Whew what a day....

Before I begin my story of what we did today I want to thank Helen...She went out of her way this Christmas to make sure I had a little bit of Australia on our Christmas tree....We loved our Koalas hanging on their own tree....Thank you Ms. Helen!

Today (Saturday) Fred wanted to run to Houston to eat at a fabulous restaurant we found there but Mom in law said No way, lol...Can't say as I blame her...a very long drive just to go eat...So she asked if we would take her over to Port O'Conner to a restaurant (Clarks) where you can eat out on the deck overlooking the intercoastal canal...Last time we took her over there we were able to watch dolphins while we ate...it was pretty sweet....I got online and checked but found no hours for the restaurant but on their blog it said they were open...So we took off on our adventure...We didn't eat breakfast assuming we'd be eating lunch soon...We drove and drove...got over there and guess what, grrr....They were CLOSED!! Sigh...Now what?

I told Fred there was another restaurant in Port Lavaca where you could eat and watch the Bay....So we preceded to drive to Port Lavaca...We got over there and guess what, grrr, they were closed for the Holidays...There was one more that I knew of down by the causeway to Port Comfort so we drove over there...That restaurant was totally gone, poof...lol...By this time we were pretty darn hungry...So we settled for a seafood restaurant that was NOT near the water and had lunch...sigh...With the shrimp industry failing it also seems like the restaurants are too...

I saw this great view of the Port Lavaca Lighthouse from where we ate, so I ran and grabbed the camera...Then all the trucks pulled up there and parked, lol...sometimes you just can't win...We also managed to find the quilt store that was in Port Lavaca and it was 1/2 price day...So Mom got some good deals and some really cute stuff too...It wasn't a totally failed adventure! Just wish we could have sat on a deck and ate near the water as it was a beautiful day!

Upon our return home I fed Julie (horse) and noticed this little doe was waiting for her corn...So I threw out some corn and grabbed the camera...I was able to snap a few photos before Julie came over and the doe frantically danced around as Julie was eating her corn, lol...This little doe is getting quiet used to me and I am hoping that soon I can get even better photos of her...Now if I could just get Julie to stop eating her corn.

Uh Oh I've been spotted!!

Then Ralph, our barn cat, came up and sat down so I captured this shot of him...That was my photo fix for the day. I saw a lot of hawks on the electric lines between Victoria and Port Lavaca today...But my sweet dear spouse would not stop so I could try for a photo, grr....

Quality time with Daddy

Fred was running the roads most of the day, then he came home and worked outside on his tiller...This evening he decided to spend sometime with Michael, trying to fly kites!!

The wind was not cooperating and would die down and splat would go the kite...I finally took Michaels smaller fish kite out and they did manage to get that up and keep it up...

Grammy took the photos with her camera as I was comotose in the recliner with a digital scrap magazine and wasn't moving...I did look out the window periodically to see how the boys were doing...

Butterfly kite was just too heavy for the wind today...

So they tried the fish kite and it went up...up...

and away....Michael was just tickled!!

As I said Grammy had her camera and she was snapping away....I saw this Photo of myself and said sheesh I look like hell...Mom says "Well that is how you look!"...Thanks MOM!!

Michael starts back to school Monday and I am going to start walking again...I have too!! So who's going to join me on my morning walks??

A New Years Surprise to the Photo Challenge Blog

Helen and her husband have been working on some exciting changes to the Photo Challenge for 2009. A real challenge and change - are you up for it?

THE PHOTO CHALLENGE BLOG IS MOVING!

Yes that is right. Due to a variety of circumstances we seem to have outgrown our blog - collages are becoming too big and blog listings hard to keep up to date for you all. So, a forum was made. That is right, we have our very own PCF - Photo Challenge Forum (big thanks goes out to my dear friend Helen's Husband for hosting it for FREE). Here you will be able to register to participate and submit your own photo to weekly challenges, as well as vote in the poll for "Photo of the Week" as usual. There are also the added benefits of a welcome board so we can get to know each other better and photo and camera thread where we can all share our knowledge and learn from each other. So when you see that amazing photo we can pick that members brain on how they did it!Please bear in mind, this is the first time Helen has have ever created a forum and there are sure to be teething problems. But with the help of Helen, Wendy and other members familiar with forums we will iron things out along the way.



Please go to the Photo Challenge Blog for all the details.

I saw this article on Yahoo when I came online this evening and paused to read it...Goodness knows I could use all the help I can get with my Marriage, lol...I think we all could...But it was an interesting article and I thought I'd share it with y'all....

Click here to read the article

Dating 101: Seven Things No One Tells You About Marriage
The surprising, enlightening, and sometimes hard truths married folks all face -- and how they teach us about what love really means.

By Ylonda Gault Caviness for Redbook Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/TriggerPhoto

New Years Day at my In-laws Ranch...

We spent today over at Fred's parents Ranch...Lots of good food and great company!!

After dinner I left the ladies to go on a nature walk and take some photos (the guys were target shooting and I wasn't invited, sigh)...I was having a hard-time deciding which lens to use...Macro or (crappy) Telephoto? I ended up switching back and forth quiet a bit as I was seeing birds and butterflies...

I saw flocks of American Robins but couldn't get a decent photo...I saw Green Jays but again no decent photos...Saw Warblers and many other birds too but just couldn't get close enough for a decent photo, very frustrating....I was also shocked that the Robins were here...Spring is coming early as the Robins don't normally migrate through here to go back North until the end of January...Good News for you Northerners! The Robins are on their way...

I saw several butterflies and this is one I just happen to get a photo of...it is a Variegated Fritillary...really sweet as I haven't seen one before...(Telephoto)

One of the bird photos I took...you can see the color distortion on the tree branches from the lens....I knew this might be an Oriole but not sure which one until I was able to get home and adjust the photo and look in the bird book...it is a Audubon's Oriole...I am thinking I may have to go back over to my In-laws Ranch this weekend and try my luck with the birds again...there were just soo many flying about....


Lattice Leaf work...(Macro)

An ant getting some sugar...(Macro)

Baaaaa.....kid goat! The cutest one of the bunch! (Macro)

Another little one...They're cute and then they grow UP!! (Macro)

After my walk I came back up to the house and found Grandpocka had hooked Michael up with a...hmmm....well not sure what it is...a cut up fence post tied to his tractor...ahh yes a drag!!

As you can see Michael is taking his job very seriously.... (Macro)

Texas Dandelion Fluff...(Macro)

My favorite photo of the day...I found this itty bitty guy in the flower bed at the ranch house and had to go get my Ring flash and remote shutter release...he was just too pretty! Not sure what he is as he isn't in my bug/spider book...(If you click on the photo you can get a closer view)

This critter was once again telling stories, lol....he's always telling stories!

I happened to get a quick shot of Michael with Grandpocka and Grandma Criste...Michael was NOT cooperating...(Macro)


We had a really good day and it was nice to get outside in the woods for some nature photo therapy...Hopefully my nieces won't be there riding the 4 wheel mule this weekend and I might be able to get some better bird photos...

Happy New Year to Y'all!

Birds, Birds, Birds & a Boy

I have been trying for a couple of weeks to identify these birds by getting a photo and today I managed a half way decent photo...and NO they are not sparrows but Pine Siskin's and they like to hang around with the American Goldfinches down here in the winter time...Cool!

Today we decided or should I say - I decided it was time to get out of the house...So we took off on a little trip...Grammy loves quilting and we know there is a nice little quilt shop in Rockport...So I decided to take her over there...Of course I had other motives...See I took my camera, lol...The Rockport Marina is just across the road...So I thought while Grammy shops Michael and I would go for a walk...I bribed Michael and told him there was a park...but the park I was talking about didn't have toys but benches to sit and watch the birds, lol...Michael wasn't too pleased...But he found a shovel and had fun digging and watching the Pelicans feeding...Every time one hit the water I would go Kerplunk and Michael thought that was hilarious...Young ones are so easy to please, sometimes ;o)

This Blue Heron was sitting on the back of a houseboat and was soo close I couldn't NOT try for a photo...

Pelican cruising along....


KERPLUNK!!!

These are red heads, notice the grey beaks (Thank you John for correcting me)...I really had a hard time getting a decent photo with the telephoto...but loved this one of the female stretching her wings...

White Pelican grooming himself with a Cormorant drying his wings out in the background.

Female Canvas Backs...Not sure? Oh John W. help me out with these, lol.

(Yea, John said these are probably female Canvas Backs)...

Pintails snoozing...

These were some of my better photos from the day...you can see more at my flickr site:

Click here

I had fun and was plum tuckered out...I think Grammy had fun shopping without two bored individuals disrupting her concentration, lol....

Dissection of a Christmas Cactus Bloom

I was a bit bored this afternoon and my Christmas Cactus is in full bloom so I thought it was time for some photos...

Christmas Cactus bloom

Pistil with Stamen loaded with pollen grains.

Different view of the Pistil

Petals...I noticed they look like they have streaks of silver in them.

The Rim, I loved the pinkish/red line on the rim.

Closer view of the Stamen and Pollen granule's.

Well that is my photo dissection of a Christmas Cactus. My patience ran out, lol...

I was actually attempting photos of birds today as it was beautiful outside but as I was patiently sitting and waiting for the birds to come into the feeders an American Kestrel (sparrow hawk) kept flying by and the song birds were having none of that...Can't say as I blame them...So I moved inside for photos!