Ebb and flow.  Wax and wane.  Whatever phrase you like best... creativity comes and goes.  Sometimes when life is hard, creativity comes to a stand still and you just do the next thing.  But in the recesses of my mind, creative juices get together and begin to plot and plan and regardless of those feelings, I am back to making something.  (And if the inspiration is slow in coming, my daughter will always sneak over to my computer and put on some fun, wacky song that I like and I am suddenly dancing around, smiling... and if you were to ask what song picks me up lately, it would be The Big Bang... but I didn't just say that, okay?? And I only recommend it for... ummm... married people out there!)(There's just something about the whistling and my mood is totally changed...)(Confession over.)

So, that long introduction to say I am following up a "not my favorite day" yesterday with a "bring it on!" day today.  I made a headband this morning and my daughter-in-law has requested one and I am sure I will make oodles and oodles of them:

I like red.

And here's a sneak peek at another baby blanket I am making... this one will have a matching pillow...

And recent joys in my life include, but are not limited to (because I couldn't possibly limit the number of photos of granchildren):

I like red.

Sweet baby boy had not fallen asleep in my arms for the past couple of months... yesterday he did this twice! What a blessed grandma I am!

I gave Victor a hair cut the other day... (yeah, this is random, but I am having fun selecting recent photos to share!)

More baby shots...

And now I that I am adequately inspired, I am off to face the day!

Blessings to you.  And a good dose of creativity, too.

Monday Morning

Got up this morning, had a little extra time so I entered a few grades in the online grade book. Kissed Terri goodbye and started to get my things together. Took Itchy outside. Drank a cup of coffee. Needed to leave a few minutes early to fill up the car, it's on empty. Can't find my keys! I'll call Terri she always knows where they are when I can't find them. I get her voicemail, she's on her way to work. She calls back and I ask her to look in her purse, because I can't find them anywhere here at the apartment. She pulls over at a gas station and goes through her purse. My keys are not there. I've just about given up finding them here at the apartment when she finds them in the pouch in her door. I called in and took a personal day because I couldn't drive to work. I was thinking, perfect, now I can go looking for some stairs to take fotos. Sure, if I want to walk! What a day so far.

Wordless Wednesday 10/6/10

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday Afternoon Beauty

Sharing some pictures from the coast of California...

























I like spontaneous, terrific pictures, but end up saying, "Oh, sit here!"  "Let's try this!"









And if you tell Victor to put his chin up a little...

Beauty in Photography

For twenty years now I have wanted to get into photography.  The desire began when I became a mom and kept taking snapshots of my darling little baby.  I loved setting up poses and looking for opportunities.  Looking back, I don't know that the babies enjoyed the photo shoots as much as I did, though.

Year after year passed and there were always other things that needed to be done and money had to go to the raising of children... not photography.  So, I just kept using whatever camera I had and put my desire on the back burner.

I don't just enjoy taking pictures, I enjoy seeing the beauty that other photographers capture.  They provide so much inspiration.  It wasn't too long ago that Ron kept looking out his window... anticipating the arrival of his new camera.  A really good one, too.  I was as excited as someone could be who is watching somebody else chase a dream that they've had for years... knowing that my own dream would sit on hold for a while yet.  No, really, I was happy for Ron.  Particularly because he is clearing the path ahead of me!  Now I get to call him and ask for camera recommendations and pester him with multiple questions when my time comes.  I'm right behind you, Ron, going to chase you down!

Looking at Ron's photos you will notice that he appreciates nature and the simple beauty of a wildflower... or the astounding glory of a sunrise and sunset.

For a while I thought that his photography would stay focused on still life or nature... then I started seeing some great "people" photo shoots. What is great about photography is that we get to see through someone else's lense.  I might not live near the Ozarks, but I can see images that have been captured there.  It's a great self expression outlet, too. 

So, here's to you, Ron!  May you forge ahead with this new hobby and enrich others.

I'll sit here and wait for my time....

Good Morning at the Grand Canyon

Does anyone else set an alarm clock while camping? I mean really! The alarm sounded at 4AM. That's right, I got up at 4AM while camping at the Grand Canyon. Got up, wiped the sleep out of my eyes, and got dressed. Why, do you ask? To take a photograph, of course. The evening before I captured the Grand Canyon at sunset, and this morning I meant to capture a sunrise.



When I returned to the campsite, I decided to go for a walk behind the camp to see if I could get some photos of the flora and fauna. While I was walking quietly I hear other footsteps. I stopped many times and tried to see what was walking out there with me, but no luck. I could hear it, but could not discover what was out there with me. When I walked back to the campsite I was greeted by the Park Ranger. She told me that we had a visitor. I turned around and found the source of the earlier footsteps. This elk was curious about my wanderings in his backyard. He followed me right into our campsite. Other campers took advantage of the photo opportunity. We broke camp that morning and headed for Roswell and Carlsbad, New Mexico.