Photo Hunt #4 - Smiley Saturday #4 and More ...

This week's prompt is: Shoes

These Keen Sandals are my favorites for walking I have them in many colors.

For casual wear I choose these favorite slip on sandals by Merrill and these UGG sandals on chillier days.

and on rainy days like today my older Keens and/or these Croc-like clogs from Easy Spirit that feel better on my feet than Crocs.

I've got LOTS more just like these!

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in Photo Hunters
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Last night's drizzles watered the yard for me ...
so I didn't have to do it by hand today.

and there won't be as many
noisy Memorial Day weekend parties
leaving trash in the yard and/or keeping us awake
to all hours here at the beach.

I hope you're having better weather for your
holiday weekend barbeques ;--)

(Click for others participating this week)

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(found at the Daily Meme)

Fill in the blanks with as many words as you wish

1. Air - is usually fresher and more breathable on the coast than the air inland. Today it's raining (even though it's Memorial Day weekend) so the air smells extra clean!

2. Sea - breezes keep temperatures pleasant here near the ocean

3. Land - the airplane safely please ;--)

4. Below - the radar

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If you'd like to participate ... you can do so in comments or on your own blog. Just fill In The Blanks With As Many Words As You Wish ... and leave me a link so I can read your answers too.

1. Air___________?

2. Sea___________?

3. Land__________?

4. Below_________?

(Click for others participating this week
in the Saturday Special)

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1. Who was your best friend?
I had a group of friends through Junior High and High School ... including Karen, Joyce, Marilyn, Shirley, and Pat (now known as Tricia)... most of whom I've totally lost track of other than Tricia ... though we've not seen one another for years. We do keep in contact at the holiday season.

2. Did you play any sports?
I played tennis and some basketball, but my passion in HS was 'dance' ... and I participated in classes for several years and performed in stage productions while in HS. I gave up dance for tennis in college however.

3. What kind of car did you drive?
I didn't own a car when I was in high school but was occasionally permitted to drive my Mom's Ford Galaxy (once I had a license). My brother taught me to drive his Plymouth stick-shift. He was the one who took me to get my learner's permit and was responsible for me returning with my actual license at the age of 15 and a half ... much to my parent's dismay and my friend's disbelief.

4. It’s Friday night. Where were you?
At home with my family of origin (remember my mom was Dutch and quite conservative) most nights ... but occasionally at a movie or school dance.

5. Were you a party animal?
Nope ... never have been the life of a party!

6. Were you considered a flirt?
I don't believe so. I was quite shy around boys in high school, though I did have a 'boy-friend' I met at church ... eventually married him at 23 ... and we were divorced 21 years later.

7. Were you in the band, orchestra or choir?
I played the clarinet in Junior High but not in High School. I did sing in a vocal choir for a while at school and church.

8. Were you a nerd?
I was alway a good student, but never a 'nerd' ... though I had friends who definitely delighted in the label for themselves.

9. Were you ever suspended or expelled?
No ... I never wanted to disappoint my family, so I consistently followed 'rules' as a kid.

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Thought for Today
"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kind of good weather." John Ruskin

Smiley Saturday#3 and other Stuph

It's a beautiful sunny warm day here at the beach in Southern California so it's hard for me to stay indoors for long ... hence this post is being created and published later than usual for a Saturday because Molly & I took a walk and I did some gardening a little while ago. I spent time earlier this morning doing my best to 'catch up' with comments & blog visits from last week (though I still have more that 650 unread posts in Google Reader and fear I'll never figure that out without just 'marking all as read' and moving forward ... something I don't really want to do). That acknowledged, this has been a wonderful week!

Monday was 'Retired Gals' lunch so I caught up with friends!


Tuesday and Thursday were my first two Photoshop Elements sessions and I learned lots ... then shared in my T-13 and my two Haiku Friday posts ... one on this blog (illustrating animal manipulation techniques) and the other at Sacred Ruminations (showing how we changed 'effects' on portraits).

In addition to Fun Monday (with Lois' Favorite Mug Meme) & HoTs and T0Ts, on Wednesday I created and shared (almost wordless) One Single Impression photos & haikus on the theme of 'warm' ... about puppies on this blog and about sunsets on the other.

I've chatted with my sister several times this week ... most recently several times yesterday while they were getting their RV serviced.

My Hydrangea looks BEAUTIFUL with lots of large lavender blossoms even though it's smallish. I posted a photo in my BYBS post last Sunday, but they're even bigger and more gorgeous today.

Each of those things make me SMILE just thinking about them ... and they might bring a smile to your fact too if you have time to check them out.

Finally, here are links to RHD Mom's Friday Funny and to Baby~amore's cleverly conceived, humorous T-13 in which she shares lessons learned from her mom. Both generated laughter in addition to smiles for me.

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(found at the Daily Meme)

Words Ending in ING ~ I Ask, You Answer

1. Avoiding...you answer?

2. Baking...you answer?

3. Camping...you answer?

4. Decorating...you answer?

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My responses:

1. Avoiding ... housecleaning activities today.

2. Baking ... something I just don't do any more, ever!

3. Camping ... takes me back to my youth and Big Sur, Lake Havasu, Yosemite, and Big Bear.

4. Decorating ... best left to those who know about such things.

If you'd like to play, copy and paste the clues into the comments box share your responses here ... or on your own blog and leave me a link so I can visit you.

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I found this Quiz at Chuck's. Her 'blogging type' was 'Artistic and Passionate' but look at my results! I admit I'm surprised because this isn't exactly how I perceive my 'blogging' style, but what the hey? I'm certainly 'principled' ... I just don't know how 'logical' I am. However, I'm curious what other results there might be ... so please play along and share ... either in comments or on your own blog, leaving a link here.

Your Blogging Type is Logical and Principled

You like to voice your well thought out opinions on your blog. And if someone doesn't what you write, you really don't care! Serious and blunt, sometimes people take your blog the wrong way. But you're a true and loyal friend to those who truly get you.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

Thought for Today
"A laugh is a smile that bursts." Mary H. Waldrip

PhotoHunt#2 & Saturday Special Smiley 'Stuph'

Today's theme is Time
I'm participating for the 2nd time ever
and this is today's Sunrise from my front yard

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I discovered Saturday Smiley and Saturday Special
at The Daily Meme and decided to participate in both this week.

so ... if you're ready to smile and have some time, check these out for yourself ;--)

1. Joyce at Creation in Progress shared 'Girlie Wisdom' that made ME smile.

2. Joy's posts each week entertain and delight ... and this is one of my recent favorites.

3. Peajay often has heart-warming posts and stories. I highly recommend 'Is this heaven?'

4. The hilarious sign from a visit to Taos, New Mexico last summer that I shared for last week's Photo Hunt always makes me giggle. Many of the other participants last week shared unique &/or funny signs so you might enjoy checking them out ... but last week's winner by Elinor is classic!

5. I admire those who participate in Raven's Wordzzles like Akelamalu does each Saturday and reading their 'stories' always makes me smile. I wish I could be so clever myself.

Click for others participating in Smiley Saturday this week.

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~Remembering Childhood~

1. As a child I loved to play...?:

2. As a child I wanted to grow up to be...?:
3. As a child my favorite thing to eat was...?:

4. As a child my favorite relative was...?:

Question One

I lived in my imagination when I played throughout most of my childhood. When there was no one around to play with me, I built elaborate 'settings' with a variety of blocks and 'linking toys' in which I occupied myself for hours. In addition, I rode a 'imaginary horse' using a pole my father gave me ... creating adventures with imaginary playmates only I could see and hear. In addition, I learned to read at a young age and lost myself in 'stories' throughout my life.

Of course, I had friends and played the usual 'interactive' games of Hide & Seek, Red Rover, Mother May I, etc. ... along with tetherball & dodgeball in our big backyard and 'team games' at the playground and park ... and we roller skated and rode our bikes in the neighborhood.

Addendum: After reading a few other's posts I was reminded how I used to play 'Jacks' with my mom on the back porch in the evening and how I loved to jump rope for hours and hours.

Question Two

I don't recall thinking much about what I wanted to do or be when I grew up. I pretty much lived 'in the present' ... aware of my 'position' as 'baby of the family' (with a brother 9 years my senior and a sister 4 years older ... neither of whom seemed 'interested' in me until I was 12-ish) but never 'limited' by that age difference ... at least from my perspective. I was an excellent student and 'advanced' in many ways primarily because I felt determined to 'fit in' and figured I should be able to do everything anyone else did. I wish someone had suggested to me that I might become a 'writer' ... but no one did. I was expected to go to college and a High School 'adviser' did tell me I could (I quote here) "... be a teacher, nurse, private secretary, or do the right thing ... get married and raise a family."

Question Three

My family didn't have much money and we ate whatever mom prepared without question. I remember 'tuna sandwiches' being a 'special treat' in my lunch at school ... and on rainy days at home I loved 'tomato soup' with a grilled cheese sandwich. Every now and then on a Sunday afternoon my brother would ride his bike to A&W and use his 'paper route earnings' to buy 'root beer' to share as the family enjoyed popcorn watching a TV show together. Red Hots and Lemon Drops were favorite sweets and Dad always had Juicy Fruit gum in his pockets at church. He'd slip me half a stick (usually as the sermon began) and let me play with his pocket watch as a distraction so I'd sit still.

Question Four

As a kid, it was easy to get 'lost' in the huge family gatherings because there was nobody anywhere close to me in age, but generally I enjoyed my dad's side of the family (Kansas born & bred) more than my mom's (proper Dutch folk) relatives because I didn't have to be on my 'best' behavior all the time. I idolized my big brother always ... and we became friends when he taught me to play tennis and water-ski when I was 12. He died 8 years ago when I was 55 and he was 64. My sister & I became close friends and started 'hanging out' together while I was in college and she was teaching Kindergarten & 1st grade.

If you decide to play either in comments here or on your blog (leaving me a link here) feel free to choose an award from my 23rd Thursday Thirteen, 200th (anything but) Wordless OSI Post, or Hot #4/ToT #5 posts.

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Thought for Today
" If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it." Andy Rooney