Rocky Reflections

When mother and daughter take off together with their cameras,

there's no telling where they'll end up.

Or what photos they'll end up taking.

The rocky cliffs of the Prineville resevoir caught our attention

and showed off so clearly in this reflection.

Love this girl.

Love sharing adventures with her.

And love seeing the world through her eyes {and camera lens!}

Joining James, Kat and Kim

Good. Random. Fun. {week 17}

The very best thing about last week?

Two angels

{otherwise known as my children}

spent the day with me and the Ikea directions

and assembled my scrapbook room furniture!!

Over the weekend I began to fill up the storage space and get set up.

This is good!

Oh. So. Good.

Workshops begin again on Wednesday!!

In the random category,

I've discovered an iced beverage that I really {really} like at Starbucks.

Shaken Iced Passion Tango Tea.

Unsweetened.

For someone who doesn't do dairy.

Or sugar.

Or much caffeine...

It's tough to find a "fun" beverage!

I'm being told, from numerous sources, that this drink is just brewed herbal tea over ice.

Since I'm enjoying it so much,

I'm choosing to believe my sources...

Yesterday was a gorgeous spring day here in New England.

So I set out to have some fun and find a new walking trail.

You see here the entrance to the "Salem Town Forest"

and a few miles of trails,

some of which border Shadow Pond.

Lovely, right?

What started so well

turned into a bit of a crazy afternoon.

You see...I got a bit lost in the woods.

I think that when I got to this point, where the trail seems to ignore this rock wall,

I should have turned around.

Let me just say that there is A WHOLE LOT of wooded acreage out here that doesn't belong to the town. 

Or, if it does, it doesn't officially connect to the marked walking trails.

Sadly, I had wandered awfully far before I realized I wasn't where I was supposed to be.

Let's just say...

if it was alone time I was looking for, I got plenty of it before I found my way back to where I belonged.

Yup. Well over an hour just me, the pines and the birds.

Note to self: next time, bring a trail map.

Joining Tamar for

The Good. The Random. The Fun.

Hello

Such a beauty.
Such a cutie-pie!
This is one of my favorite photos of my daughter.
It was taken on a sunny day at Fontainebleau ~ a beautiful chateau not too far from Paris ~ over 20 years ago!

We shared such very special years in France ~ years that she and I look back on with extreme tenderness. We love the memories of the city itself. Mostly, I think, we love the memories of our years spent together there. Those precious, childhood years. There's just nothing like them! If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times...the joy of motherhood has been my greatest joy. I am profoundly grateful to have shared this child's journey with her...and I look forward to {some day} sharing in her journey when she becomes a 'mommy' herself!



Joining Kathy for Song-ography

April in Paris

Eleven Aprils, to be exact.

I've never spoken much in this space about the years we spent in Paris.

Except that almost everything that I share about life with my children

in their early years took place there.

My daughter was nine months old when we moved overseas

and three days shy of twelve when we came back to the states.

My son was born in the city of lights!

And he was nine when we left.

Their whole childhood was lived against the backdrop of this great city.

These photos are from 1988 ~ the April my daughter turned one.

Her birthday was often the reason for a visit from my mom,

so many of our more "touristy" activities took place in April....

which any travel agent will tell you

is a spectacular time to visit Paris.

The first photo {above} was taken at Jardin de Luxembourg...

that place where my kids learned NOT to walk on the grass!

This shot was taken at Sacre Coeur...

I think we loved the tulips and her toothy grin more than the great cathedral!

Here she is with her pinwheel at Notre Dame.

And here's dad trying to sneak her a sip of coke in the Jardin de Luxembourg.

And this...

this is my baby nestled against the grill outside her bedroom window.

So many of our photos are like this one...

they chronicle the milestones and moments of family life

without that much attention to all the history and art that surrounded us.

I have a blog friend Catherine

who's photos of this city that holds so much of my heart capture it perfectly.

You can visit her at her blog home

La Memoire Vive

She's awoken in me a desire to share bits of our Parisian life...

so stay tuned, more of our years there to come!

For now,

know I'm in my office,

working hard...

and dreaming of April in Paris.

Joining Kim for

Little Things Thursday

and Mama Kat for her

Writer's Workshop

Melissa

{I wrote this last year...really sums up how I feel today as my first baby turns 28...so I thought I'd re-post}

She is life's greatest gift to me. The gift I never asked for or knew that I wanted. By the time her little brother came along, I knew how good this motherhood thing could be. He was wanted and wished for because she had been. This precious girl who made me a mother turns 27 this weekend.

Her first moments were spent with her eyes wide open. She was born ready. It seems to me she came to us wanting nothing, and giving every bit of her little self. When her eyes were open and fixed on you she pulled you back from wherever you'd wandered and planted you right in the moment with her. My first "living in the moment" moments came locked in those eyes.

As a baby she was the embodiment of peace. Which means she slept. A lot. And hardly ever cried. At all. I'm not even kidding a little bit. Watching her coo easily in her crib, I caught glimpses of that spiritual peace that passes all understanding.

The first moment I remember noticing how deeply she cared about other people, we were with a group of friends on a day trip. Every time we got on or off the train, or sat down at a cafe or left a museum, she'd look around to make sure everyone was there. She was three. I could tell stories about how thoroughly-completely-wholly she cared for her baby brother. Or how blessed the families she nannies for have felt. Instead, I'll just keep on watching and learning.

Planes, trains and automobiles. She loves them all. Travel. Adventure. Her first solo over seas trip was at age 8. {and by solo, I mean she and her 5 year old brother traveled as accompanied minors} I love how brave she is.

Then, there's her wide open heart. If you've ever found a place inside of her heart, you'll always have a place there. She's fiercely loyal. And has taught me more about forgiveness than anyone else I know.

My brother used to tell me when Melissa was a child that she had an old soul. She's so sensitive and intuitive. And brings out the faith in me. She trusts in goodness. Always helps me to see the good.

So, as her birthday approaches, I thought I'd take a minute to tell the world about a few things she's taught me over the years. Presence. Peace. Loving Kindness. Bravery. Forgiveness. Faithfulness. From that first wide-eyed moment until now, I've loved learning....with her and from her.


{Joining Tamar for some Good, Random Fun}

Six Word Fridays ~ Stand

My daughter has left her puppy

for a week. A whole week.

Left him with me and grandpa.

I text her pics like this

so she'll know he's still alive

and not driving us too crazy.

And cause she needs a fix.

A Max fix. She misses him...

Which I totally get - I mean

who wouldn't miss cuddles like this?!?

Her response to this sweet pic?

Oh.I.can't.even.stand.it. 

That means she's happy we're happy.

And yes, it's true. Your eyes
are not deceiving you. Even my 

flannel p.j.'s are covered in snow.

Please join in the Friday fun!

Caption a photo, share a poem

or tell a story. Just remember,

only six words in each line!

Disney Throwback ~ aka Getting Nostalgic on a Thursday

Her first trip to Disney was in Florida in 1990.

After that, it was all about Euro Disney...cause we lived in Paris

and the Magic Kingdom was only a 45 minute train ride from our front door!

We went when the grandparents visited!

And when we wanted special family time.

We loved the characters, rides, parades and restaurants....we loved it all!!

This sweet girl especially loved all the shows.

We watched them over and over.

So, it's no surprise that she's enjoying the vacation of her dreams this week!

She's been dreaming of Disney with her husband for years!

And this is their week.

They're having a blast!!

Joining Kim for

Little Things Thursday
and Mama Kat for her
Writer's Workshop

Another Yard Sale?

There are few things more random than the odds and ends one collects for a yard sale. Oh, we tried to group our sale items by theme...but there was literally too much randomness to get very far with that!

On the way to my daughters to set up, I stopped at Dunkin Donuts to get us our yard-sale-day fuel. And just HAD to buy this "green monster" cold drink cozy. It feels pretty silly to buy a souvenir cup cozy ON THE WAY TO A YARD SALE ... but it was too adorable to pass up. This could explain our need for annual yard sales....

We actually made some money! {enough to float our rental car on a Florida vacation that's coming up soon} So that was good. The fun part? spending most of the day outside with my daughter, her pup and the gorgeous sunshine!!

Joining Tamar for

The Good. The Random. The Fun.

Melissa

She is life's greatest gift to me. The gift I never asked for or knew that I wanted. By the time her little brother came along, I knew how good this motherhood thing could be. He was wanted and wished for because she had been. This precious girl who made me a mother turns 27 this weekend.

Her first moments were spent with her eyes wide open. She was born ready. It seems to me she came to us wanting nothing, and giving every bit of her little self. When her eyes were open and fixed on you she pulled you back from wherever you'd wandered and planted you right in the moment with her. My first "living in the moment" moments came locked in those eyes.

As a baby she was the embodiment of peace. Which means she slept. A lot. And hardly ever cried. At all. I'm not even kidding a little bit. Watching her coo easily in her crib, I caught glimpses of that spiritual peace that passes all understanding.

The first moment I remember noticing how deeply she cared about other people, we were with a group of friends on a day trip. Everytime we got on or off the train, or sat down at a cafe or left a museum, she'd look around to make sure everyone was there. She was three. I could tell stories about how thoroughly-completely-wholly she cared for her baby brother. Or how blessed the families she nannies for have felt. Instead, I'll just keep on watching and learning.

Planes, trains and automobiles. She loves them all. Travel. Adventure. Her first solo over seas trip was at age 8. {and by solo, I mean she and her 5 year old brother traveled as accompanied minors} I love how brave she is.

Then, there's her wide open heart. If you've ever found a place inside of her heart, you'll always have a place there. She's fiercely loyal. And has taught me more about forgiveness than anyone else I know.

My brother used to tell me when Melissa was a child that she had an old soul. She's so sensitive and intuitive. And brings out the faith in me. She trusts in goodness. Always helps me to see the good.

So, as her birthday approaches, I thought I'd take a minute to tell the world about a few things she's taught me over the years. Presence. Peace. Loving Kindness. Bravery. Forgiveness. Faithfulness. From that first wide-eyed moment until now, I've loved learning....with her and from her.

Linking up with

Little Things Thursday

and 

Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop

It's a Monday...

....which means the weekend's over.
On Saturday I played assistant to my favorite photographer. My daughter! She had a photo session, and I carried wardrobe and props. Helped change a lens. There was a slight chill in the air, but for mid March, in our neck of the woods,  it was a pretty good day for an outside shoot!

Watching her do what she loves is good! Very, very good.

We found out that my brother is having a boy...so the shopping has begun! I ordered him a surfing Snoopy onesie which arrived this weekend. Perfect for my surfing brother and a little boy. I also got some socks that rattle - a gift I love giving to babies....a little random, I suppose...but these socks help them to find their feet!

I couldn't find any flowers for this week's macro shoot. I probably could have bought myself some...but I found this feather, blowing in the wind. I had way too much fun shooting it as it clung to the branch, catching the breeze.

Linking up today with

Tamar for some Good and Random FUN!

and with Sarah for a little Macro Monday

From a Mama's Heart

We hold them close...learn every freckle and eyelash...count every finger, tooth and toe. We ride the waves of their ups and downs, share their dreams and carry their woes as surely as we carried them on our hips. As soon as they are wishes, mere whispers in our hearts, we are praying for them...

"May the good Lord be with you

Down every road  you roam

And may sunshine and happiness

Surround you when you're far from home."

We ache from the joy that comes from the privilege of sharing their journey. All of the firsts - from that first breath to their first love...from their first step to their first job. Countless thousands of little moments that combine to become a childhood. Countless milestones that mark their growth into young adulthood. We pray for them. With them....sharing our hearts, our ideas...our ideals.

"May you grow to be proud

Dignified and true

And do unto others

As you'd have done to you

Be courageous and be brave

And in my heart you'll stay

Forever Young..."

 

The days add up, weeks become years, and that letting go season begins. Our hearts are stretched. And our prayers change...

"May good fortune be with you

May your guiding light be strong.

Build a stairway to heaven

With a prince or a vagabond.

May you never love in vain...

And in my heart you will remain

Forever Young.

And when you finally fly away 

I'm hoping that I served you well

For all the wisdom of a life time

No one can ever tell."

MORE THAN ANYTHING...

we always want these babies of ours to know two things...

"Whatever road you choose,

I'm right behind you,

Win or loose..."

And, in spite of the fact that I have to accept, acknowledge and adjust to all sorts of things...

in my heart you will remain

Forever Young!

{Inspired by Rodin's statues and Rod Stewart's lyrics}

Linking up with Kathy for

Song-ography

Six Word Fridays ~ Sigh

They head to the bus stop,

we inhale and hold our breath.

They loose that first best friend,

we find it hard to breathe.

Through skinned knees, fevers...every pain...

there's no breathing for us mamas.

Then they take that first step,

come home with that first A.

get a license....fall in love.

And we exhale. Yes, we exhale.

...even if we didn't realize we'd 

been holding on, holding it in...

After all these years there's still

nothing that fills my heart and

keeps me breathing freely quite like

moments of joy for my kids.

And for my girl, right now,

happiness is a warm puppy. Sigh.

Anniversary

A year ago today, my daughter married her best friend.

She's still glowing.

Please join me this Friday, 10/19 for Six Word Fridays. We're linking up right here on my blog and this week's prompt is INSTANT. {click on the tab at the top for details!}

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 

Melissa's place