Today's feature is my beutiful niece playing lacrosse. She is so talented. I was delighted to have the opportunity to watch her play. I'm still wondering just how did she grow up so fast? Keep up the great work Monica!!
Out and about this week I was able to enjoy the colors of Spring. We all have been awaiting this adventure over the long bleak Winter. The sun even decided to shine and add luster to the flowers. I've missed opportunities to spy out some tulips though as I looked back on the pics I was able to capture. That will require another trip. Who cannot smile or feel the love when checking out the vibrance on a Spring day. Enjoy! 
Who doesn't appreciate the single flower. Who does appreciate the dandelion? Weed? Beauty? Medicinal? What if the trend started that whomever can grow the most dandelions in their yard would have the most coveted yard of the season? They offer a vibrant color that hasn't been around all winter. They also offer a healthy salad with it's leaves and I've always heard a little wine each day can help with those arteries so why not try dandelion wine? 
Just another day having fun on the computer using my kids as guinea pigs. Since television drives me nuts I find attempting to use my creative side more appealing. Creativity I know is subjective but I do find it relaxing learning to use different tools and ending up with a finished product. I don't like spending hour upon hour on a project and waiting on perfection so I guess I'll never be a 'professional' photographer but I do have fun. Maybe I need to come up with only one hobby and do it well instead of having many and never perfecting any..... Anyways... Today's pic of course is my son and the green grass (finally) from my back yard. He's throwing his splitter so watch it doesn't hit you...it leaves bruises!
Living what? Lagniappe -- a little something extra! Since my son has moved to New Orleans I've learned almost another language and culture. I enjoy learning about history any where I've been and New Orleans has opened up a whole new area for me. It's such a unique city from any other city I've been in. It has it's own flavors and fun. I've learned about eating beignets, muffulettas, Kings Cakes, Red Beans and rice (yuk), cafe au lait, gumbo, jambalaya, andouille sausage, crawfish, BBQ shrimp, etouffee, grilled oysters (my personal favorite), and I've only just begun!! I need to go back many more times to experience the rest. Today's pic is from a fun trip where we arrived at dinner and were seated on the side walk tables. We found out we had some of the coveted seats but the most coveted seats was in the back of a small pickup truck pictured above. Go figure! Entertainment was pretty astounding seeing that it also came from the back of another pick up truck (pictured above). He rated up there with Billy Joel! Of course the source of all our laughs come from the three stooges - Cory, Tyler and Alan. Don't ask what they were doing.... To them this was free meal night on Moms and Dads so of course they picked a quite expensive joint but to our surprise it ended having some of the best food around and the atmosphere was the best with great friends. The place? Jacques-Imo's.
While visiting the Corvette museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky my daughter and husband enjoyed a spin in their favorite car. I'm a little worried that my daughter has distinct opinions on just what vehicle she 'needs' to drive. She's a little motor head! My husband used to own one of these old Corvettes but then came marriage and a house and kids and and and.... Maybe someday another opportunity will come his way.
This is not Europe where castles abound but it's Versailles, Kentucky. From what I've researched on this it is surrounded with some mystery but click HERE to see the present day usage. It sounds like if you're quite wealty you can enjoy a castle adventure.
The redbud trees were in abundance along the roadside in Kentucky and West Virginia. I wonder though why are they called redbuds when they are plainly purple....
Dinosaur World. It seems the dinosaurs walked through Kentucky, Florida and Texas. They advertise that the dinosaurs were life size. Could someone at these parks be creating Jurassic Park? 
Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo EmersonIf anyone knows me they know that I'm up for a good belly laugh over just about anything. I love this line of --Earth laughs in flowers. It's been a long drawn out winter and we all have been anxiously awaiting Spring and all it holds especially new beginnings. Look around and see all the laughs (flowers) God has provided us to lift our spirits and realize it's the time of new beginnings for all of us.
To enjoy how others around the world see their lives check out http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/
Today is South Central Pennsylvania it is like a holiday if you're a fisherman. It's the first day of Trout Season. The streams and lakes were surrounded this morning in hopes of a good fish fry for dinner. It was a blustery day but at least the sun was shining. It appears that everyone was enjoying themselves from the very young to the very old. Some arrived with just a fishing rod and bait and others were loaded down with some pretty fancy high tech gear and outfits. I wonder who was the most successful? 
Yesterday was my nephew's 9th birthday. Nine!!! Oh how the years roll by.... This is my favorite picture of Cody because I got him to smile a genuine smile instead of one of those forced ones! He is active in many endeavors like a fabulous soccer player and a stunning baseball player and who can forget a great take down wrestler. On the side he also participates in Boy Scouts and can read all those big chapter books without any help! Whew -- that all makes me tired. I wish him the best and I enjoy watching him grow up into a fine gentleman. Happy Birthday and of course..... Cha Cha Cha!!!!
Two sweet girls. If they could only stay this way forever! If they choose Team Edward forever could be a possibility. If they choose Team Jacob they could slow things down but things look dimmer. These two were getting ready to be on the same team this day. New crazy t-shirts were needed fo the Ultimate Challenge at school. A fun relay event where there's competition but also a competition for the loudest, craziest, team spirited team of students. The 8-W (White) team won which was the team these lovely girls were part of. Team Edward or Team Jacob? If you have a teenage girl around just ask her....she'll understand! Vampire or Warewolfe? ----Twlight!!
Can you spot the croakers? Soon we'll be able to find some frogs again. We spotted these guys last summer singing a few songs.
Our basketball net hasn't heard a swoosh for quite awhile. There was a time that this net was visited daily in sunshine, rain, and even snow. We would pull up the drive and open the garage door and the basketball was always waiting even just for one or two attempted dunks. All that swooshing is currently taking place on college basketball courts across the country. I enjoy following college sports no matter what the sport. The madness is shared everywhere. Basketball is the current highlighted sport with the sweet 16 tournaments just ending and getting ready to head to The final Four. North Carolina!?
The Old Oak Tree
If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo
Today's picture is a tribute and thanks to the real hero's in our society. Not the movie stars, or the great singers, or the sports stars or batman, superman or the incredable hulk.... A huge thanks to the firemen both volunteer and paid and to EMTs. They are there in the middle of a sunny day and in the sleet and snow of a dark night. Several of my relatives offer theirselves to others on a daily basis. I say thanks and have deep gratitude towards them. They do what so many of us take for granted. This picture is a memorial to fallen heroes at the Greenwood Cemetary in New Orleans. As we were passing by I grabbed a hurried snapshot thinking of my relatives. Visit http://www.outskirtsofsuburbia.blogspot.com/ and see many great pictures dedicated to firefighters and their equipment and you'll also enjoy many great pics of local wildlife. Thank you to my relatives - you know who you are.... Much appreciation!
Spent all day yesterday at the 2009 Piano Festival held by the PMTA (Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association) at Messiah College. My daughter has attended this event for several years. The students practice and prepare for this months in advance. Everyone is judged individually as they would be if they were qualifing for a scholarship. We then can choose to attend a music class followed by a period of recital time. The day ends with a show for all. This year's show was a walk through the life of Johannes Brahms presented by Mr. Dennis Kobray. The show was very impressive and gathered my attention becasue of where these great artists got their start - Vienna, Austria! If you know me that's a dream to see and hear music in Vienna. Congratulation to my daughter for doing well in the festival this year and continue to love the piano. In another month she also has auditioned sucessfully to enter a Piano Extravaganza that is held every three years. Way to go!
We've all seen them somewhere. How many of you have said I'd like to ride one of them....? I'll readily admit that I'd like to jump on and make my way through town. Click on Segway to find out more of the appealing benefits to owning one of these. I wonder do they have their own little wave or secret jesture when passing one another? 
This past weekend we enjoyed a night out at the theater at our local middle school. They celebrated 30 years since it has opened with a musical production. The kids were spectacular!!! What talent! My daughter was in three dances with different styles but I beleieve her favorite was Dancing Queen. After seeing the movie Mama Mia 20 times this dance was a natural for her. The program was an hour and a half with one song after another with a few quick changes in between. There were instrumentalists, singing, dancing, and more smiles than one could count. Over one third of the students at the school were involved in some way and you could feel their pride. This show just may include a top billing name in our future! --I better go snag some autographs. Keep on dancing!
I may not live in the rolling green slopes of Ireland but where I live is just waiting to burst with the greenest of greens from one valley to the next. The first snapshot today is of the rolling hills in Adams County, Pennsylvania full of orchards growing apples, peaches, plums, and so much more. The second snapshot is of a private pathway in the middle of downtown New Orleans leading to a lavish courtyard. For those that are awaiting Spring and another season of color wear a little green today for St. Patricks Day and gain the luck of the Irish!
Now the day is over,Night is drawing nigh,
Some charming characters are posted here today. These are a few of the University of New Orleans' baseball fans. Always ready to cheer them on win or lose - hot or cold - rain or sunshine. These fine folks took on my son for a week back during Hurricane Gustav. He had a great time while I was at home worried about the storm. I could never thank them enough. We had a fabulous time while visiting recently and have made some great friends. We had fun tailgating , cheerleading, and who could forget a great dinner date at Jacques-Imo's in Uptown NOLA and The Thai Orchid restrauant in Slidell. Everytime we head down south I'm in awe of the wonderful hospitality. Thank you again my fellow UNO fans and can't wait to catch up soon!
From the shores of Lake Pontchartrain... Being that's it's been quite the busy busy week without a moment to do any pondering I long to be back in this spot. From this vantage point you can see the pier where I am told some great fishing occurs but where were all the fisherman this day> I believe they were all out on their sailboats. Click on the picture to enlarge it and see the many sails. In the distant backgroud is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge that spans 26 miles across the the lake. It is the longest bridge in the United States to cross completely over water. I was sitting on a bench this day and completely enjoyed the quiet and the stillness. Since I cannot be there I'll just dream...
So who do think drives this wicked little machine? It looks fast even when it's sitting still. I hope someone gets to enjoy it out in the open highway away from city potholed streets.
Today's picture is made by my daughter. She's such an old soul. Her favorite band is the Beatles, and her favorite shoes are Converse. Does this describe a teenage girl from 2009 or 1962? This is her collection of Converse sneakers portrayed in a peace symbol. Being that she's quite the bargain hunter she has acquired most of these at a bargain price over the past few years. They make a very daring fashion statement. My hope for her is that she continues to do her own thing and not be swayed by others. Her ultimate dream? World Peace!!
Spent most of the last week in New Orleans seeing my son play baseball. That's right the season has begun and Spring is on it's way! It was great to be with my son and his friends and their parents. We've made some great friends in the bleachers and enjoy their company and hospitality towards my family. We spent most of our time in the bleachers but we also were able to enjoy the great food only New Orleans can offer along with the sights. I even acquired a few of those left over beads from Mardi Gras! It's going to be a tough year for my sons team but it's still exciting. Over 8 players from his team were drafted into some level of the MLB last year so we are left with a rebuilding year. We can't wait to get back there and get back into those bleachers and root for the Privateers!
