Category Archives: Friends

Unknown's avatar

Good Friends and Glass

by

My good friends, Tim and Joe (who is probably also your good friend) are helping me to find some new glass.

_MG_7607-2

In my previous post, I commented that I needed some more zoom, and those who know Joe will not be surprised to learn that he generously took time out of his busy life to do some research for me.  Knowing that the campaign is offering me precious few free moments, I’m so grateful to Joe!

_MG_7674-2

Like Joe, my long time dear friend Tim, has started using a mirrorless camera, and he offered to let me play around with one of his Canon lenses.  How cool is that?  What an incredible guy!

_MG_7603-2

I’ll be participating in a couple campaign events this weekend and I look forward to continuing to try out this new lens.

How fortunate am I to have such great friends?

Unknown's avatar

Dear Opl: I Love You

by

My kind and generous friend Alys, of Gardening Nirvana wrote a lovely post about incredibly talented Shelley from Peak Perspective, and about Shelley’s new book, Dear Opl!  Please, please read this post to learn more about both of these women that I am blessed to call friend.

Born To Organize's avatarGardening Nirvana

dear Opl-001My pre-ordered copies of Dear Opl arrived this week. It was great fun opening the box. I finally had my hands on this gem of a book, penned by Shelley Sackier of Peak Perspective.

My 15-year-old son asked why I ordered so many copies. “Because I know the author,” I gushed, to which he replied, “Yeah, but why do you need so many copies of the same book?”

More about that in a bit.

I discovered Shelley’s blog a few years ago and quickly became a fan. She’s an extraordinary writer, who weaves humor and smarts into a variety of essays published weekly. When I belly up to my computer and settle in for a good read, I know I’ll be entertained. I’m also there to learn. Each week I try to absorb that special something that makes her an engaging writer. When my blog grows up it wants…

View original post 377 more words

Unknown's avatar

Gratitude II

by

It was a long time coming, but I finally had the chance to say thank you to everyone that helped me out after my motorcycle wreck.  Bad things happen, but good things can come of them.  For months I was showered with love and care and it has been a goal of mine ever since, to say thanks.

Family and friends gathered on the new porch this past weekend, and Tim captured the scene beautifully.

DSC00394

DSC00440

DSC00419

IMG_6723-2

Friends and family came from far and near.  For once it didn’t rain, and the sound of laughter was the only music we needed.

DSC00506 DSC00518-2

IMG_6730-3

Thank You.  Two simple words with a whole bunch of love all wrapped up in them.

DSC00464-2

Unknown's avatar

Bloggers: The Most Incredible Gathering of Friends!

by

We’ve all said it, and many of you have as well.

WordPress Blogging has become so much more than we ever thought it would be.  What started out as travel diary, forum for writing, sharing of photography, enlightenment about art, gardening, or crafting, or keeping up with family has become a community of international friends.

Over the last several days, 8 WP bloggers from 3 countries and 2 states, have met in various locations to continue in person, the relationships that have been forged through the world of blogging.

IMG_2142-2

Laurie, Boomdee,  Pauline, Alys, and Julia in Old Town Alexandria.

We marveled that while most of us had never met each other, we talked and laughed as if we’d known each other for years.

Which, of course, we had.

IMG_2185-2

Laurie, Stacy, Boomdee, Alys, Lisa, Pauline, and Patty in Georgetown

What might have seemed unusual to friends and family (“you’re letting someone you’ve never met stay in your home?”), to us seemed natural.  No doubts.

Our days have been full of laughter, many hugs, lots of delicious food and the sharing of stories.

IMG_2247-2

Pauline, Shelley, Boomdee, Alys

We’re still in the middle of this amazing gathering of friends, but I wanted to share the joy, because of course, there are so many of you out there that I would love to meet!

Let’s get to planning.  I promise it is worth the effort!

We’ve got another couple days here in Radford before I put Boomdee, Kelly, and Pauline on the train back to DC.  Until the, we’ll fill every single moment with the joy of being together.

And now, while the others get a bit more rest, I’m off to work on the campaign for a couple hours.

Unknown's avatar

Infinity … at Keswick Hall

by

Isn’t it incredible how sometimes all we need is 24 hours away from life’s routines and life’s chaos?

We drove through a snow storm to get to Keswick Hall and while there, soaked up the many comforts that we found.  Next time, we’ll make sure to enjoy the heated infinity pool.

_MG_1312-2

The steam rising off the water added a misty quality to the images,

_MG_1313-2

whether in color or in monochrome.

_MG_1314-3

Beautiful scenery in a historic building, incredible food and drink, and a wonderful friendship = 24 hours of fabulous!

IMG_1267-2

How incredibly lucky am I?

Unknown's avatar

Keswick Hall

by

_MG_1336-2

The destination was Keswick Hall, a 100 year old resort just outside of Charlottesville, VA.  The purpose was a long planned reunion with a dear friend from college.  Jan has been a big part of my life through the years, and was instrumental in my recovery from the motorcycle accident.

The drive to get there?  Near whiteout conditions (cell phone image)

IMG_20150221_085220-2

I left early in the morning, hoping to beat the snow but instead spent almost 5 hours driving through it (the drive would normally take 2 1/2).  It was certainly not the deepest or the worst, but driving through any snowstorm is challenging.

IMG_20150221_102937_edit_edit-2

You know me though.  I am nothing if not up for an adventure, and oh, how glad I am that we didn’t reschedule this 24 hour getaway to Keswick Hall.

_MG_1333-2

“Built in 1912 as a gorgeous Italianate-style estate, the property was converted to a country club in 1948, and restored in the early 1990s as part of the world-class hotel that now graces a most beautiful piece of Virginia countryside”.

Keswick, at least for us, is one of those once in a lifetime type places to visit.

IMG_1228-2

IMG_1226-2

An historic home, beautifully renovated, Keswick is a place where “guests feel as though they are visiting a grand country estate rather than a hotel”.

_MG_1238-2

Our plan was to take a tour of 4 of the 30 wineries in the Charlottesville area, but once we arrived in safety, we decided to nestle in.

_MG_1239-2

What an incredible place in which to ride out a snowstorm!

IMG_1230-2

In the next post, I’ll share some indoor images of Keswick Hall.

_MG_1244-2

Cheers to a fabulous reunion!

_MG_1249-2

Unknown's avatar

February: Love Your Heart!

by

IMG_0956-2

February is American Heart Month and my practice, Summit Women’s Health, is raising awareness about the #1 Killer of Women.

1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke each year.

We’ll be celebrating National Wear Red Day with Go Red For Women on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015.  Why don’t you wear some red, too!

_MG_0951-4

A favorite local bakery and bistro prepares the most beautiful cookies for the holidays and I couldn’t resist taking a picture!

It’s been an exciting 3 weeks on the campaign trail!  This weekend though I’m taking a break to visit with friends and family in Richmond and Williamsburg!  See you when I get back!

Unknown's avatar

The Gift of Friendship

by

The Contented Crafter has now become the Wildly Excited Crafter! Check out this post and see why!

thecontentedcrafter's avatarThe Contented Crafter

If you have been tagging along with this blog for a while you will have read on many occasions of my appreciation for the delightful people that blogging has introduced into my life.   I love how certain folks circle around different bloggers, how we introduce each other to new and exciting blogs – how we click with new people.  I sometimes forget how I stumbled across someone and then will see another name in the comments and remember that I gatecrashed their party a year ago and have been having a growing relationship ever since …..   I’ve made some really good friends while blogging.  And never actually met a single one of them!

But that is all about to change!

Recently some of these friends put their heads together and decided to make something happen.  They invited me to come stay for a few days.  A week of…

View original post 535 more words

Unknown's avatar

Kindness in the WordPress World

by

The great wide world of WordPress is filled with talented, creative people.

IMG_0586

Some put words to paper that inspire me, make me think, and bring a tear to the eye.  Others fill my screen with photographic images that are so visionary and incredible that I exclaim out loud.  History and humor are found here, too, as are recipes, travel tips, gardening ideas, and of course, motorcycles!

IMG_0582

And then there are the crafty ones.

IMG_0589

The ones who spend hours using their creative spirits and their hands to make items that have the rest of us wondering how they do it.  The quilters, painters, scrapbookers, knitters, crocheters, candymakers, and artists of every sort.

IMG_0584

Since beginning my blogging journey with WP, I’ve been blessed to be the recipient of valuable friendships, and gifts of photography, handmade cards, folded books, t-shirts, and most recently a chrocheted bunting, which arrived all the way from Australia!  Incredible! How on earth did Dani from Teddy and Tottie find the time to make so many festive buntings and then to mail them to friends all over the world?

IMG_0590

 How did she know that, because of family, work, and civic commitments, I have not yet put even one Christmas decoration out?  How did she know that her gift of time and kindness would be so welcome in my home.

IMG_0585

Thank you, Dani.  You are, in addition to being talented, a kind and generous woman.

IMG_0588

These gifts, and the people who make them, inspire me to up my game!  I frequently read blog updates where one blogger is sending gifts to another.  Their planning and organization is impressive; the generosity incredible. You all know who you are.

You inspire me.

Unknown's avatar

Gathered ‘Round

by

I’m quite sure that there is no better holiday than Thanksgiving.

IMG_0270-2

If fortunate, the food and drink are plentiful,

IMG_0249-2 IMG_0293-2

 and family and friends are near.

IMG_0276-2

From my home to yours, I wish you warmth, shelter, sustenance, and peace.  I’m thankful to have you in my WordPress World.

IMG_0224-2

My son, Andrew, and me.  

Do you have a favorite holiday?