Legs 194/365

And Now my Happy Face lol 193/365

Sharie got to come hang today..YAY!

She even humored me with the silly webcam shots.

This is my Sad Face 192/365

I'm sad because Sharie is in town but probably too busy to come see me.

The BIG Gap between ALOHAS 191/365

Laura went to Hawaii LAST year and I just now got my ALOHA from her lol!

RIP Misako... I will Miss you 190/365

Got word an old friend from Rossville has passed away. She was very special to my family. My thoughts and prayers are with all the Wasson children. This is Misako and I at my mom's funeral, Oct 2008.

Strange Things I saw at McDonalds Today 189/365

An Argyle car and a star shaped pile of ketchup. Top that.

A Close Close Call 188/365

I almost didn't make my post today. My monitor had been trying to go out for about three weeks. Today it succeeded. PANIC! When Jack got home we went out for supper and then shopped for a new one. I can now shoot chickens in space in style.

I sprung for a new keyboard and mouse also. My old keyboard was full of food crumbs, jewelry findings and beads.

Rebecca Lane and Leslie Drive 187/365

You gotta love a town that names streets after ya, right Leslie?

I Love this Picture 186/365

Couldn't decide on a BIG picture for today so I went with one I am particularly fond of, me and Leslie on cam in the Acoustic_Jam room on camfrog

My Next BIG Job 185/365

Leslie hooked me up with someone on Facebook whose Mom needed a lace tablecloth finished . Turns out the lady lives right down the road (Kentucky reference for Laura lol). She brought the piece over today. I think I can do it or at least write out the pattern so she can finish it herself. Maybe a little of both?

The Eyes have It 184/365

Played around trying to come up with something BIG but only came up with this.

Yes, they are my tired OLD eyes.

The Truth Behind EasterTraditions 183/365

 From the website Factmonster.com

Christians celebrate Easter to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Some aspects of modern Easter celebrations, however, pre-date Christianity.

Ancient Spring Goddess

According to the Venerable Bede, Easter derives its name from Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. A month corresponding to April had been named "Eostremonat," or Eostre's month, leading to "Easter" becoming applied to the Christian holiday that usually took place within it. Prior to that, the holiday had been called Pasch (Passover), which remains its name in most non-English languages.
(Based on the similarity of their names, some connect Eostre with Ishtar, the Babylonian and Assyrian goddess of love and fertility, but there is no solid evidence for this.)
It seems probable that around the second century A.D., Christian missionaries seeking to convert the tribes of northern Europe noticed that the Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus roughly coincided with the Teutonic springtime celebrations, which emphasized the triumph of life over death. Christian Easter gradually absorbed the traditional symbols.

Easter Eggs

In Medieval Europe, eggs were forbidden during Lent. Eggs laid during that time were often boiled or otherwise preserved. Eggs were thus a mainstay of Easter meals, and a prized Easter gift for children and servants.
In addition, eggs have been viewed as symbols of new life and fertility through the ages. It is believed that for this reason many ancient cultures, including the Ancient Egyptians, Persians, and Romans, used eggs during their spring festivals.
Many traditions and practices have formed around Easter eggs. The coloring of eggs is a established art, and eggs are often dyed, painted, and otherwise decorated. Eggs were also used in various holiday games: parents would hide eggs for children to find, and children would roll eggs down hills. These practices live on in Easter egg hunts and egg rolls. The most famous egg roll takes place on the White House lawn every year.

Different Traditions

Orthodox Christians in the Middle East and in Greece painted eggs bright red to symbolize the blood of Christ. Hollow eggs (created by piercing the shell with a needle and blowing out the contents) were decorated with pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious figures in Armenia.
Germans gave green eggs as gifts on Holy Thursday, and hung hollow eggs on trees. Austrians placed tiny plants around the egg and then boiled them. When the plants were removed, white patterns were created.

Artistic Creations

The most elaborate Easter egg traditions appear to have emerged in Eastern Europe. In Poland and Ukraine, eggs were often painted silver and gold. Pysanky (to design or write) eggs were created by carefully applying wax in patterns to an egg. The egg was then dyed, wax would be reapplied in spots to preserve that color, and the egg was boiled again in other shades. The result was a multi-color striped or patterned egg.

The Easter Bunny

Hares and rabbits have long been symbols of fertility. The inclusion of the hare into Easter customs appears to have originated in Germany, where tales were told of an "Easter hare" who laid eggs for children to find. German immigrants to America -- particularly Pennsylvania -- brought the tradition with them and spread it to a wider public. They also baked cakes for Easter in the shape of hares, and may have pioneered the practice of making chocolate bunnies and eggs.

Easter Cards

Easter cards arrived in Victorian England, when a stationer added a greeting to a drawing of a rabbit. According to American Greetings, Easter is now the fourth most popular holiday for sending cards, behind Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day.

Easter Parades

After their baptisms, early Christians wore white robes all through Easter week to indicate their new lives. Those had already been baptized wore new clothes instead to symbolize their sharing a new life with Christ.
In Medieval Europe, churchgoers would take a walk after Easter Mass, led by a crucifix or the Easter candle. Today these walks endure as Easter Parades. People show off their spring finery, including lovely bonnets decorated for spring.

Needless to say, I chose not to celebrate Easter in the above mentioned ways. Am I going to church? Yes, but not to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. I celebrated the Memorial of his death Tuesday. To me Easter is just another day where all the stores except 7-11 are closed. We'll be grilling out later if anyone wants to come over.

Becky and the BIG Corn 182/365

Illinois = big corn. 'Nuff said

Another BIG Rock 181/365

I do so love me some BIG rocks.

April isn't the Cruelest Month 180/365

"April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rains." T.S. Eliot

April has generally been good to me. My oldest son was born in April. April showers bring May flowers. Jack even tried to get me to play an April Fool's joke on the landlords. (Couldn't do it, I couldn't keep a straight face although I did fall for an April Fool's from the Independent, a free newspaper here in town)

I went looking for past April pics and came up with this one. Me and my BFF, Laura, at the Garden of the Gods, April 2008.

This picture also fits in with this month's NaBloPoMo theme of BIG...as in DANG! Them's some BIG rocks!