The End Of A Swimming Era!

Sadly our Esther Williams pool of 16 years has bit the dust! All my beautiful memories are going to the scrap yard! I was pregnant with my first child when we purchased this pool. It's been through 2 generations of dogs, and most recently my nephew and great nephew. We enjoyed many wonderful summers in this pool, and I'm certainly going to miss our favorite summer recreation right in our own backyard. We were going to purchase a new liner, and upon examing the walls my hubby found a bunch of pin holes all through them.

It couldn't of happened at the worse time, as we're experiencing one of the hottest summers here in PA. We've spent a lot of the past month, driving over to my sister's house to swim in her pool. Though it's been really nice to go there, it's not like swimming right out our own back door! Winter took it's toll on our roof, so we had to have all the shingles replaced this Spring. So purchasing a new pool is quite out of the question.

I've been having a run of bad luck for the past two weeks. I fell one day while walking Sierra dog, along a country field and almost broke my arm and wrist. The ground was so hard, it might as well have been cement. My wrist is still black and blue almost halfway down my arm. Of course I didn't go to the doctor, and have been nursing myself. Still walking Sierra 5 days a week, very gently I may say. Still doing all my chores slowly and gently! To say the least my spirit has been broken, and I know I must be very careful in my footing from now on. I push myself very hard always, and most things can't bring me down. But the pain has gotten to me this time!!

Our luck changed today when a friend of ours stopped over. It just so happens he had an extra pool, and he decided to give it to us. He had moved and thought he lost some pieces to it, and bought another pool. In the meantime, he found the lost pieces. It's a round pool not like our oval, but we'll still be able to swim. My hubby went and picked up the pool this evening.

I'm not sure if we'll get the pool up this Summer, because we want to move it to another location. Where we had the pool before, the leaves would always come in and make it turn green!! Too many trees, shedding too many leaves, especially during thunderstorms!! Plus with my bum arm, I'm limited to how much I can help!! Yet I sure would like to have the pool up and running, as the temps don't seem to be going down anytime soon! Unfortunately Summer is halfway over already.

Time sure flies, how's your Summer going so far! Our vegetable garden is coming along, with beets, zuccini, onions, radishes, and garlic. My flower garden is blooming beautifully too, and those glorious Sunflowers are back! Still working hard on the animal front. A reminder to keep all your pets cool in these hot Summer months!!

Stay right here Literally In The Moment with more updates to come!

PA Twilight ~ Sunset Photo And Haiku ~ Mother's Day 2010!

Unveiled

Life's beauty unveils

memories become moments

withering in twilight

©Jo A. True-Burkholder 2010

Mother nature like many women cannot make up her mind! In the 80's yesterday and in the 50's today! Typical crazy Pennsylvania weather. I took this twilight shot right out my front door, the first part of February. We had rain, and temps dipped way down to zero, and the rain froze during the day covered by a light snow! One of my favorite shots with the sun in the backround! We're close to freezing tonight!!

Talking about Mothers, Mother's Day is bittersweet for me, because my mother passed four years ago. I've many great memories of her, filling our home with great cooking smells. It was my mom who made our house a home. Her mere presence always brang a smile into our lives and always will. Her talents and love were unprecedented and irreplaceable. To say I miss her would be an understatement. The years haven't been the same without her, and I can say my life hasn't been the same either.

Yet life truly goes on and all mom desired most was for her family to be happy. Holidays seem to be the hardest to celebrate, even years later. It's almost if I miss her more the longer she's been gone! If you're lucky enough to have your mother, treasure her for every moment that you have. People say it, yet few realize how short our time here on this lovely earth is. Embrace life with every breath, and never regret a moment you have together loving each other. Memories are everything, never cease making them.. Lastly never stop taking photos. You don't know when our loved ones will make their final exit far into the twilight.

I'll be planting my Mother's day flowers soon, picked out 42 little flower gems to brighten my Spring flower garden. Happy Mother's Day and stay Literally In The Moment!

Read my other Mother's Day posts here:

My Mother's Day Flower Planting Ritual

Siberian Crabapple Blossoms ~ Tree Sappling For Unique Mother's Day Gift

Early Spring Flowers II & Gardner Snake Photos

I had transplanted these lovely deep orange poppies last Fall. I was excited to see them bloom the earilier part of the week. Poppies add a touch of beauty to your Spring flower beds! These are my first poppies to grace my flower beds!


My hot pink tulips bloomed for the 3rd year in a row. The tulips have spread and are a gorgeous compliment to my purple phylox to the right!


The centers of the tulips are a bright yellow, giving a stunning contrast to the hot pink petals and long green leaves.


I stepped out to check laundry on the line yesterday, and guess who was back. My friendly gardner snake, was almost underfoot. Surpisingly he let me get this close with my camera! I was almost afraid at how close I was! These snakes have red tongues, which slide in and out of their mouths so fast. So now I must watch where I step, because one of these snakes could be lurking about! Gardner snakes love to bask in the sun too!

Were expecting storms today, the weather has been grand in the upper 70's. A cold front is coming through and we'll be 20-30 degrees colder! So is the crazy seesaw weather of Pennsylvania! How is your Spring going! I've been very busy featuring dogs on death row, here and on facebook. Some have gotten homes, and others have been rescued or sponsored. I'm elated to help these sweet dogs.

More photos and great stories to come, as always stay Literally In The Moment!

Our Newest Critter ~ Possum or Opossum Photos!

Living out here in the country has many advantages, but also some disadvantages. My husband has a business, and over our long cold Winter he's had some critter guests move in underneath the trailer building. My husband was especially concerned about a skunk who has been spreading his lovely perfume everytime someone walks near the trailer. The skunk smell is literally coming up through the floor inside the building!

So needless to say my honey went out and purchased a humane cage to trap the skunk! He didn't realize that there were also Possums living under there too. So far he's caught a feral cat twice and two possums. The photo above is the second possum he caught, the first one was smaller possibly the spouse or baby to this one! The other critters were caught with food bait, but this guy just wondered in on it's own, maybe smelling it's buddy from the day before!

I approached the cage with caution, and this cute thing was sleeping like a baby. He wasn't even a bit concerned at my presence! He was just so cute sleeping there, I almost wanted to pet him, but didn't dare!


The possum was not at all pleased to be awakened from his deep nap! My husband had tied a rope to the cage to pull the cage out. The possum was growling and hissing not happy to see us at all! I told my husband to release him in the same spot as the other one, just in case they were related!

I'm always putting everything together as lovers, family, kids, even when it comes to animals! The possum was banging his head and nose against the cage, especially when the truck started moving. He bloodied his nose a bit trying to escape!


We relocated our big possum buddy in a nice wooded area, where the other one was released the day before. I was very apprehensive to get too close, as these are wild animals and you never know what they'll do. At least he was free and not a nuisance to our close home area! Still no sign of that dang skunk, but you can sure smell him! I've since quit feeding the feral cats near my home, because I don't want to attract other wild animals!


On another note the weather has finally broken here in Pennslyvania. The big snowmelt, and rain of last week is but a memory. A chance to dry out we're having the most beautiful early Spring weather after the hardest of Winters in many years. As I said we ran out of wood, and had an electric bill of $240.00 last month. I know my sister paid over $600.00 for her electric bill this cold Winter! We cut a lot of wood last Fall, but ran out due to the coldest of Winters. I was pissed that we had other logs, but they were buried under over 20 feet of snow!

So now we've a break in the Weather I've been bugging my husband to cut some wood. Above is the first pile I stacked today. The sun feels wonderful and it's a great way to work off some Winter weight! At least we'll have some ready to burn, in case the weather turns cold once again. I wouldn't put it past this global warming!

One last note, I've been following the Tiger Ranch story for almost two years now. Yesterday Linda Bruno was back in court again. with allegations that she violated terms of her probation. Just when you think it's over, the saga continues on! They were saying that the Defend Tiger Ranch site was soliciting for cat litter, and T-shirts. The website was taken down as of last night!

Linda Bruno is to have no contact with animals, and is said to still have two horses and not paid any of her restitution. Her lawyers say Linda wasn't aware of any wrong doing. There's still much controversy for and against this case. I'm still receiving comments on my Tiger Ranch posts from the past, read all the controversial comments and my Tiger Ranch posts!

To be continued another court date is scheduled for May!

Desperately Seeking Spring ~ Valentine Red Tulip Photos 2010!

Hoping everyone had a good Valentine's Day. My Sweet Valentine of many moons presented me with a beautiful red tulip plant pictured above. He included a nice cat card, and my favorite chocolates ~ dark chocolate M&M's, and Hershey's special dark chocolate kisses. I've been basking in dark chocolate Heaven since, and gazing into my deep red tulips pining for Spring! Dang he still loves me!

Along with many Pennsylvanians I'm more than ready for an early Spring, wishing for mild Winters we're accustomed to here! We're expecting 4-6 inches today and tomorrow on top of the almost 3ft of snow we already have since the blizzard of Feb 6, 2010, and it's snowed everyday since! Snow keeps freezing into ice as temperatures remain in the teens, and roads and sidewalks remain very slick! I'm glad to have my silky Cuddl Duds, and Land's End winter boots. We've put our winter clothing to very good use in this record breaking snow and cold, in fact this is the 2nd snowiest snowfall per month in history!

The snowy weather is taking it's toll on everything and everyone! Our snowplow is broken, moving icey snow in piles of up to 4ft -5ft. Our huge wood pile stock is almost depleted, and we'll be lucky to burn what we have the rest of this week! The artic blast has continued for almost two months, leaving many folks with high heating and electric bills. Snow piled on homes and buildings are on the verge of collapsing, and our schools were closed all last week! Mail and garbage pick up has been delayed, boo hoo!



I think red tulips are as pretty as red roses! I looked high and low in search of the perfect backround for these lovelies, and it finally dawned on me the snow on my front patio! The light contrast of white snow against bright red tulips was so captivating!

On the bright side, Spring is almost on the horizon hopefully only a month away! I'm longing to see my gorgeous tulips growing around my home! When my tulip plant fades, I'll save the bulbs to plant in my flower garden in the Fall. Aren't these red beauties just stunning? I'll be admiring them for awhile!

My camera is up and running for the moment thank goodness! Thanks for visiting, keep safe, and stay ~ Literally In The Moment! xo xo xo ~

Fourth Largest Blizzard Blasts Pennsylvania Region ~ Cool Record Snowfall Photos Feb 6, 2010!

We're still digging out from the 4th largest snow storm in history, which hit Pennsylvania and many other boardering states Febuary 5, & 6th 2010! I measured 20 inches of snow here in the country and notice the amount on my snow gage patio table pictured above! The storm has literally paralyzed cities, here in our region!

I like many other Pennsylvanians had already hit the grocery stores, as soon as we heard of a storm coming. I did my grocery last Thursday, and my store was absolutely packed, and of course the two day meat sale was going on! When a storm is remotely imminent Pennsylvanians hit grocery stores first, and many store shelves are almost cleared bear. We're always well prepared to be hunkered down, and for good reason as many roads are still impassable!



Plowing our driveway of almost 2 feet of snow was a feat in itself. Our friend had his utility truck stuck in the icey slush which was underneath the piled up snow! Took two trucks to pull his truck out, which was a very common occurance all across residential, and state roads. In fact they called for a state of disaster and in many counties including ours, where only emergency personnel and workers were allowed to drive on public roads! Anyone caught driving would pay a hefty fine! We remain in state of emergency as I type this post!



I call these my weeping pines. Alot of the snow had already fallen from these babies! Hundreds of trees in surrounding cities were pushed beyond their brink with snow, and downed thousands of powerlines. Some folks were under water conservation, because waterplants had no power! There're thousands of people without power in our county and counties statewide! We were fortunate to have all our power and utilites in working order!



The snow piled up and was blown to almost the height of our 5 ft fence. The snow was so deep I had to take the photo from the side of our house! Snow is above knee deep in most areas!



The tree above bending all the way down to the ground on the road behind our home! The snow this time around was a heavy wet snow! We only shoveled the back entrance to our home, which was backbreaking enough. I'm still sore from lifting heavy shovelfuls of snow! I tried to build a snowman, but the snow would not pack together!



I took a brisk walk after we finished our driveway and sidewalk! All my neighbors were digging out! I came to the tunnel at the end of our road and shot my photo ~" snow tunnel vision!" Isn't it gorgeous! I love walking here, becoming one with all the tranquility. The sun graced us with her beautiful presence on this gloomy day!



Snow piled along the road up to 3 and 4ft with a glaze of icy slush beneath! Reminded me of driving up to the Laurel Mountains a couple weeks ago! Trees majestically filled in with layers of snowfall, giving the landscape a whole new vision of beauty. The white snow adds more definition and dimension to bare tree limbs!



Our tree with the child swing was picture perfect when I made my way back home. Sun hitting the treetops and the sky turning a stunning blue! The fallen snow also had a pretty blue tint to it!



A fun one for all you basketball players this is my "Snow Dunk," photo! Gave me a smile as I walked beneath it!




My honey on the roof was worried about the amount of weight stressing our roof! He decided to do this after we shoveled off the sidewalk! So gave me more shoveling to do! Check out the guy and the blue sky! The last time we had a snowstorm like this one was in March of 1993.

The last photo here is my favorite I call "Snowlimbs," I took on the way back from my walk as the sunbeams lit the light blue sky. Chunks of snow were falling off everywhere from everything! I find beauty in everyday, it's all right before my eyes!

Everyone was in a rush to get their plowing done, our temps went down in single digits last night with windchills of zero. Another storm is only a couple days away, and we're going to be in the arctic blast for some time! All this wonderful mess is hard frozen now!

My camera is on the verge not sure what the problem is, may have to beg hubby for a new one for my birthday at the end of the month! I've taken hundreds of pictures, so my camera has done very well. I genuinely wore it out!

Hope you enjoyed the visual world through my eyes! Thanks for stopping by! Until next time stay warm, safe, and Literally In The Moment! xxoo ~ Jo

PA Winter Flooding ~ Kingston Dam 2010

We've had a mixed bag of weather here in Pennsylvania, for the last week in January 2010. All the snow we accumulated last 2 weeks melted, with warm temps and rain past weekend caused snow melt and flooding to occur. Many rivers in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas were overflowing their banks, and some roads were actually closed due to flooding!

The mild air quickly turned cold with yet another artic blast of extremely cold air engulfing our region again. I made my way across the busy highway and stood on the icey bridge to catch the above shot of Kingston Dam Spillway which was brimming over.



This shot taken from the center of the bridge. Here my old stomping grounds, where I used to party in the summer catching a suntan on the cement slab. The view is still quite breathtaking with the rushing Loyhanna lake, and hilly trees along the skyline! These shots were taken yesterday on our way up the mountain again!

This morning we woke to 4 degrees, and we're expected to remain very frigid for the next week. Presently all the water from our thaw has frozen, and turned into a thin sheet of ice on everything! I can't wait for Spring, let's get Winter over with already!

Have a great weekend! Thanks for visiting, and stay tuned to Literally In The Moment!

A Crime To Hang Laundry Outside?

I hung out my laundry today, as we've had a string of unsually warm weather for the month of November. I am reminded that other Pennsylvanians may not have the luxury of hanging their clothes outside. I take well advantage of nice sunny decently warm days to air dry my laundry outside! There is no better way to than to dry laundry than in the fresh air and natural sunlight!

Growing up in a poor family, I remember my own mother hanging clothes on the line. I always loved the smell of bed linens, taken straight off the line and put onto my bed. Have you ever wrapped yourself in a crisp bath towel dried outside? There is nothing fresher than laundry hung on the line!

With the whole world focused on everything GREEN, there is nothing more greener than hanging your Laundry OUTSIDE! The energy savings is none the less a great money saver, let alone the reduction of electrical usage and air emissions. I can't believe folks are actually being fined for stringing clotheslines.

Residents are complaining about seeing laundry on clotheslines. They need to get a LIFE and not worry about someone else's laundry! It a free country and we ALL have the right to hang our laundry out to dry if we desire. It's my yard and I'll hang my clothes out any time I wish! I never hang personal undergarments out, but all my other stuff is hung on clotheslines and will continue to be as long as I'm alive! Besides don't folks have anything else to do but gauk at the neighbors yard, on a beautiful sunshiny day? Go for a nice walk, even better yet walk your dog, or go for a nature hike!

Old fashioned ways are making a comeback, and hanging laundry is beneficial all around! When you see someone's laundry on clotheslines, consider the energy savings which this deep rooted tradition could be benefitting you!

My article is in response to: U.S. residents fight for the right to hang laundry

Fall's Sutle Color Emergence Photo!

Peering out into our woods, you can see Fall is making a suble entrance. We've had a hot dry spell most of September. A lot of leaves are just turning black mostly due to the lack of water! I can't believe that I've had the chance to wear my shorts all month long! Our luck will be changing with the wind in the next few days!

The skies have been very loud and crowded overhead with all the military planes flying around for the Pittsburgh G20 Summit! Yesterday three black military helicopters were flying pretty low. I didn't grab my camera fast enough! Makes me glad that we don't live right in the city. I could hear the planes flyiing over all night long! I'm sure it was much louder in the city! A quiet weekend planned around home! Have a great weekend! Enjoy the sights!

Ecological Footprint Test ~ How Do You Rate!

Tough economic times has impacted the way we live in numerous ways! Your ecological footprint is a measurement of lifestyle resources, consumption, and your overall impact on the environment. I found the Ecological Footprint Test on my buddy Ochi's site! Ochi said the test is for UK citizens, but interesting nonetheless! I took the test and my ecological footprint is 3.5, and if everyone lived like me we would need 2.2 planets to support global consumption! Man and I thought I was a real conserver! What is your ecological impact! Here are different ways I've tried to conserve:

1. Out here in the country we burn garbage, mostly paper like napkins, paper plates, cardboard food containers, plastic bags including garbage bags. The rest is divided into cans and glass products, which go to be reclycled! We also have a compost bin where we throw all our egg shells, vegetable and fruit peelings, and coffee and tea grinds. This year we spread the compost over our vegetable garden to fertilize the soil!

2. My husband strung me clotheslines in the utility room, so I can hang my laundry to dry! I used lines only for the winter months when I couldn't hang laundry outside, the lines are used all the time now! I prefer to hang my laundry outside in the sunshine and fresh air anytime possible! I rarely use the clothes dryer anymore to conserve electricity!

3. Talk about electricity, I use very little lighting in the daytime. We always turn out lights in rooms we aren't in! I can say my computer is in use at least 50% of the day, and I haven't tried to use the new energy saving lightbulbs. We do however use very little electricity for heat, as we burn wood all Winter long. We have oil backup heat, but we hardly ever use it!

4. Shopping at budget grocery stores, I take my own bags, reuse my own small boxes, and pack all my groceries myself! We in turn grow a huge garden and freeze all that we can to consume all Winter! I drink my own homemade beverages and use the same squirt bottle to take with me when I go out!

5. Gas prices have gone sky high again, so I'm sure that everyone is conserving here! We make only necessary trips to purchase things we need. I do have a teenager that is on the run constantly, so there are trips for her pleasure outings! She also belongs to many activities which makes more trips than we would like, but hey what are kids for!

I tend to sway back to the olden times, where I learned from my mother when we were poor. She taught me a lot about survival in tough times, including how to make budget food meals. What are your ways of conservation? How were you taught to conserve by your parents, what example are you setting for your own children to survive in tough times? Most of all how can you change the global consumption you use to conserve our ecological enviroment!

Siberian Crabapple Blossoms ~ Tree Sapling For Unique Mother's Day Gift!

My Siberian crabapple tree has bloomed. The Siberian crabapple tree is so gorgeous with sweet fragrant white flowers, adding a special beauty to our yard!


The lovely buds are hot pink, and bloom fully to a beautiful white five petal flower with yellow pollen centers. The photo above reminds me of a Hawaiian Lei.

The white flowers add a special contrast to any backround, as seen above with the blue sky backround.

Our crabapple tree was a gift, and planted when we were first married 19 years ago. The tree planted as part of a tree conservation campaign taking place in Pennsylvania. If you’re looking for a gorgeous low maintenance tree, the crabapple will bring you many years of stunning Spring blooms.

We've lost many forest and city trees in our Pennsylvania region over the years. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources join in efforts to restore millions of lost tree coverage in our Pennsylvania region. Tree Vitalize endorsed by Governor Ed Rendell in 2004, is planning to plant 1 million trees in the next 5 years, which by the way will not replace all the lost trees to our area! Present count of Tree Vitalize planted trees 93, 885!

We’ve lost millions of trees due to modernization and mother nature, and wild fires, all across the USA. Plant A Tree USA is another dedicated organization reforesting lands throughout the USA. You can even donate land from your estate to be reforested!

Trees look beautiful in many areas, trees help keep our air clean, shade buildings and pavement, and controls storm waters on our grounds. Arbor Day has already passed in the U.S., but now is still an excellent time to plant a tree in your yard, along sidewalks, or on large property areas.

AmericanForest.org is another interesting site offering a huge amount of tree replanting information, including buying a tree for a Mother’s Day gift. What a unique idea, donate to plant a tree in your mother’s honor, which benefit different tree projects of your choice. Check it out! Or simply go to your local nursery, and pick out a couple tree saplings for your mom as a Mother’s Day gift.

Keep our planet beautiful, plant a tree today. Check your area for planting schedules, we just may help fill the deficit while beautifying our horizons for a future greener earth! A valuable gift to cherish which keeps on giving for many generations to come!

Artic And Polar Bears Treading Thin Ice! Global Warming Endangered Species!

The Polar Bear has been listed as a threatened species, and these magnificent giants may disappear in the future. Their habitat disintegrating and damaged by devasting effects of global warming. Although we are trying to drill our own oil here in the U.S., the drilling could impact areas inhabited by polar bears. Let alone the oil from an oil spill getting into their fur, blocking their natural insulation from the cold artic air.

Threatened under the Endangered Species Act means the polar bear could become endangered and extinct if their habitat is not immediately protected! The disappearing ice has caused feeding and breeding problems, along with drownings from long distance swimming and have been reportedly resorting to cannibalism.

Can we afford to allow their eventual decline to happen? Sadly future generations may never get to view the stunning Polar Bear. The Polar Bear photo above taken by my daughter last Spring at the Pittsburgh Zoo. Is this what it’s come down to, locked in a controlled environment, than to be free in their own natural wild habitat?

Mass areas of the Arctic are literally melting away before our eyes. I found astounding photos of how Arctic ice has deteriorated over the past decade. Huge glaciers and snow caps are receding and dissipating further inland. Lack of ice contributes to early Spring runnoff, and considerably less water melting in Summer for irrigation, drinking water for animals, and sustainable water for marine life!

Close to twenty species have been recommended by Scientists as in danger of becoming extinct, you can find the list here in The Center for Biological Diverstity. Scrool down and click on species. I was amazed that honeybees are not on the list, but I see that the list is mostly comprised of marine wildlife!

I found a eye opening video about disappearing species on You Tube: Call Of Life ~ Facing The Mass Extinction!



We need to think seriously about the ever fading species around us, for our very existence thrives on their future survival. Let's all join the movement of ongoing awareness and global preservation!