Little Scraps of Magic

Silliness

He causes gales of laughter, this Aussie of ours! Whether it's a doggy bagel crammed in his mouth, or his barreling through the house with a squeaky football, he loves to play. He can't catch a frisbee to save his life, but glories in the pursuit. I've got a lot to learn from this fellow.

This page, as so many, started out completely differently. It evolved ...layers of paper, paint, a slightly altered photo, some sanding, and so it went. Add some pens and some rubber stamping, and I bet it made you smile.

Today began with the two of us sitting in traffic and creeping toward our destination, arriving much later than normal. I scurried in only to find the black screen of death awaiting me. Luckily, my best new friend, Phil, came to fix it. Seems as if one piece of tech was not playing nicely with another. God bless Phil...he gets rid of the gremlins that lurk in my machine. From there, I scrounged to get some copy paper; it seems as if it's to be delivered tomorrow, which didn't help matters today.

Some scented shower gel, an iced chai, and looking at this silly face has cured what ails me.

Happy Tuesday!

It Started Out as a Disaster...

Remember this? I decided to go for it and use the shot as a journal page. But, as the print emerged from my HP, it became very clear that I had pushed my printer as far as I could push it. HP decided to fight back, and the upshot was a very faded grayish blue picture, and not at all what I had in mind for my journal page.

Something made me hesitate as I headed toward the recyling container. The color appealed to me for some reason, and honestly, that ink is expensive. Upshot? I decided to play, because, after all, it couldn't get much worse.

Out came the micron for a bit of outlining and journaling. A few areas of stark white jumped out, so I blended in some "weathered wood" from an old Ranger stampad.

And, I like it!

Tiny Details

Can you spot me? Up late last night and then again in the wee hours of the morning, honing in on the details of learning to use a macro and learning to get off the manual mode of my camera. Note to self: sign up for a course already!

Look across the silver beads and you'll find me several times, relfected here and there.

Loving this one and seeing so many journaling possiblities. I've got an idea that's been percolating for some time now, and I think it's beginning to bubble. Just need to work out a few logistics...

We've got plans for today and are going to have so much fun. Happy Saturday, everyone!

Scattered Thoughts

A journal page from about a month ago...maybe a bit more.

I had cropped and printed a photo I shot during one of our junking/antiquing walk abouts. I outlined with a finely tipped micron pen, and I fell in love with the effect.

I love bottles lined up along a windowsill, particularly those with a bit of a tint to them - pale blues and aquas, soft greens that call to mind the sea.

Light pouring through them fills a need inside me.

I journaled ideas as I sat and listened to a friend; my writing wanders up, down, and sideways, as I quickly sought space to jot down what she said, always being mindful that I still wanted to see those bottles!

I came home very cranky today; nothing major, just a ever growing heap of thinks to do, coupled with heat and humidity. I sat for a bit, catching up on a few blogs, but finding it hard to concentrate. But one message kept showing up - to find time to nurture myself.

So, the candle's burning, filling up the air with honeysuckle. A bubble bath ensued. I'm not touching the schoolwork; it will be forever there, no matter how much I tackle. I'm taking a bit of time to replenish the well, to just be, to relax, and to focus on what is good, and to figure out where I want to go with things and the steps to get there, to spend more time doing what I really really love. 

I'm claiming tonight for me.

Currently...

Outside my window...

I am thinking I'd much rather be at the beach enjoying some steamed clams.

I am thankful for my pansies. They make me smile.

From the kitchen the coffee pot waits for me to come downstairs and grab another cup.

I am wearing a well worn but oh so comfortable pjs.

I am creating a series of journal props using my photos.

I am going somewhere this weekend. I'm not sure where, but I'm itching to get out and indulge my gypsy like traits!

I am reading a series of very light mysteries, nothing that require any real sort of concentration. By the time I sit to down to read, my mind is long gone.

I am hoping to indulge myself in a really good macro lens in the near future.

I am hearing Who-Dey whimpering. He wants out of the back room, but then no one who is currently sleeping will still be sleeping. Sorry, Who-Dey.

Around the house winter clothes are waiting to be packed away, as are all the Easter goodies. I'd rather be playing with photoshop, so they'll probably wait just a bit more.

One of my favorite things is to go buy fresh flowers for the yard. I'm thinking some marigolds for Phil, who loves their colors, and some mint for me, since it reminds me of home.

A few plans for the week:

 - finish up grades for interims, the last set of interims for this year!

 - finish up my goals' material for the final goal session/evaluation meeting

 - work on my photo journal cards

 - figure out this Facebook bit; I bet the "welcome for newbies" would be helpful to read!

 - take lots of photos

 - buy fresh berries

 - continue to catch up on my "Beyond Layers" work

 - watch "Dancing with the Stars"

 - and, of course, see my grands!

 

 

 

Good Morning!

Still working on storyboards here for my Beyond Layers II with Kim Klassen. The web is an awesome thing - so may free goodies! The story board template here comes courtesy of Ginger Pixels.  It took me a bit of time to figure it all out, but figure it out I did!

From left to right...

...I'm out the door

...leaving the bed unmade (sorry, mom!)

...with my chauffer (otherwise known as my dh) at the wheel

...while I snap photos and read the paper!

...Check out all the traffic in the side door mirror.

...Arriving at work, right about 7am. My classroom is that window you just see to the right.

 

 

Morning Light

Early Saturday morning...

Everyone else is asleep, and one tiny fellow sings his heart out in my back yard.

I love these mornings; they're such a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the workweek. I have time to pause and drink in the light.

Everything's new, freshly washed and rinsed by last night's showers. I can smell the green.

And, Who-Dey waits patiently to come back inside, watching and wondering why his crazy human stands outside in her nightgown photographing the back yard.

Connections

My father adored his family; over and over and over again, he remarked at how very blessed he was with his wonderful family. All through our lives, he created connections, each and every chance he could.

So, as I wandered through April's photos, searching for a photo-heart connection, this one simply grabbed at my heart, no questions, no hesitation. This one was it.

A great photo? No. Lighting, composition, etc. all need something. Dad looks positively disheveled, unkept in so many ways.

But, this precious hour and a half visit makes me smile, because for the first time in over a year, I saw and experienced the dad I knew  - the dad with a twinkle in his eyes, the dad whose sole mission was to make you laugh. A lost connection was  back.

You see, my dad has dementia, has had it for some time now. A stroke in March 2011 accelerated the dementia, and most visits, he has no idea who I might be; some days, he really doesn't even know I'm there. His words are incoherent, and he rarely makes any sort of sense.

On this Saturday, as we entered the room, his eyes lit up, he smiled, and called us each by name. Those few seconds alone made a 3 and a half hour drive worth it. We've all taken our parents for granted, never imagining that it would ever be our mom or dad felled by dementia, that it would be our mom or dad who wouldn't know us. After all, how could that ever be, when we were the light and center of their world for so long?

And, even when our brain tells us that this is happening, our hearts refuse to acknowledge it.

For whatever reason, dad was in fine form. He teased us, laughed, and cracked jokes until we were bent over double and wiping tears from our eyes. As the aides strolled by, he looked at them and announced that he could do nothing with us as we were all drunk.

For an hour and a half, there was magic. My dad knew me. I've missed that so much, I can't even begin to describe it.

I don't know if I'll be this blessed again; he may know me he next time, or he may never know me again. But this day? This day was a gift.

Signs of Spring

Over at Focus 52, it's week 17, and the theme: "Signs of Spring."

To me it's open toed shoes, the closest I can get to go barefoot to work! It's also painted toenails, but, it's raining and cold out there at the moment, so my toes remain indoors and warm.



 

 

Currently...with a Mug Shot!

Gotta love it when life plays an unexpected joke. A few weekends ago, Phil and I went exploring in Staunton, VA. I enjoyed an iced chai here and then went outside to grab a shot for posterity. Well, turns out there are two puns here! The first being, that when I snapped the pic, I didn't realize that my "mug" was nearly smack dab in the middle. Then, I just blissfully typed: went outside to grab a "shot." Oh, dear!

Currently:

...listening to sounds of folks getting up to be on their way

...drinking a cup of coffee perked in my mom's old coffeepot (Yeah, it's aluminum, but I grew up on coffee made in this pot.)

...wearing some comfortable gray capris with a funky grey and white top; thank you Chico's!

...feeling relaxed 'cause it's Saturday

...the weather is "almost" sunny, but the gray is peeking through, and they're calling for rain. Guess I'm appropriately dressed.

...wanting it to be summer vacation

...needing to declutter, destash, and create some serenity in this house

...thinking that I need to edit my photos, get them uploaded to Winkflash and Snapfish, so that I'm ready for those deals that pop up in my inbox

...enjoying the idea that I get to go bumming today