SUN TEA HOW TO

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I use a one gallon jug made of glass. So fill your glass jug with COLD water. Add 5 family size tea bags. (Luzianne is the best) Screw on the cap, and set it out in the sun for at least 4 hours. The warmer you allow it to get, the more antioxidants are released into your tea. Pour over ice and enjoy, or if you love sweet tea like I do, use 2 packets of Sweet and Low per 12 ounce cup. You wouldn't want to use real sugar because it is bad for you - even if your aren't diabetic! Sometimes I like to throw in a couple of green tea bags with it, just for the extra boost. Did you know that drinking tea is good for you? The experts say it can help all kinds of things from heart disease to certain cancers. Drink up I say!! Mackey should love this!!

A HUNDRED BUCKS AND SIX HOURS LATER...

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Voila! A swing set! Poor PPHead... He spent ALL DAY putting it together. Why is it that children's toys that are supposed to bring so much joy and happiness always seem to elicit such frustration and potty mouthing while putting them together?? And of course it came complete with missing bolts. And no anchors - sold separately yeah. The kids see the box, get all excited and happy, and have to wait 6 hours to give it a try, by which time it is almost dark. Go figure. THEN - my neurosis.... well I hate slipper slides. I have this gut wrenching fear that one of the kids is going to fall off of it face first and have their teeth knocked out or crack open their heads and get brain damage. It makes me physically ill to watch them play on it. But it only took Riley about 5 minutes to master the art of the slide. So I will just hold my breath and pray they don't get hurt. They have to be kids after all. Yea I'm trying to reassure myself. I mean she does stand up and drive the 4 wheeler. Shane does tricks on it. I'm ok with that now. The whole plan of getting this kind of stuff is to get outside more. All of us running and playing and feeling the sunshine. Well now we are all sunburnded because I forgot the sunscreen....

GOODBYE AN GOOD LUCK

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I guess the time has come to let go.
I loved you.

FINALLY FRIDAY!

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He was posing for me!





Such hams...

I cannot believe my first year of going back to college is almost over! It seems like a long time, but yet so short. I don't think I will make the 4.0 list this semester, but I will make the Deans List for sure. I'm all enrolled for the fall semester already, and taking biology, speech, drawing, and digital photo. Not real excited about biology and speech, but adding those two classes wil give me my A.A., so it will be worth it. My last semester of classes will give me my A.A.S. in Visual Communications, so when I walk, I will get two little degrees! I am feeling pretty good, and I can't wait for my kids to see mommy graduate from college. They are so proud of me, and I am awfully proud of myself for it too! Life seems to just feel better now, even with the ups and downs.

TUESDAY NIGHT TORNADO!!!

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After all my years of living in Kansas, I present you - MY VERY FIRST TORNADO Funnel!!
YEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAWL!!


OH yeah! Two of em trying to come down at the same time!!


A rope funnel that came out and went back up! People were driving around like idiots trying to figure out where to go - I just stood there with my mouth open!! Heehee!


This was the supercell that produced all of the tornado activity. I don't know for sure how many there were, but there were several concentrated over Nickerson, Kansas, which is also where my mom lives. She's fine. Just a bit shook up. Ya know she does live in a trailer.... *snicker*


A big one trying to push it's way down. Oh my god my adrenaline is still going 90 to nothin!!
Mel - I thought of you and Mike!! I could just hear him hootin an hollering!!


This one was rain wrapped, but spotters said there was a tornado in the middle of it. There wasn't, but it sure was awesome!! It was somewhat odd, as usually there is a ton of lightning with these storms, but this one wasn't really all that electric. But LOOKY!!!


Another pic of the supercell. This facker was HUGE! I couldn't even fit it all in the photo!!
Mackey - I thought of you an Dave too - and him running away screaming!!


Dangit.

ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT REBECCA BRIDGES 2007. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (So that means if you use them without permission I will hunt you down an cut your somethings off - then sue you!)

SENIOR PICS WITH MAR MAR

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Me an Mar had a blast today. Me doing what I love best, and she doing the same! Heehee! She never got no Senior Pics in school, cuz well, she was never a Senior. So we made some today!


Outdoor - scenic - fill flash. Ok well all of them are....




We liked this one LOTS! Dreaming.....
I think I finally have my portfolio completed for portrait class. Whew!

KANSAS FIELDS OF HUH?

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I dunno what is growing in this field. But it's perty. I found this spot last night while staking out a place to watch for lightning and tornados. Yippy! It is on Rayl's Hill right across from the big cemetary. The storm chasers are in town full force. I wanna car with a big ol' satelite on it toooo...


WHAT'S IN YOUR SMILEBOX?

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HAPPINESS





Click the Pic to Play!
Or click HERE!



SATURDAY AND THE LETTER "S"

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Sandpit - This is where I went yesterday to get a ton of driveway gravel. We had a nasty hole full of water to level out. Next week I will go back and get a couple tons of play sand for the kids. If you go and get it yourself, it is totally cheap. Our poor old truck can only hold one ton at a time - the tires were all droopy when we were loaded full, and the front end kinda was sticking up! Then we had to drive home real slow. I dunno if I should even bother putting sand in the sandbox, the kids will have it dug out and all over the yard 10 seconds after we get in it there anyways. I think we should just leave em a big ol mountain. Shoes full of Sand...



Strawberries - these are mine! (A bad Snapshot) I have actual berries of straw in my garden!!
My radishes are up, and my peas are just starting to peak through the dirt! I planted 4 tomato plants on Thursday, and hopefully today I can get out and work in the garden some more. Of course we are under a wind advisory at the moment. Sigh....

She Sells Sea Shells by the Sea Shore.


DAY OF REMEMBERANCE

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A COMPLETE BAN ON ABORTION IN THE US?

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Photo by Rebecca Bridges Copyright 2007

A decision made today by the U.S. Supreme Court could open the door to a total ban on abortion in the United States. I certainly agree that partial-birth abortion should not be a legal practice, except when the mother's health is at immenent risk, but making abortion completely illegal is absurd. If we allow a law like that to come to fruition, this country will once again be sent into the dark ages regarding women's health. We will see deaths of women of all ages caused by do-it-yourself procedures, dead babies in toilets and dumpsters, and the fractured mental health of women forced to carry the seeds of rape and incest to term.
I personally don't believe that abortion is something that should be used as birth control, or as an answer to every unwanted pregnancy, but I also think it's retarded that the government could possibly think they can control what a woman does with her own body. What about the girl who was raped? The girl who was molested by her own father? The 12 year old cohersed into sex and now pregnant? Yes there would be a thousand couples ready to adopt, but what about the health of these victims? What about those babies who reach the age at which they want to know where they came from? If anything, girls/women should be given information and counseling before making the ultimate decision, but that is exactly how it should remain - A WOMAN'S PERSONAL DECISION! Not the decision of the United States Government!!

THINKING BLOGGER AWARD

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Photo by Rebecca Bridges Copyright 2007


My friend MELLY has nominated me for the "Thinking Blogger" award. I'm thrilled that she thought of my blog when she had to choose 5 people to pass the nominations forward. And I am so glad at least a few people think I can use my brain, at the very least when completely necessary!! :)

Now it's my turn to pick 5 blogs to pass this along to... So following Mel's lead, here are my nominations! (some of the folks I believe are totally deserving are listed on Mel's blog already, including Mel herself!)

SPICY BUG - Is a woman of deep wisdom. She has carried me through some very rough times. She always writes about things that get a person to thinking, and asks questions we should all be asking ourselves. Though she does not have things in life easy for her, she still takes the time to think about everyone else. I also love the fact that she doesn't mince words - if she wants to say something - she will.

SASSY - Ok now Sassy - always keeps me thinking. Thinking about the possible, the impossible, the silly, and sometimes the serious. She definitely keeps me giggling, and sometimes pissing my pants laughing so hard. You have GOT to check out her post labels! She is one of the reasons Canada is awesome - and has the very most creative easter eggs in the entire world!

EVYDENSE - He knows the struggles of the bipolar world by heart. And because we share this common bond, his food for thought writing is extra special to me. Sometimes serious, and sometimes funny, he gives the world a picture of the bipolar mind. Oh yeah - and he has done a secret experiment he has yet to explain to me!! :)

FRYING BACON IN THE NUDE - He is a teacher and parent to a child with autism. His bog is not only a valuable resourse for those seeking information, but he's just a damn funny man!! He is a very deep thinking man as well. You know he once posed naked?? Well I think he is naked a lot... heehee!

MARY BLACKCHURCH - WOMAN ADDICTED - Though I have not had the courage to comment on her blog as of yet, what I have read is awesome. Today she has opened up her blog for questions and anwers. There are trials, tests, and such tenderness all wrapped up in one life. She is beautiful, and if you get the chance, you should stay and read awhile. She has definitely set my mind to thinking about acceptance. Just read!

Here are the rules from the originating site of the award:

Should you choose to participate, please make sure you pass this list of rules to the blogs you are tagging. I thought it would be appropriate to include them with the meme.The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote (here is an alternative
silver version if gold doesn't fit your blog).That was that! Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all - blogs that really get you thinking!


That was that! Please, remember to tag blogs with real merits, i.e. relative content, and above all - blogs that really get you thinking!



UHGGG IT'S MONDAY AGAIN

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We had sugar snap peas last night for dinner. This one had two peas in a pod. I scanned em in my scanner. They got squished. I promise Melly that I will get my post up for the Thinking Blogger. I have to think about it some more. :)
Only THREE and a half weeks of school left! I cannot wait till summer. Sleep in till 7am, and get to play outside all day!! Yeeehaaaaaaw! Hopefully the weather will behave now so I can get busy on my garden. The plants I had left did survive the snow and I have sooooo much left to do. PPHead is getting us a pool and making a sandbox for the kids! C'monnnnn summertime!!

THAT FUNNY TATTOO GUY

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This picture is for my friendly NWO to go with his post HERE! Heehee!
Rest assured that the guy who gave me this tattoo is in prison and won't get out until sometime in 2010. If he behaves himself that is.
Friends.... Never tell a drunken tattooer to just "have at it" with your flowers!

LATEST TYPOGRAPHY PIECE

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Assignment: use text for a self portrait. Done.
Whaddaya think?
I cutted stuff, and used gooey glue!
Heehee!
I will never admit to having had fun.
Stop giggling!

KANSAS MENNONITE RELIEF SALE

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Despite the nasty snowy weather, the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale went on as planned. Friday of the sale is traditionally "The Feeding of the Multitude" of which I did brave the elements to attend - with my own tupperwear take-out containers!! An estimated 10,000 people are fed during the supper!!


Verenika with Ham Chip Gravy and German Sausage - YUMMMY!! So good that I don't think anyone stayed home because of the weather. The event is held every year in April, and all proceeds from the sale are used to provide for material needs and community development in North America and across the world.

OH FOR SHITS SAKE ALREADY!!!!

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Here's the radar from about 5 minutes ago (1:45pm my time) Is this not just utterly ridiculous?? Everyone's gardens and crops and lawns and green thingys are freezing and dying. The wheat crop here was supposed to be the best we had seen in a very long time - such joy was heard across the land. Then last weekend came, and panic and worry. Now this is on top of us and joy has turned to sorrow. It's everywhere though, not just in KS. And do you think for a minute it was cold enough to kill them damn grasshoppers??? HELL NO!



3:00 PM - Snowing - BIG SNOW - THE BIGGEST SNOW I HAVE EVER SEEN!! These are not just any old snowflakes - these suckers are like big snowBALLS hitting you! AMAZING! We even had THUNDER - who ever heard of thundersnow storms?? Mar says lightning strikes have trees down out in the country too. WOW!


OK - 5:15PM.... The splats on her back and head - are FRIGGIN snowflakes OMG!! And now the weather radio says Hutch may get up to 8 inches by tommorow morning. Now we gotta break out all the flashlights an candles because they are worried about the power lines falling down. No biggie since we had them semi-out for tornado season. If we get a tornado in the middle of all this - that would surely break some kinda record!!



6:30PM - a true Friday the 13th. I think all of the vegetation in my yard is a goner fer sure. I am hoping that the snow will insulate my strawberries, cauliflower, and broccoli. My bushes split into pieces, and the snow is sooo heavy on the trees. I know it doesn't look like all that much, but what there is - is insanely wet saturated concentrated liquid.
Bark bark bark bark bark.... all night long.


7:20PM - Bye bye green apple tree.... She was a perty tree, with tasty green apples. Now she has a broken arm, and dead would be apples. You gotta see the pics that MAR got!! Her yard is AWESOME!!

THE ART SHOW RECEPTION

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There's my tulip piece! I love how the lights flood onto the artwork. It just looks so fancy hangin up there like that!


The kids having a look at what mommy does at school all day. These were pieces from typography class.


I thought this one should have been called "Crack Head" or something, but it was about recycling I guess. I kinda liked it. Plus the light bulb worked.


Riley was puzzled by this one.... so was I.


She did like the permanent sculpture that is in the foyer of the building though.


And so the kids liked the artwork, but they liked the fact that there was food even better! Freeeee cookieeeees yayyyyyyy!!

We only stayed for about 30 minutes, but there were quite a few people there. I get a bit nauseated around so many people, and start to panic, so I had to get out of there. It was neat seeing people looking at my work though. And neat seeing so many excellent works by other people in different mediums. I could never be an art snob though. Too much dealing with people....

WEDNESDAY WEATHER

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I was told that these are Mini-Cumulonimbus...like a big thunderstorm Cumulonimbus Anvil only smaller. Thank you Charles!!


You can go HERE to see my favorite weather photos that I have taken!

THE SHOW OPENS TOMMOROW!!!!!

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So everyone be sure to get here eh? The reception is at Stringer Fine Arts Building on Thursday night, but I have class. I may skip out for a while just to take a peek at what's going on. Only one of my photos made it into the main gallery, the lightning shot - go figure. The other three are hanging in the hallways, but still up for judging I guess. There are a ton of interesting works for sure. A couple leave me scratching my head in confusion...

LAST WEEKS TRIP TO QUIVERA

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An egret I think, in a tree - I'm sure it's a tree.


Mr. Turtle
The kids wanted to take him home, but I think he is a snapper. Plus it's probably not cool to take animals home from the wildlife refuge.


I dunno what kind of snake this was, but it was playing dead. I hate snakes. We almost ran over it with the car. But we didn't.

Of course we did this LAST weekend when the weather was rather warm. The kids had a good time looking for animals. I love outings like that.

In my garden, it froze so long that I lost all my bean plants that were up. I should have covered them, but I didn't. I did save my strawberries, cauliflower and broccoli though. Tomorrow they are saying we should have thunderstorms, and then by Friday maybe snow again. Go figure - that's Kansas.

SHE FEELS.....

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If you really want to read it, click on the image to make it larger.
So much to do, so much...

IT'S SNOWING IN APRIL??

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I don't know what all this snow will do to the flowery trees. I have never seen anything like this before! Not even in Kansas.The latest snow I can remember as a kid happened in March. It does make for a pretty picture though.


We got a good 2 to 3 inches of snow here yesterday, and it is supposed to be freezing cold for a couple of more days. I covered my strawberry plants and such, but I have too many beans to cover, so I don't know if they will survive or not. Even for Kansas - this is just weird!

TYPOGRAPHY PROJECT

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The assignment was to find a photo, and a verse of text, and make them into something that made sense basically. I have always loved this photo of Mar, one we took while on a little outing. Away From the Sun, by 3 Doors Down is also one of my favorite songs, and the two just seemed to fit. As a matter of fact, our entire outing that day was due to both of us wallowing in a pit of depression, and trying to help each other dig our way out. I don't generally enjoy typography assignments, but this one was very close to my heart.

FILLING OUT THE PORTFOLIO

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This one was the moon last night. SO pretty it was. There were some old sunflower stems in the way, so I just added them into the shot. This one won't go into my portfolio, but I thought it was kinda neat.


I am blessed to have my own little models to bribe into posing for me. I am finishing up on my portrait photography portfolio in preparation for finals in a few weeks.

TURNING IN MY PIECES

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I am using this top one, and the red tulips on white from my last post for the gallery show.
I am kinda nervous.
But I surely do like tulips.


I finally figured out how to get some pictures in my dew drops.
Ohhhh Happppy Dayyyy!
Heehee!
Pill Thirty..... Hahaa!