The Best Gift of All

We were all gathered together on Christmas Eve, sitting in our usual spots at Grandma's condo. The doorbell rang at 10pm. Who could it be? We were all there. Must be someone at the wrong address. One of the boys answered the door, thinking to give directions to a stranger, when in walks our Texas bunch! They had planned this for weeks and kept it so quiet that we were all surprised! It's been many years since they were with us on Christmas so it was one of the best gifts for everyone. Now - if only we could find a spot at Grandma's condo to photograph TEN GROWN cousins! They are getting too big to cram on the stairs!!!!!

Herself's Special Gift

Today I gave away two glass shamrocks that have hung on my Irish tree to my favorite little leprechauns. They proudly carried them home like they had a pot of gold.
I think I'm the one who found the end of the rainbow.
Merry Christmas.

Hot Diggity Dog

No school and both girls working left me with my two pals today and a lot of last minute errands. Traffic was a nightmare, shopper's were frantic, everything was at the other end of town. I needed a Prozac the size of a golf ball. Instead I decided to pull into Lion's Choice, throw open the tailgate (taking advantage of the near 60 degree weather) and give these little guys a hot dog picnic. They had a blast! Nothing soothes the nerves like a weiner and apple juice for them and a couple of smiles and hugs for me. Who cares if we looked like hillbillies?

Keebler's Elves

In case you ever wondered where those beautiful cookies came from here are the little baking elves hard at work.

The Making of a Christmas Card

The annual Christmas Card photo usually sends my family running for cover. This year went pretty well, especially for the squirrels who LOVED the bird seed buffet the kids spilled all over the ground! I'll show you the end result after I get my cards mailed out.

Oh Christmas Tree....

I wasn't going to put a tree up this year because, well, you know, all my kids have left the nest. The boy wasn't happy about that so here is our little tree that came home to roost.

Baby it's cold outside!

Didn't you think to buy the fleece lined boots?

Frosty was here

Got these pink boots just in time! Frosty came and left us this pretty white blanket of snow along with freezing temps!

Making his list.....

Just wanting to make sure that Santa knows they've been good, my little buddies stopped him in the midst of feeding Ruldolph to tell him so.

Birdie Buffet

What a treat it is to watch our feathered friends come by for a snack.

Animal Holiday House

It seems the boys are really getting into the holiday spirit at their campus apartment. I followed the buzz of the electric meter to find my way there last night.

Not Wicked, but Good

My nephew was outstanding at the Madrigal performance this evening - all six foot 2 inches of him. Gone is the shy little guy.

Postcards take a holiday

Postcards have been on holiday.........

Had a great time - wish you'd been there.

Now we are back. Here's an oldie until new ones are edited.

Happily Ever After

Yes, Virginia, there IS a happily ever after.

Mother Nature

Mother Nature is making me get the warm wooly socks out tonight. Brrrrr.......

Checkmate

Samantha tries (without much success) to teach her little friends the game of chess. All they wanted to do was ride the horses.

Veteran's Day

In honor of our Veterans and those who are currently serving our country.......





These photos were taken by Eric Geise and sent to me earlier this week. With his permission I am sharing them here as I felt it was a fitting postcard for today.

An Exciting Evening

No, I didn't shoot this photo, but I DID have the opportunity to spend the evening with Robert Redford. It didn't matter that the symphony hall was packed with others listening to this incredible man speak about his life, his education, films he's made, Sundance, the environment, and even a bit about politics - I was on the edge of my seat as if he were a guest in my home. I went there in excited anticipation of seeing my very favorite movie star in person, and left there thinking what an intelligent man he is and how much I admire his contributions to our society. It was an evening that I will not soon forget. Now......off to watch "The Way We Were"
photo from http://www.pbs.org

Tri-et

Not such a beautiful song, but still music to my ears.

Poday's Toastcard

By muddy just boved this look! (that's "my buddy just loved this book" in animal talk).
Not only did he sit and giggle over the silly poems, but he actually was able to translate them into human talk. What a great book this is, but then again, Mr. Silverstein has never disappointed any of my little kiddies in the past.

Caught my eye

This mix of lines and textures just caught my eye. Thought it made an interesting composition.

Welcome to November

Welcome November! Isn't this a beautiful wreath? My girlfriend made it for me from decorations used at her daughter's wedding, which makes it even more special.

Look Who's on Top!

Of course they made it all the way up to the top, leaving the smaller cliffs for the teenagers and youngsters to scale. Those Nine West boots were made for climbing! And oh what a site they saw from their perch in the sky. "No wonder" one of the girls said, "it is called Garden of the Gods".

Will they make it?

On Saturday the girls were restless. They decided to go on an adventure, but shopping was not enough to satisify them this particular day. (Except, of course, the stop they had to make to outfit themselves properly and fashionably for the adventure.) Will the cliffs prove to be too much of a challenge? Regardless, they didn't feel that they had overdressed for the occassion.
Stay tuned........

A Chill in the Air

G isn't very cooperative posing and I was too lazy to drag out the tripod, so please forgive the lack of clarity in this photo. HOWEVER the intention is to give you a feeling of warmth as we are beginning to experience a chill in the air.

Big Heart

My young nephew is growing his hair for Locks of Love, for his cousin who has leukemia. I think he has the biggest heart!

Are they worried?

I wonder if the pumpkins worry about their fate this time of year, as the turkeys do in November?

Happy Days

Just being nostalgic tonight..........oh, yeah, and gas was about 65 cents a gallon when this car was new. How do kids today afford to CRUISE?

Pot 'o Pansies

My friend gave me some "trick or treat" pansies which I planted today. As I was planting them I was remembering these pretty pansies I saw in Sedona last spring.

Sunset

How fitting to have such a beautiful sunset at the end of a fun & relaxing day spent with friends.

PMS Treat

PMS (Pretzels Made Sweet) Treat!

Vietnam Veteran tribute

I shot this image tonight at the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall. Not having a tripod the photo isn't quite clear, but I'm wondering if it is really camera shake that placed those ghostly images on the wall. If you have never experienced seeing the real wall, please visit any time a traveling wall comes to your area. It is truly memorial.
To see the most incredible art that was displayed at this particular wall go here:
http://www.incountryart.com/gallery1.html

Creative Genius

Of all the things to see at the Zoo - this is what they wanted to take a picture of.
footnote: that snake was tucked safely behind a glass partition

Explore

GO where you've never been. Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.

Vroom Vroom Vroom

Clear the runway.........Tinny's got a shiney new RED car!

Printer's block

Optical Illusion

The hall of mirrors at the City Museum.

Naptime

Sometimes you've just got to take a nap.

Big girl

Chloe turned 5 today. She wanted her ears pierced. After getting the first one done (why didn't they do them both at the same time????) she cried, broke out in hives and told the lady she'd come back when she was 24 for the other one. Her mommy is wearing it for her until then.

My dad

Today my dad would have been 70 years old. Happy Birthday, dad.

young women

When I found this photo today, taken last Christmas, I thought of what this year has brought to my girls (well, I do share half of them with my sister)......
one of them sent her husband off to Iraq
one of them bought her very first home
one of them has reclaimed her inner strength
one of them is determined to achieve her goals
(and the "baby" will be turning 21 next week).
They are coming of age quite nicely. I'm so proud of all of them.

Poem for my friend

Sometimes he

reminds me

of a tree

Middle C

Practice makes perfect.

Lil' Pumpkins

At Rombach's Farm the pumpkins grow as far as the eye can see.