"The Father's Day Tree"

Thirty-five years ago this month right before Thanksgiving we moved into our new home.  It was brand spankin new with no grass, no trees, no shrubs or flowers....nothing.  As any new homeowner with very little money, we began slowly with our plantings.  We planted several trees that just didn't make it, absolutely poor planning on our part, we were such novices.  I don't really remember the year we purchased the Maple tree that still stands tall in our front yard, but I do remember it was a Father's Day present to my sweetie that year.  I still remember it as "The Father's Day Tree", not sure if that was exactly what he wanted that year, but as it grew he was almost like a proud Papa watching his child grow.  Now it provides our home with an immense amount of shade in the summertime, both a curse (had to change my sun garden into a shade garden and absolutely no grass will grow underneath its branches) and a blessing (keeps the house so cool, using far less electricity when the air-conditioner is on than some of our neighbors).  So today my gratitude is my trees....particularly the Father's Day Tree in the front yard, which btw, is dropping all of it's bright yellow leaves as I write this, requiring much needed raking.  (I did mention curse, didn't I? giggle)  

Even Cinder enjoys the leaves....(she will be a gratitude post soon)

They gather in the bird baths....

They fall on the lawn chairs....

And a few still hold on....

What are you grateful for today??

How to have a good day....Step 1 Wake Up   Step 2 Be Grateful  - REPEAT

Joining Kim for...

   And Life in Reflection for....
          
                                                    
Until next time.....

Coming Down Off of the Mountain....

I am trying, really trying to get back into the swing of everyday living. After being gone for a week, experiencing the sights of an absolutely beautiful place, it is really quite difficult to come down from those mountains, both physically & mentally.  How many times in my life will I see sunrises like this??  Hopefully again and again.   

I am back now re-adjusting, unpacking, washing the dirty clothes, and dreaming of that time spent up in the mountains.  And while I have been slowly re-entering everyday life I did snip off a branch of my "new" tree and it does have some beautiful color in its leaves.

The apples have just about all fallen to the ground.....I did manage to snap this one and add Kim's lovely Jamal texture to enhance it.  I kinda like the way it looks with the texture added.

Linking to Kim & Nancy

"We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery."~ H. G. Wells

Hope you all are having a glorious week!

Until next time.....

Some Pickin' & Clickin'

So I am in the middle of one class (Tracey Clark's Picture Everyday) and today I am beginning the very first class I have taken from Clickin' Moms, entitled Posing for Success.  I figured since I am beginning a small photography business, a class in posing would probably be of great benefit.  Ofcourse, I am always a day late and a dollar short which goes right along with my notorious knack for procrastination and my consistent lateness for just about anything.  I had a session yesterday with a really nice family, Mom, Dad & 2 sons.  All at the age of being able to follow directions....most of my sessions have been with much younger children, most of which really would rather be doing anything but "posing" for a camera.  The direction "ok, lets all sit and look at me and smile" is usually lost on a 2 year old.  Younger children can be a challenge to work with, but it's their joy and their total naturalness that always delights me.

Posing for Success would have been perfect for me prior to my shoot yesterday, since I was able to say, "OK, hands in pockets or stand this way"...and the directions were followed to a tee....and sometimes, if I'm lucky the kids are naturals, which happened to be the case yesterday.  Oh that is bliss.

After the family shoot I was off to meet up with my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, Bailey for some apple pickin'....there is a farm not far from where they live.  They were pickin' and I was clickin'....with my camera.

As we were leaving, I noticed a row of deep red zinnias against this wheat colored grass...it was quite a stunning combination, especially in mass like this.

Then to add to this beauty, I spotted a butterfly....how sweet is that??

Lisa's stash....she picked quite a variety.  There must have been at least 15 different varieties you could pick and more that were roped off, probably weren't quite ripe yet.

Started decorating my house for the holidays....I usually go a little nuts this time of year...and then turn around and do even more so at Christmastime.

And what would Fall be without a new mug and an apple doughnut from the Apple Pickin' Orchard.

Hope everyone is having a glorious week.  Joining with Kim & Nancy....

“I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it.” 
― Lee Maynard

Until next time.....

I Am a Pumpkin Snob

OK, I admit it.  I am a pumpkin/gourd snob.  I like my pumpkins and gourds to have a little personality aka a great looking stem or a wart or two.  I will search thru a whole stack of pumpkins just to find the one with the most interesting curl....but today I was handed this one by a sweet friend.  That would be her hand holding this great looking personality pleasing pumpkin.  

Sometimes I feel the need to even add an embellishment to my stems....

Man, everywhere I travel I find the most bootylicious berries growing everywhere...and they are exceptionally beautiful growing next to a turquoise blue mailbox.  Rather interesting color for a mailbox, and it sure looks great with the red berries.  

Reading the newspaper this morning I found that today was a major day in the history of us right brainers...

In 1849 author Edgar Allan Poe died in Baltimore at the young age of 40.

In 1940 Artie Shaw and his Orchestra recorded Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" for RCA Victor

In 1954 Marian Anderson became the first black singer hired by the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York.

In 1968 the Motion Picture Association of American adopted its film rating system....G PG R & X. I don't know about you, but I have never seen an X rated movie. Have I missed something??

In 1982 the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "CATS" opened on Broadway. The show closed September 10, 2000 after a record 7,485 performances. If you haven't seen it, it needs to go on your bucket list.

In 2003 California voters recalled Gov. Grey Davis and elected Arnold Schwarzengger their new governor. I know that is kinda of a stretch, but he was "The Terminator" and said that infamous line...."I'll be back."

Linking to Nancy's A Rural Journal's

And to Kim's Texture Tuesday

Until next time....

While Lane Was In Town...

My Handsome Son (look at those blue eyes!!)

While my son  Lane was in town the weather was beautiful every single day, ofcourse with him being from California, a beautiful day is rather common in his world.  But considering this is the midwest, we sometimes are not that fortunate to be blessed with bright sunny skies and cooler temps.  Saturday we took advantage of Mother Nature's good mood, deciding it would be a good day to attend the Native American Indian event in our city.

Almost immediately after parking the car to walk to Naper Settlement, we could hear the native drums. As we walked thru the gates, not only could we hear the drums louder but the smell of "fair" food was everywhere.  I LOVE "fair" food....it probably is the worst food in the world if you are trying to eat healthy, but resisting it is almost impossible.  However, we had just finished a delicious breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants, Egg Harbor Cafe where I managed to eat scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and 2 pumpkin pancakes rolled up with cream cheese stuffing, a total belly banquet. (probably not so healthy either) So eventho I LOVE "fair" food, there would be no elephant ears for me on Saturday.

What fun to see all the wonderful American Indian dress, watch them dance, talk with them to discover which tribes they were from.  There were children as well as adults, old and young, some in full dress, other's with nothing more than a a piece of jewelry or a feather.  I was fascinated by all and so admire them for keeping their traditions alive.

And because it was such a beautiful day we decided to walk into town and do a little shopping.  Lane wanted to buy his wife, Nelly, a little something since she was not able to come with him. Now how can I resist a little shopping, especially when he suggested we stop in Pottery Barn.  As we crossed over the bridge, we spied this cute scene....a Dad and Daughter creating chalk art on the Riverwalk sidewalks.

That evening we ran out for some take-out, brought it home and watched both of the new Star Trek movies "On Demand".  I had not seen either one, and they were fun.  Love the new casting, Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is a cutie.  Sorry, William Shatner, you were just getting too old.  Recommended watching!!

Joining Nancy's Tuesday Muse....

"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."

-- Groucho Marx

Until next time.....