Friday Fotos 2025- #1

 

Well, here we are in the 4th month of 2025 & I've decided to once again revive Friday Fotos. Friday Fotos is a post where I can dump some photos from the previous week. The goal is to make me more aware of the beauty and fun in my everyday life. 

This picture was from last week but it's too pretty not to share. The blossoms are spent this week...they just don't last long enough!

I love seeing the redbuds against the dogwoods; the tree in the front makes it that much prettier.

Wildflowers are covering the fields in the park.

Flowers are also in the woods.

This was taken just after a storm. It reminds me of Psalm144:5 
Lower your heavens and come down, 
touch the mountains; wreathe them in smoke.

I don't remember seeing these plants before so I checked on Lens: They are trillium.

YS & his fiance took me to brunch for my birthday. Honey Lavender Latte, plus all kinds of amazing goodness from Potchke Deli.

Friday Fotos 2024 #8

Friday Fotos is a post where I can dump some photos from the previous week. The goal is to make me more aware of the beauty and fun in my everyday life. 

This little Magnolia Tree was a Memorial Gift from some of my cousins. It survived the winter and now has its first bloom!

This is a sample that MS & I have been eating for lunch a few times each week. 

After living in this house for 20 years, this is the first time I remember seeing a mama robin making a nest in this spot.

Look at that sweet face! This is one of my grand-dogs; she has the most loving eyes.

Until next time...

Friday Fotos 2024 #7

Friday Fotos is a post where I can dump some photos from the previous week. The goal is to make me more aware of the beauty and fun in my everyday life. 

If you're an Outlander fan, you should get this license plate I saw.

I did some "Cemetery Sightseeing" on Saturday. I read about this monument in a cemetery in Knoxville to the Sultana, a steamboat that was hired to carry Civil War POWs from Vicksburg, MS to the northern states. The passenger capacity of the steamboat was 376 but there were over 2000 prisoners on board. Long story short(er), there was a problem with a leak in one of the boilers and instead of having it properly repaired, the owner opted for a quick bandaid to save time (and money). Just north of Memphis, 2 of the boilers exploded. It is believed that 1176 people died, either directly from the explosion or from hypothermia and burns. Why wasn't the largest US maritime disaster (to this date) publicized? It happened the day after John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln's assassin, was killed.

These mushrooms look like a chocolate s'more!

This guy has been making an appearance on the porch. The dogs haven't caught sight of him so he's safe for now.

Speaking of my porch, I finally stopped looking at a gazillion different set-ups and sets and just broke down and ordered one. I've spent almost the whole time I'm home out on my porch since it was delivered. MS put it together in no time at all and helped me arrange everything.

I'm so glad that I went through with having this done. I used to wonder how my daddy could just sit on his porch for hours and now I get it. His wasn't screened in, but I completely understand how and why he did it.

One more upgrade in the front. I think I'm done with the front yard (unless I think of something else to do!)

A closer view of the light. They look like little torches, an idea I got from one of my sisters and my FIL.

Until next time...

Friday Fotos 2024 #6

 Friday Fotos is a post where I can dump some photos from the previous week. The goal is to make me more aware of the beauty and fun in my everyday life. I guess I took a bit of an unplanned and then planned hiatus since the last of these posts on April 5th, but I'm back...at least for this week!

The magnolias are blooming! This is from a big magnolia in the park next to my house.

I had a nice quiet evening on my back porch, sipping some Northern Irish Whiskey and listening to '70's music.

The "baby magnolia" in the park is just starting to bloom.

The landscapers did a great job repositioning my daddy's amaryllis...I thought I only had 2 and this is the best they've looked in years.

I don't know why I didn't think of this before. I haven't found anything that will grow in this area on my front porch. Last night the thought came to me to get beach rocks & put them in there. It ties in the dry creek bed that the landscapers put in my front yard. (see picture below)

This isn't from this week, but this is the dry creek bed that the landscapers put in to help with drainage in the front yard.

Until next time...

Friday Fotos 2024 #5

Friday Fotos is a post where I can dump some photos from the previous week. The goal is to make me more aware of the beauty and fun in my everyday life.  I really am doing a horrible job at keeping up with these posts! It seems I've skipped a couple (or a few) weeks.

My back porch is finished! Now if it would just get warm (and stay warm) so I can enjoy it. On the days when it has been warm, it's been really nice to leave my sliding glass door open and hear the birds.

After Mass on Holy Thursday evening, the Eucharist is placed in the Tabernacle (which is open on the altar) and Adoration takes place until midnight. Compline (night prayer) happens then with the Eucharist removed until the Easter Vigil (Saturday night Mass which begins after the sunset).

My car on the left, its twin on the right

The traditional Easter Bunny cake was made, probably for the last time. It hasn't even been cut into at the time of this writing. 😒

Gurl Dogg (in need of a trip to the beauty parlor)

Monday morning after Daily Mass, the main church was quiet. It was beautiful with the Easter flowers and the sun hitting the crucifix.

MS, his girlfriend, and her parents took me out to dinner for a belated birthday dinner. The wine was excellent, even if it wasn't the one we ordered. We ordered the Italian Pinot Noir but we were given the California version. Lesson learned: make sure you double-check before accepting it! The GF looked at the label but didn't think to make sure it was the right one, but I didn't either. We went to an Italian restaurant in the Rival Town; I was the only one who had not been there. It was excellent food and they gifted us some Italian doughnuts for my birthday.

Until next time...

Friday Fotos 2024 #4

Friday Fotos is a post where I can dump some photos from the previous week. The goal is to make me more aware of the beauty and fun in my everyday life. 

I don't have very many photos this week. I didn't keep up with my "picture a day"!

I think this is a cherry tree just starting to flower. 

Bradford Pears get a bad rap but when they bloom they are gorgeous.

We had a get-together over the weekend since one of my sisters came in from out of state. We're missing 2 siblings in the picture.

Here's everyone (minus the one taking the picture) who came. We always have a good time when we're together.

I got some extra time with my out-of-state sister. 

YS' dog waiting for him to come home from work. She's a pretty good girl but still has quite a bit of puppy in her. I've never seen a dog with such loving eyes!

How has your week been? What kind of pictures are on your phone for the week? Until next time!

Friday Fotos 2024 #3

Friday Fotos is a post where I can dump some photos from the previous week. The goal is to make me more aware of the beauty and fun in my everyday life. 

Trees in the park were budding at the end of last week.  I love the sign of new life, spring, and warm weather!

This is a horrible picture of a hawk. I hear them all the time in the park but rarely see them. This is a red-shouldered hawk. I hear them in the park, and then red-tailed hawks circle in the field across from my house. They are magnificent birds!

I think this is a red maple. I noticed its color while on a walk. Just beautiful.

This is the same tree as the first picture, but a few days later. 

This pretty little flower is a bunch daffodil. So small & delicate!

One of the signs in the rival town of the Small Town. How many times have I driven by this sign and not read it? I need to learn to slow down and take time to read some of the history that's in my backyard.

I hope you're taking the time to enjoy the beauty that's around you every day. Until next time!