The holidays are rapidly upon us, so I’ve been dieting to get ready to eat just a bit extra, you know?!  But, somehow, the diet doesn’t seem to be working.  Do you think? . . .  Just sayin’ . . . .

Oh, and I also got a brand new recipe from a good friend of mine, who says it’s a tried and true “Tequila Christmas Cake.”  That sounded interesting, so thought I might try it.  But, Tom knows my friend and after he read the recipe, he wasn’t willing to do me a big favor and go buy the tequila I needed to make it.  I’m not sure why.  What do you think?

TEQUILA CHRISTMAS CAKE

1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup water
1 tsp. salt
1 cup brown sugar
Lemon juice
4 large eggs
Nuts
1 bottle tequila
2 cups dried fruit

Sample the tequila to check quality.

Take a large bowl; check the tequila again to be sure it is of the highest quality…Repeat.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.

Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.
At this point, it is best to make sure the tequila is still OK.
Try another cup just in case.
Turn off the mixerer thingy.Break 2 eggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.

Pick the fruit up off the floor.
Mix on the turner.If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the tequila to test for tonsisticity. Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something.Check the tequila. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find.Greash the oven.Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.

Don’t forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window.

Finish the tequila and wipe the counter with the cat.

Cherry Mistmas!

*   *   *   *   *   *

I couldn’t resist, y’all.  Thought it was funny.  Unless it were true.  That might be another story.

Actually, I have a Lemon Buttermilk Pound Cake in the oven baking right now for tomorrow, especially for my beloved son Mark and my beloved husband Tom.  It mixed up really well and is looking good, but when I got my Bundt pound cake pan out yesterday, it was full of dust!  Yikes!  I’m just hoping my baking skills are not all rusty, as well.

The recipe is from a wonderful Christian woman who were also neighbors growing up out in west Texas.  A very similar recipe is in my all time favorite cookbook from about 1962 or so, “Treasured Recipes,” published by the Lubbock Christian “College” Associates.  LCU was a two year school then and that cookbook has some amazingly still great recipes in it that I use all the time.

There are also a whole lot of recipes in there that I’ve never seen anywhere else and haven’t seen in a very long time, that I need to try once again.  It reminds me of something a good friend said to Tom as a large group of us were eating casseroles and a big assortment of food after Tom’s daughter, Kim, “died.

They were sampling something really delicious, when he turned to Tom and said, “I can tell somebody really old made this dish.”

Well, today, somebody really old is making a lemon buttermilk pound cake for Thanksgiving!

Cheers!  Many blessings to each of you today and have a MOST blessed Thanksgiving!!  Dee

He also had to get the swing keel down in the water under the boat and get  the small outboard motor going to get us out of the harbor.  Every step he took, I was afraid he was going to fall off the boat.  I tried to keep out of the way and kept yelling to him, “Be careful!”

I knew that if he fell in the water, there was no way I could get him back on board.  Once we got under way, it was even worse.  If he fell off the boat out from the harbor, I had no clue how to stop the boat and turn it around.

Well – I could slow it down a whole lot, I knew, but letting the sheets go loose to the jib and mainsail, but after that – I dreaded to think.

Tom listened to me patiently, but finally tried to quiet me by saying, “Dee – I do this all the time, I know what I’m doing and I’m being careful.  Everything will be okay.”

It became easier once we were under way and I began to really enjoy myself.  Then, the lessons began.  You see – sailors have a totally different vocabulary.

For instance, there are no ropes on a boat.  Only lines and sheets.  Sheets are the “ropes” that attach to the sails.  Thus, our boat has jib (the forward, smaller sail) sheets and main sheets (the large, duh, main sail).  The rest of the many “ropes” on the boats are lines.

Also, there are no door or walls on a boat.  The “door” is the hatch and the “walls” are all bulkheads.  The right side on the boat, facing the front, is starboard and the left side is port.  The front of the boat is the bow, while the back of the boat is the stern.  The vocabulary goes on and on endlessly, but I learned enough to sound semi-intelligent by asking many times, “So . . . what’s this do-hicky?”

Captain Tom was really proud to have me on board, except for one thing.  You see, in the three years now he’s had the boat, he has not let one person use the little port-a-potty because he didn’t want to have to later empty out the holding tank, etc.  I told him there was no way I could go out for several hours without using it.  He uses a jug he bought especially for that purpose, himself, and then empties it over the side and washes it out.  So, he said, “Don’t you think you could just use that?  It has a wide mouth on it, Dee?  Come on.  Try it.  I don’t want to have to mess with the port-a-potty.”

I popped a canned drink and said . . . well – you don’t really want to know what I said.  ha!

So . . . while most people christen boats with a bottle of champagne across the bow, I christened Tom’s boat by peeing in the port-a-potty.  Hey – it worked for me!

By the way – have you taken a good look at the photo above?  See anything amiss?  Think about it and comment if you think you know.  I’m not going to tell you till everyone has had a good guess (or bad one).

We sailed out to Cat Island, a barrier island about seven miles out and then turned around to start back while eating our roast beef sandwiches.  We saw a couple of dolphins swimming across our bow and a loon in the water giving it’s lonesome cry.  Loons are fun to watch fishing.  They dive into the water and take forever to come back to the surface.  Neat birds.

We got back into the harbor and the slip about 4 p.m.  I had intended to captain the boat some myself while we were out, but Tom used his auto tiller the entire time, which guides the boat on whatever course he sets.  It’s a pretty neat instrument that I got him the first year he had the boat.  It’s really a necessary item for someone who wants to sail alone.

The auto tiller lets Tom do what he does best, which you can see in the photo above.  Lean against the “bulkhead” and enjoy being out on the water!

I had a great time and can’t wait to go out again now that I’ve taken the plunge and gone the first time.  Y’all come see us and we’ll take you out!  Don’t worry if you need a potty break, either.  Now that it’s been christened, Tom has relented and said it could be used again.  It wasn’t the end of the world to have to bring home the small holding tank to empty out.  I figure that was what it was made for, ya know?

Cheers!  And many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

But, I’ve got good reasons.

I’m in a summer slump.

Oh yeah . . . it’s September 10, already.

Well then, blame it on Tom.  He’s been keeping me really busy.  And, I have to admit I’ve been in a “slight” slump.

Actually, I’ve been spending a whole lot of time on Facebook, but that’s sorta like blogging, isn’t it?  It’s similar, you have to admit.  And very addicting.  Even worse than reading blogs all day long, which I did for a very long time when I first started blogging.  Now, not so much.  Just sort of cruise by everyone’s blog and see what’s going on and then head to FB!  ha!

What have y’all been up to the past several days I haven’t been here?  I did leave the last post up as long as I did for good reason.  I wanted people to have the chance to come by to see all of the winning photos.  I’m going to be posting some of the rest of the entries over the next few weeks and months, so watch for those, as well.  I would have included one of them today, but am on my laptop and don’t have access to them.

Instead, I thought about the theme of the contest (Summertime & the Livin’ Is Easy) and my own behavior of late (lazy) and found the lazy cat above I thought was pertinent.  Besides – he’s a beautiful cat who looks very much like one of our three “boys” back when we had them sharing our life.  He looks like Ross “Wolfy” Perot, our Persian/tabby mix who had golden topaz eyes.  He was a gorgeous cat!!

(I know – some of you are NOT exactly cat people, but hey – you can still appreciate beauty in a cat, just like I can appreciate beauty in a dog, even if you don’t LOVE them.)

So . . . what have you been doing?  Any of you FB perusers like I am?  Some of you work, perhaps?  (I’m sorry – that was mean of me, wasn’t it?!)  Anything exciting going on in your life?  Must be something you can share.

Let’s hear it.  I’ll go first.  At the moment we are visiting with Tom’s brother & sister-in-law.  Tom & Dickie have gone off to an afternoon $1 movie that’s fairly new – Disney’s “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” with Nicolas Cage.  Joyce & I are working on dinner.  Taking our time and doing a little at a time along so we can rest in between chores.

Last night we watched the Saints beat the Vikings, but neither team looked all that great for a good part of the game.  Tom can’t wait until Sunday for all of the pro football games because, as he has for many years, he has a fantasy football team in a league with some really great friends of ours, so has to cheer for his players.  Then, there are THE BOYS – the Dallas Cowboys.  And guess what – Sunday night the Cowboys are playing the Washington Redskins, Tom’s most hated team (ya know – like Cowboys and Indians!), but his brother, Jimmy’s favorite.  So, not only will Sunday night bring a big football rivalry, but also brotherly rivalry.  It’s hilarious.

Tomorrow – we need to spend reflecting and remembering all of those who were so tragically taken from us too soon by terrorists who would do away with us all.  May we never forget.  May we ever try to bring the world to Christ in love.  I could say a whole lot more about all of that, but will hold my tongue and ask that you all pray with me, instead, that God will guide us as we follow Him in ways we should live and love and not sow hatred or bring a bad name upon Him.

Many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

The Finding Direction Judges have been busy pouring through the excellent entries and have made their decision.  As usual, the ersatz publisher, editor, reporter, photographer, accountant, financier and general flunkie of Finding Direction will accept high praise for their (sic) finely honed judging skills, but accept no flak from disappointed would be winners.  (There are never any losers here at Finding Direction, as you know, except in the minds of some of the disgruntled entrants, who must be placated at all costs by fellow would be complainees.)

And, as usual, all decisions are final, although an appeal process might be considered in the event of an extraordinary oversight by the FD Judges, which is highly unlikely but let fairness abound.

Finally, as usual, the intro into the announcements of the winners is taking entirely too long (the Judges like to read their own words way too much, obviously) so let the announcements begin.

If you remember, and most probably don’t it’s been so long ago, the theme for the contest this time was “Summertime & The Livin’ is Easy.”  All winners have been chosen based on their adherence to the theme.  The first few winners were close, but not quite there.  However, do NOT let that detract from the impact of their photos and their eye for photography.  These are all works of fine art and are to be respected as such, say the Judges.  (Amen, says the reader.)

The winner in the first category, “Reminds Me Most of Home (Texas) In The Summertime Award,” goes to amateur photographer and new to the blogging scene blogger, Heather Welch with her windmill scene, shot in Texas, appropriately.  It must be said by the FD Judges that living in Texas gave Heather some advantage, but not so much as to interfere with the other entrants, as numerous awards have yet to be named.

The next award goes to reader Marilyn Hughes of Poteau, Oklahoma.  It is the “Best Summertime Nostalgic Field Scene Award,” which reflects the rural life that most Americans used to enjoy and live.  Most now have to rely now on photographs such as these to recall the simpler, gentler times in this vast country of ours, now given over in the most part to urban sprawl, spoil and squander of the land in the worst of ways.  How sad I feel for those who have never lived on a farm and been close to the land.  Having grown up on a cotton farm in West Texas, I have great respect for those who still strive in this day and age to provide food crops and needed goods for us all to enjoy.  Here’s Marilyn’s winning photo:

The next award is the “Most Patriotic (4th of July) Summertime Photo” and it was entered by our fair Janice Evans-Lauder, a/k/a JEL-My Place, a long time blogger and magnificent photographer in her own right.  She lives in her grandmother’s little house in Missouri, which is heated in winter only with a wood burning stove and cooled in the summer by nature.  You can only imagine, then, how well this photograph might help fill her summertime livin’ easy plan.

The “Summertime Photo From Farthest Away Award” goes to reader Darlene Morris, who lives in Lubbock, Texas, who entered a photo of two of her grandchildren, Kellen & Sam, taken on a mission trip with their parents in Tegucigapa, Honduras, in central America earlier this summer.  It’s a neat photo and one I think you’ll enjoy – seeing how summer looks on a rainy day in the tropics.

The next award is the “Most Makes Us Think of Taking A Summer Afternoon Nap Award,” which goes to reader and somtimes commenter, Marilyn Hughes, taken across their fields out from Poteau, Oklahoma.  In fact, looking at this photo is making me sleepy right now, since the weather outside the judges’ window is nearly identical to the photo.  (Except for the kinds of trees, of course.  And the fields.  And, uh, the, uh . . . Oh, never mind.  Nothing much is the same except for the feeling of needing a nap.  Would you like to join the judges for an hour or two?!)  (Just kidding!  Read on!)

The next award is arbitrarily given during each Finding Direction Photo Contest so as to keep the FD judges in good standing with their spouse – the esteemed Tom Andrews.  Thus it is that the “Special Tom Andrews Best Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy Award,” goes to . . . duh . . . Tom Andrews.  This is one of his daughter, Kristine, and his two granddaughters, Veronica & Hayley, taken on his sailboat.  Don’t they look like they are having a whole lot of fun.  It is a great photo, you have to admit!

Moving on . . ..  The winner of the “Best Depiction of Violation of Child Labor Laws in the Summertime Award” goes to none other than grandchildren abuser, Greg England, of “Why Soitenly,” the blog that ranks right up with the “bestest blogs” around.  If you haven’t been partaking of his puns, humor and outright wonderfully presented posts, you must indulge.  In the meantime, check out this classic “Grindaddy with the 18 month old twins, Logan & Lilly and older brother Jackson” photo.  It’s priceless.

Not to be undone by Greg’s classic “Grindaddy” photo above, Patrick Mead (see also: Tentpegs) had to enter one of his grandson, Lucas, which wins the “Most Blatant Attempt to Addict A Young Minor Child to Doughnuts in The Summertime Award,” which was caught in that wonderland called Krispy Kreme, with the effects of the child’s very first sugary doughnut showing on this poor, unknowing child.  What hope is there for the future of thin American children.

One of the most cherished awards in the Finding Direction Photo Contests is the “Special Judges’ Award for the Most Creative Entry That Always Stretches the Limits of the Theme Chosen.”  This contest’s winner is Janice Garrison for the following photo of a big garden spider outside her window.  You decide whether this is stretching the theme of “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy.”  Maybe from the spider’s perspective it is, ya think?

There was a tie in the next category.  The “Best Use of Color in Composition For Summertime & The Livin’ is Easy Award” goes to our own Janice Evans-Lauder for this beautiful photo . . .

. . . and to Patrick Mead for “Passing It On,” below:

Janice Evans-Lauder also wins the “Most Beautiful Summertime Sunrise Award,” for which she had to arise much earlier than the Finding Direction judges ever would.  Thus, it is a special treat for them to acknowledge this award. 

The winner of the “By Far The Most Realistic View of Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy Award,” is our own beloved blogger, Greg England for the following photo entry.  It shows a 6:09 p.m. temperature of 106.7 hot summer degrees Farenheit. (Cain’t nobody say tweren’t hot this summer, ya know?!)

And, that photo was taken earlier in the summer before the 117 degree temps hit out in the desert of southern California, t00.

The winner of the “Most Dramatic Summertime Clouds Award” goes to reader, Pat Baker, who is the sister of reader, Marilyn Hughes.  You have to admit it gives one chills in thinking about the magnificence God displays in our heavens each day.

If you will note from the picture, she shot it right in the middle of this summer, too!

Finally . . . the moment you’ve all been waiting for.  The top award winners.  Although, all of the awards are tops in the minds of the Finding Direction judges!  Never forget that, because each of you is very special to the FD judges!!

Third place winner(s) – there was a tie – in the Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest, with the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ is Easy,” goes to (1) reader Darlene Morris, of Lubbock, Texas, for the following entry of two of her grandchildren, Kellen & Sam:

That photo is poetry in motion with little kids enjoying the cool pool in the heat of summer.  Congrats, Darlene Morris, on your winning entries in the FD contest!!

Winner (2) in Third Place is Patrick Mead for the following photo of his little grandson, Lucas, in a photo titled “Whoa!”  You can see why the photo is called that and also why it is a big winner in the FD contest, based on the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy.”

Congratulations to Patrick, one of the top and most prolific Christian bloggers in the blogosphere.  He & Greg are the judges’ bestest two buddies, but that connection in no way interfered with the unbiased judging in this contest.  The judges attest to that and it is true.  May we all be so unbiased in dealing with each and every person who crosses our path daily.

Second Place in the Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest goes to brand new reader and not “too old a” blogger, either, Joe Tudor (his blog is titled Parapet Safety, which you’ll have to check out!) for his fantastic photo entry which brings out the strongest yearnings of the FD judges in thinking of past summer vacations in such places (Orange Beach, Alabama, Pensacola, Florida) where it’s “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy.”  The ambiance and laid back feelings evoked in the photo are marvelous.  The smells of the scrubby brush next to the gulf among the sand dunes and the days spent out in the water and along the water’s edge collecting shells come rushing back to the judges’ inner hearts and minds.  Congratulations to Joe!  Terrific entry for the theme!!  The photo is appropriately titled “Sea Oats.”

Isn’t that just a marvelous photo, y’all?!

The FIRST PLACE winner in the Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest is Heather Welch, fairly new to blogging and to photography, but very talented in both, with her entry on the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy,” that is untitled.  The judges absolutely loved the delight evidenced in the children in the photo using their hands, mouths and all other means by which to down some ice cold watermelon in the middle of a hot, hot summer.  It evokes, without words, the theme “Summertime & The Livin’ Is Easy!”  What do y’all think?  Don’t you love it?!  I mean, watermelon everywhere, but do they care?  Geez, no!  They’re washable, right?!

The FD judges are awarding a $25 gift certificate to the First Place winner this time, so will be in touch with Heather to convey that gift to her.  All of her work sent in was good, as were all of the rest of the entries, and she is entitled to be the First Place winner!

In conclusion . . . thanks to each and every one of you who participated in this contest and to all who stop by to read on a regular basis.  Without your support and constant encouragement, not only would this be a rather dull place to hang around, but also the less for not having all of you as friends.  In the past, Finding Direction has held summer and winter photo contests, so we’ll see this coming winter if perhaps we can revive that schedule.  It all depends on the Lord, on whom all our lives depend.

May God richly bless each and every one of you who stops by here!  Dee

]]> http://deeandrews.net/2010/08/31/winners-announced-and-featured-in-the-finding-direction-summer-2010-photo-contest/feed/ 8 http://deeandrews.net/2010/08/30/photo-contest-judging-nearly-finished-hang-tight-another-day-or-so/ http://deeandrews.net/2010/08/30/photo-contest-judging-nearly-finished-hang-tight-another-day-or-so/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:51:49 +0000 Dee Andrews http://deeandrews.net/?p=3865 Judging and the writing up of the blog on the winners has been going strong.  WAS going strong, until Tom got sick about six days ago.  It kept on, so I finally had to take him to the doctor today.  The diagnosis:  “Acute sinusitis/Pharyngitis/Bronchitis.”  I suppose it could have been worse.  He’s never had his tonsils out, so I’ve been thinking it was tonsillitis and had visions of popcicles galore for a long time to come after surgery.

He had to have a shot, get some antibiotics, nose spray and strong cough syrup, so hopefully will be better in a day or two.  At least he’s no longer running fever.  Taking care of him can be a “pain,” though!  (Just kidding.  I love him to pieces and when he hurts, I hurt.)

I’ve set myself a deadline of tomorrow, or if not by then, Wednesday, so y’all please understand – show some empathy, if you’ve ever been sick – and pray with us for his quick recovery now that he has medications.

Many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

P. S. I didn’t even mention that my left hand is mostly numb this afternoon from some shots I had to get in the palm of my hand for a couple of “trigger fingers” there.  And, that’s not even my shooting hand!  But, the gun is loaded and ready with a round chambered, so walk easy!

What fun ahead.  But, lots of work go into judging, so it will be a few days before the winners are announced and a grand prize given.  (Really – this year there IS a real grand winner’s prize!)

For one thing, moi must have a second cataract surgery on Thursday, to enlighten my vision so I can see better – bright and clear, as I can now see out of my already operated on left eye.  It’s quite a difference, I’m tellin’ ya!  And, I was really apprehensive about having it done, too.

Because of the work involved in getting the winning photos ready for publication and all, and the distractions, like surgery Thursday, I’m not going to give you a definite day yet for when the winners shall be posted.  We’ll see . . . hopefully sooner than later, but I’ll let y’all know.  Keep checking.  It will be worth your wait to see some of the fantastic entries!

In fact, I think that even after all of the winners of the different categories are announced and published, I’ll share some of the other entries with you, too, along as I write my columns here in the future.  Let you see what talent there is amongst you readers and commenters.  I like featuring photos on each column and now have a huge selection to choose from in sharing them with you all.  When I do, I’ll share who the photographer is, so you will get full recognition.

That’s it for today.  It’s Monday; laundry day; getting caught up from laundry not finished from last Monday day; getting ready for the coming busy week day.

What’s your day and week shaping up to be?  Share with us!

Cheers!  And many blessings to each of you today!!  Dee

My soul has been refreshed as well and inspired.

That is what I wish and pray for you, my friends.  I hope yours have been as well, so that you can tap into your creativity and capture some of God’s goodness in this summer season for my Finding Direction 2010 Summer Photo Contest.

This time I have left the word “Desktop” out of the title, but originally, that was what this contest was all about, for those of you who have joined the party late.  For, I have been blogging now for five and one half years.

You see, it was winter time and I had no good “desktop” photo to look at here on my computer.  I tire of having the same one all the time and tend to change out my desktop photos as the seasons change.  Thus, the reason – and hopefully – inspiration for you to participate.  To make my computer desktop and joy to behold.

Even more this time, I shall award a grand prize to the top winner who most captures – or finds – the photo that gently murmurs, “it’s summertime and the livin’ IS easy.”

Have fun while doing this.  It isn’t meant to be hard to do or anything more than sharing camaraderie with fellow readers and commenters.

Many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

How’s everyone’s summer going so far.  I CANNOT believe it’s already after 4th of July!  Can you?

Anyway – here’s the latest on the brand new “Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest” that I just started last week, I think.  I can’t remember.  At this age, time goes by WAY too fast, ya know?!

Here’s some of the “rules” for you entrants, and I’m waiting patiently – or not – for the first of you to show up with some great summer photos.  To enter, just go to the “Contact Me” tab above and write to me from there.  I will send you my email address so that you may submit your photo(s).  The theme this time is “Summer Time & The Livin’ Is Easy.”

Here’s some “rules,” such as they are:

(1) Enter as many photos as you would like under the “theme” as stated above.  The photos, preferably, will be your own that you have taken, but do not HAVE to be, knowing that not everyone is a God-gifted photographer.  In fact, you may “Google” or whatever online to find some good summer time photos to submit.  People in the past have done so.

(2) I’m giving y’all the rest of July and until the 15th of August by which to submit your photos.  At that time, the revered Finding Direction Judges shall review all of the entries, shall go over each with a fine tooth comb and shall make their esteemed decisions, based upon quality of the photos, personality of the entrants (just kidding!), and appropriateness to the subject matter.

(3)  All photos should be submitted as jpegs or gifs, preferably jpegs.

(4) The Finding Direction Judges shall consider the entrants’ behaviors during the contest period, i.e., attempts at cheating, seriously and shall engage in appropriate “penalties,” as needed.  This is especially true of those who are currently ministers of the Gospel (Good News) and former ministers of the Gospel, now engaged in burying the dead, otherwise known as funeral directors.

(4) Humor in photos will have points added to their “values” as the Finding Direction Judges are greatly in need of humor in their lives at the moment.

(5) All decisions are final, based purely on objective values, and prizes shall be awarded, as needed.

(6)  The Grand Prize Winner shall have their winning photo displayed on the Finding Direction Judges’ desktop home computer, which is a “grand” prize, indeed!!

(7)  The Finding Direction Judges shall award an ACTUAL GRAND PRIZE award to the winner this time, for about the 3rd time, btw (Greg!), so y’all pay attention and get with it here, ya hear?!

That’s it for now, guys.  Take some photos or sift through what you already have taken and have stored away in your computer, because I KNOW that the lot of you have LOTS of photos to choose from – either your own, some you’ve received in Power Point presentations, or on the internet – that you can enter.  So, get WITH it!!

Cheers!  And many blessings to each of you today!  Dee

I’m in Texas once again – second time in three weeks – for another family visit.  This time, I wised up and flew out to Dallas instead of driving nearly 600 miles one way.

Things are going as well as can be expected, I suppose, although things are tough right now for some family members, including me, truth be known.  But, God provides and He rules above all, so we are winners always as His beloved children.

Right now, I’m with my mom and while we aren’t in Austin, the state capital does it’s grand share of celebrating July 4th with family gatherings, this year worship tomorrow on Sunday, and fireworks.

Hope each of you have a very wonderful and blessed July 4th weekend, ya hear?  I’ll be back in a couple of days to talk more about the latest and ongoing Finding Direction Summer 2010 Photo Contest.  Haven’t received any entries, yet, and I know y’all are busy with the holiday weekend, but be thinking about it, taking photos all weekend in your activities and climb on board for some fun!!

Love, Dee

I haven’t done one of these in over a year, but inspiration has struck me (thanks to Greg over at “why, soitenly,” although I still have him booked as the “Ex-Rev’s Ramblings”) and I’m now on a roll.

For those of you who may be new, the quickest way to get up to speed is to check out my Categories on my right side bar and go down to the entry, “Finding Direction Contests,” where you will find all of the “rules” (slack though they may be) and entries of each of the categories, which are determined by moi at some point along the line.

I held five Finding Direction Photo Contests, in the Winter of 2005-06, Summer 2006, Winter 2006-07, Summer 2007, and Winter 2007-08.  So, y’all have had lots of time to collect photographs to enter.

I don’t have the time right now as today is Monday – Laundry Day – but when I do have a bit of extra time, I’ll put the links here to the winners blog posts from the five contests, along with the “rules,” – don’t worry if you don’t know any of them, it doesn’t matter.  Doesn’t even have to be your own work!

Okay – here’s two from Summer 2006 and Winter 2006-07.  I went back through all the winners’ blog posts and found that the photos  were all missing, so I’m going to have to check with TheoBloggers to see if their expert/genious status can pull them up for you all to see.  But, do go back and read some of the entries under that category – Finding Direction Contests, because then you’ll see how much FUN we all have “competing” in these.

Love you all!  Sorry I’ve been so long in posting.  We were out of town most of last week gone to a Tri-State Press Association convention in Tunica, Mississippi, just south of Memphis.  It was for Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee, and we had a great time.   I’ll post a photo later.

Cheers!  And many blessings to each of you today!  Dee