beginning / finishing

Are you kidding me! I've been the whole month of July without a blog post!

A lot has been going on... Taylor is finishing up college and I am planning a wedding. Some very important times and I've failed to record them here. And the thing is Taylor has been the best about sending me photos. Maybe I should do a collage of all of them.

Meanwhile Keith and I have chosen a date and picked a venue and while he's been out of town Taylor and I are putting down on paper some firm decisions on decor, colors and details. She really should be a wedding planner... she's very organized and creative - helping me stay focused and make decisions. It's so much fun working together on this - and if it turns out like we have envisioned it will be wonderful.

Taylor is completing her college days in her apartment with the bare minimum of furniture - a mattress on the floor and her computer. Her dad moved all her furniture out last week and I picked up Daisy so that she could focus on writing papers and studying for finals. She's missing Daisy but at least Bunny is there to keep her company.

Here's a peak at the location where I will begin a new phase in life. And here is Taylor's humble room where she will finish up another phase in her life. /

take time /put your feet up

L - Nikon / T - iphone

I guess we both had that kind of weekend. Busy, busy, busy but took time to put our feet up, enjoy some Christmas music and the lights we'd hung. Hope you're taking time to savor some moments of Christmas joy.

not rain / not snow

L- Nikon / T iphone

It's not the snow and it's not the rain that has kept us away. In fact, we've had an absolutely gorgeous Autumn season here in the south. The leaves are just at their peak this week and it's so frustrating to me that I don't have anything to show of it's beauty. I take in it's the gorgeous display of color in mind's eye every single day and it astounds me with it's beauty - blazing in the morning light and glowing in the evening light. I have an incredible 360 view from my office on the 18th floor and I'm amazed daily at the changing mosaic of color in the landscape. Believe me, there have been many clicks in my mind, fingers framing in the photo, eyes zooming in to details yet I have nothing to show - I wish I did. I wish I did.

then / now

old photo album photo / Nikon

To my beautiful mother who means the world to me. Happy Mother's Day. I am so lucky to have you as my mother. -a lovely, caring, strong and virtuous woman in every sense of the word.

"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever." -Anonymous

(my mother still holds my hand sometimes - a constant guide, a comforting touch, a friend)

Happy Mother's Day to all of you. I hope it was beautiful in every way.

road tripping

L - iphone / T - iphone

Well it wasn't a true 'road trip' where you take the back roads, having no agenda and stopping whenever something catches your eye - we love those kind. But it was a nice and relaxing trip. We went down to Pensacola to visit Taylor's grandparents and that is like a plush holiday - eating at great restaurants and chillin by the poolside eating watermelon. The weather cooperated with us - it rained and thunderstormed each morning and in the middle of each night but was nice during the day - perfect - the sound of rain to lull us to sleep and sun in the day to play. It sure was nice to have the extra day off for Memorial Day. Hope you had an enjoyable holiday. I'll post more later.

growth / ambition

L-Nikon D-60 / T - Nikon 35mm

It was so quiet high up on this mountain top not far from Sugar Mountain. Quiet, windy and cold, but so peaceful. And what a view. What a beautiful site these farms were - acre after acre of neatly planted rows of rich evergreen. These trees are meticulously cared for - pruned and protected – in order to grow to the perfect height and shape for a Christmas tree. In fact, it takes approximately 12 to 15 years for a single tree to grow, from seedling to full height, to be harvested for a Christmas tree? That's a long time and a lot of hard work on the part of the farmer, but they say it's well worth the effort when their trees become the centerpiece of our holidays. Maybe there's something to learn from this: that which is worthwhile doesn't come to us without hard work, proper care, dedication and determination.
i love the quiet of a library, it's ability to elicit focus from whoever is experiencing it. focus, the desire for new knowledge and ambition - things that are undeniably important in one's life. it's necessary in one's self and those you surround yourself with. one must always know to reach and strive and push oneself to growth.

I feel like there is alot analogous to these two images, but I struggle with how to pull it together. Again, I leave it to you.

icy cold

solo post - L, iphone

Yep, it's cold – even way down here in the south. Stay warm, my friends.

make a wish

solo post - L, Nikon

listening to: The Magic of the Night

spice / nice

solo post - L, Nikon

listening to: a crackling fire and Let it Snow

(there's a slight prediction of snow for Christmas Eve - I am so wishing for it)