The other day I counted the number of nights that I slept in my own bed with my familiar items around me.  And awoke to a morning of coffee and conversation with my husband in our own home.  And it was a small number.  The two of us have been traveling a lot.  Sometimes together.  Sometimes on our own explorations.  Mine mainly being photographic workshops.  I've been to Oregon, Nova Scotia, Atlanta, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, and Provence in just 5 months time.  Many has separate trips.  Now home for a few weeks before I venture off to Canada for a creativity workshop..

The hard part is now for me.  To go through my photos and to select which ones have special memories.  Or even look a bit artistic.  Or speak to me in some way.

My trip to Oregon was to see my daughter.  I was delighted to see everything in bloom and to have surprisingly sunny days.  I went from a very difficult and long Wisconsin winter to blooms everywhere in Oregon.  It was such a delight to walk down the street and to be greeted by loads of color.

Pad March 29 Flowering in McMinnville And I was able to see a wonderful Tulip Farm in the glory of spring color.

PAD April 1 Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

And sometimes you have to just emphasize the color.

 In various ways:

PAD April 1 Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

PAD April 1 Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

My next trip was with my husband to Ireland.  My grandparents came from Dublin so it was a special treat to be in a land where my ancestors hailed from.  To listen to Irish music and to walk the streets in Dublin that my Grandparents walked down.  This bridge over the River Liffey is very , very close to where my Grandparents lived.

There was something about the Aran islands that really spoke to me.  Perhaps it was the ruggedness and horse-drawn carts that take you back a few centuries.

Next stop is to Nova Scotia, one of my favorite places.  I was at a photographic workshop with Andre Gallant in the wonderful UNESCO site of Lunenburg.  This is a special place for me.  I feel grounded here.  I love the people, the historic towns and the scallops surrounded in bacon and dipped in Maple Syrup.

Of course, I also loved the community of Lunenburg.

And nearby Blue Rocks is a special morning experience.

And sometimes in Blue Rocks, the sunrises are exceptionally red.

On my trip back, I spent a few days with family in Atlanta. Then had a few days before my husband and I went to Belgium and Holland.  We spent a week in Ghent, which I loved.

And then Holland.

And Amsterdam

My next trip was to Provence.  Lots of lavender.  Lots of people enjoying the Lavender.

And now home.  With lots of great memories and many photos to sort through.