This was one of the most beautiful moments of my recent trip back home — Aveline, completely unprompted, leaning forward to gently kiss her great-great grandma on the cheek. I can’t believe I was holding my camera when this happened!
Category: Life in Photos
“Pick an orange, children!”
More than a decade ago, during an extended-family vacation to Florida, we stopped at an orange grove on the way to the ocean. Rather than gathering around an orange tree for a photo opp like my Michigan Grandma wanted, we cousins were running every which way. In an effort to round us up, she kept repeating, “Pick an orange, children! Pick an orange!” It was chaotic at the time, and honestly not very funny at all. But once parts of the family had moved to places like California and Florida, where orange groves aren’t exactly exotic, the “Pick an orange” situation grew comical and became a family joke.
So, here’s Uncle Chet in Grandma’s yard in Michigan, saying, “Pick an apple, Aveline! Pick an apple! No oranges here. Just apples.” I was laughing so hard.
Here’s to carrying on legendary family jokes to the next generation.
Around the Yard in the Summertime
My parents’ yard is just gorgeous. I love the brilliant flowers and the spreading trees. And don’t my dad’s hands look absolutely perfect holding Aveline?
The One Where Aveline Wears a Bandana
It’s summer. I can smell it in the fresh air blowing in through the open French doors as I sit drinking my coffee out of a cobalt mug. I can see it in the wind that blows through Sierra’s long silky fur, and I can taste it in the tender lettuce greens heaped high on my plate.
We’re on a mini-vacation, Aveline and I. We’ve survived the “flying with an infant” thing (second time in Aveline’s short five months!) and now we’re resting getting spoiled at my parents’ home.
Josiah is at home, working hard. I miss him. I wish he were here with us, to experience the cool temperatures and the incredible peace that is everywhere in this restful place. Aveline will tell him all about it, I am sure, in her delicate voice and unmistakably Italian hand gestures.
We took a little stroll around the yard the other day, soaking in the quietness and the trees.
Because your evening wouldn’t be complete without this photo.
In lieu of the landscape photo I was supposed to take today for 30 Day Photo (oops), I will instead share this entirely unrelated yet hilarious picture of Aveline, complete with gratuitous typography. I can’t look at it without laughing!
Despite her expression in the photo, she’s actually been really crabby tonight. We’re out of avocado and she had to eat green beans and sweet potatoes for dinner instead. The horror!
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Oh.
I stand corrected.
Aveline says she’s not crabby about the sweet potatoes…only about the green beans. ;-)
Aveline’s First Swim (30 Day June Photo Challenge – Days 19 & 20 – Summertime & Water)
It’s easy to complain about the weather. Yes, even in Florida, I am ashamed to say that I complain.
It’s too hot.
It’s too humid.
Granted, the humidity is pretty suffocating (83% humidity at 9 am; forecasted high of 98° with heat index of 105°), but when you think about it? It’s actually kind of extremely ridiculous to complain. I mean, we’re living in a destination city. People pay money to come here. They pay money to experience what I take for granted.
So what would it look like if I stopped comparing Florida to California and started treating Florida as if I was on vacation here? Well, it would probably look a little bit like this:
Beautiful, isn’t it?
This weekend was Aveline’s first time swimming.It was so beautiful to watch as the uncertain look on her face faded away and was replaced with a contented smile.
As she happily splashed, I thought, Lord, let me jump in to Florida. Wash away my uncertainty and let me trust your arms to hold me up so I will not sink.
30 Day June Photo Challenge – Day 18 – Eyes
30 Day June Photo Challenge – Day 16 – Mason Jar
I keep my spools of thread, buttons, and ribbons in a row of mason jars. I’ve always loved them, especially the older ones. [Click photo to view a larger version.]
And here’s a little peek into our home, also through the fish eye lens.
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