The Last Laugh is on Me!

There's never a dull moment around this house!

It was a beautiful day today, so when I let the dogs outside I left the door to the screened-in porch open to get some fresh air.  Then I went about my work and forgot it was open.

I came downstairs a few hours later to this...

She was waiting proudly for me to see her latest catch!
I wasn't quite sure if it was alive or dead, so I put my shoes on.

 Maddie wasn't sure either.

It wasn't moving, so I moved in a little closer to inspect it, ready to make a fast get-away if necessary!

I saw blood on the floor (there must have been a fight!) and also in the scales of the snake.
Its eyes were open - do snakes close their eyes when they die?

I got the kitchen tongs out to nudge it and grab it if it was alive.

It just flopped.

 So I got brave and took some really close pictures with my macro lens.
The scales look really cool!

Then I flipped him over and checked out his belly.

I was amazed at how shiny it was!

I also saw a few puncture wounds at various points along its belly.

I felt like I was doing an autopsy!

When I saw the blood around his mouth, I felt a little bad for him!
I decided he was dead.

I used the tongs to pick him up and put him in a ziploc bag.
I didn't throw it away yet because I had to show Vance - he LOVES reptiles.

When Annie got home, I showed her the bag.  I noticed there was some black slimy stuff in the bag in addition to the snake.  I wondered if snakes poop when they die!

An hour later, Vance got home. 

I went to get the bag and noticed the snake was in a different formation - all coiled up.

Interesting.

I picked up the bag and the snake stuck its tongue out at me!
OMG!
Vance laughed at my reaction and I cringed thinking back to how close I was to this creature - my face only inches away taking those close-up pictures!

He told me that snakes play dead when they are being attacked.
He took the bag outside and let the snake go in the woods.
He said it slithered away like nothing ever happened to it!

So the last laugh is on me!

 (For those of you interested in photography, this photo (creepy though it may be) is a great example of a shallow depth of field.  Notice there is only a thin band of the photo that is actually in focus (where the eyes are).  The rest of the photo is blurred.)

My Expressive Daughter - Again

I told you a few posts ago that my secret goal at track meets
 this year is to capture Annie's facial expressions. 

Here are a few from the last meet!

And the winning expression of the day...

In case you're wondering, Annie really does participate in the track meet -

when she's not talking!

In-Bread Meme

Meme: An internet phenomenon or a meme is an image, video, phrase or simply an idea that spreads from one person to another seemingly for no logical reason at all.
 
Last night, my daughter Kerry told me lookup "cat breading" on google images.
I said "Don't you mean breeding?"
She affirmed she really meant "breading".

I did, and I couldn't believe what I found!

So, today Kerry and I set out to "bread" our cats.

It's not as simple as it sounds.

Our initial attempts on Maddie failed horribly.
The bread broke as she tried to get away!

So we decided it would be better to toast the bread.

She REALLY  didn't want to have anything to do with it!
The toast fell to the floor and Sami ran off with it, followed by Halle
close on his heels!  She wanted him to share!

After she tasted the toast, Halle asked to be breaded too!

We succeeded in breading Momo (or I should say "toasting")
but Maddie was too jacked up to try again.

We waited until she was taking a nap.
Then,

Another successful breading!

Did you know there is an APP on iTunes called "Breaded Cats"?

I tried it out...

There have been many other internet "memes"
such as

Oolong the Pancake Rabbit

Nuts the Squirrel who stepped into a couple's vacation picture.


And my personal favorite, Maru the cat in Japan who loves getting inside bags and boxes!

In My Dreams

Watching the Amazing Race always makes me yearn to visit far-away places.  It gives me glimpses of the vast and varied beauty of the world that I will probably never see with my own eyes.

If I had the chance to visit just a few of these places...
If I had to narrow it down to a five...
Where would I go?

(not in any particular order)

The white buildings and blue waters of the Greek Islands have always seemed appealing to me.  Watching "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" clinched it.  I want to go there someday!

Isn't this photo amazing?  Japan has serenity and gracefulness that I would love to capture with my camera.  Not the cities.  Just the smaller villages and countryside.

Africa is so different and breathtaking.  Serengeti National Park, the animals, the landscapes, the people.  Another photographer's dream!

The French countryside would be so romantic and picturesque!  The Loire valley, castles, flowers...

I have always wanted to visit Ireland too.  Maybe it's my Irish heritage.  Maybe it's the novels I've read which make Ireland and the people come alive.  And of course it's the beauty!

These are just dreams.
Maybe I'll get to a few of them.
Maybe not.

However, I am so fortunate that I have already been to the most breathtaking place on earth.
This place has been a part of me all of my life. 
This is where I am most at peace.
No matter where I live, it will always be home.

 
Vermont!

Where a Little Bit Means a Lot

Until about 5 years ago, I was always able to eat
just about anything I wanted without gaining weight.

Not true anymore.

I generally try to lose weight before I go on vacation
in the summer and have to wear a bathing suit.

In my closet, I have various sizes of jeans that are
available to fit whatever size I am at the time: 4, 6, or 8.

I may not look heavy to other people.
I am good at wearing looser tops and sweaters to hide
my muffin top.

In fact, I feel bad even mentioning to others that I'm
trying to lose a few pounds.  They look at me like I'm
crazy.  But I know I'm not.

A few months ago, I hit an all-time high weight of 133.
On a 5'2" frame,  this is not healthy.
For a female my age, my ideal weight is about 122 lbs,
within a range of 109-137.

I know I feel great at 122.

But it's amazing how just a few pounds can make such a difference in how I look and feel!

Not so surprising when you look at what 5 lbs of fat looks like.
Put this on my belly where it always accumulates and it's easy to see
why my jeans don't fit!

So, a few months ago, I made a change.
I cut out almost all bread, baked goods, chips, and soda.
And I exercise moderately almost every day.

I eat mainly lean meat, eggs, fresh fruits and veggies, and water.

Once a week, I enjoy a trip to TCBY or Friendly's for a
chocolate soft serve, but other than that,
I snack on fruit or nuts.

 

 

It was hard at first because I LOVE bread, and I'm at home all day

so it's easy to snack.  But the less I eat all of the junk food, 

the less I WANT to eat it.  The cravings have subsided.

I feel like I am in control now.

I have lost 7 lbs so far.  A pound a week.

I have 4 or 5 more pounds to go.

Pants that I couldn't even begin to zip a few weeks ago

are fitting great now.

A few pounds can make a huge difference in how you look and feel!

A little bit means a lot!