got fence?

I know, a coil of barbed wire is not a very exciting subject....but....this rusty old wire just begged for me to takes its picture.  (Remember my slight obsession with antiques?)  We have a lot of this old stuff around as we are in the process (a LONG process) of replacing and reconfiguring our fence around our property.  This is just our little reminder of how much we've already accomplished on the project AND that we need to keep pressing forward.  Hopefully by the time Luke is old enough for his first show steer, we will be done! Ha!

Project 365 Day 53 - 2/22/11

:: chester ::

Last, but certainly not least, meet the fifth and final member of our animal family... Chester.  Under all that furry fluffiness is 15 pounds of fat cat, making him the largest kitty I have ever owned.  Like his sister Abby, he is quite the hunter.  He is also the more sociable cat.  I love that when we come home and pull in the drive way Chester comes running across the yard to greet us.  He loves a good scratch behind the ears, being brushed with the dog brush, and just hanging out with us outside.  Against his will, I made him pose for a mini photo shoot....I think he secretly liked it!   


Project 365 Day 52 - 2/21/11



antiques?

I love love love antique stuff.  I get super excited when I find something really old, but really cool with that rustic distressed look.  While searching outside the other day for a subject to shoot, I found this cool tractor seat.  It was like Christmas!  I think it may have been in Jeff's "throw-away" pile...but now its going in my "useless-treasures-that-I-will-never-let-Jeff-throw-away" pile.  Its an antique, right?

Project 365 Day 51 - 2/20/11

 

little spectators

This is how the Brown Kids do Donkey Basketball.....Madi sleeps through the entire event and Luke stares intently saying "I wide donkey!" repeatedly!  (Luke translation: I want to ride the donkey.)



Project 365 Day 50 - 2/19/11



Donkey Basketball!

Oh yeah....Donkey Basketball is a REAL thing....people actually ride donkeys while playing basketball, but the rules are just a little different.  If you have never been a spectator at one of these games you are seriously missing out!  Its hysterical!!  This event is a fundraiser at our local high school for the Future Farmers of America (FFA) students.  The participants are FFA kids and its usually boys against girls.  I can remember going to Donkey Basketball to watch my cousins play back in the late '80's....that's how long the tradition has been around.  I even played when I was in high....but not well!  It was that whole 'slinging my butt on a donkey while holding a basketball' that just didn't work out for me! Haha!  Anyways, it was a great, aggressive game full of excitement and laughs...and the girls team almost won! 

Project 365 Day 49 - 2/18/11



date day

I love date days or date nights or ANY time alone with my hubby without kids!  You don't realize how precious that alone time is with your spouse until you have children and crazy schedules, and no time.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my kids to the end of the universe and back, but I also love my hubby and having those special times where we remember why we love each other.

With the help of daycare and Grandma, we were able to have a few hours to ourselves the other day to go on a date....and honestly, we didn't even know what to do.  We ended up stuffing ourselves stupid at lunch and then went bowling!  Seriously, I can't even remember the last time I bowled!  We had a GREAT time and not to brag or anything....but I won 3 out of 4 games!

Project 365 Day 48 - 2/17/11

little cuties

I had the privilege of taking a camera/photography workshop the other day with a fabulous photographer, Cori Derksen.  I had such a great time learning and taking pictures.  I hope to continue growing in my new "craft".  Here are just a few photos of our cute little models.

Project 365 Day 47 - 2/16/11

sun rays

I LOVE sun rays!  I always get a warm fuzzy feeling when I see them.  My mom told me once that they were a message from above...that has always stuck with me.  I was on my way to my parents house the other day (well, evening actually) when I took this photo.  The rain had stopped for a little while but dark clouds still loomed above.  While driving up the 4-lanes, I glanced out the passenger side window and saw this spectacular view.  I pulled over in the first turn-out I found and jumped out to snap a picture....so thankful I had my camera with me!  I got the message!

Project 365 Day 46 - 2/15/11

happy valentine's day

I actually took this photo on Day 44, during the wagon ride, but it was so precious I just had to use it for today's photo.  Our Valentine's Day was less than spectacular with a sick hubby and two kids with colds.  I had fully intended on coming home from work to cook a delicious meal, but the chaos I came home to was not conducive for cooking.....thank goodness for Costco lasagna!! 


Project 365 Day 45 - 2/14/11



wagon ride

We went outside for a nice Sunday afternoon wagon ride.  It was Madi's first and she LOVED it!  She's such a big girl now!  Poor Luke wasn't feeling good, but he still managed to flash me a couple fake smiles.  : )

Project 365 Day 44 - 2/13/11

sweetness

With all the beautiful weather over the weekend, I attempted a mini photo shoot with the kids.  I figured I would try after nap time when they are rested and happy and ready to look cute.  This turned out to be a huge failure....I literally only got 7 pictures before Luke decided to take off running, crying that he wanted to drive Daddy's truck, and refused to come back.  Photo session, OVER.  *sigh*  So here's the photos that actually turned out!  Maybe next time...


Project 365 Day 43 - 2/12/11



ham anyone?

With age comes more independence for this little man....along with him NOT wanting me to take his picture.  I'm pretty sure he's super tired of me saying "Lukie, look at mommy and say cheese".  But on those increasingly rare occasions that he DOES follow directions, and if I am fast enough, I catch him being a little ham, like this!  Gosh, I love his cute little face!

Project 365 Day 42 - 2/11/11



a fishy day

Our little Lukie was due for a Mommy and Daddy Day (without sister!).  We were going to go to Tulare for the Farm Show, but I was sick and totally not up for it.  So we decided to stay close to home and took him to the Friant Fish Hatchery.  I remember going here as a young kid and thought Luke would love it....and he did!  We were the only visitors there and got extra special treatment by a former co-worker who now works there.  She hooked us up with lots of fish food and away we went!  It was actually pretty cool to see all the different stages of fish growth and Luke had a blast!

Project 365 Day 41 - 2/10/11



Thin Mints, Shortbreads, and Peanut Butter Sandwiches...OH MY!

Upon the request of my husband, I caved and purchased five, yes FIVE, boxes of Girl Scout Cookies last week.  Well its not like he twisted my arm to do it....but when you have that order form in your hand, and see all the goodness in front of you, its really hard to control yourself!  They are only $4.00 a box and its for a good cause, right?  So now everyday when I open the pantry, my nemesis sits there staring at me as I dig down deep for every last ounce of will power to look away.  Darn you little Girl Scouts and your delicious little cookies! 

Project 365 Day 40 - 2/9/11

tractor drivin'

So Luke's other obsession is with TRACTORS!  Its so bad that when we drive down the road, he knows which houses/businesses have tractors, which construction sites have tractors, and he definitely knows where Papa Bruce's tractors are.  Every tractor he sees, he says its "like papa's".  Almost every time we are at my parent's house, my poor dad gets suckered into giving Luke a ride on the Kubota.  But it totally makes this little guy's day....and I think my dad gets a kick out of it too!

Project 365 Day 39 - 2/8/11



dinner time = bath time!

So this is how we do spaghetti in our house!  No shirt and all over the face.  The part you don't see is that its all over the carpet too...*sigh*  (If I were you, I'd buy stock in Woolite Oxy Deep carpet cleaner because we use A LOT of it in the Brown House.) 

Project 365 Day 38 - 2/7/11



Charlie Brown

You may have heard a time or two about our "crazy dog"....well this is him, Charlie, a 5 year old half McNab and half (crazy) Boarder Collie.  He is Hank's son and we sometimes wonder if his elevator goes all the way to the top.  He barks ALL the time, still chews on whatever he can find, and likes to chase after anything that moves.  He loves to harass the cats (but they allow him) and drive me absolutely crazy!  Despite all his shortcomings, I guess I have to admit that he is turning out to be a good dog and I know that if I ever needed him, he would be there.  Good boy, Charlie!  

Project 365 Day 37 - 2/6/11

a foothill sunset

So how GORGEOUS were the sunsets last week?!  I kept forgetting my camera or was never in a good spot to be able to get a photo....until this night, and all I had to do was step out my front door.  These colors are amazing!

Project 365 Day 36 - 2/5/11

my little shadow

Well, actually he's Jeff's little shadow...but today, he was mine.  We went walking around outside this afternoon looking for something to take a picture of.  As soon as I saw his little silhouette on the wall, I just had to take a picture of it and make this my photo of the day. 

Project 365 Day 35 - 2/4/11

I heart them!

Our babies.....and hands down the cutest kids in the world!  (I'm not just saying that because I'm the mom either....they really are the cutest!  hehe!)


Project 365 Day 34 - 2/3/11



Happy Birthday Hank!

Meet Hank.  Today is his 11th birthday!  He has been Jeff's sidekick since he was a tiny 6 week old puppy and oh the stories he could tell (good thing he can't talk)!  He used to love to jump for bugs and run in circles, in anyone's back yard, carving a track in the grass.  He was like the energizer bunny, always going and going and going.  He's slowed down quite a bit in his old age, but he is still a great protector and a wonderful member of our family!  We love you Crankster...have a Happy Birthday!

Project 365 Day 33 - 2/2/11



Absolute Deliciousness

Although I'm trying to eat healthy and shed the last of the baby weight (and then some!), I secretly love when Jeff calls me and suggests I bring home Me N Eds for dinner!  Best pizza in the world....need I say more?

Project 365 Day 32 - 2/1/11

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday!  We had a very nice evening hanging out with the fam.  We even taught Luke to say "happy birthday" which actually came out as "hoppy burday papa"...his little vocabulary is getting quite impressive!  So, Dad, I hope you had a wonderful day and we love you!!

Project 365 Day 31 - 1/31/11

Abby the Cat Kitty

This is our cat Abby.  Her real name is Abrams M1A1 Battle Tank, no joke....and NO I did not pick that name but I'll give you one guess at who did!!  Since I refuse to call her that, we just call her Abby.  (Our other cat is Chester...short for Winchester, also named by Jeff!)  When we were first teaching Luke how to say CAT, we would show him one of our cats and say "kitty cat", but he ended up mixing up his words and to this day still calls them "cat kitties". 

When Abby was just a little kitten, one of the dogs got a hold of her and chased her off.  She was missing for days and we thought she was a goner!  But she found her way home all dirty and crusty from dog saliva.  She was super tired and really banged up.  With some TLC and two days of sleep, she finally bounced back to her spunky self.  She's a pretty skittish cat now, but she is our best little gopher hunter!

Project 365 Day 30 - 1/30/11

stars and stripes

We proudly fly our flag in our front yard in appreciation of our country, our service people, and our freedom. ♥

Project 365 Day 29 - 1/29/11

"don't squat with yer spurs on"

I sat here at the computer the other night grumbling because I had not yet taken my photo of the day.  Searching for an idea, I looked up on our book shelf and saw my old spurs sitting there.  I immediately thought of the above quote from a book I have that is full of little sayings that are fun and inspirational for country girls.  Problem solved, photo taken!

Project 365 Day 28 - 1/28/11

nothin' but blue skies

 Today I was a little bit of a cheater and used my phone to take this picture.  It was one of those days where it was foggy and gross in town and gorgeous up here.  So I snapped a picture with my phone and sent it to my friends who were stuck in the muck...just to rub it in a little!  Sorry guys! : )

Project 365 Day 27 - 1/27/11

happy cows

Every Wednesday I drive by these cows on my way to work.  With all the grass turning green and when the sky is nice and blue, I can't help but think about the "Happy California Cow" commercials when I see them.  I've been wanting to take a picture of them for weeks now but I was either running short on time, or it was too foggy, or they weren't close enough for a shot, or there was traffic and I didn't want to look like a crazy lady on the side of the road taking pictures of cows!

But THIS morning everything was perfect!  The sun was shining, the lighting was fabulous, they were right by the road, and not a car in sight!!  Yay for the crazy cow picture taking lady!  I finally got a photo of my happy cows!

Project 365 Day 26 - 1/26/11

taking papa for a walk

Well, once again my picture taking was botched by a day of work and an evening of crazy kids.  But I thought you all would enjoy this photo of my dad and Luke that I took at the branding. I just love it! ♥

Project 365 Day25- 1/25/11

Hi Horsey!

Wow, going back to work has really messed up my plan to take a photograph everyday!  I can't wait for the time to change so there is more daylight when I get home to snap some pictures. 

On the bright side, I have tons of great pictures from the branding to share!  Here's Madi meeting Bear for the first time.  I think she liked him!

Project 365 Day 24 - 1/24/11

the cowboy rides again...

Each year our family friends have a cattle branding at their gorgeous foothill property.  Its a great time with friends and family and, of course, some pretty awesome food!  The highlight for the kids is getting to ride the horses and calves.  This old guy is "Bear".  He has seen his fair share of brandings, in fact he's older than I am, but he's great for the kids and Luke absolutely LOVED him!  Thanks Tawny for letting us "exercise" him!  

Project 365 Day 23 - 1/23/11