5211-19 Happy Mother's Day!!

You knew I would do my self portrait this week with my mom of course!

I decided to do something a little different and non-traditional this time.

 I am truly blessed with a wonderful mother! Her unconditional love for me is amazing!

Happy Mother's Day to you one and all. Since I am not a "real" biological mother but have had quite a hand in raising stepchildren, I leave you with this wonderful poem I found. I truly feel these words!

Not flesh of my flesh,
nor bone of my bone,
but still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
you didn't grown under my heart - but in it.

On Basketball

With the start of the NCAA Tourney, I thought I'd go a little crazy and post about something new (posting about anything on my blog these days is a feat in itself, really!)

Basketball.  It's something I played once upon a time ...... a very long time ago!
Both my parents and several grandparents played.

Being from Arkansas I'm a Razorback through and through. Although admittedly I have not been following closely the last few years, I do love the Hogs! 

My Mom on the other hand...you might say is a tad fanatical about 'her Hogs'. In fact she has a room devoted to Razorbacks, a drawer full of Razorback t-shirts, Razorback jewelry, and this past Christmas...yes, you guessed it, a Razorback tree. 

(after thought:  I should have gathered pics pre-blogging, sorry)

Anyway, I'll not bore you with the whole Pelphrey firing etc, but let's just say, I am ready to for a coach that will at least get us to the dang tournament!!! GEEZ

So in all this random BBall rambling I leave you with some photos of me and my little 9 year old cousin playing some round ball. I'm showing off my skillzzzzz. ;)

My defensive skills are maddening!

 

I just know Joe is pretty scared right about now. 

You can see the intent powerful look in my face!  

{I'm a beast people!}

She shoots!

She Scores!!!!

I'll not take anything away from Joe, he's a pretty darn fine BBall player 

and my narration was completely fictional.

I'm pretty sure he schooled me and I'm almost twice his height. pitiful!

Any early predictions on the Big Dance, or would you rather give a flying rip than care about college basketball? 

for serious

I really do have good intentions of B.A.B.B. (being a better blogger).

Scout's Honor.

I will begin by saying thanks to all my blogging friends that have left me such sweet comments and messages. It really does mean alot...and to anyone else who stops by from time-to-time, I really do hope to get back to myself soon. And to those spammers that seem to have found my blog, um, can you please stop? K-thanks!

I must say Happy Mother's Day!!!!

I have truly had a great day - pretty low key, but full of messages, cards, calls, gifts, cards and time to worship and time with my own special Mom!

I am truly blessed to have such a great family and my Mom has been a real inspiration in my life - I hope I can be half as caring and giving as she is.

My selfie this week includes her:

I may not be a biological mother, but I am a Mom.
I have been blessed enough to be stepmom to three great people and they also helped mold who I am today.
I do hope I have had a positive influence on them as well.
I love them dearly and realize my life would not be complete without them in it.

Things are getting better - my MIL is improving slightly and we hope she continues.
Please continue to keep her (and us) in your thoughts & prayers.

Alex graduates Friday - I am shocked by that to be honest.
We've had some recent rough patches...just the normal stuff, but that situation is also getting better and I could not be prouder than I am of her and her accomplishments.
I look forward to seeing what lies in her future...she is destined for greatness!

today and every day

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, and every woman in my life.

happy hump day

This week has been one of those short yet long weeks, KWIM???

I have failed to photograph the December Daily, but I assure it is pretty well caught up...well except yesterday and today.
Not bad for a chronic procrastinator, huh?

Just a short blog recap of the past two days.

Yesterday was the "best-mom-in-the-world's" birthday.
Yes this woman:I was happy she got to just relax and hang out at home, watch movies, take a nap, put up Christmas decorations, have lunch fixed for her, and have tons of calls from everyone who loves her.

She is deserving of that and so much more!

{ Love you mom!!! :) }

FFWD to today:
freezing dang cold!
icy windows - chance of snow....no go!
Christmas reception at work in Melbourne.
These chicks who make my work life a pleasure:
They are awesome and fun and I'm blessed to call them not only my "department" but also my friends.
Observation for the week: I'm living up to the woolly mammoth look in every group picture. Case in point today and the previous post.
GEEZ!!!

Can we say PERFECT WEATHER?

"PERFECT WEATHER"

And completely beautiful scenery to boot!
What a fantastic day to get out and drive!
Mom & I had a great day on a little shopping excursion.
I was searching for some frames at a store in Koshkonong, MO.
(yes, the town is Koshkonong....Kosh for short)
No such luck. Drat!
Mom did have some luck finding upholstery fabric for an antique chair she is getting recovered.
We made a jaunt through Thayer and stopped at an old hotel built in 1910 that is now a really cool antique store called Creative Poverty. (love that name!)
I made several awesome finds there, from a nifty galvanized something or another that I've hung for a huge magnetic inspiration board (pictures later)
to this fabulous old pot rack:
I know! It's cool, right?
I also caught Gray Kitty sitting so pretty & regal on a piece of firewood.

And of course this cutie patootie who is not the best at getting his pictures taken.
Excuse the blur, but look at those precious eyes!


I love this dog.





and he pretty much loves the heck out of me too.








November has begun.
Time has changed.
Days are short.
Nights are long.
Weather will be getting cold.
I am not a fan of what's to come,
but I'm savoring what it is offering right now!

March One

I cannot express the giddy-ness I am feeling over this:

I think these are my favorite flowers. Not only are they pretty, but I love them mainly because when they come along it means Spring is not far behind! We've had two mild days and they just popped out. Love love love!
I know I'm jumping the gun here...I have been for quite awhile, but Spring is such a great time of year. Colors are vibrant and nature wakes up. I do hope that we don't have a huge deep freeze again this year after everything buds and blooms.

Spent the afternoon with Mom today on the farm...It was a great day and we rode the four wheeler around...me with the camera in tow.

I took several pics of us riding along. I love mom's earmuffs! SHe's been sick so I was glad she felt like getting out a little, but glad she bundled up a little. We look a little scary, but how attractive can you be flying along on a four wheeler!?



This was an interesting find. After we met up with my aunt, crossed the creek (where my socks and jeans got wet - thanks mom!) and rode around a little while, Kathi (my aunt) was telling me about tree that she thinks is an old Indian marking tree. After a search, we found the tree she remembered. Something about how the natives tied off the trees and they would grown sideways and then up. I took lots of pictures and want to try to find out a little more about this.
Upon closer inspection, some type of varmit evidently calls the tree home and is gathering twigs, feathers and other little items in a pile on the bend of the tree.

If you know any information on this Indian tree marking thing, please let me know. Thanks.