Sunday, December 29, 2013

Fun with Macro!



A sweet friend gave me a lovely Christmas bouquet on the 24th.
I really love the cabbage flower don't you?!


Santa brought me a fun treat ... a macro lens for my iPhone.
{He may have purchased it here}
It's a simple little iPhone add on...and I've already had lots of fun experimenting with it!
Take a look!





"To see the world in a grain of sand,
and to see heaven in a wild flower,
hold infinity in the palm of your hands,
and eternity in an hour."
William Blake

I can't wait for the next snow fall so I can try and catch some individual flakes!
{best fifteen dollars Santa's spent in years!}


Joining Project 52 and Macro Monday

Bring your black and white photos and Link Up here on Wednesday!

Oh....

...there's no place like home for the holidays
Cause no matter how far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays you can't beat
home, sweet home!










The "big girl" camera stayed off this Christmas.
Our time together at home was relaxed, fun and free of posing.
Well, except for the dog.
And one iPhone shot to text to my far-away brother.

In spite of the fact we were "stuck" with a middle-of-the-work-week holiday,
we managed to have a wonderful few days.
We were home.
We were together.


Joining Kathy and friends for

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Six Word Fridays ~ White


glittery branches and tulips of white
fill my home this silent night



My Memory Art six word fridays

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Santa Magic



The puppy was the first one down stairs this morning.
The stockings were stuffed, and he sniffed around, liking the way his smelled the most.
He could tell something was up!
After checking out the fun stuff under the tree, he turned...
and posed...
and looked at me...

as if to say, "Where is everyone? I'm ready for some action!"

The day was full of packages, laughter, games and great food!

After dinner and phone calls to far away family,
we put "The Holiday" into the DVD player and
the kids assembled their Christmas Legos.
Yup, my grown up kiddos got Legos from Santa.
Star Wars Legos.
We now have an R2D2 to add to our collection!


We've built many a Lego creation in our day.
But we've never tweeted, facebooked, instagrammed or blogged about them...
until today!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!
We sure did!



Joining Kim & Co. for
and
linking up with 

Black & White Wednesday ~ Joyeux Noel!


The sun is shining.
The stockings are stuffed to overflowing.
In my quiet living room I wait for
the four I love most to wake up!
They bring the true
magic {and jokes} {and sarcasm} to my Christmas day.
Ho. Ho. Ho.

From our house to yours
MERRY CHRISTMAS!



My Memory Art



Monday, December 23, 2013

Wise Words



"Rest and be thankful."
William Wordsworth


On Saturday evening, as my little family of five squeezed into the car and took a drive to celebrate Christmas with good friends, we were treated to a beautiful sunset. I love how the light caught the lingering snow on this little hill along the road. I love the silhouette of the trees against the skies this time of year.


I had rushed to finish up a few hand made gifts and get them wrapped before we left the house. We all know the stress that can come over us as we try to get it all right...to get it all done. We want to show our love for the special people in our lives in that 'oh-I-got-it-just-right-perfect-way' ... and, for me, that can sometimes lead to having too much to do for the 24 hours that I'm given in a day. The drive with family, the laughter that comes when we're together and the bold sunset were the perfect calm-me-down combination.


On Sunday I took some time to step away from all things Christmas, and enjoy the sights and sounds of my pond. The misty air, though quite chilly, was both soothing and invigorating!


I'm happy to report that I got most of  my wrapping and stocking stuffing done over the weekend.
 The food's in the fridge...and I'm ahead of the Christmas game.
Which, if you know me at all, you also know this is a small Christmas miracle!
With Christmas falling on Wednesday, and regular work days before and after,
it's going to harder to feel that holiday feeling.
So I'm choosing a holiday mantra...
Rest.
And be Thankful!


Joining Tamar and friends
for week 51 of
Project 52

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Silver Bells...


In the air there's a feeling of Christmas!


My dear friend Ali really does Christmas right.


Her tree is beautiful, and her home is so warm and welcoming.


Laughter. 
Little ones.
Lights.
Loaves.
And Love.
Lots and lots of love.
There's nothing like sharing
time
with family and friends 
this time of year!


Soon, it will be Christmas day.



Joining Kathy for

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Six Word Fridays ~ Magic

{Today's recipe comes from Concord, Massachusetts}
 Start off with hand crafted goodness.
 Fold in hours of quiet wandering
Through favorite, small town, artisan shops.
 Sprinkle with some glitter laden reindeer.
Throw a friend into the mix...
Not just any ol' friend...but
one of the life long variety.
 Add a layer of old brick,
a steeple and snow filled skies.
 Top it all off with charming
decorations and a warm, hearty lunch.
Let all of this goodness simmer
in your heart as you drive
out of town, past your wedding
chapel and past centuries of history 
clothed in white... Let it simmer.

What are we making, you ask?
New England Christmas magic, of course!

My Memory Art six word fridays
Share your Six Word posts here!
I'm linking to Weekend WalkFriday Finds and Photo Story Friday


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The Gift that Keeps on Giving


Three years ago, inside this sweet little house we call home, my family gave me a Cannon Rebel.
It was the first time I'd owned a camera that wasn't "just" a point and shoot!

Forty years earlier, I received a Kodak Instamatic camera...from Santa, if memory serves.
I'd shoot a roll of film, give the film cartridge to my dad, and he'd take it to be developed. For days I'd run down the stairs when he got home from work, looking for my prints. He'd smile at me from the bottom of the stairs and sing, "Someday your prince prints will come!"
He's a cutie.

These days I get to take a photo of today's snowfall...
and show it off {the snowfall, not the photo} the very same day!


I can take hundreds of photos of the simple things...
the front of my house after a snow storm, my back yard trees and the pond down the street.
I've lost myself for hours behind my lens...and found bits of myself there too.
I plan dates with my Rebel.
I walk for miles with her as the seasons change. She has helped me see so very many things I've never noticed before! I've always been one to capture big events...to document happenings.


But now I find it's the sweetness of my day to day...of a leaf, or a snowflake...a sunbeam or a puddle...it's all these little things that catch my eye. And find their way into my heart.

And, thanks to the gift that keeps on giving, I can preserve these precious bits for years to come.



Linking up with
and



Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Black & White Wednesday: Frosty Window Panes


first glimpse of a winter morning
branches reaching high
stretching towards the soft gray sky
waiting to catch
the promised snow


radiators hiss
panes hold the chill of the night
nature's artsy self wishes me good morning
as i start the day


one frosty, feathery flake at a time
the simple window pane
becomes a work
of art


and i stand in awe



My Memory Art

Please link up and share your black and white photos with us!
{I'm also linking up with Communal Global}

Baby, it's cold outside...

the geese and ducks only have a little bit of open water 
ice has taken over
the freezing rain and wind have sculpted the snow
on the ground and on the back of the benches

it was fun to peek through the icy artwork

and step back to take in the view

it was fun for about five minutes
{then my fingers were too cold to operate the camera}

Linking up to 
and

JOIN ME TOMORROW FOR BLACK & WHITE WEDNESDAY