Lovin' the links

Wish I could stop and write more, but we are in the fast lane this weekend. So for now, I'll leave you with a little link love!

enjoy!

This is a new to me site. SO many easy and simple projects. But be prepared, it's a major time suck. Just warning ya!

And even though Halloween is tomorrow. You can still make these for Thanksgiving.

What a delightful interpretation of the brownie. Can't you see bringing these to the party?

Why oh why was this etsy shop not around when the boys were little...or even in their sizes now?

and a little window shopping.

Love these and this.

Trick or Treat everyone!

Getting It...

I've been thinking about photography a lot lately and the feelings that it stirs inside of us. Sometimes it's a memory of a beautiful day, Other times, a picture of a sunset can evoke a wonderful memory about the last trip we went on. I always have my pictures running as a screensaver on my computer. Countless times I have caught myself or one of my boys sitting, just enjoying the memories as they flash upon the screen.

Word is out that I enjoy taking pictures. People have asked me to photograph certain aspects of their lives, gardens or hobbies. I feel honored yet nervous at the same time. I certainly didn't go to school for this medium and have no idea what makes a "good" picture. Yet, I do know when I see it, I'm just not sure what to do with it.

So, what does this all have to do with the picture below? Surely, Bobbi and Mike had no idea when they took this picture it would have an effect on a middle age woman in New York. But it did! In a huge, huge way.

So what do I think of this picture?

It makes me all kinds of happy. Probably,because I know the bride, but more so, I just love looking at wedding photos. I'm sorta obsessed by all that there is to see about weddings on the Internet. This one just looks like a rocking, good time.

But let me take it a step further. Not only do I know the bride, I also know one of the bridesmaids and a guest in this picture and they all make me incredibly happy.

Em, the bridesmaid is my sister. She just happens to be best friends with the bride, Meg. I've watched these two grow into wonderful, young women. I babysat them when they were little and then took them to see Brittany Spears (don't ask) when they were in eighth grade. I heard their secrets about boys and was asked advice about subjects they couldn't ask their parents. Emotions run high when I look at this picture.

But then I see Christian. He's a great college friend of Em and Meg (and I'm sure the groom too, seeing that they all went to school together). BUT, he was also a student of mine in fifth grade! Em and Meg grew up in a neighboring city from Christian(both in New York). Sitting around a bar one night (in Ohio), my name came up (probably talking about their best teacher ever!). They put two and two together, Em got on the phone (that was before I could text) and bingo, the mystery was solved.

Three lives that have touched mine in ways that could only be imagined and one photographer got it without even knowing.

I have to play around with this notion a bit more. I want my photos to have feelings. Is there such a thing? I'm not sure. More importantly, I want my family to look at my pictures, today and long after I'm gone and remember.

btw...go check out all of Matt and Meg's wedding pictures at bobbi and mikes site. They are wonderful photogs! I will be adding them to my inspiration blogroll as a must read!

5 things

It's warm out today and it's supposed to be even warmer tomorrow. So, I don't have much time here. I'm going out to finish up in the garden and plant my daffodils. I think this might be the last hurrah!



1. I can smell the chicken and dumplings that I have cooking. Yum! It will be a good night with no hockey or play practice.

2. We walked for the March of Dimes this weekend. The boys gave out water at the mid-point. I was proud of their maturity and their willingness to help.



3. Tonight I will hear the trumpet, viola and guitar being played/practiced. I enjoy their sounds.

4. I'll be glad when Halloween is over. It's not my favorite.


5. I ordered a new phone for the eleven year old. The second in a year. Yes, I've learned my lesson that he really doesn't need one, but I like knowing that he has it. And yes, he did pay the deductible for the second one.

added this evening: oh dear, the day got away from me yet again. Oh well! When my husband came home this evening and saw the cupcakes he told me I needed to take pictures of them. "Honey, I already did!"

enjoy the week!

5 things...

Busy, busy, busy is all I have to say. Here it is Wednesday and I'm just writing my 5 things post which usually happens on Monday. Not sure where the week is going, but I'm glad that we have been so active around here. So lest you get bored wondering what I've been up to, on with the list...!

1. Nope, didn't go to Rhinebeck. We came close to going. I even got the boys in bed early on Saturday night in anticipation of a great excursion. But as I was saying good-night, I pulled the plug. As much as I wanted to go...I didn't want to make the three hour drive. Next year!

2. So we stayed home and went to the local pumpkin/cash cow/tourist attraction. Seven bucks a person/ $30 max per car. But that gets you a season pass to the farm...until October 29th. A, yeah, when I'm I going to go again?

3. I have a photo gig. Taking pictures for a friend's website. She makes traditional quilts, but needs a bit of help with her photo skills. In trade, she will make window treatments for my family room.

4. I'm loving pretzel m&m's at the moment. If you haven't tried them, I would strongly advise buying a package. They are a major hit. The coconut ones...major fail!

5. We are past peak in our neighborhood, but would have to say that the colors have been magnificent this autumn. The last few days it has been raining leaves, making it hard to say good-bye to fall.

Enjoy the last few days of the week!

Everyone Loves a Good Book

Reading has been a passion of mine since I was small, thus leading me to the education field with a certification to teach reading. I always have a book in hand, while reminding everyone else in the family to pick up their own. This week's links explore the reading in our home and some fun sites that I've discovered. Hopefully, you might find something to help spur those readers in your home.

What I'm reading:

I just finished reading Little Bee. Great book, but sad.

Currently, I'm reading Found. Ryan (my reluctant reader) has attached himself to this series. We started reading it together, but he loved it so that he went ahead and then encouraged me to finish it. It is a well written book with plenty of suspense.

Next up on my list will be The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

Andy:

Just finished reading The Art of Racing in the Rain. He typically reads thrillers and spy novels, but I really encouraged him to reach out of his comfort zone for this selection. He was glad he did, as he thoroughly enjoyed this read. If you are a dog lover and have ever thought about what your dog was thinking, this book is for you.

He is currently reading The Road. Again, I encouraged him to select this one. It took me a long time to get my courage up to read it myself, but after much prompting from my brother, I went for it. I'm glad I did. Even though it is profoundly depressing and sad there is the message of hope. It made me realize how lucky I am to have my family.

Matt:

As with both boys, I find that they are on reading overload during the school year due to New York State Standards so that reading during the summer is in the form of magazines and graphic novels. Matt had to read two books over the summer and he chose two quick mysteries just to finish the assignment. But don't get me wrong. He loves to read and will have many books next to his bed waiting in the queue.

Currently he is finishing up The Battle of the Labyrinth. This is the fourth (?) book in this series. This series still continues to hold his attention (which is hard to do in series' books) and he looks forward to reading each night.

Next up will be The Hunger Games. This was a choice for summer, which he started, but wanted something lighter. He bought this the other day with hopes of reading it slowly and digesting the author's message. This too, is in my queue.

Ryan:

Ryan is currently reading Sent. He proclaims that is is just as good as the first book and is already talking about the third book in the series.

Over the summer he read John Grisham's new book for YA. Ryan really enjoyed the action of the boy lawyer and the situations that he fell into. I'm glad Grisham has decided to write for the middle school readers. I hope his action and mystery genre will hook those reluctant readers.

Many of these book choices have come from a few sites that I've discovered as of late. Enjoy your exploring and remember, don't forget to read!

5 things...macro style...

I popped on my macro lens this weekend for a photo shoot at my friend's home. She asked me to take a few pictures of her garden before the frost took it from her. I've been thinking about some pretty heavy stuff this past week that involved a bit of soul searching and just plain reflecting. So I guess my macro lens served as a metaphor for my life this past week.


1. Helicopter parents, or how not to become one, has been on the brain. How much to advocate for my boys vs. to let things ride and see where it takes us. I'm not too interested in the later, but know enough (I think) to step back and let the boys figure things out.

2. Helping my boys take a risk. How much do I nudge them out of the nest? Far enough to make them feel uncomfortable and scared or just enough to know that I will be right along side of them for this crazy ride? Matt made a decision this past weekend that I was proud of, I guess. But wonder, if he had pushed himself out of his comfort zone would he have made a better decision. We'll see how this all plays out on Wednesday, when he heads back to school. (yeah, you got that right. we still have one more day off!)

3. The boys' fashion decisions. For the most part they are fine with the clothes they wear. Although, Matt has an AWFUL flat rimmed baseball hat that he wears constantly. It drives my husband nuts. I try to calm him by telling him that his red hair, A+, Opie look-alike son will not be turning gangsta anytime soon. He's not so sure.

4. Respect. There's none of it anywhere, or so it seems. This bothers me...period!

5. Entering the teenage years. Enough said.

Knitting Never Stops

It's a new week and that means new sock knitting.! No special pattern, no fancy stitch patterns. Just letting the yarn speak for itself.

Yarn is from sKNITches. Syncopation. The colorways are always fun to look at. This one is called Handsome Devil.

  As I was wandering through Ravelry today it seemed to me that many were knitting hats, scarves and socks. We all must be in hibernation mode.  And then, I came across this and it immediately went into my queue. This is a sweater that I could live in all winter.

Then one click led to another and I discovered this fantastic site. Check it out! I'm at awe over all the amazing design work that's being created.

Now I don't know what to knit next!  Do you?

5 things...

All sorts of cleaning and sorting has been happening around here. I must be getting ready to hibernate for the winter. It feels good to purge and get rid of all the crapola that hasn't been used in awhile. The old toys are what gets to me the most. Not sure what to keep and what to give away. Every time I look at the box of Rescue Heroes I remember our trips to the toy store to buy the newest and coolest hero. My boys would play for hours with those guys and I was happy to purchase them. I was sad to see them disappear from the toy market.

Anyway, enough of my reminiscing. On to the five!

1. I've been thinking a lot about travel lately. I have a fear of flying and feel that it's holding me and my family back. I need to get over this.

2. I need to get the boys passports. See item 1.

3. Wondering about a trip to London this summer with the family.


4. But would also like to do a hiking, climbing, kayaking trip out West.


5. The geese are gathering and flying in the morning and the evening. Maybe migration has me thinking about this....mmmm...I'll have to reflect on this a bit more!

Hope your week is off to a good start!

Link Love...

I haven't done one of these in awhile. Hope you all had a productive and happy week. We are in full gear with many activities: hockey, cross-country, middle school play and the never-ending homework. Enjoy your weekend everyone!


I saw this great photo assignment and really wanted to start it...then thought about it again and realized that my boys would not want a camera in their face for 180 days. Maybe if they were younger. It's a great project though!

Trying to make different types of cookies for the boys other than chocolate chip. These look delicious.

Love this little cake topper.

These two are simply gorgeous. love, love ,love everything about them.

For all of you with little ones, I thought these were really cute. When the guys were little, I would carry flashcards around in my bag. They enjoyed playing with the cards and looking at the pictures. And hey, any exposure to the letters were an added benefit!

I'm sure everyone has seen this. But, I just love jcrew and this just gets me excited for Fall.