Last Friday I made a quick road trip to Houston to take care of some business for my mom. My friend Debra graciously opened her home in Seabrook to me and TG for the night.

On our way to meet friends for dinner, I was mesmerized by the sunlight bathing pastel houses…the cloudless sky…the gulls swooping and singing…

Tension melted away.

I came to just in time to snap this photo over my shoulder and out of the passenger window. I'm pleasantly surprised it came out as well as it did, considering it was an afterthought.

 

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Sometimes gathering my sweet!s is a lot like this photo, a blurry afterthought.

The beginning of last week was especially blurry. The days were so similar that I'm lumping Monday through Thursday all together.

There were walks with my puppies, new listings, classes and trainings via phone and webinars, watching "Ellen" with my mom, and the first blooms of the Mountain Pinks…

 

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By the weekend, everything became clearer…

Friday: a road trip with your daughter; Panda Express fortunes; sunset on a watertown; the song of seagulls; Mexican food and margaritas with dear friends

Saturday: sorting through decades of memories with your sister and daughter; a visit with a dear friend; the way you can count on finding a Subway sandwich shop in whatever little town you're passing through; the movie "Happy Feet", especially when shared with your son and daughter

Sunday:  waking without an alarm clock; Mass with your son; your husband cleaning all of the travel bugs off of your windshield; "Game of Thrones" with your kids; your advice about being a mother-in-law included in a friend's Huffington post article  

 

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Monday: window-screen-cleaning squirrels; dreaming of helping a client buy a million dollar property; a son who stops to visit his grandmother on his way home from work; getting another new listing 

Tuesday: glorious, cool summer mornings; winning a door prize; property tours; catching up with friends; a call from a friend asking for your help in finding a home for her dad; the generous and helpful spirit of colleagues; a wiggly puppy happy to see you home

 

May 2014-0261

 

There are whole years for which I hope I'll never be cross-examined, for I could not give an alibi.

~Mignon McLaughlin

 

Time to slow down, focus, pay attention to and give thanks for each and every moment.

(Don't forget to add your sweet!s in the comments!)

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16 responses to “A Sweet Blur”

  1. Jennifer Richardson Avatar

    oh these were extra sweet….those gulls, those puppies in the tall grass
    entering into woodland peace, the “fortunes” (we always love, too);
    so much goodness (and my days blend in busyness this week, too)
    Funny how when someone else slows down it makes my own breath
    come gentler and I remember. Thanks for that:)
    -Jennifer

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  2. Wolf Pascoe Avatar

    Squirrels are cute, but they’re criminals. Watch your back!

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  3. beth Avatar

    a million dollar property just to see is what i love to do in my spare time…especially when we are in florida 🙂

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  4. lisleman Avatar

    I don’t think I would be liking that squirrel. Thanks for these posts. They are great reminders for me to spend time thinking about little sweets. My wife’s take-home from her lunch get together is one I’m still digesting.

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  5. lisa Avatar

    Another sweet week for you, Barbara, even if it was a little blurry! 🙂
    I LOVE those Mountain Pinks.

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  6. Pauline Avatar

    I seem to come to read my favorite posts less often these days. I’m busy and away, more that I thought I’d be when I retired. But, you inspired this whole “sweets” idea and though I don’t post often, coming here to read and finding time to post are two sweets I enjoy immensely. So, thanks.

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  7. Gail Avatar

    My fave shot was the mountain pinks! You are missed out here in blogville; hope you are enjoying staying so busy. So happy you’ve found such a fulfilling career for yourself.

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  8. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Gail, you're so sweet. I miss all of you, too, and hope once I get this engine running, I'll be able to sit back and stay caught up with everyone. I do enjoy real estate, thank goodness, but I intend to keep at least a foot in the blogworld!
     

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  9. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I'm in the same boat, Pauline…busier than ever and unable to keep up with my favorite posts, too. It's all I can do to post my sweets every week, so thank you for coming around to read them!
     

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  10. Tabor Avatar

    Beautiful photography. So glad you have the time to stop and take these photos in your busy life.

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  11. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Happy Father's Day, Bill! Thanks for continuing to come around even though I'm such a slacker these days!
     

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  12. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    One of the perks of my job! I love it!
     

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  13. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    That's for sure! Happy Father's Day, by the way!
     

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  14. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    Your posts always remind me to stop and breathe and give thanks, so I'm glad I can do the same for you!
     

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  15. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    They are one of my favorites, such a great splash of color just as summer settles in. They're coming up a little slower this year, but I was relieved to see them!
     

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  16. Barbara Shallue Avatar

    I'm grateful for my iPhone so I always have a camera with me!
     

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