Camera Critters

This is a Downy Woodpecker, I think, if not it's a Hairy Woodpecker.


I took this through my front window. We also have a Red Bellied Woodpecker that comes to our feeder. I just can't catch him. Everytime I try for a picture he flies away. I'll get him one of these days.



This is my guessing game. How may sparrows can you find?


I think this maybe a better picture, if you enlarge it.

These little guys snuggle deep into the tangled honeysuckle bush on very cold days and nights.

I must be a Mean Granny

Cute girls, one year apart in age. What one couldn't think of the other one could. They didn't both live with me at the same time, thank God. Allie Cat lived with me and Hippy Child lived with her Mom. It was in the same small town. They ran around with each other and two or three other friends.

It did come in handy working for the District Court, juvenile division. There were things I could find out and they didn't know. That and Allie Cats Mom had put a spy on her computer. We knew every word she typed, sent or received. That was a big help. Of course she had no idea. I told them I just got these feeling that something was going on. That or one of the kids a court was talking about a party that was going to be held that night.

I also knew the kids that they should not be hanging out with or be in the company of. Allie Cat had this "boyfriend". He was or is a cute kid. At least the last time I saw him he was still cute. I haven't seen him since he got out of the juvenile detention center or was that prison. I had told her she couldn't see him. I know she still did but it did limit the amout of time she was with him. He just couldn't understand why I didn't like him. He was use to fooling parents with his charm and manners and he was from a good family. The little pot head. I think she is now glad that I had put my foot down about him. Her Mom said she was a much better behaved kid when she moved back home. (at least for a year or two) I think she has finally grown up.

Hippy Child moved in when her Mom married and moved to another town. Hippy Child was in her senior year at school and didn't want to change schools. So she moved into my home. Believe me, that picture of her in her graduation gown and that big smile of hers was very close to not happening. It was so close that her name wasn't on the graduation program. That's how close it was. Hippy Child now lives in Arizona, going to school and learning some type of new dance. She is one of the funniest and most fun person to be around. I miss her terribly.

For some reason I think my kids would threaten their kids with "if you don't behave I'll send you to live with your Granny". I have no idea why!

Bird Feeder?

I think the squirrel eats more of the bird food that the birds do. You just can't keep him out. My husband has named him Rocky. Now you know why Monkey Girl thinks its a squirrel feeder.

Just had to take another picture of the sparrows. You always know when it is really cold. They all flock to this bush. Shoot, I took a close look and only found two birds.

Can you count how many?

I don't know how many sparrows are in the honeysuckle bush. I heard lots of chirping and looked over and there they were. They do like that bush because it produces berries. That and it protects them from the cold, somewhat. You know you can enlarge the picture by double clicking. When I first heard them and saw them there were more but by the time I got my camera some had flown away.



It was a beautiful day this morning but now it has turned cold and windy. The weather changes so darn fast here.



Sunday I am going to Wichita with my first born. Her and her DH are stopping by to get me (as long as I don't have a headache) I need to get the frames for the pictures that are being mailed as I type.

It's now Sunday I started this post Saturday, trying to get a head start.

I woke up at 5 this am with a headache. I took my migraine medicine and went back to bed. Thank heavens when I woke again it was gone!

Now to make my list of things I need from the "Big City". I know my DH needs some new Levis. For some reason I keep shrinking his. At least that is what he keeps saying.

This is my husband's German Short Hair named Duke. His name should have been Spaz! I have never seen such a hyper dog. I even ask the Vet if he could be ADHD (I think that is what it's called) He is hard headed too. He is now 2 yrs old and the Vet said he should calm down by the time he is 4. I don't know if I can take it that long. He is a pretty dog by OMG! I know if something happens to him my husband will think I did it!

I can't believe he stayed still for this picture.

I HATE MIGRAINES!!

I have fought this all night. I knew when I went to bed with a headache that I should have gotten up and taken some asprin. I had taken a muscle relaxer, that usually helps. Sure didn't last night.I do have it down to a dull roar now. And looking at this computer doesn't help. So why am I doing it? Because I'm bored!

I think I will go to Wichita today. I need to find 2 frames that are 8 x 12 or larger like 12 x 16. I have purchased a photo from Kate (Chronicles of a Country Girl ) It's the Tree in Silhouette, I love that photo. Then I found out from Kate that I got one free, so I got Tree in Silhouette 2. I think I will slowly start replacing the pictures in my livingroom. Everything I have in here are signed numbered prints or orginal landscapes that I have taken while on vacations. I love Kate's photos. I only have one so far from a local photographer. He has won national awards for his photographs. His are much more expensive that Kates but I think hers are just as good.



This is the photo that I bought my husband for Christmas. (Really it was more for both of us)

If you double click on it you can enlarge it. The brown color is the matting around the photo. I don't know how many of this he sold but it was alot. This was taken about a mile from my house during the ice storm of 2005. Isn't it beautiful.

Tammy if you know how to go in and put a copyright on the photo please do so. Stan does have one on there in the lower left had corner but is that enough? I don't want to get into trouble for putting it on the web. If you can't remember my sign in for my blog let me know and I'll send it to you. (okay I did kind of figure it out but if what I have on the photo doesn't work let me know so you can fix it.) If I shouldn't have it on the web let me know and I'll remove it. I just thought it was so beautiful I had to share it.

Here is some of my other art work in my living room.

This is a Ducks Unlimited signed number print. I have 2 or 3 from Ducks Unlimited. This one is above my fireplace.

The ones below are also signed numbered prints by Ivy Hayes. I would have loved to have one of his orginal oils. He is an old black man from North Carolina. He is color blind. His grandson tell him what colors are what.


Double click to enlarge, you can view them better that way.
As you can tell I love art of any kind as long as they appeal to me. I hope you have enjoyed my livingroom art. What is shown is only a couple of walls. My livingroom is 16 by 32 so I have a lot of wall space. Believe me when I say it is covered!

Hey, my migraine has gone away. I guess my migraine pill worked, yeah!

Day 2 of the New Year and all is okay

Hey, I have the the day off with pay which is great.

All of the Christmas decoration are packed and put away for another year.

I have been trying to get photos of some of the birds that come to our feeders. I would love to get the woodpeckers. We have two different types plus a flicker. They fly away as soon as I open the door. I did catch a cardinal before he took off.

This was taken from my deck. It is a good 60 to 70 feet to this feeder. I can't believe my little camera zoomed in this much. One of these days I will get the woodpeckers.

Walking down the hallway I noticed a Christmas decoration that I hadn't packed away and I may not. It makes a great night light. I think it is pretty even if I did make it.

Its just a glass block with a hole drilled in it. Then you stuff a string of 20 lights inside. That can be a chore because the hole is just big enought for the single light to fit in. After putting in the lights you find a pretty ribbon and tie a bow, plug it in. Thats it your all done. I have a box of these glass blocks with holes that my husband drilled. One of these days I will fix at least 5 more to give to the kids. If they want them?

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It is hard to believe that 2008 is over. I wish everyone a safe, happy, and healthy 2009.


Our BIG Christmas is over. This year it will be a big Thanksgiving. We do it so the kids can have Thanksgiving or Christmas with their spouses family. It works pretty good this way. I don't think I have the energy to do big holidays every year.

Now it is time to put all of the decorations away. At least that goes so much faster than the decorating. I even decorate my (as we call it) little bathroom. This bathroom is in the hallway off the livingroom.







Doesn't everyone decorate their bathroom?

That is what I will be doing this New Years day. Sounds like fun, huh.

I do need to go to the store and pick up a few things. I do hope I can find some black eyed peas. My oldest daughter called these pork eyed beans when she was little. I don't know how she got pork and beans and black eyed peas mixed up but she did.

Oh, my kitchen is done. At least the tile work and counters are done. The floor is yet to be done. I'll let you know when we start on that. I want spanish tile. I will post pictures soon of the tile work. I can't believe the difference it made, so pretty

I know it's been a while, so shoot me.

I know I haven't blogged for a long while. I have a life (well not really but a pretend life).

First I want to wish my youngest daughter
HAPPY BIRTHDAY I CAN'T BELIEVE YOUR 40 OMG!

Do you know how old that makes me feel.

Have your read "The Color of Home"?
Now that your sister has blogged about my life your turn is next. I wish you luck.

I wanted to show the world my candy Christmas Tree. That is why I decieded to blog tonight.

So here is my favorite Christmas Tree. I started collecting candy type ornaments several years ago. Now most of the ornament on the tree and the garland looks like some type of candy. The Grandkids love it, I think.

Take a look and tell me what you think.

I NEED HELP!!!!!!!

How in the world do you decide what color, shape, size, design of tile to use on the walls. The new counters are very light so I didn't want something to light on the walls. I will try and take pictures of what we have selected so far.

Not the best pictures but they will give you and idea of what it looks like. There are several different pieces of tile. Only one of each kind to check out the color in the light of our kitchen.

The two pictures above are the same thing. One is just closer than the other. The bottom piece, all the little small pieces, has pieces of the same tile as the larger piece above it. At the very top is a half round bronze color glass tile. That kind of finishes off the top and it matches the darker pieces in the bottom group of tiles. See the little dark oblong pieces. I kind of like this.

These tiles are darker. The bottom and the square in the middle match. I don't know about the strip above the bottom piece. It is prettier in person and has a shine to it. I like the tile right below the half round, the dark narrow piece. It is a beautiful color and looks like crystals sprinkled through it. I don't like the arrangement.

The only thing different here is the 6 X 6 square tile. It is the same color as the tile in the first two picture. The little square tiles.

Anyway these are a few pieces we bought today to see how they looked with the counter. I forgot to take one of the cutting boards of corian with me to look at tile. I will remember next time.

Do you think I need colored tile? I had thought of just white with trim in color. I just don't know. I glad I'm not building a house it would take me forever to decide.

I do have help coming, yeah! Brneyedgal, my daughter, will be here Friday. Then the shopping, decorating, work begins.

I'm off work 5 days. I don't go back until Tuesday. We can have it done by then, right?

It only took 30 years

But I finally got new counter tops. The counters were 1 inch square green and brown glass tiles. I hated them! They were hard to keep clean with all of those grout lines. They were uneven and would not stay glued down. There was one end of the counter that the tiles always came loose. I would reattach them but finally gave up. They ended up just laying there loose & ugly.

This is what I have now. CORIAN



Ain't it purdy!

Here are the faucets I selected. (just ignore the wall behind the counter) That will be the next thing to be updated. I won't even tell you what we had up there.



After we fix the torn up walls behind the counter it's on to the floor. I'm just hoping I can have most of it done before Christmas. Wish me luck!

OMG!!

I can relate to part of this but can you imagine, lol..

My daughter in law sent me this.

POWER OUTAGE DURING A MAMMOGRAM

I actually kept my mammogram appointment. I was met with, 'Hi, I'm Belinda!' This perky clipboard carrier smiled from ear to ear, tilted her head to one side and crooned, 'All I need you to do is step into this room right here, strip to the waist, then slip on this gown. Everything clear? I'm thinking, 'Belinda, try decaf. This ain't rocket science.'

Belinda skipped away to prepare the chamber of horrors. With the right side finished, Belinda flipped me (literally) to the left and said, 'Hmmmm. Can you stand on your tippy toes and lean in a tad so we can get everything?' Fine, I answered. I was freezing, bruised, and out of air, so why not use the remaining circulation in my legs and neck and finish me off? My body was in a holding pattern that defied gravity (with my other boob wedged between those two 4 inch pieces of square glass) when we heard, then felt a zap! Complete darkness and the power went off! 'Oh, maintenance is working. Bet they hit a snag.' Belinda headed for the door.
'Excuse me! You're not leaving me in this vise alone are you?' I shouted.
Belinda kept going and said, 'Oh, you fussy puppy...the door's wide open so you'll have the emergency hall lights. I'll be right back.' Before I could shout 'NOOOO!' she disappeared.

And that's exactly how Bubba and Earl, maintenance men extraordinaire, found me, half-naked and part of me dangling from the Jaws of Life, and the other part smashed between glass! After exchanging polite 'Hi, how's it going' type greetings, Bubba (or possibly Earl) asked, to my utter disbelief, if I knew the power was off. Trying to disguise my hysteria, I replied with as much calmness as possible 'Uh, yes, yes I did thanks.' 'You bet, take care' Bubba replied and waved good-bye as though I'd been standing in the line at the grocery store.

Two hours later, Belinda breezes in wearing a sheepish grin. Making no attempt to suppress her amusement, she said, 'Oh I am sooo sorry!' The power came back on and I totally forgot about you! And silly me, I went to lunch. Are we upset?'

And that, Your Honor, is exactly how her head ended up between the clamps...

WOW It's almost here

CHRISTMAS



ARE YOU READY?










Do you realize how close it is getting to Christmas. I can't believe it is just around the corner.


Does anyone shop Black Friday? I did once in Arlington, Texas. It wasn't that bad but I don't think I would do it again. There were several of my kids there for Thanksgiving. We left the guys at home (to babysit & watch football) and all of the women went shopping. Everyone had a good time and the crowd wasn't to bad. That was the only time I have shopped on Black Friday.



I have to start getting the house ready for all of the kids and grandkids that will be here for Christmas. I know the girls with be here with there familys but I don't know about my son and his family. The above photo is his son. I sure hope they can make it but it depends on his job. It's a fairly new job and he has to go where they tell him. Sometimes he is gone from home 2 weeks at a time. I really don't know if he likes his job. He is very much a family man and hates being away from his wife and son. I just know we are going to have a BIG Christmas.

Meme? Why is it called a Meme?

I know little kids jump up and down and yell "meme pick me"

Anyway, my darling daughter tagged me for a this. So here goes my first Meme.

Four places I go over and over:

1. Work
2. Dillons (local grocery store)
3. Alco (at one time it was called Duckwalls)
4. Wal Mart (I hate going there just to busy for me)

Four people who e-mail me regularly:

1. Tammy (ya'll know her as brneyedgal)
2. Terri (youngest of my girls)
3. Christina (wife of my son and a great daughter-in-law)
4. Shawna (my partner in crime at work)

Four of my favorite places to eat:

1. Playa Azul (local restaurant in my town)
2. Ted's Cafe Escondido in OKC
3. Sticky Fingers in Wilmington, N.C.
4. The Prime Rib at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas

Four places I'd rather be:

1. Oklahoma
2. North Carolina
3. Ireland
4. Las Vegas (anyone want to go with me?)

Four TV shows I could watch over and over:

1. The Carol Burnett Show (loved that show)
2. I Love Lucy
3. CSI (Vegas or New York can't stand the other one)
4. Myth Busters

Okay that's it, I'm finished. I will not tag anyone because I wouldn't know who to tag. Give me a few months at this first.

Oh, thanks for tagging me. It gave me something to write about. Wait until this weekend and I have time to dig through my old photos. I'll see if I can find some good photos of the family.

Yeah that's it good pictures of the family. snicker snicker

Teens and Concerts

My daughter blogged about the fun she had at concerts when she was a teenager.

Now The Rest Of The Story.

My point of view was very different. The one I really remember she talked me into. I just had this feeling that something was going to happen. Ya know when you get those feelings. Against my better judgment I let her go. My daughter, her best friend (a nice girl I really liked) and these two thugs. I knew of these boys and didn't like what I had heard. My daughter is saying they are just a means of transportation. Just a way to get to and from the concert. So off they go to this concert in Wichita, 86 miles from home. It started getting late her Dad , not worried at all, goes to bed. I stayed up watching TV. Trying to get my mind off of all the terrible things that could happen. It begins to get much much much later. I'm really worried now, she isn't home, it's time for her to be home. The phone rings. I say hello, the voice at the other end says "Mom, we're at the police department in Park City, I say "WHAT, your Where"


To make a long story short, they all lived, they didn't have a wreck but they did get stuck in the mud. Lost somewhere on some road, tried to turn around and got stuck. The police came along and the boys were in no condition to drive and the girls didn't have drivers license yet.
I woke my husband. He contacted one of the boys Dad and they went and got the kids.

I don't know how she was able to go to so many concerts after that!

Veterans Day

Today isn't just a day off with pay but a day to honor ALL Veterans. I thank all men and women who have served in the military. They are the ones who have give us the freedoms that we so enjoy. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

My Dad and my Uncle were in the service during WWII. Dad served state side as a guard at prisoner of war camp until almost the end of the war. When Japan surrendered he was aboard a ship with the invasion force on their way to Japan. I'm so glad he didn't have to fight.

My Uncle was with General Patton from landing at Normandy to Berlin. I know he was awarded several medals, the bronze star, the silver star, I'm not for sure what else. When I was a kid I got into his foot locker and found some of the medals. I know the army tried to make him an officer and he turned it down. It was very hard to get him to talk about the war. I know he liberated several concentration camps. He had photographs that he took and a friend developed of those camps. They were horrible, rows and rows of bodies. The people that were left alive were very afraid of the Americans. Uncle said they had to break into their barracks (the Nazis had told them that the Americans were worse than they were) Uncle said they had to give them food and medical aid before they began to believe that they really were free.

These military people fighting in wars go through hell. It changes them forever and they do it to keep this county free. I thank them from the bottom of my heart.