WAITING (weekly photo challenge)

Happy Friday!!!!!

It’s been a while since I’ve participated in The Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge. I apologize for my absence and hope everyone in the WordPress world (and beyond) will forgive me.

This week’s topic is waiting.

We're WAITING for our driver to arrive!!!!!

Say hello to the pooches of Doggy Playland at my parent’s house ……. from left to right: Case (named after Case International tractors!), Tess, and Ben. They’re WAITING for whomever has the keys to the Kawasaki Mule. When it cranks, their tails are attached to the seat.

If you were wondering: YES it is a very tight squeeze for anyone willing to ride/drive with these three pooches. I keep trying to convince my parents they need an ATV with at least two seats, possible three, so more humans (than dogs!) can ride!!!!

Case is owned by K but prefers playing (and sleeping and eating) at Doggy Playland. She prefers the luxe-life of Doggy Playland over the tideous labor at the farm. I don’t blame her! Most everybody says she’s ugly … I think she’s the cutest smooshed face ever. Tess is the Queen of the Castle. Seriously, she rules the roost and everybody (human and animal) knows it. Ben was rescued several years ago when Dad got a call from the County Dog Warden saying he had an owner/hunter who didn’t want the hassle of a “gun shy” dog. Dad was the proud owner of Ben less than an hour later.

If you have a photo that’s WAITING ….. upload it and participate.

Happy Weekend – I’m looking forward to book club tomorrow and spending the rest of the weekend inside staying warm. There’s a “wintry mix” headed to North Texas …… we’ll see what that really means. HA!

 

Friday Fotos @ Fort Worth Stockyards

My mother and grandmother arrived at our house yesterday evening from Kentucky (14 hour drive) with a truck load of canned goods and a giant, huge, massive, very large cooler filled with frozen cut-off sweet corn, bacon, crowder peas, pork sausage and a host of other goodies.

Husband and I are set for the winter, our pantry is fully stocked and we’re ready to rock!

Whenever my mom is in town, she always enjoys spending some time in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Since this is Neenie’s first trip to Texas, we took her for a visit there too. It has been a beautiful day, perfect for watching the Fort Worth Herd walk down Exchange Avenue and sight-seeing through the Historic Stockyards of Fort Worth. Plus, you can’t go to the Stockyards without having a meal at Cattleman’s Steakhouse (yum!).

I meant to take a photo of Mom and Neenie today, but I royally failed on that task. I didn’t even think about it until AFTER we returned home. Oops. I’ll snap one later. Promise.

Anyway, back to the Stockyards. Check out these photos:

As we waited for the Fort Worth Herd to make their entrance onto Exchange Avenue, this motorcyclist made about three trips around the crowds that were gathering and I couldn’t help but laugh everytime he passed. Amongst the trucks and trailors and men and women on horseback, this dude wanted to showcase his own version of “horsepower” too ….. I thought it was funny. If he had had room on his bike for my bee-hind, I would have asked for a ride. But, I doubt my teeny-tiny-hiney would’ve fit on that rear bumper. Just sayin’.

After the Herd had passed our spot on the sidewalk, Mom, Neenie, and I made our way to Cattleman’s Steakhouse for lunch. We were walking along when Neenie screamed in delight, “Nicole! You have to take a picture of this road sign!” So I did.

Row-day-oh Drive in California has nothing on Roe-dee-oh Plaza in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Yee Haw Y’all!

Weekly Photo Challenge – POSSIBILITY

Happy Friday, Y’all!!!

Before we get to the photo challenge, I want to remind everybody about the current GIVEAWAY here at 27 & Counting. Miss Shirley over at Shirley Vaughn Photography is providing a copy of her photography booklet to one lucky blog reader. To enter, simply click HERE. The giveaway ends tomorrow (Oct 15) at 10pm. Be sure to read her informative post too in a new series called Shirley Says.

Now to the Weekly Photo Challenge ……..

POSSIBILITY …. where does the staircase lead? What’s waiting on the other side? Do the steps represent a journey’s beginning or end? There’s so many possibilities!!!!

Don’t forget to enter the Photography Giveaway and please, have a great weekend!

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 ~ FACES

I’ve been cooking and slicing and dicing all kinds of goodies today but decided to take a rest and post this week’s photos for The Daily Post. I’m a big fan of this week’s theme ~ faces ~ because it gives me another opportunity to share the beautiful faces of the children I met in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I love these faces …. the represent so many emotions and experiences for me. Hope you enjoy this collection, I couldn’t choose just one to post!

If you want to participate in the Weekly Photo Challenge, check out The Daily Post every Friday for a new theme …. happy weekend, Y’all!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace, love, and beautiful faces,

 

 

 

 

Not-So-Wordless Wednesday ~ dreadful drought

I realize it’s Wednesday and I’m supposed to keep quiet for “Wordless Wednesday” but this is my blog and I’m changin’ the rules.

In case you live under a rock and haven’t seen or heard of the drought in Texas, let me show you our yard. Here it is, in all its dreadful, dead, and depressing glory:

Wow, that’s one ugly picture. This won’t be winning any photography contest anytime soon. I didn’t bother trying to “fix” this scene in Photoshop, what’s the point? It is what it is. Not only is our yard doo-doo brown because of the drought, but the “cloud” or haze you see is dust from a natural gas rig behind our house. The not-so-pleasant company decided to remove a 30-foot-tall barrier wall when we specifically requested that it remain in place. Now, when tanker trucks and large pieces of equipment arrive at the site, and a north or northeast wind is blowing, all the white gravel dust is blown onto our property.

For the record: we purchased this property BEFORE the rig and all of its “baggage” arrived. If we had known about it, well, nevermind. Long story.

Back to our doo-doo brown yard.

This picture illustrates the harsh, dangerous, and deadly reality in Texas right now. We’ve been very fortunate in the area we live. Unfortunately, almost four million – FOUR MILLION – acres of land and 2,500 homes and businesses have burned in wildfires across the State of Texas in 2011. 

On a much, MUCH lighter note ….. notice the bright green patch of grass?

Yeah, that’s a water leak. If it were up to me, I’d leave it alone. It’s nice to see a little green in one’s doo-doo brown world!

My most intelligent and honorable Husband confirmed our suspicions when he dug around the grass and found a leaky section of PVC water pipe. We know it’s a very small leak because our water bill has not increased, but a leak is a leak and should be fixed.

I offered to assist Husband in this endeavor by showcasing my incredible trench-digging abilities developed in Haiti. He wasn’t as enthusiastic or impressed as my Haitian co-workers. In fact, Husband responded with an eye roll, “yeah, whatever,” and a heavy sigh. If it wasn’t four-thousand-degrees outside, I’d start digging while he was at work.

Alright, carry on about your Wednesday.

Peace, love, and pray for rain,

Happy Grandparents Day!!!

This Sunday, September 11 is Grandparents’ Day (celebrated on the second Sunday in September). I realize this honorary post is a bit premature, but I have big plans for a 9/11 tribute and I want to give my lovely grandmothers the recognition they deserve.

So, let me introduce you to Nana and Neenie. These women are the beez-kneez. They are all that … and then some. They are charming and delightful, sinfully sweet, and oh-so-gracious and kind. They are hard-workin’, straight-shootin’ Southern Belles from the Bluegrass fields of Kentucky. One is even named after the Queen!

 

Nicole with Nana & Neenie on her wedding day ~ March 31, 2007

 

On the left wearing the gaw-geous aqua blue vee-neck tailored jacket is Rose, but she prefers to be called Nana. And, on the right, adorning a beee-u-tee-ful string of freshwater pearls and purple-embroidered suit is the one and only Queenie, otherwise known as Neenie. Nana and Neenie are the BEST grandmothers a granddaughter could ever want.

In order to satisfy all disclosures, I am the ONLY granddaughter belonging to these wonderful and witty women! Yep, I am a lucky girl. If you think I’m spoiled, you’re right. But just a little bit. I don’t want to damage my delicate ego.

There’s so much I could say about each of these ladies, but I’ll share a funny story about each of them:

 

When I was a very young girl, Neenie and Papaw (my father’s parents) lived on the family farm outside the city limits of Sebree, Kentucky. Neenie had lots of shoes, drawers full of makeup, and a particular box of jewelry that I loved to peruse and adorm my sweet self to the point of bedazzlement. As if I weren’t sparkly enough!

Neenie had a particular diamond ring that she wore on her left finger beside her wedding band. Now, it wasn’t just a ring, it was a DIAMOND ring. I made those letters big ‘cuz the stone is BIG. Miss Priss (that would be me) decided she’d take The Ring home with her. So, without a word, when Mom picked me up at the farm, she took me and The Ring with her.

The next day, Mom dropped me off at Lollipop Campus, a daycare and preschool center. I took The Ring with me. I showed it off to all my friends and decided The Ring was worthy of being shared with my friend, Aimee. So, Aimee took it home with her that afternoon. Later that evening, my mother received a phone call from Aimee’s mother about a particular piece of jewelry seemingly out of place for a four-year-old to be wearing.

“Charlotte, are you missing any jewelry? Aimee has a beautiful ring that she says Nicole gave to her at school today.”

“Nope, not mine!” my mother replied. And a few minutes later the conversation ended.

Less than 10 minutes pass when the phone rings again. It’s Neenie and she has a calm, but concerned tone and is looking for a misplaced piece of jewelry.

“Charlotte, I went to put my jewelry on today and I can’t find a couple of pieces, including my diamond ring. I know Nicole was playing with them yesterday, did she by any chance bring them home?”

OH-MY-DEAR-GAWD-SWEET-BABY-JESUS

Fast forward about an hour and The Ring was promptly picked up from Aimee’s house and returned to Neenie without damage or harm.

As it goes in family heirlooms, my Father currently has possession of The Ring ~ only he removed the stone from its original setting to create a beautiful pendant necklace. One of these days ~ when I am mature enough to keep precious belongings in my own possession ~ I hope my father entrusts me enough to pass along this treasure. That’s the plan anyway … I’ll let you know if it works in my favor!

 

People, this is a true story … you can’t make this stuff up! It’s only by the grace of God that I’m alive to tell this story, and Aimee’s honest mother. I was a young soul at the time, but I was a-singin’ the Hallejuah chorus that night when The Ring was returned to Neenie!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Not many stories can top the one above, but Nana and I share a bond like none other. I don’t just consider her my grandmother, she’s the Matriarch and the sparkle to our family gatherings. Earlier this year, for her 80th birthday, I sent her a card with “80 Things I Love About My Nana.” Inside were lots of tid-bits and tiny treasures, specific memories, and memorable moments of the times we’ve shared. They don’t mean diddly-squat to anyone else, but to Nana and I they mean the world. I’ll share a few from her card …. which she had framed and showcases in the home she shares with my Aunt Georgia!

• Nana says “bread-n-butter” when walking around something … and I don’t know why!
• Nana loves my husband
• Nana drinks Bourbon
• Nana is a Christian role model of love and acceptance
• Nana let me use her Chevron credit card
• Nana took me to Disney World and the beach for the first time
• Nana likes fine dining … and passed this trait on to me!
• When making chicken noodle soup for my uncle, instead of adding a few drops of yellow food coloring, Nana used green ~ but it still tasted good
• Nana calls me Princess
• … and she says my “toots” smell like roses

 

So, there you have it. A small tribute to two wonderful and witty women who have blessed me beyond measure and I love them more than words can describe. Fortunately, I get to see both of them later this month.

 

I love you Nana!

 

I love you Neenie!

 

Peace, love, and grandparents,

 

 

 

 

Please leave me a comment … I’d love to hear about your grandparents too!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Balanced Sleeping Bird

The Museum of Living Art (MOLA) opened at the Fort Worth Zoo in March last year and I went the week before spring break to dodge the crowds and to, frankly, have a peaceful day alone with the zoo animals. The museum itself is gorgeous, I highly recommend it. Of all the photographs I took that day ~ with only a point-and-shoot at the time ~ I was most impressed with this little guy. I stood for a long time just watching him sleep …. balanced on one leg …. with his head tucked into his feathers.

 

MOLA at Fort Worth Zoo

 

Peace, love, and balancing bird,

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t forget to enter the current GIVEAWAY : click here to enter!

Stained Glass Hearts by Patsy Clairmont

Four years ago, I was introduced to a petite spit-fire with spikey hair and lots of sass at a Women of Faith conference in Dallas, Texas. Since that weekend, I have grown to love Patsy Clairmont, and her laugh-out-loud personality, even more!

Photo courtesy of http://www.PatsyClairmont.com

In her latest publication, Stained Glass Hearts, Clairmont invites readers on a journey to acknowledge one’s brokenness while allowing God to create a beautifully-crafted stained-glass heart worthy of any museum, cathedral, or Heaven itself. In this book, readers are reminded of their fraility, tenderness, and need for connection ~ from both other humans and The Divine.

Like any journey, we encounter road block along the way but, these inconveniences are part of the beautification process God uses to create his masterpiece. After all, stained-glass is nothing more than tiny pieces of glass (i.e. heartache, disappointment, anger, doubt, regret) arranged in a unique pattern, glued together with molten lead (relationships), and supported by a sturdy frame (God).

Photo courtesy of Thomas Nelson Publishers

Readers ~ young and old ~ will find themselves highlighting or underlining quotes, Scriptures, and sassy lines of text. And, in true Patsy-fashion, you will laugh out loud at the author’s quick-wit humor and outbursts of oh-my-gosh-did-she-really-just-say-that?!

While I read Stained Glass Hearts in just a couple of hours, it is a book I will revisit again and again. I will revisit this book to go deeper into Scripture, explore websites, listen music, read poetry and literature, and even visit national and international landmarks. At the end of each chapter, Clairmont includes a section called “The Art Gallery” where she recommends readers go deeper into Scripter, explore websites, listen to specific songs, read poetry and literature, and even visit national and international landmarks on this soul-searching, heart-warming journey of faith. No doubt, this book is that gate to an interactive adventure that will redeem, restore, and reclaim your heart and rekindle relationship with the Master Artist and Creator of all.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Peace, love, and beautiful hearts,

Tuesday Truths … and a GIVEAWAY!!!

Happy Day-After-Labor-Day Day …. did you enjoy your weekend?

I successfully accomplished absolutely nothing. Zilch. Zero. Nothing. Nada.

Yesterday was Monday. Tomorrow’s Wednesday. That means today is Tuesday … it’s time for another weekly dose of Tuesday Truths!

Truth #1:

I like to cook. I like to eat. I like to write. And I really enjoy using my fancy-schmancy camera. What should I be when I grow up?

 

Truth #2: 

I’m addicted to reality-TV. My favorites include: Housewives of …, Top Chef, Food Network’s Chopped, The Amazing Race, Bethenny’s Getting Married, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, The Voice, and Wipeout. I’m convinced that I could put REAL in reality TV, if a network were to extend an invitation. Game shows, life shows, cooking shows, fashion shows, auction shows, it doesn’t matter ~ I love them all!

 

Truth #3:

I’m pleaing the fifth to being a booger-picker in my younger years.

 Dammit, who took this photo?!?!

 

Giveaway Surprise!

Leave a comment with your Tuesday Truths and contact info (name and email address) for a chance to win a SURPRISE gift from me.

Contest ends Thursday at noon.

One winner will be selected using Random.org and contacted Friday.

 

GOOD LUCK!

 

Peace, love, and delete embarassing photos,