flags

For Memorial Day a local organization sponsored flags to be put up in a vacant lot near the middle of town. They were beautiful. The way they were lined up so perfectly blowing in the wind, and each to honor a loved one. Words escape me.

It was a great experience photographing them. 

the start of an NYC adventure.

On my way into the city the sky was so pretty, well, at least most of the way. The part that was beautiful made up for the spots of rain. 

Mark meet me up in Connecticut and drove me into the city. It was very nice to not have to take the train into the city.

 Whenever driving in the city I always do my best to NOT pay attention. The sky line of the city is always so beautiful, so that helps distract me. We were heading into the city just as the sun was starting to set.

All in all, it was a good trip. It might have made for a long day, but it will all be worth it. 

simple

rain on the cloths line.

After the rain there are always so many simple beautiful things.  Wouldn't you agree.

cookie cutter

In a culture, society, and with men who tell women they are only beautiful if they have long hair it sometime takes a little longer for the women who short hair works better for them to come to terms with it. (and yes, a man, or maybe boy would be a better description,  has actually told me that I would be less attractive to him if I cut my hair)

Trust me I was a die hard long hair girl for years. With long blonde curls going to my elbows. The only problem was it was always up, braided back or in a pony tail. Kind of a waste of long hair. With short hair I can embrace it's true beauty. And what guys tend to forget is that a women is so much more beautiful if they can embrace their own beauty rather then fitting into a mans' cookie cutter of beauty.
Every women is different. We all have different hair, different eyes, the shape of our head is not the same. Some are tall and some are not so tall. Some women where lots of make up, so much your not even sure if there is a face under there. Others where no make up at all. The list of differences goes on and on. Our interests, desires, hopes, dreams. None of us is a cookie cutter. But why do guys insist on attempting to squeeze and squish us into a form and shape that we can't fill.
Probably, TV has a lot to do with it. We these women with their weaves and their fake lips and perfect barbie starved bodies.
Sorry, I guess that's my little rant against guys with cookie cutter ideas of beauty. And we all know that it's not just guys who have this cookie cutter beauty in their mind. Women really can be just as bad, but it is hard when the ideas of beauty don't get to come from inside of you, that it has to come from every outside point of view imaginable. It's exhausting sometimes.

I guess the best way to end this rant is with a quote. It's a quote that comforts me when I am frustrated with the imperfections inside of me.

"I am a princess. All girls are. Even if they live in tiny old attics.
Even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young.
They're still princesses. All of us. Didn't your father ever tell you that? Didn't he? "

Sara Crewe, A Little Princess (1995)

Posted via email from in the sky

adorable

Today I was lucky enough to take pictures of three absolutely adorable kids.

These are some of my favorites...

garden.

this is why you bring glow sticks...

I was mocked about bringing glow sticks to the beach...

We had a lot of fun if you couldn't tell...

gotta love a little black and white.

Tibby and Daisy are just too cute, wouldn't you agree?

blue bird

This cute little bird had me captivated. He let me get so close to it. I love his epic little pose. 

Such a cute little bird. 

garden.

My dad's garden is starting to look like a garden. I love summer for this very reason!

(yum, tomatos!)

wood grain

Today was one of those "can I please forget you ever happened" days. I don't know why the wood piles behind the house inspired me so much today. But for some reason they had a pull on me. The textures, the cracks, the layers. For some reason it just added up to today. It added up to the way my life feels right now. 

I'm starting to feel broken, useless and forgotten. I feel like there are so many layers above me that I can't even be seen, sometimes I can't even breath. Everyone tells me that this all will pass. That soon all that is happening now will be a memory. No matter who says it, no matter how hard I try to believe it sometime the words just aren't enough. 

There is no way I'm giving up hope. There is no way I will succumb to my fear. I just worry, because that is all I can do right now. Worry and try my hardest to get on top, to be noticed, to stand out in the sea. The right thing will come along. The lessons I've learned along the way are important. I just feel like I need to get out soon, or else I never will. 

Just like this wood, eventually I will be useful.