Meeting Wanda

What a highlight it was finally meeting Wanda in Person.
A week ago today I had the honor and pleasure to meet my long time blog and now facebook friend Wanda. A little bit over two years ago she visited my Photo Blog as we used to participate in the Saturday Photography Scavenger Hunt. Eventually we just started commenting on each others blog and before we knew it a friendship was born.

Back then she used to live in Norther California, as her husband was the pastor of their church. Last year he retired and they made the move back to beautiful Southern California where now they live very close to all their relatives. They live at the foot of the mountains and I know based on Wanda's writings that they are really enjoying their retirement.

Well Wanda, I hope you were not disappointed, it has to be a bit on the weird side to meet someone in person that you met of all places in the Internet. Your daughter is not too far off thinking that there are too many weirdos hiding behing the computer screens. I am glad your husband didn't have to use one of the "Old Timer" pieces on me. lol -- I really had a wonderful time visiting you and your husband. The couple hours I was there went too fast talking about motorcycles, paintings, blogs, photography, etc. etc. Too many topics we have in common we definitely have to meet again.

Michelle and the kids thank you for the delicious batch of home made cookies and she hopes the next time we visit she will be there with me.

Again, thank you and your husband for your hospitality but most important for your friendship.

Hugs to the both of you.

Don and I, enjoying a good cup of coffee and wonderful conversation.

If you have never read Wanda's Blog "Brush Strokes from the Heart" then give it a try and visit her.
CLICK HERE!

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Wanda's Art

Three beautiful greeting cards designed by my dear friend Wanda.

Back in November of 2007 my dear friend Wanda sent me five greeting cards displaying her paintings. She she was supposed to send me only one of the Old Truck as a "Thank You" for featuring her photos on my photo blog for a week. So when I received the envelope and found out it had five cards I was pretty happy.

I put them away in a safe place and didn't think of them much until last September when for my birthday Wanda sent me an 8 X 10 print of the "Old Truck". Since I had that print framed I thought it was time to take the small greeting cards and do the same to them.

Again I went to Hobby Lobby my framing place of choice and between their talented framers and I came out with the proper frames for these type of cards. The single flower deserved its own frame, while the wolf and the lion are sharing the other frame. The other two I will keep as cards and will display them as such but these two frames will soon be displayed in one of my walls.

And while this blog is displays all of the melo-duckworth originalz photographic captures, I am proud to share it with some of Wanda's original water paint artwork.







Thank you Wanda.

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A Treasure Framed

Back on May 31, 2007 my dear friend Wanda of "Brush Strokes from the heart" had a post on her blog entitled "A Treasure on 7th Street". In this post she highlighted some old machinery in someones yard. She had passed by these treasures many times but funny enough she didn't really pay much attention to them until she became a blogger and like most of us starting searching for things to blog about.

I've driven down 7th street for over 20 years, and I've seen this old rusted farm equipment and just driven on by. It wasn't until today, when I came by, the sun was hitting the old pickup that I realized I had been passing up a treasure on 7th Street. ~Wanda

For five days I posted a picture taken by Wanda and highlighted it in my "Arizona... But it's a dry heat" photo blog. She was so happy that I did that and in return she sent me five greeting cards featuring her original water colored paintings in them. One of those images was the one that we have dubbed "The Old Truck". This image of the old truck was the first picture of hers I posted.

The Old Truck.
(According to Wanda this is the first vehicle she ever painted.)
Wanda is a very talented lady, her blog is so popular that it receives many hits per day and a healthy doze of comments per post.

On September the 18th I turned 50 years old and Wanda sent me as a present an 8 X 10 print of that old truck. I had received a gift card for Hobby Lobby and some cash as well so I went all out and took the print along with a copy of the original picture to Hobby Lobby and had them professionally mounted on a beautiful frame. The outcome was absolutely beautiful.




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Scattergories

Did you ever plan the game of Scattergories? It's a lot of fun, and here is a way to play in on your blog.

"SCATTERGORIES" ...It's harder than it looks! Copy and paste into your blog and try it!

**Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following --they have to be real places, names, things ...nothing made up! You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question.


What is your name...........................Jose
4 Letter word....................................Join
Vehicle................................................Jalopy
City......................................................Jerome, Arizona
Boy Name...........................................Jeremy
Girl Name...........................................Jasmine
Alcoholic Drink...................................Jose Cuervo
Occupation..........................................Judge
Something you wear..........................Jogging Suit
Celebrity..............................................Jennifer Lopez
Food......................................................Jambolaya
Something found in a bathroom........Jars
Reason for being late...........................Jacked Up
Cartoon Character..............................."Joe Cool"
Something you shout...........................Jerk
Animal....................................................Javalina
Body part...............................................Joint
Word to describe you............................Joyful (If I don't say it, who will)

Nope, no tags from me, I just chose to do this because I saw it in Wanda's blog. It was harder than I thought, there were some answers that took me a while. It was pretty fun thought perhaps you'll want to try your later and see how you do.

Guest Blogger

FRIENDS

I have been blogging for almost a year and a half and I have made many friends during that time. I personally think you are all great and I love every one of you. You have given me support and you have welcomed me into your worlds too. I truly believe that blogging friends are a tight bunch and we all stick together.

One of my newest friends is actually one of my most loyal visitors, this wonderful friend found me and loyally visits me every single day, except of course when she is out visiting her family in Southern California.

Her name is Wanda, and she has one of the nicest and most inspiring blogs you'll ever read, her inspirational posts keep one going back to her blog day after day, trust me if you meet her you'll like her... you'll like her a lot.

Without her my photo blog would be so lonely, she has made it a point to visit it daily and she always leaves me a comment or two. For this particular reason next week starting on Monday the 5th through Friday the 9th I will be posting pictures taken by her. This is my way of thanking her and the least I can do.

Please visit my Arizona... But It's a dry heat! blog next week and meet this sweet blogger whom I am proud to have as a friend.


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