Friday Freebie - Valentine Girl

Click on the image to open in a new window, then right click to save to your desktop.

 

Wanted....

A few mornings ago we came down the hallway to this mess on the living room floor.....

Crime scene tape was laid, and photographs were taken from both angles. Wanted posters were made.

Culprits have been spotted in the general vicinity over the past week, but have yet to be apprehended.

Toy basket destruction is a serious offense in this household.

Those of you who have followed my blog for any length of time will no doubt recognize Turbo (he's on the left in the poster). We have no doubt that he's the ring leader, teaching Pantera bad habits and trying to lure him to the dark side of the force. He's young and impressionable.

Should anyone spot these two bandits please contact this blogger. Thank you.

New Year's Resolutions

Most bloggers talked about their resolutions at the beginning of the year, which was nearly  four weeks ago (can you believe it?). I'm just now sorting out my thoughts on the subject. 

I've never made resolutions per say, but I do try and set goals for myself at the beginning of each new year. I never add lose weight, eat healthier, or exercise more (though this year I must admit that 'exercise more' is on my list) because everyone says those things. Nor do I want such a long list that I end up wanting to beat myself up at the end of the year. What's the point in that right?

So, my list of what I would like to accomplish this year.......

1. Drink less coffee....hmmmmm (but I like coffee, I really do!)

2. Eat less chocolate...again hmmmmm.....(don't like this one much - but there it is nonetheless)

3. Drink more water - some days I do really well, some days I don't. I need to be more consistent. It's good for the body, good for the skin.

4. Stay on a 3-day a week exercise regiment.

Generally speaking I'm not one for structured 'go-to-the-gym' exercise, which is great during the summer months when I'm outside working on five acres of property (lifting, hauling, shoveling, and everything else that goes along with property ownership). Not so great during the winter when it's pouring rain for days, weeks, months on end, and getting outside is only a pipe dream. A lot has hit us this month (nothing terribly serious, just stuff) so suffice it to say that #4 isn't off to a great start. *sigh* Thankfully it's early on yet so I've still got time to staighten up! lol

We do have a stationary bike and weights here at home so technically I have no real excuse.

5. Eat more fruit. I do great with this one during the summer months when fruit is fresh and in season, but during the winter I don't do so well. We even have home canned fruit and I still can't manage it. Must do better!

6. Eat more yogurt - kind of in there with the 'eat more fruit'. Me thinks I could kill two birds (as it were) if I'd just eat the yogurt. lol

7. Add more color to my life, both in my art work, and in my home.

I tend to use neutrals in everything. It's time to get back to some color and spice it up! Our home is decorated in muted tones and neutrals because we like the uncluttered and calming effects. We do have splashes of color on the walls and in accessories, but I want to jazz it up more. Brighter walls (I've had dark red in mind for the living room for two years now) and heavier doses of color in accessories! If you're reading this honey, don't worry. ;-)

8, Do more art. This is a big one. Creating is part of who I am. It's in my being, part of my very existence, and I've been neglecting it, putting myself down, making myself feel unworthy of the time it takes. That needs to stop!!!

9. Get my eyes checked. One reason I haven't been working on art is because I strain my eyes too much on the close up detail work, leaving myself frustrated (one eye doctor, an artist himself, told me that we creative types expect too much from our eyes). Sadly, the glasses that I misplaced last summer are not going to show up no matter how long I wait. And it's time to have my eyes examined again anyway (then they'll show up).

10. Try not to worry so much if the house remodeling doesn't go as planned. Yes we've been here nearly eleven years, and yes, I'm tired of remodeling and want to be done. However, it is what it is, and though we hope to finish up the big jobs (or most of them) this year, if it doesn't happen, I need to learn to let it go.

11. Breathe. Try to remember it's not worth the stress I'm putting on myself. I work well under pressure, but sometimes the pressure is too much. Again, breathe.

12. Take more weekend day trips. Life isn't about being stuck in the house. We need to get out there and enjoy the places that we like to go, and visit some new ones (maybe take a big trip).

13. Spend more quality time with my husband. We see each other in between life. We're always busy rushing around in the morning hours, rushing around in the evening hours, and we don't have time (or make time) to connect and really be with each other.

14. Appreciate what I do have, and stop worrying about what I don't.

By this time next year I'll see how well I did...........

What about you? Resolutions? Goals? Plans? Where do you see yourself going in the year ahead? Big steps, or baby steps? It's all progress.

Come on, I won't tell. Your secret is safe with me.

Barn Charm #69

This barn appears to be sitting out in the middle of nowhere, and in a way it is, but on one of the busiest rural roads I've ever traveled!

A few weeks back when we actually had some drier weather (not sunny, just drier) I tried to back track to an area where I had passed several barns late last fall. As luck would have it, I didn't find the road I was looking for, but I did stumble upon this beauty.

Rural, yes. Busy, yes. There is a middle school that sits not far from this barn, at a four way stop. I pass this road all the time from 'my' side of things, but I never drive it. I had no idea that it was such a busy thoroughfare. As the cars passed by, I'm sure there was more than on person wondering why I was standing there photographing a barn.

It was worth it I think. Serendipitous.



Visit Bluff Area Daily to see more of Barn Charm #69.

To those who visited my blog last Monday and left your wonderful comments, I want to apologize. The week totally got away from me and I didn't get a chance to visit any of your blogs. We've had an interesting new year so far, with what seems like one crisis after another (including yet another appliance going out and the search for one comparable). This week I should be back on track.

Sunday Photo - Flood Waters

This was taken yesterday afternoon, shot with a Holga lens on my Canon DSLR. This is actually someone's driveway. The creek came at them from both sides.