An Old Shelter...

I found this old lean-to/shelter next to a cow pasture while visitng my sister-in-law on Thanksgiving.   I walked the fields and really enjoyed the wide open spaces and all of the neat "old" stuff that was nearby. 

It sat under a tree and looked like it had not been used in some time.  I love the pond in the background and the remaining foliage on the trees.   I added a texture and love the way it turned out!

Be sure to visit Tricia for more great barns; it is so much fun to see what others have found!

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Macro Monday - Water Droplet

I am having a really hard time getting myself in gear today.  It was a busy holiday weekend and I guess I am still feeling the effects of it.  

I caught this water droplet in my daisy after I watered it the other day.   I am using  it as my submission for Macro Monday.   For more great macros visit Lisa - its a fun way to start the week!

Happy Monday!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Its About That Time...

I hope all of my blogging friends here in the U.S. had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!   We sure did and I am so very thankful for my family and friends, and all that God has blessed us with.   Now that we have gotten through Thanksgiving holiday - it is about that time....

This is a SOOC (please visit there for more great SOOC pics) shot of some our ornaments from the tree last year and tomorrow we will get our tree for this Christmas season.   I love the way a Fraser Fir Christmas tree smells; so fragant and festive!

I'll be catching up with all of you tomorrow.   Have a blessed Sunday!  

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Blue Canoes...

We were at a local park, and I could not resist these two blue canoes sitting on the bank.  They made a great subject along with the gorgeous reflections in the water.  

This is my Midweek Blues submission.  Be sure to stop by to see other great "blues."  

I will be super busy tomorrow getting ready for our Thanksgiving holiday.   We going to visit with my sister-in-law and her husband and I hope to bring back lots of rural "Southern" shots to share with you!

I wish all of you here in the United States a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving holiday, and my other friends a peaceful and happy day as well!  Let's all remember to take time out (no matter where we live) to appreciate our family, friends, loved ones and all that we have been given, and to remember those who are in need.

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Stables...

These stables have been such a big part of my life.  Growing up we played in them; hide and seek, made them our clubhouses, and whatever else tickled our fancy while the horses or donkey were out.  I can remember my grandfather milking the cow in those stables and drinking the warm milk from a cup fresh out of the stainless steel bucket when he brought it in the house.   There is nothing better than warm milk on a cold morning in a house heated only by a wood stove!

These stables are still standing and are in good shape.   My daddy is unsure of their age, but he is in his mid 60s and they have been there since he was a child.  

I added a texture just for kicks.  I like "old" things better with added texture.  That is, unless you are shooting HDR and my camera is not equipped for that.   Hopefully Santa will bring me a new one!  For a great HDR shot of these stables, please check out my friend and mentor Steve's blog.  He has a wide-angled lens and got the barns in the shot too.  His photos are PHENOMENAL!   **SIGH**  He and his wife are such great people and I am so lucky to have them in my life!

For more great barn photos please visit  Tricia - you will enjoy it!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Beetle Bug

I absolutely love the colors in this beetle.    He was determined to get where he was going and it was hard to keep him still on this leaf, but I love the shot I got. 

Its Macro Monday over at Lisa's Chaos so be sure to stop by for more great macros.  And for those of you traveling this week - I wish you a safe trip!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Fall Mantle - Just for fun and SOOC

Karen over at What Karen Sees is trying something new and I agreed to post a pic of my fall mantle on Friday, but have been slack this weekend and am just getting it posted. 

You can post any favorite pic - I just chose the mantle because it is also SOOC and I have not posted there today.   I did my laundry but not much cleaning - too busy with basketball games, early Thanksgiving gatherings, etc.    There is always stuff to be done around the house, but none of it is nearly as much fun as blogging with my friends!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Have a seat....

I snapped this bench at a local park and thought it looked so lonely - just waiting for someone to come by and have a seat...

Today I will be doing mountains of laundry and cleaning.  AUGH.   I hope you are doing something fun!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Macro Friday - Leaf

As we were leaving a local park this past weekend I picked up this large leaf.  The afternoon sun was quite bright so I held it up and snapped the pic just for fun. 

I love the color and texure, and the way the sun is peaking through the small hole.  There is such beauty in nature - even a leaf that is just lying on the ground.

I zoomed in and came up with this macro for today's post over at Blogging from Bolivia. 

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Make a Wish...

Wouldn't life be more simple/easier if we could just pick a dandelion, make a wish and have it come true?

Have a great Thursday!  

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Burst of Sunlight....

My friend and mentor Steve taught me this technique.   Set your f stop to 22 and focus on the sun through a tree branch or other object.   The result is a really neat burst of sunlight!  Please check out his blog and flickr page - you will not be disappointed! 

Pretty cool, huh?   The blue sky was really vivid, so I am using this as my Midweek Blues submission.

Hope you are having a great week!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Horse Barn

Horse barns are pretty plentiful in our area.  I have decided to get out and start photographing the ones that I can easily gain access to.  

I adjusted the colors and added this texture to give it more of an old feel.   For more great barns be sure to visit Tricia! 

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Macro Monday - Green

I found this guy a couple of weeks ago on my front porch.  Not sure what type of catepillar he is - but he was a pretty shade of green with orange dots.

For more great macros be sure to visit Lisa.   Happy Monday ya'll!!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

SOOC Sunday - Cotton Bokeh

I snapped this cotton bloom a few months ago in the early morning.  The sun was just coming up and I caught some great bokeh in the background - a very nice surprise when I pulled it up on the computer!  

This is SOOC other than a little bit of a crop.    Go visit Jan for more great SOOC shots at Murrieta 365.

Have a blessed Sunday!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Happy Friday...

Wow - it has been a crazy busy week and I am so happy it is Friday and that the weekend is here! 

I love the way this macro shot of a daisy turned out.   For more great macros be sure to visit Blogging from Bolivia.

Have a terrific weekend my friends!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Veterans Day

We visited Washington, DC this past summer and Arlington Cemetary was a "must visit" for us.   I cannot describe my feelings as I looked out over the sea of headstones.  

I am so thankful to all who have served, and continue to serve - those who put their lives on the line EVERY day for us.

And, so many brave men and women have paid the ultimate price.   Let us never forget that. 

God bless the USA and all of our brave men and women who serve this great Country!  Thank you!

Dragonfly in Color

I posted this dragonfly last week in black and white.   This is the color version with another Kim Klassen texture (lyrical) added.  I love her textures!!

I like it equally well in black and white, as well as in color.  I love the beautiful blue color of its body. 

Its Wednesday and time for midweek blues so be sure to stop by and check it out!  I hope you all are having a great week.  The weather is warm here - 78 degrees today.  I hope to find some time to get out with my camera, even its just in my backyard. 

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Textured Barn

This barn stands tucked back amongst some trees and has overgrown bushes in front of it.   It overlooks a beautiful cotton field in full bloom.  

This barn belongs to my son-in-law's family and part of it is still in use.  I plan to go back and take some more pictures of the barn and cotton field.  Hopefully some of the overgrown stuff will be gone if my sweet son-in-law will take it down for me!  

For more great barns be sure to visit Tricia.  

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Reflection in a Raindrop...

I was so focused on catching the "raindrop" from the daisy petal that I did not notice the "reflection" in the raindrop until I pulled it up on my computer.   Funny how life can be that way - we are so focused on certain aspects of life that we miss the beautiful details.

This is a great time of year for reflection - looking at our lives and being thankful for all that we have been given and remembering those who are less fortunate; as well as assessing where "we" are and where "we" want to be and what it will take to get there!  

Happy Monday folks!  Please visit Lisa for Macro Monday - such a fun way to start the week!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

SOOC Sunday - Acorn

We are finallly having some fall weather.  Actually tonight is more like winter and we are having our first fire in the fireplace.   Loving it!!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!   Be sure to visit Jan for more great SOOC shots!

Have a Blessed Sunday!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Wings...

Thank you so very much for being so supportive of my rant/breakdown last night.  Honestly ya'll - a gal can only take so much!   I have only been blogging for a few months and now I really get it - we are friends and a support system for one another.  I am so thankful for all of you! 

I snapped this photo back in the summer.  This dragonfly was particularly accommodating - probably because he/she could not see me!  

I converted it to black and white and applied Kim Klassen's Celine texture.   It is very fitting for this post - because you all have touched me and help provide the "wind beneath my wings!"  I am lucky and blessed to have such wonderful blog friends, as well as the best family ever!

I am submitting this as a macro for Macro Friday as well. 

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!  

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Better...

I am happy to report that as of now, both Amber and her baby are doing well.  Please continue to pray for them!   I am so relieved that I now feel like posting a pic, even though I think you have seen it before and this one is not edited.
  

I call this one "Embrace" and we do need to do just that - embrace ourselves, our loved ones and our friends.  

Love to you all!
SouthernSass

Tough...

This has been a tough past weekend and week thus far.   I apologize for not keeping up like I try to with each of you, but dadgummit, life is tough at times.  I have no photographs to depict exactly what I am feeling.  It stinks.  Really folks, it does.   

To bring you up to speed - let me begin by telling you that one of my oldest and dearest friend's lost her daddy last week.  "Pa" was such a wonderful and caring man and father; he adopted all of us as his own.  My daughter and I cooked and fed them after the funeral this past Saturday.   You betcha - it is a Southern thing to take care of others during this hard time and we prepare lots of comfort food (and drinks!) when they probably don't feel like one or the other; but their company sure does appreciate it!  Of course it goes without saying that they do too.

Last night I learned that "Aunt Audrey," a wonderful, caring woman that took care of so many of us small town children, lost of her battle with breast cancer.   Everyone in our small town knew her (and she was seriously affectionally called "Aunt Audrey" by many).  If you were blessed to have been cared by her (as my brother and I were), then you certainly wanted her to care for your own children; and she did for many of us.   She was so loved - I cannot even begin to describe the wonderful memories I have of her and what great care and love she bestowed upon all us younguns!   Both of my parents worked in a local small-town factory as did many others, and we are a family of sorts.   I do look forward to seeing them at the visitation.   It is sad that we see so many who are important to us only at funerals or weddings!

This evening I am on pins and needles and praying like crazy for one of my best friend's daughter, Amber.  She is undergoing emergency surgery at this very time for a ruptured appendix.  She is 18 weeks pregnant and carrying a precious baby boy.   Please say a prayer for them.   I do not mean to offend those of a different faith; but my faith is clear and I believe that Jesus Christ has the power to heal us and change the outcome of our circumstances.   The saddest thing is that Amber miscarried this past June at 11 weeks while visiting her for her sister's wedding.   I am beyond sad and worried

On that note - I send blessings to you and yours my friends!  

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Midweek Blues - Bokeh Baby

I shot this dragonfly earlier this summer.  I loved the blue bokeh I caught in this photo!

I am so happy to know what bokeh is!   I am still learning, but I am loving every minute of it!

Go here for more great mid-week blues!

Happy Wednesday!!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Old Silos

These old silos stand proudly against the side of a dirt road.   They appear to not have been used for quite some time.  Their tops are rusted and one of the silos has a large hole in the side of it. 

I added a texture because I am crazy for textures these days.   Be sure to visit Bluff Area Daily today for some great photos of barns!

I hope you are all having a good start to the week!

xoxo,
SouthernSass

Macro Monday - Insect on a Daisy

The coloring of this beautiful little insect was incredible.  He did not stay long enough for me to get any really good shots - but I am happy he stopped by!

For more great macros, be sure to visit Lisa's Chaos to get your week off to a great start!

Happy Monday!

xoxo,
SouthernSass