Random little abstract to end the weekend

Can you guess what this is?

A shoe ... haha.

Phooey + return of the red dress

Today I'm calling these images the "Sick but still trying" series. Hehee. Good thing I still have a sense of humor when I feel crappy.

I cannot seem to kick this bug I have - I think I really need to just stop, truly just stop and be still this weekend.

I have been reading some very inspiring things that I want to share, and have so many ideas for fun photos, but it will have to wait. More soon, friends. Much love.

Woo hoo !

Finally, some energy for pictures. After a week of being sick and working too many hours to have any motivation to create, I jumped around in the backyard for a bit. Thank you God for giving me a boost today.

My mind was focused on my new series, Girls just wanna have fun ...

Girls just wanna have fun photo shoot :)

My lovely niece graciously posed for me yesterday - or I should say, jumped and skipped and ran for me ...

Kids in the pool

YES to fun pics in the pool today ....

(I like the stars on her little butt, heehee)

Presto-change-o

I decided to try a little black-and-white with these images .... I think they look better, don't you?

Morning light

The sun is out !! It may not last all day, but the light streaming in earlier this morning was refreshing, after all the rainy overcast-ness we've been having here.

So I had to take some pictures of the light coming in this window - I had thoughts of self-portraits, but my immune system has other thoughts. Working in schools every day was bound to get me sick eventually. I am excited nonetheless about lovely sunshine, days off work, and taking pictures !!!!

thumbtacks ... yep .... amazing how a close-up like this really makes the dust stand out ...

my morning tea

curtain rod

Hopefully tomorrow I'll be up for something a little more fun than inanimate objects !!

Happy Saturday to you all !!!

A few outtakes of Steph in blue and green...

I came across these lines just now, and it encouraged me to get my butt on the computer and post some pics ....

We must be doing something about bringing our dreams into the world every day, even if we only have fifteen minutes out of every twenty-four hours to concentrate on our calling. -Sarah Ban Breathnach

Let us, then, be up and doing
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Doggies

I've been dog-sitting for a few days ...

This is Bella.

And this is Mally-moose. Okay, really her name is Mallory.

And here's Bella again - she looks sad but so darn cute !

Blue and Green Stephanie

I got to see my lovely amiga Stephanie this weekend ... check out her new blue hair ...

Crazy awesome sky

The sky was so beautiful this afternoon, I had to stop and snap a few pics during my drive home. Some guy stopped and asked if I needed help, I laughed and told him I was just being a dork and taking pictures of the sky. It was really nice, though, that someone would offer their help without even knowing if anything was wrong. Comforting ....

Hope you enjoy ...

(thats the dude in his truck, driving off....)

Bye Dude! Thanks for bringing a moment of joy to my day.

A little thought

I am currently re-discovering an old book: Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, by Sarah Ban Breathnach. It's an inspirational gathering of thoughts, made to guide you toward your authentic self, with several pages of insight for each day of the year. I like this because I can pick it up at anytime and read a few pages and gain a lot of insight. I was very much comforted by some thoughts for September 6:

No matter what form our job or activity takes, the content is the same as everyone else's; we are here to minister to human hearts. If we talk to anyone, or see anyone, or even think of anyone, then we have the opportunity to bring more love into the universe. From a waitress to the head of a movie studio, from an elevator operator to the president of a nation, there is no one whose job is unimportant to God.
-Marianne Williamson

And just a few more ... :)

Happy Wednesday to you. (Don't forget, So You Think You Can Dance starts back up again tonight......wahoo!)

More more !!

A few of my favorites from yesterday evening's session - my friend DeLaina and her lovely family ....

Meet the funny and informative girl. She was all about the details with her matching necklace and purse, and had many stories.

And here's Miss blue eyes - such a character at less than a year old. Quick to inform us that her stroller might not be facing our way. On top of things. :)

And Mr. 3-year old. Bundle of energy and joy. Busy busy busy.

Definitely too busy for pictures :)

and last but not least ...

The expert tree climber, jungle gym climber ... you-name-it, he'll climb it.

Incredibly smart and observant little dude.

Much much gracias to DeLaina and fam. Thanks for inviting me in to play with you guys for a bit :)

More to come tomorrow ....

A little sneak peak ...

... from my photo session today !!

Play time

I am beginning a new body of work - "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". I have visions of colorful walls and fun dresses and skipping and jumping. (And, of course, all girls!!) I've started a new gallery on my main webpage - check it out and let me know what you think. If you're a girl nearby and want to have fun and play with me, give me a shout!
So I had this theme in mind when shooting these images today .... and then I got a little caught up in photoshop. Just playing around and not really having a clue what I'm doing. But thought I'd share my experimentation.
Happy Sunday !!

A visitor !

My photo session has been postponed, but a little someone came to visit ....

My mom put this thing on him, and I obliged to take a pic ... I have to admit, he looks pretty stinkin' cute ...

New for you, old for me

Weeding out pictures again ... and came across one I took about a week ago - didn't like it at the time, but today it intrigued me. :)

I didn't keep my promise to myself about taking pictures yesterday - but I do have a session scheduled for this evening !!! woo hoo.... should hopefully be sharing some tomorrow.

Happy Saturday to you ... I call this one happy light.

Blech

I'm a bit bummed that my new job is sort of draining me of energy to create .... I haven't taken any pictures in two days.

May not seem like a big deal, but two days could turn into three, or four ...

I'm making a commitment to myself to go out and shoot some photos tomorrow. For sure.

In the meantime - a good Story People quote I came across today:

"
I always imagine the worst possible thing that can happen, she told me. It gives me a great excuse to stay home & have tea.

-Brian Andreas

Inspiration

I've had this idea in my head for awhile to share with you some sources of inspiration. Lovely women who inspire me, intrigue me, and impress me, sometimes with their photographs and imagery, sometimes with their words and actions. Women I aspire to be like. Women who follow their dreams ...

Maggie Doyne. This girl .... wow, this girl. She's basically just amazing. I've written about her before, but she continues to intrigue me with her blog and updates. I hope to meet her one day. She's only 22 years old and has built a home for children in Nepal from the ground up. Check her out, and if you can, make a contribution.

Boho Girl. She's an artist who photographs artists. And currently her baby, lots of pics of her little one. Her blog is always inspiring, and her honesty and openness and genuinity are just beautiful. (Not to mention, she takes bee-yoo-ti-full pictures).

Deb Schwedhelm. The photographer who has led me to many of the other women who inspire me - I should have listed her first! Her blog posts are always thought-provoking, she touches on things that are important to think about. And her photographs .... ohhhhhh .... I'd love to be a fly on the wall during one of her sessions, because I haven't a clue how she does it.

Shannon. This girl is a friend of a friend of mine - she probably doesn't have a clue that some random girl like me obsessively reads her blog. She left Austin, TX to study in Glasgow, and she writes about her experiences abroad. She's very witty, I love her photo captions. And I'm just so impressed with her ability to pick up and move off to another country .... she reminds me that possibilities are endless.

(There are more ... but I will continue on another day ...)


I keep up with these blogs on an almost daily basis, they guide me, they comfort me, they give me hope. They push me to strive for what I truly want, to find my true calling. Thank you dear ladies for your inspiration.

I will leave you with another little source of inspiration - lovely orange flowers growing through the fence in the backyard ...