Don Henley........ The Heart Of The Matter

It's about forgiveness...

Cousins

Yesterday was Caleb's 17th birthday. He is the one with red hair. This was taken several years ago in our backyard. These cousins had great fun together and they still do. I love this picture. The boy on the left is Daniel. He and Caleb are my brother Kenny's sons. That's my son John in the middle. Daniel and John are now 21 years old. Daniel is the youth leader and youth music leader at his church. My brother Kenny is the pastor. Caleb plays the drums for the music team.

Isn't Green Beautiful?

It has been a beautiful day here. I finally got my work done and went outside to snap some pictures. When I was young, I did not enjoy all the seasons like I do now. I was mainly interested in spring and summer. The rainy days made me depressed. I guess it's that syndrome. But now, I appreciate every day no matter the weather. It's all good. It's all subject to change. Every season passes in 3 months or so and a new one appears. Just like life. The picture of moss I call "Grandma Moss." Not because that's the name, but because it came from my grandma's yard. I have kept it alive over 26 years or so. I love it. It reminds me of my grandma Lola. She loved flowers and cactuses. She grew poppies in her garden. I'll post a picture sometime of her. Isn't it tremendous the things that remind you of someone you love?

Sisters, does it get any better than this?

Of course, there is brother in some of these pictures too. They do grow up!!!

Cobalt blue in my window

Cobalt blue is the most mesmerizing color in the world. I collect these blue bottles when I can. Seeing the light reflect on them gives me a happy feeling. It's almost as good as the color green. Coming later today, a post about family resemblances...

Zesty Roasted Chicken and Potatoes

6 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (I cut into bite-size pieces)
1 pound small red potatoes, cut in quarters
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cloves garlic, crushed
chopped fresh chives, if desired
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease jelly roll pan. (I use olive oil)
2. Place chicken and potatoes in pan. Mix remaining ingredients except chives; brush over chicken and potatoes.
3. Bake uncovered 30 to 35 minutes or until potatoes are tender and juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers
of thickest pieces are cut. Sprinkle with chives.
I usually mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl to coat everything before roasting. This is such an easy meal served
with a Caesar salad and crusty baked bread. My family loves it.

The FarSide

This is one of my favorite comic strips. I also love Ziggy and Calvin and Hobbes. You'll probably have to click on the picture to enlarge it enough to read it. The Lone Ranger learns the sad truth.

Alaskan Cruise

For our 30th wedding anniversary, we took a cruise to Alaska with some friends from church who also were celebrating their anniversaries too. It was the best trip ever. 7 days and nights of luxury! I would recommend this cruise to everyone. Alaska is breath-taking. The mountains, the glaciers, wildlife, the ocean, Alaska has it all. We went in July which is the warmest month and the best weather. It was 50-60 degrees. Beautiful. We traveled on the Diamond Princess which was new that year and they had the best service and food. I tried everything, wild Alaskan salmon, lobster tail, grilled shrimp, prime rib, everything imaginable. The best part was being on the promenade deck and watching the ocean and sky. You felt like every care in the world was gone away. The glacial water was 1000 feet deep and so blue green. The trees were spectacular.

Toasted marshmallows

I laugh at myself or with myself all the time! You should be there. I'm funny. I must be my biggest fan 'cause I crack myself up daily or perhaps nightly. I have never used my cooktop flame to toast marshmallows, but for some reason I thought of it last night. They were so cute and little, those marshmallows. I only ate a few, but they were yummy.

Diddle diddle dumpling

My son, John. It's hard to believe that my little boy could have grown up. He's a good one. There was a time he would pose for pictures, but now it's very hard to get a photo. Kinda like pulling teeth.

Beauty Tips borrowed from humbleorigins@blogspot.com

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people . For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others...

...Audrey Hepburn wrote the above when asked to share her "beauty tips." It was read at her funeral years later"...
A thought borrowed from humbleorigins@blogspot.com, I hope she doesn't mind. I read this quote from Audrey Hepburn to my ladies in Sunday school class a few months ago. Audrey was inspirational and a beauty inside and out.

Daughters and giraffes

We visited the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs where my children (not so small anymore) got to feed the giraffes. Here are Becky and Melissa, up close and personal with the giraffe. Do you see any similarities? In the girls? Giraffes have very long tongues. They like to eat crackers too.

More squirrel and a chipmunk

Doesn't this squirrel look wild? Oh, I guess it is! Ha ha. Two little chipmunks lived at the cabin too. Of course, I named them Chip and Dale, but more likely Dell (as in female). We enjoyed watching them. It's not something I see every day being from Oklahoma. I love Oklahoma, but Colorado is a beautiful place on earth.

Ebert squirrel in Colorado

This black squirrel is supposedly called an Ebert squirrel, found in the mountains of Colorado. It visited our cabin every day of our vacation. Loved that birdseed! It was a beauty, and so was Colorado. Look at that view!!

Cracker Barrel

This was a picture taken by my one and only sister, Megan. She is much younger than me, 26 years actually. Our dad passed away in July and this is the day of his funeral. We are at a Cracker Barrel near his home which is close to Denton, Texas. Daddy liked to eat at Cracker Barrel and IHOP. I sure miss him. I can't say that Cracker Barrel is my favorite place to eat, but I will never see one and not think of my dad. My son and I like their apple butter on biscuits.

My shower remodel

This bathroom is so small, I had a hard time getting back far enough to take pics. I love everything about it though, I picked it all out myself. Slate, niko blue walls, texture, creamy-white cabinets, clear glass shower doors, rain shower head, Kohler sink and toilet, Brizo faucet, satin nickel finish and stainless steel, green slate counter (very small vanity), heated tile floors, so great in the winter with a timer to come on in the morning and evening.

Rich Mullins - The Color Green

This is my favorite song

Barney Fife on Andy Griffith

"Like they always say...the quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth like a gentle dew from Heaven...well, you're not talking to a jerk you know!" - Barney
That is one of favorite Barney quotes. It is from the Merchant of Venice.

"The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes the throned monarch better than his crown; his scepter shows the force of temporal power, the attribute to awe and majesty, wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings, but mercy is above this sceptered sway, it is enthroned in the hearts of kings, it is an attribute of God himself, and earthly power dost then show likest God's when mercy seasons justice."

I once saw a movie about Nero, he was killing Christians right and left. He was told that mercy became a ruler and that the power of pardon was the greatest power of all. Supposedly Nero found this to his liking and started pardoning prisoners.

Van Gogh "The Cafe"

My favorite impressionists are Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. I love the water lilies. Impressionism = romanticism in my book. Van Gogh's Night Stars are also my favs. I like Edvard Munch's "The Scream". Henri Matisse too. Those little cafes in Paris are so cool.

Another Chance Ranch Giveaway

Here is the link to this contest:
http://anotherchanceranch.typepad.com/another_chance_ranch/2007/10/the-first-evah-.html

She is giving away
http://anotherchanceranch.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/27/gift10.jpeg

Such fun! She's so pretty!