Traveling Down The Road

                   Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore (Wizard of Oz joke)

I knew that Shirley, John and I were going to visit Michael in Alabama but thought it would be several days before we left. Lo and behold, Tuesday at noon Shirley called me, 'Mom, we're leaving in the morning'. 

You should have seen this old woman juning around getting all my stuff together. Since I will be staying most of June, I had to have a lot of stuff. I was about ready to scream/collapse/run for the hills by the time we left on Wednesday morning!

                          So, my next posts will be of my trip to Alabama! 

It's about a 12 hour drive, except when you're old and have to pee lots. And, eat often, and you get tired and cranky.  Then it's 14 hours! So, we break it up into two days.

I usually have my camera ready while traveling. Either in my hand or in my lap. Sometimes, I'm successful in taking pictures on the fly, sometimes not. We see all sorts of things and I just snap away.

When I was growing up, the field in front of the house was full of purple vetch. Little feathery leaves, pretty flowers but it's feed for cattle. So, when I kept seeing these pink flowers growing alongside the road, I was really curious as to what they are. 

There were some growing around the perimeter of the hotel we stayed in! Photo time! Looked it up on the internet. It's Crown Vetch. Well, the change in color had me fooled. Pink, not purple of my childhood. But, aren't they pretty?

New Watercolor Technique

 I've piddled with painting since 1968. You'd think I'd be great at it by now but I did take all those years off raising my kids and pursuing other passions. Now, living alone, I started it up again. But, with such small space in my apartment I chose to do watercolor (of which I'd done a few in years past) not the oils I prefer. 

I was using a method I guess you could call my own. Then I started watching Magnolia Workshops on the Magnolia channel on tv. There's a watercolorist there that has directed me in a different train of thought about my painting. I am trying what they call 'wet on wet'. 

                               You can't see the first one I did!! 

                                    But, here's the second one. 

Honoring Those Who Gave All

                                           Today is Memorial Day

I have not lost a loved one in battle for which I am thankful, however I am so aware of those who lost their lives so that we may be free. 

                       I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice. 

My Bucket List

                             Do any of you have a BUCKET LIST? 

Well, I do. But, it changes from time to time as my needs, desires and ability change. Oh, there's lots of things I want to do that I know I will never get to accomplish. That's alright. Looking at my list, I see that I have already done some of them. Maybe time to start a new one!!

I'd love to hear about some things from your bucket list, if you have one? If not, what's something you'd love to do? 

A New Favorite Read

 I really was disappointed in my last post. Tried to get two pictures side-by-side but they just wouldn't co-operate. Guess I need to do more planning for my posts. 

               I just finished reading Charles Martin's 'Chasin' Fireflies'. 

I'd read two of his already, both good reads, so I figured I'd enjoy this one. It puzzled me in the beginning but I finally figured out who was who.

You see, there are two characters whose stories are very similar but are from 2 different generations. The author is jumping back and forth and I guess my brain just wouldn't wrap around which I was reading about at that given moment. 

I stuck with it and suddenly it got so interesting and had a surprise ending. I love that kind of book. 

As I said, I had read two of his novels, 'Long Way Home' and 'When Crickets Cry' and enjoyed his style of writing, his ability as a storyteller so I just ordered me another one. I usually read on my kindle but I got me a paperback this time. Only $2 more than the Kindle version. I read so fast that I could never afford to buy books full price very often. And, where would I store them? 

Have any of you read Charles Martin? If so, I'd love to hear your experience in Charles Martin land! 

The Beauty of a Butterfly

                                             Good Morning! 

   May your Sunday be filled with joy, hope, thankfulness and gratitude. 

I don't get out to make pictures like I once did. I don't do a lot of driving myself and it seems that everyone younger has their lives to live, jobs to do, kids to care for. I was there once upon a time 😀

I had butterflies on my mind this morning.

One of my Pinterest boards features butterflies. There are so many I have never seen and I'd give my eye teeth to see these. Oh wait a minute... I am already losing some teeth so maybe let's not take anymore teeth! 

But, these are so amazing that I just wanted to share them with you. 

How can anyone NOT appreciate their beauty and uniqueness. 

Have a wonderful Sunday, a wonderful week.

Hugs...