Reflections with friends…

 

On Saturday the 20th, Kathy and Tracy joined me on an adventure to downtown Phoenix.  We rode the light rail ( a first for me) and had a wonderful time walking around downtown, taking pictures and visiting. You can see the most amazing things and people while strolling along.

I took some reflection shots that I especially liked and I want to share a few of them with you.

I am absolutely not good with building names or any of the history behind them.  Kathy is the expert on all those matters. She really is a well-spring of truly interesting facts.

 

 

It’s amazing I didn’t trip and fall because I was looking up so much of the time…well, there was this one time that if it hadn’t been a light post that I backed into, I would have fallen flat on my behind. 

 

This one is a favorite and was inspired by a shot that Tracy was taking of a long line of taxis waiting for…heck, I don’t know what.

 

Look, I’m not nearly as talented as these two with post production tweeking so the best I could do to “disguise” them was to add a sepia tint.  So they’ll have to forgive me for breaking that cardinal rule about not posting shots of each other. :) 

I always have such fun when we all get together and I do have lots of photos to post from this trip and then another one that Tracy joined me on…but it’s having the time to get the post on the computer. I’ll do better.  Things are beginning to level off at work and I’m learning how to use my down time more wisely. 

Now, I need to remind both Tracy and Kathy about something we have planned (Kathy’s idea) to do together on the 8th of November.  Okay, Girls, don’t forget. 

Do you love me….

 

                           warts and all???

I miss you guys!  I have a down day today and I’m playing with some pictures I took yesterday on a fantastic outing I had with Tracy and Ramblin’ Kathy.  I keep checking in with all of you whenever I can and leaving comments when I’m able.

But I just needed to let you know how much your blogs mean to me and how  much I value the friendships I’ve made during this whole blogging process.  I look at the world differently now and I know it’s because of all of you.  THANK YOU!!!

Bowing under the weight…

 

of that which sustains me.

I need to take a sabbatical and pull things back together.  Life is good!!  This is nothing bad, but I have so much happening right now that I need to step away from my blog for a time.  I will check in with all of you whenever I can and you should know that you bring me great joy with all your wonderful pictures and words.

 

I just can’t see the forest for the trees right now and I need to regroup.  Get my life sorted out and back on track.  Do you think I can come up with any more clichés?

 

There is a bright spot at the end of the tunnel and I will see you again soon.  Don’t you just love the sun hitting the oak leaves that have already turned and bring the promise of things to come.

As someone once said - “I’ll be back.”

Sunday morning breakfast…

 

Nicole made breakfast for me this morning…you will notice that the cell phone is never very far from her side.  It was a delicious breakfast of pancakes and bacon.  Love that bacon dipped in syrup…hmmm.

This is the reason she so kindly took over the responsibility of cooking…

My desk, therefore my life, is in a mess and needs attention asap.  They have bumped up my training schedule at work and I am working more hours.  I AM NOT complaining.  I’m very happy, but very tired and things are getting behind. If you look closely at this mess, you’ll see paystubs!!!  Yippee!!  Now, back to work…an maybe one more piece of bacon.  

Fly away home…

 

What a week this has been!  Starting the new job and then having company from out of town at the same time.  That means that our house becomes gathering place central.  With a family as large as my husband’s there can be anywhere from 6 to 12 extra people here at any given time.  Love his family and the time we were able to spend together, but I must say I’m happy to be back in my “regular” routine again.  I’ll be playing catch up with you all and see what I’ve been missing in your worlds this week. Happy Friday!

The Wisdom of the…

 

refrigerator magnet!!

This is a philosophy that I try to live my life by.  And I know you all know what joy has attacked recently…

See that little name tag with MY name on it???  I am so happy!  I can’t believe they are paying me to do this.

Another refrigerator magnet.  I had been spending a lot of time toward the bottom of the magnet lately, but that has all changed.  I work with some very nice people doing something that I love. Life is so good.  

In Honor of Patriot Day…

 

Tomorrow, 9/11, is Patriot Day.  It is also my 19th anniversary.  It is difficult to mix the sorrow and joy that comes with these two events.

This recently renovated memorial park in downtown Buckeye is a special place.

There is a beautiful black marble wall engraved with the names of all the veterans from the Buckeye Valley communities, benches to enjoy the shade of the huge tree that sits in the middle of the small park, and also bricks engraved with the names of some of those that made the park possible.

 

I found the construction of the sign fascinating.

Please take a moment tomorrow to remember those patriots who have given their lives through acts of heroism and sacrifices made in moments of terrorism. 

On this day…

 

thirty-three years ago God blessed me with the light of my life…my son, David.

If we only knew at the moment we’re given this gift all the joy and wonder that would fill our world, there would be a population explosion.

I had a living, breathing – yes, sometimes crying – doll.  We had so much fun together.  He held me up in times when I just knew I wasn’t going to make it through.

He’s icing Christmas cookies…put a little icing on, lick it off, and put a little more back on…singing Christmas carols the whole time.

See, I still had my doll to dress up. ;)  He loved Halloween and we always had such fun figuring out what he would be.  We never bought his costumes.  They were always homemade.

The first day of school and Grandma with us to see him on his way.

He grew up so fast…time just really flew by.

Pretty soon he was a big brother.  He loved his little sister, Nicole, so much.  Wasn’t much for babysitting, but loved her just the same.

Then sometime in the night someone came along and stole my little boy and replaced him with a grown man.   A man I’m proud to call my son.

He’s a father now himself and is much better at it than I was in the beginning.  I’ve learned so much from David about giving and loving and sacrificing.  Nicole has received the blessing of my experience gained from my time with David and I’d like to think he’s a better man because of all we’ve been through.

I love you, David…more than I can ever say.  You’re my little Kermie and always will be.

PS: Please excuse any typos…it had to be the tears in my eyes. 

When It Rains…

 

it pours!!  And boy did it!  Yesterday afternoon we had a storm cell move through that was very intense.

The pictures are lousy, but you’ll get the idea. It was so dark, that the lens needed to stay open long enough to catch all the movement from the wind and rain.

But unfortunately when storms like this move through, the winds can get to be quite dangerous.

The neighbor lost a mesquite tree in his pasture.  It came up roots and all.  Greg and I had just been saying we needed to trim this one so he could mow under it without getting stuck by the thorns. Guess we won’t have to be doing that now…time for the chain saw.   

PS:  It’s official…I was offered a job at Barnes and Noble and I have orientation on Friday!  Yippee!

Psst…Don’t Look Now…

 

but I think I have a JOB!!!  I’m so happy. I hate to say anything at this point, but I’m exploding with joy.  I had my second interview at Barnes and Noble and after passing a back ground check should (will) be offered a job.  I’m not worried about the back ground check and my son assures me if they’re going to that degree, then I can be pretty certain they’ll offer a job.

This is only one of three book cases that I have.  Not that I have issues with owning books are anything.  :)   I’m hoping that I’ll have a paycheck left to bring home.   I’m so happy!!!

Just a little touch of purple…

 

Had a really quiet weekend.  Spent some time with Annie at the Savers looking for used books.  Savers and Goodwill are two of my favorite places to find used books. I like the fun of the hunt and I like the programs that my money goes to support.  Sunday was a day spent with Greg and Nicole. Monday was just plain lazy. So no pictures taken, but I always have a flower shot to fall back on.

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend!

Just putting my head down…

 

and trying to carry on through the last of this summer’s heat.  I want so much to see beautiful flowers blooming and soft colors instead of this harsh desert sunlight.

Okay, I’ve had my rant.  Maybe I’ll see if Tracy is up for a day trip this weekend.  That should make us both feel better.

Annie would argue this point…

 

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”
John Ruskin

“Sunshine is delicious…

 

rain is refreshing…

 

wind braces us up… 

snow is exhilarating;… 

 

there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”  John Ruskin

All of this weather happened right at the cabin.  I know that Annie hated the snow trip and I totally understand why, but how could you not love it all in retrospect? 

How about a little…

 

protein with your sugar water?

This is a brand new feeder that Annie had just hung up earlier in the morning.  It didn’t take long for the ants to find it.

  

Or the wasps!!  See all the little ants bellied up to the bar enjoying a drink.

Wonderful Weekend…

 

We had a wonderful time in Strawberry and didn’t even land up in jail. :)  And the wash was running!  Actually it ran a couple of times during the rains. It was amazing how quickly it happened.

When we got there Friday night, it was cool and lovely. Slept with the windows open and the breezes blowing.  Saturday we had a lovely rain for most of the afternoon.

Now rain isn’t what time at the cabin is all about…but it sure helps with my coming-to-the-end-of-the-summer-can’t-take-the-heat-anymore blues.

  

We had such a good time…visiting, hiking (for those up to that), reading, beading, movie watching and just relaxing with no responsibilities or commitments.  It was lovely.

What’s in a name???

 

I’m sure I may have used this post title before, but c’est  la vie.  Didn’t know this was a multicultural blog did you?  :)

This sign has caught my eye for years as I head into Buckeye to visit with my buddy, Annie. 

The Bales family settled in the Buckeye Valley in the 1880’s and have been a part of Buckeye’s rich farming history ever since. There is a local road named Beloat after some of their early ancestors and fifth generation farmers still live on that road and continue their family tradition today. Coming from a girl who moved all over during her childhood and still finds it hard to put down roots, that amazes me. In the early years, the hay was stacked with a sling and derrick.

  

The above picture is courtesy of a Then and Now book on Buckeye by Verlyne Meck.  It has some of the most interesting pictures and facts.  I’m glad there are people who place importance on preserving and recording the history of an area.

I think it is very ironic that someone with the last name of Bales sells bales of hay.  Call me goofy…it’s okay…people do it all the time, but that strikes me as funny.  When talking with my sister-in-law about the post she said what about an orthopedic doctor with the last name of Bones. You get the idea. Do you know of any other examples of this type of phenomenon…yes, let’s call it a phenomenon. (I know there should probably be a question mark in there somewhere, but laudee with the way I talk…who know’s where?)

And speaking of Annie – you remember, way back at the beginning of this post – we’re headed to Strawberry again this weekend!  Yippee!  We actually got rain down here in the Valley last night, so I’m really looking forward to rain up north.  We’ve managed to talk a couple more of our bunco group into going with us, so I’m sure we’ll be raising hell. Watch the news for four geriatric women being jailed on charges of…well, I’ll leave that to your imagination.  Happy Friday and have the most wonderful weekend!  

What a difference…

 

a few days makes.  This is the shot of the newest baby dove on the 6th of August…just breaking out of its shell.

 

This is a picture of the baby at  just two days old on the 8th.

 

And this is the same baby at eight days old on the 14th.

I would guess in a few more days this little one will be flying and will have left the nest.  This is the momma’s  fourth clutch this summer…she’s been busy.   

Turtles and egrets and ducks, oh my…

 

Going…

going…

gone.

Tracy and I braved the hot weather and got out to take some pictures one day last week.  One of the stops we made was at Friendship Park in Avondale.  They have a nice pond there with lots of water fowl and turtles.

I think this duck has aspirations of being a flamingo.  He was quite comfortable standing around on one leg.  To sleep, some just preferred the old “looking behind me to see who’s sneaking up” style.

    

I never did get a very good shot of the Snowy Egret.  It was the only one of its kind at the pond and didn’t like it if we got too close.

I think his yellow feet are too cool.

 

There was something a little militant about this fellow.  Could be the stripes.

It was really nice to get out and about. It was WARM though by the time we headed home.  I guess that’s not going to change for another month or so.  We’ll just have to be brave and drink lots of water.