photographs – Page 16 – Surprised By Joy

Photos of the Week: Nov 13

November 12, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged boat, golden gardens, photographs51 Comments

“Life becomes more meaningful when you realize the simple fact that you’ll never get the same moment twice.” – unknown

But you might get the same soda display twice….just dressed up as a different holiday (for anyone that remembers the Halloween themed display from a few weeks ago.)

Is there anything better than a huge wheel to make you feel like you are going somewhere – even when the boat is securely tied to the dock?

The fall light was really spectacular this week. Either that or I was just so out of whack from the end of daylight savings time that I couldn’t tell whether the sun was coming up or going down.

Cold weather beach walk

It appears that the cat is trying to learn to read. I just don’t know why she’s trying to hide it?

How was your week?

Photos of the Week: Nov 5

November 5, 2022November 5, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged halloween, photographs27 Comments

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself.” – George Bernard Shaw

Halloweening – including hanging out with my sister-in-law who was Ellie from Up.

Somehow crazy hair day at the grade school morphed into we all needed to color in our hair. Because I did Miss O and then Miss O did Mr D and then Mr D had to have someone’s hair to do so I got looped in too. 🙂

This picture makes me think of Charlie’s Angels for some reason – although I’m quite sure they didn’t carry marshmallow guns.

There is a house in our neighborhood that has already moved on to Thanksgiving decorations. Apparently they are marching to the sound of their own drumsticks. Or maybe they just like to talk turkey. I’m sure there are several more bad Thanksgiving puns I can insert here…

Reading the street leaves and this one points to love. How was your week?

Photos of the Week: October 1

October 1, 2022October 1, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged mariners, moon, photographs41 Comments

“A house is made with walls and beams. A home is built with love and dreams.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Coming home from my business trip last week, I got in late Friday night. So I woke up to the beautiful sunrise (featured photo) and a weekend with my precious kids. I got to sit on the floor and played Lincoln Logs and trucks, hear about all the new ways to make friendship bracelets and was reintroduced to the neighborhood (including the slugs).

Mid-week Seattle Mariners game with friends. I don’t claim to be a big baseball fan but it’s fun to go to the park!

And in addition to the ball park, there was also time spent at neighborhood parks on these beautiful fall days!

As we settled into our Friday night, Mr. D looked at the door at the crescent moon rising and said, “It needs another piece.”

How was your week?

Photos of the Week: Sept 24

September 24, 2022September 24, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged cats, ocean, photographs, travel28 Comments

“To journey without being changed is to be a nomad. To change without journeying is to be a chameleon. To journey and to be transformed by the journey is to be a pilgrim.” – Mark Nepo

Having fun at parks, playgrounds and bike rides (that’s Miss O on the bike ahead) last weekend.

Images from on my travels to the East Coast this week. Clearly I had some fun (especially touching the Atlantic Ocean) and it wasn’t all business.

I could rest assured while I was away because the watch cat was clearly on the job at home!

How was your week?

Photos of the Week: Sept 17

September 17, 2022September 17, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged kindndess, photographs, signs14 Comments

“If you are offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on!” – Sheryl Sandberg

Bouncy house fun!

Sometimes you just want to fix up the neighborhood.

A cat’s eye view.

Enjoying the cooler air and the soft summer light of this late summer season.

I love that this sign invites us to rely on kindness instead of just offer it. What got you through this week?

Photos of the Week: Sept 10

September 10, 2022September 10, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged discovery park, photographs, tiger mountain49 Comments

“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than one seeks.” – John Muir

Photos from our hike on Tiger Mountain as described in The Journey is the Destination!

Playgrounds and blackberry picking at Discovery Park

I have a favorite place to go workout on some stairs (13 flights for a total of 290 stairs) and I took Miss O with me this week. There are some great views of Lake Union and the Space Needle from the upper flights which always helps with the motivation!

Signage humor. What made you laugh this week?

Photos of the Week: Sept 3

September 3, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged capital hill steps, north cascades, photographs, rock climbing28 Comments

“Buy the ticket, take the ride.” – Hunter S. Thompson

We drove out to the North Cascades again last weekend and enjoyed some great scenery and more horse rides.

And then continued with horse rides once we got home.

Bouldering as a birthday present – one of Miss O’s picks that was a really fun!

Wildlife – a deer, some micro mini cows (from the North Cascades) and a squirrel enjoying the last of the plums in our yard.

Lake Union from the top of the Capital Hill steps which wraps up the view of our week. How was yours?

Photos of the Week: Aug 27

August 27, 2022August 26, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged photographs, whales, whidbey, wishes39 Comments

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find eternity in each moment.” – Henry David Thoreau

The last of the vacation pictures – a heron fishing in the morning and a brief sighting of orcas on the ferry ride home.

Miss O wanted a pink polaroid camera for her birthday. Which makes me laugh because as she very carefully takes the one picture that she wants so as not to waste her film, I get to snap 5 digital pictures of her in the process.

Wildlife at home – a raccoon eating plums in our backyard and a goose figuring out the neighborhood cross walks.

Finding dandelions to wish on…

Did you have a week full of wishes and dreams?

Photos of the Week: Aug 20

August 20, 2022August 20, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged photographs, whidbey island43 Comments

“The eyes experience less stress when they can look upon a wider horizon.” – R.D. Chin

I think all vacations that start with a ferry ride are off to a good start. And this one ended with Miss O drawing out our activities which provided a nice summary before our ferry ride back.

A week of a wide horizon of sun, sea and surf.

On a walk that my friend and Mr. D took, they saw a bunny run under a hedge. My friend started to say, “I bet if we are quiet, then we can…” Then Mr. D., already understanding the point, interjected, “Sshhh!”

Regardless of all there was to look at, it seemed the most popular place to be for the 7-years and under set was in the pool.

The windows of Langley, a picturesque little town on Whidbey Island near where we were staying, were stenciled with little quotes. Although one of them seemed to have the idea backwards, at least to my way of thinking.

Any quotable lines and good stories from your week?

Photos of the Week: Aug 13

August 13, 2022August 13, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged beach, photographs, Seafair, seattle21 Comments

“The bad news is that time flies. The good news is that you are the pilot.” – Michael Althsuler

Seafair in Seattle – an incredible show on a beautiful day. (Anyone that wants to see the Blue Angels’ farewell flyover video I captured see my instagram @wynneleon)