Week 39

"We are rare, not perfect...we need to soothe ourselves, not blame ourselves." ~ Mark Nepo

Walks, bike rides, art in the backyard, leaves changing color, clear sky in the west, Hurricane watch on the east coast, and these adorable grandchildren of mine. All is well and we're all okay. Thank you.

I love watching the Liquidambars change. 

Out for a morning adventure with this cutie.

Noticing.

I gave him a new pad of paper when I picked him up from school. 

He walked into the house, gathered his supplies, and went straight to work on his masterpiece.

My heart!

Straight out of my camera (phone).

Burn baby burn.

As we watched the weather channel all evening, I  made a little graphic from a screenshot.

Then we watched again the next night as Ian headed towards Melissa in SC.

Thankfully, all of our family made it through okay.

Paisley highly recommends this book. 

It is eye-opening. 

She liked my happy face Sun.

Got all three of them together. 

More Liquidambar (aka Sweetgum) leaves.

Those are some big eyes staring down at me - like I'm prey. 

This is one of the White-tailed Kites that has been hanging out at Hub's office. 

Week 10

I know it's still winter, but spring is here in Northern California, and it is glorious! The trees and flowers are blooming, the Bees are buzzing, and the birds - well, the birds are always here, and that's a good thing.

I finally got to see my grandkids after three weeks of isolation. I swear they have grown a couple of inches and gotten even more brilliant.

I did a lot of shooting and had to whittle down my images for the week to just ten from a gagillion. Ha! Sometimes it feels like that many, and I love it.

Onward.

Cooper's Hawk looking for a snack.

The bees are so happy!

It's not easy getting these two to sit still together. 

Homemade goodies I ordered from an amazing artist in Maine. 

Ready to go to school.

Lunchtime.

Macro rose petals. I love how this feels.

This one smells divine.

Yep, more roses

A male Downy Woodpecker. They are always watching.

Week 8

I am still suffering from the 'rona. 

By suffering, I mean I'm tired, have head and chest congestion, and a low fever, sometimes. It's really not that bad, but it seems to be just hanging on too long. I feel a little better each day and can't wait to go somewhere. Anywhere.

In the meantime, I'll keep taking pictures around the house, sitting out back in the sun, watching movies, reading, learning Procreate on my iPad, and ordering groceries online.

Trying to get over the 'rona

Correction: My Lavender survived the winter and it's blooming!

(I blame the 'rona for calling this Rosemary)

Male Flicker waiting for the suet to be replenished.

Can't tell if this is a female or an immature male Anna's.

Sunshine in the backyard!

More roses blooming next door.

We said goodbye to this beast. 

Thank you for eight years of camping and riding.

Week 5

 As I gathered my photos for last week, I realized we are now in the second month of the year. How did that happen?!

This last week was busier than usual, making it challenging to remember to take photos.

So, I decided that I would not worry so much about what to shoot or the exact day, but instead shoot in a way to remember what was going on. I can just share moments from my week. I think that makes this a 52-week project AND takes a little pressure off. Yes, I know; I'm the one applying the pressure. It also takes me too long to decide which images I want to share, and this way, I can share more. Or less.

 Always a work in progress, I am.

This guy got his long locks cut off. 

I love that now I can see all of his beautiful face and those cute little ears.

Tuesday we drop Logan off at school and Miss Paisley 

waves 'Hi' and "Bye' to everyone.

Always reading multiple books.

Miss Cleo is over 17 years old. 

Completely deaf and half-blind and still going strong.

I'm always looking for the partly cloudy sky.

Dropping Logan off at school on Friday. 

Paisley likes to go on adventures so,

it takes a little longer to get back to the car these days.

Saturday morning backyard view.

Bought ourselves and newer travel trailer. Can't wait to get on the road again!

Riding in the truck with my boys.

My house plant babies. Thinking I need some more.

290/365

“I must have flowers, always and always.”

~ Claude Monet

Today...

I listened to another great Brene Brown podcast on my walk. 

I wore a light jacket, thinking it was cold out, and it was, a little, in some spots. Then there were pockets of warm air like a heater was blowing. It was odd. It reminded me of a coast camping trip that was uncharacteristically hot.

By the time I got back home from my walk, I had decided I want to sort, cull, and make photo albums with my boxes and boxes of photographs. I think that would be a great winter project. 

279/365

Today...

Eight solid hours of sleep.

Tea.

Feeding and watching a pair of Stellar's Jays in the backyard.

A walk around the neighborhood before it got too warm.

My daily phone chat with my Sister.

Salisbury Steak, mashed sweet potatoes, and green beans for dinner.

Watching the Packers beat the Falcons with Mike.

Reading.

 

277/365

Today...

Saturday.

AQI better this morning than last night.

Getting my chores done before...

Jesse, Bri, Logan, and Paisley came over.

Amazon delivery of some photo props.

Researching how to set up a small studio in my small house 

and how much RAM I need to add to my iMac.

My CynCyn called. 

Takeout from El Tapatio for dinner with Jesse and family.

Getting to see and hold Miss Paisley.

A sleepover with my Logan.

268/365

Today...

Found some much-needed color in my backyard this morning.

Jesse, Bri, Logan, and Paisley were over today!

I got to hold that baby.

Logan and I had an art date while Dad and Mom took Paisley for her two-week checkup.

We played with clings, stickers, lots of stickers, made a Pumpkin, colored pumpkins, painted with dot markers, and watercolor. So fun!

Jesse and Bri came back with lunch so they hung out for a while.

Jesse reinstalled our office A/C.

Chatted with my Sister.

Roasted sausage and vegetables for dinner. And wine.

233/365

Today...

Waking up in my own bed, in my own home.

Getting the news that Brian and Julie's and Father's houses survived through the night.

Wishing my Julie a Happy Birthday.

Talking to my Sister.

Medical benefits.

A little bit cooler weather.

Air conditioning, to keep the wildfire smoke out.

Got to talk to my Melissa AND my Dr. CynCyn.

Sandwiches for dinner.

Watching the DNC with Mike. 

The air quality improving some this evening.

225/365

Today…

Spending the morning with my Logan!

Sitting in the warm sun on a cool morning.

Laying wrestling on the grass.

Playing with 35 mini monster trucks.

Coloring together on a light-up whiteboard.

Having lunch on the back deck.

Watching 'Sofia the First'

The big hug I got before I left.

Playing with stencils and watercolor pencils.

Take out for dinner.

224/365

Today…

Nine, yes, NINE, hours of sleep.

Stretching before I got out of bed.

A two-mile walk while listening to a Chase Jarvis and Liz Gilbert podcast, before breakfast.

Stopping to drop off a card and wish our neighbor Jim a Happy Birthday.

Watering my garden.

Watching a Bee gathering pollen from my sunflower. Amazing.

Getting the grocery shopping done.

Staying off devices and social media most of the day. Got the news from my Sister.

Talking to my Dr. CynCyn. 25 more days.

Appreciating Whole30 vs Keto because - more vegetables and...sweet potatoes.

Evening conversations with Mike.

Sheet pan fajitas with cilantro lime riced cauliflower for dinner.

222/365

Today…

The sun is coming up later and later.

Watching all the birds come in while watering this morning.

We had a whole family of Bluebirds eating mealworms at the patio table.

My Mammoth Sunflower is blooming. A little short but it’s perfect for photographing. 

I found three different things I had been looking for over the last few weeks/months.

All because the garbage disposal broke. Silver linings.

Took an early morning trip to Walmart.

Then a late morning trip to Lowes.

The garbage disposal has been replaced. I am so grateful my husband is mechanically inclined. 

Grateful to our new neighbors, who have spotted two fires in the creek behind our house before they got out of control.

Laundry done.

BLT’s for dinner.

207/365

Today...

Quiet morning.

Coffee and breakfast while watching the sunrise up over the trees at the creek.

Starting to put things back where they were, opening up some space around here.

Helping Jesse and Bri with their move.

Bri and I got their kitchen set up.

Watching Jesse mow his own lawns with his new mower.

Enjoying hanging out in their little house and the vibe of the neighborhood.

Bri's cousin showing up with lunch for everyone.

Meeting a few of their neighbors.

Appreciating the time I had them here with us and now, the quiet space. 

Listening to my Editing playlist while working on photos. 

Practicing my brush lettering.

A cocktail, kettle chips, and chocolate chips. Not together but, yeah, off the Keto wagon today.

201/365

Today...

Sunday.

Got out of bed, grabbed my camera and lenses, and headed to the backyard to photograph the wild sunflowers in the morning light.

Brunch with Mike.

And a short walk together before it got warm.

Finally, talked to my Melissa. Must not wait so long between phone calls.

Catching up with my Sister.

Editing photos while listening to Led Zeppelin.

Finished Wolfpack. It was a quick, inspirational, and empowering read. Lots of highlighting done.

Grilled Chicken and corn on the cob with a Greek Salad for dinner. Made by Jesse and Bri.

199/365

Today...

Friday!

My dahlias a blooming!

Got out in the backyard with my camera before tea and before Logan woke up.

Breakfast with Mr. Logan.

Another two-mile walk, round trip, to go see the ducklings. We saw all of them.

Accidentally startled a Green Heron out of it's hiding spot, but I got some great pictures.

Logan and I had a picnic lunch in the living room while watching a Lego movie.

It was a good photography day.

I love it when I get to edit photos that take my breath away.

Just started reading "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle. I'm doing a LOT of highlighting, it's that good.

Crispy spicey Turkey with riced cauliflower, lemon, almonds, and herbs for dinner.

Our flock of turkeys visiting tonight. Haven't seen them in a while.

194/365

Today...

Sunday.

A nice quiet weekend, except for crazy Cleo.

Awake too early but I got to talk to my Dr. CynCyn first thing.

Sunday breakfast with Mike.

Then we went for a bike ride before it got too hot.

Taking a catnap.

Laundry done.

Watching the Hunger Games for the first time.

AIR CONDITIONING.

We had a "Snack" or as the kids used to call it, "whatever" dinner tonight.

Enjoyed a great phone conversation with my brother Gordie.