2011 273/365 Double Rainbow

We were treated to a beautiful double rainbow last night.  It was the brightest,  most defined, longest lasting rainbow we've ever seen.

I'm so glad the four of us were home to see it together.  Such excitement!
The rest of the rainbow shots can be found here.

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2011 272/365 Poser

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Another animal seemed to be posing recently.  Remember the horse?  Check out this rooster!

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2011 271/365 Barn and Wagon

Photo of the barn and wagon at Freeman Farm, Old Sturbridge Village.  This is a favorite shot.  I'm loving it's composition, the coloring, the simplicity, the wisdom in the aged wood.  It is comforting and makes me say, ahhhh.

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2011 270/365 Along the Garden Path

Oh, Love!  Caught this glimpse of Paul as he left the Towne House garden at Old Sturbridge Village.  The girls were painting watercolors among the flowers as I sat in the gazebo among the beauty.  I especially love the bricks and the garden gate.  Blissful moments!

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2011 269/365 A Horse, Of Course

This horse was being led into the cider barn where he would be walking round and round to operate the apple crusher.  I love this moment as he (she?) turned with a backward glance.

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2011 268/365 Thinking Chair

Pondering today...questions for my photo class...questions for my women's circle later today.

Loving the monochromatic color seen here - Exploring with a Camera, Color Wheel part 1

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2011 267/365 Yumminess!

Caramel apples - just have to have them!  Emma and a friend made these yummy delights last night.  Delish!

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2011 266/365 Autumn Hydrangea

Happy Fall, y'all!

2011 265/365 Annie's Onions

Annie planted and harvested this batch of onions.  Yummy!  They are drying on the lawn - providing another opportunity for me to focus in on something lovely about this place.

2011 264/365 Apple Sweet Apple

This bowl of appley goodness brought some fall color into the kitchen this week. Looks like another trip to the orchard is in order, the bowl is nearly empty already. 
I'm loving the blue of the old pyrex bowl as it holds the muted reds and greens of the apples.  I may have achieved chromatic gradation here...from blue through green to red.
I'm linking to The Kat Eye View, Exploring with a Camera, The Color Wheel Part I.

2011 263/365 View from Here

This view just never gets old.  Here the trees are dressed in a misty morning fog.

2011 262/365 Drops on the Railing

Fall on the deck is a treat!

2011 261/365 Dew on the Deck

The dew on the deck is another scene drawn to my attention by 9-year old Annie.  At times we certainly find ourselves missing those old homeschooling days which ended over 4 years ago, but the girls and I have often thought one of the best parts of building school life is being up to see the sunrise.  Some mornings it puts on quite a show!

I feel a rush of giddy excitement today~I just registered for Kat Sloma's Find Your Eye: Starting the Journey e-course!

2011 260/365 Mason

I'm kind of known for often carrying around my water/juice combo drink in a mason jar. It's such a normal part of life for us, drinking out of these beauties, that I forget it's perceived as odd and quirky until I meet someone new at work or a meeting or a party and they comment on my jar -- usually with a joke about moonshine ;-)

2011 259/365 Book Edges

2011 258/365 Bottle Tops

2011 257/365 Love of place...

Summer came to a wooshing, race to the finish end, rolling over me and right into the brief (but intense) back to school season -feeling like a rock tumbling through white rapids and then, suddenly, a void.  So, now as things settle in to a routine and now as I once again can carve out time to care for myself, my family, my home at a quieter pace with less energy needed for immediate concerns - I look around and ack.  Piles.  Dirt.  Clutter.  A sense of not knowing where to start, of wanting to start over, of being somewhat overwhelmed.  Surfing blogs is a wonderful tool for procrastination!  I found Liane Tyrrel's site Enhabiten (we both had photos featured on These Moments) and spent some time pouring over her beautiful pictures.  At first, they just took my breath away.

Photo by Liane Tyrrel

Then, I felt panicky and that everything here is wrong.  And, then the sun rose and filled my home, casting a beautiful glow here and there, highlighting lines and colors along with the dust and rubble.

Yes, the place is in need of a good and deep tidy, but nothing is wrong unless I say so and so I say it's right.  I need to fall back in love with this place and care for it properly.  I picked up my camera and began to break down the big overwhelm a bit, to focus on a small, tiny bit of beautiful sunshine as it lit up our home.  (Others would have picked a broom and mop and started in on the mess...oh, no, not me!  I have to work up the inspiration first!)

With the leaning in and the twist of my zoom lens, I cut out the stack of papers on the table and focused on the way the sun shone through a leaf, I eliminated the toppled laundry baskets and discovered the curve of the curtain.  (Process of elimination just happens to be Kat's current photo challenge theme, but I'm too late to link there.)  Oh, and I did wash the dishes in the sink, make my bed, and start a wash.

I love the photos and am happy to share them.  It is a step in the right direction.  Growing some inspiration (and shrinking some baggage) to tackle some jobs - big and small - around here and to keep perspective and find beauty and a way to coexist with (some of) the detritus of a happy, active, loving family.  Now, to combine this inspiration and perspective with a "just do it" attitude and some elbow grease - because wishing it won't make it happen, and I want it to happen.  Because, I do.  Love this place.

2011 256/365 Sooo Big!

Nine year old, Annie, had something big to show us.  Recently back to school, she discovered she can reach a bar on the playground previously out of her grasp.  I grabbed the camera as we headed over to the school this weekend and captured her achievement.

These photos remind me of that sing-songy game we played with the girls when they were babies -- "How big is Annie?  Sooooo, big!"  Feeling blessed to be rolling in the sweet.

2011 255/365 She was Three

Thirteen year old, Emma, standing at the Woodbridge Fire Department's September 11, 2001 monument that incorporates a piece of steel from the World Trade Center.  Emma was three on 9/11/01. 

2011 254/365 Pausing to Reflect, 9/11

Woodbridge Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Sean Rowland, pauses at the pool to reflect during the September 11th memorial construction.  The beam is a piece of steel from the World Trade Center.  The monument was designed by Mary Baccar of Silver/Petrucelli + Associates and is just stunning.  At night, lighting causes an image of the Twin Towers to appear on the building

Truly breathtaking, the memorial will be officially dedicated later this morning in a beautiful ceremony at 10 am at the Woodbridge Fire House.

2011 253/365 Mud, and Rain, and Remembering

Woodbridge Volunteer Firefighters spent much of the week working in the rain and mud to prepare their September 11th Memorial for dedication tomorrow at 10 a.m.

This photo was featured at These Moments.

Thank you!!

2011 252/365 Fence Full of Blooms

A fence full of blooms at Mystic Seaport.

2011 251/365 Buzz - Busy September Days and Nights

Oh these early in the school year days and nights - the pace is remarkable - with extra curricular activities starting up, parent nights to attend, parent nights to lead, a Yankee game, a Board of Ed meeting, and a night of meeting minutes to record.  And, I'd consider us a "slow family" that tends toward not over-programming ourselves!  Yikes!  Thankfully, the third week of September will arrive and it'll quiet down a bit.  Until then, I need to find a little Zen.

How reluctantly
the bee emerges from deep
within the peony

- Basho

2011 250/365 They're Off!

Yesterday was the first day of school. This was shot at the bus stop.  The girls and I love this photo ~ it shows their different personalities and senses of style. 

8th graders left for school late to give 7th graders orientation time, Emma was so thrilled to be there to help send off Annie (4th grade) with love and good wishes. 

I am happy to report that both girls really enjoyed their first day back!  The house was abuzz last night with stories and excitement.

This photo was featured on These Moments ~ Thank you!

2011 249/365 Metamorphosis

Seventh grade becomes eighth...third grade becomes fourth.  The first day of school finally arrived today, after a week long delay due to Hurricane Irene.  What an unexpected and really wonderful last week of summer the girls had - intensely full of play: solo, as a dynamic sister duo, and with their cousins and friends.  Each child is anxious to get their school year rolling along though.  The beginning is such a mix of excitement and well, butterflies!  Good luck, girls!  I know you'll make the most of what comes your way.

2011 248/365 For Annie

When I returned home from work this week, my 9 year old daughter had noticed the beautiful sky while playing outside and excitedly shared it with me.  She wanted me to capture this post-Hurricane Irene moment for her.  Without power for 6 days, we noticed the beauty around us became more vivid.  You wanted the sky...here it is, baby.

2011 247/365 Taking the Tree Away

THANK YOU!

2011 246/365 Keeping it Light

2011 245/365 Glow

Seeing double!

2011 244/365 Passing Time

Part of me is going to miss these dark, post-storm nights just hanging out on the deck, drinking (naturally gluten free) hard cider, listening to the humming of neighbor's generators and the summer bugs' night symphony.  The stars and sky and the simplicity of 'nothing can be done' shared with the one I love and who loves me -- a blessing to be remembered.