139/366: Feeling Domestic

Today I cooked.
Cleaned.
Baked.
Sewed.
And even...
Planted my own herbs.


I was feeling quite domestic.
Tomorrow I plan.
To do nothing.
We'll see how that works out.

138/366: Potatoes

I love Thanksgiving.
Majorly.
All of it.
The holiday grocery shopping.
The turkey.
The family.
The parades.
The football.
The traveling.
Black Friday.
The pie.
The Garfield and Odie TV special.
You name it.
I love it.
The next week.
Is one of my favorite of the entire year.


Tonight we ran to the grocery.
To pick up a few things for the weekend.
I've been so wrapped up in work.
That aside from planning the logistics.
It hasn't really sunk in.
Thanksgiving. Is. Here.
My holiday.
Is this WEEK.


Tonight.
On our run to the grocery.
It hit home.
When we went to grab some potatoes.
For tomorrows dinner with a friend.
And ended up with a 10lb bag.
For 99 cents.


Amazing what a sack of potatoes.
Will do for a girl's holiday spirit!

137/366: One Year

A year ago today.
I got on a Ferris Wheel.
With my boyfriend.
And got off.
With my fiance.


Tonight 
I came home.
To flowers.
From my husband.


Best. Year. Ever.

136/366: Pleasant Surprises

One of my favorite parts of traveling.
Is the surprise.
Of checking into your hotel.
And finding what lies behind the door.
After 10 tries.
Of sliding your key in and out.
Until FINALLY it clicks.
The light turns green.
Allowing you to catch.
Your first glimpse.
Of your temporary digs.


Sometimes.
It is a standard.
Status quo.
Uneventful.
It will do.
Kind of discovery.


Other times.
You are surprised.
There are treasures.
Luxuries.
Enough to make being away from home.
A little more bearable.


This week's adventure.
Was the latter.


One of my many.
Pleasant surprises...
Discovering that a seemingly awkward.
Mustard yellow.
Looks like it might be uncomfortable.
Desk chair.


Is actually a super comfortable.
Must purchase.
Someday.
When I have a desk.
And the space.
At home.
Desk chair.

135/366: A Stranger

Today is the last day.
Of the 105 Days of Fun Challenge.
I have enjoyed.
Photographing the topics.
Others suggested.
It was wonderful to try.
To put my own spin.
On an idea that was not my own.


Tomorrow I start.
The next leg of my journey.
I am excited.
Thrilled.
Anxious.
To photograph whatever I chose.
Each day.
As I complete my 366 day adventure.


But for tonight.
I give you.
Day 135.
The last of the 105 Days of Fun...
A stranger.


My original thought.
To find someone.
Anyone interesting.
Ask them if I could.
Take a few snaps.
Share their smile with a few friends.


Then I stumbled upon this scene.
It spoke to me.
It was so publicly private.
I couldn't resist.
Grabbing my camera.
And capturing this moment.
Instead.


I'm traveling for work.
Again.
I have a balcony.
That overlooks a courtyard.
With a fountain.
Peaceful.
Calming.


I spotted this man.
Just as I was heading back.
To the office.


I was so envious.
Wishing.
That I too.
Could work outside.
In the peaceful shaded courtyard.
Listening to the soothing calm. 
Of a nearby fountain.

134/366: Tattoos

Show me a man with a tattoo, and I'll show you a man with an interesting past.
                                                                    - Jack London

133/366: Storefronts

Probably one of the most.
Recognizable.
Popular.
Common.
Store Fronts in our Neighborhood.
City.
Country.


There are several more.
Within a 3 mile radius.
All with a unique storefront.
A unique location.
Yet the same sign.
Green.
Comforting.
Welcoming in it's own way.
Hanging above the door.


This is my favorite.
I love the rotunda.
On the side of the building.
And the drive thru...
Isn't so bad either.

132/366: Panorama

Gloomy Saturday at the beach.

131/366: Dear Photograph

I have been so excited for this challenge.
I have had it planned.
For months.


Unfortunately.
Life can't always be planned.


So an iPhone.
Cooperation from the gals at work.
And a quick photo.
Just before closing time.
Make an quicky version of Dear Photograph.
To save the day.


Sometimes.
It is easy for me to forget.
That this experience.
Is about learning.
It is about the challenge.
Today was both.
Challenging.
As well as.
A huge learning experience.
A reminder that things.
Will not always be perfect.
And that is ok.
I'm still learning.


Mission accomplished.

130/366: Homeless Signs

Every day.
While on my way to work.
I pass the same.
Homeless men and women.


Today.
They were eerily all missing.
From their usually spots.
Except one.


As luck would have it.
She was sitting at the end.
Of an exit ramp.


Just as I started.
To take my shot.
She got up.
To accept the kindness.
Of a stranger.


It made for a much.
More telling photo.
Than what I had planned.

129/366: Billboards

It might not be.
A traditional billboard.
But I think.
It is more interesting.
Than anything else.
I saw today.


It is tall.
It does light up.
The message varies.
It always makes me smile.
And it is a darn good.
Butcher Shop.

128/366: Sports

I have observed that baseball is not unlike a war, and when you come right down to it, we batters are the heavy artillery.


                                                                        - Ty Cobb

127/366: Front Doors

I must admit.
When I first saw.
Doors.
As a challenge.
I was.
So.
Excited.


The possibilities.
The colors.
The styles.
The architectually interesting.
The bold.
The pretentious.


Those that speak volumes.
Of the owners.
And all.
That is hidden beyond.
Their threshold.


What about the boring?
What about those.
That will never make.
The artsy prints.
The coffee table books.


What about those.
That make you want.
Those push you.
That make you work hard.
For one day.


THE day...
When your front door.
No longer looks.
Just like.
That of your neighbors.

126/366: Outside Looking In

From our balcony.
Looking through.
Our screen door.
10:30pm.


Dark.
Grainy.
Kinda creepy.


Because let's face it.
Standing outside.
In the dark.
and cold.
While taking a picture.
Into someone's home.
Even your own...
Is kinda creepy.

125/366: Favorite Show

I can't say.
For certain.
That I have.
One.
Favorite show.


I can say.
For certain.
That I rarely.
Miss.
Project Runway.

124/366: Slides

On a chilly.
Gloomy.
Fall.
Evening.


The playground.
Is a lonely place.

123/366: Legos

One of the best parts.
Of having house guests?


Handing over.
Our spare house key.
Complete with.
Lego penguin key chain.
For our guests.
To carry with them.
Around Southern California.


Pure.
Awesomeness.

122/366: Opposites - Soft and Hard

There is an entire.
Group of people.
That advocate.
The benefits.
Of sleeping on the floor.


I'm not going to go into details.
Google it.


I for one.
Prefer my nice soft.
But somewhat firm.
Bed.


However,
Should I ever.
Make the decision.
Whatever the reason.
To sleep on the hard floor.


I would.
At a minimum.
Require my pillow.

121/366: Hold It Together

After a wonderful.
Did I say wonderful?
Because... I mean.
WONDERFUL.
Ten day vacation.


Instead of sitting at my desk.
Monday morning.
Dressed as one of the Beatles.
With my three co-workers.
As planned.


I found myself.
Sitting in the waiting room.
At the local Urgent Care.
With a screaming sore throat.
And a nasty cough.


As a result.
The last few days.
Have been spent.
Gargling salt water.
Practically bathing in Vicks.
Eating.
Banana popsicles.
Like it's my job.


After 48 hours.
My voice is slowly returning.
I can swallow without.
Pouting.
And I am trying.
To justify the banana popsicle addiction.
Even after I feel better.


Here is what.
Has held me together.
The last few days.

Sassyfras Studios Workshop: From the Inside

So I'm skipping around.
A bit. 
Between sessions.
From last week's workshop.


There will be more.
To share.


This one was so sweet.
So magical.


Lauren has a special place in my heart.
And she is a wonderful mama.
Watching her with her girls.
Time seemed to stop.
Just for a bit.


And when when they sang.
It was beautiful.
I cried.
Just a bit.
And smiled.
A whole lot.




No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you.  After all, you're the only one that knows what my heart sounds like from the inside.