Our first tomato! I wish I had gotten a picture this morning when it was paler!

We picked it to save it from the birds!

I spent some time with the horses again today.

I didn't want to crop the fly out of this though, seeing it small, it is a bit distracting!

I have a hum dinger of a tale to tell you but it must wait awhile!
See ya tomorrow!

I won't apologize!

Whoa, I am whoooped!!
Shelby and I started off our day by joining another dog and his "parents" on their route.
Shelby sometimes has issues being kind to others, and we have found walking a mile in their shoes often helps this immensely.
I mean, she calms down as I exercise her with other dogs. It is quite amazing the change that comes over her as she realizes she doesn't have to fight to the death to survive!
We almost tripled our regular distance today.
She kept looking back at me to be sure I was still along!
What a good personal trainer.

I did tell you that the vet said she was overweight right?
And that she is on a special food and a super sonic workout program!
Well, the food is special anyway.
She has lost 3 of the 6 pounds she was told to lose.
I attribute part of that to the extreme squirrel duty she has placed on herself.
Today our weather was phenomenal, so I had to open the windows to let the fresh breeze blow through. This was her indoor squirrel station!

It afforded her a perfect view from which to agonize at the atrocities she had to witness.


I think I am gonna kind of hate it if she loses that adorable neck roll.

It is best if you can get her to look at you sideways, and it inhibits her full head turn!!

I was not gonna be "that" person...you know the kind who is kooky about her dog.
Sorry, she just is so stinkin' endearing, and she loves me...a lot!


Speaking of love....
Did you catch any of the Royal Wedding today?
More than anything it made me think about the vows that we speak when we pledge to be married to another.
For better or for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health....or until I get tired of working on these things and decide that my word to God and all these witnesses doesn't really matter.
Oh wait, that last part isn't in the vows is it??
I get to feeling pretty cynical about people taking these very serious vows, and I find that I can't really type out here what I am really thinking because it would seem hurtful or insensitive.
So, I am not going to.
But I will say this.
It is serious business to be married.
It is worse and poor and sick, and you will probably have 800 million reasons to leave your spouse when things get this way.
But, I urge you to breathe and pray and look forward to better and richer and health...because if you are really working at it, then those things will come around again.
And if they don't...

... then you just dig in and keep on working 'cause you are in this till death parts the two of ya!

I can't apologize for that, it is how I feel about it!

I thank God for the blessing of my dear husband who has done more than his fair share of putting up with my worse
and poor
and sick!!
Here's to the rest of our lives of better and richer and health...well, not sure about the health part, or the richer for that matter!
We can work on the better though for sure!!!

Uhhh, yeah

That is all I've got for ya!
Very busy day.
Took this on my way in the door, before heading out of it again!

Grins and roses

I do believe the first time I saw this particular oil painting was about 13 years ago.

I was a very young Mom, out with some ladies from Bible class visiting our teacher's home.
(She is such a lovely woman who I have had the complete joy of learning so many things from.)
I remember her speaking in class often of her dear sweet husband with a such a glow about her.
Such true love right there!!!

Anyway...
I can't remember the reason for that visit, but boy do I remember that picture all these years later.
Mommies, I am gonna talk at you for a second!
There have been huge patches of my life in which I could not pursue art work of any kind for myself, because I was pursuing survival.
Okay, I admit that may have been an overly dramatic statement!

I just mean, when you are a Mom, and that is your "job" all the other things in your life simply must get put on hold while you accomplish the task of diapering and feeding and working irregular amounts of sleep, all while being madly in love.
And we all know what LOVE does to you.
Slowly but surely, you get back time for those things in your life which you desire, and help to define you as a person.
In fact, you must get back to those things a little at a time.
You are raising your kids, but you have to keep growing yourself as well.

Back to our story for today!
Artwork has always been that for me; its a part of the definition of me!
For awhile there, that part of me was denied for a greater good.
I am not complaining, just stating the facts.
Anyway...as a young mom,( not able to pursue artwork at the time) seeing this painting allowed me to see a thing of beauty and revel in it.
Like taking a deep breath of fresh clean air.

Of course I do love home grown tomatoes so the subject caught my eye before the detail of it.
And, to be able to stand in the room with the artist and look around his home and see his other works was like a miniature art gallery visit!
I was charmed!
It wasn't only the artwork doing the charming either.
Mr. Bob, the artist (and husband of our teacher) was and is a darling gentle, gentleman!
I mean... that is really the best way I can describe him.

I have had the distinct pleasure of being able to visit with him many more times over these passing years and have loved every single visit.
It is always nice to be able to chat with another artist, another person who really sees beauty in a way similar to the way I do!


His daughter, who I have loved for even longer than 13 years, let me know that the Larkspur is blooming out at their shared property and that I should head over for a photo opportunity.
I was glad to have an excuse to visit the flowers and my friend, Mr. Bob!


He took me on a tour of their lovely garden, deftly remembering all of the 80 some varieties of roses as we meandered by them.
No, he didn't name them all...but he sure knew each name should I ask! And I have no doubt that he could have named every one. Amazing!

He knew exactly which ones I needed to take the time to smell, standing there waiting with a huge grin on his face.
A very knowing grin!!

He would point out a bloom, tell me to smell, begin that grin, watch me lean in for a whiff, wait for my response then fill that grin all the way out...knowing exactly what I had just experienced!!


I was entranced by the spent poppies, which at this time had only the pods remaining.


Of course the bees were buzzing...


...and the sun was shining, giving a glow to everything in its way.



I think that this is the larkspur. It was the most prevalent item in their garden right now.

We have been under something of a drought, which Mr. Bob let me know meant that nothing had as a strong of a color or smell.
Interesting!
And he should know, by the way, having been a longtime member of the Rose Society!
I bet he learned a thing or two from working in that flower shop back in the day as well.


I just love a gorgeous succulent, don't you??? Okay, maybe you don't but you should!!

That one is called Hens and Chicks if I am remembering correctly!!

Hens and chicks!
I feel something like a little chick a dee when I am spending time with Mr. Bob. He is quick to take me under his wing and listen to all of my crazy artist talk, nodding along because he really does "get it"!!!

Here is Mr. Bob sitting in his favorite chair with a portrait of his lovely wife that he painted a few years back!

Such delightful people! What a treasure to know them all.


I couldn't let you miss out on this grin!

He is lit up from the inside out, no doubt about it.

Just the bees

This...

...I have seen!


This...

...I have not!

A shiny black bee!!


God makes such cool stuff and keeps on surprising me with new things!!

Eggs have hatched.

What you are about to see is not pretty!!
But, it is amazing!

A few of the tiny baby birds have hatched out.
They are nothing but wrinkly pink skin and weirdly large not yet opened eyeballs.

Oh, and mouths.
They heard their momma fussing at me and woke to open their mouths widely.
(Don't click on that picture for a closer look, really...don't do it.)

Speaking of...here she is.

She took off as soon as I approached the nest.
I crept quietly and gently, breathing slowly and deeply trying to appear meek and calm.
It didn't work though.
I tried to work quickly and got out of her space, apologizing and thanking her for sharing the wonder of new life.
I don't think she heard a word I said, as she never stopped talking herself!!!

Spring time presents so many lovely babies to appreciate!

Lessons from the soccer field

I took some pictures today.
They were better 2x2 than on the big screen.
I would rather just share something else with you, okay!?!


Today, I was going through my pictures of the last soccer game of the season.
I had promised the parents to send along some of the shots and simply hadn't had time to get to editing them.
I made the time today, between loads of laundry of course.

I wanted to take the time to tell you, from my perspective about something that happened during that game.
I might be assuming too much, but I don't think so!!!

One of the boys on our team got hurt late in the second half.
Everyone saw him topple through the player guarding the goal and quickly double over, managing to keep his footing but desperately holding his knee in pain.
The agony he was in was obvious on his face.

My son was the closest to him and therefore the first to arrive to check on him.
My boy, very sensitive to others, leaned over with his teammate and grabbed onto his arm offering resistance against the gravity and pain threatening to take him down.
Soon the boy was surrounded by many of his other teammates, all of them with grave faces and confused expressions.
They weren't quite sure what to do but hung close hoping that would somehow be of help.

The coach, forgotten clipboard still gripped in his hand, was rapidly striding in to get a closer look and assess the situation.
Typically if one of our boys gets hurt it is something they can usually shake off to return to the game without much ado.

Not this time.
The coach quickened his step and arrived to take the arm my son was holding.
He wrapped his arm under the boys, and around the child's small back in hopes of helping to take the brunt of the weight off of his injured knee; my husband, the assistant coach took the other arm.

They guided him a few steps along and then suddenly something changed.

Maybe it was because I was watching so carefully, but I noticed a sudden shift in the coach.

He seemed to make a mild shake of his head, as if warding off any doubt and then he quickly swooped down and picked up that boy in one fluid movement.

I think his Daddy instinct took over and he just couldn't help himself.
It seemed like he was choosing to make the best decision for this kid, to help him get off the field and hopefully to some relief by sitting.


That's what I saw anyway.
That is what my mommy sense told me was happening.

The next shot I captured was this.
See that boy there, in the red overshirt.

Look at him really carefully.
Notice how he doesn't look worried at all.
I mean the rest of the boys on the team wore expressions of concern and confusion...why not this child???

I have a feeling it is because that injured boy is in the arms of his Daddy.

I have a feeling he knows full well what it is to be in need and have the arms of his Father comfort him.




Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

I love being a child of the King.
I also have confidence in his ability to carry whatever pain is in your life, and see you through to what is best for you.

Oh, and that little boy??
He was just fine in the end.

Strange treat

I couldn't remember where in this new house I put the Easter baskets.
This meant the Easter Bunny had to use a hand me down basket for my middle son, and a stainless steel bowl for my oldest son.

He is 14, I don't think it did anything to his psyche!!



New this year was a bottle of chocolate soda!!!
Yum, it tasted like a liquid tootsie roll.


If however, your child is holding the bottle looking curiously at the label and all you see is their hand wrapped around a dark brown glass bottle.....which happens to be the exact size and shape of a classic beer bottle....
Ahhhhh ha ha ha!!!
That Easter Bunny!

Happy Easter all.
See ya tomorrow!

Houston, I have a problem

I was in downtown Houston late last night and half the day today.

I couldn't help but take the opportunity to shoot from the top of a building into the night sky.


Nothing fantastic by any means!


This reflection stopped me and cried out for the taking.


I took lots more pictures which I won't share with you and learned something about myself again today!
If it really matters, suck up the pride and shoot on automatic!
Leave the Manual mode for when it doesn't matter or I have plenty of time to get it right!!
So many of the moments that could have really made great memory pictures for this weekend are just junk because of my stubbornness!!!
Very valuable lesson!!! Arg!!

That said, I took this one of the cuff, in haste with no thought of settings or design. It just captured my attention and I clicked.

It is a light fixture a full 2 floors straight up from where I was standing.


We read this in our daily Bible reading tonight, I hope you will take the time to read it too.
It is so beautiful, especially verses 15 and 16!
Pslams 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”

3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;

6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

7 A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.

8 You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.

9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

10 No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.

11 For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.

12 They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.

16 “With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
These shirts took me 4 hours to accomplish!!! I had planned for 2.
(Photo quickly taken with cell phone.)

These are for my middle son's soccer tournament tomorrow.
They have be close to unbeatable this season, so we felt pretty confident on our title of "The Flu".

I am running far behind and still have so much to do in the next hour.

later!!!

Orange!

Pound Cake

It is recipe day!!!!!
C.D. I am warning you ahead of time, aren't I kind??

I was out Krogering last week, shopping with my, just for me special offer coupons.
Do you get those in the mail?
I AM a Kroger Mastercard holder, so I do get special perks!
The coupon was for 1.00 off 2 Kroger brand sour creams!
There were several 16 ounce tubs with a quickly expiring date; marked down to $1.08 each.
I knew they wouldn't be used in time for tacos, or enchiladas, or nachos, or quesadillas...but I did think I could use them for a pound cake recipe that I really like!

This recipe is easy and full of simple ingredients that you probably don't have to go to the store for.

I made a printable for you here, so I probably won't specifically type out each and every specific ingredient needed in the recipe again in this post.
Just go and print it already...that is why I took the extra trouble to do that for you!!!

I have a need for a yummy, yet hearty and able to travel well, goody for this weekend; as well as dessert for next Tuesdays luncheon, and a little something tasty for my kids who I love!

(I am perplexed by the semi colon...Nicoll, someone, please give be a run down cause it has been too too long since I studied about that!)
d i s t r a c t e d again!!!!!

What I was trying to say with that was that I tripled the recipe!
And that worked out just fine!
When you are looking at my photos though, don't get all worked up that yours doesn't look like as much as mine in the bowl.
I would have quadrupled it, but I knew my mixer could only do the three!
Okay...on to the recipe.

This is a recipe from a previous edition of Joy of Cooking.

My newest book doesn't have it in there. Curious, no?
I was bummed, and just copied the recipe to one of the empty back pages before giving the old book away.

Begin by melting 5 Tablespoons of butter.
I always do this sort of thing in the microwave, but you do what floats your boat best.
I also always use my stand mixer for mixing.
If you only have a hand mixer, then that will work just fine.
My hand mixer died about 10 years into my marriage. I am not quite sure what I did in the years between hand mixer and stand mixer.
I may have to be hypnotized to get the real answers to that.

Pour that butter into the bowl of your choice.
To this add 2/3 cup sugar, 1 t. vanilla, 1/4 t. salt, 1 cup sour cream and 1 egg.

I am including this really awful picture for your perusal.

Why is it awful you ask?
The bowl and the lump of sugar are fighting for focus, causing your eye to shoot back and forth uncomfortably across the picture. Neither one takes priority over the other, making one feel a little uneasy when looking at it.
I think had the lines of the melted butter gone the other direction and gave us lines to lead us back and from one to the other it may have been okay.

Please remember at this point that you choose to be here and put up with my crazy artistic pondering. Hey, at least it is free.
Leading lines are important, the rule of thirds is important, and color is important. Get all of those worked out in one photo and manage to shoot it...and you are golden!!
Golden...hmmm, that reminds me of another phrase, The Golden Mean.
If you have any interest at all in making good photos or drawings, google that!

d i s t r a c t e d again!!!!!

I am gonna tell you right now that I love this little kitchen tool.
You must have one!

It is completely pertinent to small sifting jobs.
I never, never make my pumpkin bread without it, or this recipe either!!
I only sifted in my baking soda and baking powder. (My recipe page says to sift the flour too.)
We want NO lumps, and this is the way to achieve that.

Stir all of the required ingredients around until combined.
My recipe says to use 1 1/2 cups flour.
I have gotten to where I really miss the heartiness of the wheat flour if it isn't included, but I also didn't want it to be a big old dense yuckness.
You do what floats your boat, we have plenty of water around here!

Then came the chocolate chips. I just poured in the whole bag.

I truly, with all my heart, believe that mini chips must be used.
I don't care if you have to make an extra trip to the store and pay full price for them even though you have perfectly good extra large, dark chocolate Ghiradelli chips in your pantry....use the minis!
You know if I paid full price for them that I must be sincere.
I implore you.

Pour the batter into the greased pans and bake at 350* for awhile.


Would you just believe I did not include that in my written recipe.
Ahhhhh ha ha ha, I have no idea how long to cook these, nor did I really keep track today because I was managing laundry, and about 8 other things while they baked.
I would say be on the alert around 40 minutes.
A toothpick inserted must come out clean!!!

My kids who are used to the wheat flour all gave this a hearty thumbs up.

I may have to put a simple glaze on it to make it fly as "dessert", maybe.
I would like a lemon, or even and orange glaze to go with that miniature chocolate wonderfulness.

And that is it my friends.
I simply must leave you now and go feed The Shelbster.
It is 4 minutes past her official supper time and she is letting me know it!!!
See ya tomorrow!

Coffee and cows

Hello Blog world!!!

I have hastily taken pictures for you, but that is about it!!!
My day was packed full, I like it like that. (most of the time)

Every night I set about to grind the beans for my morning coffee.

I am not that much of a snob, that I must have it fresh ground within minutes of drinking!
I am more of a set the timer so you can wake up and not have to wait to pour kind of gal.


As I was wrestling with the settings in my dim kitchen...guess who happened by?

He kind of insisted that it was fantastic, so here it is for him.

That is a piece of a trombone, for those of you still wondering.
Which would make the passerby, my oldest child.
Who was "practicing"....

I just remembered that I never posted my longhorn pictures from the baby horse picture day!!!

I stopped by a Longhorn Ranch that had been beckoning me for some time to capture images of these serene creatures.

I was innocenty taking pictures by the fence, when a fellow pulled up and said hey!
I went into defensive mode proclaiming myself an amateur and blah blah blah about beautiful cows.
He gently waved me off and explained people took photos all the time, in fact a set of grandparents had their Flat Stanley hanging over the fence just last week.




He then asked if I wanted to get closer shots and told me to head on back up the road.

We made our way to the animal pen and as we walked he let me know that a baby had been born just yesterday.
I was shocked, after just photographing the new foals!

He kept the momma distracted while I got in for a few close ups!
I only had my 50mm lens available so I needed to get in there.


She had enough of being distracted and came in to check on her baby.


She gave a little nuzzle....


then a little glare!!!



I stepped back a bit,

as is my custom with momma's giving me the evil eye!

And that is the short version of my exciting time with the cows!
See ya tomorrow!

Not her again!

Photos of the day!!
I know you don't need another photo of Shelby, but she is just so cute sometimes!!!

She was absolutely desperate to go outside to defend the bird feeder today.

I mean just look at that face....pleading for release from captivity!


She was not thrilled about being the object of my camera's venture today, but put up with me.

For a while anyway.

So there you have more Shelbster, but I couldn't leave you with just that.

I decided to try to capture the twirling of a hula hoop!
With my big lens
inside
shooting on manual
then shooting on aperture priority
then shooting on sports mode
then to manual again.
Aye yi yi...not many good shots were accomplished, but learn I did.

I am not even really sure what I wanted...but I think it was this, except sharp and in focus without the grainy look to it.
My other lens would have been a better choice!


I didn't have all day to goof off with this, and my girl had real work to do, so a few more pictures were taken with a few more adjustments.
I never really got anything to write home about, but I did like this.

You know for color and movement!

Okay...off to spend some time being a Mom....rooms have to be cleaned to my standards and that takes some intervention!!!