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five photo friday: summer time

Posted in: Five Photo Friday

I. Declan chowing down on some crackers at the cottage. His eyes are just lovely.  II. Sara on the beach at Woodlawn State Park in Hamburg, New York. In previous summers we drove all the way down to Bennett Beach, which is nicer, but discovering Woodlawn has been great because it’s a 15-minute drive from our house. III. Sara and Kevin have been nicknamed Parks & Rec because they are always organizing games, sing-a-longs, and contests. Doesn’t matter if it’s at the beach, at a bar, or in the car. IV. Corn on the cob, chicken on the grill. Bridget and Michael at the cottage last weekend. V. Despite his water-logged diaper, Sam ran around the beach for hours. He finally had to be scooped up and wrapped in a towel.

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five photo friday: birthday hike edition

Posted in: Five Photo Friday

Last year I decided that what I really wanted to do on my birthday was go for a hike in the Niagara gorge. It was so much fun and we even witnessed a helicopter rescue. According to my father, we assisted a helicopter rescue. And I guess he’s right. Anyway, this year we repeated the hike only stuck to the American side of the gorge. I. The men in my life: dad, brother Josh, Sean. They conspired and got me a birthday donut, complete with a candle in the middle. II. Some great friends who decided to tag along: Matt, Rachel, Kevin. III. Sister and brother. Josh thinks it’s hilarious to make terrible faces in photos. Side by side in this frame I think we look ridiculous. IV. Sara is caught in the crossfire of two redheads! V. My love and me.

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Posted in: Deep Thoughts | Projects & Challenges

I recently listened to an On Point show about boredom. It was interesting and after listening to some of the guests talk about sensory-overload and our society’s growing distaste for downtime, I decided to give myself a mini-challenge.

Often when I’m running into the store or post office or bank, I bring my iPhone in to help relieve some of the boredom involved with standing in line. I bury my nose in a screen and only lift it up when it’s my time to interact with another person. While I sometimes save myself from looking at boring office furniture or the back of someone’s head, I’m also missing out on the scene around me or an important opportunity to just zone out.

My challenge? Leave the iPhone in the car (or the purse or the office). It’s small, it’s do-able, and the world won’t end.

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June 23, 2011 - 5:38 PM

Lisa Fine - Nice. I think it’s so important to find times to disconnect, as hard as it can be.

I don’t have a smart phone yet, and am debating whether I really want one for some of the reasons you’ve mentioned. I still like to bring a book or magazine with me when I know I’ll be waiting around for a while.

June 23, 2011 - 10:28 PM

Teresa - That is actually a form of mindfulness meditation: being where you are, not judging it as good or bad, and just understanding that that is how you feel and it will pass. It comes in handy in so many situations (I used mindfulness meditation techniques A LOT this winter driving home in sloppy weather or heavy traffic).

Not being a big cell phone person I also like to use time spent in lines or wherever as a chance to observe what is going on around me. It is funny what you notice. I take a walk almost every day at lunch and instead of focusing on a destination or power walking I try to notice as much as I can about what is around me. That is how I discovered a family of sparrows living in both the E and S in the WEGMANS sign on Essjay Road. Now I go over that way on purpose to watch them.

happy summer

Posted in: Friends & Family | Photo sessions

Finally–it’s officially summer! I wish you lots of banana splits, warm nights under starry skies, bike rides to the beach, tan skin warm to the touch, blankets on grass, sidewalk patios, and iced coffee.

My summer wishlist includes the following fun stuff:

  • Ride bikes to Crystal Beach on a Saturday morning and bring picnic lunch in a backpack.
  • Sun-filled photo shoots with old and new friends.
  • Sing-a-long around the campfire at the cottage.
  • An afternoon in the boat at Kershaw Park, swimming and reading.
  • Caprese salad with my homegrown tomatoes and basil.
  • Camping with Sean or family or friends.

What’s on your list?

 

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June 21, 2011 - 8:24 PM

Lisa Fine - Yay for summer, and I love your list. I’m ready for camping, hiking, taking out a canoe or kayak on the lake, and eating fresh peas from the garden.

June 21, 2011 - 8:33 PM

Teresa - Lots of walks with the dog at Gallagher Beach. A trip to the Lavender Festival in Angelica next weekend. A visit from a friend later that same weekend. A few day trips. Watching minor league ball in Buffalo and Batavia, maybe even Rochester. Getting my bike out of the basement one of these days. Would love to go hiking, but that never seems to work out.

I am contemplating a stand-up paddleboard class at Buffalo Harbor Kayak. Maybe one of the canning classes at the Lexington Co-op.

My big goal for the summer is to finally run a mile. Which is something I have never done, ever. Not even when I was a teenager. I am a few weeks into my training schedule (thank you Fleet Feet) and it still feels doable. Harder to get out the door the steamier it gets, though!

Happy solstice!!

June 22, 2011 - 7:31 AM

brynn - My summer wish list:

- trip to NYC with my nephews to visit my sister (Bronx Zoo and Museum of Natural History)
- camping/kayaking up the coast of Maine and into unknown provinces of Canada
- reading the works of Eudora Welty with a fabulous group of women
- fires in my ADK backyard with friends
- an August spent exploring the process of writing
- hiking at least 7 ADK peaks
- the beauty of distance to rework my elementary library curriculum over the summer so that it fits and flows next year

This is a nice way to think about the coming months!

June 22, 2011 - 4:55 PM

Lauren - Had a lovely Solstice celebration yesterday afternoon with family and friends, so this post is a nice way to usher in the summer intentions. Thanks Whit!

Summer wishlist/intentions:

-Annual camping trip at Gales Creek with Matt and our dear friends Mark and Oscar
-Attend at least one of our choir’s “masterworks sing-a-longs”
-See at least one movie in the park
-Attend Shakespeare In the Park’s “Much Ado About Nothing”
-Make macarons, preferably lavender and chocolate ganache.
-Spend good time with my brother during my business trip to NYC in August
-Create an artmaking/writing daily ritual for myself

and…more time sitting in the garden and enjoying existence!

Happy Summer to all!

June 22, 2011 - 8:49 PM

whitney - @Lisa – sweet peas, oh my goodness.

@Teresa – I want to take a class at the co-op too. Let’s take one together. Also, I am so proud of you for running!

@Brynn – Love your list. I forgot about Eudora Welty! Can’t wait!

@Lauren – I love your list. Sounds like a lovely summer, especially the macaroons.

June 22, 2011 - 9:38 PM

Teresa - Whit, we can do pickles on July 14 or Peaches on August 11, if either of those work for you. They are both Thursdays. I don’t actually eat pickles, but I remember making bread and butter pickles with my grandmother when I was young and it is a good memory.

The running is getting easier, which I have to say surprises me (I have struggled with my inability to run off and on for close to 20 years). I know I could walk faster than I am currently running, but at this point it is all about enjoying the process and finding new ways to move/appreciate my body.

Everyone else’s lists sound AWESOME. Ahhh, the freedom of summer!

five photo friday: Josh edition

Posted in: Five Photo Friday | Friends & Family

My brother Josh landed on the island of Crete, Greece today, and will be living and working there for five weeks. My family and I already miss him like crazy but we’re so excited for him to have this adventure abroad. To celebrate his trip, I’m dedicating this week’s five photo friday to images of Josh in the wild.

All these photos are from our trip out West in 2009. I. On a beach known as “hidden beach” in Northern California. Routinely awed by the coast on this trip. II. Cannon Beach in Oregon, our first seaside stop.  III. Taking a break and taking it in on Alcatraz. IV. Sleepy and just-fed in North Beach in San Francisco. V. Another–and my favorite–from our time at Hidden Beach.

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June 17, 2011 - 7:00 PM

Magda - yay! younger brothers!