Saturday Snapshot~November 29

I suppose I should be talking Turkey…er…Thanksgiving for this Saturday Snapshot post, but I’m going in another direction.  Saturday Snapshot is the link-up hostessed by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads. It the spot where you can share photos taken by you or a family member.  Not anything you just found on the Internet.  Share a part of your life.

 

I’ve been a little disappointed lately.  There really have been no beautiful sunrises or sunsets to document and share.  It’s been all gray and uninteresting.  Last Sunday morning, however, I was rewarded for my patience.

This is a sunrise.  Ralph and I were talking this week how it is hard sometimes to tell the difference between a sunrise and sunset in a photo.  My way is that I can recognize what else is in the photos.  In this case, I recognize the houses.  When we’re in New Mexico, it’s a little harder…mountains, mountains everywhere.

 

This was actually the reflected sunrise off to the right of the actual sunrise.  I love the soft, pale colors in this one.  The two trees frame it nicely.

 

This is the sunrise itself.  I’m very lucky that I have an open field outside my kitchen window.   It allows me a clear view to photograph the beauty.  I take so many of these photos.  I wonder if my neighbors have any idea that their houses have been immortalized so many times!

I’ll keep my eye on the sunrises and sunsets to see if there are any worth sharing.  Hopefully, there will be some soon.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Be grateful for all that you have.  Check out my post from yesterday to read about some of the things for which I am grateful.

Don’t forget to check out the other Saturday Snapshots at West Metro Mommy Reads.

Happy Saturday!

Saturday Snapshot~November 22

Time is flying the way it always seems to do just before Thanksgiving.  Here we are at Saturday again which means I get to join in with Saturday Snapshot hostessed by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads.  This is where we share photos taken by ourselves, family or friends, but not something you just found on the internet.  Think about joining in.  I know a lot of great photographers out there who should be part of this!

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned on here but we own two houses…one of the stumbling blocks to us getting to New Mexico. Oh, right, New Mexico…we own Three!  One of them is about a half hour south of the one where we live.  We usually drive down about once a week to check on things.  I was looking forward to the ride this week because I knew the Fall colors would be beautiful.  I was also looking forward to it because I know there is a Red Maple tree in the yard and I was wondering what it would look like.  I had the feeling it might be too late to catch the beauty of the tree.  Fortunately, I was wrong!

I took a number of photos because I wanted to get as many angles as possible.  The tree had lost many of its leaves but there were enough left for some great photos.  I picked this one because I love the contrast of the red leaves, the late afternoon shadows on the trunk and the contrast of the blue sky.  As it happens so often, I don’t think this translates as well as it did in the actual photo.  But I like it anyway.

Red maple leaves on a bed of ivy.  I love this one.  When I saw it in person, it looked like a field of poinsettia.  I love this because of the contrast between the red and green.  It almost looks like it should be used as a Christmas decoration!

Red maples have always been one of my favorite trees and I was so pleased that I got to catch the beauty of this one before it was gone for this year.

Be sure stop by at West Metro Mommy Reads to take a look at all of the other wonderful photos being shared there.

Happy Saturday!!

Saturday Snapshot~November 15

I love being a part of Saturday Snapshot hostessed by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads!  You can join us. Just post a photo (or photos) that you have taken. It can be by a family member or friend, not just something you grabbed off of the internet.  Join in…the more the merrier!

Our Autumn has been a little strange here in New Jersey.  Initially we had very little color in the trees. Ralph and I were saying that it was starting to feel disappointing.  But as the weeks have gone on, we’ve started to realize that it’s a good thing.  We had a little color in some areas, then a little in other areas.  Now we’ve got trees in all stages of color which is actually a wonderful thing.  You see the trees which got their color early are now a little dreary but are brightened by colors coming from the trees taking on color now.

As we pulled into the parking lot at the gym Thursday morning (yes…I go to the gym now!!) I was delighted to see this series of trees.

It’s hard to see but there are three trees here.  I thought they were so beautiful and the epitome of Autumn.  I hope that where ever you are, you’re having a beautiful Autumn!

Be sure to take a few minutes to visit Saturday Snapshot over at West Metro Mommy Reads to check out what everyone is sharing.

Happy Saturday!

Thinking Out Loud #5

Thinking Out Loud has become an important part of my week.  I feel I’ve really found some like-minded “Thinkers” here. Created by Amanda at Running With Spoons, Thinking Out Loud gives us all a chance to get some things off our chests.  Check out what other bloggers have on their minds (or off their chests!) when you’re finished here.

 

I do wonder how it is that I have SO many things going on in my head throughout a given week, but when I sit down to write my Thinking Out Loud post, it all goes out of my head and I find myself sitting here going “uuhhhh” and “uummm.”  Oh, well, as always, I still seem to be able to come up with something.  Here goes.

~The news in the background just told me that Prince has just taken his first Selfie…should that be capitalized?!?  Don’t know but anyway, he took it with an actual camera instead of a cell phone.  He’s banned the use of cell phones around him.  Quite a quirky character.  Back to Selfies…I’m not good at them.  I keep practicing but mercifully, no one sees them except me…Occasionally I’ll show one to Ralph.  I keep practicing, though.  One thing I don’t get about selfies, is why do people insist on posting selfies either making a duck face or with their tongues sticking out.  Is that supposed to be alluring or enticing?  I don’t get it.  I’ll keep trying and I may post one but feel safe in the fact that there will be no tongues or duck faces.

~It’s been a good week in general.  I’ve been getting to the gym several days and I plan to join this week.  I’m pretty excited about the whole thing.  Feeling so good is almost scary.  I go for my last physical therapy session today (it’s actually Wednesday as I write this.)  I’m glad and a little sad at the same time.  I’ve truly enjoyed the physical therapy process.  My therapist, Donna is wonderful and she seems to get my strange sense of humor.  I’ll miss her.  I will continue to be a good patient, doing my exercises at home and of course going to the gym will be a big help according to Donna.  Thanks, Donna!

~I’m excited to say that I’m getting back on track with my sorting and packing projects.  I was able to sort out 3 bags worth of Stuff that doesn’t need to be here anymore and take them to the thrift store.  There is truth in the idea that if you work for just 15 minutes, you can accomplish a lot.  I did that several times in the past week and I’m happy to say I feel I’ve accomplished things.  I was feeling a little down about how much time I lost during my recuperation, but I decided that it was something I couldn’t take a chance with.  I had to be totally up and around before I started getting into things again.  I really feel like I’m on my way again.  Now if I could only get Ralph on board with this clear out idea.  We’d be a lot closer to moving to New Mexico if he would.  But I’m not going to yammer about that right now.

~I’m trying to wrap my mind about the fact of the impending Holidays.  Driving home from a coffee date with a friend on Monday night I saw a house all sparkly with Christmas lights.  I was not happy to see that.  I’m trying to make peace with the Holidays this year.  I’ve had several very bad years regarding that and I’m planning on more Spirit and more Cheer.  We’ll see how it goes.

~I’m happy to say that I’m getting back to reading.  I finished off Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere earlier in the week.  I’ve moved on to this…

 

It took me a bit to get into The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, but now I’m enjoying it.  I try to read a little several times a day.  It really is a calming thing for me.  I’m glad that I’m getting back to one of my favorite pastimes.

~Heard some sad news this morning…Carol Ann Susi who was the voice of Mrs. Wolowitz on The Big Bang Theory has died.  Even though you never got to see her on the show, she played an important part.  That’s a shame.

~I don’t want to end this on a sad note.  Last week Ralph and I had the chance to have breakfast with two of his granddaughters. Chelsea who is the older of the two, decided we need to take a selfie (back to selfies again!)

 

We had a great time.

That’s it for Thinking Out Loud this week.  Be sure to check out the other bloggers linking up at Running With Spoons.  It’s always fun!

Happy Thursday!

Saturday Snapshot~November 8

Another Saturday and it’s time for another Saturday Snapshot.  This is the fun link up hostessed by the lovely Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads. Be sure to stop by there when you’re finished here to see all of the photos being shared.

I have been sad because of the lack of pretty sunrises and sunsets lately.  I don’t know why we’re not getting them.  Sunrises and sunsets are two of my favorite things in general and two of my favorite things to photograph.  I have been very disappointed in recent months.

This photo is a different kind of sunset than I’m used to capturing and posting but I think it’s beautiful none the less.  Ralph and I were on our way to dinner at a local restaurant recently when we both noticed how pretty this was. He stopped the car for me to take the photo.  There was no color.  The sky had been very overcast most of the day so it was all dark gray with the white of the fading sunlight.

I captured it over a swampy and wooded area near our town.  The trees with their Fall foliage add some color.  I still prefer the more colorful sunsets, but I thought that this one had a certain beauty.

Don’t forget to stop by West Metro Mommy Reads to see all of the other photographs being shared today!

Happy Saturday!

Saturday Snapshot~November 1

I always try to find something unique to use for my Saturday Snapshot contribution.  I think this is a good one.  Saturday Snapshot is hostessed by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads.  Be sure to stop by there to see all of the other great photos.

Autumn is a time of decay in nature, leaves fall, the grass turns brown.  Other things tend to fall apart too. Or perhaps we just notice them this time of year.

A number of years ago, well, Many years ago, my father in law gave me a gift.  It was a gazebo shaped bird feeder.  It stood in my side yard just across from my back door.  It was a good spot because I could look out of the door and see all of the activity there without startling the birds.  It was so much fun to watch the goings on.  There used to be a plastic tube in the center where the bird seed was held.  Over the years, pesky squirrels chewed at the plastic and we had to resort to just putting the seed in the bottom of the feeder.  Of course, more often than not, the squirrels got there before the birds.

Eventually, I stopped putting any seed in it since the birds weren’t getting the benefit of it.

Having been away from my house for several months while I was recovering, I didn’t see the toll that weather and the changing seasons had taken on my old friend.

 

Most of it’s roof has fallen off and vines are growing in and around it.

 

I couldn’t decide which of my photos I like better.  I decided to share both of them.  I’m thinking I like the second one better, but I’m still not sure.  Either way, I’m sorry to see what has happened to my old bird feeder.  It holds fond memories and now I have photos to document those memories.

Be sure to stop over at West Metro Mommy Reads see what great photos are being shared.

Happy Saturday!

 

Saturday Snapshot~October 25

Here we are, it’s Saturday again and it’s time for Saturday Snapshot.  Hostessed each week by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads, Saturday Snapshot is a fun place to get together with other people who enjoy taking photos and sharing them.

I love being a part of this link-up but I had the hardest time this week trying to decide on a photo to use.  I jumped into the way back machine to solve my problem.  Well, not That way back but a bit.

In March, I had the pleasure of spending several weeks in Clearwater, Fla. with my best friends, Gail and Alice.  We always have the best time but we’re always looking for new and different things to do.

Gail found that there was a Buddhist Temple in Tampa.  We took a road trip.  I posted pictures before of the Temple itself.  On Sundays, there is also a market where they sell food (which is Excellent) and flowers.  They have an amazing collection of orchids.  I took lots of photos and can’t believe I never shared them.  Hard to choose which photo to share but here’s my choice.

 

A photo doesn’t really do them justice.  The colors were so intense and so varied.  This brings back memories of a beautiful warm day and a new adventure.  It was great fun.

Don’t forget to stop over at West Metro Mommy Reads to see what everyone else is sharing this week.

Happy Saturday!

Saturday Snapshot~October 18

It has been Quite Some Time since I’ve participated in Saturday Snapshot.  Lots of things have been going on in my life.  The most time-consuming one and the reason I haven’t been seen or heard from is explained in this post.  Surgery and recuperation with ongoing physical therapy have kept me busy.

But I’m back and I can’t believe that this is my third post for the week, so I guess I’m getting back on track with this whole blogging thing.

That being said, I’m linking up today for Saturday Snapshot with all the fun and talented people who meet up at West Metro Mommy Reads.

During my recuperation, I was lucky to have the opportunity to stay at my best friend’s house which is all on one floor. It was easier to get around and it has a step-in shower.   It has been a wonderful gift to be able to recover here.  That comfort and convenience has been invaluable in my recovery.

When I started to be up and around again, I took a walk outside to the front yard.  This is what I found.

I was so happy to see the bee hard at work on the daisy.  When I was growing up, daisies were always my favorite flower.  My only attempt at art is drawing a single daisy, so they hold a special place in my heart.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of the great photos.  My first time back and I realize how much I’ve missed being part of Saturday Snapshot. Be sure to make your way over to West Metro Mommy Reads to see what everyone is sharing.

Happy Saturday!

Saturday Snapshot~March 22

It’s time for Saturday Snapshot, the great link-up hostessed by the lovely Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads.  I love Saturday Snapshot because I get to see great snapshots of all of our friends’ lives all over the world.  Pretty exciting if you ask me.

 

I’ve been moaning and groaning about snow and cold for…well…all Winter! Just a bit more groaning and I think we’ll be over it.   At least, I think I’ll be over it.

Ralph and I were heading out to a St. Patrick’s Day lunch with his family on Monday and what happened?!?  It Snowed!! I was not happy.  We weren’t traveling far but some of the other family members had longer drives and I was concerned for them.

 

This was what I saw as we was sitting in the parking lot waiting for the others to arrive.  It actually was pretty, but I am so tired of it.

But they tell us that on Wednesday, Spring arrived.  Most of the snow was gone and I took this photo.

 

No leaves yet, but when I look, I can see the buds starting.  In fact, just below that center tree is where the crocus usually show their pretty heads each year.  I checked this morning and not quite yet, but I bet I know what my photo will be next Saturday!

Be sure to stop by at West Metro Mommy Reads to see what everyone else is sharing!

Happy Saturday! Happy Spring!

Saturday Snapshot~March 8

This is our second Saturday Snapshot for March and I suppose I’m still complaining about Snow!  I know the folks who participate in Saturday Snapshot hostessed by Melinda at West Metro Mommy Reads come from all over the place and some of them are not dealing with snow right now.  Well, in New Jersey, we still are.  I’m hoping that this past Monday’s snow storm will be our last for the year.  Fingers crossed anyway.

The day after the snow storm, I had dug myself out and needed to run some errands.  I had gotten a feel for this scene from my kitchen window but because of the screen on the window, I couldn’t get a good photo.  Outside, I had better luck.

 

I just loved the way the shadows of the trees were captured on the snow.  It made me feel a little less resentful for the snow storm.  I think this photo was worth it!

Be sure to check out all of the fun photos you’ll find at West Metro Mommy Reads.

Happy Saturday!