P52 {Week 1}

pics from 1.6.13

RESOLUTION for 2013

practice using my camera - which means taking more pictures!

Tamar from RANDOM-OSITY 

suggested I participate in

P52 - 2013

(which requires a post on MONDAY).

Tamar @ RANDOM-OSITY

and 

Gina @  KLEINWORTH & CO

are co-hosts! 

I may be crazy, but I look forward to using some of the photos that aren't applicable to the week's words for SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY. Should be a blast! & will help with those days I struggle with "blogger's block" (when I can't think of a thing to post).

Anyway, to kick off P52 - 2013... Yesterday (Sunday, 1.6.13) I snapped these pictures & got my post ready. We're enjoying the rain - I'm working on the computer (not FUN stuff - but WORK), JPE's doing a jigsaw puzzle - and the hummingbirds have totally drained the feeder (since noon-ish yesterday). 

If you are a first-time visitor to SilverLinings, I hope you'll come back by again! And, I promise to do some blog-hopping this week & check in with my visitors. It'll be a fabulous way to de-compress from the WORK AUDIT, January 8-10th.  

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 1.6.13

Last week... Ashley hosted her Annual 

MEMORIES, DREAMS & REFLECTIONS event.

Check HERE for my retrospective from 2012.

My 2011 post can be viewed HERE!

If you haven't participated in SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY,
it's easy... and it's a reminder to
make a date with your camera
(in order to capture the SHS words for the week)!!

This week's SHS words are: BREAKFAST, MULTI-COLORED, 
 STARTS WITH THE LETTER "C", ROLL & FUTURE.

A confession - these photos were taken 12.28.12 - 
before I found out SHS would be replaced with MEMORIES, DREAMS & REFLECTIONS, last Sunday.

BREAKFAST

JPE & I were taking a walk along the lake (at the Big Bear cabin)...

we noticed "someone" hunting for their BREAKFAST!

MULTI-COLORED

Gorgeous view & equally gorgeous MULTI-COLORED Christmas tree.

Watch out for that tree topper, though!

STARTS WITH THE LETTER "C"

CUT-OUT COOKIES are a family CHRISTMAS tradition!

Allie & Brian decorated their cookies at the Big Bear cabin!

The batch of cookies I made were decorated

CHRISTMAS DAY

by

Matthew, Katie, Derek, Talia & Brett!

ROLL (or ROLLING ALONG)

After Christmas Day, JPE & I drove to the cabin in Big Bear, and

it had started snowing...

which meant we were stopped (by the snow patrol), 

to buy & install snowchains 

before ROLLING along

the last 30+ miles to the cabin.

 FUTURE

Odd numbers give me the heebie-jeebies...

but,

I have a "great" feeling about 2013!

...wondering what the FUTURE holds?

travel? retirement? house updates?

ohhh! can't wait!

    

ATTEMPTING...

Summerland (coastline) - Santa Barbara Co - 12.23.12

WORKING... prepping for the FPM

(program & fiscal audit at work)!

lots of documentation & interpretation of the 

legal requirements...

(attempting to understand the details)!!

JPE's working a jigsaw puzzle... 

planted seven new bare-root ROSE bushes... 

then covered them with bird netting

(to prevent the critters from sabotaging his planting efforts).

Enjoying the coziness of home!! 

FRIDAY FUNNIES 1.4.13

my back windshield @ 8:22am this morning!

...only ONE FRIDAY FUNNIE today...

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? 

MEMORIES, DREAMS & REFLECTIONS 2012

Memories, Dreams & Reflections

I'm participating in Ashley's Annual Memories, Dreams & Reflections for 2012. Stop by Rambling & Photos to see what others have posted from their photo archives for this past year.

ME (& JPE)

Greatest accomplishment in 2012 --- Exploring Machu Picchu (Peru) & the Amazon River in July.

LOVE YOU

Lydia turned nine in July! she spent a week with us in August --- we went camping in Pismo Beach. We LOVE YOU, Lydia Daily (the letters in her first name rearranged, spell Daily).

 

STILL LAUGHING

Boston Terriers don't have much body fat OR fur! Allie had Lola wear her red parka & boots in Big Bear to keep warm. Doesn't she look thrilled to be warm? STILL LAUGHING about this picture!

WINTER WONDERLAND

Had a bit of a WINTER WONDERLAND in Big Bear --- just after Christmas. The adorable "snow bear" facial features were created by Tasha (mom of Lydia). Lydia added a "growling" face.

BIRTHDAY

The first weekend in August, friends & family gathered at the Big Bear cabin to celebrate JPE's (60th) & Natasha's (40th) "milestone" BIRTHDAYS. Jack McG organized the SENIOR Olympics - kayak races, a corn-hole tournament & ringers.

FRIENDS

The "guys" (FRIENDS) sitting in a driftwood barrier at Andrew Molara Beach (Big Sur) --- we got to share our favorite coastal sites with JPE's family from Ohio.

INSPIRATION

Origami cranes = INSPIRATION!! perhaps I'll make one for every elected official & send it to them --- reminding them to "play nicely in the sandbox" --- it's a new year, so let's get back to a philosophy of "peaceful co-existence."

SPRING FEVER

SPRING FEVER - I almost missed seeing the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC this past April. I flew back a couple of days before SLE had back surgery - there were signs all along the Tidal Basin telling you NOT to pick the blossoms... but, picking them up from the ground was "okay"...

TRAVEL (or VACATION)

During our summer trip to PERU, we visited a school & met some of the children. We taught them the Hokey-Pokey & they sang & shared one of their reading / writing lessons. Seeing the children in their native costumes was a "highlight" of our Peruvian VACATION.  

SUMMER DAYS

Tent camping = so'mores over the campfire & headlamps for card playing & reading. Ahh... SUMMER DAYS.

DAY IN MY LIFE

When I retire (getting closer!!), I imagine spending the days perfecting my photography, sewing, taking walks, and drinking coffee or tea!  Sounds like a wonderfully relaxing DAY IN MY LIFE! 

ALL SMILES

ALL SMILES --- Three generations --- daughter, granddaughter & Dad.

AUTUMN HARVEST

Weekly visits to Avila Valley Barn in the Fall --- the premier place to experience the AUTUMN HARVEST!

HOME

HOME is simple living --- time spent with my love, JPE.

CELEBRATE!

An amazing cake --- CELEBRATING the "milestone" birthdays.

LET'S DO IT AGAIN

Kayaking on Big Bear Lake --- laughing at the lack of coordination in paddling together! Definitely, LET'S DO IT AGAIN!

I MISS YOU!

Since work resumed in August, it's been difficult to get away for trips to visit my mom. I'm looking forward to 2013 & having more free time for weekend excursions! I MISS YOU Mom! (don't you love her back walkway - she transplanted these rocks when she downsized to a condo).

BEAUTIFUL

The BEAUTIFUL coastline of Big Sur --- the location where we were married --- a three hour drive from home & perfect get-away to camp, ride bikes, hike, explore the beaches and enjoy being outdoors.

DRESSED UP

Lola DRESSED UP in her Christmas colors --- her groomer "gifted" her with some holiday finery!

MACRO

Favorite MACRO picture showing raspberry thorns. Our raspberry bushes continue to multiply! love them for my morning breakfast of fruit + a scoop of cottage chesse topped with slivered almonds. Yum!!

HOLIDAY

My favorite HOLIDAY is Christmas. I LOVE the decorations, colors, carols, and the glitter!

FAVORITE MEMORY

A FAVORITE MEMORY???  Well, I'm certain this is a memory I'll never forget! Spending 6 days on the Amazon River (Peru) was challenging! The humidity zapped my physical stamina & I'll never forget seeing the living conditions and poverty of the Amazon region. BUT, I'll also remember the brilliant green vegetation, the amazing sounds of the birds, the pink dolphins, the wide expanse of the Amazon River and the stunning skies (cloudy, sunny, rainy and the inky blackness of nighttime).

DON'T EVER CHANGE

I WON'T EVER CHANGE my feelings about the stunning sunsets along the ocean. And, I'll always appreciate living in such a beautiful location (even when the traffic seems to get more congested with each passing year).

JUST BECAUSE... SO THERE

Our accommodations on the Amazon River, in Peru, were primitive! IMAGINE --- single beds covered with mosquito nets, no warm water, grass roofs, no electricity. AND, amazing bugs!! This grasshopper twitched his antennas, but didn't move from this spot for at least 20 minutes.

HOPES & DREAMS

In 2013, I HOPE for good health, family & friends to share adventures with & DREAMS that our home improvement projects are begun & completed before the next holiday season.