September 3 2016:
Library day! One of my most favorite days! I just love walking the aisles, having my eye caught by a title, pulling it from the shelf, opening it, and the feeling of excitement when it’s the one. Love, love, love. xoxo
Tag Archives: Camilla Downs
Thank You Angels and Living Life and No Television and Magpie
August 28 2016:
Sunset walk with Thomas tonight. I finished. I did it! Our part of the book is all but finished. It’s with an editor now and we will simply be adding quotes Thomas chose and then it’s off! 188 pictures and 19 categories. Finished at 2:44 … Now that’s amazing. Thank you angels! Wahoo!!! I did it!!
On our sunset walk last night, I asked Thomas his thoughts about our “living in a tiny home” adventures. Thomas’ personality really shines in this one!!
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August 29 2016:
Morning walk. I don’t know what it is about these beautiful and graceful creatures that brings such joy to my heart. What a gift this morning! Four cormorants drying together and one in the famous bat pose. So inspiring. xoxo
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August 30, 2016:
Sunset walk for all three of us last night. The sky, clouds, and sun put on an amazing show.
And Wahooo!!! Just sent everything to the local book publisher who is working with us to get Thomas’ book published! It is done! It is done! Hallelujah! You can still pre-order too!! Oceans and oceans of gratitude to those who have pre-ordered, shared, liked, and commented. xoxo
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August 31 2016:
Lillian and I very much enjoyed our walk last night. This time she shares her thoughts about life without television. Kinda goes long as we had some worries about passing dogs! Would you like a question answered by Lillian and Thomas? Let us know. xoxo
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September 2 2016:
Lillian and I found a really cool spot to sit Tuesday night on our walk. So peaceful and quiet. I just love going for walks with her, soaking it in, and taking pictures to capture the view. xoxo
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September 3 2016:
Beautiful black-billed magpie caught my ears yesterday. Such a pretty call they have. Made me look up … And glad I did!!! xoxo …. Go here to hear the call if you’d like … https://www.allaboutbirds.org/gu…/Black-billed_Magpie/sounds
Your Secrets I Must Know
September 2 2016:
“Deeper and deeper I must go, your secrets I must know. Your presence delivers unbounded clarity. Your embrace awakens the ability to listen with an open heart, to hear the secrets you share.” ~Camilla Downs
Why She Enjoys Our Walks and No Television and Love and Joy
August 21 2016:
Sunset walk with Lillian tonight. She shares more of what she enjoys about our walks …. And some things she doesn’t like.
After this we talked about how the breeze feels against our skin and my skirt. We saw a nutria or muskrat. Still trying to figure out which it is.
Then, we had a ball trying to catch leaves as they blew from the trees. And last, we got to see much lightening off in the distance.
Yes. Thank you. And I’ll have more please. xoxo
And here’s Lillian’s post about our walk … “Hey, everyone! I keep seeing lightning. It is an amazing show to watch. I suggest those those of you who like watching TV, try watching a lightning show from nature. I also got to experience leaves falling all at once.” xoxoxo
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August 22 2016:
Walk in the rain with Thomas tonight. Not much rain, yet it felt so good! Thomas talks about our walks and life without a television. xoxo
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August 22 2016:
Thomas and I got to experience a wonderful, cooling, refreshing, sunset walk last night. These walks pour love and joy into my heart and I treasure them. xoxo
Sibshop and Smores and Halfway Point
August 21 2016:
Thomas got to enjoy a Sibshop yesterday!! Something different this time … Hiking! Thomas has hiked this area for about two years now and they enjoyed that he was so familiar with it! Thanks Down Syndrome Network of Northern Nevada (DSNNN) and JUSTin HOPE Foundation for hosting!
August 22 2016:
It was a s’mores kinda night. YUM!!
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August 23 2016:
Today I reached the halfway point before getting this to the publisher! Should go much faster now. By this Friday or next Friday at the latest, Biggest Little Photographer is leaving my “hands”!! I’m so happy that we back-tracked and decided to group the photos into themes. Looks awesome!
There won’t be a ton of content in the book. It will mostly be the photos Thomas took, with a tad bit of imagination thrown in, a couple of bloopers that happened during the process and some quotes.
Here’s a sneak peak (unedited): “Hey friends! I’m Mr. Minifigure Photographer, also known as The Biggest Little Photographer. One day in March 2014, 8 year old Thomas Darnell, was inspired by an article his mom shared with him. He bought me a minifigure size camera and I travelled with him everywhere he went for 365 days straight …..”
Our continued gratitude for those who continue to pre-purchase, share, comment, like, and watch the book trailer. xoxo
Lillian and Camilla August 2016 Date Day
August 26 2016:
Lillian and Camilla August 2016 half-date … Went to pick up dessert, then to get her a new pair of sunglasses since hers broke last week. Then we enjoyed our dessert in the moonlight at the lodge.
And ended our date with a starlit walk by the lake. Too dark for pictures. Lillian wanted to visit one of our regular parks for a date day walk but it got dark before we were ready. So, we will do that next week.
Here’s to going on 15 years of date days, once a month, with this beautiful one!
Doing It Different
Shining Moments and Another Milestone and Library
August 14 2016:
Some of the best learning and teaching moments simply sneak up on us and happen! xoxo
A couple of Shining Moments from last week – Sent with love and blessings that you be in the moment and aware of the shining moments that happen in your own life in this upcoming week and always … xoxo
I took Thomas with me to the post office on Thursday and let him do the talking and paying. The lady behind the counter said at least 3 times how awesome she thought it was that I am teaching him how to mail something.
She said so many of the teens and young adults don’t know how to mail something. I had not really put thought into this. I had not pre-planned this post office trip with him so that he could learn something. It just happened naturally as we were standing in line. What a blessing!
We went to Trader Joe’s on Wednesday. I told Thomas and Lillian they could pick out a cheese while I got some other things. They spent a long time looking at all the cheeses and they know we don’t have much money right now.
I could hear them discussing it and in that moment time stood still and I knew everything is perfect, happening perfectly, and that everything will be okay and perfect! They chose one that was inexpensive but also a cheese they wanted. xoxo
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August 18 2016:
Reached another milestone today for Thomas’ book, Biggest Little Photographer! I had intended to be further by end of day tomorrow, yet, it’s great progress! We tremendously appreciate the shares, likes, and comments whenever I post about it here or on one of our blogs!
It helps us incredibly when we receive pre-orders. If you were planning on getting a book, come on over to Thomas’ website and check it out. There’s a cool 2 minute book trailer too! xoxoxo
(Here’s one of the photos in the book in honor of Library Day this weekend!) Due out mid to late Fall 2016 and will make awesome birthday or holiday gifts (or even Thank You gifts if you want to order in bulk). Here’s the link:https://thomasadarnell.com/author/
And here’s a bit about the book … ” …. This is not simply a photography book and not a photography book by a professional photographer. This book is about an 8 year old boy, with a passion for LEGO, and a huge heart.
An 8 year old boy who read an article about a professional photographer who had taken photographs of a mini figure taking photographs for 365 days. An 8 year old boy who then asked, “Can I do that?” and then bought a mini figure camera with his own money.
An 8 year old boy who used what he had, a donated iPhone 3G, mini figure pieces already owned, and spent less than $2.00 to purchase the camera piece. So, while you won’t find photographs of the highest quality and clarity within this book, you will find love, inspiration, and the knowing that whatever you dream, whatever you want to accomplish, it CAN be done. And you will find that life is what happens between asking, “Can I do that?” and “I DID IT!”
It’s about an 8 year old boy who, with determination and fun, completed a ONE YEAR photography project from the time he was 8 years old and ending at 9 years old.”
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August 19 2016:
Field trip included library day. Now up there with our other favorite library!!! Second time here and we love this place!!! Lillian was absolutely there … somehow I missed getting a picture of her! xoxo
Sweet Nectar for My Soul and Bliss and Beauty and Love and Hidden Beach
August 15 2016:
Lillian and I got to have a sunset walk. I’ve had a rough day and this was like sweet nectar for my soul.
I received an anonymous email from someone who laid judgment upon me and the way I choose to live. It hurt. I have not been able to take my own advice of “What other people think of you, is their business, not yours.”
I finally shared with a small group of friends and that helped a bit. Then I was treated to this most delicious walk with Lillian where I ask her about our walks together. xoxoxo And, lastly, I came home to a Louise Hay post of “I Release All Criticism” … Feeling so much better. Not quite myself. Yet, much better.
I apologize! I turned the video to landscape halfway through. Oops!!
By the end of the day, I chose to see this as an opportunity for growth for myself and to have compassion and non-judgment for the one who is confused by whether my living as a free spirit is by choice or necessity and the one who feels my kids are enduring financial stress that no kid should endure … Oceans and oceans of love to you … LOVE is the answer … xoxo
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August 17 2016:
Wonderful sunset to darkness walk last night. It was nearly 8:45 pm once we got back to the car. So quiet and peaceful with stops several times to listen to the birds talking. It got too dark for more pictures. These walks are so incredibly blissful. … Then we went to the grocery store. 9:00 at night is the time to go grocery shopping! So quiet!! xoxo
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August 18 2016:
Beauties outside of the building yesterday afternoon … Northern Nevada Medical … Where Lillian receives craniosacral therapy. We were in a hurry so I could get to another appointment, yet we stopped to admire natures gift and to try and capture it. Remember to have a sense of wonder as often as you can. It’s life changing. xoxo
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August 18 2016:
Thomas n Camilla sunset walk tonight. I simply could not get enough of the light breeze brushing against my skin while gently blowing my hair. So divine.
Thomas and I had a ball. We watched the killdeer and the black necked stilt for a bit. Then danced a killdeer tango as we walked. If you’ve watched them you know what I mean.
Then Thomas said something that caused me to remember the television show with Lee Majors as The Bionic Man. Ha! Now Thomas knows some tv trivia! Nature is love … xoxo
Thomas wanted to share more about our walks. And I chime in a wee bit too. And so do the ducks!! On our sunset walk last night. xoxoxo
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August 19 2016:
Field trip day!! Lunch stop!! xoxo
Third stop on field trip day yesterday. I’ve only been here once and Thomas and Lillian have never been here.
Definitely got our exercise for the day. Another first for Lillian. She has never hiked on a little narrow path, sometimes with a steep downhill on one side. Lots of anxiety and one scream and one scratch on her toe and one scratch on my hand from her grasping my hand. We made it though!!
A first for me!!! I swam in Lake Tahoe and it was amazing. Refreshingly cold. Relaxing. I didn’t want to get out!! The water hugged and caressed my body like a Mother hugs her baby. Pure heaven.
Thomas swam too. He loved it!! Even though he got a gnarly scratch from one of the rocks. He wants to come back again and again. And wants to move to Incline Village!
Another first for Lillian. She got “attacked” by a dog. Well, not really. She has a debilitating fear of dogs. She was sitting on the towel. I saw the sweet puppy headed over and before I could get there he was trying to lick her to death. I’m sure all of Hidden Beach thought someone was in grave danger. Lillian screamed like I’ve never heard her scream. The dogs humans apologized like 5 million times. They felt so bad! It took her about 15 minutes and then Lillian recovered back to enjoying herself.
As we headed down to the beach Lillian was commenting she never wanted to come again. On the way back up she was commenting about next time this, that, and the other …
Made it back home about 8:00 with 4 scrapes and scratches amongst us and lots of tired muscles and having learned so incredibly much.
And …. We loved it!!! We will all sleep soundly tonight.
Your Strength is My Strength
August 20 2016:
“All that you witness I may never know.
Your strength is my strength.
Your patience reminds.
Your flexibility inspires.
As we dance this life together I reveal your beauty to you,
and you reveal my beauty to me.
Shall we dance?” ~Camilla Downs