updated *sigh* winter selfie

dad

I still pray for my father's soul. I loved him regardless of what he may have thought in his broken state of mind.

doodle selfie - summer version

Wishin for winter

I love winter....Don't hate
#selfportrait

my little family this Christmas

Another unearthed treasure - circa 1966-ish

so i joined a club

 

so, i joined a photography club... weeeee! this is what happened to me at my first meeting. The assignment/contest was "Texture". (next month is silhouette) I loved the sweet little traveling trophy, but my very favorite part is that the room of photogs voted for me. Never doubt it, encouragement is priceless. THANK YOU!!!!

Lemme just say that this club thing is gonna r-o-c-k! Empty nest Momma needs some stuff to call her own. AND get this...next month we listen to a wildlife photographer talk about his methods, the following meeting the humane society is bringing animals, and we are going on field trips (DOOR COUNTY IN THE FALL) and talking about lenses and settings and pretty flowers and birds and faces and lions and tigers and bears OH MY.

ok, sorry... i nerded out there. I love taking pictures (mostly the just for fun kind) and i love learning, so this is gonna be fun.

that moment you see this for the first time in your 48 years of life...

My father was residing in a shelter of sorts/government housing when he died in 2005. He had little communication with anyone in the family, especially his kids for years. He was an ill & tortured soul, and died alone from complications due to alcoholism. One thing that was clear when cleaning out his "apartment" and later getting a trunk full of the last of his treasured items, was that he loved us.

In a corner in his brothers garage for years, was that trunk filled with memorabilia, trinkets, portraits in the original frames from decades, cards & art work & mail from us,  and amongst the photos were some reel to reel movie films labeled with my name.

All of that being said may explain the emotions. Recently i had one of them converted to dvd. I am nearly speechless really.

 It seems like a dream sequence. And look at how beautiful & young my 21 year old mother is....




I take back the "seems like" ... this is a dream sequence.

There are a couple more film strips to get converted, i anticipate similar emotions when i finally see them.

Say it now - it's not that hard

Last night I watched a show on PBS about Robin Williams and it reminded me of a totally do-able New Years resolution idea ... Rather a wish. I wish for people to say wonderful things about each other BEFORE they are gone, not after. Not only in Robin's horrible instance, but in every instance, on any given day, for any random reason.

I remember one day i was in a store, i think it was Michael's, and a young girl who worked there said to me, "You have the coolest hair". WHAT? Most days i completely loathe what my hair looks like. I enjoy having it, I know i am blessed it exists. But it's 'cool'? NO WAY! I still smile when i think of how random and how nice that was to hear. Not my shoes...my hair? No way! *smile*

What if you told one person, in some way, how awesome you think they are or how sweet something they did was? Come on! Don't wait, don't just THINK it, say it out loud. Better yet, get the message to the person's eyes to see or their ears to hear! Now, while we are still here... cuz I am not entirely confident in the ability to read facebook status' or that twitter coverage in heaven exists. Truly we have no idea what an impact compliments, positive thoughts or seemingly small encouragements could make on a persons heart, or in the very least make them smile. Make their day?  It's my mission. Especially this new year.

So, happy 2015 *smile* May it be as awesome as you are. (and that, you are)

just me

i started a new photography Facebook page for the simple purpose of posting my photo sessions separately from my personal Facebook. I wish that I would have done this all along and wish that I could transfer over all of my past albums with all of their lovely likes, comments, tags and feedback. But alas, from this day forward I will be posting my sessions and personal stuff separately.

www.facebook.com/kimbadephotography

Daisy is 11 today!

I want to slow it all down, i hate her grey hairs and her stacking years. But only, simply, because i just want her ....forever. She is my constant companion. Judge me as you will, crazy wawa lady THAT'S ME! Words can't describe my love for this little nugget. The sound of her little clicketedy clicking on the hardwood floor as she runs to greet me after i have been gone for 10 hours or 2 minutes... priceless.

She is nothing less than love... warm snuggly cuddly sweet puppy love.

 

my JT

i can not describe my love for this man... epitome of cool and artsy... and the hippy i always wanted to be. I don't even consider myself  merely a lifelong superfan, because i feel more like he is my dream dad or uncle, or maybe more - the cool best friend that just 'gets me'.  I feel like i have always 'known' him.

seeing him in concert in November for the first time.

... there will be tears

yea, we're pretty much BFF's now - juss sayin'

 

i got a random envelope in the mail from a dear cousin. Absolutely no clue as to what it could be. I open it all casual-like and ....pause.... SQWEEEEEEEEE no way!! I ain't too proud to admit that i did a ridiculous mini happy dance and squealed like a little girl at a Backstreet Boys concert (ok, so that's dating myself...i digress)  I am a huge fan of  Ree Drummond, a.k.a. The Pioneer Woman! Long before she had a show on the Food Network, i was an avid follower of her blog, have her book, have her cookbooks, love her humor & writing style, loved her photography tips & subject matter, general fan of her life. I've felt we were kindred spirits... camera-toting, farm wife, barn mom, calf-shit-dodging, accidental country girl soul sisters. So what she wrote on the photo was... perfect. SO COOL! ok, so i gotta tone down the fan-girl crap. It was just so neat to get this, and let's not forget the thoughtfulness of my cousin Theresa for doing this for me!! She works for Land O'Lakes which happens to be a sponsor for Ree. LUCKY ME! If you live under a rock, or haven't discovered THE Pioneer Woman yet, check out her extensive website empire ... http://thepioneerwoman.com/

Life is sweeter with a wawa in your lap

48 is fun

 

torrential downpour - we got soaked running from the thrift shop to the car.

 

 

Dino's Pizza in North Mankato is the BOMB

 

 

screw the candles...when you turn 48 they send up flares

 

 

birthday spent bumming around with my kid... THE BEST!!! 

logos logos every where a logo

i need to randomly document some quotes i see on the internet - LOVED THIS

“Through the blur, I wondered if I was alone or if other parents felt the same way I did - that everything involving our children was painful in some way. The emotions, whether they were joy, sorrow, love or pride, were so deep and sharp that in the end they left you raw, exposed and yes, in pain. The human heart was not designed to beat outside the human body and yet, each child represented just that - a parent's heart bared, beating forever outside its chest.”
― Debra Ginsberg

Farm marriage interaction

so i wake up to see the first one on the countertop, where we usually leave notes for eachother. So we proceed from there:

(Daisy is our chihuahua, Dexter is our dearly departed cat ... the 2 of them would "wrestle" in a special quite comical way.  these cows are toys Ken found for our nephew - or i'm thinking we should keep them.... this is fun)

Day 301 - for the love of JT

I have some kind of childhood, life long, in my soul love for James Taylor. I used to have dreams that he was my Dad. My cool, hippy, artsy Dad. His songs feel like home to me, they make me smile, make me cry, make me happy, and sometimes sad.






this is his son, Ben Taylor ... love it

Day 263

This last weekend, i loaded my college Daughter into the car and we drove NORTH NORTH NORTH. She came along for the vacation aspect (bonus for me!), and I took a Glass Fusing class at one of my all-time most beloved places, the Grand Marais Art Colony. I have only attended classes there twice in my life now, but i am already daydreaming of future trips. The Art Colony is fulfilling and encouraging and nurturing in a way i can barely describe. I feel a part of something when I am there. A community of 'artists', not crafters... a creativity melting pot. The history there is rich, the levels and layers of talent are infinite.

I often wonder to myself if i over-romanticize this artistic haven of a place. Are the people who are able to attend it on a regular basis, or the people who live down the street, truly appreciative of what a gem they have at their disposal? I can't imagine they don't absolutely cherish it. The setting of Grand Marais along the shores of Lake Superior ALONE are enough to endear it to me, i adore the north shore and feel inspired & connected to it like no other place i have ever been. But the love i have for the north shore of Lake Superior in no way detracts from the pure & simple fact that the Art Colony is SPECIAL in & of itself. I think part of the explanation for my draw to it is connected to my need to feel like a real and true 'ARTIST'. This need is nurtured by just being there.

I literally dream of classes and studio time there, and although basic geography , time , and funds do not allow it, some dreams are meant to simmer and stew, so we have something to look forward to and to day-dream about. I WILL be back there... never soon enough.