Sunday Citar~ If the Pumpkin fits.......

...WEAR IT!!!

"Produce great pumpkins, the pies will follow later!" ~ author unknown

There is just something about holidays that make me start feeling all nostalgic. I post this every single year, but I seriously can't help it. Wasn't Sugar Bear the sweetest pumpkin you have EVER seen?

......and a really good sport, as well! ♥ ♥ ♥

My Week Explained

Christina left a comment wanting to know a little more about my week, so I decided, because I am so very fond of her, that I'd indulge her. :) okay....okay....so I'm bored...and figured, "Why not?" tee hee

The first picture was taken Sunday the 17th. It was the day of my last living grandparent's Memorial. It was a wonderful service, and the first that Sugar Bear will remember being at. She took it all in, and I know it helped her, as well as I, see Grandma Jean in a different light. She will be miss.

The second shot was Monday the 18th. Sugar Bear has dance class on Mondays and Wednesdays. We are not allowed to watch class, but I grabbed a few quick shots through the door window. I don't like to be distracting, and no matter how quiet I am, just my presence at the door is distracting. All the little hands can't help but wave at me.

The third shot was taken on Tuesday the 19th. It was grocery shopping day. I usually shop on the weekends, but the previous weekend had been so busy that I hadn't made it to the store. We were in dire straits without bread and strawberries. :)

The fourth shot was on Wednesday the 20th. It was such an amazingly beautiful day, that I went for a little walk around the building while Sugar Bear was in dance class. I had some fun getting low to grab a shot of these fluffy plant and the blue sky.

The fifth shot was on Thursday the 21st. Library day.......ooooooo how I love a good trip to the library. (BIG GRIN!) I laid down on the ground to grab this shot. I got a few really funny looks, but I'm okay with that. Oh and I'm still reading...you can see the list of books I've read in the last month in the bottom right corner of my blog here.

The sixth shot was on Friday the 22nd. I was feeling quite stressed, and had to pull out my stress frog on the way home. You see...I have a bit of a naughty habit of pulling out my hair when I'm stressed. I must keep my hands busy while driving or I'll start pulling. This little frog is a life saver.

The seventh shot was taken on Saturday the 23rd. I was on my way home from dropping Sugar Bear off at her cousin's birthday slumber party, and couldn't resist the chicken strip basket that was on special at the Dairy Queen. Oh and I MIGHT have gotten a mini pumpkin pie blizzard as well. shhhhh.......don't tell.

So there you have it. My week! You might have guessed that my project right now is to create these little collages each week. I'm going for it, and hope that I love it. I am not telling myself that I have to do it for a year, as I don't want to be stuff in something that I don't love, so I'll just do it as long as it pleases me.

Would you rather I post it with no explanation.....or with all my rambly thoughts?

Wordless Wednesday~ My Week 3

For more Wordless Wednesday, go HERE and HERE and HERE.

It's So Simple

There are days when I feel the weight of the world crushing down on me. I sit at my desk feeling like no matter how hard I try I will always find myself having to say, "I'm sorry....I don't know." or "I'm sorry....I don't have that done for you." or simply, "I'm so very sorry." I hang my head in defeat, or quite literally lay my weary head on my desk, and just wait for the feeling of inadequacy to pass.

It's days like that when I wonder what the heck I'm even doing......and why I continue to do it. One thing I know for sure.....I'm not the only one that feels like that....so there is some comfort in knowing I'm not alone. Misery loves company, right? If I'm gonna feel like a failure at work....I might as well own up to it, and just accept all it's painful gifts.

It hasn't always been like this......and it is my hope that the last two years will soon be a distant memory that I can look back on and laugh. It is my dream, that it will all be worth it in the end. These months and months of struggle, frustration, and moments of complete and utter lack of control will give me personal growth.

On one of those more difficult days, recently, I found myself searching out a peaceful setting to recenter myself before gathering my dearest Sugar Bear from daycare. I don't like to let the pressure of my day affect my ability to attend to the important relationships in my life.

Sitting in my truck overlooking the slough, through the tall weeds lining it's banks, I came to a sudden and quite freeing realization. While I can not entirely control my daily environment, I can refuse to let it change who I am. I hate to admit that this hasn't been the case up until now. I have let the stress build a cozy little home in my body, and affect some of my more admirable personality traits.

It's time for me to look this beast in the eye and take some of the power back. I'm not naive enough to believe that the source of my great aggravation will be changing entirely for a long, long while, but baby steps are happening, and I need to grab ahold of those small glimpses of hope, and look to the future.

I need to change the things that are within my control, and accept that the other stuff will eventually work itself out. I can either continue to feel defeated......or choose to take this challenge one day at a time and believe....BELIEVE......BELIEVE that I am not alone......

and I am NOT my job!

Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are. ~Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

Sunday Citar~ That Face

Welcome to Sunday Citar! This blog quote meme was created byhttp://www.freshmommyblog.com. You can stop by her blog to see the quotes and photos that she and everyone else is loving right now.

The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.~ Jack Handy

For Debbie from Aspiemom

A super quick shout out!

I need, need, need to be invited to your blog! ♥

I miss you!

My email is in the "About Me" tab under my banner.

Growth

Around September 8th, our dear sweet Oh-She had her second litter of baby bunnies. Her first litter of 3 babies did not live past 12 hours of age. This was a difficult life moment for Sugar Bear (and me, too), but we survived it, and tried again.

This litter was mostly successful. One of the little babies we born outside the nestbox in the wee hours of the night, and did not survive. You see, baby bunnies are born with out fur, their eyes aren't open. Three others made it successfully into the nest and made their first venture out into our anxious hands 4 days later, and only for a few minutes, then back to their warm nest. In those four days, their fur started to grow. We had two charcoal grey, and one black.....so adorable.

September 12th

September 16th

Give them FOUR more days and we had some "so ugly they are CUTE" little bun buns! They remind me of hairy little Manatees. ♥ Still blind, but oh so snugly.

Sugar Bear is such a wonderful little caretaker. I find myself constantly worrying and uttering, "Soft and Gently.....fragile like an egg." But, I probably don't have to anymore....because she is so protective, and loving.

September 23rd

OH my heavens, people....ONE WEEK later and they went from "oh so ugly they are cute" to "oh my word I can eat them with a spoon!" (not really....I'm not a rabbit eater.) Seriously, though....look at them!

Look at that GROWTH. Rapid, rapid....seriously amazing growth. They went from helpless little squirmy beings, to fabulously fuzzy little bunnies.

September 28th

FIVE more days and you have bonafide bunnies on your hands. They are so attached to Sugar Bear. They love to be with her, and snuggle into her body.

They tentatively explore their surroundings....

Always returning for a cuddle. ♥

October 3rd

All three have turned out to resemble their father, Mace. They are seriously fuzzy little honeys. Sugar Bear is quite attached to Jumper, Thumper and Blackberry.

I'm not sure exactly how she is going to survive their removal from our home here in the next week or so....

I mean who wouldn't miss this three Grumpy Old Men? (okay, so I have not idea if they are boys or girls....ever try to sex a bunny? It ain't easy!)

Oh my yes....we are going to miss them! There might be some tears, but the arrival of these SEVEN little bundles, just might be our saving grace. We are so excited to watch their GROWTH.

LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Team-Up Thursday~ SMALL

It was my week to choose a theme and I simply had no idea what would inspire me. Looking back through some of the other Team-Up Thursday participant's diptychs I saw that many of them did "SMALL" a few weeks back. I emailed Berta the theme...then proceeded to let it slip from my mind. I had intended on really trying to think outside the box...or at least force myself to take a photo of something I have never aimed my camera at before. Great intentions.....not so great follow through.

Yesterday it dawned on me that I hadn't taken a SMALL shot, and I needed to get something edited and sent to Berta right away. However, as I drove home from my long day at the office all I could think about was getting home and checking on our baby bunnies. You see.....we have 7 one week old baby bunnies at home and they are so very fragile....and well......needy. Their eyes aren't even open yet. Our weather has been nuts lately, hitting lows of 36 degrees in the morning and highs of 76 degrees in the late afternoon. These poor little creatures don't know what to think. I'm anxious that they will not survive, so they are in my thoughts nearly non-stop.

Once home, I proceeded to gently remove each sweet baby bunny from the fur lined nest to check for full tummies, and growth. Sugar bear sat holding a few squirmy babies, as I kept saying over and over again, "Soft and gentle....fragile like an egg." to remind her of their delicate state. Once I completed my task, I finally turned to retrieve the last two from Sugar's loving hands, and realized just how SMALL these little honeys are. I ran for my camera, calling over my shoulder, "soft and gentle.....fragile like an egg." I returned to grab this shot....my sweet Sugar's SMALL hands holding our SMALL precious babies. It just melts my heart. I'm grateful for this wonderful life experience.

When I first saw Berta's shot, I literally GASPED! I mean seriously...look at it. it is breathtaking. I'm not sure if all the texture in that shot is strictly in camera bokeh or if she applied a post processing texture, but OH.MY.WORD what a photo. Please take the time to go over to her site and tell her how awesome she is.

Please do head over to Megan's to find all the Team-up Thursday participants.

Wordless Wednesday~ My Week 2

For more Wordless Wednesday, go HERE and HERE and HERE.

Awesome

~ "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

~ crawling into bed with a warm little Sugar Bear in the morning.

~ pumpkin pie milkshakes...or blizzards....or pumpkin anything, really. :)

~ going to lunch with a good friend whom you don't see often enough, and miss greatly! ♥

~ seeing relatives you haven't had the pleasure of visiting with in a long, long time and finding that you both miss and admire each other.

~ having a spur of the moment dance party in a co-worker's office, that only lasts 3 minutes, but leaves you happy the rest of the day.

~ yummy oatmeal, with a spoonful of peanut butter mixed in on a cold fall morning.

~ getting the opportunity to see someone through the eyes of others, and learning to appreciate that person all the more.

~ a hearty "Good morning! How are you?" that is heart felt and meaningful.

~ chai tea.

~ a blank day on my calendar, announcing the opportunities that day presents.

~ looking through decades old photo albums, and seeing your growth, not only physically, but as an individual.

~ pumpkin pie blizzards! (Oops...did I already say that one? tee hee )

~ a space heater aimed directly at my feet on a super chilly morning in the office.

~ knowing that even if they don't comment, there are people out there who read this silly ol' blog and find joy in it. (wink wink....you know who you are!)

~ "The Wizard of Oz", and "Mary Poppins".

~ a small hand automatically reaching for mine in a crowd of people she may or may not know. Being her "safe place" is an honor.

~ admiring thick fog as it hovers over a body of water.

~ the promise of a new week....and all it's possibilities!

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.
- William James

Have a GREAT week! Life is GOOD!

Sunday Citar~ Bride and Groom

Welcome to Sunday Citar! This blog quote meme was created byhttp://www.freshmommyblog.com. You can stop by her blog to see the quotes and photos that she and everyone else is loving right now.

Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that. ~Michael Leunig

Team-Up Thursday~ FALL

As each year goes by, I forget how much I love the FALL season. Then, when it comes around the loop, I'm always surprised all that is wonderful this time of year.

Berta's shot perfectly defines all that I love about FALL indoors. Nothing better than harvest decor......a yummy smelling candle....and some candy corn. sigh.....I could climb right in that picture and be happy for a long....long....long.....time.

My photo defines all that I love of FALL season outside. oooooooo the colors. I really wish I lived somewhere with more deciduous trees. There is nothing better than fabulously FALL leaves. The crisp cool air....the sunny days. It is just all so wonderful.

Please do head over to Megan's to find all the Team-up Thursday participants.

Wordless Wednesday~ My Week

For more Wordless Wednesday, go HERE and HERE and HERE.

The creative side of life

"I tell you, the more I think, the more I feel that there
is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." Vincent van Gogh

If the above quote is true....then I must be the most artistic person alive. It has been a long time since I've taken time to write about my deep love for being a parent. In truth....I have been far to entangled in the every day doings of being a parent, and not spending enough time appreciating the gift that parenting is.

Back in August, I found myself enjoying the sight of my little Sugar Bear being creative. I relish these times. You see, Sugar Bear might be a lot of things....but she is not inherently creative. She is a puzzler....a thinker......a figure it all outer sort of girl. She can read....add and subtract.....ride a bike, and hula hoop like a champ, but....she isn't creative. She struggles with solitary play, and isn't the type to sit down and create. She has never been into coloring, or drawing, and really doesn't enjoy the process of writing. AND all of that is okay, because I know and understand that we all have our own interests and talents. What she loves.....she is good at. The rest....will come with practice...or simply won't play a major role in her life. That's okay.

Regardless of all that....I still get a little giddy when Sugar Bear does decide to let a bit of her creative side show. I just don't know what it is about art that gets me all emotional, but it does. Watching her wipe her slate clean in preparation for her newest creation always gets me worked up with anticipation.

It's like getting a glimpse into her soul for a little while. I can see and feel who she is. Watching her hands guide the brush......

Seeing her brain working with her hands as a team.

Looking into her eyes, to catch a small look at where she has been, and where she is going.

Sugar Bear is a quiet painter. Other times, she is loud and boisterous. It is as if the silence allows her hands to hear her heart.

Sometimes her hands fail her, and I watch as she struggles to deal with the great emotion that causes.

Sometimes she needs gentle reminders that she just needs to keep trying.

I relish in the moments of concentration.......and determination....

To get it just RIGHT!

There is nothing as beautiful to me......as my Sugar Bear. It's times like this that give me a peek into the future. I begin to see who she is becoming.

There are times when I just wish I could nestle myself in Sugar Bear's mind, and soak up all that is her. Make my home her being. Life is good in there....life is pure, and sweet.

In recent months, I haven't taken the time to admire all that she is. That is a mistake. She deserves admiration.....devotion......unconditional awe.

Sugar Bear, you are: Smart, Funny, Stupendous, and Real!


You are: Amazing, Kind, Tender, and True.

You are: Boisterous, Energetic, Devoted, and Attached.

You bring out the best in ME. All that makes me creative is inspired by YOU. You are my creative side. Thoughts of you send my mind to wandering through all that is right with the world.

Your laughter is the blood that runs through my veins. You give me life.....and.......LIFE IS GOOD!