Frogs and Fungus!

I grabbed my camera first thing this morning...

Okay, that is not entirely true.
You know what I did first right.
You should know me well enough by now, that I really don't have to tell you what I did first, first thing this morning.
Though...there are new readers who have jumped on for the ride...so it isn't really fair to them to assume anything.

Somebody...please tell the new folks what I do first, first thing in the morning!!!

I need to google how to write a sentence and then cross it out...I like the look of that, but don't know how to do it.

Whoa....distracted as usual.
So, anyway...this little threesome was awaiting me this morning.


I have to say...be careful what you ask for.
I mean I was bemoaning the fact that I missed the previous fungus and was so elated to find more.

These 3 hooded guys were a welcome treat, but this stuff.....

....eeeeeewwwwwwwwww!!!!!!
Do you see that disgusting sea anemone-like fungus there.
Ugh!!! Even grosser in person, trust me!!!
My dear husband got to be the hero and clear it all out from beneath the peppers and some of the tomatoes!

After returning home from church I changed clothes and slipped into the kitchen to begin my lunch prep.
My husband had gone outside to enjoy his hard work in the back yard, but returned quickly.
He grinned at me and said "You need to grab your camera and come outside with me right now!!!"
Let me tell you when he says jump I say how high!!!
Ahhhhhh ha ha ha.
Well, I do strive to be a submissive wife, but that isn't exactly what I mean.
I know that if he sees something that he thinks I will really love then it must be something fantastic!!!
I deftly sprinted over to my camera bag, gracefully drawing the camera from its depths.
You know because I am all about sprinting and grace!

He hustled me outside anxious to share the treasure of his discovery.

Tara...turn away!!

It was a lovely green frog!!!

Do you remember this same type of frog from so long ago?
I do!
It was the object that assured me that my photography needs had gone beyond the ability of my camera.

Now my camera has gone beyond the ability of me...but I am catching up.


This fantastic fellow was clinging (in what looked to be a very prayerful position) to one of the plastic connectors holding up a hanging basket.



I personally really enjoy frogs!!

Their cute buggy eyes and constant grimacing grin.


This one has the shimmering gold eyes with touches of that same gold in unexpected places on the rest of his body.
Oh and the stripe!!!

I can't get over that stripe that starts at the top of his grimace and works its way down his whole body!!!
And the knobby knees and the amphibian flesh all textured and lovely!!
Yes, give me a frog any day!!

Just don't expect me to touch it or anything.
I am more of a look with your eyes and not with your hands gal.

Here's to a great week!!!

Saturday is Soccer Day

Look closely... this one can be funny!





I will warn you now that this is gonna be a very busy week for me.
I have a deadline to meet with a drawing...so I might be kind of scarce!
Might!

Just letting you know!
Ya know...just in case.

Fun (baby) Friday!

I am so tired. I have a ton to share with you...but it must wait until tomorrow...maybe even Sunday!
I will give ya a short and sweet garden update though!

Look what was waiting for me today!!

This is no beauty like the one I missed yesterday but...you get the idea.


I almost wish some of these guys had waited a bit to let loose.
It is all gonna be over so quickly!



I just can't get over what gorgeous blooms plants make before giving their fruit.

So delicate and lovely!


I must admit the squash is getting boring week after week, but changes are happening!

We will continue to be patient waiting for their blooms!


Ahhhhh, the tomatoes!!!



I took another trip out to the Ranch, where my last group of horse pictures were taken.
I had no idea the treat I would have!!!

And I don't mean this....

Ahhhhhh ha ha ha ha!!!!
What a beast!



NO, what I found was this....

Two ponies had been born within the last day!!!

It was AMAZING to be there to see them all new and fresh and new and gangly and new and....well it was a bit overwhelming and now I am tired.
Too tired to tell ya about it right and proper anyway.

I also got to see some of this...

...but that is a whole 'nother chapter as well.

Let me get some sleep in me, and I will share more with ya!!!

Color Thursday!

I saw a fantastic little mushroom this morning while I was watering, that I hoped would make it until I got home today.
Alas it had been plucked from the ground and was a shriveled mess, so a fence is what you get today.
The interpreted color...gray.

More "deep" thoughts

Today will be an official musings and ponderings day!!

My dog has lost a pound!
As in, she is fat and needs to drop about 6 of them, and one is gone!!
I am proud of her.
I on the other hand, have not lost a pound, but I didn't need to, so we are all good.
The extra walking to attain this goal for her is beneficial to me as well.

My husband was gone, but now he is not.
I like that!

It is Wednesday and my last load of laundry is finally in the washer.
Now, if I could just get everything put away!
I will, I promise!

I don't know that we can have a musings day without an "I love coffee" comment, so....
I ♥ coffee!!!
A lot!!
When you start sending fan mail, if you could include coffee...well that would be just awesome!!

Did you know that Angel fish can make their striped markings lighten and darken dependent upon their aggression and/or fear factor?
No, it is true!
I saw it happen myself last night at a friends house.
I was more entranced by it than my children, I do believe.

I accidentally typed nom, instead of No a second ago.
I think nom is now a word.
When you think something is yummy and want to make eating it sounds, you say nom nom nom nom nom.
You have to say it fast and low.
Go ahead, try it...you know you want to.
My oldest son has this particular sound perfected, along with the sound of machine gun fire.


These flowers are all along the sides of the road.
Some of them are white some are a lovely soft pink.

They seems to scoop the sun right inside them to hold it gently.

They also hold bugs!!!
Look at this gorgeous green fellow who was mucking up the pollen inside this bloom.


It seems that every morning of late...the sun has been hidden beneath a dredge of low clouds.
Today it was out and about, creating sparkle on so many things.
I HAD to take my camera along on my morning walk to capture something in the sunshine.

Shelby is not a good photographers assistant!!!

Though if you are going for bokeh blur...she is your girl!!



Banana peels do not belong in pants pockets, no matter what the occasion!
Right Melissa!?!

That load of clothes is now in the dryer!!
Progress.

We had house guests almost 4 weeks ago.
They left a note on my chalkboard.
I can't bear to erase it! :)

I wonder if David loved Abigail initially or just felt like he had a responsibility toward her after her husband died.

I just remembered that I have 2 more bags of Cadbury dark chocolate eggs!!!
I hid them behind my coffee cups!

Hmmmm, suddenly I have a strong urge to go rearrange my coffee cups...you know...organize them by color or height, because organization is one of my strong suits.

Nom nom nom nom nom, coffee cups are organized!

Tip of the day: it is much easier to open a wraskely plastic package with sissors than prying it apart with your fingers.
(you're welcome!)

40 is a good age!

I would love to sit here longer pondering and musing, but I really need to get some chores done instead.

Go forth and love your life!!
And eat chocolate!
And put your laundry away, even if it is Wednesday.
And use lots and lots of exclamation points!!!

Mail call

Oh ho....look what came in the mail today!!

Come on, you can figure out which of these 3 things I am talking about right?

I will give you a hint.
It is not a living creature.
Okay that gets you down to two items!

It is my new Food Network Magazine!


Do you hear groans from my family???
Ha ha ha ha!
I hope whatever I choose this time is not as much of a flop as the last choice!

I simply must take some time to flip through it and choose a recipe.
This time maybe I can experiment on my Thursday class, as this week is our eatin' meetin'.
We meet, we study, we eat!!

Storm (the hamster) seemed intent on reminding me that I really, really need to study my Gimp book.

It is a guide to a program, sorta like photoshop which my husband recently reloaded on our computer.
I "read" it a few weeks ago, but felt like I was looking at a book in a foreign language!
I don't like learning new things.
But I must!

Sigh...but the other one is so much prettier!!

I thought I would share this FAIL with you.
The hamster was running quickly about and headed toward my camera....far faster than I could get it to focus!!

Kinda looks like one of those zhoo zhoo (or whatever it is you call 'em) pets.

Good night gang...see ya tomorrow!!

Beans and Baloney!

The progression of the bean!!






Those tiny little beans had us all gathered around the plant...

...gawking!!
It has just all happened so fast!

Okay, plants aside...I do want to say something else today.
I must type it out quickly between dinner prep and taxi mom time while it is fresh on my heart and mind.
I would say it is mainly to mommies, new-ish mommies in particular.

Are feeling deliriously happy like nothing you have ever felt in your whole life and ever thought you would feel?
Are you feeling like being a Mommy of a precious little life is the best thing that you could have chosen off of the menu of possibilities given you?
Are you feeling like you could just burst with joy and cry with wonder when you come in contact with just a whiff of your little bundle as you feed him or cuddle her?

Now, on the other hand...
Are you overwhelmed beyond belief?
Do you feel like you will never feel human again, even if you slept from now till August?
Are you frustrated at the chores gone undone and the meals unprepared?
Do you wish just one item of clothing would fit, so you could feel just a tiny bit stunning for a few seconds while you suck in the impossibility that is now your stomach???
Are you lonely and sad and worn down to a frazzle?

How is it possible to feel so much JOY and so much agony all at once?
My dear, dear friends...that is a huge part of what being a mommy is all about!
YOU are not alone!
YOU are one of many fighting your desire to be the super fabulous you that you used to be, while not caring a bit for that person because of who you need to be for this new little life.

Don't find it strange if you are grieving who you once were or what you used to be able to do.
This is a new phase of your life!
You may be able to bring along some of the old you, but you may have to leave a ton of it behind.
Frankly, you were probably pretty super, but it is nothing compared to who you will become as you grow in love and maturity...and faith!

I am here to tell you right now, (and this is my opinion) it is okay to not have it all together!
Sometimes you are just in survival mode, and that is just the truth of it.
It is perfectly fine to have dishes undone, and laundry in piles awaiting your return.
You know what...you may even run out of toilet paper before you get a chance to pry yourself away from your home to run the errands that have to be done despite your exhaustion.
It is okay!

Do NOT be afraid to seek out a listening ear, and take the time to rant and rave and cry and be frustrated.
You might find a person who has been right where you have been and is longing to be a help!

Do NOT be so concerned at what you didn't get done and miss out on what you did accomplish.

Let your husband know of your need to know that you are loved beyond a shadow of a doubt despite the fact that you may not be able to wear a single thing but yoga pants and his old t-shirts.
I bet you don't realize that he thinks you are beautiful, just simply beautiful, even when you can't see a glimmer of glamor except in the chips of polish left over from the pedicure before the baby was born.

I think this time of life, when a baby comes into the home, even a second baby... is so hard for a woman.
Listen!
You are amazing!
You are loved!
You are doing the most important thing you could be doing when you feed and care for your children.
Okay, I hope that made sense. I have to post this without reviewing and correcting cause that is how it is today!
If there are crazy typo's or weird spellings...well you just will have to forgive me, cause I am doing the best I can right now with what I have got!!!
And I am A-Okay with that!!
Gotta jet, laundry to switch and children to feed and taxi to drive!