Wordless Wednesday (Sweet Summer Finale Edition)

As the second week of school gets underway here in Tallahassee, we say goodbye to summer with the Sweet Summer Finale of the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge.

I suppose I could look at the summer as something that started full of anticipation:

and ended up empty:

but I think it is just the opposite.

As a family, we started the summer with room for growth:

and were given so many flavorful moments, such as:

Turning 15 (Tenley) and 12 (Wayne):

Discovering a whole new country and its incredible people in Guatemala:

And remembering that the people (and animals!) who are right down the road are full of discoveries too:

It hasn't been the easiest of summers as we struggled with Wayne's continued job hunt after a downsizing; we definitely felt exposed as some of our protective shell was bitten away:

But as we say good-bye to summer, I know that we come out of it with memories for which to be grateful and the knowledge that so many people, in real life and in the blogosphere, are in our corner.

To all of you who made the summer fun, bearable, amazing, una gran aventura, and full of the knowledge that we have overflowing blessings, thank you -- you put the delicious finale on the summer of 2011:

 I am linking this Wordless Wednesday post up to the final Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge sponsored by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Alicia of Project Alicia. Thank you, Kristi and Alicia, for the time, heart, and passion you have put into this project. I have loved every minute (except for when I sliced my hand doing the "Refreshing" theme!) and cherished the opportunity to do something so "cool" when it was so blasted "hot" outside!

Wordless Wednesday (Not THAT Blue Sky Edition)

I found this week's Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge theme (blue skies) quite challenging. After all, each blogger is working with the same basic material:

Unfortunately, as I alluded to in Sunday's post, my son has spent way too much of this summer looking at someone else's engineered blue sky rather than the real thing:

I attempted a photo session for this theme that incorporated a kite and some of Tallahassee's beautiful blue skies. Unfortunately, mother nature did not get the memo and forgot to send even a whiff of wind (sigh). But Wayne and his friend Hunter still had a good time, and it was awesome to see them enjoying a blue sky that wasn't trapped behind a screen and manipulated with a joystick:

(Pictures taken at Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park)

I am linking this Wordless Wednesday post up to the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge sponsored by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Alicia of Project Alicia. This week's theme is "blue skies"! Next week's theme is "sweet summer finale" (and there are prizes!!).

Wordless Wednesday (Summer Pops Edition)

It's nice to give kids a few extra treats in the summertime,

But......when mom needs a summer treat for herself, she can...

Add lime zest:

Salt...

And some summer spirit(s) in the form of tequila and orange liqueur, to get...

Mom Treats!

The recipe for Margarita Pops came from Family Circle Magazine.

A few more images of my "Margarita Pop Fun" session:

Here's the recipe (click on it to enlarge):

I am linking this Wordless Wednesday post up to the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge sponsored by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Alicia of Project Alicia. This week's theme is "summer treats"! Next week's theme is "fun with friends."

Wordless Wednesday (Universal Bubble Fun Edition)

 Thank you, dear Guatemalan people in the Parque Central of Antigua, for relaxing by blowing bubbles! I was out of memory card space by this point, so grabbed this picture with my disposable camera:

and played around with it a bit on Picnik to come up with this:

Bubbles are fun, language barrier or no!

I am linking this Wordless Wednesday post up to the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge sponsored by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Alicia of Project Alicia. This week's theme is "bubbles"! Next week's theme is "summer treats."

Wordless Wednesday (Having a Ball Edition)

My sister-in-law Mary's house has given me great blogging material this summer! This beach ball got stuck in the waterfall flowing from her hot tub into the pool and it was mesmerizing watching it go round and round.

 I am easily amused.

I am linking this Wordless Wednesday post up to the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge sponsored by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Alicia of Project Alicia. This week's theme is "motion"! Next week's theme is "bubbles."

Wordless Wednesday (Lucky's Nap Edition)

Dog days of summer.........

I am linking this Wordless Wednesday post up to the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge sponsored by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Alicia of Project Alicia. This week's theme is "light"! Next week's theme is "patriotism."

Wordless Wednesday (Lake (Y)Ella Edition)

Tallahassee's Lake Ella is a popular downtown gathering spot.

When I visited Lake Ella to visit my friend Yoche, knowing she would have some photogenic yellow squash that would be perfect for "yellow" week of the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge, I found much more...such as a reminder to slow down and enjoy my walk:

Healthy Organically Grown Veggies from Artzi Vegetables:

Something pretty to wear:

And dessert:

Thank you, Lake (Y)Ella, for a treat of a day!



I am linking this Wordless Wednesday post up to the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge sponsored by Kristi of Live and Love Out Loud and Alicia of Project Alicia. This week's theme is "yellow"!