satisfied

shrimp boil last night...

with our dearest friends...

and shrimp fresh from the coast...

both my soul and my tummy were satisfied...

my journey

Since January, this has been my journey. 

I have been training for my second half-marathon. 

On Sunday I will run in Lincoln, NE. 

13.1 miles. 

This journey is more of a mental one for me than physical. 

I KNOW I can run the 13.1 miles. 

I do this to prove to myself that I can keep going...

that when I am tired of running, I can get into that zone and finish. 

I will do it this time to finish faster than last year. 

My friends and I do this for the camaraderie.

We do this for ourselves, and for some girl time.

We support each other throughout our training,

with shoulders, band aids, and high-fives and smiles and tears.

Will I see you in the crowds in Lincoln?

I like to imagine that you are all out there...

rooting

us on.

freshly covered

My outdoor pillows, freshly covered with fun fabric. 

Aren't they fun?

ps, yes, I even made the welting!

finally...spring

It is finally showing signs of spring around here

there are little buds on the shrubs...

some blades of grass are greening up...

but no flowers yet, so we have to be happy...

with grocery store tulips!

ps, I'm back from a little hiatus.  It feels good to be here!

such a treasure

My Molly, my treasure.

There's nothing like having a daughter.

it's me

It's me...in my car...where it seems I always am

and yes those are grey hairs

the sun is sweet

Today 2 really sweet things happened:

• The sun came out
• I found fresh red tulips at the grocery store

ps, I'm back after a hiatus!

rock

Indian Rock Park is right by our house...but the rocks are covered with snow right now! 

no shadows

This time of year in Kansas, a shadow can be hard to find.

This year it has been especially difficult.

It is snowing again and supposed to drop down to the minus temps tonight.

Grey days filled with clouds and gloom help to remind me

of the glorious spring days which are just around the corner.

I love living in a place with four seasons.

hope for the holiday

I know this isn't an original photo or post, but I have been busy being sick all week. 

Like seriously, in bed ALL WEEK. 

Don't get that flu stuff if you can help it. 

Seriously. 

This is the ornament each of my kids got this year from my mom and dad. 

This ornament was chosen because in a few short weeks we will be on a cruise together. 

We leave town on Christmas day, and I am hoping beyond all hope

that this sick leaves our household before then.

Please?

they really do like to be together

See? 

They weren't thrilled about going over to Indian Rock

to take holiday card photos

but they had fun...

and so did I!

this morning

Behold a brave walker this morning on my street. 

up against the sky

my favorite shot...maybe my signature one

prairie grass against the sky

nothing more brautiful in my opinion

no matter the season

windows and doors

Windows and doors are all around me. 

My office is right across from an abandoned mill, and I love imagining all of the activity and business that used to go on there.  Strangely enough, I still think it is beautiful (especially in yesterday's evening light)

even without the activity.

it's the season

Fall means one thing in our house...soccer.

Although the fall soccer season is short where we live, we love every minute of it.

I had some great shots of the kiddos playing, but I kept coming back to this one.  8 year-olds on the bench during the game aren't always paying attention, or even watching the game, but they ARE having fun!  And isn't that what it is all about?

orange on the prairie

I chose orange as the theme this week, not just because it is my favorite color, and not just because it is Halloween and autumn and the time for orange all around.  I chose orange because it is such a temporary color.  There are not many things in nature that last that are orange...sunsets, mums, pumpkins on the vine...all things that we get to experience for only a short time, fleeting moments really.  I wanted the challenge of capturing something that wasn't a traditional orange object.

My friends and I went on a photo walk on Monday. It was an absolutely gorgeous evening. The wind was calm, and the sun was setting, and the prairie was beautiful. I roasted a pumpkin and then made fresh, warm pumpkin bread and spiked hot chocolate (made with milk and cocoa even) and took it with. We had a little picnic on a prairie hill and watched the sun set.  As I was downloading my photos, I saw so much orange.  Orange that I didn't even notice out on the prairie...

unfocused

our bed stripped clean

from all of the sickness of this week.

I have finally taken a shower,

a REAL shower; not just a warm bath to erase

the feverish sweat away.

I have eaten rice and toast with good results.

maybe tomorrow will be back to normal.

Isn't the flu a good way to force us

to press the reset button on our lives?

who I see

I spend a lot of time on the road

I like to make up stories about the other travelers out there

are they working?

sightseeing?

on vacation?

This is the view of who I see quite often...

just for the night

On my way for my morning diet coke, this little bike caught my eye

I like to imagine it was abandoned last night as the air got cool and the sun went down

I like to imagine that some little tyke is playing on that bike again right now

I like to imagine that when this child gets too big for this colorful plastic bike,

another one will ride it up and down the sidewalk

...abandoned, but not for long