HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN

August 28, 2013

Good morning, and a beautiful day it is!  Today is also my youngest grandson Kevin"s birthday.  He turns sixteen today.  Where oh where have those years gone?  It wasn't so long ago that he made his way into this world as an amazing two pound wonder.   Today he's a tall handsome young man.  Kevin, I wish you a very happy birthday.  May all your dreams and wishes come true.  I love you.

Yesterday I was soooooo crabby!   I guess you could tell, huh?  Well today is a much better day.  I'm tired, but in a little while I shall have a little nap, then start making supper for tonight.  Janet will be coming by later this afternoon.  This is our day to get together for a good meal and a lot of fun.

Early this morning, while I was still at work, I thought I spotted a fox in the field across the street.  So I grabbed my camera and went outside.  The mist was heavy and still rising from the ground, but you can make out the fox through the mist.  I cropped the photo so that you could get a closer look at the fox.  He sure does look hungry!

 

In the little garden near the street, there was lots of bird activity in the black eyed susans and the cone flowers.  On the ground, there was one lone little gray bird.  I'm not sure but he looks like a young catbird.  Again, I made a "cropped" photo for a closer look.

 

Well, I've finished my coffee, checked on a few emails and read a few blogs.  Now I think I might have me a little nap before I get started on the household chores.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

 

Hugs, Edna B.

Is English Still The Universal Language?

August 27, 2013

Good morning.  Well, yesterday's rain fizzled out.  A few tiny droplets fell in the morning, and then nothing more until sometime during the night.  The night time  rain covered the car with tiny drops of water, and there are a couple of very tiny puddles in the yard.  That's about all the rain we are expecting before next Sunday. 

Yesterday was a rather lazy day for Pogo and me.  Of course, he doesn't really have a choice.  If I'm tired, then he is too.

I'm watching a commercial on TV for the program "RosettaStone".   This program teaches us how to speak and understand foreign languages, so that when we travel to other countries, we will be able to communicate with the people who live there.  I think this is a wonderful idea.

Other countries don't print everything in several different languages to accommodate visitors and all the legals and illegals moving into their countries.  If you want to live there, then you must learn their language. 

So what's our problem?  Why do we have to print everything in several languages (all on one label or in one paper)?  Is there a problem with demanding that people who move here to learn our language?  I get so tired of having to read some labels over and over to find the part that is written in English.

I won't go off on a tangent here.  And I do want to explain that I know some countries do teach their people how to speak and read English.  After all, English IS the universal language.  Enuff said.

I have some cute photos to share that I took at work yesterday.  These two little critters, a chipmunk and a tiny red squirrel, were checking out the neighbor from the roof on the Mrs' house. 

I've seen squirrels climb up into trees and onto the roof before, but I don't think I ever saw a chipmunk climb up on to the roof.   These little fellows are not only adorable to watch, they are amazing at what they can do considering their tiny size.

Now I must check to see if the mail is here yet.  Then maybe I'll visit with the vacuum cleaner a bit.  Tonight it's back to work so maybe I'll squeeze in a little nap this afternoon.  On that note, I shall leave.  Till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Daylight Hours Are Much Shorter Now

August 26, 2013

Good morning.  I'm still at work for a few more hours, and I'm noticing how much daylight we have lost just recently.  It is almost 6 a.m., and the sky is just now beginning to lighten up.  It is such a sad feeling to see the Summer fading away.  Of course, it is inevitable, but I love having the long hours of daylight. 

Last night, the Mrs went to bed a bit early so I was able to play for a while on my laptop to create something for Mandarin Orange Monday.  I have a delightful photo of a flower with two busy bees to share this morning.  After playing with a few filters and textures in Photoshop,  I've given the photo a nice "vintage" look. 

While it was still daylight last evening, I noticed an unusual pattern in the sky.  This, of course, was made by a couple of planes that had flown overhead a while earlier, but I found it quite interesting.   Isn't this cool?

I'm getting hungry now, so while the Mrs is still asleep I shall make myself a bowl of instant Quaker Apples & Cinnamon Oatmeal.   Mmmmm, yummy.   I can see that this is going to be a long day, and this will give me a good start.  So, on that thought, till tomorrow Y'all have a fantabulous day.

Hugs, Edna B.

It's Time To Harvest The Fields

August 25, 2013

Good morning.  I'm back home now and catching up a bit on my email and blog reading.  Have you noticed the change in the temperatures lately?  Nights and mornings are a wee bit chilly now, in the fifties.  I guess this is signaling the end of summer.  I could have used a light jacket this morning for the ride home.  Thank goodness Baby Blue Eyes has a great heating system.

This week coming up, we should be getting another burst of summer weather.  Days in the low eighties and nights in the upper 60's.  I keep checking to see if the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors, but haven't really noticed much of this yet. 

Friday, a local farmer was starting to harvest the hay that was growing in the field across the street (at work).  The hay was cut and stacked while I was there to watch some of it.  Yesterday, before I got back to work, all the hay had been bailed and some had already been loaded on to a truck and hauled away. 

 Here's a photo that I took early this morning of the remaining bails of hay waiting to be loaded on to the truck.  You can see part of the loading machine parked behind the tree.

I also have a couple photos of a beautiful butterfly that was visiting the butterfly bushes in the Mrs' backyard. 

Last night, the moon was awesome, but it did not become visible where I was until quite late in the evening so I did not go out to take any photos.  Now I'm wishing that I had, because it was not visible this morning. 

I am watching the Weather Channel this morning.  They are discussing (and showing videos) of the all the wildfires that are currently burning in the western part of the country.  They are discussing the fact that we are running out of money to fight these fires and what can be done to bring them under control. 

 Isn't it sad that our government feels it is necessary to support the whole world while neglecting our own country?   Surely we have money to fight these fires and tend to all our ills if we can give so much away?  Isn't it time for Americans to stand up and fight to get our name at the top of the "charity" list?

I have no other news for this morning, so before I go off on a band box, I shall drink my coffee and maybe do a couple of chores around here.  Till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

Two Moon Hoax

August 24, 2013

Good morning.  Well, this morning I was going to be giving you some exciting news that I  received in my email about the "two moons" but thank goodness I checked it out first.  On August 27th, in the middle of the night, I would have been a very lonely nitwit sitting out in the yard watching for the two moons so that I could photograph them.

Here's the photograph that has been circulating on Facebook for a few years now.  It is a doctored up photo, and the whole thing is a hoax.  The photo is blurry and not very good.

So, if you find this photo in your email telling you what an exciting event this will be, stay in your bed and enjoy your sleep.  If you really want to see Mar up there with the moon, wait until next April when it will appear as a very bright star.  At least according to Google.

This morning, I received  a beautiful scrapbook page from Kyra.  This one features my daughter in law, Janet, and Pogo.   I also have another beautiful page that Kyra made featuring my new coral rose.  Aren't these just beautiful?  Thank you so much my friend.  By the way, today is Kyra's wedding anniversary.  Do stop by her blog and leave good wishes for her and Jan.

Last night was not a good sleeping night.  These new blood pressure pills have me running into the bathroom every hour or two all through the night.  This is not very funny!  So, once the laundry is done, I will try to squeeze in a nice nap before it is time to go back to work tonight. 

Pogo's friend Izzi has not been feeling so good lately.   If you're reading this Izzi, just know that Pogo knows what you are going through, and he hopes that the new medicine is helping.  Big licks and a woof for you Izzi girl.

Now I want to go check on the laundry.  I'm anxious to snuggle down in my lounge chair with a fuzzy blanket, and hopefully the sandman will find me.  Till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

The Moon Is Gorgeous This Morning

August 23, 2013

Good morning.  It's a bit on the cloudy side, but the sun is doing its best to keep shining down on us.  The temps are supposed to be around 78 - 80 degrees.  Sounds good to me.

I am at work and the Mrs is still asleep.  I slipped outside around 6 am to take a photo of the gorgeous big moon that was still visibile. 

Then I took a photo of the clouds not too far away from the moon.  You really have to take a few different photos because the clouds move so quickly and everything changes. Aren't these pretty?

I thought this might make a nice texture, so I desaturated the photo, then I cropped it.   Next, I colored it , applied a bit of the "wavy" filter and a blend mode in Photoshop, then applied my new texture to a photo of tree branches.  Not bad.

If you would like this texture, here is the preview and the download link.  Enjoy.

Expired

The Mrs is awake now, and I have her breakfast started.  Now it's time for me to get busy here.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.

A Very Tiny Thunder Storm

August 22, 2013

Well, good afternoon.  My internet has not been working all day until just now.  I'm not sure why, but I'm glad that is working again.  A short while ago, there was a crackle with a little thunder.  I ran out to my car to get my umbrella, and the rains came down.  For all of thirty to sixty seconds.  It got everything wet and made a few small puddles. 


I have a photo to share that I took a few days ago.  Dragonflies love to perch on top of the passé tiger lilies.  I just thought that this one looked so interesting.

Janet was here last night and helped me to move a few things before we settled in for some pizza and chit chat. She brought me a bagful of small jigsaw puzzles that I can do on a little lap table while I'm sitting in my lounge chair.   I'm blessed to have such a super daughter in law.

Now I have to put some things together for Pogo.  Tonight while I'm at work, he will stay with Joe, and tomorrow Dee Dee will come by and pick him up and take him to her house.  I don't get out of work until 3 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.   Now I want to spend some time playing with my little guy.  So, till tomorrow, Y'all have a wonderful day.

Hugs, Edna B.