November 30, 2008

oh baby, it's cold outside......

and these sweet, beautiful sisters were willing
to be out in the barely 40 degree weather

so that I could get some photos
for a birthday surprise
for their dad

this one's my favorite
as
you just can't beat the inside of
an old
barn

there were
lots
of
smiles and laughter

and hugging to stay warm

and
when it was all over
and
noses were red and fingertips were frozen
I knew
they had just given their dad
the
best
birthday
surprise
ever
shhhhhh......don't tell him
{the party's this weekend}


November 29, 2008

WINNER....we have a winner.....oh yes we do !!!

nothing technical about this drawing

just names on scrap paper and a cute little bowl
from anthropologie

{and even if you got the answer wrong, I still included you

because I'm nice that way}



and then the birthday boy got to mix the names up


and then I shouted

"pick one already"


and the winner is pretty clear

PATTI

you did it

you won !!!

{please send me your snail mail address}

happy birthday kissy face



my partner in crime.....

turns
46
today
and
I love him
with all
my heart
especially
when he goes crazy
and
acts like a kid
~~~~~
but most recently
I love him
when
he drives me onto posted private property
just so I can get some really cool
photos
of
old barns and cows and horses
and
broken windows and creeks and sheep
and
old houses
and
especially
the
photos
I
get
of
the
no trespassing signs
reminding us of
where we're not suppposed to be
in the first place
~~~~~
love you



November 27, 2008

understanding what you see.....

we all see what we see
and
sometimes
we only see what we want to see
so today I invite you
to see
as we remember
to be grateful
today
and
everyday
for the shirts on our backs
and the soft beds
we sleep in every night
~~~~~
happy thanksgiving

November 24, 2008

BLOG--GIVE--AWAY.....and a walk in wisconsin with me leading the way

I'm not whining....REALLY !!!
I'm just saying that some bloggers are really lucky to have little ones still at home that always look adorable and every photo of them is like "awe, too sweet" so they always have something cute to post...or those who live near the ocean and share pictures of sandy feet and shells {they're the worst, in an "I'm so jealous of you way"}....or even those that live in the desert and have a coyote as their housemate and last but not least, the ones that have gorgeous clothes and shoes and entertain with us photos of skirts and mary janes.....
well I have NONE OF THAT !!!!
But I do have cows !!!!
{especially Frank here, with his snappy toupee}
and really cool broken windows....

and buildings where I'm not supposed to be....
{yes mom, I'm forever your rebel daughter}

and service stations with pink painted garage doors.....

and fields and fields and fields....

and old painted, falling over, crumbling barns....
{my favorite}

and old, old, old headstones from the 1800's

and last but not least.....this !!!!
Tell me what's in the picture, how many and what it has to do with this week...
and your name will go into a drawing for a sweet, little, purse sized, handmade by moi, journal perfect for writing down what you're grateful for....
because I am grateful for any of you who just took this walk with me
and even more grateful that you'll try to win something I made !!!!









November 22, 2008

it's gone.....

and I miss it already
~~~~~
the summer's sun
and affection
and the dreams it brought
me
along with the occasional surprise
~~~~~
the wishes it produced
along with the smiles
and tanned legs
and
overall
giddiness
~~~~~
the warmth
it gave
while letting me feel
that anything is possible
~~~~~
like a nurturing blanket
that
wrapped around me
and
made me feel loved
~~~~~
the summer sun
is special
and can't be replaced
and
yes
I'm already whining about it
~~~~~
no matter how hard I try
to appreciate the cold
and
the
snow
that
is
coming
my heart's just not in it
~~~~~
instead
my heart is still filled
with
that fabulous summer sun
with memories
of what was
or
could have been
and
I
continue
to hold onto
hope
*

November 20, 2008

sometimes....

sometimes
we look plain
and
a little washed out
and
feel too simple
inside

sometimes
we look overly exposed
and
feel
afraid that everyone
can see all the little details
that we'te trying
to
hide
sometimes
we look
intensely radiant
and
feel
monstrously important
with
enough strength
to conquer our fears

and
sometimes
we look
shielded
and
a little shadowy
yet
decide
that maybe
we
feel
that this
is
the most
beautiful
of
all
~~~~~
so tell me
sweet ones
how are you feeling
*

November 18, 2008

what if it all means something......

It was fresh
and
new
It means a change
~~~~~
It was cold
and
invigorating
It means life
~~~~~
It was bright
and
beautiful
It means everything
~~~~~
it means
I wanted to go outside with my camera
it means
I had
to go outside with my camera
and
capture it all
our first snow
which
got
caught
in the grass blades
and
the rocks
and
for the first time in my life
really appreciate
what was there
right there
laying at my feet
waiting
for
me

November 16, 2008

the beginning isn't that bad....

to all of my dear friends who take the time to read my blog.....start your monday off with some of this "lovin".....and then don't you dare tell me that you didn't dance a little or move in your chair a little or slide your head side to side or sing a little....I know at a minimum you at least smiled and if we all smile, especially on a monday morning, well just think how much fun the rest of our week will be.....xoxoxo


she's beautiful deep down to her toes.....

i know
teachers aren't supposed to have pets


but she's my favorite


I mean really
just look at her


November 13, 2008

and yes, this is my family !

boys gone wild
{don't ask}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
finally
a photo shoot
with
my kids

as day light savings
hit me smack in the head
and
the realization
that I don't have any recent pictures
of my own children
and that
"sneaux"
is right around the corner

we ran
actually
we
full out sprinted
to
the
beautiful old stone house
down the road
from
us

and
I shot pictures
fast
really fast
screaming at them
the whole time

"I'm losing daylight"
"stop being silly"
"stand up"
"stop laughing so hard"
"look at me"
"open your eyes"
"I'm still losing daylight"
"knock it off"

I almost said
"don't climb that dead tree"
but with his dad there to catch him
I figured what the heck
I'll get a good photo
out of this
even if he breaks a leg

and we're talking
WAY
up there
not just a few branches
up there
but
like
WAY
up there
*

November 11, 2008

taking a deep breath.....

I hope you'll follow the instincts
in your heart
and
do what you need to do
~~~~~
listen hard to your inner child
the one screaming to get out
~~~~~
what is it telling you to do with your life
~~~~~
is it telling you where you should be
or
who you should be
or
who you already are

sort out your feelings
each and every one of them
and then become focused on them
~~~~~
yet remember to give them some space
and
a little patience
as they try to hide from you
and
then
hold those feelings gently
and
listen to them closely
do this alone
quietly
and
embrace your solitude
~~~~~
reflect on your past year
and
don't fight your ability
to
follow the wonderful path
~~~~~
the
path
made
just
for
you
~~~~~
the one you created
the day
you
were born
*


November 7, 2008

never alone......

I walk and follow
my own path
and
trust my instincts
I'm not alone on this path of mine
as
my inner child is always with me
following
and
wondering
so I surround her with
patience
while we focus on our
thoughts
and
sort out our feelings
we reflect
and
recharge

we listen to our needs

and most of all
we
embrace the solitude
we share