Every Day is a Gift!
I always find peace and quiet in an early morning walk on an uncrowded beach or observing a brilliant sunrise.
The remoteness of Everglades National Park, Denali National Park, and the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge bring me a sense of peace and calm like nowhere else.
Patti, thank you for this Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #179: Serene
For this challenge Tina asked us to choose our own topic. December has been super busy with holiday events but I made sure I took the time to get out to take a few photos. For Tina’s challenge I chose a few images from the first two weeks of December here in coastal Georgia.
The weather has been beautiful with gorgeous evening and morning skies. The image above is from my favorite place to watch the sunset. The below image is a recent coastal sunrise.
There are some wonderful Christmas light displays this year.
The Christmas baking has begun.
I hope you are enjoying your December wherever you are!
Many thanks to Tina for letting me choose my own theme for her Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #178: You Choose
Tis the season for celebrating! In our home, the celebration begins with Thanksgiving and ends after New Years Day. The month of December is filled with cooking, baking, shopping, celebrating three family birthdays, and getting together with friends and family.
The Christmas tree is our main decoration each year. Each ornament on our Christmas tree brings back fond memories. Some are hand made by our children or grandchildren, some are from our travels, and others are family or beach inspired.
I love listening to Christmas songs. My car radio is tuned to the holiday stations beginning the day after Thanksgiving. Sometimes a Christmas display makes me think of one of those songs. These next two displays remind me of “How’d you like to spend Christmas, on Christmas Island?” and “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch!”
My favorite Christmas memories are from the days when our children, and then grandchildren, were very young. Back then, baking and decorating cookies was an event we looked forward to every year. One year we decided to make the cookies coastal themed instead of the usual Christmas shapes.
For many years one of my favorite traditions was to put up a Christmas village in the living room. What started out with two pieces grew into an entire town. A few years ago I put it up for one last time.
My Christmas wish is for joy and happiness for all my family and friends. May your days be merry and bright!
This post was inspired by these amazing bloggers: Many thanks to Amy for this Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #177: Celebrating, Terri for her Terri’s Sunday Stills – Christmas Song Lyrics, and Donna, Sue and Debbie for their Festive Bonbon – Retirement Reflections
Today is Thanksgiving in the United States, a national holiday set aside for Americans to give thanks for their blessings. This week I have been reflecting on how thankful I am for the many things that bring me joy.
I am thankful for my husband and soulmate, Henry, and our 51 years together. I am thankful for our two grown children and our four awesome grandchildren. I am thankful both my children and our two oldest grandchildren are with us this Thanksgiving.
I am thankful to live in a community with wonderful friends and neighbors and surrounded by amazing natural beauty.
I am thankful for the little things that bring me joy – spending time with family, laughing with friends, a butterfly on a flower, a hummingbird on the feeder, watching the birds in my backyard, or a beautiful sunrise.
I am thankful that I have been given the gift of another day above ground. I am thankful that I am healthy enough to do all of the ordinary every day things I enjoy.
This post is inspired by Lindy Low LeCoq’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #175; Follow your Bliss
For this challenge Patti has invited us to share images that feature shapes and designs.
The shapes and designs found in nature are amazing to behold.
Many thanks to Patti for this Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #174: Shapes and Designs
Wandering Dawgs 