Sunshine’s Macro Monday: Puzzled

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Sunshine’s Macro Monday #39

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piece of puzzle

So, here’s the thing…

For the first time in years – many years – I am gravitating towards a (so far) unfinished 750 piece jigsaw puzzle spread out on one end of our dining room table. Almost every day.

As our new viral reality marches on, my mind (or actually my overly active imagination…) flies off in so many different directions that…sometimes…focusing on anything in the here and now becomes practically impossible.

That is…until friends offered us their new…put together and then taken apart…jigsaw puzzle. Which they’ve owned for at least 15 years and never opened until now. Who had time to do puzzles?

They assured us it was clean…

We wiped it down with a sanitizing wipe and let it dry after we finished it.

The sight of all those shapes and colors and patterns that Will Fit Together…

I realized it’s something I Can Do. While Staying Home.

Hence the gravitating…all it takes is a glance at the disordered mess of puzzle pieces…spread out on an old tray. Right next to a picture beginning to take shape. It pulls me over. I sit down…just for a minute…I’ll find that corner piece. I think I see it. No. Maybe for the other edge. I’ll try this one.

An hour later…two sides done. I’m exhausted. In a good way.

Interesting fun fact: putting a puzzle together can clear your head.

I highly recommend it.

Where the heck is that squirrel?

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SixWordSaturday

Dutch goes the Photo: Animals

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Taco & Lutra on the Lookout
December 2019

L: I told you I saw a squirrel!

T: Nope, it was a cat.

L: Hey, this is my house, I know what I saw.

T: Just because you live here it doesn’t mean you’re smarter.

L: Yeah it does. My humans think I’m really smart.

T: Whatever. I’ll give you this one cuz you’re older.

L: Hey! a few white whiskers don’t mean I can’t see.

T: Maybe. Maybe not.

L: Don’t argue with me or I’ll get my little human to chase you…

T: Like I said…whatever…but it WAS a cat.

Summer times

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Inspired by V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #93: remember

Remembering past times, especially joys, is a good way to ease tension. This week, I invite you to remember and share.

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I remember…

…when spring signaled it was time to start planning our family vacation. One week away for just my husband and me…then for 3 of us…then 4.

One thing I knew when I became a parent…we would make sure to set aside a family-only “getaway” every year. A time of just plain fun and connection. None of the usual distractions. Or “things to do.”

It did not have to be far or fancy. And it wasn’t…

For 20 years we packed up the car and drove 70 miles to Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. We stayed at a conference center that also catered to families. Where I had worked for two glorious summers as a teenager.

What do I remember about that one family week every summer?…

The days slowed down and opened up with time for everything and anything. I didn’t have to cook. Or clean. Or wash dishes. We all ate from a basic all-you-can-eat buffet at the dining hall.

We didn’t have to go anywhere.

There were no televisions. No phones except a payphone (remember those?).

What we had was a beautiful lake. Canoes. Kayaks. Sand. Baseball field. An “old-time” ice cream store selling locally made ice cream scooped into crunchy cones.

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Acres of woods surrounded us…to hike and collect “natures” – as my kids would call the pine cones, acorns, leaves and assorted scraps of treasures they found. Filling a sand pail…

Then sorted and counted and carefully lined up…for display on the deck railing of our building.

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There was, of course, the small beach where we plunked down our sand chairs, towels, plastic pails and shovels. Dug holes to China and constructed sand castles with moats. Read a paperback book or two. Splashed, jumped and played catch in the water.

One of my favorite activities for evenings or rainy days…playing lots of cards…

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Dad barely makes it down a flight of stairs before the self timer takes the shot (1995)

Was life simpler then? I don’t know.

All I do know for sure…

…it was joy...pure and simple.

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That’s what I remember.

So Many Tops

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BeckyB April Square Tops

I am hoping our April theme will keep our heads held high and help fill our lives with social connections and squares filled with joy….The theme is top, and you don’t have to go outside to find topping squares…Create your post with a square photograph

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Nice blouse!

Thanks, but…um…no this isn’t a blouse…

Nice shirt?…

Well, not really…

Then…what?

It’s a TOP.

So how do you adequately explain what isn’t a blouse or a shirt exactly? I never could figure that out.

Perhaps it’s a gender thing. Not something I ever prefer to default to. However…

Defining a top is harder than you think. Especially to a guy whose wardrobe basically consists of: button down shirts that go with a tie, mock turtlenecks and short sleeve T-shirts. Technically, not a top to be found.

Whereas, I have plenty of examples….so fortunately explanations are no longer necessary. 🙂

tops
Tops Collection

 

The plant came back…

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One Word Sunday: Inspiration

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The wooded area in back of my condo is kind of a mess in spots. Partially nature’s way…broken branches…matted leaves…trees felled by disease and high winds.

And partially human caused.

Apparently it has become the final resting place for potted plants which have seen better days. Or plants their owners have given up on. I don’t completely understand that…as I still have a philodendron from 1978.

However…today as I was making my way back from a walk on this bright & beautiful afternoon, I noticed the plant dumping ground had a lone come-back-to-life stem of flowers showing off in the sun.

Very inspiring…

plant pot
Plant Pot Survivor

🎶…but the plant came back, they thought it was a goner…but the plant came back…🎶

Perched On Top of the World

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BeckyB April Square Tops

I am hoping our April theme will keep our heads held high and help fill our lives with social connections and squares filled with joy….The theme is top, and you don’t have to go outside to find topping squares…Create your post with a square photograph

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SixWordSaturday

gull on top
Hampton Beach, NH
March 2020

A chilly day at the beach a month ago…which now feels like many months ago.

A seagull surveyed the beach from the top of a light pole. Most likely looking forward to the return of warm weather visitors. Tourists settled in canvas chairs. Books open. Umbrellas up. Sand castles under construction. Spreading their beach towels on the sand…along with an endless supply of sandwiches, snacks and drinks.

This seagull and its buddies are going to be waiting longer than usual for their pick of the leftovers this season.

Fandango’s Friday Flashback: April 17

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Inspired by Fandango’s Friday Flashback: April 17

Wouldn’t you like to expose your newer readers to some of your earlier posts that they might never have seen? Or remind your long term followers of posts that they might not remember? Each Friday I will publish a post I wrote on this exact date in a previous year….Why don’t you reach back into your own archives and highlight a post that you wrote on this very date in a previous year?

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This post is from April 17, 2018

Two years ago…when the beach was open.
It is now closed.
I look forward to the predictable again.

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the beach

Here is where I want to be:

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It has been raining for 2 days; puddles and small lakes forming everywhere I look out my windows. The grass disappearing underneath. The sun hiding behind stubborn clouds.

As soon as it clears and the sun comes out…and it warms up a bit, that’s where I’ll go. My favorite place to walk. It fills me up; its peace, its soothing sounds – the ultimate room with no doors, no walls – infinite space.  There is power in the ocean – an energy, a purpose. The tide goes in and goes out. Predictable. Not much in life is that predictable.

Often I pass by small children digging holes – trying frantically to avoid the waves that ultimately wash away their castles. Joggers of all shapes and sizes. Dogs run and jump despite the “no dogs allowed” signs. Couples pose for selfies; the ocean at their backs. A lone walker will stop and stare at the horizon. And nobody bothers her. I get it. It is hypnotizing and calming and energizing all at the same time.

Seagulls run up and down the sand. They stop. They look around, shake their heads as if bored. Same old, same old.