yesterday's topic

was "bathroom".  Here's my take.  It's the half bath off the kitchen.

Today was "on the shelf".  This was my grandmother's grease jar and sugar canister.

We're getting closer to the day we leave for vacation.  I haven't started packing.  I think I'm in denial.  I don't know.  Maybe it's not so much denial but "I don't want to think about it".  I've been looking things up online, important things, like what I want to buy for everyone.  I'm pretty sure the girls are getting ceramics while I'm not sure about the guys.  Toledo is known for its swords but seriously, how many swords does someone need around the house?  A gun is so much more efficient.  Real Madrid (the soccer team, not the factual city) beat Portugal in the semi-finals of some EURO soccer tournament thing yesterday.  Germany and another team play to see who plays Spain.  Guess what.  The final (finals?) will be played the night we get there.  The game is being played in another country but all the fans gather at their stadium to watch.  (I wonder if their screen has anything on the Cowboys' screen...)  Anyway, because we refuse to be jet lagged (assuming our flight makes it okay and all goes well), we will either be at that stadium or in a bar along the way.  I'm assuming this is like a Superbowl for them, making this a Superbowl party with thousands of fans.  It should be pretty exciting.

have i made it

totally obvious that I don't handle stress well?  My mind has been somewhere other than this blog for a while now.  There's been so much going on but hang in there, things will eventually simmer down.  I have been keeping up with the photo a day but I just haven't been consistent with posting it here.  Maybe I need to look into getting it straight to the blog from Instagram like it does with Facebook.  I don't know.  Anyway, here's where I left off.

From a high angle.  (Strat)

Movement.  This was at 713 Tattoo in Houston.  We went with Paige to get a tattoo.  It might not be my thing but I'll tag along to watch.

On your mind.  A few days ago we were being threatened with a storm.  I was totally stressed.  Had it come this way, they had it predicted to hit about the time we are scheduled to leave.  So not only am I already on edge thinking about vacation but coming up with an evacuation plan and list for Eric only added to it.

Something cute.  What else would you expect?

Where you shop.  Kroger.

Now, let's talk about vacation.  Nobody really knows we're going and of the few people that know we're going, I think only three know when we're leaving.  I do not like flying.  I do not like water.  I ESPECIALLY do not like flying over water... large bodies of water.  But I'd rather fly over the large bodies of water than crash into them and die.  If we happen to make an emergency landing in the water and I survive, the panic attack I'll have will lead to a heart attack which will kill me.  I've started taking my drops of Rescue Remedy more frequently.  This is anxiety at its finest.  This is also one of the reasons I haven't told anyone about the trip.  If nobody talks about it, I'm less likely to think about it.  Right?  I've been searching all sorts of relaxing, mediation-type music on iTunes and reading info about fears of flying.  I'm trying to make myself realize that people fly overseas all the time.  Sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't.  I've thought about going to the doctor for something magical to swallow but that seems drastic when Benadryl should be able to knock me out.  (Taking 2 every 4 hours should work out perfectly.)  Don't get me wrong.  I'm looking forward to vacation, I just don't want to die.  I'll have to continue this later.  I can feel my stress level rising.

We went to Puerto Rico for Cosme's 40th birthday.  At that time I made it clear I want to go to California for mine.  If all goes as planned and we make it back alive and well from this vacation, I'm hoping that this long flight will make a flight to CA seem like nothing.  Time for a little Rescue Remedy.

the next day was

"something we don't know about you".  I don't know what I was doing to find out but I found out when I was a kid.  My thumb can bend back to touch my arm.

"Imperfect".  I hate it when buttons fall off, especially when it's a lightweight sweater that I like to wear.

"Fave photo you've ever taken".  This was taken at a vineyard in California.  Mom and Cosme were inside tasting wine and I was outside taking pics with Eric.

And then today is "where you slept".

This morning I had to run in and get my real camera to get a pic of the sunrise.  It was really pretty.  I'll share.

yesterday was

"out and about".  We decided to eat out for Fathers Day yesterday because, well, I had a coupon for a place Cosme really likes.  This picture was on our way there.

Today was "in your bag".  This is what's in my camera bag.

today's topic

is yellow.  I was a little indecisive so I have two pics, one on Instagram and one on FB.  The only reason the one was left on FB is because there was already activity before I could delete it.  Oh well...

Instagram:

Facebook:

I could've waited a few hours and added another one instead.  I tried a new recipe that I found on Pinterest.  White "Texas" Sheet Cake.  I use Texas loosely because I am a native Texan, still living in the Lone Star State and I have never heard of a white sheet cake.  In my 39 years, a sheet cake has always been chocolate.  When you hear of a Texas Sheet Cake, that's chocolate.  Since white cake is my favorite (especially white cake with almond flavoring) I decided to make it.  The cake is good but I think the frosting needs a few kinks worked out.  A Texas Sheet Cake calls for the frosting to be spread over a hot cake.  This version had to cool for 20 minutes.  I don't know.  Maybe this is more like a Florida sheet cake or a Wyoming sheet cake (if that even exists)...  Could it be that Texas is the only state with claim to a sheet cake?  Either way, I'll definitely make it again but will make a few adjustments to the frosting.  Oh, and I almost forgot why I mentioned this White Texas Sheet Cake.  Yellow.  It's not even white, but yellowish.

let's see now

where were we?  Oh, that's right.

8.  6:00 (at Nelore)

9.  your view today.  We spent the day driving all over Houston.  I had stuff to do and I got it done.

10.  best bit of your weekend.  It wasn't the best bit of my weekend but I was pretty happy.  I had been trying to find a bag to work as a camera bag and purse that was difficult for pickpockets to get into and would maybe not even attract the attention of a thief.  You know, the bags that scream "HEY, THIS PERSON HAS A NEED TO BUY A DELUXE CAMERA BAG SO THE CAMERA MUST BE SOMETHING I COULD STEAL AND GET LOTS OF CASH FOR!!!"  Anyway, I'd been researching bags for months and finally found one at REI.  Needless to say, I was totally out of my element in an outdoorsy store but they had a bag.

11.  door.  Yes, I made a morning run to Shipley.

12.  from a low angle.  This is the mailbox at the end of the street.

13.  art.  I dug out my old portfolio and snapped a picture.

That opened a can that didn't need opening.  I started going through old stuff and before I knew it, I was wanting to paint.  We'll see.  I don't have time for it now but maybe later...

14.  time.  This is how I usually keep up with time.  I keep my tv on NBC during the day.

So, not only did I find a bag to carry but yesterday I got a package in the mail.

I will officially be able to charge my phone and computer on the trip.  Woohoo!

time for a little catch

up for June.
1. morning (a little dew still left on the grass)

2. empty (parking garage)

3. on your plate (one of the blueberry muffins I made)

4. close-up (my fortune)

5. sign (or two)

I posted 6. hat yesterday but didn't have the 7th done yet.

7. drink (responsibly)

Today's topic is 6:00.  I was nine minutes late for the first 6:00 this morning so I'm hoping to catch it the next time it rolls around.

Yesterday I was scrolling through the tv guide, obviously looking for something to watch.  I came across Twilight... a favorite!

But wait, I'm pretty sure I don't want to watch Paul Newman as Edward and Susan Sarandon as Bella.  (I can't even picture Gene Hackman as Jacob.)  Wrong movie.  I hate it when stuff like that happens.

my dear sister

informed me that it's been a while since I've posted.  Yes, it has.  I'm back on being consistent with the photo challenge after a May hiatus.  I'll catch up tomorrow with my June pics but for now I have to post several pics for yesterday.  The theme was hat.

This was my actual Instagram pic.

Then there were these I picked up in the process.  I got carried away.