Finger Lakes Fridays

On Fridays I'll be postings pictures of one of my favorite things...the place where I live.

The Finger Lakes region is located in central NY....

most of its residents haven’t even been to New York City.

There are eleven lakes in all, some as long as 40 miles, none wider than 3 miles across, and each boasting its own unique beauty. The region is dotted with small cities, quaint villages and tiny crossroads called hamlets.

I love that we're relatively undiscovered.

I'm no professional photographer and I don’t have any fancy editing software so the subject matter will simply speak for itself.

Winter in Seneca County.

We do a lot of commenting on the weather here in Central NY;  mostly complaints in the winter months.  A blue sky is a bit of a rarity and snow falls most days.

The inhabitants are frequently coming down with infirmities such as cabin fever and the winter blahs.

I think it's quite beautiful this time of year.

Color flies south for the winter and shape, form and texture take a turn in the spotlight.

One notices things one would not notice when all is alive with green

Foliage gives over what it's been hiding.

A sense of quiet comes over the landscape.  Even the sound of tires is hushed on snowy roads.

  

A soul finds its self stretching and sighing during this season.  I was driving around today, wishing I was a great story teller.  I would let my imagination craft a tale of the pictures I took.

about the family that owns this farm

I don't think this barn was built on this spot.  And where did the circular scrapes on the paint come from.

Ah the old Lehigh Valley Bridge

And what's this guy been up to?

Happy Winter

   

  jenny rosie

In the Spirit of Prioritization

It's a new year and time for fresh starts.  As much as I've tried to capitalize on the January 1st thing, I think my life sort of has more of an ebb and flow than any kind of cycle.  ANNNNNDDDD I don't have very much control over when a new idea or self examining thought will take me.  I'm calling it my left brain liberation.

Well I had one of those thoughts the other day....

My husband will tell you that there is nothing finished in our whole lives (except having more children).  This is what my kitchen looked like a few weeks ago

No cupboard doors, half finished ceiling and electric. 
My recipe project that I started with so much gusto in July....stalled.
The baby's room....sittin' there
My son late for school.....twice last week (I drop him off)
Table Cloths from Christmas....unwashed in the laundry room


So as I was ebbing the other day, a thought occurred to me....

Well first I posed the question...."What am I doing wrong?  It's not for lack of trying.  I work really hard all day long."

Then the answer, "Its simple....a matter of prioritization".  Prioritizing does not make a super mom.  Prioritizing ensures that the things that need to get done today, get done.

So here are some examples.

Sure the cupboards need a second coat of paint but first....the grocery list.

or

Please don't try to squeeze one more thing in this morning, get your kid to school on time.

or

Hey blogging is really important but why don't you play with this cute baby instead.

This is me learning how to manage my household...you can laugh.....it's okay. 

When I look at my house/kids/life on any given morning it's so incredibly overwhelming

So now I step into my day with the thought, "In the spirit of prioritization....."
or I make commitments to others with the thought, "In the spirit of prioritization...."
or I tackle my housework with the thought, "In the spirit of prioritization...."

It's not the glam life of doing what I want when I want but I see the value of ordering my day.  I think it'll make me a better friend, mom and wife....

.....I'll keep you posted

Thanks for reading

   jenny rosie