. Monday, May 2, 2011 .
I am so very glad to announce that we finally see color at our house....but it is in between A LOT of raindrops.
May

April

March

February

January

I was so excited when the first rolled around.  I was out bright and early to get a shot.  The daffodils are up, I put in some cosmos, cone flowers, poppies and some mystery flower seeds that I was able to harvest last fall.  I have had the seeds in a greenhouse in the family room all winter and they are ready to spread out and look beautiful.  In the galvanized bucked I planted some hyacinth vines.  Then on our new pole trellis Mark got a yellow climbing rose.We have been having so much rain I have not had to water at all this year so far.

Join in and come see what everyone had to offer for the First of The Month Challenge brought to us by Jan at Murietta365...

The goal is to capture one thing repeatedly on the first of each month. It can be a landscape, a person, an animal, a project; whatever your focus is, is fine. It can even be a record of where you are each First of the Month. I'll open the linky each month on the 1st, and leave it open for a week or so, to give everyone a chance to post.

I See Color, Finally

. Tuesday, April 12, 2011 .


I love it when plants volunteer to come up other places then where they are supposed to.  I was weeding on our last sunny day which seems ages ago, and was so thrilled to see this hen....no chicks as of yet but I know they will 'hatch' soon.

Would you like to join in the fun and challenge yourself with us?  It is really simple...if I can do it anyone can.  You don't have to be a professional...just a regular Joe Schmo with a camera and Internet service.  I have learned a lot just by checking out what other share.  Just take a look and then join us next Tuesday.

Renegade Chicken

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We love to hike and take in all things nature has to offer.This weekend we went to the Cincinnati Nature Center in Batavia, OH. Lots and lots of photo ops!


As you can see by the brown water, we have had lots of rain, lots and lots of rain.  Later on in the late spring, early summer it wall clear up and be clear as a bell.  While hiking around this reserve pond we ran into one of the Nature Center Employees.  She explained to us that the pond was built as a 'fire hydrant' if the wood frame main house ever caught fire.  My question was...why did they build it so far way from the house?  It sure would be a long way to carry buckets of water or even a long way for a bucket brigade.

There were lots of big green frogs and a few turtles were swimming on the surface.  It was a beautiful day for a hike with my two favorite hiking buddies.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Sunday's have to offer this week by clicking here.

Reflecting

. Thursday, April 7, 2011 .
Peonies coming up give me such a feeling that spring is coming and summer is right on her tail.  Extra bonus with this one...the seed, probably a sycamore tree seed...our neighbor has a huge one in their backyard.

Check out the other Tuesdays.

Penoies

. Monday, April 4, 2011 .

This morning before the storm was to hit us , I took the yahoos out for some time on the swings and slide.  While we were swinging I noticed a pair of chickadees going in and out of this birdhouse.  My Mom and Dad had birdhouses hanging from the rafters in their house.  And due to some housecleaning some of them came to live at our house.  I was so excited to see the birds that i ran in the house to get the camera hoping to catch them in the action.  But as you can probably figure out, by the time I got back they were gone.  That's what i get for leaving my camera inside.

This meme is open to anyone with a camera.  Come join us at Murrieta365 for some fun.

Not Quick Enough

. Friday, April 1, 2011 .
I love the idea behind this blog...photo something, anything, on the first of the month.  I can hardly wait to see the difference each month.   not much really changing yet.  But I can remember what these beds looked like last summer.  They were so full of color!  Oh, I can hardly wait for the day when they look like that again!




Janurary

February
March

April

Things are slowly starting to turn green.  I actually had to pull a few weeds from the bed on the right.  If you make the pic bigger you can see that there are some daffodils on their way up.

I can hardly wait to see what looks different in the other photos are are posted.  Join me here.

Something's Coming Up

. Tuesday, March 29, 2011 .

I have been playing nursemaid to our beagle, so it was nice to get out in the country for a drive last weekend.  We had to stop on the side of the road to let Ella Bella water the lilies and I looked up and saw this beautiful red barn.  Then the bright blue sky and the greener than ever grass...I couldn't pass it up. 

There are lots of Tuesdays that play along....check them out.


You just might get the itch to try your had at the photo challenge.

Red Barn

. Monday, March 28, 2011 .

Mark and I took a little drive out in the country with Ella on Sunday.  We had to stop on the side of the road because Ella Bella was whining to get out and stretch her legs and some other things.  While I was standing there I notice a big bunch of dried thistles.  These plants are so pretty and purple in the summer.  But they are interesting this time of year also in a different way.

Are you wondering what other creative minds found to photograph.  Click here on Straight Out Of The Camera to see.

Thistles

. Friday, March 25, 2011 .

Our grand kids...the best grand kids ever...have been visiting from CO.  They love to hike so we did a few while they were here.  On this particular hike it was cold, winds and a little damp.  This poor Queen Anne's Lace was so dry but yet so different.  It was hard to get a shot because it was blowing back and forth.  Just looking a the picture makes me want to get under a warm quilt with some hot chocolate. 

Come and play with us...show us what you have in your camera.  Click here to see what others have shared.



Queen Anne's Lace

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If you look really close you will be able to see just a little tinge of red or maybe pink.  It is our little magnolia.  This might be the only picture we get of it...we are expecting temps int he 20's and 1-2 inches of that white stuff tomorrow night.  Guess that is what you get when you live in the Ohio valley.

There are lots more Tuesday pictures to look at.  Click here to check them out.

Sweet Buds

. Sunday, March 13, 2011 .

Night before last we had a huge storm.  Everything...60mph winds, hails, pelting rain, thunder, lightening....I thought we were going to blow away.  Yesterday morning I noticed that the bulbs I had planted last fall were coming up by the house.  Then this morning when I took the dog to the bus stop I found these jewels...they weren't there last night.  This much growth in less that 24 hours...how can that be?
I enjoy the variety of photos shared in Straight Out Of The Camera Sunday.  Why not take a peek or better yet join the fun and, submit a photo...it is easy..if I can manage to do it, you can too.

The Big Tease

. Sunday, March 6, 2011 .

I love old stuff that no one else seems to like.  My father-in-law found this feed sack for me a long time ago.  When we moved back to Ohio I knew just where I was going to put it.  There is a phone jack behind these chickens.  It always stuck out like a sore thumb.  Pictures would not hang even or straight  over it.  i knew just where this puppy was going to hang.  And the next best part is is from Huntington, WV...where I spent the first 36 years of my life...where I met Mark...where I got married...where Cassie, Emmy and Bryce were born...where family still is...where dear friends are...a town with lots of history...I love being a WV Hillbilly!

So...I played, what about you?  Wanna play?  It is real easy and lots of fun.  You meet lots of interesting people from all over the map and you get to see some incredible photographs.

Click here and see what is going with the other Tuesdays.

Chicken Scratch

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The weather has been so cruddy, typical for an Ohio Feb-Mar but I am one step ahead of the game.  My little greenhouse is coming to life  I've sewn seeds that I harvested last fall from the yard...marigolds, cosmos, poppies from Cassie, seeds from unknown plants from vacation, a variety of colorful coneflowers, a couple varieties of morning glories, and some zinnias.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What are the rules for SOOC Sunday?

•On any Sunday you can post any photo you like (it must be one of your own)
•that hasn’t been tweaked or altered in any way (cropping is OK).
•In other words Straight Out Of the Camera.
•Link to Murrieta365 in your post so others will know where to go if they want to join in the SOOC fun.


So what are you waiting for...come join us. It is a simple as clicking here.











Come On Spring

. Tuesday, March 1, 2011 .

I am itching to get out in the yard.  Today the sun is bright.  They sky is blue and not a cloud in sight and it is a whopping 40 degrees.  Flowers are coming up everywhere, seems like just overnight. 

The girls love 'riding' this old trike. I can't really remember when I got it originally it has been so long.  But I love it and it is always a conversation piece.  In the summer it looks great with all the flowers surrounding it and then with a pot of something colorful on the seat.  I'm dreaming of how beautiful it is going to look.

Why no check out the other photos that other Tuesdays have to offer.  Shoot, why not play along?

Seen Better Days

. .

Not too much going on plant wise yet.  I should take that back...there are already weeds coming up!  We grow the best weeds.  Last fall I planted a variety of daffodil bulbs around the edges of these raised beds.  Last year they were filled with dahlias and gladiolas.  Haven't really come up with a plan yet...but they will be filled with some kind of cutting flowers.  You know that we have a wedding rehearsal dinner planned for the backyard in June and we need all the color and cutting flowers that we can get.

I can hardly wait to see how all the other participants photos are looking.  Join me as I go on a walk on the wild side.  Just click here and be transported to Murrieta365.  Better yet, come join us!

Will We Ever See Green?

. Tuesday, February 22, 2011 .

During a light rain yesterday afternoon I heard a commotion out our bedroom window.  When I opened the blinds I was so excited to see that the  cedar waxwings were back.  The robin's were giving them fits over the berries on the tree in our next door neighbors yard.  I sat there with the window open for the longest time trying to get a good shot.  Most of the time their backs were to me.  They must have known I was trying so hard to capture them in their finest hour.  This one seems to have puffed up trying to keep warm.
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What are the rules for SOOC Sunday?

•On any Sunday you can post any photo you like (it must be one of your own)

•that hasn’t been tweaked or altered in any way (cropping is OK).

•In other words Straight Out Of the Camera.

•Link to Murrieta365 in your post so others will know where to go if they want to join in the SOOC fun.

So what are you waiting for...join in on the fun by clicking on this...Murrieta365.

Cedar Waxwings

. .

This was given to me a few years ago when I participated in a Garden Swap.  I love it and it hangs on a barn red wall in the kitchen.  I don't know how in the world Gina knew that I loved things like this.  Fits perfect with all the other treasures we have in the house.  I love it!

Go visit the other Tuesday's to see what they have to share.

Believe In Tomorrow

. Saturday, February 12, 2011 .
On the way in the front door I noticed a Cooper's hawk sitting on one of the lower branches in the ivy bed.  I hurried in to get the camera only to find I didn't have any battery.  So I quickly switched the battery and headed outside.  You guessed it...long gone.  I walked around the side of the house and heard a robin singing.  So robin will have to do for this shot.

I can hardly wait to see what everyone else comes up with.  The weather around the country is so varied today, this should be interesting.  Skip on over to Murrieta365 too see what has been posted by Jan and all of her blogging friends.

A Missed Opportunity

. .

Mark is trying to use all the old sunflower seeds trying to get ready for all his bird friends for the spring.  He calls this feeder the Mercedes 1224.  We had the binoculars out the other day checking out the visitors.  This guy comes a million times a day.  He is a little bit of a bully.  He loves the suet on the right.  Must be getting close to spring because we have a wide variety of visitors.

Check out what everyone thought to post on this Ruby Tuesday...Valentine's Day

A Little Flicker

. Tuesday, February 1, 2011 .

I cheated just a little on this one.  We have a big ice/sleet/rain/snow storm that is supposed to hit our area in about a hour and a half.  So I decided to run outside and get this shot just in case I can't get it tomorrow.  If I can, I will show you what a difference just a few hours can do around here weather wise  It has been a weird weather winter for sure.

I'm headed over to Murrieta 365 to see how much everyone else's shots have changed in a month.  Care to join me?

A Little of The White Stuff

. Saturday, January 29, 2011 .

We had a heat wave today...37 degrees!  And look what I found out in the back yard...some green.  That must mean that spring is on the way.  Ground Hog Day is next week...hope there are no shadows!  I am just itching to get out in the yard to work.

Want to play along with us on Straight Out Of The Camera Sunday?  It is so easy.  The hard part is remembering to post.  Check out what everyone chose to share this week by clicking here.

It Can't Be...

. .

I have always love everything about the Amish.  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be lucky enough to have Amish  friends.  Thru Cedarmore Farm CSA and with the help of Rue and Susan, I am going to be able to realize that dream this summer.  You can read more about our adventure on the new Cedarmore Farm CSA Blog.
This may be one of two cross-stitch projects that I ever signed.  I can't even remember how long ago I did it.  I do know it was back before bifocals...when I could actually see to thread a needle...and get it thru on the first try.

Please check out the other posts for Ruby Tuesday here.

Barn Red