My Favorite Camping Critter

Our Grand-puppy Max went camping with us last weekend.

Isn't he handsome?!!

Linking up with

Saturday Critters

Black & White Wednesdays ~ Madi Bear

This sweet girl is a 
s'more eating

rain dancing

fire warming

upside down hanging

tractor riding

smile sharing

tractor driving

daddy adoring

CAMPING CHAMP!

We love you Madi Bear!

Please join me here and share your
black & white photos!
I'm also sharing this bit of New England with
Wednesday's Around the World

Close Up

"From a distance you look like my friend,

even though we are at war.

From a distance I cannot comprehend

what all this fighting is for.

From a distance, there is harmony,

and it echoes through the land.

And it's the voice of hope of hopes, 

it's the love of loves,

it's the heart of every man.

God is watching us, God is watching us,

God is watching us from a distance."
Bette Midler

I love this song.

I love the idea that the "big picture" somehow looks better than each part.

That, together, we can be stronger than we are by ourselves.

That the One who sees the "big picture" sees something timeless. Ageless. 

Something, perhaps, far beyond our understanding.

I also believe that the "big picture" is not my responsibility.

I can't "fix" the whole wide world.

I can't make the distant horrors less horrible.

I can hope and pray and love.

But I can't "fix" the whole wide world.

What I can do is focus in on those around me.

I can do my part to love and care for and nurture the relationships 

that make up my little corner of the world.

Family, friends, co-workers and passers-by.

One on one.

Close up.

These people I can treat as I wish all mankind would treat his fellow man.

This photo is my favorite from our camping trip this weekend.

I love the tenderness.

The gentleness of one woman to a friend's child and another friend's puppy.

Harmony.

Just the sweetest!

From a distance, or close up, this is what it's all about.

The people with whom we shared our weekend are a combination of

family and friends.

Friends I've known since before my 27 year old was born.

Friends that she's known for half of her young life.

There were cousins in the mix.

And some of us have been co-workers at different times throughout the years.

It hasn't always been sunshine and camping fires.

There have been hurts and pains, both shared and inflicted.

There have been times of great joy and seasons of great loss.

But we're here.

In a circle.

Sharing our lives.

This is the "close-up" that we've fought for.

And that we will continue to believe in.

Joining Kathy for

Song-ography

I took my iPhone camping this weekend....

"For in the dew of little things

the heart finds its morning

and is refreshed."

Khalil Gibran

Food cooked around a campfire: So, so good

Afternoon & Evening rainfall: Kind of random

Volleyball, horseshoes, storytelling, boccie, laughter: Loads of fun

48 hours 

in the beautiful outdoors

with some of our dearest friends:

priceless

{stay tuned for many more photos throughout the week!}

Joining Tamar

{better late than never...}
for

The Good. The Random. The Fun.

Morning, Noon and Night

You must

live in 

the present,

launch

yourself

on every wave,

find

eternity

in every 

moment.

Henry David Thoreau














Joining Kim
for
Little Things Thursdays

Black & White Wednesdays: Madi Goes Camping

I love this little girl.

Her mom is my daughter's BFF.

And her dad is my son-in-law's BFF.

(do guys say BFF?...I doubt it)

Auntie Melissa loves her so much she even lets her 'use' her camera.

Madi and Max are also BFF's.

There's just a tiny bit of personality going on here.

And enough energy for four kids!
We all love you Madi-bear!


Please join in!