More To Life...

After a four year hiatus from flying, last Wednesday we hopped on a plane, bound for Montreal. Even though it was a work trip for the hubs, I enjoyed being completely unplugged from technology. Did you know there's a whole world outside of social media? Yep, there really is.

While Peter attended meetings, I read a book, did some shopping, and fell in love with apple pie cheesecake. It was a healthy reminder that there is more to life than my laptop and smartphone. In fact, it made me rethink how much time I want to spend online outside of work (which has to be done online - I mean, I work for a social media company!).

So, even though I've already cut my blog posts from five days a week to three days a week, you may be seeing even less of me. I've worked through my compulsion that I must.post.daily, and when I woke up at 3 AM this morning and realized that I didn't have a post ready to go up for my three-times-a-week schedule, I actually thought, "who cares?", and snuggled deeper into my warm bed. 

In other news, if you ever get a chance to visit Montreal, I can personally recommend the smoked meat sandwiches at Schwartz's Deli (a hole in the wall - but worth the trip) - but be prepared, because they only take cash!

After dinner, trot yourself a couple of blocks over to the St. Denis Rockaberry location and try to pick out just one (enormous) slice of pie or cheesecake from their fantastic cabinet of yumminess. It's a really difficult decision, and the slices are HUGE! Three of us (the hubs, hubs co-worker, and me) split one slice of apple pie cheesecake. Peter and I topped our dessert off with mugs of the best white hot chocolate I have ever had. Well worth the trip (they accept credit cards).

      

Have you ever been to Montreal?

How do you find a balance between social media and the real world?

Bon Voyage...

Road trips, airports, train stations - what's your favorite way to travel?

Miss Austen Says...

Do you agree with her?

Or does comfort come in the form of a passport?

Food For Thought

Trust in Him or trust in yourself?

Which will YOU choose today?

Food For Thought

Never underestimate the power of your words and actions.

How will you make an impact today?

Food For Thought

Are you SHINING or SHOUTING?

Product Review, Art, and a Hint of Local History

Last week I talked about how I missed traveling and living in other areas, but despite my rant, there are a few things that I really like about our little town. We were once known as the "City of Power" because of our access to hydroelectric power in the early-1900's, and we even had a sign (now long gone) to prove it...

{Photo Source}

In the late 20's, our town drew the attention of German and Dutch investors who came to the area and built two large plants for the manufacturing of rayon - the North American Rayon Corporation (closed in the 90's), and the J.P. Bemberg Company. At the height of their manufacturing in 1949, NARC and Bemberg employed over 6,100 people and we still see the influence of their time here all over town - including the very house where I sit typing this post. Our home was one of the last worker houses built in 1940, a new development of cookie cutter homes that were added just prior to WWII. During the war, both NARC and Bemberg were nationalized (due in part to the German ownership), but were turned over to private investors again in 1949.

  

After Bemberg closed in the mid-70's, the buildings slowly fell into disrepair and a fire took out much of the NARC facilities in the 90's - the remainder of which was removed a few years ago to make room for a new Super Wal-Mart and Lowe's because life goes on. However, several of the old Bemberg buildings have survived, including the original smoke stack baring the company name in white bricks. While I was participating with You Capture last year, I took several photos of the stack for an "assignment" and I really liked the way they turned out.

A few months ago, I heard about a website (Canvas People) offering a free 8 x 10 photo canvas (you pay for shipping) to try them out. I looked at it, but decided to hold off until last month when I was planning the decor of the Project House. Thinking it would be a good opportunity to turn some of the pictures I've taken into "hang-able art" for the PH (and since you never know when they will take a wrecking ball to the smoke stack), I decided it would be a nice ode to the town to hang a picture of a local landmark. I chose a photo out of my collection and then opted to size up to an 11 x 14 for a $6.95 more. When the canvas arrived, I was so pleased with the outcome that I actually hung it on the brick wall in our library.

Right now, Canvas People is running another free-trial special (they have them all the time) - a free 8 x 10 (plus shipping) or $50 off any other size canvas. I'm seriously considering having another print made, but I would go slightly bigger than the 11 x 14 next time. However, if you're looking for a fun family gift for in-laws or grandparents, now would be the time to take advantage of the free 8 x 10. And for the record, I am in no way affiliated with Canvas People, nor have they asked me to write a glowing review of their product - I'm actually that pleased with my purchase!

Thankful For :: 431 - 440 (The Anniversary Edition)

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

* * * Psalms 1 * * *

Eleven years ago today, Peter and I stood in front of our minister and heard him read Psalms 1 - the third and final time for Psalms 1 because we were finally getting married. It was a nice wedding - or so I've been told. I was, apparently, totally zoned out and just ready for it to be over so we could move on with normal life. Over the years, we've come to the conclusion that wedding festivities are really more for friends and family than they are for the bride and groom. Although our wedding was quite simple (I mean, we made our own wedding cakes for goodness sake!), if I came across a sweet DeLorean (outfitted with a flux capacitor, of course), I would go back eleven years and do a couple of things differently...

1) Small wedding (immediate family, and possibly a few close friends) in my parent's yard
2) Take the rest of the money and go on a really nice 2-3 week honeymoon (Hawaii or Europe)

But that's not how we did it, and it was a lovely day and people did have a good time, and despite my out-of-it state, we were married and have enjoyed eleven years of wedded bliss. So it's all good. We've had eleven years of fun and laughter, even during the hard times, and I can't imagine living my life with anyone else.

This week I'm thankful for...

431. Finding a guy who would suggest that I stuff myself in a bag so he could carry me around the house and take pictures...priceless!

432. Marrying a man who isn't afraid to wear many hats in this life

433. Finding a mate who encourages me to do things that are outside of my comfort zone

434. Living with a man who has the patience of a saint when trying to teach me about engines, cars, construction, electrical stuff, etc.

435. Having a companion who enjoys traveling as much as I do and who is always ready for a road trip

436. Finding a spouse who actually enjoys cooking - I am so blessed!

437. Getting to hang out with my best friend (really and truly my best friend) every single day

438. Being the wife of a man who actually enjoys being with me, who doesn't bad mouth me to other guys, who stands up for me when necessary, and who doesn't feel the need to have "guy time" to get away from the "old lady" - Yoda would say, "Much blessed, you are." Yes indeed.

439. Marrying someone who has helped me discover foods I didn't know I liked and pushed me to try things I never would have in the past, only to discover yumminess I didn't know I was missing.

440. Meeting a man who was able to convince me that I didn't need to experience the world single before being content to experience the world married. Getting married at 18 isn't for everyone, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made and I haven't regretted it for one moment. God knew - far better than I did - what I needed, and I'm forever grateful to Him for bringing Peter into my life.

    

L-R: Showing our mutual tongue talents, eating Chick-fil-A before the wedding, relaxing during pictures

One of my favorite photos of the day

Happy 11th Anniversary, Peter - I love you.

If you would like to read our whole friendship-turned-courtship-turned-marriage story, you can find it under the "The Story of Us" tab on the sidebar, or by clicking HERE.

You Can Learn A Lot Of Things From The Flowers...

Did you know...

...that daisies are my favorite flower?

I think you knew that. I know I've told you.

But did you also know...

...that these roses in my very own front yard...

...are a very close second?

Yep, my second favorite flower.

You Capture :: Outdoors

I love fall - mostly because of the crisp days, the autumn colors and - of course - the pumpkins! However, this time of year is a close second because of the warm (but not hot) days and cool (but not cold) nights. It's the perfect weather for sitting outside with a book or throwing open all the doors and windows and enjoying the smells and sounds of spring. {achoo!} It's during this time that I begin to think about a garden - this would be year three for me. The first year we went all out - it was a beautiful, smashing success and we're still eating the fruits of that first summer that have been stored so nicely in our freezer. Then last summer - not so much thanks to squash bugs and cucumber beetles. {grrr...} This year we decided to simplify - large plastic pots on the deck with some tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce. When I think of outside, this is what I picture, so welcome to my take on Outside for You Capture over @I Should Be Folding Laundry. Make sure you check out what others are sharing over there today and then get outside yourself and enjoy the weather (even if you're on the flip side and heading into fall)!

Lettuce - just popping up

Sage - love how this comes back year after year

Waiting for these tomato plants to take off - nothing better than a slice of a tomato grown in your own yard

You Capture :: Pink

Pink? The theme just about put me off for another week after my return to You Capture. And I was fine with that because sometimes you just need to let things go. For example, I have had no posts ready for this week and for the first time since I started blogging back in November '09, I was at peace with it. Writing for the blog is only fun if 1) I'm not stressed about it, 2) It doesn't feel like a chore, and 3) I hear back from people. I took a short hiatus from blogging and then had five posts last week. Some got comments and some didn't - I'm always surprised by what people will comment on and what they don't. At any rate, it made me realize that there are too many other things that I want to get done each week - like laundry and trying to get the house picked up and cleaned up, and possibly writing another book, and growing vegetables on the back deck, and finishing the Project House, and a million and one other things that I don't have as much time to do now that I'm working outside our home. So blogging has gone on a back burner - unless I feel moved to write or participate in things like You Capture (but only if I get something I think is worth sharing) and I'll certainly continue to be here each Friday with my Thankfulness List. And I'm back for You Capture this week because I walked out my front door this week and discovered that my beautiful pink-ish/coral roses and hot pink peonies were just beginning to bloom. Perfection (the flowers, not my photos of them!). If you want to see more pink, make sure you pop on over to the You Capture link up @I Should Be Folding Laundry.

P.S. All photos were played with by yours truly using PhotoBucket, Photoshop, and Picasa3 - just in case you were wondering.

You Capture :: Spring

Well, after taking a couple of weeks off, I'm back. I felt like I was forcing the photos and I was no longer enjoying it - which came through in my pictures. So I took a step back and when I saw that the challenge this week was Spring, I decided it was a good time to try again. When I was crawling around my back yard one morning before work, I was utterly surprised by the perfect drop of water on a patch of clover I had decided to capture. I've been playing around with the shots in Photoshop and PhotoBucket - and it has been fun. I like fun. If you want to see how other's captured Spring this week, head on over to You Capture @I Should Be Folding Laundry. It's good to be back.

                                                                ~ ~ ~

You Capture :: Vibrance

At 8:48 PM I was seriously considering skipping. I had NO IDEA what I was going to post for this week's You Capture theme over @I Should Be Folding Laundry. Seriously? I was 92.6% sure I knew what the word "vibrance" meant, but I looked it up just to be sure. Mr. Webster says that it's the same thing as: animation, briskness, exuberance, jazziness, liveliness, lustiness, peppiness, robustness, sprightliness, vitality, vibrancy, vigorousness - just to name a few. And that's when I decided that the photos I took earlier this evening probably didn't fit the theme. Well shoot - what to do now? After a nine hour work day, I'm feeling anything but jazzy or peppy or vibrant. So what you're getting today is a slightly different take on the theme - hopefully you'll forgive the liberties I'm taking. If you want to see how others captured "Vibrance" this week, head on over to the link up that Beth is hosting.

MY version of Vibrance (a.k.a. jazziness, liveliness, peppiness, vitality, et. al)

Until next week...Happy Capturing!