30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 30

Day 30: A picture of someone you miss



I'm not choosing a person because I live about 3,000 miles away from my family and friends back "home". I miss them all! I also frequently am missing my hubby who is gone flying missions all over the world. The common denominator? A plane (in this picture it's a C-17 of course). I have to get on one to go see the people I miss, and one always seems to be taking J away from me!

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 29

Day 29: A picture that can always make you smile

I love baking, and this is one of my favorite recipes: honey wheat bread. I make this for no reason, but I also make it for special occasions and it reminds me of those times now. YUM

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 28

Day 28: A picture of something you're afraid of


Roller coasters ... horror! It combines many things I dislike: heights, being confined in a small space, not being in control. Unbelievably, I rode this one in the summer of 2008. Why or how I have no idea. I remember hating every second and barely being able to stand upon exiting the ride.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 27

Day 27: A picture of yourself and a family member


I'm getting tired of pictures of me, so here's a shot from behind. With my brother.

Spring

It is a beautiful day in April. Yesterday was damp, chilly, and rainy. I think it may have been the last of our rain until winter. When the rain stops all the beautiful, lush green surrounding us will start to fade and die and we'll be left with a HOT and very brown summer. I'm still not sure about green winters and brown summers...

This is a shot from our backyard today. If you look hard you can see a palm tree.

 Despite acquiring a lawn mower, the grass still seems to be long more than it's short. The only reason it's green is because I've been watering it almost daily. We've also been having a lawn service some out to kill weeds and help boost the color and growth. When we moved in the back looked terrible! The previous family had a dog that dug, and never watered so it was all mostly dead. It's still not perfect, but it's way better.

 A few weeks ago the housing folks here on base gave away free flowers for us to use/plant! There are in the back patio. The "empty" pot has seeds in it ... wonder if they will actually grow?

 Can't take any credit, this was in the front of the house already, but it's pink and pretty.

 Would ya know, this is rosemary?! It has such pretty blue flowers. I've used the rosemary in the kitchen. Yum.

 These I did plant out front.

 Another potted flower and a cute welcome sign I unearthed in the garage a few weeks ago. The bee is especially appropriate because J's squadron here are the bee-liners.

 Our little tree out front. Most of our blooms are gone and the trees are full of leaves. But there are a few left on this little guy.

The plan today is to go pick up my Dad in Sacramento and then head home and grill! I've got ground sirloin for burgers, baked beans, and really, what else do you need to grill out? A nice bottle a cold wine...don't mind if we do. I love this weather! I loooooove having J around to share it.

"He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes." -Deuteronomy 10:21

"Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts" - 1 Chron. 16:9

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 26

Day 26: A picture of something that means a lot to you


I got my tea set when I turned 21. It's beautiful. I have acquired much of the china service that goes with it now and use it for holidays. It's special because of who it's from. It's also special because it's lovely china, and it reminds me of some of my favorite things: the Anne books, going to tea rooms, Jane Austen, summer, West Point Market.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 25

Day 25: A picture of your day



I managed to get through the entire month without missing a day ... until the 25th! So this is late, and out of order, but you can see why. I was really busy that day!!

Happy Easter

We had a great Easter weekend! Friday night we colored Easter eggs. I want you to notice the excitement on J's face... ;-)

Saturday we spent the day in Napa with friends. It was cloudy, but it never rained and it was fairly warm (60's). And despite it being a Saturday on a holiday weekend, it really wasn't very busy. we took advantage of our wine club membership to do several free tastings and went to our standard Napa lunch spot: Gott's Roadside. YUM! We stopped by Mumm, and finally decided to join their wine club. It's such a great place and we are always stopping in, so why not get a discount and lots of freebies?! However, we've decided that two wine clubs is our limit. No more. The end.

Sunday we woke up early to go to the 8:15 church service. It's so nice to see people really dressed up at church. It was a nice service and then we went home and had cinnamon rolls and then headed over to a different couple's house for Easter lunch at 1pm. There were 10 people for lunch and the food was all excellent. We had a really fun time! I made a strawberry pie, complete with homemade crust, and it turned out very well for a first try. We made it home with just two little pieces left ... I'm willing to bet they will be gone after today. 

Today J was up at 4:45 for work and I've been up since 6am cleaning the house. My Dad is coming into town for a week long visit tomorrow, and shortly after he leave my grandparents are coming for a week. It's going to be busy around here!  

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 24

Day 24: A picture of something you wish you could change


I wish I could change all of our giant grocery stores, filled with processed and frozen "food" into beautiful outdoor markets containing local and organic items, homebaked goods, and fresh cut flowers.


I think changing the decade would be fun too... I never lived through the 1950s, but it sure seems nostalgic and idyllic. People still took care to look nice and dress up, the cars were much cooler, church was a big part of most people's lives, things like the drive-in were big, there was such a thing as being polite and having manners.

30 Day Photo Challenge - Day 23

Day 23: A picture of your favorite book



So technically it's 8 books ... but it's all one series!