but of course...

you didn't think I'd do a senior photo shoot and forget a jumping photo did you

?

this is her best friend

who came along on the shoot to help if I needed a someone to hold my sun shield and

she was a doll

too

who I found out half way into our session

happens to be the daughter of a girl I graduated from high school with

~small world~

teenagers can be great and this one was perfect...

I had a senior photo shoot last week with this doll

and

she was amazing

a complete natural

doing anything I suggested without a complaint

the morning of the shoot I was a bit nervous

~

I actually felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach

as I was traveling to her little town 20 miles north of me

wondering if I would find

the amazing spots that dance in my head for shoots

but rarely exist

not only did I find alleys and graffiti and textured walls and painted doors

I also found an amazing city park

in one of the back alleys we were in

can you believe this

?

an old school desk just sitting there calling my name

and

I actually laughed out loud while looking up at the skies

and

mouthed

thank you

as we were moving in for this next shot

I said

"is that a tattoo I see"

and

she sheepishly said

"yes"

and

I told her we were going to highlight it

not hide it for this shot

so that someday

she'd be able to look back and love and laugh and lap up all that she was

at

18

I still have lots of editing to do

as

I continue to play with tones and colors

and

I want to add some textures to a few of the 256 photos I took

but

for now

here's my sneak peek that I've been so anxious to share with all of you

*

{skin cancer update over here}

japanese beetles again...

every year

we have them and there's nothing you can do to keep them away

~

sure

you can spray your trees

and

the ground

and

use bags to trap them

but

they're still there

in swarms

having a smorgasbord with your plants

mating

and

then quickly dying

until

their relatives show up the following year

to start the whole process all over again

~~

and

guess what

?

they really don't even bother me at all

especially

compared to

the lady asian beetles

that will inhabit

~by the thousands~

the porches out at our cottage

later this summer

~~

lady asian beetles resemble lady bugs

but

stink

and

leave yellow trails from bodily fluids on anything they come in contact with

ceilings

curtains

walls

floors

furniture

~~

just wait for that post

it won't be pretty

*

walk this way

over here to my other home

where

hopefully you'll laugh at my sick sense of humor

*

I was determined to do good...

dani

has been working on an amazing project

and

when she asked if I would be interested in helping her

well

let's just say

I was honored

this is how it goes

~~

she sent me two dollars

asking me to do something with it

that would hopefully make the difference in the life of someone

and

then if at all possible

document it for her

the two dollars were burning a hole in my pocket

while I kept looking and listening and watching and waiting for a perfect opportunity

and

then yesterday

after I had exhausted myself at

~art fair on the square~

I headed down state street a bit

to do what I love to do

~people watch~

and

came across these two boys

who were just starting to unzip the cases protecting their guitars

then out came the

"saving for california"

sign

and

I was hooked

~~

I started the pot

by

throwing the two dollars dani trusted me with

into the open guitar case

{actually tucking it under the sign as the wind was blowing important things around}

and

stood back and listened

to two fabulous dueling acoustic guitars

while a latin beat danced in my head

and

watched

and

watched others

watching

and

after 15 minutes

their case was cradling ten dollars

and

I slowly walked away with a huge smile on my face

thinking to myself

how often lately I feel like I've been in the right place at the right time

and

wondering

if this just happens all on its own

or

if it's possible to create these scenarios yourself

?

~~~~~

whatever it is

I feel blessed

and

if you're wondering

yes

the oldest one of these boys reminded me so much of john mayer

and

the charismatic and amazingly talented younger one

well

I just wanted to take home due to his extreme cuteness

*

I'm also playing over here today

he's adored...

you

have given me more laugh lines than I ever thought possible

you

understand my thoughts even when they don't make any sense to me

you

warm my feet when they're cold

you

bring me saltines and sprite after a night of being sick

you

reassure me with your eyes when I'm facing something tough

you

balance me when the world is trying to push me sideways

you

have answers when I question myself

you

tell me I'm amazing and that I can do whatever it is I'm thinking about

you

always tell me my butt looks good in my jeans

you

never complain when I take too long to get ready

you

always surprise me at christmas with the perfect gifts

you

go anywhere with me when I ask

you

take deep breaths for me when my chest feels like it's being crushed

you

laugh at me all the time

you

buy the groceries when I just can't face the idea of food shopping

you

run out late at night if I need anything

you

don't complain when I read in bed and the light's shining in your eyes

you

are my knight in shining armor

{or in this case a felted animal hat}

and

you light up my life more than you'll ever know

*

so I asked her....

"how in the world do I ever thank my blog loves for being my guardian angels and saying such amazing things to me when I really needed their support"

and

she told me

"someday all of them will have beautiful wings like mine to go along with those beautiful hearts I keep seeing and feeling because they've earned them"

and

then I turned and slowly walked away

and

when I glanced back at her

she winked at me

and

mouthed

"they really are amazing aren't they"

and

then tears filled my eyes while I covered my heart

knowing that here

I am blessed

*