This Moment . . .

These two guys were outside my window.  You can see their antlers are just starting to come in.  I was so sad to leave the wildlife that I had been feeding for fifteen years in our old neighborhood but I have been gifted with cardinals outside my studio window at the bird feeder every day, many more squirrels to feed and a gang of seven or eight deer that visit our neighborhood quite frequently. 

I'm not sure I'll be as happy about these guys once the flowers start to bloom and they start to chomp on them but, for now, they make me smile.  : )


Many blessings for a wonderful weekend and for a very happy Mothers' Day to everyone that celebrates on Sunday!!  xoxo

~ Wendy

Another Wintry Day in New York . . .

Today the kids have yet another snow day!!  We got the call last night. It's actually a mix of snow, ice and sleet right now which makes for treacherous driving conditions.  This is snow day number four,  I believe, and if we get the huge storm that is being projected for Sunday into Monday they will have used up all of their allotted days off.  It's only the first week in February folks!!!  Not a good sign!!!

Our icy tree in the front yard.

What's left of Buddha's head in our front garden!!

Our window box.

The storm that they're tracking for our area for Sunday into Monday is being measured in FEET.  CRAZY!!!  I'll believe it when I see it but most of the weather models are all in agreement on this one.  I think the last time I remember getting that much snow in one storm was around 1995 and the only reason I remember the year is because it was right before I got pregnant with Trevor who was born in August of 1996.  I have photos of Connor playing with our two little neighbors and the snow piles were up over their head!!  : )

There have been lots of birds at our bird feeder.  Always a great photo opp.  God knows I need some photo opps since most of my picture taking has been done from my windows lately!!  I did get to take some photos in our local cemetery last week that I'll share soon.  Am I the only one who loves to take photos in cemeteries??  They are so peaceful and full of such beauty.  The old graves stones are just amazing to look at and photograph.

Rain and ice on the window. 

I'm on my third load of laundry and I'm already starting to think about what I'm going to make for dinner.  This is perfect cooking and cleaning weather!!  Although I'd much rather lounge around a fireplace with my feet up and my nose in a good book!!  Where's that fireplace when you need it???!!!???  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful Wednesday ~ Wendy

A Five Day Weekend and a Glimpse of Light . . .

Here, in New York, it's been a very snowy week.  Add subzero temps (with the windchill factor) to the mix and you have a good recipe for a five day weekend off from school!!  Technically, it was a three day weekend, a half day of school and then another snow day but I let the boys stay home for that half day.  Yes, I am a pushover and I remember how exciting it was to have a snow day when I was a kid!!!  : )

Yet another photo outside my front window.  Haven't had much of a chance for anything else lately!!

A tree in our front yard that my first husband planted a couple of months before he passed away.  I say a prayer for that tree every time we have bad weather!!  : )

I saw this little guy peeking his head out and was lucky enough to catch a photo.  Sometimes I think the squirrels pose for me.  They're definitely not camera shy!!  I guess they're used to me at this point since I've been taking photos out of my back window for thirteen years now!!!  : )

I love to feed the wildlife in our backyard.  I'm rewarded with photos like this one.  Such a beautiful little winter bird.

 Rumor has it, we're expecting snow again on Saturday and then again on Monday.  I have to admit that I love it.  It makes me feel like a little kid again.  I've been doing a lot of cooking and the kids have been baking and the candles are lit in the windows when the sun goes down.  The days are starting to become noticeably longer now so there is a light at the end of this winter tunnel.  I'll be ready for spring but, for now, I'm happy right where I am.  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful Thursday ~ Wendy

Life Around Twin Ponds on a {mostly} Wordless Wednesday . . .

Our neighborhood is blessed with a wonderful little place to visit called "Twin Ponds."  I believe, at one point, it was one giant pond but then was split in half when a road cut it in two when new houses were being built.

Can you spot the blue heron??  He's a regular at the ponds and so amazing to watch.

Our resident swans expanded their family this year!!  They're very careful about getting too close to people so they hang out at the back of the pond.  Difficult to get a good photo with my lens but still beautiful nonetheless.

After flying over to the other pond, Mr. Heron found his lunch.  Not a great photo but you can see the fish in his mouth.

And he's off to dine without some annoying human taking photos of him!!  : )

There were several kids taking advantage of a beautiful day to fish.  I'm happy to say they got the hook out of his mouth and released him back into the water and we watched him swim away with a fish story to tell his family.  : )

This sweet little baby followed me from cat tail to cat tail and watched as I took photos.  I'm not sure what kind of a bird he is but it was love at first sight for me!!

 We feel so blessed to be able to live in such a beautiful area.  We toyed with the idea of moving last year but I'm so glad we changed our minds.  I'd miss this slice of heaven practically in our own backyard!!


Many blessings for a beautiful Wednesday ~ Wendy

Some Winter Favorites . . .

I've taken so many photos this winter but shared very few on my blog. FIRST, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season THEN a severe eye infection that lasted for a couple of weeks FOLLOWED BY a killer toothache that put me into an anxiety-ridden place that I'm just now coming out of.

In hindsight, both illnesses have made me grow as a person.  I'm learning how to deal with stress and anxiety without the veil of medication that I took for almost eight years and recently weaned myself off of (with the help of my doctor).  I told my sister yesterday that I'm apparently not as calm, cool and collected as I thought I was.  : )    My homeopath told me that I'm re-processing things from the last eight years that I processed in a totally different way while on the meds.  This includes the sudden loss of my first husband and then sudden loss of my father less than a year later.  This also includes the diagnosis of stage 4 colon cancer that my youngest sister received almost five years ago.  By the grace of God (and with lots of Guardian Angels looking out for her) she has been cancer free for more than five years.  Amazing Grace!!

I know squirrels are a dime a dozen but I never get tired of taking photos of them, most of which are taken right out of my dining room window. 

I swear he's posing for me!!  LOL!!  : )

My camera has been my saving grace these last couple of months.  I've captured photos of my daughter discovering snow for what really is her first time since last winter we only had a freak storm in October. 

Oh, that face!!!!!

My camera and I got out of the house and back in touch with nature when I felt a little disconnected this winter.  I wouldn't call it cabin fever. Truth is, I love to be at home tinkering around but I've also made it a point to enjoy the light this winter.

Light is truly a photographer's best friend and very hard to come by this time of year.

Living across from a state park is like visiting a photographic candy store every day.  Always some new goodies to partake of!!  : )

I'm thinking I'll share more tomorrow.  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful Presidents' Day ~ Wendy