creative / stylish

L - Nikon / T - Nikon

"Express your unique creative spirit."

This is one of the keys to happiness. * Lately I have been expressing my creative spirit with new ring designs inspired by nature. This one is inspired by the gently-flowing creek I hike beside on the weekends at Big Trees Forest. / I believe Taylor expresses herself creatively partly through the clothes she chooses to wear. Putting items from thrift stores together in such a unique way. I love it.

/ the weather was perfect this past weekend and that was a very nice birthday surprise [: so on sunday we decided to take advantage of it and go visit our tried and true abandoned house. we hadn't been back for over a year and it seemed like the perfect opportunity. everything was mostly as we had left it – there was something comforting about that. something very settling about the presence of something that hadn't changed in over a year when i know that i definitely have changed from year 20 to 21. this week we've had such warm temperature which makes me a little sad since i have so much studying to do. i would much rather be outside enjoying the sun! but spring will come soon and i'll get my chance.

*I found a book at the Goodwill store titled "Choosing Happiness" by Alexandra Stoddard. I just picked it up by chance and started flipping through because I saw highlighted quotes that I thought would be good for the heart garland I was making for Taylor. So I bought it. Later I found at the back of the book was a list of 54 keys to happiness. I liked them so much I decided to keep the book intact and to copy the key phrases in order to create 54 hearts - each one having one key to happiness - one a week for a year. Georgia B. suggested I do a series using the 54 Precious Keys to Happiness. I think that is a good idea. do you?

fire / water

L - Nikon / T - phone

Today was a enjoyable day. Started out with coffee, and a Nutella and Banana Crepe at our local market. The market is new in our area and I am so excited about it. I love walking around and sampling all the jellys, breads, pastas, honey, fresh yogurt and mozzarella, etc. All so tasty and fresh. Today I sampled some lemon buttermilk sorbet and on this hot day is sure was refreshing. I bought some Lavender mint soap and also a big lavender plant (for only $4). Next week I'm thinking I'll buy a blueberry bush to put in a planter on my deck. I love the idea of gathering just enough blueberries for my cereal or scones in the morning. From the market I went down to one of the many Chattahoochee River parks in our area and stood at the waters edge and watched as 5 dogs romped and splashed in the water - they were having the best time. I should have taken Evee with me. After a relaxing morning I decided to wash my windows inside and out (on the lower level). That's a hard job and even when you think you have them perfectly clean, the late afternoon sun shines through and you realize you didn't get them so clean after all. I also dug a holes for some plants, but realized I didn't have any planting soil. (on the list for tomorrow). As the sun was starting it's slow fade I sat outside with a new book and read until the mosquitoes sent me indoors - I was hoping the candle burning would keep them away. Hope you're day was as sweet as mine. / Taylor went to Athens for the weekend. She said she spent a relaxing day by the pool.

T didn't originally have a photo but she chose this one late last night. Is it ok that I then changed mine?

show / tell

solo post - L, Nikon

I don't have any adventures to share, or stories to tell or even any good photos to show you. The work hours have been long, so it's pretty much been work and sleep. Well there's eating in there too but nothing very exciting, except... there was dinner at my parents the other night. My dad had sourdough bread right out of the oven and it was the best ever. There was corn on the cob, chicken, roasted potatoes and beets, plus he had made a pecan pie – best thing of the week so far. We ate dinner as we watched the birds outside their bird window - the little wren was going in and out of the bird house and the flicker had come to eat suet my mom had hung, the little chickadee was drinking water from a cup filled with fresh water every day. And very briefly we saw a hummingbird. Taylor laughs at my fascination with watching birds and the fact that I always have a camera around my shoulder. I told her that I always had it because I was always trying to get that one great photo of a bird and have yet to get it. She said, "here give me the camera" haha
Since there's still no great bird photo to share, I'm going to have a little 'show and tell'.
Taylor and I went to a nice art festival the other day and I made two purchases. The two little espresso cups caught both of our eyes so I decided to get a pair. She picked out one with more wood knot texture and mine has a special imprint for the thumb - similar but both unique. They are made by Regina Wolff from Atlanta and her work is really exception. I was drawn to it because of the glazes she uses and because her work is inspired by nature. Another artist that is inspired by nature is Jeri Landers. I had seen her books before and liked them but didn't have a child to buy them for. This time I decided why not just buy it for myself. When she asked, "who is it for" I hesitated and said "me". Then she wrote, "For Leslye. Please have tea - Sharp at 3... with Mrs Whiskerkins and me!" and drew a little picture of a bunny. When my niece and nephew come to my house they like hunting and counting all of the bunny things in my house and yard. This book will keep them busy - there's supposed to be 400 bunnies in the book, many of them are hidden.
I enjoy going to art festivals. Do you?

dreaming / free-spirit

L- Nikon / T - Nikon

I've decided. I'm selling, packing up and taking Taylor with me to travel the world.

I'm sure it didn't take you long to figure this to be a fool joke. But wouldn't that be a dream - an exciting, free-spirited thing to do? But merely a dream for me because I don't have the kind of free-spirit needed for such a drastic step as to sell everything and quit my job, and head off into the great unknown.

I'm reading the book One Year Off about a family that did just that - sold everything, quit the jobs and took 3 kids around the world for one year. I would, however, like to travel to far away places some day. Hopefully some day soon. And with Taylor.

What far away place do you dream of traveling? For me, the dream is a little cottage with the windows open to the fresh air and lavender scented fields, walking the cobble streets to the market in the warm morning sun where Taylor will speak to the locals in French and ask for our coffee au lait and warm pains au chocolat - that's where we'll start anyway. / meet susie... she's a free-spirit... a bike to take me places. i've been wanting one and i think mom was going to put one in my Easter basket. but i found my love here... in athens at my favorite consignment store instead.

restful /

nothing better than a hammock, a good book, AND a day off work : ) / day off, but still work to be completed. this graphite is messy : (

lunch break / between classes

i'm realxing today / i feel rushed today