Hi everyone,

Its been way too long since I dropped by "the board."  I've missed you all and while I and my chapter are still active we haven't been heard from in a long time.  I'm getting back in the Red Hat swing of things.  So for the first bit of communication I'm posting this "cute" photo I took last week on a "warm" winter day.  I call this one:

Now, where did I leave my wallet?

Tuesday started a nasty ice storm in Kentucky and by Wednesday many branches and trees had been lost to the weight of the ice. Roads were closed, power was lost, businesses were closed and even gas and water was effected.  Early Wednesday I took some pictures of the ice damage.  I had just gotten back in the house when huge snowflakes started falling.  Total in Lexington as 1/2 in ice and 2 inches snow.  We had 2 days off from work but sat on pins and needles wondering if power would go out.  As of tonight Saturday Jan 31, 19,000 people in Fayette Co still were without power.  Louisville experienced much worse damage and icing. While we returned to work Thursday and Friday, our sister office in Louisville was still without power Friday afternoon.  Some residences in KY may not get power back for 2 weeks.  While it made for trying times for many people, it also offered much for the photographers.  Please enjoy some of the photos I took over the last 4 days.  Click on each on to enlarge for better viewing.

Ice on the crepe myrtle.

Ice on broken limbs in the backyard.

Ice and snow on the Armillary.

Ice on the lantern.

Angled icicles on downed limbs of a beautiful crab apple tree.

Ice on the lines that were still connected.

Newly fallen snow.

Some of the downed limbs.

Slippery perch on icy lines.

So many beautiful crab apples.

And saving the best for last.....

The dancing ice eagle.

Found that after I uploaded the photos to the computer.  Zoomed way in on seed pods from the crepe myrtle.

qmb2.com/sunsetsisters

MOVE A NATION TO END ALZHEIMER'S

Diagnosis of Alzheimer's

Get a Web Ribbon

The Alzheimer’s Association is happy to announce a new relationship with Caring.com to generate awareness and funds. We have teamed up to create a customizable purple ribbon widget (below). The ribbon can be posted to any Web site or blog and personalized with a loved one’s name. For every purple ribbon posted, Caring.com will contribute $10 (up to $10,000) to the Alzheimer’s Association! This is a great way for your constituents to show their support in the fight against Alzheimer’s and raise money for the cause.

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Purple is one of our beautiful colors and adds so much to our lives. Please join the fight to end this dreaded disease by adding a personalized purple ribbon.

EVERY 72 SECONDS SOMEONE IS DIAGNOSED WITH ALZHEIMER'S.

THERE IS NO CURE.

I noticed this nest of three baby robins on my neighbor's drain pipe and it was the perfect height for photographing from my deck. I shot a bunch of photos o ver only three days. This series shows the time just  before the babies took flight. It really was so cool to be allowed to photo and watch these three go from nest to flight. The last day when I came home the other two had already flown and the last baby seemed to have a hard time leaving. Momma Robin came twice to feed and encourage him.  I kept telling him to hurry a storm was coming and it was getting too dark to photograph.   Finally, he was just standing on the pipe and he leaned down and left and I didn't catch it. He landed OK but not gracefully and I could see him struggle and flap around on the patio below. Mom was close and came to feed and encourange him. He got out of the patio enclosure and onto the lawn where Mom fed him again.  Finally they flew to the back of the yard and I couldn't see where they went.  The storm hit about half ad hour later. Looks like I'll have another chance to photo babies as Mom Robin is sitting on the same nest again.

If you want to see the photos individually, check out my Photostream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunsetqueen/

 I just wanted to publish some pictures from the last Central Kentucky Queens Council outing at Glenmary Country Club in Louisville, KY hosted by Queen Kay Kohler. Thanks so much, Kay, for a hosting a great party for everyone.  There are also a few pictures from the Christmas Tea Cup Exchange at Andover Country Club in Lexington, KY

qmb2.com/sunsetqueen

Have you heard this parable?

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups -porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, theprofessor said:

"Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
And enjoy your hot chocolate!

GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING

DO NOT SWALLOW CHEWING-GUM !!

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Ladies,

This surgery was a snap.  All went as planned and better.  I went in at the reasonable hour of 8 AM.  By 8:30 I was on the gurney going up to the operating room.  Joy juice was turned on and the block worked as expected and now I have five stitches at the base of my thumb (and the surgeon was a cute Asian).  I was home by 11:30.  Had a very nice sleep that afternoon.  The dogs cuddled and I wasn't disturbed. (I hardly ever nap in the afternoon, so this was sooo nice) Friday the bandages came off and now I've got little tails of stitches tickling my palm.  Occasionally I overdo with that hand but mostly its easy.  I only took pain pills the first day and after that I didn't even need Tylenol but took it to reduce the swelling. AND SEE NOW I CAN TYPE AND EVERYTHING AND TRIGGER THUMB IS NO MORE.