give alittle bit ...

"give a little bit, give a little bit of your love to me..."

~roger hodgson ~



Late last year ... before the holidays, my dear mother~in~law passed away.  Why always around the holidays?  She had been ill for many years, but had always somehow managed to rally and be present for the next family gathering ... Christmas, Easter, graduations, weddings, Thanksgiving, birthdays ... I know that is what kept her going ... her family.

But now the holidays are over and the time has come to start sorting through her belongings.  It is a very slow process as each item is rediscovered and remembered. 

I was so honored to receive her turkey salt and pepper shakers.  They were HER mother's and were always proudly displayed on her Thanksgiving table.  If you look closely you will find the color beginning to wear away after decades of use.  But that is exactly what makes them so special ... so lovingly worn from being passed from hand to hand around the table. 
The older I get ... and wiser ... I know that these are the things that mean the most in my life. The fact that she gave a precious little bit of herself to me ...

So as I set the Thanksgiving table this year, I will lovingly and carefully place them on our table to keep her tradition alive. 

Today I am linking up here with Kathy's fun Song~ography ... a "fun mash~up of photography and song ... a visual song to "Give a little Bit" and Kim's fabulous texture Tuesday here.  If you have a few moments be sure to visit them and  discover amazing inspiration. 

Until next time ...
Nancyjean



this is the New Year!

"this is a new year ... a new beginning"

~ a great big world~   



This is a new year ... truly a new beginning.  Don't you all just love a beginning ... a new chance to get things right ... the first day of the rest of your life and all of that?  

 

The whirlwind of the holidays has come to an end.  January is always a cold . snowy . long month here in Chicagoland ... think polar vortex.  But instead of dreading these long dark thirty one days, i have learned to welcome them.  

It is my time to nest ... to slow down  ... to start new projects without any looming deadlines. My time for alittle planning ... and introspection.  It is my time to read that neglected stack of books and magazines on my nightstand...to open up a new journal.  It is even my time for alittle cleaning and organizing ... gasp!  

 

So bring on the New Year ... i am so ready!

Today i am linking up with Kathy's fun Song~ography ... a "fun mash~up of photography and song" ... a visual song, if you will here and Kim Klassen's fabulous texture Tuesday here.

I just adore this letter I found at the flea market ... addressed to 'Merry Christmas and Happy New Year' dated 1907! 

 

Until next time ...

Nancyjean  







my small hometown? ...

It is Tuesday ... and that means one thing.  It is time for a Song~ography link~up!  Each week Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song" ... a visual song, if you will.  It has been a long time since I visited this party ... but so glad to join in again!

 

Today's song choice is ' Small Town' by John Mellencamp.

 

I love this song and i love my small hometown.

 I live in the far outskirts of Chicago.  Far enough away from the craziness of the big city ... out in the country on the banks of the river.  

I live in a quaint and proper town with tree lined streets, brick sidewalks, unique small shops and even a delicious pastry and candy shop owned by a world renowned chef. 

It is the kind of town that city dwellers flock to on weekends for great shopping and delectable delights at our restaurants and cafes. 

You will find high fashion walking up and down 3rd street with their adorable children or perfectly groomed pooches. 

But ... once a year my small little town is turned upside down.  The scarecrow fest descends on my small hometown ... along with thousands of people!

"but i've seen it all in a small town
had myself a ball in a small town"
~john mellencamp~
 

No ... these were no ordinary scarecrows that came to our small town. 

There was the one~eyed one~horned flying purple people eater that stole the show.  He sang, played the guitar and his large one eye rolled all around in his large purple head.

The characters of Alice in Wonderland was a huge hit ... they spun around, poured tea, and balanced tea cups. 

And Olaf and Sven were up to their antics! 
As you can see these were not the scarecrows of yesterday ... the kind I used to make as a child. In fact most of them did not even have a blade of straw. 
 

But I think my favorite one was a little scarecrow that everyone seemed to over look ... Sometimes think that the little details that are somehow forgotten can hold the most beauty! 

Now the craziness is over ... everyone left ... now my small hometown has returned to normal ... quiet and peaceful ...

just how I love it!

If you have a few moments ... be sure to click here to join in on Kathy's song~ography linky party!

Until next time...
Nancyjean

photographs, memories, laughter ...

"look at this photograph ...

everytime I do it makes me laugh ...

everytime I do it makes me ..."

~nickleback~

Today is Sunday once again ... and Sunday would not be the same without Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each week Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song" ... a visual song, if you will.

Today's song choice to "photograph" by Nickleback.

I had never heard this song choice ... never heard of the artist ... but I am so glad that this was the song of the week ... love it!  The minute I read the lyrics, I knew right away the perfect photo for this mash~up! 

This is MOI! 

This is my very first photograph ... just hours after I was born.  And every time I look at it ... i really do laugh.  

Am I sticking my tongue out at the world ... saying "bring it on, I am ready for anything" ... or perhaps I am starting to speak my mind about life so far ... or maybe i'm just hungry!  Not sure what was on my mind at the time ... but it sure does bring a smile to my face every time I see it! 

If you have a few moments ... be sure to click here to join in on Kathy's song~ography linky party ... and find more photographs!

Until next time ...

nancyjean



happiness is ...

"clap along if you know what happiness is to you ..."

~parrell williams~

Today is Sunday once again ... and Sunday would not be the same without Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each week Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song" ... a visual song, if you will.

Today's song choice is "happy" by a Parrell Williams.

You know those kinda days that you feel that you are just bursting with happiness ... when your whole being feels bright? 

I had one of those happy kinda days on Saturday.  

My daughter was asked a few weeks ago to be an ambassador for Illinois Special Olympics at a musical benefit ... to write a speech about her experiences with Special Olympics and what it means to her. 
  
When we arrived at the concert we were so surprised to see just how huge this event was ... so many people! 
She whispered to me that she was nervous.  I reassured her ... but truth be told i was just as nervous for her.  You see one of Michelle's disabilities is her speech ... and reading is not really her forte either.  
As her turn came ... i was on pin and needles ... why had i agreed that she would do this ... why had i put her in this situation?  I sat there just praying that she could complete her speech and not freak out over the number of people in the audience that were listening to her every word.

As i watched her up on that stage, my fears faded as i listened ...  she read with such confidence ... she was so at ease!  She did not miss one word ... she delivered her speech perfectly!  

And the applause ... all that clapping for my daughter ... brought those wonderful happy tears to my eyes.

If you have a few moments ... be sure to click here to join in on Kathy's song~ography linky party ... and find more happiness!

until next time ...
nancyjean

turn, turn, turn ...

"to everything .... turn, turn, turn

there is a season ... turn, turn, turn" 

And the season is finally SPRING!

If you have a few moments ... be sure to click here to join in on Kathy's song~ography linky party ... and see how others have connected with this song.

until next time ...
nancyjean

one is the loneliest number ...

 

"one is the loneliest number that you will ever do ..."

~three dog night~

Today is Sunday once again ... and Sunday would not be the same without Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each week Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song" ... a visual song, if you will.

Today's song choice is "one is the loneliest number" by three dog night.

I missed last week's song~ography linky fun.  Tried as i might i just could not come up with a photo for Kermit's "it is not easy being green"  Oh well ... 

But i was determined not to let this week slip away.  

Three years ago we brought Jake into our family ... a mini goldendoodle.  It was love at first sight!  

But when he was about two years ... we decided that one was really a lonely number ... 
he needed a playmate ... a four legged companion.  

Soooooo ... enter Cody into our home.  At first i thought i had lost my marbles ... having to start all over with the sleepless nights, the house breaking, the training, the extra costs ...

But one really is a lonely number ... so much better with the number two!

If you have a few moments ... be sure to click here to join in on Kathy's song~ography linky party ... and see how others have connected with this song.

until next time ...

nancyjean

just a side note ... i used my new favorite app ... brushstroke ... on both images. I love all its features and the dreamy effects i can create!!  Dare i say that i enjoy it more than Waterlogue?  gasp... 
I have so much more control over the outcome ... and anyone who know me knows that i love control ... giggle giggle.  
I am going to print these on a heavy linen/cotton cardstock ... tear the edges ... then a trip to my favorite framer and have him float them on a white mat and finish with a dark frame.  
I just love my two doddles!

signs ...

"hey ... what gives you the right
to put up a fence and keep me out
Or keep mother nature in ..."

Today is Sunday once again ... and Sunday would not be the same without Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each week Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song" ... a visual song, if you will.
This week's song is "signs" by five man electrical band.

There is a beautiful PUBLIC park ... just a hop, skip and a jump away ... that is home to an absolutely stunning Japanese garden.

But far too often when I take a photowalk down to the preserve ... I discover the gates closed and locked.
I am only able to peer in at a distance with my long lens ... not being able to fully enjoy its beauty. 

What gives them the right to keep such public beauty locked up behind such a gate?

If you have a few moments ... be sure to click here to join in on Kathy's song~ography linky party ... and see how others have connected with this song.

Until next time ...
nancyjean

we are love ...

"we are love ... we are one ...

we are how we treat each other when the day is done ..."

Today is Sunday once again ... and Sunday would not be the same without Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each week Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song" ... a visual song, if you will.  This week's song is "nothing more" by the alternative routes.

Oh my ... such a beautiful song ... and such a beautiful message.  It was written as a tribute to those children that were killed at Sandy Hook elementary school ... such a deep reminder.

I thought hard about how i could do this song justice. 
I decided to make a collage of my ancestors ... so many generations ago.  The photos are not perfect ... but i am so thankful i have them.  
Each one of these dear souls is my hero ... each one of them have lived and loved.
I have never meet any of them ... each died long before i was born ... but they are my family.
we are all connected ... we are all one.

If you have a few moments ... be sure to click here to join in on Kathy's song~ography linky party ... and see how others have connected with this lovely song.

until next time...

nancyjean

hazy shade of winter...

"look around, leaves are brown now

there's a patch of snow on the ground ..."

~the bangels~

Today is Sunday once again ... and Sunday would not be the same without Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each week Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song" ... a visual song, if you will.  This week's song is "hazy shade of winter" by the Bangels.

It seems like just about everywhere in the world is having a very long winter.  It just does not want to let go of it's icy grip. The end of February draws near and another polar vortex is upon us ... will it ever end?  Will spring ever get here?

But on the bright side ... we are enjoying beautiful sunshine and bright blue skies with this sub zero weather.  The snow that has blanketed the ground is really so lovely...so peaceful.

I have been having fun with my latest app this week ... waterlogue ... it turns any photo into a lovely watercolor. It draws out your photo, picks the colors and paints a watercolor ... just like magic you get beautiful results!

If you have a few moments ... be sure to click here to join in on Kathy's song~ography linky party ... and see other shades of winter. 

Until next time...
nancyjean

grains of sand ... i would do anything for love edition ...

"will you make me some magic, with your own two hands ...

can you build an emerald city with these grains of sand ..."

~meatloaf~

Today is Sunday once again ... and Sunday would not be the same without Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each week Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song" ... a visual song, if you will.  This week's song is "i would do anything for love" by Meatloaf.  

Hmmm ... i was not sure about this one.  All week i gave it thought ... alot of thought ... perhaps too much thought.  

And i kept coming up with nothing.  I guess you would say the music just didn't move me.  

Then finally yesterday, i decided to give the song one last look ... and there were some lyrics i must have overlooked ... "can you build an emerald city with these grains of sand".

 Every year i travel down to Sanibel island for the winter ... it is my heaven on earth kinda place. I always try to pop over to the mainland just to see the unbelievable work done by amazing sand artists from around the world. It is truly a labor of love to build these beauties from just tiny grains of sand!

So there you have it ... i found a photo to mash up with meatloaf's song ... just in the nick of time! 

If you have a few moments ... be sure to click here to join in on Kathy's song~ography linky party ... and see what others did for love. 

until next time ...

nancyjean

this is my day...

"let me win...but if i can not win...

let me be brave in the attempt."

~special olympic creed~

Today is Sunday once again ... and time for Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each Sunday Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song" ... a visual song, if you will.  This week's chosen song is "this is my day" by Danielle Bradbury.

Oh my goodness, this song and video gave me the goose~bumps.  My daughter asked me why my tears were falling while i watched it ... full heart and happy tears ... the best kind!

You see ... my daughter started competing in Special Olympics at age eight.  She has done swimming, basketball, soccer and track and field.
But her true love is rhythmic gymnastics ... ribbon, ball, clubs, and rope.  Not a day goes by that she is not downstairs practicing to perfect her routines.

Special Olympics has given Michelle a sense of pride ... acceptance ... opportunity ... accomplishment.  
Each and every athlete has barriers they face every day of their lives.  Special Olympics gives them a chance to attain their personal best ... and maybe even exceed ... it gives them a chance to shine!
And shine they do ... their hard work and personal stories inspire everyone watching.  

Michelle's coach is such an amazing person ... she has given so much of her time and energy to help the athletes succeed.  And all the volunteers that make these events happen ... truly give from their hearts.

In just a few weeks, Michelle will have a "this is my day" moment ... when she competes again at the district level in rhythmic gymnastics.  If she wins a gold, she will then advance to the state level.  We will all be there cheering her on ... but medal or not ... this will be "her day" as she strives for the gold!

If you have a few moments ... and who doesn't on these long winter days ... be sure to click here to join in on Kathy's song~ography linky party!

until next time...
nancyjean

i have walked five hundred miles...

"...but i would walk 500 miles

and i would walk 500 more..."

~the proclaimers~

Today is Sunday once again...and time for Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each Sunday Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song titles"... a visual song, if you will.

This week's chosen song is "i would walk 500 miles" by the Proclaimers.

It all began on 8.8.88...my darling daughter lapsed into a coma.  She was not breathing on her own, her fever was off the charts, and she was convulsing.  A hard decision was made at our local hospital...whether or not to even send for the helicopter... her prognosis was poor.  In the end, the helicopter arrived.   My nightmare was unfolding...

I stayed with her day and night at Children's Memorial hospital...never leaving her side...praying that she would wake up from her deep deep sleep.  

Then on her fourth birthday...eight days later...she opened her eyes and there was finally hope!  Our prayers had been answered.  She had that twinkle in her eyes once again.

But we had a long long journey ahead of us.  She was just like an infant...her only ability was her rooting instinct when i fed her.  I was told that she would be in a wheelchair the rest of her life ... with very little abilities.  

And so my work began...everyday i drove her to therapy...physical, occupational, speech.  I had to reteach her everything ... walking, talking, eating...

 We inched our way forward ... i gave her my everything.  

Now it is 26 years later...and it was worth every mile i walked for her.  She is now a happy, loving, vibrant, hard working young adult...  Her journey is not over...it never will be.  But every step she has taken has been a miracle.

If you have a few moments...and who doesn't on these long winter days...be sure to click here to join in on the song~ography linky party to see what others have walked those 500 miles for...

until next time...

nancyjean

let it go...

"the cold never bothered me anyway..."
~idina menzel~

Today is Sunday once again...and time for Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each Sunday Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song titles"... a visual song, if you will.

This week's chosen song is "let it go" by Idian Menzel... a song featured in Disney's latest movie...Frozen.  

Once again it was a song that i was not familiar with...so yesterday my daughter and i decided to brave the cold, high winds, and snow and go see the movie.  Frozen was a perfect movie for such a wintry day!  

As i watched the movie, i thought maybe Chicagoland also has an icy spell cast upon us.  This has been the longest winter EVER.  We even have had temperatures colder that the north pole...now that is just ridiculous!  I am so not a queen Elsa .... the cold sure DOES bother me.

I feel myself getting restless...

My knitting and quilting have kept me busy ... but a girl can only do so much.  So i broke down and started doing some deep cleaning ... closets, pantry, under beds, basement, baths... 
But enough is enough...maybe an act of love is needed to break this icy spell and bring on springtime!  

If you have a few moments...and who doesn't on these long winter days...be sure to click here to join in on the song~ography linky fun!

until next time...
nancyjean

just being lazy...

"dogs are our link to paradise.
they don't know evil or jealousy or discontent.
to sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden,
where doing nothing was not boring...it was PEACE..."
~milan kundera~

Today is Sunday once again...and time for Kathy's Song~ography linky party!  Each Sunday Kathy has a "fun mash~up of photography and song titles"... a visual song!

This week's song choice is "just gonna be lazy" by Bruno Mars...just perfect for this time of year.  Our winter here in the midwest just will not leave us!  

Picture this...snow falling, temperatures dropping, me in my cozy p.j.s, the fire place glowing, my doodles curled up against my feet while i read Brene Brown's book..."the gifts of imperfection"

Now that sure spells out L.A.Z.Y. to me!

You see, i love to hibernate...the older i get, the cold just reaches down to my bones and will not let go.  So this winter you will find me at home knitting, quilting, taking photography classes and of course blogging away just waiting for springtime and sunshine!  

If you have a few moments, click here to find all kinds of laziness!

"oh, today i don't feel like doing anything,

i just wanna lay in my bed..."

~bruno mars~

Until next time...

nancyjean

be brave...

 " Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave..."

~sara bareilles~

I just sat down tonight to write Sunday's post for Kathy's Song~ography.  The song she choose this week is "Brave" by Sara Bareilles.  I've never heard this song...so I read her lyrics.

Oh my...did they strike a chord with me! 

You see...several difficult things happened to me last year.  I just kept quiet and let others take advantage of me.  I have always been one to never rock the boat...always wanting to be a people pleaser...always avoiding confrontation at all costs.  

But the costs were just to great on me.  I kept quiet... i was not brave enough to let my words flow out.  As a result, I have had quite a few tears flowing instead.

Just when I thought the year was about over and I could start anew...Christmas came... and once again I let others ruin my day simply because I did not speak up. 

So as I put away my Christmas tree and start a new year i am hoping..maybe this is the year I have learned my lesson...maybe this is the year to have my voice heard.

So thank you, dear Kathy for choosing this song...it really spoke to my heart.

If you have a few moments, be sure to click here to join in on all the brave song~ography fun!

until next time...

nancyjean