Well, it's pouring rain here in Indiana again today. So, what does Angie do when it's raining outside...she plays with starfish and likes to close her eyes and pretend that she is somewhere else. I'm getting quite skilled at it too. Before long, someone is going to walk in and find me bathing in my kitchen sink - pretending as though it is a big body of water (a.k.a. the ocean) with my beach towel spread out on the counter with store bought sand from Target underneath it. You think I'm kidding don't you? Some of you might not know me as well as you think at this point. HA!
No really...I've been knee deep in this incredible new photography course. (Yes Leigh, it's Sheye's course. Thanks for commenting on the blog yesterday girl!) Our week one homework assignment or task was to take a picture and submit it revolving around something that describes us. We had to come up with an artistic expression of ourselves. Something that introduced everyone else to who we were or what made Angie - Angie. Something that symbolized our self. So...after considering my faith, my family, my sewing/beading, it was ultimately my love for the seaside that I wanted to convey. I felt that anyone who knows me well knows just how much the beach is embedded in my genes. It started when I was 7 years old. My very first trip to Florida was with my Mom. In an odd way, as I reflect back on my life, I realize now that our trip in particular that time was meant for thought processing and reflection on my Moms part. It came at a time when my Mom and Dad had basically separated and their marriage was finalizing a chapter. Finalizing the end actually. When we returned from that trip, life as I knew it was forever different for me and for them. (My Dad and my Mom) However, looking back, I know that it was all in Gods plans for us. I love my life. I love who my parents have raised me to be - even though they weren't a family unit when raising me. I have an amazing step Mom who is literally my 2nd Mom. I wouldn't have gotten her if it weren't for he demise of my parents marriage. She means the world to me and rates right up there with my own mother. She is amazing enough that even my own Mom thinks so. Now that is saying something when it comes from an ex-wife. We always say that Cathy (my stepMom) is an exception to the rule in divorced families. She was meant to be in my life. No doubt about it. My upbringing was also helped by my (ex) step Dad, Bob, whom many of you don't know. Those who grew up with me know him extremely well. However, for those of you who met me after I was 18 years old or older, you've probably never met Bob. For those of you who do know him though, you know what respect I have for him and how thankful I am for his existence in my life. Bob helped to raise me while he was married to my Mother from the time I was 7 until I was 18 years old. As an adult, I look back and realize how different my life could've turned out had Bob not been my Step-dad. And in a funny way, he is still raising me. Whether being there in my thoughts as I go around from room to room flipping my index finger up and down - reminding Brennen to turn off the lights in each room he leaves - just as Bob used to do to me - or just old phrases & sayings that remind me of him as I raise my own kids. The finger thing with the light switches drove me crazy as a kid but its small moments like that which cause me the fondest of memories. The deepest respect. I miss him. He taught me to value things. All the way down to electricity. And I do. Amazing how someone makes such a lasting and loving impression on your life, eh? It was through Bob's love for traveling that I also learned to become obsessed with the tropics. I was fortunate enough to embark on many vacations with him and my Mom. Through those vacations, my fondness for the sea grew more and more each trip. My bedroom used to have big pink blown up palm trees in it. Tacky now - but so fun back then. I should have recognized the addiction when my own mother had little itty bitty pink palm trees placed by the logo on my very first car. It was already in her genes which meant it was now in mine. I had a white car and she had hot pink palm trees made to fit near the cars make/model sign. At the time I detested them. (the palm trees that is) I detested that they identified my car so much and that they were hot pink at that. It was a color only my Mom can understand. :) And I mean like neon hot pink. Not just hot pink. Like poster board neon pink. You get my drift. HA HA! If you are still confused, go back and read this old update/blog post and you'll get a clear visual once you get to the end of the post. :)
In the end, I know it was those early travels as a child that created the passion I have for the beach. The ocean. The sand sugaring my toes. The white wave caps. The smell of the salty air. The surf and turf dinners. ;) Wink Wink! I also know that we are instilling that same obsession for the sea in our own kids. Brennen and Kenidi show us more and more with each trip how much they have a need to soak up the oceanside as well. They are truly infatuated with all that the beach has to offer. I'm so glad that they appreciate one of God's greatest gifts to us. It's one of his most amazing creations. I pray they always cherish it.
So...when I was asked to submit a photo of something that described me, the starfish you see in the images above seemed only fitting. I have no idea what the instructor will say about my images as of yet. However, I'm eager to get the good, the bad, and the ugly from this course. Critique away as I told her. I can take it! We only learn from our mistakes and I make many in the realm of photography at this point. She did pay me some great compliments yesterday in regards to my tulip photos. Some of her words were...
"They’re very lovely and certainly print worthy - I can see them as greeting or postcards!" Of course being the rockin' pro that she is, my heart swooned when I read her feedback. I am not naive though. I have a long way to go. However, I'm sure enjoying the ride as it comes. The best part about photography is that you can establish your own artistic flair with it and that people will either like your images or not like your images. In the end though, as long as you are happy with them and having fun, that is all that matters. And boy am I having fun. :) I got a new set of photoshop actions yesterday and I've been playing with them ever since. For those of you who don't dabble in photography, "photoshop actions" probably doesn't mean jack diddly to you. However, to me, it's like another new sewing pattern or another new set of glass lampwork beads. Basically...it's a new set of canvases to experiment and add over or onto your images. We call it post processing. I call it an addiction. Sheye mentioned to another student in class yesterday a quote or statement that will stick with me forever. It read: "Other people will always turn out amazing, inspiring images. It doesn’t mean you can’t but you will be turning out your own amazing images - completely different to theirs. If we all created the same thing, it wouldn’t ever be anything other than ordinary."
I've now printed that out and framed it in my studio.
So...my question for you today would be...if you had to submit one photo of something that describes you, what would it be? Think about it. It's tough but fun! If you have a photo you want to take and share, post it under the comments here and refer us back to your blog. I wish I knew how to set up a Mr. Linky box but I don't. If I did, that would be easiest. However, still feel free to share a link to your photo if you have one. I think it would be neat to see the symbolization that each of you come up with for yourselves. No worries about professional style photos. Snap shots would be magnificent too. I've already gotten a couple thru facebook. Too fun! Hugs, Angie
Normally...these are the type photos I send to my "1 star" bin. One star for me means ummm....not so great. Whether it be the exposure, the noise in the photo (noise is the resemblance of film grain, grainey-ness, in digital images. Most times they are colored specks - very tiny - and are most noticeable in the shadow areas of a photo. Especially those photos with an ISO of 400 or higher.) I detest raising my ISO unless I absolutely have to when shooting because it raises that "noise" level. Thus, like the pictures above and below. An image should be crystal clear and sharp as sharp gets if done right by the photographer. I call those "5 star" images and they generally go in my "workable folder." If they are 1 star though, I seldom work them or use them for anything. I made an exception this time.
Normally you guys only get to see my decent pictures here on the blog. I thought I'd keep it real today and let you know that I still take shots that look like this all the time. Especially when it is dark outside like it was when I took these. If you look at the photo of Kenidi standing and looking at us on the above left and compare it to the photo of her hand on the tree (on the right), you'll be able to tell the difference in the "noise" between the two pictures. Her hand picture has visibly less noise in it. It is more clear - more sharp than the picture of her standing. The exposure on these shots is also horrible. Very horrible. So...they are far from something I'd send to my 5 star file. But again, it's fun to see the difference between the good, the bad, and the absolute ugly in photography. Beings that I'm aspiring and learning as I go too, I find enjoyment in critiquing myself and finding the spots or the images that need work, could have been done differently, etc. Instead of professional shots, these are more of a "snap shot" look by far. I'm taking a new photography course and I can't even begin to explain how excited I am about it. The leader is a very well known photographer in Australia whom I truly adore. She also has a story surrounding her daughter that broke my heart wide open last year. I'm honored to be a part of her class and am continually inspired by her work. I enjoy just being under wings.
This commercial cracks me up. Feel free to pause the music on my playlist at the bottom of this page and then hit play on this video. I have no idea why this makes me laugh so hard when I see this commercial but it just does. We've seen it over and over while Kenidi has been home from school for the past three days due to her double ear infection and throat issues. She is finally beginning to get her voice back and seems to be playing a bit more at leisure again. We have an appointment with her pediatrician next week to confirm that the ear infection is gone before we attempt to fly back South again. Please keep her in your prayers that her ears will get the "all clear" for our flight on Thursday. She and I both have enjoyed snuggling together in the mornings the past few days rather than having to shove her off on a school bus so early. I'm able to let her sleep in while I get Brennen ready for school. I can confirm that she has officially become addicted to TLC's "A Baby Story" show. It's hysterical! She loves seeing and hearing the babies. We've also played our fair share of peek-a-boo with our hands and eyes as she has been laying around. She puts her hands over my eyes and then back over hers. She loves the game - that is fo' sho'!
Lastly, thanks to all of you who twittered, face booked, emailed, and blogged birthday wishes to Brent yesterday. We had a great evening with Daddy - gave him his gifts - had a cheesecake birthday cake waiting for him (beings that he doesn't like regular cake - I know...I know...he's demented) and so on. I keep teasing him about being 35. This is the only time of the year when I get to tell him he is 2 years older than me. (I turn 34 in June so the 2 year thing is short lived) So...a big thanks to all of you who helped make his day so special. I know he really appreciated all of the birthday wishes.
For now, I'm off to tend to my sick little girl and enjoy the snuggle time with her today on such a gloomy and nasty day. She'll most likely be back at school tomorrow so I'm savoring the peek a boo's and the hugs today while I've got them. Daddy suggested we keep her home another day today in an effort to get her voice healed by one more day of rest and I must say...I'm glad he did. Her "smokers cough" as Brennen calls it, is getting better though. Ha ha! We hope all of you enjoy your day as well. Blessings, Angie
A good wife would convince you that if you didn't know any better...
You'd probably look at the above image and think it was years and years old. Like maybe back when the Brentster was a young Dad - in the old days. All of the evidence in the picture points to that. Old beach cruiser bike with basket. Rippling of the photo edges. Vintage sepia colored tones. You know what I mean. And...if you didn't know any better...you'd also think that I was a good wife. Good wives promise that they won't put "this" particular photo on the blog. A good wife would've left this picture off of the blog and used a different one of him. And a good wife...would have left off the fact that this ISN'T an old picture. It was actually just taken this past Sunday afternoon. But a GREAT wife, a really good, good, fantastic wife...would have also left out the "to date" and "modern" look of the true photograph.
Thus, revealing that my husband was actually riding a PINK beach cruiser bicycle on Sunday. Yes, my pink beach cruiser.
HA!
A great wife loves her husband and his humor. And boy I sure do love Brent's - well let's just call it - his "sensitive" side. Real men ride PINK, right babe? :)
HAPPY 35th BIRTHDAY BRENTSTER!
These are the things that have me wrapped around your little finger. I love you so very much and pray that today is one of the best birthdays ever. Some marriages can't say that they have "fun" within them. We can! Thanks for making life so "fun" when you are in the picture. (no pun intended. I promise!)
PS...Don't pedal too hard there. You look as though you might be getting a bit winded. Yes, we are getting old. And yes, we look that old! Ha ha! I love you!
Well, today is a beautiful day - no doubt - here in Indy. And yes, us girls here at home just wanna' have some sun. (just like her shirt reads) However, we are watching that sun shine from indoors today. After a noticeable difference in Kenidi's demeanor this weekend and a loss of her voice on top of that, I decided to keep her home from school today and take her to the pediatrician for a check up. Low and behold, they confirmed a double ear infection with possible strep throat. They said they weren't going to torture her and swab her throat because they were already going to have to treat her for with antibiotic for her ears anyhow. Thus, if she has the strep, it will be treated by the antibiotic for the ears. Therefore, we walked out of there feeling horrible over the fact that once again...Kenidi's lack of verbal abilities have hampered her ability to be able to tell us when she is ill. She can't talk to us and speak up when under the weather. We really have to watch her body language and basically "over guess" just to be safe. It's so sad. I just hate it for her. After the doctor appointment, we filled her prescription, grabbed her favorite lunch, and then came home. She is now sleeping peacefully curled up next to me in Mamma and Daddy's bed. I feel so sorry for her. I can't bare the thought of how long she could've possibly had this without us knowing. Breaks my heart. Wide open!
So...we are enjoying the sunshine but yet doing so as it billows through the windows here at home. No matter how we get it, I'll take it. Indy is expecting rain for the next 4 days this week. I'm going to ladle up the rays as much as I can before the forecast changes again for the worst. In the meantime, say a little prayer for quick healing regarding our Kenidi Grace, will ya? We fly out to head South again next Thursday. Brent and I can't fathom what it will be like if her ears are bothering her on those flights. Poor thing.
(Images above were taken this past weekend in the wild and windy outdoors)
Guess what? Yeap, a whole bunch of randomness again. Two days in a row, eh? I know you guys can tell that I'm just bustin' to be outside. Today it reached almost 80 degrees here in Indy. So...after a very exciting business meeting I had with Brent and a soon to be introduced person/organization, I left bee boppin' out the door today for another photo shoot before the kids got off the bus. I drove around in my car, killing time, and scoping out pretty things to snap shots of. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted these tulips at the entrance of a neighborhood near ours. I did a hard left - then a u turn - and ran back to the spot where I'd seen them. After pulling over on the side of the road and parking up the street, I hoofed my way back to these beauties and captured these shots...
It was smack dab in the middle of the day so there was tons of harsh sunshine hitting my lens which then equals tons of shadows - ugly shadows. However, I just couldn't quit snapping away. Shadows or not, I was embracing the sun.
Love how this little guy (see below) had a streak of red growing inside of it. Nothing like standing out - having an "out of the box" look. Why be normal? Dare to be different as I like to say. Ha ha! Too fun!
(To see more pretty tulip shots, go to my friend NATALIE'S blog. She does Iphoto friday and has a great collection of images going there too. Also, my blog friend, Beki, does Fingerprint Friday each week and thought the flowers would be a good depiction of God's fingerprints this week. Go check her blog out to see lots of other cool photos of peoples ideas of finerprints from God.)
Then, yesterday Brennen had some tutoring at a teachers house in a neighborhood close to ours. As I dropped him off, I saw this stunning little park area inside the center of their sub-division. What did I do? I dropped him off at the session, ran back to the house and grabbed my camera, then took Kenidi back there so we could kill some time while waiting on Brennen. There was an area above my head that was screaming to be photographed at one point. The sun flare was amazing. I just had to capture it. Also, see those lines and angles again? Yeap, love love love them!
In the little park area of their sub-division, I found these brightly colored adirondack chairs that immediately propelled me to somewhere else. Somewhere like Bonita Beach maybe. Ha ha! They were all different colors and just screamed to be photographed. Again, this was smack dab in the middle of the afternoon so there are horrible shadows everywhere (even with my lens adorning its lens hood). However, I couldn't pass them up. Someday soon I plan to go back on a more overcast day and grab some REAL shots of these again.
I'd love to capture a shot similar to this one below on an overcast day and then have it made into a big canvas for our house (minus the shadows). I think it would go great with the beach theme.
These colors are just amazing, aren't they? Sooooooo yummy!
Speaking of Bonita Beach, I snapped these shots (shown below) while there a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to share them with each of you. Ya'll know how much I love my palm trees, right? Well...because of that...I just thought I'd post these here and share. I got a polarizer & some step rings for my camera lenses recently so I can't wait to go back and try them out against the blue skies at the beach in a couple of weeks. They will really help to make shots of the sky like these POP!
Why can't we have palm trees in Indiana? It's so not fair!
And just for fun, I thought I'd post this very candid shot of Kenidi (below) talking to me yesterday while in that sub-division playing in their park. She had me cracking up. She has become really animated with her hands and arms lately as she is trying to verbalize. This was a great depiction of what she looks like when communicating these days. One of her aides sent home a note from school yesterday letting me know how she has made HUGE progress in her gross motor skills since last Fall. I would totally agree. Kenidi has come a long way since enrolling her in their new school back in August. And although I, as her Mom, am totally struggling and missing her REAL teacher (Mrs. Alison) because she left on maternity leave a couple of weeks ago (as she awaits the birth of her first child) and won't return until next January, I still know that Kenidi is in great hands with the aides in her classroom. Did I have a big ol, sobbing baby, cry in the shower the morning her teacher called to tell me? Yes...I sure did. She called me at 7:15am the morning we were set to fly out for our Spring break vacation. Our flight was leaving that morning and she called before we left for the airport to tell us. After I hung up with her, the tears began to flow and I ran straight into the bathroom where Brent was getting ready and just cried like a two year old. We were both extremely sad and were very heart sick in the pit of our stomachs that she was leaving so soon. We always knew she'd miss the last couple of weeks of school due to her pregnancy but now she was not only leaving sooner than planned, but she also wouldn't return until the 2nd semester of next years school year. Like I told Alison, I feel like I've lost an appendage. (nothing like making her feel bad, eh?) Like someone has cut off my arm or something. We miss her dearly! However, I know that she needs this time away in preparation for her new little one. I'm glad that she has the opportunity to be a stay at home Mom as she welcomes her first child. The real test will be whether she will EVER come back though after having that new little baby at home by her side for almost a year straight. I must confess that for my own selfish reasons, I'm so worried that she'll decide to quit her job and become a full time Mommy at home with her new baby. Thus meaning that we'll never have the opportunity to have her in our lives again. I pray that if that should that happen, I'll have the maturity level to not throw myself down on he floor, kicking and screaming, and begging for her to change her mind like a mad woman. I can almost promise that it won't be a pretty sight if it does come up so get ready and be prepared Alison. Ha ha! We love and miss ya tons girl!
Where are you Mrs. Alison? I miss you! Love, Kenidi
PS...A ginormous thank you to all of you caring and oh so loving souls who've emailed me about my new friend, Mr. Migraine. Your concerns and caring spirits never cease to amaze me. I didn't discuss it much here on the ol' blog because I'd been --- well...very frustrated and in total irritation of it all. After not having had to go to a doctor for basically 33 years of my life, I've now seen the inside of an Emergency Room twice in the past 60 days. (the heart related issue and then the head problem) After a week and a half of a severe migraine - nonstop I might add - which I've never had before - along with my eyelid suddenly swelling and then drooping/dropping on a whim due to the migraine, the doctors then thinking it was a massive cluster headache following a healthy CT scan, etc., I'm happy to report that I believe the miracle drug, prednisone, is now working. I hate to speak to soon or jinx myself but for the first time today in 11 days, I'm not feeling the pain as I had before. And although the prednisone prescription threw my heart into a very unexpected and not so fun synus tachycardia rhythm (heart palpitations with the rapid pulse and extra beats) which had to be addressed, I'm glad that I'm at least feeling some relief now from Mr. Migraine. For those of you who suffer from migraines, I feel so bad for you. I've never experienced anything like this and was totally down and out about all of the doctor visits I'd been having. I just couldn't fathom how I could be healthy for 33 years and never have to go to a doctor - to now all of a sudden having to endure multiple doc visits, ER trips, CT scans, heart testing, blood work, and so on. In my own personal rolodex I now have every doctor you can think of at the touch of a speed dial. Cardiologists, Neurologists, family doctors, and so on. Not only that but my measly one medication (birth control) that was the only pill I've ever had to take, has now grown to a full fledged drug house with 6 new bottles of pills. If someone came into my bathroom right now, they'd probably swear I was freak if they saw the amount of prescription bottles living on my counter. It's depressing beings that I'm not a pill girl and don't like to take medicine as it is. I've not handled it well at all. Let's just leave it at that! I've been mad, ticked off, frustrated, in wonderment, confused, stressed, worried, tired, and every other emotion under the sun. Oh and might I add that at the same time all this is going on, I also ended up at the dermatologist with two skin spots that popped up on my chest after our vacation which now have to be monitored and watched over the next two months. If they aren't gone before we head South again next month, they'll have to be removed and biopsied. Although my dermatologist feels that they don't look like anything to worry about at the moment, of course it is hard not to worry. I'm praying and trucking on like normal - knowing that God is in control. Oh and before I get the sunscreen lecture from my friends out there who want to harp on me about lathering up in protection, my dermatologist tells me that this isn't suncreen/sun related. We had a long talk about my love for the sun and believe it or not, he assured me that in his opionion, I was ok to keep soaking up the sun like I always have - even without sunscreen. Yes...I was shocked to hear him say it too. However, he thinks (his opinion only) that sunscreen will not keep you from getting skin cancer. He believes it will help slow your aging process due to sun damage but he said if you are going to get skin cancer, you are gonna' get it with or without the sunscreen in the end. He asked me if I'd rather age with my age or stay indoors with sunscreen on all the time and have the rest of my body look like my butt (no joke - these were his exact words) and then end up with osteoporosis when older from my bones being so frail due to lack of vitamin D. (sun) He told me it was my choice. He is a direct guy - very dry in personality - but I love how he tells me like it is. So...in the next few weeks, will you just be praying that my health gets back into "normal" gear and that I can stop having to worry about these issues? I'm using up a ton of my prayer quota with regards to the big man upstairs in the last 3 months of this 33rd birth year of mine. Guess I'm making up for all of the other years when I wasn't swinging my way in and out of ER hospital doors. I'm sure the good Lord above is about ready to cancel my membership up there if I continue to keep being so needy. HA HA! Nevah! I know better than that. Again...I can't thank all of you enough for your undying support and caring hearts. It means more to me than you'll ever know.
Don't ask me what this post is for - because truthfully - I don't know. I was just so happy to get out for an hour today and take my camera with me that I just started shooting anything and everything that I could possibly get my hands on. It was a sunny and almost 70 degree day here in Indy today. Therefore, I began to notice all of the colors that were popping amongst the sunshine this afternoon. The normal mundane and not so pretty things, were actually pretty for once. Or at least I thought they were anyhow. :) Doesn't take much to impress me now does it? Few red stop signs...
At different angles of course - never head on and straight...
And some pretty lines. I love lines. Love architecture. Amazing how much "leading lines" can do for a photograph. I'm always thoroughly impressed with the simplest of lines. Just the normal everyday - usually way boring - stuff.
Like these typically hideous dandelions that we all detest to see as they begin popping up when Spring hits. I found these in an open field across the street from our house because gosh knows Brent would never allow a dandelion to live and breathe in our yard. Ha ha! They just seemed to scream at me today from across the way. So bright. So vibrant. So cheerful. Even though they are normally known as being "pests" in the spring time, I loved getting down on my belly and snapping these at their level today. Now...my neighbor thought I was nuts as she came by pulling her son in his wagon. But hey...I've never claimed to be normal - let alone sane. ;)
And lastly...you really know that you are itching to photograph something in the Midwest after old man winter has cooped you up indoors so long that you begin snapping shots of none other than...
You guessed it...
A fire hydrant.
I've been eyeing this bad boy out my den window for weeks just dying to get out there in an effort to try & come up with a neat angle or a neat shot for this bright and oh so yellow guy. Today was the day. Again, my neighbor thought I had completely lost my mind. At one point, I even began to question myself as onlookers and passer bys slowed to try and figure out what on earth I was doing with my camera on a fire hydrant. At one point I just began to laugh out loud at myself and shake my head. The whole scene got real comical there for a bit. But hey...at least I had my moment in the sunshine today with Big Papa, right?
On a final note...I just wanted to thank all of you for your blog comments, private emails, and your facebook messages last night and today regarding my post about the book "GIFT FROM THE SEA." So many of you ran out to buy the book today, purchased it on eBay, or had already read it previous to the topic here last night. I'm so very glad you guys are getting your hands on it. Your comments in your emails about friendships and family members really confirmed that I am not alone. I'm thankful for all of you and your transparency. Maybe it is our age - where we are all at in life - who knows. Obviously though, many of us are coming to the realization that it is time to fill our pitchers back up and shed the negative. And on another note, I plan to begin reading the book "Cold Tangerines" tommorow. Should any of you want to read along with me, I'd love to do a book club sort of thing and get your feedback on it when we are all done reading it. Should you have any interest in joining me as I dive into another highly recommended novel, shoot me an email and let me know. OK?
Until then, enjoy your night. We just got in from the park and are ready to enjoy dinner with Daddy. I hope all of you are enjoying your prelude to this stellar weekend we have ahead.
Much love, Angie
PS...No cheap shots at my fire hydrant images either. I know where your minds are going. Sicko's! HAAAAAAAAAAAA!
I couldn't let the night go by without jumping back on here and emphasizing what a phenomenal book "Gift from the SEA" is by Anne Lindberg. Between waiting in the waiting area during Kenidi's therapy appointment last night, waiting in the car during Brennen's guitar lesson after that, and my neurologist appointment regarding my new friend, Mr. Migraine, this morning...I had plenty of time to be reading. During those few hours, I was able to start and finish the 130 page book that literally (both mentally and emotionally) swept me off my feet. This book was originally published in 1955 but has now gone on to have a 50th anniversary reprint edition which is what I purchased. Unfortunately, the author died at the age of 94 back in 2001. If she was still living, she'd definitely be receiving a letter of gratitude from me. Her words and her writing ability is so impressive. Anne depicts and describes life in stages, via different types of beach shells, while enjoying her alone time on Captiva Island. The way in which she relates to the multiple stages in life in comparison to specific beach shells and their appearance, purpose, and beauty is nothing short of amazing. My heart welled up many times during my first reading of this book. And you can bet that I'll be reading it again and again.
Although Anne lived in a different era than the rest of us now days, her perspective and her outlook on a woman's (and a man's) life is dead on. Even all these years later, her life lessons fit the world as we know it today- just - well...perfectly.
In chapter two, Anne writes a very poignant set of words that hit me like a ton of bricks. One of just many collections of paragraphs that I underlined and scribbled graffiti out to the side of while I sat in awe of her awesomeness. That particular paragraph read this:
"I shall ask into my shell only those friends with whom I can be completely honest. I find I am shedding hypocrisy in human relationships. What a rest that will be! The most exhausting thing in life, I have discovered, is being insincere. That is why so much of social life is exhausting; one is wearing a mask. I have shed my mask."
Is that not a life confirming set of words or what? I have recently shared many conversations with Brent lately about friends, business associates who claim to be friends but yet pick my brain as though interested in my life only to cheat their way thru the process via my piggy back ride. I've shared with Brent how discouraging friendships can be at times. There have been specific moments in my life when I have vowed to swear off "friends" (I use that term loosely) all together. Brent realizes my frustrations and is attentive to my pain - always trying to encourage me to not turn my back on relationships - yet to keep "dating" as he calls it. Keep "dating" new friends - new relationships - and eventually God will reveal his plan throughout those roads traveled. He'll match you/us with the perfect couple - your perfect circle of friends who don't gossip, who really do care, and reciprocate your "give them the shirt off our back" theory. I must admit though that I struggle to see Brent's positive aspect on this topic. I'm consistently trying to explain to him why he is wrong. He then is consistently lifting me up - trying to keep pushing me along in an effort to keep me faithful. I find that in the end, most friendships have hidden agenda's or false truths. Maybe some of you will agree with me or maybe most of you won't. In my 33 years of life though, I've run across only a handful of friends who are really true and totally genuine. They know who they are and so do I. In 5 words...they are my prized possessions. They are my realization and my confirmation of how phoney relationships are most times in this world. They are my truth in a false driven world. They are my genuine friends who don't expect jobs, money, favors, the picking of my brain and theft of my hard attained work when it comes to AGD. They don't gossip about my family or the road once traveled. And if they are privey to a conversation where someone else is gossiping, they remove themselves from the equation - never waivering from the loyalty and the love they have for us. They accept my kids and their health issues just as they are. They aren't the one sided friendships where if you didn't call them, they'd never call you. They call! They make and arrange plans. They embrace my life and I theirs. They are real. Genuine. Priceless!
Anne goes on to write in her book that "instead of planting solitude with our own dream blossoms, we 'choke' the space with continuous music, chatter, and companionship to which we do not even listen. It is simply there to fill the vacuum. When the noise stops there is no inner music to take its place. We must re-learn to be alone."WOW! How true is that??? How many times have you caught yourself filling a void in your life with a "so not real" existence in an effort to not be alone with yourself. With your "center" as Anne calls it. I find it thoroughly fascinating that Anne believes you must spend time alone with yourself - finding yourself - the real you and your real relationships. One of my favorite parts to the book is where she says..."When one is a stranger to oneself then one is estranged from others too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one cannot touch others."
In the end, I'm walking away from this book feeling more empowered than ever before. I love the beach, the sea, the shells, the wave caps, even more than I did before now that I've read her words. She connects with the ocean in a way that I can sooooooooo relate to. As I read her descriptions of what the sea does for her soul, I find myself wanting to shout Yes, Yes, Yes...me too!
Lastly, she writes "Eternally, woman spills herself away in driblets to the thirsty, seldom being allowed the time, the quiet, the peace, to let the pitcher fill up to the brim." Therefore, I found through her words that I'm ready to begin filling up my pitcher again. That involves making choices. Many of those choices are already set in motion. More are evolving as I type.
My advice to you is to run, and run fast - do not walk -toward your nearest book store and purchase this book. It is a small read but yet one that is not meant to be hurried/rushed. It is meant to be savored. As one reader said, it is like an impeccable vacation - you will go back to it. Again and Again. If you are hungering for a slower pace and a depiction of life from an extremely educated woman who owns the life experience to teach it all to us ahead of time, then get this book! Just get it! You'll finish it all in one day. I promise. And when you do, you'll walk away feeling more centered with yourself, your life, your core, your world, your space. And that friends...is an awesome accomplishment. If you should read the book, be sure to post here or email me about it. I'd love to hear your comments or your opinion of Anne's writings. Enjoy!
Our back master bedroom deck has been calling my name lately. When we moved into our new home this past August, I didn't do anything to it and barely got to utilize it before the seasons changed and the weather turned cold. I've been waiting for the weather to break so that I can head up to crackle barrel and grab some of those gorgeous white rocking chairs they sell. I plan to replace these tan loungers for the rockers. My hopes are to find a great outdoor runner/rug as well as a wonderful insignificant but statement making side table to withstand my spring afternoons with my glass of white grapefruit juice and a good book. Speaking of books, I was supposed to head out and shoot (with my camera this morning) but as Indiana weather goes...it turned out to be cloudy, cold, and rainy. IMAGINE! Therefore, I found myself yearning for a book store. A Barnes and Noble book store. So...off I went.
Yesterday evening marked one solid week that I've now had a lingering headache. Why - who knows? All I know is that I'm over it and it's stubbornness. Apparently it has found a new home inside my head and REALLY likes it there. So...in an effort to help pass the time and this oh so gloomy day today...I ended up in the aisles of Barnes and Noble for two solid straight hours today. The end result...these...
Many of you know that I'm obsessed with Annie Leibovitz. Annie is a world renowned famous photographer who has graced the cover of every important anything and has gained notoriety for her images that revolve around the world itself, celebrities, tragedies, etc. Her pictures have always boggled my mind and the woman never ceases to amaze me. I had been searching for the "perfect" coffee table book for our great room. I finally found it today. After grabbing a couple of books on Annie's life, I also hit up the normal photography section and grabbed a couple of things to do with photoshop, a blogging book that appealed to me due to the writers involved, some Christian books that friends have referred to me, as well as some books on the Sea and Waves. I'm sure those are a real shocker! HA!
I have combed through these Annie Leibovitz books all afternoon. They were both wrapped in cellophane and closed off so I couldn't wait to get home and discover what was inside. I was truly like a kid at Christmas time trembling with delight as I pulled them from their protective/private wrapped covers. I'm not much of a reader. I'm more of a picture book gal. Therefore, stuff like this really hits my soul. I heart them - BIG TIME!
I've always loved to take books and use them on our fireplace mantels for decor purposes too. They add great height to accessories where needed and add character to the space in general.
This "Gift from the Sea" book by Anne Lindbergh appears to be superb as well. Her writings make me week in the knees. Such a stellar woman with so much advice and so much goodness to share about life as a woman. She writes from her summers by the sea - while on Captiva Island, Florida in a little beach side cottage actually - and that in itself grabs me and never wants to let me go. Captiva Island is about an hour from Bonita Springs. We frequent there just about each time we head South. Anne's daughter starts out the introduction to the book talking about her mothers novels, the fact that she has read GIFT FROM THE SEA about 50 times and her Mother's impressive writing skills. Anne Lindbergh was the first woman to earn a pilot's license in a first class glider plane back in 1930. This adorable turquoise book jumped out at me when I discovered it on the shelf one because of its title and color but also because the author writes her words as an offer to breathe and to live more slowly (per her daughter). "The book makes it possible to quiet down and rest in the present, no matter what your circumstances may be. Just to read a little bit of it or its entirety - is to exist for a while in a different and more peaceful tempo." LOVE THAT! I need books to mesmerize me and captivate me within the first 2.2 seconds or I'll put them down and NEVAH pick them back up. You could easily say that I have attention deficit disorder when it comes to most reads. This book however has already engulfed me and brought tears to my eyes even though I'm not even out of her daughter's introduction yet. Anne's approach per her daughter - gives the reader freedom. Freedom that comes from choosing to remain open to life itself, whatever it may bring: joys, sorrows, triumphs, failures, suffering, comfort, and certainly always, change.
A sweet friend, Kate, recommended this "cold tangerines" book to me several months back for reasons that I will choose to keep private. I'm extremely excited to jump into this one as well because I can tell by the first few pages that it is right up my alley. I also found the book, "All I need is Jesus and a good pair of jeans." Can't wait to read it either after reading a promising review on it.
Below you will find some images straight out of the big coffee table book by Annie Leibovitz. They are HUGE and amazing. Her shots take my breath away and make me feel like such a lllleeewwwssseeerrrr in the realm of photography. This woman's talent is beyond attainable. She has a style within her photography that is all her own. I'm so inspired by her images after thumbing thru these books that I can barely sit down. I'm taking a new photography course over the next 4 weeks which I am so stoked about and am just busting at the seams to be a part of. And needless to say...I'll be putting BIG PAPA to work - lots of work - due to this class and these new reads. I'm beyond inspired at this point. More like over the top obsessed!
In the end, I spent two solid hours crawling around on the floor of Barnes and Noble like a big kid. In my tattered old jeans, my big, baggy, but oh so warm sweatshirt, and my beat up old running shoes, I read books and thumbed thru pages until my eyes were literally crossing. I stood on my knees and walked on them from lower shelf to lower shelf as I combed every square inch of that store. Literally! Aside from praying that I didn't run into someone looking like the drenched rat and bummified bum I was, I had peace. Quiet. Myself. I walked out of there with my treasures in tow and thanked God for this rainy day as well as for the two hours that he allowed me to forget about my new friend, Mr. Headache.
Indiana temps are supposed to rise into the 83 degree temps by weeks end. If that ends up to be true, you'll be able to find me here...outside on our master bedroom deck...enjoying the view, the peace, and the quiet while pouring over pages and pages of wealth and knowledge in these new books. I've got to find something to do while the kids are at school, eh? :)
In the meantime, I'm working hard to keep updating the blog. My video card went out on our computer in the office so it's now in the shop until at least tomorrow. I'm hoping to get it back ASAP and return to my normal blogging schedule. Until then, thanks for always being so patient. Here is to good reads, white grapefruit juice, rainy days, white rocking chairs, and un-tameable headaches.
As I head out this morning to embark on a ride with my kids and my pink beach cruiser (love the shot of this one), I'm immediately taken back to Bonita Beach. I've been flooded with emails over the past week from those of you wanting to know more about Bonita and Naples in reference to a vacation there. Anytime we go and come back, I generally get a ton of people wanting more information on what part of Florida it is, restaurants, etc. This past week was no exception. I'm so glad that I'm able to share this love of ours with all of you and that many of you are wanting to head there for your next family vacation. These shots are some that I snapped while in the neighborhood when we were there last week over Spring Break. They are the epitome' of why I love the Bonita Springs area and why it molds and shapes my heart the way it does. These shots are the epitome' of why Brent would pack up and move there today if I were to say "let's go." They are the epitome' of why I find myself yearning to be back there seconds after we pull away to return home to Indy.
Bonita Springs is not even 5 minutes from Naples. It's 10 minutes from Ft. Myers Beach. 30 minutes from Sanibel Island. An hour from Marco Island and an hour and a half from South Beach. Bonita Springs is the epitome' of THE BEST SPOT in Southwest Florida. It is centrally located which allows you to enjoy all of the hot spots within a reasonable car ride north or south.
It has some of the top restaurants within a stones throw away as well as the BEST shopping within hands reach. It's home to the famous COCONUT POINT mall that you've all heard me rave about a time or two. So many of you email me on a regular basis asking me about great restaurants to try while there, places to stay, etc. I'm always overly willing to give out our favorite spots to each of you because we truly believe that everyone should vacation there at least once in their lifetime. I promise you if you go once, you'll go again. And again. After canceling the initial plans of a Turks and Caicos Spring Break trip to honor our 15 year anniversary back in March (due to Kenidi's inability to ride on a plane more than 2 hours at a time), we have come to realize that Bonita has stolen our hearts over the past 10 years and that Kenidi can make it there and back with minimal stress or melt downs. Therefore, that area just works for us and has for quite some time now. At this point in our life, with Kenidi's medical issues, the flight there and back as well as knowing they have hospitals near by and we aren't in a foreign country should something happen, makes our stays there that much better. I hope for those of you planning to vacation there soon, that you will love it as much or even more so than our family does. I've enjoyed sharing tid bits of info with each of you in regard to what we like to do there and where the 'best of the best' is in our opinion.
So...while I hop on the beach cruiser today and ride thru the suns rays with the kids in tow on this sunny Indiana Spring day, I'm going to once again pretend that I'm riding that beach cruiser on the beach - in Bonita - mind you. :) Until then, continue to ask away. I'll be the best travel agent I can for you when it comes to Bonita Springs. I'm happy to share all of those "must see, must do, must eat, must shop at, spots." Enjoy your Saturday no matter what part of the world you are in today. And if you have a beach cruiser too, join us in a ride today, won't you?
PS...On a side note...stay tuned for a fun giveaway that I have planned. It will require your cameras, your creativity, and a local (low-cal) that you can visit and snap a shot while at (from your area of the country or world or while somewhere on a vacation). I saw the idea on MckMama's site regarding Stellan's trips around the world as all of us have been praying for him. I thought it would be a fun idea to implement when planning the next AGD give-a-way. For each person who wants to enter the give-a-way, the rules will be that you will need to photograph where AGD has been in this world. You can make a sign, make a card, make a flyer, flag, poster board, etc. and include it in your photograph somewhere within the area where you've visited, live, etc. You can write things like AGD was here with a date, or just Angelica Grace Designs does Vegas, etc. Ha ha! You get the point. Once the deadline is over for the contest/celebration...all the names and photos of those who participated will be entered in a drawing. The person we draw will win a spectacular gift via AGD in honor of our 700th post that we just crossed yesterday. I also hope to post all of the shots and do a prize for the one most "creative" shot. My plan is to let the blog readers themselves vote on the most creative picture. So...stay tuned. You don't want to miss out on this one. I'll announce the start date and deadlines for the photos very soon. Be watching for more details to follow. In the meantime, be thinking of a great hot spot where you can take AGD in your area or while on your vacation. With the hits we have on this blog each day, I'm able to confirm that there are people all of the states within the U.S., as well as people in Canada, Australia, Italy, Guam, the UK, and beyond that read this blog day in and day out. Therefore, there could be some really cool pictures from some really neat places that most of us have never seen or been before should you guys participate. YAY! This is going to be so much fun! Thanks for all of your unwavering support and the followers who've literally become part of my extended family after all these years. Love you guys! :)
Hugs, Angie
PSS...Please keep praying for Stellan. He has been flown to Boston this week and will most likely be undergoing heart surgery on Tuesday. This story is near and dear to my heart as I experienced something very similar with my own heart 2 months ago as most of you know. Stellan's heart beats way faster than even my heart does and therefore he needs this surgery to slow things down. The medicine he is on is not helping to heal or cure the problem. It is a risky surgery for infants though. Therefore, lets lift him, MckMama and the rest of their family up in prayer. It's been a trying time, rightfully so, for all of them.
Guess who is "twittering" now?
