Picture Perfect!

A picture perfect day! This is on the top of my list of best day ever! Army grandson home on leave from Afghanistan, Grand daughter and family home for the celebration. We had a glorious 10 days together.

Sun-up till sundown we were busy celebrating...

Lots of food...

And tributes...

Ryder stopping to smell the flowers. He loves my garden and everything was watered over and over again!

Fall in Arizona

I love this photo so much that I had it enlarged to 11" x 15" and framed. I have three of my favorite lake sunrise/sunset photos hanging on my family room wall.

TurrTull finally went in for the fall/winter season. He just missed his favorite habiscus in bloom.

Remember when I painted this set purple? Well, now it is going on the front patio and it had to match the mosaic wall in progress so it got the colbalt blue treatment. Nothing last around here very long as it is!!

I have so many beautiful sunrise photos I decided to make a photo book of the many I have taken over the past few years. I love my home and I'm so grateful that I wake to such a daily blessing.

A Typical Morning At The Lake

Another beautiful Estrella lake sunrise.


Lolly Bee wants to play--at 5 a.m.!!!

My first cactus flower in over a year! I could have posted 20 more photos because I was so excited. Isn't she a beauty?

I'm hoping to post more- trying to get back into the blog scene. It's been a long time....

Another Baby Added

My newest great grandchild, Broxton Tayte, born July 26th. We had just arrived home from Maui when we got the call to come to North Carolina to meet this sweet baby girl!

As per usual I had to buy a new swing for the fall/winter season. Swing # 5 blew over in haboobs that the top ripped and bent the frame. The cheap fabric on the cheap swings just won't last more than two seasons! I bought this one because it folds out into a bed.

Knoll Lake 2011

Our annual Knoll lake vacation camping trip was so much fun. Just getting out of the desert heat for a few days can do wonders for the soul. There hasn't been much rainfall this year, just enough to raise the ban on camp fires.

We caught a few fish,

saw some beautiful sunsets,

went for walks--I can't find tiny dog clothes that fit Lolly Bee so hubby's sock kept the chill off during the morning stroll...

Camping dogs close to us. This is Rage.

And Chico.

Francis, Jimmy Tom and Midge.

LollyBee loving the campfire.

I spent a lot of time on this hammock.

Eddie has been the camp host at Knoll Lake for the past 8+ years. He always had a lot of great stories and a lot of information about the wildlife in the area. This is his last year this site. He will be missed!

Artichoke Flowers

Beautiful artichoke flowers! I have about 6 dried and on display. I just love these flowers, probably more than the artichokes!

Sun rays over my roof line. So beautiful.

My Summer Vacation

Another grand daughter, another Hawaii graduation trip! This is the last grandchild graduating from high school, so this is probably my last trip there.

Lolly Tales

Enjoying another shopping trip. I can't go anywhere without being stopped by folks asking about Lolly. If you want to make friends, get a little dog!

Lolly eats with Turr Tull everyday. I have to hide the pellets from her--she eats every last one. Poor Turr Tull would starve if left to Lolly's devices. Lolly eats all the fruit, some lettuce and drinks his water. She hasn't yet followed him into his turtle house.

Sprinkle Review

My granddaughter is due in August and flew in from NC for her baby shower and her sister's coming graduation. Since it is her second baby we kept the party small, and called it a "Sprinkle" instead of a Shower!

After the usual gift opening, guests were able to take advantage of the latest fad--having feathers added to their hair. Even though I'm an old lady, I got some bright pink ones--but kept them kind of hidden in an under layer of hair, with just a hint of color peeking out! At this age, I can do anything I want!

The younger bunch didn't feel the need to keep the feathers subtle, and of course they looked great in all their youthful splendor. The feathers are real, and can be washed, curled and will stay in the hair for about three months unless you want to remove them.

My dancer granddaughter with her turquoise feathers.

My Sprinkle-honoree granddaughter is on the right. She kept her feathers more subtle, while her friend went all out with her turquoise and white feathers.

Another granddaughter has some multicolor feathers, which match her personality.

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They say that making a decision, even a bad one, is better than making no decision at all. So, I had one of each!!