Day #120 - Lush succulence...

One of several sedums we planted a couple of years ago to fill in some bare spots. They're definitely doing what we intended - spreading like crazy and coming back healthier and greener each year. A nice, low maintenance plant, this one gets pretty, little yellow flowers later in the season.

Day #119 - Here birdie, birdie, birdie...

It's time to pull the garden accents out of storage and clearly this little one has seen better days. The elements have taken their toll but a thorough cleaning and some cosmetic touch-up might make it a more inviting basin to take a dip in.

Day #118 - Dogwood flower - petals of pretty...

I got this beauty at K-Mart in 1980-81 for a whopping $8. It took years for the silly thing to bloom - seems it was getting too much nitrogen from the lawn fertilizer and had to be mega-mulched - but it finally figured out what it was supposed to do and has been rewarding us with it's loveliness ever since. Now it's priceless.

Not wanting to get my camera (or me!) wet in the drizzle today, I took a quick close-up instead of putzing around trying to frame the whole tree for a full shot. Maybe when it's dry outside, I'll try again.

Day #117 - Under Construction...

That's not trash...

that's building material!

This is an ongoing project by one of our fine feathered friends, who can't seem to make up his/her mind whether a nest on our porch light is really the best location. Haven't seen the critter itself, but it sure is making a mess in the process of building a cozy little egg drop.

I dunno, seems to me one of the many nearby trees might be a bettter choice, but what do I know - I don't have a bird's brain (that's not up for debate!)

Day #116 - Tomato Time...

For no other reason than that it was pretty... and it was there.

Lew is a tomato man; he loves his "mater" sandwiches and sliced tomatoes with dinner. I, on the other hand, not so much. I like the juice, like the soup, like the sauce... just not crazy about the solid form. I'm getting better - love salsa - but not happy about chunks of the stuff in my soups or sauces. Go figure, huh?

Day #115 - Warning - Bug Ahead...

Bug

|

coming

|

up

It's an ant... an ant who has no business being in MY house... in MY kitchen... on MY counter!! Ucck!

Now it's a dead ant...

Day #114 - Cherry Delight...

The long wait is over and Spring is finally busting out all over in my yard. DC's Cherry Blossom Festival has come and gone and their blossoms have all bloomed and blown away, but ours are just starting to dazzle us with all their gorgeousness.

Aren't they just to die for?? :)

Day #113 - New life...

Gazing from inside windows and seeing nothing but deadish, brown bushes around the deck, I had pretty much written this baby off as winter wound down. Along with two of her buddies, who didn't look much better, I figured they'd gone to azalea heaven and we'd have to replace them... again. (We haven't had much luck with azaleas and the deck - I don't know why.)

Imagine my surprise and delight when, whoosh! - after a couple of sun-filled days, they all of a sudden greened up and burst into bloom!

I know better - next time I'll go outside and look at them up close and personal before declaring them a lost cause.

Day #112 - Shades of Purple - 7

My baby girl's hair and other things still live in a drawer in the dresser in her room at my house. My baby girl is 21 years old now... but it doesn't seem so long ago...

Day #111 - Shades of Purple - 6

How many purple buildings do you have where you live?? LOL! One of the many interesting old buildings in downtown Frederick, this one's been on this corner since 1886.

Day #110 - Shades of Purple - 5

We went to a party with my brother and sis-n-law the last time we visited and the hostess passed out Mardi Gras beads to everyone. I forgot I had them until the other day when I was looking for purple stuff to photograph - how convenient for me!

Day #109 - Shades of Purple - 4

What's more purple (and stains better) than good ol' grape juice.

Day #108 - Shades of Purple - 3

I've recently gone on a decorating color-kick... from my years-long love of pastels to more vivid and brighter reds (kitchen,) purples (bedroom) and blues (bedroom). This is one of the shades of purple replacing the peaches and cream that used to be in our bedroom.

Day #107 - Shades of Purple - 2

After crawling around on the ground and getting nothing but wet, cold, and blown about for my trouble, I opted to pick a few of my grape hyacinths and bring them inside for a picture instead. *sigh*

Day #106 - Shades of Purple - 1

Okay, I'm running short on ideas here... maybe another color challenge will get my juices flowing. Sooo, this week I'm going to do purple stuff... or shades of purple.

Lew brought this little guy home from work for me awhile back - I think it was a business promotional thing. It's cute cuz it's purple... it even has purple staples!

C'mon, ladies (and any gents peeking!) - pick a color and join me! :)

Day #105 - Reading material...

Whee! Got my Amazon order yesterday! This must be the week for books - I've noticed book photos on a few other blogs in the past couple of days.

Anyway, besides my regular favorite mystery series writers - Patterson and Kellerman - I've recently added Davidson (Goldy Bear culinary series) and Lehane (the Mystic River guy - I realllly like him!) to my list of likes. Throw in a couple of novels for a change of pace and these waiting unreads oughta keep me busy for a few.

Day #104 - First cut of the season...

This was a fun one to take! Laying in the grass with the delicious smell of new-mown grass all around?? Fun stuff! Makes up for my frustration of yesterday! :D

Day #103 - Second choice...

Grrrrr! This one is out of pure frustration! I must have taken 50 shots (well, maybe 40) of some stupid plastic figures I have and not one of them was share-worthy! At least this one's clear. Now I have to figure out what I was doing wrong... erg!

Day #102 - Number 3 6 5

They had a challenge over on Flickr a while back to take at least one photo during the year of the number 365. I thought it was a neat idea so here's my "at least one" using UNO cards. I'm hoping to find something more natural and less staged as the year progresses.

Day #101 - Water...

Having not idea one for an original photo today, but wanting to try to duplicate TNChick's (Photo Hunters) water photo, here's my attempt. Not as cool as hers, but not too bad for a first try. I love the stop action of the water!

Day #100 - Starting over...

After years of talking, planning, retalking and procrastinating, we've finally committed to redoing our family room. Our two chairs were picked up today and will be reupholstered in the brown microfiber fabric; the fireplace wall will be covered in the glass tiles and have a mantle added; the window and patio door will have the faux wood roman shades; and we may use this wood for the TV/storage unit cabinetry. We still need to choose flooring and other odds and ends, but we have action!

I'm so excited I'm 'bout to tinkle in my britches!! It's been a looooong time coming...

Day #99 - Dessert anyone??

Oh, yummmmm! Strawberry cream cheese/marshmallow fruit dip makes strawberries so doubly delicious you just don't care about the calories!

Day #98 - They're baaaack...

...finally!

Well, they started these final episodes off good - it'll be interesting to see how they end the series.

(this is a shot of the TV screen just as they flashed the title after the theme song - I'm surprised I caught it!)

Day #97 - On the road again...

Loading the car...

My 3 guys...

And

then

there were none...

*sniff* :-(

Day #96 - All good things must come to an end...

Well, our week of play is winding down. We enjoyed a last game of Monopoly before dinner and the boys have gotten their things collected and packed up. Lew's done kitchen clean up and Dad has ducked out for a bit for a quick visit with a few of his school-days buddies. My guys will be heading back home in the morning... but I've just been called upstairs for another game of Uno!. Wheeee!

Day #95 - Games people play...

From generation to generation, we've been a game-playing family, and my grandkids enjoy playing with some of the games that belonged to their Dad when he was their age. Here's a sampling of what's been keeping us occupied this week.

Day #94 - A night at the movies...

Tonight was pizza and movie night at Mommaw's. Meat lover's, plain, and pepperoni pizzas were on the food menu, while Happy Feet, Pursuit of Happiness, and Grease are on the movie marquee.

Day #93 - Boys and their toys...

A beautiful, sunny April day, a quiet residential street, 2 boys, 2 bikes - it doesn't get any better than this...

...make that 3 boys, 2 bikes. ;)

Day #92 - Sleep, sleep, sleep, how we love to sleep...

All the game-playing has apparently tuckered my little guy out. Michael catching a quick snooze after dinner tonight.

Day #91 - Aaarghh... never trust a pirate!

Four of my favorite guys enjoying a friendly game of trickery and deception - Pirate's Dice, as seen in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie.