PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION {January 2014}

Packing up holiday decorations is bittersweet! We always enjoy having our home decorated with holiday treasures... it was especially exciting this year because Katie & my Mom came for a visit over my birthday weekend... they both oohed & aahed over the tree, ornaments, lights, and miniature houses!

Even though the majority of our decorations are my Santa collection & JPE's holiday-lit houses... we always display these two items as remembrances of my dad and JPE's mom.

Before my dad moved to an Alzheimer's care facility, he would spend an occasional day at care facility while my mom ran errands. This snowflake ornament is a treasured memory from one of his craft-days! 

The basket of ornaments were created by JPE's mom. Although I knew her for only five years before she passed, I quickly learned how much she loved decorating for the holidays. Her grown children & grandkids meant the world to her, and it pleases me to have her hand-crafted ornaments to put out at Christmas.

A few weeks ago, we had some friends over for dinner! they'd never been to our house, so we  gave them a "peek" at condo living. At the end of a fabulous dinner (created by JPE), Cindy said, "your house is filled with treasures that have stories or memories attached to them. It creates such a cozy feeling!"

What a nice reflection! we don't keep much that is NOT MEANINGFUL to us. Living small, we have to rotate our treasures... but, we never grow tired of seeing them from a new perspective each time they appear in our decor.

Posting with Kat Sloma at KatEye Studio...

visit her blog to learn about Photo-Heart Connections.

PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION: JULY 2013

7.2.13 @ Big Bear Cabin

How does this happen? months speed by & I miss participating in the photo "MEME's" that were the "food which nourished" the early days of this blog...

My last post for Kat's Photo-Heart Connection was six months ago! time does not stand still, waiting for the camera lens to focus on the details of daily living! Today, lacking the focus to do much more than a few loads of laundry, I edited some pictures... and these two photos tugged at my HEART.

If you follow my blog,

you may recognize this photo.

LYDIA {our granddaughter} turned double digits {10 years old} on July 2nd. For her birthday, she wanted nothing more than "TO DO NOTHING". While eating her birthday pancakes, she told JPE that she wanted to stay home {meaning, stick around the cabin} and that's what we did.

Lydia & I built this COZY tent from outdoor cushions, throws from indoors, towels, a sheet & the frame of the porch swing. With enough breeze to cause "white caps on the lake" she "hunkered down inside" playing games on her phone, texting her girlfriends pictures of her creation, and chatted through her tent walls to anyone who walked by. 

JPE was cleaning a fish {on the edge of the deck}, her mom worked online {inside}, and I had spread out magazines on the porch chaise, while sipping my second {possibly my third} cup of coffee. Utterly blissful!

Lydia will spend the final days of her summer with us, next week! Several days will be spent tent camping at Plaskett Creek campground, south of Big Sur... maybe riding our bikes on the Bob Jones Trail... definitely eating popcorn & catching a movie... & ALWAYS enjoying JPE's cooking. 

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO

SIMPLY DOING NOTHING!!!

{and BUILDING MEMORIES}

PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION: DECEMBER 2012

Big Bear Lake 12.28.12

Kat Sloma at KatEye Studio is offering to host a monthly review of your photo archives. The details can be found HERE. To kick off the NEW YEAR, she's also designed a new logo... representing the changes in her photography. 

Last week, as JPE & I wandered the edge of Big Bear Lake, lost in our thoughts, I was struck by the fact that I don't have a vision for my future. I don't even think about the future. I say I may retire soon, but I think part of me is fearful that I'll lose my identity. Which is rubbish... I've never thought my work "identified" me... but lately, that's all I talk & think about. WORK PROJECTS have begun to consume me.

While I know the financial aspect scares me... I DO have my teacher's retirement, as well as an annuity account & I will qualify for some social security. BUT, I don't even want to think about the "health insurance" part of retirement --- that's truly scary (enough to make me think I should move out of the country). 

This month's Photo-Heart Connection is a blurry photo of the frozen vegetation on the edge of the lake. LIFE SEEMS BLURRY! what sort of clarity do I need, before I take the plunge to retire? should I request a part-time assignment for the 2013-14 school year?  School budgets are reviewed in February... what to do? what to do?

If I retired, I'd have the freedom to visit family (SLE in Washington DC), work in Allie's classroom (I love kinders), be able to spend more time with Lydia, and go hang-out with Mom... not to mention that JPE is working part-time this year (but not really, he's busier than ever - he's only getting paid for part-time work), so, technically, we could have MORE time together.  

BUT, as silly as this sounds, I fear not having the structure of being some place by a certain time every day! I'm not like JPE who tackles every day with the same routine. I worry that I will spend days in pj's - sipping endless cups of coffee & switching to tea for afternoon sipping. My crafting will sit in piles, the sewing machine will gather dust, my camera batteries will never get charged... and my computer will take the place of human interaction.

NO! perhaps I've talked myself out of retirement for another year???

My December Photo-Heart Connection truly represents the swirling, blurry confusion going on in my head. Where's the crystal clear solution? 

PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION: NOVEMBER 2012

pic taken 11.17.12

I'm participating in Kat Sloma's PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION.

Click HERE to see the details for posting in this monthly "reflective" experience.

The basic concept is to "reflect on one photograph" --- photo bloggers look back over their folder of pictures from the prior month. Select ONE --- this is the most difficult part (especially when you're looking through a folder of 400+ photos). You post the photo that "tugs at your heart" for whatever reason, then explain what the photo meant to you.

My November reflection isn't about the skill or beauty of capturing what my eyes saw, but of feelings this photo brought from the depth of my heart.

When JPE & I visited MB & SLE over the Thanksgiving Break, we rode the Metro out to Arlington National Cemetery --- so I could take pictures of the "changing colors of the leaves" ---

Eighteen years have passed since I paid a trip to Arlington National Cemetery --- at the time, I was chaperoning 13 high school girls who were attending the National Camp Fire Conference in Washington DC. The girls were fabulous!!! but, our memories of that day were the overwhelming humidity & long lines to see JFK's gravesite. I remember nothing about the layout of the park or anything else about that morning.

Our recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery was amazingly beautiful --- the trees were gorgeous reds, oranges, yellows, browns & greens. Mazen was teasing me because I lagged behind our group of four (+ Sea-Bass) snapping picture after picture --- over 200 (later discarding ~165 photos). The sky was crystal clear blue with a smattering of wispy white clouds; the temperature had a slight chill; and I felt energized with each deep breath of fresh air... all the makings for a perfect "weather" day.

What I didn't expect was the QUIET, SERENITY, and CALMNESS I experienced in this historical resting place of  veterans. Glancing over the rolling hills, we saw groups of students, families, and individuals --- walking casually along the roads, stopping to find their location on the park map, some searching for a particular headstone, while others took advantage of concrete benches --- to rest their feet or wait to catch up with their group, listening to the chirping of the birds & water tumbling down the creek, or just sitting --- deep in reflection.

It was "WHISPER-QUIET" ---  no one raised their voice to get someone's attention, nor did we see a parent having to scold a child for misbehavior, and never did I see someone chatting on their cellphone (amazing, huh?) --- it was INDESCRIBABLE!

::: a day of stunning beauty & quiet reflection :::
 

PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION: JULY 2012

Peruvian Herder

I'm participating in Kat Sloma's

Photo-Heart Connection this month.

Anyone can participate...

the guidelines are found HERE.

"The strength of a woman is not measured by the impact that all her hardships have had on her; but the strength of a woman is measured by the extent of her refusal to allow those hardships to dictate her and who she becomes."

~ C. JoyBell C.

Barreling around the mountain corner, our tour bus driver brought the bus to a gentle stop... in the dusty road ahead of us, this Peruvian woman was herding her four-legged brood to pasture. Her furry friends were spread from edge-to-edge in the narrow road, preventing us from sneaking past... Initially, she panicked, knowing our large bus wanted to dominate the space... scurrying from left to right down the road, her purple leggings whipped up the dust, shooshing, guiding, and skillfully moving the creatures to safety.

The strength of her determination was evident in the manner in which she managed her brood. These animals were her livelihood... providing food, fur for weaving, companionship and warmth in the chilly Peruvian morning!

I've always believed I could do most anything I put my mind to... but, compared to this Peruvian woman, I know she's much stronger than I. The life of a Peruvian woman is difficult, yet, her goal is the same as other women around the world... to care for her family, provide food & shelter, and the physical strength to get up the next morning & start the process... ALL OVER AGAIN.

PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION: JUNE 2012

BIG SUR - JUNE 2012

I'm participating in Kat's monthly Photo-Heart Connection! 

This activity asks you to review your previous month's photos & select one that tugs at your heart, or whatever reason.

No problem... this photo was taken during a quick trip to BIG SUR, on the first Friday in June. The trip came at a great time... following a rather intensive work schedule... JPE & I decided to take our house guests (cousins from Ohio) for a drive up the coast of California.

This photo of an Adironack chair, sitting along the edge of the Big Sur River, at the Big Sur River Inn,  triggers various emotions & senses! 

BIG SUR is AHHH! MAZING....

BREATH-TAKING SIGHTS

nothing beats sitting on the bluff 

at Andrew Molera State Park.

You can watch the waves crash on the beach

& with a slight turn of your head,

see the beautiful evergreens

dotting the landscape of the coastal hills.

RELAXATION

in less than a two hour drive, we can be dipping

our toes in the chilly mountain water

& soaking up the afternoon sun...

camping, hiking, riding bikes,

cooking outdoors, reading, napping...

can you name a better way to relax

& let your troubles slip away?

TREASURED TIMES

JPE & I were married on the sliver of a bluff overhang... 

we've camped with ACE & LYDIA...

& shared our favorite sites

(Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur Lighthouse,

Pfeiffer Big Sur Campground,

Plaskett Creek Campground, 

Treebones & Nepenthe)

with family & friends...

CRISP, CLEAN MOUNTAIN & COASTAL AIR

AHHH!!!

nothing beats a get-away

to BIG SUR!

AMAZING!!

which reminds me!

JPE & I are leaving for a trip to PERU,

this coming Monday.

...we're taking a netbook, but will be

without internet connections for several days

(especially while we are staying in the Amazon rain forest;

in fact, we've been told the lodge rooms do NOT have electricity).

So... tomorrow, we'll devote our day to:

picking up our Rx's

(malaria & antibiotics + various over-the-counter stuff)

purchasing DEET

(mosquito repellant)

packing & weighing our bag

(limited to one bag & a day pack)

working on "lightening our load"

(hand-washable clothing is lightweight)

completing some advance reading

(about Machu Picchu, Lima, Cuzco, Iquitos)

Should I share my packing list?

PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION: MAY 2012

Tidal Basin, Washington DC ~ 4.5.12

Kat Sloma at KAT EYE STUDIO coordinates a monthly posting called... PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION. The guidelines for posting are found HERE!

APRIL sped by... I bounced from coast-to-coast during Spring Break! And, although schools weren't in session, my desk was piled with projects & work details to be dealt with, upon my return. 

Looking through my photos from APRIL, I kept returning to these TWO pictures... 

Not considering the sticky, humid weather of the summers in Washington DC, my image of their weather is breezy, with a slight chill to the air... well, the weather was exactly as expected --- quite love-ly with  multi-shades of rich green foliage & vibrant, rainbow-colored flowers... E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E you looked. I think Washington DC & Arlington, VA (where SLE & MB live) must have fabulously inexpensive flowers?? or incredible sales on bedding plants.

It was the 100th Year Anniversary of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. So, of course we took a drive! I hadn't counted on the pink blossoms being so soft-to-the-touch... it was a love-ly day spent with two of my favorite people & Sea-Bass (guide dog, alias lover-boy!). Our little adventure took the edge off the anxiety of the next day's event (SLE's back surgery - she's still healing)... this picture still tugs at my heart!

Tugging at my heart, for other reasons, was this picture of Big Bear Lake... JPE picked me up at the newly-remodeled Santa Barbara Airport & we headed to the lake for an Easter celebration & some R&R!

Big Bear Lake ~ 4.10.12

Ahhh! imagine a steamy cup of coffee... a cozy Adirondack chair... & a new magazine! heaven-ly! Actually, the weather changed the next day... & we ended our week with wind, rain, snow flurries, & pelting raindrops. 

Early mornings are ideal for enjoying the calm-ness of the lake... the birds dipping, diving, & skimming the waters, looking for insects & tidbits of food. Such a pleasant way to start-the-day!

My HEART CONNECTION = NATURE

{and family}

So --- I'm thinking my APRIL PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION is a draw between EAST vs WEST... both tug at my heart... for very different reasons! 

Stop by KAT'S to peek at other PHOTO-HEART CONNECTIONS!

Better yet... blog & link your own photo.

PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION: FEBRUARY 2012

Sacramento ~ 2.6.12

At the beginning of February, I spent four days in Sacramento - reading grants. After dropping my bags off in my "botel" (hotel room on a boat, the DELTA KING RIVER BOAT) room, I grabbed my camera & took a walk before the sun began to set.

I haven't quite figured out why I keep returning to this picture, but something about the LIGHT grabs my attention. 

This was taken in OLD TOWN SACRAMENTO... the historic area along the Sacramento River. This area of historic buildings was established in 1849, and now includes the California State Railroad Museum, small shops & places to eat. But, the best part is the photo opportunities.

Although this photo is blurry, I liked the orange-red glow of the street lamps contrasted against the gray-blue color of the second & third floor of this beautifully restored building.

A rain storm had blown through the area about 20 minutes earlier... gray rain clouds had cleared, leaving a brillant reddish sun falling on the horizon. It appears as if the building had been lit by an artificial light, but this is an unedited photo (other than a small amount of cropping on the right side of the photo).

Here are a couple of ideas as to why this photo captures my heart...

the precise placement of the windows ~ orderly designs are pleasing to look at

the idea that this building has been restored (instead of demolished) ~ there's  a lot of character in older architecture

the chimneys that dot the upper roof line ~ knowing the heat from the fireplace would have taken the chill off the occupants of the room (this building is located one block from the wharf, so it can get damp & chilly here)

the ornate window treatments ~ craftsmanship at its finest

the location of this building ~ this was the activity hub of Sacramento for prospectors coming to trade their gold

the contrast of the orange-red light (at street level) to the gray-blue light bouncing off the upper two levels of the building ~ this is actually the reason I chose this picture

I'm still fiddling with my manual settings... now, I realize this photo would have had a clearer image had I used a tripod. But, I was just snapping & shooting pictures as I walked. No time for using a tripod...

BUT, this shot of the same building was taken about 10 minutes earlier from the right hand side of the building. Of course, I loved this photo for a different reason!!! (orderly looking windows)

Today's post is part of Kat Sloma's Photo-Heart Connection. You can read about it HERE. 

Visit her website, KAT EYE STUDIO for information about her courses and sign-up for her newsletter.

Before our summer trip to PERU, I'm revisiting her photos on FLICKR to pick up some tips for taking travel photos.

Her blog has a wealth of tips... 

PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION: JANUARY 2012

PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION ~ January 2012

Kat Sloma ALWAYS finds a way to peak my interest ~ whether through her online courses which fine-tune my photography skills or helping defining my creative eye through photo composition ~ In her newest monthly offering, PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION, Kat is appealing to the photographer's inner thoughts ~ memories & their connections to photographs. Photos that tug at the heart! for whatever reason.

She asked us to review our JANUARY photo files for the one photo that "spoke to our heart" ~ after much deliberation, I decided on this photo.

Initially, I selected this photo for the rich red color of the London phone booth, which happens to be a Christmas ornament. Actually, we left this ornament out after the holiday season as a reminder of the three weeks we rented a flat in London to experience life in this bustling city!

The London phone booth brings back a FLOOD of memories...

• watching families walk to work & school {from our 9th floor window}
• buying groceries in the corner market
• using the TUBE (daily} or relying on our feet to transport us on our next adventure
• visiting {& revisiting} the London museums & famous landmarks
• seeing four live performances on London stages {including the stage performance of WAR HORSE}
• getting caught in a London downpour
• stopping for tea time each afternoon

JPE & I documented our London adventure in this blog, starting HERE! with a post & pictures of our day's events.

What this picture also represents is the awe & wonder of really looking at the amazing architecture found in this city. Wandering the streets armed with day packs, we soaked up the energy from this sprawling city & marveled at brick, stone, intricate carvings, amazing ironwork gates & fences, and the canopies of well established trees shading the cobblestone walkways... ah! it's hard not become intrigued by the history, the people & the evolution of this cosmopolitan city... it's a true heart connection!

To learn more about Kat's PHOTO-HEART CONNECTION, please click HERE! the link to post your January photo is live until February 7th.