

“It sometimes happens, even in the best of families, that a baby is born. This is not necessarily cause for alarm. The important thing is to keep your wits about you and borrow some money.”
Elinor Goulding Smith

Today I went to a baby shower for my niece, Amanda, and her husband, Jeremy.  This will be their  first baby and will be a girl.  Her name will be Shaelyn Faye and she may even be coming sooner than expected.

 

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.”
Author Unknown

And Amanda is sooo ready to have Shaelyn be here.

 

“A babe in the house is a well-spring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love, a resting place for innocence on earth, a link between angels and men.”
Martin Fraquhar Tupper

I guess it is also reason to eat deliciously sweet confections.

 

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”
Elizabeth Stone

But I can’t think of anything more wonderful. 

Of Cemeteries and Prisons…

 

“The founders of a new colony, whatever Utopia of human virtue and happiness they might originally project, have invariably recognized it among their earliest practical necessities to allot a portion of the virgin soil as a cemetery, and another portion as the site of a prison.”  Nathaniel Hawthorne

Although I’m sure that this cemetery’s original purpose was much different, it has become among other things, the final resting place for prisoners who die in Maricopa County and have no one to claim them.  If you could see beyond the distant line of trees, you would see Perryville Prison.

In the oldest section of the cemetery, there are some personal markers.  But for the most part only small round plaques with a name and date mark the gravesites.

And although it looks empty, believe me there are hundreds and hundreds of the small round plaques.

Somehow, this is the saddest cemetery I have ever visited.  

Odd Bird Spotted….

 

While out using up a little time the other day while Mom was at therapy, I saw this F-16 shooting touch and go’s.

These planes are stationed at Luke Air Force Base.  It is in the news that they will soon be replaced by the new  F-35’s.

The base has quite an economic impact on the West Valley area (West of Phoenix).   Several local mayors have united in their efforts to keep the base open.  Being an Air Force Brat, I love the sound of the jets.

Just Passing Through….

 

At a local farm/ranch they have a duck pond in front of their house with a beautiful waterfall.  They normally have a large assortment of ducks and geese, but this time of year they have a few travelers….just passing through.

 

 

For those of you who were playing “Guess That Novel!”, the picture represented – drum roll, please – The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck.  So Kathy of Ramblin’ Kathy was the winner! Thanks to everyone for playing and having fun with me.  I loved all your comments and Mary Beth that was a great guess.  Randy…a little spooky, but nice try.  Next week I’ll be bringing you another installment of “Guess That Novel!” and I would love to have you all play again.

Guess That Novel!!!

 

Okay, here is the idea that came to me late one night.  I’m going to take a picture that to my warped mind or sometimes not so warped mind represents the title of a classic American novel.  Then you guess what novel you think that is. The prize?  Bragging rights because I have nothing to offer but my admiration.  Some may be really obvious and others may be really obscure.

So here’s my first picture.  Now guess that novel!

I’ll try to be doing this about once a week and would love to have you guys get in on the fun too. :)

Up, up and away….

 

in my beautiful balloon…okay he’s not flying away.  He’s pigging out!  And correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think this is a hummingbird.  :)

More Poet’s Park…

 

I’ve been very bad about posting this week.  So sorry.  As always lots going on and I haven’t been out getting any new photos.  So here are some more shots from Poet’s Park.

 

 

and finally….

I’ve been hatching a new plan about something to do on my blog and I think it’s going to be fun.  But I have some pictures to get out and take, so be patient with me….as you always are. :)

Angels So Young…

 

Heartache, darkness and pain swept into her life one hot August day.

She didn’t hesitate to face it head on and do what needed to be done.

Innocence stolen and trampled -  betrayal of the deepest kind.

At just fourteen she was ready to slay dragons in the name of friendship and what was right.

God placed angels all around. Little did I know He placed one in my arms on the day she was born.

Dirty, ugly secrets that should never a child touch were brought out that day.

Confrontation, battles, voices raised – worlds falling down.

But now a hand to hold and an embrace to cling to.

Strength and support, beyond her years, unwavering. Given with no thought for self.

God placed angels all around. Little did I know He placed one in my arms on the day she was born.

Questions, doubts, regrets.  Guilt and anger, but above all now…love.

Nightmares and tears but morning comes with salvation.

Hold fast to the good and let the bad fall away.

Build on the new foundation found on that hot August day.

God placed angels all around.  I’m so glad He placed one in my arms on the day she was born. 

I love you, Nicole.

I wrote this for my daughter, Nicole, who met and befriended a  lonely girl who needed a friend desperately. I couldn’t be more proud of Nicole and the young woman she is.  Today, we learned the step father pled guilty and saved us all from the trauma of a trial. God is good.

Blue and Gold….

 

my high school colors – prettier than ever.

 

 

Go Hawks!!