A Creek in the Back

Duck in the Creek

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 00:06:00 +0000

So, the boys were out by the creek playing when I heard them yell, "Mom, there's a duck in the creek!" Huh? Well, of course, I grabbed my camera and got there as quickly as I could.

A girl and her dog

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 23:38:00 +0000

A couple of weeks back, my children and I took a hike with some friends. My friend's daughter brought her dog along. He was clearly devoted to her which was so sweet to see. Dogs are such wonderful creatures.

In memory of my Grandma

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 20:56:00 +0000

My grandmother passed away last Tuesday, November 19th at the age of 96. I wrote this for her when she turned 80.

Ever since I was a little girl I remember going to grandma's house every Sunday afternoon. Grandma always met us at the door, welcoming us by saying "Come in the house", but not before giving us a hug. We would then make our way back to the living room and sit and talk about this and that, that and this. Of course, it didn't take long for me to get antsy. I would go over to the bookshelf and entertain myself with her collection of books or look at the many photographs scattered about the room. Once in a while I would interrupt their conversation and ask "Who's this?" or "How old was I when that photo was taken?"

Other times I would wander around outside. I was always trying to make friends with the stray cats that made their home in the big barn. Sometimes I would sit on the back step and just look across the great field. At the time it seemed so large that I always wondered what was on the other side. I would also sit on the front step and watch the cows that grazed in the field across the road. Of course, I couldn't help but moo at them. When they mooed back, it made me giggle. Back then I was easily amused. From time to time I would pop back in the house and mom and grandma would still be talking about things that were not as interesting to a little girl.

Then I remember when my Aunt Glenda, Uncle Fred and cousin Lynne moved to town. They started to join us on these Sunday visits. Since my sister Susanne and Lynne were the same age they hung out together. I was still content just doing my own thing. I remember when Grandma used to lay colorful quilts on the grass under the twin cedar trees. Uncle AC and Grandpa and the other adults would sit in lawn chairs and again talk about grown-up things. I would lie on the quilt and listen to the rustle of the grass underneath thinking this really wasn’t a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Other times I would be recruited to shell beans or husk corn. I still remember the muffled ding of the beans dropping into the big metal bowl. Grandma was always growing something in her garden. Watermelon was a big treat each summer, but I have to admit to this day I can't eat it now. I had had too much of a good thing.

Another thing she grew were flowers - yellow pansies, blue hydrangea, purple irises and red begonias. Under her watchful eye these plants bloomed into beautiful flowers. There was that one time when a bed of pansies did not bloom as planned. One evening I had entertained myself by raking her flower bed - she had just planted some seeds and I thought I would help her out by making neat little rows with her trowel. Little did I know I was wreaking havoc on her newly sown flower seeds.

Through the years our Sunday visits were something I could always count on. Regretfully I remember times when I was a teenager I didn't want to go, because I didn't want to miss a favorite television program. To this day I can't even remember the name of that program, but now I realize what was more important.

I just want to thank Grandma for some wonderful and special Sunday memories. I wish I could still visit every Sunday, but it's a long drive from the mountains. Even though I am not there physically, I think about Mom, Aunt Glenda and Lynne coming to your house. Sitting in the living room or kitchen and talking about this and that, that and this.

Stories from the auto mechanic shop

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:39:00 +0000

Stories from the auto mechanic shop...

In our town we have an auto shop where the locals take their cars and where I take our van. It's not a fancy place with a waiting room filled with cushy chairs, a big screen tv and so forth. No, it's about as basic as you can get with vinyl covered furniture, a 1970s-era television and aging stacks of magazines strewn about. That's okay with me. You know what makes this waiting room special? The conversations.

When I know I'm going to be there for a while, I usually bring along a book, magazine, or something else to occupy my time. More than not though, I end up talking to the others in the waiting room or sometimes just listen.

There were several others who came and went, but one older lady really stood out.

She complained some about the cigarette smoke smell in the shop. Normally I’m pretty sensitive to it so and didn't smell anything. We proceeded to chat about the current news, politics (just a touch) and family. She talked about her children - how one was a minister. She then spoke of her daughter. She told me how she had been in the National Honor Society in high school, sang on stage and played the guitar. Then she went on to tell me how it all changed when her husband died in his early 40s. Their daughter started on drugs soon afterwards and has continued apparently to this day. She just moved from street drugs to prescription medicine. And then she mentioned that her husband had died of lung cancer brought on by years of smoking.

And now I understood...

Writing AND photography

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:25:00 +0000

I've decided that I want to write again, so instead of starting a new blog, I will use this one. At one time, I kept a blog for a couple of years. It was mainly about the everyday life of raising two boys. This time around who knows what I'll write about. So, this is just a warn..., um, a heads-up about the changes that will take place here.

Curious Claire

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:33:00 +0000

Claire was very curious about a noise she heard while enjoying the sunshine in the backyard. She did the classic head tilt.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Dave’s Favorite Place: Under the Christmas Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:14:00 +0000

Ever since we adopted our two cats from the Blue Ridge Humane Society and have put up our Christmas tree, we surprisingly have never had too much trouble with them trying to climb it or mess with the ornaments. All Dave wants to do is hide underneath and watch the action. Sam doesn’t even go near it. Go figure.

Claire

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:45:00 +0000

In July we decided to adopt a dog from the Blue Ridge Humane Society. As you can see from the photos, resistance was futile. According to our boys, she is “the best dog in the world!” I agree.

Sam the Spy

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:15:00 +0000

Random photo I took while the boys were playing the boardgame Axis and Allies. Sam is a very curious cat.

The possibilities…

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 14:19:00 +0000

Pancakes Over a Campfire

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:26:00 +0000

An afternoon by the lake

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:10:00 +0000

Skipping rocks was a popular activity…

Random iPod Touch Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:49:00 +0000

There are times when I don’t carry my DSLR with me on outings and the only “camera” I have is my iPod Touch. I took this one at the playground using the Camera Awesome app.

This one I took at GRP after a homeschool outing.

Stingy Jack’s Pumpkin Patch

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:13:00 +0000

This past weekend we went to this festival and had a great time. Here are some photos from the event.

Mountain Dan carving with a chainsaw!

Nature Hike in DuPont

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Awakenings…

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:07:00 +0000

This morning I took a quiet walk in the woods and came upon these ferns. I love seeing them at this stage. Every spring they come up… no matter how cold the winter, they always return. I like that.

An afternoon at Connemara…

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:52:00 +0000

Here are some photos from the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site or as we call it – Connemara. My son and I had such a nice time. It really is a great place for families.

Carl Sandburg’s Presidential Medal of Freedom
presented to him by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:53:00 +0000

We had snow on Christmas Day. Now, how perfect is that, I ask you. The boys were thrilled and so was I. Since then we’ve had another snow storm. I’m seriously considering buying some snow shoes. Of course, once I do, we probably won’t get any more snow… there’s a thought.

It’s the little things…

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 01:22:00 +0000

Even though I was surrounded by beautiful trees dressed in fall leaves and the Biltmore House behind me, these bright red leaves and berries trailing along the wall caught my eye.

A little morning to myself… at the Biltmore Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:54:00 +0000

I decided to take a morning for myself… do what I wanted to do. This doesn’t happen too often so I think it’s important to grab moments when they become available.

The Biltmore House - an impressive view every time.

Marble statue of Diana at the top of the hill.

Diana again. She’s one of my favorites.

And if you’re wondering if there are still flowers in the gardens… there are.

Plenty of beautiful, colorful flowers.

Please be gentle.

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 22:40:00 +0000

A father and his son looking at a turtle. I took this photo at work during Family Camp.

A photo walk… in our yard

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:45:00 +0000

This morning the boys and I did a photowalk in our yard. I gave each a camera and told them to have fun.

Here are my older son’s photos (10 yrs. old):

He told me he liked this one because the mushroom looked
like a huge dome in the middle of a forest.

My younger son’s photos (7 yrs old):

He took about 10 or so photos of this caterpillar until he
successfully captured a non-blurry one.

And I thought this was neat, because he decided to take a photo of the same subject but at a different angle.

A Happy Place

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:25:00 +0000

I’ve come to the conclusion that the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site or as we simply call it – Connemara – is my happy place. This evening I had some time on my hands (no kids), so I decided to take a short hike. Even though I’ve been here many, many times, I still find things that I love taking photos of. (I used my Fujifilm camera which usually stays in the car.)

I’m thinking perhaps it’s been a long summer for Leonard… soon he’ll be in over his head.

The creek and boys

noreply@blogger.com (Karen) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:45:00 +0000

They can always find something to do by… or in the creek. Sometimes I wish I could press the pause button.