Happy Birthday Kristin!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

KRISTIN!!!

...many thanks for all your wonderful contributions to the blog! Hope you have an incredibly blessed day!

Enjoying Spring

Spring in New Hampshire. It's very strange, unpredictable, and beautiful. I'm not sure what the rest of the country is like right now, but we are up and down and all over the (weather) map.

We started May with snow and ended in the '90s. Though not quite as hot going into June, it remained warm enough to warrant a visit to the pool and the backyard hose, but a few days ago, late fall decided to pay a little visit. Where else can you go from blasting the AC to shutting all the windows and putting on a sweater all within a 24-hour span?!

I still love spring. I NEED it, as you can imagine, after our long, frigid, dark winter. The seasons feed my soul. There isn't one I don't love in its own way. (Yes, even winter.) I know that I am blessed to live in a place that experiences all four very distinctively, but we get the added bonus of extra beauty and fun, too!

In winter, it is "Currier and Ives" here. It inspired Robert Frost. We are buried in a blanket of white and, more often than not, it remains unspoiled. If you love winter sports, you are at home in NH.

Besides the welcome weather, we relish in the glory of spring here because of our vast variety of flora and fauna. Blooms of many kinds and green as far as the eye can see. (Being 95% forest helps.)

Summer is a divine mix of warm, humid days (thanks to our seacoast) -- perfect for swimming and lounging -- and chilly nights. Wildlife is abundant and it is often comfortable enough to actually enjoy walking around a theme-park in mid-July!

Fall is our crowing glory. The time that brings tourists from all over the world to view our famous foliage. But we locals know there are secret spots all over the state and those cool, crisp days mean everything as we respite from the heat and glory in the holidays ahead. Apple picking, pumpkin patch, and haunted houses abound!

But lest you envy me too much, know that wherever you are, it's beautiful, too. Of course, I can only speak of the USA, but if you reside here, you are golden.

Recently, my DH and I spent a weekend in a big city -- well, big by our standards. It has over 100,000 people and buildings more than 10 stories high. Enough to impress our small-town senses. We sat at an outdoor cafe and watched the traffic and people go by and loved every minute of it! Most people like to escape the city in the summer, but I realized how fun it is to do the opposite. It was just heaven. So much to see and do. I don't care what city (or suburb) you reside in, there is something beautiful and fun to do there!

I grew up in southern Michigan. The cities and towns there are often run down and the suburbs are little better, but there were many pockets of beauty and joy there. Lakes, rivers, parks, zoos . . . even if you are in the heart of concrete, you rarely have to drive very far anywhere in this country to find a rural landscape. Believe me, I've been in and out of New York City several times and if it can happen there it can happen anywhere!

So, get out and enjoy this blessed season -- summer is almost upon us! Get the camera out and start documenting! Pick up your local paper and look for all the fun, outdoor activities and if you are in the deep south, do the opposite (look for indoor. Unless you live by water. If so -- then get thee hence!) This is the time! School is out (or will be soon), vacation time is coming, and you can even stay close to home if you'd like.

Or take a trip to New Hampshire. It's glorious here in the summer. ::grin::

Photographing Spring Blooms

Spring is lovely everywhere you go, but for us northerners there is a special delight in viewing the world renew itself after a long winter's sleep. There is a physical response to the warmth of the sun and the sight of things green that we wouldn't appreciate and respond to so much had it not been for months of a white and barren landscape. Little dots of color in the midst of it all just add pure joy to the experience and wonder at God's artistic hand.

I am compelled to go outside again and take in deep breaths. I glory in the newness around me and dream and plan for the beauty ahead . . . spring and fall are the times I am most compelled to get my camera out and take shots of something besides my children. I MUST try and capture this beauty, and though my attempts are feeble, I never give up. Of course, sharing with others is another great excuse to try and I'm happy to have a forum here.

Here are some early, spring blooms -- some of the more common ones you'll find in the northeast. Of course, they are perennials and only last a little while (thus another reason for photos) and that makes their time even more special. Our first gifts and promises of more to come.

Our fist glimpse of color: crocus. Yellow or purple, they are very much welcome!




Then come the tulips -- my favorite perennial of all:

Little buds all over the bushes -- promises of green and berries:

Lovely tulip magnolia:

And the sunny daffodil:

Part of the fun of photography is capturing the essence of where you live. There are plants, animals, and landscapes unique to your region -- consider getting the camera out and making a small tribute album. It reminds us of what we love about our homes -- and if you don't love your home already, an album like that might change your mind.

Enjoy the remainder of our glorious spring!

Welcome Our New Author!

As of today, I am excited to welcome Kristin, a new author of 'Tis The Season'.  She is my sister and shares a true love for seasons and holidays, like myself.  She is a resident of a small town in New Hampshire, located in the Northeastern United States, and a dedicated homeschooling mother of 10!  This is in great contrast to my experience as a wife with no children, living in San Diego, which is a large city located in the Southwestern United States.  She certainly has a great deal to contribute, as she is an excellent writer and photographer as well.  We believe that our differing perspectives will enrich 'Tis The Season' by bringing a greater variety of content to our readers.  May this be a blessing as we approach this upcoming holiday season!