Landshark!

I decided to have a beer today. It has been many years since my last one. It was cold, refreshing and I enjoyed it very much.

Go Back!

Sometimes nature makes you scratch your head and ask, "how did that happen?" I looked at this tree for a few minutes trying to figure out how this branch grew in that configuration. As I stood in the heat of the afternoon sun at the turn around point of my walk, I scratched my head and admired the beauty of this tree and wondered as I walked away, what stories it could tell.

There is not always an easy answer to every question and I asked many questions this day.
I found many answers which in turn prompted me to ask even more questions.

Insight is humbling.

Little Theifs

This picture is dark on purpose. It is Mrs. Don't's underpants, if they qualify for that term, I'm not sure. Anyway, after she had left and I was making my bed, I found these pink, lacy, personal, private, foundation garment by my bedside. My dogs stole them from the bedroom down the hall and placed them in my dirty clothes pile.

"Little Thief's"

Her pal Nelly

My girl, Mrs. Don't came down for one last visit before she left for her new home. She took with her some precious items that have been stored in her room for the last few years. Nelly was her companion for most of her childhood. She took him with her everywhere. Sleepovers, camping, to H2O tournaments far and near.

Bouquets of Balloons

I spent the better part of the morning enjoying a coffee with friends. We sat outside and soaked in the sun with our oh so very white skin. We were all pink by the time we said our good byes. We talked under a tree that dropped flowers and bumble bees. We watched as consumers exited the party shop with bouquets of balloons. One person went in with a hand full of half deflated Mylar stars. Requesting additional helium was our guess. As the people opened their car doors and attempted to shove, poke, sneak, squeak, tap, bounce and persuade their balloons into the open space of their autos, the most hilarious things happened. We heard pops, and tweaks and grumbles and we even watched as one Mylar graduate, with cap and gown, float up, up and away from his anchor. We gasped, the purchaser was unaware...we giggled and snickered.

A goofy morning as we asked questions of friends that are on the verge of a new beginning. I will miss you my friends. I will not say good-bye. You will forever be in my heart. I love you truly.

Cranky the Bear

This story was read in class and boy was it cute. The bear is cranky because some animal friends invade his space. They try to make him happy by changing him into an animal more like them. But the lion and moose and zebra fail to do so. Only the sheep can solve his dilemma...YEAH SHEEP

Room of Green

My daughter and I worked on cleaning out the room she used to occupy some 5 years ago. She went away to college and now is leaving California to live with her husband in Colorado. We went through books and papers from as far back as middle school. She came across note books with lists of things to do and animals to take care of. It was a fun walk down memory lane. It was all business for the most part. Laughs and some chuckles, no tears. Those are days way way in the past. It was a cleansing day. Little remains of the small girl that loves horses. The room is still green, the last color she confided that was her favorite.

It's my space now!

Forth Tractors

If you know me, then you know I like big loud engines. I also like tractors. It's kind of a new favorite thing for me. As I posted my blog I found a wonderful thing on my computer screen. Forth Tractors....Lovely indeed.

Poor, poor cow

At the end of every school year there are celebrations. Some kids have a party. Some kids have Popsicles. Some kids watch a movie. Our kids get to go to the park. Where the ground is soft and the grass is green and we pretty much take over the place. This is one of the "games" we can play. There are no rules and pretty much no body really plays with this part of the structure. It did catch my eye as I lined up the parts of the cow. Oh this poor little COW Standing there with all of her parts showing...I blushed for her.

The little church on the lane

I live on a little street with 8 houses. 8 houses and on small church. The church is the first structure you see when you turn onto my street. The church owns 3 lots and a cell phone tower. The church has weeds in its yard as tall as me. I wish the new owners would come and spruce up the place. This cross at night when it is lit up looks pretty cool. But the over grown property is getting on my last good nerve...

The Box

The box where best wishes launch, congrats are unfurled and bills land. Hand painted with wild flowers oh so many years ago. Faded and worn, knocked out of perfect vertical plumb by a new teenage driver, sprinkled with blossoms dropping from the nearest tree. Property of the federal government...no peaking if you don't live here. Friend and Foe.

Smell those Roses

With the possibility of moving in 4 years, (i know, planning way ahead), I find myself snapping pictures of the scenes I see everyday. For some strange reason, I don't want them to fade from my memory. I have driven through this intersection at least twice a day for the last 27 years. Why would I forget it? Because it has become the part of the world that I have put on auto pilot. Get in the car, start it up, back out of the drive way and go to work. Don't pay attention to details. Just get there. I am going to continue to snap these ordinary pictures in an attempt to slow down and smell the proverbial roses.

The Mustang

Way back last summer when my church did some baptisms at the bay, while driving East ward, I spotted this cool looking car and I tried to snap a picture of it. Well, since we were all driving around 70 mph, it was not so easy. Today, at work while in the multipurpose room for our last sing-a-long with our friends from general ed, I looked out the window and saw this car. It is the same car from the freeway. I couldn't keep my attention on the singing or the children. My eyes would continually peer out the giant windows of the room. I finally just said to my co-worker, I have to take a picture of that car so I can get back to work. When I first learned how to drive and I got to use the car and I mean not the family station wagon, but the "car," I got to drive a 1967 Mustang. It was the same color as this one is and I had to get a closer look. Kinda cool when you see what they have done to this one.

The Hardwoods

When remembering times past that were way more simple than they are now. Times when staying up late was a privilage and the stress of the day was getting a good grade on a paper. Back when you had a fight with your brother you thought, "no problem, I still have my sister and another brother to play with." I would sit with my dad and watch the NBA on our square, non-remote controlled Magnavox television. With the crowd cheering and the squeaking of the Chuck Taylor's on the hardwoods was occasionally interrupted by my dads outbursts. He was the fourth referee. The one who could see all of the fouls and never make a mistake. He would tolerate my simple questions like, "why do they push each other, I thought you couldn't do that?" I would recite the teams and the towns they came from. He would yell at the men playing on the t.v.. I watched part of the Laker/Celtic game tonight. I was flooded with happy memories. I need to share a game with him again soon.

Ducha

While waisting time in wally world while my oil was being changed, I stumbled across this unique accessory one could bring with them camping or to the beach or to the soccer field. Back in my day we would use a hose and "ducha" out where everyone could see us. I tell you, folks are spoiled these days...The price was under $40. It also made me think of my friend iGirl. She has numerous camping and boating paraphernalia...

Peace Pole

Outside of our classroom door there is a pole. It is a peace pole. It has many languages on it and it is dedicated to our principal who has been a advocate for peace on our campus. We have "peace builders" and practice keeping the peace every day. The teacher that works next door in room 19 made the pole and he did an excellent job. The peace pole was started by a Japanese man after the bombings at Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Ironic...

Posies

I saw these wonderful little helpers in a store and thought, do people really use these? Would I use them? Do they hurt when you remove them? Next time I see them I will buy them and give them to a friend to try. For now, enjoy the odds and ends of your local wally world...

Guess where I am standing

Can you guess where I am standing??? I know it's not a normal place for me. I had to be there.

Nap Time

It has been a tough week...nap time is a great way to get through the night without being grumpy.

UP, UP, UP

Doing something without ones filter is a very freeing feeling. One of my little guys at work probably had this thought go through his head..."I wonder what would happen if I threw this lunchbox over the fence?" Well, there it lay in the street, waiting for a big truck to roll right over it. That never happened. I have a key to the gate so I went out and got it. I actually tossed it back over the fence, kind of to see how it felt. It was fun. It landed as if I had placed it with precision on the other side of the fence. Not far from its original starting point. Recess continued and as we were lining up, my favorite lunchbox tosser got a hold of the blue box again and tossed it straight up in the air. This time it landed right on the edge of the closest building. Way out of our reach. We all stood and watched as it went flying up, up, up, teetering on the edge. But it did not fall back to earth. We alerted people who could help and the box was returned before its owner got on the bus at the end of the day to go home. No harm, No foul...

Scriptures

Tonight at the quilt meeting, it was my job to look up scriptures. It was a task and a half and it was fun.

Gadgets

As a way to stay connected to my daughter, I put up these weather gadgets. In my mind, it helps to know. Soon, there will be only 2.

Big Bird in the Air

Today in my small town there was a small brush fire. We saw the smoke as we walked in from lunch recess. We knew it was close to the school, not more than half a mile. It was a breezy day but the wind was not coming towards the school. We could not smell the smoke but we could hear the helicopters over head. First the small one. He was circling up high, directing the big one that was headed our way. The big helicopter from the fire department, loaded with water, flying low, quickly past the school in a straight line. So powerful its engine zoomed up Los Coches, in a straight as an arrow pattern. After dumping his water, he would circle around passing over the school. Loud and low with his blades chopping through the air making that thwap, thwap, thwap sound. It was exciting for me to see and hear the machinery in the air more than being afraid we might have to evacuate from the fire...I tried to capture the big bird in the air. I seemed to have missed it. I was at work after all, blowing bubbles with the kids. : )

Sam

Here is Sam. He hangs on my wall as part of everything that is Red, White and Blue in my house. I painted him many years ago with a friend. Sam is a favorite in my house. He stands there holding his flag up high for all to see as they sit in my room of blue.