Antique Fire Hydrant

Posted on May 29, 2012 by orples

Last week when I went to Staunton. The orples came along. They are sneaky that way. While I was out and about doing my thing, they were evidently exploring the town too. Check them out, checking out an antique fire hydrant. You never know what your might find, if you pay attention.

“Wowie, Zowie, Olivia!”, check this thing out!, Oscar shouted in delight.

For those of you new to my blog, please let me introduce you to Olivia and Oscar Zimp. They are the accidental creation of a scientific project gone wrong. You can read all about them, in my first book “How Orples Came To Be“. These two characters have been busy since they’ve come about. They have already remodeled their “Treasure Tree” to accommodate their new needs, as outlined in book 2 … “The Orples Make A Tree Home“, of the orples series. They have learned to read, as is evident from book 3 … “The Orples Learn To Read“. This book has so recently come about, that it has not even been announced yet. I am waiting for the e-book to be ready for sale. But the softcover version is now available for sale on amazon.com

Although they try to stay out of sight, the orples have been observed outside of the orples books in various photographs. If you care to take a peek, you can go to the Orples in Photos section of my side bar. If you care to learn more about the orples in general, then I invite you to explore the Orples Overview category of my blog. For a peek into the begins of their story, please check out Insight into How Orples Came To Be . Part 1 … which has links to parts 2,3,4, & 5 from there. Those post include pages out of my first book should you care to explore orples further. Please keep in mind these loveable little creatures are looking for new friends, so don’t be shy! They’d love a visit, you know. In the meantime, Happy Blogging.

Sunday Photo Challenge. Vehicle

Posted on May 9, 2012 by orples

Jack and the orples are getting aggravated with me for leaving them out of the loop, since my blog is theoretically supposed to be about them. It seems they’ve gotten lost in the shuffle. Thus, Jack wanted to show off his vehicle … his new bike!

Page 9 from my book “The Orples Learn To Read”… coming soon.

Sunday photo Challenge . Blossoms #2

Posted on April 18, 2012 by orples

This one I dedicate to Carol@ Adjusting your focus. She too did a little ditty on Lilly pads, so I thought I’d add to her selection.
A Lilly like periscope? Kinda looks like it, anyway

Trees and Tobacco

Posted on March 28, 2012 by orples

This is a ‘texture’ shot that I’ve always favored. I thought you might enjoy it too.

Vertical and Horizontals, one complimenting the other.

Ride ‘um Orples

Posted on March 27, 2012 by orples

Olivia and Oscar have decided they want to learn to ride horses. Poor Oscar has lost his seating, it appears. Olivia is trying to get the horse to slow down before Oscar does fall off.

Hang on there, Oscar! Don't fall off!

Of course if Riley (the dog) would go away, maybe the horse would slow down a little. Let’s hope so, before Oscar hits the ground. That would hurt, no doubt.

Abstract Cabin

Posted on March 26, 2012 by orples

Abstract Cabin . Playing with Corel

At some point in time, I was playing around with Corel and worked up this little ditty. I was trying to separate the colors for a potential fabricscape. I don’t know that this quaint little cabin, with all of its surround greenery, will become anything more than it is. No matter, it’s second function was an attempt to learn Corel. Now, I can’t even remember how I did it. This is not a feature I use often in the program. I guess that’s why they have ‘help’ built in to most programs. Some of us need it! LOL. Anyway, this is a little different, and I do like to mix things up a bit to keep it interesting for those that drop by to say ‘hello’. Enjoy.

Genuine Blogger Award

Posted on March 18, 2012 by orples

Even though there are no rules associated with the ‘Genuine Blogger Award’, I would like to thank the two persons that nominated me for it: Vina Kent whose Blog is TRUnique News & Matters & Natalie at Reflections in a Puddle.

First, way back in February, Vina Kent was so kind as to nominate me. Vina, this is the first opportunity I’ve had to post my award, but it is no less appreciated due to my lack of time to date. So Thank you!

Additionally, I’d like to thank Natalie who nominated me on March 15 to receive the honors. In the event you’d thought I’d forgotten, I’ve not. All things unfold as time allows, and the time has come to post this award. To you, let me extend my heartfelt thanks as well.

Here is the original post that explains the reasoning behind this award: https://justramblinpier.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/genuine-recognition/ .

Some of the people I would like to extend the honors to are:

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Sonel @ Sonel’s corner

Mumsey @ Chancy, the Gardner

Madhu @ The Urge to Wander

Jo Bryant @ Chronicles of Illusions

Tracie Louise @ Tracie Louise Photography

Kellie See @ kellisee

Dolly @ allaboutlemon

Jay @ Positive Cookie Attitude

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These are but a few of the fine bloggers I can think of. If your name is not on this nomination list, please don’t feel left out. There are no rules to accompany the Genuine Blogger Badge, so if you would like a badge, please post one with my blessing.

Weekly Photo Challenge . Contrast #3

Posted on March 14, 2012 by orples

When the subject of contrast first came up, this is the photograph I was going to post, but instead I posted the dogwoods against the clear blue sky. Then I posted Olivia and Oscar hitting the beach, since they have felt a little left out lately.

Trees standing bold against a varied background.

So now, let me present more of Mother Nature’s colors showing themselves off. When I took this photo, it was with the intent of possibly working it into some type of fabric wall hanging. I posted an example of a fabricscape in January, based on a different photograph. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get it all done.

Olivia & Oscar meet Monster

Posted on March 8, 2012 by orples

Chicky Monster is my old, faithful, no good for nothing, kitty, critter that serves as my side kick. As a rule Monster likes to sit on my lap when I am trying to work. He puts his paws on the edge of my desk. He snoozes, while I try to work around him … until I get frustrated and give him the boot.

Olivia and Oscar conversing with Monster

Monster also likes to hang out in high places, and look down on the world when he is not hanging out inside. Monster is really a big chicken. Thus his name, Chicky Monster. He has been my pal for about 10 years now. I adopted him when my son was in the Navy and his ship sailed right after 911. Somehow, I’ve ended up with this goofy creature all of these years. Hmmm, what would I do without him? As you can see, he is buds with the orples too.

Public Education

Posted on March 2, 2012 by orples

I do not have a clue who wrote this, so I don’t know who to credit, but I suspect they would like this thought to be shared, thus I am sharing. It is worth thinking about. This is a cute little story, but it says so much. It is the truth.
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An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama’s socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, “OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama’s plan”. All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A…. (substituting grades for dollars – something closer to home and more readily understood by all).

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little..
The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F. As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed. It could not be any simpler than that.