Forgive me for posting so early, but I am exhausted and getting ready to attempt to go to sleep. I'd like to apologize for not visiting blogs like I used to, but it seems that all I've been doing lately in my posts is apologizing. My work load is not going to change, so I am just going to have to accept the fact that I am not going to be able to visit blogs as much as I used to. I will probably have to set certain days to visit. I'm still trying to figure out what will work out best and what I can handle.
Heads or Tails has its very own home now! If you click on the link, it will take you to the awesome new HoT blog where you can sign up and start participating in this fun and popular meme!
Please forgive me for not having a HoT graphic this week. I'm posting this from the insurance agency, and, for some reason, I am unable to copy and paste graphics here.
This week's theme is "Any Tom, Dick, Or Harry". Boy, oh boy, am I really, really stretching it for this one...
Today, after work, I'm going to get my hair cut. I'm so sick of the way it is right now. However, I'm not sure how I want it to be cut. I had a cute short/pixie-type style picked out, but Hubs things I'm too hairy for that cut... meaning my hair is too thick. Well, he's definitely right about my hair being very thick... and I've got lots of it... which, I guess, would mean that I'm hairy.
So, I still haven't decided how I will have my hair cut, and my appointment is at 5 pm! I guess I better be deciding, eh? Tammy and I talked about it last night on the instant messenger, but we still didn't decide. Ya know, your BBFF is supposed to make these decisions for you, so you have someone to blame it on if it doesn't turn out right (hehe, just teasin' Tam).
Well, wish me luck! I have no idea what I'll be looking like after 5 pm this evening ;-) Oh, and in case you are wondering - my hairdresser is NOT named Tom, Dick, OR Harry! ;-)
Hehehehe, I told you I was really stretching it to match the topic for this week ;-) Sorry Barb... you'll forgive me, right?
Will I ever get caught up? I'm beginning to think the answer to that is 'no'. I have OVER 500 unread posts in my reader! Then, when I participate in a meme, I visit all those participants! Now, I start my new full-time job today, in addition to coming home to do my Virtual Assistant work! Will I ever get caught up? I'm beginning to think not. I do promise to be better at visiting everyone's blogs... I just need to have a little while to figure out a routine and schedule... I'm a routine-kinda gal. So, right now, I'm feeling kind of overwhelmed.
Did I mention that my throat feels as if I have swallowed razor blades? I just keep thinking, "No, no, NO! I can NOT get sick right now."
I'll be back this evening, and I'll start trying to get that routine figured out... Don't give up on me, Friends!
Heads or Tails has its very own home now! If you click on the graphic above, it will take you to the awesome new HoT blog where you can sign up and start participating in this fun and popular meme!
As most of you know, I was raised by my paternal grandparents. They are the two greatest influences in my life. Although they are physically gone now, I still feel them with me every day. My grandmother was my 'mother' in every sense of the word. Some of the moments when I very strongly feel my grandmother with me is when I am out taking photos of birds. She loved birds, and some of my favorite memories involve watching the birds with her. We even had a male Cardinal who would come to the windowsill at the same time every day to peck on the window. He would visit during my snack time. I'd be dipping my chocolate chip cookies in my tea cup filled with milk, and we would hear "peck" "peck" "peck. Grandma would say, "Our visitor has come for his daily visit." We then would go into the kitchen and say our hellos to the Cardinal. If we did not go into the kitchen to acknowledge him, he would continue to peck at the window until we came into the room.
Grandma also collected bird figurines and knick knacks. The kitchen windowsill was lined with those bird figurines that play that bird's song when you touch them. I loved being a rotten little girl and setting them all off at the same time. ;-)
So, when I am here in the new state going on my photo walks, and I get photos of birds that we didn't have in the old state, I find myself wishing that my grandmother were there to see this beautiful critter. Then, I am overcome with the sense that she is there seeing it with me. Or, possibly, she is the one who brings those birds to me to photograph.
Yesterday, she was definitely with me, and she was definitely smiling as I took these photographs and thought of her...
Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
A Brown Thrasher
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS(c) Misty DawnS
A Cat Bird. The Cat Bird was my grandfather's favorite bird. They really do 'mew' like a cat. So, of course, Misty was standing in the woods meowing to this bird. I sure hope no one was around with a video camera. (c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
I wish the photos were bigger, because you really need to see them full size to truly appreciate them.
*Special thanks for my buddy Bear for always taking the time to ID and teach me the real names of the critters I get photos of*
This post is dedicated to the 'critter' who has been the main subject of my prayers since Monday night...
He's not a dog (I can't tell you how many times I've reminded my dad of this)...
(c) Misty DawnS
See those yellow eyes? A young boy was out for a walk with his mom and sister one day. They passed my dad and his 'dog' out for a walk. The little boy looked at my dad and said "You can see the evil in his eyes!" My dad just laughed, because Matouk is definitely not evil. But, there is definitely something about those eyes... I can just sit and stare into Matouk's eyes for hours. Through those eyes, you can 'see' him thinking and planning.
No, he's definitely not a 'dog'... But, he's also not 'completely' a wolf...
(c) Misty DawnS
I don't know of many wolves who own Beanie Baby stuffed animals, have their own couch, have ice cream for dessert at night, or take inventory of the fridge contents whenever it is opened. Nope, I don't know many wolves like that. However, Matouk is more wolf than he is dog, in my opinion.
He even 'sings' like a wolf...
Low Pitch - (c) Misty DawnS
High Pitch - (c) Misty DawnS
So, he's not a 'dog', and he's not a 'wolf'. He's my boyfriend - but don't get too jealous ladies, because he LOVES ALL ladies, especially if you talk to him, because he loves women's voices. But, honestly, the best and only way to describe him is "He's Matouk." He has his own ideas; his own way of thinking; his own plan of how life should be lived. He is smarter than any creature I have ever met, and I must admit that includes humans. That may sound like a rather crazy remark, but if you met him and got to know him, you would understand. "He's Matouk", and he's truly one of a kind.
Why has he been the subject of my prayers? Because he had been missing since Monday night. I prayed, and I prayed. You see, last year, he went for a walk by himself, and when he came back, he had been shot three times with a 22 caliber gun. So, you can understand my worry, especially when you add in the fact that my dad lives by a very busy interstate. Yesterday, on my way home from work, my dad called. He has spent the entire week walking the woods, hanging up posters, talking to people, looking... hoping... praying. Yesterday, Dad had been at the pound and the APL, just to check for himself, even though he had already called them. When he got home, he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Matouk in his dog house!
Matouk is VERY sore, exhausted, and has an injured foot. However, he's BACK and he's alive! Now, in my prayers, I just keep repeating "Thank you!" over and over again.
There are SO many entertaining, funny, and thought-provoking stories I could share with you about Matouk. Some of the stories, you probably wouldn't even believe, because, sometimes, you can be there watching and seeing it for yourself, yet you still can't believe what you are seeing. I cannot accurately describe the depth of his thought processes, reasoning, premeditating, and logic. It may sound corny, but I say with complete conviction that I am thankful and honored to have had the opportunity to have Matouk in my life, and I'm a better person as a result of getting to know (and love) him.
For This week's Ten on Tuesday you are supposed to list 10 Superstitions, Traditions, and/or Personlity Quirks.
1. Knock on Wood - If I or someone else is commenting on how something is going well, I knock on wood or instruct the other person to knock on wood. It's just a thing with me, because whenever I haven't knocked on wood, I end up jinxing myself
2. Jinxing - See #1
3. Routine - I have this 'thing' where I perform the same tasks in the same manner and order. Otherwise, I feel out of whack.
4. Even Numbers - I prefer even numbers over odd... I know, I'm weird
5. Apologizing - It's a personality trait. I apologize for everything. There have been jokes made that a species of ant could become extinct in Africa, and Misty would apologize for it.
6. I have a tradition that I, and only I, can hang some certain ornaments on the Christmas tree. This is because my dad got me these ornaments for my first Christmas living with my grandparents, and, therefore, the ornaments are very special to me.
7. Hugging - another personality quirk - I'm a hugger. It's the way I was raised
8. I put Miracle Whip on both pieces of bread in a sandwich. Hubs was nice enough to make me a hamburger last night, and he asked, "Do I have to put Miracle Whip on BOTH pieces of the bun?"
9. Full Moon - I completely believe that a full moon does affect people and animals.
10. Dreams/predictions - I've had dreams come true before.
Some of my favorite memories with Hubs are from when we attended Bon Jovi concerts. We have been to three of their concerts so far - Columbus, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. Please excuse my hurried post, I've got to run off to work.
I just discovered I was tagged by the fabulous Queen Mimi! Honest - I just found out! I've been sick... and I haven't been blogging... and I didn't know... and certainly Mimi wouldn't throw my ill, naive, and scrawny self into the dungeon.... would she? I'm not takin' any chances - on with the meme...
Yourself: Worried Your Partner: Hubs Your Hair: So-So Your Mother: Grandma Your Father: Best-Friend Your Favorite Item: Laptop Your Dream Last Night: None Your Favorite Drink: Beer Your Dream Car: '69 Camaro Your Dream Home: Cabin The Room You Are In: Living Your Fear: Failure Where Do You Want To Be In 10 Years: Photo-Shoots Who You Hung Out With Last: Dogs What You're Not: Secure Muffins: Chocolate One of Your Wish List Items: Camera Time: Flies Last Thing You Did: Cough What Are You Wearing: Clothes Your Favorite Weather: Sunny Your Favorite Book: Lots Last Thing You Ate: Forget Your Mood: Stressed Your Best Friends: Online What Are You Thinking About Right Now: Gyros Your Car: SUV Your Summer: Fishing What's on your TV: INDIANS!!! What is your weather like: Sunny When Is the Last Time You Laughed: Tammy-Chat Your Relationship Status: Married
My sweet and beautiful girls own my heart. They know it too, and are not afraid to take advantage of it.
(c) Misty DawnS
Molly always gets bored when I've got my camera, but Maggie (the puppy) eagerly waits for me to end the photo session so she can go running and exploring (and chewing on stuff).
(c) Misty DawnS
Molly (right) is always happier when Tag isn't around. Heck, most people and animals are happier when Tag isn't around *snicker*.
(c) Misty DawnS
I just realized something... all three of these photos were taken on different days. However, in each photo, Maggie is on the left, and Molly is on the right. They must be creatures of habit like their Mommy ;-)
* * * I edited this post to add a picture of Tag. I have three Border Collies - Tag (the male), Molly (the adult female), and Maggie (the female puppy). The pics above are of my girls, Maggie and Molly. Tag was working with Dad (Hubs) - that's why Molly was so happy (Tag is not her favorite).
This is Tag - he's not a sociable dog... only likes his dad... and sometimes me (c) Misty DawnS
I just wanted to thank the people who have taken the time to still visit and comment on my blog even though I have not been visiting other blogs much at all this past week. It has been a very rough week with being sick and the depression. I'm hoping that I'm on the road to recovery from the flu or whatever I have. So, I'll do my best to visit your blogs today and tomorrow.
At our going away party, before moving to the new state, a very dear friend of mine, whom I refer to as my second father, asked, "Are you going to have an address out there?"
"Yep." I replied.
"Do you want to expand on that?" he asked.
I got my 'I'm rotten to the core and totally sarcastic' grin on my face and replied, "It's 1234 Highway Middle of Nowhere. Just turn left at the cow."
He pretty much called me a smart a*s and started laughing.
When my dad and I were making the trip to move me out here. We were just coming through an adjoining town, and there ahead of us was a giant cow. A great big giant cow standing in front of the town's auction barn. I burst out laughing and told my dad about my conversation with my second dad (dad wasn't at the going away party, but he could fully respect my sarcasm to my second dad, because my dad and second dad are best friends.... was that confusing?). My dad just got this big grin on his face and said, "Guess what Mist. You need to turn left here to head to your house!"
We were laughing so hard that we had to pull over to the side of the road before we could continue on our journey.
Now, whenever I work at the insurance company, I pass that cow. I always think of my dad and me sitting in the car laughing so hard we had tears streaming down our face, and it always makes me smile, as I "turn left at the cow" to head back to my house :-)
For my second Camera-Critters post, I'm going to share a few pictures I took last week, and... a story :-) Yes, yes, I've always got a story. I figure you like my stories, otherwise, you wouldn't read my blog. hehe
So, as many of you know, Hubs was very ill for well over a week. He was so ill for so long that we were beginning to think he had something worse than the flu. One day, I had prepared a breathing treatment for him in a breathing machine we had borrowed. While he was doing the treatment, I was standing in front of him daydreaming (I don't know about what... probably dogs, or fishing, or Bon Jovi). My daydreams were interrupted when I saw this big black movement out the window. I looked up, my jaw dropped, and I just pointed out the window at our barn. Hubs turned around and looked and started to say "Go get your...", but I was already running out the door with my camera.
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
There were two turkey buzzards sitting on our barn roof, which is right on the other side of our driveway. I was able to get two pictures before they flew off and joined, yet another buzzard to circle over our pond. (The pictures really are much better when viewed full-size.)
When I returned to the house, I started to tell my ill husband about the buzzards and how neat it was watching them. He had a funny look on his face. So, I got concerned and asked, "Are you feeling really bad again? Are you OK?" He just shook his head, glanced out the window to where the buzzards had been, fell back on the couch, and said, "I sure hope that wasn't some sort of bad omen." Then, we both burst out laughing.
Just to update you and alleviate any worries - Hubs is getting better (finally), and I have now caught whatever he had (which is good, because now we know it was just the flu). With the way I'm feeling now though, I'm starting to understand why he was concerned about the vultures being a bad omen.
And, just so you don't start worrying that I've changed my ways or something - Here's a doggie pic ;-)
(c) Misty DawnS (Read: Maggie says "Mom, he's smashing my head!"; Tag says, "Hey Dad, you in there? Maggie Who?")
I'm sure you'd rather be packing your bags to go vacation at some Corpus Christi real estate, but since you aren't, do you want to join the Sunday meme all about animal/critter photos? Clicking on the post header graphic will take you to the blog where you can sign in if you have made a post, and you can visit other Camera-Critters Captures. Or, clicking HERE will take you to the rules.
Y'all tired of my cemetery gate in the sunset photos yet? I wouldn't be surprised if you were, but I just can't help myself. I love the ironwork of the arch and gate, and I love using it as a subject in front of the great sunsets we have here. This shot was taken Monday evening. There will certainly be many more cemetery-gate-sunset photos on my blog in the future - just to give you fair warning ;-)
I hope everyone has a great weekend! I'll do my best to visit everyone's Sky Watch posts tomorrow, but I've got the flu, which has caused the Fibromyalgia to flare, so I'm not sure how tomorrow will go.
Heads or Tails has its very own home now! If you click on the graphic above, it will take you to the awesome new HoT blog where you can sign up and start participating in this fun and popular meme!
Today's topic is Heads - Tip, or Tails - Anything that rhymes with tip.
So, I'm going to give you an inside sports betting tip...
You can thank me later...
Here's something else you can thank me for later...
Grady Sizemore
Franklin Gutierrez
Ryan Garko
Ummmm... ladies... there's a little drool on your lip. Don't let it slip onto the keyboard :-)
See that little kitty? It is thanking all of you for sharing your photos and making the premier of the Camera-Critters Meme a HUGE success! I am overwhelmed with appreciation to all of you for taking the time to participate. We were blessed with photos of a variety of critters. We saw a critter as small as an ant (OK, it WAS an ant) to huge elephants! We saw dogs, cats, a lizard, and a guinea pig. While we didn't see someone dressed in equestrian clothing, while riding a horse, we did see a pony! Oh yes, it was an awesome critter weekend! The photos were absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait to see what critters everyone shares next weekend.
So, my friends, I just had to take the opportunity to tell all of you... Bloggers are the best!
For my first Camera-Critters submission on this blog, I decided to tell you the story of a critter-family, whom I had the opportunity to see on several occasions last Summer.
I would go out for a sunset-photo-walk a little before Dusk, and on several evenings, I would be blessed with a visit from this critter-family. You see the one in the back? Out of the five babies, that one seemed to be the one to give the mother headaches ;-) It was always wondering off and exploring, and Mom would have to turn around and go get the little mischief causer.
(c) Misty DawnS
I think this family actually became accustomed to seeing me, just as I often hoped to see them. Finally, one evening, Mom decided to check me out a little bit closer. (Notice in the first photo, you can only count four babies. Baby Mischief is not in the picture, because he/she had wandered off to check out other things, yet again.)
(c) Misty DawnS
(c) Misty DawnS
I enjoyed our little meeting, until I thought I heard a car coming. So, I calmly told "Mom" to grab the young 'uns and get outta the road! She followed my advice, but made one last turn to say goodnight.
(c) Misty DawnS
