POTD - Cabbage

POTD - Cabbage

©2009 Kristin Corlett

One of my Nebraska cousins called me last night and asked me if I remembered my Grandma Corlett's Cabbage Casserole? She said that Grandma took it to potlucks frequently and that she just loved it. I had to tell her that I didn't remember it and I wasn't sure if I had ever had it. The only meal I ever remember of my Grandma's was her swiss steak. I gave my cousin a mission - see if any of her family had the recipe. I hope Grandma gave the recipe away. I'd love to try it.

This is one of the Best Of photos. The original POTD is here.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Oh Baby!

I don't think I've shared too many of my baby pictures.  I think it's because I was such a goofy looking child.  My hair was the most unruly mess my entire first year of life.  It's really quite funny.  The above photo was the first professional photo of me, I do believe.  This one, I like :)

My Mom put these photos into my baby book.  I think it's the only year that she did this.  You can click to enlarge it.  In today's digital world, can you imagine only putting in six pictures for a whole year of life?!  I like the simplicity of it, so I'm happy.

Jan 1969 - I was two years and three months old.  We lived just outside of Marquette, MI at KI Sawyer Air Force Base.  They get a lot of snow up there in the UP.  (Upper Peninsula)

May - I'm pictured with the two boys that I thought were put on this Earth to take care of me!  They are my Uncles - Alan and Matthew.    They treated me like a little sister, took me places, let me hang out with their friends, picked on me, dressed me up in their football uniforms and sometimes teased me until I cried...but that didn't stop me.  I would have been by their side every second if I could. 

Sept - I'm standing next my next best friend.  He lived at my grandparents house.  I loved this statue and always wanted my picture taken with him.  I couldn't wait to be taller.

It looks like the next one says Aug, but my birthday is in Oct.   Well anyway, this is the stage when I think I start looking like a cute kid.  My hair has finally stopped being so goofy and my face has gotten out of the baby stage. 

Dec - This is when I received my first set of luggage.  Ahhh, the travel bug hit me very young...three years old.  I guess we had Christmas at my Grandparents house because that's their fireplace and the stocking in the background was my Uncle Matt's, which at some point became mine.  Maybe this was year?  I still have that stocking, too.  I've never had any other. 


So that's me as a kiddo.
I thought after two days of pretty serious talk it might be fun to lighten it up a bit and have a laugh at my baby pictures. 
Have a wonderful day!

Kristin

POTD - My View

POTD - My View

©2011 Kristin Corlett

My husband and I have never stayed in one place for longer than three years - until now.  We're going on five and a half years in our condo in the sky.  We aren't that high up, only five floors, but I feel like we are in the clouds sometimes.  I love my view outside my window.  I think this is my favorite time of the day for this view - the lights are beginning to shine out from the condo community surrounding the water, the lights in the fountain are on and the sun is setting, giving the whole area a rosy glow.   I'm grateful that we've been in one place for awhile now and I really like the view I've had all this time. 

Late night musings part ii

I saved this section for today because I was kind of hoping that I would chicken out and not post it.  It is the end of the late night musing that I wrote sometime last year.  Part I is here.  Thanks so much for all of the lovely comments I received yesterday.  It's nice to know that I don't have to be a perfect writer to have a voice!

continued...

Ever since I can remember I have felt rejected by people.  The "they don't like me" type of rejection.  It came up again the other day.  I thought I was going to do something with a group of people and just a day or so before the event I was told that I couldn't come.  I discovered later that everyone else was still invited, but I was not.  I didn't think "That's OK, we'll do it again next time."  I immediately thought "What have I done?"  "Have they just been being nice to me all this time and now when other people are involved they don't want me to be around?"  Later when it was explained what happened, I totally understood, but it was tough to handle for a day or so.

One day I asked someone to go to the movies with me and they replied that they didn't go to the movies.  End of conversation.  Had they followed that up with, "...but I'd love to go out to dinner next week," or "maybe we can get together after the movie for ice cream," I wouldn't have felt like it was a total rejection of me and not just the movie.

I have also never felt friend worthy.  Maybe that's why my BFFs live on opposite coasts as far from me as possible!  I don't like to chat on the phone, so I tend not to stay in touch with people as closely as I probably should.

I have been trying my very best in the transplant community to be a friend no matter how temporary that friendship may be.  It's funny, I still get that little girl left out feeling when I hear that so and so went shopping together last night.  Why didn't they call me? and I really am not the all-day-shopping kind of gal.  I just want to feel included all the time. 

On my kindergarten progress report it says,"Socially - often times feels left out of the group.  Believes she is being rejected."

How does something like that start at age four?  and how does it continue through 44?

My Kindergarten photo

Actually I do know that the transplant community has made me a lot more self confident.  I have to be the best friend that I can possibly be to each person but then allow those people to gravitate towards those in our group that best suit them.  I know that these folks don't need a new best friend for life, they need a new best friend for right now, through this situation, and I know I am not that to everyone.  Thank goodness, I'd be exhausted! 

I love these folks fast and have learned to let go when they go home.  Some goodbyes are much harder than others, this is true, but I know I have a special place in all of their hearts - even if I wasn't their best friend.

I read somewhere that a person teaches what they need to learn the most about.  Maybe I should write a book about how to make friends and keep them through thick and thin.  Maybe then I will understand how to be a great friend and have the confidence to know that the people I friend are friends back.

 I have actually come a long way since I wrote this nearly a year ago, but I decided to put it out there anyway since I'm sure that I'm not alone in feeling this way.   Thankfully I have a wonderful family that I love to no end.  I've always had that love and acceptance from them and it's never once wavered.  That's probably been the reason why I can dismiss the "rejected" type of feelings that pop up every so often and not dwell on it.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for being my friends!
Kristin

POTD - Mud Dauber

POTD - Mud Dauber

©2011 Kristin Corlett

We've gotten quite a few of these mud daubers in the house recently.  We have a few drainage holes in our screened in porch area and they find them, by golly, they sure do.  This guy was flying around the house one whole day and then I lost track of him.  A few days later I found him on the windowsill.  I left the photo in its original size, so if you click on the photo you are able to see all of the little hairs on his body.  It's so cool.  To me, it's so very cool when I know that I'm not going to get stung getting that close.

I found a very cool blog post about a different type of mud dauber, but I bet it's habits are a lot like this one.  Go on over to the Hilton Pond Center if you'd like some more information on this type of wasp. 


I found this definition of a mud dauber on Steve's Pest Control site (from Missouri).  Thanks Steve!! (I don't have a clue who Steve is, by the way.) 

MUD DAUBER
"Length ½”–1” These long, slender wasps are usually black with yellow markings but some species may also have a metallic blue or black coloring. They can be easily identified by their thin, thread-like waist. Mud dauber nests are constructed out of mud and can be found under eaves, porch ceilings, inside garages, sheds, barns, etc. Mud daubers are solitary wasps and do not defend their nest, therefore stings are rare."

Late night musings

I wrote a blog post a long while ago - sometime last year - in a little notebook that I keep beside my bed at night. You know, for those late night inspirations or dream interpretations.  I read through the hastily written pages again today and decided that even though it doesn't stay on the same topic for more than a minute, maybe I ought to type it up.  You folks can finally see what it's like when I start thinking - it's not pretty!!  No wonder I write so much stuff down.  I have to try to sort through the million things I find to be urgent and of course none of it really is.

So here we go.
I'm actually kind of nervous.
This is like reading my journal...

OK.

I find it so very interesting that I write on a blog each day.  A blog that I have created. I have been told countless times that I have poor grammar, that I cannot spell and my sentence structure is simple.  My sister read one of my art history essays and about fell over in laughter - it truly was horrible.  I sounded like a five year old.

I like the painting.
The red is pretty.

OK, so it wasn't that bad - I did get an A on it after all. 
My writing is simple that's for sure.  No $10 words from me.  One reason for that is because I'd have to then spell the darned word.  Thank goodness for spell check.

I write my blog posts each day without a plan really.  Sometimes I look through my photos to see if I had taken pictures for a someday story and other times I happen to think of something that interested me and decide to talk about it. 

I prefer to talk about non controversial things because I honestly don't want to have to defend my position.  About the only thing I feel comfortable defending is organ donation and transplant.  And that's probably because I've been immersed in it for the past 5 years.

  I am a Libra through and through.  I can't make decisions without feeling like I didn't weigh the options better.  I don't ever want anyone upset with me and I fall in love with everything that strikes my fancy.  I do believe that one of the number one overused words on my blog is Love.  I love Sharpies.  Oh I love that lamp.  Don't you just love fall?  I saw this lovely piece of pottery.  I love to love.

I was that way with men, too.  I'd fall in love in a moment if he looked at me the right way.  If he was a bad kisser though, that wasn't love.  yuck.  I'd be done with him.

I don't talk politics because I do have a pretty firm stance but I don't really care if you believe the way I do.  I also don't care if you are the complete opposite. I would much rather talk about a billion other things that what those politicians are doing.

I have been to enough open houses, parade homes and fixer upper houses that I do feel qualified to give housing opinions.  Ask me what to offer for the place, however, and it boggles my mind.  I have no idea.  Isn't that what a real estate agent is for?  Give me a cluttered room with hot pink walls and yellow shag carpeting and I can see the space.  Give me a blueprint and I would never be able to find my way out.

 

I read on someones blog that they thought kids shouldn't have to learn cursive writing.  Gosh, I just can't imagine not writing.  Printing doesn't flow and it certainly doesn't flow with how fast my thoughts come.  I've written this post so far in longhand in a little notebook while I was in bed.  Sometimes it's just easier to think with pen and paper.  The distractions of the world wide web can completely derail this Libra.  I'm thinking that's why I have so enjoyed photography the past few years.  I get out of the hum of the computer and out into the world to see what it has to offer.

I started writing this post because I was honestly trying to figure out what in the world I write about each day.  Was it photography driven or did I actually talk about interesting things?  I wondered if I spoke from the heart enough.  I can be quite passionate but I get so wordy that I believe my passion gets lost.  This post, for example!  I think it's now become a novel.

I'll finish part two tomorrow.  I want to actually keep my readership :0)

Have a wonderful day!
Kristin

POTD - Switzerland

POTD - Switzerland

©2011 Kristin Corlett

I took a little drive yesterday to Switzerland.  Switzerland, FL, that is.  There's a little park out there that has some beautiful views of the St Johns River and I thought I'd spend an hour or so playing with my new lens.  By the time I arrived a storm was coming in and I my leisurely plans were dashed.   Thankfully I still got a few shots, so it wasn't a wasted a trip.

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Reality Check

POTD - Reality Check

©2011 Kristin Corlett

I saw this sign on the side of the road the other day. I actually thought it was pretty funny - Operation Reality Check?  I want to know who's checking?! 

I know, I know, the little hurricane symbol is also on the sign but still it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  After I looked up Operation Reality Check I found out that people who live in a storm surge area are supposed to understand what the storm surge is in their area and have a family disaster plan in place before a hurricane hits the area.   I don't think this sign conveys that urgency, but maybe the folks who live in that area are aware of it.

Enjoy!
Kristin

VW Panel Bus

This is, I believe, a 1960s era Volkswagen type 2 transporter panel bus.  It's not the prettiest VW bus that I've ever seen, but it sure was interesting.  I've probably seen one of these before, but never since I've gotten my camera.

As I stated the other day in my Photo of the Day (POTD - VW Bus), I was turning into a strip mall and when I saw this bus pass me, I followed it instead.
I needed the photo.
I needed to see it up close.
I was stalking an orange bus.
Is there an app for that??

The front seat was a long bench with a baby car seat in the passenger side and on the driver's side the steering column came right up out of the floor!  The steering wheel wasn't completely perpendicular to the column, but almost.  I had no idea.  I was going to take a photo of the inside, but I thought that I might be going a bit too far in my desire to document my stalking of this vehicle.  

As I'm talking to my husband about this panel bus he tells me that he drove one of these, although one with more windows.   Oh, the truth comes out - he said that he actually purchased the bus for $45 when he was in prep school in New Hampshire.  He took it on one short road trip with some friends and on the way back, the bus wouldn't make it up the hills anymore, so they abandonded it and walked back to school, about 4 or 5 miles.   No wonder why he originally told me he only drove it - he hardly owned it long enough to consider it his!



This is a Sunday Drive in my city.  What's going on in yours?
Head on over to Unknown Mami's for Sundays in my City.

Have a great day!
Kristin

POTD - The Ditch

POTD - The Ditch

©2011 Kristin Corlett

Querencia – “a deep, quiet sense of inner well-being that comes from knowing a particular place of the earth, its diurnal and seasonal patterns, its fruits and scents, its history and its part in your history, where, whenever you return to it, your soul releases an inner sigh of recognition in your history, where, whenever you return to it, your soul releases an inner sigh of recognition and relaxation,” author Kirkpatrick Sale (quote from the Jacksonville Intracoastal Salt Marsh Paddling Guide)

I took this photo while crossing the bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway.  I've been wanting to stop and take photos, but it's not allowed on this road as it's an expressway.  So I put the camera into the Auto mode and held the shutter down while it snapped away dozens of photos.  I moved the camera a bit so that I hopefully wouldn't get all sky shots.  I loved how many of them turned out. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

The Cactus and the Bobcat

My husband sent me an email today, forwarded by someone else. Since my husband rarely sends me an email, I decided to open up the forward.

What he sent was very interesting! I Googled the information and determined that it was indeed a true story and that it happened on or around the 7th of April 2011. So now that I believe it's true, I'm going to pass it on.

This bobcat was photographed by Curt Fonger, a photographer of 40 years, who lives in Gold Canyon, Arizona.  All of the photographs are credited to Mr. Fonger, but I did get these from my email, so the quality is no where near what the original would look like, I'm sure. 

As the story goes, this bobcat was being chased by a hungry mountain lion and to escape potential death the bobcat made his way up to the top of the prickly, pokey saguaro cactus to wait out the hunger pangs of the lion.

The lion eventually moved on, but the bobcat stayed up there on its perch for most of the day.  Curt Fonger stayed to witness the events.

Now, I can't imagine that the top of that cactus being any softer than any other part, so I'm assuming that it wasn't a terribly comfortable resting spot for this fella.

True!  It's better than being lunch!

...but 40 feet up in the air on something as painful as a cactus had to be a pretty awful day.

The bobcat hardly shows any discomfort.  Maybe he's done this trick before.

I sure am glad that Curt Fonger was there that day to witness this event and take photos of it.  What a beautiful animal.

Have a great day!
Kristin


I gleened the information from the folowing sources...

Here is what the email said:

The photos were captured in Gold Canyon, on the foot of the Superstition Mountains.The bobcat was trying to get away from a mountain lion that was stalking it, explains the photographer Curt Fonger. He darted up a 40-foot saguaro, and there he stayed for the remainder of the day.Curt Fonger and his wife Marta are living out their golden years on wilderness' edge in Gold

Canyon. With over 40 years of photography experience, Curt recently had a career-defining moment.

"I've never had the luxury of seeing a bobcat on top of a saguaro," he says. "Just a beautiful creature,he was displaying himself proudly, kind of looking around, probably trying to see if mister mountain lion was still around... it was almost if he was posing!"  Curt says the golden cat with amber eyes stared back at him, perched on top of the cactus for hours.  "He was pretty relaxed, he kind of laid on top of the saguaro, shut his eyes, almost as if he was sleeping."  The bobcat eventually came down.
"It was that Kodak moment I think every photographer lives for."

and here is just one of the many articles I found online.  This one was from KPHO found on the Free Republic website.

Bobcat Climbs Cactus To Escape Mountain Lion
KPHO.com ^ | 4/7/11

Posted on Fri Apr 8 03:08:09 2011 by Slings and Arrows
PHOENIX -- Who knew that a bobcat could climb a plant with millions of sharp spines without injury?
Photographer Curt Fonger captured some great images of a bobcat that climbed a saguaro Tuesday.
Fonger's friend says the bobcat ran through the grounds at Smiling Dog Landscape in Gold Canyon.
A mountain lion was running after the bobcat, probably looking for breakfast.
Fonger's friend said the bobcat clawed its way to the top of the cactus and stared back down at the mountain lion.
The bobcat stayed up there all day long. The mountain lion eventually lost interest and wandered off.
Curt Fonger, who's been taking wildlife photographs for 40 years, says this was his most memorable shoot ever.
"When he looked down at me, those beautiful amber eyes with those dark slits said it all. It was so refreshing to be able to personally witness this bobcat at that precise moment," Fonger said. "A story of survival. He wasn't nervous or frightened. Instead he had a personified "Calm after the Storm" demeanor. A lesson more of us could learn from."
Fonger said the creature even took a "bobcatnap" during the morning. How comfy could that be?
"In my 40 years of photography this was without doubt a defining moment in being at the right place at the right time. I'm still smiling a day later," Fonger said.

POTD - Lanterns

POTD - Lanterns

©2011 Kristin Corlett

I really enjoyed the hanging lantern lighting at the Burrito Works Taco Shop in downtown St. Augustine. I had the Mexican UFO and so did Lori, who went with me on this adventure. It was their most popular item on the menu and I thought I'd be brave and have one. Of course they didn't take out the jalapenos so it was a little too hot for me. I ate half of it though and I will go back again. It was that good.

Enjoy!
Kristin


Burrito Works Taco Shop
(904) 823-1229
Downtown St. Augustine
114 Saint George St
St Augustine, FL 32084
www.burritoworks.com

Friday Fragments

It's Friday Fragments Day!!

It's Friday Fragments Day!

It's Friday Fragments Day!

It's Friday Fragments Day!  

It's Friday Fragments Day!

Welcome to Friday Fragments!  This is the place where we're able to put little snippets of fun or interesting things together without having to stretch that idea into an entire blog post.

Mrs. 4444 is our lovely host and I am so grateful for her continued hosting of this fun carnival.  For more Friday Fragment finds, please head on over to Half-Past Kissin' Time.  Thanks!

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

- June 23rd, 2011 -

Happy Tin/Aluminum Anniversary to me!
Tom and I were married 10 years ago today.
Our first date was 16½ years ago today.
He got his liver transplant 5½ years ago today.
The 23rd is our date.

My husband said that he was going to get me a roll of aluminum foil tomorrow when he goes grocery shopping.  I asked him if he would make me an aluminum foil hat. 

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

I was making the guest room bed and tossed this king sized comforter out the door to get it out of my way for a few minutes.  When I came back for it, this is what I found.   Mocha is so funny, but she's not the only family pet that likes to snuggle up in the laundry, I'm sure!

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

I am going on my road trip in just a few weeks.  I'm staying with or seeing blogging friends and people from our transplant support group who have gone home on my way to New Hampshire and on my way back home to Florida.   I'm looking for one more person to stay with or visit between North Carolina and Massachusetts along the I-81 and I-95 route.   Give me a shout out or ideas on areas to visit and photograph.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

This is what I heard at lunch today.

"Would you like a piece of cake?"
"No thanks, we have turkeys at home."

...from a few tables away the word "cookies" sure sounded a lot like "turkeys".

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

My mother just purchased some new patio furniture and her kitties have found the new accommodations to be perfect!  Love the patio Momma and my McCoy planter looks lovely on the table.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

I bought a new lens for my camera the other day.  It's a telephoto lens Nikor 55 - 300.  I have been wanting a new lens for quite awhile now, but with the upcoming trip I could finally justify it.  I have only taken a few photos with it and so far I love it.  I'm not sure how in the world I lived without it!

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

I keep mentally packing my car - editing what I'm going to take - rearranging where I'm putting each item.  Right now my main goal is to make sure that I can put my drivers seat in a reclining position so I can take cat naps without having to get out and rearrange the whole car.

Road naps are a very important part of any road trip! I always end up taking one or two each day.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•

Have a wonderful day and if you are looking for more fragmented thoughts, head on over to Mrs. 4444's place to visit more!!

Kristin

POTD - Nicene Creed

POTD - Nicene Creed

©2011 Kristin Corlett

I went to a little Greek shrine in St Augustine and they had the most amazing art installation.  It was  The Nicene Creed written out on the wall in individual wooden letters, painted the same color as the background.  The lighting in the room gave a wonderful shallow shadow, that made each word pop. I had never been to the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine before and didn't even know that it existed, but my friend Lori did. She insisted that we go and check it out while we were in St. Augustine. I'm so glad she did.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Overworked

I titled this overworked, but actually I'm just exhausted. 

I've done so much running around, errands, group activities and entertaining my new friend that I have hardly had a moment to breathe or think.

I'll be back in a day or so - back to my normal routine, I hope. 

I am a couch potato for the most part but I've actually really enjoyed all the busy-ness.  I just wish I could find a little more energy after all of the busy of the day is over.

Take care!  See you soon.

Kristin

POTD - VW Bus

POTD - VW Bus

©2011 Kristin Corlett

I saw this vintage VW bus drive by me on the road.  I abandoned the current destination within a nanosecond to follow that bus.  Thankfully the driver only went another block, pulled into a parking spot and went into a local business. I quickly got out of my car, camera in hand and took a few pictures.  The detail around the VW emblem was a really nice touch and I liked that kiss of sunlight on the right hand headlight.   Full photos of the bus in a few days.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Father's Day at the cemetery

I did a very devilish thing Saturday night.

I talked someone into something that they didn't want to do, but deep down they really did.

Let me rewind a second.  I was asked by a friend if I would give her sister, Lori, a call.  She was visiting Jacksonville and staying in their house since they weren't there.  Long story short, she said that her sister needed a vacation but was already itching to go home.  She asked me to try to talk her sister into staying in town for a few more days.

I was up for a challenge so I agreed.

Last night Lori to come with us to the Creekside restaurant and met all of the people that were so close to her sister when they were here.  While we were eating dinner and enjoying the music, she kept telling me that she'd love to spend a few days together talking photography and maybe helping me learn a few things.  But she'd always end those conversations with, "...but I'm leaving in the morning."

I truly was relentless.  She had no hope of saying no once I had it in my mind she was staying.

A few hours with me and she was talking herself into staying!


This morning Lori and I headed out for some photographic adventures.  I didn't get a whole lot of learning in because I was enjoying showing her a few places - a cemetery, under a bridge and to lunch with a friend.

At the cemetery, Lori brought out some magnifying lenses and we played around with them a bit.  (I'm going to have to invest in some!)   The little filter makes my lens able to get in close!  Real close!!

Her lenses weren't made for my camera, so it's kind of a shaky photo.  Maybe tomorrow we can set the cameras up on the tripod - after I purchase the filters of course.

I noticed a ton of flowers today all around the cemetery.  I had called my Dad earlier in the day, but after that call I totally forgot it was Father's Day.  It didn't occur to me until later that many of the flowers were for fathers.

The cemetery looked beautiful and I'm so very grateful I was there this day.

This little plot, above, was so interesting.  Flowers, statues, urns, a bench, windchimes, leis...

I've noticed the plot before so I do believe that someone comes regularly to maintain the festive atmosphere.

Many of the headstones had several little statues around their base.  I believe that most of the statues left on this one were left by grandchildren.  It's so sweet and I'm glad that the cemetery allows such items to be left behind.

This angel statue left me very sad though.  He was almost completely buried by the land.  Maybe it was done on purpose to signify death and heaven.   Maybe the nearby tree grew above ground roots by the statue that were covered by the landscapers.  Maybe there isn't any more to this statue.

Whatever the story, it made me think.

I love you Daddy.

I miss you Grandpa and Grandpa.


Have a wonderful week.
Kristin

POTD - Marsh grass

POTD - Marsh Grass

©2011 Kristin Corlett

Just a few moments before I took this photo an animal went wading through this area and then a little fish jumped and made the ring.  I missed both!  I waited, posed, hoping the animal would come back through, but I didn't see him.  It looked like a raccoon, but I'm really not sure. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

An evening creekside

One of our very dear friends, Maggie,  was playing keyboard tonight with a couple of her talented friends at a restaurant in St. Augustine.  She's a part of our support group, so it's nice when they play locally so we can go see her play.

She had a liver transplant almost two years ago and now she's back to doing what she loves - playing music. 

She's one of the shining stars in our group and she shines on stage, too!

Creekside Restaurant's outdoor patio overlooks a lovely little water spot. 

The marsh grass is so pretty.  I just love looking at it.  The Photo of the Day in the morning will be a shot of the grass.  That dock doesn't look so tempting to me, but if it were a bit sturdier, I'd love to stand out there for awhile and watch the wildlife in that marsh grass.

That long grouping of tables - that's our group.  There were 14 of us who came out on this incredible night.  It wasn't too hot, no wind to speak of, great music, not too loud so we could still chat and good food, too.  All of that made for a delightful evening. 

I hear that they are playing again in a few weeks.

Have a wonderful night!
Kristin

POTD - Beach Fence

POTD - Beach Fence

©2011 Kristin Corlett

I realized that I hadn't been to the beach, even for a looksie, in quite a long while.  It was almost 100º this particular afternoon, so I didn't stay long at all.  I just wanted to make sure that we still had a nice sandy beach and water rolling on shore.   I mostly go look at the ocean in the winter months when there aren't a lot of people so it kind of surprised me how many people were here this day.  I guess the vacation season has begun!

Enjoy!
Kristin

POTD - Take Flight

POTD - Take Flight

©2011 Kristin Corlett

It was interesting the way the birds were circling.  I don't know if they were high from the smoke fumes or if they actually saw something in the parking lot where I was standing.  This was taken in the morning two days ago, when it was so smokey. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

Friday Fragments

It's Friday Fragments Day!!

It's Friday Fragments Day!

It's Friday Fragments Day!

It's Friday Fragments Day!  

It's Friday Fragments Day!

Welcome to Friday Fragments!  This is the place where we're able to put little snippets of fun or interesting things together without having to stretch that idea into an entire blog post.

Mrs. 4444 is our lovely host and I am so grateful for her continued hosting of this fun carnival.  For more Friday Fragment finds, please head on over to Half-Past Kissin' Time.  Thanks!

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Goodness, I can really tell that a lot of people are busy this week. My comments have gone to about nothing. Schools not only out for summer, but so are the readers! I guess I'd better get on the ball and make sure I visit all my blog friends.  I haven't been around much either come to think of it.

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Congrats to Mrs. 4444 for the 150th Friday Fragments Day. That's almost three years of Fridays.

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My friend Annie in the UP celebrated her first year of blogging yesterday. 
Congrats Annie!!
Thanks for a wonderful year!

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Did you hear the new California law about fitted sheets? It is now a law that all lodging facilities must use fitted sheets on mattresses instead of flat sheets. I know that most of us use fitted sheets at home, but in hotels it's much easier to use flat sheets for so many reasons
- folding and ironing a fitted sheet is a lot more time consuming than a flat sheet.
- sorting flat and fitted with be more difficult
- cost to restock the hotel linens for all rooms will no doubt be passed on to the guests.

The reason the law was passed was so that hotel workers would not be injured from putting flat sheets on the bed.

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During lunch today I asked my friends if they heard about the fitted sheet law in California for all hotels. Two of the people thought I said "...the feta cheese law." One of them said they couldn't wait to go stay in a hotel in California to see if they got their cheese! Too funny!

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I heard someone say the other day that raw cookie dough was the way to a woman's heart. I thought about it and I honestly don't know anyone of my girlfriends who doesn't like raw cookie dough. I'm not sure it's the quickest route to their hearts but I bet it would certainly make them more receptive!

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In our support group meetings we ask everyone to turn their phones to vibrate so as not to disturb the discussion. On this particular day many of us were waiting on the news of a patient who had gotten the call for their transplant in the middle of the night. My friend sitting next me had his phone out and saw he was getting a text. Good News! Our friend was out of surgery and doing well. I laughed and commented that I didn't get a message and he said, "You should have. Did you check your vibrator?"

To say that the room erupted in fits of laughter is an understatement.

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Hope you enjoyed my Friday Fragments.
Please visit Mrs. 4444 to see read more and to hang out with pretty awesome fraggers.

Have a great weekend!
Kristin