• Life In General

    Thursday Thoughts ~ Florida Edition

    Some of you knew I went to Melbourne Beach, Florida for a few days this past Saturday.  My oldest daughter flew down with me.  The weather wasn’t quite what we thought we would get when we visited the sunshine state.  We arrived Saturday morning sometime after a torrential downpour but before the wind and rain went  completely nuts.  The weather began to go downhill Friday evening but fortunately let up enough Saturday morning about the time our plane was due to land.  This was the view out of the front window of their home Saturday afternoon….looking north. Riding out a “no name” tropical storm on a barrier island can be…

  • Road Trips

    Charlotte, North Carolina

    Yesterday you learned about a train…. …that would take us to the center of the city. The wish to see downtown Charlotte was still a wish as I sat at the kitchen table with Nina our first morning in South Carolina…until she mentioned the train to the city.  I knew the wish could become a reality, so we made a plan.  We would travel to the city on Sunday to explore…and to photograph.  We knew there was a possibility places could be closed, but there would fewer people and cars on Sunday. While their highways are still crowded with cars during peak times, Charlotte is also building a brilliant transit system using a combination of light rail and bus service.  We were able to park…

  • Family

    My Sweet Girl

    Twenty years ago today I fell hopelessly in love…. ….with my sweet baby girl…. ….all grown up…. …no longer a teenager… ….sweet baby mine. Happy 20th Birthday Alanna…I love you more than I can say. Baby mine, don’t you cry Baby mine, dry your eyes Rest your head close to my heart Never to part Baby of mine Little one when you play Pay no heed to what they say Let your eyes sparkle and shine Never a tear Baby of mine If they knew all about you They’d end up loving you too All those same people who scold you What they’d give just for the right to hold…

  • Friday Flashback

    Friday Flashback

    This image was taken 16 years ago today…my oldest daughter and her cousin.  His family was visiting from out of town and we had just eaten breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  Her cousin just celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago when this photograph was taken… …time flies much too quickly as you watch your children grow. Happy Birthday Dustin!

  • Life In General

    Heartbroken

    Remember this….. and this…. ….it now looks like this…. …and this… Thankfully she wasn’t in the vehicle.  She was the victim of a hit and run while her car was parked in front of a friends house last night.  She heard a noise, looked out the window and saw another car’s front end sitting in her trunk…she ran outside just in time to watch them back out of the trunk and drive away.  They may have fled the scene of the accident  but they thoughtfully left their license plate.   The police report was filed last night…the insurance company has been called…the vehicle was towed to the body shop to await its fate….and my big girl ~ she is…

  • Outside My Window

    Outside My Window ~ 6.5.2011

    Outside my window…is a fairly warm, overcast day.  At almost 2:00 today, the temperature was 78°F which is close to our average for this time of year.  This morning thunder and rain woke me at an early hour….and what a rain storm it was too.  We received about .85 inches of rain ~ enough to fill both my rain barrels back to the top (plus some I’m sure) and soak the heat parched ground.  It had been hot here this past week with temperatures in the low to mid 90’s so the morning rain was welcome.  I had been watering my newly planted seeds as well as other plants with rain water…

  • Outside My Window

    Outside My Window ~ 5.22.11

    Outside my window…is a fabulous morning!  At 11:00 a.m., we have blue skies, sunshine and 79°F.  Our forecast high is 85°F today.  I have a feeling all roads leading to the beaches will be crowded today.  Of course the water is still brrrrrr chilly and will definitely take your breath when it hits you, but a quick run in and out on a hot day will feel nice.   We do have a slight chance of isolated thunderstorms this evening and tomorrow.  Speaking of tomorrow and the rest of the week, it will be even warmer with 88°F for our highs and 70°F for our lows.  Welcome summer? I am thinking…about our day of prom dress shopping…

  • Family

    Cutie Cailin

    My baby is 17 today….where did the days go? The little girl who loved to blow kisses… …and had the sweetest smiles…especially after cake…. ….so very friendly and full of waves & kisses during Halloween parades…. She is my big girl now… …even when she is sleeping…. I love you my sweet baby! Happy Birthday Cutie Cailin!