Approaching the Dream

I am sooooooo not at liberty to divulge anything yet....

But the publication I did the photo shoot for this weekend....

I sent them some early edited images....

and they LOVED them!!!!!

and.....

it's looking like you'll be seeing me in print again!!!

Speechless.

I never dreamed that I'd actually be able to make a go of it
as an actual published photographer.

Which means....

holy cr@# !

I'M A REAL PHOTOGRAPHER NOW!!!!

{ okay, so they spelled my name wrong...I'm a stickler for the "e", just like Anne of Green Gables }

I can't share the over 700 images with you....yet...but I will  let you know when and where
they will be published, just as soon as I get the go-ahead from the publisher.

And oh yeah....did I mention over 700 images???

If you don't see or hear from me in, oh, say a month or so....you know where I'll be.

Sitting right here.
Editing.
Editing.
And editing some more.

Just slip some food under the door, I'll be fine.

:-)

Dreams come true.

Believe in yourself.

Hang in there.

Stick with it.

Never give up.

Good News Squared

A new week = a new start.

Sounds good to me, how about you?

:-)

I have some really fun and exciting news to share!

I have a wonderful photo shoot planned for this coming weekend...

I will be fortunate enough to photograph the incredible
home and property of the amazingly talented

Linda and Ludmil Marcov of Willow Nest!

I met these two at the Accumulations show that I photographed
this past October, and we became fast friends.

Of course I was bowled over by the sheer beauty of their artistry,

but what impressed me even more was discovering

what genuinely kind and lovely folks these two people are.

And generous too, they have been gracious enough to allow me

to stay with them at their divine property while shooting.
What a couple!

They're showing at the fabulous Red Barn Winter Antiques Show
in Round Top, Texas this weekend,

and I'll be photographing that, too.

I'm not at liberty to say a lot more about this project right now,
but you might just be seeing these pics in print...fingers crossed!

The possibility of being published again is of course super exciting, but ya know what?
Just the opportunity and the experience itself is going to be thrilling !

And the rest of my news?

Well, a most generous benefactor has helped me to fulfill
another dream this past week...

I was able to upgrade to the
jaw-droppingly amazing,
professional grade
Nikon D700 Camera!

This is one serious, bad boy of a camera, but I've been playing it with it all night...
and on Manual mode, no less!...and I am  loving  it.

I just hope I can do it justice!

All in all, it should be an amazing weekend,
and a huge bonus will be getting to see
many old and new blog friends alike. That's always a blast!

I just want to extend another round of thanks to all you sweet folks
who have sent me kind comments and e-mails this past week,
you truly make my heart smile.  :-)

Have a beautiful Tuesday!

WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW

Jan. 15 & 16, 2011

9 to 5 on Saturday and 10 to 4 on Sunday

Big Red Barn

Admission $5 is good for both days

Into Each Life...

"Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;

Thy fate is the common fate of all,

Into each life some rain must fall"

"The Rainy Day"

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sometimes it comes down in drops

other times, buckets.

My last post was a bucket day.

I had something happen which rocked my world, and not in a good way.

I didn't feel comfortable divulging too much, still don't.

But so many of you were there,

with umbrellas

and smiles

and prayers

and a kind word.

Just like you always are.

:-)

I'm better now, but I couldn't let another day pass

without offering my deepest,

most heartfelt thanks and gratitude for your

love and concern.

Thank you for being my

shelter

when the rains come down.

Happy Weekend,

A Game Changer

It is a term defined as

something that happens
within the course of events

 that has the possibility
of turning
everything
all around.

a change of plans

a re-direction

something surprising
or
even unexpected

sometimes necessitating 

taking to the
root

of previously existing
plans

or goals...

and
chipping  away

giving up on what we thought we needed,

and starting over, if need be.

This isn't your standard New Year's reflection post...

I've had an honest-to-goodness

game changer

occur today.

Something that has prompted me to value 

life 

a little bit more

value those I  

love 

a little bit more

and to re-evaluate my hopes, dreams and ambitions

and to hold them up in the light of  

God's will 

for my life.

I am at a crossroads...

as are we all, in one way or another...

whether we realize it or not.

And so I wait.

I sit and listen, as the game plan remains a mystery.

But this I know...

I have a wonderful  *Coach.

"For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the  *Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you a hope and a future..."

Testing, 1...2...3....Feedback Wanted

I just downloaded Windows Live Writer for publishing my blog posts,
and I’m seeing how this thing works….clear as mud so far!

All I know is....holy cow, you can REALLY make your pics big in Live Writer!!!
As a basis for comparison, scroll down to my previous post...
these same pics were posted there, albeit in much smaller sizes.

{focus intentionally set on the clock...meaning foreground tickets are SUPPOSED to be blurry}

{ditto above}

Tell me....what are you seeing on YOUR computer screens?

It looks okay on mine, but I'm thinking maybe
that isn't the case on everyone else's 'puters.
I mean...seriously...are those second and third pics
just really obnoxiously big, or fuzzy?

Be honest.

Thanks in advance!

Happy Monday!

{  I lost my siggy in live writer.  :-(  }

P.S.
Only three more hours until Bachelor Brad returns, squeeeee!

It's Almost Time...

Have you made your plans yet?

Some of my best buds will be showing at the incredible 

Red Barn Winter Antiques Show

in Round Top, Texas

on

January 15th and 16th

 

I'll be there, too....

snap, snap, snapping away!

Also working on an absolutely AMAZING photo shoot
while I'm in the area, 

more news on that to follow.

WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW
Jan. 15 & 16, 2011
9 to 5 on Saturday and 10 to 4 on Sunday
Big Red Barn
Admission $5 is good for both days

And so it begins....

 

In the great State of Texas, there are FIVE seasons...

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

and

Antique Season!

Folks, get ready, because this fifth season in Texas is gearing up!

The Warrenton  and Round Top shows will be here before ya know it...

are you ready?

Be sure to check out Sweet T's info HERE for the 411
on what a typical year

of Texas junking looks like!

And just to be extra sure that you don't miss a single event,
don't forget to order your very own
2011 Dreaming of Junking Calendar...
my photos are featured here, so bonus!

Have a fabulous week ahead, my friends!

P.S.

Speaking of junking, wanna win a season one set of

American Pickers

DVDs?

Click HERE to enter.

My Year of Discovery

All around blogland, I'm seeing a lot of people
counting down their top projects of the past year,
and to those who have completed

enough projects to warrant a Top Ten list,
I tip my cowboy hat to you.

As for me and my house,
we didn't get a whole heck of a lot done this past year,
certainly not enough to warrant crowing about it at years end.

Yep, this is a year-end review for all the underachievers out there....my peeps!

Had a booth at the local antique mall,

but the busy-ness of my work and all the moving drama

forced me to give it up....for now.

Had a successful Etsy shop too, but once again, my full-time job and

other responsibilities led me to place it in vacation mode indefinitely.

{How do  some of you gals do it all???}

Bought a gorgeous 1910 Victorian farmhouse in September,

still trying to get moved in as of January 1, 2011.

Discovered the wonderful world of DSLR cameras back in May,
took me until about November to get off my butt
and learn enough about the derned thing

to take it off of Auto mode.

 {eyes closed....how fitting and ironic, seeing as how lost I was behind the lens!}

Fully intended to get Christmas cards and thank you cards mailed out
to all my wonderful, amazing blog friends...but once again { fifth verse, same as the first },

Little Miss Disorganized dropped the ball.

Yet in spite of all these perceived failures,

somehow, some way,

Romantic Homes

deemed me worthy of a feature this month.

Go figure!

Truth be told, the past year (17 months, actually) has been one of

self-discovery, and you've all been along for the ride.

When I started this blog in August of 2009,
I wasn't quite sure where I fit in,

or what my niche might be.

 {image from my very first post}

I tried a lot of new things, stepped out into deep, unfamiliar waters,
and along the way discovered that trying something new and scary
is only scary for about five minutes.
Then you're fine.

Discovered that I'll likely be a much better photographer than shop owner.

Discovered that try as I may, I simply cannot do it all.

Discovered that the best thing about blogging are the relationships.

Discovered strengths and passions I never dreamed I would call my own...

{one of my first attempts at altered art, Paper Cowgirl June 2010}

Happy New Year, my friends.

You have made the past year one of the best of my life....
this underachiever here.

You've made me smile.
And think.
And grow.
And dream.

And the greatest discovery of all?

That the only thing worse than failing
is never even trying...

Happy 2011.


"....do one thing every day that scares you...."
Eleanor Roosevelt