Get Me Outta Here

It is amazing how a simple bouquet of flowers from the grocery store can brighten our days. When I brought these beauties home all of the lilies were tight little buds, but this one broke free yesterday....it's almost like she is saying, get my outta here.  And that is exactly the way I have been feeling lately....get me outta here.  It snowed again yesterday and today is bright and sunny but mighty windy creating little mini vortexes in the snow. (def...a whirling mass of water, especially one in which a force of suction operates, a whirlpool).  Ever once in awhile I like to use words that make me appear smart. did it?

I need to adopt a more optimistic attitude, because my attitude lately has been like a vortex, swirling in the "what is wrong with me" whirlpool.  I just read that optimism is the yeast in the bread of life. With it we rise, without it our spirits fall flat.  I am hoping 10 days in sunny Arizona will brighten my spirits, but I fear once I get out there I might not want to return to this weather.  Today it is supposed to reach a high of 30, then we won't see that again until who knows when, teens and single digits for the rest of the week.....heavy sigh.

Honestly I think what has me down is that this week (the 25th) marks our wedding anniversary of 50 years.  If life was normal, a party or a special trip would commemorate the day, but sadly life circumstances prevents that from occurring.  I am blessed that a small group of my girlfriends are taking me to a lovely place for lunch this week in honor of the day.  So yes, I am feeling sorry for myself, thinking of the what if's and that 50 years together deserves more than a trip to the nursing home and the man I love looking at me with no memories of those years.

Enough wallowing, good news, I have found someone who is staying at my home with my kids while I am away.  She came yesterday for a meet and greet and the kids instantly took a likin' to her, so I think all will be well while I am away.

And PS....still using my 50mm lens.

"A light heart lives long" ~ An Irish Proverb

Until next time.....

  

I'm Done

Yeah, my Christmas tree is down with all the ornaments packed away, even the tree is bundled in a zip-up container.  Dropped by Trader Joe's yesterday and picked up a couple of wine boxes with their dividers still intact....voila my ornament containers. Worked perfectly.  

I pluck the dried hydrangeas from my bushes to adorn the Christmas tree, and when Christmas is over I have a huge pile of hydrangeas that are so dry to the touch they break apart instantly.  I never like throwing these away, they have given beauty since they begin their blooms in mid summer and add their continuing beauty all thru the holidays.

Tonight is bookclub, wondering how all liked our book, The Husband's Secret?  It certainly held my interest.  I have started reading Kate Atkinson's Life After Life and was a bit confused for the first few chapters.  I had downloaded the book on my Kindle when it first came out several months ago and forgot about it until I strolled thru and spied it, so I had forgotten the premise of the book.  That's what happens when you download, you don't get that book flap to give you a little start-up as to what the book is all about.  Now that I am in tune as to the gist of the book I am enjoying it, but I will admit a little confusion at the start.  Reading anything good?  I am always up for a good read.  That is on my 14 in 2014...read more.

Gotta go, still a little straightening remaining and my grandgirl is joining me for dinner and bookclub.  I think it's a hoot that Bailey comes to my old ladies (oops I shouldn't say that) book group, but definitely in a different age bracket than my Bailey.

Joining Kim at....

"Books are like imprisoned souls till someone takes them down from a shelf and frees them."  ~  Samual Butler

Until next time....

The Gifts of Today

What would we do without our grocery store flowers in the midst of the dreary, cold, no color days. Just looking at this pop of color brightens my thoughts and enhances the spot where they sit.  A trip to Trader Joe's wouldn't be complete without flowers.

Went to my Wednesday morning Bible study today where we began Beth Moore's study of James. She presented a very thought-provoking premise that James was the actual brother as in "family" of Jesus Christ. Being a member of the Catholic Church since I was in my early 20's we have always believed that Jesus had no other siblings, and that "brother" referred to his disciples, his followers, his cousins, but not a true brother as in sibling.  I mean after all, doesn't Paul write his letters and always address them to "my brothers and sisters in Christ?  Doesn't the minister, or preacher, or priest address his congregation as brothers & sisters?  In our group collaborative blog we refer to ourselves as "life sisters", so the word brother and sister has many implications.  I am twisting this thought around and around in my mind.  And another thought that has me puzzled is in reading the book of James, which is very brief, there is never a reference anywhere to Jesus Christ.  So, right now, I am mystified as to their relationship.  And may remain that way this entire study.  But that is what Bible study is all about, to make us think, to make us ponder and sometimes question and certainly to grow in our own spirituality.

Afterward I met my "writing teacher" for lunch at the arboretum.  Sharon and I became friends after I took her class at our local college, "Writing With Spice" last winter and then followed it with a 2nd class this past fall.  It's always a pleasure to be in her company and while I was telling her about my current Bible study she talked about the bible study that she is enjoying.  Sharon is Jewish so it's always interesting to talk a little "religion" while we are together.  Currently she is in the midst of a study on the book of Jonah with the instructor being an expert in the translations surrounding the book of Jonah.  They are quite literally inching thru this book, and asked me to join her one day.  I would enjoy that.  A different perspective, a different mindset.

I mentioned earlier in the week that our assignment in our 50 mm class is "street photography"  Street photography is an art photography that features the human condition within public places and does not necessitate the presence of a street or even the urban environment. According to Wikipedia 
Others say it is taking pictures of people in public places without their knowledge.  I am finding that a difficult concept this week since 1) it is so dang cold resulting in not many people wandering around in public places and 2) if I am going to snap someone's picture without their knowledge I feel more comfortable using a zoom lens so I am not right on top of them (too obvious).  So, I have done "street photography" Wikipedia's definition twice.  Once in Trader Joe's, I approached an elderly woman that had a delightful face and explained to her what I was doing....she most graciously gave me permission to take her photo, and said I made her day, then proceeded to tell me she did not want to be posted on my blog.  So I have to respect that....dang it.

And the 2nd time at the Arboretum's restaurant. Again I explained to the man (see below) what I was doing, this time didn't mention my blog, so he didn't have a chance to say no posting (oh was that wrong??) so here is my "street photography".

I am now down to less than 2 weeks before leaving for Arizona for some sun and warmth, and I have found someone to stay with my "kids" while I am gone....yippee!!

"Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons".  ~ Ruth Ann Schabacker

Until next time.....

Beginning With Texture Tuesday

Each month over at my collaborative blog Focusing On Life where I contribute twice a month, we choose a "word" or "theme of the month."  I always start the year and this year my choice was "Beginnings".  In my thought process I imagined that this would be the perfect word for the brand spankin' New Year.  Let's not do resolutions, because you know we all seem to fail miserably at those, but beginnings was a kinda of guilt-free way to think about what kind of new beginnings would I like to do during the year.

Well, I definitely have not been the poster child for "beginnings" as now it is the 14th day into this new year and my Christmas tree, is still fully dressed and still standing proudly, lighting every evening by 4:30.  By this time, and usually by the 1st week of January all the Christmas beauties have been tucked neatly into their bins and put away for another year.  I have been draggin' my feet all year, literally.

About the only new beginning I have done for this year, is make the decision to let my hair grow longer and I started a new book.  Now both of those are truly momentous....wrong.  I will admit to having most every other Christmas pretty packed into boxes, it's just the tree that is still standing. My only excuse is I needed a new ornament box for storage and I dragged my feet about getting to the stores, now they are all sold out.  That procrastination pattern took over again, and now I am stuck with figuring out how to store those beauties.

Oh yawn, this is getting boring.  The above pic was taken with my 50mm and the lovely ranunculus was purchased to brighten my attitude.  I added one of Kim Klassen's lovely textures that she continues to share with us even after the struggles and year that she has had, KK_100 and am now joining her over at her blog for Texture Tuesday.

I hope you have a lovely day....

"The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keep out the joy." ~  Jim Rohn

Until next time....

Yesterday....

Yesterday was the scheduled "reunion" of all of us that went to the Photography Workshop to the Smoky Mtns. back in October.  Oh what fun to gather with all my photo family that I spent 5 days with in Tennessee.  I must say, we all cleaned up really nicely.  In Tennessee we were dressed for hiking, loaded with layers and layers of clothing, make-up and hair kinda took a back-seat, so yesterday seeing everyone all "dressed up" and lookin' good was a real treat along with just visiting, eating and viewing photos from our special time together.

We had our gathering at "Lovell's of Lake Forest" a beautiful restaurant....now there is a story here to be told....  My traveling partners, Susan along with Jim were both from the northern suburbs. (fyi, I knew neither one until that morning when we introduced ourselves)  We met up at my house which is much further south and took off on our adventure together.  Now we spent 6 days together, traveling, eating, classroom time, taking a kazillion photos and not once during this time did I wonder if Susan Lovell was any relation to Jim Lovell, ya know the astronaut that was part of the team of Apollo 13 (in case you are still wondering who the heck is Jim Lovell, just watch the movie, Apollo 13 with Tom Hanks portraying Jim Lovell then you will remember.)  It wasn't until the last night, when only my traveling companions, Susan and Jim and our instructor Lou were having dinner together, all the remaining classmates had already headed for home, but we decided to wait until the following morning to take off.  It was then that I discovered who Susan Lovell really was.  Oh my, surprise, shock and awe were written all over my face.  And it wasn't until last night over dinner that she really talked about her Dad and growing up during the time he was an astronaut.  I wasn't the only one surprised, most everyone else did not put two and two together either until last night.  Anyway, we had a great spread of food, casual but yummy, wine aplenty, and lotsa laughter.

Lou is having another workshop in the Smoky Mtns. in April, but since I am going to a photography workshop in late March into early April in Charleston, SC (be still my heart) I don't think I will register for this one.  I can't leave my kids that much.  Leaving for Phoenix the end of this month for 10 (yippee) days and then again in March, is a challenge.  Having animals always presents a problem when traveling but there is no way I would give them up for the few times a year I travel.  My daughter always cared for Toby, but now that I have two and with her 1 dog and 3 cats it is too much. Oh what's a Mother to do?

Anyhoo...on my way home last night I spotted a little grocery store across the street from the restaurant called "The Sunshine Market"...and thought, I need some flowers.  Now that Christmas is over and all the prettiness from the holidays has wilted away, I need a little color on my kitchen sink.  And, no surprise, it's red.   The little primulas, one of the early, early signs that spring will return is now adding cheeriness to the kitchen.

And do you have as much trouble with photographing reds as I do?  Trying to get the brightness but not over exposed is always a challenge for me.  But I gotta say, using Lightroom 5 really helps in the editing.  And fyi, taken with my 50mm....someone asked what class this is.  The class is given by Kim Manley Ort.  Here is the link to her website where you can find all of her workshops... Kim Manley Ort Photography .  I don't know if anyone can join the workshop now, we are in to our 2nd week out of 4, but she may offer it again in the future.  Our challenge this week is street photography.  This will definitely be a challenge for me, not that I don't love street photography it's that I am not sure how many people are going to be out and about during this horrid weather.  It has warmed up but the predictions for the week are back in the deep freeze once again.  Oh Phoenix come to me baby.

And thought I would share a few of the shots that I displayed yesterday from my trip to the Smoky Mtns.

This is why they call them the Smoky Mountains...

OK, that's enough.  Got alot to do today, busy week ahead.  Hope yours

is a great one!!

And thanks to those that suggested Whirly Bird app...now I'm hooked.

"We owe it to each other to tell stories". ~ Neil Gaiman

Until next time....

Little Things My Mom Would Do....

These dreary, cold, stuck inside winter days has me really missing my Mom.  For the last 2 1/2 years of her life she lived with us and then passed away from complications from a stroke 3 years ago.  We would spend afternoons playing gin, or Yatzee, or Scrabble or dice games.  She loved playing games as much as I did and not only did it keep us entertained, but it probably kept our minds sharp.  Now I settle for games on an app on my I-Phone, just not the same.  But I will recommend one that I play daily....it's called 7 Words or Seven Words....not sure which but if you are interested I am sure you can search it.  It is free.  There is a new puzzle each day giving you a list of clues to specific words, revealing how many letters are in each word.  There are groups of 2 or 3 letters listed below the clues. Your challenge is to figure out and spell the words by putting the letters together. You can get a hint so many times and then after so many times if you want hints you have to pay for them.  I think it is $1.99 for unlimited hints.  And because I wasn't satisfied with just one puzzle a day, since I no longer have my Mom to play games with, I anted up and bought a year's worth for $2.99.  Personally I love word games much more than number games, I think that must come from my poor showing while in school of any subject that had anything to do with math.

The tea set was my Mom's....actually I gave it to her for Christmas one year.  And when she passed away it became mine.  I cherish it because I know how much she loved it.

I catch myself now doing little things that my Mom would do.  It's true you do become your Mom, intentionally or not.  But as I do these "little things" it strikes a chord in how much I truly miss her, especially during this cold, shut in the house time of the year.

I now heat my dinner plate or bowl in the microwave before serving food on it...she "hated" cold plates...claimed they made the food cold too fast.  She was right of course.  With our frigid weather we have had lately and because my dish cabinet is on the north wall of our house, the plates and bowls come out of that cabinet mighty cold...so yeah, it's great if you are having ice cream...not so if you are having a hot meal.  Mom always heated her plate, now I am.  Little things....

Just finished a good book....you need to read this one, "The Husband's Secret".  An interesting plot twist at the end and a great "wrap-up".  I am not fond of books that kinda leave you hangin' making you figure out what exactly happened.  I like it tidied up, but also not too quickly either.  Some books are like that too....they just all of a sudden are over and done, wham.  It's like the author decided, "ok, I have written enough, now it's time to end"....don't like that either.  There are soooo many books out there that I am itching to read, and that is a goal of mine this year is to read more.  I used to swallow books, then I got into photography and blogging and the books kinda got shoved to the back shelf...so to speak.

OK, speaking of writing too much, I have done exactly that with this post.  And fyi...all images were taken with the 50mm f/1.4 lens.  That is the great thing about this lens, it can be really dark in your home, but with this lens you can still take decent shots, and my Nikon D7100 helps too.

Found this great quote on Pinterest......
    "Open your mouth only if what you are going to say is more beautiful than silence"
So now I am going to be silent.

Until next time.....

I Don't Like Grumpy

Ha fooled ya....probably not.  But as I was strolling thru some of this past summer's images, found this one and figured some of you out there in deep winterland would appreciate some summer-time color. It will return, I promise eventho some of us are buried and shivering and apparently bored as to be looking at last summer's images.  Last year I was begging for snow, now not so much....I think I am feeling a little trapped....what is wrong with me....never, never satisfied.  Because of our very frigid temps many roads are still a little icey-dicey and the piles are getting higher each day.  In fact it is snowing right now as I look out the window.   Not much, and tomorrow's forecast is for rain.  ay yi yi where is all this moisture going to go?  Icicles are starting their dreaded formations...these are mine at the backside of the house.

Hmmm, I have read several blogs about troubles with blogger.  I was feeling so smug that I had not experienced any of their issues and just as I was writing this, a message popped up saying that I had unlogged from a site, did I want to re-log back in and then wham, half of my post was gone.  Maybe it was reading my "bitching" words and decided to stop me in my tracks.

I was complaining about the depth of the snow and how my "weak" ankles are not the least bit sturdy manipulating thru the heights and worrying about dropping my camera when blogger decided to delete that portion of my post.  Hmmm

What's with the starlings sticking around this winter??  Yesterday I saw them hanging around a restaurant's garbage bins and today this in my backyard....and no, I do not have garbage in my backyard.

I am trying to capture more compelling images since that is my "word" for the year.  The only thing I find compelling in this is the need to hire someone to remove all of this "ivy" that is growing on the west and north sides of my house.  I planted the green ivy....the brown came from my next door neighbor.  Don't know if it was planted or drifted in from parts unknown, but it is extremely aggressive and probably is doing some damage to the siding of my house.

I have 3 huge things on my "to-do" list and I keep putting them off, keep putting them on the back-burner, keep doing everything but what I should be doing.  That is probably why I am in a cranky mood. And I know the answer is to get busy and get them done, complete and finished.  But first....

lunch.  My daughter gave me some soup mixes for Christmas.  Frankly I thought it was a brilliant idea since she knows I don't do much cookin' anymore and these soups are simply delicious.  The one pictured above is called "Florida Sunshine Red Pepper Corn Chowder" from Frontier Soups.com.  I first discovered Frontier Soups several years ago at a craft show.  It was one of the "classiests" craft shows I ever attended.  I won't go into detail because it "unfortunately" no long exists, but that was my first introduction to these soups.  They were made by a woman from Waukegan, IL, a neighbor so to speak, who loved cooking.  Her friends and family urged her to go "into business" because they were so delicious which led her to "Frontier Soups".  A dry mix with you adding the fresh ingredients.  They are healthy, no salt added, gluten free and mighty tasty!!  She has a bounty of choices.   If you go to the website there are a variety of soups, appetizers, bread mixes and apparently she has expanded all over the United States.  Wow, just from her kitchen to the world, love it!!  If you can't find a store near you, order from the website, they ship!!

So I better stop and get busy with one of those HUGE items on my list.  If I don't I'll stay grumpy and I don't like grumpy.

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going."  ~  John Rohn

Until next time.....

Practicing Again!!

Cinder pretty well sums it up for us....still brutally cold, but at least the winds calmed down somewhat today.  The kids were out of school again making their Christmas break extra extra long, and there has been no garbage pick-up for the last 2 days.  All I heard for most of the afternoon was the beep beep beep back-up warning sounds from the snow removers....plowing and piling, plowing and piling. Good Lord, we will have piles of snow still around in June.

Today was cleaning lady day....if I didn't have her come every two weeks my house would probably remain messy all the time.  I'm telling you, the older I get the lazier I become, shame on me.  My Mother would not be proud.  She was always so neat and organized....those genes just didn't find their way to my DNA....dang it.  But anyway, the clean-up and clear-out began and with it I started tossing all the Christmas greenery aka paperwhites and poinsettias that had wilted and curled due to my lack of watering.   But before they went the way of the garbage....I decided a shot or two was in order with my 50mm lens.

Then when I was in the process of tossing my red poinsettia I noticed many of the flowers were still quite beautiful.  Better Homes & Gardens had an article several years ago about cutting poinsettias and using them in vases like bouquets.  If you ask me if I saved that article, yeah...but don't ask me where it is.  I just remembered it....so I cut them and placed them in this white pitcher and I love the red white and green combo....the red just pops.  And again, using my 50mm I focused on the leaf in the first image....and on the tray in the 2nd.  And btw if you love trays, I bought this at IKEA when I went over before Christmas to buy my daughter new slipcovers for her furniture which was on her Christmas list.  I spotted this and felt the need to bring it home.  It is pretty large so I'm thinking I'll use it alot.  It housed all my glass candle holders with white candles during the holidays, and I am sure I will use it on the screen porch next summer.  If I remember correctly it was less than $20, probably $19.99, but that's less than $20 right??

Now you know I am getting bored when I take pictures of my lunch...but again, practicing with my 50mm.

Tomorrow I am leaving, leaving the house anyway...at last.  Our winter session of Bible Study begins. We are studying one of Beth Moore's courses...the book of James. Now James is one of the smaller books of the Bible and I understand Beth Moore memorizes the entire book. Wow, I have trouble just remembering a single Bible verse let alone a whole book.  I have completed 2 Beth Moore studies, Esther and Daniel.  I loved Esther, Daniel was a bit more challenging, wasn't fond of that one and Beth Moore can be a little over the top in her presentations, (she has videos with each lesson) but I understand she is a little calmer for the James study.   And then after our morning session a group of us are meeting for lunch, actually I should probably refer to us as the Downton Abbey groupies, to confabulate over the first episode of season 4...so looking forward to leaving this house...I feel like I am getting out of jail, free, free, free at last.  It is supposed to be a whopping 14 degrees tomorrow (with snow) and it has warmed up to a balmy 4 above zero right now.  Well, the kids are wanting to go out and do their thing....so I'm off.

"Either you run the day, or the day runs you." ~ Jim Rohn   (Oh is that a true statement.)

Until next time.....

Monday, Monday

OK, this is ridiculous...you notice the"real feel" temp is -46.  I guess that is the new "wind-chill" 

terminology.  

I let my kids out this morning about 6:30 AM and in less than 2 minutes they were both back in the house...Cinder limped up the sidewalk, shivering.  I immediately wiped her off and cuddled her under a warm blanket and she remained in that position until just about 11:30, when she jumped down for about a minute and then decided, never mind and jumped back up into those warm covers.

Toby loves being outside and he just can't understand why I won't let him go out....he just looks at me with that forlorn look and says....please, please.  Then when I do let him out, he comes hobbling back within 5 minutes.  He almost didn't make it up the sidewalk the last time he went out.  Poor things, they don't understand what this nasty weather is all about.  It's supposed to warm up to -12 by 9:00 PM tonight.  Oh my, I do hope everyone is safe and warm wherever they are.  And thanks for all the concerns about my two granddaughters....Bailey did spend the night with me last night and Brie's drive back to Iowa State was safe and uneventful. Sometimes that word "uneventful" is so positive.  I love it when someone says..."how was your flight" and I reply, "uneventful"...in other-words, no problems.

Ok, since you won't let me play outside, will you play with me inside???

While Cinder stays wrapped in her blanket.

Well, did ya, did ya....watch Downton Abbey last night??  Thank God Mary came out of her gloominess before the show's end, what a drag she was.  And O'brien left....wow didn't see that coming.  And wasn't that a sweet ending when Mr. Carson finally went to see his ole' theater pal and extended a friendly hand.  And I must say, Lady Edith sure is coming into her own with her new make-up and wardrobe.  That green evening dress was quite stunning.  OK, sure hope I haven't spoiled it for anyone, it is pure pleasure to watch.

OK, my 50mm class begins today, our assignment is to get used to the lens, wander around our house and backyard (ha is she kidding??) and snap using different exposures, aperatures etc.  OK, so the Toby pics were 50mm and here are a couple more and yes, they are all inside.

and yes, the Christmas decorations are STILL up...I know, I'm tired of them too.

And one more thing....today is the anniversary of the day that Peanuts was introduced to us by Charles Schultz back in 1952.  It was the longest running comic strip with 17,897 strips in total and is considered one of the most influential and popular comic strips ever written.   Love you "Peanuts"!

" If  I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself." ~  Charles Schultz

And PS....just checked the weather again and it warmed up to -13...what the heck??!!  

Until next time....