Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Vacation Time

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Unlike last year when I faded away for weeks, this summer I am taking a short, premeditated vacation from the blog world.  The Kid and I will be spending our days playing with Miss A and the G-man. (Our nights most certainly will be a race to see who can get into bed the fastest.)  While Mom and Dad celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary with a well deserved trip to Wyoming, we will be celebrating their union with their off spring in sunny Florida.

Our plans include a visit to Sea World, jumping in the pool in our pajamas every morning, constructing sand castles on the beach, cooling off with ice cream and Popsicles, and savoring the giggles and hugs that I know will be coming our way.  If all goes well this could be the start of something special, the first annual "Grammy Camp."  (Mom and Dad like the sounds of that.)

I will continue to post 365 photos on an intermittent basis as access to the Internet permits.  There may also be a blog post or two between now and Friday.  But come Friday morning I am officially on vacation until August 1.

Enjoy the break...I know I will.







Sunday, July 15, 2012

Obeying The Rules

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If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun.
                                                       ~ Katharine Hepburn




Saturday, July 14, 2012

The Secret Is In The Looking

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Once again I found myself at the end of the day without a 365 image.  The day was full of missed opportunities as Little Sis, her children and grandchildren shared a few hours of their vacation with us. (They are spending the week in a cottage a couple of miles up the lake from us.)  But as so often happens when we have guests, the camera sat idle on the shelf as I became caught up in the minutia of entertaining.

And so as the sun was sinking ever slowly towards the horizon I was canvasing the shore line for that perfect addition to the 365 portfolio.  What I found and what never ceases to amaze me is the fact that though I walk this path daily, there is always something new and beautiful to behold.

The secret is in the looking.




Friday, July 13, 2012

Panda Paws

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Is it wrong to spend more than two evening a week at the local ice cream stand?

Ice cream is not a button pusher for me.  Most of the time I can take it or leave it.  More often than not I leave it.  But not this summer.  Perhaps it is the intense heat of our days that has me dropping whatever I am doing at the mere mention of those two little words and eagerly climbing into the car.  I have even been guilty of cloaking my desire for the cool treat beneath the cover of a photo shoot.  It's the end of the day, I need a picture for my 365 and oh by the way Yorkies is right down the road, why don't we stop.

Panda Paws is my favorite flavor.  Vanilla ice cream, thick chocolate fudge and peanut butter cups waiting to be uncovered like buried treasures.   YUM.

Is 6:30 a.m. too early for ice cream?

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Summer

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Summer is fleet of foot.  It sprints out of the starting gate fueled by ambitious thoughts of vegetable gardens, flower blossoms, long walks, day trips to interesting places, family picnics and sunset cruises on the lake.  By the end of the first turn it settles into a rhythm all its own.  One day follows the next and before you know it the finish line is in sight.

If I could I would make it a marathon.  One that meanders through country roads lined with custard stands; that follows the curve of a sandy beach and winds its way up a mountain that peaks with a view that takes away my breath.  I would slow the pace until the days stretched endlessly before me and not cross the finish line until the last leaf has fallen from the oak tree outside my kitchen window.

But sadly, summer is a sprinter.  Fleet of foot, its outstretched hand eager to pass the baton to a waiting fall.

Like an ice cream cone on a 90 degree day, enjoy it while it lasts.





Monday, July 9, 2012

If Only

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If only I had wings
to lift me up
above the fray,
to a place where I could soar in quiet contemplation
gathering thoughts
like wildflowers in a field of dreams,
arranging them in colorful bouquets set against a cloudless sea of blue;
then float gently back to earth with only the most fragrant
tucked beneath my wing,
a savory reminder of what could be
if only I had wings.


Saturday, July 7, 2012

We're Having a Heat Wave

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How can it be so hot by day that one can fry eggs on the sidewalk yet cool enough by night to have one reaching for a cover?  However it is, I am truly thankful.

Afternoons have been good for only one thing this week.  Napping.  Just ask The Kid.

The heat wave is expected to vacate the premises overnight tonight allowing temperatures in the low 80s to move in and set up camp well into next week.

I'm putting out the welcome mat.  How about you?


Friday, July 6, 2012

Fourth of July Fun

For some unknown reason our little community observed the  Fourth of July in June.  The 30th to be exact.  Not ones to question authority we went along with the plan and celebrated the day with a neighborhood picnic.  As dusk fell we piled into one of the floaters and made our way down the lake joining the rest of revelers to take in the fireworks.  It was a great way to celebrate Independence Day, even if it was still June.

When the fourth finally arrived it was a bit anti-climatic.  We were content to beat the heat inside huddled around our little air conditioner watching the Pirates climb into first place in their division.  Our neighbor and friend M said not so fast and we soon found ourselves piling into the old folks mobile heading for Cambridge Springs and the Riverside Inn.

It was a typical small town fourth of July celebration.

Ben Franklin was there,

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as was the town's vintage fire truck

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polished to perfection,

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a gleaming tribute to simpler times.

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I'm not certain who this was.  He called to mind images of a turn of the century used horse salesman or shady politician.  (And good grief, he had to be sweltering beneath all of that wool.)

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There were children.  Lots of children.

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And a civil war camp.  (This one confused me.  Shouldn't we be reenacting the revolutionary war on the 4th of July instead of the Civil War?  Just saying.)

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In true American style we ended our day with ice cream and then gathered around a camp fire listening to the music of an unknown band drift across the lake and watching the explosion of color from nearby fireworks.

It was indeed a Fourth of July to remember.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Wilted

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There are times when life and the decisions we have to make for ourselves and/or the ones we love leave us wilted.  All we can do is the best we can do and hope that in the end it is enough.


Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Independence Day

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Celebrate your "Independence" today.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Monday Musings

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Storms clouds have been brewing all around us of late.  All around us being the key phrase.  With temperatures soaring into the nineties on an almost daily basis the lack of rain has turned the green grass of May to brown.  Our ever thirsty garden requires nightly trips up the hill with the watering can and the lake is inching ever lower.

However, there is much for which to be thankful.  We aren't battling flood waters or forest fires.  Our single window air conditioner makes the heat bearable by day and the evenings cool down with the aid of a light breeze off the lake.

As long as there's water in the well life is good.

P.S.  Yesterday was day 183 of my 365 project.  I am now successfully half way through the year.  I'm proud of getting this far and proud of the collection of photos that is accumlating here.