90/365

Halfway on Route 66

On the way home from Santa Fe, we detoured to see this halfway spot on Route 66.  

The memories it brings back as we remembered the show we watched faithfully with longing and wanderlust to be on the road...

Grateful for:

all the opportunities I've had to travel over the years

89/365

Cholla Cactus in Pecos National Park, New Mexico

I've never seen a cactus like this.  They were all over the park and most of them had yellow flowers blooming.

Grateful for:

safe travels to New Mexico and back

88/365

Skate Boarders

Seen at a skate park in downtown Santa Fe.  These two were so friendly and really enjoyed having me photograph them doing their tricks.  

My grateful heart is grateful today for:

random street photo ops

87/365

Hotel and Spa

A beautiful hotel and spa in downtown Santa Fe.

It's so nice to see some different architecture.

My grateful heart rejoices today for:

beauty in the mundane

86/365

Town Silo

Seen on the way to Santa Fe, NM.  Not sure exactly where, I lost track of where we were.  This is basically just a grab shot because it was a long drive and I needed a daily photo.  

I love the silos and the blue, blue sky.

Today's grateful heart is grateful for:

A road trip in good weather with good friends

85/365

Bike Race

This is the 2nd Annual Bike Race. There are three distances and the bikers can choose which distance they want to compete in.  The longest distance is 110 miles.  Yikes, that's almost 5 hours of bike riding.  The race is a fund-raiser for several of the local volunteer fire departments.

I got direction to this location for the longest race.  There were only 3-4 riders together but most of them were alone as they passed this spot.  

It was nice having something new to photograph for a change.

I'm grateful for:

the trip with 2 friends to Santa Fe for a few days

84/365

Angel Blowing Kisses

On my way home this morning from photographing a bike race, I passed a cemetery and decided to stop to see if there were any photo ops.  There weren't too many, but I couldn't resist getting a pic of this cute angel at the foot of one of the headstones.  

Today my grateful heart gives praise for:

the health and strength in my body as I get older

83/365

Antique Roller Skates

I spent untold numbers of hours skating on skates like these with my friends.  Those were good days.  I miss them.

Kids today will never know the joy of having a skate key on a string around their neck and the hours of sheer joy spent on skates like these.

My heart is grateful today:

for the time I spent with the grandkids while their mom and dad were away from the house.

82/365

Roadside Wildflowers

Driving home along a country road today, I saw these beautiful wildflowers.  I don't know what they are, but the color is gorgeous.  

I'm grateful today for:

finally finishing a quilt I started over 25 years ago

81/365

Mesquite Trees

After a morning at the Y for an exercise class and a visit with some friends, then a 

short  time at home, 

I met another friend at our favorite coffee shop and indulged in my favorite blended drink and some 

good conversation.

I decided to try a nature image today.  But this is, after all, west Texas~~not much is blooming right now.  As you can see, the sky was a beautiful blue and the temps were in the low 80s, but no leaves on the trees. I LOVE the shapes of these tree trunks...

I'm grateful today for:

supplements to help us stay healthy

80/365

Under the Pier

I made this image many years ago and just rediscovered it in my files.  It's a pier on the east side of Oahu, Hawaii.

How I love the ocean and miss Hawaii.

My heart is grateful for:

the opportunities I've had to travel

79/365

Tubes and Wires

While waiting for my car to be serviced today, I walked around outside hoping to find a photo op.  There's not much near the car shop so I was feeing pretty hopeless.  I walked behind a huge deserted building next door and saw this.

It looks like a chaotic mess to me but I'm sure it makes sense to someone.

My heart gives thanks today for:

how energized I felt today and how much I got done around the house

78/365

Sunflower Trio

One of the images from the still life flower session I did a couple of days ago.  

Today was church with a fellowship meal following the service.  

Ran a couple of errands on the way home.

Meeting a friend later to see

"Jesus Revolution" again.

My heart is grateful today for:

colors that brighten up the world

77/365

Two Lemurs at the Zoo

I took a quick trip to the zoo today.  It was comfortably cool but very crowded since it's spring break around here.  It's so great to see all the kiddos out with their parents taking advantage of what the zoo has to offer.

There were other Lemurs in this enclosure, but these two were cuddled together.  They were all just resting so there are no action shots.

Do you know what a group of Lemurs is called?

Answer:  A Conspiracy.

FYI a group of:

 vultures on a fencepost is called a "committee"

doves is called a "flight"

ravens is called an "unkindness"

butterflies is called a "kaleidoscope"

(just a few interesting facts)

My heart is grateful today for:

the amazing array of animals created by an awesome God

76/365

Orange Volkswagen

This is seen at the top of a brick wall in downtown.  I honestly don't know what it's supposed to represent because there's no car business below it.  

Abilene is known as the Storybook Capital, so maybe it has something to do with some children's story.  Whatever...it's cute and it's a great conversation starter.

I'm grateful today for:

the exercise classes I attend at the Y during the week

75/365

Printer's Logo

This logo in on the outside of a building housing a printer in town.  I never noticed it before but it's so interesting.  

I'm not sure what the red and black circles with the cross in them represents, but more than likely it has something to do with printing.

Today my heart was grateful for:

getting together with 2 sewing-buddies and working on my Quilt For Cops quilt

74/365

Staircase and shadows

During my walk downtown, I passed through an alley I don't usually go through and I saw this.  It would have been good enough even without the window under the staircase, but that just added icing to the cake in my opinion.

I love all the angles created by the staircase, shadows, the window and the bright and dark areas. 

My heart is grateful for:

the cooler weather we had today

73/365

My Quilt

I started this quilt about 22 years ago.  I think it was A Block A Month sold by JoAnn Fabric.  I remember putting all the blocks together and then they just sat in my sewing stash for years.  One day I got motivated and put the blocks together to create the quilt top and then that sat in my stash for years.  

I finality decided it wasn't doing anyone any good in a drawer, so I bit the bullet,  paid to have it quilted and voila.  Now I just need to put the ribbing around the edges and I can leave it on my bed.  

Procrastination is a dreadful thing.

I'm happy today for:

my sewing machine that has provided hours upon hours of creative joy

72/365

Coffee and Creamer

A morning ritual and such fun.  I love the creamer!  My fave is Salted Caramel, but that's almost impossible to find anymore which doesn't make sense because it's one of the best flavors.

So anything with caramel is second best.

I fill my own pod with the coffee I like best so it's very cost effective.

Other morning routines:  I usually pack and get going to go to the Y.  Yesterday I stayed home and mowed the lawn...lots of "steps" with that job.

When I don't go to the Y first thing it's more than likely because I need to catch up on chores, ie paying bills, answering emails, sorting out the house, etc.  I'm a morning person, if I go out in the morning when I get back to the house I pretty much don't want to do anything and that's usually what gets done...nothing.

My heart is grateful for:

having choices of things to do instead of being bored because there's nothing to do

71/365

Tall Grasses

Seen on my walk through the state park.  A friend and I spent some time at the park today.  The weather was beautiful, but things haven't gotten completely green yet.  

This is a small pond in the park that is a popular fishing site and it was good to see all the families in the park today.

My heart is happy for:

Daylight savings time even though it might take a day or two to get adjusted to the time change

70/365

Yucca and Dead Leaves

Seen on a walk through Abilene State Park

My heart is happy for:

A good walk through the park today

69/365

Street Performer

Abilene has many opportunities for public events downtown.  Once a month they have a Street Walk and there are other times during the year when they celebrate something accompanied by a street fair.  There's also an annual car show which is quite the event.  

This is an older image taken at one of those events.  I don't remember what the occasion was when I made this photo, but it was fun.

My heart is grateful today for:

a fun dinner with some friends from church last night~~good food and great conversation

68/368

Behind the Chain Link Fence

The yard of a downtown business surrounded by chain link fence.  Green rods run through the links, not blocking the view but maybe for added strength to the chain link?  And at the top of the fence~~barbed wire.  Seems like triple security.

My grateful heart is thankful today for:

Good yogurt to snack on when I really want sweets

67/365

Garbage Can

Saw this on my walk around town.  I just love the shadows of the bare tree against the cement wall.

My heart is happy for:

a full tank of gas

66/365

My Sneakers

I was wandering around downtown the other day looking for photo ops.  I decided to take a break for a few minutes and sit down.  I looked down at my feet and, voila, there was my next pic for the day.

It's not an award winner, but just a tad interesting.

My "happy" for the day:

I was able to go to the movies to see "Jesus Revolution" for the second time.  What an inspirational and humbling true story.

65/365

Eyes of the Lorax

Abilene has the nickname of "Storybook Capital".  There are a couple of parks in town where there are statues of storybook characters.  The parks are very sweet and very child-orientated.

These are the eyes of The Lorax. 

 The assignment of my photo club this month is eyes.  Ick.  I have no imagination so I figured I wouldn't submit anything for the assigned topic, then I happened upon the statue today during my walk around town.  

I love Dr. Suess and read a lot of his books to my children, but somehow I never read this one.

Apparently the book is about human greed being the cause of the destruction of the natural environment. 

The "lesson" is basically, "nothing will get better if no one cares".

My heart is grateful today for:

the friend I play racketball with every week

64/365

Just a Bouquet of Blue Sunflowers

Someone was done with a bouquet of colorful flowers even though they still looked pretty vibrant.  I boldly asked for them and spent some time trying to get a good shot.

It was fun and I didn't feel as exhausted setting this up as I did the other day.  There were some pretty yellow sunflowers and some Chinese asters but for some reason I liked this one best.

I'm grateful today for:

clean drinking water at the turn of the tap

63/365

Abstract Art

The same coffee shop that offers the lending library displays local art on the walls.  The current artwork is all abstracts.  I think I mentioned that I'm not a fan of abstract, but I AM a fan of supporting local artists, so I applaud this shop for their decor.

There are no artist's names visible and no prices so I'm not sure if the work is for sale.  If it is, one would probably need to talk to the staff about contacting the artist.

Regardless, the artwork just reinforces the fact that besides being soooo cozy, the coffee shop is community minded which makes it a place I really enjoy frequenting.  So much so that sometimes I think I need a PT job to support my coffee habit at this place.  

Today my heart is grateful for:

the late afternoon sunlight streaming through my west-facing windows

62/365

Lending Library

A small lending library in a local coffee shop.  What a great idea!  And I just love those plants.

Today I'm grateful for:

A potential photo job in the near future

61/365

Revisiting the yellow roses    Past.  Their.   Prime.

I finally had some time today to concentrate on photographing these dying roses.  

I don't really have a good place to set up for still life, so everything is a Major Effort and by the time I get around to actually making the images, I'm pretty exhausted.  Maybe I should set up, take a break and then do the photography.  Hmmm, I'll have to try that next time. 

One of these days I'll have to bite-the-bullet, pay for some blooming/vibrant flowers and spend some time with them.

I'm grateful today:

that yesterday I was able to pay off a car repair bill ahead of time

60/365

Abstract Shadow on Steps

I don't normally like abstracts.  My brain has a hard time making sense of them, although I hear from others that that's exactly why they do like abstracts.  To each their own I guess.

Anyway, while walking around downtown, I saw these cement steps with the railing shadow cascading down the steps.  I thought it looked very cool, so there you have it.

My heart is grateful today for:

Amazon Prime free (haha) delivery