Favorite Things Photo Challenge

Tomorrow is the deadline for the Brenda Photo Challenge, A Few of My Favorite Things.  You can see my photography attempts for this challenge Right Here.  

It is really the tiniest sampling of my favorite things.  One thing I noticed as I thought about it, things from my childhood were making the strongest connection for this challenge.  My Grandma Martha loved rocks.  I don't know why she did, but I know I've loved rocks from the time I was a little girl.  I used to make little villages of rock people.  They were complete with dwellings, roads, etc.  I also remember looking into rivers, and I always noticed the shiny rocks along the bottom.  They had beautiful textures and colors.

While out in my front garden, taking photos for the Challenge, I found a rock with a beautiful leaf imprint. 

It's just so beautiful.

I love artwork, so I also took a photograph of one of my favorite paintings.   This is one that was painted by my Grandma Ruth.  She passed away when I was only a year old, but I think we would have had so much fun sharing our love of art.

This is a cropped view of her original painting.  It's also been altered with the "Ink Sketch" application in Paint.

There are common bonds, threads that link the generations in a family.  You find they are there, even when they couldn't have been learned by knowing a person.  Family stories often reveal these little traits.  Who inspired your tastes, your favorites?  Do you know?  Or is it a long ago ancestor you never even met? 

Speaking of favorites, tonight is one of my favorite programs... "Who Do You Think You Are?"  It's the program that spurred me to start my ancestry search.  Along the way, I have discovered some fun things about my family history.  I still have many more mysteries to uncover.

Please take a moment to visit the Brenda Photo Challenge Blog and check out all the entries, my attempts at Nita Jo's Photos, and check out NaBloPoMo February Blogroll at Blogher... I'm still participating in the February writing challenge on Relatives.  There are a lot of writers participating.

Oh, and don't forget about the Give-away over at Junk Exchange.  You still have time to leave a comment and be entered for a subscription to Folk Magazine!   Plus, I know you will really enjoy the wonderful things Troy has to offer. 

As you head into your weekend, I hope it's a beautiful one!

© 24FEB2012 ajj

Brenda Photo Challenge...

It's been a good, long while since I did the Brenda Photo Challenge.  I've decided to try it this time.  Photos are due February 25.  The theme is "Favorite Things" and you just take photos of some of your favorite things!  It's that easy.  Sign up HERE.  My photos will be posted at Nita Jo's Photos when I get them done.

I'm having a bit of trouble focusing on my NaBloPoMo Prompts.  Ironically, it's because of family stuff.  I will try again tomorrow. 

My Valentine's Day... and Other Stuff

My sweet husband really made my Valentine's Day lovely.  I woke up to find a beautiful card and a gorgeous pink azalea plant waiting for me!  He had already given me Lindt Chocolates, and had baked me my favorite Gooseberry Pie!

 This pie was delicious! 

When he got home from work, he surprised me with three wonderful soaps I had on my wish list; Lavender and Ocean Rain made with Shea butter, and Cloister Garden, a floral fruity fragrance, made with goat's milk... they smell heavenly!  Plus, a beautiful Celtic Trinity Bracelet!  He is quite a guy, and I'm so glad he still puts up with me!  

Other stuff...

Tuesday we had the most beautiful spring weather!  It got up to 64 degrees, a record for February!  Then yesterday came...  Big hail, winds, lightening, then snow...  Needless to say, it was black ice this morning.  I drove Lucky 13 to school... as always, the High School parking lot is one of the most dangerous places to drive, and the only place I slid!  I was glad to get back to my nice, warm home!  Here is a look at what was coming down...

This is supposed to last for the next couple of days... Oh, how I'm looking forward to spring!

Reminder:  The due date for the Brenda Photo Challenge is coming up!  It's February 26th!  The category is "Red" and should be lots of fun.  It's not too late to sign up.  Just go Here!  My photos will be posted over at Nita Jo's Photos, my photo blog.

Wishing you a beautiful day... and stay hopeful, Spring is just around the corner!

Roba Dolce... and Reminders

You may remember my post, a while back, about Free Samples from Roba Dolce... Go HERE to read about how and where I signed up for this!

Anyway, just look at what I got!  I expected one or two small sample containers.  What I received was three individual size cups of  Lemon Sorbetto, Mango Sorbetto, and Coconut Gelato. In addition, there are five full size containers of Lemon and Mango Sorbetto, plus Coconut, Pistachio, and Chocolate Chunk Gelato!

I Can't Wait To Try Each One!

Can You Believe... All This For Free!

I will be updating this post, after I have sampled each of them, to let you know which are my favorites. 
Now, just a reminder on a couple other things coming up.

• The Brenda Photo Challenge is this Saturday!  It's not too late to participate.  The photo category is "Frozen" and with the winter everyone's had, this should be a fun one!  My first two entries to this challenge in 2008 are HERE and HERE.  After that, I started putting my entries on my photo blog, Nita Jo's Photos.
• Go to Sunday Scribblings to get writing prompts and inspiration, or to just read and enjoy what other writers have submitted.  There is a new category each week.  "Eternity" was the last one.  If you want to read my earlier submissions, they are at My Sunday Scribblings.
• Memory Lane Mondays is a new writing venue.  It is hosted by Donna Liljegren of Brynwood Needleworks.  The last Monday of each month, you share a family story or memory.  Donna will have a Mr. Linky set up, so you can add your name if you want to participate.  You can read each of the other writer's memories, even if you aren't submitting a story of your own.

Well, that's all for now.  Hoping you have a wonderful weekend! 

The Brenda Photo Challenge - Frozen

I borrowed this from the photo challenge, to give you some ideas...

It's time for The Brenda Photo Challenge!  The prompt is Frozen.  Entries must be up by Saturday, January 29th.  Click on the photo, or name, to go sign up.  When my entries are done, they'll be found at Nita Jo's Photos.

Recovering... and Brenda Photo Challenge

First of all, today is the Brenda Photo Challenge (click on the name to see all the entries).  My entries are posted on my other blog, Nita Jo's Photos.  If you enjoy photography, you will love looking at all the entries for this months theme... "Broken"

Other news... I am recovering from my surgery.  Yesterday, they removed the drain tube I'd had to wear for the past week... I called it my "vampire necklace"... I am so happy to be done with that.  The growth is gone!  My calcium and blood levels are back to normal, and the biopsies showed I am cancer free!  I am so thankful for God's mercy, and for all of your kind thoughts and prayers!  God has been so good to me! 

Well, it's the wee hours of the morning.  I'm going to try and sleep a bit as today is full of things I need to get done.  Sunday is the celebration of our churches 70th Anniversary.  I still have photos to gather up and get delivered for display.  I had hoped to get my hair done, but that may just have to wait till next week.  And, I haven't forgotten about my promise of a Give Away... it's just going to take a few days longer than planned, but it is going to happen soon!

Love and Blessing to all!
Nita Jo

Theme for the November Brenda Photo Challenge... Broken...

Time to get ready for the next Brenda Photo Challenge!  (click on the name to sign up)

We have three weeks to get our photos taken and posted! 
The Theme is Broken.  The date is Saturday, November 13th!

This is always a lot of fun.  I post my entries on my photo blog... Nita Jo's Photos
I have to admit, I've neglected my photo blog lately.  I haven't even entered the Challenge for a while, but I'm definitely entering this one.  If I can't take three photos on this theme... well, let's just say all I have to do is walk out to my backyard to find one or two subjects that fit. 

I may be absent for a few days... my youngest sis arrives today!  We have a lot to pack into this visit, so I'll see you after...  Maybe I'll even post an "honest" picture of me if we take some.  My profile picture is from the 70's... it is labeled "young Nita Jo" but maybe it's time for "much older, very overweight, but still happy Nita Jo"...  We'll see...

Blessings!

The Brenda Photo Challenge - Dirt

Don't forget to check out my photo for this challenge.  It's at Nita Jo's Photos.  You can go to the links for all the participants at The Brenda Photo Challenge.

Sorry for the brief post.  It's been a crazy week at my home.  I will share more when things have settled down for me.  I hope you are all having a wonderful August weekend!

Blessings to each of you...
Nita Jo

Ruby Red Macro - And Other Stuff Below...

All the pictures are up for the Challenge.  Go to Nita Jo's Photos to see mine, and to Brenda Photo Challenge to see all the entries!

It's A Beautiful Day...

First, I wanted to remind you to visit The Brenda Photo Challenge.  I didn't participate in this photo challenge, but I wanted to post the link so you could see all the amazing and fun photos that were entered.  Go to:

The Brenda Photo Challenge    (click on the name to go...)



It's been a crazy couple of weeks for me.  I will spare you all the details, but I'm glad to be back posting.  This beautiful, sunny day is perfect for all the activities going on in our surrounding communities.  In my little town we are celebrating Dairy Days.  You don't see a lot of dairy farms anymore, much of the farmland is now subdivided into homes or shopping.  Our community still honors our dairy heritage with a carnival, farming/animal events, a parade, and more.  My husband's car club participated in the parade last night.  It was a 50's theme.  Their float was for awareness of Alzheimers, which my husband's mother had. All the classic cars followed along behind.  I may be able to post a picture later on.


Also, this weekend is the Emmett Cherry Festival, A vintage car show in Eagle, Idaho, another Vintage Car Event in Boise featuring Jerry and the Stingrays, and the Gay Pride event in Boise.  My husband is fitting in the Eagle car show and going to hear Jerry and the Stingrays.  He hates to miss the Cherry Festival.  He has participated in it for years, but it just happened that everybody picked this weekend for their events.  I don't get out to many of these events, as it just gets too warm for me (this is an MS issue).

My niece, JP, is singing in a competition at the Gay Pride event.  There was an elimination event this week and she was in the top five.  She has been singing almost from the day she was born.  Some of my family will be there to support her, some won't.  Her choices aren't supported by our faith... well, the faith we were brought up in.  I will always love and support her no matter what... I was not placed in this world to be a judge... only to show love to others... all others.  If you met her, I know you couldn't help loving her too! 


I am looking forward to a Fathers' Day Brunch for my husband tomorrow.  My oldest son is joining us for steak and eggs!  Yum!  We'll eat, do gifts, visit for a while, then Paul will be off to the Fathers' Day Car Show.  This is a huge weekend for "Car Guys" in our area.  He looks forward to it all year.


I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  Take a moment to celebrate the Fathers' in your lives...  both earthly and Heavenly...

The Brenda Photo Challenge - Weathered & Worn

My entries for this month's Weathered & Worn category are Here, at Nita Jo's Photos.  To see all the entries for this Brenda Photo Challenge, go Here!

The Brenda Photo Challenge - Black & White

It's time for another Brenda Photo Challenge.  To see my entries, go Here.  To see all the other entries, go to Brenda Photo Challenge.

It's been a crazy week.  Haven't had time to post any more poetry.  Will try to get back on track in a day or so.  Until then...

The Brenda Photo Challenge & Other Thoughts...

The Brenda Photo Challenge is today.  The category for this challenge is "wood".  To see my pictures, go to: Nita Jo's Photos.

To see the other photographer's entries, click on The Brenda Photo Challenge and follow the links.  This is a fun photography challenge.  They welcome amateurs like myself, and there are some very experienced photographers too.

Now on to other thoughts... 

I am amazed I got even two pictures ready.  I've got the sneezing, coughing, achy head, sore throat... junk!  I took my Alka-Seltzer so I'm feeling pretty good right now.  I just can't get back to sleep.  It's working out fine for me though.  I've been sorting through my photographs, doing a bit of organizing.  

Another job I started to tackle today was going through my books one by one.  I decided it is time to purge some of them out of my life.  I ran out of space on my bookshelves a long time ago, and I have several of them.  My beloved classics and childhood favorites will stay... Little Women, David Copperfield, Mary Poppins, Anne of Green Gables.  Also, staying are my Agatha Christie collection, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, all my C. S. Lewis, and many of my mystery books.  Some spiritual and inspirational books.  A few books of poetry.

That sounds like a lot, but if you could see my shelves... well, I have every book ever given to me, purchased by me, or left to me.  My love of reading started very early.  Books were a window into other lives and worlds.  They were magic carpet rides into foreign lands, where amazing adventures were waiting to be discovered.  What I will pass on are the books that were "one time only" reading quality.  Those that no longer speak to who I am.  They will go to other readers.  To friends, to libraries, or to second hand stores.  It will take more than a day or two, but I'm really looking forward to reclaiming some space in my home.

Wishing each of you a peaceful, blessed weekend.

Brenda Photo Challenge

Take a moment today to visit the Brenda Photo Challenge and see the variety of wonderful photos representing the Best of 2009! 

I had to rely on a couple of old photos this time.  Between my computer problems and not getting out of the house much, I didn't have any photo's that were current.  I plan to change that for the next challenge!  I know you will enjoy taking a look at the other entries!  


Oh... I know this is confusing... my photos for the Challenge are at NitaJos Photos  (click on the name to go there)

When you click on my name on the Brenda Photo Challenge comments, it takes you directly there.  If you click on my name in your own comment section, it brings you here.  Sorry for the confusion...

Brenda Photo Challenge - Pets

Today is the Brenda Photo Challenge. To see my entries, go to Nita Jos Photos. To see all the other wonderful photo entries, go to the Brenda Photo Challenge Blog.


I am loving this day. It's a cold, crisp, autumn day. My favorite kind. When I'm done here, I plan to watch my tape of Amazing Race, sort through piles of magazines that I haven't had time to read, and later put in one of my favorite autumn movies... Arsenic and Old Lace or The Trouble With Harry. Both are set during the fall season. I also love The Four Seasons with Alan Alda and Carol Burnett. That's only a few of them... so many choices.

Hmmm... an old, blue 52 Chevy just pulled in to the driveway. Guess the car show closed early... must not have liked the rainy cold weather. I just remembered there's a BSU game on tonight. They've been doing well. The movies will wait for another day!

BSU & The Brenda Photo Challenge

My photo entries are up for the Brenda Photo Challenge. Go to

Nita Jo's Photos to see mine. Then visit the

Brenda Photo Challenge Blog to see all the other entries!

~~~

Oh, and I must say "Yay for BSU!" We won against Fresno tonight. It was a fun game to watch! I just recently got interested in watching football again. BSU is our local university team. Our favorite professional team is the Green Bay Packers.

Some of my favorite memories involve a baseball or football game on the television. Usually, my sis and I were either dusting, ironing, folding laundry, reading, or playing a board game. Grandpa would end up napping, but if you dared to turn the set off, he was immediately awake! "I'm watching that!" he'd say! Grandma would watch the baseball, but was not much of a football fan.

You may think dusting and ironing are odd "good" memories, but there was something very satisfying in working together. I still love the smell of a hot iron against a cotton pillowcase or a hanky.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Brenda Photo Challenge - FOOD

Brenda Photo Challenge - "Julia, Julia" - Food!

Due Date: Saturday, September 19th

Theme: "Julia, Julia"...FOOD

Any kind of shot concerning food...Your favorite maybe? Vegetables...Desserts...Complete Meals...Making dinner with the kids....Grilling...Baking...Get it? But it HAS to be edible...Hahahaa....well...you get the point!

(Rules and photo were copied from Brenda Photo Challenge)

To participate in the challenge, or to just enjoy visiting other blog photographers, click on this link:

The Brenda Photo Challenge Blog

My entries are posted on my photo blog. You can visit it by clicking on this link:

Nita Jo's Photos

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Brenda Photo Challenge - Purple

To see my "Purple" entries for the Brenda Photo Challenge, go here:

Nitajos Photos

To see the other participants photos, Be sure to click on:

Brenda Photo Challenge

Go to the comment section and click on the names.

This will take you to each blog to see all the entries.

Have a blessed day!

The Brenda Photo Challenge

I haven't done the Brenda Photo Challenge for a while, but plan to do this next one.

The theme is "Keeping Cool" and is due to be posted on August 1. Mine will not be up until the afternoon of the 1st, so check back.

If you want to play, or just look at all the photo entries, go to: The Brenda Photo Challenge Blog

This is fun for beginners or experienced photographers! Have fun with it!

Visit the Brenda Photo Challenge

Donna of Cottage Days is the host of this weeks Brenda Photo Challenge. To see the entries go Here.

It's a lot of fun and is open to any level of photographer. I am a definite amateur, but I am really enjoying stretching my boundaries. Please remember to check out my photo blog when you have a minute... the link is on my sidebar.

Blessings,
Nita Jo