Sentimental Sunday - Wedding Anniversary

“A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity.  The order varies for any given year.” – Paul Sweeney

 So true!  Today is our 23rd wedding anniversary.  We definitely have experienced all the words in the quote over the years.  I would add the ability to share different perspectives.  My life would be so boring if it weren't for my husband's wit and different take on life.  Just when I think I have something all figured out, he shares a new thought which helps me see something new and interesting.  Over the years we always ask each other, (well, I always ask)  "Why did you marry me anyhow?"  It's consistently..."I just knew you were the right one for me the moment we met."  The moments of being so incredibly comfortable with someone in every situation is the only way I can describe it.  We never have to pretend to be someone else, we always enjoy each other's company, and we share all the bumps life throws us.  I'm thankful that he tolerates all my randomness!  Maybe, just maybe, I keep his life interesting too!

I love you my dear husband!  Our marriage adventure only gets better year after year!  (An added bonus, you're an awesome cook!!)

Anniversary dinner!

Here's my take on how to take a
picture of the stink bug.

"I would take the picture from below..." - Vance
Good thinking!!  

Our favorite spot!

Enduring yet another moment of
crazy picture taking.  I remember
the first time I tried to take a picture
of us together - I only got our armpits!

Our shadows in Jamaica - I love our adventures!

Silly Saturdays 12 Week Program Week 1 - The Plan

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. – E E Cummings

There are fourteen weekends until the end of this year.   Two weekends are considered holidays, so they will be “breaks”, leaving 12 weeks.  By the end of the year, I will have sorted out SILLY things that I have accumulated over the years.  Things I just didn’t have time to part with, or didn’t want to part with at the time, or I just put aside because I didn’t have the time to sort them.  It’s time to let go and start a new life without these SILLY things.  Plus it will give me something to blog about on Saturdays!

First, I need a plan of action.  Using the tried and true SMART format, let’s see if I have a clear plan?

(SILLY) Simple Items that Lost Lovableness over the Years – 12 week clear out program 

 Specific goal statement:   By the end of 2012, I will have eliminated (by donating, throwing, or selling) treasured SILLY items every Saturday.  

Measureable:  Yes, this will be captured and measured in a couple of ways:

• Quantified by:  # of worthy items donated can be a tax deduction.  I will keep a log as well as pictures.  The feeling of relieving our home of unneeded items will be another measurable.  The garbage service comes regularly on Tuesdays, there is a recycling center a mile away, and there is always Savers to donate to.  Lucky for me, we have a travel buddy for the items who goes there regularly. 
• Quantified by the laugh factor:  The items will have had to make me laugh at why I kept them, or that they are really quite funny looking, or they simply brought a smile to my face when I got them.  Now they want to make me cry for all the years they took up space.
• Quantified by the “it” is a keeper factor:  If I answer no to any of these questions, out “IT” goes – Do I want it?  Do I need it?  Do I love it?  If I answer yes to any of the questions, I need to have a home and a current use for the item.  If I can’t find a home, then I have to re-ask the questions to get to a yes, or out IT goes!

Attainable:  Yes, this is attainable, as it is only one day a week of sorting SILLY things, so I believe this will be a great adventure.  Who will be my support system? You, of course, and my family.  If no one shows up for support, I’m pretty sure Copper will remain faithful through the project.   It’s always important to have someone who will help keep you held accountable.  They can encourage you and remind you of what it is that you are working towards.  Attainable needs to be a personal commitment to the goal.  I hope to share some great sorting and organizing tips I’ve discovered along the way. 

Relevant (Definition…closely connected or appropriate to the matter at hand.).  YES – this is relevant.  Why?  At the end of this project, the SILLY things I’ve hung onto over the years will be gone.  They have been clutter that no longer has meaning to me and serve no major function in our current life.  I will be able to enjoy the uncluttered feeling in my “Mom Cave” and other areas in the home.  (I wonder if the family will pick up on the energy of this project and work through their areas of the home needing the same kind of attention?...hint, hint, hint). 

Time Centered:  Yes, this is a 12 week program.  Specific Start Date 9/29/12, specific end date 12/29/12.  2 hours minimum each setting.

Current frames (I'm hoping they
are the best ones yet!)

Ready, - Yep, got a plan, now I have to pick a starting point. 

Where do I start?  Sudden…paralysis…there’s so many places to start.  Okay, the deal is they have to make me laugh.  Oh, yeah, I know the right place to start.  My old glasses!!  Embarrassing that I’ve kept them all these years, and embarrassing to think I wore them.  Yes, I did have a boyfriend in high school, and yes, someone fell in love with me and married me.  Let’s not even get started on my hair styles over the years, but they aren’t in a drawer somewhere, the glasses are.  Let’s just take a quick look down memory lane.  Then, no kidding, I totally have to get started on this 12 week project.  Thanks for the laugh!  Ya’ all come back again next week for another adventure!

What a lovely collection

The younger years - big plastic was
in!

Big metal frames, nice!

Little metal frames, even sunglasses

The beginning of the frameless looks

Oh yeah, baby!

Oh dear, these were still really big

Small and can barely see them,
is that like Ben Franklin?

Yeah, these were cool!

How about trying on more than one pair!

Midday Refresher

Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it. – Julia Child

This week, the fall colors have been spectacular.  The yellows, reds, and oranges, are so pretty.   The bright blue sky combined with the bright colors of the leaves are simply wonderful examples of nature's beauty.   The weather has been perfect for talking walks outside too.   Having found a new love for taking my camera everywhere, just in case I can capture a great picture, I took a walk this week to refresh midday at work.  While we as humans enjoy the pick-me-up of the bright sunshine in the middle of the day, the camera, not so much.  The lighting is harsh and washes out what we see as bright and beautiful.  I took a few pictures on my walk.  Hope you find time to take a walk before the cold weather sets in.  Enjoy nature's beauty!  Enjoy refreshing yourself midday!  Talk a walk...it's a great stress reliever and good for your heart too!

The light coming through the trees

I like how the bare trees are mixed
in with the ones with leaves still

This cute little building - the tree
really was a pretty red

Ah, yellow leaves, and blue sky

Shadows and light shining through

Guess it's time to head back up the
hill and back to work!  It was a great
walk!

Reading - Thrifty Entertainment

The greatest gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination. 
Elizabeth Hardwick

When I was little, I remember being so enthralled with reading books.  We didn't have a lot of access to the public library since we lived out of the city limits.  The tiny library in our little country school was where I spent a lot of time picking out books.  I loved Little House on the Prairie and the Box Car Children series.  The sense of adventure and being able to transport yourself into the world the author was writing about was so fascinating to me.  Over the years, I was able to form a tiny little collection of books that I bought myself with my babysitting money.  Remember "book of the month" clubs?  I couldn't wait until the catalog came so I could pick out my next book.  I loved just holding the books.  Probably one of the reasons I don't have a Kindle yet.  I like turning the pages and setting the book on my shelf when I'm done reading.  I'm sure I'll get to the Kindle stage someday.  After all, I'm blogging and I never thought I'd do that either.  My Thursday blogs are about "thrifty" ideas.  Reading books from the library is definitely a thrifty way to find great entertainment.  Recently I discovered another great way to find deals on books.  When I had my adventure to Saver's with Sarah, I bought 5 books (buy 4, get one free).  What a great deal on some books that have been on my to-read list for some time, and very affordable.

The books on my shelf are as random as my thoughts in my blog.  Mysteries, self-help, religion, leadership, parenting, organization, decorating, financial, friendship...on and on.  The books remind me of how blessed my life has been over the years.  Some day, some day, I'll write that children's book I've always wanted to write.  While I can wait, (hint, hint to my daughters and their boyfriends...I really can wait for this), I look forward to the day I can hold my grandchildren and read them the books my girls loved reading with me when they were little.  "Are You My Mother?" was tattered from all the times we read it.  Ah...time to pick up a book, curl up in the chair, and enjoy a good story!

I guess I'll have to find room
for my 5 new books!

More of my favorite books
and treasures from my mom

Mistakes are building blocks

While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior. – Henry C Link

I think it is human nature to hesitate because we feel inferior in new situations.  It feels better to remain safe and sound in our comfort zone.  It feels yucky when you make a mistake and really show off the inferiority.  Earlier this spring when I began my quest for learning more about my camera, I just took off and started taking pictures.  I didn't realize that I was making lots of mistakes.  All the pictures looked great to me.  Sarah was patient and showed me different ways of looking at the pictures, how the camera wasn't really focused, so I continued to learn by my mistakes and I continued to have fun in the process.  I was so excited when I discovered there was a contest at Beaver Creek Reserve for amateur photographers.  I thought to myself, "Hey, that's me, I can surely do an amateur picture entry."  I spent an afternoon looking through the pictures and finally deciding which ones to enter.  I entered three.  About a month after the entry, I received the list of "winners".  I carefully scanned the list only to find, I hadn't won anything.  In all honesty, I was disappointed.  But, I still liked my pictures, and I've left them there to go on display.  I'll hang them in the house when I get them back as a reminder that I had to begin somewhere.  The first mistakes were just building blocks in my discovery process.  Just watch out next year...I have some time to prepare.  Now, I need to go see the winning pictures to learn what constitutes a winning picture.

Here are my entries - (Oh yeah...these really shine as "amateur photos")

I still love this little bee picture

I had a hard time coming up with a
name for this picture - I'm sure that's why
I didn't win....(LOL)

I was impressed that I actually caught the
hummingbird sitting on the feeder.

A frog, rocks, and bugs - nature's beauty

Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the shapshot from the photograph. – Matt Hardy

Today begins my official Tuesday Tips - Photography Tips.  I'm still finding that my camera works best for me when it stays in auto setting.  It is after all designed for the "point and click" users.   Duh!  What is important is remember to read the signals the camera provides when it is auto focusing.  The little green boxes indicate what it is focusing on and it helps me capture beauty in the simple things in my yard.  I'm starting to get my family a bit more "excited" about the project.  Last night while he was outside cooking dinner on the grill, my husband opened the door and yelled to me, "Grab your camera, there's something outside you haven't taken a picture of yet."   Of course, I scrambled, and ran outside to see what the awesome opportunity was.  The little frog from earlier this summer, had grown up and climbed the wall.  Luckily for me, he was a slow moving target.  But I must have scared him.  He moved to the side and tried to hide from my crazy photo shoot.  As I looked around the yard, I found the lighting under the deck shining on the rocks.  Even from inside the house, there were opportunities to capture nature's fall activities.

The part the camera doesn't do for me is distinguish a snapshot from a photograph.  That's all about composition and being at the right place at the right moment.  You have to take a lot of pictures to get that down.  Here's a few of my attempts last night.  Go out and discover some photos of your own today!

The shadow is bigger than he is!

I held the camera above him (he
winked at me I'm sure of it)

Look how far he was from the ground!

Oops, guess he's scared.  I'm sure
when he was little, he fit here
and we never saw him.

Awe...he's taking a sunny nap.

Cool lighting - see how the camera
focused on the rocks and made the
background a nice blur.

A silly stink bug climbing the hummingbird
feeder (note only bees are there now)

Just waited a few seconds more,
and I captured the bees in flight too!

Showing Monday Night Football Spirit

“Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him.  It’s something we call heart power.  Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success.” – Vince Lombardi

Vince's quotes are motivational.  The history of his success bears witness to his ability to motivate his team and their fans.  Football players are motivated to win.  Their fans are motivated to be there to support the team and to get the best viewing seat, whether at the stadium or in their own home.  Just imagine how successful every company, family, government, etc. would be if it could  bring out the best in each person and get them to all motivate themselves like Vince was able to do with his teams?   Go out and enjoy your day, give it your best, and make a commitment to put your heart power behind everything you do.  I'm pouring my heart out today by wearing some team spirit.  I tried to "bling" it up a bit, but I think ultimately the plain old sweatshirt wins out!  What do you think?

Nah...not the right color
and lacking the "football" shape

Too fancy for the field

Just right - too big, but just right

Go Packers!  

Remembering summer's landscape

The landscape belongs to the person who looks at it. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thinking back over the summer and all the pictures I took to capture the adventures, I'm reminded of nature's ability to persevere.  The weather has blessed us with a couple of frosts now, and that means it is time to start clearing out the garden beds, or covering them up to prolong the inevitable end to the summer.  I'm one of those people who thinks if it is meant to be it will be.  If the plant can survive the changes in the season, it is meant to stay in the garden as long as it can.  Looking at my tomato plant and the morning glories now, I'm guessing they have met the end of their growing season.  Ultimately, as the season changes, the annual flowers are ready to end their cycle of life.  I'm a bit melancholy thinking about the season changing.  But...I do still have to master the "snow setting" on my camera.  Fall is longer than that, but the first snow is something to look forward to.

Green leaves, first tomatoes - 2 months ago

Green leaves, first flowers - two months ago

No leaves, still a couple tomatoes -
they'll have to ripen on the counter now!

No leaves, just the seed pods for
next year's crop

A lesson on focusing outside of oneself

Forget yourself by becoming interested in others.  Every day do a good deed that will put a smile of joy on someone's face. - Dale Carnegie

Feeling a little sorry for myself earlier this week, I decided it was better to get out of that "poor me" attitude and focus elsewhere.  Time to take opportunities when they arise and make a commitment to not be so down in the dumps.  It's easy to feel sorry for yourself and stay in your "rut".  The "rut" becomes less desirable when you focus outside of yourself and see how other people enjoy their lives.  I'm sure they all have their moments too, who doesn't?  This week has been an adventure in discovering new things about other people.  I was able to share dinner with a couple of dear friends.  Their humorous wit, story telling ability, and different outlook on life was refreshing and hopeful.  For me, during "chatting" conversations, I absolutely love to just listen to people and absorb what they are saying.  Someday, maybe I'll be a great story teller too??

I was invited to Toastmasters by a dear friend.  I made the commitment to simply attend to see what it is all about.  Over the years, I have given plenty of speeches and presentations at work.  But at work, it's familiar topics for the people there, I know them, so it seems fairly easy to do.  I've given a few funny ones, probably because I'm not afraid to really embarrass myself.  I've even been able to get the whole group dancing to the "Black Eyed Peas".  Normally, my topics aren't very fun, and if I'm presenting after lunch, I have been known to put a few people to sleep.  So...maybe an adventure in learning how to really connect with people would be something beneficial.  After watching the humorous speeches (that was the theme for the night), I'm convinced I have quite the job ahead of me if I were to join.  I'm not sure if the presenters knew this, but their bravery, confidence and ability to connect with me because of those attributes did spark a little more interest in visiting again.  I wish I could have taken pictures, but that's not allowed.  I'm happy to say that my dear friend took first place that night - he did a great job!!

Now...wonder what good deed I can do today that will bring a smile of joy to someone's face!  If I tell my husband that we're going to sort a bunch of stuff to donate to Savers, do you think that will work?  Maybe something I donate will bring joy to someone.  How about you, what good deed will you try??

I'll just go on this picture -
He'll smile if I add yet another
project to his "to do list"

Life is like a camera

Life is like a camera.  Just focus on what’s important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if things don’t work out, just take another shot. - Unknown

 As the summer winds down to full blown fall weather, I'm taking a break to remember back to a week of really good times this past year.  So many happy memories and discoveries.  It was fun to watch how our travel companions discovered the same place we had been before.  Appreciating the hospitality of the locals who know how to relax and enjoy life.  The trip reminded us of how taking another shot at something can turn out to be fun again.  Relaxing and doing nothing but kicking off the flip-flops and sitting back to enjoy the view.  Looking back now, I wish I had learned more about my camera before the trip, so that the pictures would have turned out better.  They're kind of funny to me now.  Maybe that would be a great excuse to save money and go back.  Ahhh...focus on what's important and capture good times.

Enjoy your Thursday!

I didn't even see that the camera was in the picture-
I was focusing on the objects

I'm guessing I don't have to explain what's
wrong with this picture

Trying a different angle

Getting closer - I even caught one of the
local beach combers walking by

Ah...the picture I wanted - I have it
framed on my desk to remind me
to take time to relax once and awhile

Capture the good times!