A Little Randomness on a Wednesday . . .

Our rustic little cottage in the woods.  That's my gorgeous Mother's Day gift hanging on the lamp post. 

This is the road we live on.  There are actually two roads.  This is the one that leads into our very peaceful neighborhood.  (We're probably the noisiest house on the block!!)  There is a grassy median and on the other side is the road that leads out of the neighborhood.  There are no houses on the other side of the street.  Just trees, a very deep ravine with a beautiful brook at the bottom and then more trees and the New York Military Academy on the other side of those woods.  This is the infamous military academy that Donald Trump attended when he was a wayward boy.  : )  He visited our neighborhood when he was campaigning.  I saw his little Trump helicopter land and take off.  The whole visit lasted less than an hour but brought lots of excitement to this little upstate New York town of ours.  : )

This is Mr. Bigglesworth.  I almost didn't post this photo because you can really see just how badly we are in need of landscaping.  Ugghh!!!  Not enough time and not enough money but it will get done eventually.  Like everything else.  : )

This girly learned how to ride a two-wheeler the day before her birthday.  Jim came up with the great idea of removing her training wheels and her pedals so she'd teach herself how to balance even before getting on her new bike (thanks again for the beautiful bike Mimi and Grandpa!!).  It worked like a charm and she was able to do it the first time she tried!!

I started looking thru photos for some "Megan on her bike" shots and I found a few that I wanted to share. 

The photos below are of the time I gave her a piece of bubble wrap to play with and she wanted to run it over with her bike.  I have to laugh just thinking about it!!  She must've driven over that bubble wrap a hundred times and she was happy as a clam while doing it!!!  Lol!!!

 Life's simple pleasures!!!!!  : )

Now she's moving so fast I can't get a decent photo of her!!  : )

She's also been busy with lacrosse.  She had what they call a "jamboree" on Sunday.  It's where a whole bunch of teams from the area get together and play quick 25 minute games against each other.  Well she played 5 of those quick 25 minute games with some breaks in between so we were at the lacrosse fields ALL day.  Those girls were amazing and ended up winning all five games.  It really is so wonderful to see how they go from knowing next to nothing about the sport at the beginning of the season to looking like an honest to goodness team within a few weeks!!  I believe we have one more jamboree next weekend and then the season is over.  She's already said she wants to play again next year.  It really is a fantastic sport and we're thrilled that she enjoys it so much.

My girl loaded up with sunblock on her face.  She's not really that pale normally.  Close to it though.  : )

One more day of school tomorrow and then they're finished for the week.  It is Memorial Weekend here in the states this weekend.  What we consider our unofficial beginning of summer.  So hard to believe but I think we're ready for the break.  I know the kids are!!  : )

Wishing you a beautiful rest of your day!!

~ Wendy  xo

Shooting on "M" . . .

Yesterday I took my first of two photography classes.  My goal is to be able to start taking photos with my camera on the "Manual" setting more often.  The teacher is a great guy with many years of experience.  I was a little concerned about the number of students that were going to be in the class but it worked out well.  Most had Canon cameras but a few of us had Nikons which is what our instructor shoots with.  Many different levels of experience.  I sat next to a woman my age who had never used her camera before and in front of me was a seventeen year old young man that was very knowledgeable and already had some great equipment.  Don't you just love to see kids that find their passion early on in life?  I think it's wonderful!! 

A disco ball hanging above my head.

I took a lot of photos around the studio before, during and after class.  One of the things Jimmy told us was to shoot with our image quality set on "raw."  Unfortunately the site where I upload my photos doesn't support photo files of that size so all of the photos I shot after I changed to the "raw" setting can't be opened until I figure out how to do it and, honestly, I don't feel like figuring it out right now.  Lol!  So you'll have to settle for these photos for now.  : )

It really is a great studio with lots of cool stuff hanging on the brick walls.  Next Sunday we have the second of the two classes.  We're supposed to be going outside to work with natural light.  Being an outdoor photographer, I'm really looking forward to that.  : )

Speaking of outdoor photography . . .

The forsythia bushes today.

The forsythia bushes this time last year.  It's been a cold spring so far!! 

I spotted this little lady on our very dirty three season room window. 

Praying for sun.

Signs of life!!  : )

A rather noisy crow.

Two photos from this day a year ago . . .

Mr. Bigglesworth has a tough life, doesn't he?  Oh that face!!! : )


Wishing you all a beautiful and peaceful week ahead.  xo

This Moment . . .

Mr. Bigglesworth wanted me to tell you he hopes you have a very nice weekend.  I hope you do too.  : )


~ Wendy

Some Over the Moon News . . .

At 11:30 Saturday night, while my honey and I were finally watching the season finale of Homeland (LOVE THAT SHOW!!), my cell phone rang.  It was someone who had been looking on one of the Facebook pages where I posted Mr. Bigglesworth's photo several times over the last six weeks since he ran away.  He told me a story of how his daughters who live about a mile from us had been feeding Biggles when he started to hang out around their house.  He told me how they wanted to keep him but his ex-wife wouldn't let them so they called him and told him what a wonderful cat they had found, knowing full well what an animal lover he was.  Before I got too excited, I had him send me a photo of the cat that he had named "Benny" and grown so attached to.  As soon as I saw that mug come over my phone screen I burst into tears.  It was indeed my Biggles!!!  We went and picked him up yesterday morning almost an hour away.  It is just so crazy to me how the Universe works sometimes. The people we meet. The lessons we are taught along the way.  It's all part of a much bigger plan.

As difficult as it got with each passing week, I always tried to remember that Biggles running away was for a reason. I also never lost faith that I would see him again. It's not always easy to do but I know that this is definitely a lesson that I'm supposed to learn this time around, in this lifetime. Sometimes I'm good at it and sometimes I'm not. I think having the awareness is half the battle though.

It's like he never left.  : )


Happy Monday to you all!! ~ Wendy

Spring has Re-Sprung . . .

The heat has been off again for two days and nights.  The beautiful spring air is coming thru the windows once again.  The birds have been going crazy doing the things that birds (and bees apparently) do best this time of the year.  : )

If I could've bottled up yesterday's weather, I would be making a fortune in sales!!  One of the most beautiful days I can remember.  My husband calls days like that "San Diego weather."  He lived there for a few years when he was in the Navy and says they have the most incredible weather almost every day of the year. 

Megan's BFF Cybele giving her a ride on the tricycle.

It's also been perfect bike riding weather.  Jim and Megan have been biking and I swear I'm going to join them.  I have a beautiful bike that was given to me as a gift and I truly want to ride it.  I haven't ridden a bike in probably 30 years so I'm a little hesitant.  I think I might have to wait until it's dark outside and then ride around the block a couple of times when nobody is looking.  : ) 

I told Jim we need to teach Megan how to give a Queen's wave as she travels around in her little bike-drawn carriage.  : )

Even Mr. Bigglesworth was enjoying the beautiful day from atop our garbage can!!

 

 

The kids are back to school after their spring break this past week and Megan is at daycare after a week off and this Mama is seriously enjoying the quiet in the house.  I went for a walk this morning and now I'm about to make myself some lunch.  It's my first official day to myself since quitting my job full time.  I've decided to stay on with American Greetings as a helper when needed and will be working tomorrow to help out the woman that replaced me.  Out with Easter cards and in with Mothers' Day/Graduation/Communion/Confirmation cards.  But, for now, I'm enjoying the sound of silence.  Indeed I am.  : )


Many blessings for a happy Tuesday ~ Wendy

this moment . . .

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 Mr. Bigglesworth trying to stay cool in the midst of a heat wave!!


Many blessings for a happy and peaceful and COOL weekend ~ Wendy

Monday, Rainy Monday . . .

After a mostly gorgeous weekend, it's now a rainy Monday.  Truth be told, I absolutely love the rain.  I think I've mentioned that here on at least several occasions!! 

Megan was sick and sleep was intermittent but she seems to be feeling better.  Yesterday morning, I awoke to her looking at me while raising her eyebrows up and down saying "Hubba Hubba."  I can't begin to tell you how hard I laughed!!  It definitely made up for at least some of the sleep I was deprived of!! 

Sand in the hair + Stains on the shirt = A Very Good Day!!

I'm participating in the Photo-a-Day Challenge via Fat Mum Slim's blog.  It's not too late to join us!!

Photo of the Day for June 3 ~ "On your plate"

A Daisy on a Plate.

June 4th ~ "Close-Up"

Mr. Bigglesworth taking a nap.

Many blessings for a happy and sunny Monday ~ Wendy

Do You Think He's Ready to Come In?? On a Wordless Wednesday . . .

Many blessings for a happy Wednesday ~ Wendy

{this moment} On Follow Me Friday . . .

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.



If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. Inspired by SouleMama .


Many blessings for a peaceful and happy weekend (can you believe already!! ) .


~Wendy

Introducing the Newest Member of Our Family . . .

This is Mr. Bigglesworth. We adopted him from our local animal shelter. He is a year and a half old and was brought to the shelter by someone who kept him as a pet in his dorm room but was unable to keep him when college ended. He was at Hi -Tor (the name of the shelter) for three months before we adopted him.

I first fell in love with Biggles (he came with his name so we shortened it instead of changing it) when I took my cat Rollie to be neutered by the mobile spay and neuter clinic that had come to Hi -Tor. They go by the name of TARA and are an incredibly wonderful and loving group of people who travel around to help control the pet population. When I had gone into the office to write a check for their services and to make a donation there were several cages in there due to the over abundance of cats and kittens that are surrendered this time of the year. I had seen Biggles on Hi - Tor's Facebook page and couldn't wait to see him in person. He was laid back and took everything in as he watched people coming and going. When I bent over to write the check, Mr. Bigglesworth reached his paw thru his cage and touched my butt. LOL!!! Of course, I instantly fell in love with him and wanted to take him home then and there!!

Biggles meeting Rollie for the first time. They're still working on getting along but I know they'll be best of friends in no time.

It wasn't until a month later that I was able to see Biggles again. I kept track of him thru Facebook and saw that he hadn't yet been adopted. It was also during that time that my cat Rosie had passed away. We went back to Hi - Tor to make a donation of towels and pillow cases that they were in need of and there was Biggles still in his cage. I asked one of the shelter volunteers about him and she told me his background story. She also told me that they were starting to worry about him because he was going stir crazy being in the cage a lot. They took him outside on a leash to walk around but he was starting to lose his spunk. Needless to say, my heart hurt for him. My husband told me that he wasn't ready to have another cat again. The rest of the day all I could do was think about Biggles and literally cried when I thought about this beautiful creature being in a cage.

The next morning, my husband woke up and told me he was going to take my son and his friend to drive some golf balls at our local golf course. They were back in less than an hour. Unbeknownst to me, they went back up to the shelter and adopted Biggles and surprised me with him.

He is so loved and is living the high life here with us!! He has a fresh side to him but we're working on that. We call it his "cattitude." : ) He has found his forever home and is being spoiled rotten. Oh, how I wish every animal looking for a home could have a happy ending!! Please adopt a shelter animal and save a life!!


Many blessings ~ Wendy