Shadows creeping in

IMG_4453, originally uploaded by torri_g.

It seems that I have lost my inspiration to pick up my camera and go out and shoot. It has been like this for a week plus now. I guess it is time to admit that my yearly after the March birthdays crash is in full swing. The crash comes because of dreading dates on the calendar. A wonderful day in April when a child was born, followed by a horrible day in June when that child passed away, and the seven weeks of her life that fall in between the two. I have found over the years that the harder I try to fight it the worse it actually is, so time to just go with the flow of it again. It has been a couple of years since the coming of April hit me so hard so early, but that's okay, some years just have to be that way. I'm guessing though if April is already bothering me so very much that I really need to look of for June and seven weeks between the two dates.
I'm going to hold on tight though, because this year marks 15 years of getting through this time period so it isn't like I don't have a lot of practice at it. I know to let myself celebrate the joyful things when they arise. I know to let myself feel the anger on the days that it takes a turn. I know to let myself feel the sad, even though that is almost what I dread the most. To be honest I kind of expected this year to hit a little harder because of all the major changes happening in life right now. There isn't a day that I don't think about her anyway, but as we near these months she jumps from the background thoughts to right up front.
Oh heck, there are probably more entries like this coming, so why hit you to hard with the very first one.
I hope that everyone is having a good week so far, or at least rolling with the flow of whatever the week is bringing your way.

Sibling Sunday...Sunsetting on the final March weekend

IMG_4451, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Two more days left in this month of March and wow how fast it has flown by. This week the girls all headed back to school and got quickly into the routine for last quarter. Report cards came home from the high school and one kept her straight "A's" going and one had probably the very best I have seen of "A" "BBBB" oh yeah and a "D". But hey it had been a "F" was shouted out to me as I opened my mouth to talk, so yeah that is one grade better than it was. (Insert mother grumbling here)
One more report card to come home and that should happen sometime this week.
The only other interesting thing was the parents meeting for the senior class. Most of which I will not go into detail about because I just still am finding it difficult to believe that they really are the crazy! (Insert lots of other not nice words and yet more mother grumbling here)
There is some sibling strife going on because Binky Sue has been in super hyper mode since Friday and finding out that she will be making the senior trip to Disneyland a week after graduation. I'm pretty sure that if she doesn't get it under control here soon that both of her younger siblings will be more than willing to help her out. Half of her graduation money from her G-Ma & G-Pa K is currently making it's way here to pay for the trip. She has promised to take pictures of the major party at Disneyland till her little fingers are just about to fall off. That is if here sister's let her live till time for the trip.

I'm thinking about letting the siblings take this day back over again with camera and posting since I have been asked a couple of times about it. Besides it is kind of nice to let them do the rambling for a change.
I hope that everyone has enjoyed a great weekend, and that there is a calm good week just waiting to get started for all of us.

Don't let her cute fool you

IMG_4442, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Miss Mia has a problem. Mia has a very big problem, which I'm hoping come tomorrow morning with the arrival of a trainer we can start working on. Since December Mia has had days, which are now growing in number, where she snaps and just attacks Trinity. Now she hasn't drawn blood, and isn't going for a kill type attack, it seems to be more of a jealous mad minute rage type thing. I have read, tried, read some more, tried, but everything seems to just be a temporary fix. This week after what was the second attack and seeing Trinity terrified, I made a phone call to a dog trainer that has been highly recommended. We talked for about 45 minutes on the phone and I'm putting my hopes in this woman and her honesty with me. She is coming out tomorrow morning to evaluate and talk with me. We have the mutual promise of doing what would be best for Miss Mia, no matter what that may be. We talked about the possibility that because Trinity is a coon hound and they tend to be the door mats of the doggie world and willing to be bullied, that depending on Mia and what the trainer sees her recommendation may be to re-home Mia with no other dogs. That is the worst case scenario at this point in time. It was the test of me and just how willing I am to do what may be needed. I don't want to re-home Mia...I don't want to re-home either of my doggy girls. However, I know that I can not let this continue. Trinity can not continue to have to walk on egg shells with Mia. She can not continue to live in fear of what will make her snap. So tomorrow morning we meet with the trainer, and hope that we don't hear the words re-home and start some new behavior training with Mia. So everyone keep fingers crossed.

It is time for Feline & Furball (with Feathers) Friday again. Which means time to head over to visit Steve and Pickle. If you want to play along all you have to do is post your own and leave a link in comments.
I hope that everyone has a great weekend.

Simple Thursday

IMG_4406, originally uploaded by torri_g.

After a first attempt at an entry that ended up being rambling, I'm going with just a simple entry. Let's look at the pretty colors and say oh and ah!
Oh and based on the stories in the news my part of Arizona seems to be catching on fire at whim.

I hope that everyone has a good Thursday.

Another simple day

IMG_4392, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Keeping things simple this week in hopes of finally getting out of the cycle of migraines that I have been running with for the last week plus. I think I'm about there because yesterday instead of hundreds of bright shiny floaters in vision field followed by explosive pain tearing through all parts of my brain, I just had hundreds of dull floaters clouding my vision and mild random spikes of pain. Hey at least it is a start towards getting past them. So I'm thinking about another day of working on things around the house, and not much more than that.

I hope that everyone is having a good week so far, and that everyone back home in Nebraska and Iowa stay safe and hold on for the roller coaster ride that mother nature is throwing at you right now.

Mindless Monday

IMG_4388, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Alright I'm looking around here and seeing all that I still have to catch up on and really would like to get in my car and go do something else instead. I know, make up my mind already! I'm hoping today will actually be another very productive day in this house. So far three of my four people are off and out of the house, and my thoughts are work until I collapse this afternoon. If I can get everything I want done around the house today then maybe I can head out for some picture taking tomorrow or Wednesday. I would like to see about getting out to the canyon areas and checking what if any desert blooms may be going now. There are a couple of other day trips that I would like to make with just my camera, but until I'm caught back up around this house I just will have to fight off the urge to go.

I hope that everyone enjoys a good Monday.

Yummy Sunday Diner

IMG_4431, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Take one corned beef, add Army Guy and a good fire in the smoker. A couple of hours out in the smoker, followed by a couple of hours in the oven set real low. What do you end up with? Why just the best Sunday night diner! Home made Reuben sandwiches made to perfection. Oh so very yummy.

Sibling Sunday Spring Break Ends

IMG_4395, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Wow what a fast spring break this was. The siblings are not looking so forward to having to head back off to school again tomorrow. The final countdown to the end of the school year starts though. There are 9 weeks, or 60 days, or just a mere 42 school days left of this school year. Binky Sue has a little less than that because of being a senior this year and they will get out we think at the start of the last full week. This week there is a graduation meeting at the school that we will be attending to find out all the good details.

Even though this spring break has been wildly busy like the several past years of spring break in March with the birthdays, it has been yet another awesome break. Each of the girls got a chance to have a day with just either Mom or Dad. There may have been a lot of miles traveled but the time spent with each of my girls was wonderful. Lots of shopping of various kinds was done, and everyone has that very happy feeling. So girls you may have to head back to school tomorrow, but at least you didn't just spend your spring break sitting at home doing nothing. Mommy on the other hand is going to enjoy some of that wonderful quiet that my house can only achieve when it is a school day, and my car and I are going to try to be distant for a few more days.

I hope that everyone has had a beautiful weekend and that there is a great week just waiting to get started for all of us.

Once again who is bigger?

IMG_4354, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Going with another picture of Puff showing some lovebird attitude again for my Feline, Furball with Feather's Friday post.
Puff this past week wanted to make sure it was clear to Sweetpea just who the boss was. I think the tiny little lovebird did a very good job of just that. Puff loves her bath time and this week wanted her bath but seemed to want Sweetpea to dunk her head down into the water for Puff to take her bath. I guess Puff is just to good to be standing on the metal of the sink anymore. Puff kept moving and pulling on hair till Sweetpea had her head just right near the stream of water. The whole thing of course had everyone laughing, but the fact that Sweetpea who could have easily shooed Puff off of her head but didn't just showed how very spoiled these animals really are. I on the other hand made it very clear to Puff that I would not be doing the same thing for her next bath time. That is because I'm still far to busy endlessly filling the water and food dishes that she keeps dumping all over the cage.

It is time to head over to visit Steve and Pickle and see all of the animal friends that have gathered for their day.
Feline, Furball with Feathers Friday

Staying Still Saturday

IMG_4397, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Most of my week was spent behind the wheel of my car with this for my view. Yes there was final destinations with shopping and walking around, but this part of it is what my back is screaming the loudest at me about as of last night. It is the fact that in one week's time I spent five hundred and fifty six miles behind the wheel of my car. I've spent so much time there that I'm actually looking forward to spending the day doing nothing but cleaning, laundry and other things around the house here for the next couple of days. I love my car but if I don't have to look at it or get in it for a least one whole day, I'm going to be a very happy person.

One more time

IMG_4425, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Just one more time...HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETPEA! One last cake picture to post and probably one of the biggest smiles on Sweetpea's face ever. Our trip to Tubac was absolutely perfect today. There are still a couple more streets worth of galleries that we have yet to make it into, but they are just going to have to wait for another trip down there.
Sweetpea picked out some great birthday gifts which could very well tonight be adding to the huge smile on her face. A calm relaxing drive out there and back, and her being able to have a conversation with her Mom. (To bad Mom can not have the ability to sit and type this in whole sentences vs. the couple of word at a time thing that is going on here.)
Sweetpea thinks that seventeen is going to be a great year, and if the whole year could be like today, then I'm sure it would be.

I hope that everyone had a good day and yet one more time Sweetpea, Happy Birthday Baby Girl!! I love you very much!

Seventeen Today

, originally uploaded by torri_g.

The last of the March birthday week for the house is here. My Sweetpea is seventeen today! Sometime today she will want me to measure her to see if this is the year that she finally hit the five foot tall mark. Don't let her small size fool you though she is the toughest little cookie I have in this house. She is my quietly watching and observing child, and through her eyes the world is filled with many flowing colors blending in just the most perfect ways. She is sweet and caring with a fine mix of back the heck off unless I tell you I want you near me. There is no limit for her imagination, and for her anything can be real if she wants it to be. Being the middle child she sometimes has to fight to make her voice heard, but most of the time she sits back and just waits for those private moments that she would rather have with Mom.
I know spending the day with her today and our art filled journey is going to be incredible. So Happy Birthday my Sweetpea!

There will be a post later in the day with more cake and a new picture of the birthday girl, heck I might even get my normal Friday Feline posting done. I hope that everyone has a great day.

Is it really Thursday already?

IMG_2372, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Well I will be the last person to say that this week has flown by. One more day and one more trip to make and hopefully a day filled with the ability to take lots of pictures. Tomorrow is Sweetpea's 17th birthday and a trip back out to Tubac for the day and lunch. While I'm looking forward to spending another day of one on one with one of my girls, I'm also really looking forward to Saturday and a day of me not getting in my car. Hey maybe I can take Saturday to try to finally catch up on some stuff that needs done around here, or even more crazy idea SLEEP! Alright so the sleeping thing just won't fly very far, but boy does it sound good right about now. The girls spring break is going to leave me needing a vacation. But before it is over there is one more trip, one more birthday meal, and more cake to get through.

I hope that everyone has had a good week and that there is a slow paced weekend waiting for all of us.

Quick Wednesday

IMG_3745, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Up early this morning since we are heading out and up towards Phoenix today. Another day of shopping at a mall lined up, because when the girls out number the boys 4 to 1, the girls win with the choice of shopping every time. Oh don't feel to bad for the boy, I'm sure that he will find some store's that he won't mind wandering through. But for now I'm off to wake up the last of the girls this morning, and to see about figuring out something cool to wear since I'm sure Phoenix is going to be much warmer than we are here.

I hope that everyone has a good Wednesday.

Hang on tight kind of week

IMG_3743, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Well that works out great. I'm going to have a hang on tight kind of week to keep up with here, and I have pictures showing people hanging on really tight. The birthday week is rolling here, but you already know that if you read the blogs for yesterday. While sitting here this morning I thought today would be the slow day with just having to get some stuff done around the house, then remembered there are several errands that I need to run real quick today. Thinking back on the last four years of spring break and birthdays though, this week will fit right in with them on the list of crazy busy weeks.

I hope that everyone is having a good week, even if it is busy beyond belief.

Happy Birthday Binky Sue

Happy Birthday Binky Sue, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Just wanted to make sure that I got a picture up from today of my Binky Sue, and what better picture than with the second cake in the last 4 days. An oh so very colorful dessert fruit pizza for cake that Sweetpea and Little Bug finished topping while Binky Sue and I spent the day up at the Tucson Mall shopping. The cake looked perfect, the special request dinner was just about perfect, and the day spent with my Binky Sue was completely wonderful! There are new clothes in the house tonight from the birthday girls shopping trip. There is a beautiful dress bought just waiting for graduation night, and the trip up and back was one filled with laughter. So just one more time with the happy birthday to my baby girl, and I hope that everyone had a great Monday.

Eighteen Today!

Proof 11, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I have spent a good amount of time this weekend thinking about Binky Sue turning 18, and even with doing that I still don't know just what to say other than WOW! The feeling of not really knowing just where the last 17 years went is amazing. I'm wishing that I could find the ability to type something great here this morning, but I doubt that I'm going to find that here today. My first baby girl is eighteen, and even though she swore she wasn't ready, I know in my heart that she is.

Binky Sue I have watched you grow from a very happy baby to a beautiful (most of the time) happy young woman. Your drive and determination to achieve any goal you set for yourself, blows me away. I know for you the months counting down to this day and graduation in two months have had you fearful of the "what do I do next". But I have no doubt that you will find just what path it is that you want to put your once so tiny feet upon. Remember that you have the job of breaking the ground with all of the "Firsts" for Mommy, and while there is no end to being a Mommy there is a time we have to step aside and let wings be spread to start your own flight through life. Today is one of those major mile stones with another one steam rolling up upon us both.(Enough time to think about that one later though) For today enjoy a wonderful birthday and remember that Mommy is old now and might not be able to keep up with you at the mall. : )
I love you much my Binky Sue and hope that today is all that you want it to be!

Sibling Sunday...In control of the camera

IMG_4342, originally uploaded by torri_g.

CAKE! CAKE! cake! CaKe! cAke! OC! Over Cake!

Okay. To start off. This is not the crazy lady with the camera. This is her crazy daughter, Binky Sue! The ... one. Mom is currently having problems with the birdies! They are not being nice to her in a long story short.

Next off. Why I choose the picture. Well this month I call the scary month. Why? Because it's birthday frenzy! How much cake can you eat? A little? Moderate? A ton to where you look like cake yourself? Well unfortunately we are the third option. In one week it's my mommy's, mine, and Sweet Pea, all in a week. 3 whole cakes in one week. To me that sounds like a recipe to being PHAT!!!! In case you people haven't figured it out. This is birthday week and why I choose the picture. I'MA SICK OF ZE CAKE!!! So instead I'm having a dessert pizza. Sugar cookie, cream cheese marshmallow puff mix, and fruit.

Monday is my birthday. What do I want? Well currently I don't want my mama to wake me up in the middle of the night saying, "Binky Sue. Binky Sue. Hey Binky Sue get up. It's your birthday! Binky Sue..." This is mainly revenge when I was much much younger. I would go to my mommy going, "Hey mommy. Mommy, it's my birthday! Wake up mommy. Mommy?" Other than a good night's sleep, I'm not really sure. See the day of 19?

So I hope you all have a good week. I know I am. I'm on spring break. Have fun! ^.^

Simple Saturday Morning

Flowershdr, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Yes I was playing with the camera again. The girls helped me set up different things with roses that I got from a friend on my birthday this week and we just had goofy fun with it last night.

There isn't to much going on this weekend. A trip out to visit Grandpa and Grandma and have dinner with them. Some laundry, cleaning and probably a trip to the store. Monday starts spring break for all of the girls and the major birthday week of this house. There will be lots of busy this coming week, so I think that is why the nice chilled out weekend is going to take place.

I hope that everyone enjoys a great Saturday.

Lovebird Attitude

Puff, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Yes I'm dropping the felines this week and going to the birds. Specifically a lovebird with attitude! Most of the time I think I need to have a camera doing video recording of her and her antics, but the last couple of weeks I have wanted more to pull my hair out than deal with her attitude. I fill the water dish, within minutes she dumps the water dish, then she screeches about it being empty. I fill the food dish, she tosses the food out of the dish, and then screams about not having her favorite seeds in the dish. I place perches neatly in cage, she in a fit knocks everything out of place and then screams about what a mess her cage is. The smallest animal in my house bosses me around more than the almost 70 pound coon hound dog! Her cozy and cage cover look more like they are a 100 years old vs the less than a year that they are, due to her tearing through them with that hooked bill of hers. I noticed yesterday that her perches are in need of being replaced due to being torn up. Nothing I do or say for her in last couple of weeks is right...hmm I wonder if she is in her teen years already? The last night she was out I was dive bombed at every turn which is really her way of letting me know that she isn't happy. Thing is I don't know what I did! Oh wait, it must have been to much time spent with another animal of the mini zoo. No, that can't be it because the other animals of the mini zoo would probably swear that I don't spend enough time with them either. I think I have it now...it is because she is spoiled rotten! Yes, I'm willing to admit it. I am an animal spoiler. Doesn't matter to me, feline, furball, or feathers, I'm a spoiler. I've been one for years, even before we had animals in the house. All you have to do is take a look at any of the human animals of my house. I've heard that the first step is admitting that you have a problem, then you can begin to heal. Well, I'm an animal spoiler and I think my healing will involve being bossed around by if she is lucky a 6 ounce lovebird. Oh well, lucky for me she is cute and makes me laugh with her acrobatic antics, it makes the pain of being bossed around a little easier to take.

Since it is Friday it means that it is time for the felines, furballs, and feathers to get together over at Steve and Pickles and show off just how wonderful they are. I will try to remember to post the link over there later today or this weekend. If you want to play along all you have to do is post your own animal boss and leave a link in comments.
I hope that everyone has a great Friday and a wonderful weekend.

Waking up to a small surprise

IMG_4202, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Today for my blog was going to be like any other day this week, with a posting of probably another rodeo picture. However, since I woke up and wandered out here to find a tiny little surprise sitting waiting for me on my desk, I'll post a picture of it instead because it is just so perfectly cute. Army Guy left me a kitchen fairy for my birthday on my desk. I think it has been a while since I have looked at them at the store because I don't remember seeing this one. She is the perfect small and simple gift that I love to get. Thank you Army Guy...oh and I love you!

March brings a lot of birthday for oh my goodness a ton of our friends and family, but today marks the beginning of all of the one's for under this roof. Today is my own birthday, my 39th to be exact. In four days from today Binky Sue will be turning 18, and I still can not believe that is time for that one already. Four days after Binky Sue comes Sweetpea and her turning 17, another one that I can not believe it is time for already. Hence the reason I love the small and simple gifts, because WOW we have a lot of birthdays to get through.

I hope that everyone is having a good week, and once again a Happy Birthday to everyone who was lucky enough to be born in this busy month of March.

Back to the ghost town

Ghost town Gleeson, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I'm pretty sure that I mentioned in my first posting about the ghost town, that finding out what some of the remains of buildings may have been is difficult at best. So I'm going with what the majority of sites that I found said they possibly were. Which means going with that thought, this may have been the school building, or at least that is what everyone now thinks it was. When you look at what remains of the original structure it really looks like it could have been any number of things. Now it is just lost and collapsing like so many other things in the town. Looking for information and finding pictures that were taken maybe 20 years ago, there once was an arch over the columns. There were pictures that I could compare with my own and see just how much collapse has happened in the last 20 some years. Whole walls that stood in the pictures I found are now just piles on the ground in my own photo's. I've found it interesting to compare all of the pictures that I took to one's that I have found from several years ago. I'll say it again, this tiny town is fading back into the desert quickly.

Loud booms before the rodeo

B troop rider, originally uploaded by torri_g.

If you ever visit the Fort Huachuca area and you suddenly hear a very loud canon shot...odds are that the B Troop Riders are doing their thing. The B Troop, 4th U.S. Calvary Regiment (Memorial) participates in several different function here, and if you like history seeing one of their demonstrations will give you tons of history. They wear the uniform from the 1880's and are volunteer group. While walking to the Wren Arena Saturday though it would have been nice to have some warning about the canon fire that was about to go off.

Fading back into the desert...Gleeson

Gleeson Saloon, originally uploaded by torri_g.

This picture overall is just a huge mistake on my part, but one that I love none the less. Shooting through the glass window trying to get a picture of the mural painted on the wall of the saloon, because the building doors are chained and locked up tight. First I had to fit the camera through the bars on the windows, which meant I had no way of being able to see just what I was going to be focusing on. There was very little in the way of light going into the building so setting the camera to use every drop of it was interesting and I didn't come as close to it as I would have liked to. Remembering the fact that I was shooting through a window and would risk getting pictures of reflection seems to have been forgotten. All that said though I like how the pictures turned out. Always kind of funny to me when I can look at a picture that is a series of mistakes and like it better. The reflection is of what was behind me while standing on the porch of the saloon, but how it blends with the mural on the wall is what I like the most about this picture. It is the fading back into the empty desert look that I like.

Sibling Sunday

IMG_4054, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I forgot to get Binky Sue to take a picture for the last week of the girls being in control of the camera, so a picture from the rodeo yesterday will have to do. We all have had a very enjoyable weekend here. The weather has been perfect basically, maybe a little to breezy yesterday for sitting out at the arena for the rodeo. But the temperature has been nothing short of just beautiful.

This past week was the reception for the art show and Sweetpea had only once piece selected for it. She knew that by the time she got home because she had the other piece that was considered but they ran out of room for. This week is finals time at the high school for Binky Sue and Sweetpea, and there has been the final push on projects that are due this week. Little Bug is going to have a busy week, there is the choir concert, the science fair, and wrap it up with a dance Friday evening. After they all get done with school Friday they are on spring break! By the time they head back to school there will be two months till last day of school and graduation. Wow! Talk about a school year that has flown by.

With the older girls birthdays falling as always during their spring break, I will be making trip to Tucson with Binky Sue for a day of shopping at the mall on the 16th, and a day of all things art down in Tubac with Sweetpea on the 20th.(Alright I'm totally exhausted now and that is without listing out the million other things that I still have to get done.)

I hope that everyone has had an enjoyable weekend. Hopefully weather has been nice enough to ever get out and soak up some sun. I also hope that even if the coming week is going to be busy, that it is a good one for all of us.

Ghost Town Gleeson Arizona

Ghost Town Gleeson Arizona, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Moving on with the day trip last Saturday. If you want to see ghost towns I think Arizona is a great place to head to for them. In doing a search for information about Gleeson and the long abandoned buildings that I photographed, I hit site after site with just lots of ghost towns listed. The sad thing is that a lot of the history of what was there is just some what of a guess anymore. You can find the basic information about when and just why the town started, and the when and why of what lead to them moving into the ghost town category. But then you find a lot of back and forth guessing about just what certain building was. There are a lot of buildings in Gleeson the look like they have been bought up and someone is trying to recreate their original look and maybe give this old mining town a chance at living on in history. Even in their completely broken down state, the buildings in this town are still fascinating to me though. To walk through any area that goes back in history has always been interesting to me. I loved while we were in Augsberg Germany, walking on the old Roman wall, the church where Martin Luther nailed his notice, and the very first Luthran church that sits at the opposite end of the street from The Dom where he nailed it. We all walk where other have before us, and should take some time to learn about them and the places that they called home. Some just happen to be ghost towns now, and in time even that may not be there anymore.

Cool thing about saving the ghost town pictures till today means that this coming week I will be able to alternate between them and pictures of rodeo that we are going to today. Cowboys and ghost towns sounds like a good theme for this next week. I hope that everyone has a great weekend, and if you can get out and enjoy.

Things that make you shake your head in wonder

I know a record three posts in one day, even better no picture with this one. Sometimes there is paper work that rolls through this house and across my desk that leave me shaking my head in wonder. Tonight there is just such a paper sitting on my desk in front of me. The paper work is basically simple enough, just a graduation behavioral contract for the seniors. However, as I read through the thing there are a couple of things that just catch the eye in it. Rule #3 about the dress code and seeing tennis shoes listed as proper formal dress attire? Also in rule #3 the decorating of the mortarboards is covered and several friends of mine heard about this one on the phone when the order was placed for the cap and gown. They are allowing the students to decorate their mortarboards, but in rule three they want them to keep all profanities, gang related writing/symbols or pornography off of them. Well, I guess that makes the decorating of the mortarboards okay then...NOT! They also have advice that if you have a questionable decoration idea that they should see an administrator prior to the graduation. Yep, I'm sure that will work out well. From there you move on to rule #4 which I'm just going to type out exactly as it appears on this contract sitting in front of me and see who is really reading and paying attention.

• I will not bring and or use fireworks, alcohol, drugs, weapons, animals, water balloons, water guns, tortillas or any other food products to any senior week activity, including graduation.

Now let's play the game of can you catch the word that caught my attention the most in that sentance. Actualy there are two words that left me re-reading it over and over again, and giving Binky Sue a look of "What in the world?" I understand the fireworks. I understand the alcohol, drugs, weapons. I understand the water ballons, water guns. I understand the other food products. But animals, and tortillas are one's that I never would have expected to see listed. Since those two are listed my thoughts are that someone or several someone's have done something in the past graduations with those things. So now they feel the need to list them all out to make it very clear? But the bigger question in my head right now is who in the world arms themselves with tortilla's when going to their graduation ceramony? Even better question is WHY?

This is one of those things that is going to leave me shaking my head for probably the next couple of days, but the contract is signed now by both Binky Sue and myself and she will return it to the school come Monday so hopefully they will be happy that they have at least one that agrees to no involving animals or tortilla's at graduation. Anyone heading out this way come May should probably make sure that you have camera's handy because this sure sounds like it could be some kodak moments that you just might not want to miss. To bad they are going to have to come up with something that isn't on the specific list now.

Feline, Furball & Feathers Friday

Well because I can not seem to pick just one picture for this, I'm going with a multiple picture post. Gypsy is getting one more update about how she is adjusting in her new home, and then next week I will be getting back to more of a rotation of the mini zoo.

Gypsy Rose is defiantly settling into her new loving environment. Within the walls of Binky Sue's room she is getting to the point of being able to be called an active normal kitty. She has discovered that toys are not something that she has to fear, and if she is just bossy enough with her girl, her girl will sit and play with her and the toys for hours on end. Her trips outside of the room to the rest of the house have been increasing in time amounts. We are now up to full hour at a shot two times a day. This may not seem like all that much, but for Gypsy it is a HUGE deal. She still has moments where you can see her poor little body trembling in such fear, but that is slowly passing with each new day and trips out to the rest of the house. This week she has learned that the Mommy of the house will protect her and keep her just as safe as her girl Binky Sue. She also learned that when the Mommy leaves the room, the Daddy of the house will keep her just as safe and does a great job of giving comforting touches. Every day we wonder just a little more about just how horribly this little girl was treated, but not for to long because we are determined to show her that there is lots of love in this world for her.



Among the toys in Binky Sue's room Gypsy has found a baby that seems to give her comfort, and with the way she carries it around and curls up with it maybe it gives her the thought that it will protect her. It is a little rottwiler stuffed puppy. I think to Gypsy it is the best protector, and friend. (Well after her girl Binky Sue)

Gypsy is very much in love with the daily brushings she gets and her fur is starting to take on that healthy sheen that any loved kitty should have, and is oh so very soft to the touch now. Her eyes get brighter with happines each day, and as I look at pictures that I have taken since she arrived here on the 17th of February, I'm seeing less and less fear and anger in those kitty eyes. Gypsy has started to actually walk standing full up this week, instead of her fearful low to the ground crawl that she was doing. Which gave all of us the ability to see that she has longer than one inch legs! We heard her very quietly meow for the first time this week, which has lead to a little concern in my own mind about the possiblity that someone may have caused some damage to her voice, but I'm taking a wait and see attitude right now because I really don't want to put more fear of being given up on in the cat. I'm also hoping that it just sounded strange for any other reason than yet more abuse this poor kitty suffered at the hands of someone cruel.

We all know that we have a very long road ahead of us with Miss Gypsy, and that a lot of things are just going to have to come in her own time. However, I think we have a great start going right now, and this little kitty seems to be starting to understand just how very much she is loved and that we are all willing to take as long as she needs and prove it every day, that she is home permantly and she will be safe always.

Alright, it is Friday and that means time to head over to visit Steve and Pickle and all of the great animals that share our lives with us. I hope that everyone has a great weekend!

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl , originally uploaded by torri_g.

Another picture from the trip last weekend to the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Refuge. One of the owls that kept very intent watch over our picnic lunch.

Back to regular posting

Our Lady of Guadelupe, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Our Lady of Guadeloupe church out at St. Davids.

Interrupting the normal

IMG_3229, originally uploaded by torri_g.

I'm interrupting the normal picture blogging that I've been doing this week to share some news. Sweetpea was tickled to no end last week to receive an invitation to the Youth Art Month Show. Which means that she has either a piece or pieces of her work that are going to be included in this years show. (Excuse me for a minute as I do my happy Mommy dance!) Alright back to typing now. Sweetpea made it into the art show during her freshman year, which was a huge deal for her once she found out that no other freshman were invited. Last year though she didn't have any work submitted. So for her to hear that several pieces were submitted for this years, and to get the invitation which means at least one has been picked, she is thrilled.
The opening reception is tonight and my young artist can not wait to go and see just what made it into the show. Sweetpea is happy to able to share this with her visiting grandparents also. Army Guy wants to see if it is the piece that she did based off of a picture that I took of him. So between 4-6 this afternoon we will be off to the art show to search and find just what made it in this year. Of course I will have camera in hand to capture a picture of my little artist with her work. Also to capture a picture of Sweetpea with her art teacher of the last 3 years, who due to budget cuts in the school system is leaving at the end of the third quarter. Mr. S has played a very major role in Sweetpea's life these last three years, and has pushed her to move outside of her comfort zone as an artist. The news of his leaving has had Sweetpea very sad for several weeks now, but for next year she is moving way out of her comfort zone art wise. She is moving over into photography for her senior year.

Oh the picture is of one of her pieces brought home that she wants to keep. I'm not sure of what the title of this one is, but I know that it was kind of difficult to get a good clear picture of for some reason. I'm also not real sure why it has to stand in the living room in front of the stand that the television sits on.

I hope that everyone has a great Thursday!

Color

Whitewater Draw Wildlife Refuge, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Back over to the wildlife refuge with this picture. One of the many blue sky speckled with black spots that I had to work on in photoshop.

I hope that everyone is having a good week, and Happy Birthday to my best buddy in Maryland!

Reflection and Shadows

Meditation Garden @ St. David, originally uploaded by torri_g.

The picture is from the meditation garden out at St. David.

I hope that everyone has a good Tuesday.

Monday morning...and time for reflection

Whitewater Draw Wildlife Refuge, originally uploaded by torri_g.

It really was one of those perfect weather weekends here in Arizona. Alright so 80 plus degrees at the end of February beginning of March is a little scary, because the thought of just how hot could it be here come April keeps coming to mind. But it doesn't matter, I'll take these beautiful days. It was a photo taking frenzy for me this weekend. I have lots and lots of stuff to do some mild editing on because my one lens still seems to have issues when I aim it at just the right color of blue sky.(Thought I had the problem fixed but back to the cleaning and trying to get it again.) Already did some editing on some pictures for color because here in Arizona I have noticed you can actually have to much sun and it will fade the colors down. It was fun playing with probably every setting on the camera trying to achieve different looks of the same thing. It also brought to mind the thought that I really want a bigger telephoto lens. Most of the great bird subjects were just close enough that you could see them...but just far enough that I couldn't get a close up picture of them.

I'm thinking for this week's blogging I'm just going to keep it really simple...picture, place, and not a whole lot of anything else. I hope that everyone's Monday is off to a good start and that the whole week is just a simple one.

Sibling Sunday...In control of the camera

IMG_3098, originally uploaded by torri_g.

Little Bug's turn with the camera again, and she picked picture of Mama owl who very quietly watched over our picnic lunch yesterday.

All of the girls are counting down the days till the end of the third quarter, and the start of their spring break. Twelve days till both happen! Of course since today is the first day of the month of March there are the thoughts of birthdays for the oldest two, and my thoughts of just trying to get through and have maybe a little money left. Oh yeah...there is my birthday also. Wait just about half of the people I know have birthday's in this month, so why don't I just say Happy Birthday now to everyone!

Alright back to things about the siblings here. Binky Sue has made her final choice on just what her future plans are for after graduation, and has spent the last couple of days filling out paper work for various things. Sweetpea was tickled to no end to get her official invitation to this years art show. She doesn't know just how many pieces are going to be displayed, but since she didn't get one last year she is just thrilled to be a part of it again. Little Bug is still working on getting ready for her up coming choir concert, and picking her classes for next year and her first year of high school.

This week looks to be a mildly busy one for the kids, with appointments and other things going on. But we have enjoyed a beautiful weather weekend, and got some time to spend with visiting Grandpa and Grandma.

I hope that everyone has had an enjoyable weekend and that there is a good week just waiting for all of us.