Plans Change

‘Transition’ is the focus of my challenge this week. At the time of composing, I thought I would be reviewing last year’s lessons and gifts and preparing myself to greet the new. Life, of course, seldom fits into our neatly packaged plans. As I write this, I’m sitting in a hotel room, with my alarm […]

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Celebrations

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge is celebrations.  I can think of no greater celebration than when loved ones gather.  Featured image is Ric & I on our wedding day.

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Up Close

I want to become intimatewith every nook and cranny study each aspect of your contoursappreciate personal nuances learn to love and respect you,from the inside out. (For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge:  Up close and macro)

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A Sleepover and a Surprise

“Do you want to drive by the river and see if we can find the eagles?” “Yes!  Then I can tell Mom and Dad and August that I saw them!  August loves birds too.” I smile.  August is two-years-old.  We have picked up Sloane for an overnight with Grandma and Grumpa. “It’s pretty overcast.  I […]

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Remembrance

My granddaughter paints a row of red flowers with crosses in between.  “Flanders Field” she tells me.  She’s six. “Your great-great grandfather, my grandfather, was shot in Flanders Field.” She raises her eyes to meet mine.  “Did he die?” “No, but he was injured.” He was crawling across the field when the bullet entered and […]

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Photo a Week: Ready…

Set…Go! Ready, set, go: I miss summer already! Thank you to Nancy Merrill for this week’s photo challenge:  Ready, set, action.

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Kitchy

“Duck under the table and see what you can find,” was Father’s pat answer to the question of what was for dessert. He was like that: quick-witted and full of comebacks.  My husband is the same, and I compound the problem by walking into it every time: “What have you got on tomorrow?” I’ll ask, […]

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VJWC #6: Family Mystery

Her name was Mary, the one that they say shot herself.  Although I never knew her, it is a stretch to believe a woman would kill herself this way.  Far too messy. “What was she like?” I asked my mother once. “Timid.  Not a particularly happy woman.” She had been married to my mother’s second […]

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July Blues

Summer bursts with activities and plans, and I am already wondering at the folly of trying to move in the midst of it all.  I put out a group text yesterday to solicit help from our kids, and the response was as expected: We are away that weekend. Can we help with the pre-move prep? […]

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V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #4: Relationships

“The people we are in relationships with are always a mirror, reflecting our own beliefs, and simultaneously we are mirrors, reflecting their beliefs.”                             – Shakti Gawain A friend of mine used to say (and I paraphrase). “May you experience as many relationships […]

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