Cherry Blossom Tree ~

This is a photo that my granddaughter took! We were attending a family birthday dinner and my granddaughter snatched my camera and took this shot of the Cherry Blossom tree outside the restaurant. I have to say she did a pretty good job. I promised I would post it for her. The blossoms are a bit more pink than they appear in the photo.

Granddaughter's tomato plant ~

This tomato plant belongs to my granddaughter...she is watering, feeding and caring for her plant all by herself.
She has been caring for this plant for over a year now. The ripened tomatoes are very good...she's doing a wonderful job!

Dried hydrangea's ~

An arrangement of hydrangea's I dried from my garden. Currently, we have high winds and pouring rain...not so great for going out and grabbing outdoor photos.

Lemons, and more lemons ~

Our lemon tree out back, is loaded with lemons this year. The grandkids are attempting to make lemon-aid and set up a stand in the neighborhood...gonna need alot of sugar!  We have a lime tree right next to the lemon tree, so we are getting lemon-limes.  I was trying to talk the kids into just bagging them up and sharing with the neighbors...we'll see how that goes!

Memory box and dried roses ~

The dried roses are from mom's memorial service... they sit on top a pretty little box that hold's memories of mom. Both sit on my roll top desk in my home office. I thought it would make a nice photo of the day...

Koda watching the wild bunnies play ~

Koda, our dog, is watching the wild bunnies play in our front yard! You can barely see one through the window by the fence. There were about four or five scattered on the grass.
He wants out so bad...that wouldn't be good for the bunnies!

Oma's tea cup's ~

My granddaughter and I had a tea party today, using my grandmother "Oma's" teacups. The two teacups in front with the pretty roses at the bottom, belonged to my Oma from Germany...she handed them down to mom just a few years ago, and when mom passed...I managed to get them...I can't express how grateful I am to have them.  Of course, my granddaughter has already informed me they will be hers...I agreed!

The teapot with the peach colored roses and matching teacup, is part of a set given to me by my Oma, when I was just 19 years old...she always knew how much I loved tea.  I love the delicate pattern of the peach roses. All of these special teacups and teapot, bring wonderful memories of my mom and Oma, and the many times we sat taking tea, and chatting away when mom would come to visit. Oma lived in Germany but made several visits over the years. When she was here...I would always make sure we had tea in the cups she had given me many years before.

Minnie's laundry room ~

This is Minnie Mouse's laundry room. Minnie's house is probably my favorite place in Disneyland! I am not a big Disneyland person...but I do enjoy Minnie and Mickey's house...lots of history displayed about Walt Disney.

I took several shots of her home that will be fun to share here. 

My photo archives ~ Disneyland,  December 2010

New Camera, dried hydrangea's, rose petals, and Mom ~

I purchased a gently used new Canon Rebel camera, and this is really the first time I used it. I have been playing and attempting to get use to it. The above photo of my beautiful mom, dried rose petals from her service, and hydrangea's I dried from my garden, became my subjects to play with. This camera is going to take some getting use to! Much different from my point and shoot Canon camera, that is for sure.  I must have taken 100 photos before even coming up with a somewhat decent one.

 I wanted to highlight the hydrangea's so that the purple-ish color stood out, but then there would be a glare on mom's photo. I tried the auto setting and with the flash, the hydrangea's looked a dried up brown color. This photo does not do any of the subjects justice...and it's fuzzy looking. I will just keep playing...that is how you learn right!?! 

Desert fun ~

The little quad rider is my grandson. When time permits, we try to camp out at the desert and get away from it all. About four or five families hit the road together, and head out to our favorite spot in the desert and camp out for the weekend. It's only about an hour and a half from home.

Photo archives ~ January (New Years Run).

Cards and Stationery ~

I have always loved greeting cards, making my own cards, and stationery. I'm still old fashioned in that even in our fast paced busy world, I love to send out cards and letters when I get a chance, via snail mail.  There is something about getting a personal handwritten note or letter in your mailbox these days.
In an attempt to organize and know what I have or need to get...years ago I created my own place to house all of my pretty papers and cards.  I have been re-organizing and cleaning my office lately. I have had this file so long, that the dividers are really getting beat up. I took this out so I can create some pretty new labels for each divider.

Homework, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies??!

I was quite surprised to find this book amongst my granddaughter's homework pile!
I had no idea that there was even a Pride and Prejudice and Zombies book, written by Jane Austin and Seth Grahame-Smith.  At first I thought it to be a spoof of Jane Austin's, Pride and Prejudice book...my granddaughter quickly informed me that it was not a spoof, and a very good book!
Learn something new everyday ~ may have to read this one to find out for myself.

Stormy weather ~

It's dark and cloudy and pouring rain here. Weather girl is calling for five to six inches of rain in the next week. That's alot of rain for us here.
I took this photo as I was driving (not recommended!) to pick up my grandson from school. I love the cloud formations...I love this weather.

Sweet Peas ~

~ Sweet Peas are starting to pop up all over ~

A gift of the heart ~

A gift of the heart ~ This framed photo of my precious daughter and I, and the Bible verse, 1 Corinthians 13 (the inspiration for my previous post here) is one of my most precious treasures. My dear sister-in-law, Honor, gave this to us shortly after my daughter's wedding in 2002. If you want to know the power and meaning of unconditional love...that would be Honor. She is not only my sister-in-law, but my sister-of-the heart. We have known each other since I was 15 years old...that's a long time ago! We just chatted and cried together, and I thought it would be perfect to share this on Valentine's Day. She loved the idea.
Thank you Honor, for your love, friendship, sisterhood, and unconditional support that you so unselfishly give to me always...I love you.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day ~

Love bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things, endures
all things, Love 
never fails.
1 Corinthians 13
~~~~~~~

I have had this heart-shaped birdhouse for many years and it's my favorite...I like to keep it on my desk so I can always see it. My grandson made me the paper flower for Valentine's Day...it's so cute! The stem is a bendable white and green striped drinking straw.  I was sitting at my desk when he gave it to me, I hugged and thanked him...I then placed it in my pencil/pen container temporarily...he turned around and said to me, "Oma, you really should put that in a real vase!" So, I did!  

Happy Heart Day to all of you ~      

My Victoria Magazine collection ~

This is my Victoria Magazine collection that dates back to 1994 at least. On top is just a few February issues with Valentine's Day images on the cover. The issue on the left is dated February 1994, and the one on the right is dated 1998...I have many more in between those years and beyond!
I love to make myself a cup of tea and just sit and look at all the beautiful images this lovely magazine holds. I don't think I could ever part with them.
Victoria Magazine was out of production for a several years...I am so happy to say, Victoria Magazine is back!

Today's sunset ~

Standing in my backyard and looking up at our neighbor on the hill above us...this was our pretty sunset.

Wild bunnies ~

Once again, I took these photos from the inside of my home through the window, so the photos are not very clear. These wild bunnies visit my front yard daily.  When I started taking the photos, there was only one bunny...then two...then three! By the time I was done, there were four bunnies hanging out.  It's fun to watch them play.

Front yard friend ~

This little guy was hanging out in my yard...it's not a good photo by any means, but I couldn't help getting a shot of him. I was standing inside my home and zoomed in on him through my window. I knew if I went outside and attempted to capture him...he would have been long gone.

Okay, I'll look at you ~

What I wouldn't give to know what this dog is thinking.

This is Koda, our Golden Retreiver. Koda was three in October.  He is finally starting to settle down but he was quite a handful at first.  He sort of blends in with my wood flooring but he looks so soft.  This was the only shot where he looked directly at me...all the other shots, he is purposely looking away!

Early morning skies ~

This is how the sky looked over our home, very early this morning...I thought it was looking like a storm brewing...as I post this...the sun is attempting to peak through but no rain as of yet. I love days like this. The point-y things in the lower right corner of the photo...are the tops of the trees that belong to my neighbor. 

Stained Glass Butterfly ~

The stained glass Butterfly, is the shade to a really neat desk lamp (full view below) that a good friend gave me over the weekend.  During  my mom's burial service...several Monarch Butterflies surrounded us...since then,  I have been a bit partial to these lovely creatures. As we helped our friends move this weekend, they handed this to me, wanting me to have this very special butterfly in remembrance of mom ~
Thank you Dan and Theresa...

A complete view of this lovely lamp where it sits on my desk now...next to the dried roses from mom's memorial service.

African Violet ~ Burst of blooms ~

My African Violet plant that sits on my kitchen windowsill is really going to town...must be the Santa Ana's we are having...it sure looks pretty.

More Canon camera play ~

This photo is a result of my son-in-law teaching me more focus techniques and the different settings on my Canon camera. After he left...I couldn't capture the same effect again no matter what I did! I think I am going to have to upgrade my Canon camera for one, and take some classes...so much to learn.
I do love how this came out though.

Neighborly Rose ~

This rose is in my neighbors yard but borders to my yard. . .as I went on my
walk today...I decided to grab a shot...the colors are beautiful.  

St. Louis, Missouri ~

St. Louis, Missouri ~ April 2008

I love how this photo turned out.
On my first family history trip to Kentucky to visit my aunt Ginnie, I took this photo as we drove through Missouri...strong family ties are linked to Missouri...

From my...the keeper of our family memories...photo archives

Canon camera play ~

My son-in-law is a digital camera expert...he was showing me how to use the different settings on my Canon camera...this is just one of the practice photos taken of the apples he lined up on my counter. Lots to learn, but it's fun learning and playing...thanks Jonathan!

Daffodils return ~

I planted these Daffodils or Narcissus bulbs one year... thinking they would never bloom or return...this is the third year they have returned.

William Wordsworth (1770-1850) wrote a poem about Daffodils  ~  The Daffodils ~ I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud ~