Happy Halloween...

Halloween is upon us, and October is nearing it's close. It's been a busy month for me, working on little projects, catching up on some reading, putting away summer clothing and pulling out warmer things for autumn.

We've had such a beautiful week. Cold nights and cool days. My perfect choice for weather! The fall colors have been amazing this year! Varied and bright!

On Facebook I participated in a 7 day photo challenge. You post the following challenge, adding the day as you go.

     Day ___ of 7 days,

     Seven black and white photos of your life.

     No photos of people. No explanations.
     Challenge someone different each day.
     I challenge: ____________________

I don't often participate in FB games and challenges, but this seemed like a fun one! I tried to choose pictures representing different moments, memories, or other aspects of my life. Here are the seven photos I chose.

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3:

Day 4:

Day 5:

Day 6:

Day 7:

This challenge made me think a little bit about who I am and how people may see me or not see me. If you've read my blog, you already know I love books, writing, movies, music, art, and family, as well as being a spiritual person. I hope this gives you an interesting look at some other aspects of who I am, even without the descriptions of each photo.

Well, it's time to get on with my day. Though I'm not a fan of all the scary Halloween stuff, I do love costumes, candy, little children knocking at my door, and Charlie Brown! Look for the fun, and have a Happy Halloween!

What Is Going On...

I was so certain I'd posted about a week ago. Before that, I'd somehow locked myself out of my Blogger and Google accounts. Is this a foretelling of things to come? I certainly hope not!

Things at my home are much the same. I've still been working my way through some old family negatives I purchased at an antique store. A lot are blurry, or just boring, as most family photos are. Occasionally, I'm finding a little treasure! I remember seeing a few photos of my grandmother which were owned by another relative. There was never much hope of getting copies, but I now have the negatives! I was so thrilled!

These pictures would not have been important to anyone but a child or grandchild, and it's a miracle they weren't tossed into the trash by the dealer. They aren't unique, my grandma holding her first grandchild, a graduation, a family trip; nothing of value to anyone except family. It makes me want to go through my own photos and negatives, to consider whether there are any which would mean something to other family members or even friends. If you're like me, you probably have hundreds of photos. Mine are mostly stored in photo boxes and many have not been viewed in a long, long time. Organizing my own photos is my next big project.

Unless I do something silly, like locking myself out of blogger again, I'll be back very soon! Wishing you a beautiful day!

Early Spring...

I've been so busy recently. Took my sis to breakfast and to the Antique Mall last weekend. It was such a fun morning. Shared recent news and reminisced over old family stories. We scored some more family photos at the mall! In one lot, there was my own wedding photo which I'd given a great aunt and uncle. You just never know what you'll find when you go treasure hunting. Does that mean my sweetheart and I are now antiques? Or at least very collectible?

My youngest was on his break between winter session and spring semester. It was very nice having him home. I know the days of him hanging out with us may be very short. He graduates from college this year, and who knows where his future will take him. My mom heart is praying he gets a fantastic job, but just not too far away. That's reasonable, right?

Last evening we went to dinner at Red Robin, with two of our best friends. I tried their french dip with grilled onions. Oh my, it was so good! I've found a new favorite! Afterward, we went back to their home and played Dominoes. We had so many laughs. It was a wonderful time.

I've spent part of today scanning old negatives onto my computer. It's a long-term project which I started two or three years ago. It's very time consuming, but will be worth it to have our photos backed up on computer and in "the cloud" wherever that really is.

It feels like an early spring really is in store this year. I am definitely ready for it. Spring is already in my heart today!

© 06Feb2016 ajj

Unbelievable...

That is what my last week has been! It's a long story, to be shared in full at a later time, but involves a stranger, photos of ancestors discovered in an antique store, lots of money being spent, and the recovery of over 100 family photographs! Some had already been sold during the previous two months, but I'm grateful for what I was able to get. Here are a couple just to give you an idea.

My Great Grandmother, Gertrude Weaver Smith Evans

This is an image of my great grandmother I had never seen before. Even without the name inscribed on the back, I'd have known her face! Below are two of her babies who did not live on this earth very long. I had never seen their faces before, so it was a blessing to find these photos!

Vera Smith
1892-1895

Hershel Smith
1896-1899

That is the short version of my story. One day soon, I will share the longer version. It was such an unbelievable find, and I hope whoever purchased the other photos of my ancestors is treating them kindly.

© 09Sep2015 ajj

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The last three weeks were filled with some illness and other minor inconveniences, but we've sailed through the worst of it once again!

Today was so beautiful! I've been looking forward to warmer spring weather and it arrived. My hyacinths are blooming! I love their soft fragrance.  I've been doing more organizing. I know, I know... by now I should have the most organized home on the planet, but I get so distracted by every little treasure I find. This week I found a box of photos I thought had been destroyed. It was mislabeled. It was the happiest discovery I've made in a while. There was my little red photo album my mom made for me years ago! It held so many childhood photos, including my elementary school group pictures. It was such fun reminiscing.

I've lapsed terribly on my writing goals, but my characters are speaking to me again, which is a good sign.

Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick's Day! Even if you're not Irish, you can still celebrate the coming of Spring!

Free Image from The Graphics Fairy

Gorgeous Day!

Brrrr, it's 46 outside this morning, and I'm loving it!  This feels like autumn!  I don't know about you, but we are heading into my favorite time of year.  Cold nights, crisp cool days, the changing of nature's colors, holidays to look forward to.  I love it!

Some favorite autumn memories involve leaves; the grand canopies of reds, golds, oranges, and browns; the sounds as the wind moved through them; as a child, tracing the shapes for school art projects or just for fun; the raking, then the jumping into the neat little mountains, and raking again; the smell of burning leaves once the mountains were deposited in our burn barrels.  Since I live in a subdivision burn barrels are not allowed, but I fully intend to "barbecue" a couple of leaves just for the ambiance.  So, while many of my friends grieve the passing of the hot, summer sun, I'm reveling in the pleasures of autumn!

I'll leave you with this image my husband captured last year...

Welcome November!

It is an absolutely beautiful November day here!  There are still gorgeous leaves on the trees, lovely days and cold nights.  Perfection! While I enjoy the blessings of such a start to November, my heart goes out to those on the East Coast, who have had such devastation in their lives.  So while I give thanks for my blessings, prayers go out to those who are not as fortunate today.

This is a photo of Camel's Back Park in Boise, Idaho, taken by my husband with his cell phone.

What does November mean to you?  For me, it reminds me of happy family times.  The bounty of harvest; the raking and burning of leaves, after jumping in the piles, of course; the coziness of a fire in a fireplace; practicing for the Christmas piano recitals and Sunday School Programs with my lil sis; Grandma's deep dish apple cobbler; my birthday celebrations, with Mom bringing me a Date Nut Cake from the Royal Restaurant... so good;  Thanksgiving meals complete with Turkey and all the trimmings, football, board games, laughter... family.  November is about family.

Family Time

It's been a wonderful week.  My youngest has been home on break from college, but heads back to the dorms tomorrow.  My oldest son has had some time to drop in and visit this week, which has been fun.  They're both spending the night. and I'm loving it.

I started sorting through some old photos, earlier in the week, I thought had been lost forever.  They were safely in an album, in a storage box, that I'd shoved into the back corner of a closet.  I definitely need one dedicated space for photos, but I have so many that it's very hard to do.  My son suggested scanning all of them and putting them in the internet "cloud" so I'll always have access.  But, what happens if that "cloud" disappears or malfunctions?  Yes, I'm a skeptic!  I may have to give it a try though.

I haven't been able to do any creative writing for a while.  Just have a mind-block I guess.  I read about a well-known author who took a long break when that happened to her.  She just spent months reading every book she could get her hands one, enjoying the journey of other people's stories.  Afterwards, her head cleared and she was able to get back to her writing.  I thought it was worth a try, so I've finished two and a half books this past month.  One is a collection of short mysteries, and the other two are the most recent Agatha Raisin mysteries by M. C. Beaton.  I'm still not ready to write, so I'm splitting my reading time between The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Treasure Island, and another light mystery called Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson.

It's been wonderful being able to read again.  I'm still doing the eye meds and drops, and still delaying the start of the new drug with the vision/heart risks.  I just have too much living to do right now, so I'll think about it later on.  For now, I'm just enjoying each day as it comes!

Move In Day!

Tomorrow is "Move in day" for my youngest son.  Even though he won't be terribly far away, it's going to be so strange to have an empty nest.  My emotions have been on a crazy roller coaster for the past two weeks. I felt well enough to get out and make a couple "dorm shopping" trips with him.  Fun!  He and my husband are out on the very last shopping excursion, as we forgot new sheets, a lamp, and a shower caddy... rather important items!

This was from our visit to the campus last July!

Being the OCD personality that I am, I've had to wash every new item purchased.  I lost count of how many loads of laundry I've done in the past two days, and as soon as those sheets come in the door they'll go right into the washer!  When I told my husband I had to wash our son's sleeping bag (it hadn't been used all year and was in a box in the garage), he just snorted. Honestly, I'm so lucky he puts up with me!  Anyway, it was in the dryer for an hour and still not dry, so I just draped it over two lawn chairs.  If any of nature's critters dirties that bag, there will be heck to pay!  It may have a slight wildfire smoky odor, but we've lived with the smoke smells for so long that EJ will probably not notice. It's got to be better than stale, garage odor... right?  He has to have it for the two day Wilderness Experience that all freshman are required to attend.  Praying that there will be no problems with wildfires or excessive smoke blowing over into the area they'll be in.  It's near McCall, Idaho, and is such a beautiful place!

My oldest, MJ!

My oldest son, MJ, started classes last Monday.  After working a few years, he decided it was time to get back to school.  He's studying at BSU, while working full-time.  I'm so happy for them, and so proud!  I still don't know where all the years have gone.  Friends are always asking me why my boys are so nice, and how did I get to be so lucky that they never gave me any trouble.  Well, I don't know.  PJ and I certainly did our best, but really, they are just kind-hearted, wonderful men.  I prayed for boys who would have kind hearts, like my grandpa and like their dad... my prayers were answered.

So many seasons, so many memories.  Too many to post, but here are a couple of photos from their childhood days...

So many summers...

And winters

I'll be back after the big move-in weekend, with some new memories made to add to the thousands I already hold in my heart, and I'll let you know how it went.

The Art House Co-Op Mystery Project

I decided to do something fun and different.  I entered a Mystery Project Challenge through the Art House Co-op on Facebook.  They mailed me a card with a theme and a Prismacolor pen which had to be used in the challenge.  Other entries can be seen on their Facebook page by clicking Art House Co-op.

My theme was "Things and the people and places using them" and it had me stumped for a bit.  So I started going through some of my "things" and found a teacup of my grandma's (by the way, Happy Birthday Grandma!).  It was the inspiration for my project.

I chose Miss Tami's Restaurant/Cafe for my "places" because of the memories.  You can visit Miss Tami's on Facebook or go to the web page by clicking on Miss Tami's.  My mom and I loved going there.  It's a restaurant, tearoom and gift shoppe.  Miss Tami not only stocks collectibles of all kinds, there is jewelry, art work, stationery, books, and vintage items.  The gift shoppe area is smaller, as the tearoom/restaurant has expanded, but it is still filled with many lovely things.  Just a note... if you click on the photos, they should enlarge for better viewing.

This is Miss Tami's... Wouldn't you love to sit and have tea or lunch here?  So cozy!

So now, I had my "thing" and "place" for the challenge.  I looked through my collection of tea cups and found three favorites.  One was Grandma Martha's, one was my mom's, and I believe the other was Grandma Wait's.  I played around with different arrangements, taking photos of each, and I finally settled on one.  I printed the photo on to fabric, washed, dried, and ironed it.  Next I outlined areas with pencil to make them stand out, and used the green Prismacolor pen to highlight the leaves and shamrocks.  I mounted it onto poster board and matted it.  It was complete.

Just a few of the treasures to be found at Miss Tami's!

Thought you'd like a closer look...

The next part of the challenge was to take the artwork and install it in a public place.  I had to document the installation with a photograph, and post it onto the Art House Co-op Facebook page.  Then I was to leave the artwork for someone to find.  I put a short note of explanation on the back of the photo, with the instruction that it was free to the finder.

More treasures...

Heavenly....

And there it is!  My Teacup Photo!

I hope it makes someone smile.  It made me smile.  I had so much fun doing this project, and I can't wait to try a new challenge.  While I was in Miss Tami's, so many memories washed over me.  Not only of my mom, but of my dear friend Judy and her mother Ann.  After my mom died, Ann would take Judy and I out for our birthdays.  Ann and I had November birthdays and Judy's is in October.  Miss Tami's was one of the places we loved going to.  I hadn't been back to Miss Tami's since Ann passed.  Being there today just made my heart happy.  I enjoyed every minute of it!  I even found a picture during my visit, that had to come home with me.  A couple of delicious lemon shortbread cookies also found their way to my house!  It's been a wonderful day!

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

Looking back...

I didn't get much sleep last night, and this looks like another night of the same.  Since I was a bit tired and draggy all day, I decided to pull out a suitcase I had filled with family photos and documents.  What fun it was!  There were so many things I had forgotten.  Newspaper clippings about different family and friends, photos of my boys when they were little, and some photos of family members that have passed on.  It was a lovely time of remembering.  Don't you find that just looking at an old photo takes you right back to that time and place?  If you let yourself drift, it's like a mini vacation.  Sometimes, I think I can almost hear the laughter.

A New Look...

I have admired so many of your blogs since starting mine.  I finally decided to try an entirely new look!  I was visiting a new blogger, Karen of Todolwen, and I noticed how pretty it looked.  In the upper left-hand corner was the name of the designer, Itkupilli, and it said "Free" so I had to check that out!  You all know how I love a bargain.  Free stuff is even better! 

If you're thinking of dressing up your blog, visit Itkupilli by clicking on the photo link on my sidebar.  You can also get there by clicking on her name in the upper left-hand corner of my blog.  She has all kinds of free backgrounds, plus she posts easy to follow instructions on her side bar.  I am a slow learner for many of the blogger features, but hers was very easy for me.  Just take it one step at a time.

I am also playing with my photo blog, Nita Jo's Photos.  I used the "blog widening" instructions provided by Donna, of Cottage Days and Journeys.  I haven't finished tweaking it yet.  I'm not happy with my Tippy Kittycat photo in the larger size, so I'm looking for a new photo for the header.  I have hundreds to rummage through and it's going to take me a while.  I am excited to experiment with the new size. 

Now, all I need is someone out there to help me create an email newsletter template.  I have tried to find something that I can copy and paste into my email.  I don't want to send it as an attachment.  I have created the newsletter on a "Publisher" type format.  The photos and Logos will not paste!  I even opened up two different email accounts, just to see if they would accept my document.  I am looking for a free, or dirt cheap, "help" site.  Do you know of one?  I would prefer not to have to create a web site to get this done.  Can you help?

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 & 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.

Banners, Pictures, Images... Oh My!

I cannot get the hang of sizing pictures for my header.  I have an early photoshop program, but it's Greek to me!  I miss my old photo program that came with Windows 98.  It was easy to layer images, add words, edit color or size.  *sigh*

I apologize for the "hugeness" of the header image.  I have been sitting here for the last hour trying to create something that will fit.  I give up for today.

Also, does anyone out there know where your blog goes when you download a copy to save it.  It's not actually on my computer anymore.  When I click to open it, Internet Explorer starts up and trys to open it... and that fails too!

All of this is a result of trying to give my blog a fresh, new look for Christmas!  Please send me comments or email with suggestions.  Please... please... 

School, Art, Yard Sale...

This has been a busy week for me. Lucky 13 had registration yesterday. We waited until the last hour of the schedule, just hoping everyone else hadn't done the same. It was the quickest, easiest school registration we ever had. Even the photographer was relaxed and L-13's photo turned out great! He's so happy to have his braces off, and I had him leave the retainer at home so it wouldn't have to be in the pictures. He's getting all the classes he wanted, but won't know the exact order until the first day of school. I'm just happy he's decided to stay in Orchestra. He plays the cello and I love listening to him play.

Today, after getting home from an appointment, I spent a long time reading through older posts of Gail at Shabby Cottage Studio (her link is over on the side bar under My Favorite Places). It was fun to follow her blogging progress from when she began up till the present. She has created so many beautiful pieces of art. It was a relaxing way to spend my time.

I also spent some time scanning old photographs that I hope to use in some of my artwork. I even found a Marriage Certificate from the 1930's and a Report Card that belonged to my Grandma Ruth. I plan to make some type of collage, incorporating these with photos of her. When I get one finished, I will post a photo.

My church is hosting a huge two-day yard sale in two weeks. I have tons of stuff to get ready for the sale. I'm looking forward to doing a little shopping myself. I'm hoping to find a few treasures.

If I don't get around to posting much, it will be because I'm in my garage digging through boxes and trying to convince myself it's time to sell. If I don't get rid of some stuff, I won't have room for anything new!

Before I forget, check out the new photos I added to my photo blog (click on Nitajos Photos over to the right). There's a nice picture of PJ and his 52 Chevy.

Well, goodnight dear friends... I'm off to watch an episode of the Gilmore Girls before I fall to sleep for the night!

Brenda Photo Challenge - NUMBERS

Okay.... here goes for my first attempt at

The Brenda Photo Challenge...

"Numbers"

License Plates... identifying where we come from

my husband was born in North Dakota,

and I'm an Idaho gal!

Music consists of Numbers...

Music Book Pages

Finger Positions

Counting the Beat

Playing in 4/4 Time

NUMBERS

And my favorite for last

Books

Numbered in Order

Just waiting to be opened and read one by one!

This has been fun to do!

Karen of Loved and Engraved, is the host for this challenge.

Go to her blog for the links to the other participants.