365 In A Blink

Self Portrait...

2009-05-01T19:04:00.000-07:00

What hides behind my spectacles.

March 27th... Humble Treasures...

2009-03-27T19:16:00.000-07:00

I am working on my friend Judi's circle journal... treasures of the heart. At first all I could think of were the people in my life, past and present... even stories of those I had never met who touched my mother's life. Then it came to me. The pillow case is one that my mother hand embroidered many years ago, soft as butter with age. It is like the caress of her hand. She taught me how to embroider as a child. It is such a relaxation. Chatting or listening to the radio while creating beauty. I always love having her pillow cases on my bed. I even wrapped my wedding bouquet in one. That special. The cross is silver, worn thin... it once had turquoise enameling on it. It was given to a 16 year old boy and he carried it through the battle fields of World War I, his young daughter was given it upon his death. She was 14. She always showed it with great reverence to her daughter. It was a piece of jewelery that was kept safe too thin to wear daily. It was very special. In 1997 on her daughter's wedding day she gave it to her to wear. It was an honor and I wore it again at my mother's funeral service and her memorial gathering. I miss her. She was an amazing lady. The enameled rose pendent was given to me by my Aunt Aileen when I was born. A sweet reminder of the lady from Gadsen Alabama... I smile every time I recall her phone calls. "Why honey, how ever did you know it was me?" spoke in her lyrical voice with the southern drawl. I never told her it was her accent, I always told her that it was her loving self I recognized. So here are my treasures. Humble, yes... priceless too.

Circle Journal Entries....

2009-03-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

This is my layout for Anilu's lovely cj, which is about faves.... they make my day... they make my life. That simple. Really.

March 26th,

This is Heather's cj that I contributed to. Her journal is all about home. What makes my home is my family, for as the cliche says "Home is where the heart is". This was photographed earlier in the week, but since I also am posting Anilu's cj entry that I did photograph today I decided to combine them. It is my blog I can do that :-P

2009-03-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

March 25th...
Love this game table in the little park near where I work. I think the squirrels were playing chess. Please don't tell my friend Denise, I am sure she thinks they cheat.

2009-03-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

March 24th...

This sums up how I am feeling, wishing for good news. Matty is going through some difficult testing over this next month or two. He is such a sweet, funny, strong boy and I just hope I can be all that for him.

2009-03-26T20:09:00.000-07:00

March 23rd....
I love my guys, they are too funny. Seriously I had just caught all three bouncing on our bed. Yes, even Daddy.

2009-03-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

March 22nd...
Matty loves lotion, moderation is not part of his vocabulary. Laundry is part of my husband's vocabulary thankfully.

2009-03-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

March 21st...
I feel so monochromatic... that I just had to take this photo... blahh. Hehe either that or I am part chameleon!

March 20th...

2009-03-20T20:00:00.000-07:00

Today was a very long day for us spent mostly at Boston Children's Hospital where Matty went to have a MRI of his spine. His spine is perfect, thankfully. He needed to be sedated for the procedure and Joey tagged along. Everyone celebrated with much cuddling, laughter and Chinese food followed by bubble baths and bed time rituals. Joey went to sleep in his crib and Matty fell asleep in his bed. The nurse in recovery told me to check Matty thru the night just to be safe after sedation. Well, this is what I found. Two brothers back to back snoozing away. So sweet. Had to share. May all your news be good news and thank you, God for this good night after a long day.

March 19th

2009-03-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

This is the wonderful wind sculpture that stands out front of where Matty receives PT. We all love it. Joey and I amuse ourselves by taking walks and finding mischief while Matty works hard. It is our secret.

This is the classic coin check on the lobby pay phone. Yes, astounding they have one and even more astounding that Joey knew what to do. Yes, that is Joey's sweet face reflected in the smudged chrome.

Better Part of the Day... March 18th.

2009-03-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

This is the "quilt" block canvas my art group created... I did the gel medium thing after each member added pastels to the acrylic painting they had done previously. Love my group. Love.

How the Day Began on March 18th....

2009-03-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

Now I know your thinking it started with coffee and on a normal day it would have. We decided instead to have an original day. A day when I was woken up to "Honey, Jenny has cornered a mouse, do something!". Yes, my dh asked me to handle it. Why? I have an aversion to little cute furry animals being killed in my home. That is what Andy would have Jenny do or try to do himself. I threw on clothing, grabbed the nice coffee can that was going to be altered and caught/rescued the little startled mouse. With total bed head I went on a brisk walk to the farmer's field behind us and released the mouse. I explained to him that he was lucky and should find shelter in a barn instead. I asked him to pass the word along as well. He looked some what bemused and ran off. I think he had a tale to tell :-)

Oh your black heart...

2009-03-18T17:06:00.001-07:00

your sparkly shiny beautiful black heart :-) I like all that glitters!

A Boy and his cat....

2009-03-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

Joey loves my Jenny. Pure and simple. He even walks with her, side by side. Pretty impressive, if I tried that my legs would surely malfunction and the cat would be laughing. Notice the high tech child safety lock? Yup, he broke every last one, but strapping tape works. Go figure.

A Serious Elephant...

2009-03-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Matty takes being an elephant very seriously, he takes a moment to get into character. He even trumpeted then he saw mommy had gotten out the camera. He is a smart cookie, he knows a future blackmail photograph was in the making.

Playgrounds...

2009-03-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

A touch of spring is here... and off to the playground for us. I could spend hours taking photos on the playground... oh wait a minute, I do! I think my neighbors think I am a little kooky. hehhe hate to disappoint them so I won't ;-)

Lack of Track

2009-03-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

is NOT a problem. To say Joey is obsessed by ALL that is Thomas is putting it lightly. We even have traction engines. Yup, they don't need tracks, Matty told me so.

2009-03-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

This is a typical Matty moment, he starts talking by 6:30 am and does NOT stop until he falls asleep. His newest desire is an IPOD, he is four. He calls it The Machine. His daddy has the machine, his mommy does not. I am thinking my coolness is now in question, I must get one. By the way of the 1000s of songs on daddy's pod he discovered and loves to sing on the top of his lungs (on key) Queen's We Will Rock You. Oye. Love this boy. Word.

A Flurry of Photos...

2009-03-17T18:21:00.001-07:00

Just a few photos of the many I've taken and not had time to upload. I hope to do some more tomorrow. Bad blogger am I! Hope you enjoy and there is a most adorable baby picture in this post towards the bottom. Cruel to make you look through all of them to find it I know.

My boys love this horse, excuse me, horsie! He reminds me of the mechanical horse my mother would let me ride in front of the old Zayre's Department Store when I was a toddler. I love that my sons will have this memory so similar to mine. A bit of nostalgia in front of our super market. Good times.

I love the colors or ripe peppers... yellows and reds. It almost makes grocery shopping fun. Almost.

Blue Jeans... well, I live in them and I adore them. Andy wishes I would remember to wear skirts. He thinks I am forgetful. I am not. Enough said.

I never feel like a Proper Bostonian... so this magazine is for me :-)

I just loved this cross walk... so I thought I would share :-)

I loved the reflection of the older building in the window panes of the newer building. The image just struck me.

One of the reasons I was/am going to Boston frequently... so tiny and so very meaningful. He is one of two blessings. My dear friends are now a family of four, J and T greeted the world at 32 weeks. They are almost two weeks old now. Yahoooooooo! Auntie Anne is very much in love with these two adorable newly minted people.

A flurry of photos that I have taken for many days now and haven't posted until now... this tower just grabbed my attention on one of my trips into Boston. It's varying subtle shades and how it seemingly is stirring the clouds. It is amongst the hospitals... which makes me wonder if it is an incinerator. I would like to think someone was trying to touch the face of Heaven.

A Week of PODs...

2009-03-05T18:40:00.000-08:00

Day 60 of 365 Hard to resist... Matty adores home made popcorn. Joey and I agree. Fun times are had just watching the corn pop. Both boys like the sounds and the show. Hehe I guess we are country bumpkins if this is our fun.

Day 59 out of 365... Weird. Yes, it never fails everyone is on a different page when reading together. The truly weird part is that they are taking a moment when they are not running around ;-) They are so serious and so very cute.

Day 58 of 365 These are the solution for a grey day... Joey's is the pig and Matty's is the fish. The color choices were entirely their own as was the painting. I love :-)

Day 57 of 365... My seniors painted the pieces to the quilt block... next time they will draw on it with oil pastels and then I will use gel medium to attach it to a canvas... by the way the background is a plastic table cloth.

Day 56 of 365 This is a photo of the prep for my seniors art group. Yes, no hands other than mine have touched it. Color: None. This will be the beginning of a paper quilt that later will be put on canvas. Very blah without the artists.

Day 55 of 365... these flowers are so hardy they survived a week of curious boy hands. This photo I have to admit was requested by the model. He kept saying "cheese Mommy" so I grabbed the camera. Love that smile.

Day 54 of 365

My sweet Matty is a lover of beauty... and the color yellow. There are arches in the photo as well.

Sorry for the delay in posting, this past week has been a very busy one. I'll try to catch up and post this weeks photos on Sunday.

A Week of POD

2009-02-22T17:07:00.000-08:00

Day 53 of 365
My sweet Joey, looking sleepy eyed as if he is tired by all his deep thoughts. I just wanted to pick him up and cuddle him.

Day 52 of 365
The prompt was artistic and I just wasn't feeling artistic, but I thought this arrangement of onions were. I know my hubby thinks I am just a wee bit eccentric too, but he loves me for it :-)

Day 51 of 365

It is in my nature to love mother nature. This is the private farmers road that abuts our land. Love the gate and the fields behind it. It is a historic still working farm... though now they only farm hay. During the American Revolution the farmers mustered there (i.e. the minute men).

Day 50 of 365

The prompt was stripes... I love the colors of these stripes. They make me smile any way you stack 'em.

Day 49 of 365... lurking in a bag on the back of my studio door is a banner that needs to be sewn together that I created to celebrate Halloween, it isn't just the cat that is whimsical it is that fact it has been waiting since 2006 to be finished. Yup, never place something on a door that remains open.

Day 48 of 365... I spied this old vent grate on a building built in the 1910s/ Love the Copper Patina and lurking behind that is an older rusted iron grate. Yes, in the winter I often marvel at the things I see on the ground as I tuck my head into my coat ;-)

Day 47 of 365 The photo I took on 47, the layout is photographed later :-) I tried very hard to appear Irked in this photo... it Irked me to have to take so many photos to get one that said Irked. I never thought I would have to practice that.

A Weeks Worth of PODs

2009-02-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

Day 45/365 (yes, somewhat out of order... sort of like me ). This is the layout/card I created for Andy. In this layout I pay homage to his loving daddy skills. He is a talented father, he learned from the best.

Day 46 of 365
The prompt for the day was light. I love how my flash helped me out here... by bouncing light off the branches. Lucky me.

Day 44 of 365

I visited our friends Kelly and Kieran with baby clothing in hand. I keep finding cute little outfits for the twins. It is a compulsion. We will probably be meeting them in the next 2-4 weeks. I just wanted to make sure they were appropriately clothed for the occasion ;-) Auntie Anne is eagerly awaiting their arrival, however, tells them there is no need to rush. Word.

Day 43 of 365
Lacking a crystal ball to foretell the future we relied on a glitter ball. It merely kept it's council to itself. One could even say it treated us to a comfortable silence, a pretty one though. A moment of play at work.

Day 42 of 365 The prompt was create. This would be a lovely inspiration for my studio... it is so very creative and could hold so many materials. S:::i::::::::g::::::::::::::h . It's price tag is beyond what my pockets hold. Alas lint is not considered legal tender.

Day 41 of 365

Landscape at night... just realized I hadn't found a landscape I liked so... this is what I took. Love the tree feathering the night sky.

Day 40 of 365 State of Confusion

This is the state flag of Massachusetts. The confusion is I took the *backside* of it. Dang Nabbit. I love how the shield is the same exact color of the sky.

I see you....

2009-02-08T18:59:00.000-08:00

Day 39 of 365
I swear it looks like an eye :-) No matter the time of year we love playgrounds... and I love finding interest in the unexpected. Care to do the rings?
Anne

Side by Side... Close....

2009-02-08T18:55:00.000-08:00

Day 38 of 365
Two brothers lined up some of their trains. Love the green, blue pattern. What to do when you run out of green engines? Why place a yellow one next to it as we all know blue plus yellow equals green. Simple really.
Anne

Tools...

2009-02-08T18:51:00.001-08:00

Day 37 of 365
Yes, Matty is on my computer... there is something so endearing about a boy who sucks his thumb while concentrating and operating a mouse. He is four, gloriously so. I didn't even know computers existed when I was his age.
Anne

Wishing for ...

2009-02-08T18:44:00.001-08:00

Day 36 of 365
warmer days... February is the longest month.....
Anne

Drink in Warmth...

2009-02-08T18:40:00.000-08:00

Day 35 of 365
I sat pondering the word edible... and thought potable is really what I wanted to show today. For I wanted so much to drink in warmth, literally and figuratively. I went to lunch with my friend Jude, a calming presence on a cold winter's day. Jude and Tea is a good thing. Thank you friend.
Anne

Going into Black...

2009-02-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

Day 34 of 365
I had fun in PSE ... this was a fairly non threatening billowy cloud... and then I came along. I converted it to black and white and then played havoc with the contrast. It befits the day as Matty had an assessment meeting (not about school). If you wish to find arrogance, I could give you the directions. Amazing. Why do people discredit everyone else? We have been on this journey it seems forever trying to figure out what causes Matty's muscular weakness. PTs that clearly discount what a neurologist has said make me wonder. Who does one trust? A Speech Therapist who doesn't take a moment to understand what I am saying, just attacks. Love these people and these moments. I still hold optimism clearly in my heart and embrace my family with it. There is LIGHT at the other side of this storm cloud. We go to the Neuro-Muscular Doctor on the 23rd, perhaps he will shed more light. This I do know... these people should work together and not be against all others who work with Matty. Such egos. I should clarify the egos do not belong to Children's Hospital, but to an outside group that evaluates needs and provides no services. Ahh well, enough of my rant. The image is apt.

Crystal Clear...

2009-02-02T19:30:00.001-08:00

Day 33 of 365 prompt sharp
Quartz Crystal is supposed to help in clarity of thought i.e. mental sharpness. I am not sure I believe in their power, however, they more than likely don't believe in mine so we are on equal footing :-P I love the layering, it reminds me of the rock formations in Sedona. This crystal is on my boss's desk that he shares with me. Hummm... is he trying to tell me something? ;-)
Anne

My Weather Watcher...

2009-02-02T19:22:00.001-08:00

Day 32 of 365 prompt height
My sweet Matty was looking out the window. I asked him what he saw as I looked up over his shoulder. His response, "It is cloudy, Mommy" I asked "what else?" hoping he would notice the sweet clear blue dancing with the clouds. "Mommy the clouds are fluffy snow ball clouds". He quietly taught me we can both see this beautiful sky in our own way. I love his inner poet.
Anne

Summer in a Jar...

2009-01-31T19:21:00.000-08:00

Day 31 of 395
The prompt for the day was orange. I want the orange of summer flowers, I want it now. Right now. Today in fact. I looked up and there it was. Summer in a jar.
Anne

The Country of Boyhood

2009-01-31T19:15:00.000-08:00

Day 30 of 365
We live in a relatively new country called boyhood. We've lived here for over 4 years now. I enjoy it completely and I love finding special little boy things perfectly placed in our home. Especially hand made day dreams like this. My Andy recalls this land from his own journey there many years ago. Completely charming. Mostly.
Anne

Matty's Art

2009-01-31T19:10:00.000-08:00

Day 29 of 365
Paint and glitter... my Matty loves such stuff. I take after him ;-) I had fun playing with the prompt texture and toying with the foreground, middle ground and back ground. I like playing. The art work was on top of my dresser waiting to be hung up and was curling on itself. Struck my fancy.
Anne

The Entertainer

2009-01-31T19:04:00.001-08:00

Day 28 of 365

His hands are going a mile a minute, his feet momentarily still and the kid is singing out his heart. He remembered each word to the Thomas song. He is my favorite singer. I think it is the bear slippers, that and he can carry a tune. I can't, so I am in awe.

Anne

Waiting

2009-01-31T19:00:00.000-08:00

Day 27 of 365

Waiting for spring. Flower boxes and no snow, no ice. Just waiting and noticing my deck rails are not straight as arrows.

Was a Sunny Day

2009-01-26T19:57:00.000-08:00

Day 26 of 365
My work space has no window, it is in the basement. This is my little bit of sunshine. Love it.
Anne

Vintage Moments...

2009-01-26T19:53:00.000-08:00

Day 25 of 365
I love old cameras, new cameras ... any camera. These though are extra special. The Argus was my Uncle's and The Kodak Brownie was his sister's aka Mom's. Yes, I have some sweet photographs taken by them, however, I also treasure the instruments that took them. Say cheese :-)
Anne

Water...

2009-01-26T19:50:00.000-08:00

Day 24 of 365

Water is used in brewing coffee ergo this is a beloved photograph of water. Yes. I partake of this magical elixir so I can run after my sons, apparently I am not the only parent to do so, after all America runs on it.

Anne

The Hands of an Engineer

2009-01-26T19:36:00.000-08:00

Day 23 of 365
Joey loves Thomas the Tank Engine more than my words can convey, he is just like his older brother. Joey helps set up the tracks very carefully, just a few pieces... so he can with great concentration guide Thomas through tunnels and across bridges. Those little two year old hands are very careful with his friend Thomas.
Anne

A Father's Sweetness....

2009-01-26T19:29:00.000-08:00

Day 22 of 365
Andy is such a part of the boy's daily lives. He even takes time before going to work to help get them ready for their day. This is his love given so freely in every day acts. These are the sweetest of moments... in the utter chaos of our morning routine he is there.
Anne

Change...

2009-01-21T12:29:00.000-08:00

Day 20 of 365
I laid the special edition of the Globe on the desk of the 1st African American Dentist to practice in Massachusetts, my children's great grandfather. That old metal motorcycle and rider is my children's grandfather's. A quiet man who worked for the post office, one of the federal jobs a black man could get. Now a black man holds the highest esteemed office anyone could have. They are no longer with us, so this is a tribute to them. May President Obama have wisdom, compassion and strength.
Anne

Dreams are Fragile...

2009-01-19T18:05:00.000-08:00

so precious and when given voice and joined by millions of voices those dreams become strong and step closer and closer to being. Never, ever, let go of your dreams especially when those dreams lift US ALL up. Thank you dear Martin and thank every last one of you who embrace these ideals that are self evident that all people are created equal.

Here are the words of Martin Luther King. It is his day today so tomorrow will be all our day.

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."2
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

The Maker of Small Snow Squalls Day 18/365

2009-01-18T17:49:00.000-08:00

January 18th, 2009

It started snowing late last night and did not finish until late this afternoon. We promised Matty and Joey that we would all go outside and play after nap time. Silly us. Nap time became anticipation time. It had nothing to do with watching, singing with and dancing to the concert at the Lincoln Memorial that was televised today. No, nor the beautiful speeches that brought tears to this momma's eyes or the knowledge that the promise of a better tomorrow had arrived. Not at all. It had nothing to do with this momma whispering to her sons as she danced with them that they too one day could reach for the stars. Nope. It was the anticipation of playing in the snow. Really. Matty reached for the snow and made his own moment of joy and wonder. I love these moments and I loved today.

Anne

Home is where the snoozing couch is...

2009-01-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

or the opportunity to hold a person. A small person. A small person who snores. Yes, he does, while drooling into his mommy's shoulder. Do I care? No, I don't because I wait for this moment every day :-) Yes, I have heard about makeup. I know, I should try it some time.
Anne

Day 16 of 365 How to be mad and make your mother...

2009-01-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

smother her laughter. Matty doesn't like rules, he takes after me;-) So when told not to tickle his brother at the dinner table he decided to get down to the business of REALLY driving momma nuts. I know he was playing for the reaction, but I don't think he was expecting the camera to pop out. I suspect we are not ready for dining at the Ritz, maybe next year? Tell me, please, do all four year old boys act this way or are we just that special?
Anne

Day 15 of 365 Baby It Is Cold...

2009-01-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

outside and will be colder tonight. It is soup and stew making weather. Time to bake breads and make home made hot chocolate. Wool socks and sweaters, old flannel lined jeans make their cozy winter appearance. Pull out the eiderdown, fluff the quilts and snuggle someone real close... the temperatures going down tonight and the mood is just right for cuddle bugging this night.
Anne ... hehe can you tell I read an enormous amount of children's books?

14 of 365 Scientist

2009-01-15T16:38:00.000-08:00

These are working hands, they seldom rest. They are scientific tools used for exploring and discovery. They are the hands of a two year old boy. May we all use our hands so well.
Anne

Day 13 of 365 Joey is...

2009-01-15T15:07:00.000-08:00

my dancer, singer and a big fan of the Big Cheese himself. I love how his arms seemingly match Mickey's pose.
Anne

My Inner Window... day 12 of 365

2009-01-15T15:03:00.000-08:00

I love this old house. You can see the mishmash way the old farm families who lived here added on. Our front entry way was a much later edition. I love that they kept the window :-) Our house rambles and is well worn as is becoming of a dwelling built in 1697.
Thanks for dropping by...
Anne

Hot Times at the Washingtons...

2009-01-15T14:58:00.000-08:00

or how to warm the winter chills away. Home made spaghetti sauce stirred with an old wooden spoon. Comfort food pure and simple. What are your favorite winter comfort foods, you know the ones that warm up your kitchen and your family?

Anne

My Present...

2009-01-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

This is the little cast iron stove my mother gave to me as a young girl. I have it by the kitchen sink as a daily reminder of play times long past and a lady who bought a stove for her daughter because it reminded her of her childhood ... where she learned to cook on an old iron stove. They lived on Long Island Sound in New London CT. She remembered a retired ballet dancer who was visiting for the summer. The lady had gained some weight but had not lost her spirit nor her love for leaping... and she demonstrated her talents with great gusto and prowess. The lids on the old stove would leap and rattle with her moves as if it was dancing with her. I loved her memory. I love my little reminder.

Anne

Day 9 of 365 Memories

2009-01-15T14:27:00.000-08:00

This is the 2ND Church in Newton. It greets me when I am leaving work. I played with my aperture and liked what I saw... if I had a tripod you might have liked it better ;-) This church has memories for me, my mother's best friend attended there and many a time I was invited to attend special events there. I miss my mother and I miss Helen. Lovely memories.

This was to be the 3 prompt post, however, I have misplaced that SD flash card. I had taken a bump photograph of one of my dearest friends. She is 25 months along and pregnant with twins. We found out later one of the babies was in distress, please just take a moment and say a prayer for her. She is 25 weeks along and each day is offering renewed hope. I shall not go into details, for that is not my place. Just please offer up a prayer for wee Tara... she is responding well and may she continue to do so. I thank you from the depth of my heart.
Anne

The Green that Amazes Me...

2009-01-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

Day 8 of 365
Geraniums delight me in the colder months. I bring them in every fall and their blossoms hold me till spring.
Anne

Watching Green...

2009-01-08T13:04:00.001-08:00

Day 8 of 365
Green I delight in... it is my kitchen clock... my Kitchen walls.

Ever Green?

2009-01-08T12:57:00.000-08:00

The tall pine has the barest hint of green through the softly falling flurry. I love looking out back... it makes me forget the busy road in front of our home. Our backyard is the place for deer, wild turkeys, woodchucks, chipmunks, ground hogs and the little red tailed fox. The cardinals live in the pines, such a beautiful streak of red when they fly by. None in the moment as they seem tired of the snow too. I love the subtle promise of the green.
Anne

Matty Finds Good Humor in Everything....

2009-01-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

and I find enormous joy in that. In the middle of yet another storm that leaves us in a icy wonderland there is Matty who said with a warm smile "We are all together!". He is four... he is teaching me a great deal. May all of you be able to find some joys this night.
Anne

The Next Action Film Star or Daddy is about to Groan

2009-01-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

Boys are the most amazing little people, so full of energy. Yes, this is a typical moment in the Washington household. We do not simply sit down on the couch, especially if our favorite guys are already there. We climb up the sofa arm and leap with great joy into all cuddle moments. Yes, it is a sign of the depth of our affection for Daddy as much as mad cap two year old thinking. I was actually going to take a "special Matty Daddy Moment" photo when Joey decided to leap into the scene. Yup... the focus is off but I did catch that moment and that is okay :-) Makes my heart happy.

True Perfection ....

2009-01-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

is in this the loving face... the perfect tonic to a bad day.

Perfect Colors Playing...

2009-01-06T20:32:00.000-08:00

or I couldn't resist playing with my aperture! This is the Christmas Tree... :-)

Perfection attained...

2009-01-06T20:30:00.000-08:00

in my cobalt blue drinking glass... ordinary everyday beauty. Yes, there are more photos to come, I could stop at one.

Perfection Admired...

2009-01-06T20:24:00.001-08:00

Our Christmas Tree seemingly is admiring its own perfection in the living room mirror. Truly, it has no reason not to, it is lovely in all of it's colorful light. I have the hardest time taking down Christmas Trees. Each one is so beautiful and holds in it's branches all of our wishes and joys of the season.
Anne

I had to take this photo... it was manitory!

2009-01-05T17:47:00.000-08:00

Day 5 part 2
I walk past this restaurant window after work, each night I stop and marvel at the lights twinkling with the green glass bottles... a little slice of visual heaven that reminds me of Italy and New Years Eve and so many good times, magical times. It also makes me crave Carmela's lobster and pumpkin ravioli's ;-) Delish. Word.
Anne

Signs, Signs Ever Where There Signs...

2009-01-05T17:38:00.000-08:00

Jan. 5th Day 5 of 365

Me thinks these cards are trying to tell me something.... when I figure it out I'll let you know ;-) This is actually a photograph at work, in the retail section. I pulled one card from each deck. I love the various religions represented here and they all seem to be saying the same thing....

enter the twilight zone.... oh wait a minute this has nothing to do with Edward ;-)
Anne

Me, Myself and I

2009-01-04T20:29:00.001-08:00

January 4th:
4 of 365

I hesitated posting a photograph of me. Frankly, I've been under the weather. Yes, that is a cloud over my head.... :::insert drum roll::: :::insert groaning sound emitted by blog readers:::
Any way the three of us are truly HOT! ;-)
Anne

Oddly Cold or Care to Swim?

2009-01-04T20:18:00.001-08:00

January 3rd:

3 of 365

Matty and Joey wanted to play in the snow and we finally had a warm enough day to do so. The new Spiderman boots needed to frolic in the snow and so did we. The boys completely enjoyed themselves and I had a good laugh when I saw these signs at the lake. The temps were in the balmy twenties after having been in the single digits... perhaps it could be tempting for some daring soul. I love how the town lets you know you can do so at your own risk, humm... are there days when life guards are there? On a side note, I love puggies :-)

Anne

Challenge or There is the Ball!

2009-01-04T20:07:00.000-08:00

January 2ND, 2009:
2 of 365
Andy and I took Matty and Joey to The Children's Museum in Acton. Matty was so fascinated by the ball room. Tubing, bells, pulleys... and best of all balls, what more could a kid ask for? He finally managed to insert the ball and was closely watching where it was going. I love how he paid such close attention, his whole being was alert and focused. Matty is my free loving, free spirited, action charged son. He never stays still for long. I am certain it is against all the rules and regulations in the Four Year Olds Handbook to do so and Matty hates to disappoint!

The First Time

2009-01-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

January 1st:
This was the first time I caught the boys snuggling on the couch. I love how their feet touched, their shoulders were together while they ate lolly-pops and watched a Thomas DVD. Usually they immediately pose when they see the camera, however, this time they were totally enthralled with Thomas and they didn't realize I was taking their photograph because I was not focusing on their sweet faces. I just love the casual expression of love. I also can never resist little toes.
Anne

365 Photo of the Day

2009-01-04T19:02:00.000-08:00

365 photographs, a year in our lives. This blog was inspired by Denise and all the ladies of BASB. I just hope my good intentions become a reality. I started another blog back in July and made one entry. Perhaps I should update that one too, but that might be pushing my luck. So here is to beginnings. I shall be adding a photograph each day with a simple story. Welcome to the lives of the Washingtons, this is our journey.