The Howell Blessings

Honey and I went to the Hinckley Reservations this past weekend and walked the Hinckley Lake Loop Trail and back. We took our new camera's with us and snapped away at anything and everything we found of interest or thought would produce an interesting picture.  Below are 3 of mine that I took of one tree.  This sycamore tree made for interesting texture and colors. Thanks Daddy for letting me know what kind of tree that was. Click on any of these pictures to see them larger. 56mm>F/11>ISO 100>White Balance Auto 1 Platanus occidentalis (Sycamore) is readily identifiable with broad, maplelike leaves and a trunk and limb complexion of mixed green, tan and cream. Some suggest it looks like camouflage. It is a member of one of the planet's oldest clan of trees (Platanaceae) and paleobotanists have dated the family to be over 100 million years old. Living sycamore trees can reach ages of five hundred to six hundred years.  Steve Nix/About.com 56mm>F...

Many years have passed since we said “I do”, We sealed that day with a kiss. I never once gave up on you As we traveled through heartache and bliss. Those early years were certainly rough As we played at love like little ones. Our trials made us both too tough And we considered calling it done. We grew apart and became disenchanted Even though we stayed together Our love for each other we took for granted But to each other we stayed tethered. We both matured along with our years And something began to blossom. We traveled forward to new frontiers And our journey has proved to be awesome. I remember not what day it appeared It snuck up on me like twilight I realized at once that we had cohered And that somehow we’d be alright. Fast forward down this path a bit And you’ll see two people in love As surprised as I am, I must admit We now fit like a hand in a glove. With a gentle brush of your lips on my neck You send shivers down my spine. I’ll try to keep m...

Tonight I went out with a couple of my girlfriends.  We met at a local restaurant which wasn't too far for any of us. We hadn't seen each other in several months so conversation started flying from the minute we sat down together. The waitress finally gave up checking to see if we were ready to order and just told us to put our menus on the edge of the table to signal to her when we were ready. I love having friends like that.  Even though we don't get together as often as we would like, we pick up where we left off when we see each other. For the next two and half hours we talked and ate and talked some more.  We all left with smiles on our faces and plans to meet again soon.  I came home to a quiet house, still smiling in my recent memory of good fellowship. I started a fire in the fireplace and made myself a sweet treat.  Hot chocolate is perfect for such frigid night. We all should take more time to get with our friends. We work, come home, sle...

My husband loves to play chess..and he's very good at it. So with that in mind, I created a table setting that he would enjoy sitting at.He seems to enjoy all my endeavors at the table, but I wanted something just for him.  Check! It's your move now honey. I will be submitting this tablescape for Tablescape Thursday over at  between naps on the porch . Check it out to see plenty of inspirations I've never been very good at chess, but with this tablescape I think it's a winner! Chess players time clock Simple but dramatic color scheme Close up of the layers This Fleur de lis makes a bold statement Choosing sides A marble chess set acquired on a missions trip to Guatemala. A gift from our son.  I love the detail of the chess pieces Sources: White plates Corelle Red plates Waechtersbach Fun Factory Black Chargers, tablecloths and chair sashes at Tableclothfactory.com Chess pieces and Fleur de lis at Hobby Lobby Check...

Americans have this ritual of making New Year’s resolutions and 3 weeks later ditching them for what is comfortable and familiar. If you want proof, visit a Fitness Club the first three weeks in January and you will barely be able to move. But if you visit in February; you’ll have all the room you need. Have you put any thought into a New Year’s resolution, or do you forgo this ritual knowing you won’t be able to keep those resolutions? For me, resolutions are like diets. We go on them and we “fall off the wagon” so to speak, and then quit. If you’re one of the fortunate ones who actually stick to a diet and make your goal, then what? Most of us stop dieting and go back to a “normal” way of eating and start gaining back the weight we lost. Resolutions, like diets, need to have a makeover. I learned a long time ago that diets don’t work. What does work is learning to eat a new way. When we fall off that wagon, instead of quitting a diet, we choose to do better the next day (or wee...

I enjoy creating tablescapes. Whether it is for a holiday or just a special meal with family or friends, I like making the table "special". Tablescaping is another way to express my creativity. I will see a dish or piece of art (Pier 1 is my favorite place to be inspired) and just have to buy it! I can almost see a table done with one inspiration piece. My honey gave up on me a long time ago with telling me "no more dishes" or "you don't need that" and just goes with the flow now, although I still get the occasional lifted eyebrow. I've had a few friends ask me what a tablescape is and although there is no true definition, it simply means making your table special by using props, decor and coodinated place settings to create a mood or atmosphere. If you google tablescape you'll find all sorts of wonderfully inspiring pictures from some extremely creative people who do this for fun as well as those professionals who are lucky enough to make a li...

Cleveland is pretty notorious for having a lot of snow. Sometimes as early as October, but for sure by November. This year we have heard of other states getting snow that typically don't get much if any during the winter let alone in November. Washington state has gotten a few good snow falls already. Even Nashville has had ground cover! But we have not had anything more than a flake or two floating in the air. That is until this week. I can hear it now... "I am so sorry for being late with the snow this year...here let me make it up to you!" In a course of 2 days we got a reported 19 inches! and over the last couple of days we've gotten more. We've gotten a few breaks with some actual sunshine peaking through the clouds. When that happens, it creates all sorts of excitement in the house. I'll yell "Oh! Sunshine!" and we (typically just me) will run to the patio door to look at it like it is a meteorite that shows itself only once every 10 years. I...