Photo 48~Get Your Pants Off The Flag Pole

This is the view out my back door…of a pole. We are not sure what kind of pole, we’ve heard different stories as to what it is and why. So for this story pulled from my memory bank it will be a flag pole.
My grandma was one hot momma, hip with her styled clothes and worldly attitude. Every summer at Lake Powell she bikini sun bathed off the back of the boat to attain her Indian blooded, toasty brown skin. Almost too toasty, if you ask me. But her favorite thing in the world was watching the Denver Broncos play. There was no missing a game, ever!  Everyone knew where to find her on game days and if by chance you were there to watch along you had better be prepared for what might get thrown and the yelling and screaming. The family that wasn’t in to football (like myself)just loved to be there and watch her dedication for her beloved John Elway.

As years passed her interests changed. We should have picked up on it earlier; but soon enough we were hit by the ‘A’ word. Alzheimer’s… and then it all changed… dramatically. Her life went from all that to cutting out pictures in a magazine just to keep her out occupied and out of trouble. From making these wonderful family recipes to eating paper napkin sandwiches for lunch; from keeping her skin soft and supple to her exiting the bathroom with some kind of white dry substance smeared all over her body; from her smelling of Hy Grade lotion to excrement.

One thing we all regret…she never had the privilege to see the Denver Broncos play in person or let good ol’ John know she was behind him all the way.

Photo 47~Stupid Cheap Chair!!

Here are one of my husband’s beautiful palm trees. He babies them all winter so he can enjoy them thru out the summer. They are planted next to the cement patio poking at everything that walks by, cutting the animals when they for some reason run under them or someone plops them self down in the lawn chair that backs up to it.

Oh…that reminds me of a story…Several years ago when our first child was still in a stroller we loaded up everything we could into our little car and headed to church camp six hours away. We were poor back then and everything we owned was of cheap quality.

So Sunday morning we strolled on over to the church arbor where  meetings were held nightly and on Sunday morning. We sat in the outer ring which wasn’t under the arbor due to the fact our baby fussing I could escape without much notice. Everything was going so well, the baby was being a jewel, no problems what so ever…then all of a sudden I hear something to my right and I see my husbands lawn chair collapsing with him in it. Just folded him right up!!

Oh my gosh!! I couldn’t help but laugh. I mean really, who wouldn’t?

He was very composed, got up, folded it the best he could and walked off. As he is walking away I see him throw his lawn chair in a trash barrel with disgust. At this point I was trying so hard to contain myself. I even put my hand over my mouth with my face to my lap.

Well…I can’t for the life of me remember what church was about that day but I do remember the entertainment!!

Photo 46~Focus On The Eyes

We always hear-focus on the eyes. Lol! But this is dang creepy looking, while trying not to gaze too long.Or as my little princess would say, Crazy Little Monster Frog, or in this case Turtle.

Photo 45~Why Do These Things Happen To Me?!

Warning!! There is a little cussing, but it’s needed.

Right out my back door my husbands Boston Ferns are hanging…just hanging…out the back door.

Which reminds me of a horrible thing that happened to me as a preteen. I say horrible because I was terrified! Just to let you know up front the babies were fine.

In my neighborhood I was the official babysitter even after we moved away. I was called regularly by mothers in surrounding homes to come watch their children. I was constantly baffled how they ended up with my home phone and name. I didn’t know these families from the man on the moon.

Later I found out.

This one particular family which was one street over from our old house had called me for a friday night. I showed up and they were nice. She explained they were going on a date. This was one much-needed because she was a stay at home mom raising two baby boys close in age. I can’t remember exactly how close but neither could walk and they both were in diapers and bottles. They were beautiful little boys, thick dark, curly hair, round little pudgy, creamy white faces.

And lucky for me she wanted them in bed right after they departed. That left me the whole evening to just hang out. I was thrilled…I could watch television, read something from their enormous library and drink a soda.

It was getting late and knew they weren’t going to be home until 11pm or so, I settled in and decided to let the two poodles out the fenced-in backyard to do their business. I sat back down and waited for the curly little things to make it back from the dark abyss but they never came. I stuck my head out I to hear them barking from a distance.

Oh my gosh! I can’t believe this! They have some how gotten out! How is this going to work? I have two baby boys upstairs sleeping blissfully and I need to somehow go get these dumb ass dogs!

I stepped out into the backyard, looked around and heard the back slider latch ‘click’. Oh my gosh! I am locked out!

I instantly panic. How in the world am I going to get back in there? The Mrs never told me about the back door locking on its own, she only told me about the front needing a key to get in and out. Which I didn’t have! It was in the house!!

At this point I am screaming (in my head), I am too young to be baby sitting! Why do these people think I am old enough and irresponsible!!

I walked to the corner of the yard and there the little shits (sorry, I have to cuss) were, not having escaped like I thought but in the far corner.

I jumped the fence looking around the neighborhood for any clue the owners were up. I ran to several homes I vaguely remembering the owners. No luck… either they were scared to answer so late or they were gone.

Just at the perfect time I seen a car drive into its garage. She had returned home and was starting to unload her groceries from her vehicle. Running to her in tears trying to explain my predicament, she was trying hard to understand what this wild child was screaming. I suppose she thought I was an escapee running for my life from my abductors or something. I don’t know what she thought! All I know is she knew what to do.

We walked over to the closest neighbor to wake them up! All the while her comforting and reassuring me every thing would be all right.

In the meantime, Mrs. Much Needed A Night Out had called the same neighbor to ask them to check on me because the phone was ringing unanswered.

A few years later after moving out-of-state I asked my dad about the couple and their babies. He had heard that the mother had cracked up, left unexpectedly without any explanation to what was wrong. The father was left to raise those two little babies all by himself.

I often wonder how those beautiful little boys turned out.

Thank you The Bonny Blog for A VERY INSPIRING BLOGGER AWARD

The SHLEHORA blog has been nominated for VERY INSPIRING BLOGGER AWARD by THE BONNY BLOG and I humbly accept this honor. Thank you Bonny!  I appreciate your kindness and patience.

THE RULES:
▪ Provide a link and thank the blogger who nominated you. ▪ Answer 7 questions. ▪ Nominate 15 blogs for this award. ▪ Provide links to the blogs and inform the recipients they have been nominated. ▪ Include the award logo within your post for copying.

Seven (7) Things About Myself:
1. I was born in a small town in Texas and lived in another so don’t know which one is posted on my birth certificate.
2. I hate exercising but have to do it every day.
3. I am not a competitive person but on the inside I challenge myself all the time.
4. I no longer can eat meat and am fine with that because I make it for my family and the smell turns my stomach.
5. I will never put a photo of myself on my blog, even though I’m thinking of placing an obscure one.
6. I hate talking on the phone, especially with someone I have to hold up the conversation.
7. I wish I were computer smart. It would make it so much easier for me in editing my photos.

*Please Note
I realize that many bloggers do not accept awards. I may nominate them anyway to show how much I enjoy their writing/photos/etc. It is their privilege to merely say thank you and not continue the trend.

My 15 nominated blogs that inspired me are: in random order
1. Claude Schilling Photography
2. Leanne Cole PHOTOGRAPHY
3. Peter @ The Elemental Eye
4. Amy Clark Studios
5. Dot knows! (elleturner4)
6. Maeghen @ MNM Photography
7. Che’hanin @ Graciously 50
8. Mike Powell 
9. Tristain @ three little wildflowers
10. Adele d’Alleray
11. Barbara @ Life in the Foothills
12. Paul @ rpdpod
13. Liana @ the hour of soft light…
14. Suzy @ Blue Girl Photography
15. Jenna Mule Photography

Congratulations to all the nominees! I wish you much success always.

Thank you JOHANNISTHINKING for the Sunshine Award!

I want to say thank you to Jane @ Johannisthinking for nominating me for the Sunshine Award and helping me immensely with trying to navigate the wordpress site. I really appreciate her help and wonderfully kind and inspiring words. Thank you!!

                     Sunshine Award

How to spread the Rays of Sunshine (…or the RULES…as they say):

* Include the award’s logo in a post or on your Blog.
* Link to the person who nominated you.
* Answer 10 questions about yourself.
* Nominate 10 Bloggers.
* Link your nominees to the post and comment on their Blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

Respond to Ten Questions about Yourself–Share the INFO about your Sun Rays:

1.      Favorite color:   I would have to say sage green at this time. I have a tendency to change my mind.
2.     Favorite animal:  Dog, I love my doggies and other people’s doggies especially since I don’t have to pick up after them.
3.     Favorite number: Three, I don’t know why. It has always been my lucky number.
4.     Favorite non-alcoholic drink:  Orange Juice, luv, luv, luv!!
5.     Favorite alcoholic drink: Yuk! None.
6,     Favorite types of music:  Anything contemporary Christian, not the old timies.
7.     My passion(s): Photography! definitely photography
8.     Prefer getting or giving presents:  definitely giving, I am a bad receiver of presents person.
9.     Favorite cities: Right now Vegas and Bates Motel but when they are over it will be Breaking Amish, Finding Bigfoot and Little People, Small World. That’s not too many, huh?

My 10 nominees are each important to me in their own unique style of photography…

*The Clever Bunny @ wordpress.com

I love all her ideas, photography and decorating! Her style is a Ray of Sunshine!

*Karina Coombs @ pruelypixel.com

Awesome photographs and funny video snacking!

*Sofia @ Adorning The Dark

Who is an amazing photographer!

*Maria @ Creative Lens Photo Blog

Who is another amazing photographer!

*Olivia @ Olivia Bush Photography

She is an amazing fashion photographer which I only dream of being!

*Mick @ Tell Me All About It

We share the same home state and I love to see what she photographs so I too can be proud to be living in Oklahoma!

*Casey @ Photo Biz Blog & *Jaya @ Jayavallephotography.wordpress.com

They both have some great photography info and advice for beginners and beyond! Check ‘em out!

*Rebecca @ rebeccaplotnick.wordpress.com

Awesome photographer! Recently has many beautiful photos of Paris, (I’ve always wanted to go) which you can purchase on etsy.com. Check her out!

********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Wishing YOU each  SUNSHINE days filled with rays of blessings and water crystals of love to carry you through all that you discover and experience so that you may have a fuller, richer day with yourself and all whom you meet along the journey!

Photo 44~Are You Really Sorry?

Went on a photo shoot tonight to capture this beautiful church during the blue hour. And I wasn’t sorry!

I have a question that’s been making me wonder…hmmm? (My eyebrows are lowered putting a crease where there shouldn’t be and my lips are puckered and pouty.) Now you have a visual of how this causes my face to get wrinkles in places I don’t want.

Do you remember when we were small children in the 60′s and 70′s and our parents would make us apologize for something we weren’t sorry for? Well…I remember very well because I had to do it a lot. Do you know why we had to do that? Was it to teach us something? What?

I only remember being so angry and yelling in my head, I’m not sorry!

So why did I have utter the words?  And when was it I stopped feeling anger and actually felt regret and guilt?

Okay…I’m over that. I’m thankful my mother instilled in me to consider the others feelings and to remember to be humble in all things.

Photo 43~A New Job?

My husband and I went on a little excursion last night to get new photos for my blog. He rode his bike while I walked along the bridge.

Wasn’t successful, photos were not anything to brag about. I can see what is wrong with this one and that’s a good thing.

River Walk

I feel like I’ve reached another level in my learning and am pleased. For so long I felt in limbo, wasn’t learning anything new to improve and getting discouraged. Meetup.com groups didn’t help, anymore classes were not an option, I knew no one that was willing to help me and then I found a woman on the internet that explained it the exact way I needed to understand.

My world opened up!

I felt renewed and alive!

Now I find myself watching movies and seeing the mistakes the editors don’t catch. I mean, really people, can you not see that her hair was not parted like that in the first scene? That he was not standing there before? In the last scene it was dark and now you want me to believe that ten minutes later the sky is bright. Do they think we are not going to notice?

It’s amazing how many mistakes I catch in each television show or movie I see. In all reality maybe they do know and can’t redo the scene due to some unforeseen circumstance.

Just take my photos for example, I see the mistakes and hoping you don’t! Lol!

Photo 42~Oh, To Be Beautiful

I have always wondered what life would be like if I were born beautiful. Would I have been more confident? Not been afraid of speaking to others? Been able to look strangers in the eye instead of quickly glancing else where?

My Little Princess

Would others have treated me any differently? I believe so.

Don’t get me wrong, I had plenty friends all through school. It’s not  like I was the quiet and loner child in the corner playing by her self. I was involved with extracurricular activities like Brownies. Lol! That sounds so funny to say. I don’t even know if they still have a Brownies association.

I remember the time our Girl Scout Troop had the privilege in hosting a fashion show. I knew I wasn’t model material so I was very nervous.  I practiced and practiced to be the best little girl on that stage so  I pranced  to each stopping point  with my feet pivoting ever so perfectly in the new lavender pant suit, I looked stunning.

I felt tremendous!

I felt beautiful!

I felt confident!

I felt like somebody!

After the show the parents were given the opportunity to purchase the outfits at a discount for their child.  I was told we couldn’t afford it.

I can not remember another time in my childhood I felt so crushed and broken.

I refused to end my story here.

I know the things in life I’ve been granted are for a reason. They have made me who I am.

Photo 41~Pretty Flower

What I learned Saturday from this photo shoot

~ALWAYS have another person to help no matter what, because when you both get tickled you’re  not the only one to pee a little.

~Don’t be embarrassed because you’re the only photographer there with a diffuser, even though it may roll in the stream when you’re concentrating on getting the perfect shot.

~Don’t expect the flowers to be in bloom because you may have forgotten they froze out last year.

~Let the child be themselves. It produces beautiful photographs, even though your helper left the list of poses in the vehicle.

~And, last but not least, may be most important-DON’T allow the parent of the subject to view every photo taken because they may print and send them to family members that otherwise the photographer (me) would delete!