Happy Holidays!

        

Thank you for reading my little story.

I hope the next few weeks find your hearts filled with peace, laughter,
 and love.
See you next year!

xo

 

Stone and Glass

I love stone walls, bright colors,

and antique wood.

Snow blowing and beautiful faces.

Christmas is the perfect season for all of them.

xo



Long Night Moon

The last moon of 2013.

xo

Our Deer

As long as we've lived in Warren County the deer have

been plentiful.

We've had more than our share of "run-ins" with them,

(unfortunately)

We've marveled at their natural beauty.

Their coats and colors change with the seasons.

They sneak up quietly in the early morning

as the sun breaks through,

and then again in the early evening.

Lately though, I've been noticing their social behavior.

I think these photos show their tender communications

with each other.

They stomp their feet, they grind their food,

they trample each other's backs, they sniff each other,

they share common bedding,

they dig through the snow,

and it looks as though they know how to talk

to each other

without saying a word.

 

They continue to amaze me.

I'm happy they come around and peek into our front door,

and then around to our rear deck,

with a peak into our home.

Their ears perk up and their eyes shine bright.

 

xo

 

 

 

Winter On Her Way

No sun outlasts its sunset,

but will rise again

and bring the dawn.

xo

December

She has a way about her....

xo

Thanksgiving Time

A little bouquet to celebrate you!

Happy Thanksgiving with Love.

xo

Thanks

Thanks to the butterflies, the flowers they love,

and my ability to enjoy them!

xo

Hands

They hold, they work, they love, they create.

xo

November

The birthday celebrations for November have now passed.

They snuck up quietly and passed quickly!

My heart is swollen with gratitude for my family

and friends that helped to fill my heart with joy!

With Thanksgiving around the corner,

I hope people worldwide have the Love in their hearts

that I have in mine.

The photo above was taken of a very special card!
Thank you, thank you!

xo

 



People

I ask people why they have

deer heads on their walls.

Because they're such beautiful animals,

they say.

I think my Mother is attractive.

But,

I'll keep her in photographs!

~Ellen De Generes

xo



To my Mom

Thank you, Mom.

You gave me life.
You gave me dreams.

You gave me Love.

 

xo

Fire

"The heat circulates outward,

but the fire is within."

~Wes

Have a beautiful weekend!

xo

Meadow Lake

My morning ritual starts with a walk.

Aside from the noise of pick up trucks,

and an occasional crow or two,

it's pretty quiet.

I'm surprised that so many people

in my little town

drive noisy pick up trucks.

But. It's OK.

My destination is quiet, and peaceful.

Light filled, and memory filled.

And usually, a Blue Heron.

And wildflowers.

And grapes.

xo



Sugar and Spice

And 30!

Happy Birthday, Tiffany!

Your smile says it all!

xo

MOMA and a Surprise!

So our little rolling stone has gone back home.

It was a whirlwind of a weekend for her.

And for us.

Her poet husband created the greatest card

and surrounded her with the greatest Love.

A huge surprise!

We joined them at MOMA,

followed by a fun lunch,

and created a memory we'll all keep close to our hearts

for a very long time.

Thanks, Matt!

xo

A Surprise!

Surprises make our hearts happy!
A good surprise, that is.
Here's to happy surprises!
And Love.
xo

Climb Every Mountain....

 

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. 

The winds will blow their freshness into you and the storms their energy,

 while cares will drop off

like autumn leaves,

As age comes on,

 one source of enjoyment after another is closed,

but nature's sources never fail."

~John Muir~

xo

Pumpkin Beer

A novel idea. Pumpkin Beer.

x0

Optimism

Choose to be optimistic.

It feels better.

~Dalai Lama~

xo

Good Bye, October!

Thanks for being a bit sweeter than you were last year.

xo

Trees

A few minutes ago every tree was excited,

bowing to the roaring storm,

waving, swirling, tossing their branches

in glorious enthusiasm like worship.

But though to the outer ear these trees

are now silent,

their songs never cease.

~John Muir~

Tree Peony; taken in NJ

xo



October

I love October.

I miss May.

xo

A Naturalist's View

 

"The more clearly we can focus our attention

on the wonders and realities of the universe about us,

the less taste we shall have for destruction."

~Rachel Carson

xo

Peace. Love. Beer.

A tourist!

 Beer enthusiast!

 Amy Helm

Peace Bell

 The hills at Woodstock

Last weekend we took a ride.

There was a craft beer festival

at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.

A beautiful, sunny Autumn day

was the backdrop for craft beer, music, and memories.

It was the  original site of Woodstock that now houses the Center.

Beautiful grounds, architecture, landscape, and sculptures

capture the Love and Happiness that musicians

and concert goers from the world over spilled over

onto these holy grounds more than 40 years ago.

Levon Helm's daughter Amy entertained the audience

with her touring band.

We couldn't help but feel nostalgic

thinking back on our teenage years!

Some of the musicians that played at the concerts

have passed,

but their music lives on and on.

The craft brewers were in full force,

and I can attest that the craft beer industry

is in full swing!

A great time was had by all.

xo

 



Messages from Water

"Love tends to be a more active energy, the act of giving oneself unconditionally.  By contrast, gratitude is a more passive energy, a feeling that results from having been given something, knowing that you have been given the gift of life and reaching out to receive it joyously with both hands.  What the world needs now is gratitude.  We must begin by learning what it means to have enough... to feel gratitude for having been born on a planet so rich in nature, and gratitude for the water that makes our life possible. Do we really know how wonderful it is to be able to breathe a big breathe of clean air?  If you open your eyes you will see that the world is full of so much that deserves your gratitude.  When you have become the embodiment of gratitude, think about how pure the water that fills your body will be. When this happens, you yourself will be a shining crystal of light."

                                                 

                                      


                                                                               

Pine Trees

"Between every two pines

is a doorway to a new world."

~John Muir

xo

Carrot Soup with Friends

 

I love Fridays.

I love Friday luncheons with friends.

I've written before about Rich and Priscilla,

clients turned friends.

We met up again last Friday,

luckily we parted ways before Saturday!

They've been married for 53 years!

I learned the latest accomplishments

of their heart-throb Grandchildren.

We caught up on the latest happenings

in town and in house.

We share special memories and we continue

to create new.

We also shared a knock out crispy eggplant sandwich

created by chef Roger,

served by the lovely Nancy.

We enjoyed a delicious carrot soup.

I'm going to try and re-create it!

I'll probably fail.

I'm just plain happy to have had the opportunity

to meet,

and to Love

my dear friends,

"The Fieldhouse's".

Long live their Love.

And long live "The County Seat".

xo

 

 

 

 

 

 



Delight!

All good things must come to an end.

Good bye, zinnias!

You were delightful this Summer.

xo

Understanding

 

 

 

 

 

"Look deep into nature,

and then you will understand

everything better."

~Albert Einstein

Have a fine weekend.

xo

Moments

Every moment

possesses its own kind

of magic.

~Autumn Doughton

xo

Mazed

No more sunflowers.

xo

Rosie

Today would have been the birthday

of a very special lady.

A woman that I met many, many years ago

who became my Mother-In-Law.
These photos are for her.

I still do and forever will love you, Rosie.

xo

Love

Happy Anniversary, Nance and Brad!

xo

Ferns In the Garden

“... the world can give you these glimpses as well as fairy tales can--the smell of rain, the dazzle of sun on white clapboard with the shadows of ferns and wash on the line, the wildness of a winter storm when in the house the flame of a candle doesn't even flicker.” 
~Fred Bruechner   

Love and Happiness

xo

Peace

 

It's hard to forget pain,

but it's even harder to remember

sweetness.

We have no scar to show

for happiness.

 

 

We learn so little from Peace.

xo



Late Summer

A dreamy little dahlia to close the final days of a sweet, but way too short summer.

With love and hugs.
PS...A new link, dead center at the bottom of my page
allows you to follow my photo journey on Instagram!
I hope you jump on the Instagram wagon...it's awesome!

Seaside Heights, NJ

I usually don't think about this town so much,

but I can't help but feel the pain.

Of fire.

This is a photo I took last Fall, 

when hurricane Sandy met the roller coaster.

After a year of rebuilding, Seaside Heights 

has yet another major challenge.

They've seen fire and and they've seen rain.

xo

Light

Where there is Love

there is Light.

xo

Seamus Heaney

"If you know a bit

about the universe

It's because you've taken it in

Like that.

Looked as hard

As you look into yourself,

Into the rat hole,

through the vetch and dock

that mantled it.

Because you've laid your cheek

Against the rush clump

And known soft stone to break

On the quarry floor."

~from "A Herbal"

Seamus Heaney- may he rest in peace.

xo