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

*

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
*

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

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

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
*

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

*

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