Our little dude, Copper, had some surgery last Friday. He’s been wearing this cone for a week – can you stand it? He’s been pitiful. The sound of scratching plastic has filled my ears and my head. Plastic scraping on the floor while Roomba Jr. tries to resume normal activities.

I’ve slept with him on the couch, scratched his itches, and made sure his water dish was full enough so that his little tongue could reach beyond the cone.

He looks at me with those big watery eyes as if he’s apologizing for spraying my pillow on his quest to dominate me in my home.

Yes, well, I think he’s learned his lesson, don’t you? (Kidding, it’s been a week – his incision has healed enough. Not that I was trying to teach him a lesson – he learned that one fast and furiously the day I washed my bedsheets THREE TIMES.)

Time to take the cone off…

Catybug had a graduation ceremony at Church this past weekend and part of the ritual is a good old fashioned food in the face … thing. Daddy applied the peanut butter, and then she went face first into a plate of M&M’s.

I’m still finishing up some design work – with a head cold – so I’m around, just a little stuffy, and a little slow!

Why hello there, Mr. Monarch. I’ve been waiting for you.This summer has not been what I expected. Not that I’m disappointed, but I thought if a person should grow over the course of a year, it wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) happen over the course of just a couple of months. As much as I’ve become more settled, I’ve become less settled. I’ve become more confident about some things, and less sure about others. I’ve realized where I’m most grounded, with the help and insight from my family. I’ve made new goals, and changes to old goals.

I’ve pulled back, as I’ve been going through this transition, because honestly when this much stuff is swirling around in my head and important decisions are being made, It’s overwhelming. Writing seemed an impossible task, and you’ve heard less from me than you’ve seen lately.

It’s not that I haven’t wanted to write, I just haven’t been able to write. I’m relating more to the things I see when I’m alone with my camera, and the things I feel when I paint. I’ve been needing more of that time, craving more of that time, and in a few weeks, I’ll have more of that time. With that will come peace, ingenuity, creativity.

Also, I’ll be able to pay more attention to you. My friends, my “fans”, you who appreciate nature, who love a daily dose of creativity topped with a spark of enthusiasm. You’re a big part of the reason I’m still here, and an even bigger part of why I’m so ready and willing to make changes. As I grow, you grow with me, and I love the bond that creates.

I’m a little nervous, but excited. I’m also a little ambiguous, but you love that about me, don’t you?

…that my hubby’s unit has been activated again? He just got back from Iraq in March 2005 and now his unit is heading for Afghanistan.

Thankfully, God Bless the guys in his unit, he’s been elected to serve as the Unit Administrator during this deployment, which means he won’t be leaving the states. Amen to that.

His unit is like a family, though, and as much as we’re relieved he gets to stay behind, his brothers are going to endure more time in the Middle East. Please keep the Dixon IL-ANG (Illinois Army National Guard) unit in your prayers. And the people of Afghanistan.

When Chickeymonkey hollered at me while I was mowing yesterday and held this note up for me to read, I couldn’t quite make out what she was trying to ask me.“You want to plant??” I yelled. “Sure! You can plant!”

“No!! PAINT!!!” she yelled back.

“Paint??” (squints at note and makes puzzled face) “That says PAINT?”

“YES!!! Can I paint???” she asked.

“Of course!” I said. “Just clean off the table first!”

And off she went. And I thought, I feel like I’ve been asking myself the same question. And it’s finally dawned on me, I’m the only one who can answer it.

This. This is my daughter. (Catybug.)

She was challenged in youth group to be different.
She succeeded in surprising everyone who saw her yesterday.

I admit, I love to play dress up with my girls.

I also love playing portrait photographer when we’re done playing dress up.

Which portrait is your favorite, and how did you react when you saw her?

Catybug planted our sunflowers this year, this is one from a variety blend of seeds. When I looked up at it (it’s about 10 foot tall) it was just glowing from the sun behind it.

I planted Lantana again this year because last year it grew into nice sized bushes that the swallowtails really loved. It’s a little measly thing this year, but still has pretty blooms that are definitely worth a view through the lens.

A friend of ours brought over a bird yesterday not knowing what it was, just that it seemed pretty friendly and that maybe it was a domestic bird. I opened up the box to find this fledgling robin. We immediately set to digging in the backyard to find some fresh worms, and Catybug enjoyed mothering this little fella until dark, when we sent him on his way (with a very full belly). Robins stay with their babies until they can fly, which he can, but he wasn’t doing so well in the hunting for food department.

Pretty calm around us, he just made himself comfortable on the concrete and demanded his dinner.

In anything other than news, I’ve been enjoying a week “off”. Off meaning I’m not working on things for other people, but I’m also not really going anywhere or doing anything spectacular. The girls and I had a nice day of shopping, another day of cleaning and organizing their room, and basically lounging, taking walks, and playing games. This is my summer “vacation”. heh! I’ll be painting next week, so you’ll see a sketch soon.

How have you been?

Okay so I lied. This hand is related. To me, that is.
It’s the hand of someone I love, and it is hurting her.
Anyone know what this is? A fungus? Eczema?

Grooooovy.

Copper, the Little Prince.
Time for tea. He does lift his pinki when he drinks, too.

Our giant sunflowers are blooming.
That bumblebee is the size of a quarter. Okay maybe a nickel.
(Can’t a girl embellish for effect?)

He looks like a scaredy squirrel, doesn’t he?