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Favorites from the Week

2012-01-22T23:43:00.001-05:00

These are just a few favorites from this week. All of these were taken with a new app I have for my android phone called Camera 360 Ultimate. I think it’s comparable with Instagram for iPhone. I truly love the versatility and beauty this android app offers. Note: I will soon join the ranks of Instagram users because there’s a iPhone in my immediate future!

Enjoy!!

Someone dressed poor Skipper in a grass skirt during rest time…….

The next four were taken by a little cute someone in the back seat of the car last weekend and the last two were at my house. It didn’t take her long to figure out all the different filters it uses. Especially the thermagram and sketch filters. She is pretty good at it too! And sweet girl knows what she likes! She even has her on little photography blog now (thanks to her Mama, who also has a great blog).

A Challenge | Best Face Photo from 2011

2012-01-10T21:00:00.001-05:00

The start of a new year and a look back through the past year. I Heart Faces first photo challenge for 2012 was to look back through your stash from 2011 and find your Best Face Photo. Ah, there were so many, but this one? Well this one always melts my heart. My sweet Cupcake Girl!

P.S. Thank you Traci and Zak for giving us such a beautiful, funny and amazing granddaughter!

Be sure to check out iheartfaces for more beautiful faces from 2011!

One Little Word 2012

2012-01-03T00:09:00.001-05:00

I’ve made the leap and will join countless others exploring One Little Word. My word?

Light.

More later.

New Year’s Eve in Lights

2012-01-02T00:16:00.001-05:00

Last year we took little Cupcake Girl to Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights on New Year’s Eve. I looked back through my blog and realized I didn’t blog about it. Hmmm…..oh well. We decided to make our second visit this year since she would be sleeping over. Kind of a nice little tradition that we can keep going. The folks at Rock City really try to make a spectacular event of their garden and they don’t disappoint. We arrived a little too early, so we browsed the gift shop and had a little snack. Cupcake Girl was pretty patient waiting for 6 o’clock to arrive. She is also loving her new “pouty” face lately.

It was a beautiful night. Not too cold and not a cloud in the sky.

Cupcake Girl received a little point & shoot camera for Christmas and she took some great pictures at Rock City. I really enjoy capturing her taking pictures as well as seeing what she has taken. Her sweet Mama has created a little blog just for her photography, so take a peek sometime!

Earlier, while waiting for Rock City to open, she fell in love with a little stuffed polar bear. She tucked the bear in her coat so her hands would be free to take pictures or put in her pockets to keep warm. You will notice the bear in some of the next few pictures.

The closer we got to the Fairyland, the faster she ran!

After several zigs and zags, we arrived to the entrance, which was heavily guarded!

And finally, here is my first picture for 2012. It was taken at 12:11 a.m. on 01.01.12 (notice all the 1’s and 2’s?). I think Rock City wore her out! Happy New Year everyone!

Words For The New Year

2012-01-01T00:06:00.000-05:00

May each of us take these words to heart!

Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me,
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!

~William Arthur Ward

The Window

2011-12-30T00:16:00.001-05:00

I have been a little blog-neglectful lately. Holidays, parties, photo-shoots, and just good ’ole life. Yes, it has been good! But, before any kind of recap, I must share the following with you. Please enjoy…

Sometime during the early morning hours this past Tuesday, I heard the rain. It poured most of our sleeping hours and when it was time for my sweet husband to go to work, I glanced out our bedroom window and thought to myself, what a dreary day it’s going to be. With mounds of laundry staring me down, I loaded up the washer and returned to the bedroom to gather future loads. As I sat on the edge of the bed, I again glanced out the window and was instantly intrigued. I noticed the beautiful blue sky trying to come through those gray clouds.

Since I just put a load of laundry in the washer I decided to take a few minutes, sit in the bed and observe.

I wasn’t disappointed. It was truly spectacular!

The clouds were moving fast and at times there was a gigantic amount of blue sky. I really thought the sun was going to come through at any moment. And it did!

I wasn’t the only participant on this journey. Someone else was seeking the sun….

The only sounds in the room were the rhythmic purring of the soft kitty next to me as we both were mesmerized by the window over the next hour.

It was a spectacular hour and a half of beauty. A beauty only seen from this window. A window without any covering. A window into our backyard. A window were we love to watch branches shake on the naked trees as squirrels scamper about as they play. A window that commands a little kitty to sit upon the sill and watch. A window that allows beautiful golden sunlight to enter early in the morning and wake us to a new day. A window where I wave hello and goodbye to the man I dearly love. A window where occasionally, Cupcake Girl waves and shouts I love you as her BobBob backs out of the garage to go to work. A window that will insulate us from the cold outside as we watch limbs droop when they’re coated in ice. Then it will show us that life comes full circle as buds spring forth from the trees that are in its viewing area, only to have leaves turn brilliant colors, then fall and carpet the ground underneath. This window that is small, yet gigantic in our eyes, as it captures life changing throughout the seasons. This beautiful window that has allowed me to capture red birds, squirrels, snowy branches and a sweet Cupcake Girl and her BobBob as they make their way into the big backyard to discover what the earth has to offer them on their hike.

We love this window.

December Goodness, So Far

2011-12-10T00:25:00.001-05:00

Here’s a peek into the everyday goodness going on 'round here for the Merry Month of December. Not too many words, just some pics. Some of the pictures are courtesy of my camera phone and a few by the aspiring photojournalist, Cupcake Girl. Enjoy!

Yes, I take pictures of movies while at the theatre. It’s FUN! Kermit loved it too!

If You Have Chocolate Pudding…….Make Hot Chocolate!

2011-12-08T23:45:00.001-05:00

I must preface this post by stating that the following photographs may make you crave a delicious cup of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. I do not take responsibility as to what you may do after reading this post. I hope you enjoy your hot chocolate as much as she did! Also, I know the quality of the photographs are rather on the blurry side, but, well, you’ll understand the photographer’s intention.

It all began with a little cup and a little cheese.

Then, an idea! How about some hot chocolate? Darn, there isn’t any in the house. But we have marshmallows. Wait, we also have some pudding. Voila!

Dude, you know, there is only one way to ~~eat~~ drink hot chocolate! Just dive right in!

This is the result of a ~~chocolate pudding~~ hot chocolate stupor.

But the best part? Well, this is the best part…..

Don’t you just wanna kissey that facey?!

Did You Look Outside Yet?

2011-11-29T13:40:00.001-05:00

Those are the words The Captain said this morning. Wow! Beautiful white blanket. I don't recall it snowing this early before. It was certainly more than a few furries. Just have a look.

Thanksgiving, Birthdays and the Such – Part 1

2011-11-27T18:38:00.001-05:00

My, oh, my. It’s been a busy and exciting time around here lately! Christmas is fast approaching and I’m gearing up to make a few presents, but Thanksgiving and birthday celebrations took center stage last week. My daughter Traci and her husband Zak celebrate their birthdays within 3 days of each other. So in addition to eating our Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday evening, we also celebrated the first of the birthdays, Traci’s!

I had a blast preparing dinner on Wednesday. My parents brought me a turkey breast they had fried and I used my Mom’s dressing recipe. The only twist was that I cooked the dressing in large muffin tins. It turned out fabulous! Thanks Mother!

Other accompaniments to the turkey and dressing were:
Glazed Sweet Potatoes (courtesy of The Neelys)
Fresh Green Beans (thanks to my parent’s garden and canning abilities)
Baked Macaroni and Cheese (courtesy of Alton Brown)
Deviled Eggs
Chicken and Dumplings
Banana Pudding

Traci requested apple pie for her “birthday cake” and I found a great recipe for making mini-apple pies in muffin tins. Not only was it fun to make, it was pretty good! Now, it would have been better IF I hadn’t forgotten to take it out of the oven on time. I actually overcooked it by about 10 minutes. I didn’t burn it, but you could certainly taste the over-doneness in the crust. I plan on a do-over soon!

This little pie made a great substitution, don’t you think?

After dinner we had a little photo time. Here are a few of the funny ones! Someone was really getting into the piano playing mode!

And now some cute ones!

Guess you could say she was done, over and out!

Stay tuned for part 2 tomorrow!

Sunshine

2011-11-20T20:26:00.001-05:00

Early last week brought a few days of rain, cloudiness and an overall gray day or two. One morning as I opened my eyes, I saw the beautiful window pane reflection that graces our wall as the rising sun filters through the window. I walked through the hall and saw a ray of light in our den. As I walked closer toward the den, I saw this beautiful light. What a welcome sight!

A Hot Mess

2011-11-19T21:20:00.001-05:00

This area has been a hot mess for a couple of weeks now. I just can bear to clean up this visual inspiration.

Located in our combination den/kitchen, Cupcake Girl loves her little craft area and I love to watch her create when she stays with us. She painted the wood chips, in the picture below right, blue, black and purple, then proceeded to make different kinds of patterns.

Her note below says I am taking this home. She wanted to write herself a reminder to take a picture home she had made. I wrote out the words and she copied them (she asked me to write the G).

When I’m working on a project she paints, tapes, cuts, tapes, jabbers, tapes, stamps and tapes some more. Do you get the feeling she likes tape? Yep, girl likes her some tape! Thanks to her sweet Aunt Reb she has decorative tape and she knows how to use it to its full capacity.

She asked me to cute out a leotard and tutu from some fabric then she pieced them together with her beautiful matching tape. Gorgeous work Cupcake Girl!

JUST A LITTLE NOTE: Not only does she create her hot messes at my house, she does the same at her house! Take a look at my sweet daughter’s blog.

Along the Tennessee River

2011-11-09T10:34:00.001-05:00

New Sculpture in the House

2011-11-06T23:27:00.001-05:00

What a beautiful weekend here in southeast Tennessee! My sweet Captain and I took a little fall color cruise on the Tennessee river. I will have a blog post about that this week, but first I have to show you what I found and share a recipe.

After returning from the store today, I was putting up the groceries and opened the drawer where I normally put onions and potatoes. Now it had been quite a while since I had actually opened the drawer, well maybe more than quite a while. To my surprise I found the following. Not one, but two!

I had to laugh, but these two blooming onions really intrigued me. As I looked at them I wondered if I could maybe shellac them, bronze them or even coat them with polyurethane. Hmmm, they are quite artsy.

And now for a great recipe share.

I did some searching for new recipes this weekend. I ran across one that looked really good for Slower Cooker Pork Chops from The Country Cook blog. It looked easy and delicious. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
4 Bone-in Pork Chops (you can use boneless)
1 envelope Onion Soup Mix (1 Oz. Packet)
1-½ cups Chicken Broth 1 can (10.5 Oz) Cream Of Chicken Soup (low Sodium)
1 envelope Dry Pork Gravy Mix (1 Oz. Packet)

Directions:
Place pork chops in slow cooker. In a separate bowl, mix remaining ingredients and pour over chops. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. (NOTE: I started this a little late so, I cooked mine on high for 2 hours then low for about 3 hours)

It really was that simple! And the taste? My, oh my! It was fork tender and had a great flavor! I served it with a side of sautéed French green beans and pearled couscous from Near East (I love all their products). This will certainly be a repeat!

Peaking Colors of Fall

2011-11-01T07:31:00.000-04:00

Today is the first of November and here in the southeast corner of Tennessee, our fall colors are peaking! A few weeks ago I didn’t have much hope for the vibrant colors we’ve had in the past. August was without any rain and temperatures were a bit unbearable for our region. Early September delivered much needed rain and October sweetened the deal with cooler temperatures.

After returning from a trip to Arizona the weekend of the 22nd, I noticed an impressive change. I took a few photos around our house and across the street. Early morning sunlight illuminates the gold leaves toward the tops of the trees.

Earlier in the week I drove around our mountain town a bit before sunset. The local golf course is always a great photo stop and it didn’t disappoint me this year either.

Next stop was Signal Point. I arrived just in time for a splendid sunset. It was so peaceful.

The following day Cupcake Girl and I walked up her neighborhood street and captured more beauty!

This weekend we will be taking a color cruise on the Tennessee River. The Captain and I are looking forward to this adventure and I hope to bring you more fall beauty around Tennessee!

Happy Halloween!!!

2011-10-31T13:31:00.001-04:00

Beautiful Arizona Desert

2011-10-30T23:14:00.001-04:00

Recently we made a quick weekend trip to attend a wedding just outside Tucson, Arizona. There are so many great pictures I decided to share them in little album sections (click on the slideshow to view the pictures).

The following album pictures were taken around the resort where the wedding was held, The Ritz Carlton at Dove Mountain. There were beautiful saguaro cactus all around the property, ancient petroglyphs dating back to 300 BC and beautiful views from the resort patio. The gorgeous sunset pictures were captured from a moving bus.

The Resort

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We had time on Saturday morning to visit the Sonoran Desert Museum. While on the road to the museum we saw a hot air balloon in the distance and as we got closer we saw it landing in a field. What a beautiful sight!

The museum was awesome. They offer great information on the land, plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert region. Volunteers were plentiful and provided a wealth of information on the plant and live animal exhibits.

The Museum

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Jessa and Damon’s wedding took place on one of the picturesque lawns of the resort. The ceremony was sprinkled with several personal touches which included a hupa that Jessa’s father built. Damon’s Uncle Charles performed the wedding and it was so touching and heart-warming. It was also lovely to spend the wedding weekend with extended family, especially those we haven’t seen in a while. Enjoy this little glimpse into the lovely day!

The Wedding

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On our final day I took another little walk around the property and discovered some beautiful lime trees, a roadrunner and a Jessa’s family talking down the hupa.

More Resort

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What a lovely weekend! I look forward to future visits to Tucson! Now I want to end with perhaps one of my favorite pictures from the trip. My sweet husband took this with his point and shoot. I just love it!

Hands of Love

2011-10-10T19:52:00.001-04:00

The spaces between my fingers are right where yours fit perfectly. ~anonymous

When I look at this photo of their hands, I see so much love. Her soft hands that wipe away her little one’s tears. His strong hands that get dirty and stained as he provides for his family. Their hands, folded into each others, together, speaks volumes of their love.

I also love how she is looking at him, smiling ever so slightly. And him? He looks as though he is feeling the warmth of the sun on his face and the warmth of her hand in his.

The weekly challenge at iheartfaces this week is Raise Your Hands. Take a moment or two and visit iheartfaces to see some fabulous photographs and read some great stories about hands.

And There Was Light

2011-10-07T23:32:00.001-04:00

Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4

The light is good. The light is beautiful. Constantly changing. It casts a magical glow on each and everything around it, especially in the early morning hours and during that last little bit of daylight. Have you seen it? Go look. Really look.

Look in the crook of the tree. Move the leaves and watch them dance in the sunlight. Hold up the pinecone in the glowing sun as it is setting. Take a minute and slow down. Breath. See the light of our beautiful earth.

McDonald’s Farm

2011-10-05T00:00:00.001-04:00

Took a little trip to Old McDonald’s Farm in Sale Creek. It was awesome! Baby goats, hay ride, pumpkin patch, beautiful scenery and a crisp fall day. Happy Pumpkin Month!

Seven Years Ago . . . Today

2011-10-02T00:29:00.000-04:00

October 2, 2004 went on record as the hottest day of the month. Leaves were just starting to leak a bit of color and a few trees were beginning their shedding process. Some friends and family traveled from far away. Others only a short distance. But all gathered together in the Little Brown Church to witness a blessed event.

On this day, seven years ago, I married

HIM!

Oh yes, he is the LOVE of my life! I am truly blessed to have this beautiful face to wake up to.

He usually gives in to me when I want to take a little picture or two of him. Thank you my sweet love!

Just look at that face! Who would NOT want to take a sweet photograph of him.

What’s not to love? He deeply loves his family. All of them! Thank you my sweet love!

He makes me smile, he makes me laugh, he makes me utterly happy and most of all I know he loves me.

He’s not afraid to be a ~~lot~~ little goofy, even when it comes to scarf dancing in Kindermusik with a bunch of little kiddos! Or trying is graceful hand at disc golf. He’s pretty good at these new adventures!

He would even risk death to allow me a photograph opportunity!

He loves her with all his heart and that makes me love him more!

I love him for who he is. He doesn’t try to be anything or anyone else. He is original and one-of-a-kind. I wouldn’t have it or him any other way. I love his enthusiasm for nature and the world around us.

Judy Garland once said this about love, For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul. He is my heart and soul.

I don’t have any eloquent words to sum all of this up. Just this:

A.A. Milne once wrote,
“How do you spell 'love'?" - Piglet
"You don't spell it...you feel it." - Pooh”
I love you my sweet Bob with all my heart and soul! Thank you for loving me.

Best Face Photo from Summer 2011 | iheartfaces

2011-09-26T17:36:00.001-04:00

Summer is defined many ways. According to the dictionary it can be the hotter half of the year. The definition I love best is the period of development, perfection, or beauty ~~previous to any decline~~: the summer of life. Wow! Fitting, don’t you think? (NOTE: I don’t care for the previous to any decline part, so since it’s my blog, I scratched it out!)

There is an interesting challenge this week at iheartfaces. It’s “People’s Choice” week. After all entries are narrowed down, we get to vote on our favorites from The Best Photo from Summer 2011.

My choice to enter? Well, it was difficult, but when I read the definition of summer, I felt this photograph summed it up. Damp, wind swept beach hair, dancing waves glistening in the background and that soft sunset glow. Then there’s the little touch of curiosity from an almost 4-year old as to what she’s doing, thinking, looking at.

Perfection and beauty all rolled up into one. The summer of life.

Please take a moment to peek at all the entries at iheartfaces. Voting starts Wednesday and I will keep you posted!!

Finds From The Weekend

2011-09-25T21:19:00.001-04:00

What a great weekend! I went for a visit to see my parents. It’s always so nice to go see them, especially by myself. It gives us time to focus on each other and that’s always special!

One thing I LOVE to do is visit a huge home decorating store and an awesome antique shop. My sweet parents graciously indulge me, of course they love these places just as much as I do. Both of these stores are located in old mills. These businesses have certainly repurposed old buildings.

The home décor store is located in Jeffereson, Georgia. Not only do they offer the “fixings” for arrangements, they also create beautiful arrangements. I picked up a wood bowl, a few stuffed scarecrows and some elements to create an arrangement. I’ll have to post my final creation over the next few weeks.

The antique shop (above) is located in Monroe, Georgia in an old cotton mill. This is a beautiful building and I would love to just go around it and photograph all of its glory! Inside? Well, inside there is an overwhelming about of beauty too! I could have spent hours and hours there!

Old tools, an old soda fountain that works and great 8-track tapes. Remember those anyone?

Retro freezer and a great old sign. That door? That door was awesome! It’s a fire door and the date on it is from the 40’s.

Fun pictures! Not the greatest of me, but what the heck! It was fun!

Some of my great finds: lots of old books, two almost identical Raggedy Anns, dishes from the 40’s (I’m replacing all my current dishes) and two pumpkin guys (these actually came from the home décor store). Love!

The cutest book was a kid’s cookbook from 1950. I love the simplicity of the recipes and the beautiful illustrations. The frankfurter recipe is so funny! Love this so much!

Now, for my big find. I’ve been on the lookout for one of these for years and finally scored it!! Love!!!

Look for more posts about my visit with my parents in the following days!

iheartfaces | A Touch of Sun

2011-09-20T21:27:00.001-04:00

What a great challenge theme this week. Especially as we are ending summer and welcoming fall.

Earlier this summer we took and trip to the beach. While there we took the opportunity to take some family beach pictures toward sunset. My daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were beautiful subjects. As the sun was setting, we decided to try a heart-shaped silhouette. After I uploaded this particular, picture I was taken back by the little tiny heart their three hands formed toward the bottom AND it looks as though my sweet granddaughter is holding the sun in her hand. What a lovely unexpected treat! I truly love this sweet, golden, touch of sun!

Take a little time to visit the entries over at iheartfaces! There are so many amazing ones!

Just Around the Corner

2011-09-17T00:16:00.001-04:00

Meemaw and Gigi

2011-09-09T19:32:00.001-04:00

Life brings us so many blessings. One of the greatest blessings in my life is that I have two sets of in-laws. Okay, lots of folks have two sets of in-laws (and no, I am not married to two husbands), but I do have two of the best sets of in-laws.

When I was 16, Dillon and Geneva came into my life by way of their son. In 1985, they became Meemaw and Gigi to a beautiful granddaughter and in 1989 to another beautiful granddaughter. Through moves out of state, divorce from their son, my remarriage, their granddaughter’s marriage, and other life changes, they have steadfastly remained Meemaw and Gigi.

In 2007, they became great-grandparents to a beautiful little Cupcake Girl. They adore each other.

The picture above cracks me up! They were just making silly faces. Couldn’t be more perfect!

They love my sweet husband and whenever we make a trip to St. Augustine, we treasure the time that we spend with them. I wish it was more often, especially with views like below.

For 33 years these wonderful people have cared for me, laughed and cried with me, advised me and stood by me. I cherish their love and friendship. Through them, as well as my own parents, I learned about grand-parenting. Even as a young parent, I knew that one day I wanted to be a grandparent, just like them. They created a special bond with their granddaughters consisting of sweet memories and loads of laughter. I watched their beautiful relationship and knew I wanted to have that experience one day. Now? Now I am creating that special bond, storing away sweet memories and most of all, having a ton of fun!

As a grandparent, you have lived long enough to know that every single moment of the day is a gift from God. That every smile, laugh, hug, cry, and even that whine are precious. And that tiny soft hand curled in your rough, wrinkling hand connects your hearts and souls. It is so precious.

Thank you Meemaw and Gigi for loving us. All of us.

Now, a special note…..

Last Sunday Gigi celebrated a birthday. He is a quiet man, but his actions speak loud. He loves fully with his heart and soul. He speaks the truth, take it or leave it. He secretly hopes that you take it and if necessary, learn from it, but he never pushed is ideas or opinions on you. He would just state them, Again, take it or leave. He is what I call a tootler. There were many a day when I would be over at their house and he could found in the backyard or carport just tootling around. Sometimes fixing things, sometimes building and sometimes just getting the heck out of the house to be alone! He loves being outside, weather it be in his backyard, garden, creek, beach or porch. He is a great dad and an awesome grandfather.

I once read that a grandfather is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. Grandfathers are for loving and fixing things. This, folks, sums up Gigi. And all those that know him will agree.

We are all so blessed that you are our Gigi and we love you deeply! All of us.

P.S. Happy Grandparents Day this Sunday!

I Heart Faces | White

2011-08-29T22:42:00.001-04:00

I’ve been eagerly awaiting this challenge! White. Not black and white. Just white. How can someone incorporate white into their photography? Not as difficult as you might think. I really gave this challenge a great deal of thought and even tried a couple of white photos this weekend. Then I remembered. The beach!

Recently we took a little vacation to the beach with our adorable Cupcake Girl. Her Mama and Daddy joined us after 6 days and before The Captain and I took off on our little road trip home, we had a photo shoot down at the beach. My sweet daughter decided early on to have the three of them wear white. This photograph is one of my favorites (and there were many). Sweet Cupcake Girl, her Daddy holding her and her Mama in the background. What a sweet photograph. What a sweet family! Just lovely!

Enjoy the color of white over at iheartfaces. Go. Take a few moments and peek at the loveliness!

I Heart Faces | Dog and Cat

2011-08-22T22:08:00.001-04:00

This week at iheartfaces, the challenge theme is pets. I have several animal pictures, but recently I found the following.

Skipper, the dog in the background, was enjoying a little nap with the other critter friends on the bed in what is known in our house as, The Bird Room. Cupcake sleeps in this room when she has a sleep-over therefore, there are several stuffed critters that grace the bed. Interestingly enough, one of the critters is a Jerry Garcia stuffed doll. That’s for a future post. After seeing Skipper I decided this was the opportunity to have a doggie photo session. I maneuvered a few of the critters around him for a better photo op!

Just when I was about finished the other real-life critter in our household wanted in on the action. Introducing Kitten. She plopped right down in front of Skipper and decided to hog the camera and this is what I got!

Pets are wonderful and their love is unconditional, even kitties! Want to see some cute, adorable and loveable pets/animals? The take a few moments and head over to iheartfaces and see the other entries! It will make you smile! I promise!

My Food Treasures

2011-08-21T23:16:00.001-04:00

Took a little trip to Chattanooga Market late this morning. It was rather pleasant weather-wise and the place was buzzing with activity. One of the local farmers that I like to support didn’t have as big of a variety as I had hoped for. But what he did have was a gazillion yellow and red cherry tomatoes. It was crazy!

As I browsed around I saw some late-season strawberries that had just been picked this morning and decided to purchase 10 quarts. Yep. Ten quarts. Also saw some early season scuppernongs, which is in the muscadine family. My sweet mother makes the best muscadine jelly and I decided that this is the year for me to make jelly! The farmer had about 5 pints, so in my basket they went!

I called my mother to find out her recipe and she stated she had always used the Sure Jell recipe and directions. She also told me to follow the directions exactly, do not waver any! So I visited their website for cooked jelly and printed them out. I also found a website with some very helpful information on making Strawberry Jelly (not jam), as well as canning information, from the University of Georgia National Center for Home Preservation. My second recipe for Muscadine Jelly came from PickYourOwn.org. A very informative website as well! This will be my first attempt at making jelly and I’m very excited. I will certainly document the adventure this week!!

So here are my treasures from today (minus the fresh goat cheese I inadvertently left in the refrigerator).

Beans, large peppers for stuffing, strawberries (2 of the 10 quarts), French Country bread, butternut squash, scuppernongs and in the very front some homemade pretzel dough bread things.

I think I’m most excited about the butternut squash. I’ve printed out three recipes from Martha Stewart to pick from. They are Curried Butternut Squash Soup, Butternut Bisque and Corn and Butternut Squash Chowder. All the recipes look delicious and I really don’t know which one I’ll choose. Thoughts anyone?

Tonight for dinner we indulged in a little grilled cheese on the French Country Bread and I had also couldn’t resist a few of the fresh strawberries. It was ALL yummilicious!

Week’s Favorites

2011-08-20T11:22:00.001-04:00

A few of my favorite pictures from this past week….

A beautiful spider web on our deck that was only there for about 5 days. Night-time clouds while driving on the interstate. Gorgeous sunlight on the trees. Cupcake’s Dora toothbrush by the sink.

I saw this patch of sunflowers at a local church’s community garden. Couldn’t resist. Took these with my little point and shoot. I tried to stand very still to capture the small butterflies/moths on the middle picture. It wasn’t easy!

Cupcake and her sweet mama (my beautiful daughter) after her 1st day of preschool (her second year). Cupcake cutting out and baking some cookies. My favorite little cookie-man. I just LOVE the little red heart she put on him. Beautiful!

Her Beautiful Eyes

2011-08-16T21:56:00.001-04:00

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes
one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper,
more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby
when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.
Vincent van Gogh

Her eyes are as deep blue as the ocean and lips as pick as coral. Beautiful. Powerful. She was only 11 days young and she captivated me. Indeed, I did not have to go far to find something grand or infinite. The wonder of creation, of God’s love, shines through her eyes. Thank you Natalie, Blake and especially Lilly.

Thank you iheartfaces for the opportunity to showcase eyes. Want to see more beautiful eyes? Take a minute or two and go visit their website.

Friendship

2011-08-09T21:25:00.001-04:00

The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had. ~Author Unknown

I love this photograph of my granddaughter chatting on the computer with my younger daughter, Kayla. When Kayla was away at college, occasionally these two would computer chat. Their chat times were pretty funny and I loved being able to observe their relationship/friendship form. Now, Kayla has graduated and moved back, so these two get to spend lots of time together. They are like two peas in a pod! Not only are they aunt and niece, they are the best of friends!

This week’s challenge at iheartfaces is all about friendship. Friends come in all shapes, sizes, real and pretend, family and non-family. There are some wonderful photographs and storied, so take a minute or two and check them out!

Little Cabin by the River

2011-08-08T22:49:00.001-04:00

Spent the weekend at a little cabin alongside the Little River in Townsend, Tennessee. The cabin, called Riversong, was awesome! It had several retro elements and a great deck with a swing overlooking the river. A little shout out to The Wrights. They have several cabins to choose from and we certainly will stay in one of their cabins again!

We took a little trip up to Cades Cove. I simply love this 11-mile loop around the cove. I’ve never been to Cades Cove in the winter, so I’m already making future plans.

Here’s one of my favorites from the weekend.

Phone Polaroids

2011-07-29T09:34:00.001-04:00

I love the app on my phone called Roidizer. Originally I wanted the app Instagram but it’s only available for the iPhone. Roidizer is simple but effective and you can post to facebook in a flash. It has 7 photo filters. Most of the time I use the magic hour filter and just love how you can add text to the bottom of the polaroid. I truly took advantage of this app while we were on vacation.

I wish that there was a simple camera that would take pictures like this. That would be awesome!

A Little Wednesday Fun

2011-07-27T22:51:00.001-04:00

What makes an almost 4-year old very happy?

Riding a little train around the halls of a mall three times.
Tasting a root beer float.
Watching the movie Rio for the second time.
Painting with watercolors.
Playing with Fancy Nancy and other assorted critters.
Eating fresh vegetables.
Reading four new books before bed.

Guess what? It makes 2 grandparents very happy too! Happy Wednesday!

Water and Hats

2011-07-26T21:01:00.001-04:00

This week over at iheartfaces the photo challenge is about water. Recently we spent a couple of weeks around water of all kinds. Atlantic Ocean, swimming pools, Gulf of Mexico and various rivers, creeks and swamps. Cupcake Girl spent 2 full weeks at the beach and I must say she certainly became a beach bunny. After a day full of sun, water and sand, a little hat shade felt good. But oh my how she loved the water!

Isaac Newton said, To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me. When I look into those soulful eyes, I really believe this is what she is thinking, in her own little Cupcake way.

There are so many great entries at iheartfaces, so take a minute or two, click and enjoy. I promise, it will make you smile!

Martha, Martha, Martha!

2011-07-24T16:06:00.001-04:00

Back in the early 90’s I started watching Martha Stewart Holiday specials and her half-hour shows based on her books and magazine Martha Stewart Living. She really appealed to me with her quiet, down-to-earth approach, as well as her cooking and entertaining knowledge. She was also very funny. I loved her then and I love her still.

After returning from a trip visiting my parents I saw a billboard with her picture on it. She was coming to Chattanooga! Woo-hoo! For the third consecutive year, Chattanooga was host to She An Expo for Women. I previously attended in 2009 and had the pleasure of hearing Paula Deen. I remembered how I waited for an hour and a half in an enormous line to get Paula Deen’s autograph. Sorry to say, I didn’t advance very far in that line, but I still got to see her cook and hear her stories.

After pulling in the garage my feet hit the stairs with a bang and I ran to my computer. I found the website information and saw the tab to purchase tickets in advance. Hmmmm. Then I saw it. Just exactly what I wanted. A VIP ticket. With these tickets I would have the opportunity to get her autograph AND have a personal picture taken with her. OH WOW!! All I had to do was click that button and buy that ticket! Then, wait for 3 weeks for the event.

After returning from our great vacation, I started to get excited about seeing her. Up close and personal! So the day rolled around and my younger just-graduated-from-college daughter was my companion. She didn’t get to go in the private room with me, but she waited just outside and I kept her updated with texts and phone pictures. I’m sure she was laughing and rolling her eyes at my crazy childlike excitement.

There were probably about 75ish “Martha fans” and we all gathered around as she entered the room. Me? I was up close with camera in hand.

First impressions? She looked thinner than she does on TV, she has great hair, awesome shoes and I have such a hard time believing this woman is 69!

She was gracious, quiet and, as I said before, so down to earth. When I think about folks with celebrity status, I often ask myself, “Is this someone I could sit down to supper with and have a regular, everyday conversation?”

So Martha, what did you have for breakfast this morning?
Are your chickens laying good eggs these days?
Yea, I hate laundry too, but I don’t mind ironing.
Sure, I’ll be glad to help with that unfinished sewing project on your craft table.
Aren’t grandbabies the best?!
Next time it will be my treat. I’ll even fix you some gazpacho.

Yep. Martha and I would get along real swell!

I have several of Martha’s books, but decided to take my Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts for her to autograph. The guy in front of me (there were a few males there) had a book and a spoon. Since we were allowed only one item to autograph, he had a friend hold his spoon. Now that was a pretty awesome item to autograph!

In our short 30 second eye-to-eye conversation she said she loves Chattanooga and looks forward to visiting again. She also said that everyone has been so nice and that she was very pleased to meet me and autograph my book. Then she said happy sewing! I know she tells everyone this, but the thing is, I believe she is genuinely sincere.

Our autograph session was followed by a picture session and then is was off to listen to her interview.

Here are some interesting Martha Facts:

-She was an occasional babysitter for the children of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Gil McDougald of the New York Yankees.

-She graduated from Barnard College with a double major in History and Architectural History. Originally she intended to be a Chemistry major.

-She has been struck by lightening 3 times.

-She loves rap music.

This truly was a highlight in my life and I will treasure the memories, be they ever so short!

Thanks Martha and see you soon!

Holy Efflux, Batman!

2011-07-22T23:41:00.001-04:00

This past Wednesday was a special double-playdate with that little Cupcake Girl. We had a nice lunch at a new Mediterranean restaurant, Tazikis’s Café, followed by some playtime at the Discovery Museum’s special project, Bob the Builder. Following much needed rest-time, we packed a picnic supper and headed out on a bat adventure. Yep. Bats.

There’s a cave about 30-40 minutes north of us called Nickajack Cave. As far back as 1800 it was mined for saltpeter. Eventually it became a tourist attraction and in 1967 it was partially flooded by TVA as a result of the construction of the Nickajack Dam. In 1992 this cave became the first area in the state to be designated a nongame national wildlife refuge. It houses a nursery for a colony of endangered Gray Bats. Approximately 100,000 of this little female creatures migrate to this cave in early spring to have/raise their young. They stay until early to mid-fall then the females and their young migrate to their winter cave for hibernation. As dusk rolls around, these sleepy little bats awake and began their journey out of the cave to feed.

As with most of the new adventures we participate in, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Around 7:00 we made our way to the Maple View Recreation Area, which has a few picnic tables and a small boat ramp. This cave is protected and co-managed by TVA and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. They built a walkway through the woods (about 1,000 feet) and constructed a small viewing platform at the end across from the entrance to the cave.

We weren’t sure exactly what time the bats would began their emergence. It was hot and very humid, with absolutely no breeze what-so-ever! We inhaled our water/juice and had to make a trip back to the car for more (thank you my sweet husband). The little one in our party was so patient. She asked great questions about the bats and their protected area.

As the sun was getting ready for its next journey, it began painting the sky and clouds beautiful shades of pink. It was just lovely!

As it was getting darker, we kept looking with great intensity toward the mouth of the cave. We wouldn’t be able to see the bats emerge as the light was quickly fading. I sat on the bench next to Cupcake with a heavy heart. She would be so disappointed. I would be disappoint. Then, I heard my sweet husband say, “See them?” I looked toward the cave. No, I didn’t see them. I looked at him and he was looking up. UP! Above the small canopy of leaves over our head I witnessed the quiet flight of the gray bats. It was awesome! Some of the small bats flew within 2-3 feet of our heads and one in particular flew within inches of Cupcake’s head. For a few moments she, too, was mesmerized as she sat there looking up.

Since I wasn’t really prepared to take night pictures, I made several attempts to try and capture the little bats flying above us. Some pictures with flash and some without. They may be blurry but I love how you can see the outline of the little creatures (especially in the bottom picture below).

For 20 minutes we watched this silent undertaking. Only the night songs of the frogs, crickets and cicadas graced our ears. Our adventure continued as we packed up and headed back to the car in the dark. With flashlights in hand we carefully navigated the walkway. Cupcake shined her light and sang lullabies to the night creatures all the way back.

As I was bringing up the rear I glanced through the dark trees and caught a glimpse of the lights across the lake. I was reminded of the Boz Scaggs song Harbor Lights.

Whoah, the harbour lights of Venus
Shining through the breeze
That brings me back to you my love
To you my love, to you my love.

What a beautiful bat night!

Restart, Again

2011-07-15T23:54:00.001-04:00

You know, I started out pretty good. Take pictures, upload pictures, get up early in the morning and blog. Next day, repeat. Somehow, it just didn’t work. Especially when we left St. Augustine for our road trip. Assorted hotels, varying internet connections, days spent roaming or driving, etc. The thoughts were there, but the time and energy were caput!

So here is a small recap of our two weeks:

15 days away from home
6 states covered
2,300+ miles driven
5+ hours riding on a golf cart
6 hotels/condos checked into
40+ hours driving in the car
7+ dozen oysters consumed
1 whole lobster inhaled
1 minnow captured, held captive, then buried
2 dolphins fed and loved
4 sandcastles erected, then destroyed
40+ seagulls feed over 2 days
8 sunrises witnessed
3 sunsets beheld
1 huge battleship explored
2 orders of beignets devoured, with coffee
2 tours appreciated
2 great-grandparents embraced
1 daughter & 1 son-in-law made happy
1 Cupcake Girl snuggled, loved, kissed and missed

There is more. So much more. I will record it. I have the pictures and I will surround them with words.

The words just don’t seem to rise or spring forth or flow or whatever you want to call it. I want them to and I wait. And I wait.

Still waiting.

The Birds

2011-06-29T09:43:00.000-04:00

This isn't a post about the movie The Birds or the musical group The Birds, just in case you were directed here by google or something. This is about Cupcake feeding the seagulls.

After a day of trolley riding and fort exploring, we had some late afternoon beach time. I took a little leftover bread down with us in hopes of capturing some shots of Cupcake feeding the seagulls. I saw one or two fly by as we were playing and thought, well, it only takes one bird to start the process then the others will come. Yep, the others certainly came.

Okay, the next batter is in the box and relief pitcher Mad Dog Cupcake is up.

She's in her wind up.....

There she goes.........

Oh no, she throws the switch-hands-pitch and it's a STRIKE!

Oh, her birds friends loved her!

After a tough day of pitching, it's back to the clubhouse for this relief pitcher.

Beach Dancing

2011-06-27T22:33:00.001-04:00

After a lovely day playing in the sand, watching Cupcake Girl swim in the ocean then the pool, we had dinner at Creekside Restaurant with the great-grandparents. This girl was ready to go!

Cupcake decided to try her first oyster. Of course it was covered in baked cheese, but she tried it and LOVED it!

To top off dinner we headed out to the deck and listened to some great music by a 3-piece band. The first thing Cupcake wanted to do? Dance. That girl is a dancing machine! I had heard from her mom (my oldest) that recently at a wedding they went to Cupcake danced ALL night and I believe it!

She wasn't flashing, she was just doing the twirl thing with her dress.

So, the band had a hat up front for donations and little girl walked up there with some money, but only with a little hand-holding. After the band played for a bit, her Meemaw gave her some more money and she took it up by herself. THIS is the look on her face after she made the donation all-by-her-little-self! She was so proud. It made such an impression on the folks around us, we gave her even more money to take up there, just so we could see her proud little face!

After more dancing, Cupcake wanted to get a leaf from the tree that was above her. Well, it was a bit too high and GrandBob just couldn't get her up high enough. She thought it was pretty dang funny though. Since GrandBob wasn't tall enough she took off looking for a "tall man" in the crowd. Seriously! It was so funny to see her looking at all the folks. You could see the determination on her little face. But she was quite sad that no one fit the bill. To satisfy her, her great-granddaddy, Gigi, took her around the corner and they picked up a leaf off the ground! Yay for Gigi!

Our yummilicious dinner and celebratory dancing was followed with a little night stroll down to the beach/ocean. It was just the two of us and it was a beautiful night. That girl just loves her some salt water and sand. She didn't have a care in the world, just pure enjoyment.

Salt Air and Waves

2011-06-27T08:12:00.000-04:00

The smell of the salty water, the wind in my face, the gentle roar of the waves all combine to create a sense of peace and calm.

A time of renewal for the heart, soul, spirit and body.

It feels good! Yes, it feels good to plant my feet in the sand, plop down in a runoff of ocean water, allow the wind to whip my hair into a frenzie and fill my heart with joy listening to the squeels of laughter from that little Cupcake Girl.

Cupcake Girl: Are we there yet?
Me: No, not yet.
Cupcake Girl: I guess I'll never see the water.

Well sweet girl, you are finally "at the water" for the fourth year and loving it.

This girl was ready to capture some minnows!

A Visit to the Opry – Mountain Opry

2011-06-14T23:35:00.001-04:00

We have a little gem here in our community. It’s called the Mountain Opry. It’s a non-profit organization that has been operating every Friday night for nearly 30 years. This show features some of the area’s best bluegrass, mountain and traditional Americana music that can be found in the Tennessee Valley. There are usually 4-6 different performances and there’s no charge for admittance, but they do pass the hat for donations. On any given Friday you may hear banjo pickers, fiddlers, bass players, guitarists, and along with some good old-fashioned harmonizing. Sometimes the action on the outside is just as entertaining, as groups waiting to go on jam with other pickers in the yard.

We’ve made several visits to the Opry over the past few years and have never been disappointed. Recently we had the opportunity to attend again with all the folks that came into town for Rebecca’s ordination. I brought my camera along to capture the moment, but was disappointed when I imported them into my computer. Usually, when we have Cupcake with us, we sit on the stage and watch the musicians from behind, but this time we actually sat in front of the musicians toward the back of the room. The imported photos were very dark and of course grainy.

After staring at them for a bit I decided to try and give them a vintage look. Wow! I absolutely LOVE how they turned out. I love how the vintage effect brought out the light. I really enjoy capturing those little intimate moments when no one is aware that I have a camera pointed at them. That vintage effect only added more emphasis to this point-of-view. Next time? Well, the next time we visit we just may sit in the same spot.

Enjoy!

Some folks in our group, two of Rebecca’s aunts, decided to try a little boot-scoot-n-boogie or was it clogging? Well, whatever it was, they sure enjoyed themselves! I did too!

And Now An Ordination

2011-06-14T11:06:00.000-04:00

First a seminary graduation and now? A beautiful ordination. My husband’s oldest daughter, Rebecca completed 3 years at Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacon a week ago. The service was celebrated at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church. This gorgeous church was built in 1881, and their Nave is on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

We decided to take Cupcake Girl to the celebration for “her Reb.” She was so quiet and a very patient little girl for the hour and a half service. She kept looking for “her Reb” throughout the service and every time she made eye-contact Cupcake would just grin. At one point, she caught Rebecca’s reflection in a side mirror and oh, that made her so happy!

The ordination was moving. Beautiful music, a heartfelt message, laying on of hands by the presiding Bishop and the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist. I didn’t grow up in the Episcopal Church (I’m a Baptist girl), but I am moved by their services and enjoy each and every one I have attend over the years.

Here are a few glimpses into this beautiful ceremony.

Rebecca’s mother presented her with her red stole. This stole has a history in that each VTS graduating senior will hand it down to a upcoming senior the following year for their ordination (I hope I have that correct, Reb). I believe this particular stole began it’s journey around the late 90’s. I had the privilege to photograph it. I seriously could feel the power this gift had and know it will continue to bring joy to each ordinate it will grace in the future.

Post-ceremony pictures.

The picture on the left is Rebecca’s presenters for her ordination. Her friend Tommy, former boss Billy and her sweet husband Josh. On the right is Rebecca’s godfather, Bruce.

And now for a few family pictures. Brother-in-law, mom, sister, dad, husband and then her aunts and mom.

And now here are some of my favorites of the day…

And now for my absolute favorite from the day. Sheer joy and happiness!

Rebecca, I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. I know in my heart that you will be a tireless and excellent servant of God and your new church and community are blessed to have you and Josh. Blessings to you both as you serve the Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in San Diego, California.

P.S. Glad you have that extra bedroom for when we come visit!!!!

P.S. Cupcake Girl really misses you!

The Traveling Adventurers

2011-06-13T00:24:00.000-04:00

Following my daughter’s college graduation, we took a little side trip to a swamp. Therefore, after my husband’s oldest daughter’s seminary graduation, another side trip was in order. We turned our little car south-east our of Alexandria, Virginia and headed for Jamestown and Williamsburg, Virginia. We didn’t know if we would be overnighting there, but we at least wanted to visit.

As we headed to Jamestown, I noticed signs for the Jamestown Settlement Museum. It looked just like the place we wanted to see. After the walking tour we realized it was not exactly the place we had hoped it would be. It is a living museum, but not as authentic as we had hoped. On the positive side, it did make a great backdrop for some beautiful photography shots!

After this quick stop we headed out to Jamestown Island. This isthmus was once the seat of government for Jamestown and then developed into large plantations. From the island's rim, Confederate forts guarded the river channel during the Civil War. Today, the 5-mile Island Drive gives you views of the James River, the marshlands, and regenerating forest. It is a nice quiet place to hike and bike.

Our next stop was Colonial Williamsburg. We actually just drove around the historic area in order to scope it our for a future visit. It certainly looks promising. I’ve heard it is beautiful at Christmas. A future trip will be scheduled, that’s for sure!

After deciding not to stay overnight, we headed south/southwest and drove all the way home. After a 1:00 a.m. arrival our cozy bed welcomed us for a long night’s sleep!

Segging on a Segway

2011-06-12T00:23:00.000-04:00

Now comes the adventurous portion of our D.C. trip.

My sweet husband and I headed into Washington, D.C. to spend a few hours at the National Museum of the American Indian. A truly fascinating place! Reb and Josh headed in a bit later to meet us for lunch at the museum’s food court. Delicious!

On a previous trip to D.C., the Captain and I took a Segway tour. It was exciting, but also a bit scary. I just couldn’t relax and looked serious and stiff the entire time. This did make for some hilarious videos, I will admit. Reb and Josh were excited to try this Segway adventure, but me, again? Not so much! I just didn’t want to fall. I was really scared of falling. As long as I can speed along on a flat surface without any folks, cars, or obstacles around, well, that would be just dandy with me. This time? A few not-so-flat-surfaces and LOTS of folks/cars/obstacles to weave in and out of. Scary! I just hung out at the back of our 7-person pack and took it slow and easy.

During the first portion of our little tour I was feeling a bit more relaxed. Actually, I was relaxed enough to snap a few photos with my phone WHILE on the Segway machine!

I am so proud of the above camera phone pic AND I took it while standing on that Segway machine!

I think I look pretty relaxed, don’t you?

Then? Then IT happened! Doom. despair and tragedy on me! We were traveling down the sideway and there was a GIGANTIC obstacle in our path. We had to maneuver through the grass a short distance then back up on the sidewalk through a very narrow concrete barrier. Grass? No one said anything about grass? Ok. Well, that part was pretty simple. But the slight raise of the sidewalk and the concrete barrier did me in! I was already anxious and that didn’t help matters. I didn’t actually fall off, but I did step backwards and the Segway, which took a turn to the right, collided with my leg and my leg then collided with the concrete barrier. Our guide was back there in a flash. I told him I was okay, but I could feel a little trickle of liquid rolling down my shin. With a quiet grace, humility and a throbbing leg, I finished the tour. Boy was I ready to dismount that machine!

I didn’t tell any of the others about my injury until we were back at the hotel. Doesn’t look too bad in the pictures, but I did get a very nasty bruise on the inner part of my upper calf (and it’s still there). Thank you Mr. Segway!

After the tour, we took the train back to Alexandria and while we were waiting, I snapped a few more pics with my camera phone. Pretty cool!

We ended this adventurous day with a great dinner at a local restaurant. I forgot the name of it, but it was yummilicious and uber cool!

The following morning, after a quick breakfast we turned out car south and headed home. Of course, with us “adventurous travelers” we don’t always go straight home. Stay tuned!

A Seminary Graduation

2011-06-11T12:34:00.001-04:00

Since late March, we have been putting a lot of miles on the road and staying very busy. First we attended the graduation of my youngest daughter in Florida. Then birthdays (his and mine) were celebrated in May. Around mid-May we attended the graduation of my husband’s oldest daughter from Virginia Theological Seminary. What an exciting event! We were blessed to attend a service the evening prior to graduation with a BBQ reception following. The graduation ceremony the following day was so special. Not only could you see the excitement on each seminarian’s face as they processed in, you could actually feel the special bond and love they have for each other.

Reb profile.

The commencement address, which was streamed live, was given by the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Bishop Curry developed his address around a quote by the late George Bernard Shaw who said Some men see things as they are, and ask why? I dream things that never were and ask why not? It was a powerful message and one that I have listened to frequently. (click here if you would like to listen this address. He begins speaking at around 30:50 into the ceremony. There is also a written version of his address). Bishop Curry closed his message by saying:

My brothers and sisters, we who follow Jesus believe that God has something better in store for this world. We've seen it in Jesus. We've heard it in the Gospel. And it is our job to help this world find out what that is, and then live. Graduates of Virginia Theological Seminary, we need you to go into the world in the Name of Jesus to help us find out what that is, and live. We need you to go into the world and proclaim the good news of Jesus to the whole creation. Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that Jesus has taught us.11 Go, help us to become people of love. Go, help us to become people of compassion. Go, help us to become people of justice. Go, and help us to become more than merely the human race. Help us to become the human family of God. Some folk see things as they are and ask, “Why?” We who follow Jesus dream
things that never were and ask, “Why not?”

Thank you Bishop Curry for his powerful message.

This photo is courtesy of Virginia Theological Seminary

Reb was one of the two recipients of the Harris Award, given each year to candidates for Holy Orders who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership ability. All of her family and friends, especially her sweet husband, Josh, are so proud of her.

Here are a few snapshots from the day:

We ended the day with a festive dinner at the Chart House on the Potomac River.

The day after graduation a few family members and some friends headed back home, but we were able to extend our stay for a few days. What did we do? Well, just read my next post to find out. But here is a little clue……

From A Distance

2011-06-06T21:49:00.001-04:00

When I saw the theme for iheartfaces weekly photo challenge this week, I knew which photograph I had to submit. Recently we took a little train ride on Tennessee Valley Railroad. I love this quick trip through part of our town. I also love photographing certain elements in and around the train. My sweet husband and Cupcake had just returned from watching the engine being turned around on the turntable. He was sitting and talking with her and I wanted to capture the moment. Looking at this photograph made me wonder what their conversation was about.

Take a moment to visit iheartfaces and see other beautiful entries from a distance.