Can't believe it . . .

I just have blog block I guess.

:(

Well...

I have sadly neglected this project.

I want to try and get focused on picking it back up.

We'll see.

Migraine

No photo today... :(

And LENT begins...

Went to church tonite. 40 days to go.

Lent in 2009 will start on Wednesday, the 25th of February and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 11th of April.
In Western Christianity Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday. The six Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days of lent because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter", a celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death.

Dinner from the HUT

I was in no mood to cook and I'm not really in the mood to be doing anything. The weather is very cold, or it seems so to me anyway. I must be coming down with something because I am never cold! I about froze in church yesterday and wore a long sleeve sweater to work today. So I'm just feeling a little BLAH.
I just want to get a BIG cup of hot chocolate and snuggle in my bed with some extra pillows.

We ordered pizza from the hut. Photo of the day... yum! NOT really.

It was just yesterday a little while ago!

Well, now it looks like I'm posting on Sunday, but it's really Saturday, as far as this post is concerned. Between doing the taxes, bickering with the hubby and digi-scrappin', I lost track of time.

So, in keeping this short... 1 week ago from yesterday (Saturday) was Valentine's Day. My roses are still SO beautiful!!

Good night or good morning, whichever the case may be for you.

Thanks for the smile!

Why is it that teenagers will take a million photos of themselves and/or all their friends at arm's length but have their mom ask for one little smile and they get all unhappy??!!?? Well this photo is of my older daughter and she is much worse at the "photo" thing than my younger. So when I do get her smiling I just snap, snap, snap. This photo was taken yesterday after she had come in from work and we were having some chat time. It's not too often that she wants to talk, so when she does I make time, even if I'm dead asleep and she comes in to tell me something I want to listen.

She's working tonite and I always seem to miss her when she's working. I miss her more than if she's off with friends. Not sure why, but I do. I guess it's just tooo many mom things rattling around in the worry zone of my mind. She's a great kid and I'm very proud of her!!

Raindrops keep falling on my flowers

I'm happy to have the rain!!. It means my flowers will be ok! Sometimes, not too often, but sometimes, I get busy and forget that it hasn't rained in a while, and my outside plants neeeeeed water! I love my flowers and I enjoy digging in the dirt, working in my little piece of heaven (aka our backyard).

A fellow 365er, Ellay, posted that she is "the only person I know who LOVES rainy days" but she is NOT! I'm a rainy day lover too!! And her post today inspired me to go out, barefooted (as I hate shoes), on my wet deck, to take this photo!

I love the way the drops just sit there on the petals!!! :)

Well this photo happened by mistake but I'm going to take advantage of that mishap and make it work.

I'm pms'n and a bit melancholy, missing my dog, I have 3 people in my life that are ailing (I'm talking more serious stuff than your basic bug), my 16 year old is having a mini meltdown over all this stuff as well. It's tough trying to explain how life can go along just happy and fine for a long time and then it's not so good for a bit. I'm trying to help her understand how sometimes there is nothing you can do to make it better, but that it will get better. I want her to understand that your own personal attitude can make or break almost any situation. Although she's 16, what can I say that she'll believe?? I hope that she'll atleast believe the part about how much I love her and will do all that I can to help her. But I'll settle just for her believing how much I love her.

My photo today is pretty self explanatory -- it's my "voice" here in cyberspace. Hope it wasn't tooo whiney! ;)

Go! Go! Go!

It was Mallory's weekend... she turned 16 on Monday, Feb 9th. Well when your birthday falls on a week day you save the party until the weekend. Which for Mallory it happened to be Valentine's Day. She had 2 of her cousins, Cameron & Morgan (pictured above), her sister of course, and 2 friends come to hang out for the weekend. They had manicures, and went out to eat and to a movie and just 'cruising around'. As much as I could I took photos. By Sunday evening this was the response I got! "Go away and stop taking pictures of us PUH-LEEEZE!"

I found it quite comical!! And scrap worthy!
The LO was created using a mini-kit created by Chaos Lounge... you can find it at Enchanted Studio Scraps .

Eyes Wide Open

Here kitty, kitty!

Let's play photography studio...

I can't believe that I FINALLY got a photo of my cat with her eyes OPEN!

I am VERY excited!!! Thank heaven for digital, because I can't tell you the number of wasted pix I would have trashed trying to get a decent photo of this cat.

Her name is Sassy and she is just that! Can't you just look in to her OPEN eyes and see that??

Thanx SassyCat!! I love you, although our relationship will never compare to what I shared with Oliver. We can work on it...

He sent flowers!!!

This is a rare activity for my husband of almost 20 years... but he sent flowers to me at work!!

I got them yesterday -- the envy of many women! I have to say I was quite flattered, and happy to be envieD! Many, many occasions have I been the envieR. And sure, the money could have been better spent on a number of things, I'm very proud, and WOWed that he spent it on me!

He sent flowers!!!

Then this morning, he was up early to go work some OT -- probably to pay for the roses! LOL And he said, "I have to run to Wal Mart, to get the girls some flowers, I'll be right back." Well he came back with one bouquet and he carefully dividied it out in to four glasses -- 2 for our daughters and 2 more for 2 of our nieces that had come to spend the weekend. What a sweetie!!

Hope that everyone's day was filled with love, and maybe even some flowers!

Toe Time

My pedicure place.

I have started taking the camera in the car when I go out.

Of course my teenage daughter sees these kinds of things and says, "Mom! That's not safe!"

What she fails to realize is that I was @ a complete stop when each photo was taken! : D

Where did those 2 days go??

I don't know what I was thinking... just blowing 2 days off! I think I've been in a funk... I needed some fresh air.

Today I was able to get outside and ENJOY it!!

I planted a few flowers to perk up the deck and my spirits.

I know this isn't much of a post, but I'm ok with it! ; )

And I guess really it was only one day that I missed... so now I feel even more OK with it!! ; ) LOL

SWEET sixteen

Our baby... sweet sixteen!

WOW! The time has zipped past us. But the video we watched tonite reminds us of so many terrific memories. You're lucky to have such a talented daddy to make you such a wonderful treasure. And how could daddy make that video if your photo crazed mom hadn't taken pictures of almost every thing you've ever done, even when you protest. LOL :D You're a beauty Mallory, on the inside as well as the outside and you should be proud of who you are. Your daddy and I are, so very much!! I pray that you will keep God in your heart, family in your soul, and all that we've taught you in your mind. Have fun each day and make the most of what you have or don't have. We love you Mallory!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
May all your wishes come true!

A Nanny?

Did you ever have a Nanny? I don't mean nanny in the sense of the fancy live in babysitter, I mean Nanny, like MeeMaw, MawMaw, Grams, Granny, Gramma, GG, whatever term of endearment you may have used.

I loved my Nanny beyond measure! She was Lena Elizabeth Crank according to her drivers license, her taxes and probably her church's directory. To me she was my Great-grandma and she was really GREAT!!

My photo of the day is of Nanny. I came across it yesterday at my grandad's house. The photo was taken in 1984. She passed away in 1990.

She was the kind of grandma that every child should have at least one of. I used to love to go spend the night with her, go to church with her, go to K & W Cafeteria to eat with her. She had one of those old cars where the dash board was still metal and there was no shoulder strap, just a lap belt. But she made me sure I was buckled. Her washing machine had the 2 rollers that would squeeze the water out -- no spin cycle. She cooked from scratch, no recipe book required, most times there wasn't even need for a can opener -- and it was ALL incredible! Every night she taped a curl to each side of her head just in front of the each ear, and wore a scarf to protect her "style". Bedtime prayers were at the side of the bed on your knees and could take a while!

Oh the memories! : )

Let me introduce you to my Nanny...

White Christmas... tree?

Today I was up at 4:30. I needed to meet my parents and sister, Angie in Appomattox by 6:15 so that we could drive to Roanoke to visit with my grandad. He broke his hip last week, and he's been in the hospital. Last night however he had a heart attack, went in to cardiac arrest and ended up in Intensive Care. He's 83 and has lived beyond two wives.

While we were in Roanoke we went by to check on the house. My grandma passed a few years ago and there really isn't much other family in town to check on things. We had fun reminiscing, and then there are always those things that you're just not sure if they're funny or not! LOL

Like this...

A plastic white tree that has been up and in the living room for probably atleast 10 years or so. Please check out the arm of the couch I'm sitting on! Blue floral velvet! Hmmmmm.

A short story in photos

It was a relatively bad day at work. I don't know if it's a full moon or people are just stressing over the economy and lack of world peace. It was brutal!

I did end my work day at 3pm, of course it was 5 o'clock somewhere! ;) DD#2 had remained after school, which is where I work, to serve a 30 minute detention for chewing gum, so she was along for the ride home. However, being that she will be 16 on Monday and has her learner's permit, I said, "Hey, how about you drive?" and she agreed.

We had to run by Food Lion for some dinner items and this and that. Chips, soda, snack foods -- see the girls are having a sleepover as they do most weekends. Which is really fine with me, having them here with their friends means I'm aware of what's up! ;)

I hurried thru the store knowing that the sun was shining and daylight was ticking away. We were home and had groceries put away by 3:40. Work/school is less than 2 miles from our house and Food Lion is less than a mile. Lucky me!!

(I have to say that since we lost Oliver last week this afternoon is the first time that I felt some sort of peace and happiness. I think it might be that we brought him "home" yesterday. Whatever it is, it's nice.)

So I thought let me grab the camera and go sit on the back deck, hoping I might catch a good bird photo for my 365. My backyard, aka my little piece of heaven on earth, is usually speckled with a wide variety of birds. I sat down, took off my shoes and realized, ooops, I need to get those towels in off the line. When I came back to the house for the laundry basket I grabbed a COLD BEER (which was in the Food Lion purchase).

The cold grass was so refreshing on my bare feet. And the sun was peeking thru the trees almost blinding me at times. It made me smile. Then I took a wiff of those towels!!! I love sheets and towels dried on the line.

I brought those in and went back to sit, waiting patiently for the birds. It might be a good idea for me to fill the feeders!! I was waiting and waiting.

Before long I heard this "meow" -- it was Sassy, our indoor cat. She had realized I was home and thought she might be able to guilt me in to feeding her early! NOT!! ;) She's a fat cat.

As I looked over at her, I realized she would make a good photo for my 365. The indoor cat, being photographed on the inside from the outside.

And in the process I knocked my beer over, luckily it was almost empty so there wasn't really any thing spilled or wasted.

And again I thought "WOW, the photo opportunities are just endless. That is a new pair of shoes, so I was totally happy that they didn't get beer on them. (Shoes are one of my least favorite things in the world, but these were new and I did kinda like them -- I love flipflops or barefeet!! And I hate to waste beer.)

I was really enjoying this quiet time, with the crisp air and a cold beer, then what do you think happened??

Along came a birdie!!

The day didn't seem so brutal anymore!!

Back at home

Of course it's another post about my sweetest boy... OLIVER.
He's back at home. He's here with us, as much as he can be.
And while it brings more tears and some sadness, it also brings comfort.

My photo of the day ~ If you've ever lost a pet, I hope that someone shared Rainbow Bridge with you.

One week

I found this on the camera... it's the last photo taken of Oliver... one week ago.

I sit here questioning in my mind if we made the right choice, knowing in my heart that we did.

However, it still hurts so much -- having to make the choice. It hurts having made the decision.

I try each day to focus on the wonderful moments, the laughs, the joy, the peace and the comfort that Oliver gave me for so many days and years.

Oliver, you have traveled the rainbow bridge and there is no pain, no fear, and furry friends from your time here with us. Always in my heart, forever a part of my soul -- I love you my boy and I miss you!

Few Flakes

I woke up this morning to find a little of the white stuff making so many things sparkle. It wasn't much, maybe half an inch, but it was peaceful and pretty.

Of course it had to be my photo of the day.

I stepped out on the front porch to snap a few shots. This was of my "you are my sunshine" flag, it had seriously lost the fight! LOL

I love the snow smell, much like rain but different... cleaner and crisp.

The photo to follow is of me taking a photo out a back window. Using no flash I was able to see me and the snow -- kinda cool I thought.

Well the snow disappeared as quickly as it came. I don't have a window in my office at work so I missed its departure. I hope it comes again soon and brings with it LOTS!!!

$1 sweet tea

I love McD's $1 sweet tea. It's my photo of the day.



Ok, not the tea, but the McD's drive thru where I order my sweet tea.
I was on my way to a meeting today and I thought, "oh wow, I really need a sweet tea."
Need?? or want?? Today I needed it!! It's one dollar, and of course an additional 5 tiny pennies in tax.

I was on the way to a meeting to listen to a message being presented regarding the 52 million dollar deficit that our county's school district is facing. Yep, I may need to look for another job... won't really know anything until about mid-March, and that will be a "conditional" piece of information.

I only started with the school district in July 2007, so I'm fairly low on the totem pole when the chopping begins. It's madness -- the not knowing.

The meeting which in the end was not very informational took up more than 2 hours of my day.
I already had a headache from emails and constant conversations regarding the RIF (reduction in force) that had gone on ALL day long.

Now here I sit my sweet tea long gone, and a whiskey sour in my cup, head spinning, heart racing... ya know what, I need some theraputic digital scrapbooking to take my mind off this whole mess!

But here's to the McD's DOLLAR sweet tea!

Back on track

I've been unable to make my daily posts.

Oliver had a stroke and unfortunately had to be put to rest.

I've been in a state of loss and confusion, saddness and disbelief.

Today I'm going to try and get back on track.

Oliver my best boy, I know you will always be with me in my heart -- you're a true soulmate.

I treasure you.

Love, hugs and wet puppy kisses!!

Fabulous Blog?? Really?

I got an award!!! I can't even believe it!

How sweet! Thanx LoriAnn aka Ellay !

The award requests that I list five addictions and present the award to 5 fabulous blogs.

So, I would say I'm addicted to 1) coffee w/ cream & sugar, 2) digital scrapbookin', 3) my family, 4) photography, 5) ultra fine pens. These are in alphabetical order. Why? Because "no particular order" sounded casual and careless. ;)

And I would like to present this award to 1) Candace - she has extremely beautiful children and talent galore in her scrap LOs, 2) Deb - she is diligent & interesting in her 365 project and I like that!!, 3) Imzadi - turtles, tattoos, and always interesting stuff , 4) Brenda - I just totally love looking at the cute stuff her kids do , and 5) Rebecca - her's is not a 365, but it's packed with digi scrap stuff and very cool tunes!!

Friends from long ago and far away

Jeff, Carrie, and Joshua. We met these three people in 1998. We were on our way to Kodiak, Alaska, courtesy of the US Coast Guard. We were in Bellingham, WA getting ready to board a three day ferry venture along the way. While we were sitting in the staging area we came across another Coast Guard family. Who within a matter of minutes, unbeknownst to us, had become a part of our lives, and our family for the rest of our lives.

We shared meals, fishing trips, hikes, tears, holidays, laughter and love. We spent 3 years in the same neighborhood, on the same island in Alaska. Then in 2001 Jeff, Carrie and Joshua got their orders. They were leaving Kodiak, going to Mobile, AL. And they went. In 2002 we left Kodiak and went to Ft. Dix, NJ. In 2003 we went to AL and stayed with them for about 3 weeks while Mike had a Coast Guard school to attend on Jeff's base.

In 2004 Jeff, Carrie, and Joshua moved to VA. They added to the family with Melaina Rose. In 2005 we all got together for my 40th birthday party, which was held in Virginia. In 2006 Mike retired from the Coast Guard and we moved to VA. We're not in the same town, matter of fact we're well over an hour away. We get together from time to time to laugh, eat good food, drink some beer, play some Trivial Pursuit or Scrabble and to be friends!!

Last night they were in town, and we went out for pizza, came back to the house; the kids played guitar hero for a while and the adults just hung out talking, laughing and being friends up close and in the present!

51 degrees

That's what the temperature was when I ventured out to the back yard today, with camera in hand. I stood for a few mintues just looking and really taking the scene in. It was refreshing to take in the smell of it all. As soon as I'm done with this I'm going back out to enjoy the sunset.

My photos today are refreshing too -- or I think so anyway! It's a compilation of a few of the goodies that my backyard holds. And of course one photo of me at the computer enjoying my handiwork.

My backyard is a haven to me. It's pretty secluded and a bit natural / woodsy. In the spring and fall I almost live out there with a great glass of wine, or a cold beer, or sometimes sweet tea, just kicked back in my glider.

Ok, my friends have arrived from out of town. Maybe I'll take some pix of them and post more later!!

Hangin' out

Hangin' out in the living room.

The dog watching me,
watching the cat,
who was oblivious to everyone except herself.

And the dog is licking his chops!

First day back at work and I'm ready for bed.
Maybe I'll do a little crocheting before.

Seriously tho', I have to get out a bit and get some more creative photos. It's just toooo darn cold!

A do nothing day.

Today was a real do nothing day.

Well, not really "nothing", I did have to take Mallory to the orthodontist.
Then we picked up some Chick-fil-a for our enjoyment during the inauguration.


Then I took a nap.


I also enjoyed the look of my new den wall!!
Photo of the day -- me, enjoying my fresh wall.

Before and After

This is, I mean, WAS our den wall. A wall of many memories, mostly our time in Alaska. Photos of us with great big salmon, and a tiny halibut, pix of the girls boating and biking, some wildlife. Just awesome stuff, in my heart anyway. Not necessarily in the eyes of others.

LOL

Anyway, while we were in Williamsburg yesterday I had my mom go out with me to pick a paint color. After much discussion and consideration Mike & I had decided it was time for something fresh. So my mom, who is very good at the whole "decor" thing helped.

I do love the color and the fresh look, but I miss my photos. *sigh*

But here's the new den wall... I'm hoping it will get mom's seal of approval! ; )

I DID IT!!!

Well I've finally made some progress on customizing my blog!

These flowers are all extracted from photos that I have taken, and I am SO excited that I DID IT!!!!

How I hate to click the "x" now but I have to get up and moving 'cause DH and I are doing some den painting and such today.

Technical Difficulties

Well, after staying up until 2 in the morning trying to figure out how to add a custom, made by me, background to my blog. Then heading off to my parents' house for the day and forgetting my camera when I had fun plans for photos. I used the camera on my phone for several photos.

Technology is really on my last nerve at the moment! I have yet to get the &@#+! background to work out. And now I can not get my phone photos to my email!!!! I tried asking my dear sweet teenager, but she is completely consumed with a movie and a sleepover friend to patiently help me out!

I could rant on for a few more paragraphs but I will just end with my photo of the day and call it a night! ; )

It's a photo of my phone that is holding my other photos captive!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow we are painting a wall in our den! That should make for some more interesting pix!

Workin' for a livin' ... or a car!

Today's photo is of dd#1 -- heading out to work. "Why are you taking pictures of me like this?" she asked seeming a bit annoyed! 20 years from now I hope she'll look back at the photo and laugh, remembering the fun & laughter she had with her co-workers and the end prize of knowing that she really earned something worthwhile -- her first car!!

Mike and I are very proud of her. Although it was a struggle to get her to get out and look for a job, she's been dedicated and even eager most days. She's been employed since August and her financial goal will be a real photo to treasure!!! More on Ali and her accomplishment to follow.

OUCH!!

Today I've been babying my knee! With EQUATE's version of NeoSporin, I'm trying to keep it moist and clean. You can see the bruising too! Uuuugh!

The other leg has a huge bruise that is about 7 inches long and 1 inch wide. I'm thankful that my tumble didn't leave me with any facial cuts or bruises!!

It was a take it easy, scrappin' kinda day. I'm posting my scrap cre8ions on my cre8ive blog. Go take a peek... http://t3r3sagetscre8ive.blogspot.com/

Yesterday

I missed posting yesterday, so I am using a photo that I had on my computer.

Yesterday I fell. I was at work when the most graceful side of me came out.

Here is where I was sitting -- my desk. ----->

I had left a draw out, I had a file in my hand when I stood up and turned to my right. That's when my left leg caught on the drawer sending me crashing down on my right knee, my neck and shoulders took the brunt of the fall as my head crashed full force into the copy machine!!

I was a laughable moment at first but within about 30 minutes I had stopped laughing so much and began moaning in pain. I ended up at the doctor. I got a shot of Toradol (sp?), an anti-inflamatory, plus a tetnus shot, I guess because of the open wound on my right knee. The doctor put a splint on my left wrist, gave me an icepack for the bruising and swelling that covered a large area on my left shin from hitting the drawer. I have 2 Rx to ease the aches and pain.

I'm ok, just SORE!! And frustrated with the limitations of the pain.

Real Simple

I love this magazine!!

I love the photos.
I really love the "new uses for old things".

Today I took it with me to the gym to read while I was on the treadmill. (Yes, it was a lazy, takin' it easy kinda uphill walk today as I've been sickly for about 10 days or so and haven't felt like the gym at all. I am ok with it! ; ) The gym will not be a yoke of guilt for me. )

So anyway, I was walking and reading and walking and reading...

I found an article that has lightened the weight of one of my guilt yokes!!

It's a story about a girl who has ALL of her life loved to sleep -- sometimes 12 or 15 hours at a time! THAT's ME!!! Not me in the article, but me in the sense that I also love to sleep. I totally enjoy a nap almost anytime. And to sleep-in uninterrupted until I feel like waking up is a priceless treasure to me! Just like the girl in the article, there is no depression or illness, just a pure love of sleep.

And you might say, "how wasteful of your time", I just don't see it that way. My social calendar is not such that I am missing out on anything. Also I don't neglect any other responsibilities when I want to nap or sleep in. So I say (as Nike would say) to anyone who loves some sleep "JUST DO IT"! Of course not when you are operating a motor vehicle or heavy machinery!! roflmao

There are also always GOOD recipes in this magazine! Although I do not love to cook!

358 more to go

Today makes my 7th day of the 365 blog project.

I'm totally proud of myself!

Most people who love to take photographs are not usually the subject of the photographs. Probably due to the shortness of the average human arm, adding to it the fact that it's hard to know what shot you're getting if the camera is backward and cockeyed.

So... my thought for today was ME. I thought I should get in front of the camera instead of being behind it. So I did. I made the time to set it up with the timer and positioning. Sometimes I was caught by people entering the room and sometimes I was just posing like any goofy self-portrait taking goof would do. The end result... me, just me. I had a few silly chuckles out of the time I spent and now someday my kids might come across these pix and say, "who took these?"

Sunday, I go to church

Today is Sunday and of course I went to church.

As I sit in my seat, usually on one of the back rows, listening to the message for the week, I am always intrigued by this wall. The wall reaches up and up and as you can see at the top is a large stained glass. The wall is powerful. And Pastor Bo who's no small man seems that way in comparison. Many times his message can be as strong as this organized stack of rocks.

The rocks in this wall and the wall itself make me think of various things. Sometimes I think on the representation of strength. It can also make me ponder little things in life fit together. The time it must have taken to construct it, what do the workers talk about or did one person work alone with their thoughts. The wall really draws me in and always seems to make me feel good. (Does that sound weird?)

At the top of the wall is an amazing window. It's a blending of Christian symbols. Some of the pieces seem so intricate and sometimes not really right in my eye. I love it none the less, and I guess that's because it is the "symbol" that says MY CHURCH. My church is a place I love to go. And that's what I do on Sunday, I go to church. And sometimes I go on other days too! ; )

Do you need to know the numbers??

As I was reaching for my breakfast this morning something caught my eye. Now mind you I'm not a health nut but I have become aware of the labels and what numbers I should be looking out for.

I love fresh veggies, almost all of them. I much prefer something from the grill than from the fry daddy. And I usually always choose water over a soda.

This morning however I was feeling a little "bad", like I wanted something yummy, sweet and my photo of the day makes me feel like it was "bad karma" to have that treat I wanted to give myself. Whadda you think???

Now mind you I didn't even buy that Count Chocula cereal. My mom gave it to my 2 dd at Halloween!!! Can you say "spooooooky" that the one day I want to eat the "bad" cereal it's numbers are hidden, to the back, unlike the Cheerios (frosted & regular) and the Special K???

I ate it anyway, and enjoyed every last drop of that chocolaty milk that was soy by the way. ;)

tee hee hee

Family Tree

<--- Here's mine.

Actually this is just symbolic to me, a daily reminder of the people that are so connected to my life, but not a tangible part of my daily life.

This is just the current "limbs and branches" with one or two nuts in the bunch. Much of my tree has passed on. At one time in my life that I can actually remember having 2 great grandmas, 1 great grandad, and 1 set of grandparents alive and in my life as a young adult.

I'd love to get into the geneology of my real family tree someday.

This tree was a birthday gift from my husband a few years ago. I really love it and I love all those it represents.

Capturing the CAT

Sassy... oh man, she lives up to her name!

She is a cat that my 2 dd brought home one morning before school, begging me to help her, begging me to keep her. "Someone has just left her here." they declared.

Here at the time was on base housing, Fort Dix, NJ, Ash Street to be exact. She was a tiny bag of bones when they handed her to me. So 1 vet visit, 2 prescriptions and 3 hundred dollars later she was our Sassy cat!

And then there was that "other" vet visit, to help Sassy become a non-multiplying, furniture-friendly feline!! But she weathered it all with the exact same disposition - sassy!!

So one of my "I'm so bored" compulsions is to try and capture a great photo of her. I'd really even settle for a good photo of her. It's an unending challenge.

But here is my attempt for today! (I have to say I was quite pleased with the tiny tongue capture, which of course was PURE luck!!)

WOW!! 365 is now a work in progress!

Adding my second photo of Oliver watching me, watching Mallory play guitar hero with her dad before dinner.

rofl