Nikon

I have wanted this camera for a very, very, long time.
Now it is mine! I love it! I love it so much that I got out of bed @ 4:15 am on Saturday morning just to play with it. Remember being a kid and getting up before the crack of dawn on Saturday's just because you didn't have to go to school? Well, maybe not everyone, but true for me then and still is now. I took over 400 pictures this weekend (will post later).

Nikon D60 SLR/lens 18-55mm + lens 55-200mm

BEES

I thought a pinata was hanging in the purple ash tree in front of the barn. Upon closer inspection it was a SWARM of BEES. As one would guess I am scared of bees. Right up there with snakes!

I was creeped out to say the least. Instantly, thoughts of all past bees experiences ran through my crazy head. In my frenzy I set straight off to town to get super duper powerful bee spray. I made Cavemen watch over me while I fed the horses.

Then the GUILT set in... I know, I know, I know there is a honey bee shortage (except for at my house). Caveman says "just let them alone, they will be off in a day or two". I was furious! He refused to help me spray the bees. I was going to put on his motorcycle helmet with a large plastic yard bag duct taped to the helmet to cover my body and point the sprayer and pray. I couldn't do it. I pouted all night about the bees. He assured me they would not hurt me. I insisted they were just waiting for me to be alone so they could do their dastardly deed to me. When I had to feed again the next morning they of course were still there huddled up like a very, very large basketball.

Through a series of events a beekeeper arrived at my house with a bee box about 3 in the afternoon. There it was when I arrived home from work, a bee box on top of a small ladder right where the hive was. Bees were swarming around the box everywhere. The beekeeper would return at dusk to collect the box with the bees in it. I waited and he politely arrived right before dusk. All the bees appeared to be in the box. In my family everything is an "event" so Kristina was very excited about the whole bee adventure and raced out to join me. We stood on the back porch looking out at the beekeeper and the tree. The kind beekeeper says "It's OK come on out. They won't hurt you". We trusted him and joined him at a distance out at the barn. There on the porch of the barn lay the 2 bottles of bee spray. I could hardly look him in the eye. I was ashamed of myself. The bee lesson he gave us changed my whole view of bees. It was amazing. I was so glad that I did not spray them. Not too mention the beekeeper informed me the hive weighed several pounds and consisted of some 20 THOUSAND bees. I felt as if I had done my duty to the bee kingdom. "That's it" I declared "I will never be afraid of a honey bee again".

That is until I got in the house and had a lethargic honey bee on my shoulder. I am trying really, really hard to Love the Bees...

10 Random facts about myself

1. I HATE shopping for clothes. I have what I call the "uniform" ( I wear it every weekend, because I literally have very little clothing) it consists of a pair of capri pants, I bought a Costco a year ago, because that is literally the only store I go to, other than Raleys for groceries. A t-shirt that Kristina got at the NRCHA 25th world championship snaffle bit futurity in 1994. A greenish/blue plaid flannel shirt with denim on the collar and cuffs that Kristina wore in high school-I am guessing in about 1994 too. I wear this rain or shine. I would prefer to wear the exact same outfit everyday until it wore out, then buy a new one. Seriously if you do not believe me...just ask any one of my girls.

2. I have an obsession with cows. I love to take pictures of them. I work in Chico so there is lots of pasture between my home and my office. I literally freak out if I leave for work and do not have my camera, because I might miss that perfect cow picture. I get so side tracked looking at them it is almost a hazard for me to be on the road. I'm constantly checking out areas on the side of the road where it is safe to pull over and take pictures. When I am lucky enough to have a passenger I can't wait to say "LOOK at that black (or brown, white, red ) cow isn't that a neat cow." or "LOOK at that cow running." "LOOK, LOOK, LOOK do you see that calf?" I secretly daydream about what it would be like to be a cow. I live in a cow pasture... you can only imagine how my life transforms when the cattle come down from the mountains for the summer.

3. I have OCD when it comes to trail mix. I get the big bags of trail mix at Costco (refer to fact #1 about where I will shop). The mix consists of M&M's, cashews, raisins, peanuts and almonds. I have a certain combination in which to eat them. If the cashew is whole I will have 2 raisins and 2 M&M's. If the cashew is in half I have 2 raisins and 1 M&M. If I get half a peanut I have 1 raisin and 1 M&M. If the peanut is whole I have 1 raisin and 2 M&M's. I cannot mix the peanuts and cashews. I cannot eat a raisin or M&M without either a cashew or a peanut. As for the almonds I do not like them in the trail mix so I toss them in compost. Now don't get me wrong I like almonds just fine, just not in trail mix. I thought of making my own trail mix, but that would take entirely too much time. Besides then I couldn't share it with anyone because they would mess up the mixture lest they follow the rules.

4. I'm terrified of heights. It's not that I am afraid I will fall. NO I am afraid that I will spontaneously jump off of whatever I am on top of. Like there is a small voice in my head that keeps telling me to just jump, don't be afraid just do it. Like I could fly or something, or have some magic parachute inside my back. I almost can't trust myself. So I just stay away, very far away from edges.

5. I have bought dozens of books that I have never read. I just can't help myself. Yes, I have judged a book by its' cover. Shallow huh?

6. I have every issue of Country Living magazine since 1985 in chronological order in my closet. I cherish every issue.

7. SNAKES... I HATE SNAKES. I will scream, run, jump off a cliff (see #4) if I ever come in any sort of eye contact with one. whatever it takes I am getting the hell away. When I was engaged to Caveman he innocently tossed a gopher snake at my feet. I almost called off the wedding! He now knows better. Maybe the snake was a sign?

8. I have a severe weakness for nesting bowls. I have actually had to smuggle them in the house. When asked "where did those bowls come from?" the reply is "oh I've always had them I just put them out". I have 3 sets that sit on the extra bar stools in the corner of the dining room. I am out of cupboards for them. My last set of bowls were in miniature form, it wasn't so obvious.

9. Elderly people are drawn to me, and me to them. Recently Tonya and I were at Costco (that shouldn't surprise you...refer back to #1) getting a Costco polish dog. It was really, really crowded. So after we got our food I took a quick look around and decided to choose a table to share. Well of course the table I chose had 2 older gentleman sitting there enjoying their lunch so I figure it would be safe to ask them if we could join them. It was all fine and dandy until I got mustard on the end of my nose, which Tonya noticed immediately and motioned for me to wipe it off. Of course the napkin I had had more mustard all over it so wiping my nose with it made it all the more worse than ever. The gentleman sitting next to Tonya across from me comments something like "It isn't any good unless you get it all over." I would have died from embarrassment had it not been for the good humor of these older gentleman. We of course continued the conversation the to likes of BBQ ribs... on + on. I am a firm believer that every has a story to tell, and by George I am going to ask and listen. Old people are the only ones who will share all kinds of stuff about life. Who in the world will I hang out with when I am 80?!?!?!?

10. I am the worlds best PROCRASTINATOR. Just to let you know this post has been in my "draft folder" for a couple of weeks now and I am just posting. It is not that I am embarrassed by the above facts, just confirming my sanity. Never mind the date on the title of the post. today is really April 22 and it is 5:30 in the morning. I have mastered the art completely. I have the genetics for it too. I might also add that I have passed some of the gene to my offspring. I am sure they appreciate it as much as I do. Sorry kids I had no choice.

Love you all

Rain or Shine

Mother Nature is very uncertain as to what to provide in April. It was amazing at my home last night. Out to the east was huge dark clouds.

Out to the West was incredible sun.

I can relate to that completely. When I can't decide what to plant in the garden, flowers or vegetables, I just buy the variety mixture packs. A little of everything, no rhyme or reason. Yep that's me alright.

Other than a crooked picture of my home and a shadow of me looking at the horse barn, these are neat pictures. Maybe I will photoshop them later and do a before and after.

Yeah unhuh...wish me luck on that one for sure.

The Bassinet

The bassinet in the picture has a long history. It is 74 years old.

It was my fathers first cradle as a new born baby in 1935. My fathers brother also was cradled in that same bed. This bassinet cradled my brother in 1957, myself in 1959, my sister in 1974. It cradled my precious babies too. Tonya in 1979, Kristina in 1981 and Beth in 1986. This summer it will cradled my first grandbaby. Four generations of family will have shared this same bassinet. I think of the mommys past and those still to come.

Sometimes it seems like just yesterday that I laid my newborn babies down in it. I can remember so clearly the way it felt to come home from the hospital, so surreal, leaning over and setting them down for the first time. I couldn't help just staring at how precious they were. I was scared. Scared that I didn't know what to do or how to be a good mother. I felt that my heart would just burst, because it was so full of love. I remember the feeling of amazing softness of baby skin, the smell, their breathing, the incredible innocence of babyness...The purest realization of a miracle. I couldn't help just staring at them sleeping. I was sure if I went to sleep I would wake up and it would all be a dream. I was so young. I just turned 20 right before I had Tonya.

I can hardly believe Tonya is having her first baby. I see her and watch her. She is so beautiful. In her I see myself too. She is becoming a mother. "Wait" I yell, "I am the mother". How can this be? I imagine she will be feeling the uncertainty of becoming a mother herself, as I too felt so many years ago. That familiar feeling in the back of my mind now whispering-how will I be a good grammy, while still being a mother too? What do I do?

It's a reminder of the circle of life. Shifting roles within family, the passing of the torch. My mom- a great Gramma, me a Grammy, Tonya a momma. Kristina and Beth becoming aunts. My brother and sister becoming great aunts and uncles.

Tonya and Ryan will make a wonderful loving mommy and daddy. They might not know that yet, but I know.

remember... mommy's know everything :) grammys too.