moments of bliss...

A picnic packed by dad...
trees waving in the wind...

Happy chatter...
shoes off...

Loved ones sharing an afternoon...
simple blessings...

Choosing a good one....

Today my co-teacher and I took our class to Lynd's Farm. The farm is a delightful family owned place that welcomes buses of children to learn about either apples or pumpkins and to pick their very own produce to take home. This was my second year to go and I was just as pleased today as I was last year. The staff is good with children and knowledgeable about just what happens to make apples and pumpkins grow.

Our students were visiting the farm to pick apples. After our tour and education session, we were allowed to go to the, "main event". Parents and children paid four dollars for the tour which included a supermarket produce sized bag of apples. The best part of the trip? Both my co-teacher and I were allowed to pick a 1/2 peck at no charge.

Hands down, Lynd's apples are the best I've ever tasted. Fresh off the tree, they just beg to be eaten. I must confess I've delighted in three today. I had one in the orchard, one at recess and one just a moment ago after dinner. I think I better put them up before I make myself sick. (Just like a bitty kid with too much candy!)

If you live in Central Ohio, please consider taking a trip to Lynd's with a few friends or family. Head to http://lyndfruitfarm.com/main/ to get more information. If you live farther away, hit the Internet and search for your own delightful orchard. I can almost guarantee you will pick some of the best apples of your life. Lynd's apples are nurtured in the warm Ohio sunshine with the utmost care. Nothing from the supermarket will compare with one of their apples; especially if it is picked with someone you love.

Captured Calm

As I glanced into my rear view mirror,

on the way back from our favorite Metro Park,

I grinned.

There,

on my middle child's face,

was an expression that made my heart glad.

Our hike,

through the massive trees

and down near the pond

had been well received by all.

I picked up the camera from the cup holder,

instinctively turned it on and held up the camera to my mirror.

Cross my heart their was no one behind us

and my eyes,

after checking this fact,

never left the road.

Back at home,

as I looked over the pictures,

I had to let out a sigh

and send up a prayer of thanks.

I was glad that I had agreed with my oldest daughters plea for an adventure.

All afternoon I had worked on paperwork that has been piling up.

I made it through the whole pile with only a few loose ends to tie up.

I thought while I worked,

I thought about words of wisdom I had heard today.

The first were from Pastor Angie's sermon this morning

when she talked about her own path to accepting the phrase,
"Bloom where you are planted."

I think about my life, it is not what I expected,

and yet there are so many blessings,

so many opportunities

that I think I need to do a lot less fretting

and more enjoying the life I have been given.

The second wise words I considered came from my dad who loves me enough to call it as he sees it. I was whining about my mountains of work which, though I freely admit were my fault, never -the- less were getting me down. My father assured me I wasn't the only one in the world who felt that way. Sigh... parents... useful critters...

At dinner time

when my dear ones had an itching for an adventure,

I knew it was a good idea.

So off we went joyfully and appropriately leaving our cares behind us.

We enjoyed each others company,

found bugs,

admired flowers,

saw a heron fly in and land looking for food...

Happy moments to treasure.

My life is good.

I am grateful.

May your day,

your night,

your week...

Be blessed with happiness.

May we all,

"Bloom where we are planted"!

Popcorn Bliss...

Our local Blockbuster,

and probably yours too

has a fun deal this summer.

For ten dollars,

you can rent as as many videos

as you can watch in a week.

Without homework or serious lesson plans,

we figure we can watch a movie every night.

So,

happily,

we wander the isles...

sampling

scary movies,

heartwarming family titles,

silly imaginative stories

and even

the stray

subtitled foreign film.

Now,

I am not claiming ten dollars

is not a decent amount of money.

However,

for three kids and one mom,

it is pretty cheap entertainment for a week.

We are seriously enjoying our happy romp in movie land.

If you are a fan of the golden screen...

perhaps you need your own week of popcorn delight!

I pray this evening finds you well,

that you are assured that you are loved,

that you KNOW...

really know...

that you are blessed.

Good night and may your adventure be a beautiful one.

Night falls at Three Creeks

Tonight the wind blew and made me wish for a sweater.

I saw bats flit overhead searching for their dinner.

A possum dashed through my line of sight and the shining eyes of deer looked out at me from the dark.

Beside me sat my favorite people in all the world.

Where was I?

What was I doing?

Yet again, I was enjoying the wonderful programing offered by the Columbus Metro Parks System. More specifically, I was on a Full Moon Tram ride offered at Three Creeks in Groveport.

I urge you to take a look at the programing offered at our amazing parks and consider attending a night time event. (http://reservations.metroparks.net/programs/)

The forest comes alive with tiny sounds when the sun goes down and critters emerge that are seldom seen during the day.

Your dear ones will cuddle close when the breeze gives them a taste of the coming autumn.

As you head back toward home, you may find yourself buying hot fudge sundaes and quietly singing to the radio.

Trust me, it could happen.

Movie time!

I love movies!


I enjoy everything about them!

I like the way the world slips away in a darkened theater as the screen comes alive and how I willingly step into another world.


I like happy movies, scary movies and even kids' movies!


I especially like movies where the characters never give up despite having difficult circumstances.
(I guess you could say I'm a sucker for a happy ending!)


Although I enjoy going to see a new picture on the "big screen", I have to admit that watching movies at home can be just as enjoyable. (And, I suspect, for many of us with children, more likely to happen frequently!)


(I bet you can tell where I'm headed with this one...)


Today I am suggesting that you pop some popcorn and let everyone choose a movie!

Make it a marathon event and watch everyone's choice or vote and pick just one.

Regardless of what you choose, enjoy the comfort a favorite movie can bring. Seeing a hero or heroine save the day (or escape from giant spiders), brings everyone together! There is a certain comfort in knowing that good triumphs over evil, Nemo finds his way home or that, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians! (1964...a truly camp experience... don't blame me... I found it for a dollar! I bet you probably could too!)

Dig through your old movies or find a new one! if you are really lucky maybe you can head to the theater!

Have fun and don't forget the popcorn!