It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

Back To School
School bells ring can you hear them
Children sing on the playground
There'll be studies for learning
Stomachs for churning 
Lunches to carry 
No  more bickering
No more snickering 
Just peace and quiet the house all most mine
I'll be just fine 
It's the hap-happiest season of all 
With those school day greetings and PTA meetings 

It's the most wonderful time 

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Now let me tell you how I really feel! I will miss my grand-children terribly when I am back in Florida, but right now it's just time folks! Yes it's just time!

MOM, She Won't Share!

It's Mine, I Saw It First
Caught these two gulls bickering over a poor little crustacean. For a while it was a tug of war, somehow the crab remained intact, struggling with all his might. Smugness on the face of the victor as she scurried away! Had I a little cocktail sauce I might have joined in on the tussle. 
The ocean intoxicated, regurgitating objects of all shapes and sizes, indigenous and foreign to it's environment. Amazing what a hurricane can conjure up! 
The beach littered with giant globs of seaweed, most of which the ocean will reclaim as the rhythmic waves return to their normal beat. 
Mother Nature, at her worst and best, convincing mankind of the respect She is worthy!
Watching the antics of these amusing birds, a gift of mindful gratitude. 
Have a wonderful day!

After The Storm!

A Bit Tattered
Mary, Mother of the Arch Angels, power loss for not more than ten seconds, with lights blinking throughout the morning. Mr. Electric, letting us know how very important he is! 
Many others not so lucky in the area.
A couple of trees down in the backyard away from the house. Branches scattered about, a small price to pay, considering the devastation elsewhere. 
Thankful, cleanup starts as soon as daughter and son-in-law return from Aruba. 
Irene, just a big bully here in our neck of the woods.
Somehow this sweet butterfly survived the storm, ravenous, as she sat atop this coneflower for quite a while. Looking a bit tattered and weary she flew off to seek sustenance elsewhere. Can you see the very small worm resting on the flower petal as well? 
As far as hurricanes go, the one the older folks still talk about here is the !938 Hurricane. 
Weather predicting in those days not available, my mom and her sister walked two miles home from school in the pouring rain, jumped over downed wires, laughing as the wind pushed them about. She was fourteen and her sister thirteen.
 Be still my heart, they must have had a fleet of guardian angels around them.
Over six hundred people were lost in that storm, according to mom. 
Glad we were only taunted this time around and grateful for all the media coverage and fair warning. 
Have a wonderful day!

Goodnight Irene!

Horseneck Beach, Westport, MA

Not sure I know anyone who enjoys a hurricane more than a surfer, here in the northeast. 

The obvious answer, waves, big waves! My son still a diehard surfer use to track storms for days, planning surf expeditions. The size of the wave depended on what board one would ride, a strategy well planed, shared with fellow surfers. 

The above photo was captured yesterday around noon. The state beaches were closed and I just had to get a shot. Hubby drove me down a private road to view Mother Nature's, impending wrath. Will, guarded the car from being ticketed, while I walked up and over the dunes to capture the magnificence and magnificent it was.

Not sure which was pounding harder, my heart from the climb or the roaring surf, while catching my first glimpse. The sounds almost deafening, except for an occasional gull scavenging the shoreline.

Not even a slight breeze approaching the dunes, the air heavy, muggy, like rain suspended in midair, a thick fog blanketed the landscape. A definite calm before the storm. 

Not a good hair day, for sure!

I waved to the young man in the above photo as he ran towards the surf, aspiring to ride the perfect wave, thinking of my son all the while.

The day rather ominous awaiting Irene, an un-welcomed guest. Hurricane food purchased, tubs filled with water awaiting the royal flush, flashlights ready for service. No power no water, no shower, no coffee, NO INTERNET! Yikes! 
Just a wait and see approach, fortunate to be just a little inconvenienced in this modern day and age. Let's see if I feel the same way after a few days of roughing it???

"You cause me to weep, you cause me to mourn

You cause me to leave my home

But the very last words I heard her say

Was "Please sing me one more song

"Good Night Irene. I'll see you in my dreams."

~lyrics, Steve Earle~

Sailor Take Warning!

Posted to: http://www.susannahconway.com/the-august-break-2011

A Flower For You!

Happy Birthday
"A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend."~Author Unknown~
Happy Birthday, to my very sweet daughter today. She has grown into a beautiful young woman and has blessed our family with three gorgeous, grand-children. Kathy, owns her own business and employs twenty three women. With the support of her husband Brian, who also owns his own business, they are a very busy young couple. 
Living with them in the summer when we come up north to Massachusetts, caring for the grand-children our focus during school break. 
Daughter, sweet daughter, we are proud of what you have accomplished and most proud of how you treat others with respect, having sacrificed much to insure their well-being. 
Not sure I could ever run in your shoes but having fun watching the race! 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 
I will probably get a post out tomorrow AM, not sure after that. Awaiting the arrival of the unwelcome guest, IRENE. We are on the east side of the predicated storm and flooding a huge concern here. We are safe and far enough away from the water, however loosing our power almost a certainty! Will try to remain positive and hope for the best. Off to buy hurricane food today, it always amazes me that milk and bread sell out first! 
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True Craftsmanship!

Details
"True Craftsmanship lies in the details."~Rosemary Aubut~ 
I took this photo yesterday at the home of one of my brother's clients. 
Jim, is the youngest of six and started to work for our dad at the age of fourteen after school. He took over dad's business at the tender age of twenty, that was twenty eight years ago. 
He was just a natural for the trade and dad always encouraged his talent. He has grown the upholstering business, works with many clients and decorators as well. 
Tavares Upholstering Company, is approaching it's sixty year anniversary in the very near future. 
Jim, graciously asked me to photograph some of his work for advertisement that he places in several magazines. 
The beautiful chair above is covered in a silk blend fabric and the cushion filled with down. Impeccably handcrafted, a true work of art. Our sister Terry, also works for Jim, she runs the custom drapery end of the business and also a perfectionist.
Jim's, oldest son Josh is now working with his dad and doing the business and his dad proud! Three generations of true craftsmanship. Great job guys and gals! 
Ha, Ha, I get to do the fun part and still boss you guys around, as only a big sister can!!! 
Now move that chair closer to the bed! Pleassse! 
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The Four Sisters!

Vera, Gloria, Alice, Judith
Here they are folks my three Aunties along with my Mom, (Gloria, second to the left).
We had a wonderful day yesterday at my cousin Carole's beautiful home. She is an incredible hostess and the daughter of Alice, (second right).
Carole and I grew up together, lost contact for a while raising our families and we are now, I am so happy to say, reconnected.
My mom and her sisters are all in their eighties and for the most part in really good health. They are the last four surviving out of fourteen. Can you only imagine in this day and age??? Between them they have fifteen children and grand-children to numerous to count.
Recounting old stories they are truly hysterical. Thru those stories I have learned a great deal about my heritage which I am so proud to own.
They are family treasures, I love them so. A rare photo when one captures them all together.
A day etched forever, a day to treasure! They are the fabric of my being!

Old Friends!

Westport Point

“Good friends are like stars...You don't always see them, but you know they are always there”~unknown~

Attended a birthday party for an old friend on Westport Point, last evening. 
Loosing  and keeping in touch with old friends when one moves 1500 miles away just seems to happen, for no particular reason. Getting caught up in all the newness and will call tomorrow, tomorrow comes and you will call next week, and so on and so on! 
It was great to see everyone and catch up, right where we all left off without skipping a beat. 
A friend is a friend no matter how much time lapses, there is a history where old and funny stories just seem to emerge without provocation.
They just accept you for who you are, the relationship remains constant, uninterrupted, so to speak, until you meet again. 
"Good friends are like stars," according to the quote, last evening they were shining ever so brightly!

Last Rose Of Summer!

Last Rose Of Summer
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
 ~William Arthur Ward~
How many times have I been grateful for something or someone and not said a simple, Thank You? Well world here I am to say it wholeheartedly, Thank You!
 For our wonderful friends who are leaving today, we had a wonderful time. Thanks, we so enjoyed your company, lots of laughs and great conversation. 
To all my followers and readers who have left kind and encouraging comments, Thank You! Coming upon 20.000 page views, I am truly overwhelmed that anyone reads what I have to say! A sincere, Thank You! 
Thanks to all the flowers, landscape and seascape that Mother Nature, Herself,  has provided me thru my instrument of capture. 
There is a briskness in the air this morning a hint of fall impending. The children are back to school soon and the summer has passed far to quickly. The last roses of the season are trying hard to keep their regal bloom. 
Summer what a wonderful and glorious season, a season for all seasons! 
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Textures: Scratch Magic, Canvasback.

Van Gogh or a Cezanne?

A Little Van Gogh Anyone?
"I experience a period of frightening clarity in those moments when nature is so beautiful. 
I am no longer sure of myself, and the paintings appear as in a dream."~Vincent Van Gogh~ 
This photo was captured yesterday in Bristol Rhode at Colt State Park. The original photo was very pretty, however, it has been my goal to turn every photo I publish into a work of art, whenever I possibly can. 
Can you only imagine my delight when I found this new App called, Auto Painter Express. Several clicks and one can turn any photo into a Van Gogh or a Cezanne, in just a few minutes. YIKES!
I feel as though I am cheating on Photoshop, but am allowing myself the freedom to try something fun and new, almost way too easy! 
Vincent, I have admired your work from afar for so many years and now the ability to turn a photograph, that I have taken into your style is a feat beyond my wildest dreams. 
Can't wait to see what Mr. Van Gogh and I come up with next or maybe a Cezanne. 
Love his work too! 
Have an enjoyable and creative day!


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Par For The Course!

What A Day
Professing to know nothing about golf is my game, however I do feel qualified to comment on the beauty of this green. The 7th hole at Round Hill, is surrounded by water and it's only access this gorgeous little bridge. Can you only imagine the golf balls that lay idle, at pond's bottom, waiting for someone to rescue them? 
Judy and I hung out with my grand-daughters yesterday while the guys played another well deserved round of golf. Nine hours later I am not so sure I could still call it well deserved, however. We did manage to visit our son in Falmouth, later last evening.
One thing for sure about Cape Cod in the summer, is that one can expect masses of hungry people on a Saturday night. Every restaurant had at least an hour wait, if not more. Order take out was another idea, placing our order via cellphone, we were informed that it would be at least an hour before pick up!  So much for food consumption, on Old Cape Cod! 
Hungry and weary we headed for a popular restaurant close to home. Upon our arrival we were informed that it closed at nine and it was then 9:15PM. Fast food being our only other option, we decided to head for home. 
Thankfully the kids left us some roasted chicken, prepared earlier in the day. 
Today maybe off to Horseneck Beach, drinks at the Back Eddy, to witness the sunset, followed by a homemade clam-boil. Judy has never eaten boiled clams before other than fried, maybe I'll throw in a couple of periwinkles (snails) for added texture! You dig them out of their shell with an old fashioned hat pin. Anyone out there remember that one? I'll report on the upchuck tomorrow!!! 
Have a wonderful day!

A Relaxing Kind Of Day!

What A View
Judy and I enjoyed a relaxing day at Round Hill. We visited with my sister-in-law and had a wonderful lunch by the pool which overlooks the ocean. Joann, took us for a tour of the grounds, when we came upon these gorgeous tents. The workers were finishing up the final details for a wedding the following day. I love the primitive look of this photograph and choose it for today's blog. It captured the essence of the day, windy, warm, with a slight hint of muggy, cloudy, foggy, just a relaxing kind of day.
The guys enjoyed a well deserved round of golf. Pizza and beers followed, compliments of my mother-in-law and father-in-law. Off to the Cape, later, maybe!!!
Have a wonderful day!

Out On The Town!

"

Unitarian Church
"Jesus! but I had a narrow escape. Suppose you had gone into humor instead of oil, where would I be?"~letter to Henry H. Rogers, 13 July 1905~ 
I grew up in the town of Fairhaven, MA, back in the fifties and sixties. Fairhaven is a beautiful little seaside town nestled between New Bedford and Fall River, located in the southeastern part of the state. 
Henry Huttleston Rogers grew up in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. I always knew of him and his generosity to the town. I also knew of the Mark Twain connection, but not to what extent. Rogers and Twain were the best of friends, Rogers saved Twain from financial disaster. 
We enjoyed a ninety minute narrated walking tour yesterday with our friends, Judy and John. It is amazing that you can live in a town most of your life and have only an inkling of it's rich history. 
The tour was extremely informative and the guide passionate about his mission. The above photo is that of the Unitarian Church, one of the many ornate buildings Rogers had designed and bequeathed to the town in memory of his beloved mother. 
A walk on the hurricane dike across the harbor followed by a delicious dinner finished our day and what a beautiful day it was! 

What A Dream!

Newport
Newport, Rhode Island, home of the fabulously wealthy and feast for the fortunate tourist. 
We knew one of our destinations to charm, John & Judy, just had to be Newport, RI. Our day began with the famous ten mile, Ocean Drive. The opulence of the area is definitely showcased here. Mansions, one after the other with rolling lawns down to the sparkling ocean, line the drive. Summer home to the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts, just to name a couple. We spent a great deal of time at Castle Hill, located on the West Passage. The front lawn of the mansion, now converted into an inn and restaurant, is lined with adirondack chairs for comfortable viewing of the magnificent vessels that pass thru.
Judy and I were dreaming of the yacht we would own someday when we hit the lottery. Of course it would have to be big enough to fit all of our children and grand-children, along with a full crew to navigate and serve. So much for dreams and thankful for our imaginations we headed to Bowen's Wharf for lunch at the Black Pearl, followed by some retail therapy.
What a day! We finished off our journey with home made ice cream at a local farm stand. 
How fortunate are we!

The Home Of Moby Dick!

"Call Me Ishmael" ~Herman Melville~

"Ignorance is the parent of fear."~Herman Melville~
Moby Dick, written by American author Herman Melville and first published in 1851, is widely considered to be a Great American Novel and a treasure of world literature."~google search~ 
When you grow up in an area, I guess one takes for granted the local history. Our good friends from Florida, Judy & John, are here to visit, after a sixteen hour car ride the day before, we decided to stay local and show them some of the sites where hubby and I grew up. 
Our day started out by driving down to the ocean in Westport and then off to Westport Point, to observe the fishing fleet and panoramic views. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, just the right temperature and a bit overcast, perfect for photographing. Then off to breakfast, followed by a trip to the New Bedford Historic Waterfront, visiting the Whaling Museum, Seamen's Bethel, and the New Bedford fishing fleet. The photos above are that of the Historic Waterfront, paved with cobblestone streets. My favorite street is called, Johnny Cake Hill and very picturesque. New Bedford is the inspiration for Mr. Melville's novel, Moby Dick. 
A visit to the home of my husband's parents and then off  to dinner at one of our favorite restaurant's. A great day for all, we were so proud to share our heritage of a hard working people that still to this day, make up one of the greatest fishing ports in the world. 
Off to Newport, Rhode Island today to seek out old and new adventures. Stay tuned and have a wonderful day!

Fried Green Tomatoes!

Ingredients:
1 extra large egg
4 tablespoons milk
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 green tomatoes, sliced
Directions: In a small bowl whisk together egg and milk. In another small bowl mix cornmeal and flour. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat; use more or less oil to reach about 1/4 inch in depth. Dredge tomato slices first in egg mixture, then in cornmeal mixture.
Carefully place slices in hot oil and cook until browned on both sides.

The recipe, is just a little bonus today, this post is actually about choosing a movie title. The photo is entered into Kim Klassen's, Texture Tuesday Challenge, the theme this week is movie title, the photo must tie into the title of the movie. I also used Kim's texture, Just A Stitch. 

If you haven't seen the movie I highly recommend it. I watch it at least once a year, with a great big bowl of popcorn and still laugh till I cry. If you haven't tried fried green tomatoes I highly recommend them as well. My friend Gail made us a batch, when she visited several years ago. Maybe I'll just whip up a batch myself or maybe I'll just have to invite Gail over again! 

Posted To: http://www.kimklassencafe.com

More On Coincidences!

Coincidences
Looking out the dining room window I was contemplating my son's upcoming marriage. Allicyn's shower was so beautiful, family and friends so thoughtful and generous.
Chris and Allicyn, are buying a house, maybe I would purchase towels and have them monogramed as a new house gift. Nice big, right out of the dryer, fluffy, thirsty ones that last forever. Great idea!
Tossing and turning that evening I was giving their initials some concentrated thought. I then had a lightbulb moment, an epiphany so to speak! Another one of those coincidences and you know Who, remains anonymous, if you read my blog posted on: 
Tuesday, June 28th 2011, entitled, Coincidences: http://rosemaryaubut.blogspot.com/2011/06/coincidences.html 
My son's initials are CJA, for Christopher James Aubut. Allicyn's initials are AJC, for Allicyn Jayne Cote. Why this never occurred to me until now is one of those unsolved mysteries contributed to age. 
Palindromes are words or phrases that read the same in both directions, e.g. eye, mom, dad. 
So if I put all of their initials together they would read:
CJAAJC or AJCCJA, not words, but wow what a coincidence!
Maybe this is called something else, but I call it one of those just meant to be divine like messages, designed by you know, Who, Himself!!!
Monograming will be a breeze now, I just couldn't make a mistake even if I tried! 


Posted to:
http://www.lgordonphotography.com

Eat Your Veggies!

Bountiful Gifts
"The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there."~George Bernard Shaw~
Great quote George, but I have to wonder if HE were to invent vegetables in this day and age, what would they look like? 
Can you only imagine french fries growing in the soil? How about onions blooming in a heavy batter, right out of the ground ready to eat. Broccoli, covered in a heavy cheese sauce, dripping on the soil. Disgusting thoughts, but such a reality. 
Bountiful gifts, all right there for us to enjoy. If I only had a salad bar in my home I would consume a whole lot more of them. I might even become a vegetarian. Well maybe not! 
This photo was taken at North Star Farm, such a glorious place to visit. Eye candy provided by Mother Nature, Herself in conjunction with the Master Gardener, Himself! 
Eat right, eat healthy! Now I must follow my own advice. Who has the best salad bar in town? If I had only planted that garden this year!
Have a wonderful day!   

My Secret Passion!

Secret Garden
"Love is shown in your deeds, not in your words."~ Fr. Jerome Cummings~
I have known the house in the photo above almost my entire life. It is a few blocks from the grammar school that I attended as a small child. Groups of us use to walk by every Friday, for fish & chips at a nearby restaurant. Gosh I was so cosmopolitan at the age of probably nine, being allowed off the school yard, a very big deal! 
The house was always in dire need of repair, however, it's overall structure and architectural features, simply gorgeous. A friend purchased it about thirty five years ago and was quickly overcome by the restoration process and sold it to the current owners. Little by little this albatross has become one of the most beautiful homes in all the town. The siding has been replaced and the gingerbread trim restored to perfection. Such a feast for the eyes! 
Could not get the entire house into a photo as I had on the wrong lens but was able to capture the front side entrance giving you a hint of it's overall beauty. My imagination runs wild with the restoration that must have taken place inside as well. So tempted to knock on the door! I kind of remember the general layout and ornate wood work. Be still my heart, maybe in another life! There is so much love here I can just feel the energy. Oh, it also has a secret garden in the back yard, colorful perennials peek thru the gated arbor, intensifying my curiosity. Maybe just a little knock on the door??? Maybe I could sell Avon or something? My sister now lives a few house away, maybe I'll encourage her to make a new friend!

More On Dynamic Light!

Overcooked HDR
This photo was taken on vacation in Madeira, Portugal, last year. I captured this from my balcony overlooking the ocean. The hotel next door was beautifully landscaped and I absolutely loved the three palm trees in the center of the above photo. Using the Overcooked HDR effect on the Dynamic Light, app I believe I turned a pretty photo into something that really captures my attention. The sky holds more interest and the palm trees seem more animated, in a graphic sort of way. Also love the depth! 
I can smell the salt air, feeling it's gentle spray.  Can you?
I am having a blast playing with my new toy and I am sure you have not seen the last of my Dynamic Light, makeovers. Kind of like the HGTV of photography. Get carried away sometimes, just can't seem to help myself. Hang in there, stay tuned, as one never knows who I could be channeling in next! 
Have a wonderful day!

Dynamic Light!

HDR Effect
 "In image processing, computer graphics and photography, high dynamic range imaging, HDR is a set of techniques that allow a greater dynamic range of luminance between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than current standard digital imaging techniques or photographic methods."~google search~
Sounds complicated and it is, tried this once to no avail. My skill level is just not there even following a tutorial. Can you imagine my delight when I found out about an app that creates this effect in just a few clicks! 
Viewing my cousin Joann's, European vacation photos, I was amazed at the difference in her two photo albums. One contained regular processed photos and the other was done in a HDR and Orton Effect technique. Wow what a difference! She said, "this is what you do with your cast away photos." 
 Wow, sign me up! "The first album is what you see, the second is what you feel when you see," she went on to say. Brilliant observation, Joann!
I purchased the Dynamic Light app for my IPHONE and was also able to purchase it for my IMAC. I know it works on an IPAD but not sure about an IPOD. Crazy with all these I's, guess I'm just an apple kind of girl. If you own an Apple, device I highly recommend it. Just a whole lot of fun with great results in no time at all!!!

Tenacity!

276/365
"Tenacity and patience pays off."~ Pat Mulroy~ 
As many of you know 365 is the magic number for my one year commitment to post everyday. Can't believe it but here I am at 276. Fully intended to mention this yesterday but got carried away with yesterday's topic. Don't think I will ever give up blogging but will definitely not post everyday after my 365 commitment. There is so much to learn about photography and photoshop, it takes a lot of time and I need to find a happy balance. Think I would be on the computer 24/7, if I tried to do it all now. 
The experience has been awesome and I have learned such a great deal. 
Posting two to three times a week may become the new comfort zone for me. 
November 6th, 2011, will mark my 365 anniversary. Some well deserved time off to work on compiling and arranging my book thru blurb.com will be on my agenda for about thirty days. 
Wow so much to do, soon as I publish this post I will be thinking about tomorrow's post! 
Is that obsessive compulsive or is it tenacity? 
God, give me the patience to know the difference and the stamina to finish. 
Such an incredible journey, one I am so proud to have ventured.
Have a wonderful day!

Seedlings Take Hold!

Nourishment
"Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man's growth without destroying his roots."
~Frank A Clark ~
Can't think of anyone who doesn't enjoy a gentle rain. A slow paced constant soaking that just gets to the root of things without destroying the structure of it's being. Encouraging growth, resulting in spectacular blooms for all to benefit. Classifying this as a constructive rain nourishing the ideals of mankind. 
Harsh, heavy rain washes away opportunity, rotting the foundation with no chance for future development, flooding the spirit with dampness, stunting enthusiasm. Classifying this as destructive rain, creating a dense fog of everlasting doubt. 
Take a walk after a gentle rain, see the soft scouring pad that, Mother Nature uses to instill confidence creating an environment for new seedlings to take hold, one little droplet at a time! 
Textures by Kim Klassen.
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Buy Fresh Buy Local!

Buy Local
"Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up makes it permanent."
~Marilyn Savant~
This photo was also captured at the Farmers Market on Friday during our family expedition.  
The flowers were bundled with elastic and displayed in large black buckets of water on several tables. Herbs were mixed into the bouquets and the aroma just divine. What interesting arrangements when the unsuspected is mixed with the ordinary. I can name cosmos, black eyed susan, yarrow, marigold and zinnia in the above photo as for the rest of them, I really don't know, and it really doesn't matter as they all work together in a amiable sort of way. 
Knowing that this one particular farm has met with several setbacks and in many ways is still struggling to survive the "big guys" they keep on trying new crops and are really making    
a difference, hence all the signage. Many of these farms need our support and are so worth our patronage. Visit one today, have a tactile experience, enhancing your remaining senses. Yes, yes, yes, the tomatoes lined up and were screaming pick me, pick me!

Poster too: http://www.lgordonphotography.com

Work Ethic!

The Flip Side
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need."
~ Kahlil Gibran~ 
Visiting the famers market at North Star Farm on Friday, I captured this gorgeous sunflower.  
Awed by it's size alone I found the flip side most interesting. Kind of neat isn't it.
Two massive greenhouses held thousands of organic vegetables, melons and flowers.
The best part of all is that my grand-son Mike has a part time summer job here. He was covered in dirt from head to toe, had been there since 6AM and at 2PM he was still working hard. He was very proud to show us all the different kinds of tomatoes and more proud when we tasted and loved the fruits of his labor. 
Wow, it does my heart good to see this very privileged young man develop a work ethic. What a wonderful experience for this young teen to have. Think he finally gets it that, "money does not grow on trees!" Remember that one? Gosh my dad threw that one at us all the time growing up. How about,"do you live in a barn, shut those lights off when you leave the room!" Got that one all the time too. 
So very proud of my Mikey, even though he runs from Grandma's camera every chance he gets. A delicious salad was enjoyed that evening for dinner, all the sweeter knowing that Mike had harvested the sweet morsels that morning! 
Something very magical about fresh veggies, they just seem to make one's taste buds dance.
Texture by: Kim Klassen

Sleep Sweet Charlotte!

Charlotte Rose
Is there anything sweeter than a sleeping infant? She is being held by her adoring great-grandmother, my mother. Charlotte Rose is my sister's first grand-daughter and grand-child. My sister has four daughters! Have you got all that??? 
I gave Kristen, my niece, Charlotte's mom an Anne Geddes coffee table book for Christmas. Google her, she is an incredible photographer of new-borns. Kristen had her own photo shoot and created the cutest birth announcement, in Anne Geddes style. Kristen is a very talented young woman, beautiful inside and out. Charlotte weighed 9lbs. and 10ozs. at birth and her mom is this little tiny person, how does this happen? The baby is five weeks old and mom is back to her normal weight! 
UGH! Think I still have that baby pouch, thirty seven years later!
Charlotte is a very fortunate child to have two loving parents and so many loving relatives to welcome her into the family! 
Tried to create that Mary Cassatt kind of feel here, always loved this artist's work. 
You might want to google her too!
Have a wonderful day! Sweet dreams, Sweet Charlotte, I just love her name!