1st Challenge - Favorite Place to Be

This is my most favorite place to be. Neys Provincial Park in Ontario Canada. We went around the Lake in 2001 and fell in love with the eastern shore of Lake Superior. We went back to this shore almost every year since. Some years we stayed at Agawa Bay but most times we trucked up to Neys. It's a beautiful campground and beach. There are lots of nice inland lakes for Fred to take his canoe on for great trout and perch. Going here is just pure relaxation!

Up for another 30 Day Challenge? Start April 1st

I really enjoyed this 30 Day Photo Challenge. It actually got me taking pictures and blogging. I also loved looking at all the other pictures the rest of you came up with. I put together another Challenge. I took bits and pieces of other challenges I found online. I'm hoping all of you that did Yvonne's challenge will join me with this. Anyone else who would like to join, is more than welcome. Leave a comment on this post if you're in so I can compile a list of the challengers. Thanks for joining me!

1. Your favorite place to be

2. From a high angle

3. Black and White

4. From a low angle

5. Hands

6. Funny

7. Moon

8. Guilty pleasure

9. Dad

10. Transportation

11. Artwork

12. Bedside

13. Favorite Saying

14. Necessity

15. Animals

16. Fence

17. Reflections

18. Water

19. Favorite activity

20. Silhouette

21. Eyes

22. Delicious

23. Corner of your home

24. Someone you talked to today

25. Your neighborhood

26. Mom

27. Favorite food

28. Nature

29. Close Up

30. Picture of yourself

Photo Challenge Day #30 - In Motion

Danny's one job of the week. Bringing the garbage cart to the road Wednesday night and then bringing it back Thursday afternoon. He's good about bringing it on his way home from the bus stop.

Photo Challenge Day #29 - Purchased

I spent a couple hours at the Salvation Army this morning. Didn't find a whole lot but these books. Their books are 5 for $1 or $1 each if you buy less than five. I've actually read two of these books already. Water for Elephants and Colony. I thought I'd pass on Water for Elephants to one of my girls and I listened to Colony by Anne River Siddons and don't really remember it. I enjoy Anne River Siddons books. (I just realized looking at this picture that I bought the young readers edition of Three Cups of Tea. I think I'd rather read the full version.) What Do You Do All Day? is a humorous take on a young stay-at-home mom.

Photo Challenge day #28 - Daily Routine

As soon as I get home from the bus stop at 6:55 a.m. I pour myself a bowl of dry Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds cereal, pour a cup of coffee and sit and read the paper. I have yesterday's paper there also to finish the crossword with the answers in today's.

Photo Challenge Day #27 - After Dark

This is what our house looks like after dark. This was taken about 8:30. Sad to say, less than an hour later the whole house was completely dark. I was the last one to bed and shut the lights off at 9:20. It's not always that early but not unusual either.

Photo Challenge Day #26 - Something Old

I don't really know how old this cow bell is. It came from the H******n farm in Liminga. My father-in-law would be 103 if he was alive today. I don't know if this bell is older or younger than him. I'm not sure when the ringer was replaced with a nut.

Photo Challenge Day #25 - Sunflare(?)

I don't really know what a sunflare is so I just took a picture of the sun this afternoon.

Photo Challenge #24 - A Smile

This is Danny waiting for Molly and Paul to come pick him up for kyds. He was so pumped to be going. He had so fun even though I picked him up too early at 11:30.

That smile is completely gone tonight. The kyds are going to Brighton and he had to skip. I told him to just be happy that he was able to go last night. And be happy that Gretchen said she'd bring you next weekend when she is home. It didn't work. We got home from a wedding at 7:00 and I think he went straight up to bed.

Photo Challenge #23 - Sunset

This was taken back in 2005 at Agawa Bay, Ontario. I just spent way to long on this computer looking for a sunset picture. It's hard to see the sunset from our house with the trees so I cheated.

Photo Challenge #22 - Trees

Trees. When we bought this property 30+ years ago there were three trees on it. It was basically a farmers field. Two of the three trees had rocks piled around them from the farmer clearing the field years ago. The other was a very small oak that is now a very LARGE oak. We lived with those three trees for almost five years until we got our first neighbors. Unfortunately, they were the neighbors from the Black Lagoon. We (Fred) very quickly planted lots of trees along the lot line. Small saplings. Now they are very mature trees and are a very nice privacy block. Those original neighbors moved many years ago and we now have very quiet ones whom we never see.

Photo Challenge Day #21 - A Pretty Pattern

I love this Marimekko pattern. I love all the Marimekko patterns from Finland. The kids got me the coffee cup in my Christmas gift. I use it every day as it makes me feel happy. The bottom is a close up of the Marimekko fabric I used to make my sister Maria a bag. (I will post pictures of it once I ever get it to her!)

Photo Challenge #20 - What I Read

This is my current library stash. I always start out at the "new book" and "staffs choice" section in front of the library. I rarely get passed those. I almost always find several books that catch my attention so I do not even get to the back of the library where the rest of the books are. I rarely buy books unless I find them at garage sales. I almost never read a book more than once. Other than Gone With the Wind. I think I've read that one three times and listened to the audio book once.

I may start to do random book review posts.

Memory Lake by Nancy S. Kyme. I actually did enjoy this book even though I only gave it two stars on my sidebar. But if someone asked me for a book recommendation, this isn't one that I would give. It's actually a memoir of the authors many summers at a camp. What I enjoyed about it is the author is about two years younger than me so I could relate to the 1970's era of her camp life.

The Legacy by Katherine Webb. This was a very good story. It starts out with the Great-Grandmother's life in America around the turn of the century and ends in modern times in England with the life of two her great grand daughters. The author does a good job of intermingling the two lifetimes.

The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol and Angnet Friis. This book was translated from Dutch, I think. The streets, towns and roads were hard to keep straight as they were in another language. It was worth reading but not one that would come to mind if someone asked for a book recommendation. It took forever to finally learn WHY the boy was put in the suitcase.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave. I'm almost done with this one. This will probably get three stars. It's about a young girl from Nigeria who escapes to London.

I haven't read Running the Rift yet.

Photo Challenge Day #19 - Where I slept

On these sheets. Today was such a beautiful day with such a nice breeze I decided to hang dry my sheets. Can't wait to climb into the spring fresh scent tonight!

Photo Challenge #18 - In My Bag

Knitting bag, that is. I always have something going in there. Right now I'm working on a baby hat and Cowl. I hope to finish up the cowl this week so I can start on a baby sweater. Time to pull out cotton yarn for spring/summer knitting.

St. Patricks Day

Hard to believe it is March 17th today! High 70's. Every where you went all you saw was people wearing shorts, capris, flip-flops and sandels!

Day #17 Photo Challenge - On The Shelf

Here on the shelf are some of my cookbooks. I use to get Taste of Homes hard cover every year but stopped a couple years ago. I rarely use these anymore. When I'm looking for recipe ideas I just go to my computer. I always start with tasteofhome.com and usually find what I need there. There are other sites I do go on occasionally like foodgawker.com or allrecipes.com. Seriously, a person hardly needs recipe books anymore.

Day #16 - What I Ate

I was almost done eating my lunch today when I remembered today's challenge. Here are the last two bites. Sauerkraut and smoked sausage. I'm amazed but I absolutely LOVED it. I made it for supper last night for the first time. Actually, I made it for Fred and I. The kids grilled their sausage and put it in a bun. I called my SIL and asked her how she made it. Super easy! I just tossed the rinsed and drained sauerkraut with sliced smoked sausage and a little bit of brown sugar (maybe about 2 tablespoons) and baked it in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes. I started out with tinfoil on top but uncovered it for the last 20 minutes or so. I served it with roasted asparagus and homemade flat bread. It was delicious. I never knew I liked sauerkraut!

Day #15 -My Shoes

Here they are, my motley pile of shoes. I was tempted to go out and buy a new pair just for this post but then didn't. I do need a nice new pair of everyday slip-ons for summer.

Day #14 Photo Challenge - Flowers

I originally took these for the close up day and decided to save them for flower day. These are on my table from a couple of the past weddings.

Photo Challenge #13 - From a Distance

There it is. The bus stop. From a distance. From our driveway. Not too many more years of kids walking home from this bus stop. I do drive Danny and Jeanie in the morning as it is dark but they do walk home. When we first moved here 30 years ago, I could see the bus stop from my kitchen window. The older kids use to walk TO and FROM the bus stop while they were in elementary school. Now the trees have grown so tall I can't see it unless I go on the road.

Day #12 Photo Challenge-Close Up

The buds started popping out on the trees this weekend with the warm and beautiful weather. This was this morning with the rain drops hanging on the buds. Close ups are hard with my point and shoot camera. Hopefully we won't get anymore hard freezes to kill the buds.

Day #11 Photo Challenge - Something Fun

Something fun......take your pick.......The Salvation Army Store or Danny! My girls got me into the "thrifting" thing. I never use to have the patience for it but now I find it great fun. Sort of like a treasure hunt. I often come out empty handed but when you find a treasure, it is so fun! It's my winter garage saleing.

Day #10 Photo Challenge - Something(s) I Made

I know the purpose of this photo challenge was to help us take more photos. I was gone all day and just got back from working in a wedding. To stay on task, I just dug up some old photos of projects. Maybe one of these days I'll actually get creative and take a creative picture.

Day #9 Photo Challenge - Faceless Self-Portrait

I thought I'd learn how to use my self timer and catch me reading. I've been doing a lot of that recently. I'm absolutely loving it! I've always received great enjoyment in reading. From a very young age. When my kids were small it was very difficult to actually find time to read. I use to dream of the day I could just sit and enjoy the evening with a good book. And guess what? It is here. The perfect evening for me is being curled up with a good book once the dishes are done and the house is picked up. I never thought I'd see the day.

Day #8 Photo Challenge - Technology

Okay, my camera started flipping my pictures sideways. They show right on the screen of my camera but when I upload them to the computer they are sideways. I can rotate them on Picasa but they upload to blogger sideways.

Here is my technology. Fred got me the ipod a year ago for Christmas. I wasn't sure if I would use it but I do love it. If someone is on the computer, I can check my email or facebook.

I do love my portable CD player to listen to my books. I know I can download books on to my ipod from the library. The only problem with that is they are only allowed so many downloaded at a time so anything recent has a waiting list. I would much rather check out the huge selection on the library shelf. I play them on this lovely CD player. I just wear an apron with a pocket so I can listen to books while I fold laundry, scrub the floor, clean the bathroom or even when I knit. This only really works when I'm home alone as it's annoying when someone tries to have a conversation with you when you're in the middle of a good book!

Day #7 Photo Challenge-Something New

I've been gone all day and had a tough time thinking of something new. So this is what I found. The new daffodils for 2012 are coming up.

Sarah's Food Blog

My sister Sarah had to set up a food blog for an assignment in her computer design class. She really outdid herself. The recipes look fabulous and her photography is outstanding. Check it out. (I think she gets credit for how many hits it gets.) http://amatteroftasteblog.blogspot.com/

Day #6 Photo Challenge - Childhood Memory

Remember these?
Do you think I'm almost there to "my old age"?
This one really made me smile. If only Beverly and I had any idea in 1968 that we would really be mothers of twins!

Some not always so nice. I remember in 1968 that she didn't even write "just kidding"!
My sister Sandy, creative as usual.
Not that Nancy was ever "boy crazy".

Day #5 Photo Challenge - Someone I Love

My brother Brian. This picture makes me cry. I pray that some day I can see him again in this pose. With his camera ready to take some more stunning photos. Looking at this I can hardly fathom where he is today. He will be having some more tests done sometime today and hopefully some questions will be answered. My thoughts and prayers are continuously with Brian, Jean and the kids.

Day #4 Photo Challenge - Favorite Color

I'm not sure if I have a favorite color. If I had to pick I guess it would be green. This shade and most every other shade of green. I also love burgundy, deep purple, teal, reds, yellows, blues.........

Day #3 - Clouds

I don't have time to be creative on this one today. I stole this from one of the girls albums here on the computer. Today's subject is clouds. You got clouds even thought I didn't take it.

Day #2 Photo Challenge-What I Wore

What I wore all winter has been vests. They do a great job of camouflaging one's belly fat. Spring is just around the corner so I guess it's time to start working on that belly fat before I have to shed these vests for the summer!

Photo Challenge Day #1 - Self Portrait

Okay, I am joining Yvonne with her photo challenge. A picture a day and I think each day is a topic. Today is self-portrait. I saw Yvonne's invite and went in the bathroom and took a picture. What you see is what you get. I figured you kids will be glad to have this blog up and running no matter what the pictures.