Settling in Suburbatory

...I grew up in the Boonies. Not as far removed from society & such as some, but a good 15 + minutes to anything remotely populated. While I loved the 10 beautiful acres we lived on (and mowed & gardened) I hated it. I used to wish my dad would move us to a real neighborhood, one where mail was delivered to your front door (not 1/4 of a mile down the dirt road) one where there were sidewalks and people came to our house for Trick or treating not us driving to find a neighborhood. One where my friends could come over whenever, not when my parents or their parents could take the time to drive us around.
   Life with the Hubs has taken us to different housing situations. We have had the quiet neighborhood- no sidewalks but the mail came to the front door, kids trick or treated at our door. The country living - close enough to town but far enough that the sky was pitch black at night. The duplex style home smack dab in the middle of the neighborhood. And now- after searching for a home forEver- we settled on a house in surburbatory. And I have learned that I don't belong in the suburbs. I in no way mean this as a jab at my neighbors, who for as close as we all live to one another, I do not know, but I am sure they are nice people. (although I am still unsure of the woman who sits in her garage all day smoking- my Hubby calls her our back-up ADT) And my little "hood" is decent. It's safe. It's close to where we need to be. The house fits us. And for these things I am Absolutley Thankful. My problem with living here is that I feel absolutely stymied creatively. I feel completely boxed in. We have a nice yard, and a beautiful privacy fence that separates us from the woods (& the creek where the gators live...). But in the mornings when I look out on my backyard & that fence, I can't help but think of good ole Bing singing "Oh give me land lots of land under starry skies above, don't fence me in".
   I crave something more spontaneous and not so planned. I crave wildflowers, not manicured flower beds. I crave sitting outside on a warm evening and not hearing people next door talking. I feel no photographic inspiration walking around mile 2.2 mile loop. Zilch. Zero. Zip. And the house. O the house. It is a good little house....but it too lacks individuality.
   Luckily for me (and my dear sweet hubby who has worked so hard to provide for us and just does NOT need to hear me whine about these things) I live in a cute little town, a cute town full of neighborhoods Just Like Mine- but cute nonetheless. And I live in a town that just a stones throw from my home in Suburbatory is this.......

    This makes me forget all about those fences! This gorgeous sunset view is attached to this piece of land....

   .....which is completely out of my price range at the moment. But oh just looking at this makes my creative juices flow! So until then, I will love my little house tucked in with all the others and I will make it a place where I will bloom and one day some other woman will step outside and admire the beautiful roses I have planted, the bottlebrush trees I nursed back to health and all the little things I do to make this more my home.

Happy Monday to you all.

For Sanity's Sake- I Am Back!

   Has it really been 5 months, almost 6, since I have sat & blogged? Sigh....it has. While I have indeed kept up with all of you (I find that I log in to read your blogs more than I log on to Facebook or even my personal e-mail & you have been my respite on busy days) I have faded away from the blogging world. Ladies, Life has been busy..busy is good. And I do take busy as a Blessing. But I miss This.

   So let me fill you in! Yes, as some of you know, I Finally got a job. (Cue the angels singing please). I was so very blessed to have a wonderful friend step in on my behalf and place herself in front of my prospective employers and say...well, I don't know exactly What she said, but they hired me. (11 months of job-searching thank you Dear Friend!) And I love the job. Professionally, it was a huge leap for me- I am not trained in this field (law), it has been a learning experience for sure. Thank goodness I like to learn! Personally, it has been an experience. I have found myself asking God for much guidance. It is all a learning experience and I have learned more about myself than I ever anticipated.  But I love the job and am super excited to get to begin something with it that is more related to my business background and my love of real estate. And can I mention- I Love, Love, Love having an excuse to buy wear cute shoes! (although my hubby does not seem to think that Wellies really qualify as work shoes....I am working on finding a way to show to him that indeed they do!)

   Of course the Job means less time from home...way less time from home...which makes me sad. I have managed work my hours so that I am home in time to cook dinner every night (this is a Big Thing for Me & our family) but...the creative side of me is suffering. I went months without really taking pictures. My sweet hubby noticed this and surprised me with a new camera, which I hate to say, I have used twice. But I love the gesture- what a man!

   My Famile: the Hubby, Man-Cubs & fur-babies all remain well..they are healthy & happy and I could not ask for more! We are less than 2 months from our oldest son's highschool graduation, a thought which honestly as I type the words kid of makes my heart feel heavy. I have attempted once to shop for a dress for me to wear to his graduation and I left Macy's in tears. I may be a wound a little tight....ya think? Man Cub 2 is itching for that driver's permit- I am reluctant, I have seen him on a riding mower. It wasn't pretty.

  So, there is the update. And now, the Plan..I have realized that for my sanity's sake, I need to cook, I need to snap pictures and I need to write...and as I fastly approach Thirty Eight (gulp) I need to start making me a priority...so you will see me around again ;)

(Speaking of pictures........

.....you know I can't Not post atleast 1 picture! This was taken on St. Patrick's Day in Savanna, Ga. An absolutely gorgeous day, and an absolutely fantastic place to celebrate St. Patrick. Enjoy!)

   Ta Ta For Now!

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

        I often have people tell me my pictures are beautiful and that I am so lucky to live in such beautiful places. Honestly...I don't think I am lucky to live in amazing places...I think I am blessed to see the beauty in where-ever it is I am. I owe the desire to capture that beauty on film to my Grandpop...to the eyes that see that beauty...God gave me those & for that I am thankful. Those eyes let me see this view not with fear of the storm that was rolling in with those clouds, but in awe of the beauty that was right then.

 May your days be seen with eyes wide open!
Happy Wednesday!

Goin To The Chapel & We're Gonna Get Married...

   Before you read Click Here :) it makes reading this so much better!
    Hold your horses....it's not me...my wedding day happened 18 years ago...but 2 very dear friends to my Hubby & I are Goin to the Chapel and they're gonna get marriiiieeed and I could not be more excited and I really restrain myself from launching into this song every time I see the Bride to Be!
    First of all I must tell you- I love...LOOOVVVEEEE this couple. It's very rare that the Hubs & I both really latch on to and really like a couple..both of them.I know I don't need to explain that...I know y'all know what I mean.  But this couple- we both just adore. They are, as my mother would say, Good People. They just blew us away when they asked that we stand with them and witness as they exchange their vows. We are so honored, and so very excited to see them tie the knot! So the wedding planning has commenced! And in my helping this bride to be come up with idea for dresses, flowers and such, I have figured something out...there is a reason God did not give me daughters, and this it. Wedding planning. O my gosh- I would be a Holy terror to a daughter and to my hubby's checkbook if I had to marry a daughter off! There. Are. So. Many. Wedding. Pretty. Pretties! How on Earth do Brides decide on just ONE bouquet? Just ONE cake. Just ONE dress? Shoes...hairdos..churches...Aaaaaaaa. It's all so pretty, I want it all!
    Now I got married in 1993 & we had a very small wedding. A very small, very quick window to plan it and get it done. (My hubby likes to tell people he had to marry me quick before I changed my mind) For months before we actually set a date (like 2 weeks from the day that we set the date) I had all the bridal magazines, I had an idea of all the pretty pretties...but lemme tell ya bridal magazines vs Pinterest. Pinterest Wins. And it is Pinterest that has thrown me into a Wedding Frenzy.
    To prove my case...just for the fun of it....go to Pinterest...search wedding...and then I will see you in a few days. I sure hope my son's future brides are ready for me! I got plans people! And say a prayer for my friend..I am trying not to Overload her inbox with ideas and colors and suggestions, like since she has two locations in mind, I think we can swing two separate ceremonies. That's not overkill is it??

I will take them all please! (photo via Pinterest)

So Pretty! (photo via Pinterest)

Have a beautiful day!