Category: Photo Challenges

Waiting for Baby

On By My Crazy Graced LifeIn Daily Prompt, Family, Nature, Photo Challenges, Photography, Seasons, The Daily Post, Weekly Photo Challenge, wpc7 Comments

The ‘official’ due date for my baby girl to deliver her baby girl has come and gone so now we are all sitting around staring at her, waiting for her to announce, “this is it!”

Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration.  We aren’t actually sitting.  Or staring.  We are keeping busy and carrying on with life as usual.

Yesterday, in an effort to remain occupied we took advantage of some beautiful springtime weather and spent time at the Dallas Arboretum.

I’ll tell you – no matter what the season this place never fails to amaze me with its beauty.

In the fall you have Autumn at the Arboretum with pumpkins galore

For the Christmas season, it’s the Twelve Days at Night

Right now, it’s Dallas Blooms.  A beautiful array of springtime flowers punctuated with carpets of amazing tulips in vibrant colors.

It is stunning.

This years theme is ‘Peace, Love, and Flower Power’ and showcased Volkswagon’s covered in blooms.

Texas-sized games were available that kids and grown-ups alike enjoyed.

Cute grandkids and lush backgrounds made for great photo ops.

In hopes that a lot of walking would help jumpstart labor we stayed for a long while. Apparently, Baby is quite comfy and all we managed to do was wear mom out.

A lovely family waiting for a small bundle of joy to join them.

Any time now Baby K…

I wish, for my daughter’s sake, that Baby comes sooner rather than later.  Even though she feels, at this point, like she might be pregnant forever, we know she will go into labor.  For now – we continue to pray for the blessing of a safe delivery and the joy of new baby snuggles.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.

 

Eyes of Asia

On By My Crazy Graced LifeIn Family, Grandchildren, International Travel, Photo Challenges, Photography4 Comments

Linking up with a travel blogger who chose the theme ‘eyes‘ for this week I am sharing pictures from China.

I love to watch people.  I love to take pictures of people.  Our stay in Jiading – a ‘suburb’ of Shanghai – offered me ample opportunities to sit and soak up the local atmosphere.

The plaza just on the other side of the canal from our hotel was a perfect spot to sit.  During the day the children ran and jumped and played and roller skated.  They loved that I was taking pictures and would come right up to me and pose.  Their eyes shone with curiosity about the blonde-haired, fair-skinned lady with the camera.

jiading dancing

When the work day ended the adults would gather, the music would start and an impromptu dance would begin.  They danced and they laughed and they left the stress of the day behind.  It was absolutely delightful and the happiness in their eyes was contagious.

jiading baby

Several times I was approached by those who wondered who I was, where I came from and why I looked so different.  They were not shy about asking gesturing for me to take pictures with or of them. Like this mom – you can see the excitement in her eyes.  She was so eager to have her baby ‘meet’ me that she took out her Iphone and asked gestured for me to pose with her little girl.  I reciprocated and asked gestured for her to pose, too.  I think the baby was just confused – that’s what I see in her eyes.

Jiading eyes1

This man was taking a break from his street sweeping as I made my way back to the hotel.  His eyes look a little tired – maybe because his day had been long and he wasn’t quite finished yet.

p b j j p b

These guys.  My three boys.  Walking across the plaza they did not see me.  I had to yell out a couple of times before they figured out who was making a racket.  Their eyes were covered but, I promise you, they are the most beautiful shades of brown, green and hazel.

01-jan-dfr

And, finally, these beautiful eyes.  They belong to my new grandson.   Babies are wonderful.  Just wonderful.

 

 

 

 

 

Winter in Texas

On By My Crazy Graced LifeIn Daily Prompt, Family, Grandchildren, Photo Challenges, The Daily Post, Weekly Photo Challenge, wpcLeave a comment

With a high today – today being February 10 –  of a 88 degrees it was definitely a day to get out and enjoy the sunshine.

These pictures were taken in November and I’m always aware that, although we get cold snaps, we also get to enjoy many days that are weather-perfected.  No matter what time of year it is, the sinking sun and  shadows never bother the grandkids, especially when grandpa gets the ultra-fun toys out and plays with them.

WPC – Graceful First Ladies

On By My Crazy Graced LifeIn Daily Prompt, Photo Challenges, Weekly Photo Challenge, wpc1 Comment

I had the television on for most of the day watching the inauguration.  Just like I have for so many previous transfers of the power for our nation’s highest office.

I did it because I am an American and whether I agree or disagree with the politics or the person I respect the office of the President of the United States.

I hope I can always appreciate the fact that I live in a country where, not only do I have the right to vote, but even when the political climate is divided and contentious the key players put their big girl and boy pants on and behave in a gracious manner.

That was evident in both Michelle Obama and Melania Trump this morning.  There was bound to be tension yet they behaved beautifully.  Graceful and poised each woman was a credit to our country.

Well-done ladies.  Well done.

michelle-and-melania-afp-gettyimages

I take no credit for this picture. I pulled it off the internet.  Credit goes to AFP/Getty Images.

WPC – What’s In A Shanghai Name?

On By My Crazy Graced LifeIn International Travel, Photo Challenges, Photography, Summer, Travel, Weekly Photo Challenge, wpc4 Comments

A trip to Shanghai provided many opportunities to see names in English and the character equivalents in Mandarin.

Shanghai hotelOur hotel in the Shanghai ‘suburb’ of Jiading

Ikea and Amway

Grocery items at the local Auchan (equivalent to Wal-Mart)

A wealth of western shopping opportunities in downtown Shanghai

Shanghai street sign

A street sign on a side street

McDonald’s quarterpounder and KFC/Pizza Hut

A wonderful trip!

 

Path Perspective

On By My Crazy Graced LifeIn Family, Grandchildren, Nature, Photo Challenges, Photography, The Daily Post, Weekly Photo Challenge, wpc1 Comment

icemageddonSometimes the path is cold, cloudy, empty and feels lonely

Photo cred to Kyon Photography www.kyonphotography.com

Other times it is filled with sunshine, joy, chaos and love

DFROur path continues to grow with the addition of a new grandbaby

Our family is a circle of strength and love, with every birth and every union, the circle will grow, every joy shared adds more love, every crisis faced together, makes the circle stronger.
Author Unknown

 

The Sacred In My Life

On By My Crazy Graced LifeIn Daily Prompt, Faith, Photo Challenges, Photography, The Daily PostLeave a comment

Jesus said to him,“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me  John 14:6

Groom, TX

My faith is more than just Sunday Mass.  It’s keeping sacred every single day the realization of how Jesus suffered and died for me.

Groom, Tx

Along with remembering and rejoicing in His triumphant victory over that death.

Groom, TX

These pictures were taken in the Panhandle of Texas in a town called Groom. The Stations of the Cross are depicted in life like bronze sculptures with a 190 foot tall cross which can be see from 20 miles away.

WPC – Relax

On By My Crazy Graced LifeIn animals, Christmas, Daily Prompt, Holidays, Photo Challenges, Seasons, Weekly Photo Challenge, wpc3 Comments

Without fail my Christmas tree invokes a sense of peace and relaxation.  During this busy and hectic time of year I relish a quiet morning – or evening – spent gazing upon the colored lights and ornaments filled with memories.  Today, the rain outside, the animals and the fireplace were an added bonus.

Christmas tree

 

The Heard on Black Friday

On By My Crazy Graced LifeIn Daily Prompt, Family, Grandchildren, Nature, Photo Challenges, Seasons, The Daily Post, Weekly Photo Challenge, wpc1 Comment

 

It’s not this time of year without the madness of the Black Friday frenzy.  And, while I have, in past years, jumped on the bandwagon in search of savings, this year I had no desire to join the crowds.

However, I did feel the need to get outside and make the most of the sunshine and mild temperatures.  With such good weather my daughter and I made  a plan to visit dinosaurs and explore trails at   The Heard Museum in McKinney, Texas.

Arriving earlier than the rest of the family I was able to get in two miles before we met up.  I enjoyed the solitude in nature as I encountered fewer and fewer people the farther out I went.

The water, the turtles and our version of autumn

When they arrived I met them on the dinosaur trail, and as I came up behind the kids I was met with the wonderfully familiar sound of “NAAANNAA” as they caught sight of me.

Dinosaurs – oh my! Let’s take a a selfie.

As we wandered along we came across a trail that none of us had been on in a while and decided to follow it.  Five year old Kolbe was convinced that this was the trail with the giant white sycamore and really wanted to find the tree.  Despite the rain a few days ago everything had been relatively dry so we thought, “okay!”

11-nov-25-black-friday-at-the-heard-16It may have been a little muddy in a few spots.

We were thoroughly enjoying our hike when we came across areas that had obviously been flooded.  Seeing a bridge which had been washed away from who-knows-where along with all of the piled up branches, trees and debris we commented on the damage.

11-nov-25-black-friday-at-the-heard-2

See the bridge?

Walking a bit further we suddenly found the spot where the bridge had been.  And, it was where we needed to cross. 11-nov-25-black-friday-at-the-heard-1We wondered, “Should we turn around and retrace our steps or see if we can get across?”

Now let me set this scene for you.  We were a party of seven.  One Nana – that’s me, one daddy, one pregnant mommy, two school-age kids and two young-un’s.

11-nov-25-black-friday-at-the-heard-11

The littlest ones

What the heck – it was time to be adventurous.  If we fell in the water or slipped in the mud it wouldn’t be too bad.  After all, it was 62 degrees with sunshine and no wind!

It’s an adventure payoff!  We all got across and no one fell in!

Time for another selfie.  Or two!

11-nov-25-black-friday-at-the-heard-7AND – we found the giant sycamore!  More than 160 years old!

As we came to the end of the trail we realized we had been hiking a closed trail.  Due to damage from flooding. Oops.

11-nov-25-black-friday-at-the-heard-17I don’t know what happened to the sign at the start of the trail, but our ‘adventures’ made a good day truly memorable.

 

Big Tree, Little Baby

On By My Crazy Graced LifeIn Daily Prompt, Grandchildren, Nature, Photo Challenges, The Daily Post5 Comments

A couple of years ago I was playing around and took a ‘scale’ picture of my small granddaughter against a big tree.  At 4.5 months of age she was too young to sit by herself so my husband held her up while I backed away some distance.  Then with a “ready, set, go!” he ran out of the shot, I click,click, clicked and then he ran back in and grabbed her before she could fall over.

Teamwork!

Little baby.  Big Tree.

Therese

 

Mar 20 Scale

Overall, she really wasn’t too thrilled with her modeling gig.  But, she’s a happy baby and quickly forgave us as soon as we catered to her every whim. 🙂

And, just because I can….here’s her adorable face today.