Dream On

Still here. Still dreaming. Still waiting to fly.  Isn't that the way?  Everybody's got their dues in life to pay.

What's been happening lately?... I've been reading a lot of books, watching a lot of movies, taking a lot of walks in the park, and enjoying some down time with my kiddos.

My garden is half planted. My son is a preschool graduate, and my sweet little girl has been forever changed by watching Aerosmith perform on the finale of American Idol.

We're just dreaming until our dreams come true.

Happy...

Double Digits

I can't believe my little monkey is 10!
I begged her not to do it, but she went and had herself a birthday anyway.
What's a poor mother to do?

Love you, Baby Girl!!  XXOO

When Pink is Tough

If you're a five year old boy, and, outside, you spot a running hose and a puddle of mud...does it really matter if your sister's pink flip flops are the closest to the door?

If I Had a Million Dollars...

I'm so moved by this sad, sad story, and so amazed at the beautiful way this father has chosen to honor his daughters, and channel his grief.

If I had a million dollars, I'd hand it right over to the Lily Sarah Grace Fund.

Just Spring

I'm just going to focus on Spring, and ignore the fact that I saw snowflakes, this morning, fluttering around with the butterflies.

Ignorance is bliss.

To See A World

"To see a world in a grain of sand,

 And a heaven in a wild flower,

 Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

 And eternity in an hour." 

- William Blake

Do you have any big plans for Earth Day?

Flowery Finds

I find myself in a thrift store or flea market quite regularly now...at least weekly. I'm on a quest to find a Polaroid sx-70 camera at a decent price. I was never really interested in the Polaroid thing, but somewhere along the line, I caught the bug.



While I'm questing though, I don't mind picking up a few other things along the way...
Like, 2 yards of vintage flowery fabric, and three fun, colorful plates. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them yet, but, as always, the fun is in the finding.

Stepping Back

I think it's necessary, sometimes, to take a step back...to take in the scenery, enjoy it, and figure out just where it is that you're stepping next.

Jackpot

I stopped by our local thrift store again yesterday. I can't help myself. I was in the neighborhood, and places like that tend to just suck me right in.  I wasn't looking for anything in particular. I was walletless, and completely unprepared if I should find anything anyway, but, of course, I did...*sigh*.

Back in the "man room", as they call it, (which, by the way, I take exception to, because that's where they keep all of the electronics and camera equipment), I found an old cigar box, similar to one I had as a kid.

I've had a thing for cigar boxes ever since the movie, Paper Moon.  I was just a little bit younger than Tatum O'neal when she played the character, Addie, in that movie, but I felt just as wily, and independent, and head strong as her character.  I loved the cigar box she carried around with her; all of her very special things hidden in the bottom.



I picked up the box, and noticed it had the words "flower fund" scrawled across the top of it. That's when I knew I had to have it. I felt like it was a gift placed there just for me.

It didn't have a price on it, but I was walletless anyway.  I thought, if I was lucky enough, maybe I could scrounge some loose change, or a stray dollar from the car, but I had to do something!  It was fated!
 

The transaction went down something like this...
Because there wasn't a price on it, the clerk called the owner.  The owner said to charge $1.00 for it.  I haggled the price down to $.50 (because it was half off day).  Then, I went out to my car, and found $.43 in small change in the console. Grrrr.

That's about the time I went mad, tearing my whole car apart for the final $.07.  Miraculously, I found a dime under the floor mat, and good thing too, because with tax, the box came to $.53...exactly (and all) that I had.

I don't know what any of this means.  Like, why I felt the box was a gift just for me, or why I had to have it...or even what I'm going to do with it, but I can't help but think it means something. It's got mean something, right?
 

I'm pretty sure the clerk thought I'd lost my mind (or never had it), when I blurted out, "I feel like I just won the lottery!"

I'm a simple person; easy to please (obviously), but now I really hope I do win the lottery, because my flower fund is empty.

Wandering

I'm finding myself to be a bit of a wanderer today. Frustrated and grateful for it at the same time...

Country Color Palette

“People always talk about good, fresh country air, but I kept getting wiffs of something that was neither good nor fresh but definitely country.” ― Vivian Vande Velde

Peace

My kids are on break this week, and I forgot what computer hogs they can be.  :)

It's nice having them home though, and our weather has been out of this world.  I keep reminding myself that it's only March!  I can't even imagine it snowing again, but in Northeastern Ohio anything is possible.

This combination of spring breakers, and beautiful weather has left me with little time (and little desire) to do anything other than just 'BE'.



It's nice...this place of peace...it's been a long time coming, and I think I like it.  Yep, I do.  I like it a lot.

Back in Business

Yesterday, I was grumbling to Griffin's preschool teacher about the broken USB port on my camera, and Hallelujah, she gave me the solution.

I rushed right out, and got myself a card reader (I didn't even know they existed), and now I'm back in business.

I went from one place (in mood, ability, and physical location) to another in a matter of minutes, and that was my lesson of the day.



Life! Forever and always changing.

And, me...always forgetting that that's how it works.

But, I was thinking...maybe forgetting is all part of it too, so that every little turn around is a pleasant surprise.

Anyway, for this very moment, I'm here, and I'm back in business!

(I found that mural yesterday on the side of a building near Kent State University.  I think it depicts the journey of one person's life.  How would you paint the mural of your life?)

Ay Caramba!

That's all I have to say...

The USB port on my camera is broken.  Dang it!

I was really looking forward to getting back into the swing of things, after that "breath of fresh air" weekend we just had.  Did you have nice weather too?  It changes everything sometimes doesn't it?

I'm so bummed that my black cat, shleprocky, bad luck decided to pounce on me today.  :(

Go away bad luck, and broken things!  Go away!

I used to enjoy the occasional mishap of life.  I used to think it was a way of making you stop and look around, and possibly see something you hadn't noticed before.  I must be missing something BIG!  (hmm...that is quite an exciting thought...)

I guess I'll be taking a break from here now too.  I can't function without my camera!

Here's a little ditty...just for fun.

Bring it!

It's cold and cloudy here today, but the flowers are starting to bloom, so that's what I'm focusing on...

beauty, and hope, and promise

Bring it on, spring!


(loving this song right now)

Notions

From the manner in which a woman draws her thread at every stitch of her needlework, any other woman can surmise her thoughts. ~Honore de Balzac

Blogger is acting up on me today.  I figured it was best just to get in, and get out.

Happy Wednesday!!

Just Looking

I spent some time today wandering around three different thrift stores, looking for something very specific.



Of course, I never found exactly what I was looking for, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of not finding it.

Anticipation

I donned my superhero boots today, and took a trip over to my garden, just so I could say, "Hey! Get ready. I'll be here soon, and we are going to kick some gardening @#$."

I know it's early.  I still have a good three months to visit, and shout inspirational profanity at the ground, but I'm just so excited this year!

Spring makes me crazy sometimes.

Groundbreaking

I'm cutting the ribbon, and opening myself up to this new adventure.  Like the flowers springing up from the ground on this unseasonably warm February day, I can't wait to get started!

This is the first step on my journey to wherever my heart leads me.  I feel driven by this quote...

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” - Howard Thurman

So, this is me, coming alive.