The Little Things

OK, so on Tuesday evening I text my granddaughter Bailey, (you know that is the only way to communicate with the younger crowd....an actual telephone is beyond their comprehension). She has been out of town on business for 4 weeks so haven't spent any girl time together and I knew she was on vacation this whole week.  Anyhoo my text said, "are you busy tomorrow? how about lunch and a drive in the country so Nana can shoot some countryside and barns in the snow? Sounds like fun...right??"  She text back.."yes,sounds like fun!".  Now I don't know if she really enjoys country drives, is humoring her Nana, or the sound of a free lunch was appealing.  I didn't care, I love spending time with her and I haven't been country driving at all since it snowed.

After we had our lunch, (Noodles) we were on our way.  It was cold, the wind was whipping, and the sky was totally without color, but I didn't care.  I was with my grand and on the road.  We ventured into territory neither one of us had ever been thru and along the way I found this....perfect for Theresa's Good Fences Thursday and Kim's Little Things Thursday.  After all it is those little things that truly count in our life.

And another one....

Added a texture to this one...

And then barns....probably a little bit breezy in this one.

And just about the time we were done for the day the sky began to brighten up a little..

It was a great day, well spent and now off to the movies with friends and bookclub this evening where we will be talking about "Orange Is The New Black".  Enjoy the rest of the week!!

"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." ~ Aaron Siskind

Until next time.....

Holy Moly It's Snowing.....

Holy moly it's snowing and has been since yesterday morning.  Last year I complained bitched about the lack of snow...wow this year it is definitely a snowy winter wonderland.  I am waiting for it to stop, so I can scurry over to the Arboretum to grab some images of this delight before the bottom drops out of our temps,  Predictions are grim for any outdoor activities with temps in the below zero range, even daytime temps will not reach above the 0 mark.  I know you people up north are probably used to that but this midwestern girl, raised in Texas still shivers at just the thought.

Yesterday was a pretty low-key day with naps on the agenda enjoyed by all.  And between naps I am reading a really good book, "The Husband's Secret" by Liane Moriaty.  I am anticipating this might be one of the better books I have read in awhile. Love her writing style.  

Then last night I ventured out the front door to shovel off the walk so little Cinder had a place to walk and do....you know.  Snow is not her favorite thing....  I looked up and saw Toby standing on his chair watching my every move wondering why he wasn't out with me.  And yes, I have my tree and holiday decorations still up.  Maybe this weekend they will come down.  It just took me so dang long to put them up, I need to enjoy them just a little longer....enjoy - ha who am I kidding, the truth is I definitely am not looking forward to the work of putting them all away.

This old chair is sitting on the front porch....

This morning it was still snowing,...Toby bounded out.

While Cinder said..."no thank you, I will stick to my cozy warm couch."

Oh whee...I love all this white, it looks magical!! But then I am the one that gets to sit inside drinking a 2nd cup of coffee enjoying the sites from my window while those that are still in the workworld are probably grumbling and not enjoying this one bit. It's all from one's perspective.

I hope you are enjoying your day...stay safe stay warm.

"The Eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because it was important to them; there ought to be as many for love."  ~  Margaret Atwood

Linking to Kim's

Until next time.....

Yes, It Snowed Here Too....

Yes, it snowed here too.  I have been seeing bunches of blog posts about the "first" snow of the season for a lot of us...and for a lot of us it was a complete surprise.  We received far less than many, but enough to coat the grass and the rooftops with that fresh fallen stuff we will be wanting come about Dec 24th.  Right now, my yard is still full of dropped leaves and there are some "fall chores" that still need to be completed, so I was definitely not ready for that white stuff to fall.

Everything around us seems to be caught between the two seasons....still colors so vivid on some trees and bushes, while others are stripped bare.  Today there is very little traces left of the white stuff, a little on the slopes that receive no sun but gone from the sunny spots. My backyard is almost completely covered in shade during these winter months. The sun being so low in the sky that the shadow created by the house looms over the garden.  Yesterday I captured this snow-capped dried monarda in those shadows.

Yep, time to drag those bird baths in so they won't crack over the winter.  I leave a couple out that are not made of ceramic so the birds have a place to grab a drink or two.

And because it snowed, it was time to bring out the snowman mug for my coffee this morning. Goodness, I have already dripped coffee down the front.  And yes, it sure tasted good on this cold windy morning.   For having a home that keeps me warm on those first frosty, snowy, cold, & windy mornings I am grateful.

While taking pictures in the back yard, I snipped some of the dried hydrangeas off of the bush and brought them inside to enjoy...I snip them all off during the holidays and place them on my Christmas tree...I love it.

Linking to Kim's

Until next time....

Being a Part of a Special Event...

Isn't she sweet....!!!  She was the reluctant flower girl at the wedding I photographed on Saturday (remember, I asked you all to wish me luck?).  The wedding was celebrated in the lobby of a restaurant/banquet facility where the lighting was poor and the area was a little tight but even tho the conditions were not ideal for a photographer, the ceremony was a lovely event.  The couple had been together for 15 years, each married before, each had grown children, each very committed to each other but had not taken that last step....marriage.  Saturday was that last step and a beautiful step it was.  So today, I am grateful for this opportunity that has been given to me, to be a part of a special event, to be a welcomed addition to the celebration and to be able to capture these special moments for the "newly weds".

"Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance."  ~  John Petit-Senn

Joining with Kim at

Until next time....

Oh Me Oh My....

You know what today is....!!!  Unfortunately it is raining in Chicago-land and is predicted to rain for most of the day, so not really sure how many little ghosts & goblins are going to be out this evening.  Which again puts me in a state of uncertainty as to the amount of candy (treats) to buy.  Do I buy like I usually do and when the numbers of Trick or Treaters are slight enjoy the bounty myself?? (which you know what that does to the hips and with hip-adding season just right around the corner, I am definitely in a quandary).  Or do I just forget this year, turn the lights off, keep the gates closed, save my hips but maybe disappoint the few that might come?  Oh me, oh my, I hope this is the only serious decision I have to make today.

"Nothing on earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night."  ~  Steve Almond

Joining Kim at....

Until next time.....

Thursday Things

Busy day...went to my Dr.'s for a follow-up.  Unfortunately found out that I have significant bone loss that showed up via a bone density scan.  Oh brother, this getting old is definitely a challenge.  But the good news is my blood pressure was great and my mammogram was normal...two to one, I guess not bad odds.  But now, a new medication...yurk!!  Are any of you out there in our wonderful blogland on any kind of meds for bone loss?  If you are, please share your experience with them.  I want to know the good, the bad & the ugly.

Then on to take Toby to his Dr....he was way behind on his shots, so after being poked numerous times and what a good boy he was, we took a walk around the Vet's office.  They are located in a neighborhood, with a large yard behind the building and lo and behold what did I spy....sunflowers growing so stately and tall.

Some almost spent....

Others still tight in their bud...

The Vet receptionist suggested that I walk a block down the street to a beautiful forest preserve, ofcourse Toby and I were interested in a forest preserve, no telling what delights we could find there.

Beautiful bridges...

Acorns gathering...

Interesting wild flowers in all colors...

The weather has cooled off significantly from the past few days so the walk was really pleasant.  If the temps would have been in the 90's like it has been these last few days, I fear I would have missed all this beautiful wild-life.

Still working on a couple of recent photo shoots....sharing a couple of photos.

Sharing with Kim at

"My favorite thing is to go where I've never been."  ~  Diane Arbus

Until next time....

Lots and Lots of Pictures

Just some scenes from last week....(fyi....lots & lots of pictures)

Old McDonald had a farm....eeyieeyiyo...and on this farm he had some

Horses

some cows

some ducks

some chickens

and a barn....eeyieeyiyo.

and then there was this sweet little country church....

and a walk around a neighborhood found leaves already turning

little crab-apples that looked like cheeries

black-eyed susans hugging a fence

And then there was the French Market Day at Cantigney....

Where there were sweet women (Terry) that spoke perfect French and allowed me to take her picture....

Men in their very French berets

Fudge....drool.

Fresh veggies....

Madeline reading Madeline....

And squirrels feasting on the vegetation...

And the flowers.....

And the water....

A pretty much picture perfect week.

Joining in Kim's Little Things Thursday.

"No, you never get any fun out of the things you haven't done."  ~  Thomas Nash

Until next time....