Weekly Photo Challenge ~ SUNSET

Wow, it’s Friday again? Already?! This week’s photo theme from The Daily Post is SUNSET.

Again, I tried not to be so obvious with my interpretation with this week’s theme. This is a photo – on of my all-time favorites - from an evening at the roping arena when the sun was just beginning to set over the horizon. I think this handsome lil’ fella was enjoying the cool breeze and nice view of the action. It helped that he was curious and photogenic for the goofy photographer woman-with-a-camera! 

Enjoy. Plus, you can share your own photos at The Daily Post too. I hope you will comment and share your own submission link(s) too!

Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend, Y’all!

 

Weekly Photo Challenge ~ PATH

It’s Friday and that means another photo theme from WordPress.

Update: I retract all of my references to CHODE as it related to WordPress as the really smart computer people have repaired the issues associated with adding and editing links. Thank you, whomever you really smart computer people are. You rock my socks. Thank you.

Anyway, my PATH photos are below and you can The Daily Post  to see photos from other bloggers.

Enjoy!

 

Nothing like a Kentucky sunset over fields of corn.

 

My parents riding their primary form of transportation around the homestead, garden, and visiting neighbors … a Kawasaki Mule.

 

My favorite: when’s the last time you looked down the “path” of a high-powered sniper target rifle?!

 

Happy Friday, Y’all …

 

Peace, love, and big guns,

Weekly Photo Challenge: Flowers

It’s Friday and that means a new theme from The Daily Post for their Weekly Photo Challenge.

This week’s theme is FLOWERS.

It’s becoming more and more obvious to me that I am in desperate need of instruction and a one-on-one tutorial of Photoshop. Each time I open this silly photo-editing software, my spirit (none to mention my ego) loses a bit of vibrance. I am painfully aware of my lack in abilities to manipulate a photo. But, alas, I am scheduled to attend a FIVE~hour class on Photoshop this November. Just 46 days left…….not that I’m counting!

Back to the photos for the week. Some of these are from a trip with my best friend to her wedding venue (A and M Gardens in Azle, Texas) and others are from my recent trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

 

Don’t ask how I got this photo to look the way it does. Good, bad, or indifferent I was impressed with myself for a nano-second that I was able to accomplish such a feat. Now, I don’t remember what I did or how I did it. But I love orchid blooms and Kim’s engagement ring is gorgeous.

 

This one makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. How can you be sad if something is as bright yellow as this?!

 

I don’t  know what this flower is, but I like it. This photo was taken at the devastating scene and amongst the wreckage of the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince. The hotel facility catered to Western (mostly U.S. and European) clients and was completely leveled in the 2010 earthquake. The team and I were able to walk around the property where a new hotel and convention facility is being rebuilt.

 

This blooming flower bush was outside the Methodist Guest House and I just noticed the leaves are shaped like hearts and the center of each bloom has a star-shaped bud.

 

This bloom, to me, represents the Haitian people. They are the most driven, passionate, and tenacious people I’ve met. An earthquake may shatter their lives and destroy their homes, but their faith will not be shaken, their hearts will not be moved, and they will find their way through the rubble to the SONlight.

 

I almost forgot about this sunflower. I snapped this shot last month in Kentucky at my parent’s neighbor’s house. They have a great backyard complete with a fire pit, garden, and play area for their two daughters. On the edge of their deck, they’ve planted several sunflowers and the blooms are incredible!

 

 

Blue says hi.

I say enjoy your Friday.

Don’t forget to enter my Celebration Giveaway ~ it ends this Sunday at midnight. There’s a ton of great prizes, including a Target gift card, Scentsy gift collection, a cookbook by The Pioneer Woman, and custom made textiles from an Etsy shop. ENTER NOW!!!!!

 

Love,

 

 

 

 

 

Weekly Photo Challenge ~ BROKEN

I can’t believe it’s Friday again, this week has gone way too fast. I began the week with my folks in Kentucky, returned home in Texas late Wednesday night, and now I’m unpacking only to re-pack early next week for a mission trip to Haiti. Needless to say, it’s a busy time at our place. But, alas, it’s Friday and that means The Daily Post has a new theme for the Weekly Photo Challenge. This week’s them is BROKEN.

 

A couple of weeks ago, Husband purchased a small bumper-pull trailer for a great price but it needed a new floor. Luckily, his wife is awesome (tee hee hee) and helped him install a new floor. But the pile of wood that remained was a sight for sore eyes. Seriously, the original floor was in bad shape. But a little elbow grease and team work, we successfully installed a new wood floor and it looks so much better.

If you’re looking at the doo-doo-brown grass around the pile of broken wood, that’s what our entire yard looks like. It’s dead. Obviously. I haven’t mowed since the first Saturday of May. The mower has a dead battery and flat tire. I’m in no hurry to repair either. Fortunately, the grass in the pasture is taller because Husband did not shred in the spring. That was a GENIUS moment for him at the time. Because of that, Blue has some sustenance, but we’re searching for hay and will need it within a week or two. We need – desperately – rain but there’s none in sight.

Happy Friday!

Nicole

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WPC: Colorful

This week’s photo challenge theme is COLORFUL…..and I think I have a great photo to submit. Thanks WordPress for hosting the Weekly Photo Challenge!

Also, if you have a moment, please visit my earlier post in honor of our beloved Curtis, one of Husband’s team-roping horses. We’re gonna greatly miss The Ol’Man. He was an oldie but a goodie!

~nicole~

Weekly Photo Challenge ~ OLD-FASHIONED

I’d consider myself to be pretty old-fashioned when it comes to some things…….I am NOT, by any stretch of the imagination, fashion forward, politically involved, or up-to-speed on the latest celebrity gossip.

There is one thing, however, that I am very old-fashioned about ~ and that’s food and cooking.

I believe every single kitchen in America would be a happier place if there were at least one rooster on display, a jar of bacon grease in the fridge, and plenty of homegrown goodies in the pantry.  

Speaking of garden goodies, here is my Weekly Photo Challenge submittal, what do you think?!

L to R: plum preserves, pickled beets, green beans, pear preserves with jalapeno, pulp-y tomato juice, and corn relish.....all made with love and sealed with a "Kiss From Kentucky"

I think it’s pur-dee darn delicious looking. Thanks to my wonderful, awesome, thoughtful, and VERY generous parents in Kentucky, they grow all of this in their GIGANTIC garden. Then, they share it all with me, their favorite (and only) daughter. I’m one lucky girl!

I have personally helped make all of these creations except for the pickled beets…that’s my Mother’s doings. I personally don’t like beets so I say, “Mom, knock yourself out!” (figuratively, of course)

So, there you have it. Homegrown delicious-ness that you CANNOT buy from the grocery store. When I open a Mason jar, that “pop” is a Kiss From Kentucky. Boy, it’s a wonderful kiss!

Here’s a view of the infamous garden ~ this is just part of ONE of the gardens though….there’s another one behind their house and you can’t really see the true size of the garden, nor the rows of sweet corn either.

This ain't your grocer's produce section.

I’ll be heading to Kentucky later next week to enjoy myself some fresh picked produce and drink some of my Daddy’s homemade wuh-ine!!!!!!

Thanks Mom and Dad for the delicious garden goodies (and Neenie for the extra green beans!), Husband and I are extremely grateful ~ so are our bellies!!!

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge – SKY

I really enjoy participating in the Weekly Photo Challenge, hosted by The Daily Post. This week’s theme is SKY and I think I have the perfect interpretation to submit.

This photo was taken a couple of years ago near Waxahachie, Texas when Kevin and I were headed to a team roping event. There had just been a thunderstorm in the area and we saw a DOUBLE rainbow too. It was incredible.

Have a wonderful (and safe) holiday weekend – Happy Fourth of July!

 

 

Photo Challenge ~ WORN

Let’s face it……Husband and I are NOT fancy people. Frankly, we’re just like the Weekly Photo Challenge theme: WORN.

It’s been quiet this week and I haven’t used my camera much. But alas, it’s Friday – which means a new photo theme. Since most everything (and everybody) at our Humble Abode are worn, I knew I had to snap a few photos.

While in the barn, I caught a glimpse of old horseshoes hanging on the panels and they looked too good to pass up. Husband has been collecting old shoes from our horses for years, as far back as Goodbar, Hillbilly, Seven, and of course, Blue and Curtis.

I couldn’t choose just one for the weekly challenge, please enjoy:

Aside from the cobwebs and well-worn look, these horseshoes have sentimental value. The difference sizes represent the different horses that have worn them.

 

 

Someone asked why there’s got an old, ugly, and rusted plow sitting next to the fence. Husband’s priceless response: it works just fine.

Hmmph.

My life would not be complete without ropes and gloves. I can’t tell you how many I’ve washed only to find them in the dryer later. I love my Husband. I don’t find coins or paper money in his pockets, just roping gloves.

It’s a perk for the Life of a Roper’s Wife.

Is it obviously whose boots were made for working and whose boots were made for walking?!

I think Husband easily wins the award for Most Worn Boots.

A little this and that…but no foolin’ around

Happy April Fool’s Day. No joke. Really, I hope you’re having a great day!

Consider this a potpourri post, it’s got a little bit of everything.

This week’s photo challenge from The Daily Post is LIGHT. I took the photo below last November on my way back to Texas. Every time I drive to Kentucky and have to leave, I cry my eyes out. Honestly, a few tears are falling now as I remember those incredible moments when the sun is rising to say, “Good morning, Nicole. Be safe and come back soon!”

Kentucky Sunrise ~ November 2011

I took today off to spend it with my husband. Yesterday was our fourth anniversary. We had dentist appointments this morning and then his parents and brother, Chad, drove from East Texas to have lunch with us (Spring Creek BBQ, yummy!) and see our renovated bathroom. It’s been a pretty good day, but I am fighting trying to stay awake and not take an afternoon siesta!

I thought the dentist’s office was playing an April Fool’s joke on me, but I think the employees at Alsbury Dental in Burleson got the message: I was not in the mood, nor was I impressed with their inability to serve us in a timely manner. Kevin’s appointment was at 9:40 and mine was 10:00. We arrived at 9:30, I completed paperwork for us both (Kevin’s handwriting is terrible and I’m OCD about it…so just leave well enough alone) and Kevin was called back at 9:40. So far, so good. At 10:10, I was finally called to the back. Strike One. A nice girl leads me to an exam room and I sit down. She quickly takes x-ray pictures to update my dental files. I’ve never been in a dental exam chair with a 20-inch LCD TV above my head. Nice touch.

Fast forward to 11:25. More than an hour has passed since I arrived in the exam room. I’ve watched one too many episodes of HGTV’s “Designed to Sell.” I’m not the slightest interested in the TV anymore either. Strike One-and-a-half. Armed with the very “fashionable” bib that you wear, I left the exam room and began my search for someone who could answer one question:

What the hell is taking so long?

I found Kevin and noticed that the hygentist working on his pearly whites was nearly complete. Go figure. This is not looking good. Nice Girl sees me and tries to reassure me that it’s a scheduling problem with the Front Desk Coordinator and a hygentist will be with me shortly. She apologizes profusely. I’m not impressed with the excessive wait, but I sit back down. Ten minutes later, Too Talkative Hygentist re-appears. She had visited my room earlier, but when she began reading patient notes that I knew were not mine, she looked confused and I was worried. She left. I waited. Strike Two.

The Too Talkative Hygentist apologized for the excessive wait and began to explain to me the benefits of regular flossing. What-the-ef-ever. Please, just clean my teeth so I can get out of this damn place. Believe me, if you think I’m irritable just wait until you piss off my husband. Trust. Me.

She finished her polishing and I did a final rinse and suck (that mini hand-held vacuum thing at a dentist’s office is a world wonder to me, I swear one of these days it’s going to suck my tongue out of my mouth!). As I am swishing mouthwash – what was the point of that?! – she prepared a goodie bag for me to take home: toothbrush, toothpaste (travel-size, great for my upcoming mission trip to Haiti), and the inevitable floss (oh good, I’m so excited). NOT!!!!

When I get to the main desk, Kevin is scheduling his follow-up and making small talk with the ladies. He obviously had a better experience than I. Lucky dog. We both have follow-ups in the near future. He’s got a filling that needs to be replaced and I have eight metal (silver) fillings that should be replaced with a modern composite. How much do you suppose the silver in my mouth is worth?! Luckily, our insurance is AMAZING. The out-of-pocket expense for both of our filling replacements, including my eight composites, will be less than $200. Praise God for insurance!

All in all, if Kevin had a good experience and is pleased, I’ll return to Alsbury Dental. Kevin has had some really terrible dental experiences, so if he’s happy, I’m happy. I’m a good wife like that.

Moving on…

This week, I received a package from A Taste of Kentucky, a retail shoppe and online retailer of all things Kentucky. The MOST DELICIOUS ginger dressing in the entire world is made in Prospect (a suburb of Louisville). I’ve had it in Japanese sushi restaurants in Louisville but I was first introduced to the dressing by my Aunt Georgia. I know she reads my blog, so I’ll go ahead and say it: she rocks!

Tokyo Ginger Dressing atop iceberg lettuce and homemade Sourdough croutons

Question for my blog readers: have you hosted, or participated in, a recipe swap party?

I want to have a recipe swap party. I’ve heard of them, but never been to one. I’ve also heard of clothing swaps, but I don’t think that’s for me. Mainly, I’m fat and all my friends are skinny. This is true, ask anybody around me! A clothing swap with my skinny friends would be pointless.

What do you think of a recipe swap?

I love to eat. All of my friends love to eat. We may not be the same size (I’m not even in the same ballpark), but we all enjoy good food!

Barb19, you were so disappointed when I made Papaw George’s BBQ chicken and failed to upload photos of my culinary creation. Well, the chicken was so tasty that I made it again (second time this week) AND took some photos. I hope you enjoy this dee-lish-ous-ness for the eyeballs:

I was feeling extra sweet, so Memphis-style is perfect!!!

butter and barbeque sauce heating in a large baking dish

fresh off the grill

Yum, Yum!

Well, there you have it. I think I have successfully posted the most random, chaotic blog post ever. Yay for me.

I love hearing from readers and I appreciate every single one of you. It’s amazing how quickly the number of visitors to this page has increased in the past weeks and months. I’m so grateful for your generosity and acceptance. I hope you will keep visiting and keep commenting on my crazy, chaotic, and simple life.

I love you. I really, really, REALLY do!

Friday’s Foto: OCEAN

Beachfront Sunrise ~ Riveria Maya, Mexico (July 2009)

I took this photo when I went to Mexico in July 2009 and let me tell you: I was NOT impressed. As you can see in the photo, the beach area sucked. It was rocky and the sand was terrible. Now, before you ask, sand CAN be terrible and this sand was. It was impossible to enjoy the crashing waves because they “crashed” about a half-mile from shore. In order to get to any safe swimming area, one would have had to walk about 100-feet PAST the cabana pier (in the picture above). No thanks.

We (the amigos and amigas on the trip with me!) spent a day on the island of Cozumel and it was awesome and beautiful and just lovely darling!. I loved, loved, LOVED snorkeling. We spent another day perusing Chichen Itza (which I humorously named Chicken Pizza, it sounds better with a Southern accent anyhow), one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. How often do you get to say you have visited one of those? Not often, so I put my big girl panties on and dealt with the crappy beach and warm-water pools.

Me off the coast of Cozumel

Let me set the record straight about the photo above: I did not kill this starfish. Repeat, I did NOT kill the starfish. Our snorkel guide, Fernando, dove to the bottom of the ocean and brought back to the surface two starfish for us vacationers to gawk at. We kept the starfish IN the ocean until the person with the camera was absolutely finger on the button ready to go then SNAP! the picture was taken. I don’t want any animal rights’ activists accusing me of mistreating marine life. It was a Kodak moment, I took the opportunity, I was kind to the starfish, and I hurriedly returned his pointed body back to the sea about 0.2 nano seconds later. End. Of. Story.

My first lunch in Mexico was at good ol' McDonald's. I was glad to get food and air-conditioning. The fact the burger was milk-free was icing on the cake. Just remember, I did NOT eat the fries. Those were savored by other amigos.

There’s a long story that goes with this picture. Let’s just say I was never so glad to see those Golden Arches as I was this particular day in Cancun, Mexico. God bless McDonald’s for providing milk-free options!!!!! (Warning: if you have a milk allergy or are lactose intolerant, do NOT eat the fries at McDonald’s. A milk (casein) powder is added to the potatoes before the perfectly sized fries are formed into the ridiculously famous McDonald’s french fries. See? You learned something new today, didn’t you? You’re welcome.)

Go ahead.....be jealous of this hot babe!!!!!

There are few words to describe the photo above. I will say, however, that you are free to be as jealous as possible of my awesome and smokin’ hot bikini body. (now, let’s all laugh out loud together: ready……set…..LAUGHING!!!!!!!!)

At the end of the day, you gotta be grateful for what you have instead of focusing on the disappointments and let-downs. When I left the crappy beach area, I went to the swimming pool. Now, the water temperature was too warm for my liking but the views weren’t bad and the cabanas were plush. I recommend the king-size bed loungers that are located around the pools. This one here was mine for the week. I would plop (yes, plop) my happy ass on that cabana bed around 7:00 am and leave burnt, crisp and red-as-a-lobster about 7:00 pm. If I couldn’t savor the ocean, dammit, I was going to soak up the sunshine. I went overboard one day and burnt the girls (ladies, you know what I mean). They were a little sore but they healed nicely with extra TLC and aloe vera.

Moral of the story: when life hands you avocados, make guacamole!