Ice.

Some say the world will end in fire;

Some say in ice.

 From what I've tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

 To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

~Robert Frost

We are covered in ice here in our cold corner of the New Hampshire. Barely any snow... just freezing rain. I'd almost think we were in the Pacific Northwest by the weather we have had this winter.

xoxo~

Abbie

There is a farmstand...

The last image is my favorite. I hope you are enjoying summer!

xoxo~

Abbie

Carousel Horses

 We went to the fair today. Why are most carousel horses kind of creepy? No, seriously.. sometimes they just mess with my head.. kind of like clowns.  Eeeep.

All I'm saying is that I just wouldn't want one in my home, or my yard. 

~Abbie

Bounty

 

  

  

 

 

 Images from around our home.. tomatoes (beefsteak, heirloom and grape), grasshoppers, spiders, apples, corn, zucchini, and beans. Not in that order.

xoxo~

Abbie

Blackberries

When we cleared our land six years ago to build our home, all along the edge of our woods grew blackberry brambles. Everywhere.  

 They are just now starting to ripen.. and if you look (not too hard), you can find some sweet, juicy berries.

  We still have about a two week wait for the real windfall to happen.

The kids and I eat what we pick right away. The berries don't even make it inside!   

I'm always amazed at the variety of sizes.. we have jumbo goliaths (my name) and teeny weenies.

Nothing can quite match the sweetness of the itty bitty ones, but when you find one the size of your thumb, it's amazing! The large one is the biggest we could find the other day, but we have some almost twice that not quite ripe yet.

Blackberry facts:

 If there is even one red/pink tiny fruit on the berry, it's not quite ripe yet. Don't pick it unless you are looking for a tart, snappy taste.  It won't ripen after being picked. the softer and plump it is, the sweeter the berry.

Each tiny ball is a single, individual fruit with it's own seed. Hence all the seeds when you eat them. Think of them like teeny weenie grape clusters.

They are filled with anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants and are said to help prevent cancer.

You can use them in any recipe calling for berries, like muffins, jams, jellies, tarts, etc...

They make fun ammunition in Berry Wars.. yesterday my children fired them off at each other and smeared them everywhere!

Just thought you'd like to know...

xoxo~

Abbie

Forms of Architecture and Life

 

  

 

I have been quite lost in the everyday to-dos lately.

Three of these shots are from the Enfield Shaker Village in Enfield, NH. The collapsing barn is located in Rumney, NH.

I love stone. Stone that has been carved, formed, either by hand or foot. Especially cobble stone streets. I love wood.. inparticular melting buildings. The kind that are slowly falling back into the earth.

If you need me I'll be planting our veggies, off on field trips and sitting in my folding chair at baseball games.

xoxo~

Abbie

Magnolias

I went for a drive yesterday and came across an old magnolia tree. It is early for them to be bloom here.. but spring has come about 3 weeks early this year. It is a very welcomed thing, a small blessing for us in New Hampshire.

 

The image above I submitted to the Pioneer Woman's Photo Contest. You can see the tens of thousands of entries on here, on Flickr. Now, I am being practical when I say I know it won't get chosen, but it is amazing to see some the photos that are submitted! Damn, there is nothing like professional photographers to let you know that you are not a professional, just a novice :) Ree is so good at weeding through the junk and picking some amazing finalists. I would highly recommend you take a jaunt by and peek around. Just wonderful eye candy! Of course, by the number of entries and visitors, you have already been there!

xoxo~

Abbie

I went for a drive...

I went for a drive today and it looked like this. Wet, cold and blllaaahhhh.. I was looking for color, and special things. I found canoes.  All lined up waiting patiently for the summer residents and tourists to return and sweep them back into the lake.

I found a tree. A wee pine tree. I would assume that either this summer or next someone will find it to be too intrusive and it will get plucked out of the ground.

It won't be forgotten though, as I have gone and caught it with my lens. To see other drives I have gone on click the 'New Hampshire' tag below.

xoxo~

Abbie

Thirty-five

Today is my 35th birthday. It really doesn't phase me too much. I don't feel any older, just a bit more in control. I do notice that time seems to go by faster now.  I also find myself suffering from the 'what am I going to be when I grow up' plague quite abit lately.

Aaahh.. well. I'm sure whatever is planned for me will pop up in time. Today was very nice. Spent the day cuddled on the couch with my girls (one of whom has quite the cough/fever) and watched Mary Poppins. I love Dick Van Dyke! Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is another favorite of mine.

For my birthday, once I can find one (they seem to be out of stock everywhere in NH right now) we are getting a Wii. I have heard great things about the Wii Fit Plus and want to try it out. Also, we played one at my brothers at Christmas and it was really fun!

Hope you are having a great weekend! Time to get back to doing nothing!

xoxo~

Abbie

Went for a drive..

I went for a drive today. 

And this is what I saw. A door. Locked. 

A sign. Perhaps warning that on this property security cameras were present. I'm pretty sure my camera was the only one there today.

   

A gas pump. Fill 'er up.

A pair of eyes. They were looking at me. I was looking at them. 

 

I went for a drive today and remembered to take my camera. I have to do that more often. Both, 'to remember' and 'to go'.

Thank you Amanda, for reminding me 'to go'.

xoxo~

Abbie