Great Northern (152/366)

It was a beautiful day that lead into a beautiful night.  Dan had a game and Blinky's Noble Bar and Grill dominated!  Dan went 2-3 and in the inning he pitched, got 3 strike outs, one walk and allowed 2 hits.

As we were leaving I notice the beauty in the sky and tried to catch it at a traffic light.  I then tried to catch it at yet another light but it wasn't until we got into the Great Northern Shopping Center that I actually had a good view free of power lines and telephone poles!

The two Jo-Ann Fabric's employees who sat outside looked at me sorta funny as I stood in the middle of the parking lot taking pics, but oh well, it's what I do!

So take time this weekend and go out and find the beauty in your own back yard or in the parking lot of your local shopping center.  Beauty is EVERYWHERE!

Pictures of Lily (151/366)


Lilies are lovely to photograph but the smell, I just can't get past the smell.  They just remind me of a funeral.  In fact, the do so much that when I need to order flowers for a funeral, I make sure my bouquet does not contain any lilies.

This photogenic flower was found at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, where I spend the last day and a half in a training on industrial belting.  C'mon, admit it, you are jealous and you want to know about idlers and steel cable belt : )

So, knowing I would be stuck in the hotel for this training all day and my motivation would be nil by the time I fought the I376 traffic to get home, I took advantage.  It was actually a beautiful bouquet with daisies and carnations but the lilies spoke to me.


Pictures of Lily made my life so wonderful
Pictures of Lily helped me sleep at night
Pictures of Lily solved my childhood problems
Pictures of Lily helped me feel alright
~The Who

After The Rain (150/366)

They predicted nasty storms today and for once, the weatherman was correct.  I was on my way to some off-site training when it really hit and then again in the early evening.

I had still not taken a photo yet for the blog and then contemplated a shot or two through the raindrops on my front window, but about 20 minutes later, I had my shot.  I tramped around in the wet grass to get my best shot of the pastel sky over my neighbor's house.

Once again, despite all the gray, rain, thunder and lightening, Mother Nature graced us with a brilliant sunset and the new hope of a great day tomorrow!

Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under.
~C. Joybell C

Hot Fun In The Summertime (149/366)


Growing up, we had a pool as did most of our neighbors and we had these huge neighborhood picnics with food and games and swimming going on in every yard!  It brings back a lot of great memories with good friends and family.

Now I live in Pittsburgh and life is a little different.  However, as different as it might be, we have the Green Tree Pool.  We did not have this type of community gathering place when I grew up but it's the best $130 one could spend for the summer.  No cleaning, no huge electric or water bill and my kids never fail to find a friend and it's usually a challenge to get them to leave.

So this is the Unofficial beginning of Summertime and if this weekend is any indication, there will be a lot of pool time in our future.

I miss the days when summer vacation was about relaxing and hanging out with your friends.  Now it's all about working and squeezing your friends in when you can.
~Unknown

Our Hats Are Off To You (148/366)

This is an ongoing photo project I started back in 2010 when we went to Cleveland to see the Indians take on the Red Sox.    I got an interesting shot of an Indians hat and just love the way it turned out.  Since that game, I try to shoot hats from every team that comes to PNC or at every stadium we visit.  Once I have all the hats from all 30 teams, then I can start to assemble my photo book.

Shot this one today.  What a fun hat!  I did get lucky in the bottom of the 8th when a Cubs fan finally came to sit near us to get away from the raindrops.

Soon I will be gathering all those shots together to see exactly how many teams I have and how many more I need to get.  They key to this challenge is to not let the wearer know I am taking their picture!

You don't take a photograph, you make it.
~Ansel Adams

You Can't Touch This! (147/366)

Today brought us to the Flag Football "playoffs" and Daniel's team (RED) was playing his friend Pat's team (GREEN).  Pat is the fastest kid we know and damn if he wasn't the one up against Dan the whole game.  Daniel was not put on this earth for his speed....LOL

The RED team saw a loss but it was well played.  Dan got a few good catches and threw for one of the touchdown's his team got.  The boys did well in the heat and humidity!  Those of us parents were smart and sat way up high near the press box so we could stay in the shade, where it was bearable (almost).

So we will put away the pigskin till next season and wish the best of luck to the Green Team in their next round of the playoffs!

We didn't lose the game, we just ran out of time!
~Vince Lombardi

Winning! (146/366)

No, this has nothing to do with Charlie Sheen.  What this has to do with is Blinky's Nobel Bar and Grill scored their first win of the season today!  We have had a few close ones, but tonight we pulled it out and made the GAA and Blinky's very happy!

There were Victory Slush Puppies all around and 12 very happy boys!  Not to mention a few smiling coaches and definitely happy parents!

Now, tomorrow, we take our show on the road over to Scott Township for a make-up game.  Let's go for win #2...that's a streak, right??

Who, in their infinite wisdom decreed that Little League uniforms be white.  Certainly not a mother!

~Erma Bombeck