project 52, week fifteen.

Well, the good news is I have all photos and videos done to be completely caught up with my Project 52 posts. It's already after eleven though and I am trying to keep from falling asleep here on the couch, so I think I'll do this post tonight and save the other one for tomorrow.

We've been running like maniacs the past couple of weeks. Last weekend my son had a formal, and this weekend he was the lead in a play. He had tech rehearsal for the play every night this week. We're all exhausted.

I did get some nice photos last week (the week leading up to the formal).

Self-portrait.

M'ijo.

My little one, fishing for the first time.

Out in the city.

My iPhonearoid of the week is here,

and my Weekly Vlog is here.

See you tomorrow.

project 52, week fourteen.

Sigh.

Sooo, last week came and went, and my Project 52 post did not materialize for you guys.

So, fourteen weeks into this thing, and I'm behind.

I have all of the elements and had them together last Sunday night. I just... didn't... post it.

I've been lacking a little in the motivation department.

Not sure why... it just feels like I've been moving in slow motion since last week. Getting a call from the nursing home about making funeral arrangements (just in case) did NOT help. Ugh.

But, regardless of how I felt, I still hung out with Niki, and we still took pictures.

Yep. Sometimes I fail to help Niki out and what I end up with is crap. And sometimes I just don't even feel like any do-overs.

Ahhh. But my kids. They make every day bright.

And that's saying a lot, on days like these.

Here is the iPhonearoid of the week.

And here is the Weekly Vlog.

(I have everything finished for this week's post as well, but will probably post it tomorrow or Wednesday. Bear with me; I'm getting back on track.)

Sigh. Well...

Tonight marks the sixth evening in a row that I have been out doing something and getting home dog tired.

All of the elements for my Project 52 post have been ready since Sunday, including my crappy self-portrait (and trust me, it is CRAP), but I had technical difficulties getting my weekly vlog to load on Sunday. And I have not tried to reload it since, thanks to being out every evening.

Soooo, in lieu of a crock pot Wednesday post (since I won't be cooking tomorrow), I'll take tomorrow evening, my first evening home in a WEEK, to get that post finished and up.

And I'd also like to say thank you to so many of you who have spoken kind words to me. You are all such a blessing.

I'm off to sleep. A deep sleep.


-natty posted this using BlogPress from her iPhone.

food. and acceptable, happy mistakes.

Okay. So, recap.

I did actually cook a meal in the crock pot. Last Wednesday. (Tonight, I did what has become a very good stand-by in my house: whole roast chicken.)

I made barbecued pork ribs.

I didn't take any pictures due to being in a MEGA-hurry. But I got the ribs, along with a large onion cut into large sections, and some random (really random) spices I had laying around in my cabinets, a bottle of Cattlemen's Barbecue Sauce, either Kansas City style or Memphis style (can't remember), and probably half a cup of water, into my pot and cooked it.

It was great. Country-style ribs are also a great stand-by in the crock pot, just like pot roast. Here is the recipe from the last time that I cooked them.

And now, pictures.

I am going to confess something to you. This year (so far), it seems like my personal photographic output has been made up of a lot of... duds.

Gaaahhh.

Soooo, I have learned, very quickly, to go back over the images I have shot and study them a little more carefully, with the objective of maybe finding something that is salvageable, or something that I actually connect with emotionally.

And yep, that was an awful sentence. It happens sometimes with me. Sigh. Back to salvageable, emotionally-connected duds.

 (For some reason, the photos in this post are showing up distorted and I do not know how to fix it. They are not appearing the way they normally do in my posts. And THIS is why I am desperately seeking a new blog design so that I can show my images full-size/full-resolution/allofthatstuff.)

project 52, week thirteen.

Hallelujah, I finally got this done.

Self-portrait.

Family.

Haven't posted a good sign photo in a while.

And an old shack.

Be sure to check out my iPhonearoid of the Week.

And don't forget to check out my Weekly Vlog.

Have a lovely Spring week, folks.

confessions. and hopes.

This post won't be long. I promise.

I am sitting here trying to motivate myself to make my vlog for the past week. I apologize to all of you; I have not felt like doing it. Spring Break has hit me with a desire to really BREAK. From just about everything, save cooking and homeschooling my kids.

I have continued to shoot, and need to upload a wagon-load of images tonight so that I can complete my Project 52 post. It will be a day late, but it will be done.

I have spent most of the month fighting to hold on to the peace of the Lord. It has been so tempting to writhe my hands in worry... about my mother, about other family drama that has presented itself the past couple of weeks, et cetera. Some days are better than others. But I am always conscious of my goal: to strive to enter the rest of the Lord. That is the only striving I am ever to do.

I am never without hope. And I have good reason to continue in that hope; my mother has lasted a month when I was told she most likely wouldn't last a week. She is eating more, and seems more aware. She held my hand so tightly yesterday evening when we went to visit her, and I didn't want to let go.

And new opportunities are coming my way. That's always welcome. Photographic opportunities, as well as musical opportunities. Mind you, I will not be taking on things at the expense of my family time, but I think some of these things will be great creative outlets, as well as a means to add a few more dollars to my little change purse. Again, always welcome.

I have been remiss in posting my crock pot meals. My deepest apologies. Three weeks ago I roasted a whole chicken. It was delicious, but wasn't cooked in the crock pot. Two weeks ago we went out to eat. Last week, I did cook in my crock pot. Barbecued pork ribs. I will write a little about it this coming Wednesday, as I am not sure I will be cooking that day.

And. I have gone on with my homeschooling and have shared precious little. Gah. I must remedy that this week.

I do have a lot to say and share; it's just that at times (more often than not here lately) I am so jumbled in my thoughts and emotions that I don't know where to start. And I am not going to front like everything is okay.

But everything is okay. At this moment. So I will take that and run with it and try to get this Project 52 post finished tonight.

While watching the basketball game.

Many blessings to you all, my tens of readers.