Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Dawn's Perfect Light {Bigger Picture Moment}


I woke up with the birds on Sunday.
Since the car needed gas, and I wanted to take a prayer walk,
I left the campsite in search of an open gas station.
And a place to walk.
When I asked the attendant for directions to a beach,
she said, "Oh you're really close" and gave me directions to the "boardwalk."

What I found 
{after a five minute drive and a few left turns} 
was nothing short of amazing.

Stretching over 1,000 feet in length, the boardwalk crossed over a creek
and through beautiful marsh land until it reached the dunes.
Dunes which gave way to a white sand beach.
The sea air was sweetened by the perfume of wild roses growing along the walkway.

And each and every plank of this walkway was engraved. 
I was alone.
Yet surrounded by the memories and love of hundreds and
thousands who'd walked in this place before me.
This was a beautiful place,
a soul nourishing place.


There was light on the horizon.


A light that rose higher, and shone stronger with each passing moment.


The beach warmed
and the dew began to dry.


The strength of the light burned off all the morning haze
and opened up a magnificent view.


I was warmed, and filled and dazzled by this light.


Turning to leave,
the sweet perfume of these wild flowers rose to meet me
and to accompany back across the marsh.


With the sun warming my back, 
and every sense awakened,
I journeyed towards my day.


Every sweet bloom and vibrant leaf held the light.


Stretched, reached, climbed towards that light.


 Flourished under the light.


I was reminded to turn, one more time...


...and lift my face towards the light. 

Easily the most wonderful boardwalk I've ever been on.


Simple BPM
Sharing our Simple Moments
at Jade's Place today.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Scenes from the Camp Site


because there are late nights
and early mornings


because we like being nestled in the woods


just because




Black and White Wednesday

Madi Bear


Hands in the dirt.
{food in the dirt, bum bum in the dirt}
There's a lot of dirt in the woods.
Playing ball.
Playing with the sticks.
Cheering for the horse shoe players.
{and mostly staying out of the way}
Picking up rocks.
Picking up 'co cones'
{pine cones}
Sharing her treasures with everyone around the campfire.
Sharing good night kisses.
Dancing a bit. Singing a bit. Talking a mile a minute.
Learning how to zip and unzip the tents.
{mostly unzip}
This little 18 month old was one busy girl.
This little 18 month old is one sweet pumpkin.
She brightened up our little corner of the campground this weekend.
I hope her mommy and daddy have caught up on the sleep they lost -
and that they know our family
loves their little family so so much!


{this last one's for Chris, Claire and Mer}




Just Write
Linking up with Heather at
the extraordinary ordinary

Sunday, May 27, 2012

I Just Love Taking Pictures...


Family.
Good friends.
Yummy food.
The Great Outdoors.
Hundreds of photos!

I enjoyed every photo op I got this weekend.
And there were hundreds!
So....stay tuned!





and
 then, she {snapped}
Linking up with Rachel!

The Extraordinary Ordinary

"Not that it's difficult to photograph mundane things
but it's difficult to see them as significant.
The hard thing to do of course is to find a way to
photograph a mundane subject
or mundane event in a way that makes it exciting."
Brooks Jensen

I read this quote on a lovely photo blog that I follow: 
And it really spoke to me!

I think all the photo prompts I've been introduced to through blogging
{and all the instagramming I've become addicted to}
have helped me to see the world around me,
and all it's little pieces,
NOT
as mundane...but as significant.
So for this week's Scavenger Hunt I thought I'd take a prompt a day
and find me a treasure!

On Mondays I usually go to the grocery store...not my favorite thing. But 'hunting' a photo made it more fun! How do I take an interesting picture of what's BELOW MY FEET? Well, this perspective made me happy (and showed off my newly painted toe nails.)


Tuesday was a nasty, rainy day. As I thought about CAPTURING MOTION I knew I had to catch a shot of all the falling water. When I got to work, the drain pipe was gushing ~ and voila! I had my shot!


I knew that Wednesday's word was TEXTURE and this is one of the first things I saw when I opened my eyes. I slept under this summer blanket at my grandmother's house when I was a girl. I'm so glad that I have it now to wake up to!


When it came to Thursday's challenge - FACE YOUR FEARS - I was stumped...until I found myself hesitant to send a blog post out into the blogosphere for fear it just wasn't worth anyone's time to read it! Not the prettiest of the photos...but {perhaps} the most significant to me, as I'm sure I'll face this fear many more times!


Well, we've made it to Friday...and I am CURRENTLY getting the food ready for our camping trip. Banana bread is in the oven, meat and veggies {for the kabobs} are chopped and marinating...and it's only 7:30am!


Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend!


Joining Tabitha for Sunday Citar
And Ashley for Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Towards a Change of Scenery {Bigger Picture Moment}




Load up. Take stock. Drive away.
Away from routine and the indoors.
Away from screens, clocks and chores.

Load up. Take stock. And drive.
Drive towards a change of scenery.
Towards laughter and campfires and friends.
Towards fresh, forest air and long walks.
Towards sunshine, chirping birds and rest.

And this will be good. Good
for my exhausted, hard working hubby.
Good for me. Good for us.
No apologies, no guilt, no justifying.

It took me a while, but 
{Thank God!}
I no longer associate getting away
with running away. Or with laziness.
 I've learned to let go. To
really let go and let down.


Today we finish up, clean up
pack up and cook. Cause tomorrow
we load up - and drive away!




Simple BPM
Linking up at Undercover Mother

Six Word Fridays
And linking up at Melissa's

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

That Old Brick House


808 East Belvedere Avenue.
I can picture the house in my mind's eye as clearly as if I had been there just yesterday. 
I can hear the greeting: "Well how's my favorite granddaughter!" 
And I know my reply: "Oh, but I'm your only granddaughter!"
After hugs on the sidewalk and another in the doorway, we'd make our way inside where there would be home made raisin bread in the kitchen and a baseball game on the television. There would be snacks and chatter. Daddy and Doc would focus on the fuzzy, black and white transmission of the game, and I'd wander about the house visiting all the trinkets that I'd grown to love. Everything was always in the exact same spot as it had been on our last visit...so it was easy to ask my questions and hear my favorite stories about my daddy growing up in this very house.

808 East Belvedere Avenue.
A small, unassuming brick house. With three black numbers over the front door. There were wrought iron light fixtures and decorative grills at the base of the windows. I loved that house. What happened there was predictable and safe. When we were in that house, my daddy was always 'home' - always with us. It was a place where my mom's voice faded, and there was a glimpse into another world.

When I walk around the center of the pretty town where I work, I find myself surrounded by beautiful, old brick. And pretty wrought iron. And I just love it. The details in the brick work and the worn, wrought iron trimmings are so pretty to me. I enjoy old buildings...there's a comfort to me in the thought that they've weathered years, lasted...are still homes, or shops...and today these buildings are taking me back to my grandparents' old, brick house.







Black and White Wednesday

Monday, May 21, 2012

Weekend Warrior


I spent a lot of time this weekend filing pieces of brightly colored paper.
(and some pastels, and some neutrals)
Paper that has to get out of piles 
and boxes
and into the light so it can be used.
By me and my crafty friends.

And...just to keep it real....
I've got miles to go before I sleep!


Happy Monday!



and
 then, she {snapped}

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Preserving Memories




"Sometimes you will
never know the
value of a moment
until it becomes
a memory."
Unknown






I spent a good part of Saturday sorting and organizing craft supplies.

I found paper scraps  - at least one for every color of the 
Rainbow.


I found some Fluffy ribbon...



...and some puffy Letters.


Some of the embellishments were bordered in Metal...


...and some of the paper was covered with Trees.

When all the elements come together,
some of my instagram photos
find a home.
And some spring memories are preserved.


Joining Tabitha for Sunday Citar
And Ashley for Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Friday, May 18, 2012

New Eyes





My children are my forever landscape.
Watching them grow, and weather each
new season, is my life's voyage.
And has given me new eyes.



Linking up at