TGIF

That's all I've got today.

TGIF.

Seven hours, and this work week will be in my rear-view.

Joining James for Weekend Reflections

Giving ~ Day 4

My current favorite song won Song of the Year at the CMA music awards this week. It's the Tim McGraw hit, "Humble and Kind," that was written by Lori McKenna. In many ways the song is quite simple ~ sweet, melodic, pure...and gentle. Oh, so gentle. So it came as no surprise when I learned that a mother had written it, in one sitting, as a prayer to and for her children.  So personal. Such a chunk of her heart out there for all the world to hear. Take that kind of raw, soul-gripping honesty and combine it with McGraw's vision ... a vision that says the whole.wide.world. might want to quiet down and learn from these words ... well, you touch a few {gajillion} people ... me included.

One of the lines of the song ~ Don't take for granted the love this life gives you ~ was running through my mind as I stood for a few minutes by the edge of this pond. Just the notion of not taking things - anything - for granted is food for a whole lot of thought. The colors, the reflections...the tableau that is the changing of the seasons....blessing upon blessing. Add to that thoughts about the love that this life gives me ~ not has given me or might possible give me ~ but GIVES me. Today. Now. In the moment. Each moment. It is always TRUE that I am well loved. Thoroughly and completely and safely and genuinely loved.

That notion? Well that cures just about everything.

From this morning's journal:

Give Away: Perfect love casts out/drives out fear. Today I give away the fear of rejection. The thoughts of not measuring up. Or not being enough. Oh how this fear haunts me...lurks in every shadow of my being. Today I give away the fear of rejection.

Give Access: Light. The sky is blue. The sun light plays with me as it casts shadows across my family room floor. The yellows and reds that remain on my back yard trees are glowing this morning. Today I let in the light. I lift my eyes, I am warmed and I seek views and words and ideas that are full of light.

Give Thanks: Today I give thanks for all the love this life gives me.

Linking to

Weekend Reflections

Nail Salon Reflections

This Wednesday was

National "Treat Yourself to a Mani/Pedi" Day.

You didn't know?

Well,

I might be making that up.

But these days, if social media is any indication, it seems you can do that.

Just make up "National Days"

I digress....

While at the salon I was playing with a very giggly little girl

{who had the cutest Mickey Mouse nails!}

and I noticed a reflection in the nail salon desk while taking her picture.

So,

of course,

I had to capture a few different reflections

to share!

Happy Friday!!

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections

Reflections ~ It's the Little Things

T.G.I.F.

Heading into work

and quickly capturing

a tiny bit of foliage

on this

perfect autumn day!

I'm feeling quite

"trapped"

inside an office today...

so I'm going to try and make these next hours

all about

gratitude for the simple, little things

that make up my world.

Happy Weekend folks!

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections

the more things change, the more they stay the same

I love old stuff.

Always have.

Especially old stuff that has a connection to my family.

These old milk bottles,

and the pretty butter dish,

were on display at our town's little museum.

Funny how these days

we've returned to choosing glass containers

for food storage.

And funny how old gems like these

seem to be all the rage in wedding and home decor.

Fine with me.

Cause I really love old stuff!

Linking up with

Little Things Thursday

Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop

and

Weekend Reflections

Mailbox Reflection

One of the many little improvements we've made to our house in the first six months

was sprucing up the mailbox.

Post was cleaned, sanded and stained.

The box itself was replaced.

New, reflective numbers were added to the pole.

And I had name decals made for the sides of the box!

While I was attaching our name to the second side of the shiny, new box,

I caught a reflection of our house!

Only seemed fitting that our name and our home should appear together in a picture!

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections

Museum Reflections

A small journey back in time

always stirs my heart

and sharpens my reflection.

{Town History Museum, Salem Town Hall, Salem, NH}

Sharing with

Little Things

and

Weekend Reflections

Tree Top Reflection

and

{just like that}

autumn

showed up

in the morning reflection

on my office door

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections

Oregon Reflections

A look back...

Summer vacations in Oregon always include lots of time on the road.

Long stretches of highway,

Ponderosa Pines,

and, of course, Mt. Hood.

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections

Maritime Reflections

Just a girl and her camera

{and her iPhone camera}

on a ferry ride to Martha's Vineyard.

When we got onto the ferry, the fog cover was thick,

but the sun quickly burned it away

and we were treated to a perfect-blue-sky kinda day!

My favorite sight during the short journey was the sailboats against the horizon.

I was particularly pleased to catch their reflection in the ferry windows!

Enjoy the weekend folks!

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections

Red Sox Reflection

Red Sox fans are everywhere.

This summer I ran into one on a lakeside trail in Oregon!

I spotted the cap,

and then noticed that the guy in the cap was trying to take a selfie.

{a boyfriend/girlfriend selfie}

So, of course, I offered to take a pic or two for them.

We got to chatting

{please don't tattle on me.

I'm not sure the rest of my family likes it that I chat with nature-trail strangers}

He's a sox fan cause he grew up with Jacoby Elsbury.

He's planning a trip to Boston.

Said there were three things he wants to see:

Fenway Park

The brick line on the sidewalk

{otherwise known as the Freedom Trail}

and

The Oldest Sports Bar in the Country.

Well, that last tourist destination made me laugh!

My son is one of the managers at that "historic" land mark.

A bar, otherwise known as McGreevy's,

that dates way way back.

As many things in Bean-town do.

So I pointed across the lake,

told that guy that the kid fishing on the other side was one of the bar managers

and gave him my son's name.

Who knows, maybe someday he'll really drop in!

I then, of course, asked him if he could stand really still.

Cause on top of his sox hat

there sat a great pair of camo-reflective sunglasses.

And I could see the sky and the great Oregon pines.

And I wanted a pic.

Don't tell anyone about that either.

My poor family would be so embarrassed!

Linking to

Mama Kat's, Little Things and Weekend Reflections

Anniversary Reflections

"There are far, far better things ahead 

than any we leave behind."

C.S. Lewis

Today we celebrate 32 years of

pretty-darn-good.

It's exhilarating to embrace the notion

that there are far, far better things ahead.

I love what we've had.

I love what we have - where we are right now.

And,

as this photo suggests,

the future always looks bright

through my husband's eyes!

So,

I'm sticking with him;

hoping for at least 32 more years ~

excited to journey on

and continue to discover

together

all this life has to offer!

Joining James

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

Vacation Reflection {first of many!}

If you have to check in with work

or get something accomplished

even when on vacation,

it's very nice to be in an

"office"

with this view!!

From my vantage point,

the laptop just provided me with more scenery

to gawk at while admiring my kids
and sipping my coffee!

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections

Reflections on a summer's eve...

The sitting.

And the sipping.

The chatter, the laughter, the tasting and the memories.

The forging of a new memory

and the slow dance to the musings of days gone by.

This is the stuff that glorious summer evenings are made of.

I know there will be many more such evenings

on Wheeler Ave.

Evenings under the red umbrella,

surrounded by family and friends...

This is why we were led to this place,

our new home.

It is a place to gather,

to give and to

grow.

{also...for you wine lovers out there... those who were sipping HIGHLY recommend this vino!}

"Fan the sinking flame of hilarity
with the wings of friendship;
and pass the rosy wine."
Charles Dickens



Joining Kim and James

Road Trip Reflection

Fueling up...and heading "home" to visit Dad!

Happy Weekend!

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections

reflections on the way to work....

i thank you god

for this most amazing day,

for the leaping

and greenly spirits of trees,

and for the blue dream of sky

and for everything which is natural,

which is infinite,

which is yes

e.e. cummings

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections

Hashtag

#TGIF

#BeautifulDayInTheNeighborhood

#ObsessedWithReflections

#CottonCandySky

#WhyOhWhyAmIStuckInAnOffice

#HappyWeekendEveryone

Joining James for Weekend Reflections

Regatta Reflections

Several weeks ago I journeyed further north in my new home state to a town called Hookset. The daughter of a good friend (who lives in Maine) was in a regatta and I used the race as an excuse to do a little exploring and to hang out with my friend! It was a picture perfect day, and we thouroughly enjoyed our time along the banks of the Merrimack River.

In order to keep boats from rambling too close to a dam/waterfall/power plant, these delightfully orange floating balls were strung all the way across the river. I couldn't help but be attracted to the reflection they made on top of the water!

Once at the boating club, I enjoyed watching the hustle and bustle that comes with readying the shells and getting them, the oars and the rowers on to the river. Truth be told, the travel, unloading, prep and re-loading take considerably longer than the race itself! My camera lens and I were, of course, on the look out for reflections the entire time!

My friend's daughter is the one with the pretty smile, not the one reflected in the shiny boat! It was really fun to get to watch her do what she so enjoys!

"Rivers know this:

There is no hurry.

We shall get there someday."

A. A. Milne

Linking with Kim for
Little Things Thursday

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections

Spring Reflections!

While parking my car on a side road in a small, New England city, I caught sight of some pretty pink blooms!

I have to say that I enjoy a tree-lined city sidewalk...

And even more so when the blooms are reflected in the mirrored glass of an office building!

Double the bloomin' magic!

Not that our friendly buzzing bees were the least bit interested in the reflected blooms...only the real thing for them.

Joining James for

Weekend Reflections