January 22, 2017

Day 22

Today I was in my happy place.  Besides photography, designing and sewing brings me utter joy.

I grew up with the cadence of a Singer sewing machine as the background music of most of my days.  My Mom was an amazing seamstress. I spent many hours looking over her shoulder, absorbing her knowledge and most likely driving her nuts with an ongoing dialogue.  When I sew now, I can almost feel her hands guiding mine as I work.  I can sense her laughing at me, as my kids stand and deliver and ongoing, one-sided conversation.

I will be spending many hours in my sewing room this spring designing and sewing costumes for our spring ballet. I hope I have not bitten off more than I can chew... but I am looking forward to the challenge.

January 21, 2017

Day 21

Every Saturday.

It is a ritual of this small town. 

Burgers at the VFW.

All ages join in this centrally located establishment for burgers and ice cream.  I gaze upon the walls holding photos of faces of men and women I do not know.  It is not lost on me the sacrifices that those people and others have made, that allow us to walk freely on these small town streets.  I hope my children will never take for granted the freedoms they have, denied to so many in this world.

January 20, 2017

Day 20

Another day, another President.

Murphy was not impressed with the pomp and circumstance and the peaceful transfer of power that makes the US pretty amazing.  He just knows he is going to love unconditionally, play hard, nap harder and keep a watchful eye on all those he loves.  He will greet those he loves with joy.  He will offer his hand, er, paw to me, often.  He will sleep sound knowing he is greatly loved.

I'm going to take my cues from Murphy.

January 19, 2017

I awoke to a frost covered world.  Frost is when science and nature combine to produce breath taking beauty.  It is magical in its short lived existence and I was lucky enough to document it before it passed with the warming sun.

January 18, 2017

One of the beauties of living in a small town is there are places that time hasn't much touched.  The first time I walked into the hardware store, I was giddy over the Art Deco signage that still hangs throughout the store.  I am a complete sucker for Art Deco and I love that it remains, on its original wall, still today.  I wonder the stories those letters could tell from all the years they have remained. 

January 17, 2017.

The sky is blue. It is one of the first truths we are told.

And it is.

It is also pink, red, mauve, lavender, sometimes fuchsia and even black.

The older I have gotten, and the more I know, the more I realize what I don't know.  I have had to revisit some truths I have forever held. I have had to tweak those beliefs.  I have developed more of a sense of intrigue rather than judgement with the things I don't understand, striving to understand the circumstances that may make things appear differently to someone else than they do me.  As much as the sky is blue, it sometimes is actually a very beautiful pink.

January 16, 2017

Give a girl the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world. - Marilyn Monroe.

For the last year and a half, I've been doing pointe work. I have gotten better in strength, control and technique, but it failed to get easier.  I just never felt balanced. Ever.

In a frustrated, late night haste, I ordered a different model of shoes off Amazon. FINALLY!  I felt in control! The shape and design are still not perfect for my foot, but finally getting the right shoes, my pointe work has improved immensely.  It feels good to improve at something even as I grow older.  Never be afraid to try something new.