Pad 12 - and catch up

PaD - Jan 12
This is me - nothing special, just a snapshot that I didn't mind.


PaD - Jan 13
Went to Wal-Mart today - oh the joy!!!!! About the only thing I like about Wal-Mart is that sometimes if you go there before a snow storm you get the pleasure of seeing a gazillion seagulls.

PaD - Jan 14 Today Kevin and I took Sara and her friend Brooke to the Harrisburg Farm Show. Now one of the best reasons to go to the farm show to us is to get some Potato Donuts. These donuts have been tempting us to travel the 45 minute drive year after year. They are just SO good. There are many attractions at the yearly event. One of the main attractions other than the great food offered in the food court is the farm animals. There are cows, horses, sheep, pigs, goats, a whole room full of chickens, turkeys, ducks, etc. We saw the antique tractors and there was also a tractor race for children that was cute as could be. This building is huge. There are so many animals and shows going on during the week that it is impossible to see it all. There is also an area where a lot of vendors set up to sell their goods. That is always fun to walk through and "window" shop. We rarely buy anything because we just don't feel like carrying it around with us and we really don't need any of that stuff anyway. Every year they have baking/cooking contests and always show such pretty displays of the various winners. And we can't forget the butter sculpture - even though we did this year. We forgot to go look at the butter sculpture. Each year they make a life size sculpture out of butter. It is pretty cool. Can you just imagine how many arteries that would clog?This year we saw a clown walking down the big hallway between two areas of the farm show and I stopped him to ask if I could take of picture of him with the girls. He did. After the picture was taken he said to me in a serious voice that he liked my make-up. I thought that was pretty funny. One more thing about the farm show that always seems to happen is SNOW. Every year you know it will snow the week of the farm show. Never seems to fail.

To park at the farm show is horrendous, so we usually park far away and take one of the shuttle buses over to the farm show building. It's much quicker and warmer that way. These to old friends sat in front of me on the ride over and I loved the way they were chatting the whole way there.

Part of the food court - Yum. I forgot to take a picture of the pototo donut stand. Duh!!



Here is a replica of the Star Barn. This was a great landmark to me when I was a child and is a landmark today for my children. When I was a little girl and we would travel to my grandparents house in Middletown, I always new we were close because Mom would always say "Look kids, there is the Star Barn" It was only a matter of minutes until we pulled into Grandma's lane for a long overdue visit. Now I say the same thing to my kids and then they know it's almost time to see Grandma. The Star Barn is a beautiful piece of history. Sad thing is though that they are moving it somewhere else. I will surely miss it. It just won't be the same when I take the hour drive to see Grandma. I plan on getting together with the photography club and trying to set up a field trip to get pictures of the barn before it's moved.



Kevin looking (drooling) over the new tractors.

Me drooling over the old tractors, lol. Did I tell you I love old antique things.

And the cows!!!! Lots of cows. I like how these two were so close together.

Her owner was shaving her and getting her ready to show.

I liked her. She was so clean.

Did I ever tell you I like cow butts? Ha, ha. No, just kidding. I just like the way these ladies look when they are all lined up from behind. I took a picture just like this last year too. I think they remind me of old woman lined up gossiping. No one in particular.

Alpaca - doesn't he have a cool looking eye?

Chicky's butts - I know I have a thing with butts!!!! I just thought it was so so so cute.

Speaking of cute. Look at this little cutie checking out the chicks. She was really watching the baby chickens and I just had to snap that with the camera.

I never realized turkeys could be so colorful.

Trying my hand at close up photography - looked much better on my lcd screen.

Brooke and Sara checking out the gingerbread houses.

My favorite house

All the jelly that was being judged made for a pretty display.

Sara and Brooke shopping. Brooke bought two really nice pocketbooks and a John Deere license plate for her sister.

Here's the clown that told me he liked my makeup. I think I like his better. I want a nose like that. Sara is holding his fish.

Nikon vs. Canon

Brooke and Sara after the farm show - on the way home.

PaD - Jan 14

I'll tell you something about myself. I collect chickens. I love them. When I lived in town and then moved to the country the first thing I wanted to get was some chickens. And chickens I got - along with ducks and geese and quail. I think I went about it all the wrong way. I got six chickens, six ducks, 2 geese (goosey and Lucy), and 24 quail. It was out of hand. Too many feathers flying. Too much poop. Too many eggs and two too many geese being mean to my babies. That was the last straw. I remember one day we were getting ready to go somewhere. Mikey was about 3 at the time. I told the kids to go out to the van and get in awhile. I'd be out in a couple seconds. When I went out, all that I saw was Mikey's feet. His body was flying into the van and the feet were hanging out in mid air. The geese were right behind him getting ready to chase the poor little guy into the van. That was it. Those birds were gone by the weekend. I gave them to Kev's uncle and he probably took them to the market. All that I know is that they no longer were biting and chasing my kids. But I still do love chickens. I have all kinds of chickens in the house. Just now they don't poop or lay eggs. Sara was a sweetie and suprised me with an awesome little wood chicken. This thing is about an inch and a half high and is carved out of a single twig. She got it yesterday when we took her to the farm show. I think it was her way of saying "thanks" for letting her hook school to go to the farm show. Thanks Sara - I love you!!!

PaD - Jan 16

Kelsey has finally took an interest in cooking. She breaded the chicken, made the rice and the vegetables. It was delicious. What I found unusual is that she didn't mind touching the chicken. When I was a kid, I told my mom I was gonna get a maid to make my chicken. I just don't like the way it feels. My mom doesn't either. Kelsey doesn't mind though. I guess from now on I will have my little "maid" make the chicken. Now if I could just get her to clean up like a maid would I would have it made. ha, ha. (pun intended)

PaD - Jan 17

It is quite scary driving with a kid who has their permit. I'm just not liking this. With it comes not only fear for my life but his also. Also the fear of him growing up and leaving us soon. It just seems like yesterday I brought him home from the hospital and I was a brand new mommy who didn't know a thing about raising a baby. I miss those days so much when the kids where babies. I miss the newness of it all. I guess you could call this new, but I'm not liking it near as much. I have to realize though that he is growing into a young man right before my eyes. Yesterday a baby, today a teen, tomorrow a man, the next day a father and so on and so forth. I am shocked at how fast time flies when you are a mom. I wish I could keep my kids young forever but that would prevent me from seeing what I have raised and loved from growing into their own people. Someday this boy will have a wife and beautiful children to bring home and I will love them just as much as I love him. I just hope and pray that he makes good decisions in his life and chooses wisely. As far as right now is concerned, please always wear your seatbelt and remember that driving is a privelege.

PaD - Jan 18

Kelsey was playing with my camera and was taking pictures of her feet while spinning around on my computer chair. Her's came out much better than mine. I was a copy cat and tried it myself. Can we say blurry? Oh well.

PaD - Jan 19

Mikey is so hard to take pictures of. Not because he's not cute, because he is. It's because he hates his picture taken. I had to beg and plead with him to let me take these. He said yes and I'm so glad these turned out so good. This is my Mikey. Such a cutie pie. He has the most amazing eyes. I didn't do anything to them believe it or not. Usually when I try to take pictures of him he either makes a crazy face or looks mad. (I wonder if he gets that from me?)

PaD - Jan 20 - Inauguration Day

Today was Inauguration Day. Today we have our first black president. I have to admit that I didn't think that would happen. I thought I would have been a grandparent by the time our nation would elect a black man as president. I didn't vote for Obama but as a good citizen of this great land I feel I need to give him the benefit of the doubt now that he is our president. With the state of our economy, I really hope and pray that he can bring change. We sure do need change to come in the area of our economy. I'm not so sure of all the other changes he talks about. That sort of scares me, but I won't get into that.
I read a story in Parade Magazine about him as a father and I have to say I was moved. Being a mother to four kids I can understand the love he must have for his girls. Here is the letter he wrote to his daughters:

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two
years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs,
eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you
have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that
as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the
time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and
today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on
this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about
me—about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things
I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and
mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day.
And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I
soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I
realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure
that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the
end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and
for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools
worthy of their potential—schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill
in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the
chance to go to college—even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to
get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs
that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new
technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner
and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the
divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the
best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women
into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country—but when we do,

I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best
to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything
possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to
understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free—that
with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great
responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me
when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of
Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality
because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean
something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it
is perfect but because it can always be made better—and that the unfinished work
of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our
children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should
be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that
you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you
have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our
family so much—although you do have that obligation. But because you have an
obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to
something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world with no limits
on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into
compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every
child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you
girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am
grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to
start our new life together in the White House.

Love,
Dad

I hope by how sincere he sounds in his letter to them shows some of his character. We can all hope and pray that he will be good for our country and not be a failure. He has a lot against him in my book but I will pray for him to make the right decisions and choices. I hope you will too.

PaD - Jan 21
My friend Charlie has taken an interest in my kids. She loves the fact that the girls play piano and are taking lessons. So much so that she wanted to make sure that Sara had some current music to learn. She said it is very important for new beginners to play songs that they have heard and like. Bless her heart, she bought Sara three new music books. There is even a country book with Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood. Sara loves her new books. Thanks so much Charlie. You are such a sweetie and we love ya.

Charlie smiling and playing on her keyboard.

PaD - Jan 22

Today Kelsey finally had her Christmas Chorus Concert. This concert has been rescheduled three times because of bad weather. I really didn't think it was even gonna happen. Luckily it finally did. Here's the proof:


Here's Kelsey with two of her friends after the concert.

PaD Jan 11

I know, I know. Another boring picture, but this one has a story with it. When I was a little girl, i hated eggs like this. I thought they were the most gross thing EVER!!!! The egg whites of a hard boiled egg had a sneaky way of squeaking on my teeth as I took a bite. It was all I could take not to gag on them. Whenever Mom would make tuna salad I had to be a little brat and insist that she shred up the egg whites so i couldn't feel them. It(I) must have been a pain in the butt. Well, one day I realized that my little brother didn't like the yolks. Now I didn't mind the yolks at all, it was just the whites or purples (however they were cooked) that I couldn't stomach. Well, with him not liking the yolks and me not liking the whites, we made the perfect egg eating team. We would share our eggs. He got the whites and I got the yolk. It was a perfect match. That is the only thing we ever got along doing - eating eggs. Us two fought like cats and dogs growing up. It wasn't until we were both teenagers that we started to get along. Now that we are grown and have our own lives, I don't get to see him as often as I'd like. George, if your listening - I miss you! I wonder if he still only eats the whites? I'll have to ask him when I see him. As for me, I wouldn't dream of just eating the yolks now. Yuck. I have to eat the whole thing with salt and pepper added. Isn't it funny how our tastes change as we grow up? Here's my picture of the day - dedicated to my little brother Georgie Porgie, lol.

Drive Home From Work

Here are some more of my pictures from Friday. The previous post I showed you a morning photo. The photos below are from my drive home after work. I'm glad I had my little camera with me to capture the light. It's a good thing that I'm doing this picture a day project or I wouldn't have my camera with me all the time. Before, even if I would have had my camera with me, usually I would feel silly pulling over to take a picture. But this project is taking me out of my comfort zone and forcing me to just do it. I'm hoping by the end of the year I won't miss a photo opportunity. These are just some of the photos that I couldn't decide on for the Photo a Day project but I still wanted to share them anyway!

Here's a tree that I've wanted to take a picture of for awhile now:


and a close up of the same tree:


This is the view at the tree if you turn to the right:


A farm down the road when I'm almost home:


Just putting a different spin on things:


I hope you've enjoyed the photos from my area, but I hope I won't be boring you with these type photos all the time. I need to start taking more different type shots. Got any suggestions for photos you'd like to see - other than self portraits - you won't be seeing many of those.

PaD Jan 9 & 10

So I know I've complained about the weather here of late. I really don't like winter at all. Heck, I don't even like when it's windy in the spring.
Yesterday I had to work and when I got down to the stop sign on the road in front of my house, I looked up at the house like I always do and was greeted with such a beautiful view. I almost felt guilty for saying how I hated living in Pennsylvania in the winter time. It's just too cold for me. But when I saw what I saw, it warmed me. I really do love living on my hill. I would not want to live anywhere else in the world. It is where I raised all my children, love the love of my life, take most of my pictures, and just hang out. I remember the first time I came up my driveway. It was my boyfriend's (now husband)driveway at the time. It was gorgeous. At the time, I didn't know anyone that had a prettier driveway. Now that I lived here for 12 years or more, I usually take it for granted. I see it as an everyday scene. Every now and again, like yesterday, I stop and smell the roses (or take in the view) and realize that I am on of the luckiest girls in the world (to me, anyway). I have all these kids that love me, a husband that adores me, and I have a beautiful view. What more could I ask for? Well, I could ask for someone to do my laundry, but that is a whole nother story. Here's my hill:

Notice the two little hills? My house is on the right hill. Now look at the area in between the hills - see how there is a mountain way off in the distance? Well sometimes in the summer when you look at that if the light is just right, it looks like the ocean off in the distance. It's really cool. I just love this place.





PaD Jan 10 - It was cold and snowy here today. I have said before about the cold. I don't like it. I had gotten a recipe from the Pioneer Woman's website earlier in the week that looked really good. It's called Cauliflower Soup

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/01/cauliflower-soup/

Her pictures are so much prettier than mine, but that's ok. I love cauliflower. It is probably my favorite vegetable so I thought I would try it. OH MOTHER OF ALL THINGS GOOD!!!!!!! You've got to go to her website and try this soup. It is so warming and it is pure Heaven. That's all I'm gonna say or I will make myself hungry again and end up eating another bowl. Here's the picture of the day:

PaD Jan 8

Today I was so hoping the kids would have a two hour delay for school. No such luck. Tucked away up here on my hill I am secluded from the real world until I have to go out into it. I like it that way, really. I could easily be a recluse sometimes. From the weather we had lately, my driveway has been a sheet of ice for the last two days - no melting at all. I thought maybe the roads still might be a little hazardous and maybe we'd get a delay. Well like I said earlier, that didn't happen. I had to put the kids on the bus at 7:00. The high school bus showed up on time, no problem. The elementary bus on the other hand was 25 minutes late. I was almost thinking/dreading about driving them the 7 miles to school. Anyway, the point of this story is this: I had to drive back up the driveway on the ice. It didn't happen. I tried twice and backed down twice. Finally left the darn thing sit for hubby later to drive it up. He always has success in driving it up. So there you have the excitement of my boring day.
On with my picture of the day. The girls had piano lessons tonight. They just love playing the piano and going to lessons. Martha is such a wonderful teacher. She truly has a love for music and she is trying to instill this in my girls. I think it is working. They both practice everyday without me having to tell them to do it. I have to say also that they both have a pretty good understanding of the music and are rather good at it. I am so glad to hear them play and hope that someday they will take their own children to learn some form of music. I wish I was musically inclined. Ha, that is a joke. I couldn't carry a tune for the life of me. At least the girls can play that piano. Here's my oldest daughter during her lesson.

Looking out the Squirrel Hole

This reminds me of the black hole we all drew on trees as kids. Heck I still do that sometimes. Imagine if you were in that hole looking out. This might be what you would see. It's cold out there, go back to sleep and get up when it's warm again.

PaD Jan 7

The ice is still hanging around and we're supposed to get snow tomorrow. UGH!!!!!! Spring where are you? Here is my picture of the day. I was editing pictures from this morning at the computer in my dark room and my daughter says to me "Mom, you should go out and take more ice pictures now. The sun is coming out" I'm glad I did. It was beautiful. I put it into Photoshop (which I haven't touched in about four months) and added this really cool texture.

Stay warm.