Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #31... CELEBRATE!

I finally did it. 

It took longer than I thought it would, but how fitting that I not only completed the 31 topics of the Summer Blogger Challenge I started, but that the last one would be from yesterday "Labor Day" aka the official "end" of summer. 

This is a list of all 31 topics I covered... 

Now, I am going to CELEBRATE with images from Labor Day... a quick moment to CELEBRATE not just Summer 2014, but who I am and who my daughter is. 

We enjoy nature, life, each other... and so much more. 

These moments with her I cherish. I pray one day she looks back and has the same viewpoint... that our time together was well-spent. 

I love you, Karlene. More than you shall ever know. :-)

Here is our quick trip to Little Indian Creek Conservation Area. Here's a pdf handout about this area: http://extra.mdc.mo.gov/documents/area_brochures/7837.pdf

MK Designs Sept 2014 
Thank you for visiting! 

Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #28, #29, #30: Someone/Something I love, I wish..., and How I felt Today

I could go on and on about places I have been to, or my beautiful child... but today I am going to make #28 about what was in my bathroom sink this morning: Patches. 

 I love this cat. I really do. After my cat Sasha died in my arms of a stroke/old age, I said I'd never have a cat again. Then my daughter talked me into Zoey and now... Patches. 

I have to be honest about this, Patches has clung to me so much, she's pretty much MY cat. Karlene seems ok with it since Zoey is still HER cat. 

#29. I wish... I had more time at this beautiful place I finally located today. Little Indian Creek Conservation Area south of St. Clair, Mo. 

I really hope I will feel better tomorrow so I can take my daughter there since I am picking her up around 12:30 and we have the whole afternoon together without a load of homework to do!

#30. How I felt today. 

Hmmm? Drowsy. Tired. Allergic. Dragging. Unmotivated. 

Yet, kinda "needed" - - -  had a long visit with someone who needs to know that she matters so much. She is loved. She has a beautiful life ahead of her. Won't always be easy, but she can do it. 

Which also led me to feeling thankful today. Thankful for my mom, who was always my mom. Not out being selfish and putting her own desires and wants first. She was and is a good parent. Constantly saving for my college education, for my future... I am so thankful for her... This is her clicking pics in Michigan in June 2014. 

Thank you for stopping by... 
... one last post tomorrow to end the "Summer 2014 Challenge"

MK Designs - August 2014 

Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #27: A View(s) From Today...

Must admit the "energy" of my 20's is long gone. 40 is a bit of a sucker punch! Now that my "day job" is rolling, I feel so tired... so some stuff (like this blog) have been a bit neglected. 

Today I got up and the first "view" of the day was figuring out what three images I wanted to submit to Soulard Art Market for consideration into their next juried show... "Nourish" which is art inspired by poetry.  

For more information about this great St. Louis gallery here's their site: http://soulardartmarket.org

These are my three, based on three very different poems. 

"Solitude" - "The Sun Never Says" - "Sonnet 40"

Then it was off to get Slava, my friend, from Re-Discover Washington http://rediscoverwashington.org and Slava Bowman Photography http://www.slavabowman.com for our "day" together! 

First off, it was lunch at Blue Duck. Slava admitted she hadn't ate there in about a week. I had to ask her if she was having symptoms of withdrawls (like an addict would) because she seems to be a Blue Duck addict. I have to admit, any time I have ate there - it has NOT been a let down! (The Blue Duck is located right off Front Street in Washington, Mo... great views and food!)

Then, it was off to St. Louis to see the International Photography Museum (Slava got us Groupon deals)... and then... we arrived to realize it is closed for Labor Day weekend. Since we already paid for parking, we decided to walk around the St. Louis University campus and check out a coffee shop that Slava loves. 

Afterwards, we found ourselves driving around Forest Park in St. Louis. Since we actually found a parking spot, we decided to watch the clouds on Art Hill.

Here's the deal, the day didn't go "as planned" but that's ok. 

I am very blessed to have met Slava, and formed a friendship with her. 

What are the odds an awesome lady from Bulgaria would end up in the town I teach in and we'd end up striking up a friendship over the fact I really was envious of her skills with a camera? Yes, I was once jealous, but now I find that her photography and positive outlook on life inspires me. 

I am also blessed to be one of those people that she will let her guard down with... because, believe it or not, as outgoing as she seems - she is (like me) not someone who lets just anyone "in" - at least that's my impression of her. :-)

I love our talks, because they never feel like idle chat or, as she says, talks about "shopping, kids, and houses..." We get to talk about our thoughts on many things, and without judgment. Which is awesome in this day and age... it seems more and more people are becoming less and less open in their thoughts. 

This is my beautiful friend, Slava, in her "crazy cat lady" dress. I love it! Newsprint with all "cat headlines" and photos! 

Oh, and, since the Photo Museum was closed for the holiday, we get to try this trip again later this fall; a blessing in disguise! 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful "end of summer" - which reminds me, I am so close to having my summer blog challenge DONE, I need to wrap it up before it's WINTER! 

MK Designs. August 2014.

Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #25 & #26... Explore and Looking Forward To...

Oh dear blog of mine... 

I fell behind on the Blogger Challenge, but haven't quit. 

I have had a "rest" because honestly all the junk happening in the world has had my heart heavy and my brain a little muddy. 

Today, it hit me - I need to continue the Blogger Challenge. 

I accepted it, and need to finish it!

Here we go... 

#25. Explore. 

#26. I am looking forward to... (may tie a bit into EXPLORE, ya think?)

Thank you so much for your time and for supporting my endeavors. 

Michelle - the "M" of MK Designs!

August 2014

Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #23 and #24 - Abstract & Old Photo of a Family Member. MacMac

#23. Abstract...

Abstract around my home... iPhone/pic-collage

Sky. Michigan 2014. Petoskey, MI - in fact! Canon Rebel  

Oil and Water - Canon Rebel 

Macro - Glass from Astral Glass - Canon Rebel (help from extension tubes) 

Oil and Water - Canon Rebel

#24. Old Photo of a Family Member. I keep this in my front room. My mom's father. My grandfather. Harvey Johnson. I have a lot of fond memories of him. 

My Grandpa. 

Thank you for visiting and keeping up with my summer blogger challenge! My goal is to finish by mid to late August. I think I am on track! 

Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #21, #22... Stories & Laughter... and technology rant!

First up, the technology rant. 

Pardon the break in blogging, I was out of the state and no computer handy... which is FINE by me! 

As much as I love the chances to blog, edit photos, share, create video clips, etc... there are days I am ready to throw my phone out the window and sell all computer equipment. 

Me. Feeling a little OVERWHELMED! I like this image!

Lately, I have even been considering disabling my personal facebook and only doing my biz pages... but odds are I won't. 

I am thinking of keeping the personal facebook page, but not using it for several days... maybe even weeks...  

Sometimes a break from it is good. Why? Two big reasons. 

#1. So addictive. TIME SUCKER! 

#2. Facebook people (including myself!) are kinda crazy. 

I prefer some nachos and a limerita over the popcorn to be honest!

OK, maybe that's harsh, but I swear - the rollercoaster facebook drama gets a bit odd... and it shows how people have such wacked priorities. 

I follow the NEWS / subscribe to lots of outlets on twitter. Bombs, illnesses, death, poverty, etc. - yes, all SAD, but it puts life in perspective. Makes not getting a date or the right job seem trivial. 

Now back to the BLOGGER CHALLENGE! 

...and now back to our scheduled programming...

#21. My favorite story. I am going to shorten it and put it in my own words. 

Back in the day people were often stoned to death for doing bad things. This lady did a big NO NO in that she partcipated in ADULTERY (ya know, messing around when married) and she got caught. So, people are going to stone her to death... they look to their religious leader for his approval to kill her. Know what the guy says? He says, "OK, the first person in this group who has never done wrong, who has never sinned, you throw the first stone..." Guess what? No one does. They all walk away. She's shocked. He tells her he isn't going to punish her, but forgive her... and encourages her to live a better life and try not to sin anymore. 

I love that story. :-)

#22. Laughter. SO MANY THINGS MAKE ME LAUGH. I love a good joke, a good pun, a good comedian. The list is too long to compose here, but here's a few images that can sum it up a bit. 

Until next time, thank you for reading and checking out my blog! 
~ MK Designs - August 2014 

PS and, none of these are my images... but my words... ;-)
I'll get back to MY images in the next blogger challenge entry! 

Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #20... Daydream.

#20. Daydream...

Funny thing about Daydreams, I have them OFTEN.

Most of my life I feel I have spent in several places at once. 

Started at a young age, too. Teachers telling me to focus, when most the time even though my head was elsewhere, I was listening to darn near everything happening in the room. 

Took this image near Lassen National Park in Northern CA. This sums up how I feel often. Just dreaming. Looking out towards the sky. Seeing what is on the horizon. 

My daydreaming REALLY ticked off a HS teacher when I ended up spending most of her class daydreaming, doodling, and napping... then finishing the semester with the highest percentage in the class and getting the "medal" at the awards day. (Sorry, it was SO BORING, and one of the ONLY classes I ever slept in!) 

Note: the medal was really just this goofy little pin for a letterjacket. ;-)

She was so angry, she gave a second medal to the runner up (who is currently my facebook friend, lol) because she "tried harder" than I did. (That's the riot act she read me alone in a room, AFTER the ceremony... letting me know she only awarded me because she "had" to, not because I "deserved" it.)

The thing is, even though I feel like so much of my life has been spent daydreaming, I do not feel it is wasted because OFTEN I am in the present even though I live in this duality and am in two or three places at once in my mind. 

I think it helped my creativity. It helped me set attainable goals. I think many of my daydreams have became reality... and will continue to in the future.  

So the other day, I had a very specific daydream as I walked the Katy Trail near Dutzow clicking pics. 

I took this in Mexico Beach, Florida & edited it in Missouri. It can belong to you, if you want it! Contact me about how to order this image, or any image you see that I have created. 

I thought, "What if I walked all the way to Marthasville... what if I had a backpack on my back with a tent and water and snacks... what if I had people on call along the trail to get me when my legs can go no more..." and the daydream was born. 

I could picture myself a little older (early 50s) and retired walking the Katy Trail as long as my heart, wallet, legs, and desire could take me... with people on high alert to come get me when I could do no more. 

Hermann, Missouri. Photo by me! :-) 

My daydream had me walking from Dutzow to Hermann... over a few days because even though my spirit is willing my chunky body ain't so into it. 

Then, after a break, my daydream took me from Hermann to Portland (Missouri). 

It was a lovely daydream that helped me lose track of the miles and nearly 2 hours I was on the trail in reality. 

Wonder if one day if that daydream will become my reality, or if I'll just be scolded by someone for having it? 

Until next time, 
Michelle

with... MK Designs! Thank you for reading! 

Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #17, #18, #19: I am good at... Best Book EVER.. & the Weather

#17. I feel odd listing what I think I am really good at. So, I stepped outside of "my thoughts" and asked some people who know me what they think.

G. S. - She's known me for a couple of years. One of my newer friends. We work on "Experience Union" together and both enjoy Photography & being moms. She says this is what I am good at... 

- making people laugh 

- photography (duh! I know that's a cheating answer)  

- leading/leadership

- exploring

- looking at things and situations from different perspectives

- encouraging others

K. J. - She's known me since I was in middle school. In fact she was my English teacher "back in the day" but she was so YOUNG! Just a baby out of college! I really respect her, so when I asked her what I was good at and this was her response, I was very humbled. 

First and foremost, you a great at being a mom. 

You are great being a teacher and a mentor. 

You are good at photography. 

You are honest and faith-filled.

R.R. - He's known me a long time, but before we met, I loved listening to him on the radio. During my first years of teaching broadcast, I was contacting any and every person I could. He was kind enough to guest speak to my students for several years... and we've kept in touch. I still listen to him when I can on Planet Radio. http://www.planetradio.us

A man of many words, he actually kept it simple when I asked him what I was good at... 

Melding young minds. 

Being a mother. 

Being a hottie.

#18. Best Book Ever. 

#19. Weather! 

Goodness, what an amazing summer! 

I mean, usually by this point we are a hot mess here in Missouri and lately it's back to unseasonably cool temps that I live for. 

Windows open. 
Fans on. 
AC off. 
Electric bill NOT suffering. 

I went for a walk on the Katy Trail on the way home from seeing my friend Juli with Olive and Ash http://oliveandashstudio.blogspot.com

Here are my 3 fave images from that stroll. 

I was on the trail over an hour, maybe longer! I lost track of time... it was THAT NICE outside!

Thank you for taking the time to follow my blog. For more information about my work, like my facebook page, or click the link to see my website: http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com

Summer 2014 Blogger Challenge #16: Home

HOME.

Here are a few images to sum that topic up for the "blogger challenge" but like many topics on this list I could say so much more. 

Home is more than a place, but I do think the place matters. 

Home is who you are with, what you surround yourself with (not just objects but inspiration and the vibe once you open the door).

Home can be a bit cluttered and "lived-in" but for my purposes can't be totally trashed or I cannot relax. It puts me on edge and will send my allergies into a rage.

Home is knowing you can just kick back and relax... in your bedroom, shower, couch, yard, garden... 

I am sure you get the picture! 

I do not "have" the above images MK done, but I think this would be awesome to create! I love succulents!

MK Designs Photography / Fine Art and Portrait. July 2013. Thank you for visiting!