I wish....

                        .....that I could spend all my time helping people
                                                         preserve their photo memories.

Organization.
Storage.
Choosing.
Printing.
Framing.
Albums.
Scrapbooks.
Journals..
Blogs.


I dream of hosting workshops full time.
Of {actually} running a business. Can I do this?
Oh, I can teach you and help you preserve your photos.
Or, I can do the work for you. I'm sure of this.
But {actually} run a business? I'm not so sure about this.

Sometimes I wonder if this is really important, or valuable. Then I read things like this and this and I'm reminded that photos and memories mean so much to all of us. We long to slow down, hold on to moments of time and capture the essence of those we love. Photos help us.

So I'll hang on to my wish - and keep working towards my dream.
Cause it's what I want. And it is that important!

What are you wishing for today?

Unexpected!

Set off on a drive with my husband on Friday ~

We drove for hours, stopped whenever we wanted

and saw some beautiful scenery.

I had no idea we'd see such pretty

Covered Bridges!

One of them even housed a pretty little gift shop.

Friendship and a Birthday!

How true is this?

Got this from a bestie a few weeks ago.

The friends who know us, who trust us, who listen

and aren't put off by the messes we make ~

you know, the friends IN IT for the long haul ~

Cindy's one of those friends!

We go back to college days - pre husbands, pre kids.

Generous, thoughtful, creative and fun!

{Competitive - my 'words with friends' enemy!}

An AMAZING mom!!!

She hates crazy weather, so I'm sorry she has

to deal with Irene on her birthday.

I do LOVE her ~ and her wonderful family!!

Happy Birthday Friend....we'll celebrate when the

winds and rains leave us!

Hindsight is Easy

There seems to be more clarity
in the rear view mirror. Easy
to look back, rewrite, and yearn
for what could have been. Can
seem so darn clear. Obvious. Soon
we start following the "what if"
brick road. Which isn't yellow and
doesn't lead to Oz. Or anywhere.

There seems to be more clarity
in the rear view mirror. Easy
to miss the fact that it's
just a reflection. It's not now.
It's not real. It can't change.
Nevertheless, it is there - staring at
us with all its clarity. Daring
us to learn and move on.

Though there seems to be more
clarity in the rear view mirror,
I prefer the whir and blur
of the present. With all its
twists and turns. I even prefer
the uncertainty of the future with
all its possibilities. When I remember
to lift my eyes, paths appear.

Maybe not perfectly mapped out or
easy - but eager to be pursued.

Good Morning, Bacon!

Mama Kat,
from that {pretty much world famous} writer's workshop,
wants to know the Top Ten Reasons Bacon is Awesome!

1. Bacon and Camping go together.

Anything that goes with camping is awesome!

2. Guys like to cook bacon.

I like it when the guys cook.

3. Bacon combines well with lots of things: 

sweet (pancakes) AND salty (eggs).

{especially beer batter pancakes!}

4. Syrup is Bacon's perfect dipping sauce.

Yummy!

5. Bacon and Diet Coke go together well.

{especially around a campfire}

6. Bacon is easy to share with your puppies.

7. Bacon is a perfect add-in.

Just cook two strips right into your chocolate chip,

beer batter pancakes. Delectable...

8. Bacon and Christmas morning go together.

And anything that goes with Christmas is awesome!

9. Bacon helps us enjoy snow days.

10. Then there are BLT's, bacon bits, fancy appetizers wrapped

in bacon, club sandwiches...

I know we shouldn't eat it that often,

but {oh} don't we all love bacon??!

Soccer Season's Here!

My college soccer player left us Sunday to move into the dorm.

It's pre-season

and they are working hard!

Today ~ my wish is for him.

Wishing him a great season (injury free would be my preference!)

Wishing the team a winning season!

Can't wait to sit under the lights and watch his first game!

Some Blog Love!

Over the weekend I was surprised to have

two blog awards sent my way!

Amy passed it on to Debbie

who passed it on to me!

Ellie passed it on to Dianna

who passed it on to me!

The "Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award" asked me to share a few things about myself and pass the award along to some blogs that I love ~ So, here goes!

1. I'm 50!  2. A bit of a TV junkie...  3. Love cranberry juice, food made with cranberries, decorations made with cranberries...and the color cranberry.  4. I adore being a MOM!  5. I want to run a craft studio some day  6. Love to camp.  7. I really like actual mail...the kind that comes to the box and has a stamp.

Here are some Irresistibly Sweet Blogs:

   Breeze Creations 

She and I "wish" together on Wednesdays! You should join us!

Footprints in the Sand

She and I connected cause she's an American living in France

just like I was for years!

Fresh Mommy

Love her photography. Love her philosophy

Love linking up with Sunday Citar.

Me as a Mother

More amazing photography.

Poignant. Silly. Real. Wonderful.

The Liebster (German for friend or love) Blog award is meant to bring more attention to blogs with fewer than 200 followers ~ here are some more of my favorite blog friends:

Beaktweets

Real life friend, and my blogging inspiration.

a sun kissed life

Could read her poetry every day.

Melissa Camara Wilkins

Can't really tell from her blog how many followers she has....

so hopefully this won't insult her.

Her Six Word Fridays linky and the group that writes with

her are wonderful. I've LOVED getting to know her!

Postcards from a Peaceful Divorce

This is an important blog.

(don't really know how many followers she has either)

For all of us ~ divorced or not.

The writing and relationship principles discussed

are both profound and challenging.

My Cozy Nook

One of my newest discoveries ~ she writes with

tenderness and honesty. She's drawn me in!

ENJOY!!

I love my blogging community(ies).  Maybe you'll discover a new space that you'd like to visit. On any given day (as you all know) some of us are "up" and others are struggling. Births are celebrated, milestones shared, and illness and death are prayed for and mourned. I'm reminded daily how wide open and wonderful the world is, and how much good is out there. I'm called higher ~ my thinking is challenged and I'm inspired to keep writing. I'm grateful to those who "drop in" and those who settle in and read almost everything I put out there!

Most of all,

Thanks to Debbie and Dianna 

for their lovely blogs

and all their encouragement!

Feel free to take your award and pass it on!

Anticipation!!

My August calendar has it right.

"There is one thing which gives radiance to everything.

It is the idea of something around the corner."

                                       G.K. Chesterton

I have a little something around the corner this week - four days away with my husband! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am ~ we are headed north. To a beautiful little town in New Hampshire. A private condo in the mountains, and {did I mention} four days with no schedule!

AND, I have a big something around the corner in October. Family and friends are coming from near and far to help us celebrate the marriage of our daughter! Yesterday she and I had lunch with the groom's mom ... lots of chit chat and several hours of shopping. We are not just gaining a son-in-law, we are joining two families....and we couldn't be more excited, blessed, thrilled!! And I don't mean that in a 'you should say nice things about your in laws' kinda way. I'm thinking we are gaining dear friends for life. And this is good. Very good.

So, there are good things coming ~ and I'm full of anticipation.

Also ~ remember the pedicure I was wishing for this week? Well, the bride to be and I got side by side pedicures today....and (with groom mom's help) found ME some wedding shoes!

Radiance. Right down to my toes!

Holding it Together?

Choose a font, compose the text.

Card stock, envelopes, stamps, ink. Pieces

of an invitation. Pieces of the

invitation, now tenderly assembled - little bits

of my heart embedded in each

fold, stuck to each morsel of

tape, infused into each stamped image.

She knows I want her to

have the day of her dreams.

And the marriage of her dreams.

For now, that means I attend

to details, helping her vision become

reality. Helping her to focus and

decide, and put all the pieces

together. While I hold it together,

emotionally. Well, until the post office.

With the mailing of the invitations

came a few tears. Completely unexpected.

.

Behind the Camera

My perfect hiding spot?

Behind the camera.

Studying the world

{and my favorite faces}

through the lens.

Every photo I take captures,

not only a moment in time,

but my perspective on that moment.

Annie Leibovitz said,

"The camera makes you forget you're there.

It's not like you are hiding but you forget,

you are just looking so much."

Well, Ms Leibovitz, you may not be hiding,

but I suspect that {sometimes}

I just might be.

And I like my hiding spot!

Keeping It Simple

I can only think of one thing

I really want today.

I'm wishing for
a PEDICURE!

Souvenirs, Souvenirs....

Hanging out in Harvard Square and touring the campus

always includes a photo with John Harvard himself.

We had to wait in line to get this shot!

Saturday we were blessed by a visit from some old friends.

We knew them in Paris.

Met them when they were college students,

and moved before they'd had any of their kids!

We were blessed with several hours of walking, talking and

playing on the grass.

Did my heart so much good to connect to that time in my life.

I miss Paris, and the people we knew there.

But I don't let myself think about it much....

So it was good to remember!

And to spend time with old friends

who are happy and thriving and

surrounded by adorable kids!

Eighty Years Young!

A man of eighty has outlived

probably three new schools of painting,

two of architecture and poetry and

a hundred in dress. 

Lord Byron 

I'm thinking that society's changes have

sped up since Lord Byron penned those words.

We could ask my Dad ~ he's celebrating his eightieth today!

And he knows things. Always has.

One of the best things about my dad is

that he's always learning things.

I love that about him.

And,

I love that he's an architect ~ that can take an open space

and turn it into some one's home.

I love that he 'grounded' me.

{Roots}

Put a good head on my shoulders, taught me to think.

Gave me a home, shared his history,

and let me know my life was mine to map out.

And I love that he let me fly.

{Wings}

As my kids leave the nest, I know not to smother.

Cause my dad trusted and respected me

through the good decisions and the bad choices.

He's a great dad!

And whenever I see a globe, a newspaper, golf clubs,

a Phillie's hat, a #2 pencil, a film camera,

a crossword,  the Thinker statue, puzzles....

I think of him!

Memories built from lives shared!

So, today, I wish him the happiest of birthdays.

Would love to be with him and throw him a HUGE party
{he's earned it after all!}

But blog love it is.

You're the best, Dad!

Through Trials and Eras

Learning to share a life and
grow a love comes in bits
and pieces. In bits of conversation
and conflict. In pieces discovered
or discarded. We combine odds and
ends of wit, wisdom and wonder
as {by trial and error} we
shape a marriage and build a
family. Experts speak. We try. Yet,
err we do, of course. Then
a bit of conversation, a piece
of the other discovered, and off
we go to try some more.
Through trials and eras we learn.
And our love continues to grow.

Jump Rope Rhyme!

Adrienne, Adrienne, practice please.

Adrienne, Adrienne, A's, not B's.

Adrienne, Adrienne, drama queen!

{off the stage, off the stage} make.no.scene.

Adrienne, Adrienne, find a friend.

Adrienne, Adrienne, play pretend.

Clean your room, Adrienne, clean your plate.

And then at holidays, we'll celebrate!

{composed to the rhyme: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around}

Wishful Wednesday

Years ago

my mom was a beautiful, radiant, happy bride.

I never really knew her like this.

Happy, that is.

I spent my early years trying to bring happiness to her

through what I accomplished.

Then I tried to share my life and my kids

with her in order to brighten up her world.

Recently, I confess that I've just been mad that

she's so unhappy

and that I allowed her unhappiness to

control so much of my life.

Today, as I look at these photos,

I just want to

wish her happiness.

Yup, that's my WISH for this Wednesday ~

That my mom finds a little bit of happiness.

That some of these smiles

will find their way to her face

again.

For the Birthday Girl!

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

Marcel Proust

We met cause we both love scrapbooking.

We can talk about everything.

Eventually get around to laughing about most stuff.

I've loved meeting her friends

and I adore her kids!

Don't know if she knows that she came into

my life when me and happiness

were going through a rough patch...

she sure has helped bring us back together!

I hope she knows that I treasure our

friendship!

And I hope she's has a very happy birthday!

Here's to you, friend!

New England

Speaking of New England, have I

told you that I love it

here? Could it be the history?

Perhaps it's the coast, and the

quaint towns nestled by the shore.

It's here where tradition steeped neighborhoods

surround cutting edge, university campuses. And

where snow buries us for weeks

after autumn startles us with her

colors. We love our seasons and

our sports teams, our poets, landmarks,

antiques, artisans, lighthouses and trails. Speaking

of New England? Speaking of home.

{weight} loss

 Throughout
my whole adolescent and adult life
I have been
       fat.
       Or been told I was fat.
       Or thought I was fat.
  Therefore,
I spent years {thirty of them}
on a
        diet.
        Or cheating on a diet.
        Or trying the latest diet.

  And then, one day, I was done.
I stopped living by food lists in        
         some book.
         And started listening to myself.
         And started learning about hunger.
         And started to know what tasted good to me.
         And what didn't.

It has taken me
          ten years.
          But I trust myself.

  Thanks to
family and close friends,
I have learned
         acceptance.
         And patience.
         And am leaving self-loathing and punishment behind.
   Towards
{weight} loss I am walking. Just walking.
I will not be
         running.
         Or jumping through hoops.
         Or being radical. {i hate that word}

  And,
  No matter
how quickly I actually experience the loss of some
          weight....
          I know one thing for sure.
         This journey's for me.

This Wednesday's Wish!

Together for a weekend's better than not together at all...

So I'm grateful for this weekend's visit from dear friends ~

All the way from Texas to beautiful New England they came.

We walked and talked.

Shared laughter and love.

They brighten my world.

How I wish they still lived right around the corner!

Sigh.

Today's Scrapbook Pages

About a week ago I shared some Ball Park Magic with you.

Thought I'd show you the scrapbook pages

I made today with my favorite photos from that night.

I got some shots of my favorite players, a couple of fans

and {of course} the beautiful sun set painted sky!

Enjoy ~