And so it begins . . .

They say life begins at fifty.
First, who are "they" and what have they been doing up 'til now?

Yep, it happened, just as planned  . . .  the big five-OH!

And when I went to sleep a few nights ago, I awoke in the morning to find

that I had not at the stroke of midnight, turned into a pumpkin!

In fact, I feel no different then I did the day before.

"Age is an issue of mind over matter.

If you don't mind it doesn't matter."

-Mark Twain

{ Kim Klassen texture "Portrait" }

Nothing has changed except the number. 

I still love pink....

And watching the sunrise...

And my favorite coffee is still Texas Pecan with french vanilla creamer.

But, I do wonder why we don't craft more of an appreciation for the process of getting older, because

I think the very resistance of it just may be the thing that ages us. I mean with age comes experience and with experience comes wisdom, something we certainly gain more of, and unlike when we were younger we

actually now know what we're talking about. And as I've gotten older I have realized there are certain opportunities for exploration and self-discovery that only comes later in life.

And how does it feel to be 50?

Like thirty with twenty extra years of wisdom, understanding, spirituality and an ever growing comprehension of how big this life really is. Okay, definitely minus the size 5, but with a new sense of what sexy is, and isn't. I find myself wanting to move in the world with a greater sense of urgency as time whispers louder, and I'm having fun re-inventing myself with along the way. 

No, nothing has changed except the number. Age doesn't own me or define me. It doesn't tell me whether or not I can have pink highlights or wear feathers in my hair, it only marks how long I've been here.

I am 50, I don't mind, so it doesn't matter!! 

Have a fabulous day!

Love, Kim

XO

Linking up with Communal Global and:

 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Happy Sunday!

"The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age"
-Lucille Ball

 Okay I'm 29, today . . . but wait, isn't that an oxymoron to live honestly AND lie about your age? ha

{ paint }

We have two birthday's in our house this week . . . my son turned 15 on Wednesday and mine is today.

And I have the most incredible daughter who made this two layer chocolate cake, with chocolate butter cream in the middle. It took 3 cake mixes....and yes I'm really loosely interpreting this prompt by saying that she "painted" the design with my favorite color pink frosting. It's the least I could do, after all she spent a lot of time making this, the icing is from homemade AND I didn't have to clean it up either!! Love you Chloe!! xo  

{ green }

Well, I actually had another photo, but blogger refused to load it in it's vertical position, so going with my

second choice. I got this today at Home Depot . . . I always take the opportunity to go with my husband when he needs to run a quick errand and of course I always grab my camera . . .   

{ eyelashes }

Oh, this is my baby . . . just the sweetest standard poodle with beautiful eyelashes. All he has to do it bat those baby browns and he melts my heart!

{sharing with Your Sunday Best}

{ shapes }

I have to admit, this was a last minute, oh yeah I need something with shapes. And I have to say I'm so enjoying these plates that I finally hung on the wall after being in our house for four years. One thing you

should know about me . . . .I'm a plateaholic!! ; )

{ clouds }

Hmmm, not many really incredible clouds this week in my neck of the woods. So I'm using this one from a couple of weeks ago from Galveston Bay after the sunrise. And well, there really aren't any great clouds in this one either, I just liked the glistening water.

If anyone is looking for me, I'll be celebrating my birthday . . . on the beach....trying to break my

hermit crab catch (and release) of last week!! ; ) You're only as old as you feel, right?

When I'm at the beach I only feel like a fifth grader . . . only I can drive.

Have a great Sunday everyone!!

Love, Kim

XO



  

I'm a little behind . . .

May your mind whirl joyful cartwheels of creativity.

Your heart sing sweet lullabies of timelessness.

May your essence be the nectar of the open blossom of your joy.

May your spirit soar throughout the vast cathedral of your being.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Well, I had all kinds of things I wanted to share with you today, beachy things, from the beach here, in Galveston. But, some things came up this week that got me behind AND I had the pleasure (insert much sarcasm here) to stand in line for hours yesterday while I renewed my drivers license . . . and with no a/c.

Nothing like waiting til the last minute, it expires on Sunday. I almost didn't pass the vision test. Apparently,

you have to read the entire line with or without help. No mixing and no matching with the help of readers. Your either all in or not....ha ha....and well I know this because I tried to read part of it with my glasses and part of it without. Hey that worked like a charm, bingo. But, the sheriff sitting at the end was paying just a bit too much attention to the girl behind the curtain the vision tester and made me do an entire line one way or the other. So I picked my poison and put my readers back on, she even dropped me down a line (sad face).  I breezed right through the first two sections, and that last one was really tough. I mean readers aren't for long distance, right? But thankfully, and I think she felt pity for me, I passed.....Yeah!  But does that now mean I need bifocals. OMG!! I guess I will find out next week . . .  

So, Foto Friday will resume in it's entirety next week, because I'm in need of some beach time where I always feel like a kid, especially because on Sunday the first digit of my age flips to a new decade! haha

Wishing you all an incredible weekend my friends!

Love, Kim

XO

 

   

Bridge to nowhere?

I should probably clarify right off the bat . . . this has nothing to do with politics!

"People gather bundles of sticks to build bridges they never cross"

- Unknown

I have good intentions, really. But good intentions don't produce results.

Are you like me and have gathered those bundles of sticks to build a bridge that you had

every intention of crossing yet still remain on the other side?

{Textured with Kim Klassen's new textures KKred and sunkissed both in overlay}

I have several bridges, that I seem to never cross. It seems I know how to build them,

just not how to cross them. I think sometimes the fear of not being prepared enough keeps

me from crossing. But . . . my goals, dreams and desires are on that other side.

It seems that the biggest effort isn't in building the bridge, but in taking the final journey over it.

Join me today over at Focusing on Life where I have found a little inspiration.

Where I'm talking about turning up the heat from 211 to 212 degrees...to get us over that bridge!!

Because we built the bridge to go somewhere. 

Love, Kim

XO

Also linking with Tuesday tips and tricks over at Live. Love. Travel

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Ummm, here we are, and I feel like there is no way another week passed.

A week where I didn't do very well hunting, so after a day on the beach today

I'm throwing a hail Mary in that direction for my prompt interpretations.

And they are . . .  

{ wrapped }

To protect with covering . . . a hermit crab with a shell for protecting.

{ your Sunday best}

{ time together }

Looks like they were having just as much fun checking things out on the beach as I was finding crabs.

{ tell me a story }

I have to say it is heartwarming to know that even parents in the wild get a little frustrated with their

youngin's from time to time. This is actually an adult and young seagull and the 'babe' is pretty much

just begging for food, loudly and persistently.  So lets just say it's mom, she regurgitates her food, baby is happy for all of a minute. This keeps on, the baby screams, she feeds it, rinse and repeat. Until she just

gets fed up and I guess in seagull fashion puts her screamer in a big time out. It was quite comical to watch.  

{ love or couple }

The writing is on the wall in the sand . . .

{ duplicated }

. . . as in a reflection

I'm looking forward to how everyone interpreted this set of prompts, see you on the other side!

I hope you're having a great relaxing weekend, and keeping cool. Yesterday the

feel like temps were 109 in the shade!

Love, Kim

XO

 

  

Foto Friday . . . vacation part V, That's a Wrap

"No matter what happens, travel gives you a story to tell."

- Jewish Proverb

Yes, yes it does.

If you have followed our vacation travels, you know that it rained most of the way there,

(we drove), it rained a lot when we got there, we were restricted by double red flags on the beach for many days, and I had a little trouble with frustration from expectations. But the sun eventually came out, and the

double red flags lifted, and I got over my frustrations.

We enjoyed the turquoise blue surf and white sand beaches, some beautiful gardens with ancient (600 yr old) oak trees and a turn of the century mansion, and even traveled to see the Florida State Capitol and Old City Cemetery in Tallahassee.

On our last day, and a vacation to Destin wouldn't be complete without it, we ventured over to have lunch at Fudpucker's and then to the Wharf at sunset. And we packed all of this fun into just five days, which is why...

"No man needs a vacation so much as the person who just had one."

- Elbert Hubbard

{ Shoot.Edit.Submit }

This was our last view of the beach . . .

. . . . before heading out on our last day. We had gotten up early and gone to the Eden Garden State Park, here, and after walking around in the heat we needed a reprieve and some food. So, it was off to Fudpucker's for some food and fun.

And well, the best part about Fudpucker's is Gator Beach....yep almost one hundred of them! They sell special bait food that you can feed them, and you can have your picture taken holding one. Oh, you know I waited my turn to hold one . . . what an amazing creature! A prehistoric creature, virtually unchanged for the last 150 million years. I wasn't so much interested in having my picture taken as I was just getting my hands on one. I mean, how often does one get to hold and really look at an animal like this. Oh my, how soft . . . I did mention amazing didn't I? 

{ Summer Daze - Project Alicia }

After spending a few relaxing hours over at gator beach and a little lunch we ventured over to the Wharf to check out the chartered boats coming back into dock and their catches of the day. The docks were bustling with people just getting back from a day of fishing and waiting for their captain to clean and fillet their catch.

And check out "This Sale" on the gas pump, OUCH!

They weren't the only ones waiting . . . 

And then out of the blue, a rainbow just appeared!

{ Photograph life - water }

And then the evening came to a close . . . for Photo Art Friday our theme

is light. I chose this silhouette I took at sunset and used French Kiss texture Ancient Urban, Pixel Dust Photo Art texture Orange Foam Overlay, and Kim Klassen texture Be Still. I went back and forth feeling like it needed one more thing, another element, but every time I added something it didn't feel right.  

And finally for Flower Art Friday, a Gerbera Daisy with French Kiss Rosy Script and Kim Klassen Peony.

The background on this image started out black....

Oh, almost forgot, I did stop someone and ask them to take our picture...sad but I can't remember when we were all in the same picture together. We were pretty much all melted by the end of the day!!

"If we would only give, just once, the same amount of reflection to what we want to get

out of life that we give the question of what to do with two weeks' vacation, we

would be startled at our false standards and the aimless procession of our busy days."

- Dorothy Canfeild Fisher

I think we should live each day like a vacation day, relaxed (after of course you dump the expectations),

ready to explore what is right in front of us, and willing to share the story of it. And the best thing . . . there is no packing required in that!

Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you for letting me share with you!!

Love, Kim

XO

** P.S. - stop on over at my collaborative blog today, Focusing On Life, where we are sharing ** 

some fun facts about ourselves only you have to guess who they go to - AND there is a prize for the most guesses!!

           

Texture Tuesday edition . . .

Oh happy day . . .

It's Tuesday, and you probably already know that, unless your like me and the summer days

just keep whizzing by without so much as a hello and certainly no goodbye.

I'm keeping it short but wanted to pop in real quick with a couple of pictures . . . the sun was out....all

day yesterday and instead of grocery shopping or a million other things that needed to be done I threw

all caution to the wind and headed to the beach . . . oh happy day. I really needed it.

Today's texture Tuesday - any photo with two of Kim's textures.

This first one is from the weekend, in between a gully washer, at a nursery. It's definitely not in sharp focus

but I do like the softness of it. And of course Kim's textures just added to it.

{Kim Klassen textures Oh My in overlay at 35% and Sunkissed at mulitply at 25%}

And in our Beyond Layer's class she has challenged us to seek out fences and it just so happened that I

found this one over the weekend. I didn't get a chance to explore beyond this so I'm wondering where this goes, what's around the corner. . . mosquito repellent will be a must, lol!

{Kim Klassen textures Elevate in hardlight 35% and Sunkissed in multiply at 20%}

Hope your having a wonderful day - the sun is shining once again - oh happy day!

I'm off to fill the poor little pantry, Mother Hubbard's cupboard is bare. But I'll be back to visit all of you.

Love, Kim

XO

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Howdy everyone! Whew, finally Sunday. It's been raining for what seems like forever, okay maybe for just a week, or two. The day started out looking all sunshiny and then strangely while the sun was out, it poured. Then it stopped and then we got the most ominous looking sky, and while my hubby and I were out for an errand it rained so fast the streets flooded. But, that gave us an opportunity to dash in and try out the new Gumbo place while we waited for the water to go down. For those of you in need of rain, I wish I could share, we are getting a little soggy here.

Anyway, here we go . . .  

{ water }

At my favorite mom and pop nursery this is probably my favorite water fountain. It has a little bird on
the top and when the bucket gets full, it spills.....but it's $600! It's always a mystery as to where it will be since they move things around to spice it up a bit. I'm always pleasantly surprised to find no one has purchased it yet. Well, it IS $600... I'm betting it will be there a while longer.

{ petal }

I bought a Lily with one flower and 2 buds for $4 and have had more fun . . . yep, me, my Lily and my spray bottle! ; )

{sharing with A Rural Journal: Your Sunday Best}

{ fresh }

Ahhh, yes . . . freshly married. That counts right?

{ eight }

All drinks . . . $eight.99 . . . works for me! : )  (for the prompt that is)

{ calm }

Can't tell you how many times I have been for the sunrise lately just to find that there is total cloud cover.
And well, last Saturday I wasn't holding out too much hope, and then....ta da! The water was surprisingly calm that morning.

And that's a wrap 'til next weeks prompt. Have a great rest of the weeked!

Love, Kim

XO