SHS Photo Challenge 51

After a very stressful week at work, a sinus infection and a major meltdown on Thursday night, I am so delighted to have a long weekend.  I spent the first day of the Thanksgiving weekend (Canada) taking a mental health day.  I got my hair cut, had lunch out, prowled through a couple thrift stores and took a Salted Caramel Mocha with me to Crescent Beach.  It was a glorious day with the sun shining brilliantly and I even took my shoes and socks off and walked in the sand.  Pure delight!  I also collected a small bag of smooth stones to try out an idea my cousin Lorrie posted about at Fabric Paper Thread.

I need to do this more often.

Now it's time to share my finds . . .

1. Shadows

Found this on my beach trip today . . . love the shadows under the eaves on the left.

1. Keys 

 The key to my heart . . . I know, it's pretty corny.

3.  Smile

 "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile; but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

4. Unedited

 Again from my trip to Crescent Beach today . . . love the twinkly water stars.

5. Spice

I never cease to be in awe of the infinite variety of colours, shapes and fragrances found in nature.

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

Linking with Ashley at Ramblings & Photos.

SHS Photo Challenge 50

Fall is truly upon us . . . the sun getting up later each day and retiring so much sooner in the evening.  I still have a fair bit of cleanup do to with my container garden but other things have taken precedence the last few weeks.  Way too busy for my liking but I always make time for a few photos  . . . so here they are.  

1.  Yellow

 My daughter still has some sunflowers going strong . . . love the long yellow petals on this one.

2. Getting Ready (a)

 . . . to bake my first ever cauliflower crust pizza.

2. Getting Ready (b)

 . . . to sample said cauliflower crust pizza.  Yum!

3.  Bright

 I don't think I have ever seen a sunset like this one . . . bright white ball with blazing yellow rays.  

4.  Teeny Tiny

 The teeniest tiniest birdhouse on my kitchen windowsill.  

5.  Connections

Hearts connecting  . . . generations bonding.

Meeting my first granddaughter 10 years ago. 

What a magical moment meeting this little miss that turned me into a grandmother.

Linking with Ashley Sisk @ Ramblings & Photos.

SHS Photo Challenge 49

I have so enjoyed my first full weekend off since starting my new job.  Last week I had to give up my biweekly companion visits with an elderly lady as I was really needing more down time to alleviate the stress of learning the ropes and trying to bring order to an office run amok.  I spent the entire week reconciling bank statements from April and May . . . somewhat of a nightmare but feels so good to get them out of the way. I am hoping to take care of June, July and August this week coming.  

Now to reveal my finds for this weeks Scavenger Hunt.

I sure do love this photo challenge and what a great bunch of people to link up with. 

 Thanks to all my fellow 'SHS'ers . . . you really do impress and inspire me.

1a.  Cracked

 When my daughter was in high school she wanted to be a marine biologist, so this stained glass Orca seemed like a good choice for a graduation gift.  We were both very disappointed to find it had sustained some damage in a move.

1b.  Cracked

 Close up of the cracks in the stained glass.  It is still a beautiful piece.

2.  Fallen

 This sunflower had fallen to the ground but still lifted its head to follow the sun.

3. Ordinary Colour

 The ordinary colour of my car's dash is a deep gray . . . this is so much more fun.

4.  Bokeh

 I was delighted to find such pretty bokeh in this shot . . . I've never had them turn out this shape before.

5.  Fence

This shot is from my archives . . . view across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario.  Set in place against the wrought iron fence is the Canadian Police Memorial.

As summer slips away and we officially step into autumn, I hope you all have a blessed week and enjoy the fall colours and cooler temperatures.  

Linking with Ashley @ Ramblings and Photos.

SHS Photo Challenge 48

Such a busy week but I made it . . . must make room for some creativity though.

Not much time to chit chat so I am just jumping right in with my scavenger hunt finds.

1.  Kiss

 Sister love . . . old photo, new edit.

2. Askew

 I did know what askew meant but decided to look in the dictionary anyways to see if it would twig a direction to go with the prompt.  This is what I found . . . "not in a straight or level position" as in "her hat was slightly askew".  A perfect fit with this antenna topper I snapped while waiting in traffic.

3.  Fragrant

 Alfred Sung "Paradise" . . . so lovely.

4.  Simple

 I have been spending so much more of my time in traffic lately and try to keep my eyes peeled and camera handy.  Was tickled to snag this for the simple prompt.

5. Plant

Love these delicate lacy tips of this weeping style of evergreen shrub.

Linking with Ashley @ Ramblings & Photos.

Come and have a look . . . some really great photography shared in this link-up.

Hymn of Gratitude

I first posted this poem over a year ago but I needed to revisit it and I thought I would share it again.  While many things have changed in the last year my need to stay in gratitude has not.  Hope you all are blessed by it. 

When I express my gratitude
to God, I find my attitude
transforms from gloomy doom
to sunny smiles.

In giving thanks, my focus changes
as gratitude . . . it rearranges
the way I think and feel and speak
and live my life.

Counting all the ways He blesses
deepens joy, and my heart presses
in to know Him and enjoy Him
as He is.

"All is grace", the writer pens
Each day, each hour, each breath He sends
His gifts of grace and bids me
open more to Him.

The Ancient Words declare the way
into His presence everyday
is opened up by giving thanks
and so I say . . .

For sun and moon and stars that twinkle
eyes that see and lines that wrinkle
aging faces, waterfalls and baby's breath,
I thank You, Lord.

For bone on bone in knee unbending
ears to hear the never-ending 
speech, heaven's telling of Your glory,
Father, thank You.

For hope that flutters in my chest
and tiny eggs in robin's nest
just waiting to burst forth 
and sing your praises.

For full salvation, "it is finished"
healing virtue, undiminished
by years long past and 
morning mercies, ever new.

For children home, and far away, 
I give you thanks, my God, today
my heart is full and overflows 
with gratitude.

Thank You, thank You, Holy Father
Holy Spirit, Jesus, Author
of salvation and the Finisher
of my faith.

Amen.

©Andrea D. Olsen - 9 July 2011

Inspired by the book "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp.
Visit her website here  -  A Holy Experience

Source:  Image capture at http://www.aholyexperience.com/ 

Video trailer for Ann's book.

(The little bundle of pink joy at the beginning of the video is my granddaughter.)

SHS Photo Challenge 47

Another week under my belt at work and things are coming along more smoothly.  At least until they throw something new at me again, which I am pretty sure will happen for some time to come.  That's okay though, because when I am fully trained and it comes as naturally as breathing, I will LOVE it.

Hope all of you who had kids heading back to school this week are faring well and the initial stress involved is fading away into a natural rhythm. 

On to the hunt . . . 

1.  Monochromatic

 Love my set of purple glass bottles with a little sprig of purple sweet pea.

2.  Starts With the Letter  . . . G

There is a verse in the Bible that talks about people who "found grace in the wilderness" . . . I found it in a thrift store.  Well at least the letters that spell the word "GRACE".  

3.  Upside Down

 I was at the mall this week doing a little birthday shopping and as I came out of the bookstore across from the food court I spied this sign at the Dairy Queen.  In the lower left corner of this shot there is a small sign that says "Blizzards get served Upside Down".  So I figured I should see if that was true. It is.  The server flipped it over to show how thick they are and not a drop was spilled.

4. Hair

 The United Church down the road held its annual Fall Fair today (Saturday) and these Highland Dancers and the White Spot Pipe Band put on a delightful performance.  They are traveling to China in 4 days at the invitation of the Chinese government so this served as a final dress rehearsal.  All the dancers wore their hair up in little buns or fancy braided 'do's, except for the lone male dancer who seemed to wear all his hair on his chin.

5.  Soft

While at the Fall Fair mentioned above I spied this hydrangea with lovely soft blue blossoms.

Linking as always with Ashley @ Ramblings & Photos.

SHS Photo Challenge 46

Well, I did it . . . I survived my first week of work at the new job.  I seriously had my doubts before I started that I would have enough energy to get through the week, but you know what they say . . . "One day at a time".  Hey that's a song isn't it?

One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking from you,

give me the strength to do everything that I have to do.

Yesterday's gone, sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine.

Help me today, Lord show me the way, one day at a time.

And that's pretty much how it went.  

I learned so much in just a week's time and it really is the perfect job for me.  I am gonna love it.  Here is the link for the website if you would like to take a peek around.

Pistol & Burnes Coffee Roasters

Okay, on to the hunt . . .

1.  Candid

 Wedding at the beach . . . I have no idea who those people are.

2.  Toys

 Big boy (or girl) water toys.

3.  Five Senses

 A second round of blooms from my hybrid tea rose, "Elle". 

 A feast for the eyes and the fragrance is just heavenly.

4.  Batteries

 Nothing like some beach time to recharge my batteries.

5.  Half

. . .  give me your answer true,

I'm HALF crazy, over the love of you . . .

So glad I got most of these on Sunday last week because I had no oompha left to play after work.  But, yippee, it's a long weekend and hopefully I will catch some play time . . .
 Happy Labour Day to all.

Linking with Ashley @ Ramblings and Photos