Photography & Springtime Gratitude

(Photo taken by me...AC/NJ)

Today was a beautiful day and I am taking a minute to express how very grateful I am for it. Thank you God.

(Photo taken by me AC/NJ)

I wonder and I hope I'm not the only one, am I the only one? The only one bursting with joy? Thank you joy!

Seriously, I can't look out the window and not be grateful. I am so very grateful for even the smallest things...and no things at all. I am grateful for all things in between. I think I drove my husband nuts today. I think I did, but when I asked him, he just smiled and said no. No. He gets me after fourteen years. Lonnnng exhhhhale. I suppose he better.

Thank you Jimmy.

I found myself so appreciative for even the littlest things today. I saw an ant, a few bees, a dandelion...the first of 09 and was elated! I associated them with Spring and it was all good. I saw lots of budding plants, flowers, bushes, trees, birds, ducks. The breeze was warm with not a hint of a chill. Our cats were outside rolling around in the sunshine all day. They were filthy from rolling in the grass and sand and they had twigs and pine needles in their fur and it was awesome. A day well spent.

There was lots to be the ultimate observer about and even more to be grateful for.

(Photo taken by me from window in my Reiki Room)

God.

God is great.

C'mon....who else can produce a sunset like this?

A feeling like this?

Gratitude like this.

We are all but a twinkling in His eye,
we are all but His reflection.

I haven't missed a sunset in a while now and I'm not planning on missing any in the future. I am purposefully slowing down for them. Jim and I are stopping whatever were doing and spending a few minutes....we're basking in the light of the setting sun, deliberately, together marveling at it's magnificent brilliance, offering prayers of gratitude and appreciation to the Most High God.

So very thankful. Besides, the mornings offer even more to be grateful for, and truthfully, from my innermost being, I, for one, cannot wait.

(photo taken by MP this morning - our neighborhood)

What are you thankful for?

Chuck and Peppermint Patty Forever

Chuck and I took our annual, fall drive upstate on Saturday to get pumpkins, apples, cider, mums and pies. We go to the most sincere pumpkin patch...remember Charlie Brown? So sweet and I don't exactly remember when in the last thirteen years, but we started to call each other Chuck & Peppermint Patty. Btw, if you didn't know it already I'm Patty, freckles and all.

It was a gorgeous day. Unseasonably warm and sunny. The children were all so happy and giggling and running around. I'm pretty sure that Halloween and Christmas are pretty close competitors for the best times in a child's life - well mine anyway. I loved these holidays the best. Lately though, I'm leaning toward Halloween being the best. Christmas is not the same anymore. Just like our government - but that's a WHOLE 'nother story. : )

Then we went through the corn maze (no, not another government reference)...I've never done that before. Kinda scary and fun all at the same time. I definitely wouldn't run through there at night though. Wayyyy too chicken.

After all that fun, we worked up a serious appetite and went for a couple of steaks. Overall a really great day. Then home for, you guessed it, PIES!

This is Chuck sucking on some Halloween candy,

leading the way - to a - dead end??? : ) Yeah.

That happened a lot in the maze - but - typically

it takes between 8 and 20 minutes to get through-

we did it in 7 - so there!