31-JAN-2008
Sunrise
When the sun comes up over the houses behind us, it looks like they are on fire. The colors blending from orange to the dark blue of the sky are phenomenal. I definitely didn't do it justice, but that's OK. And hey, I just finished my first month of PaD for 2008--only 11 more to go!!
30-JAN-2008
Decorating Tip
To make that artwork on the wall really pop, center the sofa underneath it!
Seriously, it really bothers me that people first--do graffiti all over the buildings in town, and secondly--dump their old furniture and appliances in the alleys. When my son-in-law was in high school, he organized his friends to go around town on Saturday mornings, picking up stuff like this. Too bad more people don't care about keeping their hometown clean.
29-JAN-2008
Zumba
I am not a morning person. I don't usually get up really early unless it involves a plane trip to the Caribbean. However, our YMCA has just started offering Zumba--dance aerobics to Latin music. I really enjoy it, which is saying a lot since I also HATE to exercise. There is a 6:15 am class on Tuesdays, and I was griping to my husband that no one gets up that early to work out willingly. So last night I woke up at 2, 4, and 5:20 am. I decided, what the heck, I'm awake, so I might as well go Zumba. Wow, there were at least 35 other people who got up early, too! It was a good feeling to have my exercise for the day over with before the sun came up. We'll have to see if this was a fluke.
28-JAN-2008
Green Bridge, Blue Bridge
These two bridges near Ashland, Kentucky made me smile today as I drove toward them. The bright colors remind me of Lego blocks. It seems like one or the other of them is constantly being painted, so it was nice to have an unobstructed view.
27-JAN-2008
The Denim Blues
Recently I had to buy a new pair of jeans. The only thing I hate more than shopping for jeans is shopping for swimsuits. I'm short, and my hips are larger than my waist, so it is hard to find a pair that fits me. I used to buy them at Gap until they changed all their styles to ultra low rise with sizing that would only fit a prepubescent girl. And between all the relaxed fit, boot cut, or tapered legs it can get very confusing. So what did I end up with? Lee Riders, $18.77 at Wal-Mart. Gotta love it.
26-JAN-2008
Creature Comforts
This is Gabby, our 15-year-old cat. She spends most of her day sleeping in our master bathroom. The reason she likes it so much is because the floor is heated. We appreciate it too, especially when the outside temperature is in the teens.
25-JAN-2008
Art Imitates Art
We purchased this stained glass piece on a trip to Asheville, North Carolina last fall. I've been looking for something to hang in our dining room window for several years. It reminds me of Clark Langley's current PaD entry.
http://www.pbase.com/image/92092798.jpg
24-JAN-2008
Is it a Tomato or a Grape?
This time of year, the only tomatoes that are even halfway worth using are cherry or the new grape variety. Even though it is tiny, you still get that bright color and juicy, sweet taste.
23-JAN-2008
Cool, Clear Water
Yesterday a major water main burst in town, so we are under a "boil water advisory." I didn't think I used a lot of water. I realized quickly that simple tasks like taking medicine or washing vegetables is hard without clean tap water. Even though I had a bottle of water standing by, my husband and I both stuck our toothbrushes under the faucet when we got ready to brush our teeth tonight. Hopefully we will be given the all clear tomorrow.
22-JAN-2008
Concoction
For Christmas, we received a bottle of homemade infused vodka. My husband liked it so much he purchased his own infusion kit. We started the first batch today--Granny Smith apples with cinnamon sticks. It should make some great appletinis.
21-JAN-2008
A Cold Winter's Night . . .
There was a full moon tonight, and the sky was very clear. It really feels like winter, with temperatures in the teens. I rolled the window down in the car to snap this, and even though it isn't great quality, it was too cold to be picky!
20-JAN-2008
Tiny Bubbles
Two year olds have amazing memories. Last night, right before bedtime, the boys saw bottles of bubbles on the bookshelf in their room. They begged to play with them, but we said they would have to wait till the morning. Of course, I thought they would forget. But when we went in to get them this morning, the first words out of Jacob's mouth were "Play bubbles, play bubbles, play bubbles?" So, of course, that is what we did.
19-JAN-1008
It Could Be Worse. . . They Could Be Triplets!
As you may know, my daughter has twin boys Ben (left), and Jake, (right), who are 2 1/2 years old. Our friends have a little boy Sean (middle), who is about 10 days older than the twins. Sean and his sister came over for an impromptu pizza party this evening, and the "big boys" sat at the bar to eat. My daughter just looked at me and said, "Oh My God, what if they were triplets?" A scary proposition, indeed.
18-JAN-2008
Made to Order
Tonight we had dinner at a little local cafe. We had to choose between a booth by the door or one across from the open kitchen area. We chose warmth. It was noisy and crazy, watching the servers hustling around. We could hear the chef as he gave the cooks our order, and it was a little strange being almost in the middle of it all. The food was good, but I'm not sure I needed to see the prep area while I ate. I did, however, enjoy the stacks of colorful plates in my favorite hues!
17-JAN-2008
All Together Now
I always wonder why birds sit together on wires. I see a treble clef on the barbed wire fence, and the birds look like little notes on the musical staff, so this must be choir practice!
16-JAN-2008
Tired
I went shopping today and wore my cute little black boots. After a couple of hours of walking from one end of the mall to the other, my feet were tired and sore. I took advantage of the sitting area in one store to rest while my friend was trying on stuff. At that point I wished I had worn my Merrells instead. But as Billy Crystal used to say as Fernando Lamas on Saturday Night Live, "It is better to look good than to feel good!"
15-JAN-2008
Red Pole
This year I want to improve my photography skills. I don't know a lot about composition and balance, but I know when something is pleasing to my eye. My husband has a nice SLR camera, but I am clueless with it beyond point and shoot. I can't even figure out how to use a macro setting. The digital photography class offered in my community didn't fit into my schedule, but I am starting a Photoshop class this evening. So back to today's photo; I just liked the way the shadows hit, and all the lines, textures, and colors.
14-JAN-2008
Bright Spot
This was a lazy Monday. It was cold and snowy and gray, and I puttered around in my sweats till the afternoon. Finally, I had to get OUT OF THE HOUSE (I do that if I stay home too long)! So I loaded up the car with stuff for Goodwill and delivered it to their doorstep. On the way home, I noticed one small spot of blue sky, brightening an otherwise dreary day.
13-JAN-2008
Perseverance
We've got these little landscaping blocks that are set in the ground beside the garage. You are supposed to grow grass in the little holes in the middle, so from a distance it looks like lawn, but you can drive on it. Last summer when we put in the pool, this driveway was totally trashed--gravel, concrete trucks, dirt--all over it. We decided to let it go until next spring. Today, my husband noticed that the area is starting to green up again, even though it is only January. Some of it is weeds, but there is a little grass in the middle. To me, that's perseverance.
12-JAN-2008
Forgotten
A few years ago, I decided that I just HAD to have a replica of "The Savannah Bird Girl" which was featured on the cover of the novel "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." It took me several weeks and calling around to various stores to find it. I enjoyed looking out into my English style garden and seeing her there. Then we moved and there was really no good place to put her in the back garden, so she went into a "holding" area on the other side of the house. This afternoon I was walking around and there she was, lying in the weeds. It made me sad that she was forgotten. Next spring I will find her a new place of honor.
11-JAN-2008
Remember When?
I realized the other day that I have very few printed and framed photos of my grandkids. When my kids were born, we carried around "brag books" with the latest pics. We proudly displayed the newest shots on our walls and tables. Now, I have hundreds of pictures, but they are on my computer. I can scroll through them anytime I want. And I can download the best ones to my iPhone, and show you the cutest kids in the whole wide world.
10-JAN-2008
Apple of My Eye
When I go through the produce section at the supermarket, I feel healthier just looking at all the fruits and vegetables. And sometimes I even buy apples, carrots, bananas, and celery so I will have "good" food to snack on. But old habits are hard to break, and I would still rather eat a bowl of potato chips than a plate of apple slices. More often than not, the fruit sits there till it starts to get a little mushy, and then it gets thrown into the woods behind the house as "deer food." Oh well, there's always the next trip to the grocery store!
09-JAN-2008
Bumbo
My granddaughter, Eliza Jean, is 4 1/2 months old. She thinks she is a big girl, and although she has great head control (I know, she is a genius baby), she can't sit up by herself yet. So she has this really cool chair called a Bumbo Seat. It's cushy foam plastic and you just kinda wedge her in there, and voila! She is sitting! Isn't she just so darn cute?!
09-JAN-2008
We Have Ways . . . Of Making You Floss!
Every six months, the phone will ring and I hear "Deeebbbbiiiiee, it's Ellommmma--time for your dental cleaning (just imagine a cheerful sing-song voice)! Why do we dread the dentist's office? It's not like I have lots of bad memories; I didn't have my first cavity till I was about 30. It's just that they have all these instruments of torture--I mean cleaning tools! They look very dangerous and painful. But actually, Terri, my dental hygienist, is very gentle and it is mostly painless. And she is fun to talk to. Well, she does most of the talking and I just say "Uh-huh" and "Huh?" My teeth feel so nice afterwards, and I'm free--for another six months!!
07-JAN-2008
False Spring
It was really warm here today (70 degrees). So I headed to the park to walk. You gotta take advantage of nice weather when you know next week you might be cooped up in the house, walking on the treadmill watching The Price is Right. I happened to run into my daughter and her best friend who were strolling with their babies. I love our park; it is one of the nicest parts of our little town, with its huge oak trees and nice walking track. We'll see how long this reprieve from the cold and snow lasts.
06-JAN-2008
Patterns
So my friend and I were shopping at Target this afternoon along with everyone else in town. Normally I like shopping there, but I guess this is a transitional season. Parts of the store looked like they had been looted. I got the last 12 pack of Diet Coke, and the only reason it was still there was because the carton was ripped. Standing at the checkout line, I looked into the snack bar and noticed all the design elements, which you hardly see when you are looking for a quick snack. Did you know you can get a medium soft drink and a bag of popcorn for $1.00, while a medium soft drink by itself costs like $1.29? I just buy the combo and give away the popcorn! So I think this pic is kinda cool, even though the people look like they are about to drown.
05-JAN-2008
Too Much Technology
All I wanted to do was upload a video to YouTube. Unfortunately, I taped at high resolution and the file was 3 gigabytes, which is way too big. Plus I couldn't find the correct cord that had the two matching ends which would hook up the camera to the computer. Then the video was too long, so I had to split it into four sections. Four hours and 3 different laptops later (don't ask) I finally got it uploaded. (Actually it was my wonderful son in law who figured it out). Sometimes, the very technology that is supposed to save us time makes us want to scream and throw things out the window.
04-JAN-2008
Paying for the Sins of Christmas Past
I finally ran out of excuses not to exercise, and headed back to the Y. It's a new year, blah, blah, blah. I work with a trainer, and the fact that I have to pay her is the main reason I show up to work out. Although I have been known to miss an appointment even though I know I will have to pay anyway. Today, a new trainer was shadowing our workout, so he "helped" me with my form. Did I forget to mention that he was a tight end on Marshall's football team last year? Yeah, whining doesn't get you anywhere with someone like that. You also know it's not good when your trainer tells the new guy to be careful because "when her heart rate gets too high, she vomits!" It's true. I hate working out.
03-JAN-2008
Amaryllis
I love forcing bulbs in the winter. It's fascinating to watch the plant emerge and grow daily. This morning, the bloom had barely begun to open, and by 6 this evening, this is the result.
02-JAN-2008
Brrrrrrrrr!
It's a bit cold to be outside in your swimsuit! This is the first real snow of the season, complete with icy roads, school closings, and really cold temperatures.
01-JAN-2008
Self Portrait
The new year is a time to "reflect" on your life and what makes you happy. I am blessed with more than I could ever need.