Who I See

My husband, hiking at a park near our home called Natirar. They just opened a new trail, it was a glorious Saturday morning, and of course I fell behind taking pictures.

But you do that too, right?

who i see

Oh, he is a girls, best friend! Cute as a button, and as silly as can be. I see you getting gray, around the edges. Oh yes, me too friend, me too. No matter how many times, I butcher Beetoven's~ Adieu to the piano, you never leave my feet, listening to every key I touch. I reward us both, with lazy afternoon naps, as the sun comes for a visit, and the summer comes to an end. Oh yes indeed, you are a girls best friend.
: )

who i see...

While admiring the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge in Dumbo, Brooklyn last night, we were asked to take a photo of a group of tourists. They laughed as they put on these funny glasses (calling them Japanese toys). We got quite a laugh when they turned around and insisted that we try them as well. So, here, I see my husband with two of his siblings and funny Japanese toys (& the Brooklyn Bridge lights sparkling in the background).

Who I See

I see my Aunt Marie as often as I can.

She is my mother's only living sibling, in fact, my only living aunt (or uncle).

She was the youngest of their family and is the one who has lived to be the oldest at 91.

On her birthday or anytime I am in town, I always try to take her to Red Lobster.

Aunt Marie loves Red Lobster because she loves the fried catfish.

And the fried shrimp

And the Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

Even though we always go out at lunchtime, I urge her to order from the dinner menu,

so she will have some left over to eat for her supper.

I'm the only one who will take her there

because her family is ultra-religious and Red Lobster serves alcohol,

so they have deemed it verboten.

She always says to me that maybe she shouldn't go there either.

I tell her, "Auntie, you're not drinking it, so how will it hurt you."

She told me once that when she was young, she enjoyed having a beer once in a while.

She's the closest thing to a mother that I have and I treasure her.

She always looks straight into my eyes and says, "I love you, little girl."

Today I Saw

Today I saw a girl in her new petti skirt that dreams of becoming a princess.

Today I saw a girl who will stop and pose for photos not only for me but also for other tourists that like her petti skirt.

Today I saw a girl that loves flowers and wants to be a florist when she grows up.

Today I saw a girl with a kind heart, who when owns her own florist will have a free basket of flowers to offer to any young children who enter her shop.

Today I saw a happy girl at a local flower farm.

Today the girl I show to you … is my daughter.

Who I See...Simple Things

Sept. 20, 2001...this beautiful, sweet miracle came into my life.
After years of complications, my sweet Cambria entered this crazy world.
Who I see?
I see my first born transform before me everyday into the beautiful young lady you see above. Her thoughts are not on boys, or the latest fad, nor is it what plans she has on Friday night. But its when she'll be able to ride her bike, or the next time she'll go fishing with her dad
or see her best friend.
The simple things.
Cam, may you always be content with the simple things in life... Love, Mom

Welcome Home

(c) accidentalbeauty

I just kinda died for you

You just kinda stared at me

We will always have the chance

We can do this one more time

--Aurora by the Foo Fighters

That is the song she was named after

It still fits

This is the look she gives me

Everyday when I come home

I see...

I see my daughter being brave.

Here she is wednesday night in the emergency room, waiting for some more tests.

About 10 hours after this photo was taken

so was her appendix.

Who I See

who do I see?

a small figure sitting quietly in a wheelchair in the hallway
a toddler just learning to walk
a little girl laughing with her doll
a teenager dressing for her first dance
a young woman excited to be in love
a mother holding her children close
a grandmother watching her children go
a small figure sitting quietly in a wheelchair in the hallway

I see her.

Who I See

a grandmother.

my husband's grandmother.

but i can call her grandma i.

Who I See

In the beginning, I saw two babies malnourished and barely registering on growth charts.
Now, I see two kiddos who may very well eat us out of house and home.

In the beginning, I saw babies not used to being held and cuddled.
Now, I see children who snuggle freely and seek our affection.

In the beginning, I saw babies who could not be taken care of by birth parents.
Now, I see a son and a daughter who complete our family and hope those birth parents know how much they are loved and cared for by us.

Sometimes when the day is long and my patience short, I remind myself about who I saw in the beginning. If that doesn't work, I make myself a little cocktail and call it a day.

Who I See

I see life moving far too quickly
Blurring the lines between childhood and middle-age

Looking in the rear-view mirror at a lonely past
I stick my hand out the window
And the wind picks up speed

I spy through the railing
Those who have crossed my path
And up a ways, at the intersection
Are those I have yet to meet

Whether in passing
Or if they should sit a spell
I see them, and wave hello

Esta vida se mueve tan rápido,
This life moves far too quickly
To keep your eyes closed.

the car pool line

this is my youngest nephew - jacob, jake if you will. he's had a tough morning already and didn't really want me to take the photographs. so i snuck a few as he was unloading his drum kit and backpack out of the backseat of my jeep. it made him laugh as he twisted and turned to avoid me.

he's growing up so rapidly, this little man child (so very true). the transition from grade school to middle school. the transition from glasses to contacts (part of why he was having a bad morning - he couldn't get one in.) when did girls become less icky? when did he grow up so fast (very fast)? so fast that it makes my eyes water in the wind that rushes by.

he's a thinker, a worrier, but he loves a good joke. he's learning to be a drummer, a scientist, a man, but he still eats his cereal while lying down (it's true). he's growing taller, wiser and faster than i want. he's shy, and self-conscious but struts his stuff when he thinks no one is watching.

slow down my darling boy, slow down so i can keep up . . . better yet, keep flying my dear one. soar as high as you can go.

Who I See Riding By

I didn't know what to expect as I tentatively headed off on my bike to ride the portion of the Rails to Trails path which traverses our countryside. I am not an avid biker by any means, but have always enjoyed the times I'm out. Today was one of those chilly fall mornings which warmed up nicely, and I enjoyed seeing the other area people who occasionally passed by.

This particular biker is someone I know slightly, and as his adorable puppy stopped for a drink in the field ditch, it was nice chatting with someone I don't normally see. Sometimes I have a difficult time striking a conversation out-of-the-blue, but maybe it was the fall day, or the casual atmosphere of the bike trail, or the sweetness of a furry puppy, but the conversation was pleasant and brief. It could also have something to do with the fact that no one looks good in a bike helmet, so no worries about how I looked! :)

who i see (sooc)...

grandparents day 2009. my daughter pays her 95 year old great-grandmother a visit. she brings grandma her very own groovy girl doll. grandma doesn't want to accept it...she doesn't want to take away the child's doll. but my daughter insists. so grandma accepts. as usual, grandma exclaims, "it's not a doll, it's a pretty little girl" and gives her pretty little groovy girl a most welcoming hug.















grandma takes a moment to stop and smell the flowers my daughter hand picked for her from the garden.













time will not erase the child inside. grandma tries on her bottle cap ring. here comes the bride.













grandma is happy. she is not forgotten. she tells hubby that our daughter is the only grandchild who gives her gran-gran anything. celebrating great-grandmothers.

the end.

who I see

I spend a lot of time on the road

I like to make up stories about the other travelers out there

are they working?

sightseeing?

on vacation?

This is the view of who I see quite often...

Who I See...

To see myself....

I see a daughter, sister, wife, and mother.
I see someone who appreciates the differences in people.
I see someone who is constantly looking for the beauty in everything,
but has such a hard time finding the same in herself.

I see new wrinkles and my first gray hair sneaking in.
I see someone who is probably misunderstood.
However, I also see a friend, a supporter, a believer~
I am learning to like what I see - when I see myself.

Who I See

He's the one who laughs (a lot!)
and makes me laugh too
(even when I swear I won't).
He's the one who found me a half a world away
and left home,
and country

to be with me.
He's the one who loves music and movies
and boats and water and travel and people
and oh so many other things.
He's the one who throws a ball
to our obsessive, ball chasing, hairy friend
and
I'm thrilled to say,
he's the one who loves me
as much as I love him!

i see me

first she's in front
then she's behind
always lurking
the sneaky kind
a constant friend
never a foe
picture benevolence
then you'll know
how i feel
about this gal
kindred spirit
my shadow pal

this picture makes me smile. i have a pin head and those rotund legs take me right back to my bell bottoms of the 70's. i'm not sure why i'm so enamoured with taking photos of my shadow but i am. and i do. and i always will.

who i see

photo by Taylor of Spread Your Wings

i see a girl full of life and spontaneity. i see a girl with problems she just wants to brush away with the wind. i see a good friend so strong she's flying away on healed wings. i see a girl who is a new addition to my flock of friends- becca.