you left too soon...

*new neighbors move in just a street over from our backyard
*he works for the same company as my hubby
*their children are beautiful and I get to photograph them
*she laughs at seeing me with our dog in a doggie stroller one afternoon
*their friends are our friends
*they are at the same parties we are
*I volunteer with her in the community
*they have a dog who tries to be an escape artist one afternoon
*they invite us over for dinners
*we have many lunches out with "the girls"
*he takes a different job in a new state far away
*one last lunch is had with "the girls" while the boxes are being packed
*they move away too quickly
*their old house still stands empty

*their old yard is filled with tulips that I saw yesterday on my afternoon walk
*she would have wanted me to take photos

and
on the patio
champ's toys and water dish
were the only tangible items left behind as a reminder of who lived here
along with lots of memories
~~~

sometimes it's heavier than it looks...

it's not always easy to believe in yourself
~~
but
if you do believe in yourself
fearlessly
you will always have a thirst for life
that
nobody else will ever quite understand

I believe
that we are all facing choices that define us
and
if you choose to believe in
forgiveness and wonder
your faith will soar
~~

I also believe
that we all have growing pains
and
if you quit on yourself
even the tiniest little bit
everyone else will
too
*
~this is my wednesday spc for the incredible and beautiful misty~
and
who knew i could have so much fun with a sign
?

and maybe a little cotton candy...

my life at the moment is a wicked roller coaster ride
with lots of head whipping going on
and
if I were a weak person I'd be running as far away from it as possible
screaming at the top of my voice
looking for a place to hide
~~~~
but
that's not me and it never has been
as I tend to take on challenges like a boxer in a ring
so when it's all over I can wave my arms in the air
while bouncing from one foot to another
and
swaying to the sounds of
"we are the champions"
~~~~
the details of all this craziness are still a little sketchy
but soon I'll be able to share what's going on here in my very own
amusement park I like to call home
~~~~
so
for now I'm breathing deep
with my shoulders back
and
living by own motto of
"everything happens for a reason"
and
finding the perfect horse on the merry-go-round
to hang out on for awhile
~~~~
{this photo has nothing to do with this post, but I love it so much....the woods are covered in these plants right now... and I have no idea what they are, probably just an invasive weed, but I like to think that in what feels like a forest to me when I'm hiking, they're little fairy umbrellas...

living and breathing...

at our weekend cottage
this time of year
everything comes alive right before our eyes
and
yesterday as we pulled up
there was a faint blanket of purple covering the hillside
behind us
~~~
tiny violets everywhere
~~~
and
as

I danced through the woods
where the ground snapped beneath my feet

with each step I took

all I could do was smile back at at the violets looking at me
and
I did my best to be caught up
~completely~
in the moment
of just breathing

if only they could speak...

"I know you're totally smitten with your camera
and
that you love coming here to our pond
and
that you can't find any people
to photograph
and
that the turtles are being shy
but guess what
?
I'm just not in the mood today"
*

if only for today...

breathe slowly

dance to the music from your ipod while walking down your neighborhood street
raise your face to the sun at least once
stand with your shoulders back
give a stranger anything but a dirty look
buy a bagel for the guy behind you in line
wear your most comfortable shoes even if they don't match what you're wearing
leave your watch at home and don't ask anyone what time it is
take pictures of only round things
go left instead or right
and
most of all
if the only thing you do all day is sit and read a good book
don't.feel.guilty.about.it.

I'm ready for people....

the pond creatures are not boring at all

or even scared of me anymore

and
this strange guy
was even willing to wear a little white party hat just to make me laugh
{can you see it, whatever that little thing is hiding right there behind him}
~~~~~
BUT
come on humans
~boys~girls~aunts~nephews~neighbors~men~babies~friends~
where are you
?
{I'll take a complete stranger at this point... I'm that needy}
I.WANT.TO.PHOTOGRAPH.PEOPLE.
~~~~~
i like people
with faces and expressions and hair blowing in the wind
is that too much to ask for
?
*