photographs – Page 17 – Surprised By Joy

Photos of the Week: Feb 11

February 11, 2023February 10, 2023Posted in Photo of the weekTagged photographs40 Comments

“Ever since Happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.” – Hafiz

Meditation with Mr. D. He might not be thinking deep and calming thoughts (yet) but check out the way those knees bend!

God bless my brother for saving some projects for my kids to help with (of course since he lives on a WWII era tugboat, that really isn’t hard to do) but I appreciate his boatload of patience… Also, for helping Mr. D get the most use possible from his Halloween costume.

Do you remember the days when you had to go to the science center to have your mind blown by optical illusions? These days all it takes is an iPad and an app…

While we love our neighborhood skeleton during the day, he might be even more charming at night!

Heart of the week – nothing says it like Playdoh!

Photos of the Week: Feb 4

February 4, 2023February 3, 2023Posted in Photo of the weekTagged heart, photographs28 Comments

“In every winter’s heart there is a quivering spring, and behind the veil of each night there is a smiling dawn.” – Kahlil Gibran

Weather – from freezing to springlike and back to rain all in one week. Welcome to Seattle winters – but it gave us a lot of interesting pictures.

How much is that doggie in the window? When we drive by, usually it’s an orange cat lounging there but on this particular day, the dog was taking a shift instead.

So nice to have help with my colonoscopy prep…I think. 🙂

Aww….

Which leads to the heart of the week – Cheerio dust in the sink!

Photos of the Week: Jan 28

January 28, 2023January 27, 2023Posted in Photo of the weekTagged photographs, valentines37 Comments

“Even the darkest of night will end and the sun will rise.” – Victor Hugo

Mr D has already figured out at 3-years-old that if he wants to delay going to school, all he has to do is say we should stop to take a picture of the pretty sunrise. It works almost every time!

A little Discovery Park outing. Interesting how it’s hard to get both my kids to smile at the same time – but they’ll do synchronized goofy faces no problem!

The neighborhood skeleton has moved on to Valentine’s Day.

As has the grocery store display. (Remember their creative Halloween and Christmas displays?)

Which is a great segue to the heart of the week – hot in the pan!

Photos of the Week: Jan 21

January 21, 2023January 20, 2023Posted in Photo of the weekTagged photographs, sunrise41 Comments

“I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.”-Voltaire

Budding wildlife photographers starting with a suitable subject – the slug in winter.

It appears that I’m raising some tree huggers as shown on our latest hike. Well, not exactly tree huggers, but at least processed wood post huggers.

Awe inspiring mornings.

Heart of the week – rock found by Miss O on our hike.

Photos of the Week: Jan 14

January 14, 2023January 14, 2023Posted in Photo of the weekTagged photographs, puddles, rain31 Comments

“Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.” – Roger Miller

It was the second week of January and we didn’t have much going except National Puddle Jumping Day on January 13th.

We prepared by wearing our rain gear even when sunny.

And wearing rain gear when cooking.

And rain gear when playing the piano.

When the day came, the weather (in Seattle!) didn’t cooperate so we had to fill up our favorite puddle ourselves. And our favorite uncle came and helped Miss O empty it out…

There was one member of the household not excited about National Puddle Jumping Day.

In light of all this, perhaps it’s fitting that my heart of the week is… a puddle!

Photos of the Week: Jan 7

January 7, 2023January 6, 2023Posted in Photo of the weekTagged Mr. D, perspective, photographs26 Comments

“Everything we hear is an Opinion, not a Fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the Truth.” – Marcus Aurelius

Last weekend, Mr. D and the 5-year-old twins down the street were riding around the block with their cameras. It was like an impromptu meeting of the camera club.

After they were done, I took a look at the pictures on his camera that he’s taken over the last year. I deleted all the ones of my butt (you can thank me later) but I found the others to be a fascinating look at what the world looks like when you are 3’2″. It’s a lot of people bending down to put their faces in yours, looks up people’s noses, missing the full picture and things that are interesting when you are 3-years-old. All the pictures below are Mr. D’s.

(the featured photo is mine – I thought the clouds looked like an arrow reminding me to check out Mt. Rainier)

Photos of the week: Dec 31

December 31, 2022December 30, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged christmas, coast, photographs48 Comments

“There are no ‘seven wonders’ of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” – Walt Streightiff

Christmas ships on Lake Union

Christmas Eve fun. I’m not sure how long I’ll get away with giving matching pj’s but it’s pretty sweet for now.

Mr. D mirrored how I felt by the time we got through opening presents.

Washington coast scenery and wildlife – and the animals were great too. 🙂

Heart and home of the week

Wishing that all of our signs for 2023 are more hopeful…

Photos of the Week: Dec 24

December 24, 2022December 23, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged photographs, snow, solstice35 Comments

“The morning steals upon the night, Melting the darkness.” – William Shakespeare!

Like any good parent, I let my kids play at the dump. 🙂 But as I’ve said before in pictures of this particular transfer station, Seattle Public Utilities has made a really cool place for education and observation of the garbage process.

The story of the week was snow and ice and we did our best to enjoy it! Even the neighborhood skeleton has icicles (lighted and real)!

Sunset on the winter solstice. And then, even after the longest night, the sun rose in glorious fashion!

Our attempt to make reindeer cookies Vicki style from her Holiday Hijinks post.

The heart of the week might be (wo)man made but no less authentic. Merry Christmas everyone!

Photos of the Week: Dec 17

December 17, 2022December 17, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged car cake, photographs36 Comments

“Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art.” – Maya Angelou

Indiana Jones-ing things up!

Wild Lights at the zoo. I wondered why Big Foot was by the Pike Place Market sign and that’s when I learned that he is reported to roam in our woods.

The car turned 100,000 miles and Miss O’s idea was to make it a car cake to celebrate it!

My favorite shot from last weekend – Mr. D riding his strider bike and the cat running along. When I zoom in, it appears the cat has at most one paw on the ground in her effort to keep up.

Our motto (together we can do anything) that we painted on the front walk this summer has almost worn off. But I think the leaf shows, the motto is still loved.

How was your week?

Photos of the Week: Dec 3

December 3, 2022December 3, 2022Posted in Photo of the weekTagged photographs, sign, snow51 Comments

“This life is for loving, sharing, learning, smiling, caring, forgiving, laughing, hugging, helping, dancing, wondering, healing, and even more loving. I choose to live life this way. I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, ‘aw shit, he’s up!’” – Steve Maraboli

Our decorations are up. I’m not holding my breath that the Christmas snail is going to catch on very soon. First, he looks grumpy and also, he just doesn’t instill confidence that the package will arrive on time. But if I see any others in our neighborhood, I’ll take a picture and post it here.