Shes Quiet Place

The 5'er

2006-04-06T00:26:00.000-05:00

From: These are the Days of our Lives

1. How do you like your pizza and who do you think has the best pizza?

Regular cheese pizza from Pizza Hut.

2. How many journals do you have online and are any of them private?

Four, I think, only one is private.

3. Do you believe in heaven and if so what do you think it will be like?

Yes. It will be fun to get meet up with family and friends. Also to maybe better understand why we've gone through the particular test here.

4. Tell us about one of your bad habits.
Procrastenation.

5. Everyone likes a good deal. What was the last good deal you got? You know...like buy one get one free kind of thing.

I went to Target to get an outfit for class picture day and found a lot of goodies.

Photo Scavenger Hunt #69 - Spring Thing

2006-04-05T23:48:00.000-05:00

From: Sometimes I Think a favorite topic of mine:
The entries for photo scavenger hunt #69 will be due on

Sunday, April 9, 2006 at 11:00 PM EST

Category: Spring thing

Here in Texas it's all about the Bluebonnets, the state flower. Along some roadways they grow in abundance and are very pretty.

Monday morning question

2006-04-05T23:32:00.000-05:00

The Monday Morning Question from Sometimes I Think:

Where did you meet your spouse? If you are not married, where would you like to meet your spouse?

I love explaining how my husband and I met. Being new in town and living in a hotel for the first week I decided to go see the "Blues Band" at the bar my last night at the hotel. When I got to the front, there was my husband asking if I was old enough to go inside. So he got me in without having to pay the cover by telling them I was his wife (he was part of the band). Took 4 months before he proposed but I made him wait another 7 months before we got married.

Bluebonnet pictures

2006-03-27T10:41:00.000-06:00

I got some! Bluebonnet pictures, that is! See?

I am so excited. I have waited at least all year to get up close and personal with a bluebonnet patch. Bluebonnets are the state flower for Texas and right now can be seen all along the highways. I drove about an hour from town but it was worth it. Also got some pictures of other flowers. Here are some more Bluebonnets.

Tuesday Two - Episode 22

2006-03-22T13:06:00.000-06:00

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC from Patrick's Weekender: YOUR SPACE

QUESTION A:
What room of the house do you most consider to be entirely "your space" and what makes it so uniquely yours?

or

QUESTION B:
A co-worker wants to borrow your workspace while you're out of the office. The next day, you return to find your things out of place. Will that bother you at all, and will you say anything about it, or just quietly return things to "normal?"

Choose A or B, (indicate which question you're answering!) then either answer the question in a comment or answer it in your journal and include the link in a comment. (To be considered "first to play," a link must be to the specific entry in which you answered the question.)

Remember: choose one or the other...not both!

Since my answer to B would be the same as Patrick's, I'll answer A:

I have my own space in the house. When we first saw our house my husband showed me the crawl space over the garage which was also behind the closet in the master bedroom could be converted to office space. Within a few years it was completed. I love that it's away from the daily activity in the house.

Monday Morning Question

2006-03-20T22:49:00.000-06:00

From: Of mini-paws and menopause here's the Monday morning question:

What is your favorite restaurant to go to for dinner?

I like the Olive Garden or IHOP or Ryan's Steakhouse.

Sunday Seven - Episode 29

2006-03-20T22:15:00.000-06:00

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION from Patrick: List up to seven dog breeds that you really like and would consider owning. (And indicate whether you've actually owned that breed before.)

In no order:
1. Miniature Sheltie (have owned)
2. Miniature Schnauzer
3. Cocker Spaniel
4. ChowChow (own part Chow now)
5. Labrador Retriever
6. Saint Bernard
7. German Shepherd (have owned)

Saturday Six - Episode 101

2006-03-20T21:26:00.000-06:00

From: Patrick's Weekender here are this week's questions. Either answer them in a comment here or answer them in your own blog and leave a comment here with the link to that entry. Enjoy!

1. How did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

All I did was wear green. I don't celebrate anything.

2. What is your favorite green food?

Greens!

3. Other than Christmas or Thanksgiving, what holiday do you generally spend the most for when you celebrate it?

The kid's birthdays.

4. It probably seems like winter may have already disappeared from this year based on the warm weather much of the country experienced this season, but if you had to eliminate one season entirely, which one would you choose and why?

I would totally eliminate winter. I've always hated winter so I'm glad I'm in Texas now. It is really bad spending about 7 months (counting fall and running past spring) with cold weather, especially when you have to layer on clothes.

5. If you then had to replace the season you eliminated with one of the three remaining ones, meaning that we'd have six months of one season, which would you choose and why?

It would be spring. I love when the trees are budding and the flowers are coming up.

6. How many of your old school yearbooks (or annuals) do you have today? If you let someone read the messages people wrote in them, would they think you were popular, not popular, or somewhere in between?

I have all 5 - four from high school and one from college. That I wasn't popular is for sure but I went to a small high school so you knew everybody. I was more of a novelty because I was of a different race in a school where the kids were as exposed to other races.

Bluebonnet Time

2006-03-19T20:07:00.000-06:00

It's bluebonnet time in Texas. I've been here 10 years this year and I guess Texas has grown on me. The state flower here is the Bluebonnet. Don't see it so much in town but I took a day trip to Austin. The day was overcast with raindrops but the scenery was awesome. Along the highways bluebonnets with a few Indian Paintbrushs grow but because of the clouds and raindrops (of course with my hands on the wheel) I couldn't get any pictures. I'm going to check my schedule but another long drive in the next few weeks looks likely.

Compensation

2006-03-19T19:54:00.000-06:00

Sometimes life just takes over. Why haven't I blogged in a while? So much going on. I thought things were settling down but there is still so much going on. Partly because I've gotten into a few other activites. There's been some changes and I compensate by filling up with other activities. Bit off a little more than I can chew but I've made commitments so I'll follow through. Means less time for me to pursue some things I like to do. So there it is.

No time to blog

2006-02-22T22:45:00.000-06:00

This has been a crazy month. I am totally swamped at work and too tired to be in the land of blogs. I'll catch up when I can. Bye now.

Groundhog Day

2006-02-02T23:14:00.000-06:00

Six more weeks of winter according to the groundhog in Pennsylvania. Here in Texas we can’t really say we had winter this year. I’ve worn my heavy coat less than 5 days and we’ve had plenty of days the 80s. Then there have been a lot of grass fires because it’s been so dry.

Disorder quote

2006-02-02T22:46:00.000-06:00

I just found this quote by A. A. Milne – “One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.” Makes sense to me. While I’m trying to organize parts of my house I’ve come across several exciting discoveries. I’ve put them aside, again, but in the same box to be rediscovered once I’ve gotten the trash stuff out of the way. It’s something fun to look forward to.

Long time, No blogging

2006-02-01T22:20:00.000-06:00

I've missed blogging. January is an extremely busy month at work so there's no time for me after everything else is done. January is also a time to think about why I am still at that job. I was told by a co-worker that I'm a lifer, I'm not leaving until I retire. I do like the convenience of working close to home and the familarity of the surroundings. I don't like the way we're treated but the winds of change are blowing.

I've gone into a few ventures during the month including one of my goals for the year of organizing the house. Now that I've discovered that I can email a post, I probably won't be "gone" that long again. Anyway, it is now February and I look forward to catching on things in more ways than one!

Happy Groundhog Day and Happy Spring!

This is a test!

2006-01-26T23:10:00.000-06:00

This is a test of whether emailing to my blog works. Sometimes it’s hard to go into it so I want to see if this works. Bye now.

Monday morning question

2006-01-03T01:36:00.000-06:00

Monday morning question (from Krissy over at Sometimes I think - be sure to keep her and John in your prayers and thoughts)
Question: How old is the house, apartment, mobile home, etc that you are living in right now and is it too big for you, too small or just about the right size?

Our house was built in 1987 as a model home. We've been in it for almost 8 years. It is a little too small for us. We could use a guest bedroom, family room, and larger kitchen.

Your Monday Photo Shoot: First Photo of 2006

2006-01-03T01:17:00.000-06:00

Your Monday Photo Shoot: Display the first picture you took in 2006. Couldn't be easier (unless the first picture you shot was, you know, one that would violate AOL terms of service. In which case, show off the first one that doesn't).

My first picture was of the kids washing the car (it was in the high 70s). While they were doing that I tried to take pictures of some bees. This was the first one of those pictures. The bee is in the center of the picture. Below is a another picture from the the set.

Sunday Seven - Episode 18

2006-01-02T20:07:00.000-06:00

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION from Patrick:
Don't think of them as Resolutions. Think of them as Goals or even just "Things You'd Like." But list up to seven things you hope to accomplish before 2006 draws to a close.

Pay off all our credit card bills.
Improve my wardrobe.
Get better organized.
Completely read the Bible through (I got halfway through in 2005).
Completely read through my devotional book.
Implement some home improvements.
Spend more time with kids.

Saturday Six - Episode 90

2006-01-02T18:56:00.000-06:00

Here are this week's answers to the " Saturday Six" questions from Patrick. Enjoy!

1. From a financial standpoint, was 2005 a good year or a bad year for you? Do you expect 2006 to be better or worse?
We had a bad time the first part of the year but it greatly improved the end of the year. I expect it to improve since following God's way to handle finances.

2. What was your least favorite moment of 2005?
Whatever it was I've moved on from it. I can't think of any major least favorite moments.

3. Did you lose anyone close to you in 2005? If so, who were they?
No.

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What do you know about blogging?

You Are a Blogging Expert

You got 8/8 correct!

You know so much about blogging, you should blog for a living.

How Much Do You Know About Blogging?

5. Where were you when 2005 began? Where were you when 2005 ended?
I was sleep at the start of 2005 and was at a party when it ended.

6. Did you make new year's resolutions for 2005? If so, how many did you keep?
I made them and mostly kept some of them.

Weekend Assignment #92: Resolutions

2006-01-01T10:31:00.000-06:00

Weekend Assignment 92 from By the Way: Do you Have New Year's Resolutions for 2006? If so, share one (or more, if you like).

Extra Credit: How did you do on your resolutions for 2005?

I don't exactly call them New Year's Resolutions but I have things I would like to accomplish for the year. These things can begin anytime during the year. This year I'd like to read the Bible all the way through starting where I left off in 2005; keep up with my devotional reading; be more organized.

I did somewhat OK with my 2005 resolutions which were prettly much the same thing. I read the Bible to the halfway point and got a lot out of it. I have about four devotionals to read in my 2005 book. I haven't gotten my 2006 devotional yet so those should hold me over. I did not get better organized; I went the opposite direction so I have to pull it back together. Think I'll start today.

Saturday Six - Episode 89

2005-12-27T20:45:00.000-06:00

Here are this week's "Saturday Six" questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal...but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as "first to play," you must be the first player to either answer the questions in a comment or to provide a complete link to the specific entry in your journal in which you answer the questions. A link to your journal in general cannot count. Enjoy!

1. Which of the following generally costs you more: a normal trip to your barber/hairstylist, your usual lunch at your favorite restaurant, the most recent amount you paid to fill up your gas tank, or your biggest single contribution to a single charity in 2005?
Gas.

2. What drink -- alcoholic or not -- do you drink entirely too much of?
Soda or kool-aid.

3. Did you receive a Christmas card from anyone you didn't send one to? Did you send them a belated card in return?
I usually don't send out Christmas cards but I usually receive at least one from an old friend. I usually email her during the year.

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What is most important in your life?
Love is most important in your life.

5. Before taking the quiz, which of its categories (career, love, money, health, family or fun) would you have said would be your answer?
I would have said family.

6. Do you believe in soulmates? Do you think that there are at least one out there for every person, that there is a single "true" soulmate for every person, or that there aren't soulmates for everyone?
Yes, I believe in soulmates and yes, there is probably at least one soulmate for every person. You just have to be in the right place at the right time to find them.

Sunday Seven - Episode 16

2005-12-19T22:47:00.000-06:00

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION from Patrick's Weekender: What are your all-time favorite television commercials? If "favorite" isn't the right word for you, then what are the seven that tend to stand out the most in your mind? You can use the TV Guide list for some ideas if you're drawing a blank.

Wendy's "Fluffy Bun," 1984 -- "Where's the Beef?"
California Raisins, "Lunchbox," 1986 -- Dancing to "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"
Taco Bell, "Romeo & Juliet," 1998 -- "Yo quiero Taco Bell"
Coca-Cola, "Hilltop," 1971 -- "I'd like to teach the world to sing..."
Coca-Cola, "Mean Joe Greene," 1979 -- Receives a Coke from a kid
Partnership for a Drug-Free America, "Fried Egg," 1987 -- "This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?"
Oscar Mayer, "My Bologna has a First Name," 1963

Patrick's Weekender: Saturday Six - Episode 88

2005-12-18T19:51:00.000-06:00

Here are my responses to this week's "Saturday Six" questions.

1. How much of your Christmas shopping and holiday card mailing do you have left to accomplish? When do you expect to finish it if you haven't already?
About half of it. Won't be done until at least Friday.

2. When giving gifts to co-workers or casual friends, how much importance do you place on the value of the gift you're giving them versus the value of the gift you imagine they're giving you?
I usually find some craft item and pass them out. I don't really worry about what they're giving.

3. What are you secretly hoping someone will give you for Christmas that you haven't specifically asked for?
A roundtrip ticket to Ohio for Christmas. Not sure what I'll be doing this year since everyone else has made their own plans.

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): Which Jones Holiday Soda Flavor are you?

You Are Smoked Salmon Pate Soda

Tasting like fish ain't so bad!

What Jones Holiday Soda Are You?

5. Would you actually try that flavor?
No way!

6. READER'S CHOICE QUESTION #78 from Carly: If you could step into the life of any fictional Christmas character -- Scrooge, Rudolph, Frost, etc. -- and live that part, which character would you choose and why?
The little drummer boy just to see the baby Jesus.

Your Monday Photo Shoot: More Than One

2005-12-12T22:07:00.000-06:00

From By the Way comes Your Monday Photo Shoot: Show us a series of pictures with a theme. "A series" in this case can mean "two" but three or four would be good. The theme could be anything you want, although it being the holidays, something holiday-oriented would be a good and easy thing to do.

Mine comes from last winter's trip to Ohio for the holidays. I had enough snow last year so I'm not going this year (there are other reasons, too). Maybe this part of Texas will see snow again . . .

Can you believe those icicles? Or the thickness of the evergreens? Or the snow resting on the branches?

I like Texas weather but I miss having a white Christmas. Somehow 60 degree weather just isn't Christmas to me.

Tree tipped in red

2005-12-12T00:44:00.000-06:00

There are supposed to be pictures on this site so here's one.

At my office, my desk is not by the window but I noticed this view. From this angle it appears to be a tree outlined in red leaves. From other angles, however, it is actually three trees perfectly in line. The middle tree is a brillant red and shows just enough to frame the tree in front of it. I took this picture about two weeks ago, yes in late November. Texas trees are confused and have been changing colors and losing leaves since early October, although some never seem to completely lose their leaves. I thought the peak for colorful leaves was over but here's proof it's not.

Sunday Seven - Episode 15

2005-12-11T23:51:00.000-06:00

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION from Sunday Seven:

What are your top seven favorite Christmas songs? Use ASCAP's list for an idea starter, but you need not pull your seven only from that list. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, list up to seven holiday songs you like to hear this time of year.

1. Silent Night - The Temptations
2. Little Drummer Boy - (the cartoon version)
3. Who would imagine a King? - Whitney Houston
4. Joy to the World
5. What Child is This?
6. Mary Did you Know?
7. Handel's Messiah - (it's not A song but I like the whole thing)

Saturday Six - Episode 87

2005-12-11T23:31:00.000-06:00

Saturday Six for this week.

1. You're producing a school program for the holidays and you learn that there will be major objections if you include in your musical selections the traditional Christmas hymns that reference the "true meaning of Christmas." Assuming that there are secular tunes (like "Frosty the Snowman") already included in the program, what do you do with the hymns? Do you allow them to go as is, do you use the melody and rewrite the words, do you include as many pieces of music from other religions as possible, or do you remove all but the secular songs?
I'll deal with the objections. This year there seems to be so much talk about taking out the "true meaning of Christmas" out of everything but that's what I believe in, the true meaning of Christmas.

2. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done at this point? When do you expect to have it finished if you haven't already finished?
Not much of mine is done. I usually wait until the last minute.

3. What was your favorite board game to play as a kid? Is it still your favorite now?
Does Chinese Checkers count as a board game? If not, Sorry was a favorite. I still like Sorry but card games have taken over now.

4. Take this quiz (if you haven't already!): What famous artist should paint your portrait?
Leonardo da Vinci should paint your portrait. You are a very mysterious person with a hidden depth. You are very smart and often find that few people understand you. You create a lot of talk wherever you go because of your strangeness - but people just want to know more about you.

5. How accurate is this quiz's description of you?
Only about 25% true.

6. If you could go back in time and have one more picture taken with a deceased loved one, who would you select and why?
It would definietly be my grandmothers. I don't think I took a picture with either one.

The Friday Five

2005-12-11T04:56:00.000-06:00

Playing the Friday Five this week.

1. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom but if I had to work, I wanted to be a teacher.

2. Did you follow through? If not, what happened?
No, only thing I am is a mom but I have worked outside the house ever since before I had kids in corporate America. In college I couldn't decide what I really wanted to do so I dropped out when I was offered a job. I went back after the first child and received a bachelor's degree in Accounting.

3. Is your life turning out the way you thought it would when you were a kid? If not, is it better or worse?
It's not what I thought back then but it is what is. Depending on what I focus on, it is probably as best as it can be.

4. Paradoxes aside, if you could time-travel back to when you were 10 years old, what would you tell your 10-year-old self?
Have more confidence and enjoy the moment.

5. Do you think the child you were, would like the adult you've become?
Yes, I think she'd think I was pretty smart.

Weekend Assignment #89: What I Really Want

2005-12-11T04:28:00.000-06:00

It's time to play the Weekend Assignment. Here we go.

Weekend Assignment #89: Money is no object: What do you really want for Christmas/Hanukkah/The Seasonal Celebration of Your Choice? Shoot for the moon, here folks. Share the thing you'd want to get if everyone you knew was a billionaire and wanted to spend money on you. One caveat: Don't ask to get celebrities of other people for the purposes of, well, you know. We're trying to keep things PG around here. Also: wishing for world peace is all very nice, but come on. Treat yourself.

Extra Credit: Seriously, what would you do if someone got you that thing?

I would have to say land and the house I wanted in the country. I thought about Texas but I realized that if everything, including bugs, are bigger in here and if my suburban yard has snakes (garden, I hope) in it, maybe Tennessee might not be so bad. If someone did that I'd be shocked but I know it was truly a gift from God.

Early morning

2005-12-11T03:11:00.000-06:00

It's too early for anyone to be up especially on a Sunday morning. A part of my job monthly involves some late night and the wee hours of Sunday morning. Saturday is always a busy day for me so I usually don't get much sleep to be up this early. I'm still trying to get this blog thing going regularly. My time is split so many different ways that I'm too tired to do much with this. Anyway, I'm off to seeing what I've missed in blogland and will probably put in another entry.

The Friday Five! (On Saturday)

2005-11-27T20:55:00.000-06:00

Looks like quet a few weekly items were a bit late. For me, I spent a little bit of time out in the stores anyway. Further problems with my internet connection has really thrown me off. Here are my answers for Courage's Friday Five.

1. On what day do you celebrate Thanksgiving?
On Thursday, usually at our house with just the family. This year was at relative's.

2. How do you traditionally celebrate this food filled holiday?
Most of the traditional Thanksgiving foods. I spend most of the day cooking, something I really don't like but I've got to have that Thanksgiving food. The rest of the day is spent chillin'.

3. How do you like your stuffing cooked (in the bird, separately in a dish, store bought, etc.)?
Separately.

4. What is your favorite dessert to eat on Thanksgiving and who makes it?
Usually the pumpkin pie I make. Otherwise too stuffed to eat deserts.

5. Can you name five things you are thankful for?
God's leading in my life, my husband, my kids, getting up everyday, and having a job

Weekend Assignment #87: Musical Conundrums

2005-11-25T08:48:00.000-06:00

From By the Way... is the Weekend Assignment #87: Answer one or more of the following musical conundrums:

1. Who let the dogs out?
2. Why do fools fall in love?
3. If birds can fly over the rainbow, why then, oh why, can't I?
4. Do you hear what I hear?
5. How do you solve a problem like Maria?
6. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?
7. Listen, do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell?
8. How long has this been going on?
9. I want to know, have you ever seen the rain? (Alternately: Why does it always rain on me?)
10. Does anybody really know what time it is?

(Yes, you can have silly answers. In fact, I encourage them!)

Extra Credit: Pose your own musical question.

My answer to number 1 - modified. Who let the dog in? Our dog stays in the backyard but sometimes gets out. Usually we find the board in the fence and fix it. One day I looked out to check on her and found another dog! How did it get in? We had no clue. The next day the dog's owner called to ask if his dog was again in our backyard and sure enough it was. We let his dog out and watched until the dog again went into the backyard.

My answer to number 4. The other day I got into the car and was listening to the CD left from my daughter. "I don't know who this is but I don't think I like some of these songs," I thought. The next day she got in and turned it up. "I just love this CD. Listen to this part." I started thinking that I was not hearing the same thing she heard without her pointing out what she heard. Do you hear what I hear? No, we all hear something different.

My answer to number 10. Not in our house. Some clocks are the right time, some are 10 minutes fast. My husband operates 10 minutes fast but it doesn't work with me. I know which clocks are fast and mentally turn them back.

Sunday Seven - Episode 12

2005-11-20T22:14:00.000-06:00

From Patrick's Weekender is the Sunday Seven.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Name the top seven stores where you are most likely to do the majority of your Christmas shopping this year. If you can't name seven, name as many up to seven as you can. You can also include online retailers, too.

WalMart
Target
Burlington

And because the teenagers will get money to spend at the mall that will cover the other four retailers. :)

Weekend Assignment #86: Thankfully Remembered

2005-11-20T17:45:00.000-06:00

Weekend Assignment #86: Who are you thankful for -- who you won't be able to spend this Thanksgiving with? This is a chance to tell us about the people you care about who will be far away from you this holiday, or who have passed on but remain in your heart.
I am thankful for family. My husband is out of the country and my side of the family is mostly in Ohio. We'll spend it with my husband's side of the family though.

Extra Credit: Pumpkin pie vs. pecan pie -- which do you choose for Thanksgiving dessert?
I personally like pecan pie although our tradition is pumpkin pie.

Saturday Six - Episode 84

2005-11-20T14:31:00.000-06:00

From Patrick's Weekender is the Saturday Six.

1. What was the last movie you watched at a theater completely alone? Would you have enjoyed it more or less if you had gone with someone to see it?
Hmmm - I've never done this one.

2. What was the last non-sexual thing you did around the house completely naked?
I had to run downstairs for something just as I was about to jump in the shower. But no one was home.

3. How well do you know your neighbors? Would you like to know them better or not know them?
I know who lives around us. We wave and speak but not in each other's business. It's fine as is.

4. Take this quiz: How much of a conspiracy nut are you?

You are 25% Conspiracy Nut

You are a little bit of a conspiracy nut. You know about the big conspiracies - but it doesn't take up too much of your time. You have accepted that people lie, and get away with everything - so you don't dwell on the loch ness monster too often.

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

5. Of the following "conspiracies" mentioned in that quiz, which single one would you most like the "truth" about and why?
None. My religious beliefs are that no matter what happens, God has it under control. Things progress according to His plan.

6. If you had to create a slogan that defined your life, what would it be?
This one takes some thought and I can't think of a good one right now.

The Friday Five

2005-11-20T13:25:00.000-06:00

This is my first meme in this journal. It comes from These are the Days of our Lives.

1. What is the one thing on your Thanksgiving table that you will NOT eat?
The turkey! I'm vegetarian.

2. Did you ever play in a pile of leaves as a kid? If so do you have a picture of you or someoneyou know playing in the fall leaves? Post it if you do!
Sure I probably did since we had a tree in our front yard. Don't have any pictures though.

3. When you think of Fall what are the three things that come to mind?
Snow; no sunshine; bitter cold; long evenings - That was in Ohio growing up.
No snow; lots of sunshine; not really cold; short days - That's in Texas now.
Ok, so there are four things but I never liked winter growing up. Much now where winter is just like an extended fall and there is now winter.

4. When was the last time you had pumpkin pie? Was it last year or have you already had some this year?
Not since last year.

5. Tell us something really nice about the last person you read an email from.
The last email would have been at work Friday. I haven't read my personal emails. I send out very few personal emails so I don't get many coming in.

Starting Again

2005-11-19T23:48:00.000-06:00

I'm starting a Blog in a new place. I've tried them several places including AOL. Some I like, some have something missing, some I just didn't like. I'm trying it out here since a lot of the people who left AOL came over here.

I am disappointed that AOL doesn't think enough of my monthly fee to not include Ads. Despite the noise, they don't seem to be listening. I followed a lot of the Journals there but commented little. I am in process of finding some and will stop lurking and start commenting. It's hard with my busy schedule to read them daily so it might be a week or two when I catch up. Anyway, it's a start here and I'll take it one day at a time.

Flower and Heart Sunlight Design

2005-11-19T22:11:00.000-06:00

One evening my daughter looked at the designs on the neighbors house as the sun was shining through the leaves. "Mommy, get your camera." Here's what she saw.

A flower!

A Heart!

She actually had to show me where the flower was because I couldn't see it at first. The heart didn't come out as well but it did look like a heart.

She's part of the reason I started seeing more things in nature. When she was born for the first few weeks before going back to work, I would put her in the stroller, at that time the baby carrier that attached to the stroller, and walk around the neighborhood. I introduced her to nature by pointing out all the things she could see looking up: the birds singing, the sun shining, and the tree branches waving. At eight months on her first camping trip night I thought something was wrong because she kept looking up. I looked up to see that she knew the sky was different than she was used to in the city. She had actually noticed the stars! As she grew older, she noticed all bugs, picked flowers from the few in our yard to give to her daycare and school teachers or people she passed that morning. She has become quiet a nature lover still at 7 years old, although she doesn't pick flowers as much. And the questions, having to explain all the things she saw got me to noticing more nature details. I've been taking pictures since at least 10 when I received my first camera so it fit to take pictures of the things I saw. Then I discovered Photoblogs and was inspired to take more pictures. I'll post more of my favorites. Until next time!