Some photos 
Christmas in Virginia, USA

  We arrived at 5 a.m. Christmas Eve morning.  It was dark out but the house was lit waiting for us.  Everyone was sleeping including the dogs who didn’t make a point of announcing us.

 The last of unpacking luggage and Christmas packages from our rented car.  Our car had some paint work done that was endangered by bugs hitting it as we drove so it didn’t make the trip.

 The Poinsettia on the steps went over well with me.  I love them and the reds are my favorite.  I took a lot of photos, different angles and the flowers lasted for my entertainment thru to our leaving and beyond.  The temp outdoors was no problem.

 There was a lot to do before evening but everything fell into place in time for candle lighting that announced the arrival of Christmas.

 This photo is pretty dark but it’s a view I always enjoy.  I find it very peaceful, a darkened room with Christmas lights.  The tree is a live Juniper and I imagine it has found it’s new home planted in the yard by now.  I wish I had tried for more than this single shot, the cat is sitting on the back of the sofa and is in the camera’s eye making the photo even more iffy.  It’s a little hard to see but it’s quite large and sits center forefront of the photo.

 During Christmas day and in fact our total visit we were spoiled with lots of good food.  The bird for the day was a Goose and it was g-o-o-d.  The ham like image on the rack to the rear of this photo is a product of Spain and is similar to Prosciutti Ham.  It is sliced very thin for eating with crackers or ?.  It is highly salted and is kept at room temperature covered with a towel when not in place for slicing.

 We did a lot of game playing at the table and as you can see, food sits waiting for the in between plays.  This was a new game for me called Sequence and I picked up on it and had a pretty fair amount of fun.  I might have even won a game or two with Halie as my partner.  I notice one of the partners is missing.  Probably fixing coffee as we did a lot of that with a new coffee maker. Come to think of it, he is probably taking this photo. 

 We did a few outtings.  The seashore is a must for Grandma and Grandpa and for dogs who expect regualar visits to the beach and running time.

  When you want to shop or enjoy the full fledged feel of Christmas decor and more, you go to Williamsburg.  We had beautiful sunny days for the day trip.  The flowers didn’t know it was December/freezing cold in Ohio and other parts of the world.

 When you’re tired, you find your way back to your doorstep.

 Then you find a warm spot by the fire.  We did some chestnut roasting thanks to Mitch, right at this spot.  They were tasty.  I had never eaten them before but intend to from now on.

  When you are really dragged out from a hard day, you look like this. 

 And this.

  And, when all the visiting is done, you do your petting and hugging while saying good byes.

 Until the next time.  We had such a great time.  It’s really hard to leave but we did.  We look forward to going back.  There is nothing like family at any time of the year.

---

Our January 2007 has been punctuated with the death of another cousin. We came home on the 3rd and buried him on the 5th. His death wipes out the immediate family “Boyer” who was the husband of my mother’s sister Bessie. Bob was the middle son and he died quickly after the doctors diagnosed Lou Gehrig disease. He was a cousin I didn’t know well but his death nearly ends an era of visiting with family as almost everyone is gone. I have one aunt left on my mothers side and no one on my dads other than for each, distant cousins etc. Lifetimes move in a hurried way when your school years are behind you.

I hope to be around a while. I have things I still want to do with my camera.

Becca

Happy New Year Xanga

John and I are in Virginia with family, daughter, son-in-law and grand daughter.  We have been here since Christmas Eve after a 12 hour drive that went pretty smoothly.  We have filled ourselves with lots of good food as Halie and her husband are good cooks and every meal is treated as an event.  It’s been a really good time.  We have done our fair share of celebrating.  I am now a year older and another year into a marriage after the end of today.  I have few complaints other than aches and pains I could do without.  I will be happy to keep them if I could have another 39 with the man I am married to. 

Wishing everyone of you here in Xanga the best of New Years and lives that become increasingly better.  Be safe, stay healthy, love family and friends and each other a little more.  The song says What the World needs now is LOVE and I believe that is a truism.  God bless us everyone.

Becca aka LittleE

Merry Christmas Xanga

An edit:  A Christmas challenge I took given by Neuroticfitchmom, write a poem or a story or??? about a tree and she says:  Tree, any tree, Christmas Tree … so, a poem:

Christmas Trees I Remember
© RSBlain 21/Dec/2006

Christmas Trees I remember,
Are fresh, always green
Sweet smelling and sticky with spaces between
The branches, all hanging with antique glass balls
And tinsel and lighting and garland that falls … Perfect …
As placing is done with artistic eyes
Its finishing touch bringing ooh’s, aah’s and sighs

Christmas Trees I remember,
Are full and quite tall
With short or long needles for dress
Their showcase the corner of any large room
Sheets sculpture their base as if snow
With a hollowed cave in it, where the manger will go

Christmas Trees I remember,
Twinkle a lot
With candle-like lights and an Angel on top
Its evergreen scent fills up my nose
As packages hide, underneath, as it glows

The enchantments  remains  forever for any to see
In the Evergreen image of Christ’s Christmas Tree
_______________

I have mentioned my Christmas room a few times in the past.  I wrote in a comment that I would post some photos of it in my Christmas entry so, some photos and details.  My Christmas room is small and cozy.  I wasn’t able to back away from the walls far enough to get photos like I would have liked to share but they came out pretty well and I think you will get the idea.  I am not a blue person but I had this room painted in a dark blue and used my white Nativity and other white pieces and Terre Cotta accents.  I love it and It is a favorite spot to relax and enjoy the quiet at any time of the year.

Many of the pieces are night lights and they are delicate lighting so at night if I turn them on and run the little fire place it feels very nice.  The fireplace is electric and sits below these shelves. 

The Nativity is lit from above.  John wired in small night lights.  I have a lot of angels that wait for their spot.  I don’t put a tree up anymore, I don’t need a tree as I have the small one you see on the shelf and I want a tree shape on the wall that my angel collection will hang from.  I’ll take a photo to share if it gets done.

I am a collector of dolls and stuffed animals, as are my sisters.  What you see on the chair are a lot of Moose and a few bears and more.  My son’s dog which we eventually cared for reminded me of a moose and when she died I had her cremated keeping the ashes along with the ashes of my son.  The tiger is a back pack and it holds the containers of ashes. I add moose to the collection especially at Christmas remembering Jade and my son. 

This photo gives you an idea of the lighting in the room at night when nothing but the night lights and fireplace are burning.

These are what is left of my children at home along with a lot of other dolls you don’t see in these photos.  

My Terra Cotta lamps came from the Goodwill.  I painted them the color I wanted and dyed the lamp shades with wood stain.  Actually its a lot of dust collectors but I’m not ready to part with it.  I get a good feeling when I spend time in the room.

This was an early Birthday present and the Paper White Narcissus are almost gone.  The weather had been too hot and dry and my house is too dry to keep a nice Spring flower looking fresh.  I am a green person and when I saw the combination of the flowers with that wonderful fluted green pot I asked for it for my birthday.  The bulbs will be set out in the Spring and I’ll plant something else in the pot that will then go to my bath.  The bath is done in greens and is another spot filled with more dust catchers. 
The photos I took make the flowers a lasting present and a wonderful desktop.  Here it is for you in 800×600 CLICK HERE
and in 1024×768 CLICK HERE.

Please remember all persons in need and please don’t forget our servicemen and women in your prayers and any other way you are able.

Merry Christmas Xanga.  May your blessings for the season be many, no matter what your religious persuasion. 

Becca 

 

 

I wanted to share a little of our Thanksgiving before Christmas is on top of us.  It was quiet, nice and peaceful.  We didn’t do anything we didn’t want to do, just enjoyed John’s extra time off.  We spent time resting, eating, watching movies and as the cold weather hadn’t arrived we took time to get out for a last breath of air and sunshine.  Our Thanksgiving outing began late in the day so the light for photos was not particularly good.  Please excuse the quality of the photos and try to see and feel what we felt at each of the views, Thanksgiving, 2006.

 

 

We got up late, ate late, and when the mood struck, we drove to Lake Isabella, not far from us.  The view you see is a shot I can’t normally take as a lot of growth usually hides it.  We are sitting on sort of a bluff, higher than the lake and we are looking across at the boathouse.  The night lights have been turned on and are quietly reflected in the water of the lake.  I would love to own this piece of property and it probably was a reasonable price at one time.  Loveland sits out and away from the city by about 20 miles and as a kid to get here seemed like driving to God’s country.  This lake area used to be home to one of the first big boy restaurants in the area.  I would say most people in our area haven’t a clue per that bit of info but I remember it.

 

 

We are the only people at the lake.  At this time of year, something magic happens and I never know when it will strike but tonight I get notice as I feel giddy and I can’t help but think of the song, “Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas”.  I have always been a big kid when it comes to the Christmas holidays and that “feeling” lets me know I will never change.

 

 

We take pics from this spot quite often.  The sun is almost gone and I enjoy the sound of no sound while catching the last bits of light.

 

 

On Friday, we drove to Woodland Mound Park a little ways East of Lake Isabella but still in the Hamilton County Park district.  The day was sunny and the river was hiding its treachery posing a beautiful blue.  All of the photos I took came out enticingly well.  Here, I was trying to catch the sun on the water without blinding my eyes as well as the eye of the camera.

 

 

Another photo from the day and notice the blades of grass look fresh and green.  Did I mention people were driving with convertible tops down, all day?

 

 

 

On Saturday the 25th we began with breakfast out.  My view from our window was this beautifully glassed / mirrored building across the way.  John drove across the street after our meal for some takes.  This image shows a multi image of John and myself in our “new for us” van.  While thinking about it, it’s very comfortable allowing me to ride without back stress.  What a blessing.  The first blessing we have ever had in a car.  It occurs to me the photo above is highly uninteresting.  The landscape for it was actually quite nice.  So,

 

 

I threw together its fall dress for a desktop.  I am not sure anyone would want this as a view but it’s here if you care to have it.  800 x 600 CLICK HERE and 1024 x 768 CLICK HERE

 

 

This is how our Thanksgiving celebration ended, with fireworks.  Can you have a more beautiful ending to a few days of celebration?  This photo came about while John was setting up a test for the next day of work at his office.  I sit outside and play with the camera.  The view was a gift.  I took so many shots, I had trouble choosing which to show.

 

Apologies for the poor quality on some of these shots.  I hope to post better the next time around.

 

Becca

Happy Thanksgiving Xanga

I hope all is well with all of my Xanga friends and acquaintance and that each of you are filled with the spirit of Thanksgiving.  This is the beginning of the Christmas season for John and myself and I hope to spend it quietly.  We do have plans to spend some of the season with our daughter.  I hope all of you are with someone you love.

A few Thanksgiving links I found of interest:

A short fun read and interesting …
http://www.jhu.edu/~jhumag/1101web/essay.html

An interesting site located in Dallas, Texas, USA their motto “gratitude is our attitude” :  http://www.thanksgiving.org/
Follow their links for some interesting reading. 

This is fun and educational.  Test your Thanksgiving knowledge. 
I wasn’t as knowledgable as I thought I was.
Try this link http://electricartists.liquidbuilder.com/desperate_crossing/  and if it doesn’t work
Follow this one
http://www.history.com/minisites/thanksgiving/
then follow the link for Desperate Crossing and click on “play the game”

 

A Poem: 

Thanksgiving 2006
© RSBlain

All life progresses shorter
Its ups reversing down …
The greatest hill grinds flat to dust
As waters rise and spill.
And studied, all experience
Becomes solidified
As pages in our History books,
Some great and glorified
And some as hard and bitter pills
Their fillers, moans and cries.

Thanksgiving voiced by any man
At any time in any land
Speaks to and of a greater power
Who provides in any hour
A means to pray in each man’s way
For what he has, not what he’s lost.

Every man has lost and gained
If nothing but the breath he took
Before the pages of his book, were closed.
It is for each to realize
What provisions measured out, are his.
 
No religious right can claim
What is held, as the heart, of Thanksgiving.
It is, for the good implied, within.

---

A few photos I took in September while visiting my sister Bunny in Rockford, Illinois.  Symbolreader and I spent visiting time at one of the parks where some of these were taken. 

On our drive to Rockford I saw my first visual of tornadoes on the ground. 
Here, taken from inside our car, a double funnel we saw from the expressway. 
I have been as close as a block away from too many tornados. 
I never saw any until this trip. 
As far away as we were, it was too close for comfort.

You can’t safely drink from anything outdoors.  Here a yellow jacket landed on my drink cup, while I am holding it, to drink from my straw.  One of the worst things you can do is swallow a yellow jacket live.  A pretty fair picture but not the easiest to get. 
Close ups are shaky and most I took of this fellow weren’t any good.

While Symbolreader and I visited, the fish were biting. 
Or, maybe throwing in a line not expecting fish is fun.

This lovely little stand of rock and growth
marks the spot a lot of fishermen stand to throw in a line.

A precarious but picturesque ladder of steps down to the flooded river. 
This is a different park Bunny and I stopped at.

I love to take train photos. 
This trestle with train and river and men fishing made me feel I had hit the jackpot.
A wonderful city view adds even more to the photo.

That’s it and I hope everyone who may be reading has/had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Becca

The only excuse I have for not writing is “I just haven’t felt like it”.  Even so, I really didn’t want to pass up writing a bit for the season.  I got a haircut today.  If you had seen me you would have known what scary is.  That is 100% truth, not a funny.

I have been keeping busy. 

A list:

1- When I wrote last, I promised myself I would not write again until I had managed to read some books.  I am re-reading the Harry Potter series.  It’s light and I enjoy it.  I own all of the books and movies that are out and have read thru book 4.  I am re-reading all of them and am almost finished with book 4 for the second time.  Years ago I could have read all 4 in about a week.  Things have changed.

2- I spent two weeks in Rockford with my sis, Bunny.  We spent time getting her computer in order, AGAIN.  I also got her started working with Paint Shop Pro.  She works a real job so isn’t able to play as much as I would like to see her play but she is learning.  NOT ENOUGH, she crashed her computer again within a week of my being there.  While in Rockford, I was fortunate to get to visit again with Symbolreader, a lovely Xanga lady whose energy levels I envy.

3- Upon coming back home to Cincinnati, my daughter was with us for a week.  She drove in to be in her best friend from schools wedding.  We had one of our best visits ever.  It was the first time I had seen her in about 3 and a half years as she and her family were in Spain, her husband is Navy.

4- Time for Halie to return home to her family in Virginia and John and I drove down with her to spend a week with the whole family.  Eden has grown and changed so much I barely recognized her.  Three plus years is a lot of growing/changing time for a teenager.  While in Virginia we were spoiled with a lot of good food, good visiting and some lovely pets.  All of Halie’s pets are rescued animals from Spain and both cats and both dogs are very special.  I could live with any of them and I have a lot of photos I will share eventually.

5-   I had my overall checkup for overall health.  They looked carefully at my previous cancer.  So far so good, they think I am healthy.  What they think does not account for how I feel.  Fibromyalgia keeps you feeling like you have been run over by a Mack truck. 

6- We finally purchased the car we needed to replace the rusted, well used van we have driven almost into the ground.  The old car is a Chevrolet Astro Van and it has over 220,000 miles on it.  We purchased it used, a 1989 model.  Our newer replacement is a Toyota Sienna, made in the USA in Kentucky, a 2004 model.  It’s a pleasure to ride in and it will be versatile in its use including some camping I thought I might never get to do again.  No tent to put up or down, just sleep on a mattress in the back after unpacking on to a table a grill and a cooler.  I look forward to it with a lot of anticipation.  We made the purchase earlier this month so everything lies ahead of us.  Our first trip will be back to Virginia for the Christmas holidays with Halie and family.

7- Photography and movies.  I have added to both collections and have not lost interest.  I still wish for a new camera.

8- Paint Shop Pro and I are still in cahoots.  I work daily with my graphics.  I get better with the software but I am still not an artist.  I doubt it will ever change.  I have never been able to wish myself talented. 

9- Goldfish and aquariums, I still have my fish.  I enjoy them and I am learning a lot.  So far 7 fish were purchased and 3 out of the 7 are deader than the proverbial mackerel.  One of them foundered on dry pellets that were suggested as the proper goldfish food.  I can tell you the pellets are as hard as rocks and if you have a greedy and fast goldfish who gobbles them up he is bound to croak.  I won’t ever buy them again and I grind them in a mortar and pestle when I use them.  Another fish died soon after bringing it home, possibly the change did him in.  The third was sick when we came home from Virginia.  I kept him alive for about 2 weeks and it finally gave up its little fish ghost.  I hope to write an entry just about my goldfish, a fascinating thought I know you have to be excited about.

Speaking of Ghosts, a
SPOOKY … HALLOWEEN
to you.

Some photos taken this weekend at Spring Grove Cemetery.  We spent the day there, Sunday the 29th which happens to be my son’s birthday.  Happy birthday Don, I have not forgotten you.

Some photos in desktop size 1024 x 768, all from Spring Grove and all have a hint of the ghosts you encounter in Spring Grove at this time of year.  Forty miles of paved road and if I remember right, 15 lakes. It’s no wonder people are dying to get in. 

 

Click here for Desktop 1024 x 768

 

Click here for Desktop 1024 x 768

Click here for Desktop 1024 x 768

Click here for Desktop 1024 x 768

Click here for Desktop 1024 x 768

Click here for Desktop 1024 x 768

Click here for Desktop 1024 x 768

Some of you have been keeping tabs on me.  Thank you for your good thoughts. 

I have enjoyed getting this entry posted.  Comments are open as I have had a few complaints.  I will not promise I will be any better at reciprocating. 

Becca aka LittleE

 

Remembering Terry

 

Terence David Cuthbert aka LordPineapple

September 8, 1947
July 31, 2005

 

One of Terry’s very last writings included,

 

“In the UK and America you can only become a famous poet by spending thousands entering competitions and knowing who the judges are. I do not enter competitions, I do not pay others to read my work nor fuel the cocaine habits of the judges that get most of the entrance fees.

That is why I will never become a famous poet, for unlike the Jorie Grahams of this world I am no crook or fraud who screws far better poets than herself. If the system screws then I’ll rather die forgotten.

And probably will.”

 

I wonder often if Terry has discovered how unforgotten he is.  His blogs are still read and little reminders of how much he is missed continue to appear as comments in all of them.  His blogs continue to gain as a spot to return to as his readership still increases.  How often do we impact strangers in such a way we become friends to never be forgotten?  Terry certainly made a dent in my heart and having read many a comment left for him, he made that same dent in the hearts of many others. 

 

I received a pass-along (what I call emails that travel the net round and round) just the other day and it has hit home to me that there are some equations that could be made per Terry and what was written. 

 

***

The email:

 

The day arrives. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven.  He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter, himself.  The gates, however, are closed, and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper. 

 

St. Peter, “Well, Forrest, it is good to see you.  We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you though, Heaven is filling up, and we have been administering an entrance exam for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it to enter.”

 

Forrest, “It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about any entrance exam. I sure hope the test ain’t hard. Life was a big enough test.” 

 

St. Peter, “Yes, I know, Forrest, but the test is only three questions.

 

First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T? Second: How many seconds are there in a year? Third: What is God’s first name?”

 

Forrest leaves to think the questions over, returning the next day.

 

St. Peter, “Now, you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers.”

 

Forrest, “Well, the first one, which two days in the week begins with the letter “T”?, that one is easy. That would be Today and Tomorrow.”

 

St Peter’s eyes opened wide, “Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you have a point, and I didn’t specify, so you get your credit. How about the next one?”

 

“How many seconds in a year? Now that one is harder,” replied  Forrest, but I thought  about that, and the answer is twelve.”

 

Astounded, St. Peter, “Twelve? Twelve? Forrest, how in  Heaven’s name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?”

 

Forrest, “sir, there’s got to be twelve:  January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd…. ”

 

St. Peter, “Hold it,.  “I see where you are going with this, and point taken.  That was not quite what I had in mind … but I’ll credit you for that one, too. Now, the third and final question.

 

Can you tell me God’s first name”?

 

Forrest, “Sure, “it’s Andy.”

 

St Peter frustrated and exasperated, “Andy?  Ok, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first two questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?”

Forest, “Why heck, that was the easiest one of all, I learnt it from the song, “ANDY WALKS WITH ME, ANDY TALKS WITH ME, ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN . . . ”

 

St. Peter opened the Pearly Gates saying: “Run Forrest, run.”

***

My point, In many ways, Terry, rough and difficult as he could be, was an innocent, as innocent as Forest Gump.  I believe upon passing his test he was given the same orders, “Run Terry run”.  I think he did exactly that and is probably running now, the same great race he ran in this life. 

 

He continues remembered, as a very special man. 

 

Becca

 

As are so many other places in the world,
IT’S HOT IN CINCINNATI, USA.
I am managing by not thinking about it as much as it’s possible
not to think about it. 
I hope YOU are managing to keep cool. 

Several things have changed, I am leaving a graphics group I have been helping with for a while, I am working in the same capacity in a photography group, very small and I failed, REPEAT FAILED, miserably in the .css classes.  My concentration was not there so, chalk up a failure.  I am still learning and will learn more about .css but on my own as I am able.  I know it is not hard and believe most people interested in page making can work with it’s boundaries.

I have an aquarium, small, wanted for a long time.  I have had them in the past but children made it difficult for their existence.  The last fish aquarium was destroyed by a flying shoe kicked from the foot of my daughter to hit the front plate of glass.  Fish, glass, water, gravel all were on my floor and that was the end of aquariums at our house.  I don’t have children at home now and I hope I can enjoy this aquarium, very small, 5 1/2 gallons sitting finally where I have wanted it to sit, on the back of the commode where I can view fish swimming while I relax in the bath.  It is, very pleasant.  I have had a casualty already.  The fish type I decided on are fancy goldfish, inexpensive relatively.  This particular fish was at the pet store and watched me through the glass following me closely so I decided it needed to come home with me.  The reason it followed so closely was not because it liked my good looks but that it had very good eyesight and an appetite to match plus it swam faster than the others and knew just where food came from, the hands belonging to the faces in front of the glass.  It ate its food and the food put out for all the others so constipated and killed itself.  I tried to discover ways to manage its voracious appetite but failed.  I learned a lesson and have since discovered how to control some of the problem but only after crying for two days over a goldfish.  You might say I have a soft heart as I know that fish died a miserable little fish death.  So much for Shove which was the name it had, the others being Bump, Push and now DEAD Shove and the snail called Flash.  So much for my continuing education and the life of a small fish buried at sea in my toilet.

Fish
© RSBlain

Beg and plead
Vacuum mouths to feed 
Overfed, they bloat and die

 

Some of my play time efforts …

  A coloring challenge I offered

 One of my results

 the challenge from a member

 my results and get 1024 x 768

 The challenge, use only what you see along with any side bar tools of brushes or selections or flood fills etc.  No tubes or graphics from elsewhere, no scripted changes, only your own work.  The challenge came from me.

  My result #1 and get 1024 x 768

 result #2 which I want to try to put a child into yet.  I can do it but am not sure how good it will be.  I’ll add it when its finished.

    Result #3 with human figures and a dog that looking at its condition it’s no wonder my fish died.  It is a funny looking dog.  get 1024 x 768

 This was an older challenge and when I saw it, I won’t repeat what I thought.

 This is what I did and I felt I had accomplished something from absolutely nothing.

 

You are welcome to enjoy my graphics but I would appreciate none of them being used on a website somewhere.

Best to all,

Everything on my site is © RSBlain

Becca

 

 

The seedlings of Poetry Planted
Sprouts, words
And views.  ©RSBlain

CLICK ON THE IMAGE for 800 x 600 and here 1024 x 768 

I do my gardening with graphics.  If I were a real artist, I would do a lot more.  I envy those of you who can pick up the tools to paint or sketch and do it well.  What a talent! 

I miss a garden, vegetables or flowers, anything you can grow. 

A photo challenge from my group, the source the same as the Chevrolet Nomad.  Both reside in New Zealand and I think hiding under the blue tarp in the background may be the Nomad.  

 I manipulated this garden spot

 Into my own little garden spot.  Not a great work of art but it was fun.

Have a great week,

© LittleE aka RSBlain