Summer Memories

 

Summer, come and gone like the warm wind blowing across the beach.  I have barely had time to edited my summer photo's...so Friday's are my big days for editing and posting "events...it just happened that way...but it works for me...so before I emerged fully into fall shooting and sharing...I just want to give you one more glimpse at the best summer yet...perfect weather, lake house, beach house, great food and my wonderful family...time spent and time remembered...I hope your summer was a memory keeper also..

Sunrise over Gooserocks Beach..Kennebunkport Maine...

Sandpiper...hoping for a good breakfast.

Jaxson was my early morning buddy... He goes along on his own...doing his own dance..

The house is still quiet but slowly the smell of coffee, dogs paws, along with toes toes, join us in the sand.

Rope...you never know when you'll need it...just part of the ocean view.

No schedule, no rules, just the beach and thoughts of sand castles..breakfast...maybe later.

Family, the entire family. We all share a love of the ocean and all that the ocean means...it is not often that we get to play together as a family, relax and just enjoy the finest moments of summer...My Son Chris...

The perfect summer entertainment...enjoyed with a slice of sky and sea and wee voices...

 

 I could listen to him giggle all day...kids belong at the beach..it gives them such freedom to be themselves and to create, imagine and rest...also to investigate and run with the tide.

So as this  summer comes to an end...I take time to get quiet, by myself and reflect on the many gifts of this family vacation and the sea...I see Jaxson here and I think about him looking out to the horizon and hoping these moments in the Summer Wind will stir memories for him and Liam in future years. From a simple grain of sand, to a soft gentle breeze or perhaps the smell of salt from the rolling sea.  Add in  early morning walks, gathering shells and resting in the sun, bike rides and conversation of great importance (to little boys), I hope they will remember and grow to  love the good times we enjoyed...as a Family by the Sea. 

"Summer Wind"

The summer wind, came blowin' in from across the sea
It lingered there to touch your hair and walk with me
All summer long we sang a song and then we strolled that golden sand
Two sweethearts and the summer wind

Like painted kites, those days and nights, they went flyin' by
The world was new beneath a blue umbrella sky
Then softer than a piper man one day it called to you

I lost you, I lost you to the summer wind.

Linking up to Friday Finds at Kim Klassen's Cafe..

Paris...Left Bank

Paris...the Left Bank...the most interesting part of Paris for us.  Lots of Art...in so many forms.  Brilliant markets and people watching beyond what you could imagine. Next time I go, I'm going to take a few hours, get me a cup of tea, find the most central sidewalk bench and just simply people watch. I've traveled a lot and continue to do so but honestly France, Paris in particular, has the most interesting and eclectic people. The French move in a different way, of course talk in a different way and have an attitude of knowing exactly how to live life without guilt or apology.  I love that about them...and can we say Fashion...Oh my, they wear it all so well...right down to the shoes...oh, I still haven't shown you my shoes yet...soon perhaps...In the meantime, take a stroll along the Left Bank with me...and really if I could wish one thing for all of you it would be a visit to the South of France...if that's not possible..then just start in Paris and see where it leads you...Happy Friday.

 Most enjoyed and practical mode of travel...very old buildings and cobblestone streets. So much texture.

Notre Dame de Paris..is a historic religious cathedral, on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. Some say it is possibly the most famous of cathedrals.

The Seine River...The Seine is a 776 km long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. 

 In front of a shoppe...along the way..just stuck me as so pretty and unique...so French.

Walking through one of the many parks..where people are just doing their thing..like feeding the birds.

One of the many Avenues along the Seine..where are abounds. So many stalls, so much to see.

 The Bridge of Locks..A love lock or love padlock is a padlock which sweathearts lock to a bridge, fence, gate, or similar public fixture to symbolize their love. Typically the sweethearts' names or initials are inscribed on the padlock, and its key is thrown away to symbolise unbreakable love.

Last but not least at all, one must have Meringues while in Paris...these were chocolate and very large..can you imagine how good they tasted...

After three days in Paris...we boarded a small River Cruise ship..with only 44 passengers and headed to the south of France...traveling all the way to the French Riveria...Nice..but first...you must enjoy Paris..

Some Finds to share with you this week... A beautiful TED talk about Nature, Beauty and Gratitude...visit Louie Schwartzberg .  It really is a wonderful talk.

Check out 7 Photography Cliches That Are Still Freakin Awesome here:

Sour Cherry and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

..Gluten Free...as Jaxson would say Yummy.

"I have never in my life found myself in a situation where I've stopped work and said, 'Thank God it's Friday.' But weekends are special even if your schedule is all over the place. Something tells you the weekend has arrived and you can indulge yourself a bit."

Helen Mirren

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/helenmirre534662.html#yftIH6we0CD2df5l.99

Cookies and Milk

Blog post, photographs, lessons and assignments...sometimes such a dilemma as to what to post...other times, I hear the prompt and right away I know what the subject and photo's should look like...then it's just a matter of pulling it all together...Be Still...Lesson 16, was like that for me...Cookies and Milk.  Right up my alley since I have two little boys that love not only cookies and milk, but they love baking in my kitchen. Liam is somewhat of a pro now...but Jaxson, well, he's not one for being patient and still  for very long...but for cookies and milk, he was a willing partner.  So today, when he came over, he had his first cookie baking lesson and he passed with flying colors..I guess you just need to pick the right subject to hold their interest...below are the fruits of his labor and also his reward...I loved this lesson. Not only for the content but also because the boys are my life right now...fleetingly.  I know that more now than ever before...Liam is now in preschool 4 days a week until 1p.m...so we no longer have him for the full day...I do get to see him often, but not in the same way...and as Liam moves forward...we now have alone time with Jaxson for the first time...he's a trip for sure...so with only a few years left before they are both in school full time..they are my photo "props" and I'm o.k with that...so come along with Jaxson and enjoy some cookies and milk...

So with Jaxson it is not a lesson in flour and milk and mixing..it is strictly pull apart and drop on tray..what I love most about this photo is his intensity in getting the cookies apart...I can tell how hard he's working because, like all of us here, hard work means tongue out...like the tongue is helping to get the job done..

Helping Papa get the oven door open...then he steps back so Papa can put the tray in for baking.

 Jaxson is having a hard time waiting for the cookies to be done...so he has taken it upon himself to keep a good watch on what is happening in the dark hole where his cookie dough went...

He finally got tired of watching his cookie "grow" and came out on the porch to have a drink of his milk...that kept him still for about a minute...

 

Cookies are finally done..but now Jaxson has another problem..they are to hot to eat...oh my, more waiting time..

Well he's nothing if he's not a smarty...he takes matters into his own hands..enough with being patient, he stands up on his chair and gives those cookies several good blows and that seems to do the trick for him...problem solved...

Finally, after being very persistent and patient he sits down and really enjoys his cookies and milk as only a 2 year old can...ah, if only we could keep the balance as adults...enjoy the moment, have one cookie and a bit of milk...Life is Good...just ask Jaxson..as he enjoys the fruits of his labor..and for those who haven't noticed, the tablecloth is no long on the table...that is a chocolate, chocolate chip cookie.  Trader Joe's...it got high marks from both of the boys...

So proud of him at the end, when he had his fill, he shared his broken crumbs with Papa...and Papa also declared them, just perfect...

Milk and Cookies was one of the best lessons that I have done with Kim Klassen at the helm of Be Still and so much more. If your ever looking for a "prop" to help out with baking, life lessons or just an abundance of cuteness, go borrow a two year old...it will make any lesson in life much more fun...and actually chase your problems away...Great Job today Jaxson...here's to Milk and Cookies and love....

"Little boy, you remind me how so much depends on days of now." Alison McGhee

I love his smile, I adore his spunk, I melt into his squeezes and I'm so happy he's my Grandson.

"Little Boys are just Superhero's in disquise"

Simplicity

Every flower about a house,

certifies to the refinement of somebody.

Every vine climbing and blossoming

tells of Love and joy. 

Linking up to Kim Klassen Texture Tuesday...KK Sweetheart texture...soft light at 32% opacity... 

Gooserocks Beach in Photo's

Sunrise...Early morning walkers...

And runners...My Grand dog Riley...so sweet..

Morning wake up call...how sweet the sound...

Where's Liam...

Gifts from the sea....

Wherever Jaxson is, Riley is close by...my early morning buddies...

Liam finds an unexpected friend...

Sitting on the deck...waiting for dinner.  

The Ramp...dusk...

There is nothing quite like a sunset over the water...

I hope this week brought you many joys and heart stopping moments...I find when I am surrounded by Nature's beauty I am at my calmest...I am thankful for God's gifts..

"What we really need to be healthy, is a glass of wine with our vitamin sea."

"I need the sea because it teaches me." Pablo Neruda...

" For me, I take my troubles to the sea, and they float away with the tide."...C.L.C.