a barn and an old stone house with bugs = camera therapy for me

it seems like it should be so easy.......

I'm still learning and

also appreciating

that

~~~~~
the laundry will always get done

my kids will never be any younger than they are today

getting nothing done can actually be a form of exercise

a great friend gives more than she takes

husbands need to be reminded how important they are

very few people will actually notice if I have make-up on or not

{even though I feel like I need to wear some everyday}

giving every now and then to the needy is not often enough

ignoring my family for a great TV show is bad

more people read my blog

than the number of comments that are left

cheese and crackers can be a meal

I will never look good in reading glasses

not finding clothes to fit will not be the end of the world

tennis shoes will never look sexy but will always feel good

that my heart will always be the strongest muscle in my body

that my years as a CASA were life changing

being friends with your kids comes after parenting them

~~~~~

I'm not too old to take a hip-hop body jam dance class

with my daughter

vintage and old are two very different things

finding your soul mate only happens once in a lifetime

fresh air can act as a sleeping aid

my grandma ruby lived her life as a guardian angel in disguise

I used to be a good runner

my dreams are getting more vivid

~~~~~

my childhood memories are too few

I'll never be able to tan like I used to

I think I could have been a great nurse

I could eat pizza every day

polka dots always look cool

geography just isn't something I'll ever be good at

you can never take too many pictures of your kids

words can really hurt

~~~~~

you can't have too many books

pap smears are necessary

but that will never make me enjoy them

a day without laughing is bad

~~~~~

we are who we are

and we have to guard that with everything we have

and since I love shoes, add your feet

Obviously today was not a day for bare piggies !!!

{oh yeah, this post goes with the one below it}

who are you really ?

{this is crazy, 3 posts with today's date}

Okay, here goes.

This is me.

Or as least, half of me.

Have you ever noticed that most of the blogs

we read

are "faceless" {gasp!}

In my mind I conjure up what I think everyone looks like,

the same way I do with characters in the books I read

and every now and then

there will be a post on someone's blog

where we finally get to see what they look like,

and then I'm like, "no, that's not you....

you have blonde hair, not brown

and you can't be that tall."

~~~~~

Do you ever do the same thing ?

~~~~~

Well, Toni has started a revolution

as far as I'm concerned.

She posted LOTS of pictures....of herself....

on her blog...

and I think she's amazing for doing so !!

~~~~~

So come on people....

let us see who you are !!

Show yourself off.

Smile for the camera !!

{and if I'm really brave, I'll post more pictures of myself tomorrow or the next day or the next....I'm just not photogenic AT ALL and I really hate pictures of me....so this takes alot of my inner strength....so if I can do it, can you do it ??}

Just a day, just an ordinary day

a day where I showered

immediately after I woke up

~~~~~

a day where I picked out

my favorite outfit to wear to sculpting class

~~~~~

a day where I pushed

myself to use the 10 lb weights

and still didn't sweat

~~~~~

a day where with a quick stop at the grocery store

I made a perfect salad from the salad bar

that was mostly garbanzo beans and hard boiled eggs

~~~~~

a day where I opened all the windows

to let the air swish around

~~~~~

a day where I made dinner, in the late morning,

for us and some neighbors

~~~~~

a day where I still couldn't touch raw hamburger

with my bare hands

~~~~~

a day where my kitchen had so many dishes to wash

but with the sun shining, it didn't matter

~~~~~

a day where I put my bird wings

in Borax to preserve them

~~~~~
a day where it was too beautiful to stay inside

any longer

~~~~~

a day where I had to run to the vet's office

for a new summer dose

of preventative flea/tick medication

~~~~~

a day where I took Sophie

to the neighborhood dog park

and we took our time

walking and seeing

~~~~~

a day where I savored every bite

of my salad bar salad

drenched in blue cheese dressing

~~~~~

a day when the weather forces you to

wear bare toes with your jeans
~~~~~
a day where I sat outside reading

my book in the afternoon sun,

while the barn swallows let me know

they didn't like me

~~~~~

a day where I listened to music

instead of the televison

~~~~~

a day where the kids made me laugh

with their adult sense of humor

~~~~~

a day where I delivered dinner

to our neighbors

and they were thankful

~~~~~

a day where my hubby

told me I was cute

and then he nibbled on my ear

~~~~~

a day where our dinner tasted

extra yummy and seconds were needed

~~~~~

a day where I was exhausted

by 8pm

~~~~~

a day....an ordinary day

and for that

I'm so very thankful

{this was inspired by mccabe.....

who always inspires me with her writing, photos and kindness}

There's worse things I could have done

It's not what it looks like....

okay, maybe it is,

but it's not really my fault.

Well, maybe a little.

I mean he was already dead.

I found him on the side of the road.

~~~~~

After having taken a class with LK Ludwig

at the fabulous Valley Ridge last year

and seeing the gorgeous pages she made using bird wings....

well, I decided I needed birdwings, too.

And so my search started.

~~~~~

The bad thing is that most dead birds are flat

and smooshed when you find them....

totally useless for any kind of art project.

~~~~~

So imagine how thrilled I was when I came across

a dead bird

in perfect condition.

Well, not totally perfect,

as he was dead.

But he was perfect for me.

~~~~~

I was on my way to the cottage

when I found him.

I rounded a corner and there he was.

Now stop scrunching up your face thinking that I'm a freak....

only my family is allowed to think such things about me !!!!

~~~~~

So I picked up the dead bird...

yes, with my bare hands

and threw him in the back of my SUV

{and like I knew this could actually happen someday,

I actually had a garbage bag to put him in}

and happily drove to the cottage,

with a big smile on my face,

so anxious to show my hubby the present I had to share with him.

~~~~~

"Buff.....you're a freak," he said,

as I pulled the dead

red-headed woodpecker out of the garbage bag...

And then just like I knew he would,

he held the bird for me

while I clipped his wings off with a pair of scissors.

~~~~~

And then my sister called

and I told her the bird story

and she called me a freak.

And when I came back home from the cottage,

I showed the kids and told them the story

and they called me a freak

and then laughed alot !!!

~~~~~

And sometimes isn't that what life is all about ?

Having your family call you a freak,

while knowing

that deep down inside

they wouldn't trade you for a million bucks !!!!

you can find me today reading in my adirondack chair

Where Peace Lives

Leo Daily Horoscope

Your spirit may be awash in feelings of comfort and tranquility today. You are likely in a peaceful mood because the winter that just about you in a mental hospital is gone and it's going to be 75 degrees today... and drawn to the many pleasures your cottage and family have to offer.

You may find yourself driven to gather your loved ones for a day of relaxing activities. Or, you may wish to interrupt your routine {routine ?} by reading a book, {and it's a good one right now....Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Piccoult} writing in your journal, or cooking something special....well, let's not go too far !! Today may be best spent doing what makes you happy and peaceful.

It is the serenity of your cottage and the proximity of your loved ones that will sustain your pleasant mood. Little needs to come between you and your peaceful quiet. When you enjoy the comforts of your cottage today, you can tap into your inner peace....or as I like to call it, "bringing sanity back !"