Gratitude

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
~Cicero

Big sky and old fence

The sun came out briefly this afternoon, enough for me to do a load of wash and hang it on the line. Or so I thought. It began raining again, but that's ok. I worked all day on a photo video that I posted on my other blog. I hope you'll thank me for posting something else here so you don't have to drool over the photo below. Apologies to those who are dieting. Have a beautiful day, all.

Pain au chocolat

I am not trying to be evil. Apologies to those on a diet. But it's raining. And it's delightfully chilly. And I was just thinking of these. Just thinking, mind you.

It's such an easy recipe, too. Forget the homemade french pastry and use Pillsbury ready-made crescent rolls. I find the Ghirardelli chocolate tastes better than the other brands, but to each his own.

Pain au chocolat
1 container Pillsbury crescent rolls
1 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate morsels
about 1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Get two small bowls. Put the chocolate morsels in one and mix the sugar and cinnamon together in the other. Open crescent rolls and line about 4 of them up with the triangle top pointing away from you. On the bottom end of the triangle, put about 1 Tbsp. chocolate morsels, pressing them gently into the dough. Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp. sugar mixture on each and and begin rolling up from the bottom towards the top. Sprinkle sugar mixture on top. Continue with next four, and so on. Bake according to package directions, 375 degrees for about 12 minutes.

Hike 2 miles after eating (every day for a week!)

Heading home

Taken in Lancaster County, PA on a cold winter day. Michelle Black texture applied.

Revel, NYC

Revel, on Little West 12th St., in New York City. Am I in a New York state of mind? I don't think so. I just got tired of all the flowers. Don't mind me. I'll get over it.

Blue sentries

I didn't know what kind of plant this was when I took this photo in the Spring. Luckily, there was a name plate. This is Pride of Madeira, a member of the borage family. Taken at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Sunflower unfurling

I love how this sunflower looks! Its new life, with its little tendrils reaching to the sun, just about to bloom.
It almost reminds me of my children, when they left for college.
Or something like that. Don't mind me. I'm just in a contemplative mood is all.

Mosaic Monday: Yellow

My mosaic was inspired by the yellow boat in the center, a print of which was won today in a Giveaway on my other blog.
To see other mosaics, please visit my friend Mary and join in the fun at Little Red House, where every Monday she hosts Mosaic Monday.
Have a great one, all!

Jordan Pond and The Bubbles

Taken at the South end of Jordan Pond, facing The Bubbles, two hills that sort of look like . . . well, I don't even think I need to say. Is it just me?

Giveaway at my other site!

What are you doing here? You could be entering yourself to win a print at my other site today. Contest ends Sunday at 6 PM. Check it out [here].

Cosmos bloom unfurling

I used a light combination of Florabella Textures on this dainty little flower that's about to burst forth. I wonder what it looks like today? Maybe I will get up off my chair and find out.

Cosmos and visitor

I was heading by the cosmos on my way to begin watering the outdoor container gardens when this sight stopped me. My husband must have been in a good mood because when he saw that I was busy with the camera, he went ahead and watered everything for me. Needless to say, I was surprised.

Jordan Pond Gatehouse

Taken from the car window at Acadia National Park in Maine, this is the Gatehouse at Jordan Pond. I was surprised to see the car parked in front of the garage and hear it's now a private residence. You can read more [here] about the carriage roads in Acadia National Park.

The Calypso

Taken on a beautiful morning off the Sand Beach outside of Stonington, Maine on Deer Isle. What bliss!

Little yellow boat

Taken from the rocks with my zoom lens off Deer Isle, Maine.

Water's edge

This was taken on the beach as the tide was heading out. I used my gorillapod and set it in the very low tide. I was just fooling around. SOOC shot.

Sea Urchin Shell

I'm vacationing for a week in a cottage on the coast of Maine. Sorry I haven't updated, nor will I be able to this week. The rental was supposed to have internet access, but it turns out that was false. No worries, though! It's gorgeous here.

This is a sea urchin, or what's left of it. There are hundreds of these along the beach and in the rocks. Some still have their prickly coverings, too. I'll try to update when I can but if I am unable, I'll be back Sunday!

Here is the church and here is its steeple

It's ok to revisit the past. Especially when it holds such fond memories, right?
Mathews Baptist Church, organized 1776. I loved the steeple.

Yesteryear in Mathews, Virginia

I took a lot of photos while I was in Virginia last month. This is on Main Street.
I really don't think you want to hear what I did to this photo, so I'll just say that I'm experimenting. I like to do that.

Morning comes to Mathews

Taken on the Queen's Creek, Mathews County, VA. I used [Coffeeshop's Teeny Tiny World] on it. I don't know why. I just do things sometimes.

Remembrance of spring

Something new I've been working on ~ it's hand-coloring of a black & white photo. I posted about it today on [my other blog] with a tutorial that shows one way of achieving this. I'm still trying to figure it all out . . .

View from top of Pemetic Mountain, Maine

No, I'm not in Maine. Just wishing I was, that's all. Found this while going through my photo files from our last visit in 2007. My husband and I hiked up one of the most difficult trails I've ever been on, to the top of the Pemetic Mountain at Acadia National Park. What a wonderful view! I think this is Echo Lake we can see. I think my feet still hurt from that hike, too.

Midsummer's dream

I love these dreamy textures that Florabella offers. And that's all I have to say about that.

Best slices on South Street

It's a colorful world, my friends. These buildings caught my eye while strolling along South Street in Philadelphia earlier this week.
Have a great Saturday, all. Hope it's a colorful one!