garland / lights

L - Nikon / T- iphone

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale
i love decorating for the holidays, but decided against bringing my two bucket-loads of christmas cheer back with me after thanksgiving. i'm sort of regretting my scrooge-y decision. i had thought i wouldn't have long enough to enjoy them for all the effort it would take. but now seeing as i will be here til the 23rd because of work i'm sad i don't have them. i did pick up a string of $5 lights at the craft store when i was picking up DIY-christmas gift supplies. i love the way they make my room look and i'm a little bit less humbug now!

wrapped up / in a box

L - Nikon / L - iphone

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? - Dr. Seuss

at home / and away

L - Nikon / T - disposable camera

falling leaves
hide the path
so quietly
~John Bailey, "Autumn,"

lush / plush

T - Nikon / L - Nikon

lush fresh juiciness of blackberries and plush green softness of moss - these are the luxuries of summer.

"Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit."
– Henry David Thoreau

impression / reflection

L - Nikon / T - ipod

"Accept what you cannot change. "

- from the 54 precious keys to happiness list in "Choosing Happiness" by Alexandra Stoddard

morning / afternoon

L - Nikon / T - phone pic

my view / her view

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air." -Nathaniel Hawthorne

a sprinkle of color / a scatter of rain

solo post - L, Nikon

This is what our autumn is like so far... mixed of rain and sun, balmy and brisk, summer green and autumn yellow... no wooly sweaters or warm fires burning, no hot cider or chili on the stove. But I know the time is coming and I am so ready.

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all. ~Stanley Horowitz

adoption update: Copper seems to have adjusted real well to his new life in Birmingham so far. I believe my brother has made him one happy dog.

upstairs / downstairs

solo post - L, iphone/Nikon

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer's best of weather And autumn's best of cheer. -Helen Hunt Jackson

This time of year the shadows dance lively as I get ready for work. I see them upstairs and downstairs. I'm lucky that I don't have leave for work before the sun rises - I get to see the pretty light show on my walls. I love how the house has a cool autumn feel in the morning too. We're moving into my favorite season. What about you? Do you look forward to cooler days ahead or are you wanting to hang on to the summer?

spring up

solo post - L, Nikon

"And Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."
- Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Sensitive Plant

April is colorful and sweet smelling - yards and work places are filled with pinks, purples, and reds of azaleas, oranges and purples of pansies, sunny yellow tulips, lavender red buds, brilliant green grass, and the pure whites of dogwoods - all in full bloom against a bright blue sky... and a sweet scent fills the air. It sure makes one feel alive to be surrounded by such beauty. I have to say I've been enjoying it to the fullest all week - lunches outdoors, relatively non-stressful days and home in time to enjoy the golden hour every single day so far. I hope your week has been sweet as well.

outside looking out

solo post - T, Nikon, collage

"Inside yourself or outside, you don't have to change what you see, only the way you see it." - unknown

Fall

solo post - L, iphone

"l(a
le
af
fa
ll
s)
one
li
ness"
- e.e. cummings

soar

solo post - L

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.”
- Helen Keller

this is my wish

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace." - Agnes M. Pharo

9am / 4pm

Well until Taylor joins me again I guess I'm on my own.

Today was another day of preparing (tired of hearing that? it will be over soon) and I made some great progress. My dad helped me create a tri-fold display to hang a few framed images on and I'm finally getting the color where I want it on my cards. It drives me crazy the differences I see on screen vs. my printer, one printer vs. another printer; cmyk vs. rgb. It's odd but the rgb is printing better on my printer. Anyway, once I get the color correct all will be well.
Talk about color. This tree I saw on the way home from purchasing more ink was simply amazing. This photo is straight out of the camera - no color adjustment what-so-ever. The color was so pure and clean - without blemishes - and translucent with the afternoon sun shining through.

“Nature is a revelation of God; Art is a revelation of man” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow