Freebies - Families

Families. Families come in all shapes and

sizes. Families with both Mom and Dad.

Families with Fathers and Mothers, sisters

and brothers. Families with all boys or

all girls, families with just mothers or

just fathers. We do not pick these families

they are given to us. Families are a gift.

In hard times we turn to family, in good

times we turn to families. Celebrate your

family. 

I know that all families are not like my family.

However, I like to think that most families

are happy, loving, and take care of each other.

When our families don't I like to think that

we make new families with our friends 

and the people we love. 

Families are complicated. Very Complicated.

We all need a family to love us and support

us in the things we do. I have found that I

am blessed with the people in my family.

Please take a moment to appreciate

and tell those who make up your

family that you love them. 

Digital Photograph - Still Standing

Still Standing

Quote Book #7 - I Choose Life

Digital Collage - Choose Life

The background for this digital collage came

from a challenge from the blog Mind Wide Open.

She has a monthly challenge and provides 

these backgrounds. I altered a photograph of

a young Appalachian girl. She reminds me that

the world is full of hope and promise, pain

and despair all rolled into one. 

The events of the last 24 hours in Boston

have once again pointed out to the world

the evil in man's heart and the good in

his soul. People running to help, shedding

their clothes to stop the bleeding, risking

their lives to help strangers, human

beings. 

We are a strong nation. We are willing to go

that extra mile for our fellow man. We feel

love, joy, peace in our hearts. Others can

not erase it with their terror and hate.

We are Americans - proud and strong. Standing

together through thick and thin. We will

survive and grow only stronger. I am so proud

that I am an American.

On a side note - I just received an email asking if I thought people in other countries would nor stop and help. Of course they would, in fact many of the people running this marathon were from other countries. I am sure that there are people in every corner of this world that would run toward the chaos to help. We have seen it happen before, all over the globe. 

Today I speak of the courage and strength of those in Boston. When something like this happens we need to find the good. It is comforting to realize that basically most people are just going about their lives trying to love and do the best for those they care about. Whether it is here in the United States or somewhere else on this planet.

We have seen a lot of tragedy/terror in the past. Tragedy/terror caused by people who do not understand or care about our way of life , who we are, and that we are Americans. Terror events are about trying to create terror and crushing our spirit. Yesterday did not accomplish that. Our spirit is strong.

Four Letter Words - Life

Digital Photograph - An American Farm

An American Farm

Freebies - Women in Hats

Every hat needs a feather

Or some fur...

It is amazing that she can see
 with that hat on.

More feathers! Amazing she can
 hold her head up.

I would have to strap that
hat on my neck to hold
it from falling off.

Quite a confection...

The Zetti outfit. This was quite
the look! You could see her
coming for miles. Even her
shoes match. Wow.

This week to celebrate Spring's arrival I

thought I would share some photographs of

women with hats. Their Spring bonnets. 

I personally love hats. I have a huge 

collection of straw hats, 1920's hats,

velvet hats, etc. I even like to wear hats.

The only problem is that they slide off

my head.

Keeping a hat on my head is very hard.

Maybe it is the shampoo we use. Cleaner

hair. I just know that half the hats

these women are wearing would be flying

off my head before I got half way out the

door. Even using hat pins.

Funny story... When my sister got married

she had all her bridesmaids wear straw hats

with ribbons on them. As we got dressed I

tried to explain to her and my Mom that 

this hat would not stay on my head. They

insisted that I wear the hat. 

It was an outside wedding, formal, string

quartet, a windy day. Yes, in the middle

of the ceremony my hat flew off, rolling

around in the wind, several kind men went

chasing after it. My hat was caught and

returned. The vows were completed. My

sister was furious. For years. The reception

was beautiful. My bad.

Quote Book #6 - Wild

Digital Photograph - Metal Discs

Metal from the recycling place

I have had a very busy few weeks. My son who has been helping me with my move, painting, remodeling, hanging shelves, emptying out my four storage units. Organizing and unpacking about 1200 of the 1400 or so boxes, getting my yard and garage organized and set up, moved back to the beach.Getting him packed and moved was very bitter sweet. We knew it was temporary but it turned into a really good experience for us both.

I think the first time your kids leave home

as kids. This time it was having an adult

staying here and helping. It was a lot of 

fun. We took a week and finished most of the

projects I had planned. Reorganized my boxes.

One of the things we did was take all the stuff we had torn out,shelving,yard debris, old pots the previous owner had left,to the

dump. Oh my!

The same day we took all the cans and recycled metal I had been saving. [fireplace screen and tools that were beyond using,all the old doorknobs, lamp parts, etc.]Have you

ever been to a metal recycling place? Well

if you haven't you should. It is a graveyard

of all kinds of stuff. Washers, old tubs, cars, car parts, parts of I do not know what.

It was an experience and we came home with

some money.

After moving him to the beach I decided to

see the rest of the brothers. I stopped and

had dinner with one of my sons that evening.

Then home, the next day a little trip farther

into the mountains for dinner with two more

sons. Then home. Massive cleaning and

reorganizing has been consumed me since then.

I am going to be completely moved in and settled by May. [keep your fingers crossed].

The end of March I spent at my Mother's in Virginia celebrating her birthday with my sister, brother, and nephews. My mother is amazing. Had a fabulous time. My sister and I got back just in time to spend Easter with a couple of my boys. Joy.

Four Letter Words - Wild