Friday's Fave Five

Susanne at Living to Tell the Story sponsors Friday's Fave Five. Won't you join in?

Looks like we made it. Another Friday has arrived!

#1. Favorite Friday flowers.

#2. When I am in the garage getting chicken out of the freezer, one sound I do not want to hear is the rustling of plastic bags in a dark corner. That can only mean I am not in the garage alone and that freaks me out. Freezer lid agape, chicken bag unziplocked, heart pounding, I whizzed back into the kitchen, "Fassshhhh!!!" She marched boldly to the plastic bagged corner and found this birdbrain trying to steal my bike!










Isn't he cute?

Later, my fine, feathered friend was chir-ir-irping at the door. When I went to answer, he just looked up at me like "what's for dinner?" I tried to get a picture of him there on the step through the Plexiglas, but that did not go so well. If you stare at it, you can make him out with his eyes on the sides of his upturned head and his beak pointing at me. You also have to endure the sight of my ugly toes. Sorry about that. No time to crop.


#3. I just made vegetable beef stew for 44 people. I'm so glad it's over with. Don't worry, I did not photograph it. But it tastes wonderful. More on why I cooked for 44 later.... Why is it a Friday Fave? Because that big cooking job is over with! And the event the food is for is going to be the bomb.






#4. We're going to see my niece and nephew in a play tonight. Sooo cute! I love those little buggers.





#5. I'm free. Free from a burden that has been beating me down. It feels wonderful! God is gracious and good.
Light at the End of the tunnel-

Finally- Summer!

Finally! Tomorrow is the first day of summer for Fashionista and me. We had to wait until the dreaded ACT test was over with and that happened on Saturday. It was her second attempt- trying for a higher score. That test makes me crazy. I went to college, got a bachelor's degree, but I tried the science questions on her practice tests. They are impossible, especially in the time frame given for that section of the test. And the English test part. The correct answer is not even the way we really talk, so you certainly can't figure it out by asking yourself if that sounds right. She studied hard for it. I am so glad it's over.

Let's all just forget about it. Lookie here: I'm still figuring out how my new camera works- all those settings and such. I'm not too patient when it comes to reading directions. But I think I am going to have to study at least some of the manual. It's just a little point and shoot. Nikon. Coolpix. But one blog follower says on his profile that anyone can take a good picture with any camera- it's all in the skill of the photographer. I hope he's right, and that I can learn the skill. The shadow is me. You knew that, right?


Reading the directions might have helped me with the ACT test years ago, too. Not thinking about it. Done. Over. This is a cherry tomato growing out of the bottom of a planter with basil, oregano and a petunia, for color, growing out the top. In the background is a scalloped rock garden with varying veggies planted on each level. Spinach is coming up in the white planter in the background left. I have to fence everything to keep all kinds of vegetarians out. There is a dense strip of woods behind here where all the critters, who used to live in several thousand acres of forest, now reside in high rise tree house apartments. They can't believe their good fortune- a local supermarket so close at hand paw.
This tree grows in front of, through, around the back of and back through our fence by the pool. We haven't opened the pool-yet. Michigan just made it out of the 60's- I'm talking degrees here, folks. Put that on the ACT science test! Gee willikers. So, the verdict is still out on the camera. The pics don't seem as clear as what I had in mind and I'm not sure I know what I'm doing regarding lighting. Actually, I'm sure I don't have any idea what I am doing regarding lighting- or focusing. I'm doing a whole lot of comparing of my first try pics to some extremely beautiful ones you'll enjoy here. It is possible I have set expectations of my particular camera and my existing photographic skill a teeny bit too high.

But I'm happy it's summer for us now! Plenty of time to practice- something other than English grammar, science and mathematics.

Soon it will be summer for Michigan, too. Sizzle, sizzle. (A girl can dream)

Heidi