It's the annual, "...time to help unpack..." the Christmas ornaments.  Sad to say, these are not my ornaments.

One of my Mother-In-Law's passion is collecting Christmas ornaments.  Last year, I photographed dozens of her ornaments.  This year, I needed to choose only a few (out of HUNDREDS)...

Well, it's "...another trip around the sun..." and I sit here wondering what I should be thankful for.

When the boardwalk (which I use to take my sunrise, sunset and nature photos) was in the construction phase, I complained and complained and complained and complained until I could not possibly complain anymore.  We lost our 30 year old Japanese Maple (Red Bloodgood) tree,


we lost several feet of our "easement",


the new "bike path" increased the people traffic around our home and the list went on.

We complained to the engineer, we complained to the village office and, of course, once approved there really was little we could do to change the plans.

For several years, I avoided the boardwalk.

I learned that things happen for a reason.  Without the boardwalk, I wouldn't have this to enjoy...


How did my photography started?  Twilight.  :D  That story is for another time (oops, I digressed).

So on the start of my next "...trip around the sun...", I need to remember that "...things happen for a reason..." and when that reason happens, it will make sense and my world will be a little brighter.  In the meantime, I need to learn more patience.

On this day (my birthday a.k.a. another trip around the sun), I will forever be greatful for an amazing family, wonderful friends and another sunrise to enjoy :D.

For the past 20 years, 7th row Center Ice behind the players' benches is about as close to hockey heaven as I can get.

When the opportunity came to go to the Red Wings v. Stars game, I just couldn't give up the tickets.  When I found out where the tickets were located (Section 226b, Row 13, Seats 11 and 12), I needed to remind myself to make the best of what I have.

It was a spectacular view!


It's all a matter of perspective...

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Did I mention my favorite color is blue?

As I was organizing all the baby items in our home to hand it over to another generation, I came across our children's baptismal gowns.

Passed down through three generations, this gown was last used (thirteen years ago) by my daughter, before that her cousin Jamie and decades earlier, it was used by her Aunt Tracey and Aunt Kim.

Over two generations, Ryan was the last to wear this suit (seven years ago) and decades earlier Ryan's father/my husband used it at his baptismal:
It's comforting to have such a constant...something passed down from one generation to another in the hopes that the fabric will last for the next several generations.

Now to find those 35mm negatives/photos with our children in the gown and suit...

With the air temperature hovering in the upper 50's and the sun shining, we couldn't have asked for a more perfect Fall day in downtown Detroit.

Dinner in Greektown and a Red Wings game. 

Red Wings won 5 - 2.  A great win for a perfect night out on the town.

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Some wonder why would I go out for a walk at 7:30a on a Saturday morning when the air temperature is 32 degrees?  The one day a week I could possibly sleep in?

I was given another chance to see a sunrise and I hope I am able to see the end of the day's sunset.  There are many individuals who will no longer see what I see.  My father is one of those individuals (may God rest his soul).

My mother's eye-sight is failing (in her prime, she was an amazing seamstress) and her hearing nearly gone.  She gives me the reason to be thankful that I am able to still see and hear at 100%.

It is also my quiet time to re-charge and to watch Nature's innocence and to appreciate what I have around me.  :D  It's just 45 minutes out of my 24-hour day.

This is my one morning a week that I stop the "To Do" lists, I stop my cleaning, I stop my laundry and I stop rushing through the morning.

I'm sure friends and neighbors pass by this view every day on their way to work or running errands.

Enjoy what I see.  :D

I had a friend say that he doesn't have my lakeview.  Well, what about the tree at the corner?  A tree is just as beautiful.  I never thought my lakeview was beautiful until I had a camera in my hand.  Before my newly found hobby, I thought my lakeview was just a bunch of trees in water.

I never thought a dragonfly sitting on our patio table or an ant on a dandelion was ever interesting.  A dandelion....that yellow, annoying weed that used to make me cringe every spring...

Now I look forward to every day wondering what other interesting subject I can find.  :D


Now I look forward to every winter (amazing I can say this when I'm originally from Hawaii) when I can challenge myself to find the perfect snowflake.

Or the perfect photo in sub-zero, snowy weather....