Mosaic Monday Change

Just a reminder:  Judith, of  Lavender Cottage, will be taking over Mosaic Monday beginning this Sunday.  She will be posting around 2:00pm EST.  

And a quick thank you to all of you who left such sweet comments for me this week!  I wish that I could answer each and every one individually.  However, I've been experiencing a lot of pain the past few days from too much Photoshop.  But please know that I am so  grateful for your thoughts and words!  xoxo

Mosaic Monday: Goodbye

I'm a little sad, and yet a little relieved, to say that this will be my last Mosaic Monday post.  For the past several years, I have found it hard to keep up with this weekly duty -- first because an overuse injury to my hand has kept me from commenting on other blogs, and secondly, because of time constraints.  I have found that I'm not taking as many photos purely for my own enjoyment as I used to, and that is something that I need to work more on in the future.  For whatever else I do with my camera, I want to make sure that I am always following my heart.

So I have removed the advertising from my blog, and I am giving up Mosaic Monday.  If anyone wishes to take over and keep it going, please email me, and I will announce it on the blog later this week.  I will be keeping the blog available, though I'm not sure how often I will be posting.  Hopefully, that will be only when I have something worthwhile that I wish to share.  In the meantime, I have to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all your comments and encouragement throughout the years.  You have been such a large part of my life!  xoxo

Edited to add: Great news!  Judith, from Lavender Cottage, has offered to host Mosaic Monday.  Please join her next week.  She will be posting around 2:00pm EST.

Here are the instructions to join today's post:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: marycarroll222(at)gmail.com.

An InLinkz Link-up

Mosaic Monday: Walking London

Hyde Park

Buckingham Palace

St. James Park, with Buckingham Palace in the distance

Big Ben, and St. Paul's Cathedral

Westminster Abbey, and the Buckingham Palace gates

Buckingham Palace

St. James Park

Westminster Abbey

We had such a wonderful vacation in London in June, that whenever life gets particularly stressful the first thing we say to each other is "Let's go back to London!"  :)

On our first full day there, we walked a great deal, just taking in all the sights.  Here are a few photos that I don't think I ever shared with you.  I love the beautiful and historic architecture, and the fabulous parks.  One of my absolute favorite cities!

Here are the instructions to join today's post:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: marycarroll222(at)gmail.com.

An InLinkz Link-up

Mosaic Monday: Frelinghuysen Arboretum

I took a little time to wander around Frelinghuysen Arboretum last month.  We are so lucky to have such a beautiful garden nearby.  Here is a little bit of history, as written by the Friends of Frelinghuysen Arboretum:

George G. Frelinghuysen, a patent attorney and son of Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, Secretary of State under president Chester A. Arthur, was married in 1881 to Sara Ballantine of Newark. She was the granddaughter of the founder of the P. Ballantine Brewing Company.

In 1891 the couple commissioned the Boston architectural firm of Rotch & Tilden to construct a summer home and carriage house on property they named Whippany Farm for the river nearby. The Colonial Revival style is evident in such details as the Federal urns and swags, Ionic columns on the porte-cochere and the large Palladian window on the second floor landing.

The family only lived here during the summer months. In the winter they resided at 1 Sutton Place in New York City. The property was a working farm. Vegetables and flowers were grown for the family's consumption and sent to them in New York City via train. There were greenhouses, several barns and some smaller houses on the property. Some servants lived on the property year around.

George Frelinghuysen died in 1936 and Sara Frelinghuysen died in 1940. This property was left to their only daughter, Matilda (1887-1969). Miss Frelinghuysen had an interest in gardening and was a member of the Garden Club of Morristown. In 1964, she began plans for turning the estate into an arboretum. Upon her death the land and house was bequeathed to the people of Morris County for the use as a public arboretum. The Frelinghuysen Arboretum was dedicated in 1971.

Here are the instructions to join today's post:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: marycarroll222(at)gmail.com.

An InLinkz Link-up

Mosaic Monday: Belle

As  some of you probably know, I have a small portrait photography business here in New Jersey.  I thought I would share a little bit of this session with you, as I've been very busy shooting and editing for the past few weeks.

Belle is only four  years old, but she is a wonderful model, and a real sweetheart!  We went through several costume changes, as you can see, and she was so patient and polite through it all.  Thank you, Belle, for helping to make my photographic vision come true!  :)

My portrait website
My Facebook page
My Google+ page

Here are the instructions to join today's post:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: marycarroll222(at)gmail.com.

An InLinkz Link-up

Mosaic Monday: Kensington Palace

I don't know what is wrong with me lately.  I keep forgetting about Mosaic Monday!  This week, I do have something of an excuse -- with the holiday weekend here in the United States, I just forgot what day it is.  :)

Anyway, here are a few photos from our trip to London last month.  This is Kensington Palace -- specifically, the King's State Apartments, sumptuously decorated in the reign of George II and Queen Caroline.  The Queen's State Apartments were closed for renovations, so I will just have to go back to visit them, right?  ;)

Here are the instructions to join today's post:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: marycarroll222(at)gmail.com.

An InLinkz Link-up

Mosaic Monday: Chinese Dogwood

It's been a bit of a busy week here, and somehow I totally forgot about Mosaic Monday!  But, better late than never, right?  So, here we go...

Our Chinese Dogwood tree was absolutely loaded with blossoms this year.  I guess maybe it was all the precipitation we had this winter?  Anyway, I'm so glad I got the chance to go out and shoot them while they lasted.  :)

Here are the instructions to join today's post:

1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: marycarroll222(at)gmail.com.

An InLinkz Link-up