THE DUST WILL WAIT

In the summertime the air is filled with Bank Swallows that have burrowed nests into the walls of an old gravel pit near the river.  I've always thought that winter would be so lonely there. I thought wrong.  This year the cavities are the winter homes of Gray-crowned Rosy Finch. At dusk they all gather to fight over the holes ... and find refuge and shelter in the condominium that the swallows left behind for the warmer climes.

Thank you Sandy.  ( Myanderings ) Yes my Cyber friend.  You made me feel special.  I love the tea. It smelled so wonderful when I opened the box.  You and I are going to get together sometime.  Outside of this  LCD Monitor and  into some fresh country air.  Yours or mine.  And soon.  I've only flown through Texas once, with grand kids in tow.  Houston was lovely from the air.  So now I'm ready for a tour of your part of Texas. I've had some other pick-me-ups recently, too.  One of my more recent friend-making moments was when I met Iggy ( Intense Guy .)  One day I read his blog and I was hooked.  Is it sexist for me to say HE IS such a nice guy?  Last year he sent me some great tourist info on a local bird and wildlife area where he wanders.  I visited Pennsylvania in 1995 - and fell in love with the southeastern corner, including Philadelphia.   Iggy's posts and photos of his current travel...

Swinging with me in the hammock late Saturday evening, 5-year old Curlymop is suddenly entranced by my revealed tummy. Before I even have the opportunity to ask if there is a wasp or an earwig on me, she stabs her finger into my belly-button and just as quickly removes it and sniffs. Gwama: What..the. ... Curlymop: I smelled your belly-button Gwama. Gwama: Duh......... Last night with almost 6-year old Buttercup. Buttercup: Grandma can I sleep with you. Grandma (reading in bed): Okay, crawl in. I'm only going to read for a few minutes then go to sleep. After several minutes... Grandma: Buttercup, you need to lie still and go to sleep. Buttercup: Okay After several more minutes of Buttercup squirming under the covers and making little clicking sounds. Grandma: For heavens sake, Buttercup, what are you doing under there? Buttercup: Clipping my toenails . Then there is 14-month old Caboose. I've been smeared with oatmeal and bonked on the head. He screamed when I en...

Curlymop came to visit us last weekend with her mommy and daddy. After they arrived home, Curlymop could not find her best loved doll - Mario. She was sad and asked her mommy about it with tears on her cheeks. In the meantime, Grandma (me) saw Mario's feet sticking out from beneath the bed and pulled him to safety. Then, I started doing what I enjoy doing so much. Playing with my camera. The rest of the day, Mario and my camera tagged along. Curlymop was a giggle box when she began receiving Emails throughout the day with the photos attached. I've recapped Mario's day in a little slide show. It sure is fun being a grandmother sometimes. Mario visits Grandma from pamela on Vimeo .

I share glass partitions and the late afternoon sun with coworkers. They are good people. Dan (featured here and here ) was at his desk as 5 o’clock pm approached on Wednesday. Doreen stopped to discuss some paperwork and he picked up his refillable water bottle. She had his undivided attention while he took a healthy swig. Immediately his eyes grew wide in horror, his cheeks inflated, and his body jerked right then left. Doreen let out a muffled cry of alarm, dropped her books and bag on his desk, and moved towards him in confusion. (Freeze Action) Two weeks ago I photographed a grasshopper on the glass pane at work and later posted it for Wordless Wednesday. Dan, in particular, was amused by my fascination with the little three-legged creature. Several days after the bug posing session, he humorously called my attention to “your little 3-legged friend” that was now camping by the printer we share. I decided to capture it and throw it out the door, but it hop...

Enjoy other Wordless Wednesdays HERE.

One year ago today this blog was born. This is my 297th post -- I'm closing in on 5,000 comments. I'm happy. I am enjoying writing. Hooked I am , reading all the blogs I've stumbled on in this 365 day journey. One year ago there wasn't a strategy, there wasn't a goal. More than anything I wanted to publish some family history for my grandchildren and write some of my own. Perhaps the genuine plan is to pour like a pitcher, until empty. The most astounding product of this adventure is the friendships. My cyber smiles and hugs are just as heartfelt as the ones I share in person. There are so many bloggers I want to meet. To commemorate this 1st Blog-o-birthday I am going to give away a sweet present to the lucky one who types that 5000th comment. It's not big - it's not exciting. It is a small gesture of appreciation to all of you for being a part of my life this year.

First, I received a comment from A Blonde Blogger saying that she has nominated me for The Thinking Blogger award. I'm always appreciative of any awards! However, like a kid that wanted someone else's candy, I told her "thank you" and then pouted my lips and said "I'd rather be nominated for the Blogger's choice awards Hottest Mommy Blogger." Hey, it could happen 30 years ago. You know what she did. YUP! She nominated me. Thank you Blonde Blogger! Alright! Enough snickering in the balcony. Shortly after that I received an Email from The Arkansas Songbird to let me know that I was her 1000th commenter . I get a prize!! It is a book and CD set from the Metropolitan Museum of Art which introduces children to classical music through great works of art. Can you picture me with my 7 grandchildren rockin' to that! She blogs at Quarter Notes . Aptly named as she is a vocal instructor at several schools. I'm just bubbling by now. Th...