Quote #19 - Good Heart

Knee High by the Fourth of July - Digital Photogrpah

Cornfield

It has been awhile friends since I posted. I have had life going on like crazy. I got into a funk right around Father's Day. It was our family's first Father's Day without Daddy. It was hard. I went home to Virginia to be with my Mother, sister, and brother. We all decided all these "firsts" are emotionally draining. We all miss Daddy.

I will say Arlington Cemetery was beautiful. The day was sunny, the air was crisp. It reminded me of Victorian times when the family would go on Sunday to clean the graves, set up flowers, and picnic with their families. This was a time to pass on family history and stories to younger family members. Arlington Cemetery was full of families. Full of flowers and balloons, mementos to loved ones, and a lingering sadness and loss. As my Mother said later "We got through that."

I drove through the Shendoah Valley on the way home later that week. I took hours going down backroads exploring and visiting small towns along the way home. I met several interesting people and stopped in some wonderful shops. It is a beautiful part of our country. I look forward to spending more time there.

This wonderful field of corn and red barn I took outside of Lexington Virginia. You can see the Blue Ridge mountains in the background looking very blue that day. Several weeks earlier - Memorial weekend - I had stopped and the entire place hummed with the sounds of Cicadas[I hope I spelled that right]. For miles and miles you could hear them. This time they were gone. The corn is definitely going to be knee high by the fourth!

 

Time...

Mountain Stream

Time is something we all have and at times take for granted. The longer I am on this planet the more I am exposed to examples of this is my own life and others. I had a reminder of this last night and again today.

It is hard for me to believe that I have posted over 1500 times to my blog. I was shocked when I looked at my blog posts numbers today. How much fun I have had with my blog came to mind. Most of all how many wonderful people I have met and friends I have made.

I would like to do something special for all of you. Some type of give away. So, let me think about this for a little bit and my next post will outline what I have come up with. Till then, thanks for being here reading and commenting on my blog. 

Four Letter Words - Time

Quote #18 - Time

Digital Photograph - A Rose

A Rose

I found this rose at my Mother's house when I was visiting. Even though it was on it's last leg it seemed so beautiful to me. Faded and tired. Just a shell of it's former self. Full of memories.

Advertising Freebies

Incredibly cute. Love how they use the spool of thread for a drum.

Beautiful seed packet. The flowers are amazing and the typography is lovely.

Beautiful

I love everything about this. The child, the palette, the soft colors, the typography. Yum.

Simply gorgeous in everyway!

Very cute.

This is my favorite, but I have a thing for owls.

This week for my freebies I thought I would give you some samples of products available way back when. I love the graphics that they used to advertise the different products, from flower seed to mustard. When I go to the grocery store or drug store today I am so unimpressed with the packaging of the products I am buying. I want glass instead of plastic. I want bold graphics. I want interesting typography. Is any one out there listening?

Digital Photograph - Virginia Barn - For Ann in CA

Virginia Barn

On the way home from my Mother's house this past weekend I took an hour or so to get off the Interstate and take some pictures.  I long to get unpacked so I can get out and roam some more. The past year or so has taught me that I am a wanderer.

Virginia has some beautiful farms and farmland once you get away from the city. There is so much rich history there. I ran across this beauty near Lexington Virginia. I stopped to get a little gas and the sound of the cicada's was
absolutely deafening. The sound went on for miles. I decided it was a sign that I needed a break, rolled down the windows and got out my camera and smile. Here is one of the barns I found.I am wondering how that hole got in the barn. It is in such an odd place. Any thoughts? 
p.s. this barn is for Ann in CA. Hope you enjoy this one
dear friend.

Remember ... Memorial Day

Let us not forget, today of all days, all of those that have sacrificed so much so that we have this most precious thing - freedom.  Memorial Day has always been an important holiday to my family. A day to honor those who have given so much for us. I want to thank them and their families for all that they have sacrificed for me and my family.

Today is my family's first Memorial Day without Daddy. He was my hero in so many ways. He was a fighter pilot in World War II. Shot down on D Day. A prisoner of War. Came home and workded hard for his family always finding time to volunteer where he was needed, civic organizations, the church, etc. He worked tirelessly to get the World War II memorial in Washington D.C. built. A husband, a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather, a much loved man. A good man. Thank you, and all of those like you who fought so valiantly so that I have all the freedoms I have today. You are all extraordinary.

Last week Mom and I were able to go to Arlington Cememtery to visit Dad. That is a place where you are able to get quite the visual effect of how many are laid to rest who have given everything for you and I. It is a humbling place. They bury 17 hero's a day there. I do not know what else to say except, Thank You.

Quote #17 - Hero

Four Letter Words - Hero

Digital Photoraph - A Red Barn



A red barn

Home again, Home again. I had a great time in D.C. with my Cousins and family. So nice to see my Mother, my nephew and Brother. I really enjoyed showing my Cousins Washington D.C. It is such a wonderful and beautiful city. Spending time with my Mother was a gift. Hope everyone had a great week!

Vegetable & Fruit Collage #4

Collage Sheet #4

Here is the last of the collage sheets I have made for you. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed making them. We made it to D.C. late last night. It was a nice trip. We made several stops to eat and stretch out legs. My two young cousins - Kirsten and Connor- are turning into just nice people. They have a real love and respect for each other and their manners make me swoon. Yes Ma'am, Thank you are wonderful to hear. Their mom - Kelley - has done just a great job raising them. What a treat to spend time with them. I can not wait to see the wonder and magic of our nation's capital through their eyes. Hope every one is having a great weekend!



Spotted in the mountains...



Spotted this little lady with a few friends up in the mountains. Looks like it is almost time for a haircut.



Always time for a little antiquing. Found this bird house that will look perfect in  my backyard.

Found these three lovely rusty wheels at a neat antique place. I think I might have to stop on the way home and pick them up if they are still there. They might make nice additions to my flower beds.

I spot alot of these gates up in the mountains. I like the promise they hold of what is beyond the closed gate.

Cooking Hints 16-21

Vegetable Collage Sheet #3 - My Favorite

Collage Sheet #3

This is my favorite collage sheet so far. I like the top image on the left. The Blue Lake fruit out of Winter Haven Florida. Not far from my Grandmother's house and where my Mother and Father grew up. Many warm afternoon's my brother, my grandmother and I spent fishing there. Funny how something as simple as a fruit label can conjure up memories.

I am off to D.C. for a week of family fun. Today I heard from my yard guy's Steve and Steve, that there were three black bears spotted in the neighborhood. One loner and a mom with a cub. The loner was seen a few houses down from me and the mother and cub a few houses up from me. I am not quite sure how to react to that news.  I will not be filling my bird feeder before I leave. 

A few years ago we had a young male bear at the house at the beach. He had settled in after a swim along the Intercoastal Waterway into our neighborhood. He was an active bear who took up residence behind my house for a while. He was a musky smelling guy who had a thing for coffee. 

Any how, hopefully by the time I get back the three bears will be gone. I need to work in my yard, start my garden! 

Digital Photograph - The Broken Window

The Broken Window

I was lucky enough to be take a few pictures while wandering around the mountains of this mill I stumbled upon. It is on the grounds of a private school for girls. Girls who are learning to put their lives together.

Cooking Hints 11-15

Digital Photograph - Signs

I have not done a sign in quite a while. I was going through my Sign photograph folder tonight and ran across this one. It was taken in the mountains of North Carolina in a little town near where several of my boys live. It was pouring rain. I liked it so here you go.

This week...I have opinions

14 foot mustache

Every once in a while you have a week that is filled with so much weirdness that when you come up for air you just have to shake your head. It makes my life seem so normal and downright boring. Ahh happiness. I feel like I want to comment.

First of all who grows a mustache that is 14 feet long? Ewe,Ewe,Yuk. Some guy in India and he think that is attractive. For all you men out there  - It is not.

For a minute I thought this guy was Sasha Cohen doing one of his prank things. I can not believe those two women are actually going to touch it...

Then there is the poor wife of the Laker's player who gets death threats on twitter because her husband missed a shot. She has to block 500 people from twitter because of the mean threats and agressive comments. Wow. Scary. Death really? Somebody is definitely way too serious about a ball game. It is a game. Enough said.

Onward to Georgia where the poor girl who went Zip lining - lost her leg due to flesh eating bacteria, can still smile and say "Let's do it" when told about her latest need to lose her foot and  fingers. Can anyone say Courage? She is getting alot of prayer from me, along with her supportive family. God bless them.

I am still wondering what has happened to Gavin Smith the Universal Studio Executive and ex USC basketball player with the beautiful family. Where did he drive off to? in purple pajama pants? What is the rest of the story? Where are you?

I hope this story has a happy ending.

Now let's talk about Jenny McCarthy posing again 20 years later for Playboy. When your 19 you can explain it away to your kids that you were young and foolish, when your 39 you have a hard time explaining to your son - "I am old and desperate?" How embarrassing for her family.

Then the Kennedy's in the news - another death. A suicide. Leaving 4 children motherless. So sad, so troubled, a beautiful, smart, talented woman...I can only shake my head and wonder...so much tragedy for one family to bare.

In Japan, the little penguin who escaped the zoo a week or so ago shows up swimming around in Tokyo Bay. It seems very happy eating fish and coming ashore to sleep at night. Everyone is hoping the radiation will not kill him. He or she is free - sounds like the trade off is worth it here.

Moving on, in Kansas 200 Buffalo escape. Apparently, they were off like a shot, traveled 5 counties and into another state before you could say hamburger. The police said "they are really fast" - they can travel up to 35 to 64 miles and hour, can jump 6 feet in the air and 7 feet to the side. Run, buffalo, run. May be one or two will elude capture and spend their days in peace. One can only dream.

Then, there is the girl who works at Goodwill Industries who found $14,000.00 in a box of Christmas ornaments. She turned it in[honesty should be applauded]and they are trying to find the owner. Also, the guy who left the diamond engagement ring in an old jacket and donated the jacket forgetting the ring was in the pocket. Someone found quite a surprise in that old jacket. I don't know about you but, it makes me want to take a spin at our local Goodwill industries store.

Last but not least - Hey Rhode Island I have a game I need some money to develop. It is a game we use to play all the time when I was a kid. I just need a little help making a virtual reality digital game of it. Please give me about half of what you gave Mr. Curt Schilling. I know I can market it to somebody. I promise to pay you back - and for some reason if I can not - I know your tax payers will not mind paying for a sweet old southern girl [like me] debts. Pretty please?

Some days I just feel like the world has gone a little mad. How was your week?

Now I understand why the fence is so high if they can jump 6 feet into the air.

Vegetable and Fruit Collage Sheet #2

Collage Sheet #2

Here is number two of the collage sheets. Hope you are enjoying these. Eat something healthy today!