Upon it’s beginning, July seemed destined for a lasting and colorful story. After all, it began with a long weekend of fun and celebration…

Three whole weekends followed, each to fill with the likes of chalk art and old cars…

We even took advantage of the fact that July was National hot dog month {naysayers be damned; and seriously, who eats a hot dog every day anyway?} …

Of course, a dog is always better when you’re eating to help friends bring home their baby boy. Also better—getting gifts quite out of the blue. My mum gave me earrings and a bracelet—simply because she knows how I do so love a bit of sparkle…

Lift the flower on the bracelet and you’ll find a wee watch. It’s been so long since winding an honest-to-goodness watch, the thought actually flittered across my mind: how do you know if it’s a.m. or p.m.?

Yes, it was one of those months.

Perhaps simply reading of the whole National Debt debacle turned my mind to mush …

Perhaps it stems from the fact that I’ve read little more than Cliver Cussler—all month, people. And there’s no immediate end in sight. Still, thanks to a lovely brunch and book-exchange, I have a couple good options, when I can handle something with a little more substance … 

You see, if there’s one thing July taught me: I don’t do well in that in-between stage. If you would have told me that I would be in the exact same spot as last year, I would have scoffed. I may have even called you a ninny; because this year was going to be different. This year I would finally make it—I would move, nay, spring forward!

Alas, life moves at its own pace…

But slow as it may seem, it still moves—a little fact that hit me, in the sweltering month of July. So, while I continued trudging along, and continued clutching my fluffy-adventure novels, I began working on what I could. This included making a concerted effort to get off my ever expanding derrière and move.

Thankfully, most of our walk takes place in a neighborhood, where there’s no traveling over 25 miles per hour and no U-turns …

Slow and steady … that pretty much sums up the past three years—definitely the month of July. But really, when you think about it, that’s not a bad way to go about it. After all, it’s not so much when we arrive … so long as we keep moving forward …

A few skies of blue danced across February, but mostly it was grey.  We had to find our color elsewhere.  I, for one, opted for Fruit Loops.  While I’m fully aware of the adverse effects of starting the day with a bowlful of sugar, it retains an upside.  Be it known, they are full of tasty goodness and they’re good for a smile …

Celebrations added a bit of flare.  We celebrated my brother—from afar.  We lauded love.  I even played cupid a time or two …

It’s a good thing our hearts were warm because the rest of us were freezing.  Much to our chagrin, the temps stayed frigid—inside the rink, and out …

So we did the only mature thing to do under such circumstances—we whined and complained.  Then we hunkered down with those we love … we listened to music of old … we laughed … we danced like fools …

And I read—like this is any sort of news, but there you have it.  I did try to read some of the books on my reading list, but  alas, a desperate need for fluff won out.  I also decided to continue with my book blog–at which point I discovered the fact that I’m getting more readers there than here-whoops!   Of course, I have posted nary a thing, but I’ve got plans …

Plans that I’m working on between running my business, keeping up with family and friends, and reading said books.  Not that I didn’t have time in February, mind you.  Three of the main projects I was set to work on, were postponed—making my bank account nearly as bear as the branches …

But enough of that—March is upon us.  And to that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?  I’m coming for you …

It made me smile. 

Needless to say, I simply had to go and say hello.  I was not alone.  For starters, my mum and gram came along for the ride … we were joined by people of all ages—young and old—equally excited.  You would have thought Santa Clause had come to town. 

Siblings posed as parents snapped photos; kids asked questions, adults answered {whether they truly knew the answer or not}.  People laughed and gaped; pointed and gasped—eyes were bright, and smiles wide. 

As far as we’ve come, I imagine our reaction was not that much different than when the first train pulled into town.  And really, can you blame us?  After all, we were both transported to another time–one forward, the other back…

{finding a match in unexpected places is part of the fun}

For all you other chicken-livers out there, a few words on the photo walk …

As most of you know, I am no professional photographer.  No sir, I am not. I simply love stories … and sometimes, the greatest stories of all are told through photographs.  I also love the ability to capture fleeting moments.  So I grab my trusty Canon PowerShot, point, and shoot.   

Obviously I would never, in my right mind, sign up to participate in a photo walk.  Yet sign up I did.  More than likely, I was focusing on an excuse to take pictures — not showcasing said pictures to others.  Then I clicked “Save.” Eek! 

To alieve anxiety, I planned.  There was a whole list of options–none of which panned out. And some, I might add, were fail-proof.  The meerkats for instance–that’s the WHOLE reason I went to the zoo last week.  They’re always there.  Always posing.  But not last week … last week there was nary a kat in sight.

Then it happened … I was walking along, minding my own business, when out of the corner of my eye I saw the letter “M.”  Unfortunately, I gasped and then exclaimed, “Ah-ha-ha!  An M-word!” BEFORE noticing my party had left without me.  That’s right, I was surrounded by strangers–many of whom were probably wondering why my caretaker and gone off and left me to my own devices.  Nonetheless, I snapped the photo. 

And that’s when it hit me–happening upon your photos quite by accident is part of the fun! So Monday morning, I started out on Main street and began wandering aimlessly about. The sun was shining… but not too much.  The flowers were in bloom.  And other than the chirping birds, the sidewalks were silent.  It was a glorious way to greet the day.

Were my pictures perfect? Nope.  Were they creative?  Not so much.  But I had a grand time–taking photos and seeing the photos of others.

So if you ever get a chance to participate in a photo walk, and you’d like to, but just aren’t sure–go for it.  Then grab your camera, head out and see what you find {or what finds you}. After all, if love of taking photos, you just can’t go wrong …

For those wondering what in the world, we’re having ourselves a bit of a celebration … of the alphabet and photos and the wonderful things that transpire when you put the two together!  Bloggers have signed up for a specific letter; now we’re showcasing what we’ve found. For my part, I decided to meander about downtown, to see where M might be found… 

1. M is for… | 2. Main Street | 3. Mechanics | 4. Moons & Mmm, Milkshakes! | 5. Mural | 6. Memories

Click here to see what you might have missed … and where to go from here …

A big thanks to Piper, of One Sydney Road,  for putting this all together … to Katrina, of Pugly Pixel, for the creating the bunting banner … to all the participants for giving us a glimpse at your side of the viewfinder… and to YOU, dear readers, for joining in the fun!

A few weeks ago, I had the good fortune of winning a gift certificate to Jen Zahigian Photography {via The Bright Side Project}.  As someone who cried at the close of Cars, Roadside Photography was the perfect prize. 

Jen takes roadside images–the faded, worn, and lonely–and breathes new life into their decrepit state. With an eye for detail and a splash of color they are eternally restored to their youthful glory. 

After careful deliberation I decided upon the matted, metalic print of Howdy Says Hello–and I will tell you now, this photo does not do it justice.  The color is simply spectacular.  I’m thinking a funky, red, wooden frame {minus the glass, so the metalic effect can shine}, and you’ve got yourself a roadtrip for the senses!

And for the record, Jen was a pleasure to work with–despite the fact this print was a gift, she was quick to respond and the final product was beautiful.  I’d highly recommend her. 

You can find Jen {and more of her photos} here, here, and here …

Well, my friends, did you see the new year in, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed?  Someone had to, as I most certainly did not.  As a matter of fact, I was uncharacteristically blah.  No festive napkins, no party poppers – I did not even attempt to keep my peepers open ’til midnight.  I went to bed at 9:30 and slept right through the fireworks. 

Perhaps this means my year will be the thing to shine?  We shall just see, won’t we …

Of course, I did celebrate.  My mum and I went to “the home” to celebrate with my grama and her friends … who, in turn, were celebrating the new year with Paris (France, not Hilton).  It was a rousing party filled with music, noise makers, hats, food, libations, and prizes!  We each received a raffle ticket.  I offered to read my neighbor’s ticket since he left his glasses up in his room.  I also had my grama’s ticket, along with my own. 

Now my mom and I decided that if our numbers were called, we would pretend it was grama’s.  That’s precisely what I had on my mind when the top ticket was called.    

“You won!” I said to my grama.  “You won!  You won!  Say something –   you’re a winner!!!” 

Right about the time my grama’s hand shot up in the air and started waving wildly, I realized the ticket was neither mine, nor hers.  It belonged to the gentleman sitting next to me.    

“Oh wait!  It’s not you!  Wrong ticket!!!  You didn’t win … so sorry … he won.” I said this as I pointed to the gentleman sitting next to me; like it wasn’t rude enough that I completely botched my job.   Obviously, I completely fall apart under pressure.  Sigh.     

Of course, said gentleman was truly a gentleman and pretended he was the least bit interested in the CD, handing it back to my grama.  In God’s great mercy, his number … or my grama’s number, as the case may be … was the last to be called.  But alas, some old woman up front either couldn’t see her number, or just plain decided to take matters in her own hands.   Whatever the case, she was not to be trifled with and won the prize.   And that was that. 

So yes, I did celebrate.  I did have fun – right up until that last little bit.  But it wasn’t anything big and clamoring that made the start of this year great.  It was a quiet stroll through Kathryn Albertson Park.  The temperature was all of 32 degrees F.  The park was still, the ponds iced.  We greeted perfect strangers – pink cheeked and bundled – and took photos as best we could with frozen fingers.  It was just what we were needing – a simple reminder that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.  Sometimes even the gnarled can possess a hint of grace.