Pictures from the Porch . . .

On Sunday, we took a drive to Cornwall to spend the day with my Mom.  It was such a beautiful day.  Unfortunately, a lot of it was spent indoors due to our love of New York Giants football.  Finally, at about the two minute warning, we gave up (they lost) and ventured out to the porch. 

Can you tell who likes getting her picture taken and who doesn't???  : )

My mother's Newfoundland, Chloe.  The sweetest (and LARGEST) dog you'll ever meet.  : )

Chloe's brother, Seamus.  He is a rescue dog that my mother adopted from our local shelter.  So adorable!!

On our way home from Cornwall, we took a quick drive thru Cornwall-on-the-Hudson.  This is a town that we've fallen in love with and hope to be living in someday in the near future.  We're in the midst of taking the first steps toward making this happen.


As we made the turn to head home, this is what we saw . . .

Looks like a sign to me!!!  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful Wednesday ~ 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.

. . . . . . . . . .

First day of pre-k!!!

Many blessings for a beautiful Friday and a very happy weekend ~ Wendy

Blooms and Blessings . . .

As we sat in our backyard last night, dining on grilled spare ribs and eggplant and fresh tomato and basil salad from our garden, hints of autumn were all around us.  The hot and humid days of the last week are behind us (for now) and the windows were wide open yesterday.  The days are noticeably shorter and the crickets are noticeably louder.  I'm anticipating the way the sky seems to change overnight from puffy clouds to lower and more blustery clouds.  Our bird houses are empty but our hydrangea trees are in full bloom and there are even hints of pink on them that come with cooler nights.  I feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful and peaceful part of the world.  I am not a church-going kind of person however I believe with all my heart that there is a Higher Power and I believe in the power of prayer.  It is my hope that if you're reading this, you will take a moment out of your day and say a prayer for those parts of this world that are in the grips of the unspeakable things that are currently going on in this world.  We truly need to count our blessings and not take them for granted.  Namaste.


Many blessings ~ Wendy

The Remains of Summer Thru My Lens Continued . . .

Yesterday was the first day of school and even though the calendar says we're still a few weeks away from the official start of fall, I already feel like summer is becoming a distant memory.  The temperatures have been pretty mild for New York.  The humidity has been pretty tolerable most days.  We've even had the air conditioning off and the windows open a couple of days.  We are not a family that tolerates the heat very well so it's been an absolute pleasure!!  : )

Roses in Harlem, New York City.

The Farmer's Almanac says that New York as well as other parts of the northeast are in for a winter with above average temps and above average amounts of snow.  We'll just have to wait and see if they're right and deal with it when the time comes.  I have to be honest and say I love the idea of being snowed in.  Especially when my husband doesn't have to work.  : )  Our next house has to have a fireplace.  There's nothing cozier then sitting in front of a fireplace while there's snow falling outside!!

A disco ball at the Dutchess County Fair.  I was sooooo tempted to buy this!!!  : )

Daisies in my garden earlier this summer.

We made some great memories this summer. A trip to Lake George, NY.  A trip to Wildwood Crest, NJ.  Several day trips and time spent with friends.  I'm so looking forward to fall.  The leaves, the cool, crisp air, the gorgeous autumn skies.  And, of course, Halloween!!!  My favorite holiday!!!!  My daughter has already put in her order for another princess costume.  : )

My friend Susan's newest addition to her family.  His name is "Bacon." I assure you he will not be eaten though!!!  : )

Many blessings for a beautiful day ~ Wendy

The Remains of Summer Thru My Lens . . .

A kite at Point Pleasant Beach in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

A road near the day camp where my son worked as a swimming instructor this summer.

Adirondack Mountains on a very cloudy day.

Parasailing in Lake George, NY.

Wildwood Crest Beach in Wildwood Crest, NJ.

The Summer Super Moon from my front yard.

A baby deer my mother has named "Peaches."  She feeds Peaches and her mom and they practically eat apples out of her hand.  : )

An opening in the clouds.

The beautiful Adirondack Mountains in Lake George, NY.  This was our view from the hotel's pool.  Wasn't a great day to get a tan.  : )

I've been taking photos for a few years now and I've discovered a few things about myself.  First and foremost, I've noticed that if I go an extended period of time (a couple of days or so) without picking up my camera I really REALLY miss it.  Taking photos has become a part of my soul.  I do it strictly for me.  One of the only things I do for me consistently.  I've also discovered my love and adoration for outdoor photography.  Photographing nature is just so amazing to me and I've been blessed with so many special photo opportunities since I discovered my love for photography. 

Here's one I'll NEVER forget, taken in my own back yard on New Year's Day 2013 . . .

I'm not so sure I'll ever be able to top that one.  Amazing Grace!!!  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful Wednesday ~ Wendy

Oh Dear . . .

My mother lives in a little cottage in the woods.  She has seen snakes, coyotes, your regular run of the mill bunnies and chipmunks, among other things.  But, by far, her favorite visitors are the deer that she feeds every day.  There is a little farm up the street from her and she buys bags of apples that they have kept from the season before.  One deer, in particular, has really grown to trust my mother and walks right up to her porch.  In fact, she's actually tried to jump the small fence that blocks the dogs from getting off her porch.  LOL!! 

Mama deer.

Late in the spring, my mother was concerned because she hadn't seen her favorite deer for a while and thought something might have happened to her.  We both remembered it was the time of year that babies were being born and maybe, just maybe, that was what was keeping her away.

Well . . . . . . .

. . .  look who came to visit!!!  At first "Peaches", as my mother has named her (or him.  We're not quite sure yet), kept her distance and watched Mama Deer as she walked over to my mother.  Now, she comes right up to the porch and is a very brave baby.  She doesn't like apples yet but I'm sure that will change soon.  What an honor it is for this deer to trust my mother enough to introduce her to her baby!! 

"Peaches!!"

It is said that animals and children are the best judges of character.  I truly believe this.  : )

Many blessings for a beautiful Thursday ~ 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.

. . . . . . . . . .

Our first day in Lake George, NY.

Many blessings for a beautiful Friday and a happy weekend ~ Wendy

A Day at the Beach . . .

On Wednesday, we packed up our pails and shovels, sunblock and beach towels and headed to Point Pleasant, New Jersey for the day.  As the school year was ending, I made a bit of a mental  "Bucket List" of all the things I wanted to do this summer of 2014.  I can now cross off "spend a day at the beach."  I know it probably doesn't sound like much but between all of the other activities around here and that pesky thing called "my husband's job" : )  finding the time can be a bit difficult.  With Jim currently on his eight days off  (he works 5 weeks of swing shift and then has 8 straight days off) and the weatherman saying the three dreaded "H" words ~ hazy, hot and humid ~ and nothing else on the calendar, we knew it would be a perfect beach day.   

 

My honey.

Another summer with our "adopted" son, Jakhai.  Words cannot express how much we love this beautiful young man and his family!!!  : )

Today, we're headed to Manhattan to spend the day with Jakhai's family and friends for a huge birthday celebration.  I'm so looking forward to this day of making lots of new friends and, of course, taking lots of photos.  Next week, we're off to Lake George for a few days with friends and the following week we'll be back at the beach for another couple of days.  Way too soon, this summer will be a distant memory so I'm going to make it a point to live in each moment and enjoy them.  AND I'm choosing to ignore those back-to-school commercials they're already starting to show on television!!!!!! YUCK!!!!  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful Saturday ~ Wendy