Category Archives: photography favorites

Summer Photos 2026

Summer of 2026 is quickly coming to a close as Fall makes an appearance tomorrow.

This past summer has been a bit different for me as I have transitioned from active cancer treatment to a new medication phase for the next 5 years. As a result of that transition, this new medication has impacted my body systems in ways I never anticipated.

My focus shifted significantly earlier this summer, towards finding solutions to these new ongoing issues, keeping the road well travelled to Winston Salem in the Summer of 2026.

The good news… Progress has been made in regard to finding a new day to day normal for me. Sleep has resumed to a more normal, stable condition. I’m extremely thankful for small, but necessary changes in the Summer of 2026.

Thank you for all of your prayers and continued support. It means the world to me 💕.

I feel like I have devoted less time capturing the day to day photos of summer. As you view these shared 2026 Summer Memories, I hope you will enjoy them and find a bit of inspiration in the ordinary things that we often take for granted. Finding Joy in the Ordinary Things.

I’m finding my ordinary life, extraordinary these days. Taking time to enjoy the simplicity of my daily routine and being simply being home. Here’s to the Summer of finding Joy in the ordinary days.

After the Rain

Rain refreshes the Earth from the dry, humid days of a Southern summer… Offering a pause to the intense heat. Rain brings growth to a garden. A Summer ordinary event made extraordinary by its own creation.

Summer Blues

The first glimpse of the mountains from 421 from two different trips… always looks uniquely different based on the weather

The colors of summer seem to hit a bit differently. The beautiful hues of blue dominate our skies each day. The hues of blue along the Blue Ridge Mountains, are a staple of our daily existence looming off in the not so far distance, offering an extraordinary view which is seemingly ordinary to us.

Sunrises and Sunsets of Summer: Ordinary Days at Home

I often step out on my back porch each morning to catch the first glimpse of the new, beginning day. An ordinary daily routine, with extraordinary results, captivated by a new sunrise each morning.

In the Garden

Purple sweet potatoes growing, a fantastic cancer fighting food!
Watermelon growing…
Angel Trumpet blooms in morning sunlight

In the Blue Zones, gardening is a way that people grow necessities, and it creates gentle, daily movements that have allowed them to live healthier, longer lives. Ordinary people completing a daily routine task, with an extraordinary outcome, longevity.

Hot Summer Days

Movie fun in the summertime… popcorn 🍿 is a must!

The heat of summer can be experienced in different ways. Visually you can see the heat from the morning sunrises or viewing the full moon in midst of a humid night. So how do you balance the summer heat? Find a cool place to be, it could be watching a movie 🍿 with friends or family. OR sitting and enjoying the cool breeze of an open doorway. Ordinary living becomes extraordinary in the heat of summertime.

Footnote from me… As October approaches, Ladies, don’t forget to schedule your yearly mammogram appointment IF you haven’t already scheduled it yet. My breast cancer was found during a routine mammogram last November. Sadly, more friends are being diagnosed each day. Pray for them as they fight to resume their ordinary days in a new, profoundly different way.

Everyone included, not just ladies here, know your cancer risk factors and advocate for your health! Do not be afraid to ask questions and go seek answers from your health care team.

I’m currently scheduled for my next round of scans in early November. Thank you for all of your prayers and continued support. It means the world to me💕.

Winter 2025- 2026 Photography

Winter of 2025-26 has been very eventful with my official breast cancer diagnosis in early December. Several of my December days were filled with appointments, making many trips to Winston Salem. Then came January… Surgery, recovery, and radiation all during the remaining winter months.

I did find time to snap a few pictures that I loved in this unique season of my life and compiled for a Winter memory album. Photography is an outlet for not only creativity, but the beauty that comes to my mind as I go about my daily activities, essential for hope and a great force in cancer recovery. All of these captures are from right here in our beautiful home, Wilkes County.

I hope you will enjoy these pictures as much as I have in a winter season filled with challenges, hope for healing and yet grace abounded in the winter season of 2025-2026.

I personally enjoy the winter season in regard to photography, the contrast of the starkness of barren trees with the vibrant colors of sunrise. I have organized this blog so that you can witness the evolution of the winter with a glimpse into each month of the winter season.

Thanks for supporting my blog and I deeply appreciate all of your prayers.

Clear December Skies
Hope Abounds…December morning sunrise taken about a week after my cancer diagnosis… I now view the pink skies as a beautiful sign of HOPE.
Perfection!!! Last Sunrise of 2025
Happy New Year!!! The First 2026 Sunrise
January Rainbow Sunrise
Snowy January Morning
The Hope of Spring
Evergreen Glory
January Sunset over the Mountains
A Rainbow of Colors in Evening Sky
Good Night Y’all
Good Morning Blue Ridge!
Foggy February Winter Morning
March Skies
March Morning Glow
Hope Reigns in the March Pink Skies
Muted March Skies
Blue Skies Ahead
Stormy March Morning… Thunder Rolls
March Storm Cloud Watch… Black and White
Good Morning!!
March Red Sky in Morning

March is in Bloom… The Hope of Spring

March Yellow Daffodils
Another cute little Buttercup
Lenten Rose beginning to blossom
Forsythia

Pup Interlude…

Cookie posing for the camera 📷
My little sunshine seeker… Joy
Jethro… morning nap time
Our sweet little crew of pups… Cookie, Joy and Jethro (Ro)

Seasons of Change

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.” —Ecclesiastes

The four seasons… Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter are all marked a significant changes in how we interact with the Earth. Each season is uniquely beautiful and transformative. The never ending cycle of nature adjusting to each distinctive season.

Daffodils are one of the first to bloom in Spring, bringing our landscape back into full color.

When the seasons begin to change, so do the needs of our loyal shoppers… each of the four seasons can bring a small shift of seasonal sales. Spring begins the lawn and garden season. Summer shopping is marked by a large demand of pool chemicals, and lawn and garden products.

Flowers are in abundance during the Summer season

Fall hardware store shopping centers around the demands of preparing for cooler weather, our customers are looking for stove pipe, wood stove maintenance products, rakes, and more!

Colorful Days of Fall

Winter, the cold months, our customers need kerosene heater maintenance, heating essentials, and Christmas gifts!!! Each of the four seasons keeps us busy with ongoing orders, and resets of seasonal supplies. We shift with each unique season.

Winter can bring cold temperatures and snow!

This reflection on the four unique seasons brought to mind the different “Seasons of Life”. We shift from season to season. I believe AGE is not necessarily a factor in these shifts in the different seasons of life.

The beauty of Fall Colors

I began to dwell on the changing of the seasons as we head into a new season, Winter.

Don’t we go through each of the four seasons as we age, possibly over and over again depending on the circumstances of your personal situation?? Hmmm… our lives are seasonal??? Can you imagine which season you are currently living through right now?

Spring… New Beginnings

Spring as a living season is full of renewal, change, new growth, and planting. This season is marked with new beginnings… like purchasing a new home, getting married, falling in love again, beginning a family, a new career, the list is long!!! Feeling of hope abounds in the Spring season.

Summer…Take A Risk and Splash In

Summer is a time of warmer days, time feels endless. The phase can bring more growth opportunities, whereas, harvesting your hard work from the Spring season. Taking risks becomes easier, pushing harder outside comfort zone. Motivation is key.

Fall.. Reflecting

Fall is a time to reflect. Reflection brings the opportunity to learn from mistakes, making plans for next phase, adjusting goals, noticing change, and simply enjoying the beauty around you, practicing gratitude for all things in your life.

Winter… Rest and Recharge

Winter brings rest. Winter is a time to recharge your batteries. If you are in the winter season, you might be experiencing sickness, or grief. With the “stillness” of the winter season, it can often bring clarity or wisdom (looking back and having peace) from earlier seasons previously journeyed through.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” —Ecclesiastes

Whatever season you find yourself in life’s journey, relish it. If you are currently feeling the depths of the winter season, spring will come.

Footnote: I often begin writing pieces for my blog months prior to publication.

This specific blog piece I began writing and processing prior to finding out about my diagnosis of Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer.

After reflecting on this blog piece, I’m currently in “winter”, looking forward to seeing “spring”.

Whatever season you find yourself in right now, please know that seasons change and each will not last forever. “When your heart is tired, and your spirit is worn, remember God is your rest. He will renew your strength and carry you through the storm.” Isaiah 40:29

Fall Y’all

Last of the season flowers…

From the last of the summer blooms to the changing of the leaves… Fall is Here! The Fall season brings apple and pumpkin season, gentle breezes and the solitary tune of the wind chimes. Fall hints at cooler temperatures, the changing of the sun cycle bringing less daylight creating a colorful change in nature through leaves turning and falling, crunching under foot. The vibrant colors that light the morning and evening skies… Autumn has arrived. As we head into the holiday season, here’s to celebrating Fall ONE last time.

Apples are in Season!
Time for pumpkins!!

October Skies… Simply Amazing

Changing of the Leaves

Leafy Carpet
Blown Away
The Vibrancy of Fall
Light filtering through
Majestic Colors
Stumped
Look Up and Enjoy the View
A Sneak Peak of Fall
In Full Color
Autumn’s Glory
Fall Magic
The Glory Days of Autumn
Finding the Colors of Fall
A Walk in the Woods
Jethro is enjoying the Leaves everywhere
Where the Leaves Meet the Water
Peaceful Retreat
Fall Making a Splash
Fall Serenity
Rainy Autumn Days
Plentiful Acorns
Abundance of Berries
A Quiet Place

Thankful for the opportunity to enjoy another beautiful Fall season! 🍂🍁 Thank you for reading and sharing.

Summer Photography 2025

It is so hard to believe that the Summer of 2025 is coming to an end soon! This blog post is devoted to my photography favorites from this Summer as a reminder of some of my treasured moments. I hope that you will enjoy these photos that I have complied as the Best of Summer in photographic form… a “love story” of Summer.

Life is Always Better In The Garden…

First Blooms of Summer
Bursting Open
Searching for the Sun
Flower Tower Power!!! “Heavy Metal” Project
The garden table
Daisy Show
Butterfly 🦋 Moment
Double Butterflies 🦋

Summer Snapshots…

Blue Skies Ahead
Summer Hay Season
Storm Clouds Rolling
Darkened Storm Sky
Good Day Sunshine!
Sleepy Sunrise
Summertime Color Show
Summer Morning Hues
Clementine Skies
Fresh Blackberries… it’s Sonker time! Sonker Summers
Heavy Metal Object

July 4th Fireworks…

Summer Mountain Time… We spent some restful, quality time this summer at our friend’s cabin on Buck Mountain. I’m always amazed by the beauty that surrounds me there. I hope you enjoy these captures as much as we did.

Dimensions of A Sunset
Definitely 💕
Movement of Fog at Sunset
Fog Hugging the Ridge
Where the Clouds Meet the Blue Ridge
Sunset Rays
Sleepy Sunday Sunrise
Hues of the Blue Ridge
Glory of Sunset
Serenity of the Blue Ridge
Golden Hour in Progress
Meet Jethro… our newest family member
Just A Peachy Little Summer!

Sincerely,

Summer of 2025 😎