7 Day Photo Frenzy.

I have been participating in the '7 Day Photo Frenzy' over on facebook this week, and I have had a lot of fun showing a little bit of what 'I think I can do.' ha ha ha ha lol  I am not a professional by any means, and there is so much for me to still learn, but I love photography and I will never regret getting my camera, except for those hikes when it get's just a little bit heavy.  Any ways, I just wanted to share what I have.  Some photo's I have posted previously so don't get too bored.


Here goes!


Sunday's Theme - Youth

Monday's Theme - Friendship

Tuesday's Theme - Hobbies

Wednesday's Theme - Simplicity

Thursday's Theme - Black & White

 

Friday's Theme - Landscape

 
And Saturday's Theme - My Choice - Which one shall I choose, which one shall I choose?
 

 
Please enjoy.
 
Love to All,
 
midRae

Pleasant Pheasant's

So most weekends midMan and I go on our little rides to see what we can see.  And we always see something. 

A couple of weeks ago we saw this:

Isn't she beautiful?

Then we saw him.

Even more beautiful.

Some times it just doesn't seem fair that the guy animals are always so much prettier than the girls.  I think the girls should always be more prettier, (is that right?).  More pretty, more gorgeous, more beautiful, I don't know.  But what I do know is that all men should definitely tell us that we are always the prettiest and the most gorgeous of them all.  At least if they know what is good for them.  And no, our butt will never look fat in those pants!

Love to All,

midRae

One Word Wednesday.....

YUMMMMMMMM!

Love to All,

midRae

My Thoughts.

One year ago today we said goodbye to my big brother, Roy. 

He battled cancer for 5 years, along with no kidneys.  He was born with only one kidney and the one he had was found to have a tumor the size of a soccor ball on it.  He fought such a brave battle, and when the drugs became to hard for him to bear and cut his quality life into something he did not like, he turned his battle over to God.  God granted him an additional 3 years and we are so very thankful for the time that was given to us. 

He left behind his most precious wife Char, his son Willie, and his two daughters, Josie and Lily.  We are blessed with time still spent with his family and my heart and prayers go out to them and I ask God to give me the strength that they, my brothers family, seems to show the world.  I also pray that God will give my parents the comfort and strength that they may need, my mom has found this to be very hard.

My big brother taught me, in the final years of his life, that God is in control and that I needed to always remember that.  He showed me what faith is really about and how much a person could really love their Heavenly Father.  He always called me and the first thing that he would say to me was, 'Hey Sis.'  I can still hear his voice and I am so very thankful for that.  My big brother was a precious gift that I did not fully appreciate until God choose to make me sit up and notice. 

I love and miss you Roy.

Love to All,

midRae

Big News, Really Big News!

About 2 months ago I did this post with a little teaser about some big news in our lives.  And guess what?  I am ready to share.  But I have to tell a little story, it has some wonderful stuff and some really sad stuff but just hang with me and you will understand why I needed to tell the whole story.


Two months ago on Thursday, November 12th, my son Dayton and his girlfriend, Shannel, came to midMan and me and told us, 'We're going to have a baby, due July 14th.'  Thrill coursed through my soul and I was so excited.  Then reality set in.  Dayton did not have a job, he had lost it two month ago, but he was ready to sign up for the military.  What to do?  The kids, I shouldn't call them kids,  they are both over 18 and their own persons, had gone through quite a few emotions when finding out about the pregnancy and trying to figure out the next steps for them and their life together.  We let them know that we would support them in any decision and that we loved them.  And we couldn't wait to help.  Such a wonderful blessing, things would have a way of working out, they always do.  And with all of us working together, things would be just fine.


So then, on Monday, November 16th, 4 day later, my oldest son Dion and his wife, Ada, called me at work to tell me that they were also going to have a baby, due July 24th.  They had only gone into the doctor to find out why they weren't pregnant yet and found out that they were.  What thrill and amazement!!  Two babies!  I have gone over and over in my mind what I would do with a grandbaby.  Oh, I wanted one so bad.  I am so baby hungry!  All you girls know exactly what I am talking about.  And now two grandbabies.  Heavenly Father had blessed our family with so much joy.  What wonder!  Dion and Ada were a little concerned about finances, they are both full time college students, but they do have some saving so the stress isn't quite as bad as it could be.


Thanksgiving came and went and such fun and great family time was had by all.  I loved that my three boys, and the ones most important to them, were able to be with us and spend such a wonderful day.


About a week after Thanksgiving, Dayton came up to my room and told me that Shannel was spotting.  My heart dropped, I have been through this twice myself, and I wanted to cry.  They went to the Emergency Room and were told that Shannel needed to go home and rest and go see her normal doctor the next day.  After a very long week, and so much pain and worry, sadly Shannel lost the baby.  Our hearts were broken.  I wanted to wrap Shannel in my arms and just take all of the sadness and pain away.  It hurts so much.  And to make matters harder for Shannel and Dayton, Dion and Ada were still expecting.


Shannel is still dealing with her grief.  We are there for her when ever a hug is needed or she just needs someone to talk to.  But time is what is needed the most.   For those of you who have ever experienced losing a baby, you will understand.  It's hard.  And it just seems like all that you see is babies or expecting parents every where.  It is so hard.  And when you lose a baby early in pregnancy men just don't go through what women go through.  It is so very hard.  I will always remember this baby, my first grandchild, each July with a smile and warm feeling in my heart. 


After Shannel lost her baby, Ada was terrified.  She was so afraid she would lose her little blessing, also.  Much worry and tears were had by Ada.  But I am happy to report that things are going great.  They moved Ada's due date to July 28th, and life is wonderful.  Just look!  It's a baby!  With little feet and little hands.    

I will share more in the future as I find out more.  I don't know if they will be finding out the gender of the baby or not, but either way I am still thrilled.  They are thinking it's a boy.  Who knows? 

Isn't it amazing?  I am so ready to go out and buy stuff, but sanity does prevail and I am impatiently waiting.  midMan is not to sure about being a Grandpa.  He thinks he's too young.  But I am seeing more and more gray in the beard and hair, almost enough to catch up to me.  I think he's ready, he just hasn't figured that out yet.  And tailEnd is thrilled at the tought of being and Uncle, and no longer the baby of our little family.  I know I am so ready.  You can all call me Granny now.  I won't be mad.  I'll have a little smile each time I hear it.

Love to All,

midRae

One Word Wednesday.....

METAL!

Love to All,

midRae

Three Views

VIEW #1:  The Original

VIEW #2:  Sepia

VIEW #3:  Color Punch

I personally like View #3, the color just fits in my mind, but as we know most minds are not like mine, remember, I've got a weird one.  What do you all think?  Leave me a comment, I love constructive criticism, at least most of the time.  Let me know which one is your favorite and also see if you can find the little surprise in the tree.

Love to All,

midRae

'not me' Monday........

 

Here we go again. Yeah!! And now it's time for that weekly fun carnival that we all love, 'not me Monday!' Let's all join in and see what we got. I'm sure we have a lot of those 'not me's' just stored.

It was not me who went to the bathroom this past week at work, hobbling all the way with a bum knee after surgery, went into the stall, locked the door, struggled to sit down, started doing what we do, and had the door start swinging open.  Nope, it was not me who was trying to stop doing what it is we do, jump up as fast as I could with a non-working knee, scrambling to grab the door, and praying that I would not fall flat on my face.  Nope not me, I wouldn't be that worried about another girl seeing me in all of my non-dignity, and besides there are only 6 girls that work with me and we never ever cross paths in the girls room, and I am totally serious about that.

And it was not me, who is so sad about the lack of self control lately in her life, that I baked a pound cake yesterday.  Nope, I do not go around looking for ways, at least in the back of my mind, to kill any hope that I have of ever getting ready for a half marathon.  I would never do that, just like none of you do that either.  I am not my worst enemy.

And I did not take the bandage off of my knee just to see what it looked like and wish silently to myself that I hadn't done that.  EEEWWWWWWW!!!!

Please everyone, join in the fun and let's see what you all have been not doing.

Love to All,

midRae

Flatbeds & Farmers

This black flatbed is midMan's truck.  He loves his truck, I honestly think he loves it more than me.  Just kidding, I know he love me more some of the times, like when I cook Marlboro Man Favorite Sandwich, which can be found here.  Boy, midMan and tailEnd sure do go crazy with the drooling when I make it.  I usually have to get out of the kitchen real quick so that I don't get trampled in the stampede.  Yes, they are that good!  You should all try them.

Anyways, back to flatbed trucks and farmers.  Now my midMan is anything but a farmer.  He's a truck driver by trade and a lover of the solitude in the mountains the rest of the time, and the seeker of big deer.  But he just had to have this truck.  And seriously folks,  isn't it just the quintessential farmer truck?  I know it is, and you would realize it also if you only paid as much attention to other flatbed trucks as we do now that we own one.  I am serious.  It's like now that we have a flatbed truck midMan is now part of some 'Farmer Flatbed Truck Fraternity'.  All that we need to complete the picture is the two ranch dogs lying in the bed of the flatbed truck while the other 2 ranch dogs race frantically to and fro.  Oh, and a couple bails of hay.

This is what happens when we drive down the road.  We will pass someone else in a flatbed truck and we will get the little finger wave.  I kid you not!  Ever since we have owned the flatbed truck we get nothing but nice little waves from every one else who owns a flatbed truck.  There was even one time midMan was sitting at the stoplight and a young kid, about 18, drives up next to midMan, looks at midMan's flatbed truck, and gives him two thumbs up.  Seriously!

And it doesn't just happen with flatbeds.  We owned a Jeep, which midMan had to sell to get the flatbed truck, and every person that we passed, who also happened to be in a Jeep, would give us the finger wave.  You know, the slight lifting of the finger from the steering wheel.  Yes, that one.  I am almost amazed.

I asked midMan, 'What is up with this?'  And his reply was, 'It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand.'  Man, did he love that Jeep.  It's was pretty hard for him to part with it but he wanted to join the 'Farmer Flatbed Truck Fraternity'.  I bought him a banner to put on the windshield of his Jeep, and I bet you can't guess what it said.

Yup!  'It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand.'

But my question is, does this happen with all men, who own a certain type of vehicle?  I mean do guys who drive Ford F150's give each other the finger wave when they pass?  Do the guys who drive Chevy Blazers do the same thing?  What about the poor guy who is stuck driving the Ford Taurus (I just really hate this car, sorry folks) finger wave or not?  Do Jaguar owners do this as they weave in and out of traffic getting looks of envy? 

I mean you just don't see us girls, driving our Jeep Liberty's or Chevy Tahoe's giving each other the little finger wave.  Maybe we are too busy yelling at the kids in the back seat, I don't know.  Oh wait, I know.  Maybe we should all come up with something so we can be in a 'Soccer Mom Chevy Tahoe Club'.  Maybe we could flip our hair to the right, or just wipe the sweat from our poor overworked foreheads.  Wouldn't that make us the envy of every man out there?  NOT!!  It's just not as cool as the little finger wave.

Anyways I just don't get it, but I do get to live with it.  I will still shake my head in wonder each time we pass a flatbed truck and receive the one finger wave, but I am still considering the flip of the hair to the right wave for us girls.  

Anybody with me?

Love to All,

midRae

One Word Wednesday.....

Out Of Time.

Love to All,

midRae

I did it again, didn't I?

Yup, that seems to be what I do lately.  I disappear.  My midMan can't even seem to find me lately, and tailEnd can get a little lonely if I'm not right there with him.  Poor baby boy, I can still call him that even if he is bigger than me now, it's been a little lonely.  

But.......

I have been working diligently on my Resolution List, which you can read HERE.  I have accomplished item #1.  Yes, I did it.  I had the surgery on my knee last Thursday and all seems to be going well.  They even smoothed out my bone a little so that the knee should be a lot quieter than it has in the past.  I tend to grind when I walk, I know, I know, just a little too much information. 

Right now I am back to work, iced and propped up on a box, and told by my boss, 'NO Walking, unless you have to go to the bathroom.' (I overdid it yesterday and my whole leg decided to swell a little bit.)  Isn't my boss great?  Who has a boss that tells them to just sit and do nothing?  Guess what?  I do!!  He's pretty cool.  Lucky me, both the bosses rock!

So enough about the knee and on with a few photos I took a couple of weeks ago.

I love the feel of this one.  It came out so warm.

The oldest child of mine thinks this would be a great background for some portraits.  I agree but to bad that I haven't any to take.  I don't dare yet until I learn a little more.  Resolution #4.

Wheat in the winter.

  I just can't seem to resist.

  And what else am I going to take a photo of,
while midMan is checking out the local population of mule deer,
which I have taken thousands of pictures of already,
and I am left to sit and ponder the side of the road?

Love to All,

midRae

Hello?

Hello? 

Hello? 

Is any body still out there?  Can you hear me?  Is anybody there? 

I'm serious here, now is any body still out there?  Hello? tap tap tap  Is this thing on?  Can any body hear me?



Oh, hello, I am so relieved.  Some one is still there.  Thank you, thank you.

I know.  I know.  I took a little break and you all began wondering if I was still in here.  I am!  I promise.  Just having one of those 'Do I really want to blog anymore?' moments.  I think I have those moments quite often.  And you all are thinking to yourselves as you roll your eyes, 'No way, not midRae!  She would never think like that.' hahaha (I should have done one of those 'not me, Monday' post's, because it was so not me)

Anyways, here I am, at least for one more post (you all get it, sometimes it's a daily battle).  I wanted to share a few great photo's, at least I think so, I took this last weekend.  Please keep in mind that I was in a moving truck on a dirt road, snapping pictures through the windsheild, so the quality could be a thousand times better.

Wait for it.........

Wait for it.......

Wait for it............

BAMM!!!

Love to all,

midRae