Little things...

...Thursday

Truffles are little...

...but with a whopping mouthful of flavor...

...from chocolate and cabernet...

...lots of chocolate!

I can't think of a better way to spend the last day of 2015 then here with you all...

(insert big smiley face)

...and Kim over HERE

You can find the recipe for Red Wine Chocolate Truffles Here

They are super easy...

...and super yummy!

It's been well documented that I eat my props...

I wish you all a beautiful and safe New Years Evening and I really hope that 2016 is bright and enveloped in goodness and creative days. Continued friendships and fulfilling experiences. Fresh optimism and new journey destinations. Here's to open hearts ready to receive new inspiration. May you believe in your intentions and live mindful.

Peace to us all

Happy (2016) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Friday's...

...letters

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

...

My dearest blogging friends,

I wish you many blessings this holiday season and always. I couldn't let the frenzy of the holiday pass without thanking each of you for being here in this space, with me...even for a moment. I hope 2016 brings you joy in whatever you do.

xo

Dear Mom and Dad,

Not a day goes by without thoughts of you-some good, some not so good. I know I have a bit of forgiving and "letting go" to do before my heart fully opens & I am able to recognize your presence that I eagerly seek.

I'm working on it...really I am.

Dear 2016,

Please be kind. 

The world is in such need of healing. Some days I can barely scan the headlines. 

Peace to us all

Dear Thich Nhat Hanh,

I find such comfort in your words. In your quotes. 

Living with Mindfulness is something I'll be consciously practicing in the coming year. It won't be easy...It most definitely won't be easy. Wouldn't it be something if everyone tried?

Happy (mindful living) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Baby...

...it's cold outside

...

I really can't stay

(But baby, it's cold outside)

I've got to go away

(But baby, it's cold outside)

This evening has been

(Been hoping that you'd drop in)

So very nice

(I'll hold your hands, they're just like ice)

...

I'm in total love with Dean Martin and Lady Gaga's version of this song. All I can think of is wrapping my fingers around the delicate china and warming my hands as I inhale this new intoxicating tea.

Hope you're keeping warm where you call home.
Linking up with Kathy today over at
Song-ography

Happy (holiday) snapping!
xo
Kelly


song-ography.html

Little things...

...Thursday

I was born Christmas...

...converted to Chanukah...

...but love playing with Christmas...

Playing over Kim's at littlebylittle

Happy (winter) Snapping!

xo

Kelly

Little things...

...Thursday

It's only Austin and The Mr. at home, but they still get a their favorite cookies! 

Peanut Blossoms for Austin 

Mexican Wedding cookies for The Mr.

These are the only snowballs we get around here!

What's your favorite holiday cookie(s) to either bake or eat?

I'd love to hear.

I'm sharing with Kim over at

littlebylittle

and

Happy (cookie) snapping!

xo

Kelly

Little Things...

...Thursday

These are the last of my little critters...

...11 in all...

...full blog post coming soon on an end to monarch rearing.

In the meantime, 

I'm sharing with Kim over at 

LittlebyLittle

If you missed Monday's post
Find it here

Soaking it...

...all in

After a busy week prepping for our annual Thanksgiving feast, I was able to catch my breath and enjoy a few days of just being.
I took my time taking down the fall decor concentrating more on how the colors and textures make me feel inside instead of being a hassle of schlepping everything and making untold number of trips up the stairs.
 I wanted to be reminded of the quiet beauty and purposely slowing down to gear up for the changing of the seasons that is ever so slowly starting to creep into our corner of the world. This was especially important since Hanukkah is literally around the corner~like December 6th right around the corner.

I took time to edit some photos I took earlier this month of the last remaining poms from our little tree. Just soaking in the styling, the props that I adore, the colors, the warm feeling I get when I make the time to do what I enjoy most.

Then there was this...bella Grace. Oh my, for some reason this issue moved me to tears. The photos, the quotes, the stories, and seeing friends  Michelle and Barb grace the pages with their words and pictures. It can be difficult at best living a bella Grace life where selfish behavior among the community is the norm. Yesterday was food for my soul to go out and start my week with love, grace, acceptance and patience.

Happy Snapping,
xo
Kelly

"We humans have lost the wisdom of genuinely resting and relaxing. We worry too much. We don't allow our bodies to heal, and we don't allow our minds and hearts to heal."
Thich Nhat Hanh

A grateful...

...heart

Today rounds out the week of gratitude with Michellegd 

and there were many gifts sprinkled throughout the days that I opened my heart to receive.
For our gracious hostess who's daily words inspire
*Thank you Michelle*

For the honor of being the keeper of the tiniest of miracles

For the chilly mornings that give way to warm afternoons

For grilled steaks and baked potatoes with loads of toppings

For spontaneous cups of homemade hot cocoa...

...with both marshmallows and whipped cream

For warm morning snuggles

For the sound of the morning kitty chatter

For gifts from a departing teacher that appreciated my time in her class

For dishes in the sink, clothes in the hamper, dinners to be made, list making, warm blankets, Netflix binge watching,  a paycheck, hummers squawking, morning coffee, crossword puzzles... 

For the spur of the moment invitation to meet Betty, a rescued American Porcupine, and a chance for an unrestricted wildlife safari photo shoot 

For meeting several other rescued animals too

For the safekeeping of my children

For the  online community showing strength in the face of evil

For all this and more...

I am grateful

Happy (quiet moments) snapping

xo

Kelly

Gratitude Week...

...counting blessings

Today starts a very special week with Michelle ~ 

 :: slowing down on purpose :: using your senses :: counting blessing big and small 

 As I come to terms and navigate through the holidays parentless for the first time, this week of gratitude could not have come at a better time. 

My awareness of tree trimmings and wrapping paper, and the goodness of holiday mayhem, of life insurance claims, probate and lawyers fees 

I was able to steal some quiet moments, breath and take note of...

...the smell of much needed rain on the road~as brief as it was

...the sound of my heart beating as I purposefully park a 10 minute walk from work

...the taste of my morning coffee

...watching the morning sky go from yellows and pinks to grey and black

...the feel of shaping matzoh balls for soup

...warm chicken soup

What are you grateful for today? Please share.

Happy (warm soup in your belly) snapping

xo

Kelly

Hello...

...November

I for one am glad you're here.
 Now that I don't have small children and a million things to do daily, I actually welcome the time change and a chance to slow things down~for the opportunity to be mindful of all that I have to be grateful for....this year especially so.

Now, granted we don't get to experience fall in the traditional sense, but there certainly are gentle reminders that Mother Nature needs her rest and we should take her cues and follow her lead.
I'm patiently waiting for the 90* weather to quietly turn into cooler nights and even chillier mornings. I'm excited to use my oven and bake. We get to eat stews and soups and those stick to your ribs kind of dinners! Oh, and the rain...we get rain this winter from El Nino.

I'll be participating in Gratitude Week Nov. 9-15.
It's a beautiful free offering by Michelle GD and you can read all about it HERE

Hope you'll consider this go at your pace daily practice to slow down and really use your senses to witness what you have to be grateful.

Happy (thankful) snapping

xo

Kelly

Little Things...

...Thursday

My son,Austin, loves these and can't wait till I'm done shooting them

My teeth hurt just lookin' at 'em

So....tell me...

Do you eat them, use them to decorate with 

or 

shoot them?

Happy (candy corn) shooting!

xo

Kelly

Playing over at Kim's

LittlebyLittle

today

Coming...

...to terms

Is it just me that can fall head over heels in love with great finds?

This beauty came to me by pure coincidence & as the day progressed certain memories will just be attached to her home coming.

 I was on my way to do some errands when I started noticing estate sale signs. Not being too far out of my way I followed them to the house. The second room I walked into had 2 tables of the most beautiful vintage camera collection I'd seen assembled in one place. The owner had quite an eye for beauty. I quickly scooped up the one that stood out~checking off one teal camera on my mental wish list of props & cameras I want to own. I spent time admiring all the cameras but decided this was it. The price tag said $20~a price I would have easily paid if I wasn't  personally working on negotiating skills. (something that makes me cringe) Another woman, overheard me ask the estate agent  if the prices were fixed and she directed me over to man who'd know. The woman and I walked over to the man, I asked if the prices were fixed. He asked how many I was buying."Just the one" the woman & I said in unison. The agent blurted 2 for $30 motioning at both of our cameras. The woman & both looked at each other  with just a moment to assess each other as possible allies looked back at the agent and we blurted out "SOLD!"

We worked out our money and off I went. I never did get my errands done! Nope, I was already thinking about the photos I wanted to take with the fading late afternoon light.

I carefully picked and placed pictures of my dad from a box of photos my grandmother had given me & started snapping. How young he was to be a first time dad. His whole life in front of him.

 My brother called in the middle of this delivering the news I'd been dreading for 2 years. Dad was being released from the hospital in a few days and that hospice would be getting involved. 

It is hard to write this as those words echo in my head. 

I was done shooting for the day, left everything in its place and cried. 

The next morning, I looked at my set up. Something inside me sparked. I went and picked fresh bougainvillea, and started shooting. To some the sad news attached to an object would be a bad omen. But to me? 

To me this little charmer is a beautiful token and reminder of how much I my love my Dad & for the little gifts of the heart he has unwittingly bestowed upon me. 

 For one...his love of photography.

Happy (memories) snapping

xo

Kelly

Around here...

...don't let these photos fool you

While a lot of you are enjoying the changing seasons...

...here in Southern California, we're bracing for a heat wave

(insert scrunchie face emoji sticking out his tongue)

Last weekend, I got inspired to pick up my camera and make a spontaneous run out to a local farm stand...Looking for Fall!

I'm not usually spontaneous-but I was glad I went with my gut.

I have to find fall anyway I can...

...I hope it's soon.

The bees were happy

I was sweet on this guy!

Hurry fall.

You'll find me over at Kim's today.

Happy (finding fall) snapping!
xo
Kelly

div align="center">

Blogging Bits...

...post promt 

My blogging journey has been a bit erratic lately but I miss being here when I step away. So when Barb over at KeepingWithTheTimes  created a free mini-series on blogging that is "designed to help motivate and inspire"~ I jumped on board.

 Our first prompt is to write a post on the story behind our blog. 

I started blogging in June of 2011. Just A Click Away was formed after unplugging for months from everything internet and photography related. I had allowed myself to get sucked into the fantasy side of the world wide web and became what everybody wanted me to be to the point I was anything but authentic. It was a dark time that I am not proud of but it is part of my journey & how I got to the place I am in now.
I unplugged, regrouped and started fresh with much trepidation.
The only thing I knew for certain was I wanted to share my passion for photography but needed a different platform that would work for me.
I slowly started finding photographer's blogs that offered prompts and link ups.
It felt good to shoot again.
 Pretty soon names became familiar & I felt a sense of community forming.

The name of my blog just sort of came about. The words spoke to me with no fancy fanfare. However, my tag line "where the little things make up the big picture" does represent my point of view. 

(No pun intended!) 

As I was detoxing and forcing myself to slow down, I really started to pay attention to the details in everything I did. The ordinary became extraordinary. Pretty soon all my senses were being used which  unconsciously guided me to be more open to receive these gifts I had overlooked for so long. There  really was so much more than the BIG picture...literally and figuratively! I wanted to be sure I captured those tiny moments. Those words stuck and have been my mantra ever since.

Life is forging ahead...and with it comes change. With change comes new opportunities. New opportunities need an open mind and willing heart. My journey is unique onto myself. I will be mindful not to compare my tiny space to others just as their journey is unique onto themselves. Whatever happens I am here to stay for whoever is interested &

 I'm glad you're here as part my blogging journey.

Happy (find your space) snapping!

xo

Kelly