Today

I stepped outside, sat on the bench with Sammy and closed my eyes.

The air was cool and crisp.  The smell was of dried leaves.  The sounds of rushing leaves were close by, and then there was that roaring of the trees being blown back and forth in the distance - it sounded like the ocean waves(or at least I think, for I have only been to the ocean once and that was for but a minute or two).

Sammy was sitting on my lap, cleaning herself.  When I got up she got a drink from the fountain.

It's been raining (notice my last post) and the wind has been blowing all day and night.

And because of all the wind, we had a slew of leaves and branches covering our driveway.

The leaves around here are starting to turn colors.

Little, random mushroom growing on an old rotten log.

 Oh! Look at this.  It's not just a log...it's a teeter totter.  This is the cool thing about living in the woods.  You don't have to go anywhere for the playground, you already have the teeter totters and swings and climbing things.

 See, the log is lodged into the fork of the tree, with two people on each side of the log it becomes a teeter totter.

This is my drawing of my toy. The top log is the actual teeter totter, with a lower log to push our feet against. The teeter totter is pretty high and is difficult to get on even when standing on the lower log. 

It's pretty fun, but a little dangerous if you aren't holding on tight!

It's raining

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Of course, this tree is now covered in red leaves...but this poor camera has not gotten much use now that school has started.

 

Once Upon A Time...

 ...I desperately wanted to have sunflowers in my wedding.  Not so much anymore.  But that is all I am going to say about my wedding because only my mother and close friends know anything else, and I should like to keep it that way...

...do believe me when I say that I know my tastes and desires for my wedding will change soon and that planning the colors and flowers is a waste of time...

...but would you not admit that planning for your wedding is just - kinda fun?  I'm a girl am I not?

Anybody notice something different between the first three pics and the last two?  The first three were taken with he 50mm and the last were taken with the 70-200mm. 

I find it interesting to see the difference.  The main one being that the 70-200mm pictures are a lot darker (you don't even know how dark they started out as!).

The second one being that the background is much more out of focus.

 

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Interesting news: I bought the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack.......beautiful!!!

Canning Peaches

::Canning::

It was something I had never experienced, never knew much about,  but always wanted to try.

When I asked mom about it, she said she didn't like canning because it takes out all (or at least a lot) of the nutrients.  She gave little hope that we would one day start canning. 

One day however, Mom mentioned my desire to a lady at church...who then told me that I needed to come help her can. 

So that is exactly what I did. A week later I went to her house and we canned peaches all afternoon. I had a splendid time, and learned a lot!

After that canning session, Mom decided it would be okay to can some peaches for ourselves. :)

I was quite thrilled as we started our own peaches.  Now, we have two patches of peaches sitting in our basement, waiting for winter to come so that we may indulge ourselves in them.  :)

P.S. I've never actually had (homemade) canned peaches.  I hear they are amazing...so can't wait to try them. 

Beach - with Heather and Grace

Last week I went along with Heather and Grace to take pictures for them.  We went to the one beach I hadn't gone to forever (or at least 2 years...) and I had so much fun.  Later, we went back with the family for Labor day and played volleyball.

When with Grace, we got to the beach at the most beautiful time.  The sun was perfect.

Someday...I will run through this fountain myself.  I've watched at different times, and it looks pretty fun.  I have to go when it's super hot though, and it looks like that won't happen until next year.

They didn't actually run through them, but at least they got their hands wet...:)

Mmmm - these grasses + the sun = happiness

I love this soft light, there was such a thin haze covering the sun.

I love these lights they have strung up. They make it so much fun!

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Oh, and about the book I shared with you, "Life, In Spite of Me"...I thought I'd share the website with you so you can go look around. 

www.reachingyou.org

Good Book

Well,"good book" is really an understatement.

The story of Kristen Anderson that is shared in this book, "Life, In Spite of Me", is incredibly sad and absolutely wonderful! The end is amazing, showing God's control in our lives and never ending mercy.

Read it.