something with a story behind it

something with a story behind it
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

Photo for SPF @ www.randomandodd.com

blogger is being a butt, so I am posting from flickr, and just pretend that it says friday.

This story is not about the candles, 'cause I've allready blogged it. It's not about the black and whites or the fireplace, I've allready blogged that too. It's about the color photo in the middle.

This picture ( you may have to click the photo and view it large) was a print my grandma took of the san xavier mission in tucson, az. She passed away the day after thanksgiving. I've already told you (those who've been readers for a while) that she was a fabulous cook and loving grandmother.

What I probably haven't told you is that she was an amazing photographer. Photography was not her passion, serving people and cooking food was. But she was an excellent photographer. I have 3 prints now that she has done hanging in my home, and I made sure a few years ago that I got copies of a few other exceptional works that she did to enlarge at a later date.

One of her photos was chosen to be in a calendar (about the southern oregon coast?) and she was so proud of that accomplishment. So now you know a little more behind my love of food, family and fotos.........

did you play?

something odd #1

DSC_9323.jpg
Originally uploaded by dogseat.

I found this photo from www.flickr.com/photos/dogseat/ and the next one as well.

Your job is to tell me a story about this photo.

I don't know what you would title it, but my name is:

Never wear white when having your baby on the street!

I'm sure you can come up with a better story......make it good people and leave it in the comment section, but try to keep it PG, my kids will read this someday! LOL!

Choose either this photo or the next one.

something odd #2

DSC_9242.jpg
Originally uploaded by dogseat.

OK people, give me some crazy stories about this pick.

Don't you think I picked good?

something borrowed

something borrowed
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

This is my something borrowed for SPF @ www.randomandodd.com . Not too exciting I know, but here it is.

My friend moved to Florida last June, then she moved to Hawaii in, gosh I forget now, a few months ago.......now (like today) she is moving to Montana. Long story and I don't have to tell that one!

Anyway, before she left she couldn't take everything with to Flordia and left a lot in storage, so she let me use this espresso machine. I didn't really make espresso in it, but I would steam my milk everyday for my coffee.................

until.............

one day I got zapped, like minutely electrocuted. I thought it was because I had the dishwasher and the machine going at the same time, and I forgot all about getting zapped.......

until..........

I was talking to my kids and steaming my milk when JUMP! It bit me again. So I told my Dad, the expert electrician and he said, "UNPLUG IT IMMEDIATELY> SOMETHING IS WRONG AND IT IS SEARCHING FOR A GROUND AND IT IS USING YOU!!!!!!! VERY DANGEROUS AND YOU HAVE CHILDREN...YADA YADA YADA.......BLAH BLAH BLAH......."

ok dad, i'll unplug it as soon as I get home......YIKES!

He did say he would look @ it for me, and I haven't had him do it yet, its just sitting on my island staring at me while I'm working on the computer. Denying me my pleasurable steamed 1/2 n 1/2!!!

I better have him look @ it before she comes and visits in July or I may have some explaining to do. I already killed her fish I was babysitting........some kind of friend I am!!

Chit- chat

Chit- chat
Originally uploaded by Kamala L.

I saw this lovely photo today taken by one of my flickr contacts.

She said in her description of the photo: "I thought that such moments of sharing and enjoying a peer's company would do a lot of good to one's mental health."

Isn't this what all of us want? I realized in a fresh new way, that is a lot of the reason why I blog and post pics up @ flickr. I enjoy being connected with people. You and I (Yah you who are reading this right now) are not face to face. But we are head to head, sharing thoughts, insights, discoveries, emotions, life. Nobody wants to feel lonely, and sometimes we do. Loneliness isn't good for one's mental health, which is what I believe Kamala was getting at.

Look at the colors in the picture, they are bright, cheery and happy. Look at their posture. They seem serious about their discussion, intent and intentional. It's simple really, it's not about the Starbucks coffee, or the shopping trip, the lunch out @ a fancy restaraunt.

It's togetherness........and like I told Kamala, it spans all generations, races and religions. It's just about people. And people need people.

If you are a regular here, thank you. Receiving your comments are always, always appreciated and enjoyed by moi.

Clemmy Baby

Clemmy Baby
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

Did you ever have an imaginary friend or a favorite stuffed toy?

My favorite was a handmade Raggedy Ann doll. I wasn't one to play with dolls but I loved that little rag doll. Maybe its 'cause she's got red hair, and I like red....and because her clothes were so colorful.....and I like colorful.

Anyway, Raggedy Ann really lived up to her name, and she was well worn. So much so, that one day when I came home from school, she was gone.

Mom had thrown her in the trash.

I wish she would have asked first, and let me decided. But that's my Mom.......

Anyway, maybe she learned her lesson. This is Clemmy Baby. He was my brother's favorite pal. He even had an imaginary friend. I think his name was George. He loved to lay in bed (we shared adjoining rooms until I was 10) and I could hear him tell Clemmy Baby all about his day. What had happened...the good and the bad. He just liked to talk to him, it was his buddy.

My parents are going through 33 years of accumulation in the same house and they are preparing for a garage sale this weekend. Mom found a bag with a bunch of my little brother's old stuffed animals. Out she pulled Clem. Good old Clem. She's going to ask my brother if he wants him, but he rides a Harley, races motocross, has 3 tattoos, and is an electrician. We don't really think he will want him.

I'm not sure where Clem will go if Noonie rejects him. He won't go back in the bag into the attic. Alas and alack, he may get thrown away. Mom may think he's too old (over 30 years) to try to find someone to buy him at the garage sale.

So of course, I had to go out to my minivan and retrieve my camera. (My camera bag is now my purse....you never know when you are going to need a camera!) Here's the photo I ended up with. NO matter what happens to Clemmy, he is now in blogland forever, to be memorialized!

Ain't he cute?

First Seedless Blackberries of the Summer

First Seedless Blackberries of the Summer
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

This evening as I was making dinner the kids were playing around in the yard. My youngest, 5 year old TSE came in with a handful of 5 seedless blackberies, the kind that grow sparse and low to the ground. Much different than the larger, seeded, weed variety.

"Mom, do you want one?"
"Sure!"
"Ummmm...."
"Hey, do you want me to take a picture of them?"
"Yah!"
"O.K." I eagerly snap two shots.
"I know...you are going to get on the computer...."
"No I'm not."
"Oh..." he sounds deflated.
"Why?"
"I thought you were going to blog it."

Good idea, I think to myself. These kids, one minute they are running to the camera, the next they are running from it. And, they are learning the beauty of a bloggable moment! They are the greatest (my kids) and the blackberries were pretty sweet too!

would 'ya get a load of this kid?

would 'ya get a load of this kid
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

Well, yesterday was a great day, I must say.

I woke up with a migraine and took one of my new anti-migraine pills called Frovatriptan. I used it instead of the Imitrex injection (always nice not to shoot up if you don't have to...LOL!) Anyway, within two hours the headache went away and it is not back. It has been gone at least 24 hours now. Yippee! Wahooo!!! Also, I got some new allergy medicine and I didn't have to guzzle any Benadryl and become zombie-like. Hard to have "time" with your honey when you are zombie-like,,,,,,so I was quite PLEASED!!!!

Anyway, back to the DAY...after the two bigger kids got home from their fabulous vacation bible school, we went to our neighbors to swim. I mentioned the other day that we got a pool, but it was too big for our level area, and our unlevel area was too unlevel. So last night we drained it and are hoping to take it back tonight. If we get a smaller one it should work....so...no pool parties yet....except at the neighbor's!!!

So here's a few pics from our super fun time. I must go pick up the kids and get some cleaning done around here. It has turned into such a sty with weeks of feeling zombie-ish. I will get the kids to help and we'll see how much we can get done! We are going camping again this weekend so I have to start getting ready for that too. Clean first....make goodies....then pack!

miss petunia peach with angel kisses - Day 1

miss petunia peach with angel kisses - Day 1
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

Meet my Great-Niece. Little Keilana Marie....a.k.a. Miss Petunia Peach. She entered this world on Sunday June 25, 2006 @ 7:14 pm. Her poor mommy was only in the hospital one hour and fourteen minutes when little miss petunia peach popped out! Whoof, almost a car delivery here.

She is 7lbs. even and 20 in. long. She makes my hubby's biggest sister a Grandma. And she wants to be called MiMi....we just don't know about that!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday we had to take our son Max-Ay to an orthodontist appointment. He is only 7 years old but has a class 3 underbite. So he will have to have braces in two phases....yes, that means twice. So that should not only be expensive but INTERESTING!!!!!!!!

Anyway, Miss Petunia Peach was born in Vancouver, Washington and that's where Max-Ay's appointment was. So after hearing the bad news we went to see our precious Great-Niece and our popped out niece whose the new Mama.

Here's a couple more pics of our darling girl and a few more are up on flickr.


www.flickr.com/photos/cameradawktor

Kev & KJ

Kev & KJ
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

My cousin Kevin ( http://www.wtfnfwomg.blogspot.com ) came for a visit with his son KJ (whom I had never met) all the way from Colorado. It was sooooo great to see them. And KJ is more adorable in person than in the pictures that Kev had sent me. He's 3 and full of energy. He fell in love with Meyers D and I'll post some pics of him buddying up next to her over on the flickr page later.

He's got a couple of tattoos as does my brother, so had to get a picture of the family resemblance!

It was so great to see Kev. We had such good times when he was a little guy. And, I haven't seen him since October when we saw our Grandmother in Arizona for the last time, and then again in December when we were both able to attend her funeral. Up until then, I hadn't seen him since my brother's wedding in July of '99.

So, it was fabulous of him to come out, and especially to bring KJ. Thanks Kev, love 'ya....and hope you update that blog soon so I can see all your great pics!

This is Love!

This is Love!
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

My daugther and my hubby went out Saturday afternoon in the 90 degree heat to pick 23 lbs. of strawberries. I froze some and the next morning made two batches of strawberry freezer jam. We also had 4 cups left for strawberry shortcake that we shared with the relatives.

These are Oregon strawberries, small, sweet and delicious. You don't need any sugar because they are soooooo sweet. And my hubby and daughter were so sweet to go do it. I get super cranky in the heat (hence we bought a 3.5x16 ft. pool yesterday) and my allergies are getting the best of me. So I stayed home with the young'uns while they picked, and then cleaned and cared for all them berries when they got back. So guess that's fair.

My daughter is such a hard worker. She enjoyed helping her dad, came back with a smile on her face, and was so happy to help. Didn't complain a BIT. Now that's love.........she's got the stained hands to prove it!

Unfortunately....

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Originally uploaded by Craig Shillington.

Unfortunately, there's always someone out there in the world who has it worse off than you.

Not that we should revel in others' pain, but sometimes it is helpful and slightly refreshing to be reminded of that.

That's what this pic did for me.

Went to the urologist today and got some bad news. My stones are worse off than they were back in December. I have many.... many....many.

Most look passable, but one on the left (that darn left side!) there is a 7mm one. Those, folks, are impassable.

So.........he didn't know what to do. Let me wait (translates to eventually in the ER, morphine and removal procedure with stint) whenever this sucker decides to go on the move......

OR, blast them again with shockwave lithotripsy. Not a bad experience, just means I could be laid up for a few days to week or longer on drugs trying to pass all that decide to come out.

So, when I told him that I'm going to Thailand next January it was easier for him to decide what to do.

You already knew I was SHOCKING...now I will be schocking-ER.

My underwater date with electricity is set for July 10th. I could have chosen the 3rd, but the drugs would have stopped me from enjoying the firewworks! ARGGGHHH!!!!

So there you have it. Yes I'm joking, but i'd be lying if I didn't say its all slightly depressing. I mean, it sure would be nice to get a break from all the health crap.....but like I told the uro doc, I guess I'm just SPECIAL>

I AM TIRED OF BEING SPECIAL!!

So, after July 10th, if I start writing crazy and bizarre stuff, just remember its the percocet talking NOT ME!!!

my drinking glasses

my drinking glasses
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

Photo for SPF @ www.randomandodd.com 6-23-06

Our drinking glasses, taken @ midnight and b&w. Tried to make a boring subject slightly interesting, but not sure how successful I was at that!!!!

Did you play?

my address book

my address book
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

Photo for SPF @ www.randomandodd.com 6-23-06.

My extremely old address book, taken @ midnight. Yes, the cover is off, it is well used. I have a new one but am too lazy to transfer all the #'s into it. Besides, this one has been around for awhile, so I think I'm attached!

my new hair cut

my new hair cut
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

Photo for SPF @ www.randomandodd.com on 6-23-06.

My new hair cut taken @ midnight. Yes, I know, my tag is up...but it was midnight, who cares?!

I'm Dreaming and I Don't Want to Wake Up!

I'm Dreaming and I Don't Want to Wake Up!
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

Have you ever felt like that before?

That's what this pic made me think of.

Well, now we have spent two days @ the school picnicing, riding bikes and playing. I almost wasn't going to pick up the camera yesterday, but I'm glad I did. It was fun.

There's about 23 pics here: http://flickr.com/photos/cameradawktor/sets/72057594142778478/

(of my kids)

and pics here of a girl who was on TSE's t-ball team and her friend Markie here. Markie has amazing eyes, so if you have time, check this out: http://flickr.com/photos/cameradawktor/sets/72157594173389845/

Tonight I get my hair cut, and since I'm supposed to take a pic of something "new" for SPF tomorrow, you'll probably see one of that. Might be boring but I'll see if I can jazz it up.

Also, don't forget to do this tonight before you go to bed: http://flickr.com/photos/dustinf/172718089/

.....just being motherly and looking out for y'all! hahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marsha Marsha Marsha

Marsha Marsha Marsha
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

This is one of my husband's older brother's Dave and his family. He's the one I was telling you about with the kidney stones.

He is doing a little better but not sure if he went back to work today. He passed a few and SURVIVED!

My nephew on the left is almost 19 and in the Air Force. He just finished Basic in San Antonio and is leaving today to go to London for two years, hence the photo shoot. He is learning to build bombs....I sure hope he's careful!

He's a very smart kid but wasn't into doing college yet, so he joined the Air Force. I can't wait to hear all his tales about exploring Europe. He's at such a great age to travel around like that!

To see the other photos I took of the family go here: http://flickr.com/photos/cameradawktor/sets/72157594172400328/

My husband mumbled Marsha Marsha Marsha when he saw this photo, and as a kid, his brothers and sisters (all 6 of them) loved watching the Brady Bunch. So that's what I thought I'd title this photo.

Today I am taking the kids to sign up for the summer reading program @ the public library. They love doing that and they can all read now, (well TSE...just a little bit!) This will keep their skills up over the summer. Max-Ay has made so much progress this year that we don't want him to lose his good reading skills.

Then, we are going to their elementary school to ride bikes, I will walk on their walking track, and we'll have a little picnic. Sounds like fun! And of course, I'll have some pictures of that too!

Justin - 3rd brain surgery

Justin - 3rd brain surgery
Originally uploaded by ♥-^* Mrs Smarty Pants *^-♥.

Oh my, somebody, I think her name is Mrs Smarty Pants, commented on my picture today on flickr. I went to her web page and she has an amazing amazing story about her son.

The emergency room doc was telling her to do one thing for her son, which she thought was wrong. She stood her ground, got her way, and turned out to be right!

I haven't read her other posts yet but it sounds like an amazing story of survival, and I thought I'd share it with you all.

Check her out @ http://www.mrssmartypants.net/

I'm glad she found me today......

A LIttle Scream to Help Her Swing

A LIttle Scream to Help Her Swing
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

Yesterday evening, after we ate our ice cream, Papa D and I took the kids to practice their golf swing.

I mean, shoot....when an American loses the US Open to an Aussie, people need to get it together and practice the game of golf much harder with their kids.....we just can't be lettin' that kind of stuff happen!

Naw...........

Ater watching his favorite, Phil Mickelson lose in the US Open this Father's Day, Daddy decided to take the kids out to practice their swings.

Today was a good day, got my kidney stone x-ray for my appointment on Friday, will be interesting to see how many are still there, hanging out and growing back together.

Speaking of stones, while I was getting my x-ray for my check up, my brother-in-law had to be taken to the emergency room for...............
drum roll please.................kidney stones!

Yikes!

So, he is at home, on drugs, trying to pass however many they said he had.....we will all wish him a speedy recovery!

For all the photos of Father's Day 2006, go here: http://flickr.com/photos/99125058@N00/170889945/

A LIttle Scream to Help Her Swing

A LIttle Scream to Help Her Swing
Originally uploaded by cameradawktor.

Yesterday evening, after we ate our ice cream, Papa D and I took the kids to practice their golf swing.

I mean, shoot....when an American loses the US Open to an Aussie, people need to get it together and practice the game of golf much harder with their kids.....we just can't be lettin' that kind of stuff happen!

Naw...........

Ater watching his favorite, Phil Mickelson lose in the US Open this Father's Day, Daddy decided to take the kids out to practice their swings.

Today was a good day, got my kidney stone x-ray for my appointment on Friday, will be interesting to see how many are still there, hanging out and growing back together.

Speaking of stones, while I was getting my x-ray for my check up, my brother-in-law had to be taken to the emergency room for...............
drum roll please.................kidney stones!

Yikes!

So, he is at home, on drugs, trying to pass however many they said he had.....we will all wish him a speedy recovery!

For all the photos of Father's Day 2006, go here: http://flickr.com/photos/99125058@N00/170889945/