Everyday Images #44

Welcome to another installment of my challenge and reminder to myself to take photos somewhat regularly. I'm not a photographer, but I enjoy taking everyday photos of things I find interesting or want to remember later, and I find that I notice interesting things when I'm intentionally watching for them. Having some prompts that are open to interpretation has helped me pay a little more attention to what's around me. Every two weeks I have a few words and phrases that I'm focusing on, and I try to find opportunities to take pictures of these things each week. These were the prompts I assigned myself for the past couple weeks:

August/September Prompts - Everyday Images #44

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at home (monthly)

selfie (quarterly)

warning

sunrise and/or sunset

clean

grow

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at home (monthly)

selfie (quarterly) - I promise I wasn't grouchy when I took this selfie, just kind of in a hurry to get it done!

warning

sunrise and/or sunset - I had to revisit this prompt when I had a better chance of seeing the rising and setting sun. I'm missing the sunrise these days because it rises before I leave the house and I don't have an eastern view from home. I had a few sunset photos to pick from though.

clean

grow

I'm also participating in the Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt hosted by This West London Life, so some of these photos may reappear on my posts with scavenger hunt finds.

A few more bonus photos:

We were greatly saddened to hear that Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were struck by a driver and killed, and the day before their sister's wedding too. Tragic. RIP Johnny Hockey.

We went to the ZucchiniFest in Obetz one weekend.

This feather momentarily fooled me into thinking it was little moth or bug, so I figured why not take a photo?

Columbus Clippers game:

We went to the Greek Festival and I took a few photos while touring the beautiful Greek Orthodox cathedral.

Picking out a planter or two for the season:

I am sharing my photos every other Tuesday, along with my prompts for the next two weeks. You can use all or some of the prompts for your own photo posts, or none of the prompts and just link up a post featuring your photos. Simple rules: Your posts must be family-friendly; the photos must be your own; and the post must be mostly photos. If you do share I'd appreciate a mention and link to A Fresh Cup of Coffee on your post.

Everyday Images continues in 2024, every other Tuesday. And on the alternate Tuesdays, I'm hosting the Twenty-Six Lists link-up. I'd love to have you join me for that too!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

September Prompts - Everyday Images #45

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technology

sparkle

weather (quarterly)

forward

chaos and/or order

logo

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©2006-2024 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

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A Moment's Peace

 Share Our Lives 2024 is a monthly link-up to share aspects of our daily lives with each other. It hasn't worked out for me to share in this link-up for the past several months, but I'm going to take a few minutes to participate this time, as we discuss how we find peace in our day.

When my children were very young, I remember many days wishing I could just have a bit more of a break from being "on the clock" at all times. I think that's a common thread for moms of little ones - wanting and needing just a moment of peace. I also remember telling myself that when the kids were older I would have a little more time to myself, and while I may have been able to trust them unsupervised, life didn't get less busy! And it stayed busy even when they were all able to drive, and were finished school and could look after themselves. Turns out there were just other things to keep me busy, and yes, often still craving just a moment's peace.

The first months of living in our empty nest apartment were quiet and might have been considered peaceful, except that I was lonely and bored and lacked purpose, and it didn't feel peaceful at all. So peace isn't just having time alone with no one bugging you. Isolation isn't peaceful! Not always, anyway.

These days I don't have a houseful of people, but I'm working full time and it still feels like there is more on the to-do list than I have time or energy to manage. My strategies for finding a bit of peace and respite haven't changed a lot though.

I've found that when I start the day right, it goes a long way towards setting the tone for the rest of the day, no matter how busy it is. So I do my best to allow enough time to get ready for the day without feeling rushed and I take a couple of minutes to have a cup of coffee, and to listen to a devotional (I use and really like the app First 15).

Listening to some favorite music is a good de-stresser and if I really need to slow down and breathe, I choose worship music or classical music.

I've structured my workday so that I have only a half hour for lunch, which is not enough time to go for a walk or to a park, since there isn't a place right next door. That's fine because I'm seldom tempted to go out for lunch. I take a lunch and unplug everything and read while I eat. Even if I stay in my office during that time. If the weather is nice, I prefer to go to the break room and have lunch on the adjacent patio.

How often we do it varies from week to week, but my husband and I try to go for walks regularly. Getting a little exercise and fresh air and sunshine is obviously a very good thing in so many ways! We talk instead of staring at a screen, which is also good for us. We're lucky to have a couple of good walking trails right here where we live, and plenty of other trails that are just a short drive away.

I usually end the day sort of how I begin. With a cup of coffee and a bit of time at the computer or with a book. 

This post will be linked up with the Share Our Lives 2024 Link-up hosted by Adrienne, Dara, Jen, Joanne, and Sarah.

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 ©2006-2024 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

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Scripture and a Snapshot - The Foundation

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

love and faithfulness go before you.

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,

who walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

They rejoice in your name all day long;

they celebrate your righteousness.

For you are their glory and strength,

and by your favor you exalt our horn.

~Psalm 89:14-17~

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Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a Snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links and bless each other with comments.

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I also link up at the Sweet Tea & Friends Monthly Link-up Party hosted by Grace-Filled Moments

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©2006-2024 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

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Currently . . . September 7, 2024

At the beginning of each month I've been participating in the "Currently" link-up hosted at Overflowing With Thankfulness. Our hostess Jennifer posts a set of action verb prompts for the month and writers respond. So, without further ado, here are this month's prompts and what's happening currently . . .

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Loving - Things I'm loving right now include:

The weather! The days are warm but not uncomfortably hot or humid, and it cools off at night. We have gone a long time without rain though, so that's the one downside. 

Some really good food! We went to a Greek festival last weekend and savored some of our favorites: pastitsio, spanakopita, tyropita, and souvlaki. And of course, baklava! I love baklava. We brought home a sampler box of baklava and other cookies and pastries. What a treat! I think I need to work on my Greek-inspired culinary skills so I can make more of these things myself. (Although I didn't take any photos of the food, I did take a couple photos in the cathedral on our tour.)

Looking forward to - a haircut! I really need one and I've got to get it done on the weekend. 

Also looking forward to the SVC show coming up. My daughter and her boyfriend are visiting for that, so that just adds to the excitement! If you're in central Ohio and are interested in barbershop singing, please check out our website for more info and the link to buy tickets to our show on September 14th: 

Scioto Valley Chorus. 

Smelling - We haven't been regularly burning candles or even remembering to turn on the wax warmers yet, but that will happen more often as fall progresses. We found a Roasted Coffee scented jar candle at Bob Evans last year which is a favorite. I hope they still sell those ones because I need another.

Weirdly, I've been noticing the paint smells at work a lot lately, like every time I step out of my office. I'm not sure whether I'm just noticing it more or if something is different where they mix the paint and stuff. 

Watching - baseball more often than TV. We have tickets to a couple of Clippers game this week, and as it gets closer to playoff season, we're starting to pay slightly more attention to the standings and scores. Slightly. Of course, our MLB team, the Blue Jays, is out of contention, but the Orioles and Guardians are at the top of their divisions so that might keep us interested. Hockey season will be underway soon and we have a share in Blue Jackets season tickets so we will definitely be watching hockey soon!

(And missing the amazing Johnny Gaudreau. 💔)

RIP Johnny and Matthew

Admiring - some beautiful sunsets, bluer than blue skies, and the little hints of color on leaves here and there that lets me know fall is coming! 

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Here's a very abbreviated version of the Coffee Break Reading list . . . 

Reading - currently reading these:

Sisters of Fortune by Anna Lee Huber

Blood of Adam by Rachel S. Neal

 

More reading news and recent reviews are at Just A Second.

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Quotable (I've enjoyed hunting up little quotes to add to my Five Minute Friday posts, and I do a regular Wednesday Quotes post based on interesting quotes, but I've still got such a collection that I have to keep sharing them!):

The fog makes some people lose their perspective, and for others it only wraps with a great kindness the whole world and blots out all ugliness. ~Almira Bailey

Strange to see how a good dinner and feasting reconciles everybody. ~Samuel Pepys

Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese. ~G.K. Chesterton

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Some fun things I've found during coffee breaks:

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What's currently happening in your life? Leave a comment and let me know! 

This post will be linked at this month's edition of "Currently" hosted by Overflowing With Thankfulness. 

 Don't miss a coffee break! Subscribe to A Fresh Cup of Coffee by email. 

 ©2006-2024 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation. 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.