Here’s to summer days, a good glass of wine, and fond memories

Sometimes life is good just the way it is. Sometimes life looks and feels a little better after a good glass of of Pinot Noir. A little bread and great company are all I need to finish off a perfect weekend. Oh I almost forgot the chocolate truffles.

 

My morning walks remind me of a few years ago when I spent a week every year back-packing the Canadian shield. I loved the adventure and the challenge of living out of a 40 lb sack. The views across Lake Superior were phenomenal and the feeling of being part of nature just can’t be duplicated any other way. I quickly learned that there are eyes always watching you. As I followed a bear path through the blueberry bushes I was thinking that we were alone on the trail until we got back to our campsite and saw the foot prints and scat of a bear that had doubled back on our tracks and found my bed! I awoke the next morning to the sound of a wolf peeing on my tent. It made me nervious but also made me feel so alive. I’ve been thinking lately about that feeling and how I miss the adventures of my past. Perhaps it’s time to give up a little cush and get back out there.

Even today as I walk through the woods and hear a russle in the leaves or a stick break, I know they see me long before I know they’re around. No there are no wolves or bears where I live, just coyotes but they don’t get close enough to see very often. 

 

 The herbs are are drying on the rack which means it’s mid-summer and the days grow just a wee bit shorter. I love lavender; it’s a wonderful reminder of a summer garden and my days in the sun. I wish summer would last forever!

Sending summer’s peace to you on a Monday.

xo-jj

Hey God, is this your way of keeping me entertained?

This headlines should read:
When country critters invade her space the city girl sweeps into action but gets caught up on her cape, heals or something like that.

Dear friends, I’ve really made a mess of things and I’m afraid I may have become the cat-woman or at least a crazy one.  It all started out so innocently, really it did. This beautiful bob-tailed tom cat was continually visiting  my porch, he looked hungry and lonely, so I feed him a little dog food. Well that quickly turned into left over chicken, then cat food and then he became my friend.  I got sucked in by his gorgeous blue eyes and gentle personality. But then along came Mamma cat, a stray, that has been lurking around the field for years. She hadn’t come close to the house before but now there was lunch and dinner and well, she became my friend too. It looked as though she was pregnant so I took pity and began feeding her as well. But wait remember the tree full of kittens? Yeah, she’d already had a litter of four and brought them to see me, well more like she brought them to dinner.  So now I’m feeding two adult strays and 4 kittens but wait… now enter a third adult cat- a tom cat who tries to attack my Ricky-Bobby (not real original for a bob-tailed cat) and the mama kitty. I”ve tried to chase him away but he isn’t afraid. I’m concerned for the kittens who are still wild and won’t let me catch them so I can give them safe homes. I leave food and a bed in the garage at night for them but I can’t do that forever, I want my garage back and Mr. Java isn’t happy.

Back to the problem with the third tom-cat, I enlisted the help of my cat chasing dog but she didn’t even bark at the big tom-cat, they rubbed noses. She hates every other cat and delights in chasing Ricky-Bobby away every chance she gets, so what gives?  The other night a raccoon came looking for cat food, he tangled with the mama cat-she won. Then last night a big fat skunk tried to enter the garage to get a bite to eat. It’s getting a bit ridiculous isn’t it? ”Hey up there, It’s me the witch of Wild Kingdom and I could use some navigation down here!. ”

I really don’t want to live in a house that smells like cats as you come up the walk and the big guy says, “you’ve created this mess and I don’t want any part of it.” Oh and to top all of this off the mama kitty is pregnant again. Oy vey, I think I’m in over my head and I haven’t even mentioned all of the other wild creatures who dig up my lawn and ravage the garden. I live in the city limits for gosh sakes! (I’m trying not to swear) but I’m like a magnet for wild animals, always have been- sorry Mr. Java I didn’t mean you

I’m beginning to feel a bit like the witch in the old Disney movie “The three lives of Thomasina”. Gosh I loved that movie as a little girl. Now stop, I’m not that old they replayed it on the Wonderful World of Disney many, many times.  I remember Sunday nights sitting in front of the fire place watching Disney while eating popcorn- I miss those days.

Alright friends, now my garage smells like cat pee, so I’m in trouble when the mister gets home, what the hell (I couldn’t control myself any longer) what should I do? Oh and if you’re my sister and you’re laughing-stop it, or I’ll tell my friends the story about your glasses and the steamy shower! Ah huh, I knew that’d keep you quiet! Remember my post The city girl doesn’t want to meet the farmers wife? Well this city girl needs a farm and a barn!

That’s all, I’m exhausted!

xo-jj

Good Morning Sister

 

Good morning sunshine. I love your warm smile.

 

Good night shadows and things that go bump in the dark.

 

I love the morning and first light. It’s a truly magic time of day when we open our eyes and see everything with a renewed perspective.  I  especially love summer mornings when the light hits your face and the breeze  flows through your window to deposit a hint of sweet blossom up your nose. This makes the world feel perfect with everything right in it’s place.

 

Can you smell it? It’s heaven!

Now that we’re all awake I have an award to pass on to some rather deserving ladies. My wonderful, thoughtful, beautiful blog-sister Debra  gave it to me and now I shall give it to….

drum roll please….

My brave and soulful sisters from this summer’s unravelling e-course and my real sister (you know who you are).  They laughed, cried and even danced for me (well, not just for me). They had the courage to take a look inside themselves and perhaps clean house if needed. It was a journey and experience I will never forget- I honor their courage and honesty. Thank you girls! You taught me that it’s okay (more like essential) to be myself.  Keep in touch… Please!

Well, I gotta wrap this up because it’s going to be a busy day. Lot’s to do and little time to do it . That’s okay cause life’s like this…

xo-jj

Just like a lover I’m there

As I set out on my usual morning jaunt yesterday I was thinking about how we all change ever so slowly and come to except things because of repeated exposure. Just like wild animals become habituated to humans, we too become desensitised to life. Think about it. There are things that in the past you would never have excepted but because of circumstances and repeated exposure things change and you just except it.

It’s not always easy to live life with open eyes and a  fresh vision but it’s important if you are to stay true to yourself. I love my walks with camera in hand, eyes fresh, mind quieted, and ears open. I guess you could say nature is my perfect muse. I fall under her spell and just travel from place to place seeing, really seeing the world without judgement or a plan-I love that.

The story:
Softly she whispers,
as a sliver of light peeks through the trees, I’m there.
Blue so vivid that it hurts my eyes,
fills the space overhead, I’m there
She tickles my legs with a sway in the breeze, I’m there
A deep breath fills my chest,
as a sigh allows residual stress to escape, I’m there
I’m drifting and then falling hard,
under her spell and just like a lover, I’m there

After a magic tweak my okay pic becomes my perfect muse

Where are you?

xo-jj

Summer is magic

Taken with g10 digital camera- no tweaking

If I were to list all the things I love, it would be way too long. Summer would be toward the top of that list. I love it for so many reasons and this summer, although not as warm as I like it, is no exception. I feel as though all year is kind of a build up to summer, just waiting to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, start a garden, take long walks, sit on the porch, go on vacation- the list is endless. This summer has been particularly strange, weather wise, but sort of magic in other ways. Just today for instance, as I sat down to get to work I saw something kind of incredible. The mama cat, that I’ve been feeding, was headed back down the trail to the secret bramble, where she hides her kittens, when she stopped dead in her tracks and crouched down. A few minutes later a deer came out of the brush and flipped her off with his nose. She ran back to the porch and he followed. I had to laugh thinking, oh no what will the big guy say about not only stray cats but stray deer coming to the porch for food.

Speaking of Mama cat I went on a hunt and found her litter of four. They were very well hidden in a bramble of brush that was like a whole city. It was amazing and reminded me of a children’s fairy tale. Under neath several fallen trees is a maze of secret nooks and hidden fortresses. After several attempts to get a good look at them, the whole family slipped down a giant rabbit hole to hide. One by one they would venture back out and scamper around until they saw my watchful eye. Then shoop, they disappeared down the rabbit hole. It really was just like a story and kind of inspired me to write again. Here I go off on another tangent- stay the course Junie! Well anyway, what I was trying to say is I don’t think I’ll ever catch them, so I will befriend them the old fashioned way- with food.

I told you about my incredible camera finds last week. Well my daughter and I played with the Polaroid camera from the seventies and got a few fun pics. Taking a Polaroid is kind of like taking a bad picture with a modern camera only there is this magical retro kind of feel that’s hard to explain and of course there is the instant gratification thing. Yeah I like instant gratification and the tangible feel of a photograph developing in your hand- love that too.

Taken with a polaroid land camera, scanned into photoshop and tweaked just a bit.

This is completely off subject but I was thinking this morning about how hard I’ve been trying to make a living at home with fine art photography and other artsy endevors. I desperately want to avoid the possibility of ever returning to the dreaded cubical world. Update… I stopped by the studio to take a peek at my inventory and had a sweet message waiting for me. I am featured in Treasury West today. Sometimes the universe gives you a sign  

There comes a time when it is more painful to remain a safe little bud and the risk to open up and blossom is unavoidable. I think I’m approaching that point in my life. A time when I can no longer just stay tightly wrapped and safe. By staying in safe mode, I risk losing too much or set myself up to go back to a life of miserable office politics.

The risk of blossoming is no longer off limits but I’m not sure I know how or when to blossom. I can’t seem to get to that next level. I guess each new faze of our life has a gestation period and needs time to ripen but I feel as though I’ve been tip-toeing down this path for a long time and this path has got to lead somewhere doesn’t it? Maybe I need to take a peek down another path. No, stop! I think I’ve done  enough venturing down other paths. I think I need to learn how to stay the course. I think I ramble too much

Well, I think we’ve had enough enough soup and nuts for today I’ll be back tomorrow for who knows what. Oh BTW thank you dearest Debra for the wonderful Bella Sinclair award I’m thinking about who to pass the sisterhood on to so stay tuned for that. Okay something weird keeps happening this is the third time I’ve edited this and my words above keep disappearing from the published post. When ever I mention the word magic in my posts strange things happen-I think I hear the twilight zone music playing off in the distance- gottta go.

xo-junie

The big guy was right

 

I’m back back from a crazy busy weekend. It was fun but I feel about like the image above not fully a wake and a bit wavy. I told you Mr. Java had a garage full of fireworks he got on a business deal didn’t I? Well, we had a busy weekend of shooting them off at parties and saying ahhhh, or whatever it is that comes out when spectacular colors light up the sky. The Saturday night show over the lake was the best! It was a good weekend of good company and busy stuff going on every second. A little parade watching, a lot of fireworks and oh yeah, a tree full of kittens. What?

 

I got up very early Saturday morning to head for the lake. When I staggered into the bathroom I looked out the south bound window as I often do and couldn’t believe what I saw. The huge 30 foot tall pine tree outside my window was full of little fury creatures. I rubbed my eyes and looked several times before running outside.  I counted at least three but heard more underneath. I went in to drag Mr. Java out of bed so he could witness what I was seeing because I was sure it must be a dream. Of course I fetched my camera but couldn’t capture much as soon as they saw the big guy they scattered down the tree  and off  through the tall weeds. Remember the big guy telling me not to feed the cats because we we’re in danger of becoming the cat house? Ooopps! He was right. Don’t tell him I said that because he always thinks he’s right. (my boys are now calling me the cat lady) I thought the wild cat I’ve been feeding was pregnant. I didn’t realize she already had kittens. No matter, I have homes for them already. See everyone worries for nothing. I would guess they’re about 4 to 6 weeks old so my mission this week is too catch them. Sounds easy enough but it’s not. They live somewhere in the brambles to the south of our house. The weeds are over my head and there is a huge pile of old trees and brush from the clearing of the neighborhood that the now bankrupted developer never cleared away. It’s like a jungle and the vampire mosquitoes can drain your blood in about 60 seconds. It takes a while to recover from blood loss and disorientation after an adventure into the thicket. Now if my Grandpa was still around he would know just how to find them. He used to say I need you to do some kitten hunting, they’re somewhere near the barn. He always knew right where they were but pretended he didn’t so I could find them. Maybe he was trying to keep me out of his hair, what little he had. Wish me luck with the hunt.

On to other news: the princess has lost or hidden several things of mine, so I will be cleaning and scavenger hunting all day. I can’t wait until she speaks English, so she can tell me where she’s hidden them. She says a few words but most of her jibberish is her own language, something we call Araglish, a combo of English and Arabic.

Well, I have a lot of catching up to do so I will leave you with a little ohhhh….

 And a lot of ahhhh… to get your Monday started.

 

Does anybody love Mondays?

xo-jj

Gosh, I Love days like this

I had a rather unusual day yesterday. It started out the same as most; too much coffee, time in the garden, new items added to my store, time here with you but when I went to the mail box I discovered that my “To write love on her arms” tee-shirt arrived. Yahoo, I love it!  After I slipped it over my head, I set out to run a few errands but got side tracked by a sign that read old cameras for sale. Well it’s no guess what I did or a big surprise when my car veered off it’s path in the direction of oz. You know I had to at least take a peek at what they had to offer. The sale was held in a dirty garage attached to a very run down house by a nice woman and her grown sons. I started my investigation of the merchandise right away. By this time my heart was somewhere in my throat- old Polaroids! There were so many to choose from. They weren’t a bargain, someone had done their homework. Despite the fact that the price wasn’t right and the fact that these cameras had belonged to a relative, so the sellers knew nothing about them or even if they were in working order- I bought three. Call me crazy I don’t care, I was on cloud nine. Two of the cameras are Polaroids one from the seventies and one from the fifties. The third camera is an old Kodak instamatic from the sixties with  range finder focus and guess what it has a half used roll of film in it. Part of me is so excited to see what’s on the roll and the other feels a little funny to be in possession of something so personal. Then there is this little voice that says who knows what you’ll find, it might be something you don’t want to see. Uh huh, I have a pretty vivid imagination.

I will be taking a trip to the camera shop very soon to pick up N batteries and see if they can give me any insight on how it works. The Polaroid land camera from the fifties will take a lot more looking in to.

On the ride home I passed a house with some rather unusual yard art. I couldn’t really get a good shot of it from across the road and I could only hold up traffic for so long. Yeah, people swear at me sometimes. After my adventure and my head totally occupied by old cameras and yard art most of what I fully intended to take care of went right out the window.

 

 Notice all the little statues in the car and the tikki torches wrapped in x-mas garland on each end. There are solar lights positioned as head lights and plastic flowers everywhere.. You probably can’t see most of the glass looking figures but look at the deer on the back and owl in the garland. It gave me a giggle.

Gosh I love days like this!

Have a happy, happy and totally safe 4th of July weekend.

xo-jj

The city girl doesn’t want to meet the farmer’s wife

 

Sometimes the awful weather and low light work in my favor. I love the soft dreamy colors in this pic.

I was in the garden yesterday morning cutting back the roses and snapping a few pics when I felt as though I was being watched, kind of like I felt in the cemetery the other day. I looked around, nothing, so I got back to work. Then I heard a thud in the woods. Ah huh, just as I thought- a little watcher in the woods. There she stood stomping her feet at me . She would stomp one foot and move closer then stomp the other and get a little closer. I guess she was challenging me to a dual over the roses.

This image looks like it was taken through a window. It wasn’t, just a low light blur because she was in mid-stop when I took it. Notice the extra set of blurred eyes in the upper left. Kind of creepy.

She eats all the pretty things in my garden whenever she gets the chance. BTW I won. She gave up after I snapped this pic and walked a little closer. I hope she didn’t get her revenge. I haven’t been out to inspect my garden yet this morning it’s too cold. Yes, I know it’s July but this is Michigan and our weather has been nuts. It’s been cold and rainy for days and making me crazy. Maybe that will explain this next paragraph.

I grew up a country girl not exactly on a farm but in the country. I lived next to my grandparents retired farm and we did have horses. I liked nothing better than hanging around the farm and assumed that I would live in the country the rest of my life. Well, I grew up and got over that in a hurry. I like the country don’t get me wrong but I prefer to live in the city with a little garden space and street lights. Recently my feelings have started to change a bit and I’m enjoying the country a little more, feeding stray cats and considering getting a camper. Getting a camper? Am I nuts? We used to camp but I was more than happy to give that up. I prefer the Holiday Inn style of camping-it’s much cleaner and the toilets always flush.

So I’m wondering what is making me change into a little bit country. It has to be this past year of insane weather that’s making me crazy and Mr. Java too. The other day he mentioned wanting to buy an old farm and plant hay for a hobby and to make a little extra cash.  I just can’t see that happening. My dreams do not include becoming a farmer’s wife. What I had in mind for the future was a little more like buying a beach house to escape the cold winter. I can definitely see myself walking the beach while picking up shells every morning, not doing chores on the farm. I love to visit the country but feel more comfortable in a neighborhood close to town. If I’m not careful I may get kicked out of the neighborhood when they find out I’m feeding two stray cats and one is pregnant. No, I’m not a crazy cat lady I just have a soft spot for animals without food. BTW I totally tamed the bob-cat he now rolls over on his back for me to scratch his belly.

I can’t believe this weekend is the forth of July already, wow! Mr. Java has his huge stash of illegal… shhh, fireworks in the garage and we’re headed to the lake to spend the day at my sister’s cottage. Last year I found a few treasures from the neighbor next door who had just moved here from Tibet. She was selling some of her cultural treasures. maybe I’ll get lucky again this year.

This is a little spiritual niche I have in my office. A few statues, prayer wheel, a hope, faith, pray necklace I made and acloche filled with various things collected from nature. I’m sure you noticed the money at the base of my Buddha statue. That tradition was started by strangers passing by my garden. It’s a long story best saved for another day. 

Enjoy your day. Remember to take a moment or two for yourself.

xo-jj

Love is the movement

Sorry about this image-okay I’m not, I just wanted to get your attention. Did I? Gosh I hope so.

 I felt a bit eerie as I wandered to the back of an old graveyard so I could take this image. The sky was dark and a storm was coming- it was just like something out of a movie- I swear!

Secret Heart

why so mystifying,

you’re so solemn

and so justifying.

This little secret

that you’re trying to conceal

is the very same hush

 you’re dying to reveal.

Secret heart it’s time to bear it,

don’t be afraid,

this mystery, you must share it.

I’m the kind of girl who likes to get involved and work for a cause. I think it’s important to give back to the universe and live passionately. In the past I was a team leader for the American Cancer Society and loved it but I’m ready for a new gig.

The day I started this blog something tragic happened to someone I know. I still remember getting that phone call while in mid-post. It was shocking and gut-wrenching.  I’m not going to tell you about the phone call or the story that inspired this post- it’s not my story to tell. 

 I will say this: I have decided to get involved in a cause I believe in. It’s a movement that reaches out to people in need. It was started by a group of young people who shared in the experience of a young woman in crises. The actions they took caught on quickly and spread like wildfire and now…  Well, please watch the video to better explain the why and how.

To write love on her arms was started because someone cared enough to help. I was taken by the strength and passion of Renee’s friends and the way they took her in and kept her safe. Their words and her story was the story of so many that were suffering in silence.

 I feel certain that the only way to reach young people in crises is by planting seeds of love beneath their feet and let’s face it, cyber space is where they walk everyday. So here I am throwing seeds to all who will plant them. I just had to get involved and somehow make a difference.

I knew I could count on all of you to be my gardeners. This journey has just begun and I’m asking my cyber friends to walk beside  me. You don’t have to open your wallets or attend a rally, just take a moment to click on the TNT box in the lower right corner of my blog. For every click and message, TNT will donate money to this cause. If then you decide you want to do more or get involved you can visit twloha and buy a tee-shirt or arm band as I did.

Get as involved as you wish but please just take a moment to watch the video and click on the TNT box it only takes a few seconds out of your day, I promise. You might be the one to make a difference or save a life and it could be the life of someone you know.  I have attached another video clip from NBC nightly news. This clip gives you more info about the movement and how others are getting involved.

Getting involved and making a difference doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or take up too much of your time. Please help me remove the stigma of depression by taking the time to listen. I ordered a tee-shirt and arm band and I’ve decided to donate 10% of all sales from StudioPink my Etsy store to the cause through the summer but you don’t have to go that far. The most important thing we can do is bring awareness to this terrible affliction that goes untreated because of shame and misunderstanding. You and I can spread the word with open lines of communication and love.

See I told you I had some important things to talk about and this was at the top of my list. Thank you for listening and for opening your heart and your minds to those who need you and thank you for being a part of this garden of hope. Who would have thought about growing a garden in cyber space? tee he

This garden in cyber space gave me an idea …I would like to set a date to have a group of bloggers (that’s you) join together to plant the seeds of hope for this cause. No I don’t mean physically, although that would be beautiful, I mean in cyber space. We could each post a picture that represented hope and say a few words about depression and supporting those who need us or link back to Twloha

So tell me your thoughts on this. Can we do it? Can one little garden of hope make a difference?

Love, junie

The winner

Hold your applause til the end please. The winner of The Mad Tea Party is apparentlyjessy from the land down under. Her little fairy will be making a long journey. She is pictured above having a fabulous time at her own crazy party. Congrats Jessy, now send me your addy and I’ll ship your goodies.

Stay tuned for the next post it’s an important one.

xo-jj

Far away places in dreamy spaces

Pack your bags and come with me- no passport required.

Here we go again; I’m dreaming of traveling to  far-away, mystical places. Lands where beautiful exotic things grow freely and the air smells like magic as the breeze blows little surprises my way. In my dreams everyone in this land is unique, no two are alike. Each person is valued for the special way they grace the world with a unique presence.

There is no pressure to be successful, no reason to stress or fight because everything is free and shared. In this place there is only harmony and peace, no wars, no prejudice, no poverty, just happy rhythms flowing freely like the whirrr of a carousel spinning round and round.

 

It’s all there in my dream just waiting to be discovered but for some reason this place is secret and can’t be found. No matter how hard I try or how long I search, I always wake before  reaching this exotic place. So I have to wonder is there such a place of love and peace for all? Is this really a dream or just a passing thought drifting through my conciousness, inbetween  awakefulness and sleep? Do you dream of shimmering  places that can’t be reached?

Perhaps I’m dreaming of travel and far away lands because something feels a miss about this season of sun and budding gardens. The weather has been ever so funky and thrown me off  just a touch. The days start out in the fifties with a cloudy haze and cool damp air. This lasts until mid afternoon when the sun either melts it’s way through the haze or thunder storms break loose and swallow the day. Then around four or five o’clock the sun gets warm and true to a June afternoon but shortly there after the coolness creeps back in. The weather has been quite bazaar for mid June.

Come to think of it this year has been a calamity of oddities, the weather colder than unusual with record amounts of snow and the news of an economy filled with doom and despair but then we had a little glimmer of hope with a new election and a promise of better days to come. Perhaps all of this would explain my thoughts and dreams that seem to be just out of reach. I have seen a glimpse of this magical place and it’s not perfect but soft and dreamy all the same, which is just the way I like it.

Have a soft and dreamy Monday.

xo-jj

Ulternate universe, characters welcome

 Those of us who are immersed in the on-line world of bloggery see nothing strange about cyber parties or daily visits to our neighboring blogs. We talk about each other as if we are neighbors, co-workers and friends. It feels totally natural and not the least bit strange at all; until you try to explain why you’re wearing rabbit ears while  having tea with imaginary friends and taking pictures. Just try to explain I dare you! Mr. Java was ready to call for the white coats to come take me away to a nicely padded room. He didn’t buy the whole taking pictures for an upcoming cyber party bit.

Then not long after that I was chattering about what I was going to wear to this up-coming blog event, Vanessa from A fanciful Twist’s Mad Hatter Tea party, and the person I was talking to said oh, it sounds like fun, where is the party? At that moment I knew that no matter what I said or how I tried to explain it was going to sound stupid or crazy or more than likely a combination of both.  I could see the wheels turning in her head as I tried to explain. Her thoughts were rumbling as a role of the eyes and strained facial expression gave way to an “oh I see.”  That was it, not one question about blogs or how they work, who uses them and how do I get one. Nope just a “oh I see.”  I know what she was thinking, “oh my, this poor chick is unemployed while trying to make a go of her photography and she’s lost her mind in the process.” It was that look of pity and fear on her face that snapped me back from this alternate universe  into the land of tangible things and real people engaging in live conversions.

I think the younger generation, like 25 and under has a much easier time understanding the cyber world but just try to explain it to your parents. Do you get the look of didn’t we raise you better than that and be careful or some stalker will show up at your door. I get that talk from Mr. Java who really doesn’t understand this blog thing at all. He only got with the email kick a few years ago because his business dictated that her communicate that way. 

So I wondering how do others explain this alternate world of friendships and parties and what do you say when your in the midst of blogging and a friend calls to ask “what are you up to?” Do you say I was working on my blog, twittering with a friend, down-loading pictures on my web-page or just make something up?

Are we really an odd group or just people who still have an imagination, a sense of fun and genuine trust in the universe? I’m not sure what the answer to that is but I do know that I have met some truly wonderful and exceptionally interesting people here in blog land. How about you?

xo-jj

Rainy Day Dreamers

The princess sporting her tu tu in the park.

I think my love for dress-up and all things girlie started long ago in grandma’s attic. As a little girl I just loved to sneak up to the attic at grandma and grandpa’s and peek at the fancy hankies and cutesy aprons tucked away in a curvy old dresser. The dresser had an adjustible mirror that was perfect to get a look-see at my reflection in grandma’s church hats. They were kept in the stacks and stacks of boxes in every corner of the room. The treasures were endless as my imagination took root and  sprouted wings in that little attic space.  Even now I love to play dress up and have an incurable fascination with vintage jewelry and fancy hats.

Ang enjoying a day dream during the heat of the day.

I wish I had realized then how precious those things would be to me today and asked for a keepsake or two. I was a young girl when my grandparents passed and didn’t hang on to old mementos. I wish now that I had some of those attic treasures to tuck away for a day just like today. The house is quiet and dark on this rainy day; the perfect time to play a little dress up with my girls.

Ms. D and her purse named Fancy.

I usually don’t like the rain, it’s dark and depressing but for some reason today I don’t mind. It’s a good day for thoughts and reminiscing about treasures found on rainy days in grandma’s attic.

Wishing you many lovely day-dreams on this rainy Wednesday.

xo-jj

I’m melting

Well, if you haven’t guessed by now, I’ll tell you, I am a girlie girl and love all things soft and pink. The look, the feel and the very essence of femininity are softly whispered in pale pink panties that are hidden underneath a business suit or your favorite grungy pair of jeans. I grew up in a pink bedroom and quite often wore pink nail polish but the rest of me was all jeans and tee shirts. I like just a hint of pink to soften my edges.

There is nothing more sweet and special than tiny white baby tee’s with just a hint of pink. My heart melted when I saw this (pictured below) in a local boutique and I couldn’t resist. It is incredibly soft and yummy to the eyes. I think I could work in a baby boutique and just play with the clothes, making little vignettes here and there all day long. Baby boutiques or boutiques or any kind are a rarity in my area these days. Yes, it’s true they are too expensive and don’t offer enough variety to satisfy a busy Mom’s schedule but the experience of walking through a store filled with pretty things that are displayed to perfection is magic. It’s not a place where you go in to buy a complete wardrobe, no, just one or two things for a special photograph or very first outing. It’s an exception, a lovely experience and one time event that you won’t ever forget. 

This shot was meant to melt your heart just a little. He hee.

As you know from the countless photographs of the little princess and some big princesses or more like fashion divas, I like to take an unusual and maybe even a little crazy shots of people. Recently, I was asked to take a few kid shots for a mother of two boys. She saw a few of my pics on another website and liked my style. Of course I was thrilled and will probably jump at the chance as long as she realizes that I take a journalistic approach to photography and have a somewhat quirky style. I’m not into the perfectly posed studio shots and I never use a flash, well almost never. I like the type of photographs that bring out the essence of  a personality or maybe a side that’s hidden on most days. There is a shining star in everyone and I want to bring that to life in pictures. This may be a new area of my creativity to explore. I’m always up for an adventure. So if you live in the Michigan area and would like to have some shots done give me a try. I probably won’t charge much until I get my feet wet and feel confident in my ability to capture the real person in just the way they love to be seen. 

That’s all for today. I better get something done around here before I’m off to photograph pregnant bellies -oh my!

xo-jj

The pregger belly shoot and the call of the wild

 Love, love this!

The belly shoot was definitely a trip. What an amazing time in a young woman’s life. My fave shot is the one with the little pink bunny hanging to the side. They turned out quite well considering they were taken in a small room full of stuff. I set up a little spot with an antique white chair covered in pink tulle, furry white rug, with my wedding veil hanging over the window to diffuse the light and make everything soft and delicate. There is so much beauty and magic made by the click of a shutter in diffused light.

I remember when, showing your pregnant belly was a no no. I’m so glad we’re past that era.  A pregnant woman and her growing belly are a beautiful thing and should be celebrated. The princess thinks so- matter of fact she now thinks there is a baby in her belly too.

Now there is something totally unrelated to pregnancy and bellies that I want to mention. It’s something that’s driving me crazy but also intriguing me at the same time. Okay, before I try to explain let me give you a visual of where I live. I’m in  mid-michigan, a rural bedroom type community (pretty boring)  my house is on the out-skirts of town. I live in the very last house at the end of a city subdivision. If I take just a few steps to the east or north I’m in the country. I’m surrounded by open meadow, woods and a large pond; it’s beautiful but does presents a few problems. We are over-run by critters: coons, skunks, deer, field mice an occasional coyote and oh yes wild cats. I love animals and have been known to come home with a stray or two in my day but I’ve been warned no more animals. I don’t need any more pets as I have 3 little dogs and 2 little birds. I’ve had cats before but have no desire to own one at this time- except for this one.

 Okay this photo doesn’t due him/her justice. (I think it’s a her) I took it through my office window as she was running away.  Her fur is short but fluffy and the most gorgeous colors of creamy white and chocolate brown, her eyes are amazing too. She’s a Manx cat (I think) who hangs out on my porch and looks in my windows but runs when she sees me. I have begun leaving food out for her as I’ve witnessed her getting thinner over the past two weeks. We call her bunny butt because she looks like a bunny and moves like one at times. It’s so strange if you see her from behind you almost mistake her for a rabbit until she turns and you see this cat head on a bunny body- it’s awesome. The first time I saw her drinking out of the bird bath I thought she was some kind of cross between a bunny and a cat. I’ve seen bob-tailed cats before but she’s different.

 This image is pretty bad because it was shot through my office window at mid-night. She hangs around my house all day and night but waits for my office lights to go out before she comes up to the porch. I waited in the dark and then snapped this- see I’m obsessed! It’s a pretty bad photo and doesn’t begin to show how beautiful she is.

Mr. Java likes her too but when I talk about luring her in and making her our pet he just wags his finger at me. It would probably turn into a circus in here if she came indoors. Two of my little dogs don’t like cats and this cat is a fierce hunter, I”ve watched her in action, so the birds would be in jeopardy. I realize the pitfalls of trying to domesticate a wild cat but still there is this part of me that thinks she desperately wants to come inside and be my pet. I may be delusional but why else would she hang out on my porch and peek in my windows- this all started before I began feeding her.

What do you think- aside from the fact that I’m crazy and have too many pets already.  Have any of you seen a cat anything like this? Am I right when I say she’s a Manx cat? I’ll let you know if anything changes or she magically becomes my friend.

Enjoy your weekend. I may have to buy a boat if it doesn’t quit raining. Maybe I should be looking at some building plans for an arch rather than trying to tame wild cats

xo-jj

Blown away, well almost

This shot was taken after the storms were over and the sun came out. I wandered through the tall weeds to check on a mother deer and her two fawns. They were no where to be seen. They usually hide in this tall grass during the day. The babies are tiny, about the size of small dogs and I was worried about their safety because of the downed trees and power lines and the wide-spread flooding in my area.

I’m finally back on-line after a series of crazy storms, the last of which on Friday night took out my cable and Internet. I was lucky compared to many others in the area. numerous trees were split or totally uprooted. They fell across major roads causing a few detours and did serious damage to several houses in my area. A few blocks away a tree fell on a brand new car that had been purchased just the day before. The city was without power and as I drove out of town with my windows down I could hear the sound of chain saws coming from every direction. Unfortunately I didn’t get an opportunity to take any pictures because of my hectic weekend schedule.

I have an update to my Manx cat story. I’ve continued to leave food out for him/her but unfortunately this has attracted every stray in the neighborhood. Every time I look out my window there is another cat helping himself to the food dish. I really don’t want to become the cat lady but I do feel bad for the many animals that have lost their homes due to the recession. So I have kind of a dilemma on my hands.

Mr. Java and the princess taking a walk on father’s day. She saw a little girl ahead with a pink bike and although she is only 19 months old she is determined to ride a bike and of course how could she resist one in pink. Some day little one- don’t grow up too fast!

Well, I’m off to tackle a long list of must do crap. I’ll be back to catch up with some blog visits later today or this evening. Take care! 

xo-jj

Decorating, room themes, whimsical wall art and a sassy cow

I love those days when I feel inspired even if it is only for a moment or two. A little inspiration here and there is what keeps my spark alive. It keeps me going and allows me to see the world  a little differently. There are so many wonderful places in blog land that are bursting with creativity and are a great resource for inspiration. What inspires you?

I thought about the things that inspire me and what might inspire someone to buy my photography. Photography is a funny thing. It’s so subjective as much or maybe more so than any other piece of art and just because you like something doesn’t mean you know what to do with it.  So I thought about what kinds of things one could do with a photographic print that would make it really shine or become a work of art. I decided that fine art prints are best when grouped together to set a theme. A room with a theme or grouping on the wall looks so pulled together and makes a statement.  It has something to say about the room’s purpose and the people in it. So I have begun a journey across the walls of my house. I’ve decided to use my photography to set the tone and give my rooms personality.

I started with the Princess Room and look what happened.

 

I used a print from the the belly shoot in the center and then added Like a Whisper and Sugar Baby, two Etsy prints  from the studio featuring a precious little pink and white layette. The matching white frames pulled all the images together and made it look kind of chic and solidified the whole baby girl theme. You may have noticed that the artwork balancing in the candelabra looks familiar. It is a digital art print from the wonderful Miss Vanessa of A fanciful Twist. Yes, this print of Miss thing looks wonderful in the Princess Room.  It’s  in keeping with the pink girlie look but adds a little whimsy and I love whimsy.

The perfect match.

Displaying these prints in a wide border frame allowed me to fore go the cost of a mat and downsize the frames for another cost savings. Yahoo, I’m thrifty!

I mentioned that I liked whimsy. Well get a load of the whimsy I shot yesterday while doing a little business in the country. I love it and wish I had a companion photo or two to pair with it. It wouldn’t really go in my house but it would definitely add a bit of whimsical charm- don’t ya think.

 

“Pardon…  but do I have something between my teeth?”

I thought this cow was being friendly but I later learned that she has a really baaad attitude and was just being sassy- I like sassy!

I hope that was a four leaf clover she ate because I heard it said that if she doesn’t shape up her destiny lies in a steak burger. Ahhhh, poor sassy!

Sassy cow may make her way into my Etsy shop. I haven’t decided quite yet but I think she’s would fit right in with the  eclectic collection of Studio Pink.

Have a sassy Tuesdays!

xo-jj

Unravelling and the real me

So, I think I’ve mentioned a few times over the past eight weeks that I’ve embarked on a journey into myself. This journey set sail in an Unravelling  e-course that took a group of people through an exploration of their true selves  by a process of  photo-journaling their life. I jumped in with both feet, so to speak, as the first assignment was of my feet but some where along the way my enthusiasm wained just a bit. I’m not sure how much my perception of myself has changed over the past few weeks but I do think that my acceptance of the real me has improved just a bit.

I started out feeling somewhat strange about taking photographs of myself but got used to the idea as the weeks rolled on.  I soon realized that the pics I liked the most were the softer and maybe a little over exposed shots. I analysed that a bit and then concluded that this is exactly how I prefer to see life. A little soft and fuzzy, no rough edges, a view that allows me to ignore the parts that aren’t so pretty. Since hitting the big four- o, I have struggled with the thought of getting older and the reality that is settling into my face and body. I feel like a young girl trapped in a middle aged woman’s life.

Throughout my entire life I was the girl who wasn’t exceptionally smart-just average and not particularly talented in any one area- just okay at a few things but everyone just referred to me as that pretty girl, many never even knew my my name. I even had a boss tell the computer programming guy not to ask me any technical questions because I was just the pretty girl in the office- that boss was a woman. This used to infuriate me but now I seem to be scrambling to hold on to that pretty girl who is changing into a average woman- I never wanted to be average.  Pretty fades- so, I’m ready to move on to something deeper and more spectaculiar in my life. I want to be remembered for my accomplishments.

We struggle all our lives to be more than what we are and in the end I think we fail to appreciate our true talents or assets. These days it takes a little longer for me to accept the face I see in the mirror and I do have a few secret weapons but the whole beauty thing has gotten a bit expensive. It’s just not the same for men. Are they just naturally better looking or do we just except them the way they are? I think it’s the latter- sorry guys.

During the Unravelling e-course I’ve realized I’m not alone in my struggle to accept myself and that many of my classmates have far greater issues than I. It has been interesting to look at an image of a fellow classmate and view them one way until I read their perception of themselves and then this image takes on a whole different light. So I guess what I am saying is that the way you perceive and portray yourself greatly influences the way others see you.  Perhaps this means if I want to look like a  young beautiful woman that is fully capable and talented in many ways, I must first see those things in myself before they’ll become apparent to others. Does that make sense?

I started out as that pretty little girl and then become that average woman I see in the mirror today.

I’m sad to see this class come to an end and don’t know how it will impact my life but I do think that everything we experience in life changes us just a little.

xo-jj

Life-scape Architect

Someone once said, “we are all artist- artists in creating our own lives.”

I thought about that statement for a while and realized just how true it was. We create little niches of beauty and splashes of color throughout our lifetimes. This affects everyone we come in contact with. We are gardeners in our own domain even if we never touch a living plant. It’s difficult to control the world around us but it is quite possible to create a little oasis in our own life. A place to come home to. A place that makes us feel happy and somewhat in control of our own destiny. A room that is decorated in our favorite color or a theme that fits our personality to a tee. A beautiful rose bush or cozy garden spot to sit and listen to the birds chatter or simply something lovely to look at will do.

 

I feel quite certain that we are all artists and gardeners of our own lives and make a difference in the gardens around us. The spaces we create and the circles of friends and contacts we develop is vital to sustaining a meaningful life. We put together a nurturing environment and a place to feel safe. We create in the kitchen, the office, and our own back yard. Our lives weave a story and lay a path for others to follow. Our style is sometimes imitated and our laugh is often contagious. We are the master of our own palate and some of us are responsible for creating life which is pretty amazing.

 

Think about all that you have created both grand and insignificant throughout your lifetime- isn’t it amazing? I’d like to think of it as life-scaping but actually it is so much more.

You don’t want to miss my next post on Saturday. I have teamed up with some very creative souls and we are having a very mad tea party over at A Fanciful twist. Our hostess is Vanessa- an incredible lady that you just have to meet. Her parties are quite incredible and the guest list for this one looks like it has almost three hundred participants thus far. Wow, I can’t wait. I am bringing some pretty crazy quests to the party- so stop by and check out the fun this weekend!

See you all on Saturday!

xo-jj

Mad Tea Party Tailgate and giveaway

Are you ready to party? ? ?   Well put your party socks and dancing shoes on. It’s time for a little pre-party tailgate.

 We’re celebrating along side the big bash at A Fanciful Twist with Miss Vanessa the party queen .

 

 

I sent my party fairy to deliver the invitations. “Hey little one Don’t forget to stop by Deborah, Shell, Renee and Libby’s place.” Oh well she has the guest list.

 

 It looks like our  the first quest has arrived. Love that skirt. Hmmm, I feel under-dressed. I think I know who those feet belong to.  Renee is that you in those red shoes?

 

 Funky shoes, crazy legs and a fabulous dog. That has to be Deborah the Mid-life poet. I’d know those legs anywhere.

 

 

  Join me  and the rest of the gang for a little cup of tea. Have you seen my rabbit?

 

  Miss D  is helping herself  to the tea. I noticed that she’s trying to show up the hostess with a designer headpiece. I’m not surprised.

 

 Hurry up before the cupcakes are gone. We’ll pretend not to notice the little frosting up her nose. It wouldn’t be fitting for a princess to be seen like that.

 

All it takes is a little sugar before the guests get out of hand.

 

 Yeah, I went all out for this party and hired the most expensive entertainment. Show tunes anybody?

 

 I told you there’d be dancing!  Will you look at her over there. Shell  I know you like to dance but not on the piano please.

 

It’s looks like some of the guests are getting a bit restless. It must be time for a goodbye tour.

 

Goodbye Libby, goodbye everybody, thanks for coming. Now follow the little garden fairy over to A Fanciful Twist to join the celebration.

 

 

I’m sending you with a little cupcake love to share with Miss Vanessa, she inspired this Mad party tailgate. You can’t miss her, she’s the one in the fabulous outfit covered in frosting. I hope her cupcake towers were a success. Come back when you have more time to chat.

Leave a comment and I’ll enter you in a magic fairy giveaway. Can you see her? Oh yeah, that’s right she’s magic. 

he hee-you’ll love her.

XO-junie

But Wow!

After this weekend of crazy parties in the blogsphere I am speechless. You’re all so creative, so kind and so damn much fun. I can’t think of anything to say but wow. It is because of so many interesting souls out there in the blogging universe that I’ve felt so inspired, enriched and entertained these past few months.

I’ve only made it to a fraction of the blog parties as of yet so I’ll continue to visit throughout the week. It seems that my time has been very short lately. I start out each morning fully intending to get everything accomplished but something always gets in my way. There are so many important things I want to share with you this week- so stay tuned.

Okay, now I promised a blog give-away for those who commented on my Mad Tea Party post. I will draw out a name this evening and publish it tomorrow, so you still have time to get your name in for this. Do you want a peek at the prize? Yeah, I know silly question.

 

She is from Add an Accent and comes in her own little box (big whoop) with a little bottle of magic fairy dust. Although she looks at home in the garden flowers I’m thinking she would make a perfect accessorie for a Christmas project.

My wish for today-productivity. I could wish for something bigger but let’s start small. Dreams and wishes are important no matter the size. Thank you for being a part of mine.

xo-jj