Abstract Wednesday ~ Tulips in the sun

Today is Abstract Wednesday, one of my favorite Memes!  The challenge is to take a photo, one of your favorites, and alter/abstract it!  What fun!

I always try to challenge myself with this project.  Today, I took this photo....

And had fun with it....

I took this photo....

And altered it...

Fun...you really must try it...go over to Nature Footstep and see what others have done.  Then add your own!!  Come on...you know you want too!!

Have a magical and blessed and creative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Random Tuesday ~ Still confused, and another vacation!!!

Back from mom's for over one week and I am still not sure what I am doing and then what happens???  Memorial weekend!!  Dr. John home for four days!!   Woot!  So we took another staycation!!!  And I totally forgot about Silent Saturday!!  Oops!  Sorry!! 

In honor of Silent Saturday....

Did this make you feel better?  I hope so!  I totally forgot!  Sorry!

Friday Dr. John and I went to the movies with Butch and Cheri and Mike and Kathy!  What a blast!  Butch, Cheri and Mike and Kathy went to see the Great Gatsby...we went to Star Trek!!  Woot!!  Neither Dr. John nor I were interested in Gatsby....Star Trek for us for sure!  And we loved the movie.  If you haven't seen this one...go!!

Takes you back to Kurk's early days and ties together some loose ends.  Ends that you didn't realize were loose!  Ha!!  'nuff said!!





Very cool movie...we loved it!  The vote taken on our movie mates, rated Gatsby as oh okay!  Ha!

When movies were over, we went to Pappadeux's for drinks and oysters!!  Yum and Yum!

Dr, John, Kathy and Mike

Myself and Dr. John

Cheri and Butch

From here, we went to Paisanno's Italian Rest. and ooo-lala!  Was their food good!!  We all tried something different and the vote was AAA++++!  Nice quaint place to dine.  Fabulous!

Chicken Parm and fresh cut noodles

Aaaamazing!  And the best Veal around!

Saturday was errand day....we went to Home Depot and met with Taunya and discussed kitchen counter tops.  We chose a beautiful granite!  What sells a house is kitchen's and flooring!  We are next getting measured for wood floors.  So, all the things we have wanted for ourselves, we are doing now to sell!  Sigh!
But our carpet is nasty and the kitchen counter that we have is laminate and our stove never really fit into it.  So now it will.  We have new, stainless steel appliances and a new washer and dryer.  So we will be almost good to go. 

The punch list we made will leave us with stucco patching, landscaping around the front of the house, and a new garage door.  We will be getting rid of my studio, which is in the two-car garage and turning it back into a functional garage.  We will list next spring!!  Woot!!  It's happening!!

Sunday I did laundry and made baked beans and deviled eggs to go with the fresh bratswurst I was going to cook in dark beer,  John then put them on the grill, just 15 minutes before we went to Cheri's and Butch's for a cook in!!  I took my Honey Whiskey too...yum!!  Dinner was great and we celebrated Butch's birthday!  Happy Birthday Butch!!  Fun times!

Monday we walked, all of us, in the morning and then kind of lazed around the rest of the day.  I edited 145 pictures!  Whew!!  But I do love to play around with the photos!  It was fun!  Dr. John had a paper to edit and caught up on some much needed paperwork! 

Today finds stacation over and Dr. John back to work.  Me...I will be working in my studio!  There is a necklace I started and never finished.  Also, I have an idea for an artdoll...so my day will be full and fun!

Have you visited my other blog...Suddenly Speaking?  Icon is on my sidebar.  You should...lots of modern poetry.  Just finished a piece which has some twists and turns you might like.  Just saying....

That's it for me...make sure you visit Stacy at Stacy Uncorked...lots of other Randomizers meet over there and share some exciting stories of fun and adventures...like Zombie wars and stuff like that...go on over now!!


Have a magical and blessed day!
Hugging you,
SueAnn

Digital Whisper ~ Man owns it all!

Digital Whispers is challenging us to form a photo collage with the subject matter of men....or man.  I had fun with this for sure.  I have to say that though this is 2013....men still beat women out on salary's and top jobs!  Kind of sad, really!  Let us hope this finally changes.  Yes?


My take on the challenge....which is a variation on the theme....

They each tell a story...can you read them?

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Abstract Wednesday ~ Basking in the Sun!

I have missed this meme!  After being away from the computer...taking care of my sweet mom.....I am back and boy did I have fun with this.

I took a recognizable object and tried to abstract enough that it was totally altered but still made the viewer aware of what it was.  This was a great exercise and these are my results...

Make sure and visit Nature Footstep and see the other results of bringing abstract into photography.

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Random Tuesday ~ It's been a long, long time!

It has been a long time...but here I am...missed you all so much!! I will do my best to fill in the blanks over the last few weeks...ready?

On April 24th, went to Las Cruces.  Dr. John had a conference and we also wanted to check out houses.  We had a great time and I took lots of pics....of the beautiful hotel we stayed at and of the area.

El Conte is a wonderful spanish style hotel just east if the NMS campus!

Beautiful isn't it?  So traditional in style...colorful and lots of statuary and wood!

On Thursday after, Paola Bandini (professor at NMS) took us on a tour of the areas.  We went every where and saw some beautiful houses.  Some way beyond our reach money wise but gorgeous.  Here are a couple of houses that I liked...

Areas are varied and very natural.  Most use zero landscaping to offset the need for water.  Lots of palmetto trees and cactus!  Fun!

Then on the 27th we returned home...the 28th found me here...

 Off to see my mom in Ohio (Lancaster)...time to play nurse and cheerleader.  Getting a shoulder replaced is no easy feat.  She had surgery on the 29th and was alert and talking two hours after surgery.  She was up and walking two hours after that!!  Amazing woman....

Some pics from mom's house...

split-leaf maple--red

lilac bush

phylox

She has beautiful gardens...she works on them every day!  Weeding, pruning and mulching...she will be 85 in August...she is my inspiration.

Returned home on May 11th and boy was I discombobulated!!  I didn't know what I was doing or where I was going!  Ha!!

Took me most of the week to get my bearings....May 12th...Mother's Day!  Oh, before I forget, Dr. John met me at the airport with a bouquet of flowers in his arms...grinning from ear too ear!!!  Many people were patting him on the back for that one.  Me....well I gave him a big kiss.

When I got home, there was a bag on the table from Zales Jewelers...inside a pinkish gold watch with diamonds around the dial and a single diamond on the setting pin!!  I was overwhelmed...this totally surprised me!  So sweet and the watch is gorgeous!  I have never had a grown up watch!  This is a Buliva!! 

On the 13th....nails and toes where taken  care of...ahhhhhh!  So relaxing but I still don't know who is on first!  LOL!!  Nails turned out great..Erin did a good job!

14th went to get blood work done for my heart doctor, Dr. Frankis!  Bloodwork attempt...a total fail...couldn't find a vein that would cooperate.....8 pokes later and large and swelling bruises...I left with only a one inch vial done!  Ha!  What a mess...they want me back on Friday....sheesh!

Saw the oral surgeon on the 17th...prednezone treatment was not successful.  Gums still sore and red and splotchy.   So we move on to trying Gabapentin...a medicine they use for seizures.  Great.....!  But according to the doctor and the pharmacists, this medication is used for dental pain...like TMJ!  So I have been using this new med for about one week.  My gums have actually been half way better...pain lessening!  Soooooo....I will continue until I see oral surgeon in two weeks.

Then I got a new tattoo....fun!  Jenny did a great job...it is floral and ties into my ankle tattoo!  Here it is....I love it!

On Saturday John and I got a full body massage....ahhhhhhhhh!  Gina does a fabulous job...she is Wind Spirit Therapeutic Massage!  And I never felt so good....can't wait till my next one.

Monday night I have to say, that I made one hell of a dinner.  I shared a plate with Cheri.  Curried beef and dumplings, made from scratch, corn bread casserole and lemon zest brownies!!!  Talk about YUM!!!!  It was delish!!!!

Now it is time to take my full body and rest....make a list of what I am doing...and try to get organized.  Dr. John and I walked around the outside of our house and made a punch list of things that had to be done before we list the house next year.  We have a ton of things to do!!!  I am starting with the carpet in the living room and hallway.  It needs replaced!  So they are coming to measure for wood or Berber carpeting...whatever is the best price!!  Ha!  I couldn't make up my mind.

That is it for now....make sure an stop by Stacy's at Stacy Uncorked.  Lots of Randomness going on for sure.

Have a creative and imaginative day!
Hugging you
SueAnn

Silent Saturday ~ Garden Party!!

I am here and tired but doing well!  Back from caring for my mom in Ohio!  Her entire shoulder was replaced and she went through the entire process so well.  Amazing woman!!

I am joining She Who Carries Camera and her garden party!  I need some color and light..how about you!

I have missed you all!!  More to share.....coming soon!!

Have a magical and blessed day!

Hugging you
SueAnn