wing flappin' 101

it seems a lot of my blogging buddies are in need of a little wing flappin' to lift their spirits.  some are wracked with self-doubt, some have not great things happening in their lives, and some well, to put it frankly are just having a crappy little summer.

so, i'm asking my blogging community to lend a hand and assisting these tired, weighed down angels a little assistance with flappin' their wings.

*ahem*  lordy, is that some cheese or what?  yeah, well. it was a poor attempt to gather some laughs on a very serious subject.  it seems that august is wearing a lot of my someones down.  one of my greatest lessons about blogging is that if you're feeling that way - odds are there are a lot of other people are feeling the same - doubting themselves, worrying about sick family members, about money or jobs or children or...you get the drill.  the thing is though i might feel alone, i'm not.  all of you have felt these things at one time or another. 

i keep by my desk a quote - "what would you do, if you knew you could not fail?"  so....what would you do?  how high could you reach - how self-confident could you be - what beauty could you share?  stand in front of the mirror and ask yourself that question.  you might be surprised at the answer.

and today....if you feel especially confident - make sure you engage in a little support for those that might be limping along today.  i'm sure they will return the favor for you just when you need it the most.

****************************************************************************
today on my ipod - do your thing (edwin mccain), wasted time (the eagles), gotta have you (the weepies), real world (matchbox twenty), beautiful (india.arie), songbird (eva cassidy), i won't back down (tom petty), one big love (patty griffin), cinnamon girl (neil young), don't stop believin' (journey)

frankly my dear...

there are too many things running through my head today - i think the artic chiller sweeping through the state has taken over my brain and has put it into hyperdrive...or something like that.

little things seem to be irritating me today - more so than other days when i tell myself just to chill out. theses things include - total inconsideration of my calendar when it comes to scheduling meetings, music and captivas on blogs, the drone of the construction seems to be at a higher pitch today, the general lack of length on most tops unless it's designated a 'tunic' and then it's almost knee length, obnoxious football fans instead of good fans, weather forecasts, kayne, trump, and diddy - not together - separately, dry heat, and my bladder.

yeah...i need to get over myself. i know. these are all part of my journey. it feels better just to admit it instead of holding it in.

so far the 365 project is six days old and i've only struggled one day...yesterday. i will admit it's a lot harder on week days as i tend to do one of four to six things a day: wake-up, race around like a demon to get ready for work, work, come home as it's getting dark, throw together some kind of dinner, relax, and go to bed. but, i'm pressing on. the more fun part of my days this week have been consumed with my art journal that i started. it feels right now like the writings of a middle-school girl...but, as that's the last time i took 'art' lessons it makes sense to me that i would re-live that period of my life. next thing you know i'll macrame something and maybe move on to papermache.

i'm going to totally redesign my blog sometime soon. not sure exactly how it's going to turn out but i hope it's less chaotic than it is now. that too is irritating to me today...how chaotic my blog looks.

i made a version of tyler florence's slow cooker pork barbecue this week and it was yummy. no photographs though as the pork looks much like a lump when the dry rub and then when it was ready, we devoured it like wolves (yes it was that good). i rubbed the butt (yes, the child in me laughs as i type that) and put it in a slow oven for a bit to let it begin cooking. then, i moved the pork to the slow cooker with a layer of sliced onions and just enough water to cover the pork 3/4 of the way up. let it cook slowly until the meat is done and falls apart. gently shred the pork with two forks and serve warm over hamburger buns with your favorite barbecue sauce. tyler suggests topping it with coleslaw - but i'm an alabama girl and we have our coleslaw on the side.

dry rub:

2 T chili powder

2 T kosher salt

2 T black pepper

2 T dried oregano

2 T paprika

2 T celery seeds

3-4 T garlic powder

dancing in the rain

i liked this quote when i read it the other day and it seems fitting giving that we are being soaked by rain showers this week...and perhaps into next week.

this is one of those blogs where i've typed and erased a few times now. my brain is ricocheting around like a free play on the pinball machine. see, i just erased the rest of this blog for the fourth time. somehow i keep ending up at the same location and each time i read it, it was like....'oh, okay. so what?'

*blink, blink*

i type this mainly now because i can't decide what to do this afternoon. i have unexpected freedom and i really don't want to go to the bedroom and rearrange like i need to. i also have a ton of rearranging to do in my studio room as it is still suffering from being scattered in the move. *sigh* and, i would love to go shooting but i'm scared the weather will deteriorate at any given moment. though it was very interesting wednesday as left for the carpool line, i saw two different photographers at too different places shooting with big dslr cameras in the rain. one struggled with an umbrella that was too small and i wanted to stop and help. the other didn't appear to notice. weird.

okay - this is getting nothing done. off to go explore. i can't face the bedroom in the rain.

a little thank you

this this jar of yumminess? my beautiful christina hooked me up with this beautiful saigon cassia cinnamon and it is divine. when i opened my sweet little package last night (so sweetly wrapped by her lovie daughter) i couldn't wait to try it out this morning. i meant to take some shots of my cinnamon toast, but alas, i forgot until it was too late.

now comes the fun part, the browsing of cookbooks until i find something utterly yummy to try out with it. thank you, christina for sharing this with me.

(if you're not reading christina's blog, you're missing the warmest hugs in the world). xo

discoveries

rainy weather allows many discoveries - the ability to entertain yourself when all of television is boring (even with 200 channels). finding unfinished project and deciding to finish them. indoor photography. and this old tea cup - i've had it for a while...guess what - it's a homer laughlin. i know. tell me about it. and what's better? i have a set of four. it makes me smile.

i've been reading this month's o magazine (quit laughing) and the articles are centered around the theme, 'you are stronger than you know'. isn't that da dang truth - you never know until times are difficult what strength you have inside. of course - tough times make strength necessary, right? i mean, who needs strength during good times when we are so bubbly happy. *snort* seems a bit obvious to me. but i digress (as usual.) but, yes - most of us never really believe in our own strength until we have to rely on it.

me, i whimper in the corner a bit and think i can't possibly do it and then i push myself off the cliff and dive in. turns out i can sometimes (well, a lot of times) channel an acapulco cliff diver and cut that water like a knife. then i wondered why i was so silly about the whole blasted issue.

where was i going with this? oh yes, discoveries. see the little pattern in the background? this is a book i discovered in one of my mom's stacks of books. she loved coffee table books - you know those big oversized books that you think no one really looks at? she would look for hours at the book stores, sometimes stalking particular books until they went on sale and she could afford them. she would go to yard sales and buy them. this one is 'the laura ashley book of home decorating' circa 1985. i fell in love with the soft green shell pattern. see, a discovery. right under my nose.

also discovered this week - tons of talented women over at the new blog. so much fun and i'm getting to know so many new people. talented photographers, writers, painters...in just three days i've been blown away. when you're over at lens.us.together take a few minutes on the side bar to get to know these women. i think you will be glad you did.

i wonder what else i can discover...off now to study for the insurance examiner's test. hopefully i discover that i can still run a calculator.

rainy sundays

it was the kind of weekend where roast in crock pots and chili dogs on a sunday night feel so right. not much was accomplished but so much really was. i tried to get out and about today to shoot downtown but the rain was not very cooperative. but i thought you may enjoy a few of these.









and one sooc - just for georgia....

your chance!

september 1st is the deadline for people that want to join our shot a week group. the group name is: lens.us.together so be on the lookout for more information as we finalize some details. i'm also creating a private flickr group so we can share for any flickr users out there.

the last time i checked, it looked like about 30 people joined so far which makes about two weeks each to come up with themes or challenges. i'm excited about it.

currently, we plan on making everyone in the group contributors to the blogs so you can add photos weekly, as well as link back to your blog and share your thoughts about your photographs. i'm going work on the list to see if i have the name, blog and e-mail addies of everyone interested and will update the blog as i get that together.

get the cameras ready folks - it's going to be a blast!

and remember - it's not about being anything snazzy or professional. it's a chance to have fun, learn and share. :) i think we will all laugh, have fun and enjoy this. as dorothea lange said (and i paraphrase) - the camera doesn't matter, it's the artist.

remember, it's not wolfgang puck's pots that make him a great chef, it's the chef that creates the recipe.

it seems

part of the reason i love blogs (and blogging) is the old fashioned, standing at the fence type talking it hearkens back to. long before there were blogs, cell phones, texting, twittering, and all the electronica that seems to eat up our lives - there was standing at the fence chatting - taking a pie to the neighbor's house visiting - listening on the party line curiosity - dancing at the grange hall saturday nights and the sunday dinner catch up.

i would fancy all of you coming over for a glass of ice tea on the porch, bringing a dish for sunday dinner, or sitting up playing cards until all hours of the night. that's just the kinda girl that i am. but, miles separate us. duties, obligations, other things pull at us and sometimes unravel us. but i'm always happy when you come back around.

i'm not scared to admit that life has been tough the past few years - mom being sick and then passing away. me being laid off and moving back home. but, in all of that there have been very beautiful things. i've reconnected with a part of myself that i had forgotten - the homemaker, the cook, the aunt, the sister. not that i didn't feel that way before but there is an intensity to it now.

and as i sit and look outside this large paned glass window, life is laid out before me. a woodpecker sits sunning in the chinaberry tree, bees flit in front of the window and the sun is filtering through the leaves as they blow in the wind. just when i think life sucks, i find the strength to cling onto it like the last rock before the cliff. it's not easy - there are days i really hate myelf - which is foolish because if i truly controlled my life (as i'm wont to try to convince myself that i do) i would never push along to this point. so, the truth (to me) is that the illusion of control is so very faint really. we're not in control - we try to make ourselves drive the bus - but, it's rolling along quite well without any brakes most times. the best we can do is grab hold of the steering now and again.

and ... enjoy the happy times when they come along. that's the gift.

what feels like fall may be temporary

we've set record lows around here - the mornings are beautiful and i feel myself just wanting to sit under the tree and read. but i can't, i've been busy working on a small contract, being a carpool auntie and applying for more and more jobs (it seems some are finally opening back up *fingers crossed*.) before, i forget - a fellow "char" interviewed me for tell all tuesday. peek over there and tell me hi. (ps - check out her blog for the spectacular, gorgeous, insanely beautiful mural just completed in the bathroom. i so want one for mine!!)



i went back to the farm to try and take better pictures of the sunflowers but the wind was still blowing like crazy. but it was fun to see them lined up, greeting us and waving their pretty blonde heads. the honey bees were very happy to see them too.



cosmos were scattered around the property - looking like drunken ladies who have fallen on the way home. huge monarch butterflies along with some yellow beauties wove in and out of the flowers while bees droned from bloom to bloom. i wanted to investigate closer but my sister warned snakes have been sighted. nothing makes me scream more like a silly girl than snakes. even when they're not poisonous. silly. scream. very silly.

do i have to give titles?

when i was little my mom had this old black cast iron skillet that she used for absolutely everything - frying chicken, making gravy and even making cakes. in particular, one of my most favorite cakes - pineapple upside down cake. she would make sure that each pineapple ring had a bright red cherry in the middle and because we all loved cherries so much, she would place cherries inbetween the rings too. for the longest time, i thought pineapples always tasted vaguely of aluminum. imagine my surprise years later when i tasted fresh pineapple - the difference is just night and day.

which brings me to this recipe i got from smitten kitchen. if you decide to make it - go through the extra bit of expense and buy fresh pineapple. it's heaven when caramelized.

pineapple upside down cake

topping:
1/2 medium pineapple, peeled, quartered lengthwise, and cored
3/4 stick unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar (i used dark brown since that was on-hand - that's why my caramel is so dark)

batter:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon dark rum (i omitted the rum as i didn't have any on hand)
1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice

Preheat oven to 350°F. If you do not have a cast iron skillet, you can use a cake pan.

make topping: cut pineapple crosswise into 3/8-inch-thick pieces. Melt butter in skillet. Add brown sugar and simmer over moderate heat, stirring, four minutes. remove from heat. arrange pineapple on top of sugar mixture.

make batter: sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, then gradually beat in granulated sugar. add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. beat in vanilla and rum. add half of flour mixture and beat on low speed just until blended. beat in pineapple juice, then add remaining flour mixture, beating just until blended. (batter may appear slightly curdled.)

quickie short-cut tip: you can use a butter cake box mix, just substitute pineapple juice for the water in the recipe. duncan hines moist butter cake is a good one.

spoon batter over pineapple topping and spread evenly. bake cake in middle of oven until golden and a tester comes out clean, about 45 minutes. let cake stand in skillet five minutes. invert a plate over skillet and invert cake onto plate (keeping plate and skillet firmly pressed together). replace any pineapple stuck to bottom of skillet. sprinkle rum over cake and cool on plate on a rack.
serve cake just warm or at room temperature.

in other news....i received the cutest handmade birthday card from elk today and it just brightened my day tremendously. thank you my friend - that was the sweetest thing. they say that friends are the family we pick instead of the family we're born with....i'm so proud she picked me.



and yes...the first bite of the cake took me back to summery days of cake, hopscotch, and running through the sprinklers.

ps - i'm guesthosting at laura's today if you want to take a peek.

here and there

i have a few appearances slated on other blogs: melissa loves, under the sheets and french cupboard.

the first one is today, i'm the bag lady of the day at melissa loves. you know i've played that game before with my old bag...now i'm splashing around my pretty summery yellow bag there.

as it stands right now, i'm going to be on under the sheets next weekend and the guest appearance at french cupboard is tba. (it will include a giveaway!)

also, I should have mentioned already - i participated in dani's the power of two project recently. it was a great honor to be chosen to participate and i gave my two dollars (and wrote about it here) to tangobaby's project to find shelter for a mother and her children. if you have some spare change, consider that project or any of the others written about in this blog. we always think, i have nothing to give (believe me, being unemployed i'm watching every dollar) but, you will have an incrediable feeling giving to a truly wonderful cause. just think, two dollars can buy a homeless person lunch, it could contribute to a teacher's classroom, you could help save a tiger...the possibilities are endless. it's not about doing it all yourself - it's about participating in the world around us.

The QC Report

for those that don't know - the qc report is authored by quinn cummings and it's one of the funniest blogs out there. if the name sounds familiar, she is the actor that played lucy in the movie 'the good-bye girl' (one of my favorite movies - i can still watch it today).

quinn has a new book coming out (notes from the underwire) and as part of her book tour, 'all you can blab blog book tour', she is answering questions from bloggers (she even answered mine!).

check her out - the stories regarding lu-pac and cat rescues crack me up.

it occurs to me

after reading another blogger's twitter about an e-mail she received, that i do not say thank you enough. that's how i am in real time too - i say thank you all the time . . . to waitresses, shop keepers, people i meet on the street . . . it is the way i was raised. so why wouldn't i say thank you more to the people that bother to come by? silly me.

i appreciate the time that you take out of the day for me. you lift my spirits (yes, you over there in the corner being quiet too) and help prop my chin up when it's sinking. you make me laugh and smile. you flatter a girl and boost her self esteem when she's not feeling very confident. you hold my hand and cry a bit with me now and again. i hope i never take that for grated and as a matter of fact.

so thank you from the bottom of my heart. and if i forget to tell you that often enough - kick my butt now and again. because, falling off a high horse can break a tail bone and i don't have cobra. now, excuse me while i go get dressed and out of this house (yes, even in this heat) as i've just taken photographs of lunch again today. though it was very yummy (homemade chicken salad, crackers and fruit), i think i need further inspiration.

happy clicking

the password is "blueberries"

it's one of those days where i feel utterly useless and lazy. i've been running like a wild woman over the past two days so, before i dash off to the grocery i'm taking the morning to relax while watching the top chef reruns on bravo. i'm excited about the masters premiere tonight as i can't wait for all the giant egos to clash.

i'm hoping to go to the beach this weekend and i'm over the moon about it. there is something so healing about sitting on the beach at night, watching the waves and hearing the faint chatter of the world far, far, far away. the wind blows and the salty tang rests on your lips. i admit it - i'm a water baby. pool, lake, ocean - all of it. i feel refilled, refreshed and rejuvenated.

last night was the farmer's market again - beautiful produce, fresh picked that morning and brought in along with unique finds, such as tupelo honey or fresh goat cheese. the boys went crazy over the honey and we cracked it open at the farmhouse kitchen over the warm buttermilk cornbread, heaven!!! i can say that i have now tasted the culinary odditity of a deep fried steakburger and found it....odd. it wasn't bad - it was just different and nothing i would seek out again. give me back the chicken and waffles.



i read so much these days about being present in the moment and how it will bring you clarity and joy. well, it also seems like so much pop psychology - but it works at times for me. i love being present in the moment as tasting the honey on the cornbread, that pop of a fresh blueberry in your mouth, having a sweet puppy lick your hand, the exhaling of relief when you receive good news, and so many more of those moments. i stack those moments up like little bubbles of happiness to tide me over in the moments where i'm present and it hurts. and though i can't always recall the moments at those times, i pull out the basket whenever i can breathe again. those bad moments are all about the lessons aren't they? what can you learn from them? i'm constantly reminded of that these days. just when you think you're smart enough.

so on to fun things....i hope you've met my friend, mary. she has several blogs that i love but one of my favorites is 'little red house' - a decorating blog where my favorite features is her thrift store and estate sale finds. she always finds the best stuff and i'm totally jealous at her mad skills in the finds. she is celebrating her 500th blog by giving away a silver-plated tea service (click here). check it out and maybe you'll win. (of courses, if you do i'll be totally jealous and slightly pissy - but totally happy for you. totally - i swear.)

i'm teaming up with fifi to do a giveaway on a new blog that she is part of - french cupboard. part of that will be a photo giveaway from my etsy shop (where there are several new items). i will update you all when i know all the details.

for those that have remarked on my new summer banner, it was designed by my friend, lecia (simply blogged). she's totally rad and lives in alaska (i almost typed 'cool' but caught myself.)

now the details about the past two days - i was asked by my sister's company to do a photoshoot of their retail space in the cloverdale area of montgomery. there is a wine celebration going on thursday and a newsletter describing the development will include photography by me! published with a by-line. also, i signed the paperwork for the hampton inn that is opening in november 2009 in the leeds, alabama (near the barber motorsports park) - dr. mcdreamy could see my work the next time he's in town! hahahahaha

for those BW lovers

Have you seen Mark's blog?? He is a fantastic photographer that works in BW and his processing is flawless. You must check him out.

Plus, he has very cool monthly drawings - I won for May. I'm so excited.

More later. I can't believe I'm up this late.

I pulled the shot of the squash - I keep staring at its unfocused and blurry messiness and couldn't deal with it in my OCD lite mood this morning. But, you early birds are way too kind. I'm going back to bed since I was up until 2:00 a.m. and a better blog will be posted later in the day. xo

don't cha just......

for those that love the little lists...emily over at cupcakes and cashmere did an alternative list to the things that make her happy - - it's the things that make her mad. it reminds me of my friend kurt's blog about his weekly nemesis (i'll link him back in a bit when i can scroll through and find one).

without futher ado...ten little things that tick me off
:: kicking my seat in the theater as well as texting and/or talking during the movie. i paid my ten dollars too. if you want to be rude - wait for the rental. really.
:: leaving your shopping cart in the middle of the aisle while you decide between campbell's and progresso. or....just stopping in the middle the aisle to chat up your fellow clone. makes me want to go all bumper cars with them.
:: people that insist on pulling out in front of you and then driving ten miles below the speed limit. time for my imaginary ram like viking longboats.
:: sales people who never acknowledge you while they ring you up.
:: texting or talking on the phone during dinner. you're here with me - if you wanted to be with someone else - go be with them. though, exceptions include talking to the babysitter or an emergency.
:: using the last paper towel or piece of toilet paper without replacing the roll. it doesn't happen at home but at work it happened all the time.
:: random guys feeling the need to check to see if "the little guy" is still there during a conversation. i don't even think they notice they're doing it....i don't feel the need to touch my crotch, control yours. unless we're dating of course.
:: letting your dog poo in my yard without getting rid of it. that's disgusting.
:: not filling out your deposit slip before you get into the drive-through line at the bank.
:: tossing litter on the ground or out the car window.

what are some of yours?

guest post

hi all - it's been a crazy week and i forgot to leave a timed blog about doing a guest slot at under the sheets today.

it's a bit of fiction that some people that read me way back when may recognize but it's been re-worked with a bit of a twist when i had to write something to go with a photograph caption. if you like a bit of fiction, please check that entry out - but you should check out the blog regardless.

great fun was had but i understand now that it really is harder with two children. i know for sure while you're changing one's diaper the other will come up with some kind of crisis. more tomorrow i hope. as for now, i'm trying to catch up and i may fall asleep since i've been awake since 5:00 a.m. *whew*

xo

insert smilie face here

i got errands half-way done, i think that's a good compromise. i even read cassaundra's blog and decided to do the tag where i write six things that make me happy.

photography
don't everyone get all surprised at once yo...yes, photography makes me insanely happy. it was an old friend that i dumped after the sadie hawkins dance in high school and shamelessly picked back up in 2007. i bought her a fancy case and she caved after a few rounds of i'm sorry and a plethra of flowers, trips and a few good looking guys. today was one of those days - you know if you have photography as a hobby - the kind of day where you take a shot and your heart beats a little faster in your chest and you want to race home to download the shots just to see how "that" one looks. more later about the drive along seven bridges road...but here's my favorite sneak peek.


please excuse the softness - this was fully telescoped out to 300mm on a tamron lens (which leans towards softness anyway) with winds gusting to 10-15 mph and it was handheld. i love it anyway.

my family
i'm a goof ball about my family. i'm lucky that way. i know there are people that are not and it makes me sad. really sad. my siblings and i know each other well - all of our faults, flaws, bits and bumps...as well as the wonderful things about each other. it's perfect. plus i have insanely beautiful nieces and nephews. seriously.


I don't lie.

stupid television
reality television - it's soooooo stupid and ridiculous that i love it sometimes. yes, it's rotting my brain (as dennis leary says) and no, it has no socially redeeming features (except maybe how not to act) ... but i grew to love taylor over her short sojourn on tough love and though i haven't voted on american idol, i dig the song stylings of adam lambert. mostly, it's background noise most of the time....but i can live with that (but don't call me during 'the big bang theory' or 'how i met your mom').

music
i've loved music i think since i could form words - some of my most early memories are of music and i can remember very early going to see elvis at the garrett coliseum. though at the time i was in love with paul, i could see what my mom saw in that dark and mystery hip shaker. i remember my ex-husband singing to me in the kitchen while i cooked dinner and weeping copiously to 'i can't make you love me' after the divorce. there are songs that i can't listen to without crying ('amazing grace' and 'wonderful world') and there are my anger songs (yes julie, alanis). but mostly, there is music to anchor my life. my current soundtrack includes...
:: you don't miss your water - otis redding
:: sea breeze - tyrone wells
:: sara - fleetwood mac
:: just my imagination - pete yorn cover
:: georgia on my mind - ray charles
:: push - rob thomas acoustic cover
:: shelter from the storm - bob dylan
:: moon river - patty griffin cover
:: turpentine - brandi carlile
:: solitary man - chris isaak cover
:: northern sky - nick drake
:: the galway girl - sharon shannon
:: someone like you - van morrison
:: into the mystic - van morrison
:: world spins madly on - the weepies
:: i don't know - lisa hannigan

fresh flowers
it doesn't matter if it is wild flowers, grocery store flowers or the florist. i'm crazy about having fresh flowers on my desk. there is something so hopeful about flowers and they always make me smile. well, except for that nasty instance recently with finding aphids all over my soda - they hatched from the queen anne's lace and window warmth and plotted a takeover of my studio. lesson learned about bringing wildflowers inside.


sure - they look all innocent here...but, the aliens were plentiful and fast.

candles
i love candles but it can't be perfume-y candles or crud that makes my head hurt. it has to be lightly scented and natural smelling. so, that usually means some variation of either vanilla or citrus....and occasionally coffee. living in an older house with a full basement and three animals makes candles necessary but moreover, they make me smile. they're warm and inviting. monday nights nights is my cooking night and my sister and her two boys come over to eat and watch television. after shopping for dinner and cooking, lighting the candles just seems like home. even if it's a simple meal like pizza this week.

those are my happy...anyone else feel like sharing happy?

excitement

so...i'm one of those freaky people that was taught when you say something really great about yourself that you might bring down bad karma because you're bragging and the gods that be may not like that. you know? weird huh? i know most of you were probably taught that too. but, heck - what is blogger, wordpress, flickr and so on if we were not a bit self indulgent and self absorbed? right? maybe? perhaps?

but something kinda exciting happened today....and i'm not making any money on it and i don't really care about that because i think it's an honor. but....ok..here goes - i have to just share it with you. five of my photographs were selected to be used in the new hampton inn in leeds, alabama.

and okay before someone tells me that i'm an idiot and all...i don't care. i can't tell you how many times i've stayed at a hampton and have been enchanted by the local photography they use and how inspired i've been by that photography. now... maybe i can inspire someone else.

i'm pretty happy and proud right now. but, feel totally humble and weird, like how could they possibly like that one....right? have you ever felt that way? i used to feel it in photography classes sometimes - shots that i would be all excited about, the instructor wasn't...and then shots i didn't really like, he would pick. anyway....

i just had to share. these are the ones they asked about:

picking bones

When owls devour their prey they regurgitate the bones and other parts that are indigestible to them. There is an entire science devoted to reconstructing these pellets, just as archaeologists reconstruct ancient civilizations from the pieces not reclaimed by man or nature.

Isn't that the essence of blogging? The swallowing of life and regurgitation of small pellets of information? At times leaving the bare bones for others to pick over and reconstruct their vision of our lives. In years, what will someone make of my leavings? The skeletons I've stripped bare for the public? What about the parts that I keep, digesting and masticating? Some of those will finally become indigestible to me.

I have a feeling that nothing anyone can unwrap about me is very shocking or surprising. This 18 month or so journey into myself has done as much as a lot of therapy has in the past. It's helped me hold a mirror in front of me and face some simple facts. Among the most comforting and then the scariest at the time time is that I'm not alone in the fears that I face. One of the things that feeds the monster is the feeling of isolation and freak-dom that I thought I felt because of the things that happened.

So, I continue to face my mirror, getting down to the true me - bones, skin and all of the terrible parts I never wanted to digest.