tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90539768726437433072024-03-12T20:09:35.944-07:00In Other Words Project 365Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-11252779428477265112011-11-08T18:55:00.000-08:002011-11-08T18:55:19.110-08:00SimplifyingGood evening dear friends. It's been quite a while since I've posted. And tonight I'm not posting any photos. I just wanted to share what's been going on in my life. <br />
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A couple months ago I started to realize something - all the projects, the groups, the stress, drama, and any endless number of things were piling. Building. Growing into a monster that threatened to consume my very being. And the belly of the beast was not somewhere I could stomach residing. Something had to give and fast. <br />
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You see, I think I had started to lose sight of the important things in life - including myself! What little self-confidence I once had was gone. Things I loved had become chores. I didn't know what I wanted except to run away and start over.<br />
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Now, obviously it didn't come to that. But when I made a list of all the things I had told myself I "had" to do, I realized that it was too much for one person. Even a wonder-Ezzy like myself couldn't be held to those expectations and succeed. Simplification became the goal. I thought that by stripping away all those things and becoming a basic being, I could regain some of my former self; or maybe I would find something better. Maybe I would learn more about who I am becoming.<br />
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It's not been easy. All those things still seem to call to me. They whisper "we need you" and they give me puppy eyes as I pass them on the streets. My dreams are more and more vivid the less I sleep and thinking about myself and who I am and who I was and who I want to be all swirl into this amalgam-ous blob of green eyes, tattoos, cameras, phone calls, paints, and a squillion other things. But it's getting better. I'm working on centering myself. Focusing on what I really NEED out of my life. What makes me happy? What do I return to time and again?<br />
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It's not an easy journey I'm on. Some days I wonder if this quest is any different than sitting at my proverbial home and wishing I was questing. But it's the trying, in my opinion. It's the path I'm walking and whether I'm ten feet from my front door or half way to any another galaxy via a blue police box at least I'm doing something. <br />
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So if you've wondered where I am, missed me, or otherwise noticed a far-away weird look in my eyes, don't worry. It'll pass. I'm still me. And "me" is a character in motion. I'm wearing my walking shoes and no matter where I go, I know I have myself at least. I'll see you along the way. <br />
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All my love, dear friends. Hoping to post some photos soon. Have a peaceful evening and blessed tomorrow.Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-6845337228607141702011-07-06T16:49:00.000-07:002011-07-06T16:49:49.988-07:00Days 151-152 - A Surprise and the Coffee HouseHello dear friends! I have missed you all. I hope your lives are going well. I realize what a long time it's been since I posted any of my photos but I assure you I have not been slacking! Tonight I will pick up where I left off and promise not to take quite so long in sharing my work henceforth!<br />
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Tonight I am going to talk about changes. Change is kind of a scary subject - it's hard to break out of a pattern and try something new. But change happens and often it's not the change we expect. There have been a lot of changes in the last few months for Josh and I and, moreover, for the people around us. <br />
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The change in tonight's post refers to a dear friend of ours - Fr John Bettmann. Many of you know I was participating in a four year course called EFM - Education for Ministry. For those of you who are not familiar with the program, it is a wonderful experience. We discuss the Bible, it's history, and it's implications on our lives, as modern Christians living in the real world. Josh and I went through year 1 last year where we met some new and very dear friends. One of these people is Fr John. Fr John has a wealth of knowledge and is willing to share it with anyone willing to listen. He has been a huge advocate for the EFM program and a great spiritual inspiration to me. He and his amazing wife Elisabeth retired and moved to North Carolina. Sad as I am to see them go, I know this change will be good for them. This photo is Fr John learning that the rocking chair in which he is sitting is our EFM class' going away gift to him. <br />
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Best of luck, John and Elisabeth! God speed! <br />
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Day 152 was a pretty exciting day too. The Federated Church played host to a "Coffee House" and many community musicians were there to provide live music. This photo is of one of Carlinville's finest harmonica players and former college art teacher to me.<br />
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Well, that's me for this evening dear friends! Rest well have a blessed tomorrow!Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-89927882596441769992011-04-06T19:01:00.000-07:002011-04-06T19:01:47.787-07:00Day 150 - Ash WednesdayI was raised in a Southern Baptist church - religiously speaking. Growing up, Easter meant a large crowd at church on Easter Sunday, lunch at Grandma's and Aunt Shirley's, egg hunts, and one year - a cantata. I won't say I had a low opinion of Easter, but in my mind, it was a "lesser" holiday that came and went largely unnoticed. <br />
Then I joined the Federated Church here in Carlinville and for many years, my view of Easter continued. Then a few years ago, something wonderful happened. My pastor asked me to join the "Worship Team" at church. As we sat around the table discussing and planning an Ash Wednesday Service, I actually felt moved to attend. And when I got home, I was moved to write a song. My pastor and others on the committee talked about Ash Wednesday and all the symbolism tied to it. This was stuff I hadn't ever really delved into, but, as I said, I was extremely moved. <br />
I have attended the Ash Wednesday service at church every year since then. And it moves me every time. Easter has become so much more to me - more than large crowds, candy, and eggs. It's more than a day I thank the Lord for the risen Christ. It's a whole season of self reflection. It has become a time to think about my life and my relationship with God. And let me tell you - Easter means so much more to me now thanks to Ash Wednesday. <br />
So to kick off this season of Lent, I brought my trusty camera and took a few photos of my church-mates receiving ashes while my pastor in a low and loving voice declared, "from ashes you came and to ashes you shall return."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2P59Xe3-JQ/TZ0ahh4_06I/AAAAAAAAAKw/VJVRMfKAwTY/s1600/Day+150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" r6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2P59Xe3-JQ/TZ0ahh4_06I/AAAAAAAAAKw/VJVRMfKAwTY/s640/Day+150.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />
Blessing dear friends, in this season of Lent and always. I pray this spring brings you closer to what you are looking for.Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-16278655626983242552011-03-29T19:28:00.000-07:002011-03-29T19:28:07.283-07:00Day 148-149 - Down DaysThere isn't much to say about these early week photographs. On Day 148 (also known as March 7) I actually couldn't really think of anything to photograph. Yeah - I think I had a photo block. So I snapped a quick shot of the first thing I saw - my vaccuum cleaner. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qzIUVZt2yh8/TZKT-yzN6lI/AAAAAAAAAKo/eValYR5l_1Y/s1600/Day+148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qzIUVZt2yh8/TZKT-yzN6lI/AAAAAAAAAKo/eValYR5l_1Y/s320/Day+148.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />
I know. It's not even interesting. But we all have those days. A wise man once told me, "We can't be up all the time." I whole-heartedly agree. It's hard being in the down time but we really need those lows in order to process the highs. Besides, they don't stick around terribly long usually. <br />
The next day was another down day but more in the sense that Josh and I both stayed home from work not feeling well. My day was cheered a little by a late birthday present I got in the mail from my baby bro. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VeB1_Yxy56Y/TZKUCfa29WI/AAAAAAAAAKs/u4HBV4rYzHw/s1600/day+149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VeB1_Yxy56Y/TZKUCfa29WI/AAAAAAAAAKs/u4HBV4rYzHw/s320/day+149.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
He got me the book - not the flash. I was just trying to be artsy. I haven't made it all the way through the book, but I am photograhing a wedding this weekend and this should help immensely. Thanks Stot!<br />
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Well dear friends, that's all the wisdom I have to impart for this evening. Sweet dreams and blessed tomorrows to all!Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-17775765349042086602011-03-26T11:23:00.000-07:002011-03-26T11:23:52.283-07:00Day 146-147 - A Nice WeekendThe first weekend in March was a really relaxing weekend as I remember it. Josh and I went to brunch at Abella's - a local family style diner which serves breakfast all day and Memphis style pulled BBQ. Luckily I had my camera with me so I could click a quick shot of Josh's little piece of artwork for the day. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6mYtl3ncfXM/TY4uMlK2noI/AAAAAAAAAKg/-LGE-o1j7VE/s1600/Day+146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6mYtl3ncfXM/TY4uMlK2noI/AAAAAAAAAKg/-LGE-o1j7VE/s320/Day+146.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Girls, you are never married too long to appreciate the little things. Isn't he a gem?! (I won't tell you how he blushed when others in the restaurant started staring after seeing my camera flash.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The weekend was pretty uneventful. I did some more week on my art project on Sunday. Here is another piece of it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Jhm_lvs91kU/TY4uOtYJuWI/AAAAAAAAAKk/qCqcH_dsUbQ/s1600/Day+147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" r6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Jhm_lvs91kU/TY4uOtYJuWI/AAAAAAAAAKk/qCqcH_dsUbQ/s320/Day+147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am hoping to have it completed this weekend. Watch for photos! </div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope your days are going well dear friends! Stay warm and may your Saturday afternoon be relaxing and blessed.</div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-76031085778299824732011-03-21T18:37:00.000-07:002011-03-21T18:37:54.409-07:00Days 142-145 - Book ClubI recently joined a book club. I had never belonged to one before so when I saw a posting on the intranet at work I jumped on it. I used to love to read when I was in school but lately I haven't been reading like I once was. But then last year I set a goal to read 10 books. I made the goal easily and set a higher goal of 15 books for this year. My book club meets once a month and we take turns hosting. March 4 was my turn to host. I love having people over. I truly enjoy entertaining, but I am a little anal and prefer the house to be perfectly in order before people come over. Well, that didn't quite happen this time, but the house was clean enough and everything went well so I consider it a success! Here are the photos from my cleaning days (142-144) and the night of book club. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IwLvyxEKW7c/TYf77jW6e_I/AAAAAAAAAKI/dmGQ5cofGQ0/s1600/Day+142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IwLvyxEKW7c/TYf77jW6e_I/AAAAAAAAAKI/dmGQ5cofGQ0/s320/Day+142.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know it's just a boring little light bulb - it's actually the bulb that blew out in my refrigerator - but it's kind of cool looking. I want to take it out at sunset and have someone hold it so it looks like the sun is setting in it. Now that would be an interesting photo!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-naDigynPI4U/TYf79_yo9oI/AAAAAAAAAKM/5Uya0pz8R8k/s1600/Day+143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-naDigynPI4U/TYf79_yo9oI/AAAAAAAAAKM/5Uya0pz8R8k/s320/Day+143.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sweep sweep sweep the floor. Make it nice and clean!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HhPPgVPQ9bo/TYf7_3fEunI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/SGpM_nQkmqs/s1600/Day+144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HhPPgVPQ9bo/TYf7_3fEunI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/SGpM_nQkmqs/s320/Day+144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Each time we meet, we choose one or two books for the next meetings so we have time to buy and read them. Here is the "hat" with our choices. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LuTUNMKRp78/TYf8DOO3xFI/AAAAAAAAAKU/b2iHB3Ope2s/s1600/Day+145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LuTUNMKRp78/TYf8DOO3xFI/AAAAAAAAAKU/b2iHB3Ope2s/s320/Day+145.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally - a vital part of book club. The wine! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left">I had quite the stressful weekend dear friends so this is all you get tonight. I am finally close to getting you caught up on the amazing exciting life of Ezzy so expect more posts this week. Until then, enjoy the warm weather, sweet dreams, and blessed tomorrows!</div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-74197370367016113052011-03-12T21:56:00.000-08:002011-03-12T21:56:23.478-08:00Day 114-141 - FebruaryWell, February sure did fly by and I am still not caught up! Here is my birth month in review. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bHbnrmoYl0o/TXxVCS74bJI/AAAAAAAAAIY/YWYaBhmnz6o/s1600/Day+114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bHbnrmoYl0o/TXxVCS74bJI/AAAAAAAAAIY/YWYaBhmnz6o/s320/Day+114.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cabin fever! (This is a wall in my kitchen. It looks like a cabin.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1qXqC_X-6uE/TXxVGHTaidI/AAAAAAAAAIc/0AoQ80DwtGs/s1600/Day+115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1qXqC_X-6uE/TXxVGHTaidI/AAAAAAAAAIc/0AoQ80DwtGs/s320/Day+115.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ice hanging from mirror reminded me of Dali's melting clocks. My car was a work of art!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oJMqSsIE7rs/TXxVICfcQ_I/AAAAAAAAAIg/c7rZoEa9w6o/s1600/Day+116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oJMqSsIE7rs/TXxVICfcQ_I/AAAAAAAAAIg/c7rZoEa9w6o/s320/Day+116.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I call this "Encased" and like Ron Burgundy, this twig is in a glass case of emotion.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-38tPua8VCoY/TXxVMo4sC7I/AAAAAAAAAIk/dfveZIPTm9w/s1600/Day+117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-38tPua8VCoY/TXxVMo4sC7I/AAAAAAAAAIk/dfveZIPTm9w/s320/Day+117.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the wine I drank at book club. I was playing with the manual settings on my camera. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i0wC_ZmWyYY/TXxVOvuTMHI/AAAAAAAAAIo/tkxZ4fcmovc/s1600/Day+118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-i0wC_ZmWyYY/TXxVOvuTMHI/AAAAAAAAAIo/tkxZ4fcmovc/s320/Day+118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josh and I got a couple new bookcases with some of our Christmas money. Not only were the instructions extremely difficult to follow, this pile of junk is all the left over parts we had. But the shelves are still standing. I take that as a good sign. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0xXPnbH4tZ4/TXxVQxnsCQI/AAAAAAAAAIs/luou-LzGpd4/s1600/Day+119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0xXPnbH4tZ4/TXxVQxnsCQI/AAAAAAAAAIs/luou-LzGpd4/s320/Day+119.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the booth I shared with a videographer at the wedding show in Litchfield. He and I are teaming up to offer a one-stop-shop for affordable wedding video and photography. Check it out at <a href="http://www.civideography.com/">http://www.civideography.com/</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--1e1nYCKcqE/TXxVU_ZkcKI/AAAAAAAAAIw/NsjX4iN2-Hs/s1600/Day+120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--1e1nYCKcqE/TXxVU_ZkcKI/AAAAAAAAAIw/NsjX4iN2-Hs/s320/Day+120.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For the first time in a long time, I have been working on an art project other than photography. It feels really good. Here are some of the materials I am using. Keep your eyes pealed for subsequent steps and soon, the finished product!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0hjLZ28QpiQ/TXxVXW5582I/AAAAAAAAAI0/Ty2GImBrz4g/s1600/Day+121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0hjLZ28QpiQ/TXxVXW5582I/AAAAAAAAAI0/Ty2GImBrz4g/s320/Day+121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had the pleasure of having coffee with a dear friend of mine who is getting married in July. I am the photographer for her wedding. She handed me their save-the-date and when I got home and went to hang it on the refrigerator, I realized A LOT of people we know are getting married right now. Here is a pile of save-the-dates.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TczsPuxkF5g/TXxVbM5V4KI/AAAAAAAAAI4/vm1HPeCkWac/s1600/Day+122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TczsPuxkF5g/TXxVbM5V4KI/AAAAAAAAAI4/vm1HPeCkWac/s320/Day+122.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Josh working on writing his novel. I asked for a chapter of it for my birthday. He did not disappoint!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v5beiMvAqqU/TXxVgudkE6I/AAAAAAAAAI8/fedXoDRN3OU/s1600/Day+123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v5beiMvAqqU/TXxVgudkE6I/AAAAAAAAAI8/fedXoDRN3OU/s320/Day+123.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another piece of my art project ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w4m0Eiyggt4/TXxVimpUg0I/AAAAAAAAAJA/l9vGe5dMFXU/s1600/Day+124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-w4m0Eiyggt4/TXxVimpUg0I/AAAAAAAAAJA/l9vGe5dMFXU/s320/Day+124.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today I had my Rocky Horror Picture Show cherry popped. It literally blew my mind. It raped my mind. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I liked it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xbhmp-LhZu0/TXxVk_g3D3I/AAAAAAAAAJE/zE6RME2t53I/s1600/Day+125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xbhmp-LhZu0/TXxVk_g3D3I/AAAAAAAAAJE/zE6RME2t53I/s320/Day+125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Ellie. She is Kelly and Dad's puppy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Hw6n-wNiDzE/TXxVn9Yx7DI/AAAAAAAAAJI/NKGge1QSnDs/s1600/Day+126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Hw6n-wNiDzE/TXxVn9Yx7DI/AAAAAAAAAJI/NKGge1QSnDs/s320/Day+126.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Still recovering from the awesome weirdness that is Rocky Horror Picture Show, I tried to return my brain to normalcy with some sudoku. Whether it worked is any one's guess!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fdDQS-jfzFc/TXxVqdYPq2I/AAAAAAAAAJM/v_Mx3C0lgzo/s1600/Day+127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fdDQS-jfzFc/TXxVqdYPq2I/AAAAAAAAAJM/v_Mx3C0lgzo/s320/Day+127.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Valentine's Day was on a Monday this year so there wasn't too much romantic I felt we could do. So I drew a heart in the snow, took a photo of it, and gave Josh a card with this picture on it. Awww. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JmQg_EjWtLM/TXxVsD5eNDI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/kVpwkyqfBWE/s1600/Day+128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JmQg_EjWtLM/TXxVsD5eNDI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/kVpwkyqfBWE/s320/Day+128.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think I was feeling particularly unattractive this day. Maybe playing with camera settings ... not really sure on this one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tmzLiLGfJyQ/TXxVtlyqOUI/AAAAAAAAAJU/p2vVQbZ9aio/s1600/Day+129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-tmzLiLGfJyQ/TXxVtlyqOUI/AAAAAAAAAJU/p2vVQbZ9aio/s320/Day+129.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ilsa was in big trouble this day. Pablo was the good cat. Here he is getting a drink from the bathtub faucet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TJY62aAxWek/TXxVwrHSiAI/AAAAAAAAAJY/6XOZdOEzm0M/s1600/Day+130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TJY62aAxWek/TXxVwrHSiAI/AAAAAAAAAJY/6XOZdOEzm0M/s320/Day+130.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sun was creating such an interesting affect on the wheel of my old car. I love how the rusty wheel innards thing contrasts with the silvery plastic of the hubcap or whatever it's called. (Like my technical car terms?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-78JCGi6yX3Q/TXxVykBLPGI/AAAAAAAAAJc/pN8nMglykdQ/s1600/Day+131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-78JCGi6yX3Q/TXxVykBLPGI/AAAAAAAAAJc/pN8nMglykdQ/s320/Day+131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On a quick trip to Goodwill to procure art supplies, we found this tea pot. We paid a couple bucks for this awesome piece of kitchenware. Goodwill rocks! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MQGxtmQTLPw/TXxV0RJzdcI/AAAAAAAAAJg/VNERB0QRj-A/s1600/Day+132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MQGxtmQTLPw/TXxV0RJzdcI/AAAAAAAAAJg/VNERB0QRj-A/s320/Day+132.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More work on my art project. Book lovers avert your eyes. I did tear pages out of books. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-86IlwEkCuSk/TXxV4-QidOI/AAAAAAAAAJk/MKjIelYVNzk/s1600/Day+133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-86IlwEkCuSk/TXxV4-QidOI/AAAAAAAAAJk/MKjIelYVNzk/s320/Day+133.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ummm, took some photos? I'm not sure what this is about. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u-dQiNzvrOg/TXxV6Sj9o5I/AAAAAAAAAJo/avhEJFbRfHg/s1600/Day+134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u-dQiNzvrOg/TXxV6Sj9o5I/AAAAAAAAAJo/avhEJFbRfHg/s320/Day+134.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shamrock shakes are back at McDonald's! Huzzah!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yvcVd3Hcv2w/TXxWAJHBFYI/AAAAAAAAAJs/Su5zYBPQBpU/s1600/Day+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yvcVd3Hcv2w/TXxWAJHBFYI/AAAAAAAAAJs/Su5zYBPQBpU/s320/Day+135.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't remember what happened this day but I was so very excited when Josh got home. This is his hoodie. When I am feeling down, I like to wear it - it's like being wrapped up in him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MYFSFjCIO4k/TXxWCvvK-CI/AAAAAAAAAJw/4GHHANK8b3U/s1600/Day+136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MYFSFjCIO4k/TXxWCvvK-CI/AAAAAAAAAJw/4GHHANK8b3U/s320/Day+136.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Must've had music on the mind ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dNKqoE_ZUos/TXxWEyrPJ2I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/jtrUpnNsW_Y/s1600/Day+137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dNKqoE_ZUos/TXxWEyrPJ2I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/jtrUpnNsW_Y/s320/Day+137.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My husband - NOT a cat person. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_M17Otdaxng/TXxWHU-llFI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/9-QQyy4gXZU/s1600/Day+138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_M17Otdaxng/TXxWHU-llFI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/9-QQyy4gXZU/s320/Day+138.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finished a huge project. I was so relieved!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pGQOoUuMWsQ/TXxWMkFlGiI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/x6fyII5WET8/s1600/Day+139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pGQOoUuMWsQ/TXxWMkFlGiI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/x6fyII5WET8/s320/Day+139.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did some photos with Bob and Terri. We did their engagement session at the Anderson Mansion in Carlinville. As we were leaving I snapped a photo of this windmill. Because it's cool. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ow_zgFEYBb8/TXxWO6DgVkI/AAAAAAAAAKA/XRwBSQmcjFU/s1600/Day+140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ow_zgFEYBb8/TXxWO6DgVkI/AAAAAAAAAKA/XRwBSQmcjFU/s320/Day+140.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was messing with the white balance on my camera and came up with this photo. The only manipulation outside the camera was to resize it. Cool, huh? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jS86ahc109s/TXxWRcJPZmI/AAAAAAAAAKE/eA_1m7BNLMY/s1600/Day+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jS86ahc109s/TXxWRcJPZmI/AAAAAAAAAKE/eA_1m7BNLMY/s320/Day+141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And this was my birthday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">Woo! Done! Well, that was February. I promise I will try to do better with March. Sweet dreams dear friends and have a blessed tomorrow!</div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-41705860504128384772011-03-05T20:01:00.000-08:002011-03-05T20:01:05.914-08:00Days 104-113 - The Rest of JanuaryGood evening dearest friends. I hope this chilly Saturday evening finds you well. We spent a pretty relaxing day around the house. I finished a couple really large projects this week and am starting to feel caught up - or a reasonable approximation at least. So here is a little more catching up! Enjoy the rest of my January photos. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3qhSXHEdGKA/TXMEOjCzjwI/AAAAAAAAAHw/GPl0cfJDQjs/s1600/Day+104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3qhSXHEdGKA/TXMEOjCzjwI/AAAAAAAAAHw/GPl0cfJDQjs/s320/Day+104.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I spent some time scrap booking on Day 104. As I recall, I didn't get much done. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ug-04TtUaY4/TXMER5JTwKI/AAAAAAAAAH0/ebKjSeSf48g/s1600/Day+105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ug-04TtUaY4/TXMER5JTwKI/AAAAAAAAAH0/ebKjSeSf48g/s320/Day+105.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hmmm ... messing with camera settings maybe? </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qyOjPN3cGuA/TXMEVhBAJrI/AAAAAAAAAH4/GL-LYo_PZPk/s1600/Day+106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qyOjPN3cGuA/TXMEVhBAJrI/AAAAAAAAAH4/GL-LYo_PZPk/s320/Day+106.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh yes, I remember this one. I looked and Josh and said, "Do you want some ice cream?" He said sure he did. So we bundle up in our coats and mittens and hop in the car. As we are sitting in the Dairy Queen drive-through with the heat on full blast, I said, "This is stupid." We laughed really hard. I remember I got a hot fudge sundae - that was the warmest ice cream I could get. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hlzm4EAVgHI/TXMEXv7ovdI/AAAAAAAAAH8/DdkMmxhTbig/s1600/Day+107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hlzm4EAVgHI/TXMEXv7ovdI/AAAAAAAAAH8/DdkMmxhTbig/s320/Day+107.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my MP3 player. I'm not sure why it was my photo for the day, but there you go. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kl9YwOS2d0k/TXMEbUVNmkI/AAAAAAAAAIA/LAEWY63FZlo/s1600/Day+108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kl9YwOS2d0k/TXMEbUVNmkI/AAAAAAAAAIA/LAEWY63FZlo/s320/Day+108.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I took this after my first yoga practice. Three words - I LOVE YOGA. Sue, if you read this, thanks so much for inviting me. You are an awesome teacher!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yExxBQ05mxU/TXMEhAqczSI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Kzf2N3cQY-0/s1600/Day+109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yExxBQ05mxU/TXMEhAqczSI/AAAAAAAAAIE/Kzf2N3cQY-0/s320/Day+109.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is one of the bluest skies we'd seen in many weeks. Those pretty clouds gave me hope and warmth.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LRIFf-JIXSU/TXMEkBfy6BI/AAAAAAAAAII/6Iv7MXG2OWk/s1600/Day+110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LRIFf-JIXSU/TXMEkBfy6BI/AAAAAAAAAII/6Iv7MXG2OWk/s320/Day+110.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those are M&M's on the foot board of my bed. Not much else to say about them. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c1PQtl9OB6s/TXMEpTDkoII/AAAAAAAAAIM/xfS5CpHzPdc/s1600/Day+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c1PQtl9OB6s/TXMEpTDkoII/AAAAAAAAAIM/xfS5CpHzPdc/s320/Day+111.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today I went shopping for jeans. It was a beautiful day! I traveled to Springfield and had a lovely time with myself. And I got some new jeans. Which you see here. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CDX2xPmguWw/TXMEuFiReCI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/0iFz0jMNSsk/s1600/Day+112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CDX2xPmguWw/TXMEuFiReCI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/0iFz0jMNSsk/s320/Day+112.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mom got us this amazing coffee maker for Christmas. We use it so much! There is no pot - the coffee filters into a tank and you press your mug against the silver button you see here to dispense the coffee. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t-9ka4fRpgs/TXMEwGIx_CI/AAAAAAAAAIU/Phi8a3IsyVA/s1600/Day+113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" l6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t-9ka4fRpgs/TXMEwGIx_CI/AAAAAAAAAIU/Phi8a3IsyVA/s320/Day+113.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a reminder that winter was still here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">And just like that, January is posted! Thank you dear friends for hanging in there with me and reading. Have sweet dreams and blessed tomorrow!</div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-86975148373542225752011-02-22T14:51:00.000-08:002011-02-22T14:51:12.322-08:00ValidationToday I am most grateful for validation. This has nothing to do with my normal blog posts or my Project 365, but I felt it was necessary to share. I stopped by Wally-World after work today to pick up something for dinner. The girl that checked me out was very pleasant and mentioned she had only a half hour until it was time to go home. I remarked that the last half hour is always the longest 30 minutes of the day. We went back and forth a couple times and by the time I left, we were giggling like a couple of old friends. See, I think what people need sometimes more than anything else is someone to commiserate, someone to agree that they have legitimate gripes, to validate their opinions about the world around them. Now, I am in no way suggesting that it's a good idea to do this all the time or to encourage excessively negative people, but when Jesus said to love your neighbor, I'm pretty sure it was a partial endorsement of this commiseration I am talking about. This world is big and scary and you know what? Growing up is hard. It's a big complicated mess that often makes little or no sense, isn't fair, is even cruel. So how else do we make it through than by relating to those around us? What better way to get validation that I'm not the only one scared and confused and tired? Some days, all you need is someone to pat you on the back and tell you that yes - your situation is crappy and the jerks who imposed it upon you are truly plotting against you. In that simple reassurance, a relationship, however brief, emerges and blooms. <br />
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That's just my thought for the day. I don't know that I'll be able to photograph that idea but I had to share. Photos to follow later dear friends.Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-26588055437241243752011-02-21T19:07:00.000-08:002011-02-21T19:07:20.523-08:00Days 98-103 - The Plague Comes to Walnut StreetOk. Maybe i am exaggerating a little. But I was seriously ill for a whole week and I am still playing catch up. I am behind on editing photos and I even had to dip into vacation time at work to cover it. Blech! I kept taking my photos though. (If you ask me, you can tell I was sick, but I did take my photos!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VewpbbXDhGA/TWMnAQ-skLI/AAAAAAAAAHY/Cv2USLYCGDk/s1600/Day+98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VewpbbXDhGA/TWMnAQ-skLI/AAAAAAAAAHY/Cv2USLYCGDk/s320/Day+98.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This ottoman is all I saw all day the Sunday after our Bensenville weekend. I laid and slept on the couch all day. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bKECZk8iYwg/TWMnDdZ6ljI/AAAAAAAAAHc/zTNDWqchqFs/s1600/Day+99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bKECZk8iYwg/TWMnDdZ6ljI/AAAAAAAAAHc/zTNDWqchqFs/s320/Day+99.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was mostly what I saw on Monday. Yes I know the photo is blurry. The whole day was pretty much like that. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUDKsbdRfO0/TWMnEp8irKI/AAAAAAAAAHg/uKQWZvtQCz0/s1600/Day+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aUDKsbdRfO0/TWMnEp8irKI/AAAAAAAAAHg/uKQWZvtQCz0/s320/Day+100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tuesday I attempted to go to work and only made it an hour and a half before coming home and laying on the couch the rest of the day. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0pKy4rJ020M/TWMnGUyya7I/AAAAAAAAAHk/J4GXuqNZonQ/s1600/Day+101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0pKy4rJ020M/TWMnGUyya7I/AAAAAAAAAHk/J4GXuqNZonQ/s320/Day+101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Without a voice, I braved my day job in customer support, stayed till 8pm to try to get caught up with my department then came home and collapsed into bed. Josh brought home this vaporizer. It really helped. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6CzHinMwIU/TWMnKXhX8GI/AAAAAAAAAHo/-7bLsEPHlLo/s1600/Day+102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6CzHinMwIU/TWMnKXhX8GI/AAAAAAAAAHo/-7bLsEPHlLo/s320/Day+102.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But not enough to ensure my return to work on Thursday. Here are my drugs of choice.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0jOi6UAYf4/TWMnMXJRn5I/AAAAAAAAAHs/PMLpj-Ksjyc/s1600/Day+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D0jOi6UAYf4/TWMnMXJRn5I/AAAAAAAAAHs/PMLpj-Ksjyc/s320/Day+103.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the first meal I could taste for days! Go Beefy Stroganoff!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">That's all I have for this evening, dear friends. Sweet dreams and a tomorrow filled with blessings for you all. </div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-38001892266142663522011-02-20T18:28:00.000-08:002011-02-20T18:28:11.468-08:00Day 93-97 - Snow and More HolidaysGood evening friends. I hope your weekends have been restful and you are feeling ready for the week that lies inevitably before us. I'm still working on catching you up on my life this year so we continue our journey together. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CtZXbz4zfdQ/TWHJpGZM0QI/AAAAAAAAAHE/rn47Rlbxcpc/s1600/Day+93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CtZXbz4zfdQ/TWHJpGZM0QI/AAAAAAAAAHE/rn47Rlbxcpc/s320/Day+93.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snow. I love it or hate it. I'm never just ok with it and typically after mid-January I am DONE with it. My patience for the white stuff not only leaves the building, it runs out screaming bloody murder and pulls the fire alarm on the way out. But the snow in this picture still stood in my good graces so I decided to play with some camera settings and coerced my dear hubby into donning a hat and sweater and freezing his feet off for the sake of my art. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YflKDQ3uSbA/TWHJsMUOmYI/AAAAAAAAAHI/jU25OCPJQnY/s1600/Day+94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YflKDQ3uSbA/TWHJsMUOmYI/AAAAAAAAAHI/jU25OCPJQnY/s320/Day+94.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Those of you who know me know I love to cook. I got this awesome cookbook for Christmas from Kelly that has a bunch of appetizer recipes and I was dying to try the "cheese straws." I don't think I did it right. I shredded the cheese and mixed it all up, stuck it in my cake decorator and couldn't get the dough to come out. I mean it was really really stuck. So I ended up molding them manually into these ugly little logs. Well, cheese straws are supposed to be really thin and tiny and these were ... well, they weren't that. They were more like little cheese biscuits. But hey, ya win some; ya lose some. This time I just lost. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-al38gZtKiJw/TWHJwa5JQKI/AAAAAAAAAHM/2OxV_JIyOAk/s1600/Day+95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-al38gZtKiJw/TWHJwa5JQKI/AAAAAAAAAHM/2OxV_JIyOAk/s320/Day+95.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This guy had to come up sooner or later. Josh has had this frog as long as I have known him. He got it in Mexico when he was on a mission trip with his church youth group and it CREEPS ME OUT! That's a real frog, you know. A dead, stuffed, brown, shellacked frog. Playing a wooden trumpet. Random? Oh yes. Interesting? Eeee, I guess. Explicable? Absolutely not. But Josh loves it so I doubt it's going anywhere. Unless my suspicions are correct and it roams the house at night in search of zombie flies ...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iBCo4Ki32zg/TWHJ1xm3IDI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/cY15SneYs7g/s1600/Day+96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iBCo4Ki32zg/TWHJ1xm3IDI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/cY15SneYs7g/s320/Day+96.jpg" width="170" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, we packed up and headed to Bensenville to see the Schesvold's. We had dinner that night in Elmhurst with an old friend from college and on the way back to the car, I took a photo of one of my favorite little walkways in Elmhurst. It's still dressed up for Christmas. Isn't it cute?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INPm03SpRLo/TWHJ58cMA0I/AAAAAAAAAHU/JGq1feMXCCc/s1600/Day+97.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INPm03SpRLo/TWHJ58cMA0I/AAAAAAAAAHU/JGq1feMXCCc/s320/Day+97.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We attended a party at Josh's Aunt Carol's lovely home in Rockford. And we didn't really know anyone. It was a lovely party, but we were all kind of sleep-deprived and more than a little slap happy. So as we congregated in the game room in the basement, I posed the question "what face would you make if I told you this was our last night on earth?" And here are the faces they made. So this photo is technically three photos, but I couldn't leave any out. This is art people. Pure art. (I love being a Schesvold!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More posts to follow soon, dear friends. We are getting caught up! Huzzah! Stay tuned ...</div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-16844793290545111382011-02-15T18:43:00.000-08:002011-02-15T18:43:58.956-08:00Days 83-92 - January Part IWell dear friends, I see you all survived the Ezzy creativity overload from last night and you're back for more. Admit it - you love me! You really really love me! <br />
Again, I don't remember a lot about some of these photos so let's just roll with it. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-uYP1110Mc/TVs1FShVqUI/AAAAAAAAAGc/KCrQBSx3_VA/s1600/Day+83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f-uYP1110Mc/TVs1FShVqUI/AAAAAAAAAGc/KCrQBSx3_VA/s320/Day+83.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scot and Kristin came over on New Year's Day and we opened our presents for each other. This is Scot with the blanket I made him. I think he liked it!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xXOBWcsnBJc/TVs1Krhjz3I/AAAAAAAAAGg/bLQDjOY2Ddg/s1600/Day+84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xXOBWcsnBJc/TVs1Krhjz3I/AAAAAAAAAGg/bLQDjOY2Ddg/s320/Day+84.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the kickin' bookshelf Scot made me for Christmas. It's really unique - as you can see from the lines on my wall, the shelf itself leans to the right. Trust me, it's totally awesome. Now I just need to paint it ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQQd-lYcmag/TVs1O2AOViI/AAAAAAAAAGk/k_8YWaBfy48/s1600/Day+85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="260" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQQd-lYcmag/TVs1O2AOViI/AAAAAAAAAGk/k_8YWaBfy48/s320/Day+85.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think I took this photo to show off the bookends I made for Josh for Christmas. Yes I understand that they are being misused since they are hold up movies instead of books. I rearranged things this week and they are fulfilling their intended purpose now. The world makes sense again. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m-HR9zmyHJ0/TVs1VwGEssI/AAAAAAAAAGo/Iy-0MavmoFM/s1600/Day+86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m-HR9zmyHJ0/TVs1VwGEssI/AAAAAAAAAGo/Iy-0MavmoFM/s320/Day+86.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had climbed into bed before I remembered to take my photo this night and when I flipped on the light to walk down the hallway and get my camera, the light cast this really cool shadow on one of the crocheted snowflakes my mom made for me. So I shot the shadow. Neat, huh?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5wJqR5bDt1Y/TVs1Y9QtZtI/AAAAAAAAAGs/DRU0Y_oPNAE/s1600/Day+87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5wJqR5bDt1Y/TVs1Y9QtZtI/AAAAAAAAAGs/DRU0Y_oPNAE/s320/Day+87.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Between stress and having a desk job, I had the worst knot in my neck. Josh was sweet enough to use this back massager (affectionately known around my house as "Mr Happy") to try to help my muscles relax. He really is the sweetest thing. Josh - not Mr Happy. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9liyMvqTmTM/TVs1e5a7XeI/AAAAAAAAAGw/zVA3Tc4jAGU/s1600/Day+88.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9liyMvqTmTM/TVs1e5a7XeI/AAAAAAAAAGw/zVA3Tc4jAGU/s320/Day+88.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It snowed - obviously - and as I came home from work, I noticed this mess of weeds I didn't get cleaned up this fall. The snow made an interesting texture. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJokNhc3Hl4/TVs1inGHvQI/AAAAAAAAAG0/XGa0xGHp7_s/s1600/Day+89.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJokNhc3Hl4/TVs1inGHvQI/AAAAAAAAAG0/XGa0xGHp7_s/s320/Day+89.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think it warmed up a little and one of the weeds from yesterday had fallen over. The ice on the head looked like little beads. It was cool. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RnLdZxYXVPo/TVs1lrtf6EI/AAAAAAAAAG4/xmLl9NReG7M/s1600/Day+90.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RnLdZxYXVPo/TVs1lrtf6EI/AAAAAAAAAG4/xmLl9NReG7M/s320/Day+90.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Read "World Without End" by Ken Follett. I don't care that it 1014 pages. Read it. It's amazing. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1O5MOZ6keEw/TVs1tJJaHFI/AAAAAAAAAG8/wFY3VwGcjP4/s1600/Day+91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1O5MOZ6keEw/TVs1tJJaHFI/AAAAAAAAAG8/wFY3VwGcjP4/s320/Day+91.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josh got a new printer for Christmas from Dad and Kelly. We set it up and when we pulled it out of the box, there was no plastic. None. Zip. Zilch. Nada. I'm typically not a fan of HP, but this scored some major points in my book. Not only was there no plastic, this bag is totally huge and reusable. Score! (Yeah - I did just type "score". I need some rest ... by brain is turning to mush!!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zwLZZZ9-63g/TVs1yVOoPoI/AAAAAAAAAHA/RXp2HE4Ay1E/s1600/Day+92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zwLZZZ9-63g/TVs1yVOoPoI/AAAAAAAAAHA/RXp2HE4Ay1E/s320/Day+92.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Josh and I like wine. It's a hobby Josh decided he wanted to pick up and I just get to go along for the ride. For a wedding gift, I had commissioned a wine wrack from the little furniture place on West Main. (It's not there anymore; it used to be where the Boot Camp place is now.) Anyway, I talked to the guy about building it, gave him 40 bucks and told him when I needed it by. I showed up the day before our wedding to pick it up only to find out the gentleman who was supposed to be building my husband's wedding gift no longer worked there. The woman in charge was amazingly nice and gave me my money back, but I didn't have a wine wrack for my hubby to be. Obviously, I never managed because my brother made this for us for Christmas. And he even left it unfinished so I can paint or stain it the way Josh wants. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="left">That's me for the evening. I have photos to edit so expect another slew of random and amazing photographs from my totally awesome life tomorrow! </div><div align="left">Sleep well dear friends and have a blessed tomorrow!</div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-89315084306159787202011-02-14T18:51:00.000-08:002011-02-14T18:51:16.606-08:00Day 82 - Happy New Year!I like this photo so much I am creating a post just for it. Every year for New Year's Eve, Josh and I get a bottle of sparkling wine. (It isn't technically champagne because champagne is made from very specific grapes in a very specific region of France I think and there are very few things in the US that are actually champagne. Most of it is just sparkling wine.) This year was no exception. We looked forward to this for weeks. Josh journeyed across Springfield (I know - woohoo) to procure this bottle of Illopart Cava Sparkling Wine. Wasn't it pretty?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3pjfjnQjMWQ/TVnpJSpdtmI/AAAAAAAAAGY/RCG2K4Xu7Z4/s1600/Day+82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3pjfjnQjMWQ/TVnpJSpdtmI/AAAAAAAAAGY/RCG2K4Xu7Z4/s400/Day+82.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
Unfortunately, it was much drier than the bottle we got last year and we didn't enjoy it quite as much as we had hoped. Oh well, there's always next year. <br />
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Well dear friends, I'm caught up through the end of December. Tomorrow or the next day I will post January and the first part of February. If anyone would like to hear specific stories about any of these photos, let me know. If there is anything I can talk about with any sort of authority, it's my own life! Sweet dreams and blessed tomorrows to all!Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-7222341343710071462011-02-14T18:40:00.000-08:002011-02-14T18:40:37.721-08:00Day 67 - 81 - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!Ok. Lesson learned. I waited WAY too long to post these photos. I don't remember what was going on in half of them! But see - that's the whole point of Project 365! One photo a day to keep track of lives lived too fast. So dear friends, my apologies for depriving you of the awesome little tidbits of wisdom and enlightening musings, but I have got to get caught up. Here was my life between December 16 and December 30 -<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylbD5i-C8Ks/TVnhUJcCoFI/AAAAAAAAAFc/zrasmLHnAks/s1600/day+67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="277" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ylbD5i-C8Ks/TVnhUJcCoFI/AAAAAAAAAFc/zrasmLHnAks/s320/day+67.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really liked my eye liner that day ...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1QdtFXF5JGM/TVnhGhBKgwI/AAAAAAAAAFU/ISEWC0wtiL4/s1600/day+68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1QdtFXF5JGM/TVnhGhBKgwI/AAAAAAAAAFU/ISEWC0wtiL4/s320/day+68.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did cast photos for The Nutcracker. My brother Scot was the nutcracker. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QJd5hWan4gM/TVnhKLM_CYI/AAAAAAAAAFY/GGzl7mEPa3A/s1600/day+69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QJd5hWan4gM/TVnhKLM_CYI/AAAAAAAAAFY/GGzl7mEPa3A/s320/day+69.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Katie and Alex's engagement photos. I love these guys; they are so cut together!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DCYIeFVEQo/TVnig31hYAI/AAAAAAAAAFk/BNoVmpZfjg8/s1600/Day+70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0DCYIeFVEQo/TVnig31hYAI/AAAAAAAAAFk/BNoVmpZfjg8/s320/Day+70.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Umm ... maybe I was playing with flash outdoors?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QoVB7ayCPMg/TVnikXq2cYI/AAAAAAAAAFo/YVdw_YoRmnc/s1600/Day+71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QoVB7ayCPMg/TVnikXq2cYI/AAAAAAAAAFo/YVdw_YoRmnc/s320/Day+71.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me and my best friend Katie. I spent the evening with her for some much needed girl time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-49bg_Kj87xM/TVnioOW5jeI/AAAAAAAAAFs/KiGSV9y7nWE/s1600/Day+72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-49bg_Kj87xM/TVnioOW5jeI/AAAAAAAAAFs/KiGSV9y7nWE/s320/Day+72.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yeah I got nuthin'. No idea what this was about. Either I spent a lot of time on my hair or I was pointing out what a slob I am by not putting my stuff away. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKt6ZxED0_U/TVnjvBALyyI/AAAAAAAAAFw/pwawp-eAHTA/s1600/Day+73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKt6ZxED0_U/TVnjvBALyyI/AAAAAAAAAFw/pwawp-eAHTA/s320/Day+73.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Presents!!!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxA5AxHG_hU/TVnjzhOQIvI/AAAAAAAAAF0/njdyy6KPEzE/s1600/Day+74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxA5AxHG_hU/TVnjzhOQIvI/AAAAAAAAAF0/njdyy6KPEzE/s320/Day+74.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Had a photo session and did some studio-type work. Thanks Boston family! You guys were awesome to work with!</div><br />
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Christmas Eve morning - yes those ARE Cheetos in Josh's stocking. Santa knew he would rather have those than candy. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-26qE5Rl49FY/TVnj8MaenBI/AAAAAAAAAF8/_HzwFgdGijk/s1600/Day+75-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-26qE5Rl49FY/TVnj8MaenBI/AAAAAAAAAF8/_HzwFgdGijk/s320/Day+75-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Christmas Eve evening - I made baked ziti and we had a bottle of wine. We did the church at midnight thing. If I can take a sec to get all sappy - this was the closest to a perfect day that I think I have ever had. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8u0TmMqeVSk/TVnly6ZeVxI/AAAAAAAAAGA/ygF_TRUxY_Y/s1600/Day+76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8u0TmMqeVSk/TVnly6ZeVxI/AAAAAAAAAGA/ygF_TRUxY_Y/s320/Day+76.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Christmas Day - Mom opening a present. There were so many photos I would have loved to put up but this one really captured the mood of the day. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrXgVzkinpU/TVnl2krqQpI/AAAAAAAAAGE/s6hk7o_t3n4/s1600/Day+77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TrXgVzkinpU/TVnl2krqQpI/AAAAAAAAAGE/s6hk7o_t3n4/s320/Day+77.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pablo sitting in "child's pose" on the back of one of the free chairs. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80JW3VV3g1E/TVnl76Lfg8I/AAAAAAAAAGI/byVyclxItOs/s1600/Day+78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-80JW3VV3g1E/TVnl76Lfg8I/AAAAAAAAAGI/byVyclxItOs/s320/Day+78.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scary yet awesome icicle outside my back door. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4VP3pM8swU/TVnl-u1zMII/AAAAAAAAAGM/eFV0X70dkaw/s1600/Day+79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4VP3pM8swU/TVnl-u1zMII/AAAAAAAAAGM/eFV0X70dkaw/s320/Day+79.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sexy red sheets we got for Christmas. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d1rme1Ow0BU/TVnmD6isnQI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/hZ2aVo5mS_8/s1600/Day+80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d1rme1Ow0BU/TVnmD6isnQI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/hZ2aVo5mS_8/s320/Day+80.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Playing with the manual settings on my camera. (Pay no attention to the cat fur clinging to my free chair.)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bQbJPw2gkw/TVnmIu-S1_I/AAAAAAAAAGU/kh5exWUDNq0/s1600/Day+81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--bQbJPw2gkw/TVnmIu-S1_I/AAAAAAAAAGU/kh5exWUDNq0/s320/Day+81.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">An afghan I was finishing up for my brother. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Whoo! Really - lesson learned. I swear! I have more, many more, but I need a break. Let it all soak in dear friends. Maybe I should say - go wring your brains out so there is more room to soak because there is much more to follow! </div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-43047742794329570382011-01-27T15:44:00.000-08:002011-01-27T15:44:32.443-08:00Day 66 - Grandma Came for ChristmasMy grandma loved Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve and her house and on Christmas morning, she would always come over and see what Santa brought us. My brother and I would go over to her house and put up her tree after Thanksgiving. Scot moved to Chicago and then decided to go back to school so the last couple years Grandma was with us, I put up her tree myself. I remember one year I was putting the ornaments on the tree and I came across a little school bus ornament. Years ago, something very unfair happened to my Grandma and it had to do with her school bus so I naively assumed she wouldn't want that ornament on the tree as it would remind her of all that happened. Well, when I was done trimming the tree, she came in, looked it over and do you know what she asked me? "Where is my little school bus ornament?" She proceeded to explain to me that one of her students had given her that ornament and that she loved it. Humbled, I found it and put it on the tree front and center. I don't know if she meant to do it, or if she even ever knew that she did, but with that one simple inquiry, she taught me a valuable lesson - never let the bad things in life ruin the things you love. There is good in everything and even if it's just a tiny reminder of a friendly gesture, it's worth holding onto, remembering, and displaying with pride. <br />
I lost my grandma before she could see me get married, but I am so thankful for all the time I did get to spend with her. Devastated though I was by her passing, I still have one of her African violets. It bloomed 10 days before Christmas this year.<br />
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Thank you Grandma, for coming to Christmas this year. It was lovely to see you. <br />
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Well, dear friends, that is me today. More to follow hopefully this weekend. Enjoy your evenings and have a blessed tomorrow!Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-33454823992036757922011-01-27T15:22:00.000-08:002011-01-27T15:22:03.382-08:00Day 65 - New LightsI was the photographer for the Nutcracker photos this year and after attending a practice, I realized I would need some sort of lighting to help. Bothwell Hall is extremely dark. So I was lucky to find a pair of soft boxes for an extremely reasonable price. They arrived in plenty of time for me to play with. Here is one of Josh's ornaments illuminated with my new soft box. <br />
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Now that's one lucky little sock monkey!Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-87638163142875254692011-01-27T15:07:00.000-08:002011-01-27T15:07:45.495-08:00Day 64 - This Is What Happens When Ezzy ProcrastinatesThose of you who know me at all know I tend to be a procrastinator. I wouldn't say I'm notorious for it, it's more of a sneaky sort of procrastination - the kind that sneaks up on you and when you aren't looking sticks it's foot out from around the corner and before you know it you're lying in a pile of undone-ness and the procrastination is rolling around on the floor, tears rolling down it's cheeks. Well, I fell into such a pile of undone-ness this Monday when it was 2 degrees outside and my car wouldn't start. I knew when we bought the car it needed a new battery, but I had been putting it off because I really didn't feel like going to Wal-Mart. Procrastination was cackling with naughty glee when much to my chagrin, the engine wouldn't even turn over. Luckily, Josh could take me to work and we got a battery that evening. This post is dedicated to him. He went to Wal-Mart after work and bought me a battery and then, in the subzero temperature, installed it. What a guy!<br />
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It's hard to believe, but I have more, dear friends! Keep hanging in there with me ...Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-31422642247363604722011-01-27T15:00:00.000-08:002011-01-27T15:00:33.980-08:00Day 63 - CantataDec 12 was the combined St Paul's UCC/Federated Church choir cantata. So of course there was snow. Quite a lot of it. Hence the photograph of our winter protection. <br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left">It's the same every year - I get super excited in the fall when they choose the cantata we'll be singing. I have a lot of fun getting reacquainted with it, practicing the music, getting psyched for Christmas. Then something happens. I don't know if I get bored with it or if I just get nervous but a few weeks before rehearsal, I can't wait for it to all be over. But then, on the Sunday morning as we start singing and I look at all the supportive and loving faces in the church, it hits me - God gave us these gifts to use and we are using them! And if my singing can make one person feel more Christmas-y then the whole thing was worth it. </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Stay tuned, dear friends. There is much more to follow!</div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-16419388321639821952011-01-11T19:53:00.000-08:002011-01-11T19:53:58.873-08:00Day 62 - Choir PracticeThere isn't too much to say for my day 62. We had choir practice in the morning for the following Sunday's cantata at church. I took a photo of the choirs practicing. <br />
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I am always amazed at the beauty of a church all decorated for Christmas. It instills such a warm and tender feeling in me. Childhood memories emerge and the awe and wonder of the whole season really come alive. This year, it seems more true than it has in the past. I'm not really sure why this should be and now that the season is over, I suppose people are tired of hearing about it. But any season or holiday that causes people to be nicer just because of the date is a holiday that makes me believe in the humanity of people. That's why I try to keep Christmas all year. (You'll notice, dear friends, that I say "try". I am not perfect.)<br />
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That is all the posting I can do tonight. More will come. Peaceful sleeps, dear friends, safety on your morning drives and blessing on your tomorrows.Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-63011836494227622232011-01-10T18:02:00.000-08:002011-01-10T18:02:37.284-08:00Day 61 - A Talent I Don't Have I love my baby brother. Scot and I have always been close. He choreographed a dance for me to the song "Desert Rose" when we were in high school. It was a moving piece and he danced his heart out for me. His birthday was not long after that and I decided I would make him a t-shirt with a rose opening over a desert scene. I bought that RIT Dye and worked on painting on this shirt for hours. Then I through it in the washing machine to rinse it so he could wear it. And the dye ran. And ran. And ran. When I pulled it out of the wash, it was nothing but a gray blue smudge. I cried. Hard. It wasn't the work I had put into, but I was heartbroken that this token of my love for my baby brother was destroyed the night before I needed to give it to him. He knew of course that I loved him and loved his dance, but I really felt my heart break when I saw that blob. <br />
Scot lives in Macomb now. He's the shop carpenter for the theatre department at Western Illinois University so I don't get to see him very often anymore and I never get to see him dance. But this Christmas season he helped choreograph, direct, and dance in the Carlinville Summer Repertory Theatre's production of The Nutcracker and on day 61, I got to see my baby brother dance again. Here is in practice. <br />
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Keep on dreaming of rain, baby bro. You're never too old for your big sis to love to watch you practice a talent she doesn't have. <br />
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That's me for this evening dear friends. Much more catching up will follow in the next week or so. Sweet dreams and have a blessed tomorrow!Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-58734440647044166112011-01-10T17:50:00.000-08:002011-01-10T17:50:10.937-08:00Day 60 - ReminiscingJosh and I have been together for a little over 7 years now and every day I think I learn something new about him. And if I don't, I should. The whole world can be crashing down around me, but as long as I have him, it's never too far gone. Mushy stuff aside, Josh is the best sport a photographer could ask for. When we first started dating I was in a photography class in college and Josh modeled for me all the time. (You know what I'm thinking about, Joshy!) But he also offered his limbs for my art and one of the photos I took a long time ago was of his hand holding a burning candle. Well, day 60 was a day for reminiscing and the nostalgia got the best of me. Here is me recreating a memory. Thanks, Josh!<br />
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Still more to come, dear friends. Stay tuned!Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-20025450879204989342011-01-10T17:41:00.000-08:002011-01-10T17:41:03.840-08:00Day 59 - A Wet December DayBy now, I have forgotten a bit about what was going on a month ago, thus learning my lesson to post within a couple days. I do, however, remember why I took this photo. There were city workers outside my house all day long working on a busted water main. This was what was left at 10 that night. <br />
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That's all I have to say about day 59. More posts to come soon!Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-69382294827002698442010-12-22T15:13:00.000-08:002010-12-22T15:13:36.189-08:00Days 55-58 - Christmas CookiesGeorge Strait has the most adorable Christmas Song; it's called "Christmas Cookies" and in it he talks about how much he loves Christmas cookies. He croons about how tasty they are and warbles about his sneaky and greedy obsession. But beyond the indigestion and sugar high, there is a greater purpose - between the time each batch goes in the oven, he has 15 minutes to cuddle and snuggle with his sweetie. So he eats those Christmas cookies all year long. I know. Aw. But good old George makes a good point, I think. The things that seem so important and precious to us during the holidays aren't any more special because of the date; Christmas can be every day of the year if we only focus on what really matters. <br />
Ok, now that I've made my little soap-box spiel, let me move on to my sappy Christmas story. My mom loves Christmas. A lot. I have to get it from somewhere and I am sure it was from her. And my grandma. But that's another post. When my brother Scot and I were young, Mom would let us help her make "Christmas food." We always made fudge, Martha Washington candies, peanut brittle, and sugar cookies. We loved to help with the sugar cookies. It's a recipe passed down from me great grandma. The original recipe actually just says "bake in hot oven." Mom told me that when she asked Grammy-O how long to bake them, Grammy replied "Until they're done!" Now these sugar cookies are soft and delicious. And they are loaded with 5 whole cups (sometimes more) of flour. We used to tag team the stirring. We'd add one cup at a time and take turns stirring into it was all mixed and we had a beautiful soft dough. Then the next day Mom would roll out the dough with Grammy's rolling pin and we'd cut the cookies from it with the little yellow cookie cutter that seemed to get beat up more and more each year. We'd bake the cookies in a "hot oven" until they were "done" and then the fun began. Mom would make icing and we'd sprinkle the cookies with colored sugar crystals or those little multi-colored candy balls. That's Christmas to me - working needlessly hard on something that will be consumed in a matter of minutes. But we really have some fun memories. So when I made "Christmas food" this year, I spread it out over several days. It was really a lovely way to spend the first part of my Christmas season. <br />
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Remember to behave well, dear friends. Santa still has time to put you on his naughty list! Blessings and peace. <br />
<div align="left"></div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-6566847023817173282010-12-16T19:04:00.000-08:002010-12-16T19:04:24.283-08:00Day 54 - Self EsteemDay 54 was a day of high hopes. Unfulfilled high hopes, but high hopes nonetheless. Josh published a book last year called "Finger Food Fiction". It's this eclectic little collection of one hundred and one word stories. One hundred and one of them. He started this project as an exercise and turned out to be really good at it (no surprise there - Josh is good at everything! Except physics. I'm not being mean - just ask him.) Well he ended up with around 200 of them and was able to pick and choose his favorite and, well the rest is history. He's a published author! So you can imagine how proud of him I was when the owners of the local book store asked if he would like to have a book signing during Carlinville's annual Christmas Market. Hence the high hopes. I spammed everyone in my inbox letting them know the book signing would take place. I talked him up at my work. I told everyone I saw weeks before. I made sure the event showed up in the Carlinville paper. At the market while he was signing books, I wondered around the tents and told everyone I saw (that I knew) to go check him out. He sold three copies. <br />
I was crushed. I thought, what is this going to do to my delicate hot house flower of a hubby. His fragile ego will be crushed. He'll never want to do anything like this again. <br />
I took it a lot harder than he did. After a nice warm Mexican dinner, he was laughing and smiling. So Joshy, Day 54 is dedicated to you. I love you and your talent. "Finger Food Fiction" is easily one of my favorite books and I feel blessed that you shared a piece of yourself with me and the rest of the world. It's truly a better world with you in it! <br />
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</div><div align="left">Plus, you looked damn fine!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Sleep well dear friends! May warm blankets and sweet dreams await you in your beds! </div>Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9053976872643743307.post-56949683820204753142010-12-11T18:47:00.000-08:002010-12-11T18:47:48.101-08:00Day 52 - Not Much to SaySo you will notice, dear friends, that I skipped day 52 on my previous post. This is because I was sick and spent the whole day on the couch. But I did take my photo! <br />
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Not too much else to say about this one. I was sick. Took a picture of my couch. That's about it. <br />
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I will continue my posting catch up but for tonight I will say sweet dreams and restful sleeps. Blessings for your tomorrows dear friends!Ezzyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09699639982623498444noreply@blogger.com0