"...the city is one big theatre where everyone is on display" Jerry Rubin

It is Friday Foto Finish with Candid Carrie and I thought, “what a great day to jump back in…”

Many weeks ago I received a call from my SIL asking what I was doing the end of October. Nothing. So she asked if I would go on a girl’s weekend with her and her friends – airfare and room was covered. She had already asked my mom and my mom said only if I said yes. So of course I did.

Ok, ok, I know I am leaving out the destination. But it was so exciting, so I am trying to bate you along . . . New York City! I have never been, but have wanted to for some time.

How do you break down a whirlwind trip like that? So I am taking one part and making it my Photo Phinish…

Now we do not live in a metropolitan area. In most of Georgia, other than, obviously, Atlanta, public transportation is limited, bike riding a scary venture, and taxi’s VERY limited. So cars are a must! Or friends with cars. So the subway was one of many experiences in the couple days we were there that was new to us.

I was amazed at the architectural details, even in the musty land beneath the city . . .

The landings were not as large as they appear on TV (or at least not the ones we loaded and unloaded on) nor were they fraught with threatening people, we saw quite a few friendly people.

We each purchased our ticket to subway our way to the Brooklyn Bridge. I was the last of the six of us to get my pass. As I turn, I am absolutely bewildered by what I saw. The South officially showing out in the North.

There, in the turnstile, is my SIL’s mother, two hands and two feet on the ground, hind end in the air, crawling under the turnstile!

No, no picture. Wish I had, but I was too shocked and too busy trying to figure out for the life of me why that woman was crawling like a primate. Well, she either couldn’t get the slide to accept her ticket swipe or she missed when it told her to go. Hard tellin’ not knowin’.

She gets to the other side, then begins my SIL (call her B) loudly and dramatically (like a Jack Russell on crack) saying to my mom (I am behind my mom) “swipe it fast and push fast” over and over and over. Luckily, behind me stood a regular subway rider, who calmly said from behind “You don’t have to swipe it that fast and it will tell you on a screen to go.” I passed that on to my mom, and you know? It worked (meanwhile B is still harping on her rant…)


We made it on the subway and to our destination. Now you would think that after the initial fiasco, the rest would be a breeze. Not necessarily so.

The afternoon of our last full day in NYC, we again took to the rails to reach various destinations. The very last time to catch the subway, we all head through the turnstiles with our tickets, going smoothly, until B’s mom. Again the swiper did not like her swipe. We were only half paying attention, but apparently she did not want to try again or wait, I don’t know, other than when I looked back over, she is squeezing herself around the turnstile. In the process, she must have swiped or B swiped for her, not a clue, but “GO” must have popped up because the turnstile turned, bringing the next bar somehow up between her legs. And folks, let me tell you, a grey haired late 60’s healthy woman straddling the turnstile in NYC, has got to be the funniest thing I have ever seen!

But I bet 100% can get through a subway turnstile.

Whew, now, head on over to Carrie’s for more Friday Foto Finishes…

Smiles!

Photo Phun Phriday - The Dessert Party

It's Friday Foto Finish is with Carrie . . . .go here and check out the links!

July was a BUSY month, and in the midst of all the running and spinning, we had two birthdays.

Will and The Man both are July babies, so this year we had family over for a Dessert Birthday Party!

No birthday cake this year . . . a Birthday Lemon Meringue Pie. Who says you can't candle up a pie!

We also had Mini Chocolate Bundt Cakes; Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies; Mocha Brownie Trifle, a jar of Whoppers, Key Lime Pie, Ice Cream and a little bit of healthy - strawberries and blueberries

In addition to family, Demolition D invited his girlfriend. We have never had a girlfriend more than a couple days, let alone inviting them to a party!

(your opinion please, should I paint that door behind them white, along with the all the molding??) This is the room we spent months getting the wallpaper off the walls!

Birthdays are fun! Next up, Demolition D's . . . .

Smiles!

Photo Phun Phriday - McGiver Style

I have not been able to join the Friday Fiesta in a very long time and have the perfect photo's to jump back in.

Thanks Carrie for hosting (check her out here).

The Man has a new strong interest in fly fishing, so Monday evening we headed out to my brother-in-law's pond to fish.

The gnats were swarming and a real pain.

Wanna know what you get when you have a swarm of gnats, an engineer, a fan and a car?

Gnatless reading with a pleasant breeze

And the perfect view

We are heading back this afternoon for more phun . . .

Smiles!

Photo Phun Phriday - Comic Strip

...and a nightclub dancer

I have not played with Carrie on Foto Fiesta Friday in a few weeks (too many other demands lately).

But I am playing this week! My photo phun is not a photo though. It is a scanned copy of a my favorite Blondie comic. And I want to share . . .

Now, check out my name . . .spelling different by one letter - pronounced the same. LOL! It was a comic strip worth keeping.

For REAL PHOTO's and phun . . . go here!

Watch It Wiggle . . .

...see it jiggle, cool and creamy, JELLO brand gelatin. . .

Leaving the '80s and coming as far to future as a few years ago. For a couple of years,the church youth leaders would have an Annual Jello Wrestling Sunday event. Each youth would bring a container of prepared jello for the pool. Sometimes there was a lot of jello, sometimes not, but all came eager for the event.

Demolition D's first time going, well, he was a little skeptical. He went just to watch. This sort of fun was way out of his element. Most fun was, he was kinda like a grumpy ol' man in his early teens.

We did make jello, even though D had no intentions of participating any further than being a spectator.

He helped fill the kiddie pool . . .

Lo and behold next thing we know he (in the greay shirt) is in the pool for a match!

And then a little later another!

D emerged from his box and had more fun than I think he had thought possible.

Thanks JELLO!

Wiggle on over to Candid Carries for the foto fiesta!

Photo Phun Phriday - Spring Break Days

Visit the foto fiesta at Candid Carries ... and check out her week of celebration as their world has had a wonderful thing happen - adoption complete!!!

Our spring break is over, but as other parts of the state take their break, The Man's fun continues. Our neighbor has been visited by grown children and grand children this week.The energy shifts in the neighborhood - there is more activity and the

wonderful sound of children playing.

As I looked out the window Wednesday, we had a gaggle of kiddos on the trampoline. I enjoy knowing these kids look forward to coming to see Grandma, but it is fun knowing they look forward to seeing The Man and Francie (the dog) on their visit too!

Sorry, the shots are through the fig tree (just last week there were no leaves - spring is amazing).

If I had tried to get any closer they might have quit!

(See, she spotted the camera, and then they all changed in their play)

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD . . . Psalms 127:3

Photo Phun Phriday - Life of a Dog

Playing along with Carrie today - check her out here...

The Man decided he wanted to strike a pose with Francie. Francie is not much of a camera hound, but The Man had phun trying to make her pose. Now had the camera been a squirrel, raccoon or any other furry creature, she would be attention and easy to snap a shot of. For me the phun of these pictures are The Man having phun. It is great to capture happiness!

But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?

Albert Camus

Photo Phun Phriday - Pie!!

Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie

Pie Crust 9" deep

2 large eggs

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

3/4 cup butter/margarine, melted and cooled

1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Whisk eggs in a bowl until foamy

Combine Flour and guars; add to eggs, stirring until blended. Stir in butter, chocolate morsels, and pecans. Pour into prepared crust.

Bake at 325 deg. for 1 hour or until golden.

So I decided to share a different kind of fun . . . Eating!!! Eating dessert!

This is fun! I have made many of these this month and they are a favorite!



Jot the recipe down and then head on over to Candid Carries for the fiesta!

And today is the last day to vote, I can use every vote I can get :), so if you can do a girl a favor??? . . . there is a polling box in the right column - I am "blended family bliss in DC" . . . so click here

Photo Phun Phriday - Simple Pleasures

I found this phun photo of Traveler and Ocho from a time before I met them and their dad. About 12 years ago, maybe. . .simple fun days . . . brown eyed susans . . . shawwwlaaa laalaaa laalaaalaa laa laa a lottie daw . . .

I was born to catch dragons in their dens
And pick flowers
To tell tales and laugh away the morning
To drift and dream like a lazy stream
And walk barefoot across sunshine days.
Author Unknown

Playing with Carrie!! Check out more phun here!!

Photo Phun Phriday - Holy Bear

Time to play with Carries Foto Fiesta!!!

My Dad.

My Dad and his bear.

My Dad and his bear just a swingin'.

My Dad and his bear just a swingin' on the porch of his workshop.

The bear is an old target that one of my dad's friends gave to him, after having been a target for awhile and full of holes.

You could say he is a holy bear!

Well, near the edge of my parents property is a wooded area. This is where the holy bear has resided for many years, propped up next to a tree, watching the woods and every now and then catching a visitor off guard. One time, my grandmother was visiting from Colorado, watching her spot the bear and checking it out was quite entertaining. So was laughter when she she realized it was not a real bear.

Apparently the bear has been moved. I do not know why. But I did get this picture from my Dad's phone the other day, and well, thought it was phun!!

Happy Friday To All!

Photo Phun Phriday - Fun Is Looking Back Sometimes

Playing with Carrie at Candid Carries

With the apple basket turnover at my home, I have been taking my time going through everything that was removed from the room so Ocho could move back in. I found these two pictures and they are phun! At least too me.

A time of innocence and happiness that can do no less than bring a smile to my face . . .

Photo Phun Phriday - When the moon hits your eye

I just could not not add another valentine theme post - it is Phriday Photo Phun . . .

A couple years after being married, Will and I were going to have a Valentines evening alone. But as was our luck during that time, the alone part changed a few days before the 14th. First, Ocho's mom called and said she needed him to stay with us that night. That is fine. So my wheels start turning and my mind shaking out new plans. Then the boy's dad calls, he is not going to get them after all. Again, that is fine. Shift gears, rethink.

By golly george, I got it.

These boys need to be treated to a fun dinner, well, a date kind of dinner. We need to go ahead and expose them to the romantic side of life.

I asked off a little early from work and set off to create a "romantic" evening.

I told the boys they had to dress for dinner. You would have thought I said they had to dance or that I was going to pull all their teeth. Ocho and The Man quickly gave up their stance against the dressing up and joined in the fun. Demolition D went along, but not without the resentment under the surface.

I did compromise. I told them they did not have to wear shoes! They proceded to get dressed. I had the table set and the candles lit. And dinner cooking (steak and shrimp and chocolate mousse in daquiri glasses - I know what guys like!)


The boys came down dressed and ready. I had to crack up though. Remember the no shoes bait? It worked! Annnnnd . . . . I even laughed at . . . .

...the mis-matched socks. It was great!

The Man tried to be serious for this picture, because as you see, his brother was still trying to be against the tie - at least for the picture. The other pics are blurry, but there was a lot of laughter, a lot of phun. And the boys had there first "romantic" dinner.

Carrie is the lovely host of Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Go by and say hello and check out the list of those having fun on this friday.

Photo Phun Phriday and "The Mom That Cried Snow"

Playing with Carrie today . . .

Photo Phun can be . . . .

Phinding photos phunny kids took when playing with the camera . . .

( Not his best shot - being Mr. Serious, I bet he left it off his Facebook page)

So this morning the weatherman comes on and gives the forecast:

1. Chilly today, high 50's maybe (I did not listen too closely)

2. Saturday, lows 20 and highs maybe mid 40's, definitely chilly though (I did not listen too closely)

3. Sunday, Superbowl weather, nice, clear skys, could not tell you (I did not listen too closely)

4. Sunday night into Monday morning, the moisture comes in and there lies our chance of

S . N . O . W .

Now I am a listening.

Snow people . . . in South Georgia, that is cool. Ok, it won't be probably more than flurries, but I don't care . . .

So it is time to take the boys to school. I jokingly say "I guess you should go today since Monday might be a snow day..."

No response. No indication that I was even heard.

In the car on our way to the first school stop.

I say "The weather man said it will be sunny Sunday for Superbowl and then the clouds move in and gives us a chance for snow Sunday night Monday morning"

Demolition D "No way, he said that . . ."

Me "yes way, he did say that"

Demoliton D "really?? he said that . . . "

I guess I am the mom that cries snow too often!!

Photo Phun Phriday - Ready For Drip Castles and Waves

It has been a see-saw kind of week, but I wanted to play with Carrie today, so I gave in and started through my pictures.

And I realized something...

I am ready for a beach trip!!

Play in some waves . . . .

Make some drip castles

Catch some fish!

(A Cousin and The Man after a day of fishing)

Sigh . . .

Well, until then frolic in the fun of Candid Carries Phriday Phiesta!! Areeeeba!!

Photo Phinish - Snow Venture

Every winter my family, and those within ear shot, are subjected to my cry of "let it snow!!" As I have mentioned, I don't want to shovel or drive in it, just enough to play!

Last year around this time, my sweetie decided to give me the best birthday present imaginable.

Friday evening, he told me I needed to pack an overnight bag, that on Saturday, when I finished at work, he would pick me up. Exciting! He would not tell me more than that. Saturday came, I finished my day and off we set on this surprise journey.

After picking me up, he did tell me where we were going, he was taking me to snow!

The forecast showed a possibility of snow as far south as middle Georgia. He had checked out several places and had decided not to take a chance on Georgia snow and chosen a B&B in Highlands N.C.

About 90 miles out of town we came across the first signs of snow. Then there was more and more!


We exited the interestate to snap the first shot of our snow-venture.


North of Atlanta, almost to the state line, guess what? The S.N.O.W. was. gone! Poor Will was a little disappointed but we were looking forward to a night away.

As we approached the Georgia line the sun was setting. We crossed over into N.C. and started up the "mountain" in the dark. After a few miles I started to notice something. Through the dark, under the trees - white stuff. More snow! Yes!

We wound our way in the dark up the road. More snow. Some Ice. It was beautiful!

We arrived at the bed and breakfast, crunched through the snow to the warmth of the inn through sites straight out of Christmas song.


The next morning we were out early taking in the area and the snow!


And yes! Snow Angels are a must!

There was a park down the road from the B&B that we heard had a beautiful view. It was iced over, so no driving up the half mile road to the view. So we hoofed it, out of shape, but we made it. A half mile, up a steep incline, out of shape and on ice? Yes, even a meesly half mile whooped me (a flatlander). I have not fallen on ice in years, but what a trip back to a time long since passed.


The view was spectacular, the wind chill biting, the birthday gift - the best.

The man with the plan!

Sled on over to Carries for more photo phun!!

The Cat's Meow - Part Two

The missing third picture stirred up curiosity. . . .

so, by request from Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee and Carrie - host of the Phriday Photo Phun, and feline lover ,


I give you . . .

a recap of picture #2 and the missing picture #3

Here kitty, kitty, kitty!

Ok Carrie - still friends?? hehe

Photo Phun Phriday - The Cat's Meow

My Mother In Law has had copies made of many of the old family photos. There are several of my husband's father, but this one, with that big smile is especially sweet.

Like anyone's life, there are many stories and facts that are told and some retold. Stories like the time he decided to add jalepeno peppers to the spaghetti for a pre-Christmas dinner. No one could eat it! But the laughs remain. I don't know if he was an animal person - as in liked dogs. But they do say he could not stand the old feline. Cats were not on his animal list to like.

There is no particular story associated with the above picture. That is until I noticed there were a couple other pictures taken at this same time in the same playpen, but with an addition.

A Cat!

Out of respect for the cat lover's, I will not post the third picture (this smiling one year old is holding the cat up by his head, it was not really cruel looking, the cats feet were on the ground)

This little one pulling the tail of a cat, a creature that as an adult, he could not tolerate. I wonder, was this a playful scene, a time fun? Or was it the first signs of disinclination to the feline world?

"As anyone who has ever been around a cat for any length of time

well knows cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the human kind". -

Cleveland Amory

Come on and party with Carrie and Friday Foto Finish . . . it's a lot of fun!

Photo Phun Phriday - Ice and Snow

Nope, that is not where I am, but it was where I once was!

Since it is hot as hades (ok, slight exaggeration), I thought for the Phriday Photo Phiesta with Carrie, I would have phun reminiscing about the little bit of ice and snow that has been phun!

When Traveler started looking at colleges, one of the first places we visited was in Gainesville Georgia. We headed up to their open house weekend on a Friday. Traveler and her friend rode with Traveler’s mom. Will and I and Ocho and Demolition D made the trip together.

We knew icy/snowy weather was too hit the area, but the school had not cancelled the weekend or the Theatre auditions Traveler was participating in, so we headed on. We arrived at the hotel just as the sleet started.

Taking two cars ended up being more than just a necessity because of space, but because both cars were covered with about an inch of ice the next morning. We got working on de-icy one vehicle to at least get Traveler to the auditions.

Will, Traveler, her mom and the friend loaded up and headed to the college campus, leaving Demolition D, Ocho and me at the hotel.

Luckily we did have power. So we could watch TV and stay warm, but why? There was ice and sort of snow outside!

A skateboard had also accompanied us on our trip. The boys came up with a great idea – take the wheels (trucks) off the skate board and use the board as a “small” sled.

It worked!

The hill of a driveway was used some, then we noticed a small grassy hill behind the hotel.

(It was more ice than snow, every step crunched)

We had a blast taking turns sliding down the ice on the skateboard!

I have some other snow phun, but I think I will save that for another post, so you can hop in your sled and giddy up your horses to the other photo phun to be had!

Snow fun to come . . .

Photo Phun Phriday - All I Want For Christmas

I have never been overly on top of Christmas list. I am of the opinion it sets up expectations that might not be able to be met. And as much as I love giving Christmas presents, I have always been concerned about putting too much emphasis on the receiving of gifts.

When The Man was three, he asked for something to write on because he wanted to let Santa know what he wanted for Christmas. I handed him a post it and told him we would put it on the fireplace.

This is what he wrote.

The only item on his list.

Did he get it? Why most certainly yes!

That was the year that he was into ties. This is him, later Christmas day, proudly wearing that tie left in his stocking. Everytime he wore a tie, and still today, I think of that sweet post it and the simple but excited request of a three year old years ago.

So this was one of our Phun Photo times . . . check out more phriday phun photos at Candid Candie's!

Somehow, not only for Christmas, But all the long year through, the joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you. John Greenleaf Whittier

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek