A Fond Memory of Spring: A Clever Old Porch

In Spring I always think of this beautiful climbing rose we had at the farm.  So, I’m sharing this post that I wrote about it two years ago again.

When we moved to the farm, we did alot of renovating.  And one of the things that really needed renovating was this little porch that had a door into the dining room.  We never used that door, in fact, we put the Christmas tree in that corner of the dining room each year.  The door was treated as just another window inside the house.

But, from the outside, it was obvious that this porch was in very bad repair, and really should be replaced.

But, apparently, you don’t get to the age of this old porch, without having developed some survival skills.  So, the porch had very cleverly cloaked itself in this beautiful climbing rose.  So, whenever we talked about tearing off the porch and building a new, prettier version of it, the debate would always eventually turn to the climbing rose that we enjoyed so much.  And, each time, we would come to the conclusion that there was no way that the rose would survive the upheaval of having its buddy the porch torn down.

So, each spring we looked forward to seeing the beautiful climbing rose, and we put up with its friend, the old porch, the rest of the year.

More Oldies but Goodies!

 

The weather has improved from last week (somewhat) and we are going to try again to drive to Tulsa for a visit.

In the meantime, I certainly don’t want you to come here and think “She’s got nuttin’ for me!”, so here are some old favorites of mine to let you know I’m thinking about you!

Wednesday 1/13 — My mother wasn’t known for being funny, but we all laughed at what she did this time!

Thursday 1/14 — One of the greatest gifts Hubby gave me were his parents as in-laws.  Here is a story about his dad that I wrote a couple years ago on the anniversary of his death.

Friday 1/15 — A friend had an interesting experience in a clothing store that I recounted here.

Saturday 1/16 —  Be careful to make sure you’re taking the right medicine!  Here’s a time when I didn’t!

Sunday 1/17 —  Do you enjoy and savor today?   Read here for my ideas about that.

Monday 1/18 —   Lots of things have changed, including football!  Read here.

May God bless and keep you until we meet again, friends.

Sandra

Some things I’ve learned about myself through Photography

 

I think of my mother often when I am using a camera.  She would be delighted that I finally “get” the fun of photography.

And, I have learned a few things about myself because of photography, for instance —

 

I am drawn to repeated patterns . . .

 

 

and bright colors . . . 

 

 

   (I can’t tell — is it obvious what this is?  If you don’t know, I’ll give you a hint — the color was a pleasant surprise when I played around with editing the hue and saturation of a black and white picture from the zoo.)

 

and the sky . . .

 

 

. . . and sometimes opportunities to show a unique perspective

     A window at a filling station.  A cooler filled with soda pop inside provides the color and is made interesting because it is viewed through a window that is reflecting near-by trees.

   A cropped version of the window above.

   I thought these bushes in the yard, photographed through a screen, looked a little like a painting.

  I was amazed at how much more I liked this simple picture of a bird when I made it a negative.

   There is something a little mysterious about just a glimpse of a pretty girl, isn’t there?

   Bridge girders through the tinting at the top of the windshield.

  A sunset taken in the rear view mirror (as the passenger, of course!)

   I took a picture of clouds from inside the car and inadvertently overlayed them with my husband’s reflection in the window.  When I cropped it to just the reflection, I got a picture I really liked!

I can honestly say that photography has made me look at the world around me much more closely and appreciatively.

Sharing Some Favorites … Because I’ll be Cooking, Visiting, Sleeping, Cooking …

 

For the next week we will have our son, his wife, their two teenagers, their married daughter, her husband and their baby here visiting, and DD and her girls will also be here for the fourth!

Needless to say, there are some things that I normally do that just aren’t going to get done — like writing posts.

I wish each of you a happy, safe Fourth of July and I pray that God will bless each of you and keep you safe until we’re back in touch.

In the meantime, if you are so inclined, here are some favorite posts that I would like to share for each day during this “dry spell”.

Sunday, July 5 —  When our son-in-law’s mother died, the priest gave a wonderful sermon.  I share some of his thoughts here in There She Goes.  Here She Comes.

Monday, July 6 — Nicknames used to be soooo much more interesting.  I talk about that here.

Tuesday, July 7 —  Here’s a favorite story about my friend, Pam, and I making a short road trip that turned into a very looooong one, in Should A Road Trip Ever Involve a Fire Truck?

Wednesday, July 8 —  A girl’s first date should be sweet and memorable, right?  Wellll, here’s the story of DD’s first date — definitely one of the two! 

Thursday, July 9 —  In my on-going battle with age, I wrote this post about wandering lips, called Did You Put That Lipstick on in the Dark?

Friday, July 10 — Hello, hello!  Are you still there?  If so, I have one last favorite to share.   It’s about the time I wrote, and performed, a rap for the program at the retirement of a great guy who was head of the department I worked in at the truck manufacturer.  It’s called Is a Bad Rap Better than No Rap at All?  You can read it here. 

And then, hopefully, “Poof … I’m back!” on Saturday.

I Like What I C. Beth Blog!

 

One of my very favorite bloggers is Beth at C. Beth Blog.  She is a young SAH wife and mother, who is funny, bright and has a wonderful take on life.

Today, she had a post entitled Trading Post.  I liked it so much, I wanted to share it with you.

Here’s another of my recent favorites from her about something her darling daughter, Chickie, did.

I’m sure you’ll enjoy these.  Who needs novels.  Real life is so much more interesting.

Oldies But Goodies for 13 Days!

 

We are leaving this morning for a two-week vacation.  First with my sister and her family in Atlanta, then with Gunny and his family in Tulsa.  ( I envy people who have their siblings and children all in the area!)

I doubt that I’ll be able to post during that time, so I’m leaving you on your own.  But here’s the plan.  I’m going to leave an old post that I like on each of the days that I’m gone and you can read that.  But, only read the one for that day, okay?  That way you will have something to read here everrrrry day.  How hard can it be to come up with thirteen posts I like and would like for you to read from the “old days,” right?

Okay, I’ll be back to posting, hopefully, on the fourteenth.  So, here are 13 “oldies but goodies.”

Update:  I decided you need an “oldie” for today too, so go here for a post I wrote at the beginning of my fiction writing class a year ago.

Be safe  tonight, and may your new year be blessed in ways that you havn’t even thought of!  Happy 2009!

Thursday, January 1:   A lesson I learned when I was applying for a job I reallllly wanted is in here.

Friday, January 2:  The story of my arrival into a family who I’m pretty sure weren’t expecting me is here.

Saturday, January 3:   Can you be too nice?  Here’s my argument that you can!

Sunday, January 4:  When I finally found one, here’s the story of my first job.

Monday, January 5:  Would you put that label there, if you knew it was going to be permanent?  Read here.

Tuesday, January 6:  Dieting.  The best way to do it is with a sense of humor.  Read here about the differences between how I do it and how Hubby does it!

Wednesday, January 7:  A fable with a great lesson we can all profit from is here.

Thursday, January 8:  Hubby’s birthday!  Do you know who he shares it with?  Read here. 

Friday, January 9:  My mama was an interesting person.  Here are some of my memories of her on ironing day when I was little.

Saturday, January 10:  When we were at DD’s house last year, she and I wrote a story together.  She would write a paragraph, and then me, and then her, etc.  It was fun, and the result came out surprisingly well!  You can read it here.

Sunday, January 11:   I was having a bad morning, and it was raining too, then I had an unexpected encounter that made the whole day better!  Read it here.

Monday, January 12:  It was just a business trip to visit some truck dealers, but I had more of an adventure than I had bargained for!  Read it here.

Tuesday, January 13:  And finally, read here for my memories of sharing a hospital room with a “blonde bombshell” when I had DD.

If you paced yourself, you should be arriving here on the 13th.  If you did, here is a bonus for you.  It’s one of my favorites.  I hope it makes you laugh.

I’ll be back!  Hope you enjoy these old favorites of mine.  May God keep you safe until we meet again.

Sandra