if you can't find me, I just might be hiding in here

It's here

the book I've been waiting for

and it's

signed

by

her

the wonderfully talented

Kelly Rae Roberts

artist, writer, author

extraordinaire

and now

I get to meet her in person

at

SQUAM

~~~~~

does it get any better

~~~~~

time

for

a

happy dance

floating with hopes and dreams.....

I took a L.E.A.P last night

and bought airline tickets

at the very last minute

for

an

art retreat

~~~~~

I leave in 10 days

for

SQUAM

~~~~~

this is not like me at all

I don't plan anything at the last minte

just ask those who know me well

~~~~~

I plan everything in advance

I make plans to make plans

I don't fly by the seat of my pants

ever

~~~~~

but

maybe that's going to change

maybe this is the start of something new

maybe I'm coming out of my shell

turning over a new leaf

and all those other old sayings

~~~~~

or

maybe

I'm being the me

I wish I'd been all these years

and finally now

for whatever reason

I have the courage to do it

choosing to do what I want to do

instead of worrying

about doing

what others think I should do

~~~~~

so right now

I'm feeling a little shaken

a little nervous

but mostly I feel

right here

on

top of world

it looks like this when I write it out......

Lately

I've had many conversations

with just me

in my head

and

I've been hoping that nobody can see me

talking to myself

~~~~~

Lately

I've been a bit of a stop sign rebel

I see them

and

I slow down

but on the roads where I'm sure there's nobody else around

I tend to use them as yield signs

~~~~~

Lately

I've been loving my shopping trips to

whole foods

I bring my own bags

so that

"I'm one of them"

yet

I can't bring myself to taste any of the dips or hummus

they have sitting out to sample

and

I get completely wigged out seeing other people

cram their chips into the bottom of those bowls

to snatch the last little bit of

creamy stuff

~~~~~

Lately

I've been watching my baby grow up

watching him

do all of his

back-to-school-clothes-shopping

with

his sister

or

his

girlfriend

and

being thrilled that they all have such great taste

yet sad

that I haven't been needed

~~~~~

Lately

I've been surprised at my reaction

when I hear someone mention

2009

I'm just not ready

yet

~~~~~

Lately

I've been looking for my authentic self

while wishing

I could touch the center of my dreams

~~~~~

what have you done lately ?

{this is one of my cottage prairie photos}

I was thinking.....

maybe sometimes you just need

to hang on the side of a wall

to see the world with a different perspective

or at least catch your breath

while you're there

~~~~~

I love her, but nobody gets to wear my crown

This is my new friend Ollie and I love "him".....well, maybe "her" as "it" is still too little to have "those parts" ummmm, recognized. She belongs to Cate, but lives here at my house, because I guess if I understand it right, her apartment is only big enough for Bella, the cat. But I don't have any complaints....except that everyone thinks she's so sweet and cute and furry and adorable..... so I'm going to take this time {and the space on mom's blog} to remind everyone that I was the first queen in this palace and I will forever wear the crown....everyone got that ???

because sometimes I listen to others.....

after I played with itbefore I played with it
I think I love playing with my photos
{thanks Trixie for pushing me}

early morning in our prairie