My Pappaw

I almost skipped a day on the blog, but then decided to get off my duff and go take some pictures! I headed down the road to my grandparents' house. I've taken pics for the blog down there before, but there's always a lot going on down there. I got some of my Pappaw that I'm pretty happy with. I just wish I would have gotten some eye contact...but I tend to get better pics when he doesn't know the camera is aimed at him. He spends most of his day...every day...out at his barn with the horses. He was just getting ready to head into the house for the evening when I got these. I'm also throwing in one of Riley on the old tire swing.

Clouds

I got a phone call from my friend Jamie up in Alaska today. She's going to join the photo-a-day challenge! I've added a link to her blog on the list to the left. <----- So check out her blog if you get a chance.

It was while I was sitting out on the front porch talking to Jamie that I saw these clouds go sailing by. We had BEAUTIFUL weather here today. Short-sleeve-and-no-jacket weather. I wasn't sure I'd get a pic out of my camera today as I forgot to charge the battery. I did, however, manage to get this one. By the time I got the camera out there, the clouds had scooted on past the setting sun and were no longer as prettily colored as I had wanted to capture. Oh well....it's my photo of the day!

Wind

It never ceases to amaze me just how windy it gets this time of year (or just how quickly the wind starts). March is definitely coming "in like a lion". I don't mind it. I love to listen to the wind, and that's what I'm hearing right outside my window as I work today. Mom worked in the yard, and the kids played in the sand pile and rode 4-wheelers. I took a break from work to enjoy a bit of the outdoors myself. I took along the camera to see what I could come up with for the blog and decided to go with the "wind" theme. I tried to capture the tire swing in motion. It didn't turn out exactly as I wanted, but it'll do in a pinch!

Sizzle!

It was another busy day around here today--working on birthday party invitations for Riley's 5th birthday....working a bit....a trip to town (and forgetting what I went for in the first place!)...and then grilling steaks with Adam and Shanon for dinner. Not the best pic...but the steaks were delicious!

Heaven On Earth...

...that pretty much sums up Riley's day! Mr. Wayne delivered a huge dump truck load of sand first thing this morning, and Riley was in Heaven with a capital "H"! Then Ms. Tara called and asked us to meet her and the kids for lunch at Burger King (with the play place!). Cousin Hayden was ready to head back to the sand pile with Riley when we got home in the afternoon, and uncle Adam taught the boys how to "surf" down the side of the sand mountain on the boogie board. LOL. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures or video of that....but I'm sure it won't be the last time they break out the boogie board. After all, uncle Bill was working today and hasn't gotten to try it. It's been a busy day, and a good one.

I'm Cheating!

I took this photo back in October, but I did edit it tonight! It's one of my favorites of downtown. So...I'm kinda halfway cheating, but in my defense I'm not feeling well and it's been an extremely long week. I'm going to bed early tonight (if you call 11 p.m. early!). Goodnight!

Blue Skies...

with big, white, puffy clouds. The kind of clouds we used to lay under as kids and try to identify shapes. Remember those days? I'm always reminded of them when I see skies such as these. Good times!

Chores.

Riley was given a chore to do today. Granddaddy asked him to bring some firewood up onto the back porch, and Riley very happily obliged. Of course, my kiddo is no dummy. He waited until cousin Hayden came over to play and got him to help! Coincidentally, we just watched the old Disney film Tom and Huck this weekend. I have to wonder if Riley didn't borrow this idea from Tom Sawyer's fence painting episode?!

Look at this cute little rear!

They've spotted a spider.

Just one more piece should do it!

Buddies!

YIKES! It's Me!

There may be more going on in this photo than you initially realize. The photo is a reflection in an old window has been taken out of a house and leaned against the outside wall. You can see the cedar siding of the house through the glass, the glass panes in the window, the weeds, and a reflection of....well, me (on a J.D. Gator).


Riley and I went out riding for a bit today, as it's been a while since he has been out riding his 4-wheeler. It was too chilly to ride long, but we did manage to get down to the old house where my dad was working. That's where I spotted the window for this pic.

What's For Dinner?

Sunday is a day of catch-up work for me, and today was no exception. I did, however, cook some french onion soup. The ingredients made for a pretty boring photo, but they turned into a very yummy dinner!

Sweet Baby (doll!)

I've never been the baby doll type. Not even as a little girl. I was the tom boy who liked to play with the boys. I liked motorcycles and baseball. Now, as a grown woman (and a mother of one little boy), what use do I have for baby dolls?! None! But this one was just too darn cute to pass up! I "adopted" her on our way home from North Carolina last weekend. Isn't she precious?! She's just the BEST baby...never cries...never wets (or worse!)...and I don't even have to feed her! LOL.

We were going to go to the park with some friends today, and I had every intention of taking the camera. However, plans changed and we just hung out here at the house with Judy and Micah. I didn't even get the camera out! Laziness, I tell ya! So, at 10 p.m., in the absence of even a tiny little ray of natural light, a very still subject was required. Riley was out of the question. And there sat my sweet little baby; so pretty, so quiet and so still!!

Storyboard

I made this storyboard today for my mom. This is the same house from yesterday's post.

THIS OLD HOUSE

I took this photo while in NC last weekend. It's an old house that my grandfather used to live in as a boy/young man. We fully expect to find that it has finally fallen down each time we go "home" for a visit, but it keeps hanging on. I went out at sunset on Saturday afternoon and took some photos of the old house, and on a whim decided to go for a "haunted" house kind of look. Exposed for the sunset and clicked the shutter. I kinda like it. Pretty spooky, huh?

I am really neglecting this blog lately, but real life has really interfered this week. I'm dealing with some stuff related to my job and just haven't had time to take any new pics (with yesterday being the only exception!). This weekend doesn't look any better, but I'm gonna try to get the camera out anyway. Wish me luck!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I didn't get around to the last batch of NC photos today, but I did take some photos of Riley decorating cookies for Valentine's Day.

Yes, Even More Pix From NC!

Yep, you guessed it....more pics from NC! I have one more batch to go through, and that will be all of the NC pics. I promise!

My mom likes the photo of the barn and may want to have it enlarged. So don't be shy! Let me know which version you like the best (if you like them at all!). Pretty please?!

More Pictures from North Carolina.

I edited some more of the North Carolina photos today, so I think I'll share a few on the blog.

A couple of pics of my Pappaw's old Farmall tractor.

My Nanny's house.

The view of Enon Baptist Church from the cemetary where my Pappaw is buried. I sure wish that power pole wasn't there.

Make-up Day!

Brrr! I sure am glad to be back to a little warmer weather. We had a good trip and enjoyed seeing our family, but it sure was cold! I'm gonna post a couple of pics and then get outta here! I'm still trying to make up some work before the new work week starts tomorrow!

The first photo is of my Nanny's kitchen. It's a tiny little kitchen, but man can she cook up a storm in there! She had the most delicious country cookin' waiting on us when we got there Friday night. It was, as Rachel Ray would say, "Yummo!". No one in the world can cook green beans like my Nanny can, and this comes from a girl who doesn't really like green beans! She always has a mess of beans for me whenever I make it up that way. Thanks Nanny! I love you!

The second photo is just of some "junk" I found hanging up in my Pappaw's shed. It was an old set of box springs that were hanging from the ceiling of all places! Kinda looks like "x" and an "o" in there, doesn't it? Appropriate since Valentine's Day is coming up! LOL.

I have more photos to go through from my trip, and I'll probably post some tomorrow, or even over the next couple of days as I get a chance to go through them. I'm playing catch-up with my work so I probably won't have a chance to go out taking new photos for a couple of days AND be able to go through the photos from this weekend!

"See" you tomorrow!

Pulling Out The Reserves!

I'm leaving in a matter of hours, and I have errands to run before then. So, a quick update this morning. No, I didn't take these this morning, so technically I'm cheating, but I did take them this week!!

More scenic shots, albeit not very good ones! I love these old dead trees that are out in the marsh. Too bad there wasn't a great sunset to really set them off, as they're prettiest like that.

A Quick One For Today!

Today has been both busy and stressful. It started with locking my keys in the car at the office...and it just got better from there! LOL. I'm trying to do laundry, work, pack for a trip, wash my hair, etc., etc., etc. So, I didn't have much time to go hunting for a photo today. Instead, I opted for a photo of my little man watching his most favorite program, SpongeBob.

As I am leaving tomorrow morning for a weekend trip, I'm not sure about updating the blog for the next couple of days. If I can work out a way to post the pics, I will. Otherwise, I will post the photos when I get home. At any rate, I will be taking the photos, and I am hopeful of getting some that are worthy to share....otherwise you'll just have to look at crappy ones! LOL.

TOP 5

"Ok, this is a challenge! Are you up to it? Take photos of five essential items in your every day life. Two things, no photos of people! Then give a quick blurb as to why it's part of you daily walk.There is no deadline here, this is just an opportunity for you to grab your cameras and go! Be as creative as you would like to be. To those who have not taken their cameras off of auto, I challenge you to do so with this challenge (You can do it!). Have fun!"

The above paragraph is a challenge posted on a scrapbooking web site that I belong to (www.srapjazz.com). A fellow member posted it as a challenge in the photography section. I completed the challenge today. My photos are as follows:

My toothbrush. Who, really, is going to argue that this isn't an essential item?

My computer (for work and leisure) and transcriber (for work...which sort of pays the bills...and lets me stay at home with Riley every day!)

Faith, Hope and Love....'nuff said!

Little boy toys....to represent the little boy that is near and dear to my heart, my Riley.

Believe it or not, not everyone recognizes the value of a glass of good sweetened ice tea! I'm not one of them!

What five items would you take photos of? Accept the challenge and then share the photos with me!