L I F E

I've been lost in a fog....

At times I don't know what I'm doing...

At times I feel sad...

At times I feel glad...

I had to stop my P365...

It was draining me...

Life was out of control...

I took a break...

But I'm back...

Now when I find a special moment and capture it... I will forever engrain in my heart, in my mind, and sometimes with my camera. I won't stress about trying to get a good photo... I will just embrace it when I do stumble upon it.

Photography IS my passion. And I got lost in that project 365 dealio - to the point where I wasn't having fun anymore with it all. SO I hung up my camera. I got lost. I got sad. But I am back...

Still foggy.... but back!

All Done!

Didn't I say my Project was only 157 days?!?! silly me..... I must have counted the days wrong!


With that said I am done with this project. I know... I didn't even make it half way, but I sure did learn a lot along the way:

1. I don't need my camera to appreciate the beauty all around me.

2. I still capture moments every day (just not always with my camera).

3. I like not having to worry about the next creative thing to capture.

4. I still don't 'get' my camera.

5. I still LOVE and am thrilled when I capture a beautiful moment.

6. Taking a 'good' picture every day is a very tough thing to do.

7. I am so thankful that I have met some new friends from this project.

8. Amy - you inspire me every day - thank you for being you!

9. Jay - you are growing by leaps and bounds and I am so excited to see where you will go with this next.

10. Thanx for those others that enjoyed my Project 157.


Sincerely,
Joanne.

Day 157

Somewhere in time's own space

There must be some sweet pastured place

Where creeks sing on and tall trees grow

Some paradise where horses go,

For by the love that guides my pen

I know great horses live again.

~Stanley Harrison

Day 156

A piece of art added to the side of an old brick building ~ Boston, MA

Day 155

Back home with my family & my little happy life by the sea...

Day 154

My last day in California. What a whirlwind of a wonderful experience and vacation I had. My dear friend Kellie has family here, and she flew out to join me, and also spend time with her amazing family.

Thank you again Kimberly & Dave for opening up your beautiful home to me. Kimberly, thank you also for picking me up and driving me around, you are truly amazing! Also thank you to Kellie's dad John for driving me to the airport for my long flight home. I love where you and Eva live, and I just LOVE your mountain... which happens to be my picture for today, Day 154:

Day 153

Culver City, California. Taping is over and done with. I got to walk around the city a bit afterwards, and quite enjoyed the sites...

What a fun day I had... I got to joke with Howie, opened a few cases, and be on a fun game show! Not sure when it will air yet, but I am sure that I probably embarrassed myself with my random ways! LOL!!! ...Hollywood won't be calling me back anytime soon, I'm sure of it! ;)

Day 152

A perfect Day? Throw in a few palm trees and a lot of California Sunshine.

Day 151

Monday, September 15th: From Boston to California... the first thing I had to do was splash in...

Day 150

My bedside Angel...

Day 149

Star Light ~ Star Bright ~ First Star I see tonight...

Day 148

Life is just too short not to be a "butthead". So laugh a little, love a lot, and have fun...
Remember to Smile Everyday, and pass a smile on... it's contagious!

CHEERS & SMILES to all!

Day 147

9/11 - I didn't take a picture on 9/11. But while in California a week later, I captured this amazing site, as we drove by Pepperdine University. I had my friend slow down, so I could capture this... and even though I didn't take it on 9/11.... it is my picture for 9/11:

Day 146

DEAL or NO DEAL???



The only picture I took this day, was of this cake that my co-workers surprised me with! (I of course, had to try a small piece). They also surprised me with enough money for me to get my makeover I so desperately needed for my big day in Hollywood!

Thanx again Sharon for putting this together. Your thoughtfulness, kindness and spirit are truly amazing!!! :)

Day 145

I have been taking my pictures... Just having a hard time keeping up. With that said, time to catch up.

Going back to where I left off... this picture was taken on Tuesday, September 9th. My friend Tina and I, took our kids to this fun playground at a local school. The Science Park combines play with learning. This gears display is at the base of one of the cool learning climbing structures...

Day 144

Met my good friend Amy for lunch today, in hopes of her helping me find a few more cute tops for LA. Well, my wonderful friend Amy gave me this lucky charm so I could have a little extra luck when I am out there... thank you Amy - you are the best!!! :)

Day 143

Chasing Sandpipers on the beach...

Day 142

A cool looking restaurant I hope to sample one day, with an even cooler view... Sorry Tom - we are going to miss you!!!

Day 141

Went to our friends house for a last swim party of the summer.... Of course Jolie had to incorporate dress up into this party too...

Day 140

They say there are haunted grounds behind where I work, so I always hesitate when passing this tree... wondering just what this sign once said, and if I should be afraid, and turn back?!

Day 139

All Ready For Kindergarten...

Day 138

Daily Reminder as I leave my house...

Day 137

Last of the summer days at the beach...

Day 136

HAT PARTY ~ FUN!!!

Day 135

CLAW PARTY ~ YUM!!!

Day 134

Last Day of Preschool. A bittersweet kinda day...

Day 133

PINK cupcakes. Jolie requested we make PINK cupcakes for her last day of preschool. So we whipped up this batch and boy did they smell Pinkalicious!!!

Day 132

Last night as I tucked my daughter into bed, I couldn't believe that my baby is all grown up! This time next week, Jolie will be in Kindergarten. Good thing she still LOVES her bedtime stories, and we still turn on the stars in her room, when we say our prayers good night...

Day 131

Footsteps to the Sea...

Day 130

Buzy day today, not much time to play... So I settled for this flower in a pot on my deck, sun setting in the horizon...

Day 129

Went to a 5th birthday party today at a fun mini golf place. The kids had a blast, and I quite loved this little rope bridge that led us across to the next hole. It was a glorious blue sun sunny kinda fun day...

Day 128

Went to a family birthday party Saturday nite, and fell in love with their bathroom. Great decor, cool accents, and I just LOVED looking out this window...

Day 127

Girls nite out in Gloucester.... Stopped and admired this rocky rusty art like wall, on a building behind Main Street. Made me smile... or was it the Margaritta's? :)

Day 126

CHEERS! To Life. To Love. To Happiness. To Friendship. To Family. To taking chances. To making a 'Deal'. To forever happy days and happy ways... CHEERS to it all!

Day 125

Went to Salem Willows in Salem, MA with Jolie and my friend Amy. We chased our shadows and the gulls on the pier, and climbed some rocks along the shore. We had dinner and of course had to have some yummy ice cream. We later played some arcade games with Jolie winning some cute prizes, and then collected shells on the beach. On our wait out of the park, we had to stop when we saw this most fantastic sunset... what a way to end our fun day...

Day 124

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful. ~Abram L. Urban

Day 123

Another amazing sunset walk on the beach. The tide was so so low, the ripples from the ocean waves left their markings in the sand...

Day 122

Discovered this quaint area with old buildings, hidden away in Rockport... We got lost there for awhile, and almost felt like we were living life in the good old days.

Day 121

Sunset over Blue

Day 120

My friends Frog & Lily Pond...

Day 119

Went to Portugal today...



...Not really, but it sure felt like it at the Azorean Restaurant in Gloucester.
www.azoreanrestaurant.com

Day 118

A Short Path to Long Beach...

Day 117

Even when I do the laundry, I smile. I have this cute little guy, hanging upside down above my washing machine... to make me stop, smile, and then get back to doing yet another load of laundry!

Day 116

Nothing else needs to be said...

Enough on the rainy days...

Bring on the summery sunshine please!!!

Day 115

We have been getting a lot of rain lately. The good thing is, I haven't had to water my veggie garden in a long while. My tomatos are growing beautifully & enjoying their daily showers.

Day 114

A beautiful Saturday... spent a few hours at the beach with some good friends.

I captured this photo of Jolie & Julianna. Loving the beach. Loving the surf, and trying to catch waves on their boogie boards. The perfect wave, they did not catch.... but they sure had fun trying to catch one.

Day 113

Story of my life... another long day... forgot to pull out my camera.

While getting ready to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics (and what an opening show they put on)... I tried to take a picture of something with 8 in it (in honor of today 8/8/8).

Well... I searched high and low... and kept on looking at this guy, my honeymoon gift to myself. 8 wonderful years ago.... we spent 8 days away, and while staying at the Atlantis in the Bahamas.... I spent way more then $8 on him in this cool funky boutique... but I LOVED it... and I wanted it... so I bought him. My lucky little colorful wire man... now forgotten on a top shelf in my kitchen... but still brings back wonderful memories...

Day 112

Long day at work. Then a long day at home... tending to my man in a sling, and a clingy 5 year old... Bedtime quickly approached. While brushing jolie's teeth, I glanced up at her funky painted skateboard towel holder... and thought just for a moment, he was mocking me with his wicked grin...

Day 111

Lucky me won tickets awhile back to see Jack (humana) Johnson!

I tried to sneak my camera in, but they checked my bag... saw that my camera was, as she called it "professional", as it had a removable lens.... and then she told me that I could not bring it in. BUMMER.

SO I ran back to the car, quickly snapped a pic of our tix... and then went back in, and totally enjoyed the concert!

It was our first date night in a long while, and even though Jim was in a sling, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and the casual tunes that Jack played! :)

Day 110

The Tree of Light...

So the more I look at this picture... the more I see those scary mean trees from the Wizard of Oz! And the tree on the left, with his arms... I mean branches at his hips, I mean trunk... anyway... I almost feel like him looking down at me and saying... "You mean Are you hinting my apples aren't what they ought to be?"

Day 109

Driving home from getting groceries, the sun was setting oh so beautifully. I pulled over and captured the sun shining down on me and the field that lay in front of me...

Sunset in Essex, MA