The Morning Fire - Day 58

A Cheery Fire in the Morning Hours 

Probably, one of my favorite parts of having the mornings get colder, is the wood fire burning in the wood stove.  We heat our house mostly with wood every winter.  It cuts down on fuel costs and keeps us warm.  We love the way it looks and the feelings of comfort that it elicits.

Happy Birthday Mikayla - Day 57

Today, is my sweet daughters birthday.  She is 12.  I can't believe how much she has grown up.  

Today, I wanted to celebrate her day.  Happy Birthday Miss Kayla!!

We love you so much!

One our way to Disney World

A little dancing girl

Having Family Fun!

Merry Christmas

A great day.

Today is my party!!

Macro Friday - Day 56

The Last Flowers of Fall - Day 56

In driving around town, I found these few flowers hanging on in spite of the cooler weather.  This really is a macro shot as these flowers are less than an inch in diameter each.  I loved the yellow, and I thought it ironic that the only ones I found were all in fall colors!

It's Autumn Time! - Day 55

In my own backyard - Day 55

 The rhubarb is calling it quits for the season.

The tree outside my bedroom window is starting to turn into beautiful shades of yellow.  

All in preparation for the coming of a long winter's rest.

I worried about shooting these because the sun was going down and I had to use a flash.  However, I decided that I like the contrast between the yellow leaves and the dark.  Sometimes, a flash is good.  

Black and White Wednesday - Sometimes, Life Changes - Day 54

Black and White Wednesday 

A Change in a Life - Day 54

We all have problems, difficulties that may be seen or unseen, visible to others or only to ourselves.  You can't always tell what is wrong with someone by just looking.  Today, we had to make a difficult decision.  A decision that I hope will be life changing in a good way for someone that I love.  So, for black and white Wednesday, I decided to post the medication that may make the difference, for a life seen in black and white, to change to one full of color and joy. 

Fall on the Mountain - Day 53

I like to participate in the Sunday Creative Challenge over at Madeline Bea's.  You can go there to see some other examples.  This weeks Challenge was "Dynamic".  I thought the vibrant colors of fall fit the challenge very nicely.

When you live in the pine trees, like we do, it can be a little hard to find the whisper of fall around your home.  I actually saw these whispers a couple of streets over from my house.  I loved the colors of the turning leaves.  The red contrasts so well with the green and makes me believe that winter is not, quite, here.  There is not snow on the ground yet, but it is plenty cold in the mornings when we leave the house.

Oh What Do You Do? - Day 52

A Little Crooked Neck Squash - Day 51

My Sister-in-law happily donated a few squash to the cause.  I have never cooked them before, but thought they were unique and beautiful in their own way.  We made a stew with squash, potatoes, and Kielbasa.  It was so amazing.  We really enjoyed the flavor and texture.  I must admit, when you cook them in a crock pot with potatoes and sausages, they all taste pretty good!  It was fun to cook something different and 

have it turn out to be a dish the kids liked!   

The Breakfast - Day 51

Mom, Breakfast Is Ready - Day 51

This morning, while I was lazing about in bed, my daughter came in and said, "Mom, hurry breakfast is ready and you are going to miss them!"  She had gotten up early and made her first batch ever of homemade pancakes!  They were made from a recipe that she learned in her young women's group at church.  Usually, daddy makes the pancakes and we use whole wheat flower.  Miracle got a message that was all white flour.  This was a breakfast they have never had before!  They loved it and ate.  Every. Single. One.
I couldn't get a picture when the plate was full (trust me, we were all too busy eating for pictures!)  But I did manage to get one of the last ones.

Time Out - Day 50

Recharging My Batteries - Day 50

The motto for Time Out For Women this year was enduring hope!  I only took a few pictures, but I loved having this weekend opportunity to recharge my batteries.  I was able to attend with my daughter-in-law, Amy as well as her mother, Brenda.  We had a wonderful day.

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.  Article of Faith 1:13

A new heart - Day 49

One way of looking at it - Day 49

Nothing like seeing a couple of hearts joined into one.
I love it when nature itself teaches a principle that I believe in.  Notice how they each have their own definate borders?  But they live because they are dependent upon one another.  I just loved finding this one. 

Heart Attacked! - Day 48

Nearly 12 - Day 48

My sweet little girl is growing up.  She is becoming a young woman and is starting off on a new adventure at church.  The girls get together for Young Women's once a week.  This week, they came over to our house when we were strategically missing and "Heart Attacked" her room.  As you can see, it was so much fun and she felt so grown up.

Nothing like a bunch of teenage girls to remind you of the things that are really important!

The Flutist - Black and White Wednesday - Day 47

My little Flutist - Day 47

Here is a picture of my little flutist.  I took the picture in color and then changed it to black and white for the challenge.  I posted both here (along with some others because, after all, I am a parent!)
Hope you enjoy.

I love her, "OH my Gosh!  I can't believe you are taking this"! face.

We All Go Down - Day 46

Here I Come - Day 46

My little Nora has discovered the joys of the slide.  It is fast and fun!  She had no fear as she went down, but knew that we would always be down below to do the catching!

Round and Round - Day 45

Here We Go Round - Day 45

My daughter loves the Merry-go-round.  I must admit, sometimes it looks like fun.  I do like to be the one taking pictures as the round and round feeling is not a good one for me.  I blurred this one except for her face, and highlighted the colors.  I like the way it turned out.

The Spiral - Day 44

The Indian Pot - By Anya - Day 44

My daughter had a chapter on Indian pottery this week in school.  They started by making a spiral and turned it into a pot.  Here is her pot.  Slightly misshapen, but hers none the less.

The Grand-daughter Day 43

My Sweet Nora-Nora - Day 43

We had one of my sweet grand-daughters for the weekend.  We had a wonderful time with her, and I think, the feeling was mutual.  Here she is just happy to be around us.

Macro Friday - Day 42

Fall Flowers - Day 42

Here are some beautiful flowers that are still in bloom down in the Phoenix area.  I couldn't resist a quick Macro shot for today.  To check out other macro shots, go to Blogging from Bolivia.  There are links to other photography blogs as well as some truly great shots!!

The Dancers - Day 41

Native American Dancers - Day 41

We went to a 50th anniversary celebration this past weekend.  One of the items of entertainment was the native american dancing.  I do not think that you can live in or grow up in Arizona without developing an appreciation of this wonderful art.  There were several different dances and I tried to catch the colors and enthusiasm of them all.  

We had a wonderful time and I must admit is was a beautiful evening.  

The Basket - Day 40

When Old things become New - Day 40

This old basket was bought again and used to decorate a table.  I loved the colors and the texture.  I love the fact that it has been "re-gifted" and "re-used".

Cookie Heaven - Day 39

A little bit of Heaven! - Day 39

Ok, I had to try and make these!  They were amazing.  A little more darker chocolate than I have ever made before and oh so good!  I posted the recipe on my other blog.  Go Here  for a recipe and directions!  I hope you love them as much as we do!

There is no way that the pictures can do these little goodies justice.  They were so good that  I ahem, the girls couldn't keep their hands out of them!

The centerpiece - Day 38

The Indian Pot - Day 38

This was an old pot used for a center piece.  I loved it.  I played with the colors to make them pop!  It only made me love it more.  I haven't used the saturation feature before to "fix" my pictures.  I had a lot of fun with this pot.

And with this one.  I toned down the brightness, but still brought out the color.  I think I just might love photoshop!!

Look Mom, I can Play! - Day 37

The Musician - Day 37

My daughter has always wanted to play the cello.  I finally broke down this year and bought her a new one.  She is loving it and she love having the opportunity to learn music.  Music is something that we all love and work toward.   Each of the children in my family have participated in music programs. Each of them has loved it in their own way.  These last little girls are no different.  They love the beauty and sound of a beautiful instrument.

All four of these children go to church with us.  They are Kayla's peers and her friends.

I think Kayla was trying to make sure we were watching.  

She was afraid I might not get there on time!

I love this picture.  She looks like she is at peace.