Baby is venturing out…

The baby Curve-billed Thrasher is venturing out and about the yard today.

I don’t like to get too close to him and freak the parents out.  They are both very attentive and keep watchful eyes on him.

 

It was comical watching him get up into this pine tree, but now that he’s here he seems content to stay.  I’ll need to keep an eye out for the roadrunner when he gets home.  This guy is still small enough to be fair game for the roadrunner.  But in this case, given the chance I will tip the scales in the favor of the baby.

Pen and Paper….

 

 

Sometimes my had reaches for pen and paper, remembering with fondness the love I have always had for putting word to page.  The hours spent pouring my thoughts and feelings out upon the paper, expressing a full rainbow of emotions…teardrops sometimes smearing the ink.  But before long the stiffness of my fingers and the cramp of my hand remind me of my lost agility.  It’s  not the same typing it out on a keyboard…. then I seem to have lost the agility of my mind also.

So scribble if I must, I will still reach for pen and paper…my hand itching to pull the words from my mind and leave them on the page.

Quotes:

“Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals.”  Don Delillo

“Be yourself. Above all, let who you are, what you are, what you believe, shine through every sentence you write, every piece you finish.”  John Jakes

“Writing eases my suffering... writing is my way of reaffirming my own existence.”  Gao Xingjian

Scavenger hunt….

I went on a scavenger hunt recently.  I found lots of things…

                                                         Wine bottle and wine glass…

 

                                                                                  Lemons not yet yellow….

 

                                                     Buoy bell sounding wind chimes….

 

                                                                        A sense of humor….

 

                                                                      Delicious food….mmmm so good….

 

                                                                     Flowers in the evening light….

But what I didn’t find was you….Tracy.  We miss you and know you’re doing good things for your momma, but we can’t wait for you to get back home.

Wells Cargo rides again….

While driving down the freeway yesterday, we came up behind this truck and trailer. I loved the name on the trailer…Wells Cargo. Cute, huh?  Then at the same time, Greg and I decided it looked like it had antlers.

This is one of those Road Photography shots that Tracy talks about….taken from a moving vehicle….through a dirty windshield….in a hurry….’nuff said.

When I grow up…..

When my camera lens grows up, this is what it wants to be…

My brother (see Guest Photographer ), Glen recently celebrated a birthday and is looking at retiring soon and as we all know, Father’s Day is coming up so….he purchased some new toys.

 

He’s getting ready to go on a trip to Sweden and is looking forward to lots of relaxing time taking pictures.  I think he has most everything he needs….except now he’s looking for a bigger camera bag….he’s outgrown the last one. :)

Messing with Macro….

 

I just love playing around with macro photography…

 

 

 

 

Up close and personal can be fun….in so many things we do in life.

How can anything bad happen here?

 

This is the doorway to my dentist’s office.  I had to have a cleaning done on Tuesday. I have a very painful history with dentists in my past, but have found a place I can feel comfortable and safe.

 

 

As you can see from my x-rays, I have several fillings….from my misspent youth and courtesy of several military dentists.  Don’t get me wrong, I love and appreciate the military, but where military dentist and children are concerned…not such a good mix.

 

As hard as I try not to, I still find my palms sweating and my hands clinching into fists. I have to talk myself down and remember things are better now.  I’ve made sure Nicole has good memories of her trips to the dentist. She’s seen this dentist since she was three or four years old. The office is like a second home to her and it’s never a problem to get her to go.  I really appreciate professionals who understand the importance of being compassionate and understanding with children in order to establish that life-long relationship.

Thank you Dr. Noelck!!!

Angel close to my heart….

On Memorial Day, Nicole and I went to the cemetery to leave a small token for my first born son.  It is always a sad time for us. It’s thinking of what might have been. I don’t believe James Paul is still there to talk to, but somehow find comfort in doing so.  He’s always very close to me…in my heart and thoughts.

This statue sits in the middle of the children’s section of the cemetery. I think it’s quite beautiful.

 

“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”  ~Michelangelo

Opposites Attract….

True love begins when nothing is looked for in return.
~ by Antoine De Saint-Exupery ~

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities.
~ by Janos Arany ~

Chip and Dale….

I know…..I have an ongoing battle with the gophers, but these little guys are just too fun to watch to try and get rid of. I’m sure they are the ones who ate all the leaf lettuce from my garden, but what can you do? At least one of them is a momma and seems to be supporting a litter.

One of them got really brave or stupid – depending on your outlook – and came up on the porch. They are what I call ground squirrels, but I’m not sure I know my head from a hole in the ground….and they do make holes in the ground….lots of them.

Millie (aka “The Dog”), finally found something smaller than her that she can chase and bark at.  She cornered one behind a container of garden soil and I had to call her off. I’m not sure she would actually ever catch one, but I don’t want to find out.

Anyway, Nicole and I are enjoying watching them play around in the yard.  I’m sure soon they’ll get tired of all the activity and move on to quieter pastures.

Stars and Stripes….

I love this country. I love the people who spend, and sometimes give, their lives to keep this country safe and free. I love this flag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know who took the fourth picture, but I know it’s of the flag that flew on my Aunt Jean and Uncle Jack’s farm in Fairfield, Illinois.  I don’t know who took this final picture either, but I believe it’s from the cemetery in Fairfield also.  My guess is they were both taken by my oldest brother, Glen. They are among pictures of my mom’s. That’s very appropriate as today is Glen’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Glen!

Spare a little time…

Today was a fun girl’s day. I took Nicole and her friend, Kayla, bowling.  They were having so much fun, I decided to bowl too. Now at one time I was a pretty decent bowler, but that has been years ago.  I know that tomorrow my aching back and shoulder will make me pay for the fun I had today.

        

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t forget to carry your cell phone with you.  You never know when something important might come up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This father and his five – yes I said, five – little girls were bowling on the lane next to us.  They were too cute. 

 

Notice the form…

 

So it was a wonderful girl’s day out. I highly recommend bowling for getting out and having some fun.   I missed the shot of Kayla when the bowling ball headed the wrong direction, but she’s okay with that.

Somedays….

It’s either the pacifier or the bottle….’nuff said.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend!!!

A little hair of the dog….

 

What is it they say about living a dog’s life???

“Yeah, right there…that’s the spot.”

When we  got her at the Humane Society we were assured she didn’t shed….they lied.

Water, water…

 

I need to get out more….

 

I need to get out more….

 

I need to get out more…

 

I need new pictures….I’m repeating myself.  :)

Things I love most….

Well, since today is a kinda special day for me, I wanted to post a picture or pictures of what I love most.  But when it came down to actually figuring out what that would be…I was stumped.  Well, not really stumped – overwhelmed is more like it. Too many things came to mind.

There are birds…I couldn’t even scratch the surface here.

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Then there are flowers….you have to know I have so many flower pictures, I just clicked randomly – because I love them all.

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Then there is family….I’m careful about who I put in here…some prefer their privacy.  There is just no way to put them all in here.

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And all of the above are representative of photography – which truly makes me happy.  Here are some shots that I particularly like.

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So, sorry to overwhelm you also, but there are just so many things in my life I’m thankful for and that I love.  I didn’t even touch on clouds, water, sunsets and sunrises.  And my newfound blogging family is one of the top things I’m thankful for…thank you for being a part of my life.

Happy Birthday to me!!