Friday Night Fish Fry

Halloween Hellos!

"Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen,

Voices whisper in the dark, tonight is Halloween!"

~ Dexter Kozen

Happy Halloween from the Clark's, our gobblins, and a couple of boogers!

(There may be hell to pay for this)

Internet Rehab Complete - the come back

"In the confrontation between the stream
and the rock, the stream always wins
- not by strength but by perseverance."
- H. Jackson Brown

 

 

No.  I have not disappeared nor fallen from the face of the earth. 

 

First, on vacation my laptop wouldn't recognize the wireless in the house.  Who knows why.  Before I left our modem here blew.  I came home but the new one did not come.  They lost the order.  Finally we are back online.

 

 

I have gotten so much done and so caught up here in the house going days without the computer that it almost makes me not want the modem fixed.

 

But only almost.

I'm back.

 

Too much housework rots the brain right?  I need the internet to stay caught up in the world.  That is my excuse anyway.

 

Now that I am back and after a way too eventful day at the Closet (you know you really want to help people but there comes a time when you want to say to someone 'help yourself a little bit PLEASE')  I just don't know where to begin.

 

Vacation was better than I even imagined.  Having our entire family, minus Toonces, there was an incredibly nice feeling.  Not the not having Toonces there because that would've been even better, the all of us together feeling.

 

Surely it had to be heaven for my parents.  Or is that what we as selfish kids just imagine?

 

 

I can't sum up in a single post how wonderful it was nor can I put up ALL the photos I have.  What I can do is share some of my favorites.  Eventually I will have an album for family and friends.  I can also say that I am so blessed to have a family that gets along so well. 

 

All the noise, wrong turns, heavy traffic, messing up in Magiquest, wrecking the go-kart (because your best friend can't drive), losing at Scene it, almost peeing in your pajamas because your best friend takes long showers in the morning, getting scared to death in the woods.....even getting your eyeballs squirted to the back of your brains by your brother in law and nephews in bumper  boats....being attacked in your sleep by small goons...none of it can take away or make one tiny dent in the happiness and love I felt during those 5 days in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

 

I'm not even going in to the shopping experience.  I will just say that when Jackson and Caleb stepped into the Under Armour outlet store they let out a sigh you normally only hear from girls.

 

 
I think Ben is ready to run over Seth.

 

Well, enough photos for one post. 

I could run on forever.

I do want to share some bumper boat photos.  Every year my sister, Melanie, wants to do the bumper boats but then she doesn't want to get wet.  And you do get wet.  At least those of us who don't use the children in the boat with us as human shields get wet. 

Barely children.  Toddlers would be a better word.  A toddler shield.

 

 

Hmmmm.

 

Melanie looks really pretty in her photos.

 Me?

Not so much.

 

 

And here is another lovely, lovely shot of me.

Actually I kind of like it.  Toonces isn't impressed with his wife's vacation photos. 

I can't be a trophy wife ALL the time!

And if you haven't been there already my brother has some great photos over at http://www.lifeinmayberry .

 

 

 

The Legal Limit wins Library of VA People's Choice for Fiction

"Most folks are about as happy as
they make up their minds to be."
- Abraham Lincoln

 

I've wanted to get out and use my new Lens baby on the colorful leaves before they all fall off but my health and time restraints have made it about impossible.  When I finally did try some I was a bit too- too something-  viewing the images back actually made me motion sick.

When the dust settles and the smoke clears I'll have to get that little lens out again and play. 

But after a week of not blogging that certainly isn't what I am hear to talk about.    Some of you probably remember voting for "The Legal Limit" this summer for the Library of Virginia's People's choice in Fiction.  This weekend was the Literary awards at the Library of Virginia in Richmond.

 I was pretty sure I had the flu last week.  It is as sick as I have been in a long time.  Then Seth tested positive and after we'd been together I figured I was right.  I had a hard time making it to get my hair done but this was such a great thing for Martin that I wasn't about to miss it.  I was living off Motrin and cough syrup.  When I woke Saturday I could not believe I was still so sick.  It was one of those times when I had to say "God let me be strong enough to make it through this.  Let me be able to be there for Martin."  I dozed a lot of the way to Richmond in the back seat.  Body aches, sweating, weak, coughing, stuffy nose...I didn't want to look like that for the party!   The excitement of rolling into the Jefferson hotel with a party dress mixed in with the meds and I felt good enough to make it through the night.   Sometimes we just have to put mind over body and crash later!

Martin's father, Fill, was well enough too to go with us.  We'd had some concerns that week that he wouldn't be up for the trip.  As I've said before he is 89 with liver cancer and his medicine causes him some problems that make it hard for him to be away from home long.   But I guess the excitement kept Fill in working order too.

 

I love the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond and I had a pretty good idea Martin must've won the People's Choice award for Fiction since we were staying in the Governor's suite.  Never have either of us stayed in a room that large.  It was more like a wing. 

I love the Library of Virginia too.  It just has this great vibe every time I step through the doors.  But Saturday night it had been transformed into a party room.  A jazz band played as guests mingled before dinner.  Everyone looked so lovely in their formal dress. 

At our table was former Governor Baliles and his wife Robin, as well as Emyl Jenkins and her husband Bob.   Fill and Governor Baliles went back a long way and he was very good to help take care of Fill.   I met a lot of fascinating people but after the awards when Grisham came back to the table with Martin I missed my snapshot moment.  I'd gone off to the restrooms with Fill and then lost him when he had sped off to the dessert line.  So that was my only disappointment of the evening.  I had really wanted to meet him and get a photo op! 

Adriana Trigiani was as fabulous as everyone says she is.  She and Martin had worked together before and people always ask him about her.  She was a very entertaining hostess for the evening.  I loved her.  Now I have to read "Big Stone Gap".  I enjoyed seeing the poets and other writers.  I really liked Roger Mudd and had voted for his book in the non-fiction people's choice.  I was very excited to hear Grisham when he got up to accept his lifetime achievement award.  During Governor Kaine's wife's introduction Fill had asked me what that woman was going on and on about.  It was very quiet and I kept trying to tell him she was introducing Grisham.   Then right when he is about to come on Fill turns around and says "what about that ice cream.  I thought you were going to get me some ice cream."  I certainly wasn't going to get up in that tight crowd and get it then.  They had not served dessert with dinner and left it for after the awards.  That is why Fill had scampered right to the sundae line after he left the restrooms and I'd lost him.  We found him with about 8 different toppings on his and it running on his suit.   Yes, I think getting older brings out the little kid in us again.

 

 

When Martin's name was called and the Legal Limit won the people's choice award for 2009 it was just a grand moment.  His acceptance made me cry and as he walked off it is one of those moments where you know you just couldn't love someone more.  Not because he wins awards, or is a successful writer but just because of the way he conducts himself.  Just because of who he is and how good he is.   He is so well balanced and kind.  He is so intelligent but never condescending.  He is confident but never arrogant.   Funny how out of all the writers, poets, artists at the event.  Of all the speeches from huge intellectual achievements to huge commercial successes to huge achievement recognitions the only person who seemed too pleased with themselves and boastful was a children's writer.  I thought that was funny.

I think it is wonderful the Library of Virginia can do this in these tough times.  Big thanks to their sponsors, especially Dominion for backing this.  Libraries and books are such an important thing.  Grisham spoke of a sad day when people will be almost exclusively downloading their books and there will be no such thing as a real book.  A real tangible, wonderful smelling book to keep on your shelf.  I would hate to see that happen.  I love books.  I love bookstores.  I like stories. 

Roger Mudd and the poet Charles Wright, another very entertaining speaker.

So a very big congratulations to Martin and the Legal Limit.  We will celebrate properly if I ever get well! 

Wednesday I leave for the mountains of Tennessee with the family.  This year for the first time my brother Delane, Amy, Jackson and Ben are going.  Jackson is actually going up earlier with me and mom and dad.  Toonces will be solely responsible for the care of Earl and Eudora.   Earl needs to go on a diet and I'm sure Toonces will make that happen for him.  The farrier told me my horse was too fat as well.   Not good.  Spirit likes to eat.  How many fat horses have you heard of?  He is a lazy boy.

So my next posts will be coming from Pigeon Forge.  I am sure the kids are going to be wild with excitement and who knows the adventures we will be getting into.  Can you imagine all of us in one house???...Papa, Mo, me, Shishy, Mel, Eric, Izzy, Caleb, Seth, Ben, Amy, and Delane.   Whoo hoo that is a mouthful.  And a big house.  But I think we are very fortunate to have this opportunity. 

Can you imagine the pictures?

Be forewarned.  You can always skip over them!

Happy Birthday Earl and Eudora ~ 4 Years Old Today

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." - Milan Kundera

Sometimes I can't believe how much of my heart is invested in these guys.  How much a part of me they have become.  How much more they make our home a home.

I love them more than words could say.

They've grown with the kids.  Izzy calls them her cousins.  They run to greet each of them.  Seth not as much.  You'll walk in and find Seth giving them bear hugs or practicing his Kong Fu moves on them.  But they still love for him to be here. 

They are still afraid of the cats.  They love to steal the cat food.  They still ignore Toonces when I'm around.  They still take wake each morning like this is going to be the best day in the whole world.   Sometimes I look at them and think my attitude should be more like theirs.

There is a quote that says I want to be the person my dog thinks I am.  I've thought about that a lot lately.  I think that is the person I want to be.

Happy 4th birthday Earl and Eudora Clark!
 

   
  

Happy 4th to Friday Night Fish Fry!

"You must take personal responsibility.
You cannot change the circumstances,
the seasons, or the wind, but
you can change yourself"
- Jim Rohn

Seth running free.

Four, yes 4, years ago today I began blogging.

It seems like I've been doing it a long time but not four years.  I would stop honestly if it were for the fact that I like having a place for my photographs. I've stopped counting comments or checking stats.  I have a handful of blog friends that I check in and out on.  Daily blogging is gone for me.

I think basically I put it up here and Toonces looks at it.  Toonces may be my sole reader! 

I asked him if he wanted to stop the blog but he likes going at year end and seeing what all we've done.  So Friday Night Fish Fry may grow even smaller, may even become more of a photo album but it will be here a little longer.

And I can still be out and about and an old friend will say "Hey I was just catching up with you guys on the Friday night Fish fry the other day."

So for me this little place is a place of comfort.  I can see my photos take a life of their own.  A journal that can't contain too much detail.  I guess like the diary I had that I thought my mom might read so I really didn't put the good stuff in!

I had words with a group of parents at Caleb's game the other night.   A ball had gone between the legs of our goalie probably because it was wet.  And only through a little.  What some parents on the other team didn't seem to realize was that the goalie had come out of the box to stop the ball.  The ball never rolled over the goal line.  At least that is what the ref called that was down on that end of the field.  From the other field you couldn't tell one way or the other.  But it was just on from that point.  Not that I wouldn't be upset if I thought we lost a goal too.  But I wouldn't rant on and on and on the whole time.  It isn't Duke and Carolina playing.  It is children.  And you are supposed to teach the kids that they go with what the referee says.  I don't think these parents taught their kids anything but how to be rude and put down other people.  At the end when they were saying ridiculous things about the other team, the coach, the refs showing favoritism I walked over and told them that I thought they were a very immature bunch of people.  I can't believe I couldn't watch my nephew play and not have to hear their mouths.  I am all for cheering and pulling for your team.  But if you are a parent of a child and you get personal about the other team, those kids, coaches, and refs then you should stay home until you grow up and learn better sportsman ship.  Teaching your children to scrap like rednecks isn't healthy to the community as a whole. 

 

Normally I don't show pics of kids that aren't family on this blog.  But it is my anniversary and we deserve the cutest pictures ever for that occasion right?

I am hoping not too many people that know this little doll visit here.  And those that do please do not tell Will and Christie that you've seen their little girl's Halloween costume okay?  I don't want to be a spoiler...

So here are some of the cutest photos ever and yes this is my boy Spirit making friends with a very pretty little piglet...

Have a great day!

 

 

 

My Weekend Mix

"There is more hunger for love and
appreciation in this world than for bread."
- Mother Teresa

The best things about this weekend have been getting so much done.  Laundry caught up, pansies planted, new lilly bulbs ordered.  I went to see Isabelle play in the AAU league in Mount Airy Saturday morning and Ben play soccer.  I have gotten a bunch of photos I was behind in on Snapfish uploaded, files cleaned out, and faves sent to another drive for storage.

Our art show was a success and looks great.   I have a lot of friends who won something and I won first place in photography for my photo of the homeless man and his dog in Key West! 

The bad news is that I am now covered in a rash from taking probiotics.  What a mess.  .   In fact the probiotics probably started a sinus infection when I've thought I had a cold.

We had some hens get killed, including my sweet Yo-Yo.  The only chicken here I really liked.   We did not realize that our super mother was sitting on new eggs.  With Toonces gone this weekend ALL the chores fell to me which included herding this brood of nine and their mother back up to the tack room for safe sleeping.  It was a first time thing for me and actually pretty amusing.  Calista decided for some reason that she would assist me.   The one who never goes out didn't really know that the chicks could be a meal for her but the mother hen certainly did.  Calista didn't even have them on her radar and when I turned the corner into the barn and saw them all piling into each other trying to stop from their hops into their room I realized that the dumb bunny had gone into the tack room too.  The mother hen was raising all sorts of cain and poor Calista got chased out...she was only trying to help.

This photo of Ben makes me smile.  He seems to be so upset by the other team scoring a goal.   It doesn't make me smile that he is upset just his little expression is so cute.

I love taking shots of the kids playing sports so I've read up to improve my own game.  I was delighted to learn that a perfect lens for indoor sports like basketball is one I already owned as a portrait lens.  It is a fast lens with a low aperture.  That and learning what manual speeds I need to set to freeze action has made me very happy.

I decided I wanted the perfect lens for taking their soccer shots and football.  Investing in the best as they will continue sports.   I thought I would ask Toonces for it for Christmas.  Then I found out that the perfect 300m lens for me would be $5,600.00!   I have the most recommended lens already so I think I will stick with that and not seek perfection!   Second best will have to do. 

This would all be Canon glass.

And there you have my random notes for the weekend.

Made even more random by the amount of Benadryl and cold meds I have taken.

And that dreadful rash.

Happy Day!
 

 

 
 
 

 

Secret Paths

"You can't cross a sea by merely
staring into the water."
- Rabindranath Tagore

That is some look. 

Seth is helping me show the driveway progress. 

Yesterday I walked right out to put seed in my back feeders and fell stepping off the deck in front of Robert who mows our yard.  Luckily Toonces saw me and came to pick me up before I had to flag down Robert.  I thought I had really messed up my ankle but I have good bones---knock on wood-  It is sore to the touch and I can't turn it but I can put my weight on it and walk so that is a good thing. 

Monday I sat down at the Reynolds Homestead taking in art entries with my sunglasses on top of my head and wearing my glasses for SIX hours.  From take in time right through our BMA meeting.  I didn't realize it until I got to the car and felt my sunglasses on my head.  I must've looked like a real kooky lady!  No wonder people look at me funny. 

I took Seth walking to the lower meadows.  He had never been there and referred to them as the secret fields.  Earl and Eudora got to flush out a group of turkeys when we arrived.  It was wild having turkeys swarm all over your head to the safety of the trees.  And the Labs were so pleased with themselves for doing their God given work.  I love it when they point.

I don't like my new point and shoot pocket camera as much as I did the old one.

Today I am just going to aim for staying in a good mood, not having any spastic accidents, and not looking stupid....if that is possible.

 

Visits to the new Primland Resort

He that plants trees loves others besides himself.  ~ English Proverb

 

Today I start taking entries at the Reynolds Homestead for the Jeb Stuart Art Show.  Toonces will be eating Subway for a few days.  I dread today because we go from hours of taking entries to our art co-op meeting.  There are only a handful of us left so maybe I won't be down there all night.  Tomorrow it starts over again.  Sunday is our reception and presentation of the winners.

Next week at our local photo club one of the themes is the fair.  I haven't had a chance to participate in a long time and I was looking forward to this one but I will never be able to pick out one fair photo I like the best.  I am awful at deciding what to enter for competitions or even the club meetings.  I still haven't framed my own entries for the show.  Nothing like the last minute!  Toonces is good to go behind me and help me make my final decisions.

Yesterday Toonces and I went up to the Primland Lodge grand opening.  It was a beautiful day in the Blue Ridge Mountains and it reminds us that we certainly live in one of the prettiest parts of the country.  The views going up the winding private road were as grand as Montana, they have the big sky but we have the hard woods.  And that gives us here in the East and edge this time of year I think.

The golf course at Primland is already ranked one of the best in the world.  And it is pretty exclusive.  The lodges aim is to be 5 diamond.    The restaurant at the lodge, Elements, will be open to the public but you must have a reservation to come on the property.  This place is very secluded, quiet and serene.  You can't just drive up or through the area.  Primland offers hunting, fly fishing, skeet, horseback riding, etc.  It really is something to behold.

The silo has an observatory in the top.  Guests are invited up to check it out.  They make their own photos of the galaxies.  They are going to have their own channel soon so that lodge guests can see the photos they've made from their own rooms.   

Time to try to get a little exercise in before I have to get ready!

My dad and his brother Mike, Madi's dad, cheer on Seth and Madi.