a year of happy

home to me

Yesterday, there was a beautiful post
over at Shutter Sisters
called Home Sweet Home. 

At the end, Eleaca asks,
"What makes where you live Home?"

I thought about this question
all day yesterday.

I thought about it
in a lot of different ways.

Close up,
home is where my people are.
I'm home
whenever and wherever I'm with
my family--D and the kids
and now their spouses
and that sweet grandson!

But when I step outside,
home is these mountains.
.


 
.
.

I walk out my door,
and every way I look
I see mountains.

The top picture
is north.
And to the east,
this beautiful mountain
towers over us.



 

.
When I travel,
I miss the mountains,
and they are the first thing
I look for when I return.

They tell me I've come home.
They also tell me direction,
and I'm always
very turned around
when I leave!

A few years ago,
I learned just how much
the mountains mean to me.

After the tragic death of a dear friend,
my sister and I
took a few days off
to get away from it all.
We decided to stay at a lodge
at a nearby ski resort.

It was summer,
so it was a quiet get-away.

I think I just wanted to rest
and think and grieve.
But what happened
was amazing.

Our room had a balcony
with a view
unlike anything
I've seen before.

The mountains literally
filled up the space--
you could almost
reach out and touch them.

We kept thinking we should
get out and do something...
hike, ride the tram, shop.
But that's not
what I needed.

We ended up sitting on that balcony
looking at the mountains
for three days straight.

We watched the sun and shadows
dance across the scene.
We saw the mountain's moods
in the morning, the afternoon,
and well into the night.

It was peace and tranquility,
and at the end of it,
my hurting heart was healed.

I now call it mountain therapy.

It's another reason
these mountains
are home to me.

__________________________

What makes home HOME to you?
.

______________________

In other news....

you asked how I did
with my action photography
at the swim meet yesterday.

I took hundreds of pictures.
I've heard for people like me
it can take that many
to get a good one.

But I think I did get ONE!
.

___________________________


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A Year of Happy

A Year of Happy: One Hundred Photos

today's challenge

Today
is A's last swim meet
of the season.

This photo
was taken by J,
who is also
Perception Photography.

My challenge today is to take
an action photo
that doesn't look like this one.





WISH ME LUCK!

________________

What is your challenge today?

simple things...revisited

 
 

I've always been a
big believer
in simple pleasures.

I call them life savors.

They are the little things
in life that bring
you joy
if you just take the time
to notice them.

On Wednesday,
I came across Christina's blog,
Soul Aperture,
where she invited everyone
to join her in making a list
of what she calls
"Simple Things."

So I did.

I had no idea
what a beautiful day
it would turn out to be.

Women all over the world
made lists
of the simple things
in life
that they find beautiful,
that please their senses,
that bring them peace.

I took some time
to visit some of their blogs
and find out
what simple things
make them happy.

It was a wonderful experience,
that brought such
a feeling of camaraderie,
and united gratitude for life.

As I read their lists,
I kept thinking things like,
"Oh yes--I love that too!"
and "I'm so glad she
thought of
that one for me!"

I've compiled a new list...
a list that pulls
my favorites
from their favorites,
and joins them into one.

We're women from
vastly different places,
and backgrounds,
and experiences.
And yet,
we're not so different after all.


 

.
Watching
snow
fall.
        Kisatrtle at Kisatrtle's Kreative Korner

.
Being bundled on the couch
with a book
and a whole day
stretched out before me.
         Lyn from Lyn's Lifepixels

.
Deer dipping
dainty hooves into long grass.
        Kym from Redheaded Blackbelt

.
Red rain boots
splashing in the rain.
        Christina from Soul Aperture

.
Falling
into the arms
of your mother.
        Se'lah from Necessary Room

.
Making something
that you never thought you could.
        Stephanie at Concerning Pancakes

.
Strong legs
and obliging feet
which carry me.
        Country Girl
        at May All Seasons Be Sweet to Thee

.
A tight hug
from my daughter
every morning and every night.
        Tabitha from I Choose Bliss

.
The ways kids
always,
always
wave at you
when their bus
is stopped in front of you.
        Relyn at Come Sit By My Fire

.
Receiving surprise
post cards
and presents
in the mail
        Susanna at Susanna's Sketchbook

.
Sunlight
as it changes
through the day.
        Marinik at Marinik's Blog


.
Being able to donate
what I can
where it is needed,
when it is needed
to those who need it most.
        Sherry at Everyday Possibilities


.
Family times...
full of laughter
all because we are together
and we like each other...
simple as that...
we like each other.
        Jakki at My Life My Life My Life


.
Open windows
with spring floating in.
        Cora at Heartfelt and Homemade


.
Lavender soaps
wrapped in paper
and tied with ribbon
piled in a bowl.
        T Opdycke at Write in Amazement


.
Cuddling
with my dogs
in my big cozy bed.
        Toni at The Daily Vignette 


.
Candlelight
every
night.
        Tracy at Pink Purl


.
Small
acts
of courage.
        Grace at Graceful Simplicity


.
A warm and quiet home
and some time
for myself
as I close out the day.
        Bekkah at Through the Lens


.
My growing up,
but trying not to,
little girl.
        Amy at Tilting at Windmills


.
The smile
of a
child.
        Marion at Create Joy and Wonder

.
Simple things
make my heart race,
my breath catch,
and my mind long
to hold on to "this minute"
for as much time as it can be held.
        She at She Writes

_____________________

.
.
If you have a chance,
take a moment
today
to visit
my new friends...
and read their lists of 
Simple Things.

I think it will make you happy.

There are so many more
women who participated,
I couldn't include them all.
Look in the comments
of Soul Aperture
if you'd like to read more.

.

________________________

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Subscribe in a reader!

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A Year of Happy: One Hundred Photos

a few thoughts to think on

I've got a few random thoughts
to share with you today.

The first comes from Skelliewag.

It's titled:
Productivity in 11 words

And it goes like this:

One thing at a time.
Most important thing first.
Start now.


I love it. My theme for the day.

.

_______________________

This next one comes from Sue
at Vision and Verb.

She quotes Barbara Sher:

“You can learn new things
at anytime in your life
if you’re willing to be a beginner. 

If you actually learn to like
being a beginner,
the whole world opens up to you.”


Sue's advice: Try something different.

I like that too!

_________________________

_______________________

And from e.e. cummings:

"We do not believe in ourselves
until someone reveals
that deep inside us
something is valuable,
worth listening to,
worthy of our trust,
sacred to our touch.

Once we believe in ourselves
we can risk curiosity,
wonder,
spontaneous delight
or any experience
that reveals the human spirit."

__________________________

On a lighter note,
Bill Watterson could be
describing me here:

"Calvin: You can't just
turn on creativity
like a faucet.
You have to be
in the right mood.

Hobbes: What mood is that?

Calvin: Last-minute panic."

_____________________

And one more for the road
from Lemony Snicket:

"It is always sad
when someone leaves home,
unless they are simply
going around the corner
and will return
in a few minutes
with ice-cream sandwiches."




You guys coming back
around the corner soon
with those ice cream sandwiches?!

_________________________

What are you
thinking about today?

it's the simple things

a rainbow after a storm
scent of honeysuckle on a summer evening
digging in the dirt

a baby's laugh
roasted marshmallows

a green salad made by somebody else
clean sheets
watching the sun rise
cold pillows

the smell of mountain pines
snowfall before dawn
fresh orange rolls

baby fingers and toes
a winter sunset
.

a father's hands
the smell of fresh lemon zest
a project well-done

playing hymns on a church organ
watching my children sleep
peeling a clementine
free time

a clean house
a train whistle in the distance
a new book

watering my flowers at dusk
seeing old friends
watching the surf
eating fresh peas in the garden

reading to a child
new crayons
family prayer when everyone is home

autumn leaves
freshly painted walls
pine nuts
going to bed early....

.

Christina at Soul Aperture
is inviting anyone and everyone
to make a list of
simple things...
the things you savor about life,
the things
that please your senses,
that bring you
happiness and joy.
Simple pleasures, really.
.

What is on your list?

________________________________

I've posted more photos at
A Year of Happy: One Hundred Photos

7:: after the storm

8:: at sunset

Click on the links to take a look!

blogs to watch in 2010

These are a few blogs
I'm keeping my eye on in 2010:

• Vision and Verb: This is a fairly new collaboration blog created by and for "women of a certain age." These women are so talented in photography and writing, and have joined together to create something beautiful. So far, I really enjoy it--and I expect it will continue to please! Each of the collaborators also has her own personal blog--check them out to see some amazing photography! I especially like this one.
  .
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  .
• Blog Segullah: This blog is also a collaboration of several women. They are LDS and the themes of their writing often deal with life as an LDS woman. They write about many different issues--and one of the interesting things is the conversations that follow in the comments section. The blog has been going quite some time, so there is plenty of back-reading if you're interested.
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  
  .
• The Pioneer Woman: If you want a good laugh, read this! The Pioneer Woman is very popular and you're probably already a fan...but I'm still recommending it because I enjoy it so much. She is a city girl turned cattle rancher's wife--and describes her life in hilarious detail. Here's my question: how can one woman be so good at so many things--writing, cooking, photography, home and garden, she does it all! (And she offers free high-res downloads of many photos, like this one.)
  .
  
  
  
  
  
  .
  .
  .
  .
  
• What blogs are you watching? Do share!

.

.

___________________

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A Year of Happy: One Hundred Photos

it was good

In Sunday School yesterday,
we discussed the Creation.

Something jumped out at me
this time
that I hadn't
thought of before.

.

.

After each thing was created,
God saw that IT WAS GOOD.

And after everything was created,
and He was finished,
He saw that IT WAS VERY GOOD.

Why is that such
an important
part of the story?

It hit me yesterday
as I pondered this thought
that the scriptures
are always very symbolic.

And we are told
that the best way to study them
is to apply them to ourselves.

So how does this apply?

Could it be
that the Lord is trying
to teach us
to step back
and see the good we do each day?

How often
do I end the day
with thoughts like:
"I should have done this,
I could have done that better,
I didn't finish what I started."

Do I ever
go to bed
pleased
with what I accomplished?

________

My sister is training
for a triathlon.
In her training,
they are taught to
spend a little time
each night as they're
falling asleep
repeating to themselves
something good they did that day.

They repeat it over and over
until they fall asleep.

I like it.
Focus on the good.

Say it over and over,
"I did this today and
IT WAS GOOD!"

___________

What do you do
to focus on the good things
you do everyday?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/ / CC BY 2.0

one winter morning

Early Saturday morning,
D was out shoveling the walks.
He called in to me.
"Grab your camera!"

So I slipped on some shoes
with my leopard print pajamas,
grabbed a coat,
and ran outside.

When I saw it, I said,
"I need to get in the car for this."

I thought I would just drive up the hill
so I could get a better view.

An hour and a half later,
with my shoes soaked through,
and still in my leopard print pajamas,
I finally got home.

It was one of those snow days
that there really are
no words to describe.

You just have to see it.

.

.

  

__________________

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A Year of Happy: One Hundred Photos!

yesterday

Yesterday
started out gloomy.

Our family's January goal
is organization and order.

I've been trying for many days
to really get to it...
but I only seem to be able to
grab an hour here or there
for the task.

And it seems
like I'm just making
a bigger mess
than what I started with.
(Isn't that how it goes?
It always gets worse
before it gets better!)

I spent a couple of hours
yesterday morning
in my den,
going through papers,
and files,
and photos,
and stuff I haven't seen
in years.

I was getting pretty grumpy.

Then I ran across
an old thank-you card
from my sister
who lives in Washington.

It made me miss her.
So I called her.

I interrupted HER project
of ripping out her
bathroom floor
to put in a new one.

But she didn't care.
She stopped everything
to talk to me.

I know when I call my sister,
we will have a good laugh.
And we did.

Then my mom came over.
She is the scrapbooking queen!
(And I'm not.)

She took all my old photos,
and is organizing them for me.
Thanks Mom for helping
me with my January project!

Then D and I took a break
and went to the
Mount Timpanogos Temple.
.


photo from here

.

If you're not familiar with LDS temples,
click here to read a little more
about why I came home
feeling peaceful,
and happy,
and rejuvenated.

Then we went to dinner
with two of our
favorite people in the world.

They are from Spain, where
D went on his mission.
They are living in the U.S.
right now, and we are
so glad we get to see them
now and then.

They have the most beautiful home.
It is an expression
of their wonderful philosophy of life.

All of the decorations
have meaning--
special photographs and
treasured mementos,
all arranged to
bring joy.
I love being there.

____________

Yesterday

all of these special people
stepped into my life
and turned what started out
as a rotten morning
into a day filled with
laughter,
and gratitude,
and joy.

.

Do you have people
in your life
that do that for you?

pride or prejudice--which one would you choose?

This Mr. Darcy.....

.

.

Or this one?

.

.

And which Elizabeth Bennet
do you favor?

There are so many great
characters
in both movies....
like Mrs. Bennet,
and Jane, and Mr. Collins.

I own them both,
and
I enjoy them both.
But I confess,
I do have a favorite.

However,
times are tough
at my house right now,
because I'm
the only girl
at home.

I can't get
anybody
to watch either one with me!

Which movie do you like best?
Just leave a comment and
let's discuss!

(I'll tell you my favorite in the comments...)

.

________________________

Click here to see
Photo 6 of 100,
boughs and berries in melting snow.

 

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.