The photo blogging challenge for March was Nine
It’s Autism Acceptance Month in April as I post this. Autism is neurodiversity – NOT a disease.
The need for order like the toys below can be one of the ways Autism presents.
Last, here’s a bonus photo that in my mind fits the theme, but doesn’t really.
The pigs are from Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm in Lincoln.
Looking forward to seeing what photos everyone else took!
The February photo blogging challenge was “photographer’s choice”
Open ended photo challenges are fun.
I approach by taking pictures for the month and see if a theme reveals itself.
I thought my theme would be “oh the places you go!”
I think it turned into “4 year old point of view”.
Hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them!
This next photo just made me laugh. We let our daughter pick out 2 toys to bring with her on the car ride to school. Usually they’re mini stuffed animals. On this day, Elise grabbed the 2 largest stuffed animals she has.
February in MA had quite a few snow storms.
We’re MA Audubon members and in late February, we visited Moose Hill in Sharon, MA.
Looking forward to seeing what everyone else came up with!
The photo blogging challenge for January was “black and white”. Here’s my view!
I like the white snow with the sledders lining up on the hill
I have 2 bonus photos this month that I didn’t take but fit the theme so well, I’m including.
My husband took this beach photo on MLK Jr. Day
Looking forward to seeing what others did with this challenge.
Well, I certainly have a lot of great photos to choose from for this December 2021 photo blogging challenge: Holly Jolly.
First, some fun news. My new years eve Instagram of the Boston Harbor Ice Sculpture Stroll won me a “staycation package”
Here’s the winning post:
Instagram Boston Harbor Ice Sculpture Stroll
Now, on to the photo blogging challenge. Let’s start with a unique to us photos.
One of our friends goes all out for Christmas decorations & this year he made stairs so the Christmas Village is viewable from outside! (COVID surge related reasons)
So here’s my daughter looking in at the Christmas Village and the sign inviting anyone to come see. Huge thanks to the Blue family for inviting us over!
Continuing with the theme of both unique and due to wonderful friends – the animal adventures at the home of my friend from high school, Jenn.
Jenn has “Christmas Giraffes” for lawn decorations!!!
Inside only got better! Jenn’s practically got an aquarium in her home!
Now, that would normally be where I stop, because I put up 5 photos. I’m still rolling with the jolly though because gosh darn it – I need positive in this pandemic scary!
Here’s 2 from meeting Santa at the Cape Codder Hotel
One last photo – from Christmas Eve
This is my Dad being a proud Grandpa – reading a book to his granddaughter (my daughter)
Looking forward to scrolling through everyone else’s photo blogging posts.
Hope you had a Holly Jolly December and a wonderful 2022.
The Photo Blogging Challenge prompt for November was “Give Thanks”.
Boy, do I have a lot to be thankful for.
Let’s start with my daughter, Elise.
I was having Elise developmentally tested & we got an Autism diagnosis 2 weeks ago.
I’m really happy to have a name for the difference I see between my daughter and her 4 year old peers.
I’m also super lucky to already have a great group of Autistic friends – all thriving as adults. Positive is my only reference point!
I’m thankful for family!
My brother has been overseas for work (Qatar and Greece) so it was wonderful to see him on Thanksgiving.
Elise is obsessed with dinosaurs. Dave flipped each page and asked Elise to tell him the dinosaurs. I have cute video too.
I’m thankful for Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries and that our family was gifted a membership from Grandma on Dad’s side.
Our family of 3 can often be found exploring Mass Audubon sites on the weekends.
I’m thankful for the kindness of strangers.
A few weeks ago, my family and my in laws visited the Whydah Pirate Museum on Cape Cod. (The museum is very worth it and I recommend it.)
The museum goes over the history of the ship “Whydah” from origin until today – a wreck of Cape Cod that’s actively being searched for historical items.
Barry Clifford is the explorer who found the Whydah wreck.
Barry is also the man in the photo above. He was at the museum the day we visited and noticed my daughter investigating the cannons. While Elise was talking to Grandma, he hid 2 plastic coins in 2 different cannons for my daughter to find!
I cried tears of joy. Here I was worried Elise was getting bored and his kindness made my day.
Finally, I’m thankful for the beauty of New England nature – especially on Cape Cod.
You can find our family on Cape Cod at least 1 weekend a month, if not more. (My in-laws live mid-cape.)
Did you enjoy my photos? Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is thankful for – and their creative photos.
How did October fly by?
My job is nonprofit fundraising and we’re about to head into the busiest season of donations in the whole year. (Good busy!)
The October Photo Blogging Challenge is “Get out and play!“
October with a nearly 4 year old has us appreciating play. I have a wealth of photos to choose from that would fit the theme. The hard part is picking 5.
We celebrated cousin Georgette’s 3rd birthday at a park in Walpole. I was extremely impressed by all the ride on toys at the playground for kids to use. Elise tried out a few.
My daughter finds play everywhere. She loves arranging shells when we visit her grandparents who live on Cape Cod.
On the Cape, the town of Chatham hosts “Pumpkin People in the Park” every October.
The displays are always wonderful, but not usually interactive like 2 were this year.
Above, my daughter attempts a “pumpkin push up”
You don’t need any event to play. Here’s my daughter enjoying running on the beach. Later in the day she pretended she was rescuing sea turtle eggs and some adults turned to look. I whispered “they’re imaginary” and the adults smiled and walked on.
This last picture was in Dorchester at the Pumpkin Parade.
After a fun night of trick or treating and seeing family who were volunteering – Elise and Daddy walk back to the car. I liked her light up shoes and glow bracelet adding to this one.
So there you have my 5 photos.
Looking forward to seeing the other posts from those in the photo blogging challenge.
The theme for September’s photo blogging challenge was “It’s Your World”
September is National Service Dog Month.
Since I work in fundraising for a nonprofit that trains service dogs for the Deaf and Autistic, I hosted a few “Barks and Brews” fundraisers at local breweries.
I walk by this fountain often, about a 5 minute walk from my home.
On Smithsonian Free Museum Day my family visited the Rhode Island Audubon. There’s a nice museum on the natural environment and then miles of beautiful walking trails.
I’m a huge fan of the Quincy Farmers Market & I helped plan their 40th anniversary celebration.
The 40th anniversary celebration for Quincy Farmers Market was on the USS Salem and it was a lobster clambake. The food was amazing and the company quite fun.
So there’s a glimpse into what “my world” looked like in September.
Looking forward to seeing everyone else’s photos.
I’m late again for the Photo Blogging Challenge, but here’s August’s “Adventure“
I started a new job in August, and that’s an adventure I’m adoring.
I’m the northeast fundraising manager for Dogs for Better Lives. They train service dogs for the Deaf and Autistic.
My family and I went to the first annual Cape Cod Pirate Festival and it was so much fun
Better late than never! Hope you enjoyed my photos!
The theme for the July photo blogging challenge was “Happy”
Boy do I have a lot of options to choose from with July photos!
In non photo news, I have a new job fundraising for an organization who trains service dogs for Deaf adults and Autistic children. I’m 2 weeks into the job and am loving it, but that delayed blogging. Oops.
Dandy Lion made both me & my daughter happy.
So there are my July submissions with 1 bonus photo.
Looking forward to seeing everyone else’s photo challenge posts & hopefully being more timely in September with my August photo post.
The June photo blogging challenge is “DIY” – which stands for do it yourself.
I may not be the one DIYing in every photo, but someone is.
Photo one:
I absolutely hate making raffle baskets. I’m fine asking for the items to be donated but putting the baskets together is my personal heck.
Despite that aversion, I put together about 45 of the 50 total raffle baskets for Quincy Pride Festival. (And I burnt myself out and quit the board. Oops)
Please ignore my messy background (I couldn’t figure out how to blur). The gift card bouquet is a display I’m most proud of the presentation.
Quincy Pride Festival on June 6th was a success by every measure. I was in charge of everything fundraising related, and the dog show. $24,000 was raised, 90% personally raised by me. Fundraising is my favorite DIY and why my profession is nonprofit fundraising.
My family had a wonderful time at the unveiling of the Quincy crane project. I believe every school made 1k to get a school wish. Great DIY students!
Thank you to whoever DIYed this fairy house behind a playground in Dorchester, MA! My daughter and her cousin Hollis adored it.
When my father in law put fruit on the birdhouse, I was concerned all he would catch is ants. He had the last laugh and his DIY impressed me.
Thank you to the crafter who thought of this then DIYed it! My father loved it as part of his Father’s Day present.
So there you go! From LGBT Pride Month in June, on we go to Disability Pride Month in July
4th of July weekend in MA is supposed to be cold and rainy, but I hope you have better weather where you are!
Getting Fit in Massachusetts 