I Took the Long Way

Yesterday was another "San Diego Day" and what better way to celebrate a glorious day like this than to take a ride in the country.  You remember those Sunday drives don't you....almost a lost art in these days of hurry hurry.   I shared thoughts on keeping the Sabbath a day of rest on my blog post at Focusing on Life and yesterday I practiced what I "preached".

Here in the midwest, the crops have been planted and already you can see the corn breaking thru the earth towards their climb to heights of 12 feet or more.  Driving through the countryside and seeing those perfectly planted rows of corn gives me a feeling of peace and order in my life.  Some find peace in gazing upon the water, or a sunset, or the mountains, but peace comes to me in the fields of the midwest.

And finding a few fence posts is always a bonus.

Especially if there is a hawk involved.....

Or a horse....

So my advice to you is....next time you are heading out, take the long way.  You might be surprised at what you find along the way.

Linking to Tricia's Barn Charm.

"It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop."  ~  Confucius

Until next time.....

Barn Charm

I rarely post 2 in one day, but since I have not joined Tricia's Barn Charm in several weeks, thought I would join in this week.

Been working out in the yard today, good day to do it since it was cool but sunny, just a little breeze, just a darn good day to be outside.  It was way too cool over the weekend to enjoy any outdoor activities.  Not only was it cold but wiinndyyyyy.  I think we are back on track for spring...warming up.  My stones were delivered today for my flagstone patio in the front yard.  Holy crap are they expensive for a pile of rocks.  But ya know what, I was just sick of looking at that large area where the sun don't shine, thus the grass don't grow.  And because it is under a LARGE maple tree, and we all know those maple trees drop stuff in the spring, in the summer and in the fall making it darn right impossible to put down any kind of mulch because mulch is definitely not sweepable, thus the decision for the hardscape.  I thought and thought and thought about this, and then decided what the hey, when and if, I decide to sell this place, it will probably be a good selling point.

OK, I wasn't going to babble, but I haven't done much babbling lately, mostly pictures, today you get some babble.

Caught this sunset on the way home from my granddaughter's college graduation...if you look really close you can see a barn and a silo on the horizon.

OK, you might think that was cheating a little for Barn Charm, so here is another one.  A favorite barn I have captured spring, summer, winter and fall.  This barn isn't used any longer but the fields around it are still planted each year.  I think they leave it up for us photographers.  Ya think??

And one more....captured this little sparrow outside my daughter's patio, don't usually see these around my home.  She has had 4 grosbeaks stopping by the last couple of days, but unfortunately not while I was there.

OK that's it...I'm done.


Until next time.....

It Was A Good Day

Oh I had a good day yesterday, Easter Sunday.  The sun was shining, the temps hit over 50 degrees, I spent time with the Lord and time with family.  You can't get much better than that.  I have a tub chair (I think that's what they call them, or is it club, well either way, I have one) in my living room that I have turned towards my front window so while I drink my coffee and ponder the day ahead I can see if there are any interesting birds or critters that I need to capture with my camera.  I wasn't disappointed this morning.  First I had this.....

And then I had this...both a couple of beauties.

I spent the afternoon with my girls, my daughter, and my two granddaughters which was a delight since I really didn't know if we would be together or not due to their schedules (either school or work for  my grand girls.).  But as it turned out they were both free for part of the day....Bailey had to work in the morning and Brie had to leave late in the afternoon to drive back to school.  Limited time, but sweet time.  Oh, and my son-in-law Sam was there too, can't forget Sam...he is the best son-in-law a Mother could ever ask for.  And an extended coaching contract just came his way...so proud.

Bailey & Me...Bailey is graduating from college Mother's Day weekend.  I don't know who is the happiest, Bailey or her parents.... I think my son will be here for that momentous event which will mean I will have my two kids and my grandkids all together at the same time, in the same place which happens very rarely.

My daughter, Lisa and Sam

The girls...

Sam trying to give Brie a kiss...love that look on Brie's face!!

Brie, my youngest granddaughter, about ready to finish her 2nd year at Iowa State.  

Lisa's springtime door.  And the sign above her door, says it all.

Not only did Lisa prepare a wonderful brunch that we all over-ate, I mean really over-ate she was busy this entire week getting ready to open a new location for her dance studio.  Recently she was offered a different location, larger, private bathrooms, storage area, bigger office space and she jumped at the chance.  It is in the same building so really no long distance move, but walls had to be installed, new doors, new dance floor, ballet bars, painting etc etc.  This was all completed in one week by Lisa and her small crew of willing helpers and good friends while the kids (her students) were all on spring break.  Now tomorrow, they are going to be totally surprised when they come for dance and they have a brand new space.   

She is a happy lady...I wish I could be a little fly on the wall and watch all the kiddos come in to the brand new studio.  

On my way home, I had to drive down one country road for a barn shot.  You can drive down any road in this area and find some kind of a barn.  The only thing I can say for this one is it probably has good ventilation...other than that it's pretty useless.  Added a couple of textures to pizazz it up a bit.  

April Fools Day everyone...hope nobody fools you today.

"The trouble with practical jokes is that very often they get elected."  ~  Will Rogers

Linking with Tricia's Barn Charm....

Until next time.....

Far, Far Horizon

It's Monday and again it is cloudy and cold with Spring on the far, very far horizon.  As I slid down the icy driveway this morning to retrieve the newspaper I could hear the birds chirping and I swear they were saying, "where oh where oh where is the warmth."  But as I poured my morning cup of coffee I thought of last year with our unseasonably warm early spring...the flowers began to make their way out from the frozen depths in the gardens, the trees sprouted their buds, the flowering bushes began to pop in profusion, spring clothes emerged from closets to make an appearance, the college kids could be seen in shorts & t-shirts, we were happy that Spring had arrived with Winter just a memory and then....the dreaded late cold snap, the killing frost.

So eventho my hope for warmer weather and plenty of sunshine is ever present, my wish this year is to let the cold hang around for as long as it needs to, but when it goes, it stays gone. Spring don't tease us with a false start, don't let those buds began to flower until you decide to stay around permanently.

I will remain content with store-bought Spring until you make your grand entrance....

Retrieved another barn from my travels to NC for Tricia's Barn Charm...this one was located in the horse country around Lexington, KY...looks pretty shabby and not sure if it is still in use, but there were some barn animals on the property.

Linking to Macro Monday, Barn Charm and Tamar & Gina's Project 52....

The word for the day to add to your brilliant vocabulary is wane...which means to decrease or become smaller.  I am really hoping that Winter is on the wane.  We usually associate this word with the moon, but I'm using it today in another context....that's what happens when you become brilliant. (!)

Until next time....

The Outside - The Inside

Oh wow, thank you so much for all the sweet birthday wishes sent my way yesterday.  It made my day complete.  At the end of the day I thought, "wouldn't it be nice if I could have one big party and have all of you attend?"  How fun would that be?!!  Can you imagine the conversations we would have?

But instead of that big party I had an itty bitty one with my daughter and grand-daughter....met them for breakfast and spent a wonderful 2 hours eating, drinking (coffee & juice) and visiting.  Something we don't get to do too often....everyone leads such busy lives.  Bailey headed off to work and Lisa and I headed off to do a little shopping (after all it was my birthday).  After finding a great new pair of shoes we went to visit my sweetie.  I told him it was my birthday and he tried, he really tried to say "Happy Birthday".

Said goodbye to my daughter and headed out to the country to see what I could find.  The day was awful, rain, and mild temperatures causing all that snow to melt and creating a misty fog that was a must to capture with my camera.  I did get a wee bit anxious as I drove down those country roads, the melting snow and over abundance of rain was causing flooding everywhere.  The corn fields were large lakes, the roadside gutters were filled with rushing waters, causing this gal to think "what the heck am I doing out here?"  So, after finding my way back to the main road, I hightailed it home.

Driving home, thank goodness there wasn't much traffic, I stopped and snapped a couple of pictures that were just mystical.  Look at that fog...!!

Linking to Tricia's Barn Charm

The outside was pretty grim yesterday, but the inside was filled with spring.  Both of my children gave me tulips for my birthday...one came via florist delivery, the other was waiting for me at breakfast yesterday.  It may be grim outside, but it's spring inside.

And least we forget, Easter is 3 weeks from yesterday.

Hope your week is filled with all good things....

Revel in the moment.  Seize the Day - Carpe Diem - 

Respond to the call to take action in your life,

To experience the moment.

Enjoy NOW.

This moment is all we have,

all that is real,

all that we can change, affect or influence.

Until next time.....

Happy Birthday, Brie!!

 Today my youngest granddaughter turns 20....granddaughter 20!!!, where or where does the time go?  I am sure we all ask that same question as we see our children, then our grandchildren grow before our very eyes, as we stay the same (ha, who am I kidding).  Brie is currently a sophomore in college in Iowa, studying to work with large animals (aka zoo keeper).  She has always loved animals, any size, shape or color.  Working at PAWS as a teenager, she would have brought home every animal that came thru those doors home with her possibly turning their home into a mini zoo if her Mother & Dad hadn't said "no more".  Altho now I wonder about her Mother....they now have 1 dog (extremely large Huskie), 4 cats, and now 3 birds.  Hmm, wonder from where Brie gets her love of animals???  Lisa blames it on the "empty nest" syndrome.  So, Happy Birthday Brie....I hope your day is filled with good times and good things. (and an A on your last exam) Love and hugs from your Nana!!

And because I am still lovin' my orange tulips, here are a few more pics.  Just grin & bear it...OK??

Have you had enough??  There may be more later....I just love these tulips.

And just because....here is a cutie that I captured standing at my living room window as she unknowingly had her photo snapped while playing in the snow.  Pretty sad that I have to stand at my front window to capture photos of little ones...but as you can see my little ones have all grown up. Now it's time for great-grandchildren.  I so hope they come before this Nana gets too old to enjoy them.

And one more for Tricia's Weekly Barn Charm.  Captured this one on my last outing in the country. Another red barn with snow....!!  Love it.

"Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble; it is a "steering wheel" that directs us in the right path throughout life."

Linking to...Macro Monday's

Until next time....

Barns and Farms, a Church & Oscar

Oh I hope you all watched the Oscar's on TV last night.  It was entertaining and I do think Seth McFarlane did an admirable job.  How would you like standing up on the stage, hosting the biggest award show of the year in front of all those actors, directors, Hollywood types and not feel like you were being judged?  It's usually not a winning situation....many have bitten the proverbial Oscar Host dust, may I just mention James Franco.....what were they thinking???  In my younger days, I know back in the dark ages, but we did have electricity and TV, Bob Hope was the perennial Oscar Host. Between 1940 & 1977 he hosted 19 times, always widely praised and well received.  We should have cloned some of those old favorites, maybe some were corny but they provided us with good, clean laughs.  Unlike what we see today.

OK done with the soap-box...I joined my daughter, son-in-law, 2 grandgirls, 1 boyfriend, and 2 good friends for an Oscar night fiesta....well not exactly a fiesta since Lisa ordered Chinese food.  But then the Chinese New Year festival was on Feb 20, 2013 this year, so we will stick to fiesta.  Whatever, there was a lot of food and fun.  Lisa had score sheets for everyone....we each threw in $5.00 and whoever picked the most winners took home the loot.  There were 24 categories, Sam (son-in-law) had 20 correct, why he hasn't won the Lotto yet, I'm not sure.

Since there was still snow on the ground I decided to drive out early and see if I could find some barns along the way.  Ofcourse I can find barns, all you have to do is drive down any country road and you are going to find barns around here....after all this is corn country.  And I was blessed with a gorgeous day, the sun was shining and the sky was a brilliant blue, perfect.

Before I even found my first barn I came upon this sweet little country church, you know those old-fashioned kind with a cemetery right next door.  The sun was positioned perfectly in the sky making the church look like it was glowing.

No one out swinging today...

Spotted this farmer preparing his fields for the spring....

 There is something so visually esthetic about a red barn with snow on the ground and a bright blue sky....

And a few more from my trip to NC....these was somewhere near Lexington, KY.

Love all these black fences...you can tell these are horse farms.

Grey or dark grey barns seem to be real popular in this area of the country.

Hope everyone has a great week ahead....

Linking to Trish's Barn Charm

"Do you know why a car's windshield is so large and the rear view mirror is so small?  Because our past is not as important as our future."

Until next time.....