My Box

I live in a box. Like one that can store treasures or collect unwanted trinkets that don't ever get thrown out. My room is a box. Like a storage unit, it can be organized or chaotic. Right now my room is like a box being sorted. Only the treasures will remain, leaving empty space so they will be visible. Some have been hidden for so long that they're hardly treasures anymore. Yet once found, remembered, I have a hard time parting with them.

But what needs more space in the box of my room? Things? Or me?

I feel most alive, perhaps most protected, when I am not confined. It's why I love a wide open sky, a low horizon, a far view. Somehow I have to create that within a confined space, and so more things must go to make room for my long limbs and brave imagination to stretch.

My box, my room, is very boring, until I add the touch of me, things that make my heart leap with joy, things that remind me of good times and the love I have from others, things that let me ponder. Snapshots of the best moments in my favorite movie. A rose from my best friend, given three Valentine's ago, hanging in the window all this time. My college graduation cap with the Tangled sun that my sister-in-law painted on top. My framed print of a cowboy riding at sunset. My bridesmaid bouquet from my brother's wedding.

I live in a box. But soon, the edges of the box will fade and the treasures will take the spotlight.

Soon, my box will be as open space.

Linking up with The RunaMuck's #concretewords prompt.

Alligator Party

I...have inspired art.

Mostly because I was being silly.

My work here is done.

Last week, a friend of mine was working on a weekly drawing (meaning he makes a drawing in a sketchbook once a week, not he gives something away once a week--there was some amusing confusion about this earlier online). He wasn't sure what to make, so in the interest of something quick and easy (and Owl City and silly) I tossed "Alligator Sky." into the comment section thinking that he could draw funny shaped clouds and call it done.

But nooooo. He took that idea and made it into something much better.

My friends, Weekly Drawing #4 by Joshua Martin, multi-talented artist:

See all of his weekly drawings here.

See more of Josh's art at his fanpage. I think you'll like what you see.

{phfr} Christmas 2011

Traditions. Everybody's got 'em. Every family makes them, changes them, adds them, or alters them. They can be as simple as one kiss under the mistletoe at midnight, and they can be as elaborate as the entire family decorates the house and tree together (well, that's about as extensive as I can think, but I'm sure it can get moreso).

In all the hustle and bustle of trying to get things nice and pretty for Christmas, I've largely forgotten to slow down, stop even, and actually enjoy the beauty and the traditions in place.

Yes, there is a lamppost in the living room. And a tall cane that is our "shepherd's crook" (and light switch reacher for under the tree).

Enter {pretty, happy, funny, real} from Like Mother, Like Daughter. (It helped that I recently reread some of my older posts, including my first {phfr}. Thank you for starting and continuing the series!!!!!)

So, let me show you some of the things that, when I slow down, add to the peace and joy in my house, and let me introduce you to a tradition or two.

This year things have been hectic, that's normal, but I've been trying harder to make the house more festive. I got the tree up the first weekend of December (whew!) and lights followed a few days later. Eventually ornaments were added, just the sentimental ones and a few sparkly others. But the fun really started with this:

and this:

It's hard to see, but there is a star on top. I should have gotten a slightly different angle...or just moved the tree lights glasses. Ah well.

Introducing...the Promise Tree. Every year, for as long as I can remember, Mama set up a decoration we call the Promise Tree. Sort of an Advent calendar type of thing. It started as a flat bit of felt, cut out like a tree, stuck to the wall. And every day from December 1st to 25th, we would open a small jewelry box, a little present, that hung under the tree. Each present held a verse from the Bible, usually a promise God made or a verse about Jesus specifically. And there were also ornaments for the tree in each box.

Over the years, Mama has improved that flat tree into our current 3-D version (and without the glasses, too!). The boxes have been replaced with small Christmas gift bags, which are currently tucked away under the coffee table. And all these years Mom has been the one to set up the Promise Tree. Until the last couple of years, when her health went down and she wasn't able to. The rest of us were just treading water as it were and didn't have the time or energy to set up the little tree.

But this year, this year Mama and I set it up together. (Triumph. ...!) I got the fixin's down and she told me how to start. Once the ball was rolling, we had it set up enough to start in time for December 1st.

Inside the box with the Promise Tree was the wreath of red bells. Mama liked it and wanted it set up, so, together, she and I decided where and fine tuned it. Add to that an old, green garland that was also in the box, a whole bunch of tape, and a curly ribbon bow I found, and we ended up with this above the mantle:

Which led to adding garlands elsewhere (though one fell down completely and another keeps dropping one corner) and just generally trying to festivize up the house instead of sticking with the bare minimum (the big tree). The bare minimum is still nice, don't get me wrong, but a little more here and a touch there make the whole house happier...if I can slow down and de-stress enough to enjoy it.

{pretty} and {happy}

Then, on to the Christmas tree, it's still {pretty} and {happy} and I have a {funny}

An adjusted tradition, I used to put cards on the front door, but as that's not part of the living room anymore, I've been putting them on the tree as more decoration there. A nice little reminder of the folks who send greetings and well wishes every time we look at the centerpiece of the room.

My {funny}, the result of Black Friday shopping at the mall with the Disney store. I bought this entirely for myself.

And, for a last laugh, my {real}. My scarecrows that I bought a little after Halloween...are still up, in the bookend vases around my favorite books.

Merry Christmas, everyone. And have a happy New Years!

{phfr} Owl City Concert

The day came! Or rather, Owl City came!

It was a great evening, much as I anticipated (the realistic part). We had a grand little group together.

Waiting in the chilly evening, God gave us a {pretty} sunset, though I admit I was fairly distracted with the surreality of the day of the concert upon us. I had cleared and charged my camera to have it ready for the evening, and nearly panicked when I thought I'd left it at home. I got a few (140) pictures (and silent videos) through the evening. But mostly, once we were inside, I enjoyed being in the moment.

Rebekah and Kelsey, the smart ones, keeping me warm.

We started out in the wrong line. We already had tickets, but we were in the line for people who didn't. So after we moved to the correct line, we realized we were now in the longer line! Once the doors opened, though, it moved pretty fast.

Even though I was chilly (my coat was in the car because I didn't want to haul it around once inside), I was very {happy} and the girls were cute and hugged me to keep me warm. Of course we got a picture. I'm sure you thought we were nuts, but thanks, Ty!


Inside was nicely warmer. And darker.

Once things got a-goin' we listened to Unwed Sailor play three of their instrumentals, and Days Difference set up after that.

Somewhere in there, Rebekah went to get water and found glowstick bracelets! That was also happy to this giddy girl.

Also happy and a little {funny}, between the Days Difference and Owl City performances, Rebekah and I scooted over to the merchandise table, where I bought a little owlet 'cuz it was soft, fluffy, squishy, and cute. I like dolls. I always will. Cain't he'p it. Won't try.

And because Owl City is sneaky, I was looking for him to be hanging around, maybe to take a picture of the crowd before he took the stage.

With Nathanael's help...I found him.

The pictures I took of him all came out blurry. The video was sharper, but my laptop won't open the video, nor can I currently figure out how to make Blogger upload it.

Forget Waldo, do you see Adam?

I should have gone over there, even if I wouldn't have gotten to say "Hi." Rebekah asked and encouraged...and I was too shy. (I knew it! I knew that would happen.)

The rest of the concert was really cool. It was both a bit surreal and super real that Adam Young was some thirty feet away from me. He looks nice in his pictures, but they don't do him justice. That is a good lookin' fella, there.

Here are a few of the better pictures. I plan to make an album on Facebook shortly with more pictures from the whole evening.

This was Lonely Lullaby. I think it made him cry, and I wanted to hug him to be happy again.

Sadly, the part of the evening I was hoping for most—to meet Adam Young—did not happen. After the encore, the band left...and never came back out. I suppose it's because they're performing tonight in Nebraska and had to get back in the air. But I really wanted a chance to at the very least say "Hi." And I didn't get that chance.

I guess that dream did turn to dust.

The bow.
Thank you for coming to OKC, Owl City.

{phfr} - Writer's Edition

I wanted to put a writer's twist on {phfr} since I'm not really a homemaker (maybe someday), but I was a little short on creative material (as a writer, I haven't done much that's docu-photo worthy) so I offer you this and hope my off-kilter {funny} allows you a smile or perhaps even a chuckle. Have fun!

{pretty}

As one who understands reality through fiction/story, this is perfect. This decoration was a gift and happily hangs under a writing award of sorts and over my desk, which I hope to return to using for writing...after I clear it off...again. Ah well.

{happy}

Happy that I wrote a short story specifically for this blog and it's now available for reading, complete with its own tab (which has a link back to the original posting, should anyone wish to add comments) to make it easy to always find.

{funny}

This picture was shamefully staged (no one was around and I was still embarrassed) and has nothing to do with writing except that I am a writer and this is a roundabout intro, quite possibly only sensible in my oddly-connecting thought patterns, to my recent whimsical idea: I wouldn't mind if Adam Young asked me to dance. I know, I know. You're probably thinking I'm a silly school girl with a silly celebrity crush...and you might be close to right, but not quite. One, I am no longer in school, and two, I'm not yet to crush point (but if I get there it would be my first celebrity crush and he's a Christian and a real person [not to be elevated to god-status], so a little crush wouldn't be a bad thing). Right now I just think if Owl City came to Oklahoma and Adam Young decided to ask me to dance...well, I wouldn't mind.

{real}

Laptop collection! I have two currently, and hopefully a third soon on its way—the third will be the first one owned new. On the left is my old Apple, The Three-Legged Horse, a school auction bargain and a good computer even still, but not suited to my needs now. On the right is my old Dell, Smalls (have you seen "The Sandlot"?), a garage sale deal and a grand one at that but now no longer fast enough for my needs (also, I've dropped it a time or two, but this only added battle scars to the casing and hasn't harmed the machine itself). Both computers were affectionately, though earnestly, named. I wonder what the new one will be called? And if you're wondering, yes this picture was staged...but only a little.

{phfr}

{Pretty}

I bought this claddagh at the local medieval faire this year as a "class ring."  This picture was taken before I had it engraved (though if you could see the engraving, that could work as {real} since they engraved it upside down), and was used in my graduation invitations designed by Vaughan's Ink.


{Happy}


This...was a long time ago, but oh so happy.  I really should make it again.  I got the recipe for this apple crisp at StartCooking.com.  Such a great site.


{Funny}


Once again, my niece is the star.  She found our Christmas tree decorations that were still out and about and brought them over, so I put them on my ears to be silly.  But "Ah-Die" (Aunt Dotty) was happy to be imitated when Lucy asked for the ornaments to be put on her ears.  Then, in her adorable high voice, she said, "Take picture," and posed while you can believe I took several.

{Real}

I am not always serious.  And we like blankets in our house.

{phfr} Graduation Style

Had to, had to, had to post this for {phfr} though it has essentially nothing to do with domesticity.

Pretty

I know, it's flowers...flowers are pretty.  My best friend's brother (my adoptive brother) gave me this as a surprise after my graduation from OU and made me feel special.



Happy

My niece, Lucy, was a bit overwhelmed by all the people and noise and a wee bit tired, but I got my hug and later she and I danced.



Funny

My badge of honor at my party, given and improved by my sister-in-law, Jessie.  She also painted my graduation cap of awesomeness below.



I received several compliments for my Tangled cap, and friends and family were able to find me!  She So Crafty eyeballed the star for me.



This really happened, it wasn't a dream...This really happened, it wasn't a dream...


My published friend and fellow graduate, Jaimie Krycho.



My published friend and fellow graduate, Jelani Sims (left), and my published teacher and mentor for the last two years, Mel Odom (center).