Happy Thanksgiving!

In August I signed up for Jan's Pay-it-forward. Then I promptly forgot about it.

One day in October, I received this magnificent quilt in the mail! Jan tells me that the fabric is called happy campers and as I was it the circles will fray, rag quilt-like. :)

As you can see, Tristan loves it! There's so much for him to see, so many little pictures in the fabrics used!

So, this is the day, I tell you, that it is my turn to Pay-it -forward.  If you're interested in receiving a little something made by me please let me know in comments.  The rules state that I have 365 days to complete said project and send it to you.  So you never know when you'll open your mailbox and see a little package from me, and you don't know what it'll be, because I don't even know yet, lol.   I didn't see anything in the rules about how many to do, so I'm going to say 2.  Two lucky(?) peeps will get something made by my hands. :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!  Have a wonderful family-filled day!

Meeting bloggers

While in the Quad Cities last weekend I had the opportunity to break bread with Leanne and her family. It was great to finally meet in person! Leanne designed my blog and she's a great artist if you ever have need of one, check out her blog!

With all our online interaction it was like catching up with an old friend.

See, we aren't white trash after all.

This past week I also caught up with Kaytabug. We had met once before, but forgot to get a pic. This time we decided to wear our funny t-shirts. Her's reads "Not everything is flat in Kansas" and mine reads "I might be flat broke, but I'm not flat busted". Her blog is here.

Being zany,

We had to show we weren't flat, lol.

I LOVE meeting bloggers!!

Finding Mojo

I have occasion to spend time on the golf course. I'm not saying I have game, cuz I certainly do not.

However, I love shooting the golfers!

And what does it say, when my husband knows so much about my readers (and bloggers I read) that when he finds a golf ball with someone important on it, he brings it right home to me?

So ok, those photos were taken on the course back in June, and the ones below I took yesterday, after carrying the ball around (since May) in my purse!

Yeah, our yard is no green, but hey Mojo - we found your ball! {I soooo could have named this post something else!}

Would you like to have it back? ;0)

Mojo is a fantastic guy!  Always full of fun photos of just about anything you can think of - medical equipment, seashells, sunshine, buildings, you get the idea - he's a heck of guy, if you don't read him, why not?  Get over there, GO!

Why I Love Blogging

Note: Photostory Friday is the post below this one.

Blogging is an adaptable journey. I’ve been blogging now for four years, and while I’ve written a post before about why I blog, just like the rest of life and its various goals change with time, my blog and the reasons behind it also evolves. So, when Joy said she was having a blogging party, based on “Why I Love Blogging” I thought I would take the opportunity to explore my current reasons.

I started my little ole blog as a way to keep in touch with family across the miles. It has seen me through:

• Building a house my husband and sons (exhausting work)


• Getting diagnosed with cancer/going through chemo (a place to spill my fears & worries and find wonderful support)


• Children leaving the nest (only one left)


• My dry spell while I tried to decide what to say (I’m plenty loquacious now)


• The birth of my first grandchild (now I have three)


• Vacations, Travel and Family Craziness (with 6 kids there’s plenty)


• Starting a Photography Business (growing nicely)


• Weight loss and finding myself again (including cancer rechecks - still in remission!)

But where is it now? Why do I keep posting? Still a top reason for me is the bloganship here in bloggy land. I have met the best people, through comments, emails and reading their blogs - I feel like I have friends all over the world. And I’m very happy to have had the opportunity to meet a handful of them.

Another big reason I continue is that this is My world ~ Lisa Land. It sounds really funny to have that come out of me, because in life I am the type of person who just goes with the flow, I’m a follower, not a leader. But this is a place where I am Queen and can have things my way, and after all this time I feel pretty comfortable with that. If I feel like rambling on at length I can. If I don’t feel like talking I can just throw up a photo. If I need a sounding board I turn here. I find inspiration from my friends (yes, you!) and comfort. Blogging makes me feel a part of a huge family, no longer the lonely only child.

Even if you aren’t participating in the blog party I would love to hear why you blog. So, I ask you, why do you love blogging?

A Year of joy!

Can you believe today is my 4 year Blogoversary. Wow four years! I never imagined I would stick with it this long. But, honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without you guys! You’re the tops!

In the last year, you’ve seen me through moving from my old site and snow storms

New grandchildren

Creatures

Big

And small

Wisconsin travels

And other travels

And so much more! It’s been a long windy road, but I’m looking forward to many more miles! Thank you all, for being here for me! And Happy Blogoversary!

PS: My 'Buy Prints' link finally works. I am still working on getting photos added to the gallery but there are some bright cheerful flowers there now. :) Gallery

Updating the blogroll

I am trying to update my blogroll as I have noticed some people are missing.  If you are reading this right now you should be on the blogroll.  So could you please (Don't be shy!):

1. Check to make sure you are on the list (or tell me, 'Hey stupidhead, add me')


2. Let me know if your link is ok or how you'd like it changed


3. Also, tell me where in the world you are (just country or state is good)


4. Then give yourself a great big hug of gratitude from me

Thanx!

PS: FYI -If you live in Wisconsin, we are trying to organize a get together and a blog has been started by Colleen and she is asking us each to write a post about our own blogs to put up there, as well as other contributions. Pop over and check it. Let's all have a meet up!

Little builder

What do you do if you're a blogger and a wasp decides to build their home on the eave of your house? Well of course, you run out and take pictures of the process! Unfortunately, I accidentally got it wet while using the hose and he quit building.

Sorry guys, I forgot to give a timeline.  It only took him three days to get from point A (no nest) to point B (last photo), four days tops.  He was a speedy little worker.  He never came back after I inadvertantly damaged it so I finished knocking it down.

I also neglected to say that I sent my brave son (with the camera) up on a small ladder to get closer to the creature.  He waited and waited and finally the wasp came back, but Haden came running down the rungs because 'He's looking at me!', when the wasp quit looking and started working Haden climbed back up and said 'He won't look at me.' - I laughed, cuz I'm that way. :)

Thanx and Awards

I have a tendency to smile to the world and hide my hurt inside.  I do this until it gets so big that it spills out and I have found that pouring it all out here really helps me to start feeling better.  Thank you for listening to me.  And I heard what you said and am taking it to heart.  Thank you, really! *hugs*

Alison awarded me the Blog of Distinction. Do I have to start wearing formalwear now? Or maybe I don a smoking jacket, grab and pipe and meet you in the library. Thank you Alison! I would like to pass this on to:

• 
  
  Dog’s Eye View is always a great place for wonderful photos. You might even find a kitty, food, flowers. . . Well, just about anything!


• 
  
  Life through a Lens is another great spot for your daily photo requirement. She raises seeing eye dogs too, how fun!


• 
  
  At Not a Stepford Wife you will find the very fickle Robinella. She made me feel a little foolish yesterday because I had no clue that Organic furniture or bedding even existed!

Sayre brought tears to my eyes with her kind words, and an “E” for Excellent! That’s better than an E for Effort, right? Oh no, I feel like I’m back in school. As I looked through all my bloggie friends I noticed many of you already have it.

And two more of you thought of me while passing it on. Thank you Swampangel and Sandcastle Momma! They are both fellow geocachers and if I ever make it to Florida I will ask them to give me the tour, alligators and all. This one was the toughest to pass along (since you guys are all Excellent) even though I feel like everyone of you deserves it, and I would take the time to list each one of you but my eys are now tired.  So, you are Excellent!

• The Dana Files is a blog I just recently discovered. She is right here in the same town with me! I am enjoying getting caught up with her goings on and, her doodlebug is just the cutest!


• What works for Us has been to Alaska and I wanna go someday. And even though she dislikes birds because they poop on her, she still visits my blog. (PS - The only concert I have ever been to was RATT, and I didn’t even know who they were nor care.)


• Anytime you need some fresh Prairie Air, just visit Jenni in KS. Just don’t make the same mistake I once made and tease her about how flat Kansas is. There are some hills there, she promises. I was already falling in love with her house when she just cinched the deal by showing her magnificent kitchen!


• Nicole B Photography will take you on a tour of the world. Germany, Hungary, Kuwait, Dubai, South Korea . . .well, everywhere! She’s a little hard to keep up with as she updates more than once a day typically.


• The Café at the end of the Universe is a great spot to stop. She has a bunch of photos from the filming in Oshkosh and more Johnny Depp - maybe even Christian Bale ;)


• Lady K has three active bike riding boys and a blogging hubby! How lucky is she?!


• Nikkipolani offers up a new view of the world everyday. If you like kitties, gardens and pretty food this is the place for you!


• At The Prytz Family, you’ll find a happily-married-for-a-million-years-hilarious couple of youngsters. Looking for a huge loving family, tea, books or recipes?


• If you’re really, really nice you might be able to go for a road trip with Jeanne. Or maybe she’ll teach you how to fabulous cards. I’m always in awe of her art! Yes, her card making is definitely art!


• Aims could use a huge hug. She is in the middle of telling a shortened version of the story of her life and she carefully places the words in a way that makes you feel like you are walking in her shoes.


• Karmyn is busy baking, not a cake but baby number three. I get so excited over babies. They so tiny and perfect and just absolutely loveable! I hope she still has time for us.


• I would love to say that I’m passing this to Holly because she is just the sweetest lil pumpkin pie I know, and she is, but really I’m trying to bribe her to not hold it against me forever that not only does my son have a December birthday but now my grandchild will too.


• I’m amazed that Leanne finds anytime to blog. She always has her nose in a canvas or sketchpad or camera. I am in awe of her talent!


• Teriana lived in Alaska for a while and I lived vicariously through her. Someday, I hope to cross over Lake Michigan and get to meet her and her sister, Jessica.


• Yes Jessica needs this too, when my daughter was having difficulty breastfeeding and baby Tristan was only a few days old Jessica gave us much needed support.