Ruby Tuesday

A few vintage Storybook Dolls, with some old storybooks.

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Each doll is about five-and-a-half inches tall. I love collecting tiny dolls, and these are three from my collection. The lass on the right is a Valentine's doll. And I believe the one on the far left (in the short skirt) is a Jill from a Jack-and-Jill pair. Not sure who the girl in the middle is meant to represent; guess I need to do some research.

Ruby Tuesday is hosted by Work of the Poet.

Blue Monday: Railroad Blues

Blue Monday is hosted weekly by Smiling Sally.
To see more offerings, or to participate yourself,
please head on over to her blog.

One Saturday, a few weeks ago, M and I ventured into DC for the National Train Day show at Union Station. Weren't the banners a lovely blue?


We were hoping to see some really interesting model train exhibits (M is a real enthusiast, if not a practitioner), but the only one we got a look at turned out to be more in the realm of Thomas the Tank Engine. But it seemed to be fascinating the kiddoes, and after all, that's who it was aimed at.


This guy in the green leaf suit was advertising Amtrak's high-speed Acela train, which is supposed to be "the green way to get there." Not sure what that was all about, but I did admire his lovely blue hat and shoes.


It was obviously the place to be, that weekend, but the lines were long and the crowds were thick.


And the music was LOUD.


In fact, that's what ultimately drove us away, and back to our nice quiet Virginia retreat. We must be getting even older and more boring than I realized.

Shadow Shot Sunday #106: Spider Shadows

Garden sculpture, Marble Falls TX
October 2008

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Shadow Shot Sunday is a weekly photo meme hosted by Hey Harriet. To see many, many more shadow shots or to contribute some yourself, head on over to her blog.

Friday Fill-Ins #178

Wow, it's been a really long time since I played along with the Friday Fill-Ins group. Where have I been all this time? Must've been busy doing something, but can't say what. Stuff happens, I guess. Well, I'm back, at least for now. So here goes:

1. Anything I don't have to cook! -- the best food to take on a picnic.
   
   
2. Summer time and the livin' is easy. (And the allergies are raging.)
   
   
3. My feet get dirty when I wear flip flops.
   
   
4. To love someone is one of the nicest things about being human (or canine).
   
   
5. I always take along my walking stick when I'm going on a long hike. (And bottled water for those frequent rest periods. Oh, and quite a lot of chocolate, too - just for quick energy, of course!)
   
   
6. When I crave food, it's usually something fattening or bad for my health, or both.
   
   
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the NBA finals with the hubby (go, Celtics!), tomorrow my plans include probably some shopping, if it doesn't rain, and Sunday, I want to just relax and get lots of reading done!

Sky Watch Friday: Castle and Sky

Bright skies and drifting clouds over Smithsonian "Castle," Washington DC.

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Window Views...and Doors Too!

For more window and doorway views, visit the website here.

New meme for me. I've been lurking around this site for a few weeks now, checking out the great photos; but this is the first time I've posted anything myself. This shot of the ruins of an old cabin in the woods was taken last summer, at Shenandoah National Park.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

The cabin is part of the Pocosin Mission site, an abandoned Episcopal settlement which also includes the crumbling remains of the church's foundation, and some unmarked gravesites in the well-hidden cemetery. It's an easy hike, less than two miles round-trip; but it's uphill on the way back - not great for arthritic knees and hips (I should know).

Outdoor and Wordless Wednesday: Apples on the Way

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Outdoor Wednesday is hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer. To see many, many more outdoor photos or to post some of your own, please visit her blog.

For more Wordless Wednesday offerings,
please visit the website here.

Ruby Tuesday

My first Ruby Tuesday entry! Taken last summer, at a roadside produce stand on the way home from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The geese were made of wood (thank goodness!), but the tomatoes were very real and delicious!

(Click on image to enlarge.)

See more Ruby Tuesday photos at Work of the Poet.

Blue Monday: Salvation Blues

Blue Monday is hosted weekly by Smiling Sally.
To see more offerings, or to participate yourself,
please head on over to her blog.

I know I'm a little late in getting this posted. Almost forgot about today being Monday. Must be this cold that's making me crazy. Well, crazier.

Over the weekend, I managed to trick M (the sweetie) into heading over to one of my favorite shopping places - the local Salvation Army store. I was looking for vintage table lamps, but there was not a single lamp in the place, vintage or otherwise. I ended up buying a few books and a couple of cups and saucers. But while we were there, I noticed this display of lots of lovely blue glassware and china.


Tempting, isn't it? There was a time when I would not have been able to resist these (back when I had more storage space).


And it was really, really hard to talk myself out of these beauties (below). But the hubby was already outside starting the engine, so I behaved myself and passed them by.

(Click on images to enlarge.)

Happy Birthday, Bob!

Don't ask me nothin' about nothin'
I just might tell ya the truth. (- Bob Dylan)

Born 24 May 1941

Shadow Shot Sunday #105: Shadow Edits

I'm still amazed at what you can do with these photo editing programs. A simple shot of one of our balcony chairs along with its shadow can be transformed with some very interesting effects.

Here's the original shot, not cropped or retouched:


And here's the same shot with an embossing effect. Not too different - just a bit grainier:


Or I can turn it into a pencil sketch, still not too different:


Or go for something much more dramatic, like this negative image:


Which also lets me see what those chairs would look like, painted white.
Neat, yes? Well, at least it's a neat way to waste a Saturday afternoon.

Shadow Shot Sunday is a weekly photo meme hosted by Hey Harriet. To see many, many more shadow shots or to contribute some yourself, head on over to her blog.

Hello Again and a Few Chuckles

It's been quite a while since I posted anything here at Joysweb. Been concentrating on my book blog and trying to get lots of reading done. Also a lot of health and medical stuff going on recently - but you don't want to hear about that. (And neither do I!)

So I thought I'd post these funnies. Don't know where they came from originally; my husband received them in an email at work. So if I'm stepping on anyone's copyright here, I apologize and hope to be forgiven (we're talking church stuff here, right?).

These allegedly appeared in actual church bulletins around the country.

1. The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
   
   
2. The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
   
   
3. Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
   
   
4. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
   
   
5. Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
   
   
6. Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
   
   
7. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
   
   
8. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
   
   
9. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
   
   
10. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
    
    
11. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
    
    
12. Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
    
    
13. Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
    
    
14. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
    
    
15. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
    
    
16. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
    
    
17. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
    
    
18. This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
    
    
19. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. Is done.
    
    
20. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
    
    
21. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
    
    
22. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
    
    
23. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church.. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
    
    
24. The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.'

Wow, if number 17 is to be believed, church has gotten a lot more interesting since the last time I was in attendance.

Wordless Wednesday: No Ifs, Ands, Or ...

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For more Wordless Wednesday offerings,
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