Photo Challenge: Autumn in All Her Glory!

Time to show off our latest challenge shots. I just love toting my camera here and there so that I can stop and snap when something lovely catches my eye and I love sharing what I see. Click to make the photos larger for the best view.

I love the colors of Autumn but I don't like that it leads to longer nights and Winter.

Another shot of the old Shubach barn. Every year it looks more and more weary.

Bales of hay are a common sight here in the delta but there are fewer this year due to the drought.

The setting sun seemed to make that same old barn behind our house glow like a newly minted gold coin.

I have great respect for the farmer who will plow and plant around one lone tree in his field. I wonder every time I pass if maybe that tree hold irreplaceable memories that he wants to hold near.

 Please go to our Photo Challenge Blog and click on the blue links at the bottom so you can see all of the other participates to this challenge.  You won't be disappointed, I promise!

Selling Bibles

 Selling Bibles 
 

(If this doesn't make you laugh, just go ahead and close
  your casket!)

A pastor concluded that his church was getting into very
  serious financial troubles. While checking the church storeroom, he discovered
  several cartons of new Bibles that had never been opened and
  distributed.

So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers
  from the congregation who would be willing to sell the Bibles door-to-door for
  $10 each to raise the desperately needed money for the church.

Jack,
  Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the task.

The
  minister knew that Jack and Paul earned their living as salesmen and were
  likely capable of selling some
  Bibles.
  But he had serious doubts about Louie who was a local farmer, who had always
  kept to himself because he was embarrassed by his speech impediment.
 

Poor Louie stuttered badly. But, NOT WANTING TO discourage Louie, the
  minister decided to let him try anyway.

He sent the three of them away
  with the back seat of their cars stacked with Bibles. He asked them to meet
  with him and report the results of their door-to-door selling efforts the
  following Sunday.

Anxious to find out how successful they were, the
  minister immediately asked Jack, "Well, Jack, how did you make out selling our
  Bibles last week?"

Proudly handing the reverend an envelope, Jack replied, "Using my
  sales prowess, I was able to sell 20 Bibles, and here's the $200 I collected on behalf of the
  church."

"Fine job, Jack!" The minister said, vigorously shaking his
  hand..."You are indeed a fine salesman and the church is indebted to
  you."

Turning to Paul, "And Paul, how many Bibles did you sell for the
  church last week?"

Paul, smiling and sticking out
  his chest, confidently replied, 'I am a professional salesman. I sold 28
  Bibles
  on behalf of the church, and here's $280 I collected.'

The minister
  responded, "That's absolutely splendid, Paul. You are truly a professional
  salesman and the church is indebted to you."

Apprehensively,
  the minister turned to Louie and said, "And Louie, did you manage to sell any
  Bibles last week?" Louie silently offered the minister a large
  envelope.

The minister opened it and counted the contents. "What is
  this?" the minister exclaimed. "Louie, there's $3200 in here! Are you
  suggesting that you sold 320 Bibles for the church, door to door, in just one
  week?"

Louie just nodded.
 

"That's impossible!" both Jack and Paul said in unison.
  "We are professional salesmen, yet you claim to have sold 10 times as many
  Bibles as we could."

"Yes, this does seem unlikely," the minister
  agreed. "I think you'd better explain how you managed to accomplish this,
  Louie."

Louie shrugged.. "I-I-I re-re-really do-do-don't kn-kn-know
  f-f-f-for sh-sh-sh-sure," he stammered.

Impatiently, Peter interrupted.
  "For crying out loud, Louie, just tell us what you said to them when they
  answered the door!"

"A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-said wa-wa-was," Louis
  replied, "W-w-w-w-would y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like t-t-to b-b-b-buy
  th-th-th-this B-B-B-B-Bible f-f-for t-t-ten b-b-b-bucks---o-o-o-or---
  wo-wo-would yo-you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-here and
  r-r-r-r-r-read it t-to y-y-you?"

Remember when the funniest jokes were
  the clean ones?
They still are!

Photo Challenge: My America

In My part of America, Friday night football is still a passion.  Sometimes during Fall football games you see neighbors and friends that you haven't seen the rest of the year.  We cheer, we catch up, we have spirit!

In My America, kids can still enjoy some sports during their days of learning.  I believe sportsmanship and teamwork will take our kids as far in this world as history and literature, I really do.

In My part of America, most people still work hard for a living.  With their hands, and their sweat. Many, many of them work,

live,

and die,

Summer is Fading

The Ag planes are spraying cotton defoliant this time of the year and that is some really nasty smelling stuff. I suppose it's necessary though to open some of those stubborn bolls and make the leaves drop for a cleaner harvest.

Boll of cotton, ready for picking.

The sunsets come earlier and while they remain so beautiful, the early ones mean the longer nights that I dread so much are coming also.

These little beauties will last until a frost puts them down. I wonder if we'll have a frost before Thanksgiving this year.

Have y'all noticed how much fun I'm having using the hdr technique on some of my photos?  I love how it enhances them just right.

Happy Thursday everyone!

Cause Houston Said We Would

Ok Houston, let's get back to posting on our blogs.  I haven't paid nearly enough attention to being here lately, even with intentions to do just that.  I've been so sad, angry, disappointed, stressed, disgusted, and confused, that I have avoided most things that take much thought.

So,,,,here I am again, not fixed, but working on it, not happy, but trying, never perfect, but still the same me inside here somewhere, and I'm working on getting out.

Arkansas August

We have seen several of these fellas in the yard this year but so far no harmful ones. Maybe the bad ones are searching for a cool wet spot which are few and far between around here this summer.

This critter (shiver,,,) wasn't very big but in macro mode he looks horribly gigantic, doesn't he?

This young fella was really doing some singing the other evening.  I'm sure he had a young lady friend that he was trying to impress somewhere within his sight.  Or maybe he was just happy enough to sing.


I can't remember the last time we've had such a drought. The few rain drops that we've gotten this Summer have done little or nothing to quench the thirst of the gardens and crops.  Luckily most of the farmers have ways of irrigating but it sure takes a lot of their budget to do that.

I hope things are cooler and not so dry where you are!

Later gators.

Photo Challenge: B & W Self-portraits

This is probably not the most favorable time in my life to be taking pictures of myself but it seemed like a good idea for a challenge so I went with it.  I hope everyone who decided to do the challenge this time had a good time doing and and learning from it. There is still time until mid-night Saturday night (Aug. 11th), so if you haven't signed up, go on over to our Challenge Blog  and feel free to. We would love it!

This is me. This is something I love to do. I never go anywhere without a camera, I might miss THE shot!

This is how I'm working very hard to be.  I want to feel happy.

I am missing part of me,,,,,

I feel as though the best part of me is gone.

Photo Challenge: Childhood Memories

It's Challenge time! I don't have much to offer for this challenge cause everything left over from my childhood was lost in the fire we had a decade ago, but I was able to think up a few things so that I could do a post. I can't wait to see how everyone interpreted this challenge.  Be sure to hop over to our Photo Challenge Blog and scroll down to the links at the bottom of the entry and check out everyone's photos!

Lto R, Terri, Paula, Me, 1965

My sisters and I were fortunate enough to live across the dirt lane from our grandparents for a lot of our growing up years.  We didn't have many toys but we sure knew how to have fun wandering around out in the country. We built log huts in the woods, waded Hog Tusk Creek, and knew which grape and muscadine vines were safe for swinging on (even though sometimes they weren't!).  In the summer  I used to ride my bike the mile to the tiny town of Moro to meet the Bookmobile every two weeks and spent a lot of my time high up in an old Oak tree down the lane reading the day away. 

Anyway, the challenge!  I decided to take photos of some of the ways I entertained myself when I was a kid.

Do you remember McCall's Magazine? How about Betsy McCall, the paper doll that appeared in the magazine every month with her clothes and a story for little girls?  My grandma subscribed to McCalls and I would wait impatiently for her to finish reading it so I could tear out the page to play with Betsy.

I spent some of my play time drawing so my colored pencils were a favorite treasure.

I even spent some of my drawing time doing a little designing, like this.  I think my 11 year old hands did a much better job than they do today though.

It didn't take a lot to keep us entertained when we were kids.  We had a whole lot of imagination and a lot of room to roam.  What could be better?

I hope y'all had fun!!

Photo Challenge: Antiques

It's time to show off our talents for finding and shooting antiques for this challenge.  I had fun looking around the house to find a few things, and I finally stopped at a place just inside West Helena to shoot some old timers that caught my eye awhile ago. 

These are Carnival Glass bowls that once belonged to my Grandma Fisher.  The first one is an Amber Sculpted Leaves pattern by Indiana Glass Co.  The smaller bowl is Carnival (Depression) glass in an Amber Basket Weave pattern.  I think I read somewhere that these were made between the 1930's and 1950's.

James loved collecting old bottles so the next few photos will be of some that I think are some of his most beautiful because of the awesome colors.  The largest cobalt blue bottle is an old Phillips Milk of Magnesia bottle, not antique but found with some other old bottles so it looks perfect with the small and a bit larger apothecary bottles. The tiny blue bottle once contained Vics drops. The little fish bottle still has part of the cork stopper in it and once held Doctor Fisch's Bitters between 1922 and 1933.  The little amber bottles probably contained some sort of medicines.

These emerald green bottles were also apothecary/medicine bottles of some sort. 

These are old ink bottles. I know the larger is a Diamond Ink bottle but I'm not sure about the smaller, just that it most likely held ink also.


I've saved the best for last.  I'm only including a couple photos of this old gal but have lots more of her friends that were parked on the lot in every sort of sad condition.  I'll do a post to include the others another time.

Isn't she beautiful, even in her dilapidated condition.  I can just imagine her all fixed up and shiny and ready to take a ride again.  I can't remember her age exactly but I know she's from the 30's.

Well, that's all from me this time.  Don't forget to hop over to our Photo Challenge Blog and scroll down to the links and take a look at all the other challenger's photos.  I hope they enjoyed our challenge this time.

It's Thursday, isn't it?

Lately there are lots of mornings when I'm not sure what day of the week it is and even more days when I don't know the date.  It's good that it appears at the bottom of my puter screen!  Anyway, now that I DO know what day it is, thought I'd share some visuals with you about the "doings" in the delta.

The Mimosa trees really grew over the Winter, I guess cause it was so mild. They're blooming nicely.

They cut the wheat field across the road from our house.

Then they burned the wheat stubble to get the field ready to plant beans. I took this while standing on the front porch.

It blazed to hot and high and the smoke nearly blocked out the sun.

We had visits from some of our the girls who even helped out some. Here's Krysten pushing the trim mower.

And Miz Abby smiling her cute smile.

Meri Kate fighting the breeze in her hair. Cute too!

The lovely, serious, (or maybe mad at the moment) Krysten.

Abby, Alexis, Meri, friend and ours too, Falon, and Krysten.

The Handsome Grill Master # 1

Handsome Grill Master #2 with my daughter, Jami. Preparing to throw mustard on a crispy hotdog from the yard pit on Saturday afternoon.

Zach's sweet, and cute, little friend Dayley came to visit.

Some of that fine grilling the boys did.

I hope everyone is having a super week and I'm really glad I know it's Thursday.  Big hugs all round!
Later, gators!

For Today, May 16, 2012

 

I have decided to try to get back into a routine again and blogging has always been a wonderful pastime for me so I'll begin here. My mind remains scattered and torn so I thought The Simple Woman's Daybook would allow me a huge nudge to get my words and thoughts flowing again. So, thank you Peggy for your help! FOR TODAY

Outside my window...
The sun is shining and it seems to be telling us to get ready for a very warm day. The Mimosa trees are blooming and the birds are chirping with all different accents. I can hear a little tinkle now and then from one of the few wind chimes that are hanging here and there outdoors.

I am thinking...  
of how disjointed I feel since our lives were changed in such a huge way when we lost James last September. I don't think I quite know what to do with myself or what's in store for us as we take on this different path in our lives.

 I am thankful...
 for my grandson, Zach. I don't know what I would do without him being here with me. He gives me fits most days but helps to keep me living every day!  And for my daughter, Jami, who calls me every day,,,sometimes more,,, just to see how we are and to tell us she loves us, and for coming home as often as she can to help us do things around the house and to just BE here. I am also thankful for the health and happiness of the 3 granddaughters who enjoy visiting me as well as the 4 who don't seem to. I love them all anyway.

In the kitchen...
I'm sure there are a few dishes waiting to be washed but also a happy view through my kitchen window. Pot pies are probably on the menu for supper.

 I am wearing...
 A yellow nite shirt with little orange and yellow flowers, a pair of sleep shorts, and my crock sandals. I might get dressed later.

I am creating...
a small vegetable garden and little else except for scattered thoughts.

I am going...
to the school, to the bank, and maybe drive to town to go to the grocery store.

I am wondering... 
 If I will ever stop missing James so much. If my oldest daughter and my son will ever allow us to be a family again.

I am reading...
Zombie Fallout 2

I am hoping...
That one day my kids will decide they've punished me enough for whichever wrongs I've done and that we need to be a family again.

I am looking forward to...
Memorial Day weekend when my daughter, Jami, and her man, Chris, will be here again. Hopefully I'll see Meri, Krysten, and Abby that weekend too.

 I am learning,,,,, 
 that no matter what you do, or say, believe, or want, you can't do everything right or sometimes ANYTHING right.

Around the house...
We'll be painting the living/dining area, hallway, Zach's bedroom and bathroom Memorial Day weekend.

 I am pondering...
 everything and anything.

A favorite quote for today... 
"Beauty isn't worth thinking about; what's important is your mind. You don't want a fifty-dollar haircut on a fifty-cent head." ~Garrison Keillor

One of my favorite things...
is my Kindle.

A few plans for the rest of the week: 
Vacuum, dust, work in the garden, mow a little.

A peek into my day...

Corn growing beside our yard,  and across the road, Winter wheat ready for harvest.

Photo Challenge: Temptations

I decided not to try to post photos of the foods that are always tempting me,,,,like chocolate covered cherries, heck,,,chocolate covered anything,,,and seafood alfredo, delicious breads, etc,,,because I would have had to take pictures of those goodies and then, so as not to waste them, I'd have to eat them.  Right?

So I decided on a few other items that I find tempting to me.

I love little doodads for my yard.  Some I have, like my little frogs hanging around in my planter of churchyard moss, or my buggy solar lights, even my latest find, a little rod with bells.

And here's my little pig on a stick for putting in flower pots or beds.  He's been with me a few years and needs repainting.

 

 

I rather like turtles too, so they show up in my pots and planters here and there.

And then there is this one place, this tempting, teasing, garden store with all these metal yard art goodies out front that cause me to hold up traffic every time I am passing by.  In addition to this magnificent rooster, there is an enormous pink flamingo, and a ferociously red razorback pig that I've fallen in love with.  The price tags have kept me at bay,  but oh my how tempting they are!

I hope everyone had as much fun as I did with this challenge.  Keep those cameras dusted off and shooting and be sure to go visit our Photo Challenge Blog and click the little blue links at the bottom of the challenge post so you can visit others who have joined us in this challenge.