Pink Cosmos

I hope you don't mind. That I have shared so many photographs lately of my gardens; my garden has brought me so much joy. I haven't been able to enjoy it as much this summer as I have been distracted by planning for my wedding. It just so happens that my own camera has suffered and injury and while my regular lens is being repaired, my sweet friend, Rose, loaned me her camera so I can make sure that my wedding assignment next weekend is covered. WHEW! So learning a whole new camera system. I speak fluent Nikon. I am taking a crash course in Canon. YIKES! The controls are all so very different. It's a little daunting, but I know that I will be okay.

I have really great friends!

Attitude of Gratitude

Here is a list of five things for which I feel grateful:

• My computer
• a sense of humor
• Amanda's ability to share
• photography
• nasal spray that makes it so I can breathe while I sleep...
• BONUS GRATEFULNESS: It is the WEEKEND! There is just a wonderful energy surrounding weekends, isn't there?

This delightful pouch of chocolates arrived at my house from my dad and stepmom. It was perfect timing as I was craving chocolate....

Thank you, Dad and Karen, for remembering my birthday. I really enjoyed the very lovely birthday gifts! I wish I could hug you!

Backyard Marvels

I am not exactly sure what the name of this particularly beautiful plant is, but when I saw it, I knew I had to have one in my garden this year. I was so elated when Ro treated me to this special garden gem. I had a feeling the hummingbirds would just love it.

Sadly, I haven't been able to spend as much time outside as I normally do. I haven't seen any hummingbirds go to it, but I am certain they have indeed found this plant. I enjoy looking at it while I have my coffee on my patio. The flowers' life cycle promotes an interesting display. First the balloon out and explode open in a most vivd red. They stay open for about a week and then the color starts to fade to a yellowish pink. i am sad to say that I know that this lovely vine is an annual. It would be nice if I could enjoy it next season, too, but maybe I will find another lovely plant to fill in this spot in my garden?

This seems like a lovely image for The August Break.

Footloose and Fancy Free

Put a cape on a boy and suddenly, he has magical super powers!

Young J ran around and there seemed to be no stopping him! We were all certain he could fly!

Attitude of Gratitude

A List of Five (things for which I feel grateful)

• My fantastic children. They are all so unique and each is so wonderful! Amanda, Ryan, Kaitlyn, Alex and Quincy: I want you each to know how very PROUD I am of you and I truly am glad that I get to be YOUR mom!
• My man is back in the United States again after his third tour in Iraq. Rob: I am so very proud of you, too! You have made so many sacrifices not only for us, but for people you don't even know...and for people who don't even appreciate it. That is a BIG deal to me!
• ABUNDANCE. I am so blessed to have so many wonderful friends, and family members...
• My creativity.
• This absolutely LOVELY green August we've had. Thank you, God for the moisture and the beautiful, green grass!

Tonight, Amanda and I had a lot of fun playing with make-up. Alter, Kaitlyn and I had fun playing with fantastic shoes. Kait suggested I take a few snaps of us. I pulled out my cell phone and snapped a few photos in the bathroom mirror. This was my favorite. I just had to share it here...with you.

Attention, Class!

It is frightening to think back and realize just how quickly summer vanished! It seems like the kids were just starting to get excited about school being over and Ryan was getting ready to graduate from high school. And now, here we are kicking off a brand new school year. Kait is a junior in high school, Alex is a sevvie and Quincy is starting Kindergarten on Thursday. We celebrated with fresh-baked cinnamon rolls for breakfast and hugs and kisses all around!

I really liked this snap of the two older kids. Some, times, I really miss the old film photographs. You know the ones that our moms put into those practically dripping with chemicals PVC pockets that turned our baby photos a tell-tale orange? Oh! And let's not forget the sometimes delightful grain from the film! Okay, so this image isn't old enough to have the "aged characteristics"....but I love what they do for this image!

Hey, Kids! Here is to a STELLAR school year filled with lots and lots of A's! I love you guys and am so very proud of each and every one of you.

P.S. I signed up to play in Susannah Conway's August Break and have been so scatter brained, I finally remembered to mention this is one post for that challenge!

I Capture Moments

Barry Manilow may write the songs, but I capture the moments! And while the moments I capture may not make the young girls cry, I certainly hope they make my clients smile!

If memory serves me correctly, this great couple has an anniversary just around the corner!

On Our Way

We were on our way into the state park this afternoon for my photo assignment when I spied this lovely scene. The kids all looked out my window to see what I saw. I think they were a little disappointed when they saw that it was just little flowers. Perhaps they were expecting some wildlife?

I live in a beautiful place in the world and I love this place. I don't know that I have ever even seen these bright magenta little wildflowers before. I thought they were BEAUTIFUL! Enough so that I really felt compelled to stop my car and snap a photograph.

I know that someday soon, I will have to move away. I'm not sure how far, but I do feel a little sad that I have loved this place for so long and that I will have to leave it. I also feel so very excited at the opportunities I will be given and new things I will learn, see, new foods to taste and new friends I will make.

Sheryl Crow just might be right...a little change could do me good!

I Love The Java Jive!

I love coffee sweet and hot!

Indeed! I love hot coffee. I love iced coffee. Heck! I have been looked at with crossed eyes, when I make it known that even lukewarm coffee is even acceptable.

This morning, when I got back from my run, my whole house smelled so delicious with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Kaitlyn knew I would love a big, strong cuppa hot java. And she was right!

Oh, Madalyn!

You are beautiful!

Thank you for letting me capture your loveliness today!

300! Giveaway!

Holy smokes, you guys! This is my 300th post to this blog. I want to celebrate and dance and sing....and give away stuff!!!!!

This stamp set comes right out of my studio. It would go nicely in your collection...don't you think?? You have a chance to win this lovely set of retired Stampin' Up! stamps!

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. A winner will be chosen on Saturday, August 14, 2010!!!

Good luck!

AND THE WINNER IS: Adee

Adee! If you will send me your e-mail address to kelly dot m dot wilsey at comcast dot net, I will be in contact with you so I can send you your PRIZE!!!!!

Thank you all so much for playing....I hope you will all come back!!! :)Publish Post

Gratitude Five

If you live in our house, you will be given many wonderful pet names. I adore pet names. They exude endearment. My youngest child's name is Quincy. In his short five years of life, he's been called lots of sweet names: Pookie, Q, Q-Man, Q-Bert to name a few for starters. Since the first letter of his name was one, I slipped one day and called him Q.P. That quickly became Kewpie and Kewpie Doll.

Last week, during one of my sanity breaks, I stopped in to see my friends (and browse antiques) at The Carriage Shops here in town. I stopped in my tracks when I saw this wonderful little Kewpie Doll. I smiled and picked up the tiny plastic doll and knew immediately what I wanted to purchase.

I brought it home to show Quincy exactly what a Kewpie is. Naturally, being a five year old boy, he was not at all amused. I sat and studied the little doll for a short while and just had to giggle about the little airbrushed eyelashes. Both sets are going the same direction!

I really love vintage things. Especially the whimsical vintage things!

for my list of five:

• Vintage treasures
• a weekend with my man who just came home from hist third tour in Iraq
• the invitations will go out in the mail tomorrow morning
• UPS and FedEx delivery people
• A very lovely GREEN August. (I don't think I can ever remember such a treat here in Colorado!)

Simpler Times

I long for the afternoons that I can go out into my garden and watch the ladybugs, listen to the hummingbirds, and photograph my beautiful flowers. I crave the simpler times when I could sit and watch a movie and knit a sweater for my little boy.

Life has become a crazy whirlwind of the color blue, birds and hydrangeas. Both of my daughters have asked me, "What ARE you going to do when the wedding is all over?" Well, I know that there is a lot of hustle and bustle now for all the preparations we have to make, but I can't hardly wait until I am married and can just sit back and R-E-L-A-X. The tension is really starting to become something of a challenge.

I must confess: I do feel so giddy when the UPS trucks stop in my street and the man dressed in brown delivers a package to the front door and it is something beautiful for our special day. I was tickled pink today when two deliveries were made. I told Rob about the first one, but insisted that the second delivery must remain a surprise until the perfect moment reveals itself.

This wedding is proving to be my biggest DIY project, indeed! I will be so elated to have my friends and family gather around us and wish us well and enjoy our special day. I have paid very close attention to every detail. Until the day we say "I do," I will enjoy my morning coffee. And I will rest easy knowing that the simpler times will return.

Sometimes I am lucky enough to get to enjoy a few moments of togetherness with my children for a Saturday morning coffee club.

Happiness is ...

The warm sun in the big, blue sky...

Happy, smiling, well-adjusted children...

green grass all around....

I have had the pleasure of photographing these siblings twice now. They are such happy, wonderful kids! We had a great time eating huge suckers and playing in the tall grass!

Thank you, Katie, for allowing me to record these moments of you and your children.

Another Picture of the Hollyhocks

Hey, look! It's another picture of the hollyhocks. Usually when these beauties are gone, the temperatures start to drop. I can hardly believe my kids will all be back in school soon.

I have been so immersed in wedding planning details that I have hardly really taken notice of the world around me. Except when I was at the local discount department store, I noticed a gal changing out an end-cap of candles. I inquired about my favorite scent Mulled Cider. I usually burn one votive candle for every year of my age on my birthday and I LOVED to use those candles. The friends associate checked her plans and discovered that Mulled Cider was not on the list. I was so disappointed. Looks like I will have to decide on a new favorite, perhaps?