Spring, Where Are You?

Spring is taking it's dear time to show it's face this season.  The days are filled with cold temperatures and grey clouds.  Our winter jackets haven't made their way up to the attic yet; instead, continue to linger on the hooks by the door.  

We are all ready for lighter clothes, picnics and days hiking new territory.  When the sun decides to peak her head out from behind the clouds, we extended our arms out and welcome her warmth on our face.  

Until warm days and spring like weather, I'll continue to photograph, with my new camera, the few flowers that I have in my house to satisfy a season that  I greatly yearn for.

Photography & Plants

A lot of what I've been posting lately has been about my writing and about Wolf River but as much as I love writing my true passions are film photography, polaroid, healthy eating, simple living and plants. Yes, plants! I pin plants, think plants and shop plants.  I even have a crazy idea brewing in my head.

 But photography, oh it what makes my heart skip a beat.  I'm that lady who pulls out the camera at the most awkward moments. I've been shooting for years now and each year I learn something new, what I don't like to photograph and what I do.  When I first started shooting I thought for sure I wanted to be a portrait photographer but as years go by I've learned that I love to shoot lifestyle, still life, randomness that I love, my kids and plants.  I love seeing my work in print. It makes my heart full and puts a big smile on my face.  Don't even get me started on polaroid, it makes me weak in the knees.

I guess I felt the need to share this because I've put my work on the back burner. Why? I got discouraged and felt that I lost my spark.  I felt it even more recently and it broke my heart into a million pieces but I think thats what happens with every artist.  You have moments when you think you suck big time and you question why you even call yourself a photographer.  I had to take a step back and take a deep breath.  I realized that I need to shoot more than I do now and only shoot things I love.  Thats it.  Every thing else will fall into place.  Sometimes it's good to put your passions out into the universe and let it open doors.

Listening to: Sesame Street in the background :)

Bittersweet Goodbyes To Summer

 Life has moved forward in  higher speeds than I wanted it to.  This time of  year is when I realize that time truly does fly by.  I look back at summer and realize that its gone. Ciao! Adios! It's been awesome!

The long sleeve shirts and pants came down from the attic last week.  I bought mums for the front yard and the pumpkins from our garden were harvested and displayed.  Tomorrow fall will be here officially.

But, I say this every September, I'm ready for it and the crisp cool weather.  I'm looking forward to warming up my first apple cider, Halloween costume prepping and the crock-pot.  Oh yes, the crock-pot, it warms up my house and makes it smell like food all day. Yum! Oh fall, I'm ready for you with open arms and hot chocolate kisses.

I loved you summer, oh so much and you will truly be missed.  Thank you for teaching me valuable lessons and letting me spend another summer with my wolf pack.  It was the hardest season of my life but the most memorable one of them all.

What The Heck Is Balance?

My to do list is never ending and I'm lucky if I get one item done these days.  I  laugh hysterically at the laundry monster who haunts and stares at me everyday.  "You shall never get me done. bwahahaha!" Yes laundry monster, you win everyday. Sigh.  With a new baby, writing my first book and juggling the everyday things, life has gotten a little crazy.

My days normally go like this. Please note that this is a short and sweet version of my day:

8:00 am - breakfast
   *in between five diaper changes, spilled milk, must get kids out of the house before I lose my mind, and screaming baby *

10:00 am- still trying to clean up from breakfast.  Got half the dishes in the dishwasher when I realize I haven't even unloaded the clean dishes. *slaps forehead*

11:00 am - kids start begging for a snack.  "But I just cleaned breakfast and you're hungry again!!"

12:00 pm -  I decide I need to feed these kids before their sugar level drops any further and the crying goes from a whine to a full blown temper tantrum which leads to throwing ourselves on the ground and biting.

 Side note - I envy all you parents whose kids still nap. No nappers here besides the baby, who bless his heart, tries to nap but normally gets a car on his stomach, a sloppy ketchup kiss or "let it go let it go" sung to him.

1:00 pm - I receive a text from husband "are you ok? kids ok? is the house ok?"  It's his way of asking me if I am still standing or am I waving a white flag.  Trust me there are days I want to text him "COME HOME NOW OR IM GETTING A ONE WAY TICKET TO SOMEWHERE WARM AND TROPICAL WITHOUT ANY OF YOU!"  yes those caps are intentional and I am screaming.

3:00 pm- I'm done. I have reached exhaustion and have not done anything on my to do list besides feed the kids and get them partially dressed.  At this point I have caved and I decide the best thing for all of us is to watch Netflix, Amazon Prime and/or Hulu Plus.  God bless internet service and streaming.

6:30 - husband walks in the door and I disappear

So the question I get asked frequently is "how do you balance everything?" The answer is I DONT! I try and I've read countless blog posts from establishing a routine to living a simpler life.  But in all honesty, right now I live moment by moment and I am very forgiving to myself and everything I said I was not going to do when I became a mom, I have now done.  If I take away all things "I have to get done" my days go smoother. I do what I can, write when I can and do laundry when I can.  Instead of focusing on what I didn't get done, I focus on what I have gotten done.  I gave my kids lots of love, I fed them, we eventually got outside and we are all still alive.  There is more positive in my day when I look at it from this perspective.

So if you ever come over and you step on a lego or there is no clean cups or a kid is running around naked, welcome to my happy home. This is how we are balancing life, for now.

Butterfly Wings

“Are they done yet?” asked Maria eager to see the final product.

“Almost done, Dear.  Just hold still,” said Ophelia pushing her eye glasses back up.  This will be her greatest piece.  There can be no mistakes.  Everyone will see them during the festival.  She would retire after this.  Her paint brushes and paint will all be put away.  Her bags were packed and she was ready to leave the others. It was time to see what else was out there.  Her plans were to fly further south to the edge of the Andean mountains.

Since her migration into Mexico, she hadn’t left Michoacán.  It had become her home the last couple of months.  She knew she had very little time left and with so few of them coming in every year, there was worry that their kind would soon vanish. This is something she could not bear to witness.

“Oh, I just can’t wait.  I’ve told the others about our idea to transform into another butterfly.  I just can't believe no one has thought about it before. I’m going to be beautiful!” Maria said unable to keep her antennas from fluttering.  

"You are beautiful but this is definitely going to turn everyone's head for sure," Ophelia said.

“Just a couple more touches and we should be all done,” she said.  She felt guilty that she hadn't told Maria about her plans to leave.  She was like a daughter to her.

She added a few more strokes of red to Maria's new wings and put her brush down.  She took a step back and admired her work.  The wings were finally done.  She had transformed Maria into a new butterfly.  She no longer looked like the rest of The Monarchs.  

"There, all done. Now take a look," Ophelia said.  She handed Maria a mirror.  

Maria took one look and gasped. "I can't believe it! They're beautiful." She flew in a circle admiring every detail of her new wings.  They were fire red with glitter.  No longer black and orange.  Maria would be the talk of the festival.  Stories would be told of her and passed on from migration to migration.

"I must hurry and catch up with the others.  The welcoming ceremony of the new butterflies will start soon," Maria said.  "I love you Ophelia,  thank you!" She bent her antenna down and gave Ophelia a butterfly kiss.

"It was an honor.  Now, off you go!" Ophelia said.

Maria hurried out and headed straight to the ceremony.  Ophelia quickly gathered her bags and said goodbye to her home.  

She had done the right thing and given Maria a gift she will never forget.  A new set of butterfly wings.

participating in the july prompts for write alm

On The Road

On the road this beautiful Saturday! 

On A Summer Day

take a deep breath

close your eyes

hear the birds chirping

smell the salty air from the creek

listen to the boats drive by

embrace the tranquility 

swing on the hammock

feel the breeze on your face

hear the music of the wind chimes

stay present

and enjoy this summer day

Happy Fourth of July!

Joining in on #memoriesnature over at writing & stuff