there's a new blog in town....

and

I hope you have a chance to stop by

and

say "howdy partner"

maybe even by horseback

~now that I've picked up a strange twang in my voice~

~~

anyhow

let's see

the new blog

well

it's about sharing and friendship between lots of women who only know each other from blogging who all share a passion for people and life and photos and words

~~

pretty amazing isn't it

?

you can find us roaming the open fields

under bright sunny skies

with the wind in our hair

over here

*

grasping....

sometimes I just hang on

~~

to careless feelings

silly ideas that feel out of reach

dreams I'm convinced will never come true

wishes that could have been

~if only all the candles had been blown out~

my clouded points of view

thoughts that only I could possibly understand

visions that can only be seen through my rose colored glasses

and

big lopsided tears that hang dangerously close to the edge

~~

feeling that if I let them go

I will have let

"hope"

go

~~

everyday I hear from everyone

everywhere

"I hope"

something

~~

I hope she feels better

I hope I don't make that mistake again

I hope it doesn't rain

I hope she didn't see me

I hope he didn't take that wrong

I hope he gets home on time

I hope they like me

I hope she knows how upset I am

~~

and

don't get me started on big "hope"

like

I hope she survives the surgery

or

I hope they weren't on the plane that crashed

nope I don't want to go there right now

~~

so today

hang onto your

hope

~~

tie a perfect sailor's knot onto it if you have to

tight and noticeable

if that's what feels best

~~

because

really

isn't hope all we have

?

real quick....

if you are interested in joining a totally fun project

hosted by se'lah

here's your last chance to jump on board

~~

oops

here's the information

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

and

QUICK

come and play in a totally different way here

well, I'm going to have a baby...

hopefully sextuplets

if all goes well

~~

and

now that I have your full attention

let me tell you about my babies by showing you some really sucky photos

~~

because of my sister and our love for anything living and the fact that she lives in the country with milk weed plants

we are both going to be new mommas

~quadruplets for her~

~~

she hasn't had any strange food cravings yet

while I think my need for chocolate has increased a bit

and

surprisingly we both look slim

with our due dates only 12 days away

~well approximately of course~

~~

I'm working on names at the moment

and

decorating the nursery

~otherwise known as the screened in porch~

and

basically

just putting my feet up and relaxing

~~

snort

belly laugh

~~

I know

what's the big deal

?

everyone has seen monarch butterflies and if you've seen one you've seen them all

but

I've never started with a caterpillar and watched it morph into a chrysalis

while living in a cool whip container with a terrible make shift lid

and

I've never had to scramble to save two that didn't "hang tight" and are now super glued

to a shish kabob stick

~~

but I am now

and

I can't wait to see the end result

~~

I just hope they don't have my nose

taken with my little point and shoot

~hopefully some better photos soon of all six of them~

flying with hope...

in a field

filled with late summer flowers basking in the falling afternoon sun

and

weeds arching their backs towards the thirsty ground

I didn't see her

~~

do you see her

?

~~

she flies with love and hope on the tips of her wings

and

a tiara on the top of her head

~or are those ears~

~~

look a little closer

~~

now do you see her

?

she's a fairy

made of flowers and weeds dancing in just the right place

at the right time

and

she made me smile

~and do I see the wings of another one coming up behind her~

?

have I mentioned that I love little surprises

especially in my photos

?

well I do

I really really do

*

I'm still going through all of your suggestions from yesterday and can I just say

you guys rock

really really

rock

*

help...

okay blog lovelies

~that I trust completely~

I need your help

~~

I'm going to be working on a new photography website

with the help of my wonderful apple "kids" during my one to one visits

{yes "kids" as these geniuses are all way younger than I am}

and

I need a name for myself

~I think~

don't I

?

~~

also

while standing around the blog water cooler on my breaks

I've noticed the concern about photo stealing

and

watermarking seems to be the best way to slap those nasty people

on the hands

~~

did I mention I hate watermarking my photos

?

well I do

~~

so anyhow here's where I need your help

~~

sure I can do the normal and plain and uninspiring

"beth's photography"

on everything

~yawn~

or

all of you who have gotten to know me quite well this past year

can throw some ideas and names my way for me to play with

can't you

?

please

can you

?

~~

and

now don't get too excited

but if someone comes up with an idea that I fall in love with and decide to use

there will be a prize

~~

I'm not sure what it will be yet

obviously something to do with one of my photos

but

it will be a good one

I promise

~~

so now don't go off and think too hard about this

~which is what I keep doing and there's only room for me on that think.too.hard.couch~

as off the cuff ideas are usually best

so

just start throwing

drop kicking

chucking

lobbing

and

tossing

my way

and

let's see what lands where

~~

and

now about this photo that I am over the moon about

it was taken with my macro lens while I was at the sunflower field

and

I have not touched it other than adding a ~gag~ watermark to it

and

well

I'm just so completely in love with it

~just thought you should know~

*

not a self portrait but I think you'll laugh a little...

I didn't really share many of my colorado photos with you

not because you're not worthy of seeing them

it's just that sometimes I think "trip photos" if you weren't on the trip

just aren't very interesting

~~

~please no nasty comments as that's just my opinion~

~~

anyhow

since I've really been just plain awful

trying to participate with misty in her self portrait wednesdays

I decided it was time to go into the archives to see what I could find

~~

and

this my sweet friends is the best I could do

~~

here's the set up

the hubby and I were at the "garden of the gods"

along with hundreds of our favorite friends

that we call tourists

where he had to wait patiently

~well we both did~

for everyone to clear out so he could get this shot of me

~~

well almost everyone

~

do you see the girl behind me

posed perfectly in between my legs

looking up at my butt

?

well he didn't

~~

and

this is why I love him so incredibly much

*

admitting to what you don't love...

I grew up a dog lover

~~

my mom has always been allergic to cats

so we never visited any homes while I was growing up

~those important informative years~

if cats or kittens where on the premises

and

probably because of that

~and the fact that I can't stand anything that loses more hair than I do~

there has never been a day that I have ever entertained the thought of owning one

until now

my sister and her family

~also dog people~

recently moved into the country and now they have kittens that I find to be the most entertaining and amusing things I've seen

since my hubby left

{and isn't around to make me laugh everyday}

lucy has the black goatee and is the newest edition to the family

and

even with all of her antics and personality and pure silliness when it comes to stalking chipmunks and climbing trees

it's the one

above

and

below

that has stolen my heart

~he belongs to my niece can you tell~

?

chester is perfect

~~

chester is a cat dog or is it a dog cat

?

you know

when a cat acts like a dog and takes unassuming people like myself

who tells people

"I hate cats"

and

turns our hearts to mush because they act like lap dogs and love to be petted and pay attention to you when you're talking to them

and

don't have that

"screw you attitude"

~~

come on

you totally know what I'm talking about

~~

anyhow

if you're new to my blog

my hubby didn't "leave leave"

he's just off on a new job and we are still very much in love

but

soon

based on my feelings from this past weekend and these photos

this crazy heart of mine

just might replace him with a kitten

*

well, as soon as I find the magic pill that keeps kittens from turning into cats

~then I might do it~

captured, but not always what I want...

while trying to capture this sunset that was blinding me

I used my zoom lens

but with great caution

due to the

"don't look into direct sunlight"

directions that are in bold letters on the box it came in

~~

"may cause retina damage"

it says

~~

now that's enough to scare someone who calls herself a photographer under her hushed breath

from ever shooting towards the sun again

right

?

well kind of

does squinting count for not looking

?

black dark thick clouds are pretty amazing but harder to capture

because well

it's dark outside

and

I pretty much hate using my flash

ever

for anything

there I said it...I'm a flash hater

~~

admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery

right

?

this photo

was taken while I held the camera low and shot up

in order to capture the moving clouds a little more clearly

~~

the only thing I like about it is that I captured a bug in flight

and

then the other night I whipped my car off to the side of the road

because

well

come on

the sky was orange

and

who doesn't want a photo of an orange sky

right

?

~~

and

then I realized the only way to get anything from where I was at

was to do

"a georgia shot"

of telephone wires

which she has perfected

and

me

well I kind of felt like they were in my way

but

once I got home and looked at the photo

well

I think maybe she's onto something

that gorgeous creative friend of mine

~~

even though my focus and composition

suck

~and don't tell me otherwise...I'll have none of that today~

hee hee

*

sometimes life just isn't fair...

I had been keeping a watchful eye on all of our barn swallow nests all week

knowing that any day they'd be empty

and

I'd be able to finally clean up the unbelievable mess they always leave behind

when

I heard

"mom...bring the camera, quick"

sure enough

just like that the nests were empty

and

they were all gone

except for this one

who had been pushed out of the nest by his big bully brother

I suspect

and

had fallen and broken his wing

his eyes were huge

with a

"I didn't ask for this"

look

that melted my heart

and

jack asked me

"now what"

?

~~

and

just like that the little bird tried to fly out of his hand

and

landed head first onto the cement patio

breaking his neck

and

died

instantly

~~

not only is life not always fair

sometimes it just really sucks

~~

but

maybe mother nature knows

that a quick relatively painless death is better than a long drawn out one

when it comes to broken wings

~~

at least for today

that's what I have to believe

*

heaven...

I lifted my eyes

from where they had carefully been keeping track of my tiny steps

on the perfectly manicured path

where tall trees

with broad shoulders

had stretched out like umbrellas protecting me from the blinding sun

and

suddenly I stopped

with a jolt

like I had just run head first into a transparent wall

~~

catching my breath

I raised my hand to shield my eyes from the unraveling strings of sunshine

dangling from the quilt in the sky

to be blinded instead

by

a field of sunflowers

~~

I stood there

mesmerized

watching

while they danced to a rhythm

I didn't know

~~

they moved with grace

and

strength

bobbing their heads with dignity and pride

even though

their days of dancing are quickly coming to an end

and

I felt sad

~~

so

tomorrow I'm going back to that field

with my head bobbing and my body swaying

and

I'm going to learn the dance

of

the sunflower

*

it's great to reach an age where you don't care what others think...

this was from my birthday 2 weeks ago

and

learning imovie was a blast but took me a little longer than I expected

but here it is

so now just make sure your volume is on

sneak peek...

slow down

actually go ahead and stop

~~

if you're participating in the kindness swap that armani

a.k.a. pixiedust

is hosting

don't go any further or you'll ruin the surprise

~~

the rest of you blog lovelies

well

you're safe

the kindness swap is all about sending love and encouraging thoughts

to someone

~~

most likely

a complete stranger

because who doesn't need a hug

?

so I took out some of my 4x6 photos

and

some goodies from my pile of ephemera

{thank you teesha moore}

and

my stamps and card stock

and

mixed them all together with some kinds words

and

created my postcards

~~

just so you know

I totally and completely

loved every single minute of being in my studio

~that has been a stranger of late~

making a mess and getting glue all over my fingers

on a perfectly sunny day

~~

soon

armani

will be addressing the cards and sending them onward

and

lucky me

I'll get three sent to me from other participants in the swap

~~

hugs in the form of handmade postcards

waiting quietly in your mailbox

are a really good thing

don't you think

?

click on the photos if you want a close up of my postcard making talents

~and the quotes are all by... who knows~

guess what...I mean who...

finally

my beautiful baby boy

gets his time in front of my camera

for his senior photos

and

had no problem letting me know when it was time to quit

*

thanks kid for being so much fun and making me and your sister laugh the entire time

the middle place...

I'm the middle child

a leo

one of three girls

who tends to see grey

instead of black and white

~~

I believe in love

no matter where it comes from

lesbian

gay

straight

why do we need titles

?

we're all the same

~~

I grew up going to church

but I don't attend one now regularly

and

I believe in a god that might not be the same as your god

but I believe all of our prayers are heard

~~

beautiful skin color

fascinates me with my own jealousy

along with perfectly slanted eyes or an afro or an accent that forces me to concentrate on your lips when you speak

~~

I like life

outside the box

where I can make new footprints instead of walking in those that belong to others

~~

children and babies

stop me in my tracks

as I always need a second look at the innocence and beauty only they possess

~~

a field of wild flowers

can take my breath away

along with a whisper in my ear or a warm hand on my back

~~

half of my summer clothes haven't been worn this summer

but the rest of them have truly been lived in and if you wanted my favorite shirt

I'd give it to you

~~

I get up every morning with the attitude that today will not be wasted or forgotten or ruined by little things that need to be ignored or filled with ugly words or thoughts that make me think staying in bed would have been a better option

~~

I hug

often

here in my middle place

*

I think you should join me...

okay

~~

by now

after more than 400 posts

all of you have gotten to know me pretty well

as my life is a quite an open book

and

I've decided

that having fun

feels more important to me now

than it ever has before

so when I get a chance to jump

which always makes me laugh

believe me

I'm going to do it

*

{thanks to my hubby who shot this on my birthday weekend}

it's too muggy here to open the windows...

and

in other weekend news

~~

my son has been an angel

~

I hit my head so hard on the cabinet I was emptying out in the laundry room at my sister's house that I'm still wondering how I didn't get a concussion

~

it's supposed to storm here tonight and I hope it does because I love a good black and blue sky filled with noises and flashes of light

~

I haven't been eating as well as I should be

but I feel that the bowl of strawberries and bananas drowning in vanilla yogurt that I inhaled at lunch yesterday should make up for all the hot tamales that recently disappeared

~

I hate buying and wearing bras

but I found one at target yesterday in a sweet charcoal color that's not filled with mounds of padding meant for a small sofa

and

it pretty much molded itself to my body

so I think it's a keeper

~

how's your weekend going

?

a sorry list of seven things...

I'm sorry I don't have the easy pull back into a ponytail kind of hair

that would make our mornings so much easier

and

that I looked like a goon while we were dating in high school

~~

I'm sorry I don't like to cook and really only know how to make a few dishes that can be called "your favorites"

~~

I'm sorry my feet stink when I wear my tennis shoes

due to the fact that I can't stand to wear socks with my shoes

~~

I'm sorry my desk is always a mess

even though every time you need something I can find it in two seconds flat

which still amazes you after all these years

~~

I'm sorry I hog the clicker when we're watching television

sort of

~~

I'm sorry I leave cabinet doors open and never run into them

even though you do

~~

I'm sorry I'm addicted to my computer

~scratch that~

no I'm not

~~

but

I'm not sorry that even though I have a list 10 times longer than this one

you still love me

just the way I am

*

I was given an award and tagged "to tell you seven things about myself"

by dani and this is all I could come up with for today since my body

and mind are all mushy from working so hard helping my sister and her family move

into their new house

so

maybe tomorrow I'll be a little more coherent

but today I'm sore and missing my honey a little bit more than usual

so

I hope this makes you smile

or

at least confirms for you that

our teenagers today have it so easy

not having to live

through those flipped out farrah fawcett hair days

*