Here Comes The Sun

What a difference a week makes.

Happy Birthday, Ginger!!

Today is my sister, Ginger's birthday! I have never known a time without her, since she is several years (we won't say how many) older than me. :D I am so thankful and blessed to have always had her presence throughout my life.
She was my first friend (along with my brother, Ricky).  Although I was a really small, bratty, annoying friend.  :D

And now she is my best friend.

We have so much fun together.







I celebrate her, today and always.



Happy, Happy Birthday, Ginger!!  I love you!!

Father's Day And Early Birthday Fun

Yesterday, we had our Father's Day celebration and we also had Ginger's birthday celebration a little early (her birthday is the 24th).  We had such a great time!  Here are some pictures from the day.









































What a great day!!

Embrace The Current Season

Gabrielle Blair said, "Embrace the current season of your life."  OK, Gabrielle, here goes!  It's almost officially Summer on the calendar, and I am pleased to say that so far, Summer has been on her best behavior.  Mild temps, mostly in the 80s, and those have been welcome!  But the local weather man says Summer is about to bust out some mid-to-upper 90s foolishness later this week.

You know what, Summer?  That's ok.  Bring your hotness.  I will embrace it.  I can't say that I won't oftentimes be embracing it inside in the air conditioning, but I will embrace it all the same.

I will live life, savor it, cherish it, and not wish away the precious days that Summer brings.  Even if they are hot and uncomfortable, those days are still important.

So, here's a little photography of life lately.  On the cusp of Summer.



















Just a few shots I took with this:




It's an old Minolta film lens that Brian found in our local Goodwill for $7.07!!  A 50 mm f/1.7 prime.  I have been wanting it, and was going to eventually order it.  For $150!  But instead, I got it for seven bucks!!  This one is in mint condition, with clean glass and just a small bit of cosmetic wear.  We just could not believe our luck.  I shoot Sony.  No, I'm not a Nikon or Canon girl.  I'm a Sony girl.  I have a Sony dSLR, and since Sony bought Minolta back in 2006, I can use all the old Minolta film lenses on my Sony dSLR.  I think this is super-duper cool, because there's just a different quality to film lenses that is really amazing.  The coating on these lenses was optimized for film, which just gives it a different look and feel.  But they're still usable on a digital camera, so it's like the best of both worlds!  Amazing, vibrant color reproduction and sharpness.  I have a Sony 50 mm f/1.8 that performs beautifully, so I am ecstatic to have two amazing "nifty fifties" in my arsenal.  I also have an old Minolta 24 mm prime, which is excellent as well.  Oh, and I'm not a zoom lens girl, either.  I shoot only primes.  I love the lightweight, small size of primes and the wider aperture capabilities.  They are sharp and excellent in low light.

I am looking forward to embracing the rest of this season.

That Is Home

Made some art today.  Had this frame from IKEA and decided to create something to hang by the front door.  I recently created a large canvas art piece for my last issue of Scrap n' Art (I resigned as of the June issue), but I can't share that just yet due to it being artwork for the current issue.  The canvas is also hanging by the door, and needed a "friend" to hang with it.

Here's a picture of the little piece I created today.  I just love the sentiment; it has personal meaning for Brian and me.



It was great to create something fun "just because," and not for a design team assignment.  I am planning on opening my Etsy shop in the coming months, and hope to sell similar handmade art pieces, canvases and other handmade items.  So let me know what you think!  Thanks for looking!  :D

Forty-seven

Look at these two sweethearts.  Today, they celebrate 47 years of marriage.



Everything I know about love, commitment, and marriage, I learned from two amazing examples.  Two people, that, through thick and thin, through hard times and happy times, never gave up on each other.  They built a life and a family and are still standing strong after all these years.



Oh, how I love them!  And today, I celebrate them and a love so big, it just radiates and shines on everyone who knows them.  Happy Anniversary, Mama and Daddy!  May you have love and happiness beyond all measure, today and always.

Seventeen

Alright, grab a hanky or a barf bag, I'm about to wax nostalgic up in here.

This weekend, seventeen years ago, I graduated from high school.  June 1st, 1995.  But we celebrated all weekend.



I loved high school and I loved all my friends (and still do!).  A lot of people hated high school and couldn't wait for it to be over.  It wasn't like that for me.  High school was a time of great happiness for me.  (I *did* meet the Love Of My Life early in my junior year, after all!)  After we graduated and went our separate ways, I really missed that closeness we all had.



I look back on those days with a lot of love and fondness.  Christine was still with us.  Wayne was still with us.  Two precious souls who are physically gone now, but live on in our hearts.  We all have our own lives now, with families, careers and responsibilities.  But no matter where life takes each of us, we are still always connected.  The parts that make us who we are, are intrinsically linked together.  I am who I am, in part, because of these beautiful, wonderful people I had the honor of sharing classrooms and friendships with.

Now for some fun 90s pictures.  :D













Sure do miss this boy.




Macon County High School Class of 1995, this one's for you.  I'll always remember.



Happy Seventeen, friends!!