Extreme

Extremes

The last Saturday of September, high noon, Owasso was the meeting place for the showdown. Two teams faced off with each prepared for battle. The battle this day was soccer. It was extreme soccer, played in the extreme heat,by extremely talented ten year old boys! Athletics, parents, and even the referees would struggle to find ways to stay cool in the non seasonal extreme temperatures.

The game was fierce, fast paced, and extremely demanding on the young devoted players.

The sun’s extremely heated rays found their way through the branches of the extremely sparse trees near the soccer field.

Not even the shade of an extremely large umbrella could offer solace to those in attendance. Hardly a breeze was felt to offer relief, even a hot breeze was welcomed over the extremely stifling stillness of none.

An extreme win, by the Extreme team in the extreme heat ended with the extremely good sportsmanship of both teams with extreme hand slaps and extreme smiles. It was an extremely good day.

This assignment is to do a photojournalist shoot. We were to pick six pictures writing a short story with the pictures truly tell the story. This was really hard because I had over 100 pictures that day, and I really wanted to include them. These must be mounted on a science project board and be ready by tonight. I am ok with this. I am not fancy, and really wanted something to "wow" her with. But I didn't. I don't think a soccer game is anything to wow someone with. But to me and the other 100 parents/family members it was a wow moment. My nephew is the goalie and he played hard, but his team in fact was NOT the extreme team, and they lost 3-0 because their one goal was not allowed. I don't know why. One player was injured but I didn't include those shots. It was sweet, the boys all kneel down while the player is being tended to. His coach carried him gently off the field to be inspected. My brother a fire fighter paramedic fears the little boys collar bone might be broke. He has a tremendous amount of swelling and pain. So his parents took him to the hospital. I have not heard any news on him for I am not a part of that group. I was just there this day to take pictures.

Later that day I get home tired, hot, hungry and excited about the OU football game to be seen on cable later that evening when I get a call from my grown daughter in OKC. She has food poisoning and has been throwing up for hours. She went to the minor emergency clinic but forgot her phone...now I know she is really sick, and wants me to come down and be with her. She hates being sick and hates being sick alone even more. So I pack an overnight bag and head off to the city. We were to attend the fair the next day for my husband's family was going to show their prize bull and two heifers in the Tulsa State Fair. I wanted to take pictures of that too. But I missed it. Oh and by the way, my daughter doesn't have cable.....so I missed the OU game as well. I was on my way home exhausted and decided that I needed to call my step daughter and see how she and the family was doing for they came over and went to the fair with friends. ( this is all Sunday mind you!) She was planning on leaving at 4:00 but at 5:00 they were still there. We (ie my husband) was watching our grand dog (oh by the way her name is Chloe)(we have Zoe and Chloe, then Callie and Allie, and Caleb, you don't think that gets confusing....I just yell a name and hope either a dog or a kid looks at me!) I talk to my step daughter and she is pretty tired and so are the kids so I offer to keep the dog for a few days so they don't have to drive clear back over to our house to pick her up. And she is really no trouble (except at 4:00 in the morning when she decides she wants to go out to pee pee, or play) but she goes back to bed and then I get up with her at 6:30 for the morning. So this way she can play, run and romp and give Sarah a break. Well on Monday, my baby girl (Allie the grand daughter) is sick and running 102 fever. My goodness.

I guess that is about all my news. Started my wedding photography class last night, tonight is the last night of Photography II, Wed is my Photoshop class 30 miles away, and then Thursday is my Business class. Friday I am taking my mother to the doctor then going to see Jeff Dunham the ventriloquist whom I love. Hopefully watch OU Saturday and then attend the 50th wedding anniversary party of my brother and sister n laws. So....pretty busy this week I guess. I might not get much posting done, but I will be reading everybody and soon as things settle down just a bit or I get more pictures I will be boring you with more stuff...all about me. Isn't there a song like that???? Toby Keith I don't remember the name, All About Me or What about Me, ME ME ME. Something like that. Oh I know, if I find it guess where I will put it???? You guess it, turn the volume up or down depending on how you like music and country at that. See ya!

Friday's Funnies

Don't forget to visit

Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolate

for her final day of pumpkin week!

Finally, Friday Funnies

Ok, it is Friday again, for you working people...Hip Hip Hooray!!! For me? Ok, what day of the week is it? Oh Friday, ok. Oh that means OU should be playing football tomorrow. Yeah!!!



But Friday's are special days, pop on over to Kim at Homesteader Heart and get your funny bone tickled today. Link up so we can all see your jokes too. This is such a fun way to share our Friday.



Today I am doing a Red Neck Joke that was sent to me. I saw another blogger posted the Red Neck Fire Alarm, so I told her I would post a Red Neck Joke. Why not? I'm from the south too.





REDNECK LOVE POEM



SUSIE LEE DONE FELL IN LOVE,

SHE PLANNED TO MARRY JOE.

SHE WAS SO HAPPY 'BOUT IT ALL,

SHE TOLD HER PAPPY SO.

PAPPY TOLD HER, 'SUSIE GAL,

YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER.

I'D JUST AS SOON YO' MA DON'T KNOW,

BUT JOE IS YO' HALF BROTHER.'



SO SUSIE PUT ASIDE HER JOE

AND PLANNED TO MARRY WILL.

BUT AFTER TELLING PAPPY THIS,

HE SAID, 'THERE'S TROUBLE STILL.'

'YOU CAN'T MARRY WILL, MY GAL,

AND PLEASE DON'T TELL YOU' MOTHER.

WILL AND JOE, AND SEVERAL MO'

I K NOW IS YO' HALF BROTHER.'



BUT MAMA KNEW AND SAID, 'MY CHILD,

JUST DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.

MARRY WILL, OR MARRY JOE:

YOU AIN'T NO KIN TO PAPPY.'

(Kinda brings a tear to yer eye, don't it?)







Oh I love telling jokes (even if they aren't mine originally) so I might even add one more...is that ok?

A Short Love Story

A man and a woman who had never met before but were both married to other people found themselves assigned to the same sleeping compartment on a Trans-continental train.Though initially embarrassed and uneasy over sharing a room, they were both very tired and fell asleep quickly -- he in the upper bunk and she in the lower.At 1 a.m., the man leaned down and gently woke the woman saying, "Ma'a m, I'm sorry to bother you, but would you be willing to reach into the closet and get me a second blanket? I'm awfully cold.""I have a better idea," she replied. "Just for tonight, let's pretend that we're married.""Wow! That's a great idea!" he exclaimed."Good," she replied. "Get your own blanket."After a moment of silence, he farted.



Ok, I'm done till next week. Happy Weekend to you all. I'm going to the Fair!!!

My Pumpkin Story

I am a "linking" fool...

Since I have LEARNED how to link (thank you Joni!)

I am having so much fun helping others.

I don't do these things to win prizes,

although the prizes are cute, fun and awesome.

I do it because I think that when people go to so much

trouble trying to accomplish something,

then why shouldn't I help?

So here is to Lisa at Stop n Smell the Chocolates.

Today we are suppose to talk about a pumpkin project of some sort. I am not a crafty person, nor do I cook much. But I do have a love for teachers and children. I was a DARE officer for many years and had special bonds with teachers all over the Enid School district. But one of my first teachers to work with also became one of my dear friends. I respect teachers so much. What they try to do and achieve with these gifts that have been entrusted to them, ie our children. One teacher in particular was Linda H. She taught geography to 7th graders. I was never good at geography and never really enjoyed it. But I watched Linda teach her students, and encourage, inspire, hold them accountable. I really liked what she did with her kids. Each hour the bell would ring and those students would leave the room uplifted, and enjoying school if for only a little while!!! (Till Math or something!) But one of the things she did EVERY year was she had the student bring a pumpkin to class. They would then paint it and put on the continents and they would also have longitude and latitude lines. They worked on these things for days. Learning so much about the world as they created their very own globe. Some were very elaborate. Others were kind of blobs of paint slapped on. But each kid had fun. They labeled things such as the oceans and continents. So if you need a pumpkin project for your kids.... there you have it! You have the whole world at your finger tips.

I need a larger picture, but this is the best I could find. Sorry!

PUMPKIN GLOBE


Time: 2 days (1-2 hours per day)


Geographic Theme-Regions and Location


Purpose: To create a model of the Earth


Objectives: To identify longitude and latitude on maps and globes to create a globe using a pumpkin


Materials:


world maps and globes
pumpkins (one per group)
tag board patterns of the continents
tempera paint


Procedures:


Day 1
Discuss longitude and latitude. Point out examples on the world map and the globe.
Question the students (can be made into a game) about using world maps to locate longitude and latitude. Example: Where is 95 degrees North longitude and 30 degrees West latitude? Houston, Texas.
Divide the globe into hemispheres (north, south/east, west) and discuss the placement of the continents.


Day 2
Review longitude, latitude, hemispheres, and continents.
Divide the students into groups.
Hand out one pumpkin per group, pattern, and paint.
Divide the pumpkin into hemispheres using the vertical lines on the pumpkin as the longitude lines.
Place patterns in the appropriate hemispheres. Trace continents.
Paint continents. Let dry for 1 hour.
Paint the bodies of water. Let dry overnight.
Extensions
Display in school media center.
Compare and contrast pumpkins to globes.

Rachel

Rachel and Our Day at OSU

These are some cute pictures of her.

I am posting them for her to look at!!

Enjoy them Rachel, I am posting more of them.

Rachel J

Giving her some variety.

Oh she was so much fun to photograph.

Hopefully we will do more this week or weekend just to see what I can do.

She is really cute and willing to do about anything I ask.

Oh I love Today

Peacefulness and a Cool Breeze

After having a fairly busy weekend and a very stressful night last night (photo shop class!) Today is wonderfully peaceful. I am still in my pj's, I slept in till 8:00 and I even sat down to read on my favorite blogs. Then I heard the dogs barking. I don't allow my dogs to just stand around outside and bark so I got up to tell them to hush. I looked at them standing at the back fence and knew in an instant they were barking at "something". So I crept outside as quietly as I could and then sat down in my comfy hammock swing. Oh then I saw it. IT was a beautiful red fox. She sat there watching me watching her. She has a beautiful face and pointed ears with a long slender snout (or muzzle, whatever!) And she sat there panting gently, twitching her ears forward and back. Watching out to make sure nothing snuck up on her while she was watching me. I just sat there in my swing thinking, darn it, sure wish I had a 300 mm lens AND my camera in my lap right now. The dogs quit barking, it was if they had been saying, mom...MOM there is something out here you HAVE got to see. Come quickly,........ MOMMMMM! Since I was there now, they stopped barking. They too just kept looking at her, with an every once in a while bark as to say "hey, what are you doing over there?" Then she jumped. Something startled her from behind and I could see her. I could see her full body, long and lean, and yes, she had that beautiful long fluffy, full tail. Just like in the movies, just like in the Disney Movie, The Fox and The Hound. There she was, not very big, yet bigger than what I expected, with her red fur coat shinning as the sun hit her just right. For she was hiding in the trees, hiding in the tall grass that has sparsely grown where the sunlight allows for growth in the underbrush. She gave me one last long look and she sauntered off in that little gait that says, "I'm finished here, I am not scared, but I have no further business". I wonder, do you think she is eating my nicely fattened squirrels?

*****REMEMBER :*****

Be sure to visit Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolates. She is doing a pumkin week. And as much as I would like to increase my chances at winning everything by having fewer people to compete against, I think you would truly enjoy her postings. Her pumpkin facts, her pumpkin recipes. Today is pumpkin bread and I am telling you, I will have to make some. Yum, yum. So go check her out all this week and I bet you will find she will become one of your favorites, just as she has become one of mine!

I'm Retired You Know!!

Working way too hard!!!

I ran over to Stillwater yesterday to see some of my most favorite people.

****GRANDKIDS.****

I was getting to take their pictures and that is always exciting.

I learned a lot of things while taking these pictures, like the sun spots, and hot spots, meaning way too much light...and dealing with a 11 month old that is walking and running every where. These were some of my challenges. Plus still needing to learn my camera better.

Then while I was there taking their pictures, I was also going to take pictures

of Scott's brother and his wife. They are getting ready to have

their 50th wedding anniversary next month.

Raleigh and Betty Jo Jobes

He taught Ag Econ at Oklahoma State University

for many years.

These pictures were taken on the OSU campus.

Now this next pictures were taken off site and again the sun was way too hot.

It was a terrible experience and I hate that I put them through it.

We were finally able to find a spot in the shade.

Do you like either of these pictures?

Do you like the edges darkened? Are they too dark?

Do you like the square or the oval better.

Let me also show you the one that is not doctored at all.

Another picture taken on the campus of OSU,

I like the use of bridges and I think this is a pretty one.

This picture is of Rachel in black and white with the

OSU left in color.

Then I put a little soft light on the OSU.

I am having fun with trying different things.

Here are their grand kids.

Rachel, Austin and Walker.

They were such good sports,

I could not be more proud.

Rachel is a Sr. this year and I want to take

her to go do some pictures.

This was edited with a "flashlight" lighting effect.

Allen, is their handsome dad and

they were all so willing to indulge me....I loved it.

And of course when do you ever see a teenager with out her/his cell phone.

So we had to include it in the family photos.

I'm On Another Roll

Kim, this song is for you....are you listening to it?

(Linda, you will like it too!)

Man, I am on a roll here.

If you haven't gone back and checked out my blog

in the past couple days, you need to.

Well I would like for you to.

I have been doing multiple postings per day.

Why you asked?

Because sometimes I just don't post and

then sometimes I have a lot to say.

Sometimes I feel like I am too busy, or not in the mood.

Then it seems that when it rains it pours.

I have had a lot going on.

I love figuring out these picture things

and want to share my progress.

Then I feel bad that I have neglected my friends

and find out that boy of boy are they busy!

Attention:

Kim at Homesteaders Heart

Please go see her and give a tickle to your funny bone.

Here is my funny via email from a friend in Oklahoma (Tina)

Subject: The Love Story of Ralph and Karen
Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. Ralph and Karen were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool. Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. Karen promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Karen's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable. When she went to tell Karen the news she said, 'Karen, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness. The bad news is Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.' Karen replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?'

Announcements!!!

Hear Ye, Ole Hear Ye!!!

I am sometimes just a wealth of information:

Usually not, but hey....

I really want to encourage all my friends to be sure and check out Lisa at Stop and Smell the Chocolates for she has some neat things going on.

There will be pumpkin facts, yummy recipes, opportunities to link up,

and giveaways too. Be sure to stop by!

This is going to start Monday it looks like so it should be a great week to look forward to. And honestly, she is always great to stop by and visit even with out pumpkins.

Then every Friday she does a chocolate recipe. I don't always link up for it, but I ALWAYS go and check her out. Fridays are good for more than just the weekend.

I AM RETIRED YOU KNOW!!!

So please stop by and check out her Chocolates and Pumpkins.

Then I want to send you over to another friend that has a special event taking place.

If you don't know Just Joni at Morning Coffee, you HAVE GOT to say hello to her as well. These little coffee berries come from Dean's Beans and are a blend harvested from Sumatra and Nicaragua. Hurry for her drawing is going to be Monday the 22nd of September. You have got to read her blog posted on Thursday to find out all the details, but I am telling you that you will need to read what she does with her Fridays.

This lady feeds the homeless in her town every Friday, usually by herself and then has shared her experience with us on Saturday. (No pressure here Joni!) Please take time to check in on her, you will NOT be disappointed.

OK, is there anyone else having a special, or giveaway? Please feel free to leave a comment for me....I will try to get the information out there for the masses.

I have had a rough week, so please keep me in your thoughts and prayers, it is nothing major, just a little more stress than I need or am used to. And more this weekend with two photo shoots of family. I want them to be PERFECT, so be thinking of me will ya?

Photoshop Class 2nd Night

Can You Tell The Difference?

Before:

After:
Ok, I had my second night of photoshop at it was a lot more productive than the first night.

I still don't have it all down, but I think I have made a "little" progress....????

Let me tell you, this stuff is not as easy as it looks.

Oh that's what it was!!!

He was the bomber.

While we were taking Scott's pictures at the lake,

I kept hearing something hit the ground and could not

figure out what was going on.

I looked up and saw what it was.

This little guy was eating a hickory nut about 7 feet above Scott's head.

He was shelling it in pieces and dropping them down missing

Scott by inches or even landing on his leg while Scott was sitting on the bench.

I thought it was funny that the little guy did not stop eating and kept

shelling his hickory nut.

Pretty cute with the sun shinning through his

his furry tail. All the while his cousins were back at

my house eating corn, sunflower seeds and hickory nuts.

***If you have not heard my song Squirrels before, you have got to turn it on and turn it up loud. Maybe even play it twice. I think it is one of the funniest songs ever.

Ok, I am off to my class of PhotoShop. Someone just shoot me now!!!