Tag: holiday

Thanksgiving…

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment

DSCN1323

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! This is a photo I took last year while visiting my parents… I was up and out early taking photos of a beautiful sunrise (something to be thankful for all in itself!)… I was walking back to the house and saw that my dad plugged in the Christmas tree and the lights in the window… When you look at it you can see the reflection of the sunrise…

I am so thankful for my wonderful husband, my awesome family, for our little beastie wonder, Charlie, for the sunrises and sunsets, good health, good friends and of course, for you!

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

F L A S H B A C K

O N E   Y E A R   A G O…       Thanksgiving! Thank YOU! I am grateful…

T W O   Y E A R S   A G O…   Bowens Island Seafood Restaurant Menu!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

H A P P Y F A T H E R S D A Y ! !

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS6 Comments

Fathers Day Words

fathers day 2 2013

dads

Joe (my dad) and Carlisle (Fred’s dad)… blurry photo… I vow to do better!

 I would also like to say  H A P P Y  F A T H E R S  D A Y to Carlisle Stroud, Fred’s dad!!  You’re awesome DC! We think the world of you! You’re willing to drop what you’re doing at a moments notice and come to help us fix whatever it may be. We appreciate all those times more than you’ll ever know! barbara & fred

Happy Father’s Day to all of you who are a dad, who want to be a dad, who are almost a dad, as well as for those of you who wanted to be a dad but things just didn’t work out… For those of you who have adopted, have married into a family with children, for those who take the time to teach neighborhood kids, you are all the best! Happy Father’s Day…

And a big heartfelt hug to those of you who no longer have your father in your life. I know that makes this holiday, Father’s Day, a tough one. Do good and know he is smiling down upon you…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Happy Valentine’s Day from me to you!

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS4 Comments

Happy Valentine's Day Y'all!HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

I would like to wish the love of my life a very happy Valentine’s Day!

I am blessed to have found such a wonderful man to share my life with.

He’s my numero uno. A #1. Soulmate. Best friend. Lover.

My valentine!

Here’s wishing all of YOU a Happy Valentine’s Day as well! If you’re interested click HERE to read the history of Valentine’s Day, funny how these things begin… interesting!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Well, it’s New Year’s Eve! Where did the year go?

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS4 Comments

LawrenHarris SNOW CACfb

Snow by Lawren Harris – Image: CaliforniaArtClub.org

I swear the older you get the faster time flies and the older old is. Think about it… when you’re young you think 30 is old, then you turn 30 and suddenly 50 is old. Then you turn 50 and 90 is old. Ha ha… The year flies by faster and faster, it’s crazy! Remember waiting for Christmas to come? It seemed like it took forever… now it seems as if it’s only a  few months away (stores putting out Christmas items at Halloween surely doesn’t help!).

Take this time to enjoy ringing in the New Year! For me, I likely won’t make it until midnight and I’m ok with it, ha ha… Happy New Year’s Eve!

Catch you back here tomorrow! Be safe!

I think I’ve found where I want to live… finally!

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS2 Comments

WhereIWantToLive socialmediaseo.net

I think I’ve found the place I want to live… Charleston, SC is great, don’t get me wrong. It’s picturesque, has lots of history, is filled with artists and galleries… but it’s hot. OH. SO. VERY. HOT. During the long summers we like to dream about places that we’ll move to that will be nice and chilly! I have finally found that magical place! It’s right here in this image. Snow (not the black icky icy/slushy stuff on the side of the road), nice deep snow, perfect for cross country skiing, or sledding. Big, beautiful “Christmas trees” everywhere with snow on the branches and lights in the trees! A church steeple would be nice too. I want to build a snowman, and walk with Fred and Charlie through the freshly fallen snow.

RRRRRRRTTTTTT! I know, that’s not how life is in the ‘snow’. I’m from Michigan, so I understand what you’re thinking. But I’ve been in South Carolina for 23 years, so my memory of the pain-in-the-heiny part of snow and driving is more of a distant memory. Yep, this is where I want to live if we ever move… and if this doesn’t work out… maybe Whoville??

Whoville seuss.wikia.com

Where is your dream place to live? Catch you back here tomorrow!

Christmas Tree… Fresh or Fake?

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS3 Comments

2011 Christmas Tree...

Well, it’s that time of year… time to put up the Christmas tree! Have you ever had a tree fall over after you’ve decorated it? In the 20 years that we’ve been married we’ve had two trees topple over… devastating consequences… the first tree had lots of glass (beautiful) bulbs… only a few of the glass bulbs survived… it happened as soon as we finished decorating it. It was beautiful. We went to bed and CRASH! Ugh… hours of cleanup and then cement blocks to keep it from falling over. Over the years we finally gave up the cement blocks. Do we REALLY need those big heavy things? Nah… We decorated the tree and a few days later CRASH. Tree toppled… water was everywhere. We had one of those big heavy duty stands that seemed (at the time) to hold about 90 gallons of water! We UNdecorated the tree (sigh)… and moved it to the sunroom… if it floods in there all is well… then we put a little cup hook in the moulding and have tied the top of the tree to it. You can’t see it, but it’s keeping the tree from taking a dive! That (and the cleanup) is the downside of a fresh tree. But the smell, ahhhh… I guess it’s what you grow up with. We always had a fresh tree, so I can’t think of anything but.

Whether fresh or fake, Christmas trees and their beautiful lights can give off such a nice warm glow. I love that! The bonus is that we can see the Christmas tree that’s in our sunroom, but it’s in a cooler room away from the fireplace!

Enjoy your tree! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Christopher Columbus… 1492!

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Image: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b51259/

Today is the celebration of Christopher Columbus arriving in America on October 12, 1492… 520 years ago today!

Here’s a blip from History.com

Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World on October 12, 1492. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century but did not become a federal holiday until the 1937. For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage. Throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy, and many alternatives to the holiday have appeared in recent years.

History.com has some fascinating articles… here’s one of them, check out their site for more, video’s too!

Christopher Columbus

The explorer Christopher Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic in search of a water route from Europe to Asia. He never found it, but he did accidentally “discover” the Americas along the way.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A pretty flower and a happy day to you!

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS6 Comments

Not sure what this flower is called… but it sure is pretty… it’s always a great time to get out and take some photos! Even if it’s raining, snowing, sleeting or hailing. I love to find unexpected treasures… mainly light and shadows, but hey, you’ve got to work with what you’ve got at the time, right? I love how the flower stands up against the blurred green background… it makes it quite stately (in a weather-beaten sort of way, ha ha) don’t you think?

Remember… tomorrow is a holiday for many folks, if you’re one of them… ENJOY! Time to get out and ride a bike, take a walk, read a good book (just finished an old Nora Roberts book THE SEARCH… holy cow! It was a page turner!).

Have a good day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

“Flag’ by Frank Gardner… an amazing painting!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, THOUGHTS4 Comments

“Flag” by Frank Gardner – Image: Randy Higbee Gallery 6×6 show


I just want to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude for all of you who have served, are serving now, or have lost a loved one serving our country. Thank you just isn’t enough. YOU are what makes this country great! Just know that…

On a side note… I wanted to select a painting appropriate for today, and a house with a flag seemed to be spot on. I’ve always loved this little 6×6 painting. This was done by artist Frank Gardner. Just love his work… check it out! I LOVE a flag in a painting, it draws me right in!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Happy Mother’s Day!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Let me start of by saying how thankful I am for having such an awesome mom. She’s the coolest of all moms, funny, sweet, loving and strong. Very, very strong. I bet she doesn’t realize that (do you mom?)… Anyone that can get through cancer is a tough cookie, and to go through it with a great attitude is a big accomplishment, as well as being such an inspiration. I think I’m going to start calling my mom “Grace”… she’s got lots of it!

I’m also thankful for my mother-in-law. I know there are the standard jokes about mother-in-laws being dragon ladies… I lucked out (again) and got a super sweet lady, just like me, hee…

I know some of you no longer have your moms… I’m so sorry, holidays can be so tough. I hope you are able to keep your mom in all your good thoughts. You do know she can still hear you when you talk to her, right? That’s a small comfort…

Lots of you are mom’s… hard work no doubt. Personally, I’m a dog mom. The cards didn’t fall in my favor with the ‘having a kid’ thing, so Mother’s Day has it’s moments for me as well… But I am Charlie’s mom (woof)… and I’m a good dog mom, ha ha… (PSSST, Charlie you’re a lucky dog!)

H A P P Y  M O T H E R’ S  D A Y ! ! !

Come on Charlie, lets go play in the sprinkler! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Vintage Image via: VintageScrapbooking.blogspot.com

Christmas Eve…

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS1 Comment
OperationLetterToSanta.com

A few fabulous images I’ve run across on the Internet while thinking about Christmas Eve. Believe me when I say that I know this is about more than Santa and gifts… but these are wonderful childhood memories… Wishing you a good night sleep, hope you’ve been good!

Image: SusanKOnTheWeb.com

Catch you back here tomorrow!!