North Carolina Fall Color : Scattered Leaves

Posting one of my photos from our recent trip to NC mountains.  This was taken in Hillsboro on our way to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

For Week #46 of P52 2014:

Tonya Travelstead NC Nov 2014

Buried Treasure ... Treasured Memories

It's been windy and rainy lately here in Florida.  My husband and I were sitting in the front yard over the weekend and a little bit of color peeked through the mulch.  With all the wind, this buried treasured artwork--a mosaic stepping stone-- made by one of our sons had been covered in the mulch.

It's funny how little things can spark memories.  He made this one summer in an art camp.  I think he was about 8 or 9 years old at the time (now 25).  Because the tiles are coated and encased in concrete it will probably last longer than we do.  Whenever I see this, I think back to those special years of having two young boys at home and am so thankful I was able to be home with them...

...years of joyful play
...swimming and shrieks of laughter
...lots of little boy friends over to play
...homeschooling and learning together
...story time at the library
...Barney and Arthur
...afternoon snack time
...cuddles and naptime

SO thankful for these sweet memories...my own personal treasures from long ago.

P52, Week #32

Tonya Travelstead P52

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 

Art: Fifty Shades of Grey

If you stopped by to see a review of the popular erotic book or the movie, you'll be disappointed.  Not something I plan to read or see and I would advise you to not do the same.

I took this photo on an outing last week... simply a wall of grey brick with water streaming over it.  If someone told me they had a photo of a basically grey wall, I'd think "how boring"... but if you look at it for a bit as I did when I took the photo, it's actually quite beautiful.  Because of the flowing stream of water, what is plain and simple can become lovely.  I think there is a life lesson here.  :)

Tonya Travelstead Fifty Shades of Grey

This is my P52 2014 photo for Week #31

John 7:37-39  ... “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive...

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Saturday in the Park ...

Saturday, as is our custom, we had breakfast with friends and the strolled around the park. Here are a few sights from that morning...

This one is my P52 photo for Week # 30. [I'm #22}
 Can you find the bee?

Tonya Travelstead P52

Gorgeous Sunset AND a Rainbow ?

Everyone loves posting photos of sunsets and rainbows but both at the same time?

My husband walked past our kitchen window at 8:30 pm the other night and saw the brilliant sky all lit up.  We went outside, me of course, with my phone in hand (wish I'd had my real camera in hand) and this is what we saw (facing west).

Choosing this one for my P52, Week #29.  [I'm # 39.]

Tonya Travelstead Florida Sunset

We turned around to go back in the house and this is what was behind us.  Friends told us if we'd looked that direction a few minutes earlier, we'd have seen a double rainbow (facing east)!  Amazing.

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. 

P52 Fresh Georgia Peaches

Nothing says summer like peaches from Georgia (or South Carolina).  Juicy and delicious... my all-time favorite fruit.  I grew up eating these but never knew until we moved to Florida that you could eat the fuzzy peel.  Mmm...

A simple photo for P52 Week #26.  I'm #33.

Star Wars Weekend 2014 #sww2014

On Father's Day my husband wanted to go to Disney's Hollywood Studios to check out the Star Wars Weekend.  Here are few highlights from the parade...  LOTS of photos on Twitter #sww2014!

#sww2014

Pulling out this one for my P52 photo for Week #25.

I'm #31.

Tonya Travelstead #sww2014

Front Yard Reflections

Mark 6:31 And He said to them, 

“Come away by yourselves to a secluded place 

and rest a while..."

We have a screened-in porch in our back yard / pool area but my husband and I really enjoy sitting in the front yard when the weather is nice and mosquitoes are busy elsewhere.  Neighbors walk or ride bikes by and say hello, the birds and squirrels are closer, and there's something about the totally open air that is remarkably different from the screened area.

These were taken over the weekend while we sat and talked after dinner.  Scroll down to the second and third photos and it looks like another couple had the same idea.  :)

I hope you have a quiet spot where you can relax and refresh after a busy day.  How do you relax in the evenings?

P52 Week #24 (I'm #26.)

Tonya Travelstead P52

Tonya Travelstead P52

Tonya Travelstead P52

Simple Things: A Single Red Rose

So much beauty in the simple things such as this single red rose, my P52 photo for Week #23.  [I'm # 18 on the P52 site.]

Tonya Travelstead P52

Luke 12:27  Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

Florida Summer Beach Days

Our 27th anniversary was last week so my husband and I took a lovely trip to the beach.  Which ocean photo do you like the best?

Using this one for P52 Week #22.  (I'm #25.) 

#1

Tonya Travelstead P52

 #2

#3

#4 

#5

Watching and Waiting

Springtime on the pond... watching and waiting...being so patient.

This is my P52 Week #21 photo [my photo is #17].   I just love capturing close-ups of wildlife.  Right after this was taken, this bird captured a fish but I had already put my camera down...apparently his watching and waiting paid off!

So much of everyday life is a parable or visual aid to spiritual life as well.  Be still and keep your eyes open for deeper truths in the daily...

Tonya Travelstead P52

Jas 5:7  Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord...

Just Hanging Around Butterfly Photo

This is my P52 Week #20 photo [I'm #40.]. I was so happy to capture this beautiful butterfly before it flew away.   Do you hold your breath, too, when trying to take a close-up photo of something that moves?   :)

Gen 1:31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good...

Local Outing: Black Hammock Restaurant / Oviedo

We joined some friends for dinner this weekend at a little restaurant called the Black Hammock in Oviedo.  The food was pretty good but the outdoor view was wonderful.  Had a nice, cool breeze, spotted a few alligators in Lake Jessup plus a gorgeous sunset to end the evening.

This one is my P52 photo week #18 (I'm #16) for this week.

Easter Blossoms and Blooms 2014

After church on Easter Sunday, our family went out to lunch.  The park near the restaurant was bursting with blooms as was the restaurant entrance.

The prettiest sight was on our way home when we passed a church with this gorgeous flowered cross in the front.  Breathtaking.    Don't you just love this?  [Using this for my P52 Week #17 photo, #20.]

Tonya Travelstead P52 Week #17

The significance of the flowers on what was a barren cross, I imagine, is the new life after death and resurrection of Jesus.  What a lovely picture of this truth.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; 

he who believes in Me will live even if he dies...

Disney Epcot Flower & Garden Festival : Disney Characters

We were at the flower and garden show last weekend and I took photos of some of the characters formed out of plants.  The Snow White face is amazing!

My P52 Week 16 photo.  I'm #27.

Tonya Travelstead P52
What a Surprise to See You!  

Horsin' Around / Atlantic Center for the Arts

My husband and I attended a live auction fundraiser lunch event over the weekend with the theme Horsin' Around. [Atlantic Center for the Arts] I tried to capture some of the equine art and (run for the) roses throughout the venue...always fun to see.

My P52 Week 15 photo for this week. I'm # 20.

This metal sculpture had several bids throughout the morning/afternoon.

Tonya Travelstead P52

Winter Park Art Festival 2014

We love attending the Winter Park Sidewalk Arts Festival each year... just a few photos there and this giant-sized dog sculpture we spotted on the way there.   It was a gorgeous day!

I'll use this one for my P52 entry for Week 14.  I'm #  36.

Tonya Travelstead P52 2014
Brown Dog, Brown Dog, What Do You See?  :)

Local Event: True Life Choice Walk for Life

On Saturday we participated in the annual Walk for Life with True Life Choice, a crisis pregnancy center in Orlando.  About $50,000 was raised to help this organization which gives pregnant women an alternative to abortion.   It was a beautiful spring day with a great turnout. Here are some of the photos of the morning.

Ps 41:1  How blessed is he who considers the helpless; 

The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble.

This one is my P52 photo for Week 11

I am #25.  Love this natural "framing"!

Tonya Travelstead P52

Week #13 of P52. I'm #50.

Tonya Travelstead P52

There were hundreds of pairs of baby shoes. Each pair represents a baby aborted each day in Florida.

P52 Week #12 photo.  I'm #32
We miss some interesting sights because we're not looking high enough...

Tonya Travelstead P52

Stained Glass : Church Windows / P52

I love stained glass... I take photos of it pretty much whenever I come across it.  I discreetly took these during a funeral we attended last week because I thought they were so beautiful.   The words come from 2 Timothy 4:7-8

  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;  in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

I chose the bottom photo for my P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday photo, Week #8 HERE.  My photo is #20.

Tonya Travelstead P52 

Tonya Travelstead 

Tonya Travelstead P52

Local Event: Michael Andrew and Swingerhead

My husband and I attended a fun Valentines concert on Sunday afternoon in our local park featuring Michael Andrew and Swingerhead.  Lots of sights and fun Frank Sinatra / Tony  Bennett type music.  We've attended in years past and have also seen the performers with our local symphony as well.  A very enjoyable afternoon and a sweet start to Valentines week!

Pulling this photo out for this week's P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday.  :)  Week 7 #18

Extreme Shoes Tonya Travelstead