A Week in Pictures (#5B and #6)

Just a reminder: the week #5 and #6 pictures were merged due to changes in posting days.

PS: Sorry so late. I had blogging issues. But, better late than never!

Moth 10/26/2012

{To see a larger image, go here.}

This moth was well camouflaged. I first thought “great, dirt got on our brick”; but, discovered it was a tiny moth upon a closer inspection. There was a fierce brief storm earlier in the day. So, I assume it took shelter on our front porch. And, before you ask: Yes, I did take a few macro shots of this critter.

Spreading Wildflower Seeds 10/27/2012

We took the time to spread some Wildflower Seeds on our land. Of course, we did not have enough for one acre of land.

Backyard Fence {Before} 10/28/2012

Interesting picture, is it not? (That was said with sarcasm.) The backyard fence is the only pictures I took on this day. So, you get to see an exciting “before” picture of our backyard (fence). Ha!

China Saucers are Hung 10/29/2012

I am very pleased that these saucers are hung. The problem is that I do not have enough for this house as the kitchen/dining area is bigger than the house in Houston. So, I am going to have to hunt for more cheap saucers. In the meantime, I feel like our house is becoming a home now and I am absolutely thrilled. And yes, I love aprons. And no, I do not need anymore. Ha!

Chessie Keeping Dan Company 10/30/2012

I have a picture of Little One with Dan somewhere in one of my photo albums. Chessie doing this reminded me of Little One. I had to take this picture in a hurry because Chessie does not like the camera. She let me take two pictures before getting down.

Scissortail 10/31/2012

{To see a larger image, go here.}

I was exploring the back yard early in the morning when I spied this scissortail flying in the field behind ours. It is not the greatest picture; but, I like it very much. I need to invest in a zoom lens of my own as working with Dan’s lens was not fun.

Sunset 11/1/2012

{To see a larger image, go here.}

It was a beautiful sunset. I am still attempting and learning on how to take pictures of sunsets (and moonsets). The sun set too fast for me. However, slowly but surely, I am reaching an understanding of how things work; but, I am far from reaching the perfect picture. *sigh*

One Lovely Blog Award

The Orchestra Director’s Wife has nominated me for the “One Lovely Blog” award. This lovely lady writes from the heart about her life, thoughts and her beloved chickens. I am deeply touched that she thinks my blog is worthy of a nomination. Thank you The Orchestra Director’s Wife!

My life has been a chaotic mess lately resulting from a recent move to the “boonies”. However, I intentionally make time for taking daily pictures. There is just something about taking a break and looking for inspiration in daily life and being out there in “nature” that helps me relax. Macro photography is a passion of mine. However, I am attempting to do other types of photography at the suggestion of a friend. I am hoping to get a zoom lens in the near future to expand my horizons.

Before I go on, I need to let you all that there were some rules in receiving this nomination. Here they are:

1. Thank your nominator
2. Add the badge to your site
3. Share seven things about yourself
4. Pass on the award to 15 nominees
5. Inform the nominees by commenting on their wall

Now, I have to let you all know that I am a rule breaker. I have never been a fan of these types of things due to a variety of reasons which I will not mention here. However, I thought this would be a fun “exercise” to do. So, I will just list things about myself, list a few blogs I read and let all the other rules go (with the exception of thanking my nominator!).

Seven Things about Myself

I had written a list of 100 things about me and posted that on facebook years ago. However, I think the list would be mighty overwhelming for you all to see. So, I will just stick to seven things.

1. I am Christian – broken, fallen and imperfect – a believer in Christ and saved by Grace.
2. I was once a professional programmer (nine years). I actually loved the challenge of programming; but, I disliked the rat race.
3. I played the piano early in life (first through fifth grade) and then the bass clarinet in both junior and high school (along with one semester of college in ’83). I have not picked up an instrument since then. Although, I may be learning how to play the mandolin in the future.
4. I love to play Cribbage (a board game); but, it is rare that I get to play the game these days.
5. I worked as a housekeeper for a hotel in the eighties (while attending college).
6. I have a phobia of flying. In fact, I get panic attacks before I even get onto the plane. In spite of this fact, I have been outside the continental US (England, Wales, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas & Canada) when I was younger. The older I got, the less I could tolerate the panic attacks and what it did to my body. I have not flown since my oldest niece’s wedding when I did way too much flying in one short week. If I am not mistaken, that was about twelve years ago. I am not sure what I will do if I must fly once again – pray and hope to die? Ha!
7. I am non-traditional. In other words, I dislike diamonds and roses (a girl that dislikes diamonds and roses? How can that be? Ha). I prefer stones such as opals, sapphires, etc. and wildflowers. I would have eloped because I did not want the traditional wedding and all the stuff. However, I knew eloping would have hurt Mother. So, I went through a traditional wedding. It was my gift to her just like walking across the stage when I finally graduated from college was my gift to Dad. The things we may not like to do can be thought of as gifts to others.

Some Examples of Blogs I Follow

I have a wide range of interests. Besides my family members’ and friends’ blogs, I follow:

• inspirational blogs such as (in)courage: home for the hearts of women, where posts are written by a variety of authors from all walks of life and Meet Me in the Meadow with Roy Lessin which is a devotional type blog with short, simple and sweet posts.
• some comics such as Rose is Rose and Pickles. After all, I need a daily dose of smiles and laughter.
• a few crafty blogs such as U Create and Be Different, Act Normal. These blogs often find tutorials, crafting and sometimes cooking links and then point you to them. Another blog, Infarrantly Creative, offers tutorials, tips and more for a variety of crafts and DIY.
• quite a few quilting blogs and one of them is the Moda Bake Shop.

  This blog is actually a division of Moda Fabrics that provides tips, tricks and “recipes” (patterns) for quilts and more. I find it a neat site and one does not need to use their fabrics to make the “recipes” that are provided.

• many cooking blogs. I must say In Jennie’s Kitchen is one of the rare ones that have touched my heart. I have followed this blog for some time. Her blogging changed over a year ago. She had suddenly lost her beloved husband which is one of my worst nightmares. It was devastating for her and her two young daughters. She writes from the heart (and provides recipes).
• a couple pet blogs such as The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee which the blogger posts lovely cute pictures of kittens she currently fosters. She has fostered many kittens and a few cats throughout the years and is an inspiration to many. In fact, I would love to foster kittens and cats in the future.
• the Digital Photography School site. Many of these articles are way over my head at the moment; but, I desire to learn and this site has been extremely helpful. Sometimes, they offer challenges. It is through one such challenge that I managed to get a decent self-portrait that I love. This site offers tips and tricks and it covers a wide range of the types of photography such as landscape, macro, models (portraits), etc., & etc. In fact, I often skip or skim over articles (e.g. models/portraits) I am not interested in. For me, this site is worth the following due to the rare gems that are helpful for me in learning about photography. For example, some of us are foodies and this short and sweet article recently came up on their site: Top 5 Tips on How to Photograph Food.

  Now, one tip I have is you must practice; otherwise, you will not gain the understanding of the whys and wherefores and the “knowledge” will not stick in your brain. Just do it. Don’t be scared. You can always delete the bad stuff.

THE END.

Not really. I will be posting again soon.

Piece,

Wordy Wednesday {Texas Sage Bush}

Texas Sage Bush

I am going to miss this bush. It is an evergreen shrub, native to Texas, which is not a true sage. As you can see, this one was left to grow “wild”. This is how we are – just let them be and grow as they please with a minimum of fuss.

I love the beautiful flowers that bloom all over the bush.

And, I love them for attracting the bees...

Bees...

and more bees.

Bees are a passion of mine. I have always had an interest in them since the days of my youth when my dad kept honeybees. I want to have a couple of hives here on this new land of ours.

Since this plant is native to Texas, maybe we will plant a bush or two here on our own piece of heaven. I am a huge proponent of wildscaping – gardening for wildlife. My main interest lies with the birds, butterflies and bees. However, I do love the other beneficial critters (e.g. lizards) that live off the land. So, I desire to stick to plants and trees that are native to Texas with the exception of the fruit and nut trees.

{All pictures taken on May 26, 2012.}

Macro Monday {Sticker Burrs}

{Participating in Macro Monday, I heart Macro, and Your Sunday Best.}

Sticker Burrs 10/17/2012.

{To see a larger image, go here.}

I first posted images of clusters of these plants and of being hurt by one of these things in A Week of Pictures (#4).

We have since mowed the yard. My Chessie now has trouble with sticker burrs getting on her paws and her fur. She prefers to roam the back and sides of the house; but, I have been forcing her to go to the front because there were not as many of them out there. We also have to brush her before going back inside. She loves to be brushed; so, no problems in that area. However, she often refuses to go back inside after the brushing because she wants to stay outdoors!

Link Roundup

• Scrappy Patchwork Shoelace Tutorial Sewing

  If this really works out like pictured, it’d be cool for kids (and adults like me!).

• Apple Core Pincushion Sewing

  I would think one can make this without a die cut machine. Just make your own mockup of an apple core and cut out fabric in that shape.

• Pincushion Ring Crafting
• Heating Pad Cover Sewing

• Pin Cushion Tutorial Uses tiny cute wooden frames.
• Easy Raggedy Yarn Wig Tutorial Cute! I want one! Ha!
• Ladybug Identification Image
• How to Stop Those Scandalous Thoughts in Your Head Christian; Inspirational

  You think, “How could I think this? What is the matter with me?” You wonder if you’re a fraud. What would everyone think if they knew? And God does know, what is He thinking? You whisper a quick prayer for forgiveness and carry on with your day…only to have it happen again.

  Here’s the good news: you’re human. This happens to all of us. And as long as we’re on this side of eternity it’s going to continue.

  Those thoughts aren’t you {at least not the real you}. So you don’t need to beat yourself up for them or spend time trying to figure out what in the world is the matter with you and how could you be such a bad person and Sunday School Susie certainly wouldn’t think that and now the day is ruined because you can’t believe what you just thought.