Don't Take the Rocks ~ Milestones Part II

One thing we noticed was the amount of “signage” everywhere you go nowadays …not always due to current events.  

One sign that just made us chuckle a bit each time was “don’t take the rocks”.  This sign was posted in more than one location.  No worries we get it - but needless to say it amused us just the same.  

We walked out a narrow path to this beach.  As I was making this photo I was thinking of my 60 years that I’ve lived and, hopefully, to many more years ahead that I have yet to live.  

        I’d say we can look at our lives as we would these rocks.
            Some years were big ….others not so much.  
            Some years were colorful ….others not so much.
        Perhaps we may have a few in there that we’d like to pick up and toss back out into the sea.

My thoughts     ...keep the rocks as they lay.
Embrace the milestones that were good and perhaps learn from the ones that may not have been as big or as bright.  Each one has been shaped by the ebb and flow of daily life.

When you put them all together like this - I see it as a tapestry of sorts.  If you were take one of the rocks you'd leave be left with a hole in that tapestry.

                                                    don't take the rocks

enjoy,

k

Celebrating 60 ~ Milestones Part 1

We ventured up to Acadia National Park to celebrate my 60th birthday.  Spent a few days cycling the carriage roads, hiking up cliffs and around mountains and honestly just relaxing 

 being together and getting away.  

Bridges to cross with glimpses of the Maine coast

making our way to Southwest Harbor - the quieter side of Acadia.

Biking the carriage roads

truly a beautiful landscape from the mountains to the sea.

So many interesting hikes - we're thinking a repeat trip during the off season will be in order as we didn't even scratch the surface of what is offered.  

The architecture around each bend ~ quite interesting

Views from above looking over the cliffs with iron clad ladders to get to the top vistas.

It was a "put your feet up" type of the day when we headed back to the shanty

Quintessential Maine

From sunset

     ....to sunrise

enjoy,

k

Real ~ Surreal

On the water ~ I've always been drawn to it.  

Offering a different experience than our everyday with feet planted on land.

We'll choose kayak locations by their "remoteness" 

giving us a chance to see life on the water

 different than that of our own.

We'll pause and watch birds, fish and other creatures.

On this trip we saw bass making their circular nests in the sand upstream,

birds catching their lunch and a couple of other fellow kayakers enjoying the holiday.

all continue to go about their business as we stroll through.

Seeing the water spiders flit about made me think back to an experiment with double exposure photographs.  Done in camera - you really don't know what you'll come up with and that's half the fun.  Similar to kayaking this river following along the winding turns unsure of what you'll see around the next bend.  

This photo was a practice one taken of my flower pot at home.

While floating I was looking at a group of trees on a small island and came up with this image,

a view that shows what's there but in a unusual way.

 

This other group of trees took on more of an abstract look

Not fake - but not "real" merely offering a different point of view

Give yourself the opportunity to see something a different way.

For these creatures this is their "world".

Wouldn't it be interesting to open our eyes and see their take...

enjoy,

k

Fireflies and Fireworks on the 4th of July

We sat out by the campfire and enjoyed dinner cooked over the coals.  It was a quieter 4th this year.

different for sure

not the same ol' same ol'

After dinner we sat by the fire and watched the fireflies dance around us.

The fire was burning low and it was that time where we wonder if we should add another log to the fire or let it burn down.  

This night there was a flurry of fireworks activity all around us.  We were guessing where they were coming from.   We weren't "seeing" them but rather "hearing" them.  It sounded like a band drummers' solo.  Our intrigue got to the point where we said "let's go for a drive and check them out...."

We didn't have to go very far.  Just down the street ...one turn and we pulled over to watch an amazing display.   Once they appeared to be finished we continued up the road aways and were treated to another amazing showing.   

In these times of social distancing we felt a closeness to our "neighbors" within our community.  

As it should be on this day that we celebrate our independence in our United States of America.

Our evening topped off with a short drive into Laconia where we watched the finale of the show.

A fun and enjoyable evening and one that we'll probably remember more so than 

same ol' same ol'

enjoy,

k

  

Medallion

I recently stopped into the Colonial Theater after receiving a call to come pick up a "gift".   I've been working inside of the theater watching as she's being restored to her original glory and in doing so have had the opportunity to meet some of the fine folks crafting the work.  Doug and Albert are part of the "plastering" team.  I've been able to watch first hand as they transform pieces into works of art to be affixed into their proper places.  

I was delighted to get the call to come pick up one of the medallions from the theater.  Doug will be heading back to his home state of California after working on the project for over 5 months.  He hopes to come back but aptly so is ready to be going home.  

Medallion:  I looked up the meaning and one word stuck out "worthy" 

Carefully wrapped in a pile of hemp was a circular medallion that was crafted by Doug - the same as the medallions that will hang inside the theater.  

I was truly honored to be one of the few that received such a thoughtful gift.  

The walls throughout the Colonial Theater will soon grace these pieces restored as visitors return to the theater from near and far.     

I'm honored that the wall of my home is worthy to have a small slice of history to share with those that stop by.  

enjoy,

k

Times to Celebrate!

Beach dinners have been a traditional of ours for over 30 years.  They give us a chance to unwind at the end of the day 

    ...to relax by the waters edge as the sun goes down.

In years past we would bring out grills and "cook out" - nowadays we've changed the process slightly and make our dinners at home and gather together to share.  

We make life easier as we age

... certain things will forever stay the same 

                        great food

                            great conversations

                                       great friendships

                                              and, of course, birthdays!

Who doesn't love a piñata

hmmmm.....does anyone else feel the "nip" in the air?  

As the evening winds down and the gates need to be closed.  

We gather our things, pack up and head for home.

....knowing full well we'll be back together again soon

enjoy,

k