Today, my prayer.  Lord, help me to stay focused, to accomplish what you set for me to do, to encourage people, and to find your purpose in all that occupies my heart and mind.

This picture was taken by a friend in 2005. This is my oldest, who turns 30 tomorrow. This is one of my favorite pictures. It reminds me of his overwhelming love for music. His love for music has always been there. While he was in the nursery, at two years old, if the music stopped, he would point at the boom box and say mooozic. He wanted music. We were so busy building our lives and living every day, we never pursued music. When he was 14, we helped a friend with their moving sale. While I was working and cleaning, he picked up a little colorful toy piano and taught himself to play. He took the toy home with him and never quit loving the sound. He has since gone to college, played the grand piano for the church for several years, and to this day has keys to make music in his own home. I would always marvel at the way he played. He always looked like Shroder from Charlie Brown. If he could, he would just melt right into the keys and play his heart out. It's a blessing to watch him play. I cannot count the times that people have told me how they were blessed by watching and hearing him play. His heart is to please God and live in His plan. I know that he struggles with living the single life, waiting on who God has chosen for his mate. I also know the sheer joy of knowing God is the best one to orchestrate His plan. I do not normally write about nor make known all the pride that lives in my heart for each of my kids. I guess something about your oldest turning 30, just sets the mind to thinking.

 

I also turn 47 in a couple of days. I keep thinking of ways to celebrate by giving back through my photography. I find myself struggling with the photography. God,  Why have you given me this passion that I cannot pay for? What am I to do with it? How can I be used by you without being abused by others?

Today is just as exciting as yesterday with loads of potential. I have laundry in the dryer, a load in the washer, a declutter trip planned, wonderful lightweight corelle dishes to wash, my beautiful bed is made, the scale has been good this morning, we have a cave meeting tonight, an aldi trip on the schedule, money to pay a couple of doctors, and anD aND AND I am just so blessed!

Below is a picture or two of that wonderful photo shoot that I am in love with.

Happy Trails!

Monday morning! Unlike other people, I wake up thinking it is a brand new week of accomplishments. Maybe not every Monday. Some Mondays, I am unpacking all the camping or caving gear and, I do not see near as much potential on those mornings.

Today is full of grand potential. The first thing I do is grab my pictures to share with you the fun stuff.

This is a used Laura Ashley King Comforter I found for $5. I love it. Even though the window light cast an off color, it is black and white cotton. If I get tired of that, I can go back to the quilt I love.

 

Once I take and load the pictures, I plan to go get started on cleaning and decluttering.

 

 

The crafts, gifts, party, decorations, and books in the master loft (storage) need some love.

 

I also hope to accomplish some more editing. My computer pictures are in need of some love as well.  I have pictures from July 4th that folks are asking for. Plus, there are rodeo pictures that I can hardly wait to get to. Then, last Friday, I did a dress-model shoot that is awesome. Exciting pictures await me as soon as I go get a grip on some clutter.  

Then maybe in the afternoon, I will make my way down to my son's house to return a dress or two to the storage closet he lets me use at his house.

Today, I worked on sorting all of my sewing material and tools. I was also able to mow some of the yard. I almost forgot to make a post for today.   YAY ! I remembered. Tomorrow, I hope to continue.  Happy resting!

After a weekend in Huntsville with my daughter, I am back at home. Greeted by at least 30 chores that need tending, my unpacking pile, and future photography projects, I feel a bit overwhelmed.

One big project that is finished and intended to be in tomorrow's mail is a wedding photo book for my nephew and new niece. The book is so beautiful that I had a hard time sending it to them. For comfort, I bought my own copy which is in the mail to me today. YAY! I can't wait for her to email me with wonderful thanks and adoration for putting their memories into a book. She is so sweet.

I am a bit perplexed over the next project. I have close to 400 pictures from the Huntsville Garden Club Old Town tour that I went on in June. I am thinking of publishing a book of the photos and selling it. My reservation is the lack of funds to invest in such a project. I may just do a couple for a friend and leave it at that. It sounds like something I am not equipped to do on a large scale.

This is my newest photo prop. I am so excited. I cannot wait to use it for my PRINCE/PRINCESS Shoot. It was dark brown wood. I painted it white and then used rub and buff gold leaf on it.  LOVE the way it turned out. Thank You to my friend, ahappyvalentine,

Today, my husband and I went to a couple of yard sales. I found several nice things. Above is a 16 inch globe on a vintage mic stand that I found a couple of weeks ago along with the globe on the bed in the middle.

This picture is a close-up shot of the 10th globe in our collection.

 

About a month ago my daughter and I worked on a guest room at my sons house. I really should say that my daughter did most of the work.

This was number 8.

Above is number 12 that was added to the family just today. Number 11 is not picture but is a 5-6 inch globe with a pencil sharpener built into the base.

Yesterday I was blessed to work with Courtney. She modeled two of my wedding dresses. This one has a tinge of Alabama orange clay that was in the water. I have soaked the dress and am pretty sure it may go through a dye process to another color. Don't you think red would be an awesome color. Yes, she was in the creek with this dress. The other pictures are just as fun.