Focusing on Life :: How I Spent My Summer Vacation

I took a bit of a bloggy break over the summer, and I thought I'd show you what I was up to ... or actually what I was not doing! I was relaxing with my family and trying to shift into 2nd gear. I picked my favorite spot to do that; our camp in the Adirondacks. Nothing fancy, just a cabin on a lake in the middle of nowhere. Sounds perfect doesn't it? So to catch up on the 8 weeks that I wasn't posting regularly to my blog, here is what I did on my summer vacation.

Week 26 :: Your Own Prompt the week I left off, Sally asked us to pick our own idea for a picture. I decided to show you the Matriarch of the family; my mother-in-law Joan. Getting up to our camp in the mountains involves a lot of family. Aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins ... and the list goes on. That is because Joan's father and his brothers all decided to either buy or build camps around the lake. So when we are up in the Adirondacks the other cabins around ours are full of relatives. But the one who is still around and telling us all about our little lake in the mountains is Joan. Everyone knows her. And everyone comes to her to ask advice. She's seen it all, and has the stories to tell.

Week 27 :: Textures our camp is actually full of pieces that Joan's parents brought back from their years spent in India. Various pieces that they collected from the North in the Garo Hills and nearby. This first piece is a beautifully carved wood candle holder. When my husband and I visited we brought back several carved wood pieces. And this is just as beautiful in its leaf pattern. This piece is carved from wood found locally in Kashmir called sheeham, or the local rosewood. 

Week 28 :: Pretty Patterns I really love this old elephant bell. It is unbelievable just how heavy it is! And I can't imagine an elephant carrying it around, let alone several of these. When I said exactly that to Joan, she simply said "well they are huge animals and this wouldn't be that heavy to them." Well, yes I guess that makes sense. Regardless, the pattern on this bell is just so beautifully done with such intricate detail in the painting that I pulled it out to display prominently on the mantle. Even daughter-in-laws get to make some changes.

Week 29 :: Routine one of the things that seems to mark the end of a beautifully, relaxing day at the lake is to sit out on the porch and reflect. Just a bit of rocking in one of these babies does the trick. Rockers are so common here in the mountains. You'll find them in all the camps, and you'll find it is typical that someone will ask you to come in and sit for awhile as you rock and chat about the comings and goings around the lake. Something I really enjoy about summer at our cabin.

Week 30 :: Catch the Sun this summer was pretty hit or miss with the sun. We were painting the outdoor trim, but had plenty of raining afternoons with puzzles as we waited for the weather to clear up. When indeed the sun did show up, it was glorious. Sparkling on the water, and just making you want to jump in the kayak for a paddle around the lake. We also had quite a few loons living at the lake this summer. So getting out there to visit them on their little island in the middle of the lake was quite an event. They are really big birds!

Week 31 :: Hues of Blue there are lots of blues around camp. The kayaks, the row boat, the large float the girls swim out to ... not to mention the water. So with this prompt is was easy to find blues around camp to photograph for Sally's prompt. I love the stillness of the water with the row boat in this picture captured in the early morning when the lake looks like glass.

Week 32 :: From Where I Stand speaking of glass, I love the way the lake looks first thing in the morning before all the boats, birds and kids hit the lake creating endless waves. It is so peaceful from the end of our dock that I could stand deep in thought for sometime. That is until the mosquitoes find me!

Week 33 :: In Season ok, finally caught up to this week's prompt! There is nothing like all the wild flowers that pop up in the mountains. The growing season is so short, that they seem to come into bloom all at the same time! While the black-eyed Susans are likely planted by us locals, I love seeing them. Everywhere you look. And in several varieties from the classic yellows to the orange centers. They are such happy flowers.

It seems that since the last time I posted Sally has started using a linky to hook up all the other people in the weekly posts. So check below for everyone else joining in this week.