Happiness – SeasonedSistah

ON A JOURNEY: TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST

Took a six month break from blogging; and, I return re-energized and re-invigorated. Grateful for this break. It allowed me to reconnect with family and friends as well as SELF.

While away, I spent a great deal of time BEING STILL, GOING WITHIN and SEARCHING for the right path to follow in order to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. Not sure what will cross my path on this journey, but I am open to those things that bring LOVE, PEACE, and HAPPINESS into my life. Though 74-years-young, I believe there are still new:

things to learn;
people to meet;
places to visit, and
past memories to record.

I plan to use this blog as the platform to:

Share life experiences; and
Store memories because some are fading.

I LOVE TO CAPTURE NATURE PHOTOS

Two years ago dissatisfied with the photos captured on my IPhone, IPad and Canon point-and-shoot camera, I gifted SELF with a Nikon 5200 Digital Camera. Some in my family, I am sure with good intentions, didn’t see the value in a 72-year-old grandmother purchasing, “such an expensive camera.”

Since then, I drifted through online photography courses as well hours of reading through different photography books including, “Nikon D5200 for Dummies.”

Last week, I attended a three-hour class, Photographing Camellias, which was held at one of our local botanical gardens. I went to the class with our 25-year-old granddaughter, who is with us for an extended visit,

Fessing up! I was a bit intimidated by the other attendees. I came with my granddaughter and Nikon 5200 Camera. They came with their camera along with a lot of different equipment and supplies. Things that I had never seen before.

Minutes into the class, it became clear:

My skill set was far lower than the others attendees, including my granddaughter; and
This class was too advanced for my skill level.

Determined to make it a positive learning experience, for over three hours, I:

Enjoyed the beauty of the Camellia flowers;
Captured photos;
Observed the instructor and other attendees; and
Questioned those things that I did not understand.

Whle I enjoyed the photography class and the beauty of the Camellia flowers, watching my granddaughter as she took photos brought so much LOVE, PEACE AND HAPPINESS INTO MY LIFE.

CHERISHED MEMORIES

PHOTOGRAPHS BY: SeasonedSistah2 (Yvonne)

PHOTOGRAPHS BY: Chelsea Yvonne King

Wordless Wednesday – June 15, 2016

Hi, I’m Back

My last blog post was July 31. The main reason I have been absent from the blogosphere world is that my laptop crashed the second week in August. It happened during my Annual Mother-Daughter Vacation in Martha’s Vineyard. It was the first time in six years of vacationing in the Vineyards that I took my laptop. My plan was to blog about my daily experiences and activities as well as share photos during the vacation.

I took a lot of photos. Actually, over the seven-day vacation in the Vineyards, I took a ridiculous number of photos. When I downloaded them to my laptop, the count was 787. The computer crashed and I feared my photos were lost. Thanks to ICloud, I didn’t lose one photo. Computer-challenged, I am not sure how, but grateful that through this technology all 11,000+ photos taken and/or retrieved from other sources over the past five years were successfully downloaded to my new laptop.

Taking photos as I meander through daily life is a new passion that brings so much happiness, peace and joy to my life. Daily, capturing photos during my early morning bonding walks with the two daughters was the highlight of my Mother-Daughter Vacation this year.

Many more photos to share, over the coming weeks, as I recall and share memories of the many things that occurred during my, almost two month, absence from blogosphere.

Glad, I am back and looking forward to reconnecting with my blogging friends

My Blogging Break: Part One Granddaughters’ Visit

Other than a few photo challenges and several Writers’ Quote Wednesday 2015 posts, I was on a Blogging Break during April and May. Sometimes, stepping away from that which we enjoy opens our space up to receive even greater joy and happiness.

This is exactly what happened with me during April and May when gifted with the opportunity to spend quality time with my visiting granddaughters as well as a cousin that I had not seen for more than eight years.

I needed a series of three posts to record most of what happened during this blogging break.

Part 1: Granddaughters Visit

Lady C, 23-years-old, and Cupcake, 6-years-old, visited us during their spring break, in April. It was a busy week filled with planned and unplanned activities.

We started off with a day at Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom where Hubby and I both agreed that walking around in this huge theme park was not an option. We rented scooters.

Even with scooters it was difficult to keep up with the granddaughters as we moved from attraction to attraction maneuvering our way through huge crowds.

SeasonedSistah2 – Waiting in Line to Get on Tea Cup Ride

Lady C has visited Magic Kingdom, almost yearly, since she was 3-years-old. This was only the fourth visit for Cupcake; and, she still gets over stimulated when she enters Disney’s world of fantasy.

Our second outing was to the Wet N’ Wild Water Park. Walking or scooting through the water park observing our precious granddaughters climb up to high towers and plunge down into a body of water, was more stress than Hubby and I could handle. We chose to relax in a rented Cabana.

As the Florida heat rose, we sought relief and closed off the cabana to the hot sun rays but left the back panels open for a nice breeze. It made for a serene and relaxing day.

Throughout the day, the granddaughters returned to the cabana to raid the small refrigerator we had filled up with our own special snacks and drinks.

After a full-day at the water park, we were all exhausted. The next day was a relaxation day at home with a quick trip to the nail shop for a mani/pedi.

Cupcake, always the creative one, chose to have every nail and toe painted a different color; and, Lady C went for a very subtle apple green color.

The granddaughters and I, on our last outing spent a quiet Sunday afternoon painting at a local pottery gallery.

Lady C and I painted vases.

There were an unbelievable number of pottery pieces and it took Cupcake a while to decide. But, she finally picked one of her favorite pets — a cat — like the one at her Grandma Cebby’s house.

Here’s a look at our masterpieces.

Lady C’s Two Color Vase; SeasonedSistah2s Single Color Vase; and, Cupcake’s Cat

I am grateful that this blog opened my space up to record my life experiences. For, if my memory fades and/or when I leave this world there is a record of those things that brought both happiness and sadness into my space.

Finally, our children and grandchildren live thousands of miles away; and, I am especially blessed in their presence.

(Part 2 and 3 of This Series Coming Soon)

Writer’s Quote Wednesday, 2015

Thank you Silver Threading for hosting this event. This week, I selected a quote by author, Sarah Ban Breathnach.

A close friend gifted me Breathnach’s book, “Simple Abundance” in the 1990s. This was during a period in my life when I was in the throes of dealing with a newly diagnosed condition of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Depressed and devastated about having to leave a career that I had devoted tireless hours to building; I wasn’t open to embracing her theory. Back then, I saw Breathnach and her book only as a popular read within my circle of friends.

Years later, I finally got it; and, since then, I read and re-read the essays in her book to remind myself how important it is to live simply and authentically. Today, It is my go-to inspirational uplift.

Freedom Friday – January 23, 2015

On this Freedom Friday, I choose to exercise my right to express GRATITUDE and APPRECIATION to my blogging friend, Imani, for selecting me to receive the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award.

About Imani

A writer and poet, Imani encouraged me to write my first poem last year. A major accomplishment for a poetically challenged 72-year-old.

I, especially, enjoy the essays that she shares, which introduced me to the lifestyle, culture and traditions of her country.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT HER BLOG

Award Rules

Provide the link to the person who nominated you.
Add the reward logo.
Answer the questions your nominator has asked.
Nominate five other bloggers and let them know via comments.
Ask your nominee five questions.

The Questions Imani Asked Me

Who or what puts a smile on your face and why? A young child or baby will automatically bring a smile. It doesn’t matter if it’s a photo or face-to-face interaction, they are cute and funny.
If you could change the world, in one sentence how would you achieve it? I would end the unjust and unfair treatment of people because of their religion, race, gender, age, ethnicity, etc. I would encourage respect and acceptance of those who are different citing Matthew 7:12, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
What is your favorite color and why? Pink. Pink is my favorite color because tradition taught me this was proper for a young girl growing up in the 40s and 50s. As a young adult, I identified Pink with femininity and expressed it with the lingerie, gowns, PJS, and slippers that I wore. I dressed my baby girls in Pink because it was expected in the 60s and 70s. Diagnosed with Breast Cancer at 68, Pink was the color that designated me as a survivor. Pink is my favorite because I never took the time to pick another color.
Would you tell your friends/family the truth if you felt it would hurt them? No, if I felt it would serve no other purpose than to cause more hurt. Yes, if it would have a negative impact on their health and safety.
Like Lucile asked me, “Are you mad at me because I nominated you for this award and you have extra work to do?” Of course. not. I am grateful to you for opening up this opportunity to meet new blogging friends and even more exciting and enriching experiences.

I nominate the following for Advising Me, Informing Me, Guiding Me, Training Me, Uplifting Me, Inspiring Me and just plain old Making Me Feel Better.

My questions to them:

Who would you want with you if stranded on a deserted island?
Would you rather travel by plane, train, or automobile?
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
For what in you life do you feel most grateful?
If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?

Wordless Wednesday – January 7, 2015

2015: Blogosphere and ME

It’s A New Year

I am excited to begin 2015 focused on:

improving the quality of this blog, and
uplifting ME spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Blogosphere

Because of the holidays, family member illness, and the death of Hubby’s last remaining aunt, I had to step away from blogging for the past several months. Life is getting back to normal and I am happy to reconnect with my blogging friends.

This month, January 13, I will celebrate my second anniversary as a blogger. This blogging experience has opened the door to new experiences, new places and new people both in this country and other parts of the world.

Virtually, via blogging friends, I:

traveled to other countries as well as different places throughout the United States;
received helpful information on nutrition, meditation, exercise, alternative health care; and
entered a new world of books, poetry, religion and music.

Thank you, blogging friends, for uplifting ME spiritually, emotionally and physically these past two years.

Finally, thanks to the information shared in a WordPress recent post,“Make 2015 A Great Blogging Year,” I have the tools to take my blog to the next level.

Hubby, family, friends, and bloggers have all served to improve the quality of my life. I am grateful. But, recent acquired self-acknowledgement and self-awareness skills, guided me to the recognition that this responsibility is solely mine.

To improve ME in 2015, I will:

Nurture my Healing Container Garden as it brings peace, bliss, and tranquility into my space.

Write daily notes to place in My Gratitude Jar, to express gratitude for the good things in life.

Seek out those things which serve to keep ME grounded and directed in a positive way.

Hone my photography skills because it is always good to learn something new and interesting.

Camera Purchased Two Years Ago – Still a Work-In-Progress

Upgraded Camera – Gifted to ME – Christmas 2014

Incorporate healthy recipes into my menus and “go to” the healthy eating cookbooks purchased over the past five years and are never used.

A Small Sampling of Healthy Eating Good Books

Research and explore different options to address my health issues.

Continue to value and appreciate the love of my life, Hubby, as we approach our 55th Anniversary on April 11, 2015.

Remember there are always new things for ME to explore.

2015, Here I Come Ready Or Not!

Freedom Friday – November 7, 2014

The outcome of the 2014 mid-term election is disappointing. But, acceptance and awareness tells me not to dwell on the past.

So, today, I choose to live in the present moment with a smile.

My youngest granddaughter, Cupcake, always brings happiness and joy into my space. Regrettably, she lives two thousand miles away. However, when I pull up her photos on my computer screen:

I Smile.

I, Even, Laugh Out Loud

Photography 101, Day 1 – Home

Today’s Assignment

“To kick of this course, let’s introduce ourselves, share an image that means home, and get to know our cameras.”

I love every inch of my home both interior and exterior. However, when the Florida weather allows (not too hot), I spend most of my waking hours on our rear lanai.

In this space, surrounded by my Container Healing Garden and the towering green trees of the Rear Conservation Area, I find peace, joy and happiness.

My Home – Facing Street

My Container Healing Garden

Rear Conservation Area