essence of away - winter version

I've been enjoying Kim Manley Ort's book - Adventures in Seeing
This week, our call to adventure is "Essence"
in a series of photos, I hope to capture the essence of our weekends at Away
- winter version -
(I may need to re-do this exercise in the summer)

A couple of years ago, our oldest daughter, Maggie,
visited us during a particularly snowy week in December
(she is convinced that she was meant to be a Southerner
- let's just say that winter isn't her favorite season)

After being snowbound for a day,

and then venturing out, only to get our car stuck in a snowbank on the side of our driveway

- and cancelling dinner plans (opting for a pot of chili at home)

she remarked: It feels like summer here

Me: ummmmmm.......?

Maggie: No, not the weather - but you know how summer just feels different?

Me: (smile)

Maggie: It's like that here, relaxed... friendly, less stressed - like summer

the essence of weekends at Away

and while I'm not fond of living in two homes,
Away provides a place to unwind from our stressful weekday life

and for that, I am very thankful

I'm joining Michelle for Thankful Thursday
and Tanya for Willy Nilly Friday Five

Thanks for dropping in!

cape ann - "open"

There's a winter storm in Boston, and I'm thankful for a snow day
- one of those unexpected bonus days with no plans and no where to go
- time to leisurely sort through photos...

Last weekend - a very different scene
Greg and I took a ride along the coast of Cape Ann
I had spent the morning taking photos of "open" for a photography group I had joined
- four weeks late and trying to catch up...

Yeah - anyway

I took several shots of "open" flags outside the shops in my town (a bit obvious),

- and lots of open doors (again - obvious) - and this really wasn't working for me

until

This vast openness resonates
Gloucester Harbor - a hazy Boston skyline in the distance

Rockport Harbor

open for adventure - I used to love exploring the breakwater

and, somewhat unrelated

- Motif No. 1 - a favorite of photographers and artists

the seagull on Motif No. 1 caught my eye
 the setting sun casting a glow on the window

So - as I'm contemplating this scene - enjoying the cast of light
and deciding what my next shot should be,
a woman jumps out of a car, runs towards me with her camera
and frantically shoots off several photos -
as I take a step back - she quickly steps into my spot and takes several more photos,
runs to another spot doing the same
I stand there observing - I guess we're all trying to capture our own stories...

Tomorrow our storm will clear - back to work and reality
but I am so thankful for today

I'm joining Michelle for Thankful Thursday
and Tanya for Willy Nilly Friday Five

Thanks for dropping in!