Ok, which is more ME?

Straight?

Curlier but pulled back so not WILD!

My sCrappy mess!

It is still a mess but I love my little quote..... I got it from my friend, Penny. She is a sweetie! So, here I am trying to get my room all in order. I will make it soon! Maybe, one day!

I love Pride and Prejudice

My favorite PnP movie is the Colin Firth version. However, this recent one has a lovely smile.

But even better:

Which Austin Heroine am I:
(not sure about that last one but....{
You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of silliness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

Take the Quiz here!

Last T-ball game and AWARDS!

Sam getting ready for his final at bat.

Sam and Josie flirting AGAIN, while on the field.

Final team spirit cheer.

Mason and his 'bestest' fan, Maggie

Sam and Jake are proud of their accomplishments.

Anna finally without the pop in her mouth!

My latest works.

I have been busy working on some sketches......

We went on vacation 3 months after Anna was born. The leaves were a little old but it was gorgeous. The falls were lovely and sleeping more thatn 3 hours was shear heaven!

A Puppy-love scene, Max and Ellie LOVED each other. She even visited Max after moving to Ga with us. I still miss him, he was such a good dog. Look how cute they are together.

I put together a year by month, I loved January and December most. January has the great Rhine House and the Leaning Oak from Beringer and Decemebr for my last live picture of Mike V.

Anna's first Easter, 2001 An awful scratch on her face but she had such fun with the eggs.

Sam and his frat look at Emily's wedding. Sam and Anna danced the night away. I love the large shot - tie gone, sweaty brow and partially untucked shirt!

OK, I really need to add this shot of Tom Cruise... see the resemblance... I know the shine on the important shot is bad but you can sorta see...

Bentley and Sam... two peas in a pd.... they really did look like twins. I love that they would get fussed at by the other name unless they wore boy and girl colored clothes like here...

Ok, perhaps we shouldn't let them, but my kids LOVE fireworks....

So, are they ok? I love to scrap....

Happy Memorial Day

Always a sad day, but a celebration of the lives of so many heroes. Thank you to all who have made the world I live in free. Thank you to all the selfless people who continue to volunteer to protect those who argue against them. Having lived in another country, I have seen and know what other rulers and governments dictate to their people. I will drive into town today and not worry about a roadside bomb or sniper fire and be ableto buy pretty much anything I'd like for that I remember. Thank you again for all the sacrifices made yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Cindy and Glenn stay safe on your tours. You are in our prayers.

OMG! 20 Years! LSMSA - thanks for the memories

Well, here you have it, the horrible and honest proof of my 'old' age. MY SENIORS' 20 year reunion. I can't beleive it. I vividly remember arguing with Sterling, moving to Caddo hall (including getting a new roommate - Kimmie), dances at the NSU gym on the hill and history classes with Dr. Findley. Where have the last 20 years gone?

Nicole, Kathleen and I drove up in the 'Stang with the top down. We drove all the back roads and took our time. Lea's still has great pie! We drove around most of the weekend with the top down and froze often. I, of course, got the first sunburn of the summer.

Nicole and Jay. I wish we had taken more pictures. I hope someone will share theirs! Like JAY! So, except for a few extra pounds and a lifetime of growing up; we haven't changed a bit. Have We?

Charles and Cecilia Ottenweller. This woman would have fit into our school so well. Of course, I wouldn't have known her, since she is a tiny-bit older than me. But, truly amazing and an inspiration. I hope to know her better over time. Her strength is amazing, as of course, is her sweet husband. Who, FYI is still wonderful and has an awesome smile!

I actually spent most of my time with Cecilia and we had a lovely chat. We drove around Natchitoches and I gave her the mini low-down of places and things. Honest thought, nothing too bad. Honest ;-)

Sterling and Kris (I hope that is the correct spelling) and I. How wonderful to see Strel. We only had one small fight. I know, will wonders never cease. But, thanks again Sterling for lunch! He even wore THE RING. DoesenPlus1 would all be smiling. In fact, Shane Anderson was there, but I've no photographic evidence. We were all just enjoying the moments too much to think of such things.

I missed the sexy Rockette picture, but this is still cute. Jay Prince, Charles, Nicole, Kathleen (honorary LSMSA student), and Edward Dodge. It took forever to say good-bye. I know, I for one hope it will no0t be another 20 years before we see everyone again.

As always the off kilter shot. This, the most appropriate, shot of the weekend was the final picture from my camera. Thanks Cecilia, you are a great photographer.

Mike V - Rest in Peace

LSU lost its mascot on Friday, May 18. Mike the Tiger was 17.
I recall the day he was paraded around Mike IV, before being installed as the new Mascot. Mike IV was retired to luxury at the Baton Rouge Zoo.


I have not told the kids yet, since I am not sure how to tell Sam his 'Michael Tiger' is gone. I will take them up to the celebration when Mike VI joins the ranks as our new Mike. But he will never be 'our Michael Tiger.'

Mike V, thank you for your voice in the quiet and the hush. You announced our presence and our persistence against any foe. Your strength and beauty inspired us all and instilled in our 'enemies' fear of our prowess. I will miss your roar, yet, I know you are near. Thank you.

Challenge

Working on a photography challenge on a board and have been snapping away. I am attaching some of the cute or neat ones.

This one is for "Ant's Eye View." Do you see the bats?

This one is Sports. I like it because Anna is a half a step from home and the little girl doesn't make it in time. But, Also for the little guys touching the bag at third!

Ok, I shouldn't mention this is in the Dairy Queen Drive Thru, but there you have it. 'RED'

AK was not very happy, when her mom walked away to check on Jake. This is 'Scream.'

'Out Of Place' is from Saint Francisville, when I was driving through.

I still need a few to complete the challenge, but I am close!

Sympathies for VT - prayers

I am so saddened by the horrific events, which occured this week at Virginia Tech. My heart is sad as my brain struggles to understand the reasons, the loss, the bravery and the selfless acts of some. My thoughts and prayers are with all the families, the school and the world in light of this tragedy.

I found her address remarkable:

Tragedy at Virginia Tech

Transcription of Nikki Giovanni's Convocation address

Delivered April 17, 2007

We are Virginia Tech.

We are sad today, and we will be sad for quite a while. We are not moving on, we are embracing our mourning.

We are Virginia Tech

We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, and we are sad enough to know that we must laugh again.

We are Virginia Tech.

We do not understand this tragedy. We know we did nothing to deserve it, but neither does a child in Africa dying of AIDS, neither do the invisible children walking the night away to avoid being captured by the rogue army, neither does the baby elephant watching his community being devestated for ivory, neither does the Mexican child looking for fresh water, neither does the Appalachian infant killed in the middle of the night in his crib in the home his father built with his own hands being run over by a boulder because the land was destabilized. No one deserves a tragedy.

We are Virginia Tech.

The Hokie Nation embraces our own and reaches out with open heart and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imaginations and the possibilities. We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness.

We are the Hokies.

We will prevail.

We will prevail.

We will prevail.

We are Virginia Tech.

This picture was taken last night at a vigil. So beautiful and so devistated: the angels, the wounded, the other students, the faculty, the parents, the school, the city, the state, the nation and the world - mourn. Weep at the loss of such talent - lost but NOT forgotten.

How lovely and appropriate. How sad and enlightening. 'Let's Go Hokies!' God Bless.

pictures from random sites and the speech from Virginia Tech.

Pictures from Wildwood

We went up to Wildwood a few weeks ago. Just the kids and I. The flowers were gorgeous and in great bloom.

The azaleas are some of my favorites. I sure wish they weren't just plain old bushes most of the year!

Sam's tree is finally growing, just like Sam! And all of a sudden, too.

Dogwood Bloom

Yellow Iris


Spring is so wonderful down here in the South. Not only pleasant days and pretty flowers but rich aromas and sounds of birth and renewal. If you listen closely, I think you can here the refreshing sounds of the earth awakening from its winter lassitude.