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It is my intention to post photographs that I would like to share. I welcome feedback from anyone willing to follow along. Just double click on any photo to enlarge.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Macro Monday and I Feel Fine


I took down the Christmas tree today, and I feel fine:). Although it is now dark and I am already missing the cozy feel the lit tree can give a room, I am glad it's gone. Breathing space, and there is more room for the band to set up and play. Beatles rock band, that is, a favorite gift of my children's Christmas this year. And while I am loving how they are appreciating The Beatles, I am beginning to think and talk in Beatle music speak. The songs are running through and in and out and narrating my thoughts. As I was taking down the tree and unwinding all those lights the band played on, and on. I could not resist singing along, or even doing an impromptu drum solo as they played set after set and debated who resembled which Beatle the most.
Hey la, hey la hello ya, you say good bye and I say hello, eight days a week.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Eye Saw a Shadow on Sunday


Check out all the shadow shots at:http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/. Enjoy.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Sky Watch

I took this photo a few days ago out my front door in the late afternoon. Suddenly the sky looked like a beautiful water color painting and I grabbed my camera happy for a brief distraction. My mini van had been broken into, driver side window shattered, probably with a screwdriver or crow bar, earlier that morning. My pocket book which had been on the van floor locked inside, was nowhere to be found; a double assault. I spent the day in a daze, picking up the pieces, feeling a little sorry for myself and all that involves. We are still doing that actually. However keeping it all in perspective, just a minor bump in this roller coaster we are all riding on everyday. Just thankful that no one fell out of the coaster car. Just my purse.
Check out all the beautiful skies at:http://skyley.blogspot.com/.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

wordless wednesday

There's no place like home for the holidays.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Babies, Boys and Dolls


My youngest child along with my other three want a baby for our family. This can no longer happen as I have tried my best to explain in varying ways, but still we repeat this conversation regularly. It is most difficult for my eight year old to digest. " But why??"He asks over and over. It makes me a little sad that my youngest will never experience having a younger sibling to love on. Everyone in the family "loves" and dotes on the baby, at least until they are old enough to talk back and get into your stuff and really annoy you. He will never have this experience, but wants it so badly. He would love a baby girl he has told me on numerous occasions. This is especially endearing as he is "all boy", more gender specific than any of my others. And although he would prefer "an Asian baby girl" he will take what he can get. I find this simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming and often end up with a lump in my throat after a conversation with him about this. And now, I have a new sweet picture of him in my mind that makes my eyes water:

It is a few days before Christmas and our bedroom is filled with presents that have yet been wrapped. There a piles here and there among clothes waiting to be put away and clutter piling up in the distraction that this holiday brings. It is later in the day, after dinner and he is supposed to be in there wrapping his presents he has purchased at school for his family. I glance into the room to make sure he is not snooping for his own unwrapped gifts I have hidden about. He is distracted by the baby doll I purchased for his littlest cousin, herself a baby girl. He spent time with this present yesterday when I first showed it to him . And now again, there he stands with the life size baby doll which is still in its packaging, laid out on our rumpled bed, and is feeding it the little bottle that comes with. He is there in the glow of my bedside lamp, head tilted in concentration waiting patiently for the baby to finish her food. Glancing up he sees me watching him from the doorway and shyly smiles. "I thought you were wrapping?" I say. " I just want to finish feeding her so she will burp and go to sleep ," he replies in all seriousness, quickly back on task in the midst of tape and crumpled wrapping paper. I linger for a moment and then quickly whisper to his Dad to take a look. Even though my eight and a half year old little boy will never be a big brother, he will be a Daddy one day of this I am quite sure.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Mosaic Monday

Cannot believe it is Christmas almost. Already! Very busy week with kids in school for only two and a half days. Here is my today to do list for today: Continue to Christmas Shop, coordinate/facilitate grandmother's return home from convalescent home(includes many phone calls on cell phone from lots that may interrupt the flow of day at any moment, including hysterical grandmother, very sad and emotionally draining), tackle the mountain of laundry that needs to be washed folded and sorted, probably six plus loads that are threatening to take over, call husband at work to figure out who forgot their lunch on the counter today(it was him) check, wrap, wrap,wrap, don't forget to pick Gabe up at school today, I owe him for giving me Friday off which is usual day I pick him up and he does not take the bus, bring one to wrestling practice, pick another and friends up from track practice, plan and execute a tasty and nutritious meal for dinner, attend a PSAT informational meeting that some smarty scheduled Crazy Christmas week, why? I know I am forgetting something and will add to my list as day moves on. I would love to hear what everyone else is doing today. Make sure you put checking out the mosaics at: http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com. That's on my list too, I better get moving! Happy Holidays everyone!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Let It Be

I love the blog http://kindovermatter.blogspot.com/. It is just full of words of wisdom and ways to express them. My lovely daughter helped me replicate a photo we saw there. Check it out.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Friday, December 18, 2009

Sky Watch Silhouette

I love silhouettes. The traditional kind of profiles in black and white that my grandmother collects or the delicate branches of a tree contrasted off the vertical striped sky in my yard. Vertical striped sky? How did that happen? Be they shadows or literal they are at once classic and modern and a constant play between the negative and positive space. Love em.
Check out all the whimsical skies at :http://skyley.blogspot.com/.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Wordless Wednesday and gifts remembered.

Emily Rose, my god daughter. Almost two years ago today she was the best Christmas gift her parents and older brother received that year, the one they had been dreaming of for months and months. Arriving by plane strapped to the front of a traveling missionary after a very longggg flight from Korea. Eight months old and finally home for Christmas.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Mosaic Monday: Happy Holidays

I made this mosaic for our Christmas card this year. I was so inspired by all the beautiful mosaics I am able to see each week and was trying to think of something a little different for this years card. I chose some of my favorite pictures taken recently and turned them all black and white. I think I like it. Unfortunately when you have it printed on a 5x7 card with a border of red paisley surrounding it, it is not as easy to appreciate the photographs, or to figure out exactly who is in each one as they turn out quite tiny. The look on my mother-in-laws face was priceless when we gave her a sneak preview of the card. She sure looked a little baffled as she tried to figure it all out. Her forehead all scrunched up, eyes squinted and mouth half open as she tried to come up with something to say. She is very traditional. Think out of the box Meme! I wanted to cheer. Her most positive comment was that the center sky shot, which is the view from our front stoop didn't look like a sky at all, but a lake of water. Maybe she was thinking out of the box.
Regardless, 100 5x7's and 50dollars later these will be our cards for this year. They will be like a Christmas card riddle: guess who this card is from; since I also forgot to put our last name anywhere on the card.
Check out the rest at http://dearlittleredhouse.com.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Sky Watch


I love sky watch, but often find it challenging to find a beautiful shot here in suburbia. My view is constantly obstructed by wires and ugliness. We need more breathing space in this town! This picture I took in the closest strip mall parking lot as I am trying to put a dent in my Christmas shopping. Yesterday was a beautiful cold sunny day and the clouds were putting on a show. You can check our the rest of the world at:http://skyley.blogspot.com/2009/11/skywatch-friday-season-4-episode-22.html. Enjoy!! Peace!!!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Wordless Wednesday: Snow days they bring out the best in a Mom.



The first snow day of the year and I know this is supposed to be a wordless day, but I have already raised my voice more than I would like to admit; and the day is not even half over. Outfitting three boys in snow gear that fits, and then referring (very icy) snow ball fights at close range, as one after another come bounding back inside to complain about their brothers'. Ahhhh!
They do have their benefits though: sleeping later, making french toast sticks for breakfast, giggle noodle soup for lunch, maybe watching a movie together all snuggly on the couch. I am still optimistic, but it is not even noon yet.
Help??!!



Monday, December 7, 2009

Mosaic Monday

Check out all the beautiful mosaics at:http://dearlittleredhouse.com. Enjoy!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

In the Shadows

It's Shadow Shot Sunday, check it out at:

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Skywatching

Today was a beautiful balmy December day. Record breaking temperatures with no jackets necessary; quite unusual for December in New England. A storm had just passed through during the night and the sun was begging for a spot.


Check out all the beautiful skies at:http://skyley.blogspot.com/.


Thursday Challenge: Wood

I have found a new meme and the theme is wood. Whenever I hear the word meme used this way it makes me laugh, because my mother-in -law is Meme in this house and I'm not really looking for a new one. Anyway, I took this photo last month in my backyard. This old barbed wire fence serves as out property marker on one side of our yard. I think it's old, maybe really old, which is kind of cool. I took this close up shot as the sun was setting one day and I love it.