"If you judge people, you have not time to love them." ~Mother Theresa
OUR HOST THIS WEEK IS CHERIE
and the word is: ZEST
THE SPICY, TART, TANGINESS OF LEMON ZEST
WAKES UP EVERY TASTE BUD WITH ENTHUSIASM
TAKEN JULY 17, 2008
WITH MY KODAK Z740 DIGITAL CAMERA
~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Family love.... Family being those we are biologically related to and those we are related to by heart and choice...  It starts the minute we are born (maybe before we are born) the love which would be so difficult to live without. (I know it does not happen for everyone ~ that truly breaks my heart ~ but for many of us the love is there. I know in my family it happened. Seems to be passed down from generation to generation). Of course, not all is always sunshine and roses... at a very early age there is the, "Mama, she took my toy" and the "Mama, he hit me" but the love is there just the same. It was there when we were saying our prayers together at night. It was and is there now with the hugs that comfort you when you cry or when you hurt. The love is there watching each other complete a goal we have started.... the pride and love that is shown ... the encouragement that is given to get us to the goal!!! All things that make this a wonderful life. When something wonderful happens in your life ..... the first people you want to share it with are those you love ~ your family and your family of friends! When things are not going so well as they sometimes will do ~ who is there for you ~ who can you depend on for love and support.... yes, that family and family of friends. My mother tucked me in at night, she fixed the scraped places on my knees and calmed away my fears ~ she also spanked me when I needed it! And now, many years later, who is still picking me up when I fall or calming away my fears?............. yes, Mama. She has a big network now (bet she is glad ~ took a lot of work off her). That network is made up of sisters, my children, other family, my family of friends, my co-worker friends, those people that seem to touch my life so often and in so many ways. I use to tell my children that no matter what happened to them out in the world when they walked through the door at home ~ those people inside loved them no matter what! They might not always like how they act or react to something but they love them no matter what... The same is still true today. They know they are loved unconditionally. They know they can call anytime of the day or night. Even though I work at night I don't turn my phone off in the day time to sleep just in case they need me. They are there for me too. Family does that. The love, the caring, the encouragement and belief in you..... Why would you ever need any more than that? |
WISHING MY MULTIPLY FAMILY A
WONDERFUL WEEK ~
TIME SPENT WITH THOSE YOU LOVE ~
BY PHONE, BY CAR, BY TRAIN OR PLANE,
IN HEART, IN PERSON ~ JUST DO IT
START WITH A HUG...
AND SEE IF IT ISN'T A GREAT WEEK!!!
All Pictures should enlarge by clicking!
Wednesday, we drove to Atlanta, Georgia to meet for a picnic at Piedmont Park.....
Frannie and Russ drove from South Carolina and I from Alabama. Meeting strangers ~ not at all! Had I not already felt like they were friends I would have the minute we got out of our cars and hugged. It wasn't like meeting someone for the first time at all!!!
It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows Frannie that they were both just the most wonderful people to be around. We meant at Willy's and went right next door to the park for a picnic. Yes, Frannie cooked. Well, if you envied me for getting to meet them ~ I know you envy me now!!!! No wonder ~ Take a look:
Chicken Salad to die for!
Strawberries, Watermelon, and Grapes
Several cheese spreads and a variety of crackers
Even had California Ry Krisp (Thank you, JohnOh)
And the now famous Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies!!!
We soon had an audience!!! I mean even before Frannie had the spread laid out!!! We had to be the most popular people in the park (and it was a big park!)
They came down trees. . .
They were sneaking through the grass. . .
They brought friends. . .
And relations. . .
And more friends. . .
(Frannie took more pictures than I did so be sure and check out her picture page!!!)
We found out they were after one thing ~ Frannie's Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies! (And on my third helping of the chicken salad I was glad it wasn't the chicken salad!!!) But they were smart little rascals ~ they tried to throw us off guard by munching up grapes and strawberries and crackers!!!!
one of many grape eaters!
And the crackers were very popular until. . .
The first attempt for the cookies was just 12 -18 inches away from me (at one point one fellow even got brave enough to came up and touch the hand I was using to prop myself up ~ he wanted to see if it had food in it!) At first he was a little greedy and tried to pull the whole tupperware bowl of cookies with him! He probably could have done it! He was moving it!!! But. . . as I reached for my camera he was thinking I was up to no good and he ran!!! We knew he would be back.... And just to make sure I got my picture ~ Frannie baited him ~ she loosened the lid on the cookies so they could smell them!!!!! Well from my PP post you know what happened next.
As he started to drag the bowl ~ the cover came off because of it being loosened!!!
He inched toward the treats. . .
He grabbed and took a quick bite ~ He couldn't wait!
before he ran off with it.... (but than he just had to stop and have another bite!!!)
I looked around and more of his buddies were chomping away!
Everywhere I looked there was a squirrel with a chocolate chip cookie!
Everywhere. . . I didn't know what was going on. . .
Frannie was feeling sorry for the guys that didn't have one and was giving out pieces of Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies!!!!
There were at least 8 squirrels all around us eating Cookies ~ They were happy picnickers!
The chocolate chip chocolate cookies were in honor of JohnOh! When I saw this happening I shouted out "STOP" ~ Those are John's Chocolate Chip Chocolate Cookies!!!!
We laughed and talked about so much ~ so many friends we wished were there!!! And made a verbal list of all those people we want to get together with in person! We kept our eyes out all day long for Picture Perfect "P" ~ I Spy Something with my little eye things. . .
So Maybe this picture of the "potty" won't surprise you too much!!!
We talked for hours ~ to each other ~ to people passing by with dogs. . .
It was just the most comfortable ~ laid back afternoon. . .
5 hours and I could have visited for hours more!
These people were so wonderful to be around!
We started to walk around the lake. . .
Even as we walked the conversation & the people we ran into were a pleasure!
As the sun was setting and it was time to leave we talked about our next adventure!!!
A fishing trip!!!!!
As we walked back toward the car ~ Frannie and Russ were talking ~ I spied this spot.
Daydreaming for a moment I knew just who I wanted to share a quiet moment with here!
A wonderful day ~ not an end ~ a beginning! Goodbyes only till we pack our fishing gear!
*All pictures enlarge by clicking on them
so you can see the chocolate chip chocolate cookies better!!!
Picnic Pilferer
