.08::30.

There is no other place that I'd rather be, than to spend an Indian Summer day at the lake, as the sun slowly descends, with the ones I love.

.growing.

Growing. She and I both are. Me, into this role of Mommy. She, into this spunky little girl. Where'd the time go? I'm still trying to get used to mommyhood. I love it, and yet at times I still struggle with it. Am I paying her enough attention? Too much? Is she just being a kid or should I have scolded her for throwing all the crayons all over the floor? Am I too hard? Too soft? Did she just say what I think she said? Did she get that from me?!

Where did my little baby go? Wait, there's that smile. There she is. Walking up and down the steps in her little white shoes that are quickly getting too small for her growing feet. She doesn't seem to mind. She just wants to skip, to jump, to fling her doll into the air and then pick her up when she falls, squeezing her so tightly as if she was afraid, just for a moment, that she would never come back down. She doesn't need help going up and down the stairs "Mama, I do it." She sings We're off to see the Wizard over and over, laughing each time she gets to the end, all the while she is still going up and down the stairs, occasionally stopping to stare out between the posts. Just when I think she doesn't even seem to notice that I am there, she stops at the top of the stairs, holding on to her favorite doll, she looks back and says, "C'mon Mama" holding out her hand to me.

Yes, we are growing. Me, into a more confident and thankful mother. She, into a most beautiful and carefree soul.

.take time to.

Take the time to be courteous.
It is the mark of a gentleman.

Take time to play with children.
It is the joy of joys.

Take time to think.
It is the source of power.

Take time to play.
It is the secret of youth.

Take time to look around.
IT is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to laugh.
It is the music of the soul.

Take time to read.
It is the fountain of wisdom.

Take time to be friendly.
It is the road to happiness.

Take time to love and be loved.
It is the privilege of the gods.

Take time to dream.
It is hitching your wagon to a star.

Take time to work.
It is the price of success.

Take time to live.
That is what time is for.

~The Los Angeles Herald

I found this worn, discolored, newspaper cutout within the pages of my Great-Grandmother Sylvia's copy of Streams in the Desert. I must say, I most definitely needed this today. Thank you, Grandma.

.desperately seeking solace.

I think I may have found it.

.sunshine by the shore.

After over a week of wet and dreary days, some of us couldn't wait to get out and play!

.rollip.

There is no doubt that the old school, vintage, dreamy look of Polaroid photos is making a big comeback these days. Unfortunately, Polaroid has stopped the production of many, if not most, of their film which has left many photographers in a panic. Stocks of film are approaching their expiration dates and depleting quite rapidly. Good news is that many of the films are still available for purchase through the likes of Polaroid's site Polapremium, as well as on Ebay, that is if you're willing to cough up some pretty hefty bucks. The average cost of the popular 600 film, which contains a total of 10 exposures per cartridge, is just over $20. So, for those of us who can't seem to bring ourselves to use up the last few exposures left in our possession, I am delighted to say that there is a website that can manipulate your original digital image into one that looks like it may have come out of that old instamatic!

The website is Rollip.com. I found it during my visit to the Shutter Sisters blog this morning. I must admit, I'm quite ADDICTED!!

This first image was created using the Rollip.

Here is the original photo.

Once you've tried it, you may find yourself creating a good pile of Pola-simulated images and need a place to share them. Flickr has a group pool dedicated to just that. So, go on. . . have fun!!

P.S. Toast has a new video up. Oh how I wish I could visit Ireland!