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 :)

Change Is Inevitable

Everything changes. It's inevitable.

It's a natural process to change and evolve.  Embrace it for what it is.  It's scary and anything that takes us out of our comfort zone comes fear of the unknown.  Change is necessary for us to grow and learn.  Without it life would be at a standstill.  We would never learn from mistakes.

I sense a shift coming in my life. A time to change and grow.  To focus on myself and work from the inside out.  To only welcome the things I love and the people I love in my life.  To have positive energy around me.  

Welcome change with open arms and love.  Exhale the old and inhale the new.

Listening to: Breathe by Telepopmusik 

It Must Rain First

It's a dark day.

The clouds are covering that bright blue sky.

I close my eyes and hear the rain beat a subtle sound on my roof.

There is no one outside.

A warm cup of hot chocolate in my hands is calling my name.

I yearn to be under a soft blanket, staring out the window in silence but instead I hear sounds of little ones around the house.

Is this rain going to last all day? I wait and ponder this gloomy day.

An hour later, I'm ready for the rain to stop and I'm getting impatient.  Did the sun even rise today? The day lingers on.

We curl up in bed with no plans, no objectives, no to do list.  We just sit and chat about unicorns, pink nail polish, adventures to take and magical fairies named "Ralana."

Tomorrow the sun may poke its head out but we shall see.

It must rain first and clean the earth.  Feed the animals and water the fall plants.  We must see darkness before we see the light.  Learning to be patient is the greatest challenge for today.

Why Write A Book?

I ask myself the same question about a couple of times a day now. Why write a book? When self doubt comes creeping in and I question the purpose of it.  Will it change the world? Probably not. Will I become a NY Bestseller? Ummmm, I'm not that lucky.  Will I become rich? Absolutely not but a girl can dream.  

I'm not writing this book for fame or fortune.  I'm not writing this book to become a cool cat or gain 1k followers on my Instagram account.  I'm not writing this book to end world hunger though I wish I could.  I'm not writing this book because I'm an excellent writer because, I know for a fact, that I am still an amateur.

I'm writing this book because earlier this year I couldn't even pick up a pen.  My brain wanted to pick it up but it just couldn't.  I remember so clearly when I discovered I couldn't write.  "Leslie,  we need you to sign this document to give us permission to perform these tests."  I nodded my head afraid for anyone to listen to my gibberish and stutter.  I tried to raise my right arm but it was shaking uncontrollably.   The nurse noticed my frustration and immediately put the pen in my hand and laid it on the paper. I smiled at her.  "You're welcome." She replied to me.  But I couldn't get the pen to sign my name.  A tear rolled down my cheek.  The nurse was holding the paper down and trying not to stare at me.  I dropped the pen, I couldn't hold it anymore.  It felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.  More tears came pouring out.  I remember thinking 'I can't write. Oh my god. I can't write.  This can't be happening!'  "Just do your best Leslie.  We just need to get you in for this CT scan immediately." "Bbbbuuuutttt.  IIIIII cannnntttt." I replied to her and my eyes spoke a million words to her.  Agony, pain and sadness were written all over them.  She put the pen back in my hand and I just made the smallest mark on the paper.   

When the test was done.  They wheeled me back to my room where my husband was waiting for me.  I couldn't even look at him in the eye.  "What's wrong Les?"  I looked out at the window and told him "IIII cannnttt wwwwrrrrrriiiiitte." He didn't ask me how I found out or said the usual response during those days of ' don't worry everything will be fine.'  He just hugged me and let me cry for a very long time.  There were no words he could say that would make what I felt go away.  When I finally stopped crying, he handed me a piece of paper.  "Les, start with the basics.  Do your ABCs."  I looked at him like he had lost his mind but he was right and that's exactly what I did.  I told him that when I learn to write again, I was going to write a book. 

See, I experienced a temporary loss of something that is so basic to so many of us, the ability to write.  With determination and practice, I was able to write again.  My speech took a lot longer and that might be another post for another day.  So there you have it,  I'm writing this book because at one point I could barely move my right arm, because I said I was going to do it and I am. 

There will always be mountains in our lives. Obstacles too hard to overcome but with faith, determination and willpower, no mountain will ever be too high.  Not for me anyway.  I was born a fighter and I will die a fighter. 

Wolf River

Photo by: Cai Priestley Photography

"Life isn't just black and white or even gray for that matter.  You can paint your life whatever color you want.  The color you choose to tell your story is up to you." -  The Great Bodolf 

I am happy to announce that my book, Wolf River, is coming a long very nicely.  The above quote is a small excerpt from the book!!!!! And Bodolf is one of the characters and he is amazing. I'm excited for you guys to get to know him and his family!

For those who are curious,  the book is inspired my kids, whom I call the wolf pack.  And yes you got it, its about a pack of wolves and their adventure in the forest.  I'll go into a little more depth in future posts about what the book is about.

I can't even begin to describe how happy I am and nervous. But who wouldn't be?  I'm lucky that I have an amazing editor, Rosemi Mederos, who has been phenomenal to work with and who has been cheering me on the last couple of months.  

This is really a dream come true and I'm ready for the journey.

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.

September On The Creek

"What sets a canoeing expedition apart is that it purifies you more rapidly and inescapably than any other travel. Travel a thousand miles by train and you are a brute; pedal five hundred on a bicycle and you remain basically a bourgeois; paddle a hundred in a canoe and you are already a child of nature." -Pierre Elliott Trudeau

I've fallen in love with our canoe and its become a routine that I take her out on the weekends with some of my dearest friends.  It's been awesome and we've had memorable moments including flipping the canoe, losing my phone, and Kelly's keys. It was a moment I will never forget.

When we took her out last weekend the water was like glass and you could see the reflection of the sky when you looked down.  We made small talk at the beginning, we needed time to unwind from the madness of our lives and take in everything around us.  The air was crisp and we could feel the weather changing into fall.  We could smell fire burning from a distance and hear the subtle sounds of the creek.  It truly was magical.

We found our rhythm in our paddling and we became in sync.  Our arms and back were working muscles that have been dormant and only used to carry our little ones.  When we would start veering off the path we worked together to bring her back onto the right course.  It was team work.

Eventually we stopped in a nearby wooded area to chat and catch up on life, our dreams, plans for the future and of course the kids.  The sun started setting and reds, yellows, and oranges painted the sky.  It was a great way to reconnect, relax and be outside.  There will be a lot more canoeing in the near future

Inspired to canoe, here's what we have:

Canoe: Pelican 15.5
Life jackets: Speedo

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