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  • My Favorite Photo of the Trip

    We took the Santa Fe loop of Route 66
    and while we were there we went to Bandelier,
    Ancient cliff dwellings of the Pueblo.
    You can climb around on the rocks and go into the caves.

    I do not know who this woman was but I liked her color and style
    against the brown rocks and rugged terrain.
     

  • Freedom


    Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose,

    Nothing don't mean nothing honey if it ain't free...



     

    I saw this in NYC when I was on a bus driving past.

  • Marilyn and Elvis on Rt 66

    ... We saw Elvis too!
    In Seligman AZ

  • Rerun -Season1 Episode2

    I made pickles yesterday and still did not get my photos off the cameras.
    This  photo is one of the first photos I took with my first digital camera
    which was a Sony Cybershot, I had a lot of fun with that camera.
    I just passed it on to my nephew and he is learning about digital photography.
    I am looking forward to seeing the photos he took on our trip.

    This is our spring house door

     

  • Rerun

    I am a little tired this week and have not edited my Route 66 photos yet so I am posting a rerun of a favorite pic.
    It always makes me smile.

    When ever big brother has a time out, baby brother stands with him.
    Brothers

  • Explaining Music Milestones to a Kid

    We had Sirius Satellite Radio in the car for the road trip.
    That was nice. They do not play the same songs over and over.
    I am an old school country fan and last week
    the original queen of country music, Kitty Wells died.
    We were listening to Willie's Roadhouse and they played a lot of Kitty Wells.
    My niece learned to know her voice and asked what was so special about her,
    she said "She wasn't the best singer".
    I understood what she meant
    Kitty did not have a Patsy Cline whiskey rich voice
    but Kitty Wells had an incredible style and lots of chutzpah.
    Kitty Wells was a trailblazer.

    There have been other female country music trailblazers
    like Mother Maybelle Carter (Mother-in-law to Johnny Cash)
    who was one of the first recorded female women guitar players
      She had her own style of playing called 'scratch' style of guitar playing,
    where she used her thumb to play melody on the bass
    and middle strings, and her index finger to fill out the rhythm.
    There were others before her, see THIS POST

    Kitty Wells was the first female country singer to hit the charts
    Her first hit and signature song,
    "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,"
     gave the woman’s point of view about the wild side of life
    and it precipitated a flurry of scandal upon its release in 1953.

    It was written by J.D. Milleras as a direct rebuke to a line in
    Hank Thompson's song "Wild Side of Life"
    The chorus to Thompson’s record was:

    “I didn’t know God made honky-tonk angels
    “I might have known you’d never make a wife —

    Kitty sang the heartfelt reply ...

    As I sit here tonight the jukebox playin'
    The tune about the wild side of life
    As I listen to the words you are sayin'
    It brings memories when I was a trusting wife

    It wasn't God who made Honky Tonk angels
    As you said in the words of your song
    Too many times married men think they're still single
    That has caused many a good girl to go wrong

    It's a shame that all the blame is on us women
    It's not true that only you men feel the same
    From the start most every heart that's ever broken
    Was because there always was a man to blame

    It wasn't God who made Honky Tonk angels
    As you said in the words of your song
    Too many times married men think they're still single
    That has caused many a good girl to go wrong

    NBC's powerful network of Southern and rural stations and country programs
    —including the self-important arbiter of country-music legitimacy
    the Grand Ole Opry—almost instantly banned it.

    Kitty went on to pave the way for female country singers
    in a male dominated industry
    but it was  more than just a musical milestone, it was a cultural one.
    She stood behind her music even when it stepped on a few toes.
    She was quite a lady.

    Trying to explain that to my niece was difficult
    but I also explained to her that those early recordings were not polished.
    I think she got the picture.
    She asked a good question and
    I was pleased that she was listening and thinking.

    My favorite Kitty Wells song is Making Believe

  • A Barn in Missouri

    This barn was in Missouri ,it was very dry there. We prayed for the crops and farmers there and all across the country where rain is much needed. .

  • I didn't bring my computer ,thinking I could upload photos onto the iPad, I was mistaken so the only photos I have to share are from my phone, I will upload the rest when I get home.
    The twins love soda pop, so we stopped at Pop's in Arcadia OK on the way to visit with @wildwomanofthewest.
    Here are a few photos from Pop's.

  • Xanga on Route 66

    At the Slug Bug Ranch in Conway Texas

  • Scenes from the airplane flying from Philadelphia to Las Vegas

  • Twins on Route 66

    Tomorrow my husband, the twins and I will fly to Vegas
    and then drive to California to see Shann (former Momgonemadd)
    I hope to stop at The Bottletree Ranch on the way there.

    On Wednesday we will go to the Santa Monica Pier
    to kick off out "Route 66 Trip"
    and have lunch with Janet at Bubba Gumps.

       

    We are making the twins notebooks with information about Route 66,
    the states  and sights we will be seeing and they each have
    a photo book to get autographed along the way.
     

    I Will post photos as we go,
    "Santa Monica to Chicago or Bust"

  • Fireworks in the Country

    The neighbors had a shindig  for their mothers 90th birthday,
    they ended with fireworks.

  • ROUTE 66 ROAD TRIP!!!!

    On Tuesday my husband Dave, the twins (My 12 yr old niece and nephew)
    and I will fly into Vegas, rent a car and hit the road!

    We are going to get our kicks on Route 66!
    We are going to drive to Santa Monica to the end of Route 66

    and then travel Route 66 E



    all the way to the beginning in Chicago,


      We will continue our drive back to PA.
    I am so excited to show Dave and the twins Route 66,
    we have reservations for some of the classic motels,
    The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook AZ,
    The Silver Saddle in Santa Fe NM,
    The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari NM,
    Boots Motel in Carthage MO,
    and last The Bates Motel in Fairvale, California...
    just kidding about the last one, checking to see if you read this whole thing.

    Would you stay at The Bates Motel?

  • Creeped Out By Uncle Sam


    We took my nephew's family to a fun water park yesterday HERE
    on the way home we saw Uncle Sam by the side of the road.
    Of course I made Dave turn around to get a pic, I told the kids
    (the twins and their little brother) to go stand with him and
    the little guy said "I'm not standing with him! I don't like him!"
    He kept his eye on Uncle Sam the whole time.
    Later on he said "Him not my uncle!"

  • Old Railroad Culvert

     
    I bike along the Schuylkill River Trail, the trail is on an old railroad bed.
    the part of that trail in the Reading area is called The Thun Trail.
    Along the trail I see steps that I pass,

    yesterday I stopped to see where they go.
    They go down to an old Railroad Culvert ,
    this was part of the Reading Railroad system.

      

    From the other side

     

  • Unseemly Facebook Snippet

    My sister posted an older photo of us on my Facebook,

      A snippet of the photo appeared at the top of my Facebook
    in the "Photos" block

       

    I had to look twice at the snippet ,
    I couldn't remember posting a photo of ,well , of that.

    then I looked closer and saw it was part of my sisters arm.
    It just "don't look right".

  • Deer Friends

    Our local dairy has a petting zoo,
    the last few times I was there I saw this rooster on this deer.
    It's the oddest thing.

  • Numbers in Songs

    I was listening to "The City of New Orleans" this morning
    and got this trivia idea.

    1.How many passengers ,conductors and sacks of mail were on that train?
    2. How many hungry children did "Lucielle" leave behind?
    3. What is Jenny's phone number?
    4. How many tons were loaded?Can you sing the whole song?
    5. How many ways are there to leave your lover, name a few?
    6.How many tears did Dickie Lee cry?
    7. "I got my first real six-string
    Bought it at the five-and-dime"...when?
    8. How does Radiohead do addition?
    9.How many maids are milking?

    10. Who can name songs with numbers in the titles from one to ten?
    Example:
    One Fine Day- Carole King
    Two More Bottles of Wine- Emmylou Harris
    Gimme Three Steps- Lynyrd Skynyrd
    Four Strong Winds- Neil Young
    Five to One-The Doors
    If 6 was 9- Jimi Hendrix
    Seven- Prince
    Eight Days a Week- Beatles
    9 to 5 -Dolly Parton
    Big Ten Inch Record-Aero Smith

    Others who did songs 1-10
    Saintvi
    doahsdeer

  • More Polka-Dot Light

    I took some nieces and a nephew to the park,
     There was polka-dot light shining on them when they sat beneath the equipment.
    I only had my phone but I got a few photos of them in the fun light.
    I posted the pic that I like the best from this set of photos
    This is the captured moment before they noticed I was taking photos.
     
    Here are the rest from the set




    Color or black and white?
       

  • How do you express yourself?

    How do you show others who you are?
    What are the ways in which we can do that?
    If you post thoughts or your work let me know.
    I will add some of my thoughts later on.

    People who have posted about Expressing Themselves
    kris0logy 
    mommafish89

  • Self Portrait Challenge #10: Non Smiling (Updated)

    Someone asked me if I'm ever not smiling.
    Not usually, I most always have a smile on my face.
    I make eye contact and smile at everyone I meet or pass by
    and usually they smile back.

    I think my smile is my best feature
    but for the record, here is what I look like without a smile.
     

    Trying to look at the camera
    and not smile, make a face nor look mad, upset, constipated
    or in pain was more difficult than I imagined.
    Point in case...
    I just could not get a shot I liked,

    I liked this shot the most

    I know what you are going to say...
    you like me better when I smile...
    so do I.

    I would love to see your "Non Smiling self portraits"
    Saintvi
    hemptressdecember
    unccharlie
    c-l-o-g
    megabyyte
    goldensilk
    my-coffee-talks
    dingdongdingbat
    ms-beautyexpert

    Previous Self Portrait Challenges HERE

    EDIT:
    I used a tripod and tried it again, this pic is more what I was hoping for

    Thanks to all who participated.
    Our next theme will be a Summer Self Portrait.

  • Things you may not know....

     Some things about me...
    I had a crush on Ginger Baker in High school...who knows who that is?

    I say "Down" after I belch because it sounds like I am saying "UP" when I belch.

    I am most always barefoot

    I have never been to the Emergency Room or admitted to the hospital

    I love classic movies and know film history well

    I have a few Xanga crushes

    I met @TheTheologiansCafe in Houston and we drove to Galveston,
    took photos on the beach, it was a great day, <3 you Dan

    I play a Mandolin...kind of.
    OK I own one and know all the chords.

    I eat really hot and spicy food

    I have changed a lot in the last three years as I process the past,
    I have challenged all my core beliefs and morals.
    I still have my faith but I see things so differently than I used to.

    Now...Tell me something about you that I may not know.

  • My Theory on Bridal/Baby Showers

    Seems like this is the time of year for Bridal Showers and
    I am just not a party girl.
    I want the cake, they want the gift,
    the cake is served at the end so
    that is when I show up
    to make the trade off.

    For baby showers I always give them burp cloths I make,

    sometimes I'll also make a Hooter Hider if they are planning to nurse
    and want a nursing cover.
    It has a curved top for air flow and to see the baby.

    July  08 724
    or I might make a baby sling if I am feeling energetic
    July  08 503

    For Bridal Showers I give a vintage sewing basket.

    filled with needles, thread,straight pins,
    buttons, iron-on parches, Velcro, safety pins, a tape measure,
    a pin cushion, a seam ripper,
    a good pair of small scissors and a good pair of cutting shears.

    Make your own Sewing Kit

    it's the most practical  gift idea.

    Candy-Tin Sewing Kit Instructions HERE

    Mason Jar Sewing Kit instructions HERE

    With just a little retrofitting, an old-fashioned Mason jar can become
    a new sewing kit with a built-in pincushion on top.
    From Martha Stewart Living,August 2006
    Things to add:
    Small spools of thread
    Buttons
    Safety pins
    Needles
    Scissors
    tape measure
    Seam ripper
    straight pins
    thimble
    needle threader

    To see my incredible collection of sewing kits look HERE

  • A picture that makes you laugh

    30 Days of Pics challenge:Day 8

    Day 01- A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
    Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have beenclose with the longest
    Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
    Day 04 - A picture of a habit you wish you didn't have..........
    Day 05 - A picture of your favourite memory.
    Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
    Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.
    Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.
    Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
    Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.
    Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.
    Day 12 - A picture of something you love.
    Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.
    Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
    Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.
    Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.
    Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
    Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
    Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.
    Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
    Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.
    Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.
    Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.
    Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.
    Day 25 - A picture of your day.
    Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.
    Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.
    Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
    Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.
    Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

    You've probably seen it before
    but this is the photo that makes me laugh out loud every time!
    My mom at Target,
    she has nay a clue that her cart is little and green in a big red store.
    I said "Ma, do you notice anything different?"
    She said "Whaaaa"
    Another thing... she is forever buying purses,
    and here she is getting yet another one.
    http://x53.xanga.com/83082af502229270324101/b215614634.jpg
    The little cart is from the "Giant"
    a super market three stores down from Target.

  • The (No) Makeup Challenge

    @mrswhatserface posted a No Makeup Challenge
    I never wear makeup

      
    so any photo you see of me is without makeup.
    The challenge would be to wear makeup!

    Courtesy of my niece and all her loot
    in her saddle bag of a purse
    (notice the car rear view mirror she totes around?)

    This is me with makeup!

  • Most Treasured Item

    30 Days of Pics challenge:Day 7

    Day 01- A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
    Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have beenclose with the longest
    Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
    Day 04 - A picture of a habit you wish you didn't have..........
    Day 05 - A picture of your favourite memory.
    Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
    Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.
    Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.
    Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
    Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.
    Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.
    Day 12 - A picture of something you love.
    Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.
    Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
    Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.
    Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.
    Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
    Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
    Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.
    Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
    Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.
    Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.
    Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.
    Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.
    Day 25 - A picture of your day.
    Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.
    Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.
    Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
    Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.
    Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

    I was born on my dad's birthday,he planned it and it worked out.
    On my fifth birthday he gave me his birthday money
    and took me on a shopping spree.
    I bought a Raggedy Ann Doll
    This is what she would look like

    ...if the dog had not ripped her face off.
    If I had not dragged her through the rain and puddles.
    If I had not slept with her every night for six years.
    If I had not cried a million tears into her cloth.
    If I had not gripped her so hard in the night when my dad
    went into a rage and wanted to kill my mom.
    If I had not took her swimming in the creek with me.
    If I had not loved her more than anything else in the world.
    But my poor doll... this is what's left of her after all that.

     
    She smells the same
    once in a while I bring her close and look at her,
    I go back in time, the memories are swift and strong as they flood over me
    they can close my throat and bring tears to my eyes
    but
    when and breathe her  scent in I relax and feel comforted.
    it is amazing that a doll can do all that.

    She is still my most treasured item.
    What is your most treasured item?

  • Trading Places,Who Would You Pick?

    30 Days of Pics challenge:Day 6

    Day 01- A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
    Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have beenclose with the longest
    Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
    Day 04 - A picture of a habit you wish you didn't have..........
    Day 05 - A picture of your favourite memory.
    Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
    Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.
    Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.
    Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
    Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.
    Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.
    Day 12 - A picture of something you love.
    Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.
    Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
    Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.
    Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.
    Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
    Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
    Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.
    Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
    Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.
    Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.
    Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.
    Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.
    Day 25 - A picture of your day.
    Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.
    Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.
    Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
    Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.
    Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

      We often want to be somewhere better for a day
    but I think if we experienced true hardship and witnessed courage
    firsthand,
    we would be better people for it.
    We would realize our freedoms and blessings,
    we would be more grateful for the everyday privileges we have.


    I would want to trade place with Harriet Tubman for a day.
    Getting to safety was a major feat for her and most people
    would have remained there but no Harriet.
    She made 19 trips back into the South
    and escorted over 300 slaves to freedom.
    And, as she once proudly pointed out to Frederick Douglass,
    in all of her journeys she "never lost a single passenger."

    I do not believe I could fill her shoes for one moment
    but I know I would never be the same afterward.

    I have always admired Harriet Tubman because after freeing herself from slavery,
    Harriet Tubman returned to Maryland to rescue other members of her family.
    In all she is believed to have conducted approximately 300 persons to freedom
    in the North. The tales of her exploits reveal her highly spiritual nature,
    as well as a grim determination to protect her charges
    and those who aided them.
    She always expressed confidence that God would aid her efforts.

    Harriet Tubman had been their "Moses,"
    She had faithfully gone down into Egypt, and had delivered them
    by her own heroism. Harriet was a woman of no pretensions,
    indeed, a more ordinary specimen of humanity could hardly be found
    among the farm hands of the South.
    Yet, in point of courage, shrewdness
    and disinterested exertions to rescue her fellow-men,
    by making personal visits to Maryland among the slaves,
    she was without her equal.
    Info Source HERE

    She was courageous and determined, a true hero.
    Read more about Harriet Tubman HERE

    Who would you like to be for a day?

  • I Met My 117 & 118th Xangans!

    @Kristenmomof3 and @Barrydadof3 do not live too far from me,
    they live in the next county.
    Sometimes they go to swim at a place halfway between us and
    we have been trying to meet there ,on Saturday it worked out.
     
    I took two of my nephews along to play with their three children
    who are all gorgeous!

    The kids had a great time together.

    I really enjoyed talking to Kris, Barry and his father.
    I hope to meet them there again before summer is over.
     

    Kris posted about Seedsower and fun at Blue Marsh
    and Barry posted Some Fun in the Sun

    I love meeting Xangans,
    have you ever met anyone from Xanga that you did not know before?

  • 30 Days of Pics: Day 5 - Fav Memory

    Day 01- A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.
    Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have beenclose with the longest
    Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.
    Day 04 - A picture of a habit you wish you didn't have..........
    Day 05 - A picture of your favourite memory.
    Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.
    Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.
    Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.
    Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.
    Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.
    Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.
    Day 12 - A picture of something you love.
    Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.
    Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.
    Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.
    Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.
    Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.
    Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.
    Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.
    Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.
    Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.
    Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.
    Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.
    Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.
    Day 25 - A picture of your day.
    Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.
    Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.
    Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.
    Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.
    Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

    Every year I plan  weekend for my mom and her sisters,
    I call it The Chick Trip.
    Listening to them talk early in the morning over coffee
    while I am still in bed is one of my most favorite times ever.

    Here are the 6 sisters from a few years ago,
    getting them on this sliding board was funny, we all laughed a lot
    but my one aunt laughed so much she peed her pants.


    Here we have a captive audience watching a movie
    One Captive Audience

    And here, let's see if we can all fit in the kitchen at once.
    chick trip 011v