Paper Bird

Writing My Life

In my youth I always wished for longer legs.

   (As if miraculously they would just lengthen overnight!)  I felt quite certain that if I had longer legs I would be much happier.  Looking back through the years I realize how silly that was.  But as a young teenage girl I always felt inadequate because of my short legs.  I don't think it helped my self esteem that my Mom always told me I had football legs!  I know that this is random.  It's not even a shocking revelation of my youth or even fascinating but it is a memory that I have.  Brought back today after trying on summer wear at the mall today!  Lately I feel the need to write my life.  To pen the feelings and memories before they escape me completely.  How I wish with all my heart that I had a book of stories from my parents, a personal memoir of their lives.  Memories fade and the stories of our lives become tough to recall.  Just today my daughter asked me the question "Mom, do you remember when?"  For the life of me I could not place that memory that she recalled so vividly.  Many times I have started a journal only to tuck in in a drawer incomplete ... soon forgotton.  I hope to do better.  We all have a story to tell and no matter how silly or unexciting- someday our children will want to read them!

 

I found these pictures of days long gone by when I wore shorty shorts at cheerleading camp. My Mom was right- I did have football legs!  I am the third one down from the top.

   

 

(Me on the bottom trying to fake the splits!) 

About my legs. 

I still wish I had longer legs.  I am always looking for that miracle pill!  After complainging to one of my friends about my short legs she told me that I didn't make that pact with the devil- she told me I must have stood in line for the hair.  Dangit what was I thinking, I want those long legs!            

Pickles

Happy Tuesday!

My chickens are molting.  It's quite sad to see my girls with patches of feathers missing and their chicken skin exposed!  Thankfully Pickles my spotted girl has not been affected by this condition.  I think she felt a bit out of place on my kitchen table as I took photographs of her.   Don't worry-  I washed her cute little chicken feet before I placed her on the table.  I'm sure the hubby would have had something to say about this but I was desperate for something cute to photograph for my texture tuesday challenge.  So here it is~ a little texture and chicken love for my Texture Tuesday challenge.

If you are coming to dinner this weekend don't you worry- the table has been thoroughly cleaned!  

Textured with Serendipity by Kim Klassen

 

 

(Serendipity) 

 

(Textured with Kim's new FREEBIE texture Luminous)

 

Don't forget to stop by the Cafe' to see the wonderful Texture Tuesday work  that has been submitted and the sweet giveaway that Kim is offering!

 

 

 

 

 

The Girl

 Happy Tuesday!

Has spring come your way?  We have had so much rain but I am keeping a positive attitude.  It's common knowledge that  "April showers bring May flowers"... something beautiful for all of us to look forward to!  Today my daughter-in-law Ally  and I did a little photoshoot outdoors with "the girl".  LuLu is getting braces on Thursday!  She has been waiting for nearly two years for this day to come.  You would think that she has won the lottery or something- she is SO excited!  I can't understand it.  But she is 13 and who can figure out a thirteen year old!  

I used the photographs I took of LuLu today for Kim's Texture Tuesday challenge.  The challenge was to use the textures Sweet Treat and Silence in our image.  It's a challenge for me to add textures to portraitures.  I still have much to learn but I love how the texture looked on this image.

 

 

For this image I used the texture Serendipity.  

 

 

 

 

 The Letter was used in this image from Kim's  wonderful Studio collection.

 

I had to share this beautiful image that Ally took of LuLu.  I think it is SO beautiful.  I am hoping that she will teach me some of her wonderful portraiture skills.  You can visit her blog Rugged Roots to see more of the beauty she creates.

 

I heart Texture Tuesdays!

In My Garden-Texture Tuesday

It is cold and wet and grey here in my little corner of the world.

But sometimes, when I least expect it...

I find beauty!

  (Texture by Kim Klassen- Cinnamon)

 

I ran outdoors to let the girls out of their coop and was so happy to find these sweet spring blooms.  If I remember correctly they are called Lenton Rose.

. (Cinnamon )

 

 My garden has just begun to wake from it's long winter's nap.  

But still there is so much beauty to be found.

 My Garden Gnome

 (Whitewashed)

 

He is old and crackled and missing his nose but I think he is perfectly wonderful! 

 (Life's Good)

 

 

My rusted garden birdbath

 (Nature's Beauty)

 

 

(A garden hose guide)

(Pumpkin Grunge and Silence)

 

I am linking up with Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday.

This image was textured with her new freebie texture called silence.  You can download this wonderful texture for free at the Cafe' and if you are interested in learning how to add these textures to your photographs you can check out the classes she offers.  Don't blame me though if you become a texture junkie.  LOL!  

 (Cinnamon and Silence)

 

 

Memories Of France- Texture Tuesday

A year ago today I stood on this cobbled street in Paris.

I stood in awe at just being in a city with so much beauty and history. To stand in a spot where so many had possibly stood over centuries. To see things that I had only read and seen in books-it was amazing! I love that we can capture these sweet moments of our life's journey.  Treasured photographs that transport us through time and space reminding us of the joys and sorrows we have experienced in this life.  

 I had always dreamed of traveling to France.  Today I am linking with Kim Klassen's Texture Tuesday and sharing a few photographs of my dream captured!

  

(All images textured with Warm Sun from Kim Klassen)

 

The Cathedral of Notre Dame is the most popular monument in Paris and in all of France.  It was amazing to behold. 

 

The flowers were so incredibly beautiful in France.  There were flower shops and stands on every street.

 

The Eiffel Tower looked smaller than I imagined it would be.

 

LuLu and me in the Monet Gardens in Giverny.  I think it was my favorite day spent in France.

(The girl is almost as tall as me!)

A beautiful Cathedral in the small town in Vernon.  We took a train from Paris and rode bikes through town.  The back roads are the best way to see France! 

 

We walked everywhere.  We had to walk off the chocolate croissants we ate for breakfast every morning.  I still dream about those sweet pastries!  My sweetheart was our trusty map guide.

 

 Paris in Spring was so beautiful!  I will never forget the sweet memories I have of the beautiful time we spent there.

 

Don't forget to stop by the Cafe to see the other links shared for texture tuesday.  So many sweet memories captured! 

 

 

 "Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."