First Outing with New Camera

In case you haven't heard, (which is doubtful, because I've been telling everyone- even strangers on the street ;) ) I've got a NEW CAMERA!!! Needless to say, I'm just a wee bit excited! I had been using my cell phone for the past year or so to take pictures, because our camera was broke. (Don't ask!!! The story isn't pretty.) But I digress, now where was I? Oh yeah! I got a new camera!!!! And I was just itching to try it out. To the point that I had a rash!



That's pretty serious! I called the doctor, she told me to cancel everything else on my schedule and start taking photos immediately! Well, ya GOTTA follow doctor's orders! So.... I started thinking, what do I want to photograph first. You could LITERALLY see the gears in my head start turning:I don't know which is scarier, the fact that you could actually SEE the gears in my head turning, OR the fact that there are so FEW!!! :) If you look close enough you can even see the rust around the edges! HA! So, as prescribed by Dr. Anita Gethout-Moore, I loaded up the kiddos and we left the house:

Excuse me for a minute, I'm still laughing! Anyhow, we set out on our journey to commune with nature. Which as anyone can tell you I'm a nature lover! Well, for about a hour or two at a time-then it's back to all the comforts of home! (please see above. Yep... STILL FUNNY!) We drove quite a long way and through some back roads before we found nature.

But when we did, Look what we found: FALL!! Hooray! I LOVE FALL! (It's almost as great as my new camera. Did I mention the camera?!) Take a gander at some of the beauty we saw.

Oooooohhhh! Aaaaahhhh! If you scratch the picture you can even SMELL the crisp, clean fall air!! And if you look at it loooong enough, you'll swear that you can even FEEL the chill in the air!

And this one below is my favorite shot of the day. Not bad for someone who has NO CLUE what she is doing huh?! I think it might even be good enough for a postcard shot. Entitled : " Welcome to Fall! Wish you were here!" What do you think?

I'm no professional. Not even close. But I sent it to someone who is. No really, I did!! Hey I KNOW people! Anyhow, this professional photographer took pity on me. She gave me a few tips and pointers on how to improve my game. ( How nice was that?! Yes, pretty darn nice!!! ) The owner of the studio even toodled with, piddled with, fiddled with,....well, did whatever it is that professional photographers do with photos (some trade secret kinda stuff) And taaaadaaaa:

How DID she do that?!! Wow!! Forget the postcard! THIS is now a beautiful portrait of nature at it's finest! Thank you for everything! You're AWESOME!!

Much more than a Navigational Device

I face many challenges in my day to day life. For example, I'm vertically challenged. Very tragic indeed. My inner soul believes itself to be 5' 8'...my outward body (at 5' 1")doesn't reflect this belief. Although, it looks pretty close to it when I wear my "tall jeans" :) Also, sadly enough, I am technologically challenged. Just don't understand gadgets and gizmos -how do they work?! Everything out there these days just boggles my mind! And lastly, (well not lastly) but probably the most horrific of all, is the fact that I am Navigationally Challenged. I've been lost more times than I care to mention. Probably more times than I could count-even if I wanted to! Last year I got lost while out looking at Christmas Lights-we were 5 miles from the house! No, Seriously!! I think that was the turning point for Ricardo. I guess he realized that it was a very real possibility that one day I might leave the house and he would never see me or the boys again.....simply because I wouldn't be able to find my way home! :) So he took matters into his own hands. And for Mother's Day I got this little beauty:
It even looks slim and sleek in profile, take a gander:

Since I've had this device I haven't gotten lost once! I even used it a couple of weeks ago to find my sister's new house (which is over an hour away)-in the dark!! Worked like a charm. You simply plug it in, type in the address and before you know it you're there! I barely had time to take a nap! (just joking)

One of my favorite features is that you can set the voice for male or female. I love Tom; but, if you think for one minute I'm letting a MAN tell me what to do..... So I have it set on "Thomasina". She's so pleasant! So nice! So understanding. She gently guides me where I need to go. And if I make a wrong turn, she soothingly says: "turn around at your earliest convenience.".... "O.K. Thomasina-no problem! Thanks for not making fun of me!" I reply.

I highly recommend this device to anyone who has trouble getting from point A to point B. It is truly a blessing!! (Heartfelt! TomTom is not giving me any kickbacks. This is simply a public service announcement.)

The only complaint I have is this: While traveling to my loving sister's house, in the dark before the dawn, Thomasina told me to: "stay right and then follow the motorway". I'm panicing. What's a motorway Thomasina?!! Is it a service road?! (I should have stayed AWAKE more in driver's ed! I would have known this!!!) It bothered me. But I arrived. No problems. No wrong turns. On the way back however, it was light enough to still see when she told me to "stay on the motorway." FYI: I discovered that a "motorway" is one of those high in the sky ramps that go over the other highways. You know the ones. The white-knuckle, sweaty palms, toss your cookies kinda ramps that petrify me!! Why not just call it what it is ?! Why not say: "in 1/2 mile continue forward onto THE RAMP OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION?!!" It was then, that I knew Thomasina was more than a mere guiding device. She is indeed a true friend who had my back. Because, if she hadn't told the whole "motorway" fib, I might not have finished my journey. And THAT would have been a tragedy indeed!!! Thank you for being my companion on life's highway Thomasina! I can now truly take the road less traveled...and THAT will make all the difference! :)

To Tell the Tooth

As a parent there are always moments that you look forward to. Moments that melt your heart. Moments that make you think that parenting is just the greatest privilege ever bestowed upon you...no matter how tough your day might have been. :) Some of those moments for me surround smiles.

When your baby smiles at you for the first time. You know the one: the little "Elvis Impersonation" where just one side of their mouth raises up. Ahhhhh! Doesn't time just stand still?!! And how about the first time they truly smile at you because they're happy? That cute little "gummy" smile. Doesn't your heart just skip a beat?!

Another of my favorite moments is when they get their top two teeth and their bottom two front teeth in. They think they are soooo funny and grown up. It makes me giggle even now. :D

But I gotta confess, one of my favorite, favorite ( I mean all time favorite moments) is this one right here:



I personally don't think there is any greater" tooth moment", than when they lose their top two teeth! They have that combination look of cuteness and mischievousness all rolled up into one.
I think it is absolutely darling!!! I wish I could push the pause button and make them stay like this a little longer; because, it too goes by in a flash. But there is no pause button. This moment in time will be gone before I know it. So if you'll excuse me....I gotta go gaze at cute little brown eyes! Could he BE any cuter?!!! Have Mercy!!!

Migraines, Memories and Marriage

You will have to excuse me today. I am suffering from the residual effects of a migraine. Any of you who have ever had a migraine will understand.

But yesterday, I awoke with a migraine and it just continued to worsen. I couldn't see, think or function. I don't know what I did to deserve it, but this migraine was attacking me with a vengeance. So I did what any damsel in distress would do, I called my Prince Charming. Once again, Ricardo, came to my rescue. He immediately left work. With the words, "Work be D*mned, my loving wife needs me!"....okay, maybe he didn't utter those EXACT words; but, I'm sure it was something very close to that! :)

Anyhow, he came home and got me tucked into bed with everything I needed within easy reach. He took blue-eyes to piano lessons, he took both boys out to lunch and spent the rest of the day taking charge. To quote Salt N Pepa..."What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man..." And that got me to remembering how he has always been that way.

If your lucky in life, you have someone who will drop anything and come running when you need them-no questions asked. (I've been lucky enough to have 3) And Ricardo, hasalways been one of those people for me. He has been a constant in my life for 22 years. We dated off and on, and off and on...(well, you get the picture) for 8 years before we got married. We were like the Ross and Rachel of the dating world..."We Were on A BREAK!!!" :) During one of our "breaks" I went through a particularly wild phase. My Indian name was "Princess Party 'til Sunrise" :) After one night of howling at the moon, dancing and drinking til dawn; I was again unable to function. I sent smoke signals and Ricardo came running. He brought me everything one with a hangover needs to recover. A whole bag of goodies. He brought me back from the near beyond. Then and only then, did he say "Are you doing okay? Cause I have someone back at my apartment and I should really get back if you're alright." OMG! He had a girlfriend who was spending the weekend with him! He left her to take care of me!!! It was then, that I had my "Oprah Ah-haaa Moment." I knew that I wanted him in my life and by my side -for the rest of my life. And I did it! I won him back and I'm keeping him! (Whether he likes it or not!! :)

Which brings me to the moral of my long-winded story: You know if it's truly love by how someone treats not only when you are together; But when you are on a BREAK as well. So, Ricardo, Thank you for always helping me no matter what. Thank you for coming back to me. And thank you for being my partner in the trenches, foxholes and never-ending battle called Marriage!!! Wait!....That didn't sound right at all!! But you know what I mean! :)

I promise I will be back tomorrow in full form, with photos. Thanks to everyone for bearing with me today. And on a closing note: to my wingman Wormie, who also has always, always come running when needed. If you find yourself in a foxhole needing help, just call- I will gladly and always heed the call and come a runnin' for you as well. That plus my extra spleen! What a deal!!

**Also a separate shout-out to Jamie. I'm thinking of you on your first day back at work. I hope the day goes by without any hitches! Also, hoping the hours fly by quickly til your back home with your girls (and Greg) again!***

The Joys of Living with Livestock

I'm a city girl. Live in town. But we have livestock living in our house. I've always wanted a pony. The boys too! But in the city, you can't. Stupid Rules!!! So we compromised. We have two Beautiful English Mastiffs, Harlow and Ella instead. It's almost the same thing; but perfectly legal with the HOA and City Ordinances. People are amazed and sometimes dumbfounded when they see these two girls. Sometimes they even ask "Why do you have TWO?!" I simply smile and say; "Because THREE would seem a bit excessive." Look at them.....ahhhh! (Sorry Jen, you can avert your eyes if you need to! :) The truth of the matter is that we had a wonderful lab in our lives. He was our protector, our friend, and our family for 11 years. This is Caesar....

Even now it is hard to look at him without choking up. He had a good life; but, we still miss him dearly! When I mourn, I get down in it and wallow I have a hard time moving forward. I cry, I mope it hits me really hard. Almost as hard as it hit our other lab Jodi, shes 13.....

It scared me! I didn't know from moment to moment if I should stick a mirror under her nose to make sure she was still breathing, or put a lily between her paws because she could no longer go on. And to be truthful, some days I just wanted to lay down beside her and cry too.

My loving husband still chokes up and misses Caesar dearly. BUT, he has a different way of dealing with grief. He doesn't like to think about it too much, it hurts. He is a man, he just trys to fix it. Ricardo's way of thinking was to get another dog as soon as possible. Have something happy to take our minds off the sad event. Not that either way is right or wrong, it is just different approaches to the same problem. That being said.....it does kinda bother me a wee bit to think if anything happens to me, he will have a "replacement wife" within a few weeks time. So he doesn't have to think about losing me! hmmmm. I can just hear him now: "I'm sorry boys! It's a terrible loss. But we must get a replacement as soon as possible. Would you like a blonde 24 year old or a brunette?!" (It's a given he would go younger....by 4 years! :) All joking aside, I'm NOT saying his idea is the right way; but it did have possitive results. We stopped crying so much. And we had something positive to enjoy. And as for Jodi, well look........

She got the strength to roll over! She still misses her partner, but she enjoys mothering! (More than she would probably admit!) But she is 13. We know she won't be around forever. And when she goes, we didn't want our new addition to be so lonely. Hence, the second mastiff puppy. This is Ella when she was 8 weeks old....

And this is Ella now at almost 5 months:

Isn't she just gorgeous! Look at that little tongue! I can't walk by her without squeezing her!

This is our other beautiful girlie Harlow when she was 8 weeks old:

What a punkin! And this is Harlow now at almost 1 year old:


See her and brown eyes doing their "Neighborhood Watch" shift?! I feel so much safer! Mastiffs are great protectors of their families. They are very loving, gentle dogs. Our family just loves our new additions. They have already brought us so much joy. (And soooo many anecdotes to be added to this blog!) They are also very large dogs. They don't finish growing until they are two years old. Then, they just start filling out and adding their bulkiness. So we still have a long way to go. They eat alot. With all of our dogs, we go through 160# of dogfood a month. And don't get me started on the Poop McScooping! Oy!

Mastiffs and children are a lot alike. To quote Wanda Sikes: "Their a lot of trouble...but their worth it! And I gotta admit sometimes when I see them like this:

So sweet and loving with each other. It makes me think maybe three wouldn't be excessive...

But I know if Ricardo found out I got a THIRD mastiff.....Some blonde/brunette 24 year old would be writing this blog instead of me! And that just wouldn't do at all!!!

Fish Fry

We ar having a fish fry today. Yum!! What type of fish will be on the menu you ask? Well, we will be having some of this.... Nice Bass Son! Wait that didn't sound right at all! :) How about: Excellent catch by my Beautiful Eldest Son! *We'll call him Blue eyes to protect his identity!*
We'll also be partaking of some of this yummy catfish...

Look at him! Isn't he gorgeous?! Just like something out of Fish and Stream Magazine! The catfish is nice also! And check out the water and background. The lake is soooooo relaxing don't you think?! We also are having this catfish for our meal.....

I've said it before, "What a Beaut!!!" I love catfish! And I love this boy beyond reason! What a beautiful little soul he is!! Course SOMEONE also got a new fishing rod and reel and he is pretty dog gone proud to show it off to you....

This is my youngest son! *We'll call him Brown Eyes!-again to protect his identity* Isn't he a doll? Doesn't your heart just stop? This is the first fish he caught all by himself! Woohoo! So Proud! We'll definately be eating some of this delicious Sun Perch!!......

(Okay, in case any Fish and Game Warden's are reading this blog...we ARE NOT eating these particular ones-we realize they are too small to be keepers- But as any loving parent understands, ya gotta let the little guy feel like he is contributing to the meal! (wink, wink) Great job Brown Eyes! Keep up the good work!

Course the food will be made by world famous chef, Ricardo. (okay, maybe the world doesn't know him, but he's pretty darn popular in this house!) He will be cooking up the grub on our patio out back. (Momma doesn't like fish smell in the house.) And anyone who knows me well enough, knows what a complete phobia I have about grease/oil and fire! Cooking with oil just scares me beyond all reason.! I won't even allow a Fry Daddy in my home. But, sometimes you just have to be adventurous for the sake of good eatin'. So just let it be said that when my beloved Ricardo is standing over the "CAULDREN OF DEATH" cooking up our lovely meal in his fish fryer, I will be close by watching his every move and praying for his safety. Oh, I'll be INSIDE where it is safer, but I will be watching over him none the less!!! I Love you Ricardo! Be Safe!!!!