Cricket Walker

I have been tagged by Michael Kane. (Thanks Mikey!)

How is it that I always get suckered into these games? I think it is that fear that I will be the one person to break the chain and something horrible will happen to me, like bad luck for seven years or sumfin.

Okay, here are my five rules.

1. Follow your heart.
2. Don’t forget to laugh often.
3. Never do anything halfway.
4. Love with your whole heart.
5. Stand up for what you believe in.

S.R. Emerson of Web Page Mistakes, you have been tagged!
(I know ya love me Susan!)

You wake up thinking about him, and wonder if he does the same. Does he feel the magic too? Is it possible? Can the heavens have decided that it is time to fix the horrible wrongs and mend the broken lives? Does it scare him as much as it scares you? In that moment, you feel hope like you have never felt before, hope for a new beginning.

Then the black clouds of doubt creep into your thoughts, leaving you hoping and praying that God isn’t playing some cruel trick on you, allowing you to dream the impossible, before snatching it all away again. In that moment, you feel fear, like you have never felt before, fear that something could be so close, yet still so far.

His soft smile is once again in front of you, his eyes and gentle words promising that everything will be alright. In that moment, you begin to believe, like you have never believed before.

“You can pour your soul out singin’ a song you believe in, that tomorrow they’ll forget you ever sang. Sing it anyway, yeah sing it anyway.”
(Martina McBride - Anyway)

You know I tried so hard to harden my heart, to protect myself from the world, from ever hurting again. This last week or so though, I have begun to realize that no matter how hard I try, that just isn’t who I am. It never will be. I am not sure that I would even want it to be.

Nor is it the life I would want for my daughter.

I want for us to be able to hear the music again.

I may pick myself back up, only to get knocked right back down, but that’s okay. Life is just way too short not to do everything in our power to love, to laugh, and to enjoy every moment in our lives.

Sometimes we don’t need to understand everything that happens.

Sometimes, it just is . . .

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“I ain’t settling for just getting by. I’ve had enough so so for the rest of my life. Tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high. Just enough ain’t enough this time. I ain’t settling for anything less than everything.” Settlin’ Sugarland

 ——————————————-

If there ever is a next time, I want romance…

Nope, I don’t mean dozens of roses. Heck, one red rose, or a handful of wildflowers he picked in the woods would make my heart melt.

Nope, I don’t mean fancy cards, leaving me a flirtatious note (or even that he is thinking about me) on my pillow would make me feel like the luckiest woman alive.

Nope, he doesn’t have to read eloquent poetry to me. Telling me he is sure glad I am in his life would definitely make me want to cook him a special home cooked meal though.

Nope, he doesn’t need to take me out on fancy dates, or spend a lot of money. Taking me for long walks (and holding my hand) or goofing off like kids at the playground will get me wanting him to hang around me for an awfully long time.

Thirty minutes away from your work won’t make much difference to your business, but it can make a huge difference to a child. One of the best parts of working for yourself is being able to stop what you are doing when your child wants to share something with you.

Haley was so excited to find a Praying Mantis lounging on my old rocking chair out front that she wanted me to show it to all of you!

I spent 30 minutes trying to get this critter to let me take a picture. Initially, the darn thing would not have anything to do with me.

He was bound and determined to head anywhere, as long as it was as far away from me as possible. (I don’t think he liked me much!)

Then all of the sudden he sat down and looked right at me.

I had a very difficult time trying to focus in on something so small, so I kept trying to get closer and closer to him. Now, if I would have known ahead of time that these guys can capture and eat a humming bird, I don’t think I would have had my face quite so close to his.

We kind of enjoyed out visit from a Praying Mantis. Even more though, we enjoyed this special mother daughter time.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, one interesting fact about the adult female Praying Mantis is that they often kill and eat the male after mating.

I think that maybe we have been feeling a few withdrawal pains from our daily photo journal, so we decided to invite you along for a meal at our favorite Mexican food restaurant on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Haley out front of El Charrito’s. She is definitely ready for some authentic Mexican food.

I love the colors of this restaurant because they are so bright!

Since everyone was eating in the back dining room this afternoon, I figured it would be a great chance to grab a photo up front, so you could see the atmosphere.

The Fundido Skillet is so incredibly good it should truly be illegal. When they bring this to you it is still sizzling! Yummy!

Haley always eats the P3 (a chicken and rice combo).

She found a way to leave room for sopapilla with ice cream though!

We miss the photo journal too much to give it up all together, so we plan to continue with it at least two or three times a week.

Thanks for sharing our Sunday with us!

Day thirty of our photo journey …

The sun was beginning to set on the final day of our photo journey, when I realized that our journey is not coming to an end, but rather it has just barely begun.

We don’t know where the road in front of us will lead, but we do know that we are ready to move forward with our lives.
 
As we headed back to the house, Tim McGraw’s new song, Let It Go came across the radio with perfect timing.

Hearing his voice sing the words, today, I’m gonna keep on walking, I’m gonna hold my head up high, I’m gonna leave it all behind, today, I’m gonna stand out in the rain, let it wash it all away, I’m gonna let it go, I suddenly knew that we were ready to let it go.

We are going to put it all in God’s hands.

Day twenty-nine of our photo journey …

Step #1 - Look at the blown tire and decide that the price of replacing the rim is well worth not walking in 103 degree weather. Drive your car (just the way it is) to the local auto repair shop, even though you are thumping the whole way there.

Step #2 - Kiss the ground the shop owner walks on for being willing to fix your car today, even though he has been working non-stop since 5am and has had about enough for one day.

Step #3 - Immediately following the installation of your new tires, head directly to the Piggly Wiggly. (Stay within the speed limit!)

Step #4 - Go straight to the ice-cream and soda aisle to find the makings for root beer floats. (Pay before you leave!)

Step #5 - Put the ice-cream and root beer in the first glass you find, and enjoy. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you are smiling again.

Day twenty-eight of our photo journey …

When I am looking at the world through the viewfinder of my camera, I am notorious for being aware of absolutely nothing around me.

I am lost in a world of my own, as everything but thoughts of the scene in front of me slowly begin to fade away. 

I was trying to focus in on this old barn, when something changed.
 
I became aware of a stillness all around me, and had this overwhelming, eerie feeling that someone was watching me.

“Lawd, please tell me that I haven’t trespassed where I don’t belong.”
 
I began to turn toward the direction I had wandered from, just as I felt the sensation of hot breath on my face.

“chit!”

At that same moment, my viewfinder suddenly turned black.

“chit! Chit! CHIT!”

“Oh goodness! What have I gotten myself into now?”

I was a split second from wetting my pants, before I realized that it was a black angus cow right in my face, and not the boogie man.

“I wonder if she knows how bad her breath is.”
 
At first I started laughing so hard that I was still in danger of wetting my britches, but one look in this gal’s face told me that she wasn’t any too happy to see me this close to her new calf.

No worries you butt ugly gorgeous looking, pissed off friendly cow.

See! I’m leaving quietly now.

Did you know you have a fly on your nose?

Yeah, I didn’t reckon you cared.

Shhhh… It’s okay…
 
Good lawd! That was enough wandering for me today.

Maybe I will stick around town tomorrow.

Day twenty-seven of our photo journey …

(Narrated by a precious child having her second birthday today.)

“I wonder when they are going to let me open all those presents!”

“I am too busy playing with my dog to bother with pictures right now.”

“Good grief! Lady, you are really starting to get on my nerves here . . . “

“Okay fine! You have about two seconds to snap this picture lady because I really do want to eat some of that cake!”

Day twenty-six of our photo journey …

I think the heat is definitely starting to get to me, because I am still stuck on shapes.

This sky is almost spooky looking isn’t it?

Okay, so it is Friday night, and I planned on cooking a nice supper.

 But . . .

Well . . .

I stopped at the corner store to pick up a few things, and there was this incredible smell that completely overwhelmed me.

I knew what we were having for supper!

It was sooooooooooo good!

Day twenty-five of our photo journey …

As I listened to the song, tears began streaming down my face.

“Because of you I never stray too far from the sidewalk . . . “

“Because of you, I learned to play on the safe side, so I don’t get hurt.”

“Because of you, I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me. Because of you, I am afraid.”

Lyrics from Because of You (Kelly Clarkson)

But somehow, just for a moment, I had forgotten the power and strength of this little girl . . .

“Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing, let the whole world know, that today is the day of a reckoning . . . “

“Let the weak be strong, Let the right be wrong. Roll the stone away. Let the guilty pay. It’s Independence Day!”

Lyrics from Independence Day (Martina McBride)

She has the strength, intelligence, and power to choose her future and she is not going to let anyone forget that. I am so proud of her!

Day twenty-four of our photo journey …

It was an absolutely perfect day for scenic photos, but instead I found myself drawn to shapes and shadows all around me.

Okay, I realize that my fascination with the shadows falling across the corner of this platform could probably be a case study for a local psychologist, but I just had to take this picture.

I have walked by the old train station about a billion times (well, maybe only a few hundred times) but as I looked back at the platform through my viewfinder, my mind saw this scene as it might have been 100 years ago. I could literally feel the history of it.

I could have been taking some gorgeous scenic shots, but every color, every angle, and every shadow kept showing up in my lens.

I knew I was off the deep end though when even the contrast of the Do Not Enter sign caught my attention, so I decided I might as well take the picture and figure it all out later.

Maybe it is all the days of 100+ temperatures that has done something to my brain. Or, maybe I need to take a geometry class to get past this obsession with shapes.

When I caught myself taking a picture of the clamps and bolts at the bottom of the old train station signal though, I knew it was time to call it a day. Either that or I was in serious need of some coffee.

Maybe next time I will even take a picture of the caboose. Well, if I don’t get hung up looking at the old tracks that is.

 Day twenty-three of our photo journey …

How is it that this child can scrunch up her face at an algebra book while still maintaining the look of a perfect southern belle?

School is back in session. Being the wonderful mother that I am . . .

I have just one thing to say . . .

Yeeeeeeeeeeehaw!

Day twenty-two of our photo journey …

Something about the evening sky always brings me peace.

It is a feeling of closure, or maybe assurance that I have done everything that I can do today, and that I can give it all a rest now.

Tomorrow is a brand-new day.

Day twenty-one of our photo journey …

Narration Provided By: Lady Katherine and Jacko (Chunk)

“She has the camera again. Just don’t look at her. Maybe she’ll go away.”

“Just a minute Katherine. I am trying to steal a kiss from Haley!”

“Jacko! Just turn away from her! Don’t let her see your face!”

“Katherine! I am telling you that I just about got her that time!”

“We aren’t part of their stupid photo journal project! Scrunch up your face and scratch behind your ear. She hates that!”

“Tee hee hee! Tee hee hee! I got her that time!”

“I’m so cool! I told ya I’d get her!”

“Oh crap! She got me, but she can’t make me smile!”

Day twenty of our photo journey … 

The sun was coming up for the second day of the Watermelon Carnival before I had even closed my eyes from the day before.

Everything starts out very early with an all you can eat breakfast of pancakes and sausage, along with plenty of hot coffee and orange juice, served up by the Water Valley Lions Club.

As much as Haley loves pancakes, it is a distinct possibility that she considers 6am to be just a little too early for breakfast.

There is an entire row of food vendors to tempt you with sinfully delicious smells all day long. Don’t get too excited about the sign for daiquiris that you see here. Right smack in the middle of the Bible Belt here, they are definitely non-alcoholic drinks!

If you have a hankering for fresh lemonade, you will find the real thing!

The most tempting smell of all though is all the meat on the grills!

If you are wondering how all these people get around in this town during the Watermelon Carnival, well that all kind of depends on where you want to go . . .

If you don’t care where you end up, since you usually find yourself going around in circles anyway, grab a ride on the Boogie Train.

If you want to get downtown though, the shuttle stops here.

If you were thinking in terms of a shuttle bus though, you will find that they do things just a bit different around here.

This big tractor stops here, about every 15 minutes or so, to shuttle everyone to the activies downtown.

This shuttle has what I like to call, built in air conditioning.

Giant watermelons hitch a ride to the gazebo (for the contest) in this little trailer pulled by an all terrain vehicle.

I am now officially tired out from all the excited caused by our 38th annual Watermelon Carnival. Until next year . . .

Day nineteen of our photo journey … 

With the temperature hovering in the upper nineties all day, it was definitely a sweaty start to our 38th Annual Watermelon Carnival.

You cannot help but spend the entire day smiling and eating!

Can it be? Is it possible? Is Elvis alive at the Watermelon Carnival?

This scene of a man and his boy watching one of the concerts looked so heartwarming that I had to grab a quick picture of it.

The most valued commodity of the Watermelon Carnival so far has been the tubs of ice hiding under some of the vendors tables.

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s Princess Haley and Shona!

The performance of the Derek Stone band out of Tupelo, Mississippi was a hit with everyone! Haley had the band sign the back of her new Derek Stone t-shirt and also bought the band’s outstanding CD.

You can hear their music on the Derek Stone Band MySpace page.

Oh wait! I almost forgot!

You can’t have a watermelon carnival without a ton of watermelons.

This man is very proud of his 122 pound watermelon. Yummy!

Since there is still a few hours left of the street dance tonight, I am headed back there to make sure the kids are staying out of trouble.

If I am busy keeping them out of trouble, I wonder who is going to keep me out of trouble?

Never mind, there is still another full day of this tomorrow. I am more worried if I will survive it all.

Day eighteen of our photo journey … 

Our tiny town is in the middle of a whirlwind of activities as everyone prepares for the 38th annual Watermelon Carnival this weekend.

I wasn’t real eager to get out in the middle of all the masses people and traffic to escape long enough to take a few pictures.

Okay, I realize that with a population of less than 4,000 people, it doesn’t sound like there would be that much of a commotion, but let me tell you, I think every single one of them was on main street today!

As I stood on the edge of the main street park looking at all the activity, I glanced over at the building across the street. Once again, my mind saw things as they may have been 100 years ago.

Doesn’t this picture remind you of a scene that you might see in an old western movie? Do you remember the TV show called Gunsmoke?

For no reason whatsoever, I suddenly find myself wanting to learn more about what this community was like back in the early 1900s.

Just what I need, another project, huh?

Day seventeen of our photo journey …

We are without a doubt right smack in the middle of the dog days of summer here in Mississippi, with our hottest and most sultry days.

Even though the sky was blue today there was a steamy haze everywhere we looked.

The weeds along the fence caught my attention. The flowers were so tiny and so perfect, but it took me about 6 tries to get a clear shot because sweat kept running into my eyes and burning like the dickens.

Yeah, I realize that southern ladies do not sweat, they perspire.

At this point though, my language about the heat wasn’t very ladylike so I figured the moisture running into my eyes was just plain sweat.

It wasn’t long after that, driving around in our old beater without air conditioning, we figured out that if even the cows were soaking in their watering hole, it was time to head back to the house and call it a day.