Today's Flowers - One Year Anniversary

Congratulation to the Today's Flowers team on a wonderful year of flowers from all over the world!

My new job and travel time doesn't give me much time to blog and visit everyone. I really miss it. So, I was determined to spend some time blogging. I feel like it's been so long I can't even remember which days I'm supposed to do which memes. I think I've got this one right. We'll soon find out.


I don't know what this little flower is. It was growing in a pot in my sister's back yard and the flower was probably no bigger than my thumbnail but I thought it was really pretty.



If you like flowers, check out the link below for more photos from bloggers participating in Today's Flowers.

I Miss Blogging!

Where do I even begin to catch up for the two weeks that I haven't been able to touch my blog? Even now as I sit here I know I shouldn't be as I've got so much to do but I just had to post something and visit some of the blogs I've really missed. I missed the memes and everything! I haven't even taken any photos and I'm going through withdrawal.

The only photos I've taken were from a meet 'n greet and I'm posting two of the views from the balcony of the hotel banquet room we rented for the party. In the first shot, the streaks of light on the bottom are actually car lights from the cars on the freeway. I think it's pretty cool the way it turned out.



Okay, so here's the story. I'd been unemployed for over a year and Praise God I FINALLY got a job. Let's just say that it's not close to me and from the time I get up to the time I get home it's about 14 hrs. That only leaves 10 hrs. to my day, and since I have some things to do when I get home, like eat, wash some clothes, return a call or two... my sleep time has been about 6 hrs. a day.



And to top everything else off, I'm so low on funds it's not funny. Some people live paycheck to paycheck. I'm living just to get to my first check. My unemployment ran out a month before my start day so I've had NO money coming in except what I could borrow and it's so hard for me to reach out my hand and ask for help because I've never had to. At the moment I've got $10 to my name and need a full tank of gas to make it to work next week. No credit cards to fall back on because all my bills are late but thank God they're willing to work with me and I know that some how, some way, God will continue to supply all my needs. I'm not joking when I say he's met all my needs during the time I was unemployed and I know He won't stop now. He didn't carry me through this race to drop me just inches before the finish line.

It was easy for me to see how people become depressed and suicidal without God's love and support behind them to keep them strong and focused. If you haven't been here, it's not easy to know you've got no money coming in and everything around you is falling apart, needs to be fixed, creditors are calling nonstop looking for money you don't have and there is nothing you can do about it. Trust me when I say that ANYONE can go from having everything to having nothing. I was a thin line away from losing it all but Praise God that I am still in my house and that the end is in sight.

Anyhoo...for anyone who wants to know where I've been the past 2 weeks and why, this is my life, this is my story. I give myself another couple of weeks before I can waste gas going somewhere to take photos again. I miss getting out taking photos but there is a light at the end of my tunnel, Praise God, and I'm focused on that light.

Camera Critters

Just some of the little critters that entertained me on a trip to Descanso Gardens.







If you like these little critters you should check out the Camera Critters meme for a wide variety of little cutie critters by clicking on the icon below:

Sky Watch Friday

This is the wonderfully cloudy sky as I was driving up the 15 Freeway past Norco, going uphill as I headed to the Wine and Balloon festival last month in Temecula. I loved the way the sky looked over the hills on both sides of the freeway. I wish the images really captured the total view. The rolling hills are beautiful when they're are all green after a rain. Now they are all dry but their golden color is still beautiful in its own right.





To participate in Sky Watch Friday and/or to see more great photos of the sky from all over the world Click here or on the Sky Watch Icon below:

Watery Wednesday #43

It's that time of the week. Time to get those eyes wet with water shots. If you haven't already done so, join in. Stick those feet in cyber waters from around the world.

I hope that I'm not the only one who likes this shot.



Click here or on the image/icon below to participate and visit other watery posts:

My World Tuesday - Sew what?

I've been sewing since I was in elementary school. I remember sewing my 6th grade graduation dress. Sewing has been a major part of my world as is my love of fabrics. Put me in a fabric store and I lose my mind. LOL!

At one point I made and sold lingerie. I loved it but I have this problem with not wanting to sew the same thing over and over and the last house party I did wore me out. Long story but I took a break from it and never picked it back up. But I still have a lot of the different colored laces and elastics, satin straps, etc. that I used to use.


Now that I'm finally going back to work my wardrobe has been in dire need of updating but since my funds are really tight my only option has been to pull out the sewing machine again and work on all of the fabric I've been collecting (smile). I think I made ten tops last week.


The photo above is of some lace I added to a top I made and the one below is of my collection of buttons that are in this huge tackle box. This doesn't even show all of the buttons in the box. I miss a store I used to visit where they had buttons in this huge box for like a penny a piece. Everytime I went I would sit on the floor and go through buttons. I have a whole lot of patience when it's something I really want.

I've got bins of thread, lace, patterns, notions, needles, etc., etc. Below is just one of the purses I've made. Yeah, sewing is a big part of my world.




Take a cyber trip around the world by visiting the meme My World Tuesday.

Mellow Yellow Monday

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday, the brightest meme on the internet, and brighten up your day.

Independence Day

Today, July 4th, is Independence Day (or 4th of July), in the United States. It is a national holiday commemorating the Declaration of Independence adopted July 4, 1776 and our independence from England. We celebrate with family and friends with picnics, barbecues, fireworks, parades, etc. Happy 4th of July to all Americans and sending up a special prayer for our service men and women wherever they may be.

These are just a few of my fireworks shots from last year. I'll be at my brothers and probably won't get a chance to take any shots like this this year. Oh well.

Watery Wednesday #42

I've been really busy trying to prep for my new job. I needed new clothes and couldn't buy them so I've been sewing my tushy off. I take little breaks and respond to comments as time permits. I hope everyone is enjoying their Watery Wednesday. If you don't know what I'm talking about I think you should click on the link at the bottom of this post and take a cyber dive in Watery Wednesday! You won't regret the cyber swim.

A few weeks ago my sister brought her grand children out and they spend the day with me on my birthday. We spend some time up and the lake by me and the kids, my great niece and nephew, had a wonderful time at the lake feeding the ducks and throwing rocks into the water. I tried to make sure they didn't do it in the water near where people were fishing and scaring the fish away.




At one point we saw a couple of men leisurely canoeing on the lake and I had to take a couple of shots when we notice they each had a dog with them (identical dogs), and the dogs seemed to be enjoying that leisure ride as much as they were.

We thought they were such beautiful dogs we talked to them later to ask what they were and found out they got them at puppies at the pound. They rescued these beautiful dogs and to me it made both them and the owners very special.


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Monochrome Maniacs

Click here if you'd like to see more Monochrome Maniacs monochrome shots from participants around the world.

Today's Flowers - Magnolias

I've always loved magnolia blossoms, especially the white ones like the ones I've posted today. I'm fascinated by these big, beautiful blooms in the trees, some bigger than my face as I walk up to them (if I'm lucky enough to find them low on a tree).



I think they're beautiful even when they've begun to age and they become a brownish color.



If you like flowers, check out the link below for more photos from bloggers participating in Today's Flowers.

Camera Critters - Butterflies

More photos from my last trip to the Butterfly Pavillion at the History Museum in Los Angeles. I'm not even going to pretend to know for sure what these are so please correct me if I'm wrong. You can click on any image for a larger view.

Julia (?) & White Peacock (?)

Julia & ?

Cabbage white:

Buckeye:

Painted Lady?

And this little Buckeye landed on my arm and stayed there while I walked around and took photos. Some of the kids there were jealous. Na Na-na-na Na! LOL!


If you like these little critters you should check out the Camera Critters meme for a wide variety of little cutie critters by clicking on the icon below: