Craft Show Past

Now don't get too excited, I wasn't selling anything at this show, I was buying! Hehe. Me and buying = danger! I did have a great time, though. It is an annual show, held about the same weekend every year, in a beautiful city on the mountain called Beersheba Springs. It is held on the grounds of, what I've always heard it called, a Methodist "Camp". In the pictures below you will see some of the buildings at the "camp", which include cabin rooms, a mess hall/cafeteria, and even a sitting room which they open up and let fair patrons have a rock in the many rocking chairs.

The view from the back side of what used to be the main building is absolutely breathtaking. They have a platform, if you will, built along the side of the drop-off so that you can enjoy the view. Many a family picture has been taken sitting along the wall of the rock platform. Its such a beautiful place! (I thought I got a picture of the "platform" itself, but I guess I didn't take it, but you can see where the rock starts in the bottom of this first picture where it starts, then it goes out to the view you see at the bottom)



I didn't take many pictures around the fair itself because I wasn't sure how people would take to me just taking pictures of them walking around eating their buttered corn on the cob or cones of ice cream. I did take a few of the area, though, as well as something that I REALLY wish I had had the extra money to buy, and now regret that I didn't get a smaller version anyway. (luckily the vendor will be at another sale in about a month or so that I can go to and possibly still get one)

I did, though, get some shopping done. Sadly, I only got one Christmas present, the rest was for me. Stingy, I know, but I couldn't help it. I was looking more for ideas of things that I could possibly make myself, but ended up buying a few things I couldn't pass up, either. I got myself a bottle-cap ladybug necklace that I ADORE, a tie-dyed shirt for only $5 (a bargain!), a leather bracelet with multi-colored flowers attached to it, a cross-from-nails necklace in a sorta lime-ish green color, and I bought a headband and flower, which I hope to use in photo shoots of my friend's grandchild, when we get to do it. All in all I didn't do too bad, and I had loads of fun too. Now, if I'd had more money to spend? I'd have come back with a LOT more, including that huge pumpkin!

Just a couple more random shots I took before I left.

( P.S. The pumpkin was about as tall as me and was $55! )

The Disaster of Life

Alas, I have failed myself. My main goal was to blog as much as I could. That hasn't happened as much as I would like. Things in life have just been insane! From the situation with my BF possibly losing his rights to his son (LONG story) to my having to have another tooth pulled yesterday (number 4 now), I just haven't had time for anything. My dad is even in the hospital and I can't go see him. Last night something, whether it was the medication, pain from the tooth-yanking, or just the fries and the chicken broth I tried to eat, made me highly sick. From mega dizziness to stuff coming out both ends (sorry so graphic there), thus the reason why I am here at home instead of at work today. Last night was the first time in four years that I upchucked anything. It was horrible. I was expecting pain, but instead I have nausea. Lovely, right?

Being at home today, I have had the TV stuck on HGTV most all day (except for now, which I am watching Who's The Boss...hehe). It has SO inspired me to want to decorate this horrible duplex that we are living in right now. Problem? Money. Well, money and the ability to paint (which we can't, because we rent). I saw THE coolest kitchen that had a wall painted with magnetic chalk paint, the kitchen decked out in black, white, and chrome. Our kitchen? Linoleum with holes in it, cabinets that aren't big enough and doors that don't stay shut. They even showed how to jazz up a room with beige walls with color, in the event that you can't paint because of renting (me me me!!!). I think I could pull that off, but the problem is money. I don't have the cash to go out like they do and buy expensive fabrics and embellishments to decorate our living room. Even hand me down furniture can be revamped, but that takes money, too. So, until I can figure out how to make it work, I have black and brown woods with a light green and puke mustard chair, flower curtains, and our horribly off-white colored walls throughout the whole duplex.

I have had some fun with my camera, though. I found a pair of cardinals, male and female, that have taken over my bird feeder, as well as a couple of hummingbirds that love to fight over their own feeder, which I attached to our front window. Problem? Its hard to get a shot of them through the screen on the window. I'm going to have to figure out how to move it up or just sit outside in a chair and get a few shots of them that way. I've gotten a few so far.

The last one I was too slow on, got its behind on the way out. Haha! I need to clean my window, too. Thanks to Emma, it gets a little dirty.


But you gotta love her, right? Yeah, she might tear up my house, upchuck on my carpet, climb my bookcases, but she's my lovable ball of fur.



Well, off to work on a knit hat...haven't knit in a while. Maybe I'll have something crafty to show off next time I blog. Yeah, right. There's a craft show tomorrow and Sunday up on the mountain here and I'll probably end up buying some Christmas presents if I go, beings I have SEVENTEEN kids to buy for this year. Oh my!

Old Times

I was reading a blog of a photographer the other day, and he had posted a picture, black and white, of an older couple. Now, there was nothing special about it. They weren't well dressed, as a matter of fact it looked like they were doing some gardening, maybe. They weren't smiling. They weren't touching. They were just....there. Yet, that picture said so much and so little at the same time. It really got your imagination gears turning. Who are they? Where are they? Why aren't they smiling? Are they married, or are they siblings? Who took the picture?

Nameless pictures always have a story behind them. Its learning that story that is always fascinating. At the same time, you may not always know the stories behind the pictures. They leave your mind open to draw your own conclusions.

Seeing his picture made me think of all the World War II pictures that my grandpa took when he was over seas. A lot of them don't have any kind of markings on them. Where they were taken. When they were taken. Who is in the pictures.

Sadly, my grandpa passed away when I was only 2 1/2, so I will never really know the stories behind most the pictures. Some of them he did have some notes written on them, captions under the pictures in the album they were placed in. But its ones like these that make you wonder.....
Who were these children? What city/country did they live in? Are they still alive today? Why was the lady pulling them in a wagon? (there were several photos like this)
Who are these guys? Were they in the regiment with my grandpa, or just stationed in the same area, and what area are they in? Were they married? Did they have families at home in the states waiting on their safe return? Did they even safely return?

Where in the world, literally, is my grandpa in this shot, and what is he looking at? What kind of camera was this taken with? The detail is amazing!

This one tells us a little bit about where and when, but what is a good question here. My grandpa, left forefront, seems to be talking to the kids. What are they talking about? What did they think of the war and the American soldiers? Are they still alive today, and would they remember this day if shown the picture?
Again, last names of the three soldiers (my grandpa on the left) and where and when. But what? What were they doing? Were they on patrol? Were they on a leave in the city?

In real size, this one has such great detail. Yet, again, we do not know where. Why are there so many wooden crosses? What is their significance? What do they say? Do they still exist today?

I would love to have a historian look at the 300 some-odd pictures that my grandpa and his friends took of the War, in many various places all over the world; France, Germany, Tunisa, North Africa, and I am sure many more I am unaware of. As an ambulance driver and a cook, I am sure he saw a lot. Maybe not as much as the ones in combat, but he saw the after-effects. Lots of pictures show the devastation of the war, from hollowed out buildings to cars blown up on the sides of the roads to collapsed bridges to trailers full of bodies. Oh to have known about those pictures, to have talked to him and learned the where, when, why, who. But we are left to wonder, nameless faces of old times.

I leave you with this picture. Now, I do know the story behind this one. The question is, do YOU want to know, or do you want to create your own story?

About Me

I found this on my Facebook notes, and I thought I'd share it with those of you who MIGHT be reading my blog and don't know me. Hope you enjoy! Gonna be a BUSY day!

1.What time did you get up this morning? 4am then again at 6:30am


2. How do you like your steak? well done


3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? HARRY POTTER BABY!!!


4. What is your favorite TV show? NCIS


5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? anywhere but Manchester


6. What did you have for breakfast? Grape Nuts with Vanilla Soy Milk and Blueberry Juice


7. What is your favorite cuisine? Mexican


8. What foods do you dislike? milk product foods...make me sick


9. Favorite Place to Eat? Los 3 Amigos (local Mexican joint)


10. Favorite dressing? Italian


11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Hyundai Elantra


12. What are your favorite clothes? my comfy jeans and a nice top (in this summer heat, a pair of shorts and a spaghetti strap shirt! LOL!)


13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? England, probably


14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? empty


15. Where would you want to retire? somewhere peaceful


16. Favorite time of day? quitting time


17. Where were you born? Tullahoma, TN


18. What is your favorite sport to watch? NASCAR


19. Who do you think will not tag you back? don't care, not gonna tag anyone


20. Person you expect to tag you back first? see above


21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? anyone, really


22. Bird watcher? in the winter, in the snow


23. Are you a morning person or a night person? night


24. Do you have any pets? currently have a cat here at my house, two Shih Tzus at my dad's house


25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? really excited about my new camera and getting to play with it


26. What did you want to be when you were little? don't honestly remember, but I used to stand on our front porch and sing songs from The Oak Ridge Boys and pretend I was on stage


27. What is your best childhood memory? going to the beach with my mom and dad


28. Are you a cat or dog person? both


29. Are you married? legally, yes....but he's been gone for WELL over 4 years now


30. Always wear your seat belt? yes


31. Been in a car accident? lol...yeah


32. Any pet peeves? which one you wanna know about?


33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? no pizza, cheese bad


34. Favorite Flower? ROSES


35. Favorite ice cream? Breyers Lactose Free


36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Subway


37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? once


38. From whom did you get your last email? there's no telling, I get like 20 new ones every morning :s


39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? I don't have credit cards, so I wouldn't


40. Do anything spontaneous lately? not really


41. Like your job? for the most part


42. Broccoli? used to like it, with cheese or ranch dressing, can't eat either now


43. What was your favorite vacation? always the 4th of July on the beach at Gulf Shores


44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Bugz


45. What are you listening to right now? the news on TV, the AC blowing out air, and the cat going nuts jumping all over the chair


46. What is your favorite color? red and lime green


47. How many tattoos do you have? none, want one but too chicken


48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? none, if you wanna do it, do it


49. What time did you finish this quiz? 7:33am


50. Coffee Drinker? not anymore...dang caffeine and panic attacks

New Toys... blog entry #2

So with some of my leftover income tax return money, I got myself an Ipod touch. Every day, I play with it and find more new things to do on it. I came across this great photo program, Photo Brush, and have become addicted to it. Now, I'll admit, they are a little "juvenile", but they are so cute! The only problem is I have to download more pictures into my Ipod so I can play more!



I am so excited that my bf's brother and his fiancee are taking in the two "orphans"....my bf's biological sister's kids that she had taken away from her. The kids need so much attention, and I know they are going to get it with Stan and Jess. And I am so glad that the kids are going to stay in the family.

AND....I can't help taking pictures of Katie....she's such a doll!




I am really looking forward to this weekend, because I'll get to FINALLY play with my new camera. I took a few pictures this evening, but beings I was playing with two little girls, I didn't get to do many pictures. "Aunt Holly, come here! Aunt Holly, go get my apple "ball" out of the grass, I can't find it! Aunt Holly, I got a boo boo, I am bleeding!" Yeah, aren't kids great? HAHA!

Tomorrow I will be hitting yard sales (weather permitting) and thrift stores, looking for some toys and clothes for the kids, beings that they are coming with nothing, and the "new parents" don't have anything, either. I love buying things for others. The older I get, the more I like spending on others and not so much on myself. Now, my camera and crafting stuff....that's a little different. Don't feel so bad buying myself some new yummy yarn. Just found a new pattern for a hat that I want to try soon....was going to do it tomorrow, but last minute word yesterday that they are getting the kids Monday kinda made Saturday "CRUNCH TIME", get what you can for them to make them more comfortable.

I decided that I am going to take a couple of the good pictures of each of them and blow them up (size wise) and add their name (LOVE Photobucket editor) and have them hang over their beds, beings they'll have to share a room. I can't wait to see what it looks like, but I can't get the enlargements till Tuesday. Its all good, though. Aunt Holly can still find them some toys and clothes to make things a little easier for them to make the transition.

And now that its 10pm, and the BF is next door hanging with the neighbor when he SHOULD be at home in bed (alarm for work goes off at 4am), I think that I will crash. It has been a LONG day, and I have been nauseous ever since I ate Mexican earlier this week. Nice, huh? Oh well, its all good, I guess.

P.S. before I leave. If you are reading this, will you please leave a comment? Even if its a negative one. If no one is reading this, then what's the point, right? Well, it makes me feel better, I guess. LOL!

New Toys...blog #1

It finally happened, and I couldn't be more excited! I got my camera!

Sorry its such a bad picture, I took it with my cell phone....LOL! It is a Nikon Coolpix L110. I LOVE it so far! Haven't gotten to take too many pictures with it yet, so I cannot wait till the weekend so I can start playing with it!

In return for the camera, the darling BF (who bought it for me) had to get his own toy.....

A brand new LG TruSlim FRAME 42" Plasma TV. It is great so far. I can't wait to watch a movie on it, which I'll probably do this afternoon, beings I have the rest of the day off from work. (After grocery shopping for Granny, that is).

When I got home from work today, I found a package on my steps. What was it? The first addition to my new collection....cameras! Vintage, to be exact. This collection is going to be expensive, I have a feeling, but it'll be worth it because they are SO cool! This little gem below I got for $15. Sadly, it doesn't work, but it still is really freaking cool to look at. Its so cute! All small and boxy.

Its a Kodak "Holiday Flash" Brownie. Now, I don't know much about old cameras, so I'd like to get a book with the history of cameras, so I can learn a little more about what I am buying. I can't wait to enjoy my new collecting hobby!

In closing for today, beings I still have LOTS to do today, Emma wanted to say hi. She won't sit still long enough to get a real good shot, so for now this one will have to do.

I will have a New Toys....blog #2 later on today...more pictures to share!

July 4th Celebration, Take Two

Ok, so last night was my 4th at my cousin's house, and we had a BLAST....literally. It was so much fun! It was the first time in a while that I actually felt like I had a lot of energy and was active. I ended up most the night playing with David, and I couldn't help taking shots of him and his little brother.....





I had bought some colored smoke, and decided to start playing with them, which turned into some cool color effects.....thanks to the darling BF for taking pictures for me while I played. Gonna have to teach him about light and smoke, though. He was standing in the wrong spot, so the sun was coming through the smoke, washing out a lot of the color. But I still think I got some good ones. I LOVE that blue!



I have also decided after seeing pictures of myself, I am not ever going to eat anything again. I didn't realize just how much weight I'd gained lately! I mean, I have, but you know, until you REALLY see it, your brain doesn't comprehend it. Numbers are one thing, actually seeing it is another.


When darkness fell, I got to play with my camera. This was the first year to use this camera with fireworks, and while I didn't use the function on the 3rd, I tried the Fireworks mode last night as I was shooting some of the big ones. I realized, after quite a few failed pictures, that it is a slow-capture mode. How did I learn this? I shot a firework, then lowered my camera....I got a shot of both the fireworks in the air, and my foot! It almost looks like a double exposure, its so funny! From there, I had a little better time with the pictures, although I was too slow when it came to pushing the button. I got a few good shots of some artillery shells and a few fountains.


The coolest pictures in my opinion, though, were the sparklers. You can really see the slow-motion shutter in them, because obviously there's no way that sparkler tip can be in all those places at once. LOL! I just LOVE them, though! They look really cool.


My cousin Linda took some pictures, too, and I'd love to see what hers look like, because she had never used the Fireworks mode, either. But hey, I got some pretty good video too.



But alas, the $400 worth of fireworks (over the course of two nights) goes too fast, and we must wait till next year to blow them all up again. Granted, you can shoot them whenever you want in the country, but they aren't as easy to find when its not the 4th, except for on New Years, and its just too dang cold for them in Dec/Jan! But, I still love them.

Don't think that I forgot about the real reason for the 4th....my grandpa was in WWII, after all. And when I think of all the troops losing their lives here lately overseas, it really breaks my heart. For them, and for those to come who will have to fight future wars on our behalf, I salute you. Thank you for all you have done and yet to have done. God bless you!

Yes, I said GOD BLESS YOU! I'm not afraid to show my faith. <3

Are you?