Spring is in the air...

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow." -Proverb

My neighbor asked me if my apricot trees were blooming.  Hmmm.  I hadn't bother to look, or notice would a better word.  So I went, and looked.  Sure enough my tree was blooming, and buzzing with bees gathering their pollen.  I am so glad these little insects are doing their job…it means we may have apricots…if we do not get a late freeze.

There are 2 bees in this photo. One in the lower blossom of the bunch in the middle, and one flying away on the right.

Since I had my camera out documenting the lovely apricot blooms, I started hunting for more.  My neighbor's plum tree was just beginning to open a few of its lovely flowers, and it, too, had a few bees.

Seeing the blossoms warmed my heart knowing that spring is just around the corner.  I have linked these up with Kim Klassin's Friday finds.  I am happy with my find of these beautiful blossoms.

Bumps, bruises, and best friends...

"We were never made to do this life on our own." -Erin Leigh

I took this quote from an art website I love to visit for two reasons. #1:  I like her artwork which is mixed media, #2: and probably the most important reason of all, is that she is uplifting, encouraging, and always focuses on the Lord Jesus Christ in everything she writes, and in her artwork.  You can find the post for this quote here.  I promise you that you will not be disappointed to visit her site.

That said, I had a wonderful opportunity to share my Cape Cod trip with a very dear friend, Pauline.  She was my roommate for the trip, and I learned so much from her about hair.  She is a beautician, now retired.  Her hair always looks amazing…something that escapes me…I am glad I had boys, because I know little about fixing hair.  On this trip, I learned about product…hair products.  She had a whole cosmetic bag full of product, which she let me try out, but more importantly, showed how to use!  I had great hair for the entire trip, and I felt like a million dollars.  When you have a good hair day, things are just better.

Meet Pauline.  She has fantastic white hair.  Because of her beautiful, shiny color, I have toyed with the idea of not dying my hair anymore, and letting it revert back to its natural state of white.  But I have not been brave enough yet…I know the growing out faze will be a nightmare, and I will look like a nightmare while doing it, so I remain chemically dependent on my hair coloring.

Pauline...

We were not only roommates on the Cape Cod trip, we shared a seat on the bus.

This our little entourage for most of the trip: Left to right, Diane, Stephanie, Julie, and Pauline.

Pauline and me.

Pauline at our Lobsterfest…we all had to wear these bibs.  

One day Pauline called me to let me know she has cancer.  We cried together, tried to look on the bright side, and talked about things to come.  This is why we were never made to do this life on our own.  Not only do we need to be in fellowship with Jesus, but He has provided us with friends who help us go through life: the fun times, like Cape Cod; and the bad times: when your facing cancer.

I think, as women, we like our hair…even if you are like me, and find yourself hair challenged when it comes to fixing it.  Pauline had made a hair appointment to have her hair shaved.  Apparently, it is recommended that you shave your head before the hair actually begins to fall out, since your scalp will be sensitive when it actually starts happening.  She could not do it.  She cancelled her appointment.  I told her I had clippers, and would be happy to shave her hair for her in the comfort of her own home.  One morning, she called me to say it was time, and could I come over that morning to shave her hair.  It was Valentine's Day!  Oh, my heart ached for her.  Armed with my clippers, a skull cap, and scarf, I went over.  She had invited another friend to help her through the ordeal, and of course, her hubby was there in his cheerleading outfit. (not literally, just figuratively).  He took video, because one day, she will be all done with this, and have her hair back.  The video will be a reminder of how God brought her through a horrible trial.

We all cried as I cut her hair.  When I was done, she had no hair, but she was so beautiful, and in good spirits.  At least she seemed better.  Her other friend and I went through all kinds of ways to wear, and tie a head scarf.  We had Pauline put on bright red lipstick, and BIG earrings, and fixed her scarf.  She looked rather dashing, and daring to boot.  She was gorgeous, and I thought maybe I should start wearing scarves.  Maybe I could fix scarves better than my hair!  Besides, she looked so cute!

Pauline, and her headscarf.  

I called her the next day to find out if she needed me to come over to help her tie her headscarf.  She said, "No," and then told me about how your Valentine's Day went.  She ended by saying it was one of the best days she has experienced in a long time.  See, we are better together.   Pauline now has a complete array of hats, scarves, and one wig.  She is ready for this new adventure the Lord has her in right now.  She is "strong in the Lord, and strength of His might."  You go girl!

Let your light shine...

Today I am participating in Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday.  The theme for today is light.  I bought some pretty pink tulips for Valentine's Day with an ulterior motive... to photograph them.  I must have a hundred pictures of these tulips. They were well worth the $5.00 I paid…I had so much fun photographing them, and got to enjoy them to boot.

kk_tres soft light 100%, duplicate layer, change blend mode to multiply 100%, add kk_chill, soft light blend mode 84%, add a hue/saturation layer clipped to kk_chill texture, colorize to change the texture from cream to the soft blue.

kk_cecile texture, soft light blend mode 100%

Twins 2nd birthday…part 1

"Happy Birthday to you…"

Warren and I were beginning to wonder if we were going to be able to get out of town for the twin's second birthday…Dallas had an unexpected snow storm…our plane was 5 hours late.  This meant we missed our connection, and had to spend the night in Dallas.  The good that came out of it all was that we got to see Zach with no pressure to rush off.  It was a very nice stop over.

We arrived in NC on the twins actual birthday.  We stopped at a couple of stores on the way back to Luke's house get balloons, dinosaur glow sticks, and one special present for their actual birthday.

They had a dump truck cake.

 We went to a local restaurant for dinner where Luke gave the boys their special gift: baseball gloves.

Luke gave the boys a lesson on how to put on the gloves and how to maneuver them to catch a ball...and then he tried to play catch with them.  They did better with grounders. The next morning I was holding Sawyer, who had on his glove, and Luke starting tossing a ball way high in the air. I would move Sawyer's gloved hand, so he would catch the ball.  He thought that was so funny, and laughed that good old belly laugh.  It was fun!  My arm was sure sore the next day from holding him.  Whew! What a workout.

The theme of the party was construction. The twins found some hard hats, and had a lot of fun puttering about wearing them.  Hmmm.  Hope Sawyer is never on some high rise construction project.  The way he wears his hat might prove to be disastrous since he cannot see what's in front of him.  He liked wearing his hat over his eyes…that night, and at the party.

I had my friend, Suzanne, help me make banners for the twin's party.

Luke was keeping his eye on all of us to make sure every detail was perfect…and that we were all working.

 Everyone child got their own "Construction placemat, and hard hat.  

Table decorations and party bags for the guests.

 The food was chicken nuggets from Chick-o-filet.  Yum!  They are being dumped out of the dump truck.  Clever.  To the left, there is a smaller dump truck with forks, and napkins in the back part of the truck.

These donuts are in fact, tires…I bet you would have never guessed that…the tractor is pulling them on a flatbed.

Father and Son…aka Pawpaw and Daddy...

Happy Valentines...

"Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every day my Valentine." -Thomas Hood

Happy Valentine's Day.  May the love that passes all understanding guard your heart and mind today.

How lovely that Valentine's Day fell on a Friday…easy to celebrate.  Today, I am linking to Kim Klassen's Friday finds.  

I got out my camera, cat, conversation hearts, and a little bit of creativity to capture a message of love.

My poor cat… I cannot believe she let me wrap her in a feather boa, scatter hearts all over her, and she calmly laid there.  That is so unlike her.  She did try to eat the feathers, but I caught one of her looking like she was dreaming…that this was not really happening…maybe it was a nightmare for her.

Love is all you need.  Give someone a big hug, and kiss today!

Little guys…the twins...

This is a quick post…mostly because I have been sick since we got home from our trip to celebrate the twins second birthday…I got the crud that has been going around.  Thank goodness, I did not get sick while traveling.  Tonight, I uploaded all the photos of the trip, and there are tons, but I lack the energy to get my  brain, and body in gear to do much.  Recently, someone sent me a link to some amazing photos taken by a Russian mom of her two children, and their animals.  See more of them here.

photo by Elena Shumilova

photo by Elena Shumilova

photo by Elena Shumilova

With Elena's photos as an inspiration, I edited a couple of photos of the twins.  

More to come…stay tuned! 

Maggie...

"I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul." -Jean Cocteau

I have not done a post on our cat, Maggie, in a long time.  She is probably the most photographed cat…mostly because she is around, and I lack subjects, so she is it.  She is not the most cooperative, but she will do.  One morning as I was getting ready for the day, I heard a scratching noise, but could not for the life of me figure out where it was coming from.  I thought, "oh, well," and went about my business.  Then I heard the scratching again, and a "meow." I went hunting again, and found the Maggie trapped behind the door of our entertainment center.  Apparently, since the back is open, she crawled in there, but could not figure how to get back out.  I was worried about her being stuck in this place for a long time, because it is where we recharge our iPhones.  She loves to eat iPhone cords, and earphone cords.  I am on my second iPhone cord, and my 4th earphone cord.  You'd think I would learn to put them up. I am happy to report, all cords were still working order.  She must have been too busy trying to figure how to get out rather than eating cords.

Maggie goes outside soon after Warren gets up in the morning.  If it is colder outside, she may hang around for awhile, but she eventually goes out, stays for about 30 minutes, then comes back in.  She likes to join Warren in the bathroom while he is getting ready for work.  She plops down right outside the shower.  I think it is because it is a warm place to be.  I leave the door a little cracked so she can come and go as she pleases.  Is she spoiled or what?

One of her favorite places to rest is in front of the shift-robe in the atrium.  This was one of Smiggley's favorite spots as well.  There is a vent under the shift-robe that shoots out cool air in the summer, and warm in the winter.  These cats are no dummies.

Looking regal...

Here are some more of Maggie's favorite spots.

1.  Behind all our plants.  I have a wagon full of plants, and she likes to be among them.  Maybe she thinks she is outdoors.

2.  She has taken over the settee by the dining room.  It is one of her favorite sleeping spots. "Sleep in heavenly peace, Maggie."

3.  Curtains are the perfect hiding place.  I think she thinks I do not see her.  She likes to get behind them, then jump out as if to scare me.

4.  One day I was photographing the conversation candy hearts that are so popular for Valentine's.  I had the candy all scattered out ready to photograph, and she came to investigate. She began eating my props… the candy.   I tried to shoo her away, but she kept coming back.  She really liked the candy.  I think it was the sayings on each heart…she was reading them.

5.  Maggie is in the window looking at me like, "oh no, not more photographs."

6.  Maggie is fascinated with the radio/CD player.  She tries to get CDs as they load, and unload.  She cannot figure out where the sound is coming from.  She will sit, and watch the BOSE for a long periods of time.  Who knows what is going on in her little cat brain.

That's all about Maggie for now.  Stay tuned for more…I don't know when though.

Texture Tuesday…more on love...

It is Texture Tuesday at Kim Klassen's blog.  I always like what she does with textures to make her photos have that dreamy look.  In keeping with the February theme of 'Love', there is no greater love than God's love for us.  I am reminded of that when I have my tea each morning.

kk_texture awaken 100% soft light

Miracles...

Short and sweet…My theme for February is Love.   

February has arrived...

Today is February 2nd, Ground Hog day.  I wonder if the little critter saw or did not see its shadow.  I cannot remember if he does, do we have more winter or do we not?  Seems like winter out there.  I woke to a world that had been touched by a very light dusting of snow.  It has continued to be on the chilly side with intermittent flakes of snow.  Nothing is sticking, which I am sure is making the school aged children sad.  No closing of school for them.

Yesterday, I went out with a couple of friends to take photos of cardinals…like in the bird.  In New Mexico?  I never heard of them around this area.  Nonetheless, I went with them, hopes high.  We drove past Dexter, and Hagerman onto, well, it did not even seem much like a road.  If you used your imagination, maybe you could see some tracks where a truck may have been.  We parked, then hiked for about 1/4 mile.  My friends brought a hunting blind that you sort snapped, and poof, there was the blind.  Pretty neat.  It was like a miniature tent with no bottom.  They had two camping chairs.  Wow, it was pretty nice.  All we had to do was sit, and wait for the birds, and pick out the stickers that got stuck in our jeans as we walked through the brush.  Here's what we walked through.

After about an hour, my friend's husband got out,  so we could take some photos with backlighting. (By the way, he let us girls sit in the chairs, he sat in the dirt…a real gentleman).   He was standing there when here came the birds.  He had to hurry back into the blind.  We should have had him get out sooner.

Can you believe it…a cardinal.  Gary, my friend's husband, said these are called Tucson Cardinals.  I looked them up, and their official name is Cardinalis sinuatus.   Pretty things.  Yes, Cardinals.  Amazing.  

Maybe this is the female of the cardinal variety…

Anyway, I am going to call them two love birds…just in time for February the month of love… Romantic for sure...

and now for a little inspiration from our birdie friends...