Lately, I have found myself signed in under my gmail account with google which locks me out of the blogger. Maybe, the next couple of days I can get back in the settings and get this thing straightened out. Until then I MISS MY BLOG!

I get distracted so easily.   I went from my morning weigh-in (LOST 51 POUNDS SO FAR). With good news at the scale, I moved to my closet. Every ten pounds, I make myself try on everything and get rid of things that no longer fit, look good, or I will not wear. Trying on a dress, made me think of my new used boots. Which then, took me to the front porch to get this shot.

Now back to that closet.

I'm home! Vacation was awesome! Unpacking strategy ~ slow and steady wins the prize!

Vacation

The 2 week vacation has been wonderful. Some days stand out and at the same time, they start merging together into a "What did we do when" and the memories of just two days ago become muddled. I am reluctant to post anything public as, after all, we are on vacation. However, I am beginning to wonder if a brief summary of each day should be blogged. If anything to help me log the  trip.
So, now, while I can't sleep, I shall recall today's memories.

We woke up in the 1893, Ouray Hotel. We had breakfast and walked around the quaint home style town. We then headed back to our room for some rest. Today was a "dead" day to relax and take some breaths. BUT after rest, we hiked up (from the hotel room) to Lower Cascade Falls Park. We then continued on the Perimeter Trail that circles above the town. We hiked a quarter section. We visited a glass artist shop and pit in a special order ball ornament with our names engraved with 32 years under. I cannot wait to hang it on my Christmas tree. We headed to Box Canyon falls Park and then back to the glass shop to get the ornament. Then, we headed to the hotel and had canned soup fo r dinner.  We  rode up the Million dollar highway  COLORS AWESOME!!! Then back to the hotel.  At 8, we headed over to the historic Elks Lodge ( Amazing Place)  after an hour, we headed back to the room to relax. Steve caught up on news and emails while I shot some night light streaks n the street.

The sweet sound of water at a campsite. . . So sweet!

I am thinking of a huge canvas.

Doubts

It has been a couple of days since I posted. I have been going over and over on different things.  One day I know it will be my last "Pro" photo day because I do not like to sell to people. Maybe I do not think my photography is worth it. Maybe I am afraid they cannot afford it and will reject me. Then other days, I find people wanting me to do shoots for them and know that maybe God is not finished with my camera yet.  I go back and forth all the time.  I get tired and exhausted.  I love getting the shot.  I love seeing something different and new. I love allowing myself to express me into an image.

Sometimes I feel like I am charging for a talent that God has blessed me with.  It's the gear, education, time, wear, driving, gas, and all kinds of other things that add into it.  God has blessed me immensely with props and tools to be a blessing to others. But where are you going with this Lord?
What am I supposed to be doing with it?  Is there a need? Am I just tired and need sleep?

BY THE WAY,  for those following along  I HIT 45 pounds LOST this morning!!!!

Porch Clearing Day!

I was going through and taking pictures of things I need to sell or clean out. I came across this cute frame that is five inches wide and no more than 6 inches tall. Immediately hauled it out to the stump for a coat of white.

Once the white coat felt comfortable, I took the frame into the house, and

added gold and buff edging to it.

All finished and ready to gift, sell, or use.

Towel Rack or cake stand?

I was hunting in the shed for a square base for a cake stand.  If you cut these in half length ways, you could have 4 sides to a classic pillar style cake stand. You would just have to find a square board to be the plate. They work great as a fence in a studio set. If you turn them vertical, you can have an awesome towel holder or magazine holder or material holder or a photo booth prop holder. Who needs pinterest?

 

When I saw this metal rose frame at a thrift store, I knew immediately how I would use it. I knew instantly that it would be a gift for a couple and their wedding day.

It started as a burnt silver/ nickel finish frame.

I am always reluctant to paint things.

I painted the frame white because the bride loves white.  White dishes, white linens, whites everywhere. So painting this white was a no-brainer.

Next, I painted a pink, red, yellow, and red tipped yellow rose. The colors mean special things to them personally. Once the colored paint dried, I went over the whole thing with Gold Rub and Buff.

All finished, ready to wrap, and give to the special couple.

 

Errand Day

Today felt like errand day.  I went there and back again! My day would be totally accomplished if two things could happen.  My photo book could get ordered. AND I have the munchies!!!!!! Hopefully scale will be nice in the morning because I want to munch!  I am worth winning this battle!!!!

Today, my husband was sweet enough to start cutting slices of logs to build a coffee table for my porch. It is 28 inches across. I love every bit of it. Later in the day, I decided to take down the wreath from my bathroom that continues to shed its dried hydrangea flower petals. It has done this for years. Instead of the wreath I am going to add the hydrangeas to an old window frame and hang it in the place of the wreath.  When I laid the wreath on the wood, I was excited all over again.  Any way that I look at my slice of wood, I LOVE IT!!!

I borrowed an adaptor for my lens to see what I could get in wider possibilities.

 

Now another set.

and another set

and another set

 

and the last set

 

Today, I woke up, had breakfast, and got right to mowing the yard. After 2 hours of pushing the mower and a nicer looking yard, I had to shower and rest. I should be able to complete all the mowing tomorrow morning.  It takes about 6 hours to do our woods, but it is so pretty after it is done.  I have no picture, but I will try to remember to get one for you peeps tomorrow.
Good night! Sweet Sleeps to the peeps!

Good Morning!

 

Yesterday morning, when I opened the door, right in front of the opening, there was a spiderweb covering 30% of the front doorway. I told my husband, "Kill it!" Not because it was dangerous, but because I was not going to tolerate spiders trying to catch ME in their webs.

 

This morning, on the edge of the porch, somewhat out of the way, I decided to showcase this wonder of God's creation.

While I am taking pictures of the spider, hummingbirds make the rounds to get their breakfast serum. This is not a very good picture and there is no hummingbird in it. Tomorrow, I will do my best to set the flash and get a good shot.

I mowed my yard a little bit and then made my way to ladies lunch and errands. I found this beautiful size 8 girls dress that I cannot wait to play with.

After errands, I went to the bike trail for a photo shoot.

 At the end of the lighted day, coming home, The sky was so pretty.

Oh and I dropped another half pound today!!!!! GO ME!!!!

 

Today I accidentally plugged in my weight without a decimal point. Instead of 000 .5, the chart reads 0,000. Then when I typed another entry into the box, I get messaged that I have lost a significant amount since my lass weigh-in. Would I like to recalculate my goals?  LOL

This picture has nothing to do with my weight or diet. It is just a pretty picture of my porch.
Now, I am off to mow the yard!

Happy  Happy  Happy  Happy  Happy  Happy Happy  Happy  Happy  Happy  Happy  Happy

                32 YEARS  BABY!

I sent the little green pot to a friend, and it came back filled with blessings!!!

 

Since our car was feeling sickly, we took it to the mechanic. While we were out in the neighborhood, we stopped and visited with some sweet friends. We also were blessed to pick up a small bag of  tomatoes. Such sweet, wonderful friends. Maybe when the mechanic gets done, we can swing by again. For now, I will enjoy the wonderful summer fruit in my salads for a couple of days.

 

Yesterday turned into such a productive day. At first, we just lazed around. Then about 4ish, we looked out at the shed area where I am planning to build a photo storage shed. A couple of trees needed to be brought down. My husband requests that while I am out to help him, we should take down the big oak to insure it not fall the wrong way. So we worked and voila!!! The tree is down along with the other two for the shed area. I burned branches and hauled cuttings away from the area. We came in around 7. The day felt good! Now, today, we woke to rain. The sun is shining and I can feel the little "getter done genes" becoming active. Thinking of yard work and some more accomplishing!!!

Happy Labor Day weekend! It feels like it should be Flag Day, or Memorial Day. It is overcast outside, and we are just lazing around. I am sorting pictures on my desktop and came across this cool picture that I took a while back.
                                                     Happy Lazing Day!

Let me see if I can make a long story short.

 

I woke up Friday, got packed, and headed to my son's house.

There was so much to do. Plans were to get my first ever acrylic nails put on, deliver my son to the airport, and travel 6 more hours to see my sister.

Once I was in the car, I knew my car was sickly. The trunk release button would not work, the interior door lights would not work, the airbag light stayed on, the battery indicator says ????????? instead of 12.6, and the interior above lights would not work. The car runs great, but with travel plans, I cannot take chances. My first stop was for the Mani-pedi Nails stop. It took forever and a minute. 2hrs 40 mins to be exact!!!!! With time being short, I drove over to my sons house without having a chance to get my car checked out. He hooked his computer program up to it.  NO MECHANICAL TROUBLE CODES!!!!!

 

We drove his car to the airport, and I canceled plans for me to travel at all. 

 

Today, my husband and I pulled and checked a few fuses. We then went to find out if the battery was bad. We replaced the battery and still had problems. I called my dad, who gave us a few pointers and things to check. We pulled and checked all fuses, relays, breakers, and alternator. My car still has problems and we are no closer to the solution.  I guess we are closer because we do know what it is not! My Buick has four different fuse boxes, so you can imagine the time we are having.

 

So much for long story short!!!!

Happy Car Fixing day!

 

Nothing says Good Morning like pretty flowers.

 

This morning, I was blessed to be able to shoot a "game day" picture. This weekend is the kickoff to the game frenzy state called Alabama. The poking and teasing gets more intense as the season wears on. The Bama folks get there game taunts ready while the Auburn fans gear up for  another round of slamming us while we are down. I am an Auburn fan but try not to allow myself to become frustrated by  the obnoxious folks on both sides of the field.

After the shoot, my lunch friends joined me at the park for what we had hoped would be a refreshing time. It had a feel of the old days to it, and we will be going back to the indoors until cooler weather.

We talked and dipped our feet in the spring water. We felt the cool, fresh, sweet water that people comes from miles to get in jugs.

While some sat on the grass and

others with cute pink toes played with the idea of tickling the cold water,

I was letting my feet soak in the water.

This morning, my friend came and picked me up for a bike ride. We rode 22 miles and had a blast relaxing and spending time together.
The scale was nice to me again. I drop another pound making the total lost 42 lbs. So excited!!!

Did someone say GOOD MORNING!

 

Why, yes, they did!

Yesterday, was such a good day for me. The shed was put back together, I cleaned a little of my yard, and discovered the perfect spot for my photography STORAGE area! I am so excited. I will use whatever money I have made this year (which is not much) to build it. I will attach it to the existing shed and it will be perfect. I am so excited to have a plan to move all the hats, boots, overalls, and tuxedos into another area.

Until then, what to do today in order to be as productive as yesterday?  Clean kitchen, sew a bag that I thought I would work on the other day(never changed the thread color), and put a few more things in the thrift store pile.

 

 

It's Monday morning!  Where to start?  Where to start?

I have already started with editing some rodeo pictures from the beginning of August. It is hard for me to break away from the images once I start, but I (break- first I am going to go look up where the comma goes in a sentence conjunction) have so much to do today.

First, I wanted to share some images and why I wanted to show them to you. The dress above was the start of an organizational shoot at my son's house. I took two shots, and my camera battery died. This is so rare for me, but I let my husband drive off with all my gear in his trunk. I have 47 wedding dresses to use, rent, or sale, whichever comes first. With dresses like this, I am tempted to take all the lace off for my projects.

These bracelets were found at three different yard sales. I love the metal texture.

This is a flower pot that I picked up (also at a yard sale) for my neighbor. It is already at its new home.

This table will make an awesome cake stand at any formal, Victorian, country event. Solid wood except for the laminate ( appears to be leather) which is coming up on the edges.

A window that will join the others.

Teapots, all made in England, must go to new homes. I decided last night on my décor. It is hard to admit to myself that I am not the soft, sweet, delicate flower. I am a rustic, craft, country, simple soul.  That is the direction I need to go in for decor. 

 

This pink, soft sweater I purchased at a yard sale for $ .50 for the buttons. There are 8 buttons, 4 larger, 4 smaller.

 

Secondly, I need to get to my chores. This weekend was full with CHORES. Our AC window unit quit working last week. My husband found a unit off of Craigslist and put it in yesterday with the help of our son. While he was working on the AC, I tackled the dryer belt. The shed has been needing cleaned out for a while. So, knowing today would be sunny, I threw half of the junk out into the yard, pulled the dryer apart, and replaced the belt all by myself. I put the dryer back, but all the junk is still in the yard. Along with the shed, my front porch(the area with the cluttered SELL pile) had to be emptied to get the AC into the house. Sometimes, I wish I lived right in town; I would just have a yard sale.  BUT then, I might be one of those people have a yard sale every day. 

Out to the yard, I must go.

 

Happy Cleaning!