Today

Today we arrived at my Mothers house. The flight was good and Michael was really excited about it. I thought I might get a nap on the plane. Normally Michael sleeps when we fly but NOT today...He was wound up and ready to go...Yikes!!

First thing First...a good roll in the grass...There are no fire ants and Aunt Karen took him outside for some tumbling in the beautiful green grass! Yea!

I couldn't help myself...My Mothers flowers as always are beautiful!

I even found a bumble bee...lol...I found a dragon fly too Karin...but I forgot to resize the photo to post it so maybe next post, lol...Just gotta love those dragonflies!!

Grammie reading a book to Michael. She was so Happy to see us!! We were soo glad to see her too. I keep expecting John to walk in the room. It's strange and sad :o(

This was an area in the house they set up with photos of John for visitors to look at...It looks really nice and I love the pink roses!

Well it's time for me to check on my son. He is having fun with Aunt Karen and I am kind of enjoying it too!!

A friend gave me this card yesterday and it really hit home...As you all know I love animals and always have. I remember watching a television show where an elephant in the wild died and all the members of the group were mourning...

We are all creatures of this great earth,

interconnected in ways beyond understanding.

Take elephants. So big. So strong. And yet, when a member of the herd passes, even elephants mourn. They gather around, extend their trunks, and gently touch the tusks of their fallen family member. It's their ritual. It's how they heal. And it's sad. And it's beautiful.

So Maybe what we're trying to say is that the World doesn't expect you to be fine with this.

Be how you need to be. Mourn how you need to mourn.

And know that you're thought of with love.

One of my first photos taken with John and one that I love and will always remember.

The back of the photo said Christmas 1984 Wendy with her New Dad!

John and I with the carriage in Marshall, Michigan 1998.

I love taking John and my Mother for carriage rides. I know they enjoyed it and it was something that I could do for them. They've both done so much for me!

Bereavement

My step-father John passed away this morning!

I honestly don't know what to say or write.

He was my Dad, he was loved very much!

He will be missed....

Go with God John!

Food Adventure due to...

My Dear Sweet Aussie Helen.

A few weeks back I received a package all the way from Australia. Helen had sent me Curry packages, lol. She is always bragging how she loves Curry. I've never eaten Curry before. We have no Indian restaurants near us so in order for me to try some I would have to travel a great distance. She Oh's and Ah's over Curry, takes photos and sends them to me, na na na...

Well she was grocery shopping and spotted these packages of curry and immediately thought of me!

So NOW I have no choice but to try Curry, lol...Fred I know would never ever try it...he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy...I honestly didn't want to try it alone...Food is always more fun when it is shared...There was no way Aussie Helen was going to be able to eat lunch with me...So I invited Helen R. out to the house for a food adventure!!

Below are the photos...

Cooking, cooking, cooking...we put chicken in it...I'm not sure if this is what it is supposed to look like Helen but this is the outcome...I also added snow peas and green onions to it.

I'm getting excited...Now when we first put the packet in the oil the odor was a bit obnoxious...But we were NOT going to give up...just thank goodness neither one of us were pregnant or we might have had to make a run to the restroom...It was a bit strong smelling but once it cooked for a bit it calmed down and wasn't too bad...

The finished results on steamed white rice...the package we tried...Thai Green Curry.

Helen R posing with the Curry...we hadn't tasted it yet...Well Okay Helen R. had stuck her finger in hers and tasted it, she liked it!! I was waiting so I could savior it, lol...

I took a bite....

Still working on it...Don't mind the goofy face it was hot off the stove...Also I really hate having my photo taken, especially while I am eating...LOL....but I had to do this for Aussie Helen. I wanted her to see my facial expressions...

I LIKE IT!! I LIKE IT!!

It was pretty darn good!! It had a bite to it but not bad (meaning a wee bit spicey hot but not to awful bad)...I think I can see why Aussie Helen likes it...

Thank you Helen for the food Adventure...We decided next week we will try one of the other packets...Delicious!!

We might have to head to Corpus too to see if the Health Food Grocery store carries these packets, lol...or possibly a store in Houston!!

Thank you so much for the push to try curry Helen. The Thai Green Curry was really good and now when you talk about Curry I will understand just how your mouth waters....

I am so glad Helen R. came over for a visit too...otherwise there would have been no photos, lol....

Thank you Both for being in my life!! And for all the adventures and all the adventures to come!!

MWA!!

Scrapbook ~ Paper Layout ~ My Friends

This was a photo from last October and was Michael and Kaden's first outing together...Even though they have only known each other for approx. a year it honestly feels like a lifetime. Michael really misses Kaden and still hasn't made any friends at school, sigh! My poor little guy is just unsure of life right now...I know it will take some time but in the mean time Momma's heart is breaking watching her fledgling make his way in life...

Thank you Karin M.

I received an email and was told to go check out Karin's blog....

This is what I found and was just sooooo tickled!!

An absolutely beautiful, stunning and funny layout of My Scarlett....If you click on the photo you can see the details and read the journaling...just too funny and soo true!!

Thank you Karin!! It means the world to Me!!

If y'all would like to check out Karin's other masterpieces click here...she does truly beautiful work....and takes absolutely gorgeous photos too!!

Photo Challenge ~ Animals

It was my week to name the photo challenge and I picked "Animals". I really thought I might have a chance to make it to the Zoo or maybe some wildlife photos. But with all the preparation for Hurricane Ike and then taking care of everything afterwards I never had the time I needed.

So this morning I grabbed the camera and wondered around the house and yard. Goodness knows I have enough domestic animals for some photos. Here are the animals that cooperated with me and the camera, lol....

The End.

A few photos from Sunday...

Just a few photos that I took out in the yard Sunday while Chey and I were playing with the cameras...not as good as hers but thought I would share them.

Sulpher butterfly

Bugs on wild mum.

This weekend..

This weekend my friend Andrea and her children came to visit. She was actually in Houston during hurricane Ike and I asked her down here while they waited for their electricity to come back on. When the temp is at 100 degrees A/C is really nice :o)

Her daughter, Chey, has a Canon Powershot S5 IS. Chey has had the camera for awhile but didn't really understand the different features. She didn't bring her camera so I showed her a few different features on my S3 and she had a blast!! She was really excited about heading home and playing with her camera. I can't wait to see more of her photos. I think this girl is a natural!

We set up a blog for her so she can show off her photography. This young lady has some natural talent. I really enjoyed going out into the yard with her as she took photos at angles I would never have thought of. We really had a lot of fun.

You can go check out Chey's blog click here.

Thank you Andrea, Chey and Bryton for coming to visit!