After a pretty significant string of gloomy, cloudy, snow/ice-filled days, it was a wonderful thing when the sun finally broke through the clouds on Thursday. Happily, I was downtown for work and my day was just ending as the skies brightened.
I decided to take advantage of the slightly warmer temps (it approached 50 degrees for a few hours there!) and take a walk up and down N. Broadway to enjoy the beautiful homes and the sunshine. While dramatic cloud cover can, in many cases, provide an interesting background to scenic photos, I always enjoy taking pics of buildings when the skies are blue, and this time I really lucked out in that there were also puffy white clouds AND snow. My idea of a perfect backdrop.
Each and every home on both sides of the road is uniquely special. I only included a few of them here, however, because many times I was working around parked cars and power lines, or there was work being done on the home, etc.
As I have mentioned in some of my Frozen Moments Facebook posts recently, I 
have spent the past few weeks frantically preparing for my daughter’s bridal shower which was held this past Saturday. There were so many details to handle and so little time!! Going out for walks with my camera was, as always, a perfect way for me to unwind, relax and get my thoughts together.
Which leads me to my next thought…although it is in no way related to these N. Broadway homes. I will continue to share the photos in this post as I take a moment to babble a little bit.
They say that people come into your life when you need them, and that they are there for a particular reason. There are a couple of people who I KNOW fell into my life at the exact right moment, who helped me get through difficult times with smiles and great ease. I honestly don’t know how I would have handled all the changes in my life without their help. I acknowledge and appreciate their 
presence, and I will cherish their friendship forever. Then there are all the others whose constant presence can’t be pinpointed to a specific reason or time, but who have been there seemingly forever…whether I’ve known them for 50 years, 30 years, or three.
And then there’s my family. Always there and always loved. Especially my sister with whom I have shared so much. I don’t know where I would be without her. And my brothers who I know always have my back.
I have never felt more lucky or more blessed to have the family and friends 
that I have, than these past few years and, in particular, right now as I prepare for my daughter’s wedding. I had so much help with this bridal shower and all of our friends (both mine and my daughter’s) were there with us to help us celebrate her upcoming nuptials.
I looked around the room as she was opening her gifts and silently acknowledged just how lucky I am. And that’s just the people who were there in the room with us! It didn’t include childhood friends and cousins who are still an important part of my life, or my work “family” who are more friends than bosses and co-workers, or my many new Saratoga friends. Or even the many wonderful new friends I have met through Frozen Moments.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank every single person who is a part of my life, no matter how big or small, and to let you all know how grateful I am for your presence in my life. I hope I am as good to all of you as you are to me. I 
know this kind of went off-topic…but I’ve been feeling overwhelmed with gratitude and I wanted to express it. In and around all the photos of the beautiful N. Broadway homes!
PS I realize I used the word “friends” way too many times here…but it was always applicable so I didn’t edit any of them out.
