Whuh?

So, this was on my kitchen counter today.  Any guesses?

Unusual Abodes

I grew up living in a variety of interesting homes.  When I was 11, my father and I lived in a very small RV.  When I was 13, our family lived in a few different basement apartments while we were building our passive-solar underground home.




The entrance to our house:



This cool dome home was down the street.  I used to babysit there.

 

Here’s another house in the neighborhood.  I babysat here too.



Since I have a history of unusual houses, this article caught my eye.  Where is the strangest place you've lived and would you live in any of these homes?

The Next American Idol

Meet Gracie.  On our photoshoot Saturday night, we ran between raindrops, explored stinky alleys, tiptoed over large spiders in a wet field and dodged divebombing dragonflies.  This spunky girl was up for anything!

Gracie is going to be a Senior this Fall and is a lovely young woman, inside and out.  She has big, beautiful blue eyes and an amazing voice.  And next month, she will be auditioning for American Idol.

Go Gracie!

Happy Friday

oh boy, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

Hope you have a laid-back kind of day!

In the Midst of Summer

We're still trying to sell our house and have been checking out some of the houses for sale in town.  We pulled up in the driveway of one house and sat for a minute, taking in the neighborhood.  The house next door had their garage door open and the walls were lined with these:

Oooookaaay….. This would either be a very good neighbor to have around or….. not.

In other news, I have chigger bites in places I can't scratch in public.

I have a Senior Photoshoot coming up this weekend.

I have a really fun friend, who likes to dance.

Related

My dad snapped recently snapped this photo of my mother, my sister, my daughter and me. He’s an archivist and I suspect he wanted to capture 3 generations.

I love my sister’s cheekbones and cute chin.  I think she looks like Claire Danes.  I love my daughter’s beautiful smile.  I love that my mom looks so young.  I hope I look that good when I'm in my sixties! 



People tell me all the time that I look like my mother.  I don't think that I look like my any of the other girls in this photo.  What's up with that?  Anyway, here we are, in all our generational glory.

Skip to the Link

Link, Link, skip to the link.... skip to the link my Darling.

I'm feeling rather unoriginal today so I will share some recent links I like:

Oh, You did Not just say that to Bobby Flay!
Anyone else following this season's Next Food Network Star?

Miz Booshay offers words of advice to all you iphonies (Alas, I don't have one.  But I would if I could!)

For the Snark in you: lmgtfy.com
Here's how it works.  Am I wrong to like this?  A lot?

And here's one of my favorite Flickr photos this week.  You're welcome.

Family Photoshoot

This is my second time getting to work with this fun family.  I loved how they were up for anything!  Rick and Kelli, your kids are a delight!
   

Sweet Sixteen

Miss Munchkin turned Sixteen this week.  She had a handful of friends over to help celebrate.

The homemade Photo Booth was a big hit.  I had everything set up – the backdrop, props, camera on a tripod, even a fan for flowing hair, and just let the girls (and Master Munchkin) go at it.  I loved what they came up with! :)

View Full Album

Gallantly Streaming

Gallantly Streaming, originally uploaded by MrsMama.

Happy Birthday America!

Now go eat some pie. :)

Happy Bday Rene

Today is my Favorite Sister's birthday.  Actually, in her time zone, yesterday was her birthday.  But here in the US, it's today.  Weird, huh?  I wish she was closer so we could celebrate.  She seems to be making a habit of aging abroad.


She was in France on her 13th birthday.
She was in Costa Rica on her 17th birthday.
She was in Peru on her 21st birthday.
She is in the Philippines for her 23rd birthday.

When I was 23, I was finishing up graduate school in Kansas and was expecting Miss Munchkin.  What were you doing when you were 23?

Happy Birthday Rene!

Patriotic Pics

 

The Pioneer Woman is showcasing some of her reader’s photographs once again.  This time the theme is “America”.  There are some incredible photos there, guaranteed to tug at your patriotic heartstrings.  You might even break out in song.  By the way, you may see a familiar name in Group 3. :)

Ree’s Reader’s Patriotic Pics