i have had a hard time gathering my thoughts together lately and organizing them for blog posts… and i am not a fan of my blog posts being unorganized, so here we go with today’s list.

• grayson is realllllly enjoying this nice warm weather that we’ve been having.  first thing in the mornings after he wakes up and we make up the bed, he has some cheerios, or a nutri-grain bar, or a piece of pound cake or banana bread if i’ve made either of those.  then he is quickly looking for his shoes.  and it is outside we go.  he is so busy about it.  he has to take certain toys outside with us every time we open the door… one by one.  in the mornings as soon as we wake up, it’s almost like i want to jump out of the bed and sing with grayson… hi-ho, hi-ho, it’s off to work we go.  because really — he is so busy and is working all the time.  ;)
• the new house construction is moving right on along.  i have the best husband and father in the universe.  they have been working every chance they get on painting the outside of the house.  the last week or so, they’ve been working on painting the rafters before the roofers come to start putting on the roof.  they are just about finished with the rafters and they look so good.  i have pictures to come soon.  it’s really great that they know how to do so much painting and finishing craftsman-style carpentry work, for lots of reasons… but the 2 biggest being:  1) it saves us $$$$ on the budget, and 2) they do a much better job than anyone else would do.
• i love that hour or so before sunset.  it’s not so hot and it makes for gorgeous photos.  we photographers call it “the golden hour”.  the only bad thing about the golden hour is that i also will refer to it as “the mosquito hour” here in south alabama.  it’s only april – not even summer yet – and the mosquitos are out in full force, and they just love my legs.
• i had to run some errands one day last week and was going to be near the mall.  a friend of mine had mentioned that she was taking her little boy to see the easter bunny at the mall that same afternoon.  so, i had this grand idea (ha!) that i would take grayson to see the easter bunny.  but grayson?  he thought not so much about that idea.  at first i thought he was going to be ok, but no.  not ok.  he screamed and big tears fell real fast.  bless his heart.  he just isn’t quite ready for that just yet.  but, a cookie from the great american cookie company helped make it better.
• people are so flakey these days.  they love to be nosey and scope your life out via a blog, facebook, twitter, or any other social media means…  but seldom do they interact back, which makes the writer not really all that in to sharing.  hmmm… food for thought, huh?  and some of the locals, some that you even know, that you think would support a facebook business page, act like you don’t exist.  flakey?
• i’ve been thinking alot lately on how i wish so very much that everyone, especially we as artists, could support one another.  whether it be the amount of followers you have on a blog, facebook, twitter… or whether it be being published or featured or whatever the case may be.  so many artists in this day and time just do not support one another, and it is very evident.  i have some favorite artists’ and photographers’ blogs that i visit often, and whenever my time allows i always try to make it a point to drop them a comment to say hi and that i enjoy their work or whatever it may be.  but, when you do try to leave a word of support and encouragement for someone and you mean what you say from your artistic heart – and they don’t publish your comment – well, that’s not supporting another artist.  maybe they know you’re not a potential client.  or maybe they don’t.  but, either way…. it’s wrong.  just some more food for thought.
• originality.  what happened to it?  well, it’s a free america… that’s what happened.  and chances are, whatever you are doing in your realm of art, whether it be the pop of color or the lack of color in your art, or the technique that you use to make your brand of music, photography, painting, drawing, or whatever it is “yours” …. someone has probably used that same technique before and somebody else will more than likely use it again.  but, the one thing that i have learned that is original is me.  my vision.  my inspiration. the way that i see art.  nobody else sees it the way i see it.  and that’s my originality.  and i am happy with it.  i am happy creating for me.  not to make someone else like the art that i create.  but so that i like it.
• this list is getting too long. i guess that’s what happens when i try to finish a post late at night – that i started this afternoon….  and here’s a little gold dust woman for you.