Fearless

This is my son, Sam. He is a super hero. A FEARLESS super hero! He is not worried that others in the park might think otherwise. He is not at all concerned about the fact he is not wearing super hero clothes or packing his magnetic nuclear blaster thing... He is what he is and no one can talk him out of it. You could try to convince him he can't be a super hero because he doesn't have the right equipment, official outfit, or bulging muscles - but he won't buy it! Unwavering confidence and limitless imagination. This makes him MY hero - and I want to be just like him.

Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams...

When I first glance at this image, I feel the goose is moving swiftly away from something. Is that a matter of the cup being half empty or half full? I wonder about what I am moving away from in my life... away from pain of losing loved ones, doing my taxes, denial of the state of our economy (I'm in real estate, of all careers), bad habits, junk food.... or am I moving away from some good things?... like spending more time reading my Bible and in prayer, embracing the opportunity to live a more simple meaningful way of life, helping those in need, the pursuit of my dreams and love of photography... or opening my heart to love? It doesn't make sense that we would move away from good things, does it? But we do, because good things in life can also bring feelings of fear and inadequacy and they sometimes come packaged with great responsibility. Often its easier to go the other way, or stay in our safe, although mediocre, corner of the world. I'm reminded of the saying "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take". Its true. So why are we so afraid to step up to the plate and take a swing at life? Or, several swings for that matter! Why are we so hesitant to move swiftly toward all the good stuff? Cautious...

I'll bet there were some children feeding the geese on the other side of the pond, and this spruce goose wasn't wasting any time getting there! He wasn't going away from anything...he was simply moving swiftly toward something good. As Thoreau said so well... "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the live you've imagined." As we begin a new week, here's to moving confidently forward!

Breaking Rules

I spent some time this weekend at my home town - Mansfield, Mo. I had a few hours without the kids, so I took some time for a country drive to the cemetary where lies my Father, Grandfather and Grandmother. I don't always visit when you're supposed to - like Memorial day. There's something about commercializing my loved ones that just doesn't set well with me, and I'm not fond of those plastic flowers, either! I like to plant crocus and daffodils for them instead. And because its in the country, there are no rules that say I can't! I love that! Its really in the middle of nowhere and so very peaceful. The views are gorgeous and its quiet... Its not far from the house where my Dad was born, which is still standing today. The biggest changes from my childhood are that it has running water now and the outhouse is gone! I could write for hours with stories about weekends spent there. What I would give for more pictures from that time, and the older I get the more I'm drawn to that simpler way of life.

Now, this post isn't meant to be sad - no way! And the photo looks a little creepy, doesn't it? When I took it last year, the groundskeeper was there. His name is Freddie and he lived with his family just up the road from my Grandfather in our childhood days. He still returns to keep things nice and neat. I was using my Lensbaby to try for some interesting effects and he happened to be walking by. The old church hasn't been used in years. All the windows are broken and birds now inhabit the interior. But, I like this image for some reason. Many rules are broken here... sky is blown out, and the focus isn't good. Oh, well. Just like sometimes preferring not to visit on Memorial weekend, I enjoy breaking the rules with my camera now and then, too.

With All My Hearts...

Valentine's day is almost here, but at my house we are celebrating Valentine's weekend! Why not stretch it out? I found the cutest heart shaped plates at Target finished in glittery red. Then at Walgreen's I couldn't resist the light-up drinking glasses with hearts. So, Saturday night I will light some candles for the table and serve my little men heart shaped pepperoni pizza on glittery heart plates and serve a sparkling drink in the light-up glasses. Now, how can you beat that? It won't be long before they will no longer tolerate my glitter and hearts... My oldest son is 11, and his valentine bag contained black rubber barn boots...filled with candy and some Redi-Whip, all to himself, to be eaten straight from can to mouth! On any other day this would be forbidden! My youngest is 8, and thank goodness he still enjoys the sweet sentimental things - so he received his load of candy with a giant, furry Valentine's frog. He refused, though, to allow "hearts" anywhere near his Lego themed valentine's box for school. I'm slowly losing him to big-boyhood. I'm going to miss these days when they're gone.

Of course I can't write here without a corresponding photo. What I love about this image of the Queen Anne's Lace is the heart... I didn't discover it until later. What a nice surprise! The simple flower with the tiny heart...set with the old rusty fence in the background. Isn't that the best kind of love - the kind that surprises you, or springs up in places you wouldn't ever expect? That's when it makes its biggest impact on the world. Happy Valentine's weekend :-)

Where Has The Year Gone Already?

I found a template for a calendar a few weeks ago and decided to give it a try. I know, its already February! But that's how I roll! I think its nifty... you can make it from your favorite images and a cd jewel case. They are so easy to do - just download your photos to the templates in either of the links below, then take to your favorite printer. I made one for my mom and also for my aunt - both of them are hair stylists and these are the perfect size for their stations. I hope the flowers bring good vibes of spring, which is right around the corner (atleast that's what I keep telling myself, as we are covered in snow here). These calendars would be great Valentine's gifts, too.

Here ya go:

http://shuttersisters.com/home/2009/10/24/2010-photo-calendar-templates.html

Or:

http://bighugelabs.com/

Symbols, Signs and Salvage

I regret not capturing an image of the recliner with the stuffed man just behind the right side of the gate..

Something about a shotgun...

And I mean it!

Two locks are always better than one!

Bad Bulls..

Wire butterfly with beads

No trespassing... I love the old box springs!

Do you think this really is the actual address?

I found this gate to some farm land on a backroad near my house. I have no idea why so much effort was put forth to confuse passers-by like myself with all the symbols, signs and salvage... but nonetheless the display definately caught my attention. I hope whoever reads this post finds these images as interesting and entertaining as I do... I'm just grateful I didn't get shot while taking them! I'm not trying to express deep meaning between the lines of this text or within these pictures - unless, that is, they evoke something for you... then I want to hear about it!

The Other Side of the Fence

I couln't resist putting my work away yesterday to go out and snap a few photos. We've had some snow here lately, then yesterday's freezing fog created the most beautiful giant frost on all the fences and leaves. If you've ever tried close-up or macro photography, you know it is more difficult than anyone would imagine...especially outside - if there is any wind at all. There was so much beauty all around me, but my attempts at capturing it mostly failed. My attention then turned to the neighbor's Basset Hound on the other side of the fence. How can you not love a Basset? Those long, droopy ears and sad eyes. But once again I was trying to hit a moving target. I managed to get the pup's attention, down low through some of the frost covered weeds. Finally! I got both the frost and the dog.

When I look at this image, it makes me wonder what is on his mind. Does he think my yard looks more fun than his? How many times a day or week do we have these thoughts...about the other side of the fence? And how about all life's moving targets? It seems like we are trying to hit them every day, then when we finally nail one, its all the more sweet! So, I dumped my memory card of all the images that were taken either the wrong way, or a fraction of a second too late. I'm not gonna sweat those failed attempts. I'll learn from the misses and celebrate the hits - and try not to pay too much attention to the other side of the fence.