This is in Huntsville. We took this after we played a mixer called Crackers. Jessica passed around a basket of wrapped tubes. They had candies, hats, origami snowflakes, and riddles. We took turns trying to guess the riddles that each person read. We did not plan on the flu keeping away Steve's brother and his family. We had fun, but missed so much getting together with them. We were so thankful that Jamie was able to stay longer. Rail Baron, 31, good food, a shopping trip, tinsel trail, thrift store run, and wonderful memories! 

Plans, Projects, and Progress

When I titled my post, I thought this might be longer than my first intent. I figured I would drop in a line to update my peeps on a few things. Now I am thinking, KEEP IT SIMPLE, DO NOT GO OVERBOARD.
Plans
1. Once a month updates to refresh my writing journals and such. I tend to get to December and wondered what did I do all year.
2. Refresh my world. Stay in touch through a concentrated effort.

Projects
1. Budget
2. Home
3. Body
4. Kitchen Cabinet Doors built
5. Christmas Decorations sorted and junk out!

Progress-I am doing it!
1. Decluttering my home. I started with the bathroom last month and hope to tackle one room each month. My daughter says I should add the yard to that list as well.
2. Decluttering my body. After some small talk about being overweight, I have endeavored to begin the rest of my life. It sounds cliche, but through determination and changing my thoguht pattern, I can do this. This time next year, my fitness pal (website that aids you in caloric intake and information), my daughter, my daughter's boyfriend, my friends, and MYSELF will be cheering my progress. DISCIPLINE!!!!

Photography ~ I really do love the results that come out of my camera. I designed books of the home-town college homecoming parade and ordered a copy. I LOVE IT! It sits on my table along with a flower garden book. I am thinking of steering more towards books and even calendars. I enjoy the books more. I might need to add text and stories to go with the pictures. I also took pictures at two local parades and I think they would make great books as well.

Today was supposed to be catch up day after my weekend away trip. Well instead, I designed christmas cards for clients. It has been so fun to be able to use my creative ideas and be a blessing. I also designed my own cards. I will show and give you a sneak peak at mine.

I stayed up late last night, having so much fun. I designed Christmas cards and a special book for a friend. I am up early. I got 3.5 hours of sleep, but I shall catch up tonight. I can feel my little feet getting ready for today. I am loading my car to go see my daughter and her husband. It is actually more of a business trip since I am delivering ten books that clients have ordered. Today will be awesome!

This is a quick magnet. I cut a small piece of matte board.  I used the spray adhesive on the matte board and the photo. Trimming the corners can be tricky if it is your first time. I need to figure out how to secure the corners with such small overlaps. If I attach a bit of string to the magnet, it can double as an ornament for the tree or anywhere.

I went up to the craft area to hunt for wicks to make lighting cones with wax for gifts. I found a roll of magnet, which made me think of ornaments made from wallet size prints, which sent me right back to thinking of photography, which made me think of my Christmas tree covered in my clients pictures, which made me think of a party, which made me think I HAVE GOT TO GET OUT OF THE CRAFT AREA!!!!!

Goals for today!
  1. Go through office desk.
  2. Hike 4 miles up the mountain behind the house.
  3. Show wonderful pictures to a mother.
  4. Stay focused and quit creating collage prints.
  5. Create Slide show for a meeting next week.
  6. Cook Lima beans and sausage for dinner.
  7. Plan and pack for a trip IF a package of books comes.

I have completed the edits on such a sweet girl. I cannot wait to show them to momma. After momma sees, I will show a few here.  Good night my sweet friends.

Today, I feel very solemn, hurt, and disappointed. Last night as I watched election results, I thought of how sad it is that a people can be so selfish. I have to ask, "Lord, am I selfish."  I hear in my heart the answer, "Sometimes . . .      I have enjoyed having my own little world. I am not afraid of pursecution for my faith. I am not fearful of where my next meal will come from; it is quite obvious that my body suffers no lack. My house is filled with wonderful trinkets, props, and tools that allow me to pursue my selfish ways. 
Now, I shall walk some stress off and go to the neighbors house. I will return with new resolve to practice some selflessness.

I absolutely loved spending time with this sweet little girl and her wonderful mother today. She was such a sweetie, very forgiving, and good natured sweetheart.

Music sets my heart to thinking. It's almost like traveling down the sandy roads of my childhood. I could not wait for the future, and now with more years behind me than in front of me, I best be careful that I not fall into melancholy.  I am sitting at my sons house as he plays the piano. It's almost like David the psalmist soothing the moment. He is playing Christmas music and I LOVE IT!!!! He says he is trying to record a Christmas album of music. I cannot wait. I think I will use it in my office. So soothing and peaceful.

Lately, I am wanting to get back to my writing. I miss it. I had hoped to incorporate it into my photography work. Maybe I will start a yearbook of each year and publish it at the end of the year for Christmas gifts for my family. Thinking this next year, I forget totally about the business of photography and only shoot for myself. I have figured the books this year and I am under by$173. SO if I make $173 by the end of December, I will break even.

If I break even, all my props, prints, and supplies will all be paid for. I am thinking this is the year I will shoot a couple of "Trash the dress" shoots because I want to. I have been relunctant because I looked at the dresses as valueable "sale" items and did not want to ruin resale value. BUT I bought  them to have fun. So I think this next year, I am going to do that. JUST HAVE FUN!

This past week has been very productive. My house is back in order, the props are being sorted out, and I am getting a handle on what I want to do.
I spent one day on a room in my house, just cleaning and straightening this past week. I worked a little bit today in the office. I have been working on an order of my photography book, 'Garden Party'. It is an awesome compilation of flowers and gardens (Huntsville Garden Tour) that I went on back in June. It is a 100 page book filled with flowers and garden things. I offered it for sale and have 10 orders to fulfill. I am so excited and think I would like to do more of that.

Rethinking business plan - I was going to ask for advice but then I think if I would just do what I tell others I would have all the advice I need. My biggest problem is probably discipline. After my fourth year of keeping books, I am, once again, pondering direction. My first goal was not to drive the family budget into the ground while I followed a dream. My second goal was to be where God wanted me to be. Photography is more than sticking a camera in someone's face or transferring my passion to others. I tell myself, FACE IT, some people will never understand that moment in time, that second of joy, when all the word is right and the click of the camera eye freezes it, giving a place for all the special people.

It is hard to describe a journey that is deeper than the outside appearance. I do know that God places more worth on what I do than I do. My camera touches lives in ways I will never know about. Sure there is a print that can be looked at and shared around, but it is the relationships and the hearts that I touch that matter most.

Maybe as a child, I heard so many stories and never saw the pictures. Maybe somehow when my mother discovered all of my baby pictures ruined by a leaking roof, she transferred some desire to get the pictures back. Did I somehow think, the pictures were more than paper dripping wet and running with blurred ink.

The youngest picture I have of myself is around 18 months old. At 10, I was given a camera for Christmas. Snap, snap, snap. I still remember an image I took of feet coming out from under covers. The arrangement, composition, and perspective remain in my mind. I have that image burned into my mind. Happy Feet! A happy time in our lives before a very tumultuous time.     . .

I sit here going on and on.   See discipline.  Gotta go.

This is one of the sweet babies. She has a smile that lights up any day.

Wow! It has been a while since I updated. Let me think. Since August 20th. Wow! Let me get my big broad brush and see if I can throw my life story at you fo rthe last 2 months.

August A friend and I started hikign the Pinhoti Trail(174 miles long). We are doing it in sections. We have put 60+ miles behind us. Gail, my hiking buddy, loves all the bent, curved, and trialed trees along the trail.

 September was filled with hikes and Babies. I was blessed to take pictures of precious babies. I cannot get any of the pictures to upload. I am not sure why, but I always have a horrible time getting my bog to look all cutesy like my other friends. Sometimes, I feel like it is a miracle to actually post before some glitch kicks it all out and I have to start over.

  Then, In October, I went to Huntsville to house sit for my daughter and her husband. I came home and am now involved with Gloss for a Cause. I am trying to sell lip gloss with a portion of the proceeds going to local women's shelters. The two beautiful ladies below are part of the photo side in the campaign.

Photography is always going on. LOVE LOVE LOVE

Today, my emotions are mixed. I run full speed excited to think of what I will be doing tomorrow and the next 8 days. Then, when I think about it, I get apprehensive and wonder if I can. My uncle and aunt are driving from Florida tonight. THey will swing by my house and pick me up for our drive to Virginia. My aunt and I will hike the AT! Yes The Appalachian Trail awaits me. I am trying to remain calm and pack only the necessary things. CAMERA check  UNDERWEAR check  Is there anything else I need? Oh my goodness YES! I need this and that and this and that. I make this post for the three friends that read it, so I hope you enjoy.

blah blah blah I had a very exciting blog that I just finished writing and then accidentally closed the page. ARG Well blah blah blah.

Sometimes I go through such a crazy feeling of "What am I to do?"

It is July 4th. No cookout meat. What was I thinking? My hubby is off and feels like he has nothing to do. I, on the other hand, have been working the last three weeks to develop a mindset that my home is my workplace and away from my home is my play place. I have no money for gas to go away to play.

I tried yesterday to work out a creative solution to a schedule and mileage problem. To me, it was common sense. I forgot that my husband nor my son are the waiting around and killing time kind of people. If there is down time, my hubby is not. I will find something to occupy myself and just wait for things to catch up to the schedule. They do not.

So this morning, we are all back in the same situation that we were yesterday. The only difference is that Jon has a 1/4 tank less of gas in his new "used" truck that still sits in our driveway.

So far today,                       I have not planned a meal that Steve will like
                                           I still have excess weight on this big butt
                                           My kitchen cabinets still need doors
                                           There is still photo props and clutter that I need to sell
                                           With hot flashes all the time, I feel crappy, old, and ugly
                                           With all this sweat, pretty makeup is no use


CHIN UP SISTER, IT'S NOT THAT BAD!

PLEASING MYSELF IS EASY                  PLEASING OTHERS IS HEARTBREAKING

CHIN UP SISTER, IT'S NOT THAT BAD!

Good Morning! This past week has been hormonal for me. Highs and lows. Although I am not sure at times, I can handle the hot flashes. The crazy mood ups and downs is so crazy. One day, I am going to conquer the world, and the next, I want to burrow down in some whole somewhere.

Monday was aesome high as I rode on a birthday bike ride WITH a friend that turned 67.  We rode 67 miles. Yes I said 67 miles for 67 years all in one day. Took us 8:24:36 of ride time and 3:20:00 of rest time. We were both sore for a couple of days.
Tuesday, I worked on the pictures from the bike ride so the friend could have them sooner.
Wednesday, I just laid around and nursed the sunburn on my legs from the bikeride and waited for mojo to return.
Thursday is ladies hormone lunch. I get to talk out my frustrations and listen to others encourage me that I am not the only one having to deal with issues.
Oh Wednesday was also the day that threw me for a loop. As a Christian, I strongly believe that my goal is to be and become more Christlike. With our love for God comes a responsibility to give guidance, encouragement, love, and correction to our brothers and sisters. This world is not a friendly place. I, on the other hand, feel that the whole world should be a perfect balance of love and harmony operating within the guidelines scripture has laid out for us. I tend to be a very black and white mentality person. The yellow line on the road is there for our protection and guidance. We may drift occasionally over the line, but we are not to play with the line to see how many times we can cross it before we hit something. Some act as if the yellow line is a suggestion, dancing back and forth regularly. My whole heart is happy to live on my side of the yellow line.
With that being said, a dear friend announced this week that she not only wants to ignore the yellow line, she wants to flaunt her defiance to everything she has been raised to believe. I know we grow and change, adopting new understandings of who we are. My problem was not with her announcement of her engagement to her girlfriend. My problem was the CHRISTIANS who stood up and cheered her. I expect evildoers to cheer on sin, but not those of us who are supposed to be fleeing all appearances much more the outright defiance to scripture.
If I announced tomorrow in my prayer group that my husband and I can no longer limit ourselves to one partner and therefore we will be "mixing it up." I would not expect my fellow believers to stand up and cheer. Sin is sin. My fat is a problem in my life. I am constantly battling with gluttony and it shows. Scripturally I do not expect to get rounds of applause when I gain more tonage.
Needless to say that whole situation had me thrown. Again not that she announced that she did not care what scripture said about it, but that my fellow "Christians" encouraged her to "slap God in the face" and to ignore any scriptures concerning the issue.
I do not ever expect fellow drivers to stand and cheer the other driver that wants to defy the yellow line. If you see someone going the wrong way, you get out of the way, and do everything in your power to bring some kind of correction to provide safety to society.
I just did not expect Christians to stand up and cheer on a sinful behavior.

Amidst all this drama and emotion, I mention to my husband last night that I feel so totally overwhelmed with the packing and cleaning. He took it as a whine and complain and instead of "do you want to talk about it?" he says, "You have all day. I go to work 11 hrs a day. If you went to a job for 11 hours. . ." at this point I hear nothing, but I think, "Seriously!!!!!"

I feel ugly, aged, fat, indulgent, unappreciated,  and "seriously????"

And now I sit on Friday morning needing to prepare for a camping and caving trip this weekend. Maybe the time away will refresh me. It best refresh me because it will be a mess next week trying to get everything put back away. And since I am the stay at home, the putting away and reorganizing falls to me. But then again, a friend recently told me "She can do it all!"

This is probably one of those posts that should just be deleted.

All finished with the wedding book.  100 pages.  It is wonderful and ready to put in the order. Where can I get a loan?

As motivated as I am today, I should be able to finally do it all!!!! I have written a 4 page letter to a dear relative in Germany that I have neglected for 2 years. I made copies of all the articles and magazines to send to her as well. I have done two loads of laundry. I am so glad I do not have ot haul them to a wash board. I have also started the turkey stew for dinner. I called a friend who is anxious to see pictures that I took in her garden. I made a new chore list and checked off the appropriate lines. I need to go mow the yard for 5 minutes so I can check off that line. If I am going to do it all including blogging, I best move on and mark off the blog line. I hope you can do it all today too, because I have been told by a very reliable source that it can be done.

Today, I am closer to finishing my niece's wedding book with all of her photos in it. 70 pages so far. I am just a romantic at heart. Then when I go to order, I will have to make sure to get one for myself.

    Today is downright "DISTRACTION" day. Most days, I get up and I hit the ground running. Today, was one of those, "Oh no really?" kind of days. It doesn't help that I stayed up until 2 watching movies because I could not sleep. Then at 9:30 I rolled out of bed to the dreary, rainy, cooler morning. I have two things at the top of my list. I started working on the first one and have been distracted ever since. It is now noon, and I feel no further along. The livingroom is the number one priority today. I generally let my time be consumed by my love of photography, so dusting is not on my list. The living room gets a dusting maybe every 3-4 months if that much. If you are allergic to dust, then we need to have lunch away from my house. This is in all seriousness. There is also a wall in this room that drives me crazy because I cannot figure out how to decorate it. Between two windows, equally in size, is a space that is almost the size of the windows. BLOCK BLOCK BLOCK. I have always struggled with trying to break up the "block" look. Today, I have come to the wall and have just lost all motivation.
     What is motivation, anyway? Is it really even necessary today?  On the theme of distraction, let me go on to say. The other day, a couple of friends and I were out exercizing, and I was talking about my new "hours" concept where my chores are listed within HOURS. Anyway, I was discussing how difficult it is for me to stay focused without lists. To which the friend replies that she has no idea how anyone has trouble doing their chores. "I just do them. Done. Finished. What's the problem." She also went on to say she can change the world with her "just do it" attitude. She used to run circles around her co-workers. Can you tell that I wanted to just lump her in the basket with my husband and send them to the whitehouse. Maybe she could be president and stay away from me with her "JUST DO IT" speech.
     Sometimes I just want an ear and someone who understood. Well, it was not her. After her spill, I wished I had never opened my mouth.
     Well today is one of those days. So if you are having one as well, hold your head up, cry if you need to, get some food, drink some water, and head over to my house for a hug. In three months when I come back to read this, it will all be a blur.

Once again, I tell myself, "STAY FOCUSED!"

Another HOURS day! I had a hard time sleeping last night, so I stayed in bed until 8. I did get up and start cleaning my bedroom. I sorted all of my jewelry out. I found a watch I had been looking for but realised I have misplaced a flowered zippered pouch that contains the handmade stuff from my daughter and cousin. It will turn up.While working on the jewelry, a client called and asked me to load some of her pictures to the site for a possible order. That was real encouraging since I have been "low" lately. Then I worked on the porch, the yard, and the laundry. I also picked 4 cups of blueberries which are now in the freezer. I am packing my car to go to Huntsville this weekend to do a yardsale with my daughter. I am almost totally unpacked from the trip to Florida. I am loving this HOURS thing. I am also amazed at how many things I keep adding to the  list of chores that need done. If I concentrate on my chores in the day, I shoudl be able to go out and play at night. I do want to start some night time black and white industrial portraits. Courthouses, churches and office buildings are very cool subjects for this idea.

Today, I have tried to do HOURS. An hour of this and an hour of that. I mowed the yard for an hour real early this morning.I worked on the budget for an hour. I worked in my office for an hour sorting old mail and clearing off the clutter. I worked on my sister's wedding pictures, and they are ready to send. I worked on picking blueberries and hanging metal bird-scaring pans from the bushes. I still need to work in my bedroom, fold some laundry, and make a squash casserole for dinner. Feeling accomplished. I will try the same schedule tomorrow and see how much I can get done.

One of my favorites from the bridal shoot with my new niece.

Photos, Weddings, and Home

I am back home, but find myself overwhelmed with taking it easy. It's not that I am sitting on the couch all day. I am playing with photos from computer.

In Florida, I tried to go to the sunset quite a bit this time. With photos from two weddings, sunsets, and this past weekend, I think I will just slow play the next couple of weeks.

Yesterday, in the morning, I cleaned the house. Then for about 5 hours, I sat and watched a live workshop on Flash Photography. LOVE! And ready to go reshoot some receptions.

Today, I spent most of my time playing with Powerpoint 2007 trying to realign my nephew's wedding set to music. The whole file is 29 mb and no way to share it with the world. I love it but feel like today was a waste of time.

While I was in Florida, my husband's work car blew the motor. It had over 333,333 plus miles. Faced with needing a vehicle, we are trying to cut down on trips to town and spending.

Last weekend was such a surprise in our lives. Our daughter and son-in-law invited us up to Huntsville for a belated Mother's Day weekend. Our son planned to join us. Our daughter in Idaho comes to visit at Christmas. Plane tickets are $400 plus so a visit from her at this time was out of the question.

When we arrived in Huntsville, Jessica came running out and hugged me so tight. I had decided not to bother her with the questions a normal mom asks when she gets around her married( 5 years) daughter.
She was so excited I could not keep the wondering out of my mind. She hurried us into the house because they wanted to give us the surprise ASAP.

We were ushered into the back room where the washer and dryer is. A medium sized box was wrapped up and sat in the middle of the room. You coudl hear the little whimpers. My husband was none too happy to be hearing that the gift was small and noisy.

We pulled the box opened and out popped our Idaho girl. The smiles on our face and the tears in my eyes. What a surprise that was. She had come down with her friend Rachel from Idaho. Rachel was moving back home to Tennessee after getting her Master's at Idaho.

This weekend, I plan to enjoy all of my children again. Right now, Jon, Christina, and Christina's friend, Rachel are all hiking together in the Smokies. Rachel plans to hike the whole AT soon and is starting to train.

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d7a457a4d54497a4d44673d0d0a&blogview=true

Tonight, I am feeling a little emotional. You know those moments when no one quite understands what you are going through. Somehow you don't transfer what you want to accomplish into actual tangible completed tasks. I occassionally get in too deep and then wonder why I do so. Then, I think I must be hormonal.  I probably just need sleep.

Fun Photos

Cute faces from Easter Photo Shoots today.

This is a cute little desk I found
at a yard sale yesterday. It fits
right in with my new
red and white porch

Announcement/ Invitation Templates

These are the style that I worked on all day instead of doing my taxes.

Taxes??? Not! Maybe next week.

Well this week definitely is turning out to be an office sitting week. I was supposed to do taxes yesterday, but I sat and organised pictures all day. Then today, my sister called early and we started designing wedding invitations. Once again, taxes will be put off.

Saturday finds

Today, I was so undecided about what I would do.

After realising that trade days onlyhappen once a week, I left my house to the weekdays and went to see what kind of cool pieces I could find to hang on my kitchen walls.

My hubby is not very happy with all the junk I found. I think he is not crazy about the cluttered "Cracker Barrel" look in my kitchen. I will take a few things down, but I will add most of the cool things I found today. I found three bridles that I plan to use as towel hangers. A couple of rake heads, an ice pick, and some pulleys will go up quickly. I should have just hung them up and he woudl not have noticed.

After the trade days, I stopped at a pretty barn to take pictures. One day I will compile and complete my farm project.

LOOOONG Weekend Drive

Our original plans were to be real simple. Saturday morning - get up, drive two hours north, vertical rope training until the afternoon, drive one hour to Huntsville, sleep,wake up, cave, come home, relax Monday.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED - Saturday, we went to Attalla when we should have just headed north to Cherokee Rock Village(one extra hour of drive time). We then headed to a friend's house for a get together/party which was in Southside/Albertville area. About 9 p.m. we drove home more than an hour to get home. Sunday afternoon, we left for Huntsville driving 2 hours to Jessica's to stay the night. Monday, we left around 7 a.m. to go check a cave and do some ridgewalking. Around 1 p.m. we drove back 2 hrs to home arriving around 4:30. At 6, I got back in the car to go to Gadsden for the GAP(Photo Club) once a month meeting. I don't miss it unless something REAL MAJOR comes up. So 2 more hrs of drive time and I was home around 2 a.m. So all in all, we put enough miles on the gas tank to not have grocery money for the next six months. Hahaha but we did travel around 11.5 hours the whole weekend covering about 650 miles.

Today, I woke up to an email that offered me the deal~Photobook for $10.00. Since these things usually run about $50, I pounced. Then to keep momentum, I went right to work. I have a friend who really wants pictures of her daughter's wedding but is so overwhelmed by all the digital pictures that she has yet to get anymore than what I have given to her. I set right to work. Six hours later, I hit the "upload to the website" button. Informed that it would take 88 minutes to upload, I had to stay on my computer to keep it from hibernating. Hibernation would interrupt the upload and I would have to start over. Once that was done 10 more minutes of processing and paying, the book should be delivered about March 7th. My body is literally sore from sitting here all day(over 9 hrs). I hope she loves it. The work just flew by, but now I am tired and moving hurts. I guess I will go check my mail, have some breakfast, and go on a walk.

Okay! Let me try again part 2

This is such a sweet gift.

When you open the box, the gift gets even prettier.

This is handmade through and through down to the last cut, stitch, letter, and knot.

It is aproximately eight feet long. It is connected with baker's twine.

Okay! Let us see if I can do this.

This past weekend, my husband went caving and spent the night at our daughter's house in Huntsville. After being back home for a while, he springs up and says, "I have something for you from Jessica!"

He hands me this box.

I still do not have the hang of this thing. The three other pictures that I tried to add have disappeared.

PLANS

I found myself thinking of life in a plan A- plan B mindset. This last weekend, I think life is more of a journey on a plan rather than two plans to choose from. I thought if something bad happened along my way then somehow, I had ventured off of the safe, quiet, calm, perfect plan. "No," I say to myself, "my life is one plan, one path, one venture, TO FOLLOW MY LORD." Where ever that leads, I must be content to know that if I am attentive to His lead, I will follow.

The biggest obstacle I find is that my life is mixed up, snagged by, enhanced with, so totally joined to OTHERS. Maybe that is what the scripture is talking about when He says we must leave father and mother, husband and wife, brother and sister, to follow Him. Becoming individual in a world where we longed to fit in. We are geared for communication, for fellowship, for unity, and then he throws the idea at us to follow Him is leaving everything behind.

Anyway, I shall close this and move on to my next post about my wonderful valentine banner that one of my daughter's made for me. Sherry, you will love the pinks and reds in this. I may just bring it with me on Thursday so you can see it.

Valentine's Day

Just when I think we cannot agree, we buy each other the same gift (without pre-planning).

Friday Fun

Today, we were able to finally get the gutter relined. It was quite a task. I bought the flashing the other day and planned for a no-seam continuous aluminum lining. 27 feet of flashing was determined to flap in the wind, jump off of the roof, and do its own thing. BUT, we were victorious.
Now for all the other chores in my life!

photo shoot fun

This morning, this handsome young man came to have his senior portrait done. His mother and I narrowed the choices down to 2 of her favorites. She took samples home so that her husband could help her decide. I could not wait to hear their decision before I jumped into my editing fun. I am pretty sure it will be this one. I am waiting to order prints for her tonight. And if they choose a different pose, I will have fun all over again!!!

I have not accomplished many of my goals today because I have had picture fun. I have rearranged the house to make room for an 8 ft ladder to be moved from my porch to the livingroom.

Life is good. I think I will go work on the gutters outside and cross off my list. hehehehe

All day with pictures

I did not grab my camera and go to the woods. Instead, I grabbed a mouse and click my way through several hundred pics, deleting the unworthy ones. Every picture can have worth but I cannot keep every snapshot. Pictures can be somewhat like clutter. We keep too many and miss out on the few that really matter. I had close to 3,000 pictures from our 30 year anniversary trip to South Carolina. I was so thankful for my written trip journal. It will help me compile the book and document the memories.

I was also able to go through 3-400 of my daughter and her husband's train trip to Idaho last Summer. It is easy to become overwhelmed and lose hope that one day I will have all the pictures tagged and easy to locate.

This morning, actually at noon, I have a dental cleaning scheduled. From the dentist, I will head to the thrift store to locate a couple of old computer keyboards for a photoshoot tomorrow. I also hope to go by my son's house and work on clearing out my junk from his garage. He has been so patient.

Ideas, ARG!!!!

The ideas going through my mind. TOo many ideas and not enough energy to accomplish it all.
Back steps need designed and built. Maybe a back porch. Could we screen it in? The front porch needs cleaned off. Where do I put all the stuff? Jessica says I need to paint my porch swing white and my rocker a bright red and get red and white accent pillows. The idea just excites me. My kitchen cabinets need finished. I need sleep/ AHHHH it's 10 p.m. Time for Andy Griffith and sleep!!!
Good night. Watch out for tomorrow. I may just grab my camera and just go play tomorrow.
Probably not.

Wet Wednesday

Hi peepulls!

I am having somewhat productive day. I am slowly plodding along. I am not moving like a whirlwind, but today, I have cleaned out the bathroom top tile to bottom tile. I also washed 3 loads of laundry, cleaned out the laundry area, and straightened my kitchen. Dinner is on the stove and my hubby will be home in an hour.


Just a quick note abotu yesterday. I went with three other friends on the Pinhoti Trail. We hiked in one hour and back out putting 3 miles of wear on my boots. It was nice. We headed home and then decided to go get pecans.

Life is good.

Tomorrow is lunch with girlfriends. Friday will start a family weekend. My daughter and her husband are swinging in to surprise my husband for his birthday. I plan to make Italian Cream Cake and spend the weekend having fun!

Tuit Tuesday

It's not a perfect image, but this is something I have wanted to do for three years. In case you are wondering, this one image has the red, yellow, and green lights on. Not only did it happen in the close block, I managed to get the next block as well. It's not that difficult of an image to get. I have just wanted to do it and keep putting it off.

Good Morning Monday!

Monday is like the good morning for the whole week.

I must admit, since my diet started, I hve jumped on th e scale more than I had planned. I dropped another half pound. I always start out with great progress, and then as the weeks progress, it slows down. The first week I dropped 4.5 lbs. This second week, only .5 lb. has left me. I am encouraged and motivated.

Photography still brings me joy.

Storms swept across the state this morning. I slept right through it.

Today, I plan to get my office under control again.

Sunday Review

Sometimes coming up with a title for the blog is the hardest part of the day.

This past week, I was able to take pictures of a new baby, to bike 35 miles(2days), to walk six miles, to get my tree put in the shed, to have lunch with my friends, to pencil in three weddings on my calendar, to dream of a possible trip to california, and to plan for next week.

Thank Yous

Today, I am using the talent to make Thank You notes for a friend. I may not have been in during the delivery, but I feel honored to be able to be with them so much the past day and a half. I edited pictures yesterday, and I let them look at a few last night. They chose the birth announcement pictures which are at the printer as I type. They also chose her middle name, which I will let them tell everyone. It is no secret that her first name is LillieFaye. I am having so much fun designing and do the layout on some "Thank You" notes for her. As soon as I complete them including pretty pink tissue paper and a convenient box to tote them in, I shall work on catching up on my house.

Since I have been gone most of this week, holding a baby, there is not much to do. I am in the middle of taking down the Christmas tree, building shelves in the shed out back, and finishing my cabinets.

My diet is going well. No crazy hormone outbursts have littered my days. Exercising needs to also be in todays activities. The quiet resolve on the inside remains. Steady as she goes people. If we do this right, change can keep damage to a minimum.

Birth

Sadly, my modest, quiet friend chose not to have me in the room during delivery with my camera. I wanted to cry but remembered to trust God that he will put me where he needs me to be. I was cheered up because the nurse said as soon as they cut the cord, I would be brought back in with my camera. She lied. She came and told us all we could come see now. As I looked through the glass, I was wishing my friend(a nurse) had been on duty. Do you know how aggravating it was to take pics of that baby through that wire looking glass? I was so disappointed. She was born before the doctor got there. She was brought to the room all bundled with strict instructions to keep her as warm as possible and not to uncover her. Her feet were poked and now have bandaids all over them. Oh well. I left the hospital at 12:30 a.m. and feel blessed to know my friend is well and her baby girl is here. I will have all day tomorrow to work on her baby pictures. Congrats and Welcome to the World LillieFaye!

New Winds or NOT

I sit at my computer staring blankly, knowing seriously, hoping nothing, dreaming . . .

The air is still. I can hear the hummm of the frig and my hubby's computer in the other room.

A calm steals my heart as I think about some changes that I see coming.

I am not really afraid like I have been in the past.

My emotions are not running away with me as is often the case with crazy ideas.

What if my life is not the same tomorrow? What if something changes? Then a small giggle escapes from my heart as I recollect that every second, every moment all of our lives are changing.

Disclaimer: No reason for anyone to call and check up on me. I just needed an ear.

Photo Fun

Yesterday, I did not accomplish any house projects. I just took me time and enjoyed the morning. As I was relaxing, the energy slapped me in the face, and I was all a twitter to be up and out. After a short bath, I took a gift to a friend in Piedmont. Once the gift was delivered, I headed to the Weaver City Park to spend a few hours with another friend toplay with our cameras. I then headed to Oxford to drop some things off at Jon's(my son) house and picked up a couple of things.

Today, I plan to complete the shed project that I did not do yesterday. I want to fill one wall with shelves for all of my Christmas decorations.

Gadsden Grotto business

I was appointed last month to the position on secretary for the Gadsden Grotto. The grotto is a caving club. Yes, into the depths of the earth, CAVES! I did not expect to spend all day at my computer, but that's what I ended up doing. I organised papers, processed bank books, produced treasury reports, and updated on line web page info. So all in all, my head has been stuck in the books all day. My husband went out hiking, but he called me.
"Did you check the mail?"
"No, I have been busy doing bookwork," I replied.
"Call me back when you go check it."
My wonderful husband had ordered me a remote radio trigger for my flash. It's a good thing I did not know about it earlier in the day. I would have been out playing with camera. I am tempted to go play now. It is freezing outside, and the blanket by the fire, in front of the TV is calling my name.

Thursday and Lunch

My sleeping habits are crazy. I wake up late, fight off a nap in the afternoon, and then struggle to sleep at night. Last night, I was up until 3 a.m. Then, this morning, I sleep until 8:30. My cabinet doors will be put on hold for a couple days. I still need to type up the meeting minutes.


Lunch with girlfriends YAYAY!!!!

Good Morning Wednesday

My throat feels just a teeny tiny sore. I had that feeling. It usually is the pre-runner to what I call the throat-thingy. Yesterday was a productive day for me and today, even though the sky is blah gray, has hope and promise.

My goals today are not real high, so I should be able to accomplish them. The first goal is to eat breakfast. That should be easy. The second goal is to finish cleaning the living room. With company coming, that should be finished in the next thirty minutes. My third goal is to type up the meeting minutes from our cave club last night. Since I am the secretary and everything is still fresh on my mind, I need to get that done soon. My final goal is to get my office under control.

This morning, as I started to clean the living room, I leaned down to sort some shoes by the front door, and I found my missing Chacos and noticed a canon battery is plugged in under the table by the door. So, I guess another goal for today is to call two of my kids and find out who is missing a battery and charger.

Off to the goal list.

Tuesday

This morning has come. Without boxes, bags, or bows, it came. Well maybe not so true. Boxes need cleaned out, the bags of stuffed skin rolled out of bed. And, I tied a small bow on the front of my shirt. Aside from the reference, today, starts with my feet scrambling up onto the scale to reveal in fact that I am 5 pounds heavier than before the holidays.

My breakfast is behind me, while my calorie diet, ambitious goals, and mountainous clutter stands before me. It is morning though, and being the morning person, life is good, energy is high, and my mind is determined. My little energized fingers have written my weight on my small little designated diet plan book. I shouldn't say little fingers, since it was hard to remove my rings this morning.

Today goals include housework, decluttering a closet, and photography.

As I speed off to get busy, I want to wish you a great day!

Airport

Today, I woke up late, but I am in no hurry to take my daughter to the airport. I feel like dragging my feet and taking my time. Why do we think we can take MY time? No one owns time. None dictate a direction to time. God holds the stars. God tells the waves when to crash and when to rest. Time. Arg. If it were really MY time . . . I must go. The clock has more control than I want to admit.

Photography Ideas

I pulled my camera out today to start on a project.

Too Many New Ideas

Here I am again. Goals, Clutter, Calendars, and Plans swirl in my mind. My energy feels bottled up without a plan of action. Sometimes, I feel so inconsistent.

Tomorrow, I take my girl to the airport to fly her back to Idaho. Everything in me is hollaring, "NO!" I must move on or I will be a pile of tears.

Tuesday, I have an appointment to discuss photography with a client. I also plan to kick start a diet plan.

Wednesday, I have a breakfast date with a friend to discuss a project to incorporate my photography talents and her writing skills.

Thursday, after my ladies lunch date, my husband and I will start on the cabinet doors for my new upper kitchen cabinets. We will plan on using time this coming weekend to get them completed. While my husband works on the doors, I will start the work on the base cabinets.

New ideas

I am thinking of taking a back seat on facebook and moving more of my writing to here. We shall see how that works.