Weekly Photo Challenge

What a difference a day makes

/ Jodi / 103 Comments

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Last week Hubby and I went on a little week-long vacation to paradise.   (And it’s not a vacation to the beach unless I take a toe picture)

Away from a week of rain and unseasonably cold weather in Mars to a week of sunshine and warmth and sand and sea at a lovely resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.  (And yep – this is what my hair looked like the entire week- curly and blowing in the sea breeze …  I gave up trying to do anything with it after about two days.)

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Riu Palace Bavaro was a lovely treat.  (The pool basically flowed toward the beach and into the ocean like magical liquid.)

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The colors of turquoise and teal and blue and green against the white sand might be the most beautiful I have ever seen.  (I can’t wait to find time to try to paint them!)

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We found the most perfect spot on the beach that was on a bit of a perch under a few palm trees where the breeze made even 84 degrees feel cool and comfy.  (And our little flamingo clips from our daughter-in-law before we left held our towels on the chaise lounges and made it easy for us to find our “saved” seats.)

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My view looking UP…

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It was fun to come back to the room each day to see what the staff had created out of bath towels (and fresh flowers ever day!)

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And the food was so magnificent!  (some healthy…)

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(and some just delicious!)

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If we walked far enough down the beach, we found some fun little shops (that seemed to just continue right into the ocean.)

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We ventured away from the resort for a couple of excursions.

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We loved the Outback Safari Adventure with Angel as our funny, informative, and engaging tour guide and Leo as our amazing driver who took us through tiny villages (this was an elementary school)

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and up into the hills of the “real” Dominican Republic to experience the culture.

We toured a home.  (the natives love colorful homes)

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The main part of the house had a living room (shown below), two bedrooms – one for the parents and the other for the five children, and a storage room.  (bathrooms are outside of the house)

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Of course I was interested in the kitchen.  (It was a separate building in this home)

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This family grew coffee and cacao and made their own coffee and cocoa butter (which I bought some of).  This is how chocolate begins…

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We also got to see a gentleman who hand rolled cigars as his profession for the past 30+ years (bought some of these for my boss).

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We saw beautiful flora  (bird of paradise plant below)

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and fauna (I think this Peacock is the REAL bird of paradise!)

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and experienced some of the natives and other creatures… (Hubby is a brave one – eh?!  Brave or CRAZY…. or possibly full of rum! wink!)

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As if the snakes weren’t enough…. Yes – that is a TARANTULA on this man’s FACE!

We ended this tour with a visit to a beach that was NOT occupied by resorts and where the natives hung out.  (It reminded us a bit of Hawaii)

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Another excursion took us out on a party catamaran boat which began with snorkeling in a small spot off shore with sting rays and nurse sharks!  (this time I was even brave!)

and ended with (more) rum and music and laughing (and extremely bad hair – thank goodness for this hat!).

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There are more stories…   but some things that happen in Punta Cana – need to stay in Punta Cana!  (or only be told in person… 🙂 )

It was an amazing week and wonderful vacation, but there really is no place like home.  (even though we left at noon in 84 degrees F sunshine and arrived late afternoon to 44 degrees F and SNOW showers in Mars!)

It was especially wonderful to come home to celebrate a belated Mother’s Day with Jake and Nick and Colleen who made a lovely Sunday brunch for us, brought plants and flowers (in real life AND in a surprise Debi Riley painting!)

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What a difference a day makes (or seven!)

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

 

Bleeding Heart

/ Jodi / 86 Comments

bleeding heart

Once upon a time
a little girl was born
to the best Grandma
in the entire universe.

As time passed,
the little girl grew,
but her admiration
for the best Grandma
in the entire universe
never waned.

The grandma knew
she wouldn’t be able
to stay forever
and share her love
with the little girl
who became a woman, a wife, and a mother
who she still so greatly adored.

So she gave the woman
a plant to remember
her everywhere she would go
wherever she went
for as long as she lived.

And every May
the little girl
who is now
soon be a Grandma herself
remembers the love
from her special Grandma.

The gift of life
The gift of love
the gift from the heart
A bleeding heart.

A heart that knows
A heart that understands
A heart that consoles
a little girl,  a grand-daughter,
a mother, a soon-to-be grandmother.

With admiration
beyond compare,
with love and a bleeding heart
from one little girl, mother, grand-daughter, grandmother
to another.

I love you, Grandma
now and forever.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

(My Grandma gave me this Bleeding Heart plant before she passed away many years ago. I have moved it twice.  Every Spring, I shed a tear of joy, of sorrow, of love, of loss when it blooms and reminds me of one of the greatest ladies , role models, “mothers,” I have ever known.  I believe it to be the most beautiful flower on the entire planet.)

Beauty in the Cracks

/ Jodi / 53 Comments

in the cracks stone wall flowers

The other evening
after dinner,
I went outside
to breathe in
the gentle fragrance
of the Spring air
and dig my fingers
into the warming earth
to clear the leaves and twigs and “weeds”
in preparation for planting
flowers and herbs and vegetables.

In the crack of the stone wall
in the landscape where nothing should grow
and where I tend to pull out things
that do not “belong,”
I decided to leave this tender
flowering plant
that added life
and its own kind of beauty
when you look at it for what it simply is.

Like life in between,
where I cherish the moments,
I cherish the beauty
in the cracks of life.

The crack in the chip
of an heirloom antique cow creamer,
or the crack in the humor
of a “dig” or a joke from one of my guys.

The crack in the corner of the lips
of a friend’s smile when they see me,
or the crack in the voice of my Dad
when we reminisce
about times we’ve spent together
or the times we sadly missed.

The cracks in the corners of
hubby’s (and even my) eyes
that show we have lived and loved and laughed
throughout the years.
(not to mention another cute crack
when he bends over without a belt!)

There truly is beauty
in the cracks of life
if only we open our eyes to see
the tiny little joys
in the cracks in between.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay

/ Jodi / 56 Comments

old boat at three rivers rowing association youth boathouse pittsburgh pa

Sittin’ on the dock of the bay
watching the……

geese and birds and fishermen and rowers,
cars and bikers and joggers and walkers.
Soaking up the early Spring sunshine after a fun little field trip day with hubby on Saturday.

We stopped by the Three Rivers Rowing Association Youth Boathouse in Pittsburgh.

As I snapped photos, I was drawn to this beat up ole’ beauty that sat alone
amidst all the sleek and shiny new sweep and sculling boats.

It’s beauty caught my eye the most.

Kind of like people.

Youth is sleek and shiny and new and beautiful,
but the real beauty that more often catches my attention
is the kind that emanates from the wrinkles on the face of the older woman
who has spent decades loving and smiling and laughing
with her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

or the rough and calloused, knotty, sun-spotted hands of an old man
who worked hard all his life to support his family.
Hands with map-like veins protruding as if telling a story of the places he’d gone and the things he’d done.
Hands that hurt, yet gently stroke his wife’s cheek, guide his children’s path, and cradle his grandchildren.

Yep – sittin’ on the dock of the….. river….
wasting time?
Maybe not.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Photo submission for the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge:  Half-Light:  Share a photo inspired by a poem, verse, song lyric or story.  Also in loving memory of “Poops” Pap McKinney, who we remember lovingly today on his birthday.

The Old Porch Swing

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

porch swing winter

The Old Porch Swing

The Seasons you have endured…
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall.

The Generations you have supported…
Great-Grandparents, Grandparents, Parents, Children, Grandchildren.

The Conversations you have held…
Politics, religion, love and hope and promise, arguments unresolved and resolved.

The Moments you have cherished…
First kisses, proposals, joys and heartbreaks, celebrations and sorrows, announcements and secrets.

Memories of a family.
Memories of an old porch swing.
Harmony.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

Castles

/ Jodi / 33 Comments
squires castle

Squire’s Castle, North Chagrin Reservation, Willoughby Hills, OH

Some build castles
of stone and mortar
and brick and clay
on top of hills
overlooking fields and valleys and streams.

They want to tell the world
they are rich and powerful
and should be looked up to
and should be seen
and should be honored and admired and revered.

But the very best castles
are the ones that are built
with love and compassion
with respect and dignity
with humbleness and grace.

They are built in the fields and the valleys and streams.
The everyday experiences of life.

They are life.

They are the good life.

The life well lived.
The life well loved.
The best castle of all.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The above pictured castle was one I visited this past weekend with a few “princesses” that I love.  Thanks for showing me the true meaning of castles… of life… of friendship… of love…. Pam, Anna,  and Joan… ❤

Learn more about Squire’s Castle here.

A Peaceful State of Mind

/ Jodi / 34 Comments
abstract cobalt teal and inka gold lifeinbetween

Abstract Cobalt Teal & Inka Gold (inspired by Debi Riley)

A State of Mind

Wishing you waves of peace
richness of gold
and a world of happiness

this Sunday and always.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

This abstract piece I created was done on a 5×7″ sheet of 140 lb. cold press shizen professional grade rough texture rag watercolor paper that is 100% recyled from post consumer waste.  I love the texture of it and bought a package of 100 sheets through Blick.  I’m curious to know if others have tried it.  I typically use Arches, but am loving this paper.  

I began by slathering on some Inka Gold acrylic paint with a palette knife leaving it thicker and lumpier in some places.  After it dried, I added some cobalt teal blue watercolor to one side and then mixed a bit of lemon yellow into it for the green on the other side.  Before it dried, I placed a crinkled up piece of saran wrap on it, which I did not remove until the paint dried.  It is really beautiful in person, and I am even making card prints from it for our ETSY Shop.  

The End of the Rainbow

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

rainbow

An unseasonably warm day in February this week
started with bright sunshine,
drenched us in refreshing rain showers,
and ended with the brightest, most colorful rainbow.

Right in our very own back yard.

If you cannot find me,
look deep in the woods
amidst the moss and twigs and fallen leaves.
I’m searching for the pot of gold,
dancing and celebrating with the leprechauns.

It is the Season of Magic.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Seasons

/ Jodi / 36 Comments

icy branches

Your outstretched branches reach far and wide
as you bear the harsh, cold winds
and weight of frozen snow.

You wait,
and you withstand the torture.

Then,
when the breezes become gentle again
and the sun shines bright and warm,

you peek out
with little buds

that become leaves
and bear fruit and flowers.
You provide beauty and nourishment and shelter.

And when you can take no more,
you let go.

You drop your leaves,
and you welcome the chill.
And the cycle of seasons starts over again.

Time

/ Jodi / 43 Comments

time

“How to stop time…          kiss.
How to travel in time…          read.
How to escape time…          music.
How to feel time…          write.
How to release time…          breathe.”

–Matt Haig,  Reasons to Stay Alive
Time

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi