Remembered

Well it certainly is odd how aging has a way of catching up with you when you are busy living life.  I never think of myself as aging and for all intents and purposes I'm relatively young and in good health thank goodness.  I received sad news yesterday that reminded me of my own mortality.   My Aunt E passed away this past weekend.  She was an octogenarian.  She is survived by her husband, Uncle P, my mother's only living sibling.  She is also survived by her children and grandchildren.  She was a beautiful lady.  When I think of her the word regal comes to mind.  I know that she will be missed.

Peace!

Texture Tuesday

Today is a free and easy edition of Texture Tuesday.  It is also the first guest host for Texture Tuesday. Definitely go over and check out todays post.

A couple of weeks ago n and I went on a photo walk.  We walked by the Jenny Grist Mill and continued down the waterfront.  On our walk back we spied a beautiful spot created by a homeowner across the stream.  It reminds me of a secret garden of sorts.  I can picture myself relaxing with a good book as I listen to the babbling brook.  Ahhhhhh

For this image I adjusted the levels then added Kim's sunkissed and warm sun textures.  I masked off the textures from the hammock.  I am pleased with how warm this image feels.

Peace!

Mellow Yellow Monday

Some yellow we found on our picture walk last week.

Peace!

Our Word View - Adventure

What is Our Word View?  A collaboration between two friends who lost touch over the years but have reconnected online.  We share a love of the ocean, photography, quotes, animals and family.  Often times our photographic interpretations of our word of the week are very similar.

This week I chose the word ADVENTURE.  Typically I am not a very adventurous person.  I am a homebody.  Give me a good book, an art project or my camera and I am very happy.  I do enjoy a good photo adventure... walking along a path not taken before.  That is loads of fun for me.  If I were truly going to take on something adventurous, you will not be surprised that it would be something to do with the ocean!  Lately I've been thinking, I'd like to try my hand at kayaking.  I think it would be amazing to get out on a body of water and paddle away.  I have not tried it yet, but I will.  In lieu of any photos of this upcoming adventure I thought I'd share the following image that I captured while walking my beach.  

processed with KK's textures if only, grey day and sweet treat

My dad always dreamed of owning a boat, charting a coarse and going on an adventure.  How wonderful that would have been.  Please visit Our Word View to see Liz's interpretation of this weeks word.  

Peace!

Simple Beauty

I love taking photographs of nature.  I find simple beauty through my lens.  Grass, leaves, trees, clouds, butterflies, birds, bugs... you name it and I'll snap it's picture.   On Saturdays I'm going to take the time to share a few of my favorite nature shots.  So here goes.

Peace!

Friday Fill Ins

And...here we go!

1. Staying active keeps you young and healthy!   
2. An end to the divisive politics in Washington  well, that would be nice! 
3. The very thought of going back to school makes me feel ill!  Summer is going by too fast. 
4. n is so beautiful. 
5. I grew up in home with love and laughter...little did I know how hard it truly was...and that was the gift given to me by my mom.  
6. As a kid boiled lobster was my most memorable meal.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the Olympics, tomorrow my plans include a little of this and a little of that and Sunday, I want to watch the Olympics and get some reading done. 


Peace!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the weather is sketchy!  It's been windy and cloudy all day.  The sky is a strange bright white.  We are under a Hazardous Weather Warning for flash floods and thunderstorms.  Should be a crazy weather night.  

I am thinking...that tomorrow will be a great day to read a book.  The weather will still be cloudy and Friday is always a good day to stay home.  

I am thankful for...having my bills paid off.  I checked on several of them today and they have received the checks and the accounts are paid in full.


From the kitchen... plans....
                 
                   Thursday:  Burgers
                   Friday:   Rolled hot capicola spicy calzone, salad
                   Saturday: Pizza at Papa Ginos
                   Sunday: Spaghetti and meatballs
                   Monday:  Fresh Corn and Blueberry Salad with grilled shrimp
                   Tuesday:  Home made clam chowder  or french onion soup and salad


I am wearing....my army green shorts and black top 

I am creating...cards for my friend M, every day as well as clay creations with my beach clay. 

I am going...to work on my professional portfolio tomorrow.  I have to get it organized on the off chance that a position will open up before the end of summer. 


I am wondering... what will come next.   

I am reading...Well I finished The Son of Neptune.  It had a great conclusion.  I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.  Next up a long shelved read... The Help. 

I am hearing...the sound the television and Flicka playing with her toys.  She loves to chew on her toys.  She is so cute.  (and fresh!)


I am hoping...that I'll get together with my friend C.  Our plans have yet to come together. 


I am looking forward to...just being with my kiddos tomorrow!  Breakfast out (maybe) a walk on the beach (maybe) scary movies (maybe)  I guess will just wait and see. 


I am learning... to be present and not project about the future.   

Around the house...I finally planted my plants and worked on the back deck a bit.  I still have more to but it is a start. 


A favorite quote for today...



‎The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.  Oscar Wilde

One of my favorite things ...is relaxing at the end of the day.  

A few plans for the rest of the week: no plans.... 


A photo I'm sharing:

Peace!

Wordless Wednesday

Peace!

Texture Tuesday - Outdoors

This week our challenge over at Texture Tuesday is to begin with an image taken outside and then add at least one texture from all that Kim has shared.

I decided to work on a set of images taken out on the back deck with n and Flicka.  I added the textures aurora and sunkissed to all of my images and then used masks to take some of the texture of certain parts of my images.  The photo shoot was so much fun as was playing with them in photoshop.

Peace!

Mellow Yellow Monday

n and I spend a good part of our Sunday on a photo adventure.  We walked our local waterfront and enjoyed seeing the sights of the day.  There were so many visitors/tourists.  It was fun to people watch and capture some great shots.  We were both surprised to see so many cool cars.

Don't you love the bright yellow of this car?  

Peace!

Our Word View - Majestic

What is Our Word View?  A collaboration between two friends who lost touch over the years but have reconnected online.  We share a love of the ocean, photography, quotes, animals and family.  Often times our photographic interpretations of our word of the week are very similar.

This week Liz chose the word MAJESTIC.  This was a bit difficult for me to wrap my brain around.  When I think of the word majestic my mind immediately goes to mountains.  I'm not sure why, but it just does.  I wasn't planning a trip to the mountains last week so I felt a bit stumped.  I thought of my images of the Capital building in DC from last year but that did not feel right.  My next thought was an image of the beautiful owls that were born at my school several years ago.  I looked at those images and they didn't fit the bill either.  I tried to take a shoot of my dog Flicka.  Often times she will strike a 'majestic' looking pose but not yesterday!  So as I searched my memory and my files I came across the images I took when we celebrated R's birthday at the Franklin Park Zoo.  I thought what is more majestic than this beauty?

Peace!

Simple Beauty

I love taking photographs of nature.  I find simple beauty through my lens.  Grass, leaves, trees, clouds, butterflies, birds, bugs... you name it and I'll snap it's picture.   On Saturdays I'm going to take the time to share a few of my favorite nature shots.  So here goes.

Peace!

So Sad

The Colorado shootings have taken my breath away.  What is wrong with our country?  So many young people disturbed and desperate.  How do we heal from this type of terror?  We live in such an adversarial climate.  It seems that politics, economy and a lack of faith in the state of things in our country has taken a drastic toll on this great country of ours.  Recovery is what we need.  But how?

Peace!

Friday Fill Ins

And...here we go!

1. Staying active is good for mind and body. 
2. A life of leisure well, that would be nice! 
3. The very thought of going back to school (as much as I love teaching) sends chills down my spine. 
4. Today is so beautiful. 
5. I grew up in the second home I now own and with two loving parents who did the best they could with what they had and what they knew.  
6. Christmas dinner several years ago was my most memorable meal.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to possibly setting up the tent and sleeping out with n and Flicka, tomorrow my plans include finally finishing my planting and Sunday, I want to go to Claychick to pick up our plates and paint two more!


Peace!

N Update

So we saw the doctor today about N's foot.

They asked us all the questions we had already asked ourselves:  were you in the woods or at the beach, did you burn your foot, did you fall or hurt it in some way....  all the answers were no.  Finally the doctor came in and carefully examined his foot.  Long story short he has a type of ganglion cyst on the tendons of his foot.  She explained that typically ganglions are on joints or perhaps one tendon but his cyst seemed to go across several of his tendons.  With her help we figured out that when N is on the computer he links his foot on the rung of the chair.  It is the constant and repeated pressure from this chair rung that has led to this cyst.  Crazy huh?  I am so relieved.  Me being me had the worst case scenario running through my mind.  She suggested getting N's feet measured and making sure his shoes are wide enough.  She also said he should use a yoga stability ball for a chair at his computer so that he is forced to keep his feet on the floor, with a side benefit of strengthening his core.  

So I'm on the hunt for a large yoga ball and thankful that we have a simple solution.  

Peace!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the heat wave has broken!  Rain falls softly and the air is comfortable and crisp.  

I am thinking...that I would love it if every day could feel like today.  

I am thankful for...finally completing the refinance that we have been working on and preparing for over the last several months!  


From the kitchen... plans....
                   Wednesday:  Grilled marinated steak tips and rice pilaf
                   Thursday:  Home made Italian Subs
                   Friday:   Rolled spicy chicken calzone, salad
                   Saturday:  Grandpa's Pasta Salad
                   Sunday: Chicken fajitas
                   Monday:  Breakfast for supper
                   Tuesday:  Fresh Corn and Blueberry Salad with grilled shrimp


I am wearing....my pj's 

I am creating...cards for my friend M, every day!

I am going...to take N to the doctors today to have his foot looked at as he has had a bump (think size of half dollar and bruise colored) on the top of his foot for a couple of months and it has us both worried.  


I am wondering... what it will be like not  to worry about finances for a while!  

I am reading...finally I picked up The Son of Neptune again.  It is a great book.    

I am hearing...the sound the television; usually I turn off the tv at 9am but I wanted to hear what Jennifer Hudson has to say on Rachel.   


I am hoping...that the doctors will know what is up with N's foot.  


I am looking forward to...going to the movies with my friend C and her daughter.  Should be fun to go see a grown up girl movie!  


I am learning... to let things go.  

Around the house...I have to get outside and get to work!


A favorite quote for today...



‎"Life tucks its rarest, largest, and most D-flawless diamonds deep, deep inside the folds of the greatest loss. You do not know they are even there, glittering in the dark, right beside you."
~Augusten Burroughs

One of my favorite things ...is my first cup of steaming hot coffee especially on a comfortably cool day like today!

A few plans for the rest of the week: doctors office, working in the yard, nightly walks with R, playing Mindcraft (my new guilty pleasure) 


A photo I'm sharing:

When they were young....

Peace!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless...

Peace!

Texture Tuesday

This week Kim challenged us to use two textures and try to switch things up a bit with our texture work.  Well I certainly did that this week.  I am sharing two pics of my daughter when she was very little.  I have worked on the processing of these image in the past and added a bit more tweaking today. I used several of Kim's textures including portrait, all my loving, silence, february magic, and possibly lola and annabelle.  These are from back in the days when I didn't label all my layers!  My final layer on the ultra artsy pic is on of Kim's more recent textures, elevate.  I do like how the images ended up.  They have a very different feel than any of my other textured images.

Peace!

Mellow Yellow Monday

Last year I had the most beautiful flowers on my back deck!  I had ordered calla lily bulbs online and loved them!  Sadly they did not make it through the winter even though I wintered them over in soil and newspaper in the shed.  Maybe I'll try them again next year.  I miss these beautiful flowers.  This year I have not really spent any time gardening.  I'm not sure why.  I miss the beauty that the flowers bring on my deck but I just have not had it in me.  Oh well!  

Peace!