hello....hello......

it's 2009

calling my name

~~~~~

I wonder what she wants

~~~~~

probably to remind me that

through the grapevine

she's heard

that

maybe

I didn't

do

everything I was given the chance to

or

write as much as I wanted to

or

speak as nicely as I should have

or

loved as deeply as I could have

in

2008

and

that

lucky for me

because of her

I'm getting another chance

~~~~~

well

isn't she sweet

~~~~~

but

I'm thinking now would be a good time

to

let her know

that

I plan on

kicking her

2009

ass

~~~~~

and

after that

just maybe

the two of us

will

become

really good friends

~~~~~

happy new year

everyone

falling deep inside...

as many of you already know

I'm leaving in a few days

for

someplace

warm

~~~~~

and

I'll be gone

the entire month of

january

~~~~~

I'm not packed yet

as far as clothes

and

all those other things you're supposed

to take with you on a trip

because honestly

all of that is a little overwhelming to me

~~~~~

but what I do have packed

is just as important

~~~~~

a bag full of books

screaming my name

~~~~~

can you hear them

?

my favorite little park...

with my favorite little bridge

down my favorite little path

~~~~~

it's not easy to show you winter in wisconsin

right now

as

our 40 inches of snow

has mostly melted away

after a 40 degree day

of

rain

~~~~~

but

with the sun shining today

I just had to get out

for a quick little

walk

and

I mean quick

as

21 degrees feels so much colder

than

it looks

~~~~~

can you help me again ???

can you see two photos here or only one ??
flickr is trying it's best to give me a headache
with my photostream
so I'm hoping I can count on all of you
to let me know
what you see
and
what you don't see
~~~~~
these pictures are the same
but uploaded in two different ways
~~~~~
thanks for you help

question.....

recently

I've been adding my photos to my blog posts

from my flickr photostream

and

on christmas eve

I found out that my sister hasn't been able to see any of them

due to a block on her computer

~~~~~

QUESTION

~~~~~

is this happening to anyone else

stopping by to read my blog

~~~~~

if so

I might have to change something

or

if you have a block

on your computer

you might want to reset it so that it accepts

photos

from

flickr

~~~~~

thanks for your help

and

please

let me know if you've had problems

seeing my pictures

merry christmas to all
and to all
a good night

do you believe....

I was playing around with layers
grumble
and wasn't getting very far
when this happened
~~~~~
"the ghosts of christmas past"

I can't remember.....

what is it they say
about a
"christmas goose"

a little rough for me today

when it feels like
minus 30 outside
it's hard to get motivated
yet
I needed to get out and "shoot"
today
~~~~~
If you love your camera
you know what I mean
~~~~~
so with my hubby driving
I "shot" from the passenger seat
while the sun was setting
~~~~~
this is so
not me
nope, not one bit
I like to be up close and personal
to what I see through my view finder
~~~~~
maybe here in wisconsin
I can do that again
in about 6 months

~~~~~

grumble

a little thinking and hoping...

I've been lighting candles at night
staring at the flames
while sitting back
and
taking deep breaths
~~~~~
I've been taking my days slow
filling them mostly with
cup after cup of hot tea
~~~~~
I've been thinking how in the blink of an eye
I'll be flipping my days
so that they'll read 2009
~~~~~
I've been hoping that "you"
all of my friends that this blog has allowed me to aquire
know how much I appreciate each and everyone of you
your visits, your talents, your stories
and
I want to thank you all for being a huge part of my life
~~~~~
hugs to you all

my momma always said there'd be days like this....

time to get out the big guns.....that dinky, pink {yet adorable} sweater I had on last week, just isn't working any longer here in wisconsin...
we have a winter storm advisory starting tonight at 6pm and running until noon tomorrow...
only another 7-11 inches of snow is all they're calling for....but hey, I can do this !!
seriously, I can handle this !!
and whoa, wait a minute, are you still laughing at me ??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
mom, when did you say we leave for the beach ??

bless their hearts......

I was still in my jumping mood
when I arrived at the club last night
and
these girls love it when I bring my camera
so
when I said jump
well
holy crap
they flew straight up in the air
and
I loved it
~~~~~~~~~~~
oh to be young again

this is what happens when you invite me over for coffee

{you did mumble something like that, right ?}

{that timer was a tricky thing, huh ?}
{okay, time to get silly}

{scarves and jumping, not a great combination}

{I think I'm working up a sweat now}

{it was amazing how after I took my scarf off

I could finally get some air}

~~~~~

thanks everyone for all the fun and putting up with me and my crazy ways !!

I had so much fun

that I'm going to use my tripod and self timer

all the time now !!

because sometimes I like them big......

I'm not sure about the rest of you using blogger, but I've had one hell of a time trying to figure out how to make my pictures larger on a post....and I think I have it figured out...maybe...and if I ever recover from the 82 head banging hours it took me to do this, I just might be able to help you, if you're interested !!!

this time of year...or maybe just weekends....

I could be doing so many things right now

that need to be done

like wrapping gifts

*well, actually my shopping would have to be finished first

for that to even happen*

but instead

I'm doing nothing

but thinking of everything that needs to be done

the carpet needs to be vacuumed

desperately

and

the laundry is always calling my name

and

of course bedding needs to be changed

and

I have simple errands to run

and

worst of all

we need groceries

but instead

I'm deciding which movie I want to go see

and

what time feels best

to go to the theatre

~right after lunch or right before dinner~

you know how that works

and

of course before I could even show my face

in a movie theatre

I need to shower

but

instead I sit here playing with photoshop

because

I love my photos

and

I'm addicted to

"playing with them"

and

they don't care

that I haven't showered

~~~~~

so

here are some before and after pictures for your enjoyment

and

maybe now

I'll consider the whole showering and getting dressed idea

or not

~~~~~

so is it just me

or

does this happen to you too?

I kind of thought so......

it's a little amazing

based on my dancing post a few days ago

that I got this in my inbox today

Should you ever hear your name being called, Beth, only to spin around and see absolutely no one... it's most likely one of us, in the unseen, who misses you so much we've begun following you around, talking as if you can hear us, waving our arms around excitedly as we speak, and getting so carried away that we've ended up volunteering you for "Dancing with the Angels" by blurting your name out so loud, it broke the time-space barrier. Oh my!
"Beth!!!!!!"

The Universe

river.....

beautiful words, photos and music....perfect for my ipod today, a snowy day here in wisconsin or even for those of you still surrounded by green and warmth, I think your heart will like it...

my wish for you....

that you always know

what

you want

why

you want it

and

that you know

what to do with it

when you finally get it

~~~~~

I've always known.....

that

I love to dance
and
dance

so I dance
and
it makes me happy
~~~~~
we were at a 50th birthday party last night
and we danced the night away
while singing
and
sometimes shouting
the lyrics
to the best dance songs
ever
~~~~~
and
it didn't matter
if the songs were old
or new
barry white
or
beyonce
we
danced
~~~~~
so
while
my high heeled boots were off in a corner
I
was
alive
and
smiling
and
laughing
in my barefeet
and
oh yeah
did I ever dance
*

why me ?

I'd rather be wearing a bikini

but

nope

not today

because

I live in wisconsin

and

this is

what happens

come

december

~~~~~

stop laughing

I

know

you

are

~~~~~

stop it

hanging on......

I'm surrounded

by

snow

and

cold

right now

but I can't bring myself

to

fall in love with it

or

really even be friends with it

or

want to take its picture

~~~~~

maybe in

february I will

or

maybe I won't

so for now

I'm loving on these photos

~~~~~

taken by me

this past summer and fall

during

seasons I love

and that love me back

~~~~~

~~~~~

maybe if you love winter

you can send me some tips

on how to be better friends with it

because

seriously

I'm willing to give it a try

really

I

am

*

and her voice is still in my head.......

last night

john and I headed downtown

to see

jonatha

a year ago
I had only heard of
jonatha brooke
but at
SQUAM
she
was in my superhero class
and
I
fell head over heels in love with her
and
her voice
~~~~~
so you can only imagine
how thrilled I was when I found out
she'd be here in madison


her concert was amazing
in a tiny renovated theatre
downtown
where there were only about 100 of us
~~~~~
it was perfect in every way
with a parking spot right out front
our warm box seats
{as the rest of the theatre was freezing}
and
shouting out a request
that she actually sang
~~~~~
I only had my little point and shoot camera
with me
and I think john was a little nervous
meeting a superstar
as our picture turned out a little blurry
but
who cares
I got to hug jonatha brooke
after
her fabulous concert
~~~~~
and
talk to her about going to
SQUAM
next year
baby cedar being born and jen's video
celebrating his birth
~~~~~
*sigh*

barns aren't always red, you know.....

sometimes they're the most beautiful shade of

teal

or

aqua

or whatever you want to call

that perfect shade

of

blue green

all I know

is that it's the kind of color

that

makes me

scream

STOP

at my hubby

and

the brakes get slammed on

he

pulls over

and

watches me

drool all over my camera

while I'm

walking around on some farmer's land

loving something

that the bib-overalled farmer probably doesn't even see

the

beauty

in

*

finally being brave.....

ever have that feeling that everyone

around you knows

what's going on

but yet

you feel lost

~~~~~

it's not always fun

but

at least as an adult

it's a little less scary

~~~~~

so

I've decided if

I'm brave enough

to go into abandoned houses

and

barns

with

KEEP OUT

and

NO TRESPASSING

signs

posted

~~~~~

then

I'm certainly

brave enough

to play

in

photoshop

~~~~~

right

~~~~~

oh for the love of all that is holy

help me

*

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