Ms. Eva

When I saw the word for this week’s photo challenge over on A Word in Your Ear, I immediately thought of one photo.  I should say, I thought of one person.  I know her as Ms. Eva.  My mother was placed in a boarding home when she was a child, along with her older sister.  The head of the boarding home, Ms. Eva, was often seen by my mother in her younger years as being unnecessarily strict .  However, as my mother grew older and had children of her own, she respected Ms. Eva more and more and realized her mentor’s main mission in life was to teach children to be able to cope with whatever life might offer and to become happy, fulfilled adults.

Because my mom grew to love Ms. Eva like her own mother, they remained in close contact with each other throughout the years, up until Ms. Eva passed away last year at the age of 99.  I feel fortunate to have had Ms. Eva in my mother’s life so that my mother could pass on her many valuable lessons that I can now pass on to my own son.  The lessons of perseverance, hard work, commitment, responsibility, respect have now been passed down from this wise lady who always had a smile on her face.  I am so thankful that Ms. Eva was an integral part of my mother’s life.  I grew to love Ms. Eva, and my son grew to know and love our visits, as well.

These photos were the last ones taken before she passed away.  Ms. Eva will always be remembered by the many who love her and her lessons will continue to be passed down from generation to generation.  I enjoyed this week’s photo challenge because it allowed me to spend just a few moments celebrating Ms. Eva and her life.

Ms. Eva-mentor to many

Ms. Eva-mentor to many

Do you have a special someone in your life who has taught you many valuable lessons?  Someone who has altered who you are today, whether directly or indirectly?

#makesmesmile (3)

It is that time again.  Today’s Friday Instagram dump is extra special because ItIsMyBirthday!  These are some of the little things that made me smile this week.

My new candle that smells amazing!

New art created by N and added to the Art Wall

Homemade Bday card created by N

A beautiful Bday present from a Beautiful Friend

Brett Dennen playing on the radio

I thought I would also share this photo because it is featured today on the blog Inside My Glitching Mind.  It was taken on a hiking trip on the Appalachian Trail at Carver’s Gap.

I hope you have many things over the weekend that just make you smile.  Get out you camera and document the every day things that bring you joy.  I plan on smiling and laughing and enjoying everything about this day.

Con-tain-ers

con·tain·er

/kənˈtānər/

Noun
  1. An object that can be used to hold or transport something.

I am attracted to and notice containers, vessels, receptacles.  I am usually drawn to the shape, the size, the lines, the curves, the color or a combination thereof.   I will share a few containers in and around my home that just make me smile.  This first one makes me smile because the hubs and N made it.  What bird would not want to eat out of this?

Lego Bird Feeder

This second vessel also houses bird seed and is a new addition to the outdoors.  The birds (and squirrels) seem to love it.  My Canon will definitely be capturing some little birds feasting on the sunflower seeds.

The 3rd one usually sits in my kitchen window.  The yellow band around the top definitely makes me happy.

I bought this owl because I adore owls but also because it reminded me of a special friend.  I just love the contrast between the white container and the colorful pencils it holds.

The next one also now contains pencils.  I preserved the Andy Warhol Campbell’s cans for N to house his pencils, colored pencils, pens, scissors, etc.

Preserved Andy Warhol cans

The 6th one (if you are keeping count) most of you may notice from IKEA.  I love this one for it’s shape, curves, and color.  It usually houses fresh fruit and sits on my kitchen counter.

#7  OK, the next two are my favorite containers that hold beverages.  This first one is one of those mugs you can freeze.  I love to take it camping on the rare occasion when we have electricity.  A nice chilled glass of white wine with frozen raspberries sprinkled on top definitely makes me smile.  This picture was taken in Kansas where we camped one night on our trek from NC to our new home in CO.

The 8th container also holds another one of my favorite beverages…COFFEE!  This photo was taken at a campground in TN on our trek from NC to CO.

The 9th one is hanging in N’s room and houses some of his Lego figures.  It is one of the Old Printers’  Type Cases, and I bought it from an Etsy shop several years ago.

And I may as well add a #10.  I enjoy this one more than N even though he uses it every day.  I love the color combo, the design, and the fact that it came with reusable plastic containers…no plastic bags needed.

Are you drawn to and notice containers, vessels, receptacles?  Do you have a favorite one or two that just make you smile?  Sometimes…it is the little things.

St. Augustine, FL

One of my photos is featured on the Toemail blog today.  It is a photo of my hubs and N walking along the beach in St. Augustine early one evening.  Grandma and Grandpa live in FL.  When we lived in NC, we would hook up our camper and make a leisurely drive taking a couple of days.  St. Augustine was always one of our favorite places to stop and camp.  I thought I would post that featured photo here today, along with other St. Augustine memories.

2008-12-29 01-37-24 - 0160 2008-12-29 01-37-38 - 0163 2008-12-29 05-02-25 - 0254 2008-12-29 07-47-54 - 0304 2008-12-29 07-57-26 - 0306I hope you get a chance to visit one day.  Do you have a little place that you return to time and time again?  Where is it?  Please share.

Breaking Up with Routine

RoUtInE…I always tell myself that I thrive when my life revolves around routine.  My son was on Spring Break last week, and we enjoyed everything BUT routine.  We broke up with routine and loved it!  I think that you have to be submersed in routine from time to time to appreciate the moments when it doesn’t hold you hostage.  One way we broke with routine was to go to Winter Park skiing for 2 days!

Winter Park, CO

Winter Park, CO

Thursday’s skiing was definitely “spring skiing” with the sun beaming down and the warmth coursing through our bodies.

Loving skiing in CO

Loving skiing in CO

I am fairly new to skiing.  I am sure seeing my skis flailing through the air as I head towards the snow covered ground does not remind anyone of gracefulness.  On one of my falls, this was my view.  So to take it all in, I sat there, took off my gloves, reached for my phone, and clicked the button.  All the while, my hubs and N were waiting on me at the bottom.

Falling in Beauty

Falling in Beauty

Maybe next time, I will invest in one of these.

When the lifts closed on that first day, we rode the cabriolet back to our home for the night, changed out of our winter gear, revisited the cabriolet and landed in a Belgium restaurant in Winter Park Village called Cheeky Monk.

Cheeky Monk

Cheeky Monk

I enjoyed what seemed like a cauldron of mussels and a Blonde Beer.  It was such a nice way to end such a nice day!

Mussels and a Cold Beer

Mussels and a Cold Beer

The next day brought a few snow showers and a few more clouds, but a lot more great memories.  What a treat that my little guy gets to learn to ski at a young age.  Never has my age been so prevalent in my head as when I see him “fearless” flying down the mountain, making quick S turns, skiing through the trees, and making small jumps.  Oh, to be fearless again.  Oh, and the hubs…fearless and an amazing skier. _MG_1718

Contemplating the JUMP

Going for the JUMP

I walked around a portion of that day just taking in the scenery that is not the slopes.

IMG_1768 _MG_1738 _MG_1735 _MG_1733_2

I welcomed the break up with routine.  I look forward to summer break even more!

Do you thrive in routine?  Do you occasionally like to tell routine to take a hike?  What do you like to do when routine is not holding you hostage?  Please share the little things that you enjoy and that make you smile.

#makesmesmile (2)

It is that time when I do an Instagram dump of the little things that made me smile during the week.  If you want to follow me from day to day, my username is simplylifestuff.

My new mint green cart from Ikea that I have been lusting over for quite some time.

Spending an afternoon sketching with my little guy.

Visiting my local Target

Flowers breaking ground

An unexpected rose hand delivered by a new friend with the promise of great conversations to come

Spending 2 days here skiing

Spending 2 days here skiing

I hope you had an amazing week.  Share one thing that made you smile this week.  Happy Easter!

Shavano Mountain

Just wanted to make a quick post today because I have some skiing in my near future.  I plan to throw in a glass of wine while sitting in a hot tub and enjoying some good food morning, noon, and night.  These pictures are from a camping trip I did with two of my favorite guys, the hubs and my N.  We decided to check out Salida and Shavano Mountain in Colorado.  I hope you enjoy.

My sweet N _MG_9944 IMG_9952 _MG_9955 _MG_9956 IMG_9974 _MG_9981_2 _MG_0001Make today beautiful!

Spring Snow for Spring Break

Friday was the official start to N’s Spring Break.  On that day and throughout the weekend, CO was blanketed with the white stuff.  Our unofficial snow gauge sitting on my back deck registered about 10 inches.  N loves to play in the snow – sledding, making snowballs, skiing, snowboarding, and of course, eating it.

While we were enjoying the outdoors over the weekend, the birds were dancing in the trees tweeting their “Welcome Spring” song.

Our chocolate lab, Bailey, loves to join us for outdoor activities, even if he is not always actively involved.

On Sunday, we decided to recharge our brains by taking a scenic drive to a small town in CO called Nederland.  The drive was absolutely breathtaking.  When we arrived, we decided to stop in at the local Whistler’s Cafe and have a bite to eat.  I enjoyed two cups of their locally roasted coffee and consumed an entire grilled cheese and avocado sandwich on rye.  Well, minus the two bites I shared with N.  Delicious!  I will definitely be whipping up one of these in my own kitchen.

Whistler Cafe in Nederland, CO

Whistler Cafe in Nederland, CO

Of course, the locals were standing around chatting like best friends, and we overheard the waiter tell another patron about the bakery next door.  I love to visit local merchants in small mountain towns.  So, we walked next door and began to slowly make our choices.

New Moon Bakery in Nederland, CO

New Moon Bakery in Nederland, CO

A large cookie with cranberries and walnuts and lemon ended up being my choice.  N, of course, selected the huge chocolate chip cookie which he consumed in about 5 minutes flat leaving a pile of crumbs in his lap.

Here are a couple more photos just for fun

IMG_0772We may have snow on the ground for the start of Spring Break, but we are smiling.  What an amazing weekend.  To top it all off, Grandpa visited us from Florida!  What did you do over the weekend?  Do you always have special plans for Spring Break or just use it as a time to reflect and recharge?

#makesmesmile

I love photos.  I like to capture the every day in pictures.  One of my hobbies is to learn more about photography and what settings on my Canon captures the moment exactly as I saw it.  I cherish the many photos I have taken over the years, and I love sitting with a cup of hot tea and reminiscing.  I have started following a few blogs lately that simply inspire me.  So, thank you to all these talented artists.

To challenge myself, I decided to start capturing one moment a day that just makes me smile.  So, I started a new account on Instagram called simplylifestuff.   Feel free to follow me.  One photo a day posted to Instagram and a photo dump on the blog on Fridays with #makesmesmile.  Here we go:

Welcoming Grandpa with Smoked Bar-B-Que

Enjoying after working outdoors in the flower beds

Early morning sun shining on the mountains – view from my kitchen

Sharing flavored sugar with a friend to celebrate her Bday

Enjoying a glass of wine during dinner prep

New bright pillows in anticipation of spring

New bright pillows in anticipation of spring

Snow is in our forecast for tomorrow.  So, I leave you with a few additional photos.

IMG_1391

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.  I see some sledding in our future.  What made you smile today?  Sometimes, it can just be the little things.