Laura Delegal - 2012 Project 365 + 1

Day 29 - 01/29/12

2012-01-29T18:50:00.000-08:00

We're jumping for joy because it's Kaylen's birthday. She will be 1 year old on Tuesday.

Isn't she a cutie. She's one of the happiest babies I've ever seen. I told you a little about her last year when she was born with some medical problems. She was in the neonatal care unit for a couple of weeks and went home on Valentine's Day. She has a wonderful single mom who is making her way through college to make a better life for the two them. Kaylen is a constant reminder that God doesn't make mistakes, He makes blessings.

Day 28 - 01/28/12

2012-01-28T19:23:00.000-08:00

It was another beautiful day with temps in the low 60s. I decided this might be my last chance to re-explore an abandoned 2-room home. It was lived in by a man who became somewhat of a hermit after his wife divorced him and she and their daughter moved away. The home is not outfitted with electricity, so there are kerosene lamps throughout. There is an old iron stove in the kitchen, with a newer Coleman propane stove on top and an old white cabinet from the 1930s sits in the corner. In the back is a hand pump and outhouse with square seats.

I was there a couple years ago and was amazed with the items that remain inside the home. Everything is basically as it was when the owner died. Although the rats and other critters have made themselves at home, on the bed was a beautiful handmade quilt and others were in broken dressers on the back porch. I've always wondered why the family didn't take those heirlooms with them. I love quits, so it breaks my heart to know they were left behind to be used as bedding for rats.

For tips on photographing old places, check out How to Photograph Abandoned Places.

Want to know what I cooked today? White Chili. Check out What's for Supper?

Day 27 - 01/27/12

2012-01-27T20:11:00.000-08:00

Want to know what I cooked today? Frittata. Check out What's for Supper?

Day 26 - 01/26/12

2012-01-26T20:09:00.000-08:00

Day 25 - 01/25/12

2012-01-25T20:39:00.000-08:00

I found this tree blooming along Highway 43 in Satsuma. The flower is about the size of my open hand, but I don't know what it is. I'm guessing it's some type of magnolia.

Day 24 - 01/24/12

2012-01-24T04:50:00.000-08:00

Finally ... the American Goldfinches have arrived.

Texture by Kim Klassen Cafe

Day 23 - 01/23/12

2012-01-23T17:50:00.000-08:00

I had to help my mom with some personal business this morning, so I was late going into work. On my way to Mobile, I decided to stop by a piece of property I had noticed many times but never had time to stop in order to take a picture of a dilapidated 2-story house sitting in the distance under an old oak tree.

Just as I pulled into this long driveway and started to climb out with my camera, an older gentleman in a big black pick-up truck stopped and rolled down his window. I immediately introduced myself as Laura Delegal from Leroy and began to make my apologizes, telling him was just taking a picture of the Canada geese and the old house in the distance. He waived off my apologies and introduced himself as Teal Corte. I noticed he was wearing a button-down with "Auburn Athletics" embroidered on the left side and he proceeded to tell me that he had graduated from Auburn in 1961 and was involved in Auburn University and Troy University athletics. He knew two of our Leroy alumni, Clint Moseley at Auburn and Aaron Williams at Troy.

We had a nice time chatting about these two wonderful young men and then he told me that he had several coaches from Auburn University and the University of Alabama who would be arriving at his home shortly for a luncheon and that he had to go, but he insisted that I follow him across the field to the old house to get a closer look.

When we arrived, he hopped out and told me about the 200-year-old oak tree next the house, which had recently been pruned, and a little about the history of the home. It was built in the 1890s and had 6-inch wooden planks on the side that had been hand-hewned to appear to be only 3-inchs wide. He said it was one of fifty other such homes used by sharecroppers that used to be on his family’s property. He then wished me well and jumped back into his truck and left me to explore. I just love Southern gentlemen.

For tips on photographing old homes, check out How to Photograph Abandoned Places.

Day 22 - 01/22/12

2012-01-22T12:02:00.000-08:00

I went to visit my mom and family in Baldwin County today. It was very foggy along the I-10 Bay Way (a/k/a Jubilee Parkway) and the Causeway (a/k/a Battleship Parkway) from Mobile to Baldwin County. This is the area where Mobile Bay and the Mobile Delta meet and it is known for its fog. In 1995, the I-10 Bay Way had the largest multi-car collision in U.S. history, involving approximately 200 vehicles, with 90 injuries and 1 death.

The Causeway (also known as Battleship Parkway since it is now home to the U.S.S. Alabama) was built in 1926. Prior to that, in order to travel from Mobile to the Eastern Shore in Baldwin County, one had to go by ferry. In fact, my paternal grandfather said he and his family came to Magnolia Springs by that route. It is said that when he set foot on the Eastern Shore, he cleaned the dirt from his shoes, and disowned the rest of his family in Mobile County.

We still don’t know what made him do that, but we did find out in the 1990s that his grandmother (my great great grandmother) had some outlaw brothers (literally), known as the Copeland Gang. Her brother, James Copeland, was hung for a murder he committed and the other brothers and their mother moved out West in order to escape the hatred of the locals. Do you know what’s funny? My maternal great great great great grandfather, Josiah T. Breland, sat on the grand jury that indicted James Copeland. Who would have thought there'd be a 48-year marriage between descendants of the Copelands (my father) and the Brelands (my mother)?

Want some tips on shooting in the fog? Check out How to Photograph Fog.

Day 21 - 01/21/12

2012-01-21T20:16:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it? The saucer magnolias are blooming already! They usually bloom during late February and early March, but with the warm weather, they're blooming now. It was 78 degrees today and warm enough to pull out summer clothes. This doesn't bode well for spring, especially if the colder weather finally comes in February or March.

Want to know what I cooked today? Collard greens. Check out What's for Supper?

Day 20 - 01/20/12

2012-01-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

Day 19 - 01/19/12

2012-01-19T18:01:00.000-08:00

Day 18 - 01/18/12

2012-01-18T18:53:00.001-08:00

BTW, is anyone having trouble leaving comments on some of the blogs? I've found that I have little trouble if there's a pop-up comments window, but if it's embedded, everything goes white.

Day 17 - 01/17/12

2012-01-17T20:52:00.000-08:00

I told you last year that I became frustrated with PhotoShop, uninstalled it from my computer, and started using Picnik. I decided to give it another try with the help of a little e-course given by Kim Klassen. Tonight I learned how to add texture in PS Elements 10. This is the finished product. It's not perfect, but I'm beginning to understand a little more how PS works.

Day 16 - 01/16/12

2012-01-16T20:47:00.000-08:00

I was off for MLK Day, so I went exploring an abandoned home out in the woods. The day was pretty warm, so I was somewhat concerned about snakes, but thankfully didn't see any. I did scare up some quail though (and they scared me up too). It wasn't until I'd been home for some time when I noticed a tiny tick crawling up my arm ... ewwww {shake} ... now that's something I totally forgot to look for!

I grew up in a good home with a legacy of Christian ancestors—parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. I always knew security, love, encouragement, and laughter, so I find it odd that some of my earliest memories would be that of fear. I was born in England and lived there until I was about 3 years old. The only thing I remember about England is a visit from a stranger. He was a door-to-door photographer who came to our home to take pictures of our poor little family. He directed the children to sit on the back of the sofa so he could frame the shot and I absolutely didn’t want to have anything to do with him. No! No! No!

My family: Mom, Dad, Darlene, David, and me.

We later moved to Texas and then to Alabama where we lived while my father was in Pakistan. I have a lot of good memories there like going to church, watching Tarzan on TV, swinging, eating watermelon, and playing dolls, but I also remember sitting on the dried lawn on a brisk January sun-shiny day watching shadows, fearful that someone would slip up behind me and take me away. Somehow knowing that evil lived in the world and one always needed to be watchful.

I’ve tried to think of other instances when I was fearful and I’ve had a hard time thinking of any, with the exception of one incident at Sea World when Matt was 5 years old. We were in a tour group, following a guide, watching Matt ahead, when suddenly we came to a congested intersection of other tourists and our guide went right and Matt disappeared from sight. We ran to the front of the tour and he was nowhere. We ran around panicked trying to find him as the tour continued. Dave backtracked to the intersection and found him sitting beside an old gentleman. Matt told the man he was lost and sat down to wait until he was found. He wasn’t fearful, he was just matter-of-fact about it.

I don't live in fear.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve been fearful many times in my life, but have found that most of the time it happens when I’ve done something wrong or been dishonest. It's the fear of being found out or disappointing someone. I've been a Christian since I was 10 years old, but I'm not perfect. I've found it's easier to fess up to my mistakes rather than cover them up. Honesty really is the best policy. My Christian walk also gives me peace that no matter what happens in my life, I'm never alone. There's really no need for fear.

How about you? What’s your earliest memory? I hope it's a happy one.

Day 15 - 01/15/12

2012-01-15T19:52:00.000-08:00

We're finally getting some new birds around the feeder. I saw an American Goldfinch yesterday and today and even this Carolina Chickadee stopped in to check me out while I was playing with the dogs. He'll get used to all the commotion if he hangs around for any length of time.

Day 14 - 01/14/12

2012-01-14T19:45:00.000-08:00

We had to make a run to Auburn to help Matt move to a new apartment and, of course, do a little shopping, take him out to eat, and slip him a few bucks. It was nice to actually see him rather than just talking on the phone. Although I didn't get to sleep as late as I wanted, I was rewarded with some new photographic opportunities--a lot of drive-by shootings.

Day 13 - 01/13/12

2012-01-13T21:10:00.001-08:00

Day 12 - 01/12/12

2012-01-12T21:09:00.000-08:00

Dave and I decided to ride to the Causeway after work and get some seafood. We ended up at Ed's Seafood Shed and had a "Yo' Momma's Platter": turnip greens, cheese grits, seafood gumbo, scallops, oysters, shrimp, fish, fries, hushpuppies, and a dessert. Delicious! We watched a beautiful sunset too. We took home so many leftovers, we'll be full tomorrow night too.

FYI, I love the name of the platter. Whenever my mom calls, she always says, in her Southern drawl, "This is yo' momma." Love her. :)

Kim Klassen Texture Added

Day 11 - 01/11/12

2012-01-11T20:05:00.001-08:00

Day 10 - 01/10/12

2012-01-10T19:52:00.000-08:00

Home Sweet Home

Day 9 - 01/09/12

2012-01-09T18:55:00.000-08:00

Some days just don't go as planned.

Today was supposed to be a celebration of sorts for me. Last year, on January 10, I made a decision to begin working out at our local health center. My purpose was to become more consistent in my walking--no excuses. I was going to get one more workout in today so I could have better numbers to share, but that didn't happen. My 94-year-old grandfather had to go to the emergency room, so I went to sit with my mom and uncle as we waited for him to be diagnosed. Thank the Lord, it was only vertigo, which is bad enough, but it could have been much worse. He was at his dining room table, waiting for some soup when I last saw him. :D I arrived home too late for a workout, but early enough to watch the BCS National Championship. ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Why, you ask, am I sharing this personal stuff?

As I told you in my last post of 2011, I want to be more open with my blogging friends. Blogging is an avenue to connect. So I’ve been contemplating exactly how to accomplish that. I’m a very independent person and dislike anyone dictating what I can or cannot do. I hate restrictions, which is why I personally don’t like the themed 365 assignments that many enjoy. But if you set a goal, you have to make a path to reach it.

In order to force myself to stay focused on this goal, I will “try” to share my personal life on Mondays. What do you think of “Me Mondays”? I know, it sounds pretty selfish. I don’t want to make it about “me, me, me, me, me”—you know, “I’m so wonderful, I accomplished this, I did that”—and I don’t want to make it mundane and irrelevant—"this is what I ate; this is what I wore, this is how I live"—I already give you plenty of that. :) I hope “Me Mondays” will be a mechanism that forces me to think about and share stories of my life, family, experiences, disappointments, and joys. Maybe you’ll be able to relate and feel motivated to share your life too. And even if no one reads a single word, pieces of my life will be written down to share with my descendants, perhaps some grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At least they will know who I was and where I came from.

My father passed away in February of 2006. I miss him terribly. But one of the best things he ever did was write down his memoirs before he died. It has been such a blessing to read stories about his life, his family, growing up very poor, meeting my mother, and the adventures he had in the military—much of it written in his own hand. My family heritage is my motivation. Dad is the reason I have the posts to my blog printed in a hardbound book each year. I want my family to have something sentimental and tangible to remember me by. And I hope I never disappoint.

So, how'd I do in my resolution to become more consistent?
263 workouts
358.27 miles on the elliptical cross-trainer
103.37 on the treadmill
49.85 on the elliptical cycle
For a total of 507.49 miles! I think that's pretty consistent and that's not even counting my weight training.

I'm still fat, but a much healthier fatty than before. One step forward ... :D))

Day 8 - 01/08/12

2012-01-08T15:33:00.000-08:00

Day 7 - 01/07/12

2012-01-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

I couldn't decide which one I liked best today. I like the first one and Dave likes the second.

Day 6 - 01/06/12

2012-01-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

I just noticed that I shot this same foggy area on the same day last year.

Day 5 - 01/05/12

2012-01-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

Day 4 - 01/04/12

2012-01-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

Cows in the cotton field.

Day 3 - 01/03/12

2012-01-03T21:34:00.000-08:00

Have you ever watched a sunset and noticed how the colors change? When I'm driving home in the evening, the sun is behind me or to my side, so I can watch the colors to the north slowly change from blue to edges of pink to dark pink or orange, only to be overcome with dark blue again, then finally changing to black as darkness overtakes the landscape. I love a clear blue day, because I know I'll be treated to a wonderful sunset if I simply take the time to pay attention.

Day 2 - 01/02/12

2012-01-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

Nolte Creek, Magnolia Springs, Alabama

My mom turned 70 today. Can you believe I didn't even take one picture of her? I guess I was too distracted making jambalaya, chasing my wild great nieces and nephew, and laughing and playing games with my sister and nieces. Not every memory is captured in an image; sometimes the memory simply finds a place in your heart.

Day 1 - 01/01/12

2012-01-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

I love finding mushrooms. I'm not very good at photographing them, but love getting close enough to get a good look. They're just neat. Another blogger that I follow is Machel Spence a/k/a Mushroom Queen. She is incredibly gifted in mushroom photography. Go over and take a look at her work. Perhaps you'll fall in love with mushrooms too.

December 2011

2011-12-31T23:21:00.000-08:00

December seemed to be a month of seeking--seeking the Christ child, seeking direction for the new year, and seeking (hard) for a photograph for each day. But, at last, we can say, "Finished!" For the last time, I will write 2011 and for the first time write 2012. Now we move on to a new year--including an extra day--one more day to do better and be better and one more day to make a difference.

Day 365 - 12/31/11

2011-12-31T18:01:00.000-08:00

Years ago I took voice class and was told that an audience only remembers the beginning and end of your song. If you start strong and finish strong, they don’t remember the not-so-good spots in between. Well, that may work with solos, but I wonder if the same goes for blogs.

I started 2011 by making a resolution (something I don’t normally do) to unclutter my life. Sadly, that didn’t happen. I still have too much junk and stuff that I don’t need and don’t want and don’t know what to do with it. How will I finish the year? Again, maybe not so strong–maybe with another attempt to go another direction. I’ll finish by sharing a little bit more about me; something I feel compelled to do. I want to start the new year by trying to be more open about my life–both my successes and shortcomings. That may be too much information and I may pull back, but I’ll try.

I’m not a perfect person and it’s only through my walk with Christ that I find purpose. I fall so short of the mark set for me every day, but get up the next day and try again. Everything in 2011 wasn’t always sunshine and flowers. Our family went through a lot of ups and downs. There were many joys–births, marriages, love, and laughter with family and friends–and there were hurts and disappointments, some of which cut deep–causing struggles to forgive and show grace. I find it easier to forgive one who has wronged me than one who has wronged my child or a loved one. If you’re a parent, I’m sure you’ll understand. Every day is a struggle, so ... here we go. I want you to get to know the REAL me during the new year and hopefully you’ll share more of yourself too.

What better way to start opening my life to you than to show you me–fully exposed, with no make-up, cover-up, or pretense, with all the wrinkles, age spots, and grey hairs. I’m human and imperfect.

I cry every time I talk to my brother on the phone because he sounds so much like my father.
I work out with my eyes closed because I can zone out and run through the Grand Canyon or up a mountain to the sounds of Nora Jones or the Black-Eyed Peas. No distractions (and no stumbling).
I love all kinds of music but especially flamenco and the classics.
I melt if you rub my feet.
I’m not a romantic, but my favorite movie is "Pride and Prejudice". I could watch it over and over and over again. “You have bewitched me body and soul and I love ... I love ... I love you ...” {sigh}
I’m fat–and I don’t mean “phat.” I'm full or as I like to say, "voluptuous." I love food, not just the taste but also the way it smells and feels in my mouth. We all have our vices and mine is food.
My favorite magazine and the only one I subscribe to is Sports Illustrated.
Of course, my favorite sport is baseball–but not on TV. To truly enjoy the game, you have to be there–smell the peanuts, hear the cheers, smell the dirt, and, yes, yell at the umpires.
I dislike shopping because I’m a hunter not a gatherer. I want to go in and get it and go home.
My favorite candy is Jolly Ranchers. You can keep the chocolate unless it’s Lindt Lindor truffles.
I’m married to the most wonderful man in the world. He knows how to handle my temper tantrums by just laughing and making me forget about being mad. So what's the secret? He was my youth director and I knew I would marry him when I was 13 years old. Well, maybe I didn't "know" I would marry him, but I had sized him up and wondered if he might be the one. Maybe I’ll tell you that story next year.
Our son is a gift from God. Truly! He is my heart (and he knows it). He was placed in our arms during a time of utter despair. My cries to God were answered in a remarkable way. Go to my blog post that tells the story of Matt (January 2011 and April 2010) and you’ll see that God’s hand was on the union of our family.
My favorite book, of course, is the Bible. It always gives great instruction and reveals God and His love for me.
My favorite book of the year, however, is “Heaven Is For Real.” Wow! I laughed and I cried, my faith in Jesus Christ was reinforced, and my trepidation about death is gone.

This is me ... looking again to the new year for a new direction. Perhaps the third time is the charm.

Hoping you and your family have a blessed new year.

Day 364 - 12/30/11

2011-12-30T21:43:00.000-08:00

Can you believe we're nearing the end of another year? Almost home ...

Like last year, I've struggled to find a picture to post during the past few months. I'm so very tired of trying to find something to share and having to settle for a mediocre or poor pic. It really is exhausting because quality takes time and that's something I can't seem to find. I'm not a stay-at-home mom--I work 60 miles from home and spend 2-1/2 hours on the road each day. I don't have any young children to use as models and don't have the luxury of time--time to locate, compose, wait for the light, and shoot. I don't know how to use a flash and only use natural light--that's not easy when it rains or your days are short--so most of my shots are taken on the run using whatever means I can to "paint with light". I'm not trying to complain; I'm trying to explain my struggles.

Again, I've battled the question of whether I'll continue into the new year. I'm sure I will, but the end of the year causes one to reflect and question why and why not. Simply put, Project 365 has forced me to look for and stop when a picture presents itself. It has forced me to become more creative with my processing. Without it, I would never have captured all of my favorite images from 2011 and I certainly would not have met such wonderful blogging friends. But it's hard to take a decent photo every day and I'm often disappointed with what I have to share. For that I apologize.

So, what will I do? I'll continue ... until lack of inspiration breaks me. Maybe I'll find time to take an online photography course of or maybe PhotoShop course ... maybe I'll find fresh inspiration ... maybe ...

Day 363 - 12/29/11

2011-12-29T19:30:00.000-08:00

Day 362 - 12/28/11

2011-12-28T19:26:00.001-08:00

Day 361 - 12/27/11

2011-12-27T19:26:00.001-08:00

Day 360 - 12/26/11

2011-12-26T16:57:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but Christmas wears me out. It takes me a while to recover from all of the shopping, parties, eating, singing, and getting-readies. I'm always zonked afterwards. I had good intentions all day, but have to admit that I did nothing, NOTHING. I sat and stared at NOTHING. When I finally felt motivated to do something it was dark. Thankfully Baxter is still here and is a little ball of trouble. He discovered the container holding the dog food and helped himself while Dave fed the other animals. But who could be mad with that cute little face.

Day 359 - 12/25/11

2011-12-25T19:12:00.000-08:00

An Ant Story at Christmas ... Because I Can

"When I was a young girl, almost every Sunday afternoon that my father was home, we would hike to the ridge of the mountain on which we lived. While those afternoon climbs are now just a precious memory, I still enjoy walking with Daddy when I go home. He can’t climb as high or walk as swiftly but the fellowship is just as sweet.

On one of our hikes, Daddy inadvertently stepped on an anthill. When he looked down at his big footprint in the soft dirt, he could see the havoc he had wreaked on the bustling ant colony. Panic had set in as ants scurried in every direction, confused as to what had become of their world. Daddy stooped down to try to reopen the tunnels, scooping away the collapsed soil, but to no avail. In frustration, he mused, if only he could become an ant, even temporarily, he could tell them what was wrong and how to fix it. But he couldn’t. There was an impassable barrier between himself and the little creatures because he was a big man and they were tiny insects.

That impassable barrier between my father and those little ants illustrates the impassable barrier between God and mankind. As God looked down from heaven, man scurried around in panic, unable to cope with the confusion and conflict of life–especially when man’s whole world seemed to collapse and life dealt unexpected blows. All man’s answers to the problems of pain and evil and death were insufficient. Life just didn’t make sense. There seemed to be no order or long-term purpose to it all. And so God became a Man, not just to sort our confusion and rebuild the collapsed world, but also to offer a new life altogether. Jesus came to make God visible as Man. And that visibility is irresistibly compelling."

~Anne Graham Lotz

Just Give Me Jesus

Wishing all a blessed Christmas. The gift of Christ is the reason we celebrate.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)

After a wonderful worship service, we traveled to Baldwin County to celebrate Christmas with my family at my brother's house. We had a small group since Eric and Veronica were in Arizona, Matt in Huntsville, Melissa and her clan somewhere in Yankee land. We thought our menu would be small, but by the time everyone arrived, our bounty was overflowing and we all went home stuffed. I intended to make jambalaya, but with the small crowd settled on crawfish bisque and still had some left over.

Crawfish Bisque

2 pkg crawfish tails
1 can cream style corn
1 can cream of potato soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 small can mushroom pieces
1 quart half and half
2 Tbsp Creole seasoning
1 onion chopped
butter

Saute onion in butter in a big pot. Slowly add the other ingredients together and heat thoroughly. Serve with hot bread.

(Oh, the fog picture is what we saw around the new TK plant in Calvert on the way home. It's not very good since I didn't have my tripod, but I liked it.)

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

From our family to yours: Wishing you a merry Christmas and happy New Year. Hope your day is filled with blessings and that your celebration includes Jesus, the Messiah, lots of love and laugher, and way too much turkey. God bless us, every one!
(Now be patient, it takes about a minute or so to upload.)

Day 358 - 12/24/11

2011-12-24T07:31:00.000-08:00

I'm not much of a cook, but can follow a recipe. I collect good recipes, but rarely make them--cooking just isn't my passion. But my friend, Betsy, recently made some cake balls that were out of this world. I only tried the Key Lime cake ball and it was DELICIOUS (of course, I love Key Lime pie, too). So I decided I needed to make some eat-em-up gifts for some special people in my life. Betsy posted the red velvet cake balls to her Facebook page, so I'm sure she won't mind if I share with y'all; but I had to search for the Key lime cake ball recipe online.

Red Velvet Cake Balls by Betsy Lancaster

1 box red velvet cake mix

1 can ready-to-use cream cheese icing

1 pkg cream cheese, softened

1 cup chopped pecans

2 pkgs vanilla almond bark

NOW PAY CLOSE ATTENTION. The red velvet cake mix calls for water, eggs, and oil. I substitute milk for water and butter for oil. Whatever the measurement is on the box, substitute the same amount. Bake the cake in a 9x13 glass casserole dish that has been greased and floured. Allow cake to cool completely. Soften icing and cream cheese in microwave if necessary and mix together. Break up the cake and mulch it in a large mixing bowl. Add icing, cream cheese, and pecans to mulched cake. Mix well with a wooden spoon. This mixture will make up moist but coarse. Use a cookie dropper (scooper) to make balls. Lay them out close on a large cookie sheet. Freeze overnight.

See below for preparation and dipping into almond bark. Of course, you may prefer milk chocolate for the red velvet cake balls, too.

Key Lime Cake Balls

1 box lemon cake mix

½ cup water

½ cup Key lime juice or lime juice

1 (3 oz) pkg lime gelatin

3 eggs (or whatever the cake mix calls for)

1/3 cup butter, softened/melted in microwave

With an electric mixer, blend ingredients together until well combined, about 3 minutes. Bake the cake in a 9x13 glass casserole dish that has been greased and floured. Allow cake to cool completely. Soften icing and cream cheese in microwave if necessary and mix together. Break up the cake and mulch it in a large mixing bowl. Add icing and cream cheese to mulched cake. Mix well with a wooden spoon. This mixture will make up moist but coarse. Use a cookie dropper (scooper) to make balls. Lay them out close on a large cookie sheet. Freeze overnight.

Dipping into Almond Bark

Use a crock pot to melt almond bark. I usually set it on high until all lumps are smooth. Stir frequently. Once it is scorched you will see hard lumps that WILL NOT SOFTEN and there is nothing you can add that will successfully thin the bark. When smooth, take the balls out of the freezer and dip in almond bark. Use metal tongs to dip and allow excess bark to drip off before cooling on wax paper. I use candy sprinkles to make them look more festive (or to differentiate red velvet balls from the Key lime balls). Once hard, keep them in the fridge until ready to serve; then take them out and allow them to come to room temperature. This recipe makes a really pretty treat.

Day 357 - 12/23/11

2011-12-23T13:21:00.000-08:00

Day 356 - 12/22/11

2011-12-22T13:20:00.000-08:00

Finally ... a break in the clouds to do some last minute Christmas shopping.

Day 355 - 12/21/11

2011-12-21T20:09:00.000-08:00

This is Baxter, Matt's new puppy. He found him in the middle of an intersection. I think he's full-blooded lab. On this first day of winter, he's like the rest of us -- all tuckered out.

Day 354 - 12/20/11

2011-12-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

Matt is home for Christmas ... well, until Christmas Eve.

Day 353 - 12/19/11

2011-12-19T20:01:00.000-08:00

Day 352 - 12/18/11

2011-12-18T14:42:00.000-08:00

Camellias seem to bloom year round in South Alabama. I know we can count on them to be blooming in February. I noticed three bushes blooming near the church today--some reds, some red/white speckles, and these white/pinks. It's nice to find a flower this deep in autumn since winter is just a few days away.

Day 351 - 12/17/11

2011-12-17T19:55:00.000-08:00

First United Methodist Church of Calvert, Alabama

Day 350 - 12/16/11

2011-12-16T09:39:00.000-08:00

Autumn weather in South Alabama is ... weird. Yesterday was comfortably warm, then a southern breeze pushed in off the Gulf and today it became humid and sticky. As I stopped to get a couple shots of this spiderweb, the fog broke up through the sunlight into drops--it became a light rain. Tonight, a cold front pushed through from the north bringing rain and cooler temps. Yesterday we had the air conditioner on and tomorrow we'll turn on the heat, but that's life in the Deep South.

Day 349 - 12/15/11

2011-12-15T21:13:00.001-08:00

Day 348 - 12/14/11

2011-12-14T21:11:00.000-08:00

Day 347 - 12/13/11

2011-12-13T19:54:00.001-08:00

Day 346 - 12/12/11

2011-12-12T19:52:00.000-08:00

Day 345 - 12/11/11

2011-12-11T19:49:00.000-08:00

During my teen years, I spent many an evening in our front yard, listening to the radio and watching the sunset. The sunsets were always best during the winter months. I was happy to be home today to see another beautiful winter sunset.

Day 344 - 12/10/11

2011-12-10T17:34:00.000-08:00

I finally feel like my life is getting back to normal. This morning I found time to get a few miles in on the elliptical and even worked out on the weights--YEOW! I'm already feeling pain, but that's a good thing. We had a wedding to attend this afternoon and Amy made a beautiful bride. Weddings always make me cry because everyone is so overjoyed. It was a beautiful wedding with a ceremony that mirrored our own. We wish Danny and Amy every happiness in their new life together.

Day 343 - 12/09/10

2011-12-09T17:12:00.000-08:00

My tree has been up for over a week, but it was not decorated. I finally did that tonight. The tree is a bit dense and compact, so I couldn't get all the ornaments on it and I even forgot the glass garland, but it's beautiful nonetheless. Ask Dave or Matt who has the most beautiful Christmas tree in the whole wide world and they'll both quickly answer that I do. Ha ha, I have them trained. :D

I've collected ornaments for over 30 years and can honestly say I've spent thousands of dollars on them. But it's not the cost, it's the memories. Many of the spun glass ornaments remind me of Matt's childhood or the little girl we were adopting from India who died before we could get her. The Old World ornaments all make me smile and remind me of pieces of childhood, like the seashell, Cheshire cat, Hansel and Gretel and the Witch, or the Foley Lion. There are others that remind me of our travels, the birth of our friends' children, church, and Jesus Christ, or some just simply make me smile. They're all very precious. I've packed up two other boxes of ornaments made by Matt or chosen by him or that mark milestones in his life that will be given to him when he is married. I hope he will open them with his family and rejoice in the memories they bring him.

Looking forward to a cup of hot chocolate and some Christmas music to welcome the season.

Day 342 - 12/08/11

2011-12-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Our son, Matt, got a job in Auburn, so Dave and I took off and made a trip up there to see his new townhouse and help him get settled. After a year of waiting to enter the Marines and then being turned down due to a previous shoulder injury, he's ready to start back to school in January. We're glad he seems to be moving forward instead of being in limbo. It was a long day sitting in the car for about 8 hours, but we were blessed with a beautiful sunset on the way home. I guess it was appropriate that it was blue and orange (Auburn colors). :)

Day 341 - 12/07/11

2011-12-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

There was a tiny break in the clouds and the sun came out briefly on my drive home. This is just a drive-by shooting, but I tried to dress it up with a little texture.

Day 340 - 12/06/11

2011-12-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

Kaw! Kaw! Kaw!

The days have been overcast and rainy, so you're stuck with a crow.

Day 339 - 12/05/11

2011-12-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

"Red skies in the morning ..."

Day 338 - 12/04/11

2011-12-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Matt's girlfriend, Stephanie, came down for a couple of days and wanted to get a few pictures. I'm not very good at portraits, but they were patient and I was able to eek out a couple that I liked.

Day 337 - 12/03/11

2011-12-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

Kylie was back for a visit. She enjoys the grass and sunshine.

Day 336 - 12/02/11

2011-12-02T10:27:00.000-08:00

Three more games at Super 6 today. By the end of the second day, I'm exhausted. This is Dave and Jeremy on the sidelines. They're both avid Alabama fans, so we always have to get a picture of them in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Day 335 - 12/01/11

2011-12-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

Today was the first day of Super 6, which is the Alabama's high school football championship games. We have six classes, so three play on Thurday and three play on Friday. We switch venues every year. Last year the games were played at Auburn University, so this year the University of Alabama hosted. I figured many of you would rather not see football photos, so I'm posting a picture of Dave waaaay up in the press box. This was during the last game. Dave forgot to bring heavy pants, so his legs were cold and he had to go to the press room to warm up. He just happened to look down as I turned around trying to see what he was doing. :) I love sports photography. It has opened so many doors for me. This is always one of my favorite championships to shoot.

November 2011

2011-11-30T23:01:00.000-08:00

November has been a busy month. I feel like I'm neglecting everyone and everything--even myself. In fact, I think I've only gotten in a total of 15 miles in all month. I know I've neglected my blogger friends--and I'm sorry. But November and December are the busiest months of the year for us. It'll settle down in January and I can get back to some routine. Anyway, I'll be out of pocket for a couple of days so I figured I'd post my summary of the month a little early. I'll add the 30th to it later. Hope you aren't too hurried and are ready for a blessed holiday season. Okay everyone, deep breaths ... :)

Day 334 - 11/30/11

2011-11-30T18:17:00.000-08:00

Sunset in Leroy, Alabama

Day 333 - 11/29/11

2011-11-29T21:05:00.000-08:00

Chasing the Sun

The sun sets so early now, that I find myself chasing the sun, hoping to find a break in the trees to take a picture of the sunset. Today I made it as far as a field of weeds.

Day 332 - 11/28/11

2011-11-28T19:02:00.000-08:00

We bought a new pre-lit Christmas tree this year but couldn't figure out how to put it together. So I had to take it back to Hobby Lobby to tell them that it had been misassembled in China. Imagine my embarassment when the "staging engineer" informed me that you have to build the tree in order--A fits into B which fits into C--and you can't get them out of order. Ha ha! He was so sweet. Thankfully I found a break in the clouds and managed to get a nice POD on the way home.

Day 331 - 11/27/11

2011-11-28T18:57:00.000-08:00

Our church was busy, busy tonight. Our "Holiday Extravaganza" (my name for it) featuring Amanda and Georgiann on the dueling pianos. Amanda also played the flute, electric keyboard, and organ and they were accompanied by Amanda's daughter on the violin. This kicks off our holiday season. Can you believe it's almost Christmas?

Day 330 - 11/26/11

2011-11-26T18:50:00.000-08:00

Sweet, Sweet Ellie Bellie

This is Ellie Mae (a/k/a Ellie Bellie Boo Boo) and BG (Black Girl). Ellie had surgery last week and is feeling much better. She has been soaking up the sunshine and getting back to her old self. I love that Sugar Baby.

Day 329 - 11/25/11

2011-11-25T12:52:00.000-08:00

Day 328 - 11/24/11

2011-11-24T12:41:00.000-08:00

My mom ALWAYS wants family photos taken at Thanksgiving. I wasn't planning on using any of the family shots because they're just candids, but I deleted the picture was was planning on using. It's hard to choose which family members to feature because I love them all, but I liked this one of my sister and three of her beautiful daughters.

I was hoping to use this photo as my POD. I REALLY liked it, but I accidentally deleted all of my under-the-bay-way photos. I had to search around in my computer to even find this in a temp file, so it's SOC and low resolution but you get the idea.

Day 327 - 11/23/11

2011-11-23T12:39:00.000-08:00

Day 326 - 11/22/11

2011-11-22T19:46:00.000-08:00

Grocery shopping isn't much fun when ominous clouds await your return.

Day 325 - 11/21/11

2011-11-21T21:20:00.000-08:00

Magnolia Springs, Alabama

This is a drive-by shooting of my "hometown." Although I grew up all over the world, when my father retired, we settled in his hometown of Magnolia Springs. It is now my hometown. Magnolia Springs remains the only water mail route in the continental United States. Mail is delivered by boat, unless you have a post office box.

Day 324 - 11/20/11

2011-11-20T21:13:00.000-08:00

Buckeye (Junonia coenia)

Day 323 - 11/19/11

2011-11-19T18:49:00.001-08:00

Day 322 - 11/18/11

2011-11-18T18:47:00.000-08:00

Leroy made it to the Class 2A Quarter Finals, but lost to American Christian. They were unstoppable. I still love me some Bears.

Day 321 - 11/17/11

2011-11-17T23:00:00.000-08:00

The last of the autum colors were being battered by wind on the Eastern Shore.

Day 320 - 11/16/11

2011-11-16T22:58:00.000-08:00

The sun started to come out as I went into the salon for a hair cut. Sorry I couldn't be more creative.

Day 319 - 11/15/11

2011-11-15T22:56:00.000-08:00

Still rainy and overcast.

Day 318 - 11/14/11

2011-11-14T22:54:00.000-08:00

Rainy day in downtown Mobile.

Day 317 - 11/13/11

2011-11-13T22:23:00.000-08:00

We spent the day in the French Quarters, starting with Sunday Mass at St. Louis Cathedral. I'm not Catholic but have always enjoyed coming here. The choir sings acapella from the balcony or with an orchestra and the music resonates to every corner. The song leader is a beautiful young woman who has a spectacular, well-trained voice that brings to you worship. I love watching the people too--the young couple teaching their small child the symbolism of the church and the importance of faith; the older couple who with great difficulty curtsy (maybe they call it genuflect) before they take their place in the pew; the old man who sits alone, whose body is bent in such as way as to not allow him to sit up straight and even look at the priest speaking; the two young black men who seemed to be in perpetual repentance, having difficulty raising their heads to look to the front; the couple bringing their newborn for after-mass baptism; or even the lady who constantly looks to the back door to see who is the next to enter. Our speaker was a young seminarian who was quite well-spoken.

Don't be deceived. The pews were empty before the mass began, but quickly filled to full capacity by the end of the service.

Another annual stop is the Cigar Factory. Now what I'm about to tell you is a secret, so don't tell anyone. We don't smoke and we don't drink, but have gotten into the habit of buying "the ritual cigar" each time we take a vacation with our friends. It began many, many years ago when we went on a cruise and were told we could buy a Cuban cigar, but it had to be smoked before we got off the ship. A Cuban cigar seemed so rebellious, so we bought one. We laughed with our friends and sat on the deck "smoking" the cigar. Now we don't inhale, but have to take one puff, cough, and then complain about the smoke being caught in our throat. I know, it's stupid, but it's a ritual now and has to be done. Paul saves the leftovers in a box at his house. Each time we come here, I think about the Seinfeld episode where Kramer brought in the illegal Cuban cigar rollers and had to stow them away in some designer furniture while they worked as crepe rollers. :)

Day 316 - 11/12/11

2011-11-12T22:10:00.000-08:00

As we do every November, we spent the second weekend in New Orleans with our friends celebrating Dave's birthday (56) and our anniversary (31). Today we went to the Fall Festival at Destrehan Plantation and then we found the St. Louis Cemetery #1 where Marie Laveau is buried. A lot of walking tours end up here, so we kind of drifted back behind the tombstones and listened to the tour guides tell stories of those buried in the cemetery. (I know, we probably should have paid for the tour, but sometimes they were just too loud so we had to listen.) We even saw the pyramid-shaped tomb where Nicolas Cage will be buried.

Paul and Cynthia among the tombs listening to the tour guide. Yeah, Paul's like me--he always has that camera to his face.

A single rose left at one of the tombs.

Quick Update: MIA

2011-11-11T23:00:00.000-08:00

I've been terribly busy and not had a chance to update my blog. I'm so sorry. I'm still taking pictures (although most are just quick snaps to say I took a picture that day) and hope to be caught up this weekend. I'm disappointed in what I have, but sunshine has been lacking and I don't know how to use a flash ... c'est la vie. :) I miss keeping up with my blogger friends, but hope you're all having a wonderful week. God bless.

Day 315 - 11/11/11

2011-11-11T06:57:00.000-08:00

Day 314 - 11/10/11

2011-11-10T06:56:00.000-08:00

Off the Causeway, Mobile, Alabama

Day 313 - 11/09/11

2011-11-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

Day 312 - 11/08/11

2011-11-08T18:11:00.000-08:00

Day 311 - 11/07/11

2011-11-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

I loved the drive home this evening because I caught the "golden hour" just before sunset. The sun lit up the beautiful autumn leaves and everything popped! Wow! But, then I had to race to find a photo to post since the time change put me an hour behind. It's difficult to "paint with light" when there is no light. I'm sure I looked pretty silly standing in the middle of a cotton field in a suit watching the sun set, but I think it was worth it.

Day 310 - 11/06/11

2011-11-06T20:39:00.000-08:00

Day 309 - 11/05/11

2011-11-05T19:03:00.001-07:00

Day 308 - 11/04/11

2011-11-04T18:57:00.000-07:00

Our Class 2A Defending State Champions, Leroy High School, made it through the first round of the state playoffs. They beat Isabella High School, 54-20, and will progress to the second round to play Highland Holmes. Good luck Bears!

Day 307 - 11/03/11

2011-11-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

I spent my late afternoon at BestBuy getting my computer repaired. It had a virus. They assured me that no matter what virus software I had, I would have caught it anyway. What's the use in virus software, I ask? Anyway, this was the best I could do with my cell phone camera.

Day 306 - 11/02/11

2011-11-02T18:42:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I tried my hand at star trails. Tonight was a clear night, so I tried it again. The half moon only allowed a few shots, though. I'll try it again when we have a new moon. Hopefully it won't be too cold.

Day 305 - 11/01/11

2011-11-01T18:36:00.000-07:00

I wanted to catch the fog on the river, but only had my long lens, which really didn't capture the scene very well. I thought I'd get another shot of something before the sun set, but just let it be said that it was a terrible, terrible day and it was after dark before I got home.

October 2011

2011-10-31T23:49:00.000-07:00

Another month slips away from 2011 and brings an end to summer. The cotton is picked, the fall flowers have faded, and the insects are doing whatever they do in cool weather. I thought the last of the hummingbirds were gone, too, but found a couple still at the feeder this past weekend. I hate to pull it down with stragglers and the weaker ones moving through, so it may be up through November. I can't believe in just two more months we'll close out the year. Hoping you have a fantastic November.

Day 304 - 10/31/11

2011-10-31T19:50:00.000-07:00

Leroy is a community--not a neighborhood, not a town--with a population of about 900. Each year our church sponsors a "Trunk or Treat." Our church members set up booths and tables around our walking track, dress up in costumes, and give out candy and goodies. The children from surrounding areas come with their parents dressed in their costumes and "trunk or treat." It's a safe environment and parents don't have to drive miles and miles for treats. Tonight 1,553 people came and each child received a Bible. What a wonderful blessing to share God's love with our neighbors. God continues to bless those who reach out in His name. Hope you had a blessed Halloween too.

Day 303 - 10/30/11

2011-10-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

Day 302 - 10/29/11

2011-10-29T19:39:00.000-07:00

Our autumns aren't as spectacular as the Smoky Mountains and our season is always a little later, but that little pop of color always makes me smile.

Day 301 - 10/28/11

2011-10-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

Day 300 - 10/27/11

2011-10-27T21:13:00.000-07:00

I can't believe we're on Day 300! This is my second year, so that is 665 continuous days! I tried to get a good picture of the poison ivy climbing this old moss-draped oak, but it was really high. It changes to a beautiful red in the fall. We're finally getting some autumn colors, so perhaps I'll have some pretty photos to share this weekend. Hope you have a happy Friday tomorrow.