Shade

It is pretty sunny here. We get some afternoon rain but almost every day we get sun. It is nice to have colorful umbrellas around.

Good News and Bad News

The good news is I finally captured one of these little guys. And the best part is it was on the tennis court, a place where I spend a lot of time. So, I was able to combine two of my great loves, tennis and photography. The bad news in that the poor little guy (and others like him) hang around the tennis courts hoping to snag a meal. But they just keep coming up dry (so to speak). They are SO frustrated! But they don't give up. That will be my tennis goal as well. I may become frustrated, but I won't give up!

Imperfections

At first glance this is a gorgeous butterfly. But if you'll notice, there is a hole in her wing. She still does her job, she can fly just fine and look at those legs. You know what? I still think she is gorgeous. Hole and all...

A Sign

Yesterday I lost my team tennis match. I was the only one on the team who lost and I was really bummed out. Well, after all, we all want to win. Anyway, I was sitting there on the bench watching the last team finish with a win and I looked up and saw this cloud. I thought "Someone" knew that right then I needed a little love. I quickly pointed it out to a friend by which time it had morphed into a duck. So I know it was meant just for me... You'll notice that there is a little chunk out of the heart. I guess we all have those, don't we...

Critters

In the grand scheme of things, they all have their part to play and are beautiful in their own way. Please drop by and have a walk in the woods with Mary at The Little Red House. You'll see some gorgeous mosaics for Mosaic Monday there.

Some Days

Some days I feel like this....

Some days I feel like this... And that's life!

Color

My daughter has been through an unhappy marriage and divorce. She still struggles quite a bit with the whole thing. It hasn't been that long. One of the things she has done to make herself feel better is to make her home as homey as she could get it. And for her that meant to make it the happiest colors she could think of. I think she has done a wonderful job. You can't help but be in a more cheerful mood when you go into her house. This is just a tiny piece of it...

ABCD

It has been a busy couple of days for us here at the homestead. The kids are spending the night with us tonight. But the exciting news is that Natalie came home with homework today (kindergarten) and is really starting the process of learning to read. She has been trying to sound out the words and read to Nick, who really isn't interested in listening to her. But I'm listening! She can't know, at this time, how much reading has meant to me in my life. I will be so excited to share my favorite books with her. A new adventure is beginning...

Monday Mosaic

I just don't think you can miss with daisies. They are the commonest of flowers, and flowers that are often overlooked. But every time I see daisies, I SEE daisies. Don't know why really. They just make me happy...

For some beautiful mosaics go on over to  Little Red House.

Playing Around

I played in a tennis tournament yesterday. We played a LOT of tennis. The equivalent of three matches in one day. For an old lady like me that is a lot. But I can mostly keep up with the young girls... They may be better but I never give up and go for everything. My partner and I didn't win but we had a lot of fun. Stacey is one of a kind. She works hard and I don't see her very much but there is some kind of connection there. I am old enough to be her mother so it is amazing to me that we are kindred spirits. And I consider myself very lucky. She's a peach!

Breakfast

I can't think of a better way to start my day. Unless someone had fixed my cheerios for me...

Bad Hair Week

This reminds me of my hair lately...

Suffering For My Art

The weekly challenge on Flickr is "Wildflowers". Well, we have quite a few roadside wildflowers around here. So, after tennis today I'm out with my camera squatting down to get close-ups of these little beauties. All of a sudden I get this stinging on my ankle. Ants! And not only on my ankle but while I was in my squat position they marched up my tennis skirt and under and... well, you've heard the expression "ants in your pants". I'm here to testify that it does happen. I will spare you the details and a photo of my behind, covered with itchy, stingy ant bites.

Monday Mosaic on Tuesday

 

I forgot to do the mosaic on Monday so I'll do it today. I really don't want to miss a week. 

Go to Little Red House to see more awesome mosaics.

I Don't Like It

I really don't. I never even saw okra until I marrried my husband. It is a mainstay at meal time in Oklahoma. I usually just avoid it. If Steve wants some he has to go to a restaurant . Too slimy for me. And then the other day I saw a row of flowering bushes. When I got close to them I could see that they were okra plants. The flowers were delicate and beautiful. I guess the good often comes with the bad :o)

Sweetest Flower

I have been absent this weekend. Mark moved to Gulf Shores and it was a tiring ordeal. We had two strong friends to help, though, and that made it much easier than it might have been. The new job started today and I am waiting to hear from him. I kind of have to go on the premise that no news is good news and that it went o.k.

This photo was taken last week in Wal-Mart. I took Little Missy to get her school suppplies. She saw the flowers and had to smell each bunch. She commented after each sniff saying that these were the sweetest ones. Of course, they really didn't have much smell at all, as these kinds of bunches don't, but I just kept thinking that I was the one beholding the sweetest flower of them all.

Come On Down

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach-waiting for a gift from the sea." Ann Morrow Lindbergh

Now you all can see what I get to look at whenever I want. Why don't you come on down and have a sit by the sea. It is dynamic, moving, mysterious. It's hot too! But coming up is my favorite season at the beach. The vacationers will have gone home, the parking lots will have spaces empty, and the sand won't burn your feet. I still have to wait for a couple of months but I can start looking forward to the weather we love in Florida. I take a little folding chair, my camera and a book to read. Mostly though, I just look out at the blue, waiting for my gift from the sea.

Trust

We had a lovely morning for swimming. Nick and I went over to Uncle's pool and we had the pool all to ourselves. Nick hasn't gone swimming enough to be really comfortable in the water so he has to trust us a lot. He trusts me...

Uncle, not so much. I keep telling him that I have earned the trust and if he wants it he has to quit teasing the kids. But then he is an Uncle and that is what his Uncles did to him.  And really, the kids will love him for it someday. But they don't love it now...

Space Girl

 

Reach for the stars little girl!

Rose Mosaic

 

It is Mosaic Monday. I am going to try to do this every week. I think they are really pretty. I could never do this on my own. The computer does it for me of course. Nice to have a servant of sorts.Want to see more of these beautiful mosaics? Go to Little Red House

Shells

I am copying this idea from a fellow, albeit much more advanced and experienced than I, blogger. I loved the quote so much and I did read the book, after all. A couple of times even.

 

"Perhaps middle age is, or should be, a period of shedding shells; the shell of ambition, the shell of material accumulations and possessions, the shell of the ego." Anne Morrow Lindbergh

This is a thought I often have. That it is time to divest ourselves of stuff. Just helping our son to pack his small place is a chore. I can't imagine trying to pack up all the stuff we've accumulated in 38 years. I think I will stay in this house and let my kids deal with it after we pass on to greener pastures. 

Busy, Busy, Busy

I really had planned to write at least a little something every day. But life gets busy and best of intentions get left by the wayside. Our son, Mark, got the job he has been waiting for. And he has to move. It is only an hour away but he still has to have a new place and get all his stuff ready to move. That's where I come in. We've been busy this weekend getting an apartment and packing and stuff. Well, it does make for some together time. And that is good... I'm going to miss him a lot!