Little Scraps of Magic

Morning Has Broken

Up in the wee hours, sipping coffee and arting up a desk calendar, when I looked up and saw this...what a gift.

Grabbed my camera, went outside, and stood on our front walk, trying not to hop up and down...cold cement! Also trying not to wonder what the morning commuters thought when they saw me...fuzzy blue robe, bare feet, camera in hand. I hope the looked up and noticed this incrediable gift.

Off to PA in a few hours, home again tomorrow - the world of lawyers and Medicaid beckons. And, if it all gets to be too much, I'll close my eyes and remember the gift of a morning sunrise.

Turkey Day!

Our day...

 - family

 - food

 - fun!

Hope yours was as lovely...staying put today, no lines, no shopping for me!

Enjoy all that is good; we're all gifted with so much.

Photo Heart Connection - October

Look at those eyes...this little one is so intent on his grandpa. He's just finished signing the word "more," as in "More bubbles, please, Grandpa."

Our Alex was diagnosed earlier this year, with a 25% speech delay, along with a delay in fine motor skills. His pediatrician caught it, and from there, Alex was tested. His receptive skills are advanced, but he just couldn't make those words come out.

Alex has weekly sessions with a therapist, who visits him at home, engages him in play, and knows how to push a bit. Alex fought us on this for quite a while. But, think...how would you feel if you were pushed (and we've all learned to push a bit now) to do something that just didn't come naturally. And, that you were pushed all day long. Can you say "frustration?" Throw in a few temper tantrums as well.

In the beginning, we worked on signing, so that Alex could make his needs known, rather than mommy and everyone else playing a guessing game. And, it empowered Alex, gave him some control that he didn't have before.

And, the words are coming. Bubbles is a favorite, and so is "DONE!" said with great emphasis. Night-night, dog, cat, piggy, and so on.

His therapist thinks that Alex knows what should be coming out of his mouth, and when he can't make say what he wants, gets even more frustrated. It's a bit of fine line...to push to make him get those words, but to not push so much that he rebels against anything that smacks of talking.

All of this fasciantes me...the brain is so complex, and you and I take so much for granted. Babies learn to talk...it just happens. Except, some times it doesn't.

Our Alex will be fine in the long run, and we're grateful for that.

In the meantime, he smiles at his grandpa, says "more" and then "Bubbles." And to celebrate the progress Alex has made, and also, because, he just plain loves Alex, grandpa obliges.

This little one, with all his struggles to do what you and I take for granted, has my heart.

Here's to the doctors who diagnose, the therapists who put up with temper tantrums, and to the families who work with this and so much more...you have my heart as well.

Portrait of the Mad Hatter

For Focus 52's week 48, we were encouraged to create something "spooky." Jan provided some wonderful links for nighttime photography and such, but Hurricane Sandy got in the way of any attempts to try this out.

By this past Saturday, officials highly encouraged all Halloween decorations to be brought inside. Even the tiniest pumpkin transforms into a flying projectile with the aid of hurricane force winds. By the same evening, the rain poured down, and continued through Tuesday.

Nope, driving rain and hurricane force winds equals finding a Plan B.

So, instead I fiddled with a photo taken Halloween night, attempting a "spooky" feeling. Not awesome, but not so bad either!

 

 

Family Portrait

Meet:

the Mad Hatter, aka Kim

Alice in Wonderland, aka Kara

The White Rabbit, aka Alex

Happy Halloween!

One Shot...3 Ways

Up around 6 this morning, and considering it was 2 am yesterday, I'll take it!

Did some chores, gave the dog his meds, and settled in to catch up on blogs and then some photoshop play.

The original...gorgeous folks, gorgeous background!

Vintage filter applied, and blended out a bit using "soft light." 

And, of coure, a black and white. Too much fun!

Sunday Morning Musings

Outside my window rusty colored leaves glisten in the sunlight.

I am thinking about this thing called family...ever evolving, ever changing. Some threads of it lost, and some found again.

I am thankful for chances to reconnect and discoveries to be made.

From the kitchen comes the sounds of grandpa making breakfast for Dom.

I am wearing pjs and a robe, enjoying the Sunday morning quiet.

I am creating journal pages, fun images in photoshop, and photo pages for a colloborative project.

I am going to be working on lesson plans, creating tests, and the like.

I am reading and rereading A Field Guide to Now. 

I am hoping to get outside in the sunshine and fresh air for awhile today.

I am hearing the furnace kicking off and on.

Around the house apples await their journey into applesauce, toys are strewn here, there and everywhere, and the rugs scream to be vacuumed.

One of my favorite things is Trader Joe's pumpkin spice coffee.

A few plans for this week: to grade 70 social studies booklets, work on finalizing grades ( It's the last week of the quarter!), and claim some "me time" in the art studio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Heart Connections

Just a week ago, I wandered through my sister's yard, shooting some photos as everyone finished up getting ready to go to breakfast. The tiny things drew me, this little whisp of a dying flower, going to seed, no bigger than a quarter. In fact, not much bigger than a dime. Quiet beauty, basically unnoticed by most of the world...just going about its business. The whispy bits delighted me, and I can't quite put into words why it tugs at me. Maybe, it's the beauty in its aging, maybe because it signals another change, one that I can't control. I'm learning to appreciate what the changes bring, whether or not I wanted those changes.

I'm sneaking my August connection in here! The first week of September brought the beginning of school and all the craziness that entails. By the time I caught my breath, the time to link up had passed me by. I love the texture in this photo, and I love my sister's concentration as she figures out her new macro lens. The two of us generally head up towards Lake Erie right before school starts, and we both get lost in our cameras...whether it's Lake Erie, the beach, or downtown Philly. Many, many happy memories here!

Still Life with Self Portrait

At my sister's home...can you find me?

Amusing Grandpa