tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79727567600808414052024-02-20T04:48:29.572-05:00Beauty of BambooClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-83474446794668446962012-02-11T23:37:00.005-05:002012-02-12T00:03:34.747-05:00Where Have You Been? What Have You Been Doing?Yes, I did finally get my Christmas stuff packed up and moved to my rented storage area. I did it on Feb. 4th - and just to clear things up - I had taken down the outside decorations and lights quite awhile ago - but the manger scenes and indoor stuff was still up.<br /><br />On Friday, Feb. 5th, my daughter, her husband and her friend and myself all left at 5:30 a.m. to drive to Washington-Crossing, PA. We were going so we could see my grandson perform the lead in the musical, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown on Saturday. We had so much fun watching his performance! His Dad had gone 2 hrs. early (with a good book) to make sure we got front row seats and we did!<br /><br />Sunday was Superbowl day and we were crazy watching the game and seeing our favorite team, the Giants, win!!! Plus my daughters and Lindsay organized all the food - guacamole (sp?), pigs in a blanket, twice baked potatoes, and a great chili! It was one of the best played Superbowl games I ever watched.<br /><br />Monday my daughter drove us all to Secaucus, NJ and we took the train to NYC!!!!! It was a perfect day - sunny - and brisk. Lindsay had never been to NYC so we got to do all the regular stuff - Rockefeller Center with the ice skaters, Tiffany's, seeing the Plaza Hotel and the Empire State Building - a glimpse of Central Park - then we headed downtown on the subway and walked around Greenwich Village/Soho area. We must have walked 10 miles! I loved being back in THE CITY!!! We headed back to Myrtle Beach on Tuesday - stopping at Arlington National Cemetery and then going to IKEA!!! Didn't get back until 11:30 p.m.<br /><br />So today, Saturday, I basically stayed in all day - cleaning and reading. I've been re-reading the Narnia series and loving it - finished The Horse And His Boy today and it was just a fun read! My sister called me and asked if I wanted to go with her and my Mom to Cheeseburger Paradise for dinner and I of course said "yes!" Great hamburger - fun meal - though my Mom didn't like the music that was playing.<br /><br />I'm also reading Abandoned To God - Oswald Chambers by David McCasland and it is excellent. It is a borrowed book so I can't make notes of favorite pages in the back of the book like I like to do - so I am filling a notebook with favorites - of course I am practically copying the whole book!!!!<br /><br />It is late - so much for trying to have an early bedtime!<br /><br />Psalm 4:8 "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-4630248197432604292012-01-22T02:15:00.002-05:002012-01-22T02:29:43.638-05:00Very LateMade the mistake of turning my laptop on at 11 p.m. and here it is 2:15 a.m. after spending time checking emails, facebook, the Centurion Forum and a couple of favorite blogs.<br /><br />My Christmas decorations are still up - mainly because I haven't gone to my storage place to get the needed empty containers to put everything in. Tomorrow - I promise tomorrow after church I'll go and get them and start! Really!<br /><br />This morning I went to a training session for Freedom Readers - a reading/mentoring program in my area for school children and I love it!!! Every week the child gets to pick and take home a book of their own. Once a week for an 1 1/2 hours - how simple can that be? Everyone that has been doing this was so enthusiastic - had so many creative ideas for engaging the children. I love reading to children and getting them "hooked" on a story!<br /><br />Okay - stopping now - have to be at church at 9:30 a.m. for the first service and then the second service I am a volunteer with the 3-5 yr. olds - everytime my turn rolls around I whine and grumble to myself and then when I acutally get there I love it - and I know the young moms need a break - they do not need to be working in the nursery - they need to be in the "big church" getting fed. I really do believe that things are really skewed wrong - the older women should be helping with the children so the moms are getting fed and strengthened. Climbing down off my soapbox and going to bed. Thanks for listening.<br /><br />P.S I am sick of all the political phone calls here in SC!!!!!Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-41712540123465423072012-01-18T22:31:00.003-05:002012-01-18T22:47:42.823-05:00Thoughts About the New YearToday is January 18th and I am really just starting the new year now. All my daughters came for Christmas with their families and dogs and we all had a good time. Then the week after we received word that a dear friend, Arlene Schroer, died. There is no easy way to write that - my daughter Lauren, her husband, Jonathan, the five yr. old and the two yr old twins and the yellow Lab and myself all drove down to Melbourne, Fla. for the funeral and just to be with the family. I know being there helped me more than I am sure we helped the family.<br /><br />Then this last week another friend, Mark McDandle, died of a heart attack. He was an award winning surfer. He was very special person and this was a real shock to our church and community. Saturday there was a "paddle-out" with about 100 surfers participating. This past weekend was the Your Next Step Retreat with wonderful speakers that encouraged and I would say inspired but really the word "challenge" would be a lot better.<br /><br />So - my Christmas decorations are still up - I have to go to the storage place and get all the containers to put all the stuff back in. I have been putting the stuff on the dining room table.<br /><br />I just finished a really good book, Surprised By Oxford by Carolyn Weber. Loved the book.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-24023584347703257792011-09-18T17:23:00.002-04:002011-09-18T17:33:00.429-04:00Quiet Sunday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul2sUCnuBsQLndhRfvH7LU1Cw_1gNsUgy0YObj-knNh-oyRwLpuNrwiZRKQ9RBWHAMGzsU3qcvmn1tOBHSEUTRh0MEdVcYj9HIUPqCYxbNC0kAEj8WGJEAkoKRVCirxPrRvDWSSzCNkmK/s1600/Autumn+candle.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653813915086839682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul2sUCnuBsQLndhRfvH7LU1Cw_1gNsUgy0YObj-knNh-oyRwLpuNrwiZRKQ9RBWHAMGzsU3qcvmn1tOBHSEUTRh0MEdVcYj9HIUPqCYxbNC0kAEj8WGJEAkoKRVCirxPrRvDWSSzCNkmK/s320/Autumn+candle.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, </div><br /><div align="center">for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.</div><br /><div align="center">Hebrews 13:2</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-70520561705648552332011-09-17T00:04:00.003-04:002011-09-17T00:29:39.388-04:00Trying to catch up...It is late and in the background an Alice Cooper documentary has been playing on my TV. The remote is on the coffee table and I hope my neighbors don't mind. Tried not to listen to the description of the chicken incident. This followed a great program on U2 and yes I am watching VH1 Classic. Hmmmm what a difference I just got up and switched the channel to HGTV.<br /><br />I'm still unemployed but provided for by Social Security, a small pension and unemployment. I stay very busy it seems. Right now I'm reading Radical by David Platt and The Minister's Wooing by Harriet Beecher Stowe that I read about on someone's blog. I finished reading The Help and saw the movie which was really good.<br /><br />In August my sister, 91 yr. old Mom, and myself drove to upstate NY for a family wedding and then drove over to Kennebunkport, Maine which was wonderful. Artists always talk about the light in different areas and I have to say that the light in Maine was so crisp and clean - clarity - I guess because we were without the humidity of the South? We visited family who live out in the country and have a horse, goats, chickens, rabbits, 3 rescued greyhounds and 2 chocolate labs. It was so much fun and had a wonderful lasagna dinner sitting around the dining room table talking and laughing and getting to know each other. I hadn't been to Maine in about 35 years. The ocean - rocky coast - fabulous homes - lobster meals (one dinner & 2 lobster roll lunches with clam chowder with one of the lunches) Thank you Mom! <br /><br />We travelled back to Myrtle Beach as the hurricane was heading to the Carolinas amidst a lot of rain but arrived home safely in time for a lot of wind and rain here and missed the brunt of the hurricane in New England. I was able to see my grandchildren in PA and DC on our way home and that was great!<br /><br />"Have peace now until the morning!<br />Heed no nightly noises!<br />For nothing passes door and window here<br />save moonlight and starlight<br />and the wind off the hill-top.<br />Good night!"<br />Goldberry - The Fellowship of the RingClairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-4671168654360549732011-03-11T17:26:00.002-05:002011-03-11T17:33:43.508-05:00Out of Commission!!Feb. 2nd after being sick for a few days - I eneded up in the hospital with emergency appendix surgery. Apparently it had been leaking for awhile and had migrated on top of my liver so I ended up with the full surgery and then was in the hospital for 12 days - some kidney failure and "illiesis" (sp?). My daughters came and stayed with me when I first came home for two weeks which was a big help. My sister,daughter, family and friends really helped me a lot in the hospital. A friend, who is a nurse in the hospital came one day and bathed me, another day she and another friend came and washed my hair and then my friend came back and shaved my legs!!!! What an angel!!!<br /><br />Thank you all for your prayers - I'm still trying to build my strength back up - I am out and about - though my laptop motherboard died and I'm over at my sister's using her computer today.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-16051246950211177152010-12-29T23:16:00.003-05:002010-12-29T23:27:21.008-05:00Words for the New YearI cut an ad for Outward Bound out of a magazine and put it on my refrigerator. I just might laminate it or put it in a plastic magnetic sleeve so it can spend the year on my refrigerator. Here are the words:<br /><br />A Farewell to CAN'T<br />This goodbye does not make me sad. I will not miss you. I have discovered what it feels like to do the unthinkable. The hard. The long. The challenging. You have no business here anymore. From now on, difficult will seem doable. I will see the impossible as simply not-yet-conquered. <br />Farewell, Can't. You will haunt me never again.<br />Hello, Can. Welcome to my world.<br /><br />Think maybe I'll write this verse out and put it underneath:<br />Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-25866368683643972882010-12-24T23:01:00.003-05:002010-12-24T23:06:38.137-05:00Merry Christmas from a Distance!!Drove up to Washington-Crossing, PA with my Mom and sister to be with my daughter, her husband and three kids for Christmas. It is beautiful here and tomorrow on Christmas Day we'll go and watch the reenactment of Washington crossing the Delaware. It is crazy here so I hope to post photos later. Merry Christmas to everyone!!! Missing the rest of my family that isn't here!Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-44819328837824996262010-12-17T18:13:00.003-05:002010-12-17T18:37:40.156-05:00Beach in the WinterTook my 90 yr. old Mom with me on some errands yesterday and we stopped to watch the ocean from the car and opened the car windows to hear the ocean and to smell the salt air.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvVe3W14aSlqCFLaNFcG_WZ6cQXvjEat7dbR3Py_jYXLX5dOiOK4rsEPlzC4Nu2pwItdkd66jaF_fONNfXeWgYKqjneHGuOaRGwLLBwAR386FeTaU8NJxuWTWoAuXrIfvuBU17tubDkFC/s1600/December+019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551794169375486546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvVe3W14aSlqCFLaNFcG_WZ6cQXvjEat7dbR3Py_jYXLX5dOiOK4rsEPlzC4Nu2pwItdkd66jaF_fONNfXeWgYKqjneHGuOaRGwLLBwAR386FeTaU8NJxuWTWoAuXrIfvuBU17tubDkFC/s320/December+019.JPG" /></a> On Wednesday a friend had some of us over for lunch at the condo she was staying in - on the 14th floor. It was really beautiful but I think I still prefer my beach at ground level!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbPbJE8tBSl_3Ilc4QjTD10bVvoVxdPiyfHIQLrPl4T20B0SXKFXGRH24FysNTKW_PrEnLnEu5fzlpRRwfd3jPqfTtA43iG-t7lBMRLIxV5_JF4anWmWqJlgyjZGimoaogYIGKJFKytlj/s1600/December+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551794165514990498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbPbJE8tBSl_3Ilc4QjTD10bVvoVxdPiyfHIQLrPl4T20B0SXKFXGRH24FysNTKW_PrEnLnEu5fzlpRRwfd3jPqfTtA43iG-t7lBMRLIxV5_JF4anWmWqJlgyjZGimoaogYIGKJFKytlj/s320/December+014.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWklToVwJ4mAllXBKKGkCbTzZvFb2Tn92ntJlJOFGTKwwIub2eDFhJaLQJAjrFljnbzU_DzuMauCKHkia0DFw0I84Mv0fJjck86eJncj8FiGp_9RPyTty3dhYFazQb_BAOZuMY721iMKVL/s1600/December+013.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551794161060484802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWklToVwJ4mAllXBKKGkCbTzZvFb2Tn92ntJlJOFGTKwwIub2eDFhJaLQJAjrFljnbzU_DzuMauCKHkia0DFw0I84Mv0fJjck86eJncj8FiGp_9RPyTty3dhYFazQb_BAOZuMY721iMKVL/s320/December+013.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-82507014188232827412010-12-06T18:31:00.004-05:002010-12-06T19:28:53.331-05:00The Manger SceneThe Dorman family very kindly lent me their manger scene to put up in front of my townhome and today I got it out of the back seat of my car and tried to set it up. It is 37 degrees outside right now at 7:20 pm so I was really cold setting it up and having a lot of trouble figuring it all out. I like to do jigsaw puzzles so how hard could this be?<br /><br />I found the top photo after I came inside and searched "manger scene" and then took a photo of what I actually did. I'll change it in the morning - just wanted to give my blogger friends a good laugh!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLMthV3l99NG9ZhYzeJv6ATc_NDKbQQyzlOBgHXC_vq-A4Ya3_0Jbn7Uw5Z73Qc9glCCza27HtUjbVYCdjbBxw9NCexXOiCx1zyFljINFdsRHBqNwxle9KpCMro05qKOr7mL0zfH7hch4/s1600/Manger.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547716731155346514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLMthV3l99NG9ZhYzeJv6ATc_NDKbQQyzlOBgHXC_vq-A4Ya3_0Jbn7Uw5Z73Qc9glCCza27HtUjbVYCdjbBxw9NCexXOiCx1zyFljINFdsRHBqNwxle9KpCMro05qKOr7mL0zfH7hch4/s320/Manger.gif" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDw2Sy94WxLzOKI3-9VXBJsuxXFd32gDVFcU024PG13I46l6_p9-VWr4DZfuJDYh0yn754n9Tayi8IJCATIJxfzJsIhQJGq1sWwW8B-mLboNi_WjISx2AALhZX7PkgvbgCutKuSxAzL6S/s1600/Dec+6%252C2010+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547716726460700114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDw2Sy94WxLzOKI3-9VXBJsuxXFd32gDVFcU024PG13I46l6_p9-VWr4DZfuJDYh0yn754n9Tayi8IJCATIJxfzJsIhQJGq1sWwW8B-mLboNi_WjISx2AALhZX7PkgvbgCutKuSxAzL6S/s320/Dec+6%252C2010+003.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-22948338778745238932010-12-04T22:04:00.003-05:002010-12-04T22:32:06.909-05:00Master Gardener???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY_MWjMEr82cyM4e78MAV_YvqLQwn8BXYtEJI5MPGIjo1ryNGIjWEGRpVqV0Mtsq07ItFkmTEe7Jom9WY1QUWyv-bQpk5o2fu7guZYl_piwRBx6L7vl3IDH0WYKw-bsrXidflj7sFDfdA/s1600/Christmas+cactus+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547034708111226498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiY_MWjMEr82cyM4e78MAV_YvqLQwn8BXYtEJI5MPGIjo1ryNGIjWEGRpVqV0Mtsq07ItFkmTEe7Jom9WY1QUWyv-bQpk5o2fu7guZYl_piwRBx6L7vl3IDH0WYKw-bsrXidflj7sFDfdA/s320/Christmas+cactus+002.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Quite awhile ago my daughter's boyfriend gave me this Christmas cactus. The plant would grow flower buds and then they would all drop off. This happened over and over again. At the beginning of the summer I put the plant outdoors and told it that it was on its own - live or die - go or stay - whatever!!! I did water it - and - here it is!!! The miracle Christmas cactus because you know I had nothing to do with this!</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-47278009911355160082010-11-18T21:04:00.007-05:002010-11-18T23:54:29.110-05:00Lauren's Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzBdxKpFiO5OjYjlXWKo0d-l3bJYiuowHLieSkF5bbj5yLKOFnfrVdsKSUZanbi3-q2f5nITXbhN37NKP5Yu7qnBSAm-3T5ihjFmzUyAxHsOVb_jKtKCCoaepcuf8cFvvIvFzSgtlp5K6/s1600/165.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541105441809057602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzBdxKpFiO5OjYjlXWKo0d-l3bJYiuowHLieSkF5bbj5yLKOFnfrVdsKSUZanbi3-q2f5nITXbhN37NKP5Yu7qnBSAm-3T5ihjFmzUyAxHsOVb_jKtKCCoaepcuf8cFvvIvFzSgtlp5K6/s320/165.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Today's my third daughter's birthday! She's all grown up now with four year old Caedmon, and twins, Aldan and Theron, 18 mons. old. But today I remember her as my new baby girl. </div><br /><div>When she was born my husband and I couldn't agree on a name - it was so embarrassing to me! Every name I suggested he said no to and every name he suggested I would say no to - they were coming around with the birth certificate and I called him at work and asked him what he thought about Lauren Merrill Adare and he immediately said, "Yes!" We both knew it was right. Merrill had been my maiden name and Lauren just seemed right.</div><br /><div></div><div>My #2 daughter had been a C-section so Lauren was going to be a C-section and I was having her in a small hospital in Carlisle, Pa. and back in those days they didn't allow the husband in the delivery room with C-sections. The Dr. was a friend of ours and when he came out of the delivery room he told Alex that he was sorry that it was another girl. Well - Alex grabbed him by the front of his scrubs and got in his face and told him not to ever say that he was sorry it was a girl again! The nurses all told me this story - they were so proud of Alex! Lauren was the smallest baby I had at 8 lbs. 4 ozs. - her sister before her had been 11 lbs. 14 ozs. so we treated Lauren as though she was a preemie - I still laugh to myself about that!</div><br /><div></div><div>Lauren was my first baby that I was able to have an actual decorated baby's room. It was a small room in an old house - maybe it had been a "sewing room" - but I loved it and it was perfect for her. We painted it "Winnie-the-Pooh" yellow with white trim - Sears had a crib, curtains, bumpers, sheets, lamp, hamper, and blankets all in "Winnie-the-Pooh" theme and we had it all for her. The room had two windows that looked out the front of the house and one on the other wall so it was always light and airy and mostly sunny. </div><br /><div></div><div>When I took her to the doctor for her check up when she was almost one year old I told the doctor how she wasn't even trying to walk and I was concerned (my first daughter had walked when she was almost 10 mons. old - not that I wanted that again!) The doctor examined her and told me to go home and tell everyone they weren't allowed to pick her up - her two older sisters, Kristen and Heather. I soon realized that the reason she wasn't walking was because her sisters were carrying her everywhere and once we put a stop to that she was walking within a week.</div><br /><div></div><div>I am blessed to have four wonderful daughters and each one is different and each one has so many special qualities. I admire Lauren because she lived through some really hard times that we had as a family financially and was able to accomplish graduating from Liberty University working very early in the morning at a bakery. Her sisters supported her in many ways, especially one time when Alex and I wouldn't give her permission to live off campus, they wrote or called the school supporting her desire to rent a house with other girls and got permission from the school. </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Lauren is now a work in progress becoming a "Proverbs 31" woman - as a woman who loves the Lord and looks for ways to put her faith into action, wife, mother, keeper of the home, and marathon runner. I love you precious Lauren!</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-55735157858075211492010-10-28T12:41:00.004-04:002010-10-28T13:22:54.452-04:00Sunrise at the BeachWent to the beach the other morning to watch the sunrise. There were only one or two people there and they were far down the beach so it felt like a private showing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4I4SxYuQ4-PBO1b3xy3JD9yQeWcRRMxDQGUVWhH39u2NxUhEP-byG8EtU-ZIDdQcNlPJj8WBU_2dWCnoF7r_hXIPRlw4YEiCTX2clIhq4xgGRkrKN4kCcg1602algOw08TIj1rB208kvT/s1600/Sunrise+Oct23,+2020+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533140720331868114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4I4SxYuQ4-PBO1b3xy3JD9yQeWcRRMxDQGUVWhH39u2NxUhEP-byG8EtU-ZIDdQcNlPJj8WBU_2dWCnoF7r_hXIPRlw4YEiCTX2clIhq4xgGRkrKN4kCcg1602algOw08TIj1rB208kvT/s320/Sunrise+Oct23,+2020+003.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Couldn't aim the camera right at the sunrise so I took this "reflected sunrise" photo.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJN7EQ3Lqs4P9zulzNh-ssubpu_qc7DKmhIHmgi80ICyxyMCSl2ZCj8WrzcAxfHqQ8wO4WtFhUzhKRjICjpH2MFkf5UmDj-VqQcsP29R_VH4eZ5aPCn6zOpBuB_DAX0S-F045Gv8K9qrx/s1600/Sunrise+Oct23,+2020+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533140747029195682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJN7EQ3Lqs4P9zulzNh-ssubpu_qc7DKmhIHmgi80ICyxyMCSl2ZCj8WrzcAxfHqQ8wO4WtFhUzhKRjICjpH2MFkf5UmDj-VqQcsP29R_VH4eZ5aPCn6zOpBuB_DAX0S-F045Gv8K9qrx/s320/Sunrise+Oct23,+2020+008.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsbbG7Fmjuu_aTnGDzfbqTyBIdMDfcoBXZ73NkeMvZXJO812pYFD9fYIZdWbrBsLyhqqml3OySndZqMQClQf9X5FrP3Oyq2X2nBTzCDFbyasCgleOlJKmN7KUqe1FysSKhKhugYwz_Kh-/s1600/Sunrise+Oct23,+2020+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533140731800788626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsbbG7Fmjuu_aTnGDzfbqTyBIdMDfcoBXZ73NkeMvZXJO812pYFD9fYIZdWbrBsLyhqqml3OySndZqMQClQf9X5FrP3Oyq2X2nBTzCDFbyasCgleOlJKmN7KUqe1FysSKhKhugYwz_Kh-/s320/Sunrise+Oct23,+2020+020.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />When I headed back to my car I turned around one more time and saw this view:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM70MsHiRcA9UKSvN1DJuye-KTXKJ3gds1k5NuPw2sD0YeUYQvEHEPsFVmPU4CPzIM912zooTCvT7j2e8f14cUETyPAKxZEipP2I0ofxJl0EVbBNtPN0rwgutJy1VMlHQ5ThyU0eTMhahm/s1600/Sunrise+Oct23,+2020+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533143172873924258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM70MsHiRcA9UKSvN1DJuye-KTXKJ3gds1k5NuPw2sD0YeUYQvEHEPsFVmPU4CPzIM912zooTCvT7j2e8f14cUETyPAKxZEipP2I0ofxJl0EVbBNtPN0rwgutJy1VMlHQ5ThyU0eTMhahm/s320/Sunrise+Oct23,+2020+022.JPG" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-18232557109269045892010-10-22T00:06:00.004-04:002010-10-22T01:16:01.149-04:00Memories<div>This photo was taken on a camping trip we went on with friends in upstate NY.</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1vSjzUv97KMKQlhNCdHQj7sSDBONTtxRAp5dkb5sg4yJ1_2AQdBH-Pmz1GLYLZqtrHpF9GmIF8L6B0Z1TBwm-_mM3eRT3beUsKv5fuB8GjLXI1L89YwDxWCetrbvVkzhfuu8KTep9uWU/s1600/7-5-2008_008.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530730321984490242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1vSjzUv97KMKQlhNCdHQj7sSDBONTtxRAp5dkb5sg4yJ1_2AQdBH-Pmz1GLYLZqtrHpF9GmIF8L6B0Z1TBwm-_mM3eRT3beUsKv5fuB8GjLXI1L89YwDxWCetrbvVkzhfuu8KTep9uWU/s320/7-5-2008_008.jpg" /></a> Alex loved his four daughters - he was always singing "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" from the movie GiGi in a fake French accent:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJczNZlt6Rp749z_C5MPi8gtsLOvbtw0IyDvU7353utvjkmllTPa5qabRcyzu3-2oMUUUlpnDQSq40ryT_1Mwy0SKBDWRk3iFiBh-TyTUSE7qhktBxlqC5Lb5YbMkMeCFZmkAZdG3PNNI/s1600/1-6-2009_003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 207px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530730316903432898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJczNZlt6Rp749z_C5MPi8gtsLOvbtw0IyDvU7353utvjkmllTPa5qabRcyzu3-2oMUUUlpnDQSq40ryT_1Mwy0SKBDWRk3iFiBh-TyTUSE7qhktBxlqC5Lb5YbMkMeCFZmkAZdG3PNNI/s320/1-6-2009_003.JPG" /></a> I guess this was a serious moment for me!:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYac81HkkcGjXZGN67V-mUcc8eQQ99qYkZAStqcNfjvBZriCSR7ZIAy8LDW0vctFb9YA2pk2cL9HNBq5Yzmz3bYnVsO_WU8bv3w4Z31Kb3uw-amLvQW0c6BkzVHczGIFx0bRIXZ2_yW0c/s1600/7-5-2008_007.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530730312490676482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYac81HkkcGjXZGN67V-mUcc8eQQ99qYkZAStqcNfjvBZriCSR7ZIAy8LDW0vctFb9YA2pk2cL9HNBq5Yzmz3bYnVsO_WU8bv3w4Z31Kb3uw-amLvQW0c6BkzVHczGIFx0bRIXZ2_yW0c/s320/7-5-2008_007.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />We knew each other in high school and we both went to the same church. He was friends with my older brother and would come over to our home all the time and hang out there. He dated all my friends and I took his photo with me away to college. Yes, I had a "crush" on him - I smile as I write the old-fashioned word. <br /><br />When he came back from Viet Nam I was working for Eastman Kodak in New York City - I was a blond by then and when he came over to our house he finally noticed me - smile. We starting dating in October and he asked me to marry him in January and we were married in May. <br /><br />We had a lot of really good times and good experiences and a lot of really really hard times but through it all I always knew that Alex loved me and only me and I will always treasure that knowledge. <br /><br />In memory of Alex Adare who died six years ago today.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-79450401941931485152010-10-20T00:31:00.003-04:002010-10-20T01:36:25.865-04:00In Case of Accident Please Go to My Home and Turn Off the OvenToday is my sister's birthday and she likes Pineapple Upside Down Cake. I decided to make her her favortie cake. Sounds simple doesn't it? <br /><br />I needed to go to the grocery store to get some of the ingredients - I was using a recipe from a Duncan Hines Cookbook that required DH Pineapple Supreme Cake Mix, a 20 ounce can of pineapple rings, a bottle of maraschino cherries and I needed more eggs and some other things. Drove to the store which is really five minutes away and came back home to start the cake.<br /><br />Melted the butter in the bottom of the 9 x 13 pan, sprinkled the brown sugar over the melted butter and then began to put the drained pineapple rings on the cake in an orderly fashion. I needed 12 rings and there were only 10 in the can - the recipe promised me that there would be 12 rings in a 20 ounce can so I had only purchased one can. The cake batter was all mixed - the pan was already but lacking 2 rings - and the oven was all ready to go at 350 degrees. So back in the car I went tearing over to the grocery store - running in (the checker sees me and smiles and calls out to me asking if I forgot something) - I get the second can of pineapple rings and get in line to pay. <br /><br />This whole time I am worrying about leaving the oven going and what if I am in a car accident and no one knows about the oven being left on and I'm wondering if in situations like this if I should pin a note to myself saying, "In case of accident please go to my house and turn off the oven" - sorry but this is the way my brain works.<br /><br />Got back home and successfully got the cake in the oven with all the required pineapple rings and maraschino cherries and it came out just fine!!!<br /><br />Oh - I like to collect pigs so I threw in a photo of some of my pigs!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcl2qstCKqT3Ms2IFAr2zWKBhdXPgnGUu1Ar-D0u3jEy-uxEEab5GWQRDqySqN8N6uPV8fwlqwNRfMHICFRxo9-EFZIkwP3CspEA4WJd-m4NUDe2yxuEnglhKybvz1_D8kHTPlu2d7v6N/s1600/Oct+19,+2010+004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcl2qstCKqT3Ms2IFAr2zWKBhdXPgnGUu1Ar-D0u3jEy-uxEEab5GWQRDqySqN8N6uPV8fwlqwNRfMHICFRxo9-EFZIkwP3CspEA4WJd-m4NUDe2yxuEnglhKybvz1_D8kHTPlu2d7v6N/s320/Oct+19,+2010+004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529996703175380754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB6YDFGA35-fcNDMIdj1BPemJKdmZYIOrkh0NCKSzL9j8Y1CQGQErZvJKIHU_2AeaEqB3ZNSXJsfLRnXsWhQHNDs4tm2xqQO6o1jzugyCeoPAUxh_SGDyi_Jqp0XADe4E9HYV-ufWlsS7/s1600/Oct+19,+2010+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB6YDFGA35-fcNDMIdj1BPemJKdmZYIOrkh0NCKSzL9j8Y1CQGQErZvJKIHU_2AeaEqB3ZNSXJsfLRnXsWhQHNDs4tm2xqQO6o1jzugyCeoPAUxh_SGDyi_Jqp0XADe4E9HYV-ufWlsS7/s320/Oct+19,+2010+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529996699519266882" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-54101384708695726762010-10-07T14:19:00.003-04:002010-10-07T14:28:04.262-04:00"i Pacifiers????""People are reading less. They may buy Kindles or iPads, but I venture that they're just showcasing their ability to buy the latest gadgets rather than reading much on them.<br /><br />I encourage you to attend a class in which I attempt to teach college students raised on texting, the internet, video games (which their ignorant parents tell them are educational or intelligence boosters), and various other iPacifiers. My students are thoroughly distracted. They tell me that it is physically painful for them to sit and read for more than ten minutes. They are always looking for the next text, the next google search, the next hit. They're like addicts who can't control themselves. Their brains are not like the brains of students I had only five years ago.<br /><br />They also think that they don't need to know anything, because they can just use google--something they treat as a collective brain. God help them when they're told that being an educated person means going a lot deeper than the dubious entries in wikipedia.<br /><br />The drop in the literacy levels of my middle-class, largely white, suburban students in the last 2 years alone is staggering. Don't tell me that people are switching to e-reading. They're not. People are reading less and if my students are any indication, many of them are not reading books at all."<br /><br />This was written by an anonymous college professor in reply to an article in the NY Times about why people aren't buying books. I thought the comment was pretty relevant to what is really happening - especially with students.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-41797505867972289212010-10-07T00:04:00.001-04:002010-10-07T00:16:16.014-04:00Heather's Birth Day - Oct. 6thToday is your birthday and on each one of my daughter’s birthdays I am always remembering – remembering that very special day in our lives.<br /><br />I had a lot of fun being pregnant with you – in August I was swimming in the ocean off LI (Robert Moses/Fire Island) and I remember one day the lifeguard asked me to please not go in the water – what? He didn’t want to rescue and eight months pregnant woman??? I promised him I wouldn’t body surf . . .<br /><br />Dad and I were so excited to be having another baby and were looking forward to your birth towards the end of September. Your older sister started nursery school and still no baby! Day after day was going by and nothing was happening so I finally called the doctor because I was now like two weeks overdue – I mentioned this to him and he acts surprised and schedules me to be induced on Oct. 6th – 16 days past your due date!<br /><br />We got everything scheduled and Dad took me to North Shore University Hospital where everything got started – the mechanics – but not the delivery! Hour after hour went by with nothing really happening and finally the doctor came to talk with us about 2 p.m. and told us he felt he should deliver you by C-Section and then things really started to happen. They asked if they could give me an epidural and I agreed (I later learned when I had April that it must have still been in the experimental stage). One of things I remembered was they asked me to bring my knees up under my chin and I replied that I hadn’t seen my feet in three months let alone my knees (my friends said I looked as though I had the largest beach ball in the world under my shirt – nice).<br /><br />After they administered the epidural I went into shock – shaking or I should say violently vibrating all over and getting cold and clammy. The nurse came in to wrap me in warm blankets and elevate my feet and I asked her if I was in shock and she wanted to know why I was asking and I told her I had read enough Reader’s Digest articles to know what the symptoms of shock were. She laughed nervously.<br /><br />They were rolling me down the corridor to the operation room (still vibrating) and I realized that with everything happening I had never even prayed – and I was really concerned how they were going to start the surgery with me shaking all over. I closed my eyes and said, “Jesus,” and whoosh this amazing feeling of peace, calmness and joy just washed over me and the shaking disappeared. I have never forgotten that moment.<br /><br />The operating room was freezing cold and everyone was ready to start once the guest of honor arrived – they started my pricking my legs asking me if I felt that and I kept saying yes – yes – yes – and my doctor says that he’ll start – and I say something about the fact that I felt all of those and that I was six feet tall and shouldn’t we wait until that numbing stuff takes affect? They started and I mentioned to them that I could feel the surgical knife!!!! I could see their eyes and the doctor said they would wait a moment (I’m sure they put something in the IV to keep me quiet!).<br /><br />The best part was that I got to see you right after the delivery and all I could say was how beautiful you were – over and over again. You weighed 11 lbs. 14 oz. and you were 23 inches long!!!!! And the doctor had said he wanted to do the C-Section before you got too big!!! HAH!<br /><br />Everyone loved you in the hospital. The nursery nurses asked Dad to bring in one of his T-shirts as they didn’t have anything big enough for you and anytime I went down to the nursery to see you one of the nurses would be carrying you around. I was breast feeding you and had absolutely no problems though I would let you fall asleep nestled on my shoulder (no I didn’t do rooming in – that would happen soon enough when I got home).<br /><br />When it was time to go home the doctor gave me instructions not to lift anything over 10 lbs. and I looked at him and said that that would leave Heather out!!! Really!!! Arriving home we began the tradition of the last sibling holding the newest for the first time and how special that was to let Kristen hold her brand new sister - sitting down with lots of pillows around!!! <br /><br />And now we celebrate Heather – who is so much to so many people -wife, mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, cousin, aunt – involved in church, school, soccer, tennis, bike riding, scrapbooking (that are truly works of art), decorating, mural painting, warm welcoming parties, camping and the list goes on. Heather has the wonderful character quality of friendship and hospitality – she truly knows how to be a really good friend by encouraging, speaking truth in love and always being there for you and combines that with a home that always welcomes you. I have to mention her sense of humor because she was the daughter who called me after having her first baby and said, “Mom, this is the worst baby sitting job I have ever had! The parent’s still haven’t come back!!! What am I going to do?” – I still laugh over that one! And Heather the artist – her imagination, talent and design ability have been proven and when she finds the right direction to go with it all – watch out!<br /><br />What a blessing to have Heather in our lives – what a blessing to have a daughter whose faith is a real daily walk and who can call me and ask me if she can pray for me. What a precious gift – a daughter, a friend and a kindred spirit.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-18392913851860194182010-10-02T12:43:00.002-04:002010-10-02T12:52:29.873-04:00Out of CommissionLast Sunday night I started feeling really sick during the night and ended up calling my sister who lives nearby to come over and help me - I was really sick to my stomach and at first I thought it was food poisoning but now I think it was some kind of "bug." It felt as though a hurricane hit me.<br /><br />My daughter, who also lives nearby, came over to help and even my 90 yr old Mom came over and sat with me so I wasn't alone. Today is Saturday and I'm still taking it easy - I might go to the beach later and just sit and soak up some vitamin D - the sound and sight of the ocean is always good medicine for me.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-39554943742361937402010-09-26T16:58:00.002-04:002010-09-26T17:10:10.437-04:00Sunday Grace<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6ADiiCnB2Qivh0kxR3K33AtdRFbEqRFRrLoEB8hNsViTWl5E1O21_TilHjGMQ1QYcoUoe7RWlnAzjydpRrTvDXb_ph78_qrTz_GhnHIQOwaA-9-Um49BXRAVOmbsi6QJSaUL6tnWJ8v8/s1600/Friday+Sept+17+2010+004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521330121959236482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6ADiiCnB2Qivh0kxR3K33AtdRFbEqRFRrLoEB8hNsViTWl5E1O21_TilHjGMQ1QYcoUoe7RWlnAzjydpRrTvDXb_ph78_qrTz_GhnHIQOwaA-9-Um49BXRAVOmbsi6QJSaUL6tnWJ8v8/s320/Friday+Sept+17+2010+004.JPG" /></a> Hope, then though woes be doubled,</div><div align="center">Hope, and be undismayed;</div><div align="center">Let not thy heart be troubled,</div><div align="center">Nor let it be afraid.</div><div align="center">Paul Gerhardt (1606-1676)</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">The Lord will lighten my darkness.<br />II Samuel 22:29</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Taken through the windshield (I wasn't driving) on our way to a restaurant on a Friday night.</div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-15518586646381807332010-09-20T22:29:00.004-04:002010-09-21T08:17:31.196-04:00The Crawl of Shame!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgxzQGlb9140cWCHibS1p3xoUFvbYTKox6NK-nftxqr-cgdWuxeeTtrxVPCpcDp9nsDQhZWo5vJMY7slbm5dq20X66wUpkuHlgdDXjtP9ogW_knGeZ0-MAvCOIY1t4UNZPfBt5XGCurKW/s1600/Friday+Sept+17+2010+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519193055606253698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgxzQGlb9140cWCHibS1p3xoUFvbYTKox6NK-nftxqr-cgdWuxeeTtrxVPCpcDp9nsDQhZWo5vJMY7slbm5dq20X66wUpkuHlgdDXjtP9ogW_knGeZ0-MAvCOIY1t4UNZPfBt5XGCurKW/s320/Friday+Sept+17+2010+003.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsiMAmNDTbiShlRtGDQhkcEXmYvYNkkqPn49Ao_NyL2WbV0ggPYqTMjHkq096GSVxqzVA_4GInQzDLYybTb_WBvdzDAQRUaFy_EM6ps14DLtzbzLedIFLx8CR_ZjwhHO6A-TRHjHbAIoZ/s1600/Friday+Sept+17+2010+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519193041546467458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsiMAmNDTbiShlRtGDQhkcEXmYvYNkkqPn49Ao_NyL2WbV0ggPYqTMjHkq096GSVxqzVA_4GInQzDLYybTb_WBvdzDAQRUaFy_EM6ps14DLtzbzLedIFLx8CR_ZjwhHO6A-TRHjHbAIoZ/s320/Friday+Sept+17+2010+002.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>Last Friday I went to the beach alone - it was a beautiful day - clear blue skies or as my Mom would say "Carolina blue skies" - sun shining - beautiful waves - perfect. Almost every week you go to the ocean the beach has a different shape to it - sometimes just completely flat - other times a steep incline - sometimes instead of being it's usual sandy self if can be filled with tons of broken shells. Friday the beach had developed a mini- cliff at the water's edge. After setting up my chair and my basic "camp site" I settled in to read for awhile.</div><br /><div>There were a lot of college students there as a university is nearby. After awhile I couldn't resist the waves any longer and I went in - I belong to the walk right in and dive under and really commit school - none of that standing on the shore advancing step by step for me! It was very rough with a strong undertow and I decided to go back to my chair. Well I couldn't make it up the "mini-cliff" (about 1 1/2 ft. to 2 ft. high) and had to resort to crawling the few steps to get up and over and get to my chair - all sandy... aughhhh. I sat there dying - feeling like I looked like a giant crab coming up out of the ocean!!!! I waited for the sand to dry and began brushing it off every so often - no I was not going back in the ocean! </div><br /><div>The saving grace was that I noticed, after watching for awhile, that even the nimble college students had some trouble getting "up and over" and I began to feel better. </div></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-68763922017435066262010-09-10T13:27:00.003-04:002010-09-10T13:37:27.718-04:00Bottle Tree???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtx-hnyOFWLoJHT5ms0-Iy9hlyDsMdGVsDNO80ZqFClnV9UXhYd0sWAuTc0yIr2RRl8flAkPu4kx08lXpJE71y3hpgPc_-k9gOFwtOrDucYAOI1LIy_cpTbKHaf-cAvztpe9k6hgRklxx/s1600/Bottle+Tree+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515339894502737826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtx-hnyOFWLoJHT5ms0-Iy9hlyDsMdGVsDNO80ZqFClnV9UXhYd0sWAuTc0yIr2RRl8flAkPu4kx08lXpJE71y3hpgPc_-k9gOFwtOrDucYAOI1LIy_cpTbKHaf-cAvztpe9k6hgRklxx/s320/Bottle+Tree+003.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesWNspeY1N-t0sYbQtmizJUPUDWIc7DJwTC4e8vSF0JFZft3ZI-mNzrd2KH-GkW-Uma7m53mYssujXUkTd-yg0OinZZvtGX1GBwHHjPQnQrQUFs1j_ZT7WoFvyazZxdMpDmZ1GYq-K1PJ/s1600/Bottle+Tree+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515339879765701682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesWNspeY1N-t0sYbQtmizJUPUDWIc7DJwTC4e8vSF0JFZft3ZI-mNzrd2KH-GkW-Uma7m53mYssujXUkTd-yg0OinZZvtGX1GBwHHjPQnQrQUFs1j_ZT7WoFvyazZxdMpDmZ1GYq-K1PJ/s320/Bottle+Tree+002.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0o-Xz_DpG7-0UA5_A4QhJiM3PjVEv-7uHCpe6FjXM92QM_RwqQsUpfGA3EySdzjpxrrIy87caW9WIZraQ_1eF2ru-xOI2JmLUhH-ga92I1qtDTh64eSoeLkWU6Fyr_hhmpVrdzHeZktz/s1600/Bottle+Tree+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515339870691285026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0o-Xz_DpG7-0UA5_A4QhJiM3PjVEv-7uHCpe6FjXM92QM_RwqQsUpfGA3EySdzjpxrrIy87caW9WIZraQ_1eF2ru-xOI2JmLUhH-ga92I1qtDTh64eSoeLkWU6Fyr_hhmpVrdzHeZktz/s320/Bottle+Tree+001.JPG" /></a> I drove up to North Myrtle Beach to pick my sister's cocker spaniel up from the dog groomer the other day. Whenever I go with my sister if I go by myself I always see this - I finally had my camera with me this last time! I've heard some stories about why they do this but nothing definitive - anybody have any ideas? Sorry the photos aren't better - I was in the road when I thought to do this and then cars were coming so I had to move quickly!<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-67265039385049649242010-09-06T22:51:00.002-04:002010-09-06T22:57:58.785-04:00No-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGHNipAccgJIYuA7XLoCsHsRzY99GZtyLN6QBhrCPsLJZYr4v5x6ydPtSfXN0Cb6MZ0zG4RaIH4XrCLn6W9qnWryD1nGWr-IPTGLjrC4JT7PclmWfXcjAtpV5sjeqKn9IQBOGafvf463U/s1600/Beach+9-5+003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513999618171324962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGHNipAccgJIYuA7XLoCsHsRzY99GZtyLN6QBhrCPsLJZYr4v5x6ydPtSfXN0Cb6MZ0zG4RaIH4XrCLn6W9qnWryD1nGWr-IPTGLjrC4JT7PclmWfXcjAtpV5sjeqKn9IQBOGafvf463U/s320/Beach+9-5+003.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt2KU3pRFCjUZs4ZcuI0AoSRIy0YzfO4NCD2neKUfozz3HIduT2FHqOl6MUoy4Rwn01z1TNlb9VD6pbvJs12gQc7-YBdoM8RAk3LN2KLJgnecVJvBAOIp1NOzutRzS5lmByPszdmQzqm-/s1600/Beach+9-5+002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513999210599989874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt2KU3pRFCjUZs4ZcuI0AoSRIy0YzfO4NCD2neKUfozz3HIduT2FHqOl6MUoy4Rwn01z1TNlb9VD6pbvJs12gQc7-YBdoM8RAk3LN2KLJgnecVJvBAOIp1NOzutRzS5lmByPszdmQzqm-/s320/Beach+9-5+002.JPG" /></a> It was late. I had been falling asleep on the couch watching TV. I made myself get up - check the locks on the doors - go in the kitchen and make sure everything is taken care of - oh look - I forgot to take care of the coffee pot --- went to empty the grounds in the kitchen garbage and I missed. Yep - all over the floor - lost count of how many paper towels it took to clean up. Went to bed.<br /><br /><div></div></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-31690651177919367422010-09-02T21:48:00.003-04:002010-09-02T22:02:23.183-04:00Surfing in Myrtle Beach!The hurricane is passing us by here in Myrtle Beach but is sending us some waves. I had to run a bunch of errands but couldn't resist stopping by the beach to check out the surfing. Great day at the beach - wish I could have stayed for a few hours!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-5t7n5-4qWf50HVoEEwnL1eh8N-tgq6znLAYGUgkni1jQ4f5K-Yd2ZM2c_mlZzNbuCM5GzV5OWKswrKuhhcWhVhN5ZhMZooZ3vLXlftabBcr5klHST5inE_wIF9v__l6eMtmUAbfpLH6/s1600/1visit+with+Kimber+097.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512499740982486482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2-5t7n5-4qWf50HVoEEwnL1eh8N-tgq6znLAYGUgkni1jQ4f5K-Yd2ZM2c_mlZzNbuCM5GzV5OWKswrKuhhcWhVhN5ZhMZooZ3vLXlftabBcr5klHST5inE_wIF9v__l6eMtmUAbfpLH6/s320/1visit+with+Kimber+097.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKM0KnhB8l6wjbR0JSA-JgMZfV2mbile6aFcqu0ch3yL-01O_bDhwYqHROzjG212wd4YGMd1FWpH-gkgoCtMLHBRNe-utkBuSLg3ftON-2SImV1du3Diorbc1wrolqHLIQf0RgaGsr4jq/s1600/1visit+with+Kimber+093.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512499734072223730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKM0KnhB8l6wjbR0JSA-JgMZfV2mbile6aFcqu0ch3yL-01O_bDhwYqHROzjG212wd4YGMd1FWpH-gkgoCtMLHBRNe-utkBuSLg3ftON-2SImV1du3Diorbc1wrolqHLIQf0RgaGsr4jq/s320/1visit+with+Kimber+093.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDElM4fOr2NYewarrIkgYs_taIu_u5c9hU9g-YAvE1NJnmlGG2kF6N5mMkyTOA-3ifOwV7iorK-ZAo1R7cG1ExhzmXnA2Q5vq1Vare-o3fRwGcMHCE52__ga4bmAR0wWght420K9b51Do/s1600/1visit+with+Kimber+092.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512499723351551810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDElM4fOr2NYewarrIkgYs_taIu_u5c9hU9g-YAvE1NJnmlGG2kF6N5mMkyTOA-3ifOwV7iorK-ZAo1R7cG1ExhzmXnA2Q5vq1Vare-o3fRwGcMHCE52__ga4bmAR0wWght420K9b51Do/s320/1visit+with+Kimber+092.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeT34xvAYRssD_Wh1p_axtIdS-L2Z-F2j4mH-zIzDiTxa2AJQvfr_BOhbHlbGlod8lw9ZwFO_ZJWCGbILlQDVsJzX93lW6OjrYqFliUrPYrAKep_ZtsReDnDfxXUE6tXHBM9CwOIQf8xm/s1600/1visit+with+Kimber+090.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512499715064130066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqeT34xvAYRssD_Wh1p_axtIdS-L2Z-F2j4mH-zIzDiTxa2AJQvfr_BOhbHlbGlod8lw9ZwFO_ZJWCGbILlQDVsJzX93lW6OjrYqFliUrPYrAKep_ZtsReDnDfxXUE6tXHBM9CwOIQf8xm/s320/1visit+with+Kimber+090.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUwa-MgSvRtI3JAab5x99Df3ZXUeTXCNAyuuHl-nz9cMkuUBiSxVkgzNAqkbd9kz83TRXR_mCJRmMVDz_X4O6Oaep2PIBlSMIGZvj-UeMRKVm_I8yct7-9ww77VN1qguGFcMhj8CWKR6T/s1600/1visit+with+Kimber+085.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512499699109011442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUwa-MgSvRtI3JAab5x99Df3ZXUeTXCNAyuuHl-nz9cMkuUBiSxVkgzNAqkbd9kz83TRXR_mCJRmMVDz_X4O6Oaep2PIBlSMIGZvj-UeMRKVm_I8yct7-9ww77VN1qguGFcMhj8CWKR6T/s320/1visit+with+Kimber+085.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-80629564292248739172010-08-25T12:48:00.004-04:002010-08-25T13:25:36.502-04:00Who Does He Think He Is??????This morning, while upstairs making my bed, I heard my doorbell ring so I went downstairs to answer it and no one was there. I stood there at the open door and looked but no one appeared and I shut the door and walked towards my kitchen. This was all happening at about 9 a.m. and as I headed into the kitchen my back door started to open and a man was cautiously coming in saying hello - I got to the door and realized it was the AC repairman and I asked him if the door had been unlocked. He told me that it wasn't and that my landlord, Tom, had used his key to unlock the door. He then told me that Tom had knocked and rung the doorbell - but - I was upstairs so I didn't hear the knock.<br /><br />This is not the first time Tom has done something like this - he has actually gone into other tenants places while they were upstairs sleeping and fixed whatever and then left and the tenant hasn't realized he's been there until after they come down later in the morning. I've had it. I'm going to call him and talk to him about how unappropriate it is for him to do this - my car was in its parking place and he could have called me on his cell to alert me. I am also going to buy two strong chains for my front and back door so this won't happen again.<br /><br />I know I have a strong sense of privacy and boundaries but he just stepped way over them!!!!<br /><br />He's having a new stove delivered for me this afternoon so I will wait until it is installed before I confront him! Thanks for listening.Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7972756760080841405.post-60029917978996952902010-08-21T23:08:00.005-04:002010-08-24T01:17:51.101-04:00A Visit to DCI went to DC last January where two of my daughters live and one day my youngest daughter, April, took me to see the National Botanical Gardens and the National Gallery. I had never been to the Botanical Garden and just fell in love with it. The next time you're in DC make sure you go!<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAX14Z8B5G4meaj7oRYzMkIcwBC1WWRt_eaaRZG31ctxndePrpksl819n-U1UX3UvH1g-Mg-KcpfUFiqQFyCGgs_i-Mqyu9oK_Dwg11EzFVoBK3doUMraAwX_aY4sYzaBunsVd9kfgRZgE/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508069081281719202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAX14Z8B5G4meaj7oRYzMkIcwBC1WWRt_eaaRZG31ctxndePrpksl819n-U1UX3UvH1g-Mg-KcpfUFiqQFyCGgs_i-Mqyu9oK_Dwg11EzFVoBK3doUMraAwX_aY4sYzaBunsVd9kfgRZgE/s320/021.JPG" /></a><br />The shot of the Lilies of the Valley isn't that great - but they are my favorite flower and they don't grow here in S.C.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPje3bFsgoyF3yvLj3poA6uaN8fEUdKVT5YHp4HDvgoVJCTG5yLP9k2tkx8nhyTILnImfSs4qQyRcXg0w6njAmdK_F4jwScG3hysgsuQ3vbqPfUkck5pJNUyBDaatvMf7qYM6ExAkXAX5/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508069077205831138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPje3bFsgoyF3yvLj3poA6uaN8fEUdKVT5YHp4HDvgoVJCTG5yLP9k2tkx8nhyTILnImfSs4qQyRcXg0w6njAmdK_F4jwScG3hysgsuQ3vbqPfUkck5pJNUyBDaatvMf7qYM6ExAkXAX5/s320/015.JPG" /></a> </p><p>These orchids made me laugh - I can remember when women wore huge corsages of these on mother's day - my Mom never has liked corsages and would have killed us all if we ever gave her one of those back in the day! If I'm wearing a corsage it will always be gardenias.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER6JYTjENYV1I5rtnr4ZsBE1wNeyx195nWXcNO8arc9zeFvfdSWHgt8lsWLyXMRcgsc8uFtieUxrWq4M6BDPXpYjRqW45Z26iniZJ76INBNTnwqV1p0I9ScNcnSMcthzVI14Gup9Pay6J/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508069074685816098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgER6JYTjENYV1I5rtnr4ZsBE1wNeyx195nWXcNO8arc9zeFvfdSWHgt8lsWLyXMRcgsc8uFtieUxrWq4M6BDPXpYjRqW45Z26iniZJ76INBNTnwqV1p0I9ScNcnSMcthzVI14Gup9Pay6J/s320/008.JPG" /></a> </p><p>Have to include one of these - thought the cloud looked really fake!</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHx3rTWOTNNHB9LLG6n3S3x0AtYtvgV0e2fEqOxbRt5EK8Fnx02jD3WkGJJs1r-r6497j7Ifz0xIUHrf3Zg49wCX57dIs6oa5Nbt-lTfnCblHe7lpuBzr2lsv-RO6EopEY31ru_0zVfED/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508069064925288322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHx3rTWOTNNHB9LLG6n3S3x0AtYtvgV0e2fEqOxbRt5EK8Fnx02jD3WkGJJs1r-r6497j7Ifz0xIUHrf3Zg49wCX57dIs6oa5Nbt-lTfnCblHe7lpuBzr2lsv-RO6EopEY31ru_0zVfED/s320/002.JPG" /></a> My dear daughter - I'm trying to resist saying "my baby" - and see I couldn't!</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGgslU1606HfaUWP6e_Z3dZQUCwzLIOpUY5DzA9q2yJvasaG_grzzmB9Sf5dftgL2fWsBJxNjFpY2sOu9tbpqAq43Sm-uQwZARUdTKHhCyF1PIUBxPpBold3qA89Jum91g7EcPNy5SJwV/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508069058822180690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGgslU1606HfaUWP6e_Z3dZQUCwzLIOpUY5DzA9q2yJvasaG_grzzmB9Sf5dftgL2fWsBJxNjFpY2sOu9tbpqAq43Sm-uQwZARUdTKHhCyF1PIUBxPpBold3qA89Jum91g7EcPNy5SJwV/s320/003.JPG" /></a> </p><p>Being in this place in the middle of January in DC was magical.</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2cR5-MxaXvZP4ui99ARv5OH_CiodtQfr5d8jYWcQUn18Rlwml4rMj8hn6GacFtKi-6KcNV_saPSdvbbtU9XKN9AEDsT3ttKXGxZckeOxe4Oq2tBWEn9mWjltq73Yw5CNoed1nJ7H-OWf/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508066921701236306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2cR5-MxaXvZP4ui99ARv5OH_CiodtQfr5d8jYWcQUn18Rlwml4rMj8hn6GacFtKi-6KcNV_saPSdvbbtU9XKN9AEDsT3ttKXGxZckeOxe4Oq2tBWEn9mWjltq73Yw5CNoed1nJ7H-OWf/s320/004.JPG" /></a>Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00990762101774224558noreply@blogger.com4