September 3, 2015

"Carpe month-em...


"Seize the day month"


"Seize the Day Month"
IPhone

...or something like that.  I'm referring to the month formerly known as August.  I stepped away from the camera (for the most part) AND the blogging (for the whole part), and stopped to smell the posies..and other things.


IPhone


Lots of happenings.  Lots of changes.  Lots of transitions to fit into 31 days.  The Canon appreciated the downtime too, as I relied mostly on my trusty IPhone to document the waning days of both summer AND my relatively full nest.  So many feathers, so little time to enjoy them. Thank you for putting up with my blogging absence.  Here's a quick peak at what I was up to.

First, I felt sorry for myself as I knew my "New Normal" of feathering an empty nest came crashing down upon me.  As I'm prone to do in these situations...I did my part to stimulate the economy.  I'm a patriot first and foremost, which means I rise above my personal feelings of despair to shop for shoes, manicures, alcoholic refreshments, and overall pampering with family and friends.



"Mama Got Herself Some New Shoes"
IPhone



"Pampering"
IPhone



"Brewed in Dublin, Drank in Ambler"
IPhone


Because mama needs new threads when she takes her two girls to Vegas to see Thing #3's "Mainstream Guilty Pleasure"...Britney.  Yeah, since we were gonna be there anyway I also managed to snag a room with a pretty good view to kill at the Bellagio AND tickets to see the Beatles' Cirque du Soleil "Love".  It was Thing #3's combo "Congrats you graduated High School/Please Don't Leave Me" present.


"Oops I Did It Again"
IPhone


I managed to sneak in a few moments with that OTHER favorite Brit of mine...Rod "Yes, I've told him lately that I love him" Stewart (I doubt he even notices me!).



"The Beating of my Heart"
Las Vegas, Nevada
IPhone



"Vegas Baby"
IPhone

Then I flew home.  Unpacked.  Did laundry.  And repacked for a wedding in Tahoe.  Never been there before.  Soooooo looking forward to it, and spending time with my "West Coast Posse" (more on Tahoe and Squaw Valley to come).  I left Thing #3 with instructions, "Make sure you are all packed up and ready to go to college upon my return".



"Squaw Valley Nuptuals"
IPhone



"Wedding Selfie"
Squaw Valley, California
NOT IPhone

(Wish I can take photo credit for this, but I can't.  Because my IPhone sucks and I had to rely on my friend and her Android to snag this shot.  FYI, as soon as I hit 'post' on this blog post, I'm off to stimulate the economy again...at the phone store).



"Say Chardonnay!"
IPhone



"One of These Things Is Not Like the Other"
IPhone
(Love my West Coast posse BUT...sometimes this East Coast girl kinda sticks out)


Oh...and those instructions I left for Thing #3 upon my departure for Tahoe?  You know, the whole "get packed and be ready to go to college" thang? Welcome home Mom!


"As Good As It Gets"
IPhone


And despite having all this crap necessary items, we STILL needed to venture to Target for one last run.  Which is when I discovered I have apparently been seriously underestimating the fun and creative opportunities my local Target can provide.



"Target Humor"
IPhone
(I can only take credit for the photo)


August 22, 2015.   The day forever known as "WTF Day".  The day it all fit into the car.  The day Thing #3 smiled a bit TOO happily.  The day my dogs realized  "Oh no....they are stuck with ME".  The day my youngest officially became part of the Penn State Family.  The day I began my "New Normal"...sans feathers in my  nest.



"It Fits, It Really REALLY Fits!"
IPhone



"No, the Dogs Can't Go"
IPhone



"Welcome Home"
State College, Pennsylvania
IPhone


And that my friends, is my "Carpe Month-em" in an IPhone nutshell.  Exhale.  And you know what? My empty nest ain't so bad.  Of course, I'm still cleaning the mess left behind.  The good news is I had NO IDEA something I clean around this house could STAY clean for as long as it has.  I might kinda grow to like this.  And, I might not have as many feathers in my nest these days...but sure as heck got a side-kick who just won't leave my side.  People let me tell ya 'bout my best friend...


"A Gal's Best Friend"
IPhone

I'm pretty sure he's feeling sorry for me a I navigate my New Normal.  But I'm just going to go ahead and...let him.






Here's where I "link up" today

(Join me on Tuesdays for Song-ography. Click on photo for a full description.)

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21 comments:

  1. NickiSeptember 3, 2015 at 1:13 PM

    I got 50/50 on the 'be packed and read': son: yes, daughter: never! These are entertaining - hope you enjoy your new phone. I had that experience with my iPhone 4 (or 4 something) - I am much happier with the 6+ and have truly used it more this year than my "real" camera.

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  2. OhmydearestsSeptember 3, 2015 at 1:31 PM

    You are TOO funny!

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  3. Tamar SBSeptember 3, 2015 at 1:50 PM

    You lived it up in August!!

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  4. likeschocolateSeptember 3, 2015 at 3:46 PM

    Awesome photos! Thanks for sharing! Have a great weekend!

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  5. MollySeptember 3, 2015 at 4:12 PM

    Sounds like you had an awesome month, despite the empty nest moments. I LOVE Vegas, I really hope to get back there one day.... and ohhhh those shoes. I found a beautiful red pair in DSW but sadly they did not have them in my size. This has been the 1st trip to Philly that I have not managed to purchase a new pair of heels... what a tragedy

    Mollyxxx

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  6. Claudia W | ImagesByCWSeptember 3, 2015 at 6:31 PM

    I agree with everybody else - sounds like you had an awesome month despite some major, maybe not all too back, changes. Still don't quite see what's wrong with you iPhone pictures, but I'm sure you'll be rocking the android /samsung soon enough. Looking forward to more photos of your new sidekick.
    Oh, and that shoe-thing - seems to run in the family - hahaha - and an awesome job on the great room with a view.

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    Replies
    1. KmcblackburnSeptember 3, 2015 at 8:02 PM

      Thanks! The Iphone is 8 megapixels and a 2.2 f-stop. The Samsung Galaxy is 16 megapixels and a 1.9 f-stop. I'm finding in any sort of low light situation my photos are so freakin' grainy. I REALLY noticed the difference in cameras during my trip to Tahoe. My gal pal had the Galaxy and WOW...what a difference.

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  7. RuthSeptember 3, 2015 at 7:25 PM

    I had so much fun reading this! Can think of a better way to recap the month.

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  8. Heather{Our Life In a Click}September 3, 2015 at 8:49 PM

    I think I need to get a dog for when this happens to me! What a fabulous month! (and tough too!)

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  9. abriannaSeptember 4, 2015 at 1:46 AM

    My favorite picture is the one of your Blessing on the chaise lounge by the window in Vegas. I went to school about 45 minutes from Penn State-over the mountains.

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  10. NCSueSeptember 4, 2015 at 5:28 AM

    Isn't it amazing how much the quality of phone photos has improved? You got some great shots!
    I hope you'll come link up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/08/strange-visitors-in-garden.html

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  11. Budget Travel TalkSeptember 4, 2015 at 8:32 AM

    Our daughter just left home too. It took us 3 cars, one trailer and about 4 trips AND her two rooms at our place are still littered with rubbish (of hers) blu tack (who invented it) stuck everywhere. Our nest may be empty but it still looks lived in lol. Loved your humour and iphone photos.

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  12. BrandiSeptember 4, 2015 at 10:43 AM

    I agree, can't get the iphone to impress me. I'm almost ready to upgrade...the boys of the family have Samsung and I'm jealous. Looks like a pretty spectacular month!!

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  13. Michele {Malaysian Meanders}September 4, 2015 at 12:32 PM

    What a busy August. I have trouble getting my teen packed and off for a week of camp, so I'm not sure how I'll be in a few years when he's off to college. I love those shoes, that skirt in the first photo, and that incredible Vegas hotel view. I wonder what September will bring you?

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  14. Hootin AnniSeptember 4, 2015 at 12:33 PM

    I saw Rod Stewart in Person....and he is sooooooooooooooooo sweet. Ya, baby!!! "The Rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum!!!!"

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  15. Kim Cunningham September 4, 2015 at 4:48 PM

    Great month! And that Rod is quite the entertainer. Lucky you!

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  16. DeannaSeptember 4, 2015 at 5:06 PM

    Looks like a full month with a lot of joy and laughter captured by the I-Phone!!

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  17. Mitzi September 5, 2015 at 9:48 AM

    Kathy, I absolutely loved your re-cap of your month! The photos are all absolutely spectacular! As far as the new normal goes...it's not all that bad once you get adjusted to it.

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  18. Out And About GlobalSeptember 5, 2015 at 3:49 PM

    Love so many things about this post--The messy room, the car full of stuff (thank heavens my dad keeps a truck in Utah!), and the sadness of one empty chair at the dining room table Dropping my daughter off at school was HEART BREAKING, but we are adjusting.

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  19. EricaStaSeptember 6, 2015 at 7:27 AM

    Yes, I enjoyed this Post.... Found you at PiercedWondering :)

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  20. IdaSeptember 7, 2015 at 6:49 PM

    Whew....I think you'll need the month of September to recover from August! - Wow there was a lot going on for sure and you are a snazzy dresser (those shoes were to die for cute) but if I wore them I'd probably "die" since I run around mainly in flip-flops or tennis shoes anymore. Vegas sounded and looked fun and I just loved the shot of you with Rod Stewart.

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