Before - After

This is one of my favorites from a little photo shoot I did yesterday. This little gal is just a doll and I love the sprinkling of freckles across her sweet little face. But I know from past experience the subject isn't always real happy with their skin when I get the camera up close and personal. So I did a little editing and smoothed out already picture perfect skin and this is the results. What do you think?

BEFORE

AFTER

Photo shoot!

Had the pleasure of taking this young ladies photos for her senior pictures. Other than make one black and white I haven't had time to do any touch ups to them - don't think I need much. 

Isn't she a little beauty?

 One of my favorite places in the world to shoot photos - old steps!

It was all of 90+ degrees outside but we had so much fun running around the countryside.

I think I love black and white photography more than anything. Also put a little fuzz around the corners so my subject's face was the focal.

Prayed a car didn't come along!

OR............a train!!

Yep, in the middle of the tracks - but I loved the contrast of the rocks.

We aren't done yet, we have many more ideas to try!

My Chippy Door!

This is my chippy door - it leads to the cellar at my garden. I don't like that cellar, it is dark, damp and I imagine all kinds of creepy crawlies living down there. However it does have it's use. To store squash, potatoes, pumpkins, onions etc. But I still don't like it. I might if a tornado came along, AND I was down in the garden but mostly I just don't like it - until my good friend Jackie said "Put a wreath on it". Of course decorate it, why hadn't I thought of that? But it worked - it made that creepy ole cellar something of a work or art. Yes, I think I like my cellar now.

Wordless Wed.

The 'garden'

This year I OWN my garden vs renting the ground that we have done previously. So with pen and paper in hand, big dreams, gardening books and sad to say little to no money I couldn't wait to get my 3 1/2 acres set up for gardening. Then the weather set in cold, wet and WET! With most of the soil a very non draining clay I couldn't do what I had planned this year and what I did do was a very late start. With the warm weather and nice moisture it is really starting to grow.

Any garden I have HAS to hollyhocks, these are seeds planted from some taken from my mom's home some 25 years ago. They go with me everywhere. And yard art takent fromt he scrap pile. I did say little to no money so I have to work with what I have on hand.

The cream can actually says Kennedy on it - so I guess it's mine for sure!

Started work on the playhouse. Can you see it in the background? Squash........that's the color I started painting it. Just seems like a pumpkin patch and fall lover would need a nice sounding color like SQUASH!!

Someday it will have real paned windows, a split door and beadboard but for now, one side is painted, has a faux window and a little window box.

My corn wasn't  knee high by the 4th of July, unless you were looking at one of my little grannie's legs but it was knee high by the 14th of July. That counts doesn't it?

PUMPKINS!!

The new fence that Jeff is putting up around the garden.

My birthday present from Twila, in the little kid's flower bed. BEEautiful!

More PUMPKINS! I did get them in a little late but then, I think they should be just perfect around Halloween - hope they make lots of pumpkins for the little kiddos around the town!

That's the end of my garden walk, maybe a little later in the season we will do it again and see what's growing.

Wandering thoughts!

 I was just visiting with one of my employees. I found that we had some very similar stories about our perception of our childhood, our relationship with our parents and the relationship that we want with our children. Both of us lost a lot when we lost our parents including a relationship with our siblings. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, that mistakes are only bad if you don't learn from them, that possessions are just 'things' and that the important part of your life is the relationships that you have with people. I kid with my children about having a 'dead' letter, one that tells my wishes for my possessions, how I want to be buried, pall bears etc. I always thought that if my folks would have written down their wishes vs telling (me) their wishes that I might still have a relationship, a good relationship with my sisters. So my cure for my kids is - the 'dead' letter. I have few possession that really have much value, more sentimental thanmonetary for sure, so when I am gone I hope that some of those things stay in the family and the kiddos don't fight over it, but again they are just things - HOWEVER what I do want for my kids is to have a good relationship with their mom, like I had with my parents. Amazing, even though I can't touch it, sale it, see it, I know I HAD it, a good relationship with my parents. I shared my love of gardening, crafting, watching my children grow with my mom. I shared my love of animals, riding horses, mannerisms, looks, with my dad. So the possessions I got when my parents left me were things you can't see, touch, sale just FEEL. I loved them, loved being with them, loved visiting them, just loved, loved, loved them. That's the wish I have for myself and my children.

Baby Lu @ 17 months

Just found this post in the Drafts - wonder why I didn't get it posted - well better late than never.

Can't believe this little guy is 17 months old already. I haven't seen him for almost two months yet he seemed to remember who his grammie was.

Now I have had one busy month (April) and my May is as crazy. I was lucky enough to see Adrianne at her dance recital last Monday. Watch our little Jaxon as he graduated from pre-school on this Monday and last night Austin and Adrianne had their spring concert. Of all things my camera crapped out for the graduation and spring concert. Usually Austin is in the back ground of his band performance and because he is tall is put on the back risers, well this time he was up front and center as was Adrianne and me with NO camera.

I tell you me without a camera is like having my arm cut off, I don't know what to do with myself and find that I get really nervous because I don't have it. What's with that?????????????

Blogging for Posterity

    It has been some time since I have blogged. As a matter of fact I was going to give up posting blogs, my computer has been on the fritz and I can't seem to tell a story without having a photo, AND the time it takes.....one of those commodities that I just don't seem to have. After spending a few days with my children and their families along with my out-laws, my husband's family, I realized I needed to blog for posteritiy. It is about bits and pieces in my life and gives my children an in-sight into the person that I was, I am and what I hope to be.
  I will begin with this past weekend and the holiday. Fourth of July has long been one of my favorite holidays, one I share the love of with my daughter Brandi. We love everything about it, the colors, the smells, the fireworks, the pride in our country, the parades, the BBQ's.......everything - we love it. However the past few holidays have been, well work - not fun. For me anyhow. I have a job that requires me to work on the 4th of July and the days before the 4th are just as busy as the actual day of freedom itself. By the time I have pounded the pavement, so to speak, I don't have the energy to enjoy this favored time of the year. This year was different............
   This year I had two days off before the big event. This year all my kids and grandkids were here to share the time with me. This year my husband wasn't committed to so many community orientated activities that he was around to share the fun - and the work load. THIS YEAR...........was one of the best ever years.
   I rode horses with my oldest child, I golfed with my second born and his son, I watched my grandkids play in the sprinkler, I enjoyed the meals that my daughter crafted for the whole family, I spent time with my youngest and his family and I enjoyed every minute of it. We ate, played, made smores, lit fireworks, rodeoed (not I word I know but - well we went to a rode), watched fireworks, - we did it all and I had time to do it with them. I did work too..........and I worked hard but I was catered to by my daughter, who made me a great lunch, a daughter-in-law who cleaned my house and a family who was patient for my tylenol to kick in.
  Do I need to say more about the 4th? Probably not - just know it was a wonderful holiday. When I am old and gray and don't work on the 4th of July anymore, this will be one of those good memories that I will hold dear to my heart.