Monday, June 27, 2011

playing catch up!

I can't believe June is almost over and I am behind again in all my photo challenges!  Where does the time fly to? If it goes to a place with abundant time I want to go there!
Bella's 52 photos project is great!  If you haven't heard about it yet, you should check it out.  I love reading all the interviews and looking at everyones photos and then following their link to read their blogs and websites.  What a great idea Bella!
This week is Week 9, and the challenge was to find a word that described yourself.  I am happy! Despite my inability to manage time, take on way to many projects, never reach the bottom of the mountain of laundry....I am happy.  Blessed beyond words.  I hope my photos reflect my happiness.
Here are the photos from week 5-8 too so that I can be completely caught up and back on schedule... for today :)

Week 5: Water - this is Lake Grapevine that we rode the horses in to cool off while on a trail ride
Week 6: A memory is my angel wing necklace that I wear in memory of my angels: Jess and Justin.  I miss them both so much but know they are with me every day.
Week 7: A heart.  I love finding hearts in nature and these clovers were closed at the end of the day.

Week 8: Outside the Window is intense heat! Yes this summer has been hot! in the 100s already.  The pool is used mostly in the late afternoon after the sun has gone down behind the trees unless the kids are awake before noon!
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far and finding ways to find happiness in every day.
xoxox

Monday, May 16, 2011

52 photos


My friend Bella, has a new photo challenge that I am so excited about!  It's called 52 Photos Project. Each week we are given a prompt on Sunday, as well as an interview with a photographer so we can get to know different styles and personalities.  It's really a fun challenge. I am a little late starting but here are my entries for the first two weeks.
Week one was nourish.
Week two was color
Week three was a little harder: "I found it on the ground"
I was having trouble finding anything really worth photographing.  Then our puppy gave me something - even though it made me mad, it was hard to stay mad.  My son had planted me new flowers in the flower pots by the back door for Mother's Day.  I loved having my coffee each morning and looking out at the love he had given me.  Then this morning all the flowers were gone, there was dirt all over the ground and a puppy sleeping in the flower pot!
Now Week 4: Ray of Light
The weather has been beautiful the past few days and I snapped this sun flare through the trees in the backyard with my iphone, as I was outside reading.  Trying to enjoy the slowness of today for summer is about to begin!



Saturday, February 5, 2011

Celebrating February

I am a southern girl! I love the sun! I enjoy the winter and think snow is beautiful, but this uncharacteristically cloudy, below-freezing week in Dallas has left me shivering to the bone!  Until today...the sun has returned!
Even though we were iced in for the most part, February always begins with a week of celebration! My dear mother turned 70 on the 1st, and my amazing daughter turned 18, on Feb 2nd! Followed by several friends and mentors birthdays including Marisa Haedike and Susannah Conway. Happy Birthdays!

I am just beginning my journey as an artist, but I believe in my creative spirit.  I see opportunities and inspiration all around me.  It is so exciting! And today I celebrate my first post as a guest blogger in Mindy Tsonas' Wish Studio! I know - it's unbelievable! Click here to check it out!  I am giving away an authographed copy of Christine Mason Miller's wonderful book Ordinary Sparkling Moments. So leave a comment on my guest blog at Wish Studio and you have a chance to win!  Thank you!

Celebrate everyday this month with me!  There are small ordinary sparkling moments worth smiling about and saying Thank You! to the universe.  As well as big accomplishments as we grow into ourselves, no matter how old we are.

Have a magical, joyful day!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Number One

Happy New Year!

I'm moving slower than I had planned for this year, but trying to move gently and without expectations for 2011, since 2010 ended on a difficult note and with a feeling of uncertainy. Waking up in the early morning hours from a nightmare that is the same as my reality, continues to leave me dazed and wondering how the hell I got here and how to make it right again.  I have no answer for either.  But it is hard not to have optimistic expectations because... that is who I am.  Yet it drains me to remain in the same place and know that I will be here for a while...purgatory.  So I pray and hope that today is different.

I love today's date 1/1/11. 
It just seems optimistic to me.  I don't know, I guess I think of numbers as even and odds, and streams of data in 0s and 1s with zeros having a negative value (I mean, who wants to be zero) and one being, well you know, we all strive to be number one!  But noone wants to be the only one. And that is what I've been feeling a lot of lately.  Trying not to stay in my "pity party of one" I had a change in my perspective when I found Kristin Noelle on twitter.  We are not alone, but we have to seek out our connection to others, ask for help/support.  You will LOVE her adorable illustrations and insightful words regarding togetherness.

All I can do is lean into love and onto the shoulders of family and friends.  Sometimes, I feel I am leaning so hard, I am almost horizontal!  Is it okay to go through life right now looking up at the sky?  Looking for the silver lining, in awe of the colors of the sunrise and sunset, wishing on stars and finding angels in the clouds?  I guess it is better than lying face down in the mud, with my head in the sand...

So here is to looking UP in 2011 from whereever Iwe are! Remembering that tomorrow isn't just another day, it's a better day.
xoxoxoxo