January 30, 2009

a little lighter all over.....

there are lots of garbage bags in the garage
and
many boxes of "things"
have been taken to the our local thrift store
and
overall
I feel a few pounds lighter
~
there is now space where dust has been collecting
and
the sunlight coming in has more room to play
~
my studio is spacious now
who knew
?
and
my bedroom feels warmer and calmer
and
the kitchen feels taller
~
all
because stuff is gone
stuff that I thought I needed
stuff that I thought added life to our home
or to me
but in the end it was only
stuff
that ended up suffocating me
~
along with throwing things out
I'm guilty of adding a few things in
~
but only to my blog
{gotcha}
~
I've updated my lists
added more lists
and
even found this "following thing" that looks cute
but I'm not really sure how it works
but it shows the faces of
you
my blogging friends
if you click on it
and
who doesn't want a mosaic of their favorite people on their blog
right
?
see
that's what I thought too
~
so if you want
to see what I'm talking about
you can check out it out over there on the side
under
"no wall flowers here"
~
because
NOT
adding to my house right now is bringing a big smile to my face
but
ADDING
all of you to my blog
will bring an even bigger smile
to
my winter white pale, really dried out and in need of more moisturizer
face
:)

January 29, 2009

sit back, put your feet up and have a cup of tea....this is a long one


I had some time to think while I was in florida
~
certainly not as much as I had originally planned
but just enough
~
my mind
filled with thoughts
wandering all over the place
while staying just close enough to the safety of the shore
to prevent the tide
from washing away any of the good ones
~
the one place my mind kept going
was to a tiny place
called
change
~
and
I've decided that
when you think long enough about something
you thought was
tiny
of all of a sudden
it grows
and
it demands things
like
time and energy
which I was willing to give since I was vacation
but
had no idea how it would consume me
even once I returned home
~
so here I sit
with
~focus~
being my word for
2009
fighting with
the word
~change~
as it fills my every pore
~
so what did I do
?
I changed
a few things
~
it started yesterday
when I cleaned out drawers and closets and cabinets
and
got rid of junk in my junk drawer that wasn't even junk anymore
as it was garbage
and
clothes that I don't wear anymore because
they make me feel old
and
books that obviously someone else can enjoy as I've already read them
~
the studio came next
and
let's just say
the garbage bags were too heavy for me to even lift
and
john gave me a raised eyebrow as he hauled them away for me
~
issues and issues of "somerset" anything
disappeared too
without any feelings from me
really
do any of us go back and look through old issues of anything
?
I used to think I did or would
but I don't and it's time to be honest with myself
~
some of you might just think that I was getting a jump start
on my spring cleaning and maybe I was
but I also believe that change
has to start somewhere
and
for me it was getting rid of clutter and junk and stuff
that was suffocating me
so yes
that was all pretty much outside stuff that changed
and
a good place to start considering all the energy that had built up inside me
but
now there's some inside stuff I'm going to work on
~
inside stuff
where I need to step back and look at myself
and
decide what I really want
who I really am
what makes me really happy
and
what I really want to do
~
so I invite you to come along with me
while
I change a few things
and
where better to start than right here
on my blog
my home away from home
where I can change anything I want
at anytime
and
still
feel loved
*

January 28, 2009

ohhh...I miss you so much

it feels like forever since we've sat in the sun together
and
daydreamed
~
I know you're nice and warm
all tucked into your uggs
during the day
and
fuzzy socks at night
but
I miss you
~
your color just isn't the same this time of year
and
you're a little dried out
so I worry about you
~
hang in there
piggies
and
be brave
I promise you we'll get through another winter together
*

January 26, 2009

I don't really like facts....


I've been feeling fragile lately and I'm not really sure why
~
I'm not sure if it's the pain in my shoulder
and the fact that my physical therapist
stressed the words "a long time before you feel better" to me
at my last visit
or
the fact that winter has gotten to me again
and
I feel suffocated by the walls of antartica that surround me
or
the fact that when I go into the studio
I stand there
and
look around
and feel completely
lost
without any motivation to pick up a paint brush
or
pencils or crayons or scissors or paper or glue
~
instead I feel like the barn above
with thoughts
that at any moment
one of the support beams could be touched in just the wrong way
and
just like the barn
I would tumble down into a million little pieces
~
so I'm waiting
~
I'm wating for something different
a change
a sign
anything to let me walk in a different direction
with the sun on my face
shoulders back
head up
and
a new attitude
~
wait for it with me
will you
?
it will come

January 23, 2009

makes you stop and think, doesn't it ??



and now, if you're like me, your weekend will feel just a little bit different because hopefully you've been inspired after watching this. and really, isn't that what we're all here to do ?
to inspire and be inspired ?

January 22, 2009

how do you count ?

I was recently tagged
by
my blogging friend
and
normally I don't play
~~~~~
not because I don't want to play
it's just that I usually already have a few post ideas
dancing in my head
with
photos I want to use
and
words and thoughts that are
making me smile
that will
hopefully all come together
for an interesting blog post
~~~~~
so the tagging usually
gets pushed to the side and forgotten about
this time I decided to play
~~~~~
the rules were simple
~or so I thought~
go into your picture file
select the 4th picture
in your 4th folder
write about that picture
and
tag 4 more people
~~~~~
easy
right
?
unless you're like me and ask too many questions to yourself
like
do I count my 4th folder ACROSS my picture file
or
do I count my 4th folder DOWN my picture file
because
really
you could do it either way and it might depend on things like being
right brained or left brained
or
having a little ADD
or
maybe having too many margaritas while looking at your picture file
~~~~~
ANYHOW
these are my two pictures
from going
across
AND
down
~~~~~
the first one is ummm...
an interesting plant in the prairie
at our cottage
and
the second one was during my photo shoot with my kids
when
jack decided that he'd climb a tree
for me to get a perfect shot of him
~~~~~
so if you're feeling funky today
and
want to play this game
consider yourself
TAGGED
and
play along
*



January 20, 2009

who knew ?

I think you all know how much
I love my macro
and
I had it with me the other day when I decided
I.HAD.TO.GET.OUT.AND.SHOOT
OR
I.WAS.GOING.TO.GO.NUTS

but by the time I walked down by the lake
my fingers were too frozen
to even think about changing
lenses
so I just used what was already on my camera
my 18-55mm lens

and
most of you know
that with the macro
you get fabulous blurry backgrounds
but
I didn't know I'd get the same thing
so beautifully with another lens
and
that they have a name for it
*
who knew
?




January 19, 2009

my love/hate relationship with RED

I didn't do a red journal page
because
I don't really like to paint with red paint
but
I like red paint when it's on walls
I guess when I think about it
I'm barely a red person
I don't wear red on my lips
but
I carry a red purse in the winter
and
if you looked in my closet
you wouldn't fine one red t-shirt or sweater
but
I like to write my important notes with a red marker
and
I have never worn red shoes
but
I'd love to have a pair to wear
when I'm feeling sassy
so with misty's prompt for a red page
a paint brush didn't speak to me at all
neither
did any of my pencils or oils or pastels
but
today my camera was screaming
RED
so I took my favorite little kids wicker chair
out into the snow
and
I was very happy
but
then I got inside
and
pulled the pictures up and saw
RED
and
decided I do love red
~~~~~
even more so after I've muted it a little bit
I'm an odd one
aren't I
?


January 18, 2009

I heart you....

i found this heart on the beach
acutally john spotted it first
and
now it's here at home with me sharing space
with all of my other heart shaped finds
I decided to dress her up a little bit
so that I could share her with all of you
~all of you~
who took the time to leave a comment about our abrupt return home
and
to those of you who sent personal emails to me
~there were many of you~
asking if all was okay and giving me your support
and
to even those of you who maybe didn't know what to say
but were thinking of me
~~~~~
it's amazing this blogging world of ours
where we
praise each other, share videos and stories, raise money for causes
award gifts, share the best movies to watch, books to read
and music to listen to
where
we share art that we've stayed up all night long working on,
photos of how we spent our weekends
and
send notes to check on each other if too much time has passed
between posts
~~~~~
but the one thing we get
day in and day out
no matter what
is support
the kind of support
that so often feels like a heartfelt hug
or a pat on the back
or a laugh
when whe need it the most
~~~~~
so today I give you all
a piece of my heart
and
my many thanks
for being there

January 16, 2009

mostly white, right ?

here's another page in my art journal
and
I must say
this "white" page is my favorite
~~~~~
I love color
I really do
but
when it comes to working with
colors
as in
paint
YIKES
it can scare the crap out of me
and
I have no idea why
~~~~~
so
working with "whites"
felt safe and calming to me today
and
maybe I just needed some of that right now
~~~~~
damn
I know what you're saying
okay fine
so
there's some black in there, too
but
black is also one of my favorites
actually
it's
my all time favorite
*

January 15, 2009

always watch where you're going....

no matter how much planning is involved
the path in front of you
can change instantly
~~~~~
we ended up cutting our trip short
as we were needed at home
and
we did what any parent would do
we left
florida
~~~~~
when your children are little you're there for everything
colic
pinched fingers
first steps
potty training
fevers
~~~~~
as they continue to grow
you're still there
but now for things that feel different
because they're more independent
hugs
tears
talks
understanding
~~~~~
and
sometimes
just when you think they don't need you quite as much as they used to
they need you even more than you ever imagined
yes
teenagers have a way of doing that to you
*

January 14, 2009

trying to keep up....

she's a painting maniac
and
I have failed miserably in trying to keep
up with her
and
her art journaling prompts
~~~~~
she's already moved on to other colors
and
I just finished
blue
~~~~~
and
now I need a glass of wine
*

January 13, 2009

because...

today I feel purple
after
some changes in my life
~~~~~
I'll have some new words for these feelings
in a few days
here
where I always feel at home
because
of all of you
*



January 12, 2009

the warmth of light...

I know some of you have followed
the story of
"baby cedar"
for as long as I have
and
most recently
I fell in love with the way denise and boho boy
soften their surroundings
and
I decided I wanted to do the same thing in florida
for us
so
the candles are burning

and
the lights are twinkling

January 10, 2009

playing and creating

I found time today to play with misty
and
all the others that are working on self portraits
~~~~~
this is one of my big headed girls
and
it kept me IN my comfort zone
but
the next one
took me
totally OUT of my comfort zone
BUT

I actually like this one....quite a bit

and now for a little florida





I decided not to add music to this one so that you could hear the ocean and feel the wind with me....

January 9, 2009

ohhh...it's not as easy as I thought it would be...

a florida quickie...

to start the day
~~~~~
YES YES YES
that was a jelly fish
dead
and all washed up
on the beach
surrounded by a bunch
of his friends and relatives
~~~~~
can they still hurt you if they are dead or dead looking
and
laying on the beach
?
~~~~~
ALSO
you can turn any photo into an old looking
picture
by playing around here
~~~~~
just upload a picture with browse
and
then convert
and
WHA-LA
a really cool photo
~~~~~
late on the beach last night
right around sunset
I caught these surfers
waiting
and
then they took off
and
made me smile
~~~~~
they didn't care that the flags meant
no surfing
or
that the water was only 62 degrees
or
that there were dead jelly fish on the beach
~~~~~
instead
they were living in the moment
~~~~~
I raise my glass to you
"let's all live in the moment"
*

January 8, 2009

another day of smiling...

if you like this old black and white
technique
let me know
you can do it, too....in only ONE step !!
YES YES YES
even on vacation
I'm playing with layers


this was the sunset we saw tonight
*sigh*

after walking through this boardwalk
and
then there's this
my only completely untouched photo
from my afternoon walk on the beach
~~~~~
do you know what it is
?





January 7, 2009

as good as it gets.....and it's really that good !!

I just couldn't help myself
I
had to play in the rocks
this morning
on our walk
to show you
how big my heart gets
when I'm in
seaside
florida
~~~~~
you were probably expecting
a beautiful shot
of the ocean
weren't you
?
maybe tomorrow
and
is sophie having fun here
you ask
?
she is loving every minute of it
~~~~~
the seaside community is
very dog friendly
and
she can go everywhere with us
inside/outside
24/7
~~~~~
this afternoon we sat outside at a little french eatery
and
while we
dined on quiche and crab cakes
they brought her a big bowl
of cold water
just because they love dogs
~~~~~
come on
really
does it get any better
?
~~~~~

January 6, 2009

completely addicted and still learning so much.....

layers
layers
layers
I love them
I hate them
and
I can't stay away from them
~~~~~
it's amazing how photo editing has wrapped itself
around me and won't let go
and
I'll say it again
I used to curse those who were using digital anything to
change or enhance their photos
and
now I'm one of them
~~~~~
don't hate me

January 3, 2009

I know......I know......

this picture is from last year
so
for some of you
you've already seen it
but
come on
you know it's worth a second look
right
?
~~~~~
last year
with our
100 plus inches of snow
we fed the deer
lots
~~~~~
they would eat the birdseed
in a matter of seconds
so
we decided to give them
their own
HUGE
bowl of corn
and
they loved us as much as we loved them
~~~~~
but
we were also told
NOT
to feed the deer
as it's considered
"baiting"
and
if we got caught we'd be paying a huge fine
~~~~~
so what did we do
?
we kept feeding them
~~~~~
we're
REBEL'S
I tell you
~~~~~
this year
thankfully
the snow has come and gone
enough
so
that we aren't worried at all about the deer
~~~~~
but
believe me
if we get blasted again like last year
and my heart aches for my 4 legged friends
the smorgasbord
will magically appear once again

January 2, 2009

art journaling in the new year...


I have to admit that I have been very bad
with
my art journaling
~~~~~
but there might be hope for me yet
as
and
asking us to join her in a
page a day
of
art journaling
~~~~~
well
I know myself well enough to laugh
at the page a day idea
BUT
I know I can do some pages
during the month
of
january
in
order to play along with all the others
~~~~~
so
ta~da
here is page
numero uno
~~~~~
okay
so it's probably not really a page
as
I think it's going to be the cover
to all the pages I painted last night
~~~~~
but
at this point
who needs to be that specific
when it comes to art
anyway
right
?

January 1, 2009

and a new year begins....


{edited}
as I have already changed my word
because
isn't that what women do
~~~~~
last year
instead of resolutions
I picked one word
to live by
for the entire year
and
that word was
"see"
~~~~~
and
interesting to me
last year was the year
that
photography
took over a huge part of my life
and if
photography and "see"
don't go
hand in hand
with each other
I don't know what does
~~~~~
so this year
my word
is
"focus"
~~~~~
you might think
see and focus
are a little bit the same
~~~~~
at first
I did
too
but now I see
two very different
words
and
no other word felt right for the choosing
~~~~~
last year
digital photography
became big
bigger than big
~~~~~
and
to be honest with you
I hated it
and
said bad things about the pictures
while thinking
how can you compare an untouched photo to a photo
that's been digitally altered
~~~~~
well
now I'm biting my tongue
as I have
fallen in love with photo edtiting
well
maybe even more along the lines
of even needing a support group
"hi, my name is beth"
"I have a problem"
~~~~~
I really can't stop
"playing"
with my photos
and when I'm done
I do a happy dance
and
smile
at all the fun I just had
~~~~~
and
the picture above
well
it's my most favorite yummy one
that I've done so far
~~~~~
what
is your word for
2009
?
~~~~~