Winter Garden

Today Daddy called us to come have lunch... fried fish! And no one turns down Daddy's fried fish. Besides, we helped catch some of those fish! One thing led to another, and we ended up in the garden pulling turnips. I took the opportunity to experiment with my camera. A goal for me is to eventually take the training wheels off and shoot fully manual. *eeek* Totally scary... but do.able. I played around with my aperture and shutter speed... you know, to get me ready for the portrait.lens I am shamelessly begging for. And here are just a few results. These are just the first few... I have more to come. I'll post those tomorrow.

Here's a peek.





I suppose we down here in South Louisiana could say we are in the 'dead of winter'... but Momma's garden is still very much alive and beautiful. Mind you, most of the fall crop has bolted and gone to seed, but it makes for a lively place to be for the bees and critters. I can't wait to share the rest.

*I've got a lot to learn... but with RAW format, post photoprocessing, and three ridiculously large flash memory cards to fall back on, I think I could eventually get better.

Peace, love, and snotty portrait lenses.
xo
lmkw

A Little Hodge.Podge

This post will surely be a little hodge.podgy... I mean, with more than a week offline, lots of knitting, house.improving, Superbowl.partying, a trip... and an ever expanding tum.tum, a hodge.podge post is absolutely necessary. I suppose the only other alternative is to want some sort of well thought out post... that neatly keeps on one track. And given the circumstances, is impossible. So, bare with me... because if I chose the later, I would never blog again. Too much pressure.

The laptop is up and running. I didn't lose a single picture or document or professional piece from my portfolio. VICTORY! However, the whole ordeal is a pain... It's like having a new computer... just without the 'new.' BUT all the companies have been great about providing their software to be installed again if the reload caused me to lose it. No harm, no foul.

I spent my time knitting and crossing things off my very pragmatic NewYearsRez list. I need to do a photo.post of my favorite things and places around the house as things shape up. *I will.* We've really made some strides over the past couple of weeks AND will have even more to show for it in the coming weeks. Nothing feels better than following through with your visions to create a home.space that suits you and your family. Plus, the nesting thing I'm going through doesn't hurt! The whole process really makes me stop and reflect dead in my tracks: Wow... I'm... really blessed. Feeling grateful is a great feeling... and I hope I can always be present enough to identify the goodness around me. It's a beautiful, free sort of feeling.

Oh, the Superbowl! So my team lost... but the party we threw here *ROCKED.* It was one of those great events where everything came together just right. I had intended on it to be a small get together... just us and my friend and her hubs and tiny.tot, aka Miracle. BUT it grew to something different all together. Lots of new friends came and hung out with us. The food was delish, the company was incredibly refreshing, and the kids played so well together. I mean, it looked like a PotteryBarnKids photoshoot in here! The kids were INCREDIBLY well behaved and added to our fun! Don't you just love that? It rarely seems to work that way... Nice.

Beaux.Jack and I took a quick trip to Poverty Point, LA... actually Delhi, LA, to visit my little brother. He came down from MO to fish and boar hunt. Yes, boar hunt. As in wild pigs with tusk that run through the woods. Since I may not see him until I deliver bebe.jax, James and I decided to make the trek up to see him. It was such a nice visit! The weather was cold and windy, which kept me from *seriously* fishing... but we caught plenty from our cabin on the water... we threw a bundled boat ride... and heard the wildest hunting stories I've ever heard. To make a long story short (with hopes of pictures to round up and post soon) my beautiful brother killed a 250 lbs. wild hog with his bare hands and a knife. ...............

Seriously.......
Let it sink in for a while.........
Whatever image you are producing right now is most probably more accurate than not...
Yes, like that scene in OldYeller... cept the kid was smart enough to stay in the tree...
And no reports of rabies thus far. Good news for Tboy, bad news for the pig.

Unbelievable that kid. He's... pretty much spectacular. Not because of his Lord of the Flies ability to run wild through the woods.... or his Man vs. Nature way of living every day... but because the total package of my brother is the wildest, funniest, sweetest, best.lookingest, only certain people can pull it off- thing you'd ever see. And I didn't even mention how smart he is... *well, perhaps the wild.boar wrestling story may contradict that claim... later.

And lastly... I have the urge to tell you about my ever.expanding waistline--- but I lost my waist weeks and weeks and weeks ago. I'm at the point where I am all bebe from ribs to legs. I feel like a walking whisky barrel. It's huge, round, and oddly hard and not cuddly at all. Of course, that's a good thing I think. Bebe.jax is growing and in.love with his belly space. I judge that from all the wild movement that's been going on lately. I talk to him, we all do, and he moves in reaction- like he already knows us. I'm completely bonded with this little boy. I can't wait to have him here among us. Being pregnant has been so good for me. I'm so happy where I am right now. I'm puff.chest proud of what all I have accomplishes... what my tiny family has accomplished... and I have an overwhelming feeling that I've got the whole world on a string. So much possibility. So much to look forward to. So much to live for. *pinch me* We start the nursery this week... I'm so excited.

We've decided to use most of the vintage cowboy we used for James. I've gotten mixed reactions about using it again. The bottom line is that his nursery was a custom collection from boutiques and antique stores... totally cool and unpredictable stuff. I can't bare to garage sale it. It makes sense to use it again since I love it so much. Plus, the money that it frees up can be used on a beautiful bassinet, blankets, and a beautiful layette for our new.boy. You know, since I don't have to reinvent the wheel here, I can pretty much have my cake and eat it too: cute custom nursery AND all the bebe gear and clothes and blankets and accessories I like! So, I feel it's a win.win. (Shut up, Erica... :) *I'll post all the goodness soon.

That's it! Blog.House.Keeping complete!

I hope yall's Vday plans are shaping up... this may be my best Vday yet. We've got nearly a whole weeks worth of sweet.plans. Being the only girl around this holiday really pays off! With bebe.jax rounding the corner, I may be forever altered by all of this adoring.

Share your plans, yo!

Peace, love, and banana.splits!
xo
lmkw

*Almost*

Hi friendlies!

I'm still on hold for my computer... I expect it back on Monday... a little later than previously expected. BUT that's okay. I've been liberated with my off.line week!

I've enjoyed knitting up a storm. Bebe stuff of course... and spending time reorganizing and decorating the new casa. So as us teachers say, I've used my time wisely! ;)

I've got lots of things to share and pics to post... but next week! For now, I'm teaching my Saturday class... and I've got a super.bowl shindig tomorrow. So til next time!

Peace, love, and king cake.
xo
lmkw

I am...

*in my very best Mr. Roboto voice*

"I. Will. Be. Out. Of commision. Until Thursday.ish."

computer is on the fritz.... What will I do? Knit!!! And start sewing some blankets and burp rags for bebe.jax.....
I'll miss my morning blog time.. But I'll be back asap!

Peace, love, and homemade pompoms.
Xo
Lmkw

Yesterday is gone!

We only have today. The hope of tomorrow... and the promise that comes from living in the greatest country on Earth.

Of all the countries in this wide world, only a few celebrate a peaceful change of power. What a privilege it is to be here, present, living our lives in safety and freedom. What an honor it is to have had this day paved for us by thousands of people who have sacrificed, and given more than they ever had to ensure our rights and equalities as Americans.

Today, Barack Obama becomes our President. My President!


James will have witnessed one of the greatest days in American history... a day that will impact his life towards peace, justice, and equality the rest of his life. Jackson will ONLY know this America... where all things are possible.

Enjoy this day, friends. An entire history of a nation has brought us to this providential place.

What a beautiful day! What a beautiful way to live.

Peace, love, and unity,
xo
lmkw

Vicarious... and easy.

Certainly helps with the whole Monday thing.

Jill posted this on her blog... and seeing how I'd like to delay my productivity and stay in the bed a couple of minutes longer... I'm going to take a stab at it.

*I promise to post something later... and soon.

***********
Finish the Sentences

1. I wish I could..... tan in the sun naturally. Crochet. Make meringue cookies in this climate. Adopt from Africa (sooner rather than later).

2. My biggest fear is.... someone, something hurting my child. Being separated from them and not being able to get to him.

3. I hate to..... lock doors. feel patronized. sleep without my favorite blanket.

4. I love.... raspberries. My beautiful bebe.brother. To dig my toes under Marcus' legs on the couch. Alton Brown. Knitting. Insects. The way James says 'feather.' and folk music.

5. Today I will.... send Hotness off on business, plant my daffodil bulbs hoping for a late bloom, buy some yarn and a new circular needles, and eat strawberries.

6. Yesterday I ..... went to church. Took pictures of Sydney being baptized. Cried happy tears. And took a long winters nap.

7. My hair is.... perfect. It's the number one vain thing about me. I love my hair. It's super short, spiky, red, and totally me. I could go on for hours....

8. I will never... enjoy Jim Carrey movies. Stop being a mother. Forget to consider other perspectives. Have to feel the way I did before getting my degree.

Okay- off to grind flax seed! And prepare lunch for the Hunks.

See you fellers later! *Oh, and thanks Jill for letting me pirate your stuff and being so nice about it!

Peace, love, and the power of Dreams,
xo
lmkw

The Sunday that came before Monday...

I've been feeling a rush of energy lately. January is turning out to be a *magical* time of year for me. I suppose I've been tooooooo busy with school and life the past few years to really see that. Anywho, that's me at 24 weeks. I'm officially in my THIRD TRIMESTER. I can't believe it. Such a grateful place to be. Bebe.jax will be here in just 12 weeks. Hopefully in three or four weeks I can clearly say "I'm ready." But for now, I'm still preparing for our new boy.

Back to being inspired. I am. Inspired. About life, about my marriage, about my children... my house... my opportunities here in this place. AND I've been inspired develop my photography into something I can use and celebrate more. Yesterday, I carried my camera around with me hoping to capture some of this *fantastic* that's been in the air around here.

Here is the result... a photo.journal of our Sunday.

***

We find James a lot just playing in his playroom. He loves it here. *I've got plans to complete this room soon.

I got dressed and took a second to photograph my big day: Beginning of my third trimester. I plan on taking many more pics during this time... I regret not celebrating my pregnacy with James. I was still struggling with my miscarriage then... and it just wasn't the same. This time, I feel strong and capable and beautiful. So I hope to take more time documenting my beautiful pregnant body.




James helped me pack away our Nativity. He wanted to hold bebe.Jesus.


Marcus treated us to our favorite cold.weather.lunch...


La Mad's...


They were short staffed so one of the cooks actually took our order. We always let James order his own food... meaning, we let him tell the waiter/waitress what he'd like to eat and drink. *It's a pet.peeve of mine to see mothers speak for their 9, 10+ year old children when at a restaurant. I want my kid to know how to talk in all settings. You look them in the eye, you clearly let them know your order, you say thank you. He's been doing this since before he was two. *He just ordered his drink back then... I don't talk for my kid. He's a human being. He knows to look strangers in the eye and speak up. He knows English and is learning to do a great job himself. So anyways, the cook recited his list of choices (the usual, mac and cheese, pbj, pizza, etc) James said, "Ummmmmm..." The cook looked at me. I told him that he's more in to 'real' food... suprised, the cook said, "I know! How about French toast!" Well, that was a winner. James asked for 'french toast wiff some fruit. I'm so so hungry. I could eat an ewwephant. And milk, please." Ring it up. The cook apparently was tickled by the whole exchange. He hand delivered the meal, and told James he cooked it himself with extra fruit and whip cream. It was enough to make the mom in me want to hug him... AND his mother. Look at that delicious plate of goodness! *Another reason why we love this place.

Me? Easy. Fat.free chicken ceasar with Tomato.Basil.Heaven.in.a.cup. Marcus suprised me with the strawberries romanoff... This pregnancy has made me a fruitatarian. Oh, they were PERFECT. And Mango tea with lots of lemon.



To the grocery for fish oil and king author whole wheat flour and flax... *for bread.


"Momma, take a pitture of my tongue." I've taken pictures of less... why not?





The sunset ride home... it was so grey all day... the clouds were beautiful.


A few celebratory self.portraits... Bebe.jax was just a moving around. I feel beautiful. I read a blog earlier last week... she was explaining how pregnancy can make you feel beautiful; 'the kind of beautiful God intends women to feel.' Yep! I understand that. Completely. I'm happy to share in that feeling. So*So*happy.
*I use to avoid pics inside... the light is always so bad. But I'm beginning to love the dark grainy shots with lots of shadows. I'm learning that 'perfect' shots don't always occur in 'optimal' light, etc.*

Wells, the pics stop here. We fed the boy, bathed him... and to bed he went. I made mexican lattes. Marcus made me one of his incredible paninis with fruit... and then we watched Jack Bauer save the world for two beautiful hours.

Hello week! I've got lots planned for you.

Peace, love, and target.runs.
xo
lmkw