Early Spring

This weather here has been fantastic!!! Sunny days (73-82 F) blue skies with white, puffy clouds, a gentle breeze, birds chirping and my first sunburn... on my nose, of course (ouch!) We are basically having Easter weather without the green grass.

If this keeps up we'll have summer here in another two months and I'll be confined to house arrest - not fun! This is why I have not been blogging very much... I'm outside, spending hours upon hours with my boy by the lake or at the park enjoying the great outdoors while I can...while there are still not very many pesky bugs out - although, I did get my first mosquito bite already!

My friend/neighbor, Terri, Gizzy and I went to Roquemore Park last weekend and took some fun photos:

Terri on the kiddie slide with Gizzy

Gizzy in the kiddie swing

Me and the boy behind the pulpit at Roquemore Park

I love these little violets growing around my apartment. Apparently, they are self-seeding and are popping up everywhere...only, they don't have much of a scent and I miss that.

When I stepped out the back door one night to take a few evening and full moon photos, this bird flew right in front of my camera and boldly sat there in that tree watching me...

Tomorrow, I'll walk to Roquemore Park in the morning to photograph some blooming trees with pink/lavender blossoms!

I also have been crocheting up a storm making keyhole scarves and fingerless mitts for my daughter in California. I have to hurry and send them on their way before it gets too warm.

Happy President's Day!

(Washington's Birthday)

Also, if you have not entered my February Giveaway, you have until Wednesday, 2/23/11, to do so!

Our Senior's Valentine's Party

My friend and neighbor, Terri, and I (with the help of our apartment's petty cash fund) organized a little Valentine's get-together for our senior neighbors/tenants at the apartment complex where we live.

Wendy, (l) and Missy, our Apartment Manager

Terri, bless her, baked all morning, and I helped frost the cupcakes and decorate the recreation room.

Terri with one of her baked cakes.

Terry baked about 36 cupcakes and two heart shaped cakes, both of which were raffled off at the end, because they never even got cut. Almost everyone went home with a plate full of treats, because there was so much. We also had punch, mixed nuts, Cheese-Nips and enough candy and chocolates to kill even the biggest sweet tooth PLUS door prizes for everyone! ...and yes, some of them were my crocheted heart-shaped hanging picture frame ornaments. I gave one to our letter carrier, Shannon, as well. She's always so nice and very helpful.

There were 14 people in our party and it seemed like a good group for talking some with everyone.

As folks began leaving the party, they made sure to thank me and Terri and expressed how much they enjoyed it, which made it all more wonderful! One lady, who is very ill (kidney problems) and rarely comes out of her apartment told me that she almost didn't come, but how she was glad that she did and realized she needed to get out of the house. I'm so glad that the party  went over so well and all, but four people who were invited showed up for our little Valentine's celebration. We also set a tentative date for getting together again next month to start a monthly Bingo Night!

Silly me, brought an "Old Maid" card game to break the ice, but that was not necessary - everyone mingled and chatted without any help from me.

I designated myself as the "photographer" but Terri wouldn't let me get away with not being in any photos. Unfortunately the one where I posed (smiling) was blurred, so this one is me just sitting there (at the end of the table) staring into space...

I'm so glad the party was a success, but after the clean-up, I went home and took a nap - oh, my aching back, but it was so worth it!  

Happy Valentien's Day!

I love you guys! I appreciate your friendships and I wish you all a wonderful day - a special day, even if you may not have a "special someone" (of the romantic persuasion) in your life right now; but, our special loves can take on many different forms: it could be a pet, a passion, a flower in bloom - a beautiful, sunny day - like today! I wish you love in abundance and most of all contentment and appreciation for life in all its splendors.

Love Poem
by Gregory Orr
A black biplane crashes through the window of the luncheonette. The pilot climbs down, removing his leather hood. He hands me my grandmother's jade ring. No, it is two robin's eggs and a telephone number: yours. I think Mr. Orr may have watched too many movies, but I like the  dramatic entrance! (and the idea of being handed my true love's  phone number - I'm still waiting!) Now I must get ready to help my friend and neighbor, Terri, set up the rec room for our little Valentine's Party this afternoon. We're having a little get-together for our elderly neighbors (yes, including myself) with some light refreshments and door prizes!  ...for a lovely Valentine's Day!

A walk around Lake Irma

Yesterday we had interesting weather - sort of an April kind of a day. The sun was playing peek-a-boo with the clouds, which made for a very busy sky. When we started out it looked as if it were going to rain (and I didn’t bring my rain coat.)

but Gizzy pressed on wanting to walk


so walking we went, no matter what the sky
 
There’s lots to discover around the lake, especially for a little guy like my boy. The water was a bit choppy because we had a decent breeze.

The sun kept trying to break through – and here come the duckies…I have not seen Victoria, the goose, the last few times I walked, so I believe she may have decided to move on…perhaps to find some of her own kind.

Gizzy, the big, bad duck herder! He makes sure they go back into the water and I let him because I do not want them out in the street where the cars drive by too fast.

Good thing I watched where I was going to sit…there was a bee on my chair (rollater) – while Gizzy keeps exploring!
 
I found some pretty Paperwhites along the way!

…and some more ducks found me. I gave them some kibbles as well. They all know me by now and come when they see me (in spite of the dog.)

I found a good place to sit and groom the boy. He loves to be brushed/combed especially under the chinny-chin-chin!

I took this photo from the boardwalk – I like the way the clouds reflect in the water!

same here!

After we crossed the bridge, we sat down again and Gizzy had a good drink of water!

Someone drove up that got Gizzy’s attention and a bit later, the wind picked up as you can see by his fur.

I saw a little bird on a tree branch that fell into the water – and further down a white Egret stalking his prey (sorry, my zoom lens does not have much zoom!)
 
On the home stretch, the sun was out again and the water glittered the way I like it the best – diamond chips dancing on the water – just lovely!

I saw these Camelias blooming, cheering up the otherwise gloomy landscape.

That concludes Gizzy and my little adventure. I had to post this via Windows Live Writer because Google tells me I have used up all my 1 GB picture storage space and now I have to purchase more – has that happened to anyone of you yet? Are you paying for more storage? I would be interested in finding out before having to pay for posting more photos on Blogger.

Also, what I have noticed is that when I go back and edit this post in Blogger and adjust the picture size, the quality of the images are compromised when enlarging them - they are not as clear!  I will go back and edit the photos in Windows Live Writer instead!

OK, this is what I have learned today: I'm out of storage in Google and I have to buy more storage, instead, I have posted this in Windows Live Writer. Images enlarged in edit mode on Blogger get blurry, but reducing them in edit mode do not. Therefore, make the photos in Windows Live Writer LARGE and going back to edit them in Blogger to Medium works better. UNLESS you configure your proper picture size in Windows Live Writer from the get go and then you don't have to go through all that editing stuff. I will try that next time.

Any input you have concerning similar experiences, please let me know!

Happy weekend...and don't forget to enter my Giveaway!