Happy Memorial Day and a Trip Back Home!

Okay, so I thought I was 25 last night and partied like a rockstar.  I wouldn't change my evening for the world.  I had a great time visiting with family that I have not seen in quite awhile.  Jess and Justin's wedding was beautiful and lots of fun.  This morning I invited Sara and Matt's girls to come back with us- we always trade kids for a week or so every summer.  They said yes and off we went....Steve drove.  I slept.  We arrived home safely and I remember that I'm not 25. I think I must rather enjoy being 30 something. I need to

remember that next time before I cut loose. ;)  Today's image represents that discombobulated feeling I woke up with and endured while packing.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Justin Curry!!

Today is the big day!  I want to take the opportunity to congratulate Justin and Jess.  May you have a wonderful and blessed life together full of laughter and love.  God bless you both and your marriage!! 

Jess picked these gorgeous purple dresses for us to wear.  I must say, I felt like a princess the moment I tried it on. Isn't this a beautiful color ???  I might be a tad biased; purple is my favorite color!

*******edited to add******  This wedding was super fun and absolutely gorgeous.  I had a great time. THANK YOU Justin and Jess for including me.  It was an honor. :)

Dancin' Dancin' Dancin'

SHOES!  These shoes ROCK.  These shoes AREN'T $150.00.  These shoes RULE.  SHOES!  (Kendra, that was for you- I had to ad lib a tad but it is still for you!)  I have been honored by my cousin Justin and soon to be officially my cousin, Jess.  They've asked me to be a bridesmaid in their wedding this weekend!  YIPPEE!  I am so excited.  They are such a fabulous couple and I am so excited for the two of them to start their lives together as a family tomorrow.  We are packing today and heading to Kansas as soon as the car is loaded.  Today's image is...you guessed it- a photograph of the shoes I will be wearing for their big day.  Jess let all of us bridesmaids pick our own shoes and although mine aren't such a practical pick they sure are c.u.t.e.!  My feet will hate me, I'm sure.  Oh well.  I always tell Becca no pain no gain so I guess it is time to put my money where my mouth is...or the shoes on my feet. ;)

Just To Prove a Point....

....I'm following suite.  Yesterday's inspiration- scratch that- this month's inspiration led me outside to photograph my outdoor lighting.  This is what I came up with today. 

I've Got a Bright Idea

I think I've developed a new thing for lamps, lightbulbs, lighting fixtures, etc.  Over this past month it seems that I have chosen to photograph these objects quite a bit.  I have been having an itch to photograph trees.  I wonder what the two - if anything- have to do with each other?

Lela's Out of School!!!

She's already using her creative mind.  This afternoon she decided to 'recycle' a milk jug into a loud speaker to play with around the house.  She is always trying to recycle something and is very concerned with being green.  She's my little eco-friendly artist!

A Light at the End of the Tunnel!

School is *almost* out for summer for Lela!  Tomorrow is her last day.  She is chomping at the bit to be on summer break.  We're all looking forward to it for that matter!

My Favorite Lamp

She's making an appearance again!  I really do find this lamp intriguing.  I like this image quite a bit.

It's Really Getting Old

I'm over it.  The blue painter's tape has got to go.  I think it's started to silently mock me.  Now, I just need to decide if I am going to paint or just take it down.  Either way? I win. ;)  You know what else is getting old?  Our mattress.  I'm ready to retire that sucker right along with the tape.  I think I am getting restless.  I need a new adventure.

A New Direction

As one door closes and another opens for Becca I think about all the changes, experiences, adventures, and new things she will learn and encounter.  What an exciting time for her!  I just pray that this journey will be filled with laughter and joy, that she will remain honest and true and that God continues to bless her.

Becca Graduated!!!! :D :D :D

Becca graduated today from SVdP!!!  She is officially out of grade school/junior high and entering high school.  We're so proud of her.  Time really does fly when you have children.  It seems the older they get the faster they time goes. 

My mom and dad came from IL.  It was super great to have them here and I know it meant a lot to Becca and to Steve and me.  Here is an image of Becca with her Papa right after the ceremony.

Tonight's Gonna be a Good Night!.......

....because it's Becca's 8th Grade Dance!!!  Whoot WHOOT! :D  She had an absolute ball this evening.  It was so fun chaperoning the event.  She looked absolutely beautiful!  Becca danced with her dad and even did the Cupid Shuffle with me!  It was great.  And yes, we got to watch her dance with a few different boys and lots of her friends.  Tomorrow is her big day- she walks down the aisle of the church at Graduation Mass and recieves her diploma.  We're super excited for her. 

I'm Picking Out....

...my point of focus.  Lately I have been doing Bikram.  I have found that my mind easily wanders and I have been working on being more focused on and during my practice.  I'm working on being more focused on my breath.  I have been paying attention to how my body/mind relaxes faster when I pick one point, one object, one thought, one intention, breath, etc to focus on during my practice.  I try to take each asana at a time. One day at a time.

Beautiful Carnations...

....still gracing my table from May 9th- Mother's Day!  Can you believe it?!?  These flowers must have secret super powers.  They are lovely.  I couldn't resist the urge to photograph them today.

Plug Me In!

It's Monday.  I need all the extra help I can get! The start of the week is always a tad crazy for me.  I am really really really really looking forward to summer break! :)

Staircase Railing

I was swiffering today. (I'm tired of the word 'dust' and any form of it.)  I decided to take a break.  Actually, I was interrupted by the phone and as I was laying there I decided I wanted to photograph my newly dus--- I mean, swiffered, staircase railing.  I like the dof /blurred foreground in this image.

Not Really Sure

but here it is anyway. Bits of light in the dark.  I like it.

Around My Sink

I wanted to photograph something from around my sink today.  I spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen it seems and so I felt that it would be appropriate to photograph an object that I look at every day but probably don't really see.  Here is part of my wine rack.

More Home Decor....

...that for sure needs dusting. grrrrr

Mother's Day Flowers :)

My mother-in-law bought me these beautiful flowers for Mother's Day when they were here this last weekend visiting.  I hadn't photographed them yet and thought today is as good of day as ever.  Aren't they gorgeous? :)

The Never-Ending Story

It's no fairy tale, that's for sure.  It's the pile of laundry that I battle.  Every. Single. Day.  *sigh*

Just Another Manic Monday...

Distortion.

Not much to say except I was playing around in CS4. :)

Interesting Point of View

Yesterday inspired me today.  This is an image of the my inside foyer lighting.  I really like this one.

Sylvania

60 watt.  My favorite lamp and it's bulb.

Just for Fun

I was playing around today.  I thought this was interesting.

My Mantle Needs...

to be dusted with something other than this beautiful light. :)

Green, Glorious Green! :D

I heart Spring! I have been waiting for so many long, cold, snowy, dreary, depressing months for the sights that Spring brings to us.  I love this time of year!  Summer is around the corner; I can feel it! :)

I've Always Been in Love With...

the Nebraska skies.  When I first moved here, I would always tells my mom about the beautiful skies.  She asked me once if I thought I was closer to heaven.  I think she might be on to something.

An Opening In the Sky

Tonight's weather was weird.  I was watching the weather from my deck and decided I wanted icecream.  I mentioned it to Steve and he was all about it.  So, I hopped in the car and made my way to the gas station.  My trip was pretty visually stimulating.  I saw a double rainbow, which I photographed with my cell phone. I saw a split view, brilliant blue sky cut in half by a dark ominous storm cloud.  I saw the rain making the street wet a half a block from where I was in my car with a dry windshield.  I saw a sky covered with a heavy thick black cloud at first that changed into a blanket of black, reds and greens.  I should have had my camera but I had left it at home.  I did capture this image before I left for the icecream.  I find these NE skies amazing.

A Picturesque View

This evening I went to a place that I like to frequent when photographing people 'on-location'.  I traipsed out there with Becca, Michelle, Daphne and Lynette.  After shooting Lynette in this cool old antique chair we packed up gear and headed back to the car.  I had to stop and take one last photograph, this time a landscape.  The light was just too beautiful to ignore.  Here it is: