Her name was Lola..

I know I just got an Epiphane camera bag but I would LOVE to have another one. So, when I found out that there was a contest over at Beyond Snapshots to win the Lola bag, I had to enter. All you have to do is post a picture (or in my case, pictures) that represent red. I went looking through my files and was surprised at how many I found. I could NOT choose just one...so I'm posting them all.

All Together

An entry over atShutter Sisters asked about our thoughts, our words, our mantras. My mind automatically went to this framed piece of stitching we recently bought on a trip out of town. It sort of sums up our life together.

My Safe Place

Where we love is home ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Over at Shutter Sisters they asked us to show them our nest, "that cozy corner of your house, your home, your soul where you understand everything's going to be so all right, no matter where you fly, no matter where you soar".

This is my home, my nest, my safe place:

In front of the camera

I don't mind being in front of the camera, but it happens very rarely. It seems like my husband is as awkward with my camera as I might be with one of his guitars. My sister is a little more adventurous. She loves to have fun and play, even if she doesn't know what she is doing (admitted by her).

Here are some pictures from our hang out session on Sunday..the camera in the hands of my sister.

Wishes on the Breeze

Superhero Photo Challenge: Hands

Talking is like playing on the harp (or guitar ~ jinny); there is as much in laying the hands on the strings to stop their vibration as in twanging them to bring out their music. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

Superhero Photo Challenge: Twilight

"Twilight drops her curtain down, and pins it with a star." ~ Lucy Maud Montgomery

This is one of the first sunset pictures I took with my new camera. I was very pleased with the results although I missed the peak of the sunset running inside to grab my camera. They do have a tendency to creep up on you and then fade fast.

Here in west Texas I have the great privilage to see many, many beautiful sunrises and sunsets nearly every day.

What makes a house a home

"Home is a shelter from storms - all sorts of storms." ~ William J. Bennett

Over on Shutter Sisters the question was asked "Do you surround yourself with the magic reminders that make your heart sing?"

I started thinking about my home and our decorating 'style'. I can admire rooms out of Better Homes & Garden or Martha Stewart Living all day long, I can appriciate the design and the beauty. But, my home will never look like that because its not really my style. My home is very lived in. There is very little that was specifically bought to just fill up space on a shelf. There are very few vague floral prints framed and hanging on my wall just to take up wall space.

No, I enjoy surrounding myself with things that mean something to me. Things with sentimental value, things that mark special moments in my life. First, we have filled our home with art work from special places or that we have created ourselves. We aren't "professional artist" by any means, but we do have fun with our art.

Art work my sister brought back for me from San Francisco.
Another piece of art my sister gave me when she went to Paris.
My husbands artistic talent combined with his love for comic books.
Another of my husbands work..this one is from his high school years.
And this is one of MY paintings. It's fun..but you can probably guess who the better artist is.


We collect things that we enjoy. I don't have a thing for cows in general, but I do love the Cow Parade cows and have quite a few of them spread out through my house. Other items are from places that my husband and I have been together. Maybe a very special gift that someone gave me. I know these things are very personal and might not appeal to everyone, they don't all fit a certain 'theme'. But, when someone comes to my house they can truely see me..us..the REAL us.

Note cards that we picked up in Colorado. We just tore the back pieces off and hung them in frames.
Just a small peek into Jeremy's Metallica collection.
This is the turtle that Jeremy gave me for my birthday..my 17th birthday. It was the first gift he ever gave me.A poem my sister wrote for a school assignment.
A set of nesting dolls we bought in Fredericksburg.


But mostly, we surround ourselves with things that make us happy..things that make us smile..a mix and match of postcards, drawings, fortunes from fortune cookies, little reminders of our hopes and dreams and wants, and family photos.

Weekly Winners ~ Photo Hunt ~ Shutter Sisters

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." ~ Edith Sitwell

I'm rolling a few different things together in todays post. First off, this weeks Photo Hunt was ruin(ed). I couldn't find a thing that was ruined..except for me. These kids have absolutely ruined me. They are amazing little people and I love watching them grow and learn and laugh.



Over at Shutter Sisters they asked about what we do to make indoor time at home fun and cozy or just bearable.

Well...We make chili and sweet cornbread. My husband makes the BEST chili. It's out of this world good. And when it gets colder its always the first thing we think of.



I break out my warm fuzzy socks.



I drink lots of coffee.



And I snuggle up with our fleece blankets and Lola. She is great for keeping me warm.



The kids have to find things to keep entertained as well, since the days can't be spent outside. We break out a lot of toys.




And we all dream about Sping when things start to warm back up again.



To see MORE weekly winners (trust me, you'll want to) check out Sarcastic Mom.

Just look up

"God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars." ~ Martin Luther

I can't remember if I have ever posted this picture on this blog. I did search under every label I thought it might be hiding, but nothing. But if I have, oh well.

It's one of my favorite pictures that I took back when I had no clue what I was doing with my new camera (*snort* like I know anything now). I decided to take my camera into my front yard and see what I could see.

Well, I was taking pictures of our maple tree. I got close to take a picture of the peeling bark and then I happened to look up. I pointed and snapped and there you go. A surprise for me and a wonderful picture that I can share with you.