photo challenge 1/25/16 . . . sky

I love looking at the sky. 

 It can be when I am walking and I look up and see a sky so clean and blue that it feels like I could simply reach up and draw on it . . . or at night when I am away from the city lights and the number of stars I see takes my breath away.  I love clouds so big that they dominate the entire skyline and promise a storm . . . then afterwards 

allow the sun to take it's turn at painting something too beautiful for words.   

It does not matter what time of night it is . . . if my husband says to me, "Come outside, I want you to see something." . . . I will get up knowing that he wants to share the moon with me. 

 I am never disappointed. 

I figured there would be clouds in the sky today and thought I would snap some pictures when I went for a walk at lunch.  The day started out foggy (which I also love) . . . moved onto hazy . . . and didn't really turn into what I was hoping for.  

So when I was looking through my pictures for an older photo to use - I found this one . . . 

It made my day!

Charlotte in the sky!

photo challenge 1/24/16 . . . photo & quote

photo challenge 1/23/15 . . . technology

 As much as I think people need to unplug and spend a little less time looking at their phones, ipads, computers . . . I do like the internet and being able to find just about anything I want to find.

Today it was a coconut cream pie recipe . . . 

Happy National Pie Day!

Saturday . . .

I love when Richard makes breakfast!

photo challenge 1/22/16 . . . snack

 I made such a good choice for a snack at work this afternoon . . . an orange and a little bit of popcorn.  But . . . 

. . . on the way to meeting friends for dinner we walked past one of those charming little bakeries that tend to lure me inside.  I did pick out something small . . . and they were so good!  You can't go wrong with raspberry cheesecake.  

this week's random . . .

I take pictures all the time  . . . of everything. Sometimes they are with blog posts in mind, sometimes something catches my eye, sometimes I go for walks just to take pictures, often times the children in my life are just so much fun that I want to capture moments.  Later when I am looking through my pictures . . . there are those random photos that I just like for one reason or another.  

photo challenge 1/21/16 . . . childhood memory

I honestly don't remember this particular day, but have so many memories of my aunt and uncles farm . . . and what better photo from a childhood in Iowa than a young me holding what I believe is an ear of corn.  Some of my memories are vague and others more specific, but all the memories I have of time on this farm are good ones . . . a dog named Ginger, the farm cats, I seem to remember getting water from a pump, sitting in front of my aunts vanity, looking forward to my uncle coming in for lunch, driving to a nearby town and getting to pick out a bag of penny candy . . .
one memory leads to another . . . memories are like that.
I am blessed to have had the childhood that I had.
Sending out a special "I love you!" to my Uncle Al and Aunt Hess!
 Thanks for the wonderful memories!

photo challenge 1/20/16 . . . old

This bell sits in front of the school where I work.  The land has been a school site since 1884.  If I remember correctly this bell used to ring from the top of a wood school house that once stood on our site.  We have photos that show that being as early as 1905.  Of course that school house no longer remains.  Most of our building now were built in the 50's and 60's with a few newer building built in the last 10-20 years.  

This old bell has called children to school for well over 100 years and still rings once a year on the first day of school . . . a tradition that has gone on for decades before I worked here and will probably continue for years after I am gone.  I love being a part of not only this school, but a wonderful school district built on tradition and excellence.  

photo challenge 1/19/16 . . . favorite picture of me.

"We didn't realize we were making memories, 

we just knew we were having fun."

 I am not sure if I can really say I have a favorite picture of myself.  I do have a snapshot of me dancing with my son at his wedding, but the quality is so poor I decided to go with something else.  

This photo was taken a while back . . . at least long enough ago that my hair is still short.  (I came very close to cutting it short again last week.  I hate the process of growing out my hair).

Sorry . . . I'm rambling - it's that kind of day.

I chose this photo mostly because I was having fun!  I have come to realize the importance of enjoying every moment

 and simply having fun . . . not matter what I am doing!

You get a bonus . . . this guy having fun back at me.  It really was a good day!  

paper crane love . . .

Please excuse the expletive . . . sort of a private joke and perfect for what I want to write on this journal page.  I found the "love" vase at the grocery store for $3 . . . and thought it would be fun to fill it up with paper cranes.  I would like it better if the cranes were all white - so I will probably fold a few more and change that.  It has been a wonderful three day weekend . . . with today being cold an rainy.  

A perfect day to be home!

photo challenge 1/18/16 . . . reaching up

This picture of Richard working on our son and daughter-in-laws house was taken a few weeks ago.  I should have take a before and after.  Thanks to this man . . . who can do just about anything it looks like a completely different house.    

photo challenge 1/17/15 . . . unusual

Please excuse all the photos, but I felt like I had to post more than one photo just to give you some idea about the detail of this unusual fence/gate.  I have taken pictures of it before, yet every time I drive by these gates I have to stop.  There are two fences and gates probably about a half mile apart.  

We noticed some items that were not rusted . . . so I am assuming that even though it has been in place for years it is still being added onto.  This would have also been a wonderful post for "rust".

There is so much detail . . . these photos don't really begin to show how unique it is.

It was a beautiful day for a ride in the country.  

Saturday . . .

If it wasn't for Grandpa she probably would have walked right through the mud and she probably would not have ventured close enough to pet the cows.  She liked the sheep best . . . "because they didn't stink like the pigs." . . . and informed us that, . . . "the cows were girl cows because they had earrings on."  She makes everything special . . . and somehow always convinces Grandpa to stop for ice cream.  What a great start to a long weekend. 

photo challenge 1/16/16 . . . on the screen

Football . . .  of course.  

photo challenge 1/15/16 . . . out and about

My mood was a little intense yesterday . . . so Richard said he would drag me out even if I didn't want to go.  Him saying that reminded me of these photos . . . which I love.  So this is our "out and about" photo for yesterday.  The best thing . . . my mood is much calmer today.