Four Letter Words - Pain

A Couple of Textures for you...

Here are a couple of textures for you. I had to share these. I love the little animal prints on them. I took these from some photographs I took of a dumpster at this little convenience store out in the middle of nowhere in Tennessee. I figure some possum or raccoon made regular trips to the store also.

Digital Photograph - The Fence Line

The Fence Line

I find fence lines almost as fascinating as

doors and even gates. They are a way of keeping people and animals out. Fences and gates you can usually see through to the other side. They are physical and mental barriers. They announce to the world "stay out". Maybe that is why I am always trying to see beyond them, go beyond them. 

This fence line I found in Virginia. It was along a farm that someone had started to restore. It was as if they had just set their hammers down and gone in to have a mid-day meal. 

Digital Photograph - Chocolate Cake

Thought I would shared the Chocolate Cake I have been lusting for since I ate it last week. I am happy to say that I have fulfilled my craving. Yes, it was as good the second time around.
I guess you know what I will be doing this weekend - working off the chocolate. I must say that I really enjoy working it off. Just being able to get out there and enjoy the day makes it seem so much more than work.

Happy Valentine's Day to All

Happy Valentine's Day to All!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with Chocolate, flowers, gifts, and most important - that it is a day you get to share with those you love and that love you.

Roses for You - Digital Photograph

Some beautiful roses for you.

Second Batch of Freebies - Couples

Notice his white forehead. He took his hat off for this picture. She is very pretty!

I met and married the father of my boys in Ann Arbor Michigan. This one struck a chord.

He is dressed up so fancy for her. I love the tie and watch chain.

He is so relaxed. I bet they dance well together. I can see them laughing.

This is unusual in that she is sitting and he is standing. Usually the woman is standing.

This week I thought I would do two rounds of Freebies. I love the them of couples. I always wonder what attracted this couple to each other. Some seem so bored. Others tense. Rarely do you see two happy people in these types of photos. I hope away from the camera they found some joy together.

Digital Photograph - A Red Barn

A Red Barn

This Week's Freebies - Couples

I like the chair he is sitting in
and the way she is holding his hat.

Here is the same chair.
Look at those white socks!

I believe this was taken around
the first World War.

They both have those scary blue eyes.

They look so young!

Here are a few couple photographs for you. Since we are celebrating Valentine's Day this week they seemed appropriate. Hope everyone gets to spend Valentine's Day with someone they care about. I plan on eating a lot of Chocolate and enjoying the day.

Digital Photograph - Locked Up or Locked Out

Locked Up or Locked out

Quote Book #3 -

Digital Photograph - One Door...

One door closes ... One door opens...

Four Letter Words - Past

Digital Photograph - A Stream

A Stream

My road trip with my cousin through the

Shenandoah Valley to Washington D.C. was

really fun. We started out on a warm day

and saw lots of snow and beautiful scenery.

Our visit with my Mother, brother, and

nephews was really nice. We visited, I got

my hair cut by my favorite hairdresser/Noi,

we cooked lots of good food, and 

generally did the girl's week thing.

Unfortunately, coming home was not so much

fun. My poor Smudge was still sick after

spending a week or so at the vets. He had

developed a lump over his eye. 

Time for a different vet. So almost two weeks after being diagnosed with a cold. Smudge had to have surgery, a biopsy, and fluid drained from the large bump.

Long story short he has lymphoma of the nasal and sinus cavity. We have brought him home. He looks pitiful. Thank goodness he has know idea what is going on. He is on steroids to get the lump from getting bigger and to deal with the swelling. Our fat boy has limited time with us.

His Mom/Miss Kitty and I have been crying and wailing in our own way. She knows something is not right. I am dealing with the knowledge of how sick he is. Trying to make everyone as comfortable as I can.

Adjustments are being made. Love is being handed out in large amounts. Tears are still being shed. So, this is why I have not posted in awhile. I have been dealing with things life hands out. I keep telling myself that Smudge has only known love. That something good has to come out of all of this. Right?

Road Trip...

Renault

Just a quick "hello" to all. I will be

back later in the week. I am off on

a road trip with my cousin. I

will check in along the road with

some freebies, etc. for all.

Until then I hope you all have

a great week.

Martin Luther King Jr.Day

Digital Photograph - A Red Barn

A Red Barn

It has been a year...

Arlington Cemetery at Christmas

Last Thursday - January 17th was the one year anniversary of interring my father at Arlington Cemetery. The year of firsts is over. Yet the loss is still sharp lying underneath the surface. I have learned a lot about myself an others this year. I have learned a lot about grief and what loss does to you. But, most of all I have been thankful that somehow I was blessed with such wonderful parents. I could not have picked a better father. He was everything a father should be. Kind, loving, full of integrity. He was never afraid to do the right thing or to show us what was right. He loved my mother and treated her with the utmost respect. He was a POW, a war hero, a true patriot. He did not just talk the talk he walked it every day. I am so blessed. My mother has been so strong. After 68 years of friendship, love, and marriage I know it has not been easy. Here again she has shown us the way and I thank her for that. 

This is a photo of Arlington Cemetery at Christmas. The wreaths on the grave are so touching. The large sculpture in the background in the Air Force Memorial. Daddy was a pilot so to look out over this makes us all happy. If you turn the other way you can see Lee's house up on the hill. It is truly a lovely spot. Most of all I am so honored that Daddy is with all those other men and women who served their country.  

Let me introduce you to Mr. Smudge

Yesterday I woke up and went to feed the cats. Mr. Smudge my very large male cat did not look so hot. His right eye was swollen and he was a little more vocal than usual. Off to the new vets we went. 

By the time we got to the vets his eye was looking better but Mr. Smudge or Fat Boy as we sometimes call him was still looking pitiful.[We have to take him out of the top of the cage as he is too fat to go out the door.]

Out of the cage and on the examination table we have been weighed and our temperature taken. Yes! we have lost 3 1/4 pounds, down to 21 and 3/4 pounds. No, we have a temperature. Still feeling good about the weight loss and I like the new vet.

The happy patient after the medicine in the eyes, and the oral medication administered. Diagnosis - a cold, with a little wet sounding chest. A few days of meds and we should be okay.

Mr. Smudge says pay the bill and take me home I missed breakfast. So, that is how my day started yesterday.

Before any one gets upset with me about his weight. He has always been a big cat. He had to stay with one of my sons for a year and a half where he got way too much food and not enough exercise. When I got him and the girls back Mr. Smudge went on a diet. You have to be careful with them when they lose weight. It has to be a gradual thing or they can get really sick. We are quite please with the weight loss and are working towards more.

Thought I would share Mr. Smudge with you today. We all are readjusting being back together. It was really odd not having a pet when I was traveling. Then finally getting to a point where I had unpacked enough and no one would get hurt here. Kitties like to play in and around boxes. I think every one is starting to finally feel like we have come home.

Digital Photograph - Before the Storm

Thought you might like to see what a storm looks like rolling into the mountains. I took this yesterday around three o'clock in the afternoon. It was rainy and the temperatures were dropping. We did not get any snow where I was, just a lot of rain.I am sure if the temperatures had been lower we would have gotten a lot of snow. Friday/today was warm and sunny. The chili was great even if we did not get any snow. 

This Week's Freebies - Tin Types

I love her scarf and she has the longest fingers. Very pretty.

Pretty little girls in their plaid dresses!

I liked this relaxed photograph of this gentleman.  The books on the table are there to imply that he can read. A big thing for someone in those days. Something we take for granted now.

Aw families. The apple does not fall far from tree in this family. Love the gloves.

Sisters so sweet. Love their matching dresses, haircuts and the little doll.

She looks a bit stern in her beautiful dress. Again holding a book, probably a Bible, telling the world she is educated.

This week I have been cleaning up a bunch of my Tin Types. I thought I would share a few with you. It is a hodge podge of images this week. Families, girls, men, etc. I think just the fact that they are all Tin Types is what holds them together. Please notice that a few are in fancy frames, some are not. I think it was what you could afford and also what has survived through the years. I have found them in some pretty strange places myself. As always I hope you enjoy these and have fun using them in your art, etc.