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}

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

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

what sara saw

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

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 !!!!

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

*