NH Polar Caves

We took a ride up to the White Mountains here in NH to go explore the Polar Caves. We had a blast. We hadn't been there in about 5 years, and I wish we had gone sooner. The sights were amazing and climbing through the caves and learning about the different minerals in the rocks was very interesting. We also visited the Maple Sugar Museum that was on their property. The old tools and machines they used to make maple syrup were amazing. I was nice to not only have a fun family outing, but I also had the opportunity to teach my children about history and geology. We read the signs that described what the minerals were in the rocks and how the caves were formed by glaciers. It was again a place that is in my own state that I had taken for granted and forgotten about. I encourage everyone to explore what is right around you. You will probably be surprised at what you will discover.

Making Time

In a previous post I wrote about balancing our time and taking time to appreciate what is around us. I had to do this very consciously this past week. Both my children began their baseball and softball activities. They are fully enjoying it, however it has been a very challenging schedule for our family. Here are some pictures I took in my own yard.

This last picture I took while we were at one of my children's baseball games. Even then you can take a moment to notice things.

Have You Seen a Butterfly?

We have all watched them flutter by us at one time or another, but have you ever taken a moment to really look at one? Isn't if funny how children have this wonderful ability to observe and notice things that we as adults don't? A child's sense of wonder for the world around them is lost as we become adults. We get too caught up in the hustle and bustle to slow down and truly look at what we are seeing. I too was caught up life's hustle and bustle. Especially when we have the ability to take our responsibilities with us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using Internet capable cell phones. I too have a Blackberry, but I have learned to shut if off or leave it at home so that I am not tied to it. Studying photography has taught me to slow down and really look at things. To clear my mind, sit silently and still and observe the natural patterns in nature. To look through a new set of eyes. Here are a few photo's that I was able to capture of butterflies by doing so.



The top three were taken at a local butterfly museum. If you have never been to one, it is amazing. They fly all around you, and sometimes land on you. It gives you a new appreciation for their beauty and it is a great break from the freezing cold days of the middle of winter.





These last two were taken in my garden last summer. The delicate beauty of their wings is something amazing. Next time you see a butterfly, take a moment to watch it, observe it's flight pattern, wait for it to land, and then really look at it with new eyes. You might be surprised at what you see!

Walk in the Woods

I have come to realize that there are always going to be things on my to do list. There will always be laundry to do, a house that needs some organizing, toys that need to be picked up, dishes to get washed, and so on. If I spend all my "free" time focusing on these things I would not have had the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the beautiful winter scenery in my backyard. These pictures were captured on a quick hike in the woods behind my house, which my children are still talking about.
Not sure what kind of mushrooms those are, but they were an amazing find.

Messages Around Us

I sometimes wonder if there are messages around us that we don't always see. This is a rock my son found at the local beach. As soon as he picked it up he brought it to me to show me that it was shaped like a heart. Another message, same theme. This is a leaf my daughter found in our drive way, on our way to get the mail. This is exactly how we found the leaf, with the heart shape already in it. We framed it and hung it in our kitchen as a symbol of the love in our family. The four leaf clover we found the day before we got a phone call that was going to bring a tough period in our lives to an end. We added that to the framed leaf to symbolize the strength in our family.
One more message, same theme. This tree has been in our yard since we bought our house almost 8 years ago. It is a border to the side of our driveway. You actually have to turn the wheel from the top of our drive, not to hit it as you back out. How many times a day, week, year ,did we go right past this tree, always looking at it, not to hit it with our cars, but never see the message. It wasn't until I was studying photography and teaching myself to really "see" that I saw what we had been missing. Another sign of love in the shape of a heart on the tree, very close to where the leaf above was found.
Certainly makes you think. Doesn't it? Especially since these were all found with in 2 months of each other, during a difficult time in our lives.