Project 52: 14/52 Music

This picture is from one morning that Brylee and I joined some members of our church to sing at the nursing home in Small Town.  This is a song that we sing to B every night, so I'm surprised she didn't fall asleep hearing us sing it.  :o)

See the entire list here!

Big Night Take II

April has been good to our little town here in Maine!  On Sunday evening, we got to experience our second Big Night in 2012, which is the night that the weather is perfect for amphibians to try to migrate to their vernal pool to reproduce:  this particular vernal pool though is located by a busy road, so we help the critters move across to try to keep them from being squashed.  It proved to be fruitful for the little critters that decided to wait to cross the road this night.

According to the leaders of the night, we helped over 12 spotted salamanders, 20 spring peepers, a handful of wood frogs, green frogs and bullfrogs, and a four-toed salamander!

We had a police officer walk with us as we 'hunted', and at one point, he pulled over a vehicle that was trying to drive past, only to  later have another police car go down to where they were...and even a little later than that, the walking police officer retrieved his car and went whizzing by back to the scene!

I unfortunately didn't get to see many peepers, green frogs, bullfrogs, or the four-toed salamander as I ended up straggling behind and helping a couple of salamanders.  Cary and Brylee, further ahead than I was with our friends Nancy and Kyle, saw more stuff!

You can't really see them, but this picture is of Cary and B:  both real troopers in going along on this late, chilly, and rainy night!

This is how we found B when we got home.  I just wish it wasn't so blurry when I took it, because she woke up immediately after I took it...

Easter 2012

Here are some pictures from B's Easter egg hunt:

And a picture of the beautiful colorful eggs I forgot to take with us to hunt (and have as deviled eggs...which may have been smart to not have on Easter Sunday...)

 

And B got some fun goodies from her Oma and Opa, including these little rocket launchers.  

 

Why Did The Moose Cross The Road?

A couple of Sundays ago, we were driving home from church when this guy ran out in the middle of the road, not too far from us.

Middle of the day, busy road, restaurants all around.

I wish it would have stopped and talked to me...

Proving Myself

Well, I did it!  Hence the numerous blog updates in one day...

64,022 words later, and I have completed my first story!!!  I am giving myself a weekend break from it, in hopes that when I sit down and read it with Cary, it will be with fresh eyes, and then on to my friend to have her edit, if she is still interested.

After that, we'll see. 

I'm so excited, but at the same time, so nervous about putting this story in someone else's hands.  I had a friend read it to give me an early review, but she is a trust-worthy person, so I was able to get over the anxiety of someone reading it.  But now, as I begin the process to send it away to see if it is good enough to be published, I am nervous again. 

It's not because of what is out there that has been published:  I am reading and have read quite a bit of books and have an idea of some things that are there.  It's more of the nervousness of what has been declined for being published.  Has anyone written something similar to what I have and it be rejected?  Is my hard work going to be laughed at before they stamp a giant DECLINED stamp across it?  I think I need to develop some thicker skin.  ;o)

But I can say that this is a goal that I am closer to accomplishing than I have in a long time, if ever.  And it feels good.  And there's more brewing in me.  But for now, it's time to take a (short) break before digging in again.  Perhaps finish more books that are on my kindle and become well-read again.

But I have a feeling it won't be long before I can no longer resist the urge to jump back onto the writing game again.  I am already fighting to not grab my usb to see what else I can do!

Two Days Of Pre-Easter...And A Day Of Storms

April 2nd:

Our typical day.  Wake up, eat breakfast, play, eat lunch, nap, play... you get the idea.  Except it wasn't typical with our Playgroup's Easter Egg hunt!  Oh fun!

So many eggs!  So much fun!  We took 42 filled eggs to the group to walk away with 14...but this momma isn't complaining...we have so many more from B's t, poppy, and granny j, not to mention I have several to dye today!

April 3rd:

Tuesday, things were a bit more stressful for this Texas-to-Maine transfer:

A package arrived here from my parents that they wanted to watch B open that evening, so on my way to pick up the package from Cary (he wasn't going to be home in time to skype with my family due to late nights with tax season) when I received a message from a friend stating that there have been reports of 5 tornadoes in Dallas.

And of course my reaction was, 5?  today?

 

(image found on washingtonpost.com)

On my way home, I called my dad and asked how it was out his way and he was on the way to the fire station to watch the weather.  And as soon as I got home, I tuned into wfaa.com and watched with stress as tornado warnings kept being given for all of the towns I knew, video footage of tornadoes ripping through the DFW area, and trying to make sure all of my family and friends were safe.

By the end of the day, a dozen tornadoes hit the area, a large portion of my friends and family had to take cover twice, there was hail damage on several vehicles, and my heart had a workout without even turning on Prayfit...

The biggest blessing is that there were no serious injuries to anyone that was hit by the storms (maybe a broken neck?  that's pretty serious though...).  Homes and businesses, and 18 wheelers were damaged, but much more easily replaced than a loved one.

So the evening was much more relaxing and allowed us to experience this:

And on Wednesday, I got this beautiful bouquet:

 

I joked with mom when I called her to say 'thank you' that I was glad that nothing bad had happened to my family with the storms the previous day and then received these from the next...

But truly, no matter what possessions and packages I receive, nothing compares to that of my family and friends, and the storms on Tuesday reminded me of what really is important to me.  I thank God for keeping all of them safe!

How Do You Spell Chaos?

Try 2 computers in 2 homes, all of them being on Skype at the same time.  Yep.  T and Poppy got to watch B from 2 angles last week when Cary and my dad mischievously decided to add in an additional call to their own computers, causing B to run around, sing, play the recorder and drums...and lots and lots of echoing...

Project 52: 13/52 Green

See the list here!

Project 52: 12/52 Door

See the list here!