Rest and Chilling Out

Hello,

Well due to a wrong move I have been out of work for a week. I managed to hurt my back and have been on muscle relaxers and seeing an Acupuncturist. I went to pivot with a client and I managed to do some harm to my lower back. I am on the mend so to speak, but let me tell you the muscle relaxer pills knock me out completely. I am doing better but I cannot sit or stand or do anything for any great length of time. The weird side of this is yeah I have some time off, boo my brain is mush and I cannot read or think or speak coherently. I am out of work for at least one more week. I need to be seen by my doctor and the company doctor to be allowed back to work again.

So ladies and gents I hope your week had been better than mine was. I will check back in when I can do more and have some better news to report.

My words of wisdom for now is this:

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

Tuesday Night

Hello Everyone!

What a great week we had. We went to the Great Hot Air Balloon Festival in NH, saw the most magnificent Fireworks display ever. If you combine all the fireworks I have seen in my lifetime, they did not compare to the ones we just saw. Well Maybe Disney's are better, but really now, they were amazing. We went to the Shaker Village, Dianna's Bath which is a wonderful waterfall in the Kancamangus Highway. We got to go sailing and leisurely anchor and have lunch on the water with very dear friends, and so much more. We did not make it to either Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket. Time ran out. No problem, it is still on my 20 Wishes List of things to do.

I have managed to learn so much with what my camera can do, or should I say what I can do with my camera, also how to use Lightroom to process and edit my shots too. I now have my own Flckr page to view my pictures and am working on so many other things that there is just not enough time or energy in a day to do it all. I am blessed with wonderful close photography friends who encourage me and help e with critiques to make things better.

My work is just great, I have two new clients I adore who missed me when I was gone. How sweet are they, they make my day. To be able to offer care, comfort and kindness to elderly is very rewarding. It makes me appreciate life all the more.

As for my quilting, it is too darn hot. I am reading a lot and am enjoying being able to have the time to just sit in my wonderful rocker on my porch, say Hi to my neighbors and just plain chill out. Now that is the good life. Larry and I and my kids are all doing just fine. Thanks to everyone who have still kept in contact.

Do one good deed today, pass along a friendly hello or smile to someone today, it will make them feel good and maybe they will pass it along too.

Wednesday

Hello!

Life is still wonderful...we are on vacation. Larry and I leave in the morning for a few days. There is a Hot Air Balloon Festival that is calling my name. I feel I have to be there. We have been swimming, to the movies, out to eat, sat on my front porch and relaxed with a good book, had day trips to Rockport and Gloucester and so much more. I am tanned and happy!

I hope you are all having as good a summer as I am.

Yeah for Friday !

Good Afternoon one and all,

What a rainy icky day it is, despite it all, I am one happy lady. I have cooking at this moment a large pot of sauce with meatballs and sausages on my stove top. I just took out of the oven a double batch of biscotti's and my house smells wonderful. Tomorrow is the Graduation Party/ send off party for a special lady. My niece Molly is having a blow out Party and it will be a lot of fun. I am so proud of her and her accomplishments. Molly is focused and ready; she has grown into a lovely young lady. I will be with family tomorrow and enjoying all there company.

I will get to spend some quality time with Cara and Tim, they are so good together. It makes me smile. I am happy for them. Ian is well and busy as ever. Larry and I will be on vacation as of tomorrow afternoon YEAH ! We have a lot of day trips planned. Sunday weather permitting it will be off to Shelburn Falls, see the Glacier Potholes, the Butterfly Place, and much more. I will be keeping a bag packed this week and in the car so while driving if we want we can just stop and enjoy the area even more. Some things we will be doing are sailing with very good friends, taking in Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and who knows what else. We will of course have our cameras ready and with us at all times too.

As I am sure you can tell I am still happier than ever. Counting my blessings daily and enjoying life to its fullest.

Have a wonderful week end!

Thursday

Hello One and All,

I went to the most moving and inspirational Memorial Mass yesterday. He was an amazing person and will be greatly missed by us all. He is a good example of a person with a heart of gold and always had a kind word to say.

Life is still wonderful for me. I cannot believe I am the same person I was a year ago, even six months ago. I have so much energy and desire to do so much more now. I am learning to explore more, trusting my instincts and learning so many new and wonderful things. As all this is happening I have made so many new friends who are open and caring and giving. I have been able to stay in touch with many of my old friends too. I have reconnected with a bridesmaid of mine too. We now correspond often, it is like we never were apart and we have so much in common.

The summer weather has been just OK, but I have been enjoying my homemade salsa and Larry's Gazpacho so life cannot be better.

I hope everyone is doing something fun for them selves. All work and no play can become dull and boring. Go out and party hearty with good friends.

We all may have different talents and dreams, but we each have the power to shape our future.

Sunny Monday

Good Morning!

What a great day it is. I had the most wonderful three days imaginable. Saturday night a group of us went and sat outside the Brockton Fair and I took my first Fireworks Pictures. I learned a lot about how to take firework pictures. I also learned that if you shoot them you don"t get to appreciate them as much, although then you have a picture that will last forever. It is finding that happy medium that works. I did manage to take some that I think are really good.

Saturday it was up early to catch the Harbor Boat out of Quincy to go into Boston. The day could not have been better, well maybe a few big puffy white clouds in the sky, but it was awesome. The boat ride over got us all excited about what we were doing next. In Boston we boarded a Tall Ship and took the best ride in and around the harbor. Let me tell you when it was over I wanted to sign up and do it all over again. I have never seen the harbor so busy and so colorful and filled with people as far as the eye could see. The crew was a blast and very knowledgeable about each Tall Ship in the water. When we were done we walked over to the Custom House, took the elevator all the way to the top and took more pictures. What a view. Then it was a boat ride back to reality.

Sunday morning I worked for a few hours then Larry and I matted mounted and framed some of Larry's pictures for his new office.

Life is good, I seem to say that a lot these days. I truly think that with the work I am doing that it reinforces the need to stop and enjoy life more. It might sound so very repetitive to you all, but in my heart I know life is good. I treat each day as a gift. Larry and I lost two people suddenly last week, again I say life is short.

So I am now on my way out to view the Tall Ships leave Boston over from Castle Island. I will be going to Plymouth to do some volunteer work for PediPathways after that. I will leave with one thought for the day. Do one small thing, one small gesture today, make someone smile, hold open a door unexpectedly, call an old friend, do something for someone else, make a difference in someones life today. It will feel good.

Enjoy!

Rain Rain Go Away

Hey All,

The Fourth of July was a blast. I was thankful for such wonderful weather. Larry and I took off on a last minute impromptu photo shoots. What fun. We went from Bostons turning of the Constitution with a Fly By over it, to the North End, Yummy! We went to the Adams House that night and saw a play of John and Abigail Adams with Jefferson reading there letters to each other. Memorizing, amazing, wonderful I could go on and on. We walked the grounds, took pictures and enjoyed it with two good friends. Life is good. I have to say we did not get to the Pow Wow. I ran out of steam. We had a Scavenger Hunt a week end ago that was lots of walking and traveling thru the North End up to Fanuiel Hall ending at the top floor of the State Street building, the one with the clock on top. We were up on the top floor walking outside and around it seeing the city from a whole new angle. How amazing. There is nothing quite like viewing the world thru a camera lens. As you can tell I am having a blast, I am lusting for a new bigger and better wide angle zoom lens. This week end we are off on a sail boat cruise to see the Tall Ships. We filled the boat, thirty people, all from camera club. We will all be amongst others like ourselves. I am hoping for really nice weather. We will have a lot of laughs one way or another, I am sure of that.

Ladies who have stayed in touch by email or letters, Thank You, you are very special to me and I know you know it. Those who follow the blog, Thank You too. You can write back to me thru the blog by clicking on the comments box. I read them all.

So Ladies and Gentlemen, enjoy the days as best as one can when it is pouring out. I can take rain all week long as long as the week ends are sunny. OK I will settle for a cloudy day as long as it is not raining.

The door to your dreams will never close as long as you have the hope, the drive, and the determination to make them come true.