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I found this article on Yahoo tonight and was laughing at it....if only it were possible!!!!
Click on the link to read the article
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Saturday, May 9, 2009
Happy Mothers Day!!
Friday, May 8, 2009
4x6
I am still working on the 4x6 album I started for my Mother while she was here....It's an on going project!
Below are a few layouts I had done in the past few weeks and couldn't post until she received them...So glad you liked them Mom!! I enjoyed making them for you!
LOL, I just noticed I used the same vacation word art on two different layouts...Sheesh, wake up Wendy!!!I think the one below is my favorite...I loved the photos of Mom and Michael saying goodbye...a very tender moment and memory!!
I'm working on some more and will post when the recipients receive them and as time allows....Happy Mothers Day MOM!!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Peeps and their new home...
The peeps (chicks) are getting big...I've had to separate them and keep the bigger ones in a separate crate as they were ganging up on the smaller chicks...it was definitely time for a new home....
TaaDaaaa....all finished!
Chicken wire is up...latches are installed, roof vent is attached with netting underneath to keep the critters out and the top half ventilated! It's ready for the chicks!
Chicks are so loving it and Jake (aka: Mother Hen) is making sure everything is A-Okay!
Michael wanted to add a few finishing touches when he got home tonight...lol!
He had a blast painting it!
Sigh...I so liked the white crisp and clean look but we had a good time and hopefully made a memory he won't soon forget!! He said the chicks love the bright colors, lol...
Now I just hope the chicks thrive and no critters (snakes) come around!! I also can't wait until the chicks learn to go up in the top half and roost on their own...it was not easy getting them this evening and putting them up on top, lol...Fred finally felt sorry for me and came out to help. He lifted the coop up while I took a butterfly net and caught the little darl'ins...They are all settled for the night and tucked in tight...
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Work in Progress....
There are some people in my life that I feel so blessed to know and one of them is my Brother in Law, Frankie!!! He ROCKS!!
He is one hell of a builder and he is also very patient with idiots that like to build but don't have the patience to do it correctly....that would be ME!! LOL....
We have our chicks as you all know and they are getting big...They need a coop!! After doing some searching on the web for small movable coops I found a plan that had enough detail to build it and I also liked the layout of it...I asked Frankie if he would help, he said yes...I bought the supplies and today we put it together....Heck Frankie did most of it but I did try to help, lol...It would probably help if I wasn't afraid of the darn Skil saw...Ekk...
I love the new Coop...it is so sweet!! I am so excited to get it finished and put the chicks in it...I had chickens years and years ago...and I built the coop for them and it was NOT something you'd want to show off, lol...it was a bit crooked and skewed...it was functional but I sometimes wondered how it stayed standing, lol...
This little darl'in below is Beautiful!!
I promised Michael he could help paint it so we didn't finish painting it until this evening...Below are photos I took this afternoon after Frankie left! I also put all the latches, hooks, roof vent/cap, etc. on it this evening...Tomorrow I do the chicken wire and it should be done, YEA!!
This is small enough and can be moved around the yard, which I love...The side flap is up so you can see the interior...I love the side flap as it will be easy to clean...
I put dowel rods in the top for the chickens to roost...
There is a trap door so they can come in our out...This can be shut at night to keep the critters from getting in!
A side view with the flap open and a view of the ramp leading upstairs...The chicken wire will wrap around the bottom legs and the chickens will be contained in the area under the coop, this will also give them some shade...Once they get older and used to the yard I will let them free range...(maybe, that is if there are no critters on the loose)!Tomorrow I'll post some photos of it completely finished...Thank you so much Frankie....I appreciate it!! You did a FANTASTIC job!!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Speaking of critters...
We had another visitor Monday evening...His colors are beautiful!
This one is a full grown adult and a tad bit on the aggressive side so I didn't take too many photos or get to close either...Copperhead!
I was outside spreading fire-ant poison and Michael was helping me by watering the yard down...He had gone around the side of the house when he came running back to me in hysterics...It took me a few seconds to get him to calm down and tell me what was wrong...I was laughing as his eyes were bugged out and he was waving his arms and screaming...It wasn't funny but I had never seen my son in a state of panic before...Once he calmed down and said SNAKE....BAD SNAKE and pointed to where it was I was off...Yep, sure enough a Copperhead, Ekkk and a big one!! I grabbed the camera and the shovel while Michael stood way back and watched....I was so proud of Michael for listening to me and doing what I told him to do when he saw a snake...."Run and get Momma"...no matter good or bad!!
This was a full grown Copperhead and a tad bit aggressive so I didn't play with the camera very long and disposed of the snake promptly...I was stunned as I was just over in that area and had not seen it...It amazes me at how well these snakes are camouflaged...I'm just thankful that he didn't bite anyone and that Michael spotted it before it moved into the flower beds...I hate killing them though and wish they'd stay away from the house...So we are once again on snake alert...two snakes in the past week, Ekk....no fun!!
Walk in the woods ~ May 4, 2009
This past Sunday I took a little walk over to my in-laws ranch...
It was 90 degrees F. mid-day and I was surprised to find some photo subjects
out and about....
It seems to be breeding season for the Anole lizards...The males were all over the trees advertising themselves in their bright green coats and orange dewlaps...
Above is a common Yellowthroat Warbler. I spotted him down by the river. At the time I had no clue as to what it was and didn't have much of a chance for photos either as my husband and his friends made an appearance and scared all the birds away...grrrrBelow is possibly a Lesser Goldfinch and once again I didn't have time to sit and watch and take a lot of photos as I had company, lol...They were singing beautifully (the birds not the guys) and that is how I spotted them...there was 4 or 5 of them flying around by the river.
Dragonfly (Bluet?) on wildflower
Wildflower
Bug in Thistle seeds
Turks cap (red mallow)
I used the Sigma 70-300 mm telephoto lens...wish I had had my Macro but I though the Sigma lens did well. It was just too hot to carry my back pack and I had to decide on one lens to take. I've been reading "Understanding close up photography" by Bryan Peterson, it's a really good book. I was laughing at Mr. Peterson's suggestion that you do not use Auto-focus when doing close up photography but manual focus...but when the sweat is pouring off you and into your eyes and you can't see to focus you just have to switch to auto-focus and hope for the best...I think Mr. Peterson needs to add "when conditions allow manual focus" to his quote!!! I honestly didn't expect much on my mid-day walk because of the heat and harsh light but was pleasantly surprised that I did get a few nice shots!! I hope y'all had a good weekend!
I went down to the property this afternoon (Tuesday) and was stunned by the beautiful wildflower assortment...I didn't have my camera and I hope I can make it back down there while the wildflowers are in full bloom....Tomorrow my brother in law is coming over to help me build the chicken coop...Yes the babies have grown and need a home of their own...I just hope the critters stay away...
Ms. Ashley turns 5
This past weekend (Saturday) my girlfriend Helen threw a Birthday Bash for her daughter Ashley...I took approx. 500 photos, ugh! It is so hard not to take photos when you've got some great kids that love posing for the camera!!
I haven't had time to edit the photos and I'm surely not putting 500 photos up here, lol...But here are a few of my favorites!!
Happy 5th Birthday Ashley!!
Move it, Move it, Move it....
Can you see her, she's right there! So many gifts, WOW!!
Ashley with her favorite Teacher and it looks as though her favorite gift too!! Just gotta love those faces and the joy of opening a much wanted Birthday gift!!
You sly thing you...Yep you are 5!
Her cake, which Helen made, which was absolutely AWESOME!!
A closer look....
17 kids and they all want CAKE!! LOL....
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