Extra hour

I'm using my "extra hour" tonight to do some pre-bloogging.

I have lots to blog, but have waited to download stuff from my 'purse' camera. Some of this stuff dates to August! So stay tuned!

Sounds glamorous, right?

Erik and I were talking last night ... and neither of us can remember the last time we did laundry. As evidenced by my undie drawer, it's about time. Maybe it's been 2.5-3 weeks? No one knows.

Some days I think "being a photographer sounds glamorous and all, but when I can't remember the last time I washed my clothes or went to the grocery store .... well, notsomuch."

I grabbed some milk quickly the other day, but as far as a real trip to the store, nope, can't remember the last time. Not in the last 2 weeks for sure. Crike!

I think everyone feels that way, though, to some degree. "If only I had kids." "If only I didn't work nights." "If only I could stay home with the kids." .... the list is long and I think in short, we all want what we don't have. Or we all think everyone else's life sounds more glamorous than ours.


I'll admit, today it's tough. My 'to do' list for work fills almost an entire page. It doesn't even include washing the guest room sheets for my mom who will be staying with us tomorrow night. Or doing the pile of dishes in the sink. Or going grocery shopping ... heck, even making a grocery list! But it's where I am right now, which is exactly where I'm supposed to be. I know that; I don't wish for anything else.

Sometimes, looking at the couples we photograph helps me; reminds me of life before dishes in the sink. When all you had time for was to obsess about the other. And not think "has it REALLY been 3 weeks since we did laundry?"

"Here I am, Lord ..."

Mike and I had a rockin' wedding this weekend out of town. That in itself is fairly normal, but I wouldn't usually make a trip to Dodge before a wedding "just because." But with Grandpa John's funeral, of COURSE we went to Dodge. And I'm glad we did.

The trip, however, meant being home for less than 24 hours before packing the car and leaving again. Whew!

I left Great Bend this morning close to 7 a.m. And with my crazy allergies, I've been up hacking the last 2 nights.

So this morning, I'm sitting in Mass, just hoping I don't fall asleep sitting up, thinking "Here I am, Lord" ... I couldn't even make it to the next part of the phrase "I come to do your will." Nope. I was just there. Present. "Here I am."

Everyone I know with kids tells me "You get used to not sleeping" but I think they're just saying it. I have a hard time believing my body could do with less than 9 hours of sleep (NO I'm not joking, folks!).

Sort of a rambly post, but my point is this: on Mother's Day ... I tip my hat to all of you mommies, especially my friends with babies and little kids. To those who might not be sleeping through the night. Or more than 3 hours at a time. I marvel at you. I honor you. I am in awe of you.

Happy Mother's Day.

Things to love about fall ...

Oh, fall is here!!!!! It's HEEEEREEE!!!!!

Things I love about fall:


• Liberating flannel PJs from the dresser. It's like bastille day, for REAL.

• Later sunrises. Silly, right? But we've got one window in the bedroom that just love the morning sun. And now it loves it later in the morning. :)


• FOOTBALL WEATHER. Oh how I love it! This means sweaters, hoodies and jeans.


• The world series. No, not THAT world series. THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER!!!!!! How I miss my poker buddies from Hays. And I have the most enormous crush on Norman Chad, ESPN commentator. I seriously look forward to Tuesday nights this time of year. This is the only time of year you'll see me willingly turn on ESPN, and with GUSTO! :) Norman Chad, if you're reading this, you may have all of my children. NO JOKE!!!!

• Al fresco dining. The flies have almost died out enough to really enjoy outdoor dining. Oh YIPPIE!!!!

DaTorture of DaMask!

So ... if our walls could talk ... they'd whine about my incessant groanings about my ongoing quest to find a DaMask duvet cover.

It probably started when I got my ShootSac.


Now, you remember Erik's dramatics from a previous post. Well, if you can picture HIS reaction here ... it would involve a BIIIIIG eye roll. ;)

So, why do I want a duvet cover? That's because we already have a comforter. It just needs a cover (ok, we HAVE a cover, but I think it would look more rockin' in DaMask).


Well, this week, I found this product, and LOVE it, but it's not big enough .... so I asked where they got the fabric. From an exporter in China. BOO! I can't get it here. I'm *crossing* my fingers that I can convince them to share with me ... because they describe it as "bluish silver + black." Um ..... PERFECT!!!!!!

Especailly with this sort of wall color:


I think black and white will just be spectacular with this!

But no. I can't have the DaMask I want.

A few months ago, I went on an obsessive quest and found *some* options online ... but I'm just not sure I'm all sorts of crazy about any of them ..... but I should get some sample scraps and see ....


These range from $7/yard to $40/yard. Yikes!!!!!!!

Here's the thing that gets me ..... I go into almost ANY store .... and there are throw pillows in the DaMask pattern, then aprons in Hobby Lobby, then photo boxes .... and the list goes ON. Ugh. It irritates me that I see this pattern EVERYWHERE, but I cannot purchase the fabric in any fabric store around here. Ugh.

Ok, so which ones do YOU like? Leave a comment and tell me which number you like!!!!!