Beauty Without Expression Is Boring!

356/365
"Beauty without expression is boring."~Ralph Waldo Emerson~
My 365 day journey is coming to an end, I will stop posting everyday and probably post once or twice a week thereafter or at least when I find something interesting to photograph and write about. 
Just when you think you have seen the last wedding photo from me I post another one! 
Well folks I just couldn't help myself on this one. It is my all time favorite. I took this photo of Allicyn just before entering the reception and the pro photographer was shooting her from the front. I loved many of my 500 photos but this one just sings to my artistic soul! I love the way the light and the wind are dancing romantically around her creating an ethereal effect.
 A very happy photolistic accident on my part. 
Some of you may be thinking well why do you love it so much, you cannot see her face and your son is not in the photo? Well because I am speaking from a totally artistic point of view. 
This one is for the artist in me the rest of the photos are for a mom to cherish! 
Just can never suppress that artist thing it always seems to resurface and finds a way to manifest itself imprinting joyous joy on my unsuspecting absorbent soul! 
My guess is I will continue to feed the little beast and trust my instincts even at the risk of seeming odd! 
Wait until I really get old kids!!!
Have a wonderful day!

A Few of My Favorites!

A Very Special Collage
September 2011, came and will leave today! It seems like we waited so long for that very special day to come! It came and it went, memories made, with so much love and happiness to share!
Thought I would bring you a few of my favorites in an old fashioned sort of way! 
Time for new beginnings, such wonderful memories to cherish! 
Frame courtesy of:
TheCoffeeShopBlog.com

Things I Will Miss!

Until We Meet Again
Is there anything dearer to a mother's heart than to celebrate round the dinner table with all of her family? Last night along with the newlyweds, we feasted on lobster, clam boil and stuffed quahogs.  
All New England style of course! No bibs in place we all wore a little bit of our dinner. The sounds of lobster being cracked, music to my ears. Simply can't watch them going for a steam bath though, just feel their pain. Seem to get over it when dipping that first chunk in melted butter, however!
Why the celebration? We are heading south tomorrow! Our journey will take about three days with no specific itinerary in place. We stop when Will is tired. My guess would be somewhere in Virginia on the first night. The second night around Savannah, GA. On to Fort Myers, Fl, on the third day. No little side trips planned this year. Think we have had all the excitement we can possibly handle for a while. 
The wedding such a beautiful highlight of our summer!
I will miss my children most, they have such busy lives and we were so glad to care for our grandchildren this summer. They have grown so big and are needing us less and less. 
I guess independence is what we strive for in our children and they are all doing so well.
 So it's time for old Mother Goose and PAPA, job well done, to hit the road once again!!! 
I have spent most of the week saying goodbye to extended family and friends and having coffee with a couple later this morning. 
Goodbye dear family and friends we love you all! 
Until we meet again!

Window Of Possibilities!

Window of Hope
"The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the island of perpetual indecision."~William Arthur Ward~
"Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles."~Samuel Smiles~ 
I loved these two quotes so much that I decided to use them both today! 
I absolutely love the photo as well! 
These are flowers from the wedding still going strong a full week later. They sat ever so proudly on a window shelf waiting to be photographed, a bit cloudy outside the light was ever so perfect. 
So my suggestion for the day is: 
1. read the first quote, observe the photo while absorbing it's content.
 2. read the second quote, observe the photo, while absorbing it's content as well. 
3. repeat the process several times if necessary...
Now ask yourself, isn't life full of possibilities, nurtured by hope, resulting in miracles? 
I think we may be on to something Dr. Watson!!! Yes, yes, I think we really may be!
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Elsie's World!

Catch Me If You Can
Is there anyone cuter than a flower girl? Elsie is Allicyn's niece, she will turn two next month. 
Elsie is a highly spirited child with a definite mind of her own. Absolutely adorable she steals the heart of whoever she meets! Running barefoot thru the grass and barefoot down a pebble path before the ceremony, she refused to wear her new shoes! 
Such hearty little soles!!! A precious little muse!
I love to capture children in their natural state of play! 
Running freely, screaming as loud as they can while doing so, captures the spirit of a child every single time! 
Uncle Chris is an uncle once again, how fortunate is he! 
Strong willed and beautiful, watch out world! Elsie has arrived! 

Everything Was Warm & Glowing!

Begging to be Photographed click photo to view larger
This gorgeous bouquet of flowers belonged to one of my grand-daughters. It was placed on this lovely brass tray by her dad. It was time for sweet Sophia to run and play with all of her cousins. Doing what a nine year old does best! She would proudly announce that the color of her gown was sangria. She did such a beautiful job as a bridesmaid, so grown up.
Her twelve year old sister Hannah was maid of honor. Equally as beautiful, she took her job very seriously. Holding Allicyn's flowers and primping her veil. Before you know it I will be attending their weddings too! Time just has a way of doing that!
I love to take those shots at a wedding that just seem to beg a photograph. All the attention on the bride and groom many gorgeous photo opportunities go unnoticed.
As far as the best flower shot goes this one gets my vote. Just love the warmth and glow of this photo that filled the air by everyone and everything present!
It was just that kind of day! 
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Something Blue!

I love Surprises
When one takes over 500 hundred photos at their son's wedding one must then try and put them into some sort of category.
The above photo wins for the funniest! We were out on the front lawn of the mansion, I was
tagging along behind the pro photographer who I had threatened earlier. I warned him he best not get in my way of a good shot! "It is my son's wedding after all, I proclaimed."
He roared and we bonded. So nice to meet someone with a sense of humor who thought me funny. I am sure I raised a few eyebrows!!! OK, so I let him take the lead!!!
Allicyn was running effortlessly thru the lawn. I know I am more than twice her age but I just kept getting my heels stuck in the grass. I must say that I felt better when I discovered her secret. Chris thought her secret hysterical!
So cute, sweet, funny, adorable, darling and beautiful. So hard to label a photo when you love everyone last one of them. Enjoy!

The Wedding!

Just Gorgeous!
"The day was ordered by the Universe and all events that took place could not have been more perfect. When it is meant to be, planets align and memories are forever etched onto the souls of all who rejoiced and participated!"~Rosemary Aubut~ 
The wedding was so beautiful, it went by in a second and a mother's heart is filled with joy! 
We LOVE YOU Chris & Allicyn!!! It's a wonderful life! 
Where is that box of tissues?
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It's The Big Day!

Accessories Make The Outfit
So I couldn't find a mother of the groom dress in flannel! Comfort seems to be on my priority list lately. I did find something, borderline comfortable in some sort of silk blend fabric, however. Slenderizing, understated in a dark shade of beigey brown. Perfect for a mother-in-law, and I will definitely look like someone's mother. I even got my son's seal of approval. In lieu of a handbag my camera will be the ultimate accessory. Nice touch don't you think?  Definitely an upgrade from my daughter's wedding where I carried a glue gun in my purse in case anything fell off one of the girl's dresses and I used it! PaPa will be in a tux!
Now that I have described my outfit lets talk about family and weddings and what I have experienced in the past. Below, my cast of characters: 
Uncle Kissy Face; Yes, he will come at me grab my ears and kiss me smack dab on the lips every single time. No matter how I brace myself, hold my breath and manage a smile afterwards, it is always an experience. Have resigned myself into knowing that unless I wear a berka it's just going to happen!
Uncle Dressy Dapper; Yes, Uncle has worn the same leisure suit to every family wedding since 1977. Dark brown with contrasting white stitching highlighting the collar, down the front and around the bottom. Pockets outlined as well! Pearl covered snaps close the deal. Quite the fashion statement and very predictable! He still looks cuter than ever!
Three Aunties, Pomp A Do; Yes, yes you know the type, the family matriarchs, they dance together, their hair perfectly coifed, kind of on the pink side, lacquered down with that bullseye circle of rouge adorning each cheek. Lipstick amiss leaving the perfect imprint on one's cheek. Avon, perfume a bit strong! They are so sweet and always praying for me!
Auntie Needs A Wax; Nothing like getting stabbed with facial hair. Can poke one in the eye if you're not careful! So darn cute whiskers and all!
Cousin Drinks A Lot; You know the type, lands up in the bathroom for the rest of the evening, wishing he had never heard of or met, Jim Beam, Jack Daniels or Jose Cuervo! 
Over the years I have witnessed family members loose, clothes (their pants), dance on tables wearing tutu's on their head, jump out of windows, get lost for hours going round some rotary and yes loose everything in their stomachs that could not be digested quickly enough! 
It is fair to say that there is always a story later to be told, their all mine and I love them so! 
My sweet son is getting married today and we are so happy for him! 
Your dad and I wish for you and Allicyn all the good that life has to offer!
Good people really need to reproduce! OK, so I'm wearing beige but you know it's hard for me to keep the mouth shut! Love MOM 
Where am I going to keep all those tissues??? Might have to bring my snuggy a little chilly today!

Rehearsal!

Rehearsal 
Rehearsal for the wedding party took place Sunday afternoon. The ceremony will take place in the north garden at Blithewold. Dinner followed with twenty five people in attendance.
It was a glorious day, two beautiful young people will be joined in marriage while two families are joined forever in friendship.
Allicyn's grand-mother and Chris's  grand-mother (my mother-in-law) began talking, thinking that each looked familiar. Well you guessed it they grew up across the street from each other and hadn't seen each other in many years! Just another one of those coincidences!
Can't wait till Friday! No hurricanes in sight, thank goodness, just a little on the cool side! 
I'll take it!

A Very Sweet Bachelorette!

Bachelorette Party
I really do apologize for the not so good photo. It was taken with my cell phone but I think you get the idea of how darn cute she is! Allicyn's banner reads Bachelorette, you can barely detect a veil, which she wore proudly. A group of us took Allicyn out for a fun dinner at the Waterfront Grill in downtown New Bedford, last evening. She was sitting down the other end of the table, I only got bits and pieces of her conversation, the one thing I heard repetitively was my son's name. Chris, Chris, Chis, music to a mother's ears! 
Grandma here, left about 9:30, my idea of fun is my blankie and the couch! 
The young ones went on to party at several hot spots. All still sleeping, bet there are some great stories, some of which mother's really don't need to hear! 
Beauty, brains, loves to cook and adores my son, what more could a mother-in-law ask??? 

Guardian Angels!

                               Family click on photo for larger view
This very sweet photo is of my husband's grandparents. There are volumes that could be written about this courageous young couple. They gave to their children a legacy of love and devotion and a true sense of family. There is a profound connection with this beautiful young woman and a history that only a family can comprehend.
I layered the photo with several old textures using different blending modes and opacities. Found the music sheet to be very appropriate and added more texture by coloring the flowers pink.

Love is Like a Flower...

                                I DO click on photo for larger view
"Love is like a flower, it only blooms when the time is right." Chelsea Gasson
This photo was taken at my niece's wedding back in 2007. I just heard recently that she and her husband are with child. This quote seemed a fitting tribute to a beautiful young couple, that give me hope in the belief that all is right.