~ I've Got That ....

..... covered.

My sister-in-law phoned me about a month ago

and asked me if I would be interested

in knitting some hats for preemies

to donate to our local hospitals.

My response was

"Heck Yeah!"

Anything to help cover

those precious little preemie heads

to keep them warm and safe.

Besides, I love to knit!

So, I made a dozen of these!

I enjoyed this so much

that I think I just might make more!!!

♥



~ Centered .....

....NOT!!!

I had just gotten home from my 4.5 mile walk .....

sweaty .... hair a mess .....

and I decided to grab my camera

and get my shot in for "Now You".

Not an easy task holding that camera steady

with one hand

and trying to get myself in the frame .....

but I wasn't in the mood for multiple shots,

so this is it.

Not centered....

Not glamorous....

Just me.

Heck, if you look closely you can see the peach fuzz

on my chinny chin chin!!

I don't mind making eye contact with the camera

but I still want to hide my nose .....

my mouth .....

my neck .....

my jowls ....

It was difficult for me to not put my hands over

at least one of those "features".

But I didn't .......

~ Happy Mother's Day ...

"The death of a mother

is the first sorrow wept without her."  ~ Unknown

I lost my mother in 1984, six years after losing my father.

I miss her.

She loved me unconditionally.

She didn't have it easy ... but she didn't complain.

She lost her father when she was 5 years old.

She lost her mother when she was 12.

Her uncle and his wife took her to live with them.

Her 3 brothers were separated from her ... each living with different relatives.

I can't imagine the pain that must have caused her.

My heart aches now when I think about the rebellious things I did that hurt her.

But she never let on that I disappointed her or hurt her.

She just loved me.

Unconditionally.

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom, Rita Leblanc Auger, at the age of 16.

My mom and yours truly .... circa 1971.

Look at the way she's looking at me.

Can you feel the love??????

Wow!!!

My mom, circa 1980 .... visiting her brother (and flying to Florida....ALONE....which

was a really big deal for her) and

cuttin' loose with Minnie!

I would gladly give up a day of my life

just to see her one more time.

♥

~ Happy Birthday Claire ...

Today would have been my sister Claire's 70th birthday.

In her regular "Claire" fashion, she would have insisted that no one made a fuss ...

but would have been delighted that we would.

I would call her and sing "♫Happy Birthday to you...♪" as I did every year before.

But she is not here.

On Christmas night in 1995 she ended her battle with uterine cancer.

Taken too soon.

So many birthdays ago.

On her first birthday without her I wrote a very small sentiment....

"It's hard to let you go, sweet Claire.

Springtime is not the same.

The warm May breeze and ladybugs

Keep whispering your name."

I recite it on her birthday every year since.

Happy Birthday Claire.

xoxo



~ "The Need" . . .

"It's nice sometimes

to open up the heart a little

and let some hurt come in.

It proves you're still alive.

If nothing else

it says to you,

clear as high hill air,

uncomfortable

as diving through cold water,

I'm here!

However wretchedly I feel,

I feel!"

~Rod McKuen

I simply ♥ Rod McKuen's poetry.

It speaks to me.....deeply.

I have most of his books.

I sigh when I read them.

Anyway, this is for my "NowYou" project.

I was feeling cranky .... really cranky .....

and I didn't want to take these shots....

especially with no photoshop!

I thought "How can I?" 

But I'm committed to this project

and so I did.

This is who you'd see if you came knocking at my door.

Voilà.....c'est moi!!!!!

~

~ Straw Flower Cactus . . .

I've been in a slump lately ......

my relationship with my camera suffered.

I can't quite put my finger on the reason.

It's just the way it was.

So, while out shopping the other day

this little fella jumped out at me

shouting

"Take me home, I'm photogenic!"

I loved the little straw flower poking out of the side of the cactus.

I found the perfect spot for it.

Indeed, it is quite photogenic.

I love taking macro shots and this little cactus didn't disappoint.

I just loved the straw flower on it ....

it made me smile.

So, snap~snap~snap went the camera!

Then I decided to read up on this lovely plant.

Well.......

I have finally stopped laughing at myself enough

to tell you what I found out......

Did you know that the little straw flower is not really part of the cactus?

Here's what I found:

"Straw flower cactus plants make a beautiful addition to any house. Upon first glance, they appear to be normal cacti with bright, vibrant flowers growing out of the top. However, the flowers are glued to the cacti and not an actual natural part of them. While the flowers are technically dead, they are still capable of opening and closing with moisture and temperature changes, which gives them the appearance of being alive. When properly cared for, a straw flower cactus can last several years."

Glued?
Really???    What the heck?????
Are you laughing, too?????

Am I gullible or what?
LOL

Oh well........
 I did get a good laugh (at my own expense)
and I did get some decent shots.
So,
I'm happy!
And out of my slump!

:-D

I decided to play over at SueLovesCherries' "Rednesday"

~ If Not Now . . . . Then When?

♪  Ta-da  ♫

 Crap!

Is that me?

Yup! 

One click of the camera.

No second, third or fourth shots.

As is.

No photoshop.

When I uploaded this image, I stared at it for the longest time.

I so wanted to click "delete".

I so wanted to smooth my skin out.....

get rid of the wrinkles.....

I've always disliked how I look.

My nose is too wide!

My lips are .... well .... non-existent!

I've inherited my family "jowls".

Should I go on????

I walked away from the computer at least five times

and each time I came back

and looked at myself

I panicked.

But then I thought,

well if I can't let you see the real me

and be true to you

then how the heck can I be true to myself??

So, here I am ....

in the "raw" so to speak.

And I'm scared!

This is me!

It's the first step

to seeing myself

in a whole new light.

~

This shot brings this song to mind ....

"The morning sun

when it's in your eyes

really shows your age.

But that don't worry me none,

in my eyes

you're everything."

Consider joining "Beyond Layers"
Today's challenge is "Now You".
Also, consider joining
Now You Workshop
with Shutter Sisters

♥