true love

Dear Honey,
Thank you for understanding about the new camera. Thank you for understanding I'm not easy to understand even though you try to understand me but eventually give up because you love me more than you understand me. Understand? I love you, too.
Always,
Peach

spreading the wealth

well, hello there

putting it in perspective

a star is born

tasting life twice

I've heard it said on some important occasions, "Oh, we didn't take pictures. We were enjoying the moment." I have a different take on that, and I read something recently that summed it up nicely.

"We write to taste life twice, once in the moment and in retrospection."

Well, I'm a lousy writer, but this quote is why I take pictures. Not to be a famous photographer or have someone admire my photos, but I get to taste life twice. Once in the moment, and (over and over) again in retrospection.



I'll remember this hug from Sophia (and her doll Emma) for all times.

Did I enjoy the moment when she bolted in the door from their trip to give me a hug?

You betcha.

Did I get teased for taking a picture of it?

You betcha.

Will I always see this smile and the enjoy the memories this picture brings?

Always.

Pretty in Pink

"Pretty in Pink" has taken on new meaning in our house. Around here we affectionately call Sophia "Pretty" as in "Did you sleep well, Pretty?" or "Hi, Pretty!"

We've got some old family pictures and Craig's mom was apparently called "Love" when she was little. One picture says, "Love gathering the eggs" and another says, "Love just got up." But I'm getting side-tracked (though I love that connection!).

Our very own Pretty loooves pink and has not liked her yellow room ever since she learned color names. A few weeks ago I was suddenly inspired to give Pretty her Pink Room she's always wanted. Her Daddy and I secretly made plans and purchases.

The original intention of the "Gatlinburg Escape" was to give me some R&R, but as the secret mission of the Pink Room evolved, I chose to use this time to WORK&WORK instead. And work. I never even got to crack open the books I had lined up, or read through my new camera manual, or finish editing our May vacation pictures.

But surprising Sophia (and being able to work in peace!) was great fun. The gang got back home around 7:00 last night and after our meet and greet in the kitchen, I snuck up to Sophia's room to wait for her. Here is the long anticipated reaction:



A GALLON OF "FRESH PINK" PAINT: $17


WOODEN LETTERS: $9


PHOTO ENLARGEMENTS: $20


CLEARING CLUTTER AND CLEANING: a sore back


SILK FLOWERS, BASKET, RIBBON: $30


WATCHING SOPHIA JUMP FOR JOY: priceless








Here are the before & afters.






There's more work (and purchases) ahead (new bedspread, new lampshade, some tweaking of the positions of the letters and bows, some new doo-dads here and there) but we're off to a great start, don't you think?

Lots of thanks to all who fueled the excitement and contributed help, encouragement, advice, picture frames, and direction... Kimberly, Sheila, Hannah, Nana, and Papaw!

meet my guest

Today I have a guest blogger. Meet Felicity. Felicity, take it away.

Thanks, Grandma. I just wanted to tell Mommy that I miss her while she's in Gatlinburg with Grandpa and Uncle Isaac.

Hi Mommy! Elizabeth and I have been talking about how much we love you and our other sister, Emma, and we can't wait to see you tomorrow.

We heard that Grandpa is doing all kinds of fun things with you, like hiking, boulder climbing, creek jumping, dining, go-carting, shoe shopping, doll clothes shopping, swimming, tossing football, and sight seeing! You're so lucky!

Grandma says that she loves Grandpa more than ever for taking such good care of you in Gatlinburg so she can get some things done here at home. I think she even said she can't wait to kiss him!

Well, I better go. Grandma needs the computer back.
We miss you, Mommy!
Love always,
Felicity

Ode to my family

Oh, how do I miss you? Let me count the ways.

Give me a minute.

I'm thinnnnking...

Hold on.

Oh! I've got one! I miss you taking out the trash for me, Isaac. Oh wait. There IS no trash because no one is here to make any.

Here's one! I miss you clearing the dinner dishes, Sophia. Oh shoot, that's not gonna work either. There ARE no dinner dishes since there is no one here to cook for.

Okay, okay, I've got one! I miss you carrying up the laundry basket for me, Honey. Hmmm... doggonit. There IS no laundry to do since it's just little ol' me here.

Well, surely I miss something while my dear ones are away.

Of course I do. I'm just teasing. I miss a house full of joy, laughter, hugs, sweet voices, kisses, pats, singing, patty cake, piano playing, smooches, footsteps, butterfly kisses, adorable faces, cuddles, jokes, tousling hair, and fun conversations. And kisses and hugs. And smooches. And kisses. And hugs. And smooches.

I miss the love.

I miss Isaac. I miss Sophia. I miss Honey.

I miss being a mom. I miss being a wife.

Hurry home. (but not before Thursday evening. I'm enjoying this!)

home alone

64, and maany more!

(my kitchen is not really lime green, I promise! Just a little intense in this shot!)

Hurricane Ike Was Here

and he took a shutter with him.


Papaw was here.
and he put a new one on.


Ike took some branches and leaves with him too, but I think the drought aided that robbery.
One tree dead, a few still undecided.

oh baby, baby!

I did it! My new baby is on its way. Glad I don't have to wait 9 months, but just a few days. I'm almost just as nervous waiting as I was 13 years ago for my first baby! Okay, not really, but I do have butterflies! I think it needs a name, like Kimberly names her vehicles. "Trusty" got her through many years and now she has a crush on Thunder, her jeep cherokee. Oh, and her fancy printer is Inky. Help me out here. "My Camera" is so impersonal.

beauty of Bandon

seaside

sunset silhouettes

come on in, the water's fine

a little give and take

This place needs a facelift and I've got an idea. My posts are so few and far between because I keep posting lots of pics at a time while weaving the story of our lives through them. And that takes time. Time to choose, time to edit, time to upload, time to blog. So I'm gonna try a photo-a-day kind of thing. I might miss some days. I might post lots of pictures some days. I might bomb and give up completely. But I figure if I deserve any chance at getting a DSLR, I've gotta push myself a little. So this is for me. A push to figure out a little more about photography and an excuse to only have to post one picture.

A special Happy Birthday!

Isn't she growing old ...aging ...maturing beautifully? Inside and out! We love you, Nana!