Recalibrating

"We live in a state of constant change .  Whether or not we're paying attention, the process is always happening.  Life is about recalibrating. About continually asking yourself: what do I have to do to get where I want to be? How do I create the life I want."  Although those words were written by Oprah Winfrey, the say exactly what I've been thinking for a few months now...

I find myself in a constant rat race...trying to get all the lessons, writing, blogging, researching done..I also love knitting reading and my boys...but I find that even though I'm retired I don't have enough hours for everything I want to do.  Then just when I think I have it all figured out, bingo...lights out..I'm off track again...and I'm feeling unsatisfied...all of this and to say nothing of friends and shopping (for shoes of course) I have begun to feel frustrated and unrewarded.   So what I end up doing is checking in...on Facebook, Mail, Instagram and running around the house like I have a need to be busy..

So how to get organized and prioritized...the first thing that popped into my head was something that a special photographer friend told me a short time ago..she decided to get serious about her photography and she has noticed it has made a difference...that thought has been running through my head a lot lately...but where to start...then I read in a post of Kim's...when people asked her how  she accomplish all she does...and her answer, " I wake up in the morning and I just start.  So my friends, that's what I did this week...I just started..

First, I stopped notifications from Facebook to my mail...can't believe how clean my mail is now and no going back and worth...second I did something that I have been wanting to do for very long time...I hired a photographer to do a portrait of me for my blog page...my blog needs a tiny bit of work...so now that I have my photo's I'm going to work on it...I'm looking for a writing workshop in my area...a place that I can go to and be part of a group..I love writing and I love blogging but I want to do it right...I've signed up for lessons on my camera...I'm not a book learner but I am a "you show me how" girl..so excited for this piece.  Most importantly I'll get this LR business because I'm going to keep at it...one lesson at a time.

To be able to add the new postions in, I'll have to let go of some of the other things I love, like knitting.  I won't completely give it up but I won't go to classes every week..I don't need them...it was more social than anything although I love the feel of the wood and wool moving through my hands.  I still make things but not under pressure....and reading, I'm going to do more of that also...it fills my soul...and of course, I'm keeping my boys..for as long as I can...another thing that I'll be slowing down on is Facebook...I'm addicted and I need to be more aware of my time...I'll still show up because I love my peeps...maybe just not 20 times a day. I'm also going to be moving my post to my Facebook Photography page so I can take myself more seriously..so if you don't see me as much, don't worry...I'm right here in my office, at my desk...looking at your work..I hope I can stay true to my word...for myself. 

As I move forward and embrace the change, I'll be on a more stable path to peace of mind and well being...and I'll take myself more seriously..

I had a lovely week...with lots of Autumn finds and a few funny moments...I won't be giving up my Fridays with you that's for sure...well, unless I'm off wandering the world...which I hope to continue..may you all find it in your heart to recalibrate whenever you need to...Here's to loving what we do.....

We took the boys to Pumpkin Land..and they had so much fun...have to share a few...

Liam flying....

Jaxson taking Mommy for a ride around the race track..Seriously, whose having more fun here. 

Watch out Jaxson...Liam is coming up the rear...punch it Martha....

After leaving Pumpkin Land, I went for a drive, BY MYSELF, on the backroads of Maine...and this is what I found.

I love this property not to far down the road from me in Maine...You'd swear you were in Kentucky. I visit it most times when I'm in town...love the white fence, the horses, the laundry on the line...I've posted many photo's from here...most of all the love the woman who owns it....a lovely senior who inspires me with her energy, work ethic and neatness...and she loves to chat over the fence..my kind of girl

I wish you all a lovley, color filled weekend...thanks for stopping by...and helping me to finally get it out in the open...you can think it but once you write it on paper and share it...I feel you become more serious in your efforts...Happy Autumn.

“When we can no longer change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” ~Viktor Frankl

“Happiness is not a goal. It’s a by-product of a life well lived.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt 

Photo credit for my portrait...(gosh I hate getting my photo done) goes to Lisa Pelonzi.. Please check her out. She does the most amazing work...and she's a beautiful person...from one photographer to another...thank you Lisa...xoxo

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.

Their Softer Side

Sometimes it takes awhile to figure out where we are going..to connect to what we like.  Stepping out of the box is not easy but it's the only way to advance and learn..finally after many tries, we find that we love this new learning...this new angle of creating...and so it is for me with my Still Life photography...by nature, I'm a Nature photographer.  Winters can be long and cold and snowy and after doing all the nature shots I like, I was left with months of grey...everywhere I turned...so enter Still Life.  I have struggled with it.  It does not come naturally but finally I am beginning to see it's value and also to see that I am learning to see light and color and softness in a new way...

This weeks lesson in Be Still is to take a look at a body of work that we have done and to find a connection in the photo's...to see what we are shooting more of and how it is evolving...when I did this I became aware of the fact that I really like portrait work lately..with two Grandsons I guess that isn't a surprise...but they delight me in so many ways..and Still Life does not mean just flowers or set-ups.  It means those moments of life...lived by two little boys..and when I can catch them in quiet moments it become a Still Life memory. Along with that I love the softer side of  my photographs lately..I would see it in others work and so I worked at it and it is just so much fun to do...not just in portrait work but also in every other still life that I've done lately.

 

The soft side of still like reminds me to slow down, take time before pushing that shutter button..compose more thoughtfully and just let the color fade away into it's own background. The mood changes with the softer side of color..it allows for quiet reflection.  Although this is what I'm working on right now...there will always be a place for the more vibrant, colorful and vivid color that makes me smile in a different way...I'll never lose my love of nature and green grass, bugs and trees.  I'll also always welcome joyful, animated and flashy photo's, fast cars and galloping horses...it's a big world out there...and I love shooting it all.

 “One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” ~Unknown

A Papa, An Uncle and A Dad...

My Grandson's are the luckiest boys on the planet...they are so loved by so many.  They will grow up to be confident, kind, caring adults because of the loving men in their lives...A Papa, an Unlce and their Dad.

I never had the kind of love growing up that these two boys are receiving but it's always something that I wanted as a little girl...who doesn't want to be Daddy's girl...or boy, for that matter...So it is especially heart warming for me to witness what should have been and to know that all children deserve the love and respect of those adults in their life...in the end, it was o.k. for me.   My Dad and I were given enough time to sort out the past and grow to love each other in a very special way as adults...

Oh but for these boys..A Papa..who thinks the sun rises and sets on his little buddies.  When they are together there are not many rules but lots of "is that a good idea Papa"...and of course, the answer is always"yes Liam that's a great idea"...they go hand in hand down the street or in the park..they have workshop project to do in the cellar.  They have cars to play in Liam and Jaxson's toy room at our house...but everyday that it's Nana/Papa day, first they have to have is their breakfast together...yes,  Papa gets breakfast time and Nana gets tea time..don't mix it up...Today on Father's Day...Liam was made first Mate of Papa's boat at the lake..and Liam is taking the job quit seriously...another Papa and Liam adventure in the works...Jaxson, not to be undone is working his way slowly into Papa life but more quickly into Papa's heart.  It's going to be fun watching them create their own adventures very soon.

Then there is Uncle Chris...it took Liam a long while to be able to say "Uncle Chris"...but he's got it now and the house rings all day long...like the meditation bell with the sound of Liam's voice calling to his Uncle...this weekend they had a wonderful time together...putting up Liam's new tent, and driving the boat together.  Lots of silliness when Uncle Chris and Liam are gather..I think Uncle Chris turns into a 3 year old again as they hoot and holler for each other..out the windows and up and down the street...Liam gets to ride on his Uncle shoulders as we walk downtown and of course they share some serious conversations...it is a very lively place when those two are share space, sometimes I have to tell them both to quiet down...The love is so obvious and Uncle Chris is a natural....no training needed.  Jaxson has already figured out how to work his way into this tight knit twosome...he just smiles that smile that says..."pick me up Uncle Chris"  and so it happens..

Most of all though, is a love so deep and strong that everyone can feel it who is near...the Boys have such a kind,  loving and dedicated father...the kind of father that all kids deserve...I have witnessed this bonding for 3 years now and I see how Jenna and Luke work together to make the boys the priority that they should be...Luke is so gentle and loving, yet just firm enough to have well behaved boys that you really can take out in public...The holding and feeding and changing are part of Luke's life...as is, playing and carrying and book reading and explaining...he dresses them and feeds them and can manage the house when Mom's not there. He takes time for them and shares his affection for them time and again...Liam thinks his Dad is the best thing since sliced bread and he follows him everywhere...and now he quotes what his Dad says to him, to us...like,  if my Dad says it,  it has to be true...Jaxson is powerful in big Daddies arms..even though right now he is a Mommys boy...he'll come around just like his big brother...Daddy is Top Dog..the kind of Daddy every child should have...

For me,  I get the gift of watching them grown in the love and light of the men in their lives...how wonderful it makes me feel..to know that they are cared for and loved so deeply.   I can't imagine how that feels but I do know that I like what it looks like and I know how sweet my house hums along when all these boys are together with Jenna and I...not only on Father's Day...but everyday...

Happy Father's Day to all the Men who mentor their children and other children also...you don't have to be a Father to be pretty special...Uncle's and friends, are special to...all you really need to do is share the Love..

“My father didn't tell me how to live;
he lived, and let me watch him do it” 
― Clarence Budington Kelland

Wednesdays With The Boys

Tuesdays and Wednesday are my favorite days of the week...I am also fortunate to love Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday...but Tuesday and Wednesday are the days my boys come...

Being a Grandmother is one of life's really great Blessings...a big one.   I have been fortunate to have had Liam for a good bit of time over his three years.   Now we are blessed with Jaxson on Tuesdays...by himself...such wonderful bonding happening there and both boys come on Wednesdays. What a whirlwind day that is.   Just so much fun..I thought it might be fun to share with all of you what a Wednesday with the boys looks like from time to time...so here goes.

After the boys arrive at about 8:30, Liam likes to play for a bit and then we have breakfast...quite an ordeal right there.  One's flinging pasty oatmeal while the other one wants to whip up a Mango shake...Jim and I drink and grab as best we can...Then this week it was off to Gloucester to visit Uncle Chris...it was such a beautiful day that I took the boys for a walk downtown and along Main St... a Teddy Bear tea party was in progress so Liam and Jaxson joined in...

Next on the agenda was meeting Uncle Chris at the shoe store...Liam got some new sneakers and they are really fast...so fast that we couldn't even get an in focus photo of him...Jaxson, well he's not into shoes just yet...he finds relaxing in his carriage barefoot a much more pleasant experience..and Uncle Chris loves being with the boys but thinks I spend to much money on them.   I asked him if he would like a new pair of sandals but he told me he already had a pair..two pairs would confuse him...

After leaving Uncle Chris we decided to go to the park because it was such a nice day...They both love to swing and it was a rare treat to get Liam to share the swing with his little brother...This particular park is right on the ocean and there is so much for the kids to do here...

As you can see the "little one" really enjoyed himself...all that salty air and the gentle sway of the swing, wrapped up in his warm blankey put him right out...whew...Nana was also getting tired.

We finally got Liam out of the park and headed home... While we were gone the guys came to turn on the heads to our sprinkler system...and Little Mister Energy got himself under those sprinklers before I could even get his brother out of the car...yup...completely soaked...and from the look on his face, loving every minute of it...I had to laugh at this...but I was thinking later, if this had been one of my kids,  many years ago,  I might have been slightly annoyed...There in lies the beauty of Grandparenting...I enjoyed watching him have so much fun...

Then it comes...the end of another perfect day with these "loves of mine"...yes they do take time away from all the other things I might have to do...and I am usually exhausted at the end of the day..but I would not trade one second of my time with them...you see, as a Grandmother,  I know how fleeting these young years are and I am so thankful for the gift of having them so close by, to watch them grow and learn and love...they are my diamonds in the rough these little boys...and I love them "to the Moon and Back...

Last photo...first time ever...Liam wanting to sit on the steps to wait "for my Mom"...he's already growing up...