Day 12...My Domain

 Day 12

I left my house immediately after dinner in a last ditch, desperate, determined attempt,  to find that shot that surprises you! The one that makes you all excited because you can't believe your luck in capturing it when you had no idea what you were going after to begin with...That was me this evening...That's pretty much my story everyday!

After running an errand and with the clock ticking away (it was at least 5:15 at this point) I hopped back into my car and headed North. Well, North on Hwy A toward Kearney anyway...After just a mile or so up the highway I thought to myself..."self, you really don't know your way around the country up here" (I'm that Kansan transplant that's only lived up North a few years) and then immediately thought "what the heck am I doing wasting my time driving? I don't even know where I'm going or what I'm looking for!" Well, several minutes later, (probably wasn't really that many) and a few good guesses on where to turn I found that I had completed one nice big circle and was coming up on the back side of Liberty (where I'd originally thought to go much earlier in the day)...sigh...

Well, I didn't get that one special shot but as I turned onto a new construction road that I've been on a couple times recently, I knew it would give me a view...not the most spectacular view, but a view nonetheless. As I stood there outside my car, I couldn't help but wonder what it will look like, probably not so far in the future when the site construction begins. I only know one thing for sure, it won't look like this photo...it made me sad.

My husband and I always see our Labrador, Meadow, laying on her very own little hill/slope in our backyard and we say that she is watching over her domain. That's pretty much how I felt at that very moment gazing over the hills. I think I'd be pretty accurate in saying that my house sits just this side of the brightest yellow spot of the sunset and I felt like I was gazing over my very own little portion of the world, my domain. By this time the sun was setting quickly so I just began snapping away, checking and changing some settings until the "sweet light" had faded away. 

As I drove home I thought to myself...

Maybe I captured a "special shot" after all...:)

Day 11....Damn the Sweet Gum Balls!

 Day 11

During the little bit of time I was able to spend outside today, I couldn't help but notice (as I always do) that the gum balls are EVERYWHERE...AGAIN...There really are a few things that God didn't think through very well...Sweet Gum Balls was one of them...(women having facial hair is the BIG ONE though...lol) uhhh, nevermind, back to Sweet Gum balls...actually, I'm sure it's not a mistake at all on God's part. They're such a beautiful tree! It's whoever thought to plant these trees in your yard that's to blame! So, as I stood there on my porch looking at the treacherous lawn/driveway/sidewalk that these nuisances create I wondered just how many times my poor husband has cleaned them up through the years we've been here... I'm sure he'd say " ________ (expletive), too many times"  But, he always takes care of it along with all the other "gotta be done" things around the house. Simply said, he's one of  those that sees what needs to be done and just does it!! I'm lucky to have him! I tried to give him some of my ingenious advice the other day and told him maybe we just need to take our Snow Roof Rake, (yep, we have a roof shovel...haven't had to use that nifty tool this season) and stick that long 15ft .handle up in the trees, shake it around and loosen all those little boogers up at once and get it over with!!! Heck, I thought it was a good idea...He laughed... :/

SO, on to my second observation...while staring at those nasty balls and making my decision to photograph them, I couldn't help but notice that there, in my tree, was an eagle's nest!!! Did ya see it? Go ahead, scroll back up and look!!! I was so excited that I decided to name the momma...I call her "Robin"...:)

Well, Ok...I guess I'm having a little Eagle envy as you can tell :) My friend from Sedalia has some of the most amazing photo's of Eagles in her area...you should check out her blog at  http://willowpics-deana.blogspot.com/...her photo's are WONDERFUL!

Oh, one last thing...I AM going to have a talk with The Man about that whole facial hair issue when I meet Him someday...:)

Day 10...Days Gone By

 Day 10

Once in a while we all reminisce about the way things used to be. Lots of clever Fwd's seem to float around the internet, through our e-mail and on Facebook that remind us of our own childhood and how truly different it really was compared to the children of today. Occasionally though, when your not even thinking of it, is when it really hits you!

Today as I was walking around town here in Liberty with my husband I saw this phone booth. I immediately loved it's bright color and how it just screamed of days gone by. But what really struck me was the young people who had just passed by us in a car, laughing and squealing (there were eight of them piled in this fairly small car..we counted as they got out)... but as they drove past I saw at least a few of them with cell phones in hand. I had to wonder if any of them had ever even used a pay phone, much less used one inside of a phone booth!!! It was just one of those instant reminders of how different things were when I was their age...(now, being piled in a car with way too many passengers remains the same)

Don't get me wrong, I actually like technology and for the most part I embrace all the changes and want to keep up with how things change. I don't ever want to be that "older person" who is really way too young to be so "out of touch" with the way things are nowadays. It just really made me wonder what will my children look back on when they're only 52 years old and remember as being soooo different from the way it is right now...:)

Day 9...Cherry Coke and LIVESTRONG

 Day 9

While shopping today and looking for a photo waiting to be shot I decided I needed a drink!! A Cherry Coke drink to be more specific! My favorite drug (as my husband calls it!) Thankfully, my drug of choice is legal! I'm here to tell you, I'd be in BIG TROUBLE if access to a Sonic Cherry Coke required finding a supplier like those buying moonshine!...lol...I'd be right in there meeting up for some illicit midnight rendevous to get "the goods!" Having said that, I do keep my habit under control... two a week, tops, and I really try to keep it at one... And it can't be the canned or pre-mixed fountain drink Chery Cokes. It has to be a Coke mixed with Cherry syrup! The "Real Thing" as they say!  

Now, funny thing about this Cherry Coke lovin' girl is I'm absolutely a Pepsi girl!!! Oxymoron? Well, maybe, but I only like CHERRY Coke, not Coke! I'm the one who asks at a restaurant if they serve Pepsi or Coke...if it's Coke, I order Iced Tea. To be honest, I'd really prefer a Cherry Pepsi but  over the years I have grown attached to my little stops at Sonic so I guess I can't complain. It's just that for me, drinking a Coke product is kind of like rooting for your rival team...:) Oh well, it's all ok, I guess! So now you know yet another silly "piece of me."..... LIVESTRONG and Prosper!!!

Day 8...a Hawk in the House...:)

 Day 8

A little baby Hawk was spotted splashing about in his GiGi Hawks bird bath this evening!

A busy evening eating out and shopping with his PaPa and GiGi Hawk wore the little guy out! He flapped his little wings in the bath and flew off to sleep tight, nighty night in his little Hawks Nest before GiGi could get a shot of him...I can tell you this...he has the bluest eyes and sweetest little Hawk toothed grin I've ever seen! ... His piggies fit into these little Hawk shoes perfectly! They're my evidence that I really do have a Hawk in the house! :)

(please don't tell his PaPa I called him a Hawk too)...:)

Day 7...Eggs and the Lord

 Day 7

Ok, I have to ask...here goes...Am I the only person who's never noticed the Bible verse on the inside of the egg carton? Please, someone tell me I'm not alone. I guess I don't get an award for being very observant. Obviously, in my mad rush to put groceries away and move on to the next task, I've transferred eggs (no telling how many times) to the egg container and tossed the cartons in the recycling bin without ever noticing. It may sound silly to some (and my husband never misses the chance to tease me about it) but I truly believe there's a life lesson in nearly every moment we live. So what could possibly be my lesson in this? Maybe to be more observant? Lord only knows what I may be missing out on (no pun intended but I feel certain He has a really good since of humor anyway!)

Today, I actually had a really good day! It was a great day at work, the weather is beautiful and my daughter Abby came by to see me "just because" :) It always makes my day when my kids stop by just to see me! And last, but certainly not least, in my search for something to photograph, I not only find a subject but a little message from God!... Life is Good!

  

Day 6...Pieces of Me

 Day 6

Well, here I am, it's 11:38pm and it looks as if I may actually have my photo of the day posted before midnight. Although, in order to do so that would mean I can NOT write a detailed blog entry! Ahhh, such is life, even a "chatty Cathy" like me has to "learn to control my gift of gab"...(you know, I still dislike that freshman year Algebra teacher who actually wrote that in my yearbook) How dare she!!! And as you can see, I certainly haven't forgotten! :)

This simple little photo really says so much about me...I wish I could've gathered all my little treasures into one small space to tell the story of me but I think these few things say quite a bit...look closely and you will see just a few "pieces of me."

This girl may be pretty simple but ya gotta have a  little "Bling" in your life! I LOVE my fairy collection (I do believe)...I'm very spiritual and diverse in my beliefs...After many years of soul searching, faith and trust in God I'm at a place in my life now where I no longer worry about what I don't understand or what doesn't make sense to me. God knows, and the one thing I do know is, as long as He knows, I don't have to!!!

Then there's my family. They're truly "pieces of me" They complete me. Because they exist, I am who I was intended to be! They are the best part of who I am!

Day 5...a Lifetime of Memories

 Day 5

If only Brownie could talk!!! If I only knew how many moments in time had been captured by "Brownie"....If only I had a penny for each of the photos taken. How many birthdays would there be? Family gatherings? The fishing trips "big catch" or Christmases? Weddings and new babies arrivals?...and don't forget the picnics!!!...Wow, I could go on forever and the list of memories captured could be endless. Old, faithful Brownie caught so many of those moments that my family now treasures, neatly placed in aging photo albums for a lifetime of walks down memory lane. Mom loved her Brownie. I remember her saying many times that it took the best pictures of all!

Day 4...A Taste of Summer

 Day 4

Ahhh, the sounds of "pinging" lids after canning is complete. The assurance you need that your jars are sealed as they should be...I love that sound! But then there's also the sound that is only made when that seal is broken and you open that jar to enjoy the fruits of your labor in the middle of Winter! The "taste of Summer", as my husband refers to every jar of canned goods on our basement shelf! He is so right! There's nothing more delicious!

I hope his Grandma is proud as she gazes down on those jars. Every year as we work together, prepping for canning, ever so attractive donning our "do-rags" (our version of a hair net),  he tells me stories of how he learned to garden with his Grandma and all that she taught him.  It's one of my favorite times we share together and I'm sure she is with us...:) ! 

Day 3...The Quilt

 Day 3

This may not appear to be a story about my momma, but it is...It was a year ago last month, in December of 2010 that my mom went to live in a nursing home. It was the hardest week of her life as it was for our entire family, but especially her. My mom had been in the hospital due to increased physical weakness, spent time in rehab and finally it was determined that she really couldn't live on her own any longer. Tragically, the same week while my mom was still in rehab, my oldest brother took his own life. Within a three day period of time she lost a child and moved into a nursing facility all the while knowing and fully understanding that she truly could no longer live on her own and that she'd lost her first born baby. Through her grief she still remained the strongest person I know and continually worried and showed concern for the rest of us.

Surprisingly, through all of this sadness and change she adjusted very well to her new living conditions. It was truly a blessing from God Himself. She quickly grew attached to the staff, adjusted well to living at Evergreen and loved the fact that her room was painted purple (lavender.) This may seem so insignificant but believe me, during that time we held tightly onto any and everything that made her happy....then they approached us and wanted to move her to another room...

We, as a family, along with my mom agreed to this. It was a big deal by the facilities standards to not change a residents room as it is considered their home. The only thing she asked for was for her new room to be painted purple also. It was promised to be done. During the next several months, nine to be exact, we asked at different times about it and all the while Mom never complained. Usually I was the one asking her if they'd told her when they were going to paint...Finally, after some staff changes and a random conversation with one of her caregivers, suddenly her new room was now Lavender also and Mom loved it! She immediately mentioned to me that she needed a new comforter or bedspread that would look pretty with the wall color and wanted me to shop for one for her.

After the room was painted it was nearly time to be thinking about the holidays, etc and it occurred to me that I could make her a quilt! So now, holidays behind us, here I am, the fabric is finally cut and ready to sew. Lots of love is going into this quilt filled with floral fabrics, tea cups, china and shades of Lavender...all things that she loves...I will post a photo when it is complete and another of my mom with her quilt on the day I give it to her!!!

Day 2...Rest Stop

 Day 2

My favorite place to sit and relax when I need a break from gardening. It looks so much more inviting when the weather is warm and all the trees and flowers are in bloom...I chose to go out and take this shot as I was preparing dinner tonight, looking out my kitchen window and wishing I was cooking on the grill and having a drink under the Sycamore tree....(my first photo choice was my dinner ingredients, lolol)

Day 1...My Feline Assistant :)

Day 1

I'd like you to meet Orange Cat! Yes, her name is really Orange Cat. I guess you could say my children and I weren't our most creative selves when we found her as a kitten. After weeks went by and no name seemed to be "the one" she simply just ended up being 

Orange Cat.

Now, she has also earned the title of "editing assistant" (sitting here even now as I type,) always politely meowing in reply when I ask her opinion on my post processing ideas! 

I decided yesterday that she would be the subject for my very first photo in my quest to complete 365 days of "snap happiness!" The stool she is sitting on is located a mere 6 inches or so from my computer chair. And there she sits, with me, sometimes for hours as I sit at the computer editing photos, scrolling through FB, checking e-mail or paying bills. She is my loyal, faithful and always amusing companion!

Yep, it's time for a CHALLENGE!

365 days of "life" AND a photo everyday? It's sounds like a whole lot of fun but a little intimidating also to be truthful! I've always said my camera was always within reach, well it sure better be now!!! Glued to me, my new appendage! Me and my camera will have to be an inseperable duo for the next year to make this happen...:)Wow, can I really do it? We shall see but I'm sure gonna give it my best "shot"... :)