Foto Friday 17 ~ On a Wing & a Prayer

We've been a little under the weather here lately, but the sun is out and hopefully the ice and snow will all melt soon.  This storm has been a wild one.  

Little Man doesn't seem to mind the cold, but he sure was front and center for supper every night. 

It was a not so graceful landing on our frozen pond for these geese.

Takeoff went a little smoother,

Better luck on the next pond fellas. 

sharing with  Eileen for Saturday's Critters,  Michelle for Thankful Thursday,  Yogi for Skywatch Friday, and Mersad for Through my Lens

Tyler Z is finally here!  

He's had a pretty rough go of it- arriving a few weeks early,

 two weeks in the NICU, low bilirubin and a blood clot in his heart. 

I am so thankful for Arkansas Children's Hospital and their NICU nurses.

The kids will find out in February if the lovenox

 shots are working and the clot has dissolved.

  Praying it is gone and he is finally well.

Thankful Thursday

 

Thankful today (and every day) for my husband.  49 years!  He is the brave to my fear, the calm to my crazy, the happy to my sad, the positive to my negative, and the patience to my impatience. 

We decided to forgo anniversary cards & gifts and just go out to eat after riding around the lake.  This photo was taken from the boat ramp at one of the camping areas.  We kept getting closer and closer and this bird was not moving. You can barely tell that there is water beneath him because it was so dreary out. 

I hope everyone has recovered from Thanksgiving. I am trying to get started on Christmas but I seem to be spending more time on planning that actual doing.   :)

Have a great weekend, everyone! 

 

sharing with   Michelle for Thankful Thursday and Eileen for Saturday's Critters

Reflections & Critters

 

Lots of reflections on the still water downstream from dam.

sharing with James for Weekend Reflections

Invasion of the green heads

Cowbirds/Grackles?  

I have no idea, but they sure are loud in the tree tops 

and when incoming to our field. 

Ever hypervigilant, and always a bit psychotic.

My son Michael sent this video to me. 

Squirrels are such a nuisance, but I thought they are so cute!  

Rats with tails, I guess, but still. :)

sharing with  Eileen for Saturday's Critters

Thankful Thursday

 

Thankful for my littles.  What a blessing they are.  Hadleigh stayed with us a few days last week.  She loves horses and was not happy until her Pawpaw let her meet Little Man up close and personal. He is the last horse of the bunch, and the orneriest, meanest, stuck-uppist, mule-ish horse of all and there they stood- tiny tot to quarter pony.  You see Pawpaw is between them and even has a hand on him.  She got to feed him carrots and was just as happy as could be.  Man behaved himself, but he really had no choice. :) 

I hope everyone has wonderful holiday, and even if you aren't celebrating Thanksgiving where you live, just have a wonderful day.  Life is so short, we can hardly blink away a second of it. 

Thank you for reading my silly little blog!

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday

Time Travel Tuesday~ 1940's

  

1940ish

Rural Southwest Arkansas

My grandmother & grandfather on my dad's side-

Lela & Clarence.

I assume the gun and tote bag means 

he had been squirrel hunting.

The truck is a good old Chevrolet, 

I think called a stake truck, but I could be wrong. 

I know they had that truck for a long time because 

I have photos of all three kids standing beside it 

and they were in their teens. 

My grandmother is wearing a dress, which was her norm 

until after my grandfather died, I believe. 

She made all of her own clothes, and her daughter's also. 

This shirtwaist dress was pretty popular back then 

and on up to the 60's or later. 

She added the rolled up stockings later on and 

I remember those well. 

They were thicker than regular nylons. 

Lela was the daughter of  Earnest Luther & Harriet Cox 

Barrett and Clarence was the son of  James & Linnie Clark Sutton

I miss them both. 

 

 

Foto Friday 17 ~ Flashback

The sky was gorgeous when we got home from the 

concert last night. 

A rare southern glimpse of the Northern Lights. 

 Sooooo pretty. You could even see the reddish tinge 

without the phone camera. I can't imagine getting 

to see this all the time up north.

Another rare (to us anyway) sight...a yacht used as a camper. 

To each his own.  :) 

My beautiful granddaughter- she's going to have a BIG baby. 

 He's already 5 pounds and she is only 30 weeks here. 

We went on a small leaf-peeping tour to Albert Pike last weekend. 

 The leaves were just starting to turn.  Camping is not allowed here anymore 

(that I know of) since lives were lost in a flash flood. 

 It sure is a beautiful place. 

Last, but not least, Happy Veteran's Day to my dad- twenty years in 

the Air Force and I could not be prouder of him. 

I am thankful for all branches of our military, and 

especially thankful that there are still men and women who are 

brave enough to serve and protect our country.

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday,  Yogi for Skywatch Friday, and  James for Weekend Reflections

Foto Friday 16 ~ Let's Talk About Orange

 

For those that wanted to see the change- some of the flowers are turning orange.

I thought it would put out new flowers, but instead they just changed colors, backwards from what the nursery said, but I'll take it.   I thought I knew what I was talking about when I said it put out new flowers.  Obviously I know nothing about mums, y'all.  :)

Walmart parking lot putting on a show.  I knew I wouldn't make it home in time for a better shot. People were just driving right on by, and I thought you all need to slow down and check out this sky! 

We had a blast last night at the trunk or treat.  I got to hold my newest great grand Jillynne, while her siblings rode the train and the hay ride.  This is my only (so far) gg boy, Bo.  He  was busy collecting candy and riding with his dad on the hay ride.  

I spent a couple of hours at a cemetery this week, trying to find a man that someone else said was buried in a different cemetery.  Anyways, I found him, on the back of his wife's stone.  Also found footstones, which as you can see, are embedded in a pile of the  devil's own insect, the nasty fire ant.  By the time I finished walking around the whole cemetery I had a total of eleventy- seven bites.  (Actually just 7 on one foot.)  But it FELT like many, many more.  I'm thankful I got out of there with my feet still attached.  They were everywhere. My husband said they sure do like this cemetery! Actually, they just love the rain, because that's when they surface. 

I hope everyone is having a good weekend.  I'm thankful that I can turn off the tv and make my blood pressure go down.  I'm thankful for my church and my community and most of all, I am thankful for my family.  Don't forget to set your clocks back tonight.  (I sure wish we could do away with that!) 

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday, Yogi for Skywatch Friday,  Betty  for My Corner of the World, Mersad for Through my Lens  

Thankful Thursday

                   

One of the last football games of the year for my youngest grandson, Liam.  I'm thankful that I get to see him play. (And the temps finally feel like fall)

 Thankful for cooler weather and holidays coming up.  It is my most favorite time of year and I am looking forward to family get-togethers and the blessings all that brings.  

Thankful today for healthy mamas and babies; Jillynne, great-grand baby#4, arrived yesterday and she is just the cutest!  One more to go (for now) and he is due in December.   

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday ~ Blooms

I finally figured out how to water this giant and it took off and went crazy. 

It's huge!  The nursery said it was a pumpkin something or other that will bloom again at Thanksgiving in orange.  I hope I can keep it alive that long.

Thankful today for little things that keep me grounded, and family that keeps me busy. 

Praying for my two granddaughters who are expecting.  One, in the next week and the other most likely in December.  For one, it's been a blessing after losing two, and the other it's been a blessing that she hasn't had any problems, but this will be number 3.  So many changes from when I was pregnant with mine, oh so long ago.  They can tell you the sex so early and they have 3D photography to show you what the baby will looks like.  All new to me, but I am older than dirt, ya know. 

I hope you all have a great weekend!

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday ~ Sunrise at the Lake

 

Time at the lake is always so peaceful. 

These cypress tree knobs look like little animals watching the sunrise with me. 

Thankful for the quiet moments, and for the beauty of nature. 

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday

Foto Friday 15 ~ Just Breathe

 

Spotted the first Spider Lily.

It is time. 

:)

I photograph for Findagrave, and spotted this the other day.  Very unique, and special! 

We were driving behind these two guys on our way to town, and Mark and I both thought they were cows...til we  got closer!  HA HA.  I have no idea where they were from or where they were going, but stuffed bears?  I cannot even imagine.  Especially in southern Arkansas. 

I'm on my second 10 pound sack of sugar.  These hummers are hungry!! 

 I hope they make the trip wherever they are going. 

I named my porch geese Myrtle and Matilda.  I'm not very crafty,

 but I'm having fun with their outfits.  Don't laugh! 

Well, I guess that is it for the week.  It's been a rough couple of weeks here, so I am behind with posting.  I swore to myself I would improve with that, but life just gets in the way. 

If you pray or can send good thoughts, my step mom was injured & could have died during a procedure and is having difficulty getting back on her feet.  She can't eat much either, and that makes things worse. I am grateful that it was not a worse situation. 

I hope everyone has a good week.  Stay healthy and safe. 

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday, Eileen for Saturday's Critters, Betty  for My Corner of the World, Mersad for Through my Lens

Monday Musings ~ I Can't Help Fall-ing

 

Oh, I am so ready for fall!  

I was thinking yesterday that I really love where we live.  It's perfect 3/4ths of the year.  It's just this pesky summer season that is ruining it for me.  

But I digress-

It's the busy, busy time of year, with school starting and football games on the horizon.  I have one grand left in school and he is in the 8th grade.  He loves football, band and theater, and is one super smart kiddo.  His brother just started at ULR and is taking classes for cyber security.  Isn't it a crazy world that this is a thing?  Personally I have been hit at least five times now from my teacher association, two major stores, a patient portal and most recently by a local hospital.  How in the world does this keep happening?  Is this a problem everywhere, or just Arkansas? 

Well, enough complaining.  In fact, I have adopted this quote for the duration of this heat wave~ 

    HA HA!! Kinda favors me, here lately. 

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.  

I hear a fake fall is coming up for us this next week.  

I'll be enjoying it! 

Foto Friday 14 ~ Memories

 

I am so thankful for all the photos and documents that have been passed down to me. I'm still tackling the giant box of old photos and this one reminds me so much of my past.   The two folks beside my young cousin are my grandma and grandpa.  The little short fella is my great grandfather. I wasn't in the picture or even in the house when this photo was made, but it evokes so many similar memories.  Notice there are no drinks on the table.  I remember my grandpa would finish his meal (Always, always, always peas and cornbread and a meat) and then he would crumble up cornbread in a glass of buttermilk.  Ok yuck, I always thought, but what I wouldn't give for a chance to sit across from him again.

The women in the photo are all my kin.  This photo made me remember my husband's grandma and how she would never eat with us, and always stood around the table, bringing us napkins or more food or more drink.  I had never seen that before and it was quite a shock to a newly married bride to think my husband was raised this way.  Needless to say, I sit with my family to eat, but I wonder if women standing and serving was more of a custom that I ever knew.

Here is just one of hundreds of negatives my grandmother and mother saved.  I have to figure out how to make a print out of it, but so far I can't even find the equipment needed. 

It's the hats that intrigue me!  My papa is on the right, and he always tilted his hat to one side like that.  I think these are three brothers.  If anyone knows how to make photos out of negatives, let me know.  These are the square ones from the 50s and 60s, but I also have hundreds of my own from the 80s and 90s.  It makes me sad to think of all the digital photos I have that are just stored on my computer and some still sitting on my phone.  Actually, facebook is sort of the new photo album.  It certainly is where I get to see my grands and greats photos.  

Back to work or I will never get through this box.  Have a great weekend all! 

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday & Alan Burnett for Sepia Saturday

Foto Friday ~ 13

The summer heat is wrecking havoc on my redbud tree.  Several lichen and fungus have made themselves at home.  The top one is Old Man's Beard, but I don't know what the bottom ones are.  Either way, I need to get it off of my tree.  Any ideas, besides scraping?  I tried that and the bark comes off with it.  

Little Man is wondering if anyone is ever going to bushhog the field.  I think it's so high it is tickling his belly. Foreground is what's left of an old fence, and it reminded me of an meme that some of us long time bloggers used to participate in...Good Fences!, y'all remember that one?   There was one with barns to that I really enjoyed.  Ahh, the good old days!  

Back indoors, where the A/C is blasting, this is our supper.  Keto, as good as it gets- to not have a hamburger bun.  Yummy!  I love the pizza bowls too. 

I sure have enjoyed our martins this year.  I am thankful that they have multiplied, and survived.  Sadly, they have all left and even the fly-bys and stop-overs have stopped coming by.  It's time to head south. 

The dragonflies made haste to return in full force, and flock around me while I mow. It's funny how they know it's safe to come around again! 

I guess that is enough for this week's photo dump. I hope everyone is having a good week!

haring with Michelle for Thankful Thursday,  Yogi for Skywatch Friday,  Eileen for Saturday's Critters,  Betty  for My Corner of the World, Mersad for Through my Lens

Thankful Thursday ~ Waiting on the Rain

 

I've been trying to cull old photos off of my computer and my phone.  I ran into this one today, and it's from about 4 years ago.  It wasn't a bad storm, that I recall, but it was a doozy of a rain maker.  My pond needed it, the grass needed it, and I needed a break from the heat. 

Just looking at this photo cools me off some.  It's 99 right now, and my weather station says "Dangerously high heat index".  No messing around with it. It's hot out there.  

Needless to say, the heat is keeping me indoors.  

I can't say I am thankful for the extreme heat, but I'm sure there are folks somewhere who are quite happy with it.  That would be the beach-goers, and the pool splashers.  Maybe even the farmer who needs to get his hay in the dry, or those who have to work outdoors and would lose a payday if it were nasty weather.  

So while those folks are out there enjoying the sun, I will work indoors and every now and then look at my storm photos with longing. 

Hope all have a good weekend. Despite how much I long for fall I definitely do not want to speed up time, or skip a season.  Even if I can fry an egg on the sidewalk out there...it's ok. 

I will not melt. (HA HA HA ) 

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday

Monday Mural ~ Concert Al Fresco

 

I spotted this mural down the street from where 

my grandson was performing with the Texarkana Winds.  

(click on name to hear some of their music)

Dr. Pepper rules.  Just saying! 

We enjoyed the outdoor concert, but it was hot! 

That's my grandson Blayne- in the center.  

They were up on a platform and 

it was hard to see faces. 

 Sharing with Sami  for Monday Murals

It's the Shades For Me

 

This baby right here is a mini to her mama.  

Sassy through and through, cute as a button, hard headed, 

but with the sweetest heart ever.

The fish were biting, but the goldfish were calling her name. 

 

Thankful for my daughter & granddaughter who both share their photographs with me. 

(If you look closely you can see my other great grand girl fighting with her fishing pole)

sharing with Michelle for Thankful Thursday &

Mersad for Through my Lens

Impatient Thoughts

 

 

My favorite river bird.  I would love to have just a tad of his patience. 

I hope everyone is doing well.  I have missed catching up with all my blogging buddies, and I hope I can get back to what I love soon. 

I have just about completely stopped taking photos because I am so aggravated with my camera and new zoom lens.  Sounds pretty lame, but it's mostly just being impatient.  Have you ever just thrown your hands up in the air and said enough already?!  LOL...

I'm going to take a new tact and put the lens up until I can figure it out.  

Meanwhile, the long, hot days of summer are here, and I am not for it at all!  I'm already counting the days until fall, but I still give it the old college try and get out and about at least to mow and go buy groceries.  

Everyone have a good week! 

sharing with Betty  for My Corner of the World

Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, Zoom

 

Trying out my new zoom lens and it's looking like I am going to need a few lessons!  :)

First and biggest problem so far is seeing sharp through the lens, but the photo turns out blurry.  

Would be nice to see an eagle, but not today. 

Turtles doing what turtles do.  Look how smooth that piece of wood is.  Looks like this one is a favorite sun spot. 

And then the snow and ice came.  Enough already! 

Mother Nature was playing some wild havoc on people (and animals) this past fall and now winter!  

Little Man is not amused, but pretty happy about the extra grain and hay he's getting. 

Betty  for My Corner of the World, Mersad for Through my Lens,  Eileen for Saturday's Critters