Horses define so many good things to me - grace, beauty, strength, curiosity and sensitivity. I wish more humans were like horses.
This gal was curious. And perhaps a little put out that I didn't have anything to offer her for her moment in the spotlight. I will have to go back with some treats soon.
I am pretty sure that planting seeds is the most important part of gardening. Without the seed, there is no life. Sure, there is water and sunshine and nourishment and love that come into play, but nothing happens without that little seed. It's amazing how much power one of those little babies holds in it's tiny, dried up shell.
Every seed has potential. They just need special care to flourish as they were meant to. Sort of like ideas, thoughts, dreams. They need a place to grow. Someone to tend them. Nourishing those seeds is a full-time gig though. It takes hard work and perseverance. But it also takes love and light. Gentle care. With that, the seed sprouts and grows into something.
With the right care, all seeds become what they were destined to be.
I am not much of a napper. I never have been (well... I guess high school was a different story). Neither is my child. (We can talk about that another time when I tell you how hard the past 13 years of my life has been.) But I have always been a little jealous of those that can slip in to an afternoon cat nap and come out feeling refreshed. If I do end up napping, it's usually because I am sick or exhausted. The end result is often me feeling worse than when I started. I guess I am just more of a "power through it" kind of gal.
But the animals in this home make napping look so decadent. Afternoon sun. Lounging on sofas. Lingering on comfortable, plush beds - complete with fluffy, feathered comforters and crisp, linen sheets. I can't help but to feel a little jealous from time to time as I push through deadlines, hot tea in hand, sun gleaming through the windows. I always want to cuddle up next to them in that afternoon sunshine for just a little while.
These pets though...they've got it made! I know there are frustrations being without opposable thumbs and all. Seriously though... I want to be resurrected as one of my very own pets. Because they have THE LIFE!
I hope you are enjoying this glorious day today - wherever you are. Sunshine abounds here, so I am going to get out in it.
And with that I bid you a happy Sunday...I am officially caught up on my blogging!
I am a sucker for something that has been re-purposed and this little bar is no exception. This cabinet has been with me for a lot of years - over 20. It has seen a lot of different facets of my life and held onto many of my precious treasures. It has been in 6 homes and has been one of the most useful pieces I have ever had. It has simple, clean lines and is extremely functional.
A few months ago, this piece was forest green. It has also been red and white. But I needed to find a new life for it. I have been eying bar carts and - being the trendy gal that I am (hahaha) - I decided that's exactly what this piece needed to be. It's extremely rustic and full of flaws (just like me!), but I love it. It fits neatly in my dining room and serves as my makeshift bar cart now. And every time I walk by it, it warms my little heart.
Sometimes all you need is a freshening up in the dusty corners to bring a spot of sunshine where it always needed to be.
I am delinquent in so many parts of my life. But this post is my catch up. It's not a particularly exciting photograph. But the topic is amazing.
If you don't know who William Helburn is, you should check him out. His work is impeccable and iconic.
Anyhow...today, I met a friend for coffee and conversation and catch up (and a little clarity) and she gave me this book as a gift. Let me just tell you, I am smitten. Every photograph is like a breath of fresh inspirational air. It speaks to all the levels of this industry I have been involved in. Photography. Design. Art Direction. Advertising. Fashion. Truly meaningful for me.
If you need to find me this weekend, I will be planning my next shoot based on his work.
Happy Weekend!
Y'all...These kids. They slay me.
This is our neighborhood posse. These kids have known each other forever. They were born together. They have toddled around beaches and parks together. They have slept on each others bedroom floors.
This is real. This is the beginning right here. This is the stuff long term friendships are made of. This is the stuff you tell stories about in 30 years over cocktails and in wedding speeches. This is where life begins. This is where we begin to form who we are in this crazy world.
I couldn't ask for a better crew for my son to grow up with. They are honest and kind and sweet and good. And that's all I could ever ask for - a posse of goodness.
Yesterday was truly a spectacular day. Warm. Breezy. Sunny. I could have floated around and gotten lost in that sky. Wondering and thinking. Dreaming and scheming. Just wishing days like this could be forever where everything is fine just as it is.
I am cheating Spring a little this year. Coaxing it out a little earlier than I should. I simply can't help it. I am done with winter. I am done with hibernation and slumber. I can't wait for the vibrant colors pouring out of every flower bud. I am excited for the smell the spring rain splashing onto the parched winter grasses. I am so hopeful for sunshine and breezes blowing my hair around my face and warming my chilled winter skin. It's time. For all of it.
So hurry up spring. I am marking my front row seat for your spectacular show.
I love this time of year. Spring is about to burst forward. I know because this scene above is one of the first signs around here. Mother Nature throws me down a blanket of camellia confetti all over my front stoop. And I couldn't be more excited to see it come.
This has been a long winter for everyone. Harsh weather and bad news seem to have overshadowed any joy and good news we got around here. I am just very ready for some change. And nothing brings about change like Spring's vibrant energy. Colorful and sunny and breezy and bold. It's just what we need around here.
So for now, I am looking forward to a new season...change, color, sunshine and rebirth.
Happy (alllllmmooooossst) Spring!
I am a little delinquent this week in my 365 postings. I have been concentrating on some important issues in front of me - work, family, life. The balance is always precarious for me as a single parent.
This photo comes from a shoot that happened Sunday. It's fairly secret. And I am VERY excited about it. I can't wait to show and share the rest. But for now, you have to settle in on all that is pink and lovely about this photo.
My advice for you today (because you know you need my advice!) is to enjoy the sweetness while it's here. Savor the moment. Indulge when you can.
This dog...man. It's like she knows what I am thinking all the time. She understands me and my needs. She knows my troubles. She loves me unconditionally. And I love her right back.
Wintery days require warm hearts, cozy blankets, handmade hats....and lots of togetherness. Especially when the power goes out.
All I am doing these days is looking for a little sunshine to warm my heart and shine into the corners of my soul.
We have had some nasty weather lately. Ice. Sleet. Rain. Cold. Even I am a little tired of the dreary days that have dragged on through the past few weeks.
The grey days make it hard to find your groove. Motivation comes slowly on days like these. I look for comfort at every corner - soft clothes and warm meals and and hot drinks. But there are days when you just need to hunker down and weather it all by pressing on. And then there are days when you need to say - enough is enough...I'm retreating to my corner.
Right now, I feel like retreating. But I know I can't. I know I have to press through. Because spring is just around the corner. And brighter days are ahead.
So for now, I will stand facing it all. For now, I will weather the storm ahead. For now, I will stand strong and carry on.
Settling into me.
Recently I stumbled across this article on Bill Murray. The article is titled Seven Steps to Living a Life like Bill Murray. Admittedly, I was having a disrupted and distracted morning. Not truly engaged, I skimmed the article until the end where I was abruptly stopped at his response to the question: "What's it like being you?" Here is his answer.
I think if I’m gonna answer that question, because it is a hard question, I’d like to suggest that we all answer that question right now, while I’m talking. I’ll continue. Believe me, I won’t shut up. I have a microphone. But let’s all ask ourselves that question right now. What does it feel like to be you? What does it feel like to be you? Yeah. It feels good to be you, doesn’t it? It feels good, because there’s one thing that you are — you’re the only one that’s you, right?. So you’re the only one that’s you, and we get confused sometimes — or I do, I think everyone does — you try to compete. You think, Dammit, someone else is trying to be me. Someone else is trying to be me. But I don’t have to armor myself against those people; I don’t have to armor myself against that idea if I can really just relax and feel content in this way and this regard. If I can just feel, just think now: How much do you weigh? This is a thing I like to do with myself when I get lost and I get feeling funny. How much do you weigh? Think about how much each person here weighs and try to feel that weight in your seat right now, in your bottom right now. Parts in your feet and parts in your bum. Just try to feel your own weight, in your own seat, in your own feet. Okay? So if you can feel that weight in your body, if you can come back into the most personal identification, a very personal identification, which is: I am. This is me now. Here I am, right now. This is me now. Then you don’t feel like you have to leave, and be over there, or look over there. You don’t feel like you have to rush off and be somewhere. There’s just a wonderful sense of well-being that begins to circulate up and down, from your top to your bottom. Up and down from your top to your spine. And you feel something that makes you almost want to smile, that makes you want to feel good, that makes you want to feel like you could embrace yourself.
So what’s it like to be me? You can ask yourself, What’s it like to be me? You know, the only way we’ll ever know what it’s like to be you is if you work your best at being you as often as you can, and keep reminding yourself: That’s where home is.
I love this. Something I work on every day of my life is being present in myself.
Being in ourselves is sometimes the hardest part of being at all. Sitting in our bodies with our silent selves is when so much can come up. The inadequate feelings. The fear. The doubt. The pain of so many things and years past. I love this notion of really silencing that stuff, taking up your space, and just feeling where and who you are. Settling in to you.
And right there is where you find you are enough.
On the coldest days of February, my favorite thing to do is plan a little for the warm sunshine and longer days of summer. Plan on which bed the tomatoes will reside and where the squash will (hopefully) flourish. Plan on what to rotate when. Mostly, I like to plan what will nourish me most and what will sustain me through those long, hot days of summer.
One of my very best friends in the world gave this gentle reminder to me last time I saw her a few months ago. Just like it was nothing, she looked at me and said - "Here is a little courage for you." It was like she knew something - without knowing. We all need that friend, don't we? Every time Robbin gives me something, it resonates with meaning and love and relevance in my life. It is always symbolic. It always hits a note in my soul. And it's always just what I need in the moment I receive it.
I was traveling a lot when I saw Robbin last. On the road for photoshoots and minisessions and packing a lot into my life at that time....trying to make sense of a lot of things. She handed me a little courage. I keep the courage in my car. Every time I get in the car, it's there as a reminder - to face the world with courage and love.
You see, courage and love squash fear and doubt. They slam the door in their faces. They want no part of them. They know only hope and "yes.". They don't know the word "No" or worry. They simply carry on - sure of what they are. And sure of what they can overcome.
So every day, I remember these 2 elements in my life - Courage. And Love. It's what my work is about. It's really what my life is about. It's what I try to bring with me at every moment...in every breath. Some days I succeed. And some - well, not so much. But I always try. I always give it my all.
It's nice to have this powerful reminder every day from someone I love and respect so much. She knows me in more ways than I can admit here on my little blog. Her voice in my life everyday is strong. Her messages always resonate with me. And her love and courage - the way she has faced fear and doubt - are one of my biggest inspirations.
I am a Sucker for baby feet. Sucker...with a capital S. And before those babies learn to walk... I mean - they are like little cylinders. So cute and still so squishy.
I had a shoot today with some of my new most favorite people - the Steevers. This shoot was their baby gift. Somehow, I feel like I am the one who got the gift. Cutest.Family.Ever.
Hold tight.
Spring is coming. Costumes are being fitted and the dress rehearsal starts in a few short weeks. This is one show that will go on.
