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

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hope this finds everyone having a lovely 
St. Patrick's Day. I am wearing the green
and plan on cooking a mean Irish Stew
today. Enjoy the day!

Irish Stew

This Irish Stew is a little different than the 
one I posted last time. It is great served with a fresh salad and some bread. It is my go to stew. It has a rich taste and the potatoes stay together really well. Make sure you put the beef, carrots, potatoes, onions in your crock pot in that order. I hope you have the luck of the Irish with this meal.

6 slices of bacon
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon marjoram
1 bay leaf
2 cloves of garlic minced
2 1/2 pounds of beef stew meat
4 to 6 carrots, peeled and cut in 1 to 2 inch pieces
4 onions quartered
10 to 15 fingerling potatoes, washed
1 can french onion soup
1 12 ounce bottle of Guiness or any other stout beer
1 small can of tomato paste, 6 ounces

Cook the bacon in a pan till done.
Remove bacon, saving grease in pan.
Put flour, salt, and pepper in zip lock bag.
Add stew meat and shake till coated.
Brown beef cubes in bacon grease.
Place in Crock Pot when brown.
Add carrots, potatoes, and onions to crock pot in that order.
In a bowl add onion soup, tomato paste, beer, and all the spices and garlic. Mix well.
Pour into crock pot over meat and vegetables.
Cook on high for 5 to 6 hours till all is tender.
Warm the bacon. Break into pieces. Sprinkle over stew when serving.
Enjoy!

Iphone Photograph - Look Homeward Angel

Look Homeward Angel

I took this photograph with my iphone. 

I used the iphone camera but edited it

using Pic Grunger and Filter Mania. I 

believe I got both of the apps for around

$.99 each. They are fun to play with.

The photograph itself is from the cemetery

where Thomas Wolfe and his mother are

buried. When his mother died he had this

angel made for her plot. His book "Look

Homeward Angel" pretty much says it all.

The cemetery is a nice drive from my house.

It is a very unassuming place. I decided

to drive there this morning before an early

appointment. I like to take pictures in

these settings either early in the morning 

or late afternoon. Hope you enjoy. 

Thought every one could start off the

week with an angel!

St. Patrick's Day Freebies

Thought this week I would start out with some St. Patrick's Day freebies. Since it is March and all. Can you believe it? Where does the time go? 

Any way here are a few St. Patrick's Day images. I find the ones from Ms. Ellen Clapsaddle to be so cute and refreshing. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Digital Photograph - Teasel

Last week was a tough week. Thank you

all for your support and comments.

This week I have spent my time

healing and trying to gain my strength

back. Physically and Emotionally.

I need to get my house and life back in

order. I love the quote in my quote

book this week about adversity

and being torn. It made me think of 

these teasels. 

Back in the day when I lived in

"the North" these teasels grew on the

sides of the road everywhere. Occasionally

I would see these women parked along the

road with paper bags, long sleeve shirts, 

leather gloves, and large clippers. I 

would wonder "What are they doing? What

are they thinking?" You see teasels

will tear you up in a heart beat.

They will ensnare your hair, clothes, skin. Ouch.  

A few weeks later after seeing several cars and women stopped by the road I went to a church bazaar. There sat several women in their booths with the most beautiful wreaths. Yes, they were teasel wreaths. They had soaked them in water and woven beautiful things with them. I was astounded. 

So, yes we get scratched up, torn up, but through it all something beautiful can happen. As I drive along the back road's and I come across a teasel or two I think back to those days. How young I was, but the lesson was learned. Not forgotten.

Quote Book #5 - Torn

Digital Photograph - The Grey Barn

The Grey Barn

Four Letter Words - Torn

Textures for You...

Here are a couple of delicious textures for you. I hope you can use them. I really enjoy adding textures to certain photographs. They seem to make them richer. I think texture just does that. It makes everything seem a little more elegant. It gives depth.

Freebies - Kids with Pets...

Polly wants a cracker!

I love everything about this picture.

There is a quiet stillness about the two that seems right.

I do not even want to think about getting everyone on their leash, much less keeping them all untangled.

What a beauty!

Love the fox. I was blessed to have a pair who lived in my back yard at the beach. They were very loving to each other and their kits. It was so much fun to watch them head out every night to hunt. 

I bet these two had a lot of fun together.

Oh to have a Zebra... a childhood dream.

Today in honor of Mr. Smudge I thought I would do kids with pets as my freebie. I have had a lot of different pets both as a child growing up and as an adult. Each one has taught me something new about them and myself. I think they help make a home a home. So. I hope you enjoy these and please take a moment to pet, stroke, love your pet today.

Mr. Smudge...8/15/2003 to 2/18/2013

Mr. Smudge

I woke up Sunday to find Mr. Smudge bleeding from his right eye and I had a huge swollen jaw. The tumor in his nasal cavity which had caused tremendous swelling closing his right eye had again grown and was pushing against his eye and other places. Mr. Smudge was in stage 4 of Feline Nasal Lymphoma. Facial distortion and deformity. Let's just say it was not a pretty sight. Most important was that it was causing him discomfort and pain. Although he was still loving and gentle. Seeking love and attention I could tell all was not well. I called and left a message for the vets and decided just to love him to pieces on Sunday. Knowing tough decisions were in order.

My jaw was killing me and I started looking for a dentist or Oral surgeon here. Made several calls all of them telling me to go to the E.R. not till Smudge was seen. I kept wondering how Mr. Smudge could stand having his eye area so swollen. Did it hurt like my jaw?

Early Monday morning I got a call from the vets. Could I bring him in and the vet would check him out in between surgeries that morning. No problem. In Mr. Smudge went and off I went to the E.R. Both of us in pain.

At the E.R. they gave me the name of an oral surgeon checked my breathing and tried to decide what to do. I called the Oral Surgeon who could see me immediately and scooted across the road to his office.

Ugh an infected tooth and it had caused an abscess in my jaw. Due to my beautiful titanium hip I need antibiotics before any tooth work, this meant some serious stuff. Off to get a prescription filled. I have to take antibiotics for a few days before anything can be done.

The vet calls just about this time and tells me Mr. Smudge is not doing to well. The tumor is growing and starting to push his other eye the other way. This is bad. I decide the poor thing deserves better. I make an appointment to end his misery for later that afternoon. Can I come in earlier and just hang out with him. Please. Of course.

Home to take the first round of antibiotics, lay down for an hour, then gather Mr. Smudge's towel, and a box of kleenex, also his steroids they have been giving him to reduce the swelling. Some other poor soul may be able to use them.

Off to the vets to say goodbye to my big boy. When I get to the vets everyone is so nice. Mr. Smudge is sitting in the middle of their back room enjoying the attention and love they are bestowing on him. They move us to a back room so we can say our goodbyes. I think he knows as he licks my hand and rubs against me. I remember the day he was born in my closet. What a joyful and miracle filled day that was. The time comes and there is no more to say except I love you. Thank you for your love. He is gone. No more silent suffering.

I go home and cry - I am a puddle.

Several days later I have my surgery. The infection is clearing up. My jaw is looking better. I am missing my kitty. Usually he would be comforting me. I wonder how much pain he must have been in. Did I wait too long? Less than a month since his diagnosis and he is gone.

I believe we have a responsibility to these animals we are guardians of. Not to let them suffer, to give them the best care we can, and most important to love them. I think I have done all of those things. Yet, the loss is still there. The missing is hard...the tears are still flowing. He is still gone.