nothing tying me down...

I have no plans this weekend

~~

I might go see "away we go" at the movie theatre

~

I want to take a road trip tomorrow just to take pictures

but

I'll probably end up out at the cottage cleaning

~

maxwell street day sales are happening downtown

but

I don't really need anything so this would truly be a people watching adventure

~

I have photos to edit for two consultations next week

but

those can wait until sunday night

~

I changed the sheets on the bed yesterday

so that's already done

~

I could go get a pedicure

but

I kind of like painting my own toes while I can still bend over to do it

~

if it stays cloudy and cool outside

I might end up in the studio making my little purse journals to give away

~

I guess

I'll start by taking a shower

and

then just let the day unfold before me

and

if anything amazing happens

you'll be the first to know

*

game day...game face...

this is my nephew

~

my hubby calls him

T

and

yesterday was day 2 of his league playoffs

in which I joined my sister and her family to cheer him on

~~~~~

who attacks a new puppy with love and kisses at the ball field

?

the sisters of the ball players

that's who

{the one in the white t-shirt is my sweet niece}

baseball players are moving targets and trying to get clear shots of my nephew

while he was actually playing

{with a huge wire fence in front to me}

was not easy

but

I did manage to catch him during the warm-up

and

of course sneaking into the dugout was pretty easy

T

is the catcher for his team and I couldn't help but shoot him getting his gear on and off

in between innings

and

being hugely impressed with how fast he could do this

there were times you could feel a bit of seriousness coming from the field or the dugout

and

somehow I caught it

on the kid who never stops smiling

on this second day of play

they won their first game

and

a few hours later in another elimination round

they lost

but

what an amazing season these boys had to even make it this far

and

what a great day this aunt had

watching

cheering

shooting

and

remembering how it was just yesterday that her own kids were this little

and

how quickly they grew because she blinked

*

{and now for a little food love...you know where to go}

but of course...

you didn't think I'd do a senior photo shoot and forget a jumping photo did you

?

this is her best friend

who came along on the shoot to help if I needed a someone to hold my sun shield and

she was a doll

too

who I found out half way into our session

happens to be the daughter of a girl I graduated from high school with

~small world~

teenagers can be great and this one was perfect...

I had a senior photo shoot last week with this doll

and

she was amazing

a complete natural

doing anything I suggested without a complaint

the morning of the shoot I was a bit nervous

~

I actually felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach

as I was traveling to her little town 20 miles north of me

wondering if I would find

the amazing spots that dance in my head for shoots

but rarely exist

not only did I find alleys and graffiti and textured walls and painted doors

I also found an amazing city park

in one of the back alleys we were in

can you believe this

?

an old school desk just sitting there calling my name

and

I actually laughed out loud while looking up at the skies

and

mouthed

thank you

as we were moving in for this next shot

I said

"is that a tattoo I see"

and

she sheepishly said

"yes"

and

I told her we were going to highlight it

not hide it for this shot

so that someday

she'd be able to look back and love and laugh and lap up all that she was

at

18

I still have lots of editing to do

as

I continue to play with tones and colors

and

I want to add some textures to a few of the 256 photos I took

but

for now

here's my sneak peek that I've been so anxious to share with all of you

*

{skin cancer update over here}

japanese beetles again...

every year

we have them and there's nothing you can do to keep them away

~

sure

you can spray your trees

and

the ground

and

use bags to trap them

but

they're still there

in swarms

having a smorgasbord with your plants

mating

and

then quickly dying

until

their relatives show up the following year

to start the whole process all over again

~~

and

guess what

?

they really don't even bother me at all

especially

compared to

the lady asian beetles

that will inhabit

~by the thousands~

the porches out at our cottage

later this summer

~~

lady asian beetles resemble lady bugs

but

stink

and

leave yellow trails from bodily fluids on anything they come in contact with

ceilings

curtains

walls

floors

furniture

~~

just wait for that post

it won't be pretty

*

walk this way

over here to my other home

where

hopefully you'll laugh at my sick sense of humor

*

I was determined to do good...

dani

has been working on an amazing project

and

when she asked if I would be interested in helping her

well

let's just say

I was honored

this is how it goes

~~

she sent me two dollars

asking me to do something with it

that would hopefully make the difference in the life of someone

and

then if at all possible

document it for her

the two dollars were burning a hole in my pocket

while I kept looking and listening and watching and waiting for a perfect opportunity

and

then yesterday

after I had exhausted myself at

~art fair on the square~

I headed down state street a bit

to do what I love to do

~people watch~

and

came across these two boys

who were just starting to unzip the cases protecting their guitars

then out came the

"saving for california"

sign

and

I was hooked

~~

I started the pot

by

throwing the two dollars dani trusted me with

into the open guitar case

{actually tucking it under the sign as the wind was blowing important things around}

and

stood back and listened

to two fabulous dueling acoustic guitars

while a latin beat danced in my head

and

watched

and

watched others

watching

and

after 15 minutes

their case was cradling ten dollars

and

I slowly walked away with a huge smile on my face

thinking to myself

how often lately I feel like I've been in the right place at the right time

and

wondering

if this just happens all on its own

or

if it's possible to create these scenarios yourself

?

~~~~~

whatever it is

I feel blessed

and

if you're wondering

yes

the oldest one of these boys reminded me so much of john mayer

and

the charismatic and amazingly talented younger one

well

I just wanted to take home due to his extreme cuteness

*

I'm also playing over here today