After a Dark and Snowy Week…

On March 6, 2015 By AngeliaIn Beautiful Life28 Comments

The sun comes out ~~to blind me~~ to brighten our days. But the snow, and ice (which is still snow to Texans) was a fun and dramatic change from our sunny 60’s (sometimes 80’s!) winter.

The Dallas metroplex is one of those areas when the weatherman says, “Snow.”

We say, “Yeah, right!”

And when he still says, “SNOW!”

We say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Well, we believed! We believed last week and we believed this week. The magical ice and snow and allllll the blustery cold things happened. We broke out the gloves and scarves. We made chili (well, my sweet hubby made super, yummy, delicious chili). And most of the household had many wonderful snow days away from the office and school.

Except for me…because…I work for a travel agency. Even better, I supervise the EMERGENCY SERVICE Department of said travel agency. And what do you know? Snow storms and flight cancellations seem to top the #1 EMERGENCY of travelers. Huh.

But you know, with the skidding and sliding of planes off runways and such. Yeah, that. It’s kind of important that they CANCEL these precarious flights, lest you end up crashing into a ditch, screaming as you plunge down a blow-up slide while highly flammable jet fuel LEAKS nearby. So not the winter vacation you were hoping for. This is why I am happy to work snow days and keep you extra safe. You’re welcome.

But fingers crossed, someone has snuffed out that darn ground-hog and it WILL FORtheloveofGODplease be Spring real, real soon.

In the meantime, enjoy my lovely (and rare) SNOW photos. It happened. It really did.

This. This thing called snow.It is magical. I bet I’ll be eating snow balls later.

Maya kitty sees her first snow. She batted at the window like. WHAT? What is that??

I don’t understand this thing called snow. I need a nap.

It’s snow Maya. I tried to take her out to see it in person, but she FREAKED and clawed my shoulder. I think that meant – HELL NO into the snow I won’t GO!

My Anna dog runs through the snow/ice.

Anna dog and my old gal Salem have a snack of crunchy, tasty snow.

My Black Lab Salem. She is 12yrs old going on 13 this year. And she *still* loves the snow. Sweet girl.

This was the first wimpy snow. I didn’t get a pic of the bigger snow on my car.

FUN!

The girls play on the trampoline. Snowballs and jumping – what could be better?

Snowball fight!

The girls chunked ice/snow balls at Anna. I am really surprised it didn’t knock her out. She loves catching snowballs more than anything.

Anna the Snow ball catcher. Who needs a Frisbee?

This snow is swinging. Heh.

Hello Kitty in the snow.

The girls and the snow (ice).

Bridget in the snow.

Molly in the snow.

The snow melted. Some ice was left. The girls wished for more snow (they got it a week later).

But that didn’t stop them from trying to use the leftover ice/snow from the trampoline to build a ICE SLIDE.

This is what I call glorious busy work. LOVE.

Our gorgeous trees in the back.

Our nearby park as the snow was melting.

The ducks at the park. They don’t seem to mind the snow.

All the ducks in the pond took off flying as if their life depended on it. We looked up and saw this scene. Apparently, the ducks spotted this guy and knew it was feeding time. It was too funny!

Clover covered in snow. I call it my lucky heart clover.

What Love is…

On February 13, 2015February 13, 2015 By AngeliaIn Beautiful Life19 Comments

When I started this post – What Love is. I planned to write about what love means to me. How special certain people truly are. How it’s not always the outpouring of words, but the small everyday things we take for granted.

When he brings home a box of chocolate. Just because…

And it means there is sweetness beyond any kind you can buy. It represents a gesture of thought. Of being on his mind. Being on his heart. He thinks just to see you smile.

When he programs the new remote with your favorite channels.

I have the hardest time finding channels on our 400+ channel Uverse program. I end up watching the GUIDE for an hour. And for him, to always think of me, to set up my shows in a way I can access quickly. To record my favorite shows (without my asking), and to program in my channels (and knowing what they are). It may not seem like much, but the meaning isn’t lost on me. Little things done in a big way.

When a cute Valentine plant sits on the counter after he takes a trip to the store. For me? Oh that? Yeah. It’s just a little thing.

Just a little thing, but full of beauty. And not the beauty of flowers, but the beauty that love creates. One that will continue to grow.

When a person will help you launch burning lanterns into the sky in the dark of night. All for the love of your photo project when he could be in the recliner watching TV. Well, that is something special indeed. In fact, we almost lit the whole place up with the fiery glow of lanterns. Eek! Click on the gallery to read the story.

Jason launches our first balloon. It flies up and into a tree. Thankfully it burnt out and dropped into the water.

Our 2nd launch looked so pretty!

And it flies right into a TREE. This time it doesn’t fall into the water. But thankfully, it burned out without catching the park on fire. Phew!

The remenants of our burning balloon in the tree – WEEKS later.

Love is simple.

We make it complex. We put conditions on it. We decide when to give it and when to take it away.

But in the end, regardless of gifts, of deeds, of misunderstandings, of the good, and even the bad – love is complete acceptance. Complete and total acceptance of a person no matter what they do or say. No matter when or where. No matter how or why.

And then, I realized. Love is so much more than that. It encompasses family and generations. It is a kaleidoscope of moments so pure and precious they take your breath away.

I saw it so clearly this week as I did my photo shoots, for my projects, and for my family.

These wonderful people in my life that go above and beyond for my joy. How incredible is that?

To go above and beyond even at the risk of embarrassing photos.

And real love? Well, it’s family, fun, and beautiful girls (big and small).

It’s fuzzy mustaches and a heart that says hug me.

It’s very special eight-year old.

And a very mysterious debonair almost eleven-year-old.

And it’s a precious baby that is growing too fast. And a hundred times harder for Grammy to photograph.

And sometimes Grammy has to put her in a windowsill with heart gels to paste and smear on the window. So I can love every fingerprint…every smile…and every second of joy on her face as she discovers this “new” thing.

I know the moment is fleeting. I have watched too many little girls grow up. And I hang on to this with all my heart.

It hurts how much I love them all. This tenderness fills my soul. A tremendous blessing bestowed by having love this sweet and unconditional.

My family.

My life.

My acceptance to be who I am.

And who is that? Well….

Part of this family for sure.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The Sweet Nothings of February

On February 6, 2015February 6, 2015 By AngeliaIn Life is what you make it., Posessed by Nikon13 Comments

Love is in the air!

It’s February. The month cupids points his little arrow and stabs you in the heart. And cupid got me, oh yes he did! His little arrow pierced me right in the sweet tooth! And there’s goes the meal plan. Or, at least, a few extra “free days”.

These images are all part of my Project 52 on Flickr. I take part in two groups. One is the Alphabet challenge and the other is the 50mm lens one. I had a brilliant thought that if I did TWO projects, then quite possibly, I would finish one. I, also, like the flexibility to use other lenses on the Alphabet one. As well as a different theme. But I must say, I really enjoy the nifty fifty lens, too. This is somewhat of a surprise to me, because I RARELY used it to take photos before this project.

This week, I picked up many February/Valentine’s Day theme(y) stuff. SWEETS. CANDY. SHINY THINGS. HEARTS. Oh for the love all things HEART. I ♥ you. XOXOXO.

These yummy cuppa cakes made for great photos, in which, I was REWARDED heavenly for doing such a good job posing them, and prepping them. Oh, yippee ki-yay! Soooo tasty.

And Valentine’s Day would not be complete without kisses. Lots of kisses!
© 2015 Angelia's Photography
They are calling out to me. To love them completely. To kiss them with my taste buds (that might be me, not them). And I do! I certainly do. No Kiss was left behind!

Lastly, I got a wine glass. For those more difficult (pointing at you SNOW STORMS OF THE CENTURY) work days.

© 2015 Angelia's Photography
And for project purposes, I filled this one with hearts of the pure kind.

I found the font used on Bach’s conversation hearts a little different, shall we say? I’m used to a more blocky type face and this computer font threw me off a bit. I guess it takes some getting used to. Conversation hearts have to move into the future sometime, right?

So there you have it. All the hot stuff I could muster and more.

I hope your Valentine heart is just as full of every sweet nothing my camera could offer. And I hope your teeth don’t hurt as much as mine do.

Happy month of February!

A Nifty Project in 2015

On December 18, 2014December 18, 2014 By AngeliaIn Posessed by Nikon15 Comments

For a few years now I have participated in a yearly photo project. Participate being the key word.

In the first year, I tried to tackle the monstrous 365 Project. In this one you take a photograph and post it…

Every! Single! Day!

I think I made it to Day 56. And believe me, that was a stretch.

The next year, I joined a Project 52 group. Because, surly, one photo a week is a heck of lot easier than three-hundred and sixty-five.

And it was.

But still…

As great as I started out.

Crafting and posting my shots.

I just couldn’t seem to make it to the end.

Year after year.

This year was best run yet! I’d like to believe the only reason it failed was due to the moderator of the group up and disappearing.

Poof.

It kinda takes the wind out of your sails when the project (and most of the participants) come to a screeching halt on Week 47 (or so).

And yes, I could have kept going. I could have made myself journey on.

But I didn’t.

I quit too.

And I failed, yet again.

Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure… it just means you haven’t succeeded yet. ~Robert Schuller

Or maybe?

I just didn’t succeed (yet!).

But here comes a NEW YEAR. A year of great promise. A year of new! Hello 2015! I have NO PLANS to quit you. And this year, I will FINISH a Project 52. I joined a new group where I will post a photo on Flickr every week (based on the theme created by administrators). I happen to know these gals. I know their creativity. I KNOW their dedication. There is no doubt in mind about this project and the completion thereof.

SO!

Care to join me?