because now I'm addicted......

photographing people TTVF

is so much harder

than shooting objects

but

my niece and nephew

were angels

on

saturday

when I asked them to

"sit"

for me

~~~~~

even though her face is blurry

there is such an

ethereal

feeling

when I look at

olivia

here

that it gives me a chill

~~~~~

and I didn't do an

exact final count

but I think

the square corners

won

the

poll

~~~~~

thank you

all of you

for playing along

and

for also

leaving me such great comments

you made me smile

really big

*

because of misty......

these are my first attempts

of

photography

through

the

view finder

you take an old camera

a really old box camera

bought cheaply on ebay

have your wonderful
and
talented hubby
build a light diffusing
contraption
for it
~~~~~
attach your
macro lens
that
your thoughtful, loving
hubby
gave you for your birthday

and then go out in public
*
and
look silly
as people ask questions
as to what you're doing
*
and shoot
REALLY COOl PHOTOS !!!
~~~~~
oh, that misty !!
~~~~~
I left two of the photos with their square edges
and turned the other two into rounded edges
which ones do you like best ?
~~~~~

color me happy......

I was blessed

to meet jonatha

at squam

~~~~~

and

to be in a

superhero class

with her

~~~~~

and

to

have her sing

right in front of me

~~~~~

the beauty

the voice

and

the love

in her

soul

~~~~~
and

yesterday

I bought two tickets

to see her

here

YES

HERE

in

madison

on stage

in

december

because

her song

"taste of danger"

well

it's just

the

best

ever

and

I love her

~~~~~

if you know me

well

you've seen

my

happy

dance

~~~~~

and

that's what I did

yesterday

and what I'll still

be doing

all

day

today

*

he's always had it

17 years ago

I gave birth to a beautiful

baby boy

~~~~~

who

has made us laugh

make your cheeks hurt

tears in your eyes

pee your pants

laugh

at least once each day

since then

~~~~~

to my sweet boy

thank you for adding

so much to

our

lives

~~~~~

we wouldn't be

*us*

without

you

*

happy birthday

he stole my heart.....

I don't even know his name

but he was

beautiful

the kind

of

beautiful

that takes your breath

away

and I told him that

I had been looking

for a spot

a perfect water spot

for a photo shoot

and

instead I found him

this child

that when I asked if I could take his photo

smiled

and

proclaimed

"YES"

when I was walking back to my car

I approached a man

who I had somehow been drawn to

and asked if by any chance

his son was playing down

on the lake's edge

~~~~~

he smiled ear to ear

and

asked

"the one with the fro?"

and

I said yes

he's so beautiful

~~~~~

I stood next to this man

as he beamed

and told me all about his son

and

why they moved here

to wisconsin

from illinois

~~~~~

this beautiful child is

autistic

~~~~~

and

it is here

that they found the schooling and support

that they need

for him

~~~~~

and

it is here

with these

photos

that proved

to my heart

why I love to be

behind

my camera

~~~~~

I'll sit on that bench with you.....

"In order to do what really matters to you

you have to

first of all

know what really matters to you"

~~~~~

and maybe somedays

it's just best

to sit on a park bench

to sort out your feelings

and remind yourself

not to be scared of your life

but most of all

not to waste your life

~~~~~

while at

SQUAM

I heard

connecting with the earth

existing in the moment

finding your passion

living

~~~~~

and

that's what
I intend to do

~actually~

it's what I thought I was doing

but I wasn't

I've been faking it

"putting up a good front"

they say

so

if you see me

and I look the same

but maybe with a sparkle here or there

and you feel something differently

emerging from me

when you get a little closer

it's still me

only better

less jumbled thougths, kind of...or SQUAM part two.....

It's your passion that ultimately connects you

to your higher purpose

so I've been told

and

that's what I've been looking for

I think

and probably didn't even know it

this is Swirly girl

and

if you haven't bought

her book yet

well

you're missing out on amazing amount of inspiration

the kind that we all need

everday

in our lives

I've always known that I'm a water person

lakes, oceans

it doesn't matter

as long as there is water near me

well, it sings to me

can you hear it, too ?

this is
saturday's super hero life class

and in the yellow

is

kathleen

she's an angel by the way

as she was my partner during an exercise

and saw me shed lots of tears

as I told her about the person that I admire

the most

my grandma ruby

being here at SQUAM

was the most positive thing

I've done

just for me

so far this year

and it felt wonderful

~~~~~

so

a big

thank you to everyone

who pushed me

convinced me

and

taunted me

to come here

I exposed myself to lots of strangers

lived in the moments

and

returned with a new energy

can you feel it?

can you see the angel wings

on misty and stef ?

look closely

they're there

big, soft, fluffy, beautiful wings

travel journaling class 101
with my new friend
tara
she looks quiet here
but don't let her fool you...
she's a blast !!!!

everyday
for every meal
we had a very long walk to the dining hall
heather
asked me on the last full day
if I had seen the "nest"
and I hadn't
so we walked with our heads up
~~~~~
which for anyone who was at SQUAM knows
that was next to impossible to do without tripping over
a stone or a root
which would then send your body flying through the air
~~~~~
but
sure enough
we found it
and if I could have brought it home with me
empty of course
I would have
as
it was spectacular

oh susan !!!

on our first night in the cottage

I heard someone downstairs

saying she was

supposed to find me

at SQUAM to say "hello"

from a mutual friend

and upon looking for me

found out we were sharing the same cottage

and not only did we share a cottage

we shared time with one another

real time

an evening with the gang in front of the fireplace

just the two of us on a road trip in the rain

to and from

meredith

stopping at the general store to buy boots and a hat

in holderness

you are a special one susan !!

and the ducks

on the first day

right after registration

made stef and I crack up

did anyone else see them ???

~~~~~