Celebrating Family

After moving 100 miles south of my family 30+ years ago... I don't get to see them very often. And sadly it takes me forever to get around to processing my photos from each trip. This year was a bust as far as my photography expectations where. The weather didn't co-operate, rainy cold, in fact it had been so rainy previously that some of the roads I wanted to explore were too muddy or rutted. So I didn't get to capture the barns and scenery I was hoping for.
The main reason for this trip however was to celebrate my dad and step-mom's 80th birthdays. (One in April and the other in October) It was good that most of the family able to come. Marilyn volunteered to do it in their garage and screened in porch so we came early to help with preparations. After everything was over and I was in bed it dawned on me that I didn't get one photo of them together that day. In fact I didn't even see the cake until someone brought me a piece. Where was my head? Helping dish up food I guess. I got some before pics which only I would treasure such as these too.

I stopped working long enough to play a couple games. (I actually beat him... and I know he didn't let me, he's far too competitive.)

 This gun was discussed for quite some time by the boys.

Two boys with their "pops".

She looks pretty darn good for nearly 80!

All previous photos were with the iPhone. The rest taken with my Canon 7D. All were processed with Nicole Young's presets at Craft and Vision, found here.

There were lots of great-grand kids around.

AJ and his siblings with fresh summer haircuts.

Rueben eats his first ice-cream bar.

My eldest brother and his first grandchild. (I have 3 more.) That's another thing that got by me. I should have had someone do a family photo of us siblings. It's been 5 years since the last. Good grief!

I did find lots of peonies blooming at the cemetery however.

It was hard to find any that weren't covered in bugs.

In spite of the pitfalls, the party was a great success and that day the weather was perfect. Hurray for family!

I'm linking up with Barb for Sunday Sundries.

Which Passion Will She Follow?

I don't give much credibility to horoscope stuff. But my birthday date falls in the Gemini category. That being said I've always struggled with two extremes when it comes to taste. My latest being photographic art. I love a good clean photographic style (maybe some haze and such).

I also like the grungy or painterly artsy edits I can get in Photoshop or on my iPad with various apps. 

(supplies by Anna Aspnes)

We have far too many choices these days and even when I stick with one thing the choices are still many.

As a quilter, I loved a good traditional scrap quilt... (well this one may not be so traditional but I could find it on my computer)

 ...just as much as an artsy one.

As I've been cleaning out and reorganizing and it's made me drool over some of my fabrics. I even peaked into a couple quilt magazines. (oh no!) It would be much safer if I just moved my machine to the basement.

I could also live in a contemporary style house or one with shabby antiques.

Back to the 'digital art' problem. It IS a problem right now. With limited time I really need to focus and figure out where I want to go. I would like to put in an application to be in the Local Studio Tour this fall and the deadline is coming up in two weeks. As I'm writing this I'm finding myself lean toward the textured and artsy. I chickened out last year but this time I'm much braver. And older...

Since it is my birthday, I'm eating sugar today. I have a sore throat but I don't care. I'll pay later. I went to the local french bistro better known as Sugarbaker's and got a brownie with coconut and marshmallow and chocolate frosting. Then I got a piece of key lime pie. After eating it on their patio I went back in and got a piece for hubby. :)  Best ever! And real graham cracker crust. Then... I went and bought some clothes.

Have a great weekend!

The End of 59

Today is the last day that I'll be 59. Tomorrow I cross over into old lady-hood. Sometimes there's a part inside me that screams with agony about getting old. Other times I feel a gracefulness and peace about it. 

Last month when I colored my hair I just did lowlights rather than covering all the white (which is closely approaching 100%).

This girl has the capability of enhancing both these extremes. "Sit here. Come, get under here." Sorry, the body can't do that as easily anymore. On the other hand, she helps me get into 'play' mode which, as an adult, is hard for this serious old coot to do most of the time.

We went to the Garden and Art Center for our yearly photo shoot. Spent most of the time in the shade rather than the flowers battling mosquitoes. But that will be for another day.

I think I will celebrate today perhaps more than tomorrow.

Texture Tuesday Jan 27

Today would have been my Mom's 78 birthday. I made this to honor her.

Captivated Visions, Artified template. Painted art, mine.

In fact today I decided to wear one of her sweaters and a piece of costume jewelry that was hers. Can't believe she's been gone more than 30 years now. 

It's Texture Tuesday at Kim's...

Kim's preset kk_barelycolor with some added haze. I've really gotten on the haze bandwagon lately. I spent the past 48 hours processing photos from a family shoot this weekend and decided to play catch up from December's family photos too. I did quite a few with haze and I LOVE them. (More about that later.)

Two layers of kk_epic texture, linear burn and soft light both at 68% opacity. Word Art mine. (Words of Love in store) Can you relate to this one?

Mom

January 27th. . .

I moved a thousand miles south a couple decades ago. 

I was in my early 20s. Because of the distance I was lucky to get home once a year. 

Five years later my mom  died from injuries as the result of a very tragic car accident. 

I'm thinking about her friends. 

I see their smiling faces. A deep love in their eyes. Connections that cannot be broken. 

Of shared experiences with their children. Their husbands. Their community. And especially fishing.

I don't always get to see these women when I come home. But when I do it brings a clenching to my heart. Overwhelming emotions that are hard to control. It's like the funeral was just last week instead of 30 years ago. Even now as I picture their faces, my throat closes up and my eyes fill with tears. I picture myself as a little girl and them having their arms wrapped around me as I cry. They cry too. 

In honor of my mom whose birthday is today. She would have been 77. I look at her sisters and try to picture what she would look like now. I imagine what our conversation topics might be. What type of art she might be doing or if she would have established an art related business. . . thoughts. . . imaginings. . .

Birthday Shopping

Let me tell you a story about shopping... For clothes that is.

In my younger days, I would usually wear rather trendy clothing. Being a hairstylist, it was perfect. I don't think I could've done the classic office look. 

I grew up sewing my own clothes and did so as an adult. Now it would cost more to make something than actually buy it.

In the late 80s (I was in my early 30s) I was bit by the quilting bug. I quilted 24-7. Most things I made were wall quilts and even quilted or pieced clothing. Of course all my spare money was being spent on my passion, fabric and gadgets. After a few years of this I noticed my wardrobe was beginning to suffer. And then revelation smacked me upside the head. I realized if I didn't stop and go shopping for clothes I would turn into a replica of our local quilt shop owner. At the time she was about as old as I am right now. She was a very sad picture of fashion with her polyester pants and no-color shirts. Heaven forbid. What a wake up call. I went shopping the next day.

It's still a struggle to go shopping and spend money on clothes when I would rather be spending money on decor, antiques, and iPhone apps. In fact I have to be very much in the mood. It seems lately all I can find that fits is 'old lady' clothes. It's depressing. My mind thinks my body is still a teenager. 

So, since today is my birthday, yesterday I psyched myself up to go shopping. But first, I had breakfast with my photography buddy, Kathy. Then spent nearly 2 hours at the local arboretum doing a self-portrait shoot. I was wishing I had already bought my new clothes. (An excuse to go back.) 

Well I actually hit the jackpot the first shop I visited. Three hours later (I was not in a hurry and I did finally go get a cart), the clerk rang me up. I decided that was enough for one birthday. I had intended to just get some cute T-shirts because that seems to be what I live in these days. But I was most pleasantly surprised to find some great trendy tops, two pair of capris, 3 scarves, 2 Ts, a great white skirt with lace edge for photo shoots. AND A DRESS OF ALL THINGS! I haven't bought a dress in three years, since Kevin got married. (And it makes me look 20 lbs. thinner.)  And of course a few home decor items.

I've never spent that much in one store before for clothing. I decided it would be a good thing to get their credit card and save 10% today. So my dress was free. Ha, yea right.

Then I stopped and got my favorite brownie at Sugarbaker's.

Then off to Longhorn Steakhouse to check out their offerings with the kids and Hallie.
Photo compliments of Kaytie.

It's been a great day.

I'll be linking up with Kim Klassen's Friday Finds.