PENSIEVE

Multi-tasking like a mother

Like every mama, I have hundreds of beautiful staged photographs of my children, that to me could earn them modeling contracts at the local kids clothing store. 

This isn't one of them...it's not even a "good" picture.  In fact, on a number of levels it could be downright embarrassing.

 

Instead of its flaws, though, I see a moment in time that captures the essence of motherhood more perfectly than any other photograph I own. 

It's hard to remember these days, but back "then" I was always doing AT LEAST four things at once.  It might look like I'm only nursing a baby and potty training a toddler, but I had dinner in the oven and loads of laundry in the washer AND dryer.  The eyes in the back of my head were off duty.

While I was training my daughter in The Way She Should GO, while my baby boy was--God love him--transferring my pregnancy fat to rolls on his thighs, I was doing what every young mom does:  whatever it took to survive the day...sometimes the moment.  I'm living testimony to the mantra "this too shall pass" (thankfully, sometimes that goes for the "bad", and with a twinge of regret, sometimes the "good").

What I know for certain is cat-and-knife juggling is easy compared to parenthood.

Now, with two teens and a tween, they don't trip on my toes so often...they step on my heart....

Sponsored by Egg Beaters, 5 Minutes for Mom is giving away $1,000 to one lucky person whose photo submission best describes motherhood.  Check out their site for more information!

Joie de Vivre ~ 40PC #1

One breath short of life, she greets the world with open arms.  Ebullient posture and poised to seize the day, this creature delights in the ordinary, I just know it!

 

This statue captivated me during my photo hunt at the Chattanooga Choo Choo gardens last week--time is the only thing preventing me from posting half a dozen more pictures (I might return to add a few).

Does she inspire you?  Are you moved to write a poem?  Can you hear the stories she has to tell?  Is this how you welcome the morning? 

For this week's "Forty-or-less- Photo Challenge", write a brief post based on your response to this photo; come back on Friday and link your submission, and then visit others to see their take on the same thing.  Remember, you can copy the photo to your post, pick up the "Friday's 40-or-less Photo Challenge" button and invite your friends to share their response.

Don't have a blog?  No worries--if you're inspired to respond, just do so in comments (on this post or Friday's) and I'll post it with mine :).

Click here for more 40PC details--hope you plan to join in!

For fun, I've added a few more views (click any to embiggen):

Laugh and the world laughs with you, please don't make me cry alone!

Two bloggers have inspired me to initiate a weekly carnival that will be FUN & SIMPLE for those who choose to join. 

Friday's 40-or-less Photo challenge was hatched after my participation in Laura's "15-word-or less" poetry challenge; so often I needed just a few more words to complete what I'm sure would've been the best poem I've ever written, but to do so, would've violated the spirit of "15-words". 

Equally inspiring has been Abraham Piper's 22 Words.  With covetable brevity, Abraham has the ability to rock stars and freeze ice in just a few words, and typically, comment length exceeds post length. Should he get a pontificous twitch, however, he can always co-opt his wife's blog or guest post elsewhere.

A n y w a y s, click here for details about "Friday's 40-or-less Photo Challenge", then let me know your thoughts (non-bloggers can always post a response in comments, too!).

I hope you'll join me for its maiden voyage!  I'll post my first photo by 8:00 a.m. EST TOMORROW, everyone's posts to be linked on Friday (you're welcome to upload the photo I use...).

Georgia (O'Keefe) on my mind...

Chattanooga Holiday Inn, Courtyard Rose Garden, April 2008.
Roses have never held "favorite" position in my posey selection, but after wandering the Choo Choo's gardens, I'm reconsidering--
each bloom, an artist's multi-faceted diamond muse....

Dare to choose a favorite?

 

 

p.s.  Join me tomorrow? :)

Wordless Wednesday HQ

 

A few of my hang-ups

As we say good-bye to Project Green, once again I'd like to invite you into our home.  For Project Yellow, you were ushered into our entrance foyer; directly to the left is our "keeping room", a bright and cheerful room that, although not quite finished, is one of my favorite rooms in our house.  For starters, it's an extension of our kitchen--which IS my favorite room--and secondly, these guys live there:

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the lighting right;
I just don't know enough about it.  The panels look more yellow
than green here, but in person they lean towards lime.

I even tried a floor's eye view....

....which led me to think about how neat it would be for someone to follow you around when you're taking pictures to capture YOU in the strangest of positions!  In the past few weeks I've prostrated myself on mall-parking-lot asphalt, climbed on top of chairs and tables, pulled off the side of the rode, stood on my car seat and looked out the sun roof, squatted in a grassy field--all to take a photograph. 

But I digress...pardon me!

The details in these window treatments (and coordinating fabric-covered table) is what made me squeal with little girl delight when I saw them hanging for the first time--the colorful bell tassels lend an element of playfulness to what could otherwise be just some boring old curtains.
Instead?    They're punctuated with little drops of "happy"...
which always brings an upward curl to my lips :).

Visit Anna Carson Photography for the 4-1-1 on Project Green.

Please click for more Project Green:

#1 - Have a ball!
#2 - Boy toy
#3 - Green "green" tee
#4 - Fame, not fortune

 

 

108 is my favorite number today :)

While there were thousands of dollars to be won in last week's Blogging Giveaways carnival, one of the few giveaways I entered topped my list as The One I Hoped To Win.

Guess which giveaway I "won" :). 

 

Give it Away offered to contribute three gifts of $100 each to the winner's charity of choice.  In addition to our church, we support several ministries and organizations; however, for this giveaway, I wanted my choice to be blog-centered. 

The no-brainer?  Compassion International.  I've had my socks blessed off reading about Shannon's (Rocks in My Dryer) and Sophie's (BooMama) African adventure.  Shaun Groves' (Schlog) post answered questions I had about CI and solidified my respect for the organization.  Compassion International is making a substantive difference in the lives of children--altering their future and giving them hope.  Using financial gifts of individuals, working through the local churches in the areas they serve, CI emulates Jesus by sharing the hope He offers through the gospel, and meeting the very real physical needs (not wants) of the sponsored children. 

It's a beautiful picture of the Body operating in sweet harmony. 

Thanks again to Give It Away, the most other-minded blog in the 'sphere!  I wasn't the only reader who listed Compassion International as my preferred charity for her giveaway, I just happened to be the fortunate one blessed to be a blessing. 

xo

"Pardon me, boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?"

Why, yes, yes, it is!

Holiday Inn, downtown Chattanooga, TN, April 2008. Although trains
haven't run in this depot-turned-hotel in almost 40 years, this has to be
one of Chattanooga's most photographed landmarks.  Immortalized by
Glenn Miller, the familiar "Chattanooga Choo Choo" is a lyrical reminder
of a time when we all moved a bit slower.

While I was snapping these shots, a lady walked up to me and asked
if I was a professional photographer!  Once I stopped giggling, I reached for the words to explain my quest for Project Green photos; instead, I sheepishly mumbled something like, "No, ma'am...I'm just working on a little project..."  She asked me to take her vacation photos anyway, probably a bit disappointed I didn't know what I was doing after all ;).

Visit Anna Carson Photography for the 4-1-1 on Project Green.

Project Green:

#1 - Have a ball!
#2 - Boy toy
#3 - Green "green" tee
#4 - A road named after ME?!
#5 - A chair of scrollies :)

 

And the giveaways go to...

During last week's Bloggy Giveaway carnival, I'm so thankful early on I stumbled across a blog that asked readers to "do" something in comments.  That prompted me to ask readers to share favorite quotes and words of inspiration, tell how we were similar and different, and consider graduation and wedding gift suggestions.  Though the credit lies elsewhere, it was a stroke of genius; reading comments was delightful and I got some fabulous ideas.  THANKS, again, to all of you who participated (and to new subscribers, I'm so glad you're back!)!!

With that in mind, I wish I had hundreds of giveaways, ESPECIALLY for you guys who commented daily!  Your enthusiasm, humor and thoughtfulness made plowing through almost 900 comments a joy (and it gives me new appreciation for the task Ree has in choosing caption winners!). 

Here's the listing of giveaway recipients and their winning comments (personal emails to follow but if you see this first, go ahead and send your snail mail to me:) ).

Starbucks Giftcard
Dawn, My Sweet Home #4
Am I really so hopelessly out of it that I've missed this new giveaway. Thanks for rescuing me from total oblivion.

Amethyst Ring
Sarah, Genesis Moments #155

This ring is soooo lovely. Great giveaway (even though Starbucks sounds good too!) This passage has been very inspirational to me this week: (Can you tell I'm tired) Isaiah 40:28-31 "28. Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31. but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Books

Inheritor of Heaven, Once Dead, Now Alive, #119 Michael Card's "The Parable of Joy"
Shalee, Shalee's Diner, #22, "Five People You Meet in Heaven"
Cathy T, #30, "Five Love Languages"

Quilted Duffel, Purse Organizer, Decorative Folders
Bonita, Streams of Living Water, #66

I have a chickenpox scar beside my nose and I had totally forgotten about it until I saw you had a scar on your face as well. You don't know how much I've been longing for some little bags to put in my purse ever since I read that post (a while back) about the idea of organizing your purse that way. Thanks for offering a great giveaway!

Target Gift Card
Wendy, The Adventures of Momlady, #105

Okay, aside from the shot of your feet (I'm assuming they're yours, yes?) in front of the ocean (which is the best place in the world for feet to be), I very much like the colored light pictures on your WW post. So glad I found your blog. Looking forward to non-carnival fun with you next week. :)

Stay tuned...

T E C H N I C A L  D I F F I C U L T I E S >:(

A Chair of Scroll-ies

A dear friend of mine and my sister-in-law were in town this week chaperoning their children's sixth-grade class trip.  Little did I know seeing them would be "cake", but the photo adventure to follow would be delicious "icing".

After hugs and good-byes, 72 very well-behaved students boarded their buses for a morning of spelunking, and I set off to see what I could find to photograph. 

Can anyone say "mother lode"? 

Their home base was the downtown Holiday Inn, better known as home for the "Chattanooga Choo Choo".  Today I'll share a few views from their rear gardens and courtyard, an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord  for the eyes. 

If you've had opportunity to visit Anna Carson Photography, you'll understand why I'm dedicating this Project Green post to her; bonus points to anyone who can tell me the inspiration for the post title!

The wrought iron table and chairs provide a beautiful resting spot
for visitors to enjoy the views surrounding them.  Their ornate scroll work
immediately caught my eye--they weren't just tables and chairs,
they were beautiful pieces of art!

 

Delicate laced shadows added another dimension of beauty.

Visit Anna Carson Photography for the 4-1-1 on Project Green.

Project Green:

#1 - Have a ball!
#2 - Boy toy
#3 - Green "green" tee
#4 - A road named after ME?!