Category: General Musings

Project 365 {WEEK 52} - And that, my friends, is how you 365!

12/31/2017

As of this moment, I have picked up my camera and taken at least 1 photo for 1096 days in a row.
I think that deserves a WOO HOO!

So what have I learned in 1096 days? I've learned that I'm very passionate about photography. I've learned that I'm a very disciplined and determined (and, um, stubborn) person. I've learned that it's okay to feel uninspired once in a while. I've learned that photography seems tedious at times, but totally worth the back aches and hassle of lugging around a 3lb camera when I look back through a year's worth of photos and remember silly little moments that would've otherwise come and gone without a thought. I've learned that I can create a make-believe world where for a split-second, everything is perfect. And I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

So here I go again...tomorrow I begin a new 365 journey. Let's see what else I can learn.

Day 365 {Auld Lang Syne} - New Year's Eve

Day 364 {Begins with Z} - Zebra Moonlight

Day 363 {Priceless} - Game Night

Fun with the grandparents.

Day 362 {Replaceable} - On Life Support

I've been off-line this week...partly because I'm on vacation and need some quiet time, but also due to my phone dying the other day. It's currently on life support until I can upgrade.

Day 361 {Anything But} - Anything But Bedtime

Pretty much every night.

Day 360 {What Matters Most} - Christmas Calories

But technically this only adds up to one slice, so it's okay.

Day 359 {Ornament} - Seven Swans a'Swimming

Day 358 {Tidings of Joy} - Take Time to Unplug

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Project 365 {WEEK 38} - Okay, I'll admit it's not THAT bad

9/24/2017

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It's no secret that I'm not a fan of fall and winter. I'm a warm weather girl, plain and simple. But every year, no matter how hard I try to fight it, short days and cold fingers always win. I shouldn't need a space heater in my bathroom or flannel sheets on my bed. And I certainly shouldn't have to wrap in a blanket just to sit at my computer and work. I'm convinced that I was mistakenly born in Wisconsin, someone obviously mixed up the paperwork.

Yes, I realize it's only the first week of fall, perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself. We did get a special weather treat this week, upper 80's and sunshine ALL week. Take that, calendar! My afternoon walks were so relaxing; I felt like a child as I kicked through the falling leaves and listened to the cicadas still singing in the trees. If only I could hold on to these moments just a little longer. I guess fall isn't all that bad. It just gets a bum rap because it marks the end of my precious summer. But after this week, I'm willing to give it second chance. Don't let me down.

Day 266 {Letters} - How Do I Spell Relief?

Four letters: T-E-N-S

Day 265 {Growing} - Here's the Proof

Must be homemade pizza night!

Day 264 {Deceiving} - Autumn Canvas

The calendar and colors say Autumn, but the 90 degree temps disagree...I'm perfectly happy to hold on to summer as long as I can.

Day 263 {Work} - Man Made

Working on the pond that's going in across the street. The noise level around here lately is ridiculous! They start before 7:00 am and work until dusk.

Day 262 {Aroma} - That's the Spirit

Day 261 {Black} - Pup Time

Had a special visit with the pups today.

Day 260 {Begins with R} - Restrained

Caged in...right where she belongs ;)

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Project 365 {WEEK 6} - All I Can Do is Keep Breathing

2/12/2017

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Monday night: "Mommy, I'm sooo tired, do I have to go to ballet tonight?"

I'm not sure if it was the glassy eyes or the chattering teeth that finally convinced me to keep her home, but I'm sure glad I did. Little did I know at the time that this was the start of a marathon illness that kept my poor girl camped out on the bathroom floor for several days this week. At one point her temperature was hovering around the 104 mark...um, yikes.

By the time Friday morning rolled around, she was finally fever-free and ready-(ish) to head back to school. And that's when her big brother woke up at 4:00 a.m. with a 101 degree temperature, killer headache and a barking cough. He just couldn't stand to let his sister get all the attention this week. I HATE sibling rivalry!

While he slept the day away, I managed to get a little work and laundry done. That is, until I received an afternoon phone call from the school health room informing me that little sis nearly passed out in class and that I had to come pick her up. Just 30 minutes before the end of the day...she was SO close!

It's Sunday now, and despite my achy ribs, on-and-off headache and lack of sleep, I somehow survived the week trapped in the house with the Hell-beast virus, 2 sick kiddos, hubs out of town and no groceries. Still breathing, yes, but I think I need a nap...Is it Monday yet?

Day 42 {Behind} - Mr. Misty-Eye

"You got one time to figure it out, One time to twist and one time to shout." - Twenty One Pilots

Day 41 {My Choice} - Guard Your Heart

Day 40 {Layered} - Cookie Strata

Day 39 {Emoji} - TKO

Second day in a row home sick from school. And it's looking like Thursday might be day 3 unless this fever finally decides to break. This is one tough virus.

Day 38 {Begins with L} - When Life Gives You Lemons...

...Try not to get any in the papercut on your finger, because it just makes everything soooo much worse.

Day 37 {Slow} - Just Breathe

If you are unable to find the quiet, slow down and let the quiet find you.

Day 36 {Entrance} - Enter Sunlight

We finally got a few hours of afternoon sun!

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Project 365 {WEEK 5} - My Winter Break-up Note

2/5/2017

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Hey February, I thought I told you last year that I didn't want to see you anymore. It's always the same with you; you show up, uninvited, and try to sweep me off my feet with all that "Be My Valentine" talk, then you leave me feeling cold and disappointed. You know as well as I do that we never had any real chemistry. You're just not my type. Sure, you can be sweet for a few days, when the spotlight's on you, but then it's right back to your selfish ways, teasing me with small bursts of sunshine and then giving me the cold shoulder when I finally fall for your charm.

I prefer a month that's more sensitive to my needs, one with more stability, more charisma, more oomph. You claim to be all about love and romance, but you're nothing but talk. You have no staying power, no stamina. Beneath your shallow, candy-coated exterior, you're nothing more than a drab, roller-coaster of temperatures and emotions. You give me chills down my spine...but not the good kind. When you're with me, I can't be myself; I feel I have to hide beneath so many layers just to get through the day. And nights with you are cold and lifeless. I've felt your frigid hands on mine. You suffocate me and I feel trapped. If you knew me at all, you'd know that I'm looking for a month that loves me for who I really am, and that gives me the freedom to do all the things I dream about. I want to feel that spark of true love, igniting a fire inside (that doesn't actually involve a fireplace). After all these years, I can finally admit that we were never meant to be together.

So take your vase of wilted flowers and your store-bought sentiments and go play your mind-games on someone else. I deserve so much more than what you have to offer, and I know if I'm patient, I'll eventually find what I've been looking for.

Day 35 {Wild} - Wild Child

Took her a few tries, but she finally remembered how to do it...Sort of. I really need to take the kids bowling more often. We went with friends today and had so much fun...even though the pins didn't always cooperate...it's rigged.

Day 34 {Retro} - Just an Illusion

Do you believe in magic?

Day 33 {Ephemeral} - Lost Track

"I looked away and you were gone. I should have known that it was time for you to move along." - Katie Herzig

Day 32 {Mix and Match} - Split Decision

Day 31 {Water} - I'll Pour

Day 30 {From Here to There} - Your Sled or Mine?

Day 29 {Shadow} - The Fox and The Hound

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Project 365 {WEEK 4} - Stuck in a Rut

1/29/2017

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Stuck in a rut. Looking for some serious inspiration, a kick-@ss project to drag me out of this winter funk. This happens to me every year, I don't know why I always act so surprised; I hit the ground running January 1 with goals and wild ideas and by the end of the month I'm ready to settle back into my cozy comfort zone. What am I so afraid of? Or am I being lazy? Maybe I just need someone to collaborate with, someone to keep me motivated, someone to inspire me.

I still have 1 or 2 crazy ideas up my sleeve, perhaps to be revealed later this year, but for now they are just dusty thoughts in my cluttered brain. I'm so impressed by people who can take a tiny spark of an idea and turn it into something amazing. My ideas just tend to smolder for a bit and then burn out. What if one actually caught fire?

Day 28 {Names} - Well Read

Time to escape reality for a while.

Day 27 {Industrial} - Designer Skyline

"Affection, the gifted architect, is making a draft and beautiful design. The options and possibilities are endless when we connect and re-align." - Adam Young, Owl City