April 21, 2010

Today I'm thankful for musical breaks.  I cleaned house and got everything back in order this morning, and then I took a little break.

Something about playing an instrument always seems to lift my spirits.

I took piano lessons for YEARS, and pounded on these keys until they were worn slick and cracked with stress.  They were a great escape for me when I was a teenager, and even still today.

Sometimes I get an almost unbearable urge to play a flute, a trombone or the drums again, but unfortunately the house isn't stocked with those particular instruments.  (I was a band freak, sports jockette, and a science and math nerd.  Pretty well rounded if I do say so myself. lol)

These days, when I sit down to play, I almost ALWAYS have little hands playing right beside me.  So the escape isn't what it used to be, but it's still a joyful thing.

April 20, 2010

Today I'm thankful for sunflare.  They are calling for rain the rest of the week, so I spent a good part of my day outside soaking up all the sunshine I could.

I snapped this dandelion a little before 7:00 a.m., just as the sun was starting to come up. 

Dave's folks like to put Bayleigh on the bus in the mornings and get her off of the bus in the afternoon, while they're here, so I thought I'd capture this ritual, before she gets too old and doesn't want anyone putting her on the bus anymore.  Eli also has his own little ritual of picking up a rock in the driveway to give to my mom (the bus driver) each morning.

After we got Bayleigh on the bus, I did some cleaning, Dave's folks packed up and headed for Branson, and Eli and I went outside to play.  We hunted for special treasures, and I found lichen on a tree stump,

while Eli magnified the lilacs.

We also spotted a cat in a tree.  Luckily this particular cat and two of his brothers have found new homes, so we'll be down sizing the herd of outside cats by three.  YAY!

After Bayleigh got home from school, I took the kids outside to play some more, and we ended up taking a walk to my mom's house.

I caught her doing chores (and she would KILL me if she knew I'd taken a picture of her . . . so please don't tell on me!).  She is the hardest working person I know and I admire her greatly.  I hope I can be even HALF the woman she is, when I'm her age.

We helped her carry buckets of feed, and I grabbed a few shots on the go.

I could take hundreds of pictures of this old barn.  My grandpa built it all by himself.  He's long since past on, but I have very fond memories of him.

When we finished choring, mom asked me to take some pictures of her flowers.  This single solitary little violet most suits my personality.  Quiet, shy and trying to fade into the background, although you'd never know it online.  (That's the great thing about the internet.  You can just say what's on your mind with the power to shut things off when you don't like what's being said in response. lol)

I caught this little guy flitting from one little flower to the next, and he finally sat still and posed long enough for me to get a shot.

Mom called these fairy roses.  The bush was just loaded with these beautiful yellow/orange blooms.  I think I'll cut a start from hers and see if I can get them to grow.

After the chores were done, mom decided since I was there, that we needed to move some furniture to the basement.  We ended up taking one door off of it's hinges and moving a huge library table downstairs . . . and then I loaded up an old school desk and some odds and ends to bring home with me.  When we unloaded the stuff at my house, we somehow got side-tracked into cleaning some of the yard up, and we didn't get back in the house until almost 8:00 p.m.  There is never a lack of things to do around here, and as soon as I get the yard cleaned up and in order, I'll be mowing it!  (And just so you know . . . I'm one of those warped people who like to mow their yards.  Crazy, huh?)

April 19, 2010

Today I'm thankful for laughter and good times.  Every time I ask Eli to pose for me, he pulls one of these . . .

I think it tickled grandma, but I'm hoping this stage passes soon.

There is a lot of pollen in the air right now and Dave and the kids have been suffering the past few weeks.  (I've somehow missed out . . . knocking on wood!)

While I was outside today, I noticed my Irises are starting to bloom.  I'm ready to see them all pop out in a brilliant rainbow of colors.

Grandpa was pretty pleased when he taught Bayleigh how to

"skin the cat".  But Bayleigh took him literally and wasn't sure about "skinning her cats", until she figured out what he was talking about.

It's been a busy day full of fun and photo editing.  I'll consider myself very lucky if I can get February and March caught up by the end of May.

April 18, 2010

Today I'm thankful for friendships that time and distance can't erase.

My internal alarm woke me up at 5:00, but I made myself lay in bed until 6:00 this morning.  The first item of the day was to gather all my Sunday School materials together, get the kids and myself fed and bathed and off to church.

Eli spent the better portion of Sunday School playing with his Play Doh, and we had a really lovely service today.

On the way home I stopped in the middle of the highway, jumped out of the Jeep and took a few pictures of the "Indian Paintbrushes" that were growing along the side of the road.  (Yeah, I do things like that.)

When I dropped my mom off at her house, I noticed her Irises were coming up.  This particular one was a gorgeous multi-hued purple.

When I arrived home, Dave's parents were already set up in their R.V. waiting on us.  They played with the kids while I fixed lunch and then we all spent some time out in the garden, getting things ready to plant.

We use the composter to mix the fertilizer, and nutrients;

and Eli and Dave's dad took over the "bucket brigade",

while I snuck out to the field to take some photos.

Today's "Picture Spring" challenge was to take a photo of grass,

and I just couldn't narrow it down. 

The boys prepped the garden beds . . .

 and I went in to finish making a loaf of home made bread and some rolls.

ATTN:  JOANNE!  Here are a few kitty pics. 

I'll take some more for you tomorrow.  (And you can take more than one kitty if you'd like . . . just so the first one doesn't get lonely. lol)

After all the work in the garden, the kids were pooped.  I bathed them both, we had a huge dinner, and then grandma got them both settled into bed.

Tomorrow I'm going to have a lot of dishes to wash and I think Dave's folks are staying another night, so I may get them all caught back up next weekend sometime. lol

April 17, 2010

Today I'm thankful for sunny days and the great outdoors.  The kids actually let me sleep in until 7:00 this morning.  Man, that felt good! 

Eli and I played with the checkers, we all ate breakfast,  

and then we headed outside for some play time.

Butterball (I mean Bandit) practised his tree climbing skills,  

while I inhaled the sweet scent of lilacs,

and the kids played in the dirt.  (Bayleigh made a mountain, while Eli shoveled more dirt on the pile and one of the cats chimed in with his version of assistance.)  They were quite comical.

I spotted this teeny tiny flower in the middle of some leaves, and had to get a picture.

Then I played a little basketball . . .

checked on the garden (I LOVE asparagus!),

and admired the pretty flowers (weeds).

After our trip outdoors, a bath was in order and I spent the rest of the day cleaning house and editing photos.  I've GOT to learn to limit myself on the numbers of photos I take per day.  Editing is a nightmare, and it looks like another late night for me!

April 16, 2010

Today I'm thankful for creative moments.  I don't have many photos today, because I was busy cleaning.  But I did take a little time out for some creative fun . . .

One of our prompts for the Picture Spring class was to take a photo of a heart.  I decided to make my own with Crayons.  It was a little more difficult than I thought it would be, but it was fun!

I also played out in the rain this afternoon.  It was sprinkling just hard enough to get me soaked by the time I finished taking pictures.

But it was warm enough outside to play.  I like playing in the rain.  Next time I'll take the kids out to play with me!

April 15, 2010

Today I'm thankful for inspiration and motivation!  (**THANKS MICKI!)

I managed to clean the majority of the house in a short period of time today.  Of course, as soon as I cleaned off the dining room table, Eli decided it was time to play games and brought out a various assortment of games and puzzles.  (I made him put each one up before he brought out another, though.)

He even helped me take out the trash.  Well . . . kind of.  I think he was more interested in riding the trash can lid than in taking out the trash.  I must say he's a pretty inventive kid.  I'd have never thought of this.  Of course it's probably because I know that my butt couldn't POSSIBLY fit in there in the first place.  But I may have to give it a try, just for fun.  Hope I don't get stuck . . . or break the lid!

In between all my cleaning, I played around with my camera catching up on some of my shots for the Picture Spring class.  (I'll post them on my other blog soon.)  And after Bayleigh got home from school, I gave her the little chore of washing the "snow" off of all the windows in the entry/dining room.  I mean it IS Spring now, so the snow has to go!

Dave actually had the evening off  (It's the first time we've all got to really see him since February.) and he put up Bayleigh's basketball goal.  (I'm gonna have a lot of fun with this, while she's away at school!)

She's really gotten quite good.  In a few years I'm going to have to work pretty hard to keep up with her, because I'm sure she's going to outgrow me very quickly.  

I loved playing basketball in high school and I'm glad to see that she's taking such an interest in it herself.

I'm trying to cut back on chocolate, but I'm sure chocolate isn't nearly as bad for you as a whole can of mixed nuts.  (And yes . . . I can eat the whole can in one sitting.)  All this exercise makes me hungry and I can eat 24/7, given the chance.  If I start moutain biking again this summer, I'm just going to have to hook myself up to an I.V. food supply.

We had another beautiful sunset, which I just can't seem to capture well enough to do it justice.  And the weather forecast is calling for rain.

So I snatched a few pictures of the dandelions by our deck, before they get beaten down by the rains.

We ate our first asparagus from the garden and it was WONDERFUL! I think I could eat it at every meal.  I love fun and productive days like this!