Sky Watch Friday

Lunch at the Shake!

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Sepia Scenes

Shaw's Garden - Last Summer - St Louis, Missouri



It got just warm enough today to tease - about 52 degrees! Thunderstorms are forecast for tomorrow.

Watery Wednesday!

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This photo was taken last summer at Shaw's Garden in St Louis, Missouri

Come On Spring!

Scenic Sunday

Shaw's Nature Preserve near St Louis, Missouri.


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Award Time!!!

Yesterday, Lisa Wilson over at Telluride Daily Photo gave me this "Kreativ Blogger Award"! Thank you so much - I can't help being excited about it - I love winning awards!!!


In turn, I'm suppose to give it away to 7 others, but I'm cheating & giving it to 9! It's mine, so I can do that!!! hehehe

1. Rose @ Pics & Pieces
2. T Bruce (2sweetnsaxy) @ Eyes, Mind, Heart
3. George & Betsy @ Senior Moments
& Joyful Reflections
4. Kathy @ Oklahoma Booklady
5. Storyteller @ Sacred Ruminations
6. Tanya @ Around Roanoke, Va
7. Boise Diva @ Boise Daily Photo
8. Nature Girl @ Nature Trail
9. Betty @ Meditations on the Next Phase

While I'm giving out awards, I thought I'd take this opportunity to give away
this "Really Really Old Pic Award" to Neal @ Photographic Memories! I think he deserves this award for the photos he has posted of his family's old homestead when he was a kid - I've enjoyed his posts of those "Old Pics".











A few months ago, I was given this award by Suzanne @ Create Fun & Mess & I feel like an idiot because I can't remember the name of it (I think that's French?). But, nevertheless, she passed it on to me & I'm passing it on to everyone, so copy it & pass it out to whomever you want.












Last, but not least, this "You Make Me Smile Award" goes out to 2 people! Mojo @ Why? What Have You Heard? & to Dot @ Strolling through Ga
To Mojo for the things he comes up w/ sometimes just cracks me up! LoL! But, he's been very helpful to me & I appreciate him going out of his way to explain some of this blogging stuff to me! Thanks a lot!
And, Dot - The Godfather! hehehe! She always makes me smile!!! Now, I know, awards aren't really your thing, Dot - but, I just wanted to thank you for keeping me smiling, because this has been a bit of a hard time for me and I appreciate ya!!!

Sky Watch Friday

Maya's Restaurant in Poplar Bluff, Missouri!

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Sepia Scenes

Climatron at Shaw's Garden in St. Louis, Missouri







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Watery Wednesday!

Scenes from Dallas World Aquarium in Dallas, Texas USA!!!

These photos were taken looking down into the water from the upper level at the people walking through the aquarium tunnel below. There's mostly Sharks & Stingray in this tank.

If you haven't visited, you really need to put it on your list!


If you haven't joined Watery Wednesday yet, you need to drop what you're doing, get a photo w/ water in it, & join in right now!

Also check out The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta - a 6.3 million gallon tank - HUGE! Double click the tank when the page loads to view FULL SCREEN!!!

My 1st "Ruby Tuesday"

Mojo over at Why? What Have You Heard? suggested in a round about way that I should submit the color version of this photo for Ruby Tuesday, but I had already posted it - so I decided to submit this one instead. The Red hanging under the bridge is Chihuly blown glass purchased by Shaw's Garden for decorations - They have all kinds of this blown glass throughout the gardens - I plan to visit & take some night shots this spring of the Chihuly lit up. Happy Ruby Tuesday

Scenic Sunday - Japanese Gardens

I've chosen a scene from The Japanese Gardens portion of Shaw's Garden in St Louis, Mo.
Click on the Scenic Sunday badge now to join in - You won't be sorry!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This photo was shot by my uncle Jerry (enhanced by me) @ Shaw's Garden in St Louis, Missouri. I'm posting it today because it's Valentine's Day on Saturday & this photo fits that theme!

Sky Watch Friday

The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Photo taken January 11th, 2009
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Sepia Scenes

Chihuly in a boat at Missouri Botanical Gardens - St Louis, Missouri.


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My 1st Watery Wednesday

Happy Watery Wednesday Everyone!!!

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I Love This Shot

The effect I used on this photo is called Soft Focus & I know I've been using that one a lot lately, but I'm in the experimenting mode right now!

Well, it didn't get up to 70 today, but it was in the mid 60's - so close enough!!! At least it wasn't cold!

Double Take

On this 2nd photo, I converted to black & white, then brought out only the color of the flowers - I just learned how to do that a while back.


As for the weather - it's suppose to be 70 degrees tomorrow & Tuesday!!! YES!!!
I think I've voiced my opinion about winter more than once on my blog & in your comments - but I'll say it again - I'M SICK OF WINTER!!! And to think that at the beginning of winter, all I wanted was to see some snow around here - we got a little snow & a whole lota ice!!!

My 1st "Scenic Sunday" Post

I've been posting a lot of photos lately from Missouri Botanical Gardens in St Louis, Missouri & I hope you guys aren't getting sick & tired of seeing them, because... I have a whole lot more to show!!! I'm gearing up for spring - My favorite time of year!!!

Also, please scroll down to the post below this one & check out my 1st collage w/ my granddaughter as the star (if you haven't done so already) and let me know what you think. It was also my 200th post! Yay me & thank you Brian for getting me started in photo blogging!

200th Post

I've posted 200 times & this is my 1st collage! I chose Jilly, my grand-daughter!

Sky Watch Friday

Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, Missouri!




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Praying & Praying

This shot was taken of Jilly the day after Christmas from my mom's camera - We had forgotten about the shots taken from her camera - then, I was transferring some different pictures from her camera to the computer the other day & found this one.

UPDATE: For those who know about my "Jilly situation", then you know I've tried & tried calling Justin (Jilly's daddy), but the other day... he actually answered the phone. He was at work, so I really don't think he knew who was calling - I think he just pulled the phone out of his pocket & answered it without looking at the number to see that it was me. At any rate, I asked him nicely if we could see Jilly & he was obviously in a bad mood & said he couldn't talk & that he was at work - he said he'd had a "shitty" week & he'd have to call me back later that night (this was last Saturday). After we hung up, he sent a text message saying pretty much the same thing & that he had to calm down before he talked to me & that he'd call later that night or Sunday. I never heard from him.
Needless to say, I've been depressed all week, then my dad saw him yesterday - he told Justin that he really needed to let me see Jilly, that I've been missing her sooo badly, & that he needed to call me to at least get started on working out this whole situation, since he's the one who has custody of Jilly.
They talked a bit & Justin told dad that he's in the process of looking for another job. I still haven't heard a word from him.

Now, I know what kind of stress that can cause, but this has been going on for sooo long & he's given excuse after excuse after excuse as to why he can't bring Jilly over or why I can't go over there to see her & I've had it - I'm at the end of my rope - but I can't afford to take him to court to get grandparents visitation rights - so I don't know what to do. I feel like he's given me no choice but to give up, but it really isn't in me to give up on seeing my grand baby - every time I think that way, I cry.

The only other thing that I can think of to do is actually drive over after work & see if he'll answer the door. I've tried that in the past (to no avail - they wouldn't answer the door) when he was still married to Kesley (my daughter) but not since they've divorced.

Because Justin won't allow us to take Jilly to have professional photos made of her, I'm going to enlarge 3 photos, including this one, that I had taken that day & frame them. Maybe one day, we'll get to know that little girl.

A Bit Different

Both shots taken by my uncle at Missouri Botanical Gardens


It's been 1 week today since the ice storm & there's still a lot of people here in Poplar Bluff and surrounding areas without power, so tonight when you go to bed & say your prayers... say a prayer for them, too.

Only Look At The Pretty!

Mo Botanical Gardens - St Louis, Mo

Behind The Waterfall

Missouri Botanical Gardens - St Louis, Missouri