Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Insight


Where do I begin? This inspiration board is hanging just beside my bedroom door. I add things from time to time, when I need to be reminded of a person, place or event that is significant in my life. Or, just because it makes me happy. Starting from top right hand corner. (This is going to be a VERY long post.)


"A book is a present you can open again and again." This girl, riding on the magic carpet of words not only speaks to my overwhelming love of reading, but a small obsession with Mary Engelbreit. Her lively and colorful way of capturing the joy of life is so inspiring and heartwarming.




"Greetings From California" My homeland. California Poppies, an orange even I can love. The design and lettering, retro and fun. The beauty in each letter, showing nature and sights of a state I have not seen for a long time. But, I can't wait to capture just a small portion of her majesty, next month.


Red Hair - I've dug around and can't find the name and artist, for this piece. And I apologize for her state of undress, but the entirety of this painting (found on DeviantArt.com several years ago) brings me great joy. I adore her red hair, not every one can pull it off, and those who are born with it have such a natural beauty. I also love how she is lounging in a meadow, soaking in the spirit of nature around her.



Pepsi and Happy Bunny - I've always been a Pepsi person. Coke products are not for me, though by addiction to Dr. Pepper deserves its own post. When Mom and I went to New Bern, over the summer, we went to The Birthplace of Pepsi. I wanted a little souvenir, my t-shirt collection is out of control, so I was looking for something a bit more compact. I was immediately drawn to this postcard because of it's design and color. I have been craving design so much lately, I adore a vintage style and this was perfection.

As for the bunny. Well, this speaks to my obnoxious and naughty side. When I lived in Jacksonville, The Three Musketeers had a great love for anything Happy Bunny. We didn't really collect any products, but always got a kick out of what Happy Bunny was getting in to. This bunny was bought out of a vending machine and his full statement is "I like to watch people trip." Heh. He just reminds me of my fun and goofy friends.



Belles of Ireland and More Bunnies! - I inherited a flower gene, from my Mother. If you have ever seen my flickr account during springtime, you can witness how drawn I am to the color and shape of the botanical aspect of nature. I often have to remind myself to take a step back and see the bigger picture, with the camera at least. This seed packet is from an attempt to grow some flowers to peek through the fence in my yard. The mechanical part of bringing flowers in to the world has sometimes alluded me. This was no exception, I planted the seeds too late, and nothing ever sprouted. So, I kept the seed packet to remind me to try again.

Those are my Father's hands. He is holding two bunnies that we raised in the back yard of our Mira Loma, California home. Do I dare tell you the fate of my sweet furry friends? Well, they weren't the only animals on our ark. We had a pig, chickens, ducks and I want to say there was either a sheep or a goat. Along with the vegetable garden my Mom had filling our yard, we used all of this to add to our meals. The pig became pork chops, the chicken became...chicken. And the rabbits. Oh, I almost can't even type the words. They became Rabbit Pot Pie. I don't remember the actual consumption portion of the treachery, but I specifically remember the day my Mom told me about it. Apparently while we were eatingthe pot pie, we asked what we were having and she told us it was Chicken. Years later, we were talking about The Ark and the Garden and stories turned to the bunnies. The tears of laughter were plentiful when my family saw the look on my face when Mom told us the truth. I guess it could be thought of as morbid that I have a picture of these poor souls, but the picture reminds me of that great time living in my favorite home.



Hello, Calvin. You know him, you love him. I hope I don't have to tell you about him. I don't think I could pick one certain Calvin cartoon is my favorite, but this one is definitely in my Top Five. He tries, so hard all day. Sometimes making good choices, sometimes making bad choices. And at the end of the day, when he climbs in to bed with Hobbes he says, "You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocket ship underpants don't help." and the best friend anyone has ever had in the world says, "Well, you've done all you can do."

Hanging on to the push pin just above Calvin, is a Ginkgo leaf. Again, it would be hard for me to pin down my absolute favorite tree, but the Ginkgo is in my Top Three. I brought this one home from my 31st birthday trip to Washington, D.C. Do I dare tell you that if I ever got a tattoo, it would be of a ginkgo leaf? I get bored so easily, I don't think I could ever be permanently stuck with something on my skin. Mom you can start breathing again.



I'm a fool for butterflies. Geez, could I sound any more girly? This cut out from a magazine reminds me of a trip from Northern California to visit family in Fresno. We were driving out of the mountains and every once in a while, a Monarch butterfly would glide past us. Then three would flutter, then twenty. I didn't learn anything about it until several years later, but we were driving right through their migration. It sounds like hyperbole, but it was one of the best things I have ever witnessed.



Cookies and oh my, more bunnies. Meditation and cookies, my friend Allison knows me well. This bunny was hiding in the bushes of a yard I walked by one day during a garden tour with Mom. I love it when something isn't obvious and in your face. It is so much more entertaining to stumble upon something and allow it to surprise you.



Goat. Baby. Oak. My best friends name is T Goat. I usually just call her Goat. Oddly enough, I share the same name. It is an unexplainable moniker. It just happened. One night, we were playing pool and one of us called the other one "Goat" and has just gone from there. I get such a kick out of having this inside "joke", but not a joke, with my very best G.

That little bug snug in a bear rug? That's little Carter, new as can be. It's the photo his Mama and Pop sent in his birth announcement, almost nine months ago. One of these days I'm going to get a good picture of the depiction of his nickname, Cardamom.

Oak. Also in my Top Three Trees. History, grandeur, beauty, GREEN. I'm not sure I could really put in to words my love for this tree. Just be thankful that I don't have a leaf from the Walnut Tree.


Walk On By. This photo not only speaks to all that is Goat, but my love of seeing the world through the viewfinder of the camera. One of my favorite rules of photography is composition. A photo with the subject at the center of the frame doesn't provide an insight to environment or add any interest. If you offset the frame and place the subject in the first or last third of the frame, you add a dimension to the photo that gives a more interesting perspective. So ends your lesson for the day.



Kool Aid Man. So, I introduced my brother Wade to the insanity that is Dane Cook. Cook has a bit about the Kool Aid Man, and having grown up on regular doses of the fruity nectar we found his "Oh YEAH!", quite hilarious. You had to be there. Wade sent this in a birthday card, a few months before he left on his mission. Having it on the board, gives me a chuckle when I miss him.



And, last but not least. One other bit of Mary Engelbreit. This is from a calender I had several years ago. Simply put, "The heart is the temple where in all truth resides."

In this post, I told you almost everything you will ever need to know about me, whether you realize it, or not. If you made it this far, you are a brave and probably bored soul. ;) Just kiddin'.

1 comment:

lori said...

That's beautiful! Just shows your creativity. My board is still sitting on the carpet leaned up against the wall - I've got to get busy!