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Had a marvelous day at the ball field watching two games. T-bone drove in an RBI and ET smacked it up, up, and away. Gotta love the baseball ballet of these boys.

Techno-tasking

While shooting a wedding a couple weeks ago, I turned around and caught a glimpse of this......what I'm calling "techno-tasking". Funny guy. He just kept talking and snapping.
I heard later, at the reception, that he got some pretty good shots too. Wonder who he was talking to? Who would you talk to while at a wedding with all of your friends?

Blue

I've been blue most of the week. It's over now, but when looking for a photo to post tonight I had to laugh at this one and use it as my adios to the mood I have been in.

Chihuly night

Went to see the Chihuly exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Garden last night. What an amazing sight to see! My very favorite part was the golden glass "crown" on the rose garden trellis, but I couldn't get a good shot of it due to the crowd of people. I'll try to get back to shoot it again when it's not so crowded. The floating glass pieces in the reflection ponds reminded me of colorful Hershey kisses. So beautiful, even though they weren't filled with chocolate.

Freestyle Photos

Had so much fun this morning at the Red Lead
in their Freestyle Thursday workshop.
Once I got past spritzing water (gasp!) on my photos I was good to go.
That store - thanks to Sharon and Chris - is a cavern of creativity!

How to turn the day around

Having a not so good day, I packed a supper picnic and headed to the park. I found my troubles being washed away as I sat and watched my pals simply enjoying their ice cream treats (we have a very enterprising ice cream man who drives through the park) watching the muskrats swimming and diving in the lake. It was some good medicine.

Two cool chickies

How lucky am I to have these two cool chickies as friends? They drove four hours one way to visit me for the day and to go see the banner display. They even endured a lunch at Ethyl's and a side trip to the Red Lead. I'd say I'm pretty darn lucky, wouldn't you?

Thanks J & L ----- had a wonderful time!

Still celebrating

Okay - this is it. The month long celebration is finally over. Joey and some college pals, along with two of his best friends from grade school ended the night on a happy note.
Off to start his full-time job on Tuesday.......the party is over Joey. Hope you had fun.

More cake

Two days in a row with cake! Joey and his little buddies were happy to pose for this one as long as they got a taste of frosting after the shot.
I'm about celebrated out this week.

One small tooth

It was a big day for little Miss C. when she lost her first tooth. Not only did the tooth fairy come and leave her FIVE dollars, sprinkled in gold dust.....but she also got a cake for her lost-my-tooth party. Seems that inflation has hit even the good old tooth fairy.

Breathing Space

Every now and then we all need a little breathing space. Been at the cabin for a couple of days enjoying mine. I'm refreshed and relaxed.
Happy Mother's Day weekend to you all.
ps - do you see that cloud shaped like an angel?

Supportive Family

just a little Monday humor for you :)

Dreams become reality

At long last. The day we've dreamed of for years. Our last one graduated from college today.
It's been a long road from car seats, to tricycles, playgrounds & picnics, sports, bag book reports, braces, driving permits, dating, and sending them off to the dorms.
What an exciting time for the boy. He's ready now to start fulfilling his own dreams, and they are big ones. I'm so happy for him and know he'll have a wonderful life.
I'm not going to tell him that you can't make a u-turn at the end of the road. It might make him a little sad and today is a day of celebration.

My assistant

My little assistant. He loves taking photos (atta boy!) and got some pretty good shots with my phone camera. He does have an edge over me. He's so darn cute that whoever he shoots has the biggest smile. Really, how could you not?

More effective?

Is it more effective when you stomp your foot in an Irish temper having a tatoo of
a shamrock on your slim ankle?
I know one Irish mamma of 4 boys who has her tatoo on her forearm. Her boys are
extremely well behaved.

What do you think?

Does anyone find it amusing that this particular billboard is placed on the fence of a small cemetary?
Is it just my warped sense of humor?
I guess it does get you thinking.

Happy May Day

When I was a little girl, my great aunt would always hang a decorated cone filled with small flowers on our front door knob. She said it was a May Day tradition.
I wonder what ever happened to that tradition or is it something that she made up?
Anyway.....here are your May Day flowers.

Up for bid

This old log cabin, probably about 150 years old, was being put on the aution block today. The family was gracious enough to let me on the property to take photographs of the cabin and barn.
This shows the hand-hewn logs where they join. It's hard to imagine building one of these today, much less 150 years ago with the primitive tools they must have had.
The discoloration in the wood is from an old flat bed that had been leaning on the cabin for years.
I know I'll appreciate my nice, insulated house tonight!

Thanks, Mastercard

Another chapter coming
to an end in our family
history.
Of course I'm not sending
this to the Grandmas, but
there are a few clansmen
who will appreciate this.

It's a BANNER Day!

Wish you were here. It's a sight to behold.

ps......

There's me and the little dude (the BEST 3 year old kid - what a trooper!) in our "manager mobile" running around the park. Best part of the day? That had to be Mr. J seeing his surprise banner, which is the first one to open the display.
Thanks to all who showed up to help install this project today, and the rest of the photo club gang who helped work on this the past twelve months.
Nite!

Ta Da!

Drum roll, please. Today all of the stabilizer posts were installed at the park. I put this test pole and banner up just to get a sneak peak at how it was all going to work. I think it looks pretty darn good, don't you? One down, 89 to go! Stay tuned............

Red

While up at the cabin Saturday evening, playing with the new camera, I turned around and was hit by all my RED things. My car, my chair, even my camera bag all stood out in the woodsy setting. I wonder how the cabin would look with bright red shutters? Hmmmm............

Spring - it's official

My friends at Cropper's Cottage had a thread going to take a photo today that said "Spring".
For me, spring is not official until I've planned out my gardens for the year and planted a batch of flowers. I got in the car and made my first trek to the garden shop today.
Flowers, freshly turned soil, good music, sweet iced tea, my well-worn garden gloves, a plan, and I am more than ready to welcome sweet Spring.

Today's "to do"

1. Finish painting end caps for banner poles - check
2. Identify historical photos - check
3. Lay out order of banner presentation - check
4. Prepare brochure for banner display - check

That doesn't look like a very big list for something that kept me busy for eight hours today. It's good to have it all done though. I'm picking up the actual printed banners tomorrow. How exciting! Can't wait to see them in something other than thumbnail size!

The Dogwood

This is our dogwood tree. Planted last spring, it was as tall as Peyton. This year it has grown to well over six feet tall and the day after Easter it had five perfect blooming dogwood flowers. It shows what can happen with a little bit of nurturing and a lot of love.

Easter with us

I was sad going to bed last night. For the first time in 26 years I wasn't up until the wee hours making baskets and hiding eggs. However....this morning I was awakened at 8am by a phone call from the college boy asking what kind of coffee we wanted. What? He was on his way home to go to church with us and was bringing coffee - which he paid for with his OWN money! It was a very nice start to what would be a very nice day.
So off to church we went (had to sit with the choir because G. drove - but, hey, at least we had seats). Then off to my sister's house. Here's a little bit of the day. I'll probably have to break this into two separate postcards so S&T can see the highlights, but the "great egg hunt" was the highlight - well, one of them anyway.....there was the part about C. putting out the silverware basket filled with coffee stirrers. LOL!
Great job as the tall EB, Mr. E. Next year remember to change your shoes. The little ones are getting smart.

part deux

As you can see, my buddies made a haul as the rest of the gang watched the great hunt. In the end they had a little talk about tall Easter bunnies wearing Nike tennis shoes.
They aren't so scared of him anymore.
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

Bubble-ator

Some"bunny" dropped off these bubbleators for my little pals. I think we've set a record for the world's largest bubble!

Traditions never DYE

Here we are again. At the kitchen table, cups filled with the fizzy tablets and smells of vinegar. What would Easter be without it?

Peeps

This is for my sister. She LOVES these and I'm bringing the real ones to her on Sunday.
Love you, sis!

Shiney new car

I don't know what shined brighter.......Court's new car or the happy smile on her face! And check out her cute new hair do.

Sending a rainbow

Tonight I am sending you a rainbow. I only wish that I could have seen this to shoot myself, but it's so beautiful that I wanted to share it as it was shared with me. Thanks Tim C. !

http://www.missouriskies.org/rainbow/february_rainbow_2006.html

Can anyone tell me how to type a reference to the html s?

Happy Hump Day!

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is an incubator for good ideas, it just takes a while for them to develop.But when you think of something, watch out!Your thoughts tend to be huge, and they come on quickly - like an explosion.You tend to be quiet around others, unless you're inspired by your next big idea.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Next time someone points out that it was "MY" idea I'll have to show them this. All true except for the quiet around others part

Opening Day

Today is opening day for our St. Louis Cardinals. They will be playing in our new stadium which we got to tour on Saturday night. I'll share more later, but wanted to give you a little peek at these nice, cushy seats for those lucky enough to have tickets!
GO CARDS!

Painting Pals

Another step towards the big project was completed today, with a LOT of help from this wonderful crew of people (and a couple who had to take off before this shot). Here we are standing in our "pole pyrimad" after the first coat of paint was applied to all 93 banner poles.
I got to see the first banner on Thursday and it looked as good as I imagined it would.
Thanks again to all who came out to help!
ps - don't you just love the chocolate color?

What a gal!

Today was like a mini vacation. I went to the CKC in Collinsville and had a blast! I took three awesome classes taught by Elsie Flannigan, Beth (Rusty Pickle), and THE Donna Downey!
She is so much FUN and so down to earth and she TEACHES to the point that you don't want the class to end. I was so glad to have met her and experience her "aura" .........come back to St. Louis soon, Donna!

Magnetic Personality

Concentration and a steady hand. A magnetic personality - an added plus!

She who gets the last laugh.....

After a pretty intense day (that is blessedly over now) I went out on the deck to throw a couple of steaks on the grill. What a surprise to find that some of my feathered friends have decided that this would make a pretty cool condo!
Just two days ago I was laughing at the very descriptive email from my good friend telling of her escapdes chasing the birds away from building a nest on the deck of her hot tub. (She doesn't exactly call them her "feathered friends" and I'll leave it at that).
So, here you are LAB. Tonight's postcard is for you. Enjoy the last laugh. It's on me.

Achieving Goals

"We find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and GOALS to achieve. - Maxwell Maltz

If I didn't have so much on my mind I would remember where I recently came across this quote, but I jotted it down because it was one I wanted to pass along to my kids. Then I decided to give them a visual to go along with it (and maybe gain some sympathy so they would help me).

I've been working on this big project for the Sesquicentennial (that's 150 years) celebration of our city since last April. My photo club has been out shooting "life in our town" photos to put on these 3' x 5' banners to display in the parks this year, to mix in with some historical shots we are fortunate enough to have. FINALLY it is all coming together. The permits have been obtained, money has been raised, the photos have been edited, the computer files have been completed, two tons of posts are resting in the hands of the parks department, the banners are being printed as of today. It's taken a lot of work and a lot of people have helped out with this. The next step is to get all the banner poles sanded, primed, and painted. Got them to a borrowed warehouse - all 1280 feet of them - so we are almost there. When this is completed and on display it will be a site to see.

SO......I just thought that quote was appropriate for the postcard tonight. How satisified and happy I will be to see this goal become a reality at the end of the month. Stay tuned.......I might just drop you a postcard of the finished display.

Tartan Days

Gotta love those Scots!

and on to the games......

Had a lovely Saturday afternoon.

Enjoy the scenery.