13/52 Self portraits in black and white

Let's get this weekend started!! It's going to be in the 70s tomorrow. I plan on cleaning my flower bed and planting. And have some sewing on the agenda also. What about you?

12/52 Self Portraits in Black and White

For the past couple of weeks I've been slightly obsessed with rag dolls. My Instagram and Pinterest feeds are filled with them. I was searching for books and patterns on making rag dolls and realized I already had one. I devoured it in one setting! I see some handmade rag dolls in my future.

11/52 Self Portraits in Black And White - Happy Birthday Mommy!

Today is my Mommy's birthday. She would have been 62, but she will forever be 31. I wanted to pay tribute to her today, by showing off this sweater. This sweater is over 30 years old and the only thing I kept of my Moms. She wore it all the time. I always thought it was too busy and never really liked it, but it was her. The sweater has been tucked away in the closet and one day I decided to pull it out and try it on. As I slide my arms into the sleeve I really NOTICED the sweater. I mean really looked at it and realized it was hand knit! I always thought it was store bought. Being a knitter now, I was able to tell the hand knit stitches, and all the work my Mom put into this sweater. All the little flowers, the diamond motif, the yarn made buttons. It was just amazing to me. No wonder my Mom wore it all the time. She must have been so proud of her work. Having this knowledge, the sweater is more precious to me than ever.

I love that I share knitting with her, that we have this connection. Her memory, her life, her gift is alive in me. 

Happy Birthday Mommy! I love you always and forever.

9/52 - Self Portraits in Black and White - Anniversary Edition!

Most nights as I get ready for bed, I look for one of Fonzy's old white t-shirts. Even though I have plenty of pajamas, there's nothing better than sleeping in one of his t-shirts. If I have nightmares, I nudge him awake, he will pull me close to him and my nightmares go away.

Today we have been married for 14 years. Come July, we will have been together for 19 years. It hasn't always been rainbows and sunshine. We've fought, broken up, made up, laughed and cried. Some days we can't get enough of each other, some days we can't stand each other. But that's how love is sometimes.

I love this life we've built together. We have 2 boys who have grown up to be pretty good kids. One has already spread his wings and left the nest(college), the other is close behind, I'm looking forward to what our new life will be. Just the two of us. We've talked of traveling and new adventures. No matter what, we've got each other.

So Fonzy, here's to what was probably just a booty call in the beginning to almost 19 years of happily ever after!

I love you always and forever! And your white shirts.

8/52 - Self Portraits in Black and White

It's been an emotional week.

My beautiful Aunt Elba passed away from cancer. She was only 59. Too young. What brings me comfort is she is now in Heaven with my Mom, her only sister and my Grandmother, her Mom. All together again. ❤❤❤

7/52 Self Portraits in Black and White

We are in week seven and I'm still hanging in there. Yay me!

I'm not sure where this journey is going to take me. I have ideas swirling in my head for portraits. Some strange, a little crazy, some pulling me out of my comfort zone. But I'm feeling this was the purpose of the project. I want the pictures to capture the essence of me. The day to day, but also the weird, crazy, strange images I have in my mind.

This weeks picture states my everyday. Coffee, knitting and wishing for a nap!

6/52 - Self Portraits in Black and White

 The morning hair struggle is REAL!

When I was in middle school, my hair was short. I'm not sure if it was because I wanted it short, or because my Mom got tired of doing it. I have always been tender-headed and getting my hair done was pure torture! I remember one day, sitting in class and some kids were making fun of my hair. Saying it was so short and I looked like a boy and was ugly. I remember that day clearly. Tears welled up in my eyes and I hated my hair! I wanted so bad for it to be long.

My hair grew back, but when Halle Berry's short hair became popular, I cut my hair like hers. The kids in middle school taunting me came to mind, but I don't recall hating my hair then.

I've always had a love/hate relationship with my hair. I've wanted it curly, then bone straight, thinner, a lighter color, maybe even red. I was never quite satisfied. But now, I actually love my hair. Yes, it takes a long time to do, yes sometimes it's a hot mess, but that's ok. I don't plan on cutting it short ever again.

My Grandmother would always quote the Bible saying a women's hair is her crowning glory and should never be cut. She would be so happy with it now.

5/52 Self Portraits in Black And White

"If you don't have any shadows, you're not in the light."
~Lady Gaga

Comfort

My place of comfort - our home/bed

We are home bodies. One rainy day last week as I left for work, I was thinking how happy I was there were no games, or practices and I could go home, put my pj's on and just enjoy being home. I picked up Elijah from school and he asked if we had anything going on and once I told him no, he said great! "I can go home and put my pj's on!" A boy after my own heart! In this hustle and bustle world we live in, we are more than content to just stay home.

Fonzy's birthday is today. I baked some pumpkin bars for him. He took a bite and asked if I would be mad if he told me they were nasty. I tasted them and they were nasty! So much for his "birthday cake" I wanted to take a picture of him for his birthday, but Fonzy hates taking pictures, so all I have to remember his 36th birthday is a picture of the nasty pumpkin bars!


Love you Fonzy and pray every night we have many, many, many more years to share!

Leaves ~ Savor

Red ~ Orange ~ Yellow ~ Brown - SAVORING the beauty all around.

Along with participating in Shutter Sisters OWP (one word project) I am taking part in Hannah Marcotti's Spirit of Joy and creating a vision book! I have my notebook, colored pencils, sharpies, and glitter! I'm ready! Today we had to decide on our word of the month. I thought all day and couldn't decide on a word, then all of sudden it hit me - SAVOR.

SAVOR: to give oneself to the enjoyment of;

I want to savor this life I have! And what better time to take this on then my favorite time of year. There's so much to enjoy during this time of year, and I plan to SAVOR it all!

Starting Again

I was on a roll with my 365 project, but as soon as Manuel and the grandbabies came to visit, the 365 went right out the window. I didn't do much knitting during their visit either! Having all my boys and Grandbabies together took all my time and attention.

Since they've gone, I have slowly got back on schedule. The house is back in order, and I picked up my knitting last night. I have so many projects in my queue I want to start, but I'm the type of knitter who likes to finish a project before starting another one. I still have Carmen's babydoll on my needles. I don't know why this is taking me so long! I'm ready to be finished with it. I have legs and her dress to do still. I will be so glad when I can post her on FO Friday! Maybe next week.

Even though I fell off the 365 project wagon, I'm picking up my camera and starting again. That's the great thing about living - each new day gives you a chance to start again.

February Photo Challenge

So if you've noticed, I've been doing a 365 Photo Project. Yes, I know there are 366 days this year, but I missed one day. I wasn't going to let that stop me though. I've tried doing a 365 project before and failed. I'm determined not to fail this time.

It's sometimes hard to decide what to make your photo of the day, so found this challenge for February and decided to play along.

Let the fun begin!

More!

Looking up into the tree

I know, I know......more trees! Really? YES! More trees! I can't help myself! I LOVE Fall!

This afternoon was perfect! About 70 degrees, sunny, the smell of dried leaves in the air and the crunch of leaves under my boots.



In a few weeks, all the leaves will be gone...a memory until next year. But these pictures will take me back to today, to this perfect moment in time.

Red-nosed

Christmas Break

YaY! First day of Christmas break!

Let the holiday begin! We have cookie baking, movie watching, pajama wearing, family spending, knitting days ahead!

Brrrrrrrr

Baby, it's cold outside!

snow day

We got a snow day today, with hardly any snow. Really, it was mostly ice, but I'm not complaining. I get to work from home in my pj's, and catch up on some Christmas knitting. I had grand plans of several monsters being shipped off to kids of my friends to open on Christmas morning. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. I still plan on knitting the monsters, they'll just arrive after Christmas. Which, as I think about it, might be better. They won't get lost in all the hoopla of Christmas morning.

As I sit and type this, the fireplace is going, I'm wrapped nice and warm in a blanket on the couch, with Ezekiel and knitting at my side. Elijah is upstairs making LOTS of noise playing basketball, while Fonzy lays snoring on the couch. At this very moment, I'm content.

Nothing like a lazy snow day, even if there isn't any snow on the ground.

O'Christmas tree

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall."
~ Larry Wilde, author 'The Merry Book of Christmas'

Promise

Got a call from a friend (Hi Veronica :) letting me know there was a beautiful rainbow outside and I should be taking pictures. So outside I went barefoot in my pj's in the drenched yard to find the rainbow. I'm so glad she called or I would of missed this beautiful sight.

God's Promise.