November coming to an end

Yet another beautiful November day. Even though it rained, it was unseasonably warm and beautiful.

Tomorrow is the last day in the month of November and I stop to reflect. Where has yet another year gone. Have I spent most of the year wishing it away? Waiting in anticipation of things to come? What do I do after they get here--wait in anticipation of more things to come?  Often times I think I take pictures of so many things because I can't cram all the images, thoughts, memories and events into my brain and I don't want to miss any part of anything. I want to be able to take it all in. To enjoy every scent, every image, every feeling.

So with that being said...I went back thru some pictures from earlier this year and reflected on my thoughts and feelings when I took them. Sharing with you some pictures of the mighty susquehanna river. Before creating this day for myself, my last memory of watching the susquehanna flood was around 1976. I remember standing at the top of the stairs & watching the water lap up. I was too young to know or understand the feelings people were having from the flood of 1972. This year has created new understandings for me of those feelings. The sense of loss, devestation, recovery.

Taken from the stairs I remember standing on as a child in 1972

A friend and I were discussing the differences between being the first born & the last born. We were discussing how with the first child most people are cautious, hesitant, more home bound. With the 2nd & following kids the parents are more laid back, more ready to just pick up and go.  He mentioned that in the first 5 weeks of his 2nd child's life the child has experienced a flood, an earthquake & a hurricane. This kiddo was only born in August 2011. It made me wonder if his child will grow up hearing about the flood of 2011 the same way we grew up hearing about Agnes-the flood of 1972.

Beautiful November Day

Not a great first day for hunters in NEPA. Weather was too warm and the deer didn't want to move...but man oh man..what a beautiful day!

As I sit here writing this, it is 56 degrees out and we have the bedroom windows open. So beautiful. The pups could stay outside as long as they want. No fear of them becoming popsicles. Last night the moon was a thumbnail, today it is a tad bigger. Maybe more of a sliver shape. Clear skies so the moon can be seen clearly.

I did make it out at lunch today and it was a beautiful, sunny day. I am writing about this so when next year we are piled deep in snow, freezing weather and ice...I can reflect back on this day and how beautiful it was. Don't get me wrong, I think the snow and freezing weather are beautiful as well--when someone else is driving.  But it's nice not to worry about having to save days off for snow days.

Hope the weather where you are is just as beautiful and in the same breath I hope for more favorable weather for the hunters tomorrow. A tad cooler, a little more overcast....things that make the deer move.

Hugs!

day before deer season in NEPA

Another beautiful sunny, Sunday out there. My girls are outside getting their dose of vitamin D & I hope to be joining them shortly.  Few errands to run before I can.

Tomorrow is the first day of deer here in NEPA. I think it's considered a holiday for most. Schools close, men schedule vacation time, wives empty out the freezers in anticipation. What is my role in all this? My errands this morning consist of helping the man get ready. Buying clothes, hanging the stand, making sure we know where everything is that he will need in the AM. Than tomorrow I will groggily wish him good luck & than fall back asleep until it is time to get the pups up and leash walk them before heading off to work at an appropriate enough time so as not to disturb the deer that may be crossing. I will wait with anticipation for the phone call to tell me that he got the handsome buck that we've been watching, than I will be calling around for prices on a freezer. When I get home the deer will be ready for pictures (my favorite part) and than off we'll go to the butcher. When the meat comes home, there will be lots of chili, kielbasa & roasts made. Yum! I like the benefits of deer season.

Hoping to get out for some pictures today. Did not make it to Hillside Farms yesterday. But I did find lots of fun stuff at the Red Cross Craft show. Hats, fingerless gloves, fork necklaces, pottery for my brother.

Enjoy your day! Hope the sun is shining where you are.

Cheers!

Saturdays!

If you noticed, I am sorry for not posting yesterday. The day got the better of me and I was asleep before I knew it. Oops. But I do promise to make it up to you today. I've been a busy little beaver this morning (2 cups of coffee can help facilitate that).

1) Uploaded my Turkey Day pictures, want to share some with you.
2) Beautiful, unseasonably beautiful weather for NEPA in late November. I am loving it. I can't wait to get out & play in it some more. More pictures at the park-I'm thinking! I found some new places I want to explore.
3) Support local business Saturday! I will be doing my part. Today is the Red Cross Craft Show at the Kingston Armory & I know 2 vendors I've made contact with & want to hit up. But I think I will find lots of other fun stuff there too.  (Plus I'm taking my camera to try & get some awesome pics inside the armory) Than I hope to hit Hillside Farms up after that. Both with my camera & my wallet. A small serving of milk is on the agenda for this lactose intolerant gal.

So to get you started...while you wait in anticipation of my day..here are some pics I wanted to share with you!
Kisses!

This is from a new album idea I am toying with. Morning Drive. Couldn't resist snapping this little guys picture. He  held on for most of my drive.

Pumpkin in the swamp. Accompanied by a "root ball"

Ducks in a newly formed pond

Francis Slocum State Park on Turkey Day

These are the beautiful geese I wrote about the other day. I tried to get them as they were coming in for a landing, just gracing the water but my camera acted up. I was glad to find this picture in the pile this AM. 

Francis Slocum State Park. Turkey Day 2011. Leaving you with the calm, serenity this picture provides. I hope you have a calm, serene day. 


Cheers! 

Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving. A special thanks to my friends that shared special pictures and thoughts with me today.

I spent Thanksgiving enjoying a cozy little dinner for two at a restaurant. Thanks to my hubby for the wonderful company & conversation. It was quaint, it was intimate & it was just perfect.

I spent the morning attempting to take some artsy type photos at our local state park. I think some turned out well but the one I really wanted didn't turn out. As I was walking up to the boat launch, I heard some geese in the distance. This was a great sound as it was just me, the water, the wind & the sun in the launch area. I turned to look for the geese & saw they were in a beautiful formation not too far from me. I pulled up the 35 mm to take some pics (I just believe the pics on the 35 mm turn out better) and ran into an error. So than I scrambled to turn the digital on & it is older so it just wouldn't get to where I needed to be. So I finally took a deep breath, relaxed and enjoyed the view before me. Those beautiful geese came in for a landing on the water & it was one of the most awesome sights I have seen. Graceful, beautiful, peaceful, tranquil.

My whole morning was filled with grace, beauty, peace & tranquility. I saw about a dozen deer on my drive over to the park. Followed by about 2 dozen ducks in a pond near a new housing development, than the geese at the park. That was a new part of the park for me to explore & I can't wait to get back there & spend some more time. I even packed my hiking boots today not knowing what I felt like doing. Every time I go to the park it seems like news things pop out at me. Today I found two new parking spaces & a new trail to explore. Can't wait.

So I'll leave you tonight with an artsy photo I took this summer. This was around the time of our flooding in 2011.

Enjoy your many blessings, find peace, light and love in all that you do. Love yourself always.

Eve of Thanksgiving

It is the eve of thanksgiving. People are sending messages back & forth wishing each other a happy thanksgiving, posting what they are grateful for. Right about now, I am grateful to have a long weekend, a loving husband who likes to dote on me and a bed filled with warm pups waiting to cuddle up with their mom.

But in all seriousness, there are lots of things I am thankful for this holiday season.
1) My husband. I am such a lucky gal to have married such a wonderful man. Thanks for making me smile & laugh. xoxo
2) My brother. I've written about my brother Dave who has passed on, but my brother John is very special to me to. We may not be as close as siblings should be, or do the normal family things siblings should do. But he is never far from my thoughts.
3) My friends. We really do have a lot of friends in our life. Maybe they aren't friends that you get to talk to every day or even every week. But when you do catch up with them they bring such a smile to your face.
4) My job. As much as it aggravates me when I am trying to learn something new and don't have the proper resources, I am thankful to have my job and work with the same group of people for several years now.
5) My hometown. I am happy to be back in NEPA and reconnecting with old acquaintances.

I hope you are inspired to think about 5 things you are thankful for during this thankful holiday season.

Many Cheers & Joys!

Rumi

Rumi is a 13th century Persian poet that my yoga instructor turned me onto. I can't thank my yoga instructor enough. Rumi's words always touch me.

Sharing some simple words with you tonight.

THE GUEST HOUSE

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

-- Jelaluddin Rumi,
    translation by Coleman Barks