Simplify

" Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky

before the sun came out." she replied.

" You cannot touch the clouds, you know;

but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers

and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day.

You cannot touch love either;

but you feel the sweetness that it pours into everything.

Without love you would not be happy or want to play."

~Miss Sullivan to Helen Keller~

practicing manual modes on the camera
just a shot...i did get sweet little Oliver in back resting his head on Scotty :)

I unearthed that quote as I was sorting and purging yesterday.

I have had the uncontrollable urge to weed out things the last 

couple of days-

clothes,

papers and books,

bad habits...

"stuff".

You know.

The non-essentials.

Things that aren't working for me anymore.

This morning I am deleting files...emails....pics.

It feels good to remove the clutter.

I did come across a letter I wrote to Gary [that i never gave to him]...,

this quote...

and a few other interesting artifacts.

Perhaps I will share some of those in future posts.

Some of it is pretty raw and personal.

Let me think about it.

I hope you all have a splendid weekend !!

good things...

bags of items to donate

finding old letters and journals

empty closets and shelves...open space

orange tulips on my white table

pushing a button on my *build a bear* cow...[goes way back]

 and hearing Brandon's little boy voice say... " I love you Mom"

tears...happy ones, sad ones, nostalgic ones...and cleansing ones.

finding/reading old lists [that I lost]

and old notes that I took

then ....putting them in the recycle bin.

a lunch date with a special friend 

simplifying 

XOXO

Zoo

" Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most. "

Yesterday we had a break  from the rain.

My girlfriend and I wanted to get together.

It's been a while.

Lunch or Zoo ?

Nice day.

We pick Zoo.

it had me at hello...

he looked my way...then I think he started to pray...?

a nice zoo guy called her out.{they were all inside} she scurried over for a shot.
Her name is Pam

bear...all sweet and cuddly in his hidey hole

I was in awe...later we heard his roar. Glad I wasn't standing close....*geebies*

my favorite

my girlfriend is snapping pics...I am about to be slobbered
on. a stranger intervenes

Angela

yes. i had to visit these guys too. big red cleaning hay off his little buddy . *cute

i just shared the legs. it was a butt shot. your welcome. :)

It was SPLENDID !

A little bit of adventure...

and a whole lot of catching up.

That just about covers it.

good things...

watching the animals nap

when you say something...and your friend is thinking the same exact thought

enjoying a day of ebb & flow 

the sun breaking through an overcast day

a blue sky dappled with white clouds 

redbuds and dogwood trees

being on the other side of the fence when the lion roars

hearing your name being called....

bad selfie....terrible light..however...she is always so adorable ! 

and the pleasant surprise of running into another friend !!

[ visiting the Zoo with her class ]

*hugs

keeping things simple.

XOXO

Ride

Yesterday was a true gift.

To cycle with my girlfriends...

and enjoy all the sights along the way.

Pedaling away without a care in the world.

This moment ?

It will not be forgotten ! :)

Good Lord we had fun !!!

There is little that can beat

 laughing with your friends,

and the beautiful simplicity of a bike ride.

good things...

being there for each other

taking our time

talking about everything

exploring

all the birds nesting

watching an eagle protect it's nest

sidewalk chalk

laughing so hard we can't get up

trying cream of cauliflower soup at our favorite lunch place and loving it.

toasting with our chai

having fun and being silly

new friends that feel like old friends

loving each other the way we are

XOXO

Randomness

" Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities.

Seize common occasions and make them great. "

heron nesting

a little turtle sermon

girlfriend chats and and tree swings

sneak attack on my kiddo at the pumps...*selfie

searching for new ideas

planting seeds

morning coffee on the porch

My biggest hope with my photos, is to capture

the things that make my life sweet.

The good things.

It's not so much about the quality of the shot...

but the shot itself.

{although I practice on the former}

Capturing the little ordinary things that are here

today, gone tomorrow.

I love looking back at the common occasions.

Sharing some random shots today...

because...

this week I have been a bit of a hermit.

I wanted to do some homey, nesty, things.

I have mowed, sorted, cleaned and planted .

You know.

 It's Spring.

I have some pretty far-fetched ideas

for the yard...and I'm keeping my *fingers crossed

that it will all work out.

I am not too good at this stuff...

challenge is good.

good things...

sitting on the porch while the storms roll in

blinds and windows open and the smell of rain

geese honking overhead

the sound of children playing on the playground

planting flowers and trees

winging it

phone chats with my cousin

my aunt recovering well from surgery

my hubby's strength and reassurance

strawberry lemon water

swings

XOXO