looking for signs:



it's easy to find signs. they're always telling me what to do and where to go and how fast to do it and the right way to do it and how much i have to pay for it and what i'm going to see and what i'm going to watch and the right way i'm supposed to go and the right house and the right building and the right restaurant.

but when i really need a sign, i can never find it.
like how to parent
and how to maneuver through a sticky situation
and the correct thing to say to someone

where are those signs?
because i'm always looking for them.

forsythia



i am being a very lazy blogger...i can't help it.
i am lucky enough to be enjoying 80 degree, sunny weather for both yesterday and today.
unheard of, even here in the south.

i hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

how about these two goofballs?



what we could learn from dogs

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Run, romp and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout....run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
And most of all...When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

i'm not sure who wrote this because
it was passed on to me
but i will strive towards these "dogmas" on a daily basis.

have a very happy friday!

and now for something completely different




wonderful meg and i are starting a new project together.
we met on flickr and are both photographers that like a lot of the same things.
so we decided to start a new blog called "today is the day"
each week, one of us will randomly choose a theme....
"today is the day i walk backwards" or "today is the day i jump for joy" etc....
we have each written down ideas to choose from
which will inspire a photo that we will then post together side by side as a diptych.
today is the day that our first post was published.
the theme was "today is the day i see green"
please go check it out and see what you think.



what a great surprise to discover this photo landed as a daily click on the esteemed and very wonderful shutter sisters website. if you have never been to this website, please go and have a look. they are a daily source of inspiration and i am very honored to have been a small part of it. see it here

at the end of the day



it was such a long day at work.
a good day, but a long day.
spectacularly long.
so i left an hour early and grabbed mr. camera for some exercise.
mr. camera didn't mind.
neither did my boss (luckily)
just leaving work that one hour earlier to catch the last bit of sunshine with my camera was an amazing attitude adjustment.

when i look through the lens of my camera, i am totally in the moment.
i have finally gotten to be good friends with him.
we play almost every day and we get along now.
he worried me at first.
because i wasn't so sure about him and not sure exactly how to play with him.
but i'm finally getting a real comfort level now.
and it feels so good.
i actually relax when i pick him up and look through him.
and i see things differently
especially at the end of a long day.


you're 21 years old today.

old enough to vote
old enough to drink
old enough to get married
old enough to know better
old enough to drive
old enough to begin a career
old enough to become a mother
old enough to pay your own bills
old enough to overload your own dryer
old enough to take responsibility for your own life
old enough to know where you came from
old enough to form your own values
old enough to live your own life
old enough to laugh and be a goofball
old enough to take risks
old enough to make choices
old enough to live by your own rules.
old enough to burn your own pans when you cook

but you'll never be too old to be my little girl.

i love you more than anything i could ever possibly imagine.
happy birthday.

today i smile





by god, i'm going to smile if it kills me.
even though it's monday.
and this morning when i woke up, i was greeted by 5 inches of snow outside.
which is not so good for all these beautiful blossoming trees and bushes we have.
but we got that winter weather over with and now i don't think we'll have anymore.
it will be daylight savings time this coming weekend.
and longer daylight hours
is another good reason, to smile.
whatever is in your day today,
i hope you're smiling too.
i really do.

happy monday!


p.s. i'm taking an informal survey....which processing do you like best on these photos? any feedback would be most appreciated!

the statue of liberty has a great smile



and apparently she's a he now. i didn't know that.
until i saw her/him the other day on my way to work.

people in costumes.
funny, isn't it?
and spring seems to really bring them out in full force.
cupids, leprechauns, abe lincolns, statues of liberty.
last year i was walking through the mall and the easter bunny was walking the opposite way.
he had an entourage with him.
it was incredible.
i guess you could say they were his "peeps".



i love this field.
it's about a half a mile from my house and when i'm feeling claustrophobic, i go there and walk it.
wide open space.
it makes me breathe easier.
i focus differently when i'm outside and in wide open space.
and yet, there are plenty of times that i don't seem to remember this.
and then i can't figure out why i'm such a crabbyhead and restless.
the geese honk at me trying to help me remember to do this more often.
although they don't particularly like the idea of me traipsing around in their back yard.

self portrait tuesday

february's theme is "introduce yourself"



hi! i'm dawn.
week 4

i lurked.
believe me, i was the queen of lurk when i first found the self portrait website.
i would look at the challenges and the amazing contributions of everybody and i would tell myself that there was no way i could ever hope to think that i could be allowed in this league of incredible and creative people.
and then i got over myself and submitted.
and a funny thing happened, i freed myself up in ways i never thought possible.
i want to thank this fabulous community of extraordinary people for allowing me in and supporting my vision.
i have learned so much and continue to.
and i thank jeremy for continuing this self portrait challenge for us and for his tireless support and guidance.

self portrait challenge was the best medicine i ever took.

hands down



hands are my favorite.
i've always loved hands and how people express themselves through their hands

when i think about hands, i think about lending aid...
support and assistance.
reaching out.
guiding.

important work that our hands do.
i'm glad i have them
and i'll gladly lend them.

sweetgum



why on earth were they ever named sweetgum?
they're not sweet. in fact, they're
nature's little balls of hell.
not fun to step on.
not fun to step on with bare feet
not fun to rake up
not fun when they land on your head from the tree above.

but they're awesome looking.
like sea urchins from the forest.

i have an abundance of them. does anyone want some?
will gladly ship.

happy friday