Focus On Life 52 Photos - Week 6 ~ Feel The Love

Well, believe it or not it is already week 6 of Sally Russick's challenge to Focus on Life 52 weeks in photos and for this week Sally told us-

"Since love is in the air in February,

this week keep your heart open, breath in the air and feel the love, then capture it in a photo.

Feel the love that the universe is trying to show us everyday!"

 Ray and I left our place in Florida Tuesday morning and traveled straight through to get to these hugs and smiles impatiently awaiting us! Our daughter invited us to stop over to their house for dinner on our way home knowing we would be exhausted from the 13 1/2 hour trip , and she was right.

But as soon as we arrived at the door, we could hear our names being called " NANNY, POP-POP" and we were greeted with the best running and jumping hugs and kisses to revive us!

Thankfully, I had my little point and shoot in my purse and grabbed these shots.

This is just the best! It made leaving the 80* temps and sunshine to come home to the 30*'s and dreary gray a lot more bearable!

When we got to our house, as soon as we opened the porch door we were greeted again with lots of love!

Our cat Lunabelle is 11 1/2 yrs old so she stayed home in the care of our son while we were away and she has barely left our side since getting home.

In this shot she was sitting on the arm of my husband's chair but she wouldn't let my hand leave her, as I rubbed her neck she leaned further and further following my hand.

I got to feel the love a lot this week, in the pictures above but also in the goodbye hugs from my loving parents when we left Florida and then with our son and family and friends as we celebrated his 24th birthday with margaritas, mexican food and lots of chatter and laughter at a local restaurant and then back at his new place. 

I would like to end this post with a wish for the safety and well being of all of those in the path of this winter storm Nemo. We were fortunate to just receive several inches of rain and lots of wind and cold temps but I know those to the north of us have received much worse.

I hope you are all warm and safe and feeling the love!

Head on over and maybe even decide to join in the challenge, the year is young, at The Studio Sublime and feel the love!

Mothers Day Flowers ~ I Heart Macro

I don't think it's any small coincidence that the most beautiful of flowers bloom around Mother's Day.

As I walked around the yard taking pictures for I heart macro, focusing on the smallest of details, I was reminded of just how much beauty there is in every thing in nature.

How the simplest of things can make us pause and reflect on what is most important to us.

How in the busiest hours of our day we might walk right past and miss so much beauty and elegance.

Miss the peace and stillness.

Miss the miracles. 

Miss a whole world

It slowed me down

Helped me to really see

And appreciate

And drink in all the beauty

And warmth

All of God's gifts

Each one individual

And spectacular

Happy Mother's Day

With much Love and Appreciation

Happy Valentines Day

An artsy little valentine for you from 1912

Trygg Reise

Which translates to bon voyage in Norwegian

My son recently returned from Alaska to find out that he was leaving again today for Norway! Can you tell he's loving this? He will be travelling to a little island north of the arctic circle called Andenes.  More Aurora Borealis yeah!  Ha Det Bra my son! (take care) XO

Just a Perfect Day

We can't remember when this tradition began, my husband seems to think it's been at least 10 years ago if not more that we started this.  On my birthday, I like to go pick out my pumpkins and mums and take in a few antique shops before celebrating with family.

It was a beautiful fall day yesterday, about 65*, partly sunny with heavy fall clouds dotting the sky.  We headed up this time to a farm stand I recently saw out on Rte 50 in Maryland and then stopped at a curious little antique mall near Cambridge.

On our way home, we ran into a stray shower and at one point I looked out my window and saw the most glorious double rainbow I have ever seen! I practically stopped the car in the middle of the road!  My husband urged me to find a safer spot to pull over as i was frantically trying to pull my camera out of the back seat.  I pulled into a side lane and jumped out of the car not quite putting into park yet, and you will see here why.  Have you ever seen where the rainbow ENDS? Well, we did, it came straight down to the ground in FRONT of the tree line!

I was so excited i could hardly breathe! I was so hoping it would show up in the photos- take a look-

These pictures are as shot from the camera, no photoshop, just cropped. Can you see the entire spectrum? Is that not perfect??? And truth be told, the pictures really don't do it justice.

Then as we started to drive away, the song "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan came on the radio and as i listened to the words I felt i had been given a divine gift.  I had goosebumps.

"Forever Young"

May God bless and keep you always

May your wishes all come true

May you always do for others

And let others do for you

May you build a ladder to the stars

And climb on every rung

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous

May you grow up to be true

May you always know the truth

And see the lights surrounding you

May you always be courageous

Stand upright and be strong

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy

May your feet always be swift

May you have a strong foundation

When the winds of changes shift

May your heart always be joyful

And may your song always be sung

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young.

Like I said, Just a perfect Day!

Peace



Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life!

30 years ago today ( my we were so young then!)

Our invitation read:

This day I will marry my friend

The one I laugh with

Live for

Dream with

Love



I am happy to say that 30 years later I still feel the same way and more!

It hasn't always been easy but i'm glad we stuck it out and worked through life's trials and are getting to share in the rewards of our hard work.

Everyday i receive a thought for the day in my inbox and ironically this is today's , I thought worth sharing-

Friendship and Love

Friendships or marriages based on "dire need" or physical security are doomed to fail if each person in the relationship does not grow beyond his or her limited ways of thinking and reacting.

The ideal relationship is one in which each partner strives to grow. It is an ever-expanding commitment, mutually supportive of healthy interdependence. A healthy relationship encourages the seeking of wider mental and spiritual horizons; it is never threatened permanently by them.

TODAY Do I give my loved ones enough room to grow? Do I encourage my friends or mate to do things without me? Am I threatened by change or do I welcome it? Do I have the courage to do things on my own, even if my loved ones do not give me support? Do I have the courage and consideration to share my changes with those I love?

Let the purpose of all marriages and friendships alike be the deepening of the spirit and the enrichment of the soul.

You are reading from the book:

The Reflecting Pond by Liane Cordes