Friday Fill Ins

1. I need see number 6.

2. Growing up next to the ocean, we didn't know how  lucky we were.

3. A great deal of time and energy has been spent on creating this life.

4. On a hot day there is nothing better than home made iced coffee in a big tall glass.

5. It was announced that new episodes will begin this week.

6. See number 1 steak knives.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the new episodes, tomorrow my plans include hopefully going out with the fam to a family friendly establishment for pizza and live music (featuring R) and Sunday, I want to relax and get ready for the week!

Peace!

Texture Tuesday

Love ....

Family is the greatest love.  It begins with a man and a woman and then if you are fortunate it grows.  There is so much love in this photo.  It was taken this past weekend over at my childhood home, yet another layer of love in this photo.  We rarely have an opportunity to have a family portrait taken but this weekend my dear cousin D took this photo.  It is beautiful in my eyes. 

To enhance the inherrent beauty in my image I added several of Kim Klassen's textures.  I began with KK Fall In hue 49%, followed by madlove luminosity 15% with a mask to remove some of the texture and finally I chose february magic screen 74%.  I am pleased with the final result. 

Love...

and

Peace!

Shadow Shot Sunday

Beauty from the shadows!

Peace! 

Open House

Well today was a wonderful day!  We had many visitors over at 40 M.  Old friends, new friends and family.  Gathering together to celebrate the near completion of the house.  Amazingly I made it through without crying.  I came close but it was too joyous a day to allow that to happen.  Now I will sit and reflect on what today means and what tomorrow will bring.

Peace!

Getting Ready!

Well tomorrow we are celebrating with family and friends over at 40 M!  As of Monday we will be 99.5% done with the house and it will be move in ready for some lucky person.

This has been such a bittersweet process.  Just acquiring the house was difficult and has left a wedge between me and my brother.  It is so sad and I think about it often.  Just recently I learned that similar rifts have happened on my Dad's side of the family for years, generations really.  It is like history repeating itself.  I hope that some day the relationship I once had with my brother will begin again.  Only time will tell.

Over this past year we have literally rebuilt the home I grew up in piece by piece.  We tore it down and built it back up.  It feels almost like a metaphor for life.  Over time life tears you down or wears you down and when you think you can go no lower you pick yourself up by the bootstraps and begin again.   The completion of this house feels like a new beginning.  Our life has been on hold for the past year held hostage by the process that was 40 M.  It has been a difficult road with many bumps along the way.  I have shed many tears.  Tears of grief, relief, remorse, regret, remembrance and even tears of joy.  Such a complex time it has been.  There have been days; like part of today where the tears have just flowed.  There is a wistful longing for what once was but can be no more.  It's hard for me to wrap my mind around.  It just happens.  But enough about the crying.... there is much to do before tomorrow.

I plan on serving simple foods at this open house.  They all stem from family recipes.  S's Cinnamon Swirl Bread, Mum's Chicken Salad, Dad's Ham Salad, my artichoke feta dip and ranch dip with veggies.  Toll house cookies, so simple to make in a machine, once a labor of love will be mounded high on a plate.  Oatmeal cookies for my boy.  Tiny snack size candies in a big glass bowl that will remind the children of Papa.  See even in the food there are memories and now tears!  I hope I can hold it together tomorrow when my family and friends arrive.

Peace!

Wordless Wednesday

Wish I could spend some time here today, but I must go to work!  

Peace!

Texture Tuesday

So this week we are back to free and easy over at Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday.  The past couple of weeks I've been struggling with getting posts up and linked.  Time has been short now that I'm back to school and my photoshop has not been working the same way.  Fortunately for me Kim is an expert and when I asked her about my difficulties she was able to lead me in the right direction and now my photoshop is doing just what I want it to do!  Yay.

This past week I walked the canal with Flicka and was surprised to hear a train whistle.  Sure enough the train rolled by on the other side of the canal.  For as long as I've spent time down there I've never seen the train.  It was very cool.

I duplicated the background and then added a layer of Kim's Thursday on multiply.  I like the vintage feel of the photo.  

Peace!

Mellow Yellow Monday

Back in the day this yellow booth lived in my childhood home.  It was there long before I was born.  I think it came with the house when my Dad bought the house in the mid 60's.  It is amazing what we have done with that home in one short year.  Check out my other blog, Restoring the House That Built Me if you'd like to see the updated home.  Can't wait to celebrate with all my friends this weekend.  Open house at 40 M to share in our victory and accomplishment.  

Peace!

Shadow Shot Sunday

I love taking pictures that include shadows.  They are always so interesting.

I enjoy the way the shadows seem to play on the ground.  

Peace!

Trust

An opportunity has presented itself to me and I am going to trust my gut and take a risk.

Peace!

Simple Women's Daybook 36

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...it  is dark and cool.  I am relishing in the breeze as it gently blows through the windows.  The past few days have been very hot and muggy and I am happy to welcome some cool relief. 

I am thinking...that I am very tired after my first full week of regular hour classes.  

I am thankful for...my best friend who always knows just what to say.  She and I have gone through many life changes together.... a federal bank take over, weddings, miscarriages, births, deaths, hard times and good times....and through it all I am and have been blessed to have her in my life!  


From the kitchen...well we tried something new this week!  Pot Roast in the crock pot.  To my delight everyone enjoyed the new recipe!  I was pleasantly surprised. We also enjoyed a yummy salmon dinner and chicken pie.  It was a good food week.  Take out pizza tonight and hopefully meatballs tomorrow.  

I am wearing...my new black top and my comfy red pj pants. 

What I'm creating:  lists!  to do lists and skills checklists for school

I am going...to  work on finances tomorrow.  Yuck.

I am reading...The Hunger Games.  I really am enjoying this book.  I will spend some more time tomorrow reading.  I'm about halfway through the book.  N is dying for me to finish so we can talk about the book.  

I am hearing...cars drive by and the show 'How'd You Make That'.  

Around the house...just the regular work load.  I have a lot of picking up to do, organizing....stuff, bills, clothes.  The list goes on and on!

One of my favorite things...is seeing the sun rise over the ocean in the morning as I walk Flicka.  It is absolutely stunning. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: major clean up tomorrow, some R&R over the weekend and prepping for the next week.  It all begins again.   

Here are pictures I am sharing..

Peace!

Well it is Wednesday and I have a sick child who stayed home from school today and I'm feeling a little beat up by the fall work schedule.  It will take some adjusting but I know it will all be fine eventually.

Tomorrow is my Friday!  Yay!  I'm going to do some thinking about how to keep my blog updated daily.  Maybe on the weekend I can write out some posts and schedule them for posting on the days I'm working. That might work out.

Well that's all I have for now.

Peace!

I Wish You Enough

I found the following via a link on FB and it resonated with me powerfully.  I had to bring it hear and share it on Surfside Serenity.  As I type I have tears streaming down my face.

--posted by brighteyes on May 10, 2007

183714 reads

At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the door, he said to his daughter, "I love you, I wish you enough."

She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed good-bye and she left.

He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied.

Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing.

"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked.

"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral, " he said.

"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more.

"When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye." 

He then began to sob and walked away.

[ Original story by Bob Perks, in Chicken Soup For the Grieving Soul ]

Peace!

Mellow Yellow Monday

In person the new decking looks much more yellow than here in these photos.  The contrast of the new yellow wood verses the old grayed support beams and structural elements is quite dramatic.  

Peace!

Remembering....

It is hard to believe it has been 10 years since 9/11.  September 11, 2001 took so much from so many.   The fabric of our lives changed forever on that day.  Too many families lost loved ones while the rest of our country watched in horror and lost our innocence.  The horror of that day will forever be etched in our minds.   I challenge us to remember the people and not the gore and terror of that day.  While we have all continued on with our lives with minor changes in security the families continue to mourn for the loss of their loved ones.  Over the past several years I have posted my memorial for Joseph Roberto as part of the 2996 Project.  I visited the 'guest book' on legacy.com yesterday and it is so apparent that his family still mourns.  His parents and family continue to leave notes to Joseph in that online memorial.  His story is just one of so many.  I pray for healing for his family and all the families.  Let today be the day that healing begins if it has not yet done so for all those who lost their loved ones.

Joseph Roberto

37 years old

Midland, New Jersey

A Family is

a circle of strength and love.

With every birth and every union the circle grows.

Every joy shared adds more love.

Every crisis faced together

makes the circle stronger.

Joseph "Joe" Roberto was a son, brother, uncle, husband, and father.

He was devoted to his family and his family devoted to him.

He was a friend and colleague.

He maintained a solid work ethic and held himself to high expectations.

He enjoyed life: motorcycles, riding his motorcycle and investigating the battlefields in Virginia and West Virginia, exploring nature with his son, collecting coins, putting up his parents holiday decorations and gathering his own.

He is loved.

When I first received my name from the 2996 project I felt an immediate connection to Joseph Roberto as he shares a variation of my father's name. As I started my research I found it difficult to find much information to share, but I continued to dig and search. Finally I found this site and I learned much more about this person whom we all lost on September 11, 2001. I am honored and humbled to share this tribute today on the 8th anniversary of the greatest loss we have felt on our soil. May the Roberto family be blessed and my God bless the United States of America.

Peace

Friday Fill Ins

And...here we go!

1. Do they have a realistic expectation of how children learn? If they only push pencils and don't work in the classroom then the answer would be NO!

2. Back to school this week; it was as if we never left!

3. That was a relaxing day.... just me and my pup.

4. Being home today just  seemed so comfortable.

5. As I said, I would love to be able to stay home everyday... maybe if we get 40 M up and running I'll be able to do just that. 

6. After years and years of not watching General Hospital you would think that tuning in today I'd be surprised by some new twist.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging with the kids, tomorrow my plans include getting out with the kids to pick up some back to school clothes for N and getting over to 40 M to see the progress on the new driveway and Sunday, I want to make snacks and enjoy the first football game of the fall!

Peace!

Texture Tuesday on Thursday!

Feeling a bit behind this week.  Back to school and my posts are a bit mixed up but I know (or hope) that things will settle down a bit as we move through the first months of school.

So here is my pic for this weeks Texture Tuesday.  I love this pic!  What do you think?

Would love some serenity right now!  I think I'll settle for early to bed. 

Peace!

Wordless Wednesday

Simple Woman's Daybook 35

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...I see the movement of the leaves and hear the whistle of the breeze.  It is very relaxing.  

I am thinking...that time marches on far too quickly.  After spending last night with my best friend C and all of her family and friends at her annual cookout I am keenly aware of how time moves forward and how quickly children grow up, parents age and even though I still feel 21 I am no longer part of that age bracket.  It is shocking to think that I am middle aged!  

I am thankful for...being strong enough to push past my anxieties and hangups so that I can live life. 


From the kitchen...not much great this past week.  :(  I'll be planning next week's menu today.  I hope I can come up with some yummy different meals for the week.  While I am sad to see summer pass I am looking forward to cooking more fall/winter type food.  

I am wearing...my gray Vera Wang pjs.  They are the most comfortable pj's I own!  I picked them up at the beginning of the summer for my DC trip for a song.  Love clearance. 

What I'm creating: school stuff.... name tags, labels for photos, soon I'll be working on a class book.  

I am going...to  do a ton of laundry and ironing today and I'll be heading over to 40 M to do some cleaning and paint touch up.  

I am reading...The Hunger Games still! I'm hoping to get some reading done today.  Wouldn't that be nice?  

I am hearing...cartoons and Flicka.  

Around the house...just the regular work load.  I have a lot of picking up to do, organizing....stuff, bills, clothes.  The list goes on and on!

One of my favorite things...is the relationships I have nurtured and enjoyed with my friends.I believe that you don't need many as long as the ones you have are true and loyal.  I am blessed!

A few plans for the rest of the week: well we are starting the week so my week will consist of school and really getting back into my work routine.  That is more than enough.  

Here are pictures I am sharing..

Peace!

13 Years Ago...

I can hardly believe that 13 years ago today I was holding my newborn son in my arms.  I have watched him grow and learn and am so proud of the young man he is today.  He is loyal and strong.  He has a keen understanding of what is right and wrong.  He feels deeply and reacts strongly.  He sees injustice and is infuriated by its existence.  To look at him you might think he is older and more grown up than his age.  I know that he is still a child at heart.  A boy who enjoys games, toys and fun.  I love him more today than the day he was born.  It is truly amazing how the capacity for love grows and grows.  I am thankful that he was gifted to me for this time.  I am blessed.

Peace!