instagram finalists



                                                                     our finalists are...

 k e n d a l l
Traveling is in my blood, whimsical clouds are one of my favorites, and being in planes is so much fun -- I knew from the very beginning that this photo would be a finalist.

a n a

I love the four palm tree's silhouette, the setting sun, and the overall simplicity of this photo.

k i a n n a
I get nostalgic when I look at this photo... It brings back lovely memories sitting on the shore at a young age listening to waves lap, sea gulls caw, and the sun beaming.

j a n e t
This picture of pictures is wonderful.  A collage on the back of one's door? -- yes, please! 

   Go on -- vote away!  And why not name your favorite in a comment?



silent beauty

  Leaves crunched and grew calloused beneath my feet, the wind rippled through leaves and wove through my hair, light dappled foliage and moist soil was smothered in its light.    Silent beauty. 

   If we made known every small gift God has given us, we would recognize this silent beauty -- this beauty that many don't find in the ordinary.  This beauty that only God has created.




golden leaves,
cool fall days,
soil,
music,
the beginning of school,
laptops,
new notebooks,
scrumptious recipes...


//

I've been meaning to share this recipe with you ever since this post.  Without further ado, here it is! 




i n g r e d i e n t s: 

2lb cooking apples
4 cups blackberries
squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
1 cup granulated (white) sugar 

f o r   t h e   t o p p i n g:

1/2 cup butter 
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup fine or medium pinhead oatmeal
1/4 cup soft light brown sugar 
a little grated lemon rind (optional)

1) Preheat the oven to 400F.  To make the crumble topping, rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles rough breadcrumbs.

t i p:
This delicious topping can be used with most fruits; try plums or raspberries. 

2) Add the oatmeal and brown sugar to the bowl and continue to rub in until the mixture begins to stick together, forming larger crumbs.  Using a fork, mix in the grated lemon rind, if using. 

3) Peel, core and slice the cooking apples into wedges. 

4) Put the apples, blackberries, lemon juice (if using), 2 tbsp water and the sugar into a shallow ovenproof dish, about 9 cups capacity.   

5) Cover the fruit with the topping.  Sprinkle with a little cold water.  Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 375F  and cook for another 15-20 minutes until crunchy and brown on top. 

  
Bon appetit! 


this is fall.

Fall is slowly unfurling its way to my home, books are laid out on tables and discussed over, fingers nimbly hold notes on pianos, teachers prepare for a new season of learning, the warm wind sighs -- tosses leaves and girls' dresses about, and summer slowly slips away.  








Today was beautiful, even though there were annoying moments in it.
 Ironing, hanging laundry outside to dry in the fresh air, taking pictures, reading, dreaming of fall, getting annoyed with a piano piece I have to practice -- but going back to play later and realizing that a break was what I really needed, -- and typing, these things and more I've been doing today.   


Looking back, my favorite moment from today has to have been sitting outside in the gorgeous-degree weather; the sun, swollen clouds, and a warm wind present.


grateful [for]:
father's reading to sons,
sisters falling asleep,
chores,
sea-blue nail polish,
vintage,
still life,
washing machine detergent smells,
pianos.



What was your favorite moment today?

xo acacia 

p.s.s.s.t.  notice I've been messing around with my design?  What do you think of my header on my side bar?  
linking up with friday favorites @ finding joy

pictures + gratefulness


: grateful for :

words.
green trees.
azure skies.
sun flowers.
black and white.  
the past.  
this moment. 
frilly dresses. 
collages. 
sunshine.
new recipes. 



reading then // reading now
typing then // typing now










help {with design}

   ... this is where I really need your help.  I'm thinking my blog looks too much like a jail; with all those grey stripes I'm wondering if people are shaking their heads and saying, ''Is this a photography blog or a blog that advertises jail clothing?''

   Feedback on what you think, please!

writing + pondering + loving


  loving.  knitting.  reading.  writing.  laughing.  playing.  creating.  

pondering. 








"Laughter slipped out of mouths, and children ran, ran, ran ... ran through the day, laughing sorrows away.  They know how to live fully.  They know how to enjoy the moment.  Can we, for a day, put aside daily caresses and live like a child?  -- Free, happy, relying on our parent -- Jesus?" 


what have you been enjoying today?

miscellaneous ramblings.

//

 While chatting to my mom about blogging, I realized how many people who blog make their lives seem so perfect, happy, and wonderful.  Why?  Why do we create this perfect image of ourselves?  My life isn't perfect -- so I don't want to make it seem that way.  I want to be able to write about the real things in life.  I want to be able to write from my heart and not have to make my writing ''plasticized.''
                   

//

  Speaking of a perfect life -- this girl seems like she's got one.  But, of course, no... she hasn't. :)
  But his video is so fun I couldn't resist not sharing it with you.

                                   
                                      jamie delaine || photographer from Hello Tomorrow on Vimeo.



// 

  Pinterest inspires and refreshes my creative self.   Every picture seems so fresh, realistic, vivid, bold... I can almost ''feel'' the pictures because they're so creative and lovely.






//   Making my hair curly by simply putting it in a perfect messy bun.



// whimsical colored cosmetics

// knitting loveliness
There's something so therapeutic about knitting.  The click of the knitting needles, and the smooth, fine stitches that are produced is so rewarding. 


// playing with the tap



Miscellany.  A word that evokes the words random, fun, different. 

What is one miscellaneous thing you want to share?   

xo Acacia

{ linking up with miscellany monday }





photo challenge :: instagram

   Everyone enjoys taking photos with their iPods, iPhones, etc., right? Well, I have something very special planned for the next two weeks... an instagram photo challenge!
  Unfortunetely, I don't have an iPod touch with a camera.  I just have the simple iPod.
 But, here's a few instagram photos I liked and thought I'd share with you.



all via pinterest


  It's simple to enter: 
        >> link up an appropriate instagram photo taken by you.
        >> to bring smiles to people's faces, comment on a couple other entries. :)
                 >>H a v e  fun!
  

mingled summer joys

                                                                  
                                                                       dig deep. 

   I bent and kneeled down on the hard ground; I pulled and yanked at a weed stuck in between a crack of the pavement; only part of the weed came out, but I left the root stuck in between the crack.  I stood up, and looking for the next weed, regretted not trying hard enough to pull up the whole weed... that weed would eventually grow back and I'd have to go and tug at it again.  This is like our troubles in life.  We try to pull them out of our life, but we don't get to the root.  We need to fully yank out the troubles in our life -- we need to get to the root of our troubles -- dig deep, fully clean ourselves of any sin.   
                                                          
                                                         beaches, summer, and watermelon.


Waves lapped over shores and sweet watermelon dripping down chins evoke such summery feelings.  I realized today that we're almost 1/2 of the way through August -- summer is fleeing and fall is approaching so quickly.
via pinterest

cottages.

I swooned over every English cottage I saw when my family and I first arrived in England -- and I still do.

ducks.


 sayings.

   swans.

     They're so beautiful on the outside:  a glossy white body, with a strong head posed high, and {seemingly} graceful charms... but when you look closely, they sneer, gnash, and approach you like a tiger.  Recently, a swan actually went up to my younger brother and started doing some growling of sorts at him.
dear.
Dear sunshine, keep shining beacause we love you so.  Dear little sister, please, please don't grow up -- stay three, won't you?  Dear clocks, could you stop awhile -- put the moment on pause?  Dear Jesus, I love you so much.  






miscellany


                                                What have you been doing this Friday?

 xo Acacia



friday favorite things | finding joy