Numbers

Numbers - it seems as though our lives are ruled by them. Dates, times, budgets, goals - numbers dominate our lives.

Here is a picture of what my day looks like:

A rather calm day, especially compared to what it will look like a month from now, when school and life begins again!

My day is ruled by numbers: What is today's date? What time is my meeting? What train do I catch? How much is my grocery bill? How many miles should I walk? How many words have I typed?

Imagine a day without numbers? Chaos?

Have you tried living without your calendar or blackberry? Have you gone more than a few minutes and not checked the time? Have you lived off the grid for any length of time?

I gave up wearing my watch one vacation - determined to live in the moment. That lasted about two days and I caved. I just couldn't do it. I'm sad to say I work better with schedules and routines.

Numbers - a necessary part of my life.

White

A few years ago, I finally fulfilled one of my decorating dreams (of which there are many, many more, sadly enough) of finding a little spot in my house just for me. I rearranged the furniture in our bedroom (my husband didn't really need that extra night stand) and was able to claim the corner just for me. And what did I put in it?
This...

Oh, I know, it's not much in the grand scheme of things, but when I'm able to slip away from the rest of the house and tuck myself away in this oh-so-comfy, white chair with my favorite book - it's heaven on earth (or at least Meadowood Road!)

This is my little slice of white for today.


(If you haven't gotten a chance to yet, check out The August Break and see what others are taking pictures of this month. It's well worth the time, and a nice little break in the middle of the day!)

Home

Home - such a warm, welcoming four-letter word.

It’s an especially poignant word for me today, as I just came back from three weeks away and I am readying my son as he prepares to leave for his final year at college.

Home makes me think of my kitchen table, my comfy bed and my nightstand piled high with books. Home conjures up sweet memories of my youth, playing with my siblings and sharing secrets with my sisters.

While the picture below shows our house in which we live and raise our children, our home is harder to capture in pictures. Our home is filled with love and laughter. Our home is a combination of old and new; do-it-yourself and work in progress. Our home contains memories – both good and bad, funny and sad. Our home is not made of stone and siding, but laughter and tears.

Our home is where our family is!

What's your definition of home?

“Every house where love abides and friendship is a guest, is surely home, and home sweet home, for there the heart can rest.” Henry Van Dyke

(Day 13 of The August Break - Home.)

Skyline

We've had beautiful weather while on vacation this year. It's been sunny most days,with a refreshing ocean breeze that cools you off on even the hottest days.

Unfortunately, that weather pattern has broken and these past few days have been a mixture of sun, clouds, rain, and humidity with that ocean breeze still blowing when you are near the water. It's like Mother Nature doesn't know what she wants.

This is the skyline I saw while roaming the island today before dinner:

Will it rain again?

Will the sun break through for a beautiful evening?

Will the clouds hang on and put a damper on our sunset?

Only Mother Nature knows for now...

My gift from the sea

One of my favorite books to read during the summer is Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "Gift from the Sea," and one of my favorite quotes from that book is the following:

“The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. To dig for treasures shows not only impatience and greed, but lack of faith. Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches. Patience and faith. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach—waiting for a gift from the sea.”

That is my wish for myself, and especially for all of you who have chosen to take the time to follow me. I wish you patience and faith to see what life brings you. Take the time to enjoy these last few weeks of summer.

(Today is Day 5 of August Break. Assignment: close up.)

Let's go ride a bike

When was the last time you rode a bike?

We are at the shore, so we use a bike for everything from exercise to daily transportation to pleasure.

Our morning exercise routine is to ride a few miles on the boardwalk first thing in the morning, enjoying the sun as it rises above the ocean.

We ride our bikes to the beach because parking is next to impossible in a 5-block radius of the ocean, and it's a lot quicker than walking!

And our evenings are often spent pedaling up and down the neighboring streets, looking at homes and imagining the lives of those who live in them.

Interestingly enough, when summer ends, so do our bike rides. We pack them away with our beach chairs and sand toys, never to be used again until next summer.

Been on a bike ride lately? Enjoy!

(Today's August Break assignment was circles, which immediately brought to my mind these bike wheels!)

August

So, rumor has it that August has arrived. I’m not sure I believe it, and I know I don’t want to believe it. Why is it that March, which by the way has the same number of days as July (I recited the rhyme just to confirm) seems to drag by, and July passes in the blink of an eye?

I have to say, I’m not a big fan of August. As one of my friends put it, August is kind of like one long Sunday night.

Oh, the first two weeks are great: we squeeze in our vacation after swim team is over and before preseason. The weather is still sunny and warm, and the beach, though crowded, is still our oasis.

But come mid-August, my summer is over. My son goes back to college, which requires hours of packing, laundry and shopping, my daughter starts two-a-days for volleyball, school schedules are posted which leads to the dreaded back-to-school shopping, and my calendar suddenly fills up faster than you can say “Where did summer go?”

Having said all that, I’ve decided to change (or at least try) and change my attitude towards August this year.

I recently came upon a site by Susannah Conway called The August Break. The goal is to slow down and appreciate these last few weeks of summer before the hectic days of fall overtake us all.

Each day (okay, in all likelihood a few days a week), I will post a picture on my Blog along with a few words describing either the photo or my thoughts surrounding the subject. My personal goal is to take the time to stop and appreciate everything around me before it disappears (to school, to the weather, to the busyness of my everyday life.)

My wish for you all is to not only enjoy the pictures, but to also take a moment out of your busy life to appreciate the "everyday" surrounding you.

Enjoy! And let's make August last!

August 1, 2013

My daughter woke up a little earlier than usual (which means before noon) and we decided to sneak out to breakfast - just the two of us. We went to our favorite place on the beach - Northend Beach Grill, in Ocean City, NJ. While the weather was a bit off - drizzly and gray, the sun was still peaking out between the clouds above the ocean. It was the perfect way to start the day - catching up and enjoying Mother Nature in all her glory. Happy August!