Life Doesn't Stop For ANYBODY

Having one of my more "personal" blog moments. I read recently those words above "Life Doesn't Stop for ANYBODY" and thought - "oh my, ain't that the truth!" I feel like I have lived a year this summer with all the hustle and bustle and work.

June 2013. A day working (and playing) at Zia Gallery in New Haven,
where I have work available for purchase. 

Packed up and moved my household contents in May, went on a vaction to FL and - while there - my old house sold, came back from FL and instantly closed on my new home and started unpacking, renovating, working, writing checks, whew! (if that sentence confused you, try living it!)

Mae West said: "You only live once, but if you do it right,
once is enough." - Mexico Beach Florida May 2013

Overall, it's been a whirlwind, but I am so pleased with how it's all coming along. And along the way I have had some moments of fun.

Christy and I hanging out for 6 1/2 uninterrupted hours
 in July 2013! This is huge with all the miles between
us and the fact her three sons keep her BUSY BUSY! 

It's those "needed breaks" that have helped me focus on getting this house done one bit at a time. I am so greatful for them.

Originally a pretty sickly looking evergreen was here in the
front yard. Had a redbud put in and Karlene & I did the
rock hunting, laying them out, mulching, etc. Took two hours,
but it got done quickly with TEAM WORK! July 2013. 

While it's true "Life Doesn't Stop for ANYBODY" - we can make sure to slow down a bit and enjoy some moments in order to recharge our batteries.

Another Stellar Sip of Wine & Sunset at Robller Winery! Summer 2013. 

How do I recharge?
- Meals or Winery Trips with Friends &/or Family
- Reading a book (slowly savoring my current one and it's "heavy" on the heart so I have to take breaks from it)
- Good Tea or Coffee or Ice Cream!
- Creek Days With My Daughter
- Texting or Chatting on Facebook with People
- PHOTOGRAPHY
- Stopping and Really Enjoying all I Have Accomplished by Putting my Touch on this New Place aka: Making This House a Home (cliche but true)
- Little Drives Here and There
- Doing MINIMAL Work for My Upcoming School Year (it ain't August yet!) I am just doing FUN Things and Posts with my Journalism Students
- Participating In 30 Day Photo Challenges and Other Photo Projects That Push Me to Think / Create / SEE / Observe
- Reading Blogs and Articles I enjoy
- Watching Movies (new ones and old ones)

CREEK! Blue Springs Creek with my daughter.
June 2013. 

So, while Life Doesn't Stop for ANYBODY" - we can slow a moment down and enjoy it to recharge ourselves. This is a clip from a SCI FI movie, but give it a chance. One of my favorite scenes.

The PERFECT moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdgjUPMiiEc

Thanks for reading and as always if you leave a comment you can be entered to win a prize from me.

All words and images by the M of MK Designs :)

July 2013.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (?)

Blessed are the forgetful: for
they get the better even of their blunders.
Friedrich Nietzsche

I found myself wanting to watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for the past few weeks, so thanks to my new Netflix situation, there it was.

Beautiful film.

Truth be told, I have been on a mission of deletion.  Photos, notes, texts, phone numbers, etc.

... but if you've seen the movie. It doesn't work. We all end up being who we are supposed to be and without those "experiences" we certainly wouldn't be the person God intends us to be.

The concept of erasing a memory that brings us pain may sound like a good thing, but in the end - it just doesn't work like that.

If I "erased" Person A from my memory banks, I wouldn't remember this road, this day, this moment from Fall 2012.

Lesterville, Mo - a road in October I took to meet someone I was so
excited to see and have back in my life (again) at the time. 

If Person B was zapped from all my memories I would never remember this place, this moment, this fog by the sea on lighthouse path...

A path to a lighthouse in Oregon, walking with someone who if I had
never known I wouldn't have my beautiful daughter.

If I erased Person C, how would I remember this sunset and this place?

Watch your step, this is a hot lake in Fly Geyser
 located in a very remote part of Nevada. 

A Spotless Mind may sound beautiful, and ignorance may indeed be bliss - - but in 98% of our cases, not so much.

Letting go and moving forward isn't easy, especially when it's not with the people you once felt so sure of, but it can be done. It can be done.

I think I want to watch that movie again though. It's a good lesson for us all.

All words and images (minus the one from the movie!) by the M of MK Designs. Do not copy or reproduce without permission. Website: http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com

“The earth laughs in flowers.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wild.

Tame.

Colorful. 

Exotic.

What is it with our love affair with flowers?

Perhaps it's that no two really seem to be alike 

(like snowflakes and humans), or it's the fact

they wear colors that excite the eyes and 

release fragrant smells that delight the nostrils.

Monet said, "I must have flowers...always, always..." 

He poured so much into not only 

his paintings, but his gardens that inspired those 

pieces of art still admired today.

We grow them.

Give them.

Paint them.

Photograph them.

It's an industry in itself.

It's estimated nearly $2 billion is spent yearly

 on flowers for Valentine's Day alone! 

The floral industry in the USA was

$32.085 BILLION in 2011. 

A fact that shocked me at first.

After some thought, I decided to think about all the

gardens, nurseries, landscape businesses, etc.

just in my area where I live. There are so many!

Of course we love flowers and beautiful 

things in our yards, on vases on our tables... 

it just makes sense the industry is that huge in the 

USA, even in a poor economy.

I've been blessed to live close to the Missouri Botanical Gardens, 

and see other spots that have such beauty like the

Biltmore Gardens in North Carolina. I find flowers, trees, shrubs, etc

to be calming, beautiful, and very photogenic...

I must add, not one flower I have photographed

has seen themself in a photo and asked me to 

delete it. The fact they can't argue with how 

I photograph them - that's a bonus!

All words and images by MK Designs. http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/

June 2013. Please do not copy without permission! 

Contact me if you'd like any of these images on canvas, framed/unframed prints, aluminum, notecards, or more!

I love...

I love hearing my step-father laugh as he watches a Mel Brooks movie (who doesn't love Mel Brooks!??!)

I love being surrounded by water... not submerged... but surrounded...

I love to dip my toes in a spring-fed creek.

I love my family and friends.

I love the many hats I wear in my life.

I love having a nice little "jolt" that makes me remember: there's more to love than to not love in life... so enjoy it. 

So I've decided time for a little - Less bitchin' and more fishin' 

- as the song goes! :)

All words and photos by MK Designs, except Mel Brooks Spaceballs :)

See my website http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/ for more details on what we can do for you!

June 2013

Lake of the Ozarks State Park 2013

In April I was able to help celebrate my friend's 40th birthday in Eldon, MO.

I can't be that close to a state park with weather like that and not go take a look.

In this case, it was a park I have been to many times over the years: Lake of the Ozarks State Park.

The difference was that this time I took my daughter. She loved the water! The waves splashing over the rocks near the Public Beach resulted in a lot of giggles!

The waves were KICKIN' :)

We decided a hike was in order and we hit Fawn's Ridge Trail (marked yellow) opting for the 1.25 mile loop.

Spring was starting to show herself in the woods near the Lake.

The hike was pretty easy, some gentle ups and downs... until the end. The steps leading back out had my happy girl a little annoyed with me, but it was worth it. Once we reached the top - 4 deer ran past us! Naturally, my camera was off and not at hand! If only I had known... isn't there a quote about hindsight? ha!

It's easy to turn off the treadmill and give up, but on a hike - not the case! 

I love our Missouri State Parks, maybe more than I love Photography! (shhh, don't tell!)

If you want more information on Lake of the Ozarks State Park, visit their site: http://www.mostateparks.com/park/lake-ozarks-state-park

If you want more information on MK Designs, see my website: http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/

All images and words by MK Designs - Published June 2013. Please do not copy without permission!

Franklin County Area Photographers ROCK!

I have to say I am in love with this little "network" that Tyann Marcink started. It's Franklin County Area Photographers.

My entry for FCAP April 2012 Photo Hunt
"Three" - I still love this image, even though
I should not have touched this "leaf" lol :)

We take photo walks, share tips and images online through Facebook and more, and also do monthly scavenger/photo hunts.

"Tracks" an image I got last summer for the Photo Hunt.
Printed this on metallic paper and had it juried into
TWO shows. I never would have looked for this
image if I had not had my "list" for the photo hunt!
Thank you FCAP! 

Those hunts have helped push me to see the world more and has done the same thing for my daughter. Karlene may only be 8, but she participates and really enjoys the hunts, especially when she actually "wins" from time-to-time.

"Nose" by Karlene at age 7 for the
September 2012 FCAP Photo Hunt.
This one just cracked me up! :)
It's ok to be funny with photos!

I love that FCAP helps people of all ages and skill levels learn to see the world and look for unique shots. Afterall, the vast "purpose" of photography (in my humble opinion) is learning to see. 

The very first FCAP Hunt I took part in...
"Shadows" - this one stumped me, but with
the right light streaming through the
right lace - you can get some interesting
effects. Not my "normal" shot at all. 

Do you want to learn more about FCAP? Look up Franklin County Area Photographers on Facebook or see their blog: http://franklincountyareaphotographers.blogspot.com/


For more information about my (and Karlene's) work - look up MK Designs Photography / Fine Art and Portrait on Facebook or simply go to my website: http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/

All words and images by MK Designs, please do not copy or "borrow" without permission. 2013.

Letting Go... Moving Forward...

I saw beauty on a walk with my mom a few weeks ago.

Today - I am feeling a bit reflective & this is more of a "personal" blog entry than my usual.

Perhaps it's one of the following things (or all of them?)

- I am about to turn 40.

Me - Hair tame, Hair Wild, Love my Child, &
Walks in the Wood (camera in tow!)

- My daughter is becoming a young woman right before my eyes.

This fall before a wedding. I was blown away!

- I recently had my "love life" turned upside down by someone who by all accounts I shouldn't care so much for anymore, but retraining the heart after decades of thinking pretty fondly of someone - that doesn't work - does it? (I think most family and friends would prefer me to go "Miranda Lambert" on him. ha!)

Flowers - on at least 3 occassions I was
showered with roses. :)

- I am watching so many people I love age, but what Stevie Nicks sang rings true... "I am getting older too..."

My dear friend Christy just turned 40. I joke
she'll always be older than me... but WOW.
Weren't we just 17 / 18 and running around
Mary's Home, Missouri?!?! 

Maybe those are all factors... but - I am starting to let go of a lot of possessions and "things" that have lost their use in my life. They no longer bring joy or serve a purpose, and sometimes feel like dead weight.

#1. My Car. It had bittersweet memories and beginnings... and a tragic run with constant issues. It's like it had a target on it for anything and anyone to damage it. The car is gone. And, now it's time for "Betty" to be on the scene.

Me and Betty - my new to me 2011 Ford Escape.
Fitting because I love to Escape! 

#2. My House. My exhusband and I built together in our 20's. Now it's just Karlene and I... and it's just not the "space" that feels good for us.

Beautiful little house, I am a bit sad to say Farewell to.

I had been looking at homes for years... and found one just up the hill and to the left that I adored last summer... but I kept talking myself out of it until someone talked me into it. While he may be gone now, I see that "push" is what I needed.

Almost double the square foot, beautiful "bones", and
I can't go on enough about the backyard and space!

Right now I am packing like a wild woman, selling & donating & trashing things I no longer need or use - because after months it would appear I have a buyer for my home and the home up the hill and to the left will (Lord-Willing!) be mine in just a few weeks!?

52 boxes packed, countless items donated - trashed - or sold!
It's a start for sure. - "Cheers" to Betty! 

I don't want to literally "burn" my past, because
it has defined me and I think "me" is pretty ok
when she's not having her "Miranda Lambert"
moments... but it's time to move on. 

Wish me luck, keep me in your prayers, and know that if you ever feel the urge to pack, purge, lift, haul, or more... your chance could happen in the next few weeks!

Images (most of them) and all words -  by MK Designs Photography - Please do not reproduce without permission.

See my website at: http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/