Happy 2012!!

May y'all have a Blessed, Happy, Healthy New Year!!

Quirky...

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Credits:

My own little world kit by Lisa Sisneros @ catscrap.com

Template (dream catchers) by Dawn Inskip @ Scrapbookgraphics.com

It's about time...

I'd set a goal earlier in the week that this Friday, today, I would put my hiking boots on and go for a nature walk and I did. I grabbed my camera and then spent a few minutes debating on what lens to use and decided to go with the Sigma 70-300mm. And of course as I started out Ms. Lydia was right behind me...my walking buddy! I took it slow and Lydia and I had a great walk, the weather was gorgeous. It sure feels like spring but come Sunday that is fix'in to change, sigh! Seems we have an artic cold front coming in, the animals aren't going to like that and neither will I. But in the mean time I'm going to enjoy this beautiful spring-like weather we are having :o)

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Feral Hog damage and right next to the house. At night as I read in bed I can hear them, that's how close they are coming to the house.

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Male Northern Cardinal, folks here abouts call them "red birds".
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Snout nosed butterfly
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Female Cardinal
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Squirrel
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Chickadee
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Ms. Lydia the fearless taking the lead.
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Holly
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A critters den, possibly an armadillo. I wasn't able to see any clear tracks.
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Ms. Lydia posing for me

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Hmmm there is something up there Mom, look! I didn't see a thing?
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Butterfly from the Sulpher family perhaps?
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This is what the area looked like we were walking in...Beautiful.
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Beautiful Oak tree
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Mockingbird watching us or perhaps Ms. Lydia?
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Ms. Lydia, she's a good cat!
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I found a few wine cups, they're even thinking it's spring!
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A bee fly coated in Pollen.

He tried to fly and he was either so drunk on nectar or so heavy with pollen he couldn't fly and fell back in the wine cup, silly fly!
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Meadow Lark
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Sparrow but I couldn't identify it?
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Kinglet checking me out.
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Broom weed.

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Lydia and I had a great walk. The birds were out and about and at first chattering and screaming at Lydia. After awhile they must have realized she wasn't a threat and went on about their business. My ankle/foot is sore but no more than usual so that is good. Hope y'all have a great weekend and a wonderful New Years Eve.

Just a few...

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Hanging on...

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I do NOT want my photo taken today, Thank you!!

Playing around...

Just because I can...

A kaleidoscope of Jake...

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I love my son and I love Kaleidoscopes too...and I use to print out 6 photos and make Kaleidoscope photos. With the DSi XL you can do it with the tap of the stylus...cool!

Todays happenings...

There was a gorgeous sunrise this morning as I was doing chores and feeding the animals. I was a bit busy and wasn't going to get the camera out and then I said "Oh why not?" and grabbed the camera and by that time the colors were almost played out...It's time for me to get back in camera groove again, I miss it!

I love pinks and salmon colors in the sky and wish I'd got my camera out a bit earlier but I still managed to get a photo before they were totally gone...

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And then Ms. Lydia this afternoon had me laughing...

She was sound asleep and never moved while I took photos! I built the cats wooden boxes out of scrap lumber so they could handle the colder weather a bit better. As you can see they love them. It was actually quiet warm out this afternoon, a very nice afternoon!

I had my last Physical Therapy Appt. today and the therapist kicked my butt, ouch! I decided the rest of the day would be spent with my foot/ankle wrapped in ice and elevated. I'm slowly getting better, having a lot of pain in my heel where the stitches were at but my arch isn't hurting and I have several stretching exercises I need to keep doing. I'm hoping next week I can start wearing my hiking boots with the orthopedic inserts in them. Ever since my surgery I've been wearing crocs, not the best thing to wear in the brush. Then of course I haven't really been able to walk well either. I've been told I can start riding my bike for 15 minutes a day and then if there is no pain work my way up. It's exciting to finally see results from the surgery. The Dr says 4 more weeks of taking it easy and doing my exercises and I should be good, yeah!! I'm really in need of some camera therapy, especially with my Macro lens...and it's unbelievable but I am seeing signs of spring. My jasmine is starting to bloom, the grass is coming up and I even see the leaves sprouting for some of the wildflowers too. But then this is Texas too and just wait 5 minutes and the weather will change, ekk.

December 24th Digital Scrapbook Layout

I'm playing catch up to December 25th and then I'll be done with these Digital Scrapbook layouts for this Merry Christmas 2011

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December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve 2011 filled with love and traditions.
Family photos and Candle light church service.
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Credits:
Template December 24th by Suzanne Baird of Roadside designs
Template 14 by Kristin at www.kristinsscrapdesign.com
Click masks 5 at Cottage arts
Papers (Christmas traditions) by Lindsay J
Paper and embellishments (Silent night kit) by Damayanti

Christmas morning at our house...

We start with stockings...

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All of this was in Michael's stocking, ekk...Santa got a bit carried away!
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Fred's stocking...tools to help us build a house!
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Then we move on to gifts...Michael had this cup especially made for Daddy. When we were designing it I asked him are you sure you don't want it to say "Daddy"...Michael told me "No, his name is Fred and I don't want anyone stealing his cup", lol...he's got a point. There are a lot of Daddy's out there.
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Cool, thank you Michael. Just what I wanted!
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COOL!
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Thank you Grammy, I love it!
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His castle blocks, he loves building with blocks!

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We then went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for breakfast. Michael took his "Jaw bones"...really cool building things...a cross between Lego and Knex. Grandpa and Grandma had fun helping him build things.
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And then back home to play some more...He got a Snap Circuit jr. set...and we played Star Wars Clone Wars Monopoly, built castles, played with the Jaw bones again and a game called Hoppers...We had enough to keep us busy most of the day!

That was our Christmas day and I'm really tired and looking forward to bedtime! Hope y'all had a great day!

Merry Christmas

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Fred, Wendy & Michael

hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas!!

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(I'll be back to post Christmas day evening y'all have a very Merry Christmas)

December 23rd Digital Scrapbook Layout

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I spent the day baking Caramel Apple Cheesecake bars and a few loaves of fresh homemade bread to take to Fred’s Family Christmas this evening. One problem Fred had to work so he wasn’t gonna make it and I couldn’t drive due to my foot being swollen and sore. Of course it’s not a problem as I get to enjoy the goodies I spent all day making and they were delicious!
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Credits:
Template December 23rd by Suzanne Baird of Roadside designs
Paper and embellishments (kit called Holiday Traditions Cooking) by Fruit Loop Sally

December 22 2011 Digital Scrapbook Layout

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Today I sat on the front porch for awhile. It was 70 degrees and gorgeous. The deer were grazing out in front of the house. We need to remember the animals at Christmas too!
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Credits:
Template December 22nd by Suzanne Baird of Roadside designs
Feathered Friends kit by Createwings Designs
Express Wordart 3 by Createwings Designs

Christmas Flash Mob by Journey of Faith at South Bay Galleria - official...

This is amazing you have to watch it!!!

People together at Christmas time, love it!

December 21 2011 Digital Scrapbook layout

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This was an everyday life kind of day. I had a physical therapy appointment
this morning. Then we ran errands to get ready for Christmas. We went to
a Chinese restaurant for lunch, yummy! Above is Michael reading his fortune.
"If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort." I then explained it to
him and we talked about our different talents. Later after arriving home we
received a package from my sister. Michael had a blast with the bubble wrap.
I thought about my fortune when I saw how much fun he was having popping
bubble wrap. "It's not the years in your life, but the life in your years that
count." We had a great day together and are now ready for Christmas!
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Credits:
Template December 21st by Suzanne Baird of Roadside designs
Embellishments (Story teller kit) by Kitty designs
Word arts and paper (captured kit from mscraps) designs by ad77design, cheyang & jmay
Paper (Rustic Christmas kit) by fruit loop Sally

December 20th Digital Scrapbook layout

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Michael had some friends over today and I managed to capture a photo before they left so I could scrap it today!

Credits:

Template December 20th by Suzanne Baird of Roadside designs
Word art can be found at Cottage Arts
Paper and embellishments (peppermint crush kit) by etc dan at digichick

December 19 2011 Digital Scrapbook layout

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December 19 2011
A Christmas memory I have as a young girl of 5 or 6 is coming home from Christmas Eve candle light service with my Grandmother. It was a cold crisp night and very dark with the stars sparkling over head. We passed an Oil Derrick and I remember it looked like a Christmas tree all lit up, it was beautiful. We were listening to the Little Drummer boy song on the radio and when Grandmother and I got out of the car we heard a pump jack in the distance running. I told her it was the Little Drummer boy playing his drum for Jesus. I was young at the time and didn’t know it was a pump jack running but I remember that night with my Grandmother. She didn’t deny me hearing the Little Drummer boy and I love her for that. It’s one of the few special times I was alone with Grandmother, with a big family that didn’t happen often. Every time I see a Derrick all lit up or hear a pump jack running I think of her and that special night on Christmas Eve.
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Credits:
Template December 19 by Suzanne Baird of Roadside designs
Garland embellishment and papers (SBG Blogtrain 2011) Jmak
Paper and snowflake embellishment (wishes kit) by Dawn Inskip

December 18 Digital Scrapbook Layout

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December 18 2011
A nice Sunday in December spent with Family. Breakfast
at Fred’s parents. Fred spending time with Michael target
shooting down at the property. Michael is glowing with love
this evening.
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Credits:
Template December 18 by Suzanne Baird of Roadside designs
Paper & embellishments (Rustic Christmas kit) by Fruit Loop Sally
Curly ribbon (Peppermint crush kit) by etc dan

December 17 Digital Scrapbook Layout

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December 17 2011
Today we took Grammy to the Airport, it was time for her to go home. We will miss her and we’re so thankful she was able to come visit for a few weeks. Not sure what I would have done without her help. Fred, thankfully, had the day off from work and was able to drive us all to the airport. He also snapped some photos for me, yeah! I had Michael climb in the back of the truck so I could get a photo of him with the tower in the background. We also saw a huge jet leave the airport and Fred got a photo of it as it took off into the big blue yonder...
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Credits:
Template December 17 by Suzanne Baird of Roadside designs
Paper and embellishments (peppermint crush mini-kit) by Etc. by Danyale at Digichick Store
Embellishments and overlay (9th and bloom Airplane grab bag)
Embellishments (There and back kit) by digilicious

December 16 Digital Scrapbook Layout

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December 16 2011
Michael’s Class Christmas Party

Credits:
Template December 16 by Suzanne Baird of Roadside designs
Candy Cane paper free DHD-Christmas Kit
Photo cluster No 17 by Katie Pertiet
Paper (Teddy Bear Christmas kit) designed by PST Design
Doodly Alphabet (Christmas Medley kit) by Kasia designs
Lights & reindeer (Christmas traditions kit) by Lindsay J

December 15th Digital Scrapbook Layout

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December 15 2011
No matter what time of year, Summer, Winter, Spring the animals must be fed.
It is a daily chore around here, morning and night. I captured Michael feeding
Julie. She loves him especially when it’s feed time!

Credits:
Template December 15 by Suzanne Baird of Roadside designs
Beautiful Mess Alpha by Createwings Designs
Embellishments and Paper (feathered friends kit) by Createwings Designs