Changing Times

First, let me say thank you to all who participated in this month's Note Card Party. You always have something delightful to share. Thee art amazing women! And you are such encouragers to one another. Makes me happy. Yes it do.

I thought about this post last night as I lay in bed listening to the rain. There were so many things I was going to tell you. This morning, hardly one of them crosses my mind. It appears that I am going to have to carry a notebook with me at all times and grab the thought before it darts away. I believe that some of you have told me that you do this.

Now I could explain how terrible this schedule is for me; this self-imposed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday one. When I want to write, it may be a Saturday or a Monday, I say to myself You have ever so many things of more importance to do and you must be disciplined. You have a schedule! A pox on the schedule I'm afraid. I'm just going to begin showing up when I do. It may not be according to schedule and it may actually be less than it has been.

We are on something of a roller coaster ride in the country today. We wake to each new morning with news so frightening so despicable that it takes our breath away. Medical records being stolen, water sources being staked out, cover-ups of the worst kind, big agencies doing corrupt things that may lead to the very top, I daresay that it will. And so, like the crazy spring it has been, we hang onto our hats and clutch our hearts, and pray for the very best for our country and our countrymen. The times they are a changin'. And that, my dears, is what is mostly on my mind these days.

Until next time...

Note Card Party~May

Welcome to May's Note Card Party!

This month, I decided to challenge myself by going way back to 2007 and 2008, back when my photography skills were even worse than they are now. I took each photo to both Photoshop and Photoscape. I hope I haven't made a bad thing worse. Let me show you the difference with the first one.

Owls Head, Maine

See a difference? By using effects in Photoscape, I was able to bring back definition to the trees. The original photo directly above makes the trees look all black. The first note card shows some trunks and boughs and even that little spot where one can see through the trees to the water beyond. 

Owls Head, Maine

Owls Head, Maine

Pemaquid, Maine

Now I feel that I've chosen all the fuzzy photos that I can handle for a while and so I'll be loading up photos as fast as I can for next month. ☺

Anyone who wishes to know more about the party and the rules (there aren't many), please click on the icon in my sidebar. It will take you to the particulars.

Looking forward to visiting you!

Mother's Day

Coral Roses in the Rain~A Mother's Day Gift

Grandmother and Mother on Mother's Day 2010

Mother's Day will never come and go without my thinking of my own mother and Nan, too. Mother's Day will never be the same without them; we miss them so. 

On this Mother's Day, I am thinking about a prayer found at Elisabeth Eliot's Devotional nearly a year ago. (And I know that you would also enjoy the post for this day that you will find there if you visit.) The prayer is as follows.

A prayer written by Amy Carmichael has been my prayer as long as I have been a mother, and I pray it now for my grandchildren: (Elisabeth Eliot)

Father, hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children.
Keep them from the powers of evil
From the secret, hidden peril,
From the whirlpool that would suck them,
From the treacherous quicksand pluck them,
Holy Father, save our children.
From the worldling's hollow gladness,
From the sting of faithless sadness,
Through life's troubled waters steer them,
Through life's bitter battle cheer them,
Father, Father, be Thou near them.
Read the language of our longing,
Read the wordless pleadings thronging,
Holy Father, for our children.
And wherever they may bide,
Lead them Home at eventide.

   

Daughter, Son, and I~Mother's Day 1980

More Recently

My Son's Sons~Growing Up So Fast!

A blessed and lovely Mother's Day to you...

Flowers from John

Edited to Add: If you are visiting from Donna's Photo Challenge, just read the pink words as I've decided to use this post so I don't break my own rules. Welcome! ☺

Kalanchoe: Just playing with perspectives and angles. Have long forgotten what the camera settings were on.

This photo of the azalea blooms in my front yard was taken on macro setting, overcast day, +0 lighting balance, ISO 400, F2. Later, in Photoscape, I added effects on the water drops at the top left of the photo using the deepen brush. I thought that brighten would work best, but I was surprised to find that I preferred the deepen brush option. And that, my friends, is all I know.  Enjoy the party in progress *here!*

~~~

Trying different camera angles. John brought home the yellow Kalanchoe yesterday. It's an annual, a succulent that doesn't need a lot of attention.

It rained gently through the night and this morning there is still a fine mist in the air. The azalea is ever so much more happy as a result. However, I note with sadness that the small azalea at the front of the garden looking like a pile of dead leaves is hanging on by a thread. I will try to find a better home for it...perhaps pot it for the summer and baby it along. My daughter gave it to me and so I'm very attached to it. It may be for the best as it has been crowding the roses or vice versa.

Since next week is Note Card Party week with Mr. Linky going up in the afternoon on Tuesday, Wednesday being left open for the actual full day of the party, and Thursday another post, I'm going to post this Sunday. I've had something planned since I found it a year ago.  Ha! Anyway, there'll be no comments then.

Oh, if anyone had trouble with the "optical illusion," I'll send you the answer behind the scenes. It's way too scary to post here. ☺

A lovely day to you...

Bullet List

Bullet lists work. They keep things organized. They are good when a gal has little time for smooth transitions.

*My Azalea Bush~My View
(This is my neighbors' home)

*No rain for two weeks finds azaleas and everything pretty parched

*I am trying to keep the rhubarb watered. Note my stellar job of pruning...
Note: Not my fence!

*Loving my new candle from Good Neighbors. Smells as if I might have actually baked something.

*Abby isn't sure about my new profile pic. Did you see that it is an optical illusion? Is it my right eye or my left eye? Try it both ways and you'll see what I mean. It totally creeped John out and he has told me not to do that again! Sigh. So now I'm working on a new profile picture.

Thank you for your thoughtful comments and kind suggestions. I'm working my plan: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. On that note, I'll see you tomorrow! (Oh, one week to the Note Card Party ☺)