My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean

Feeling Trapped

2012-01-28T12:17:00.001-05:00

No, not me. I am not feeling trapped, well not today anyway.

After picking up my daughter from a sleepover, I decided to take the long way home. Up and around the mountain, hoping for a couple of shots of the fog sitting on top of the trees. I got that, check it out.

What I did not know was there were two rather curious and quite friendly horses across the street who were interested in finding out why I was there.

Check it out, Horses in Winter.

Foggy, cold and wet was just the weather needed for building a fast relationship between us. Walking over to us, the white horse was careful to watch his steps, ready to find out why I was there...the brown horse was less trusting...almost knowing why he didn't want to get too close.

White's cataract covered blue eyes spoke a lifetime of stories to me. His white coat, covered in blue with buckles down the front was trapping the warmth of his body in, like his stories. I kept the blanket in the last photograph (probably my favorite of him). It seems to tell his story, maybe a little too familiar for me...

Sometimes

2012-01-24T11:00:00.001-05:00

Sometimes words are not enough, ya need a little music too.

Gary Clark Jr. plays an amazing guitar....

It has to start somewhere...

2012-01-20T10:18:00.001-05:00

...this morning it was a commitment to do something I LOVE everyday. Today's LOVE is a photograph with the sun in it. I have a few, you can see them all in my 2012 Winter album.

I am reading Maryanne Radmacher's "Live with Intention". What a great resource for reminding ourselves to stop the noise in our heads and going on all around us and attempt to remember what makes us glow. I love the idea of the glow brought on by taking photos in the sunlight.

I climbed over a snow bank in boots and yoga pants for a shot of the bench...it was cold! I chased the light this morning...the cold chased me back to my house for my snowshoes and gloves. Headed back out for the shot of the tree with the red, white and blue. Love it!

Today was a reminder to make time for friends (call Abbie), do something I love (light)and try something new (shot on A with f/25)!

It's almost like starting a diet...ha...it's gotta start somewhere!

~B

Crossing Over

2012-01-15T00:44:00.003-05:00

In meiosis, crossing over is when the exchange of genetic material takes place. A little from each parent chromosome is given to the new offspring...creating an entire new set of genes...supporting the idea that life goes on.

Taking a chance on road conditions, I headed for North Conway and I crossed over the Kancamangus highway today. The road was slippery, but manageable. The trees white and their branches heavy from recent snowfall. I parked at one of my favorite overlooks that happened to be plowed enough to pull in...music too loud for company, camera in hand, I had a minute alone with my past life...the single, adventurous, not a care in the world life...and all of a sudden I was overcome with a combination of excitement, pride, joy.

I could feel my past life...(the one I created before I was married) looking at my life now...and I could actually feel as if that life, that single life was proud of the life that is in front of me. I have made mistakes, I will make more. I have loved, I have lost, I will love again...I have no regrets.

It is funny how this crossing over the Kanc parallels where I am today. At times the road to my destination is steep, seemingly unmanageable...but still, in all of it, I manage to find the power to realign to the center.

Happy Almost New Year!

2011-12-31T10:09:00.000-05:00

I am sooo, sooo, sooo ready for 2012. I am totally looking forward to starting new projects, enjoying more of my creative side and participating in the transformation...

Butterflies morph, why can't I?

I am gonna fly, fly, fly!

2011-07-22T11:41:00.000-04:00

I really wish I had started telling you about my current adventure sooner. I have been on the road with my dog and two children for nearly three weeks. I packed up in New Hampshire and began a month long journey along the east coast...NH to South Florida. The furthest we have gotten is Hialeah, Florida, my birthplace. While it felt like being in another country at times, it was incredible how much I things can change...and still remain the same. My love for the hispanic culture is unchanged, my memories remain a constant and I hope I instill the love of a multicultural society is passed on to my children.

A little bit about our trip: Our first day of travel was filled with about three hours of traffic in Philadelphia, Delaware and of course Maryland. We sat about 9 miles from our destination and it took more than an hour to get there! My kids were great as they were plugged into their new Nintendo DS from Amazon. My younger child is not yet reading, yet amazed me how well he can operate his handheld DS lite. The reading 1st grader found her DSi's photo and video options a feature she cannot live without!

We made our was to DC in about 14 hours. Luckily we had no real time frame to complete our travels in and ended up staying in DC with a friend for three nights. During the afternoon of our second day, we headed out to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Check our photos in my gallery.

A couple of things I love about DC: Free stuff! Did you know all of the "National" museums are free? Parking might be an issue, so go early or go after lunch when the buses clear out and people are heading off to lunch. Bring some snacks in a cooler you can leave in the car and have a picnic on the mall under the trees. Even if it is hot, you can still beat the heat! Leave the cooler in the car? I know, but you will not be able to bring it inside the musuems with you due to security regulations.

That's all I have for now, I promise to share some photos of the second leg of our journey....soon!

Taking time to reflect

2011-05-27T23:01:00.000-04:00

Seems there is not enough hours in my day to reflect on what I have done. Instead, I think I find myself worrying about all the stuff left undone! I took a little time to night to play with some shots from the past 5 or so months...it helps me remember that we are accomplishing a pretty well rounded life with a little bit of fun mixed in!

With the exception of the pottery shots, all were taken with my Nikon D90. Of course a few are cropped and tweaked a little bit, thanks to Picasa 3. I have not gotten around to purchase Lightroom, I am still using my free trials of all the Adobe picture software until I make a decision. So far, I like Lightroom 3 the best...easy to use and lots of online "how to" videos.

Enjoy the photos. Remember take time to reflect...

Teachers Looking for Jobs

2011-05-19T21:07:00.001-04:00

It is in the news in nearly every state in America: Teachers not being given contracts for the new school year. Scary times when our districts have to cut positions and not ask our much needed teachers back fulltime for the following school year. I was lucky enough to be asked back each year in my former brick and mortar school district. I was also lucky enough to request a child rearing leave for the school year. When my year was up, I decided not to return full time. The high school never filled my position.

It just so happens that I was lucky, fortunate, and smart enough to think ahead. I created a vision board of sorts and believed that I would one day be a work from home mom where I actually earned a real income and no longer needed full time day care. I have managed to do just that with my current teaching gig. I am 100% a telecommuter, virtual, online high school Science teacher. Lucky me!

If you are interested in the virtual field of education, I highly recommend starting with the basics: How to Succeed as an Online Facilitator
I read this article back when I first considered teaching online, before the birth of my first child six years ago. It offers valuable insight when considering the change from brick and mortar to online.

Dealing with Today

2011-05-18T23:40:00.002-04:00

Today ordinary day. Just like all the others, happens to stand in the middle of the week and well, quite frankly...gets in the way of me getting to my weekend.

Got my new Tokina Ultrawide Lens off of Amazon this past weekend. From what I understand, it will be my "prime" lens as it has one focal length: wide. I plan to explore its full potential this weekend when I am home in Florida. Funny, I cannot think of one thing to take photos of. Maybe I will hit the train station. Amazing place to people watch and listen...even smell. Hotdogs, trains and passengers...all with their own unique journey ahead of them.

My weekend is not a weekend of leisure. Endarterectomy. Say that three times fast. I have been doing just that as my father prepares for his second. It is a pretty crazy procedure performed on a clogged artery. It is dangerous, the prognosis is good and it saves lives. Just another reminder that a healthy diet, exercise and happy life are the prescription to prevent my own Endarterectomy.

Decision Making

2011-05-18T23:31:00.000-04:00

Are you one of those people who thinks on your feet? Likes the excitement of coming up with an idea on the fly and going for it?

I am. I am proud of it too.

As a high school teacher you have got to be. All of those faces staring at you while you fumble for a word to conclude your lecture...or the kid making a scene in the back and figuring out how to handle it without losing your cool. Characteristics of a teacher.

National Teacher Appreciation day is today. A glorious day indeed as it reminds me that while I may not have all the answers to all the problems in the world, I can use the tools God gave me to do some good in the world. I no longer work in a traditional brick and mortar classroom, I am a "virtual" teacher.

I am part of a growing population of teachers who have become part of the pyramid of learning: student, teacher, parent. The three of us are a team and can conquer any task together. I am a better listener, teacher and all around person because now I truly know my students and how and why they do what they do in the classroom.