What Dreams May Come

I rarely remember my dreams.  But the other night I do remember that I dreamed I was on a boat, a huge cruise type boat.  The captain was yelling at everyone to grab an oar because we needed to row home.  The only thing that I could find was a roll of toilet paper.  But the captain kept yelling, "Row!"  Then I woke up.  Wish I knew what it meant because they say your dreams have meanings.  Like, if you dream you are being chased it means that you are feeling threatened by someone or some emotion.  I checked my cabinets, I have plenty of toilet paper.  

Photos can represent dreams in so many ways.  By the subject, the composition, the post processing.  An image can be surreal or ethereal, and therefore be dream like.  I love images that take me away, make me wonder what's going on in that world.  I want to put my ear to the picture and hear the sounds.  What dreamy images do you have or can you create?  Do you remember your dreams and can you represent one in a photo?  Or maybe someone is dreaming.  Come on, spill the dreams here. 

 

This guest post comes our way from the lovely Melody of HipMomma's Journal.

 

adventures near and far

At this very moment my family and I are far from home enjoying a new landscape and discovering uncharted surroundings on our first adventure of the summer. But alas, you all know full well that you don't have to travel to find wonders both big and small.

This is the last week of our month long Sundays at Home series. Truth be told, I hate to see it go. Perhaps it will be something we decide to bring back time and again. What do you think?

In the meantime, go ahead an leave your comments here for your shot at the last random drawing to win the book America and Home (custom cover and all). And be sure to leave us a link to some kind of wonderful discovery you made at home. Magic is everywhere and you don't even have to leave home to find it. Show us what's going on at your place.

Congrats to Maine Momma Kristen who was the winner of last week's drawing.

Iconic Summer

We just got back from a week of traveling across the midwest to visit with our closest friends and family. Our trip included every favorite summer activity imaginable including camping, barbecuing, playing baseball, going to the beach, dining al fresco and spending time with friends. One of our stops along the way was a two day camping trip with our good friends and their two daughters. We spent our days chatting by the fire, throwing a Frisbee, and completely relaxing. There's nothing like watching two little girls experiencing summer at it's finest, unknowingly living the memories that they will look back on fondly. I've never seen pure and utter bliss like I did when the girls bit into those s'mores. I grabbed my camera and as I clicked away they didn't even know I was there. It's like they were in a s'more trance. To me, the image above represents summer.

Which photo represents your idea of the perfect summer? 

The Things We Hold

 She had just turned forty, her seventh baby tied to her back.  Her hands were worn from tilling fields in her husband's absence.  I saw weariness in her eyes, but also an unexpected kind of peace.  For every hardship, every year she felt overwhelmed or forgotten, the kindness of simple things remained--like the way a baby's foot feels in the deep hollow of your hand.

 What kind of goodness have you discovered lately in somebody's hands?  Or better yet, show us what you are holding in awe and wonder these days.   Leave us links to your hands or another's in the comments below.

Love Thursday: Somebody Loved

I'm writing this Love Thursday post from my studio in the attic while The Weepies and my daughter Madeleine keep me good company.  We can't stop listening to "Somebody Loved."  Do you know it?  Here are a few of my favorite lines:

Now my feet turn the corner back home
Sun turns the evening to rose
Stars turning high up above
You turn me into
You turn me into
You turn me into somebody loved

What is it about the sweet companionship of another dear soul that transforms you into somebody loved?  It can happen in an instant--the unexpected smile of your favorite baby, the confidence of a much needed sage, the quiet admiration of a little brother--and before you know it your soul fills up with the knowledge your presence matters.

This Love Thursday I hope you are surprised by all the ways kindness is turning you into somebody loved--I can't wait to see your images.  And if you feel lost today on the road to love, don't despair.  Your eye through the viewfinder will remind you love is all around you, that all the love you need is coming your way, sooner than you think.