tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60619728398506080472024-03-13T10:48:01.056-04:00The Journey That MattersRamblings and musings with some pictures thrown in for fun...Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-7863958643099426782016-08-19T08:03:00.000-04:002016-08-19T08:03:01.375-04:00In Grandma's Words: Part Three<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Her Childhood Home</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Beech Flats in the 1800s courtesy <a href="http://www.joycetice.com/diaries/hickok.htm" target="_blank">Joyce Tice's Canton Website</a></span></div>
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<b>Her Earliest Memory of Home:</b></div>
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<i>I was two years old when we moved from N.C. to Penn. and I remember going up the attic stair steps to where mom and Lola were putting some things up there. Mom yelled at me. Guess that's why I remember. I had fallen in the fireplace and burn't my leg & head in N.C.</i></div>
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<b>Her Childhood Bedroom:</b></div>
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<i>I shared it with four other sisters and sometimes little brothers. We had only 4 bedrooms with all those kids. I don't know how many were married by then.</i></div>
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<b>Her Favorite Hiding Place:</b></div>
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<i>We had a big attic. I cleaned out a part of that and fixed an old table and chair. I took some plants up there. I enjoyed it up there.</i></div>
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<b>The Yard I Played In:</b></div>
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<i>The yard I played in never had any grass growing because there were so many kids playing there. All the neighborhood kids were there nearly every day. Some would even walk clear over from Grover to play ball with my brothers and we girls played too. Lots of fun. Then we all grew up. Mom had lots of flowers later. We had two big pine trees in front and lots of maple ones on each side of the house. We had two pear trees and some purple plums out back.</i></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-45059390739756285982016-08-17T12:43:00.000-04:002016-08-17T12:43:07.943-04:00In Grandma's Words: Part Two<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Grandma's Family</span></b></div>
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<b>About Her Mother</b></div>
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Full name:<i> Zora Cisco Moretz</i></div>
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Her birth date and place of birth: <i>She was born May 9th, 1894 at Boone, North Carolina</i></div>
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Her mother's best story about growing up: <i>Mom didn't have too many happy stories to tell when she grew up. She'd tell about going fishing. She loved that, walking to church and school. In the winter they would get the cows get up and they would get their feet warm that way. They had to pick leaves and dig roots to sell for their school clothes. That's how she paid for our home in PA.</i></div>
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<b>About Her Father</b></div>
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Full name: <i>Millard Isaac Castle</i></div>
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His birth date and place of birth: <i>Feb. 3rd 1888 - Boone, North Carolina</i></div>
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One of her most precious memories of her father: <i>Dad would always take us swimming after we got the garden cleaned, haying done before dark. Sometimes he would come home with a long stick of bananas or bring great big watermelon you could buy for 25 or 50 cents.</i></div>
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<b>About Her Siblings</b></div>
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Her brother's and sister's names: <i>Edith, James, Lola, Ben, Claude, Ruby, Arnold, Mabell, Shirley, Eva, Violet, Lela (me), Edna, Alfred, Millard Jr., and William Franklin</i></div>
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The things they used to do together: <i>We used to play ball, swim, sing. When we were older we went square dancing up to the lake.</i></div>
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The things we do together now: <i>We get together for dinner or just visit. Reunions.</i></div>
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How often I see my family: <i>I see Frankie nearly every day. Some once a week. Some not for months or maybe once or twice a year.</i></div>
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"Therefore comfort each other and edify one another,</div>
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just as you are also doing."</div>
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1 Thessalonians 5:11</div>
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<b>Note: </b>For some glimpses into life in Watauga County, North Carolina, visit "<a href="https://alookbackatwatauga.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">A Look Back at Watauga</a>" from the <i><a href="http://www.wataugademocrat.com/" target="_blank">Watauga Democrat</a>.</i></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-84151197363356879542016-08-16T13:42:00.000-04:002016-08-16T13:42:50.994-04:00In Grandma's Words: Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is my Grandma Smith. </div>
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Words escape me in writing about her. As I said in her eulogy, how do you put unconditional love into words? She was my kindred spirit and one of my very best friends, and I miss her terribly.<br />
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So you can imagine the emotional impact when my mom handed me a book at a family picnic. It was a guided journal that I had given to my grandmother for Christmas one year. I had no idea if she had ever filled any of it out, so to find out that she had filled out several pages and to be given those pages...<br />
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Priceless.<br />
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And because her unconditional love for me was the same unconditional love she showed to everyone in her family, I want to share her journal entries. They are sweet and personal and offer glimpses of her childhood, her love for Grandpa, and her simple love of life.<br />
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The prompts are provided, as well as her responses in italics.<br />
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Grandma's full maiden name was <i>Lela Virginia Castle.</i><br />
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She was given this name because she<i> had a cousin named Lela and mom and dad liked it. Her name was Moretz and she still lives in North Carolina. She called me in Sept. 2001.</i><br />
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Her birth date and place of birth: <i>I was born Nov. 16th 1929 in Boone, North Carolina; that is in Watauga County. I was born on a Saturday. We moved to Beech Flats near Canton April 30th, 1931. I was coming 2 years old. I joined 11 other brothers and sisters.</i><br />
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What was happening in the world when she was born: <i>I really don't remember much that went on, but I looked some things up. Herbert Hoover was our president.</i><br />
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-7707198455506578612014-01-03T09:28:00.000-05:002014-01-03T09:28:01.310-05:00Welcome to 2014<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">New Year's Resolutions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ugh. Every year I struggle with them. I make them and break them. Some sooner than others. I call them "goals" to try to make it easier. No luck. I make too many and become overwhelmed. I forget what ones I made. I get to the end of the year and kick myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Am I the only one? Why do I do this to myself?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This year, of course, I'm going to try again. I'll try a different approach in some ways. I will succeed or I will not. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The first thing that I am going to do differently is to start the year with a single word that will define what I want to accomplish. Many of my creative contacts do this and it seems to work for them. It took me a while to come up with my word, as I started to think about it long before 2013 was over. I had a couple come to mind, but none seemed to be the one. Then, as seems to often be my case, I started to overthink it. Finally, last night, on the cusp of sleep, it came to me:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WzXyQxZmLq0/Usa8iv9GcEI/AAAAAAAA7OI/jCPuEmYjgfE/s1600/Release.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WzXyQxZmLq0/Usa8iv9GcEI/AAAAAAAA7OI/jCPuEmYjgfE/s640/Release.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Release. It works for me in so many ways. I need to release the creative ideas within me. More on that in a moment. I also need to release some negative thoughts and feelings that keep hanging on; I moved forward with that in 2013 but it wouldn't hurt to continue. I also need to release some unhealthy habits (potato chips, anyone?). The list continues, but you get the idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Back to those creative ideas that need to be released...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For 2014, I am going to continue the <a href="http://wherethegoldbeesdream.blogspot.com/2014/01/round-robin-journal-project-round-3.html" target="_blank">Round Robin art journal</a> that my friend, Laura, started. Our little circle of creative sisters--Laura, Phoebe, and myself--have been enjoying and growing through this endeavor, and I look forward to continuing until we have completed our books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have admired some yearlong projects that some creative friends completed via Instagram this year. A couple of them were successful in posting a daily image for the Sky Project. I would tackle that, but trying to be realistic in my goals, I know that I probably wouldn't see it to fruition. Instead, I'm going to attempt a weekly Instagram project of pics off my back porch. It'll be interesting, at the end of the year, to see how the view changes through the seasons. I think I can do it!</span></div>
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<em>Week One</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also want to work in a couple of my own art journals. I have one that is serving as something as an art diary. I have a few pages in it, but I want to do more. And I will do more. I have another art journal that I want to use for mixed media projects. I have the first page started, but that is it so far. 2014 will be a little more productive than that, I hope!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A few years ago, I started writing a little pet project. I need to release the rest of that story...even though I don't know what the rest of that story is. I've kept my main character "captive" too long...it's time to release her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Of course, with my new camera, there have to be new pictures! I already did the first one for 2014, and I'm feeling the vibe!</span></div>
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<em>Crisp Winter Morn</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And you know, I think that's about it. I think that is enough. Like I said, I have a tendency to take on too much, especially when it comes to creative projects. I don't want to reach the end of the year and feel like I've failed. Instead, I release myself from those negative feelings by giving myself manageable goals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What about you? Do you set resolutions or goals for yourself? What do you hope to accomplish in 2014?</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-32181876462981428402013-11-17T09:11:00.008-05:002013-11-17T09:19:42.047-05:00Autumn Exploration<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's been a while (as usual). As often happens, life has been busy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That's why it was wonderful to get out of the house yesterday afternoon. My little guy and I have been fighting a horrendous sinus infection. Rather than be cooped up with our shared coughs and boxes of tissues, I suggested that he and I get some fresh air. So, cameras in hand (I let him use my old one), we hit the cross country trail through the woods. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Most of the leaves are off the trees at this point, but there was still some beauty to be found. We wound our way up trail after trail. I snapped pictures while he played "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." It was so relaxing and fun. I think we may make it a regular occurrence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So, here is a sampling of the pics I snapped. I haven't processed them all; maybe there'll be another post in the future!</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-22490476190950832652013-10-12T08:36:00.000-04:002013-10-12T08:36:20.829-04:00Balance<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Isn't life crazy?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The last two weeks have been the kind that open your eyes in so many ways. And as I sit here trying to type this, I find myself struggling to find the right way to express the myriad emotions and understandings that these weeks have brought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In fact, I just deleted about three paragraphs. In trying to be careful with my words, I'm not entirely being honest. I don't mean to say that I was trying to lie with this post. Anyone who knows me knows that I am probably too honest when it comes to matters of my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What I find myself doing, though, is not fully opening up and simply struggling to adequately describe the profound power of balance in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My friend and I have noted over the years that our work life balances with our personal lives. The happier we are in our personal lives the more difficult our work life seems to be, and vice versa. Where we seem to be now is on the cusp, waiting to see in what direction the scales tip. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Balance has also presented itself in the types of people around me right now. I have my core group of families and friends, of course. It's not about them that I am thinking right now. What is fascinating to me is the people on the periphery of my life and the roles that they seem to be taken. On the one hand, I have that acquaintance who every once in a while shows me what a true friend she can be. And I think I need to explore furthering that friendship. On the other hand, I have that person who I once viewed as a true friend...who isn't so much anymore. And I don't condemn that person; I just think he is so stressed and depressed that he isn't capable of seeing the consequences of his actions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And if I were a medical anomaly, I would have a third hand on which I could count that crazy stalker...but that's another story...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I think the most profound sign of balance comes via family and the balance between life and death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Of course, there is my own loss that I wrote about in my last post. And that loss is balanced by the perfect little boy that is now in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But this week has provided another distinct example of the balance between life and death. A few days ago, my uncle lost his mother. Though her health had been in a steady decline, the loss of a parent is still profound. And my cousins lost their grandmother which is equally profound. The balance? My cousin and his wife welcomed their first child, a beautiful little girl, into the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On the cusp of grief, joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Balance. Finding it. Recognizing it. Accepting it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That last is probably the hardest. Accepting the balances in life. Accepting that with the flow must come an ebb...</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-65561844922545615482013-10-05T09:49:00.001-04:002013-10-05T10:09:54.189-04:00Seven Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Seven years is a long time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So much has happened in seven years, the chief amongst them being the birth of my rainbow child, Nicholas. He's five years old, a thriving kindergartner. He's bright and silly and inquisitive and creative. He's coming into his own in so many ways, and my life and heart revolve around him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Still, these next several days take me back in time in a heartbeat. Though I have moved on and healed so much over the past seven years, I cannot help but to remember. To ache. To yearn. To wonder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I do not regret the events of seven years ago. That is not to say that I am glad that it happened. That couldn't be further from the truth. But I think that I am a profoundly different mother because of my loss, and as someone who wholeheartedly believes that every event in our lives has a deep reason behind it, I understand the reasons that my first son, Gregory, was born with angel's wings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Over the next few days, I will grieve anew. I will look at the date on the calendar, the time on the clock, and I will relive those moments of seven years ago. October 5th was the last day of hope for a different outcome; by the next day I was in the hospital awaiting the inevitable. At 9:00 a.m. on October 8th, my beloved husband and I were learning how to say the most difficult good-bye of our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It changed who I am as a mother, as a wife. As a human being.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And though I wish it had never happened, still I am grateful. God showed me how strong I am. He showed me what an amazing and loving man I married. God showed me how amazingly blessed I am through the outpouring of love from family and friends and colleagues, even complete strangers (some of whom became dear friends). He gave me the opportunity and voice to share my story, one that is so often taboo and unspoken, so that I could help others to understand their own grief and to find their own paths toward healing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">God blessed me with my very own rainbow of hope in the birth of a living son in 2008. He led me to understand that motherhood is more than just giving birth. It is opening your heart to love and care about someone more than yourself. I am a very different mother now than I would have been seven years ago, I think. I don't take my role as a mother for granted. I know how profoundly blessed I am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am blessed beyond my capacity for words. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will grieve anew over the next few days. I will remember and mourn. I will embrace my husband and share his tears. I will visit the rose garden and pray for peace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But I will also hold Nicholas's hand. I will watch him run through the garden with delight and joy and life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will live in the joy of each precious moment with him and with those I love.</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-54963186082869385892013-09-12T19:24:00.000-04:002013-09-12T19:24:55.802-04:00The Other Side of the Mountain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"I need help."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There are few things that feel truly impossible to do. Most times, when we feel that something is impossible, it's just a matter of not wanting to do it for myriad reasons. Sometimes, however, something does feel absolutely impossible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Swallowing your pride and admitting that you need help is one of those things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And I did it. I hit that point where I barely recognized this person living within my skin. And I realized that she had been living there for quite some time. True, I had controlled her for a while, kept her at bay with jokes and sarcasm and self-deprecation and creativity. But she was there; I have only to look back at my journal entries over the past few years to see that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And I didn't like her. I very nearly loathed her. She was anxious and fearful. She felt this continuous spiral of being out of control. She was so very sad and felt so very worthless. She questioned everything about herself. And she just wanted to curl up into a ball, curl up tighter and tighter until she disappeared within herself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I couldn't live like that any more. I have too many blessings in my life to allow myself to feel that way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So I turned to my husband, who had been waiting for me to come to that moment when I was willing to admit that I needed to so something. I went to the doctor and got my first round of anti-anxiety medication. It made me feel better, but it also made my heart race like all four valves were open. I switched to another medication and began to feel a little better. My heart stopped racing in fear; the bands of anxiety stopped tightening around my chest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But I still wasn't feeling that respite that I so desperately longed for. That voice in my head (I heard it deemed the "bad roommate" once, an apt description) was less anxious but the other feelings hadn't dissipated. And because I was less focused on my anxiety, the depression--for that's what it was--came to the foreground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I found myself crying. Often. And uncontrollably. I felt completely overwhelmed and unable to face anything. I was on the verge of being unable to function at more than a base survival mode. I hid it, cried privately and tried to put on my brave face. Hoped and prayed that I would just be okay...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And on one of the days when I very nearly gave myself completely over to this virus within my mind, a friend--a dear, sweet, blessed friend--looked at me and said, "You're not okay." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It was what I needed to hear. I called the doctor's office that afternoon. I was in his office the next day. And I burst into tears as soon as the words were out of my mouth: "I am depressed."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Just those words, just saying them aloud...it felt like an invisible pair of scissors had cut this wire that had been attached to me. I started an antidepressant that night. Part of me cringed, for this all felt like weakness, but I know that it is weaker not to seek help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Two weeks later? I'm more me than I have been in a very long time. I still have my moments, but they are just moments. I'm laughing more than I have in a long time. And my laughter is genuine again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I turned to my husband the other day, tears in my eyes, and I told him that I hadn't realized how far off I had been. It's like a personal renaissance. I'm feeling creative again and indulging in a wonderful round robin art experiment with two of my sisters in creativity. I'm feeling like a wife and mother and daughter and sister and friend again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Jenny Lawson, known to the Internet world as the Bloggess, speaks frankly about the battles she faces with her own demons. She says often, "Depression lies." She's right; it does. It lied to me for a very long time, and I am so relieved to be free from its spell. I have a long way to go, but it is so very beautiful to be on the other side of the mountain. The view from here is spectacular.</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-49584473076625749972013-08-10T15:01:00.002-04:002013-08-10T15:01:41.706-04:00Enough is Enough, Right?<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have always taken pride in my strength. My strength of character. My strength in times of duress.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I had a good run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Lately? Well, for the last eight months, it hasn't been the same. Anxiety. Panic attacks. Depression. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Perhaps it's just that there is too much all at once. Dealing with one stressful or emotional situation is doable. When you're hit by one after another? When your plate overflows? It's too much for anyone really. Heck, even as I type this, I can feel the anxiety building up, the fluttery sensation that comes with it flowing right down my arms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What makes it all worse is that I'm getting hit in directions that I didn't see coming. It's one thing to face something that is expected, an elderly grandparent's illness, for example; it's another thing when you turn to face a direction that usually provides the sun...only to be blinded by the light of your preconceived expectations and to get blindsided by a speeding truck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I can't keep up the façade any longer. I can't keep pretending that it's all okay. It's not. I'm not.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I even turned to art this morning, seeking release. No such respite...</span></div>
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<em><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-FgLT4q_6Q/UgaNT7xzHeI/AAAAAAAAvi8/SQ1oJiy3BCY/s1600/Facade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-FgLT4q_6Q/UgaNT7xzHeI/AAAAAAAAvi8/SQ1oJiy3BCY/s400/Facade.jpg" width="287" /></a></em></div>
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<em>Façade, A Collapse</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm not seeking help, or even sympathy, in writing this. I just need to get it out of my system. And were it not for my cursed trait of restraint, I could do better than what I have written here. Still, it's a start, I suppose...</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-55367187585117423372013-07-19T07:48:00.002-04:002013-07-19T07:48:32.595-04:00Let Me Take Your Picture<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It happens every time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">People see me coming, and the smile freezes on their faces. The fear flashes across their eyes, and they're gone, ducking into a kitchen on some made-up task or into the bathroom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">You'd think I was coming at them with a machete.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But no, I'm coming at them with something they deem even more frightening: my camera.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I love to take pictures. It is a hobby that brings me great relaxation and joy. And most of the pictures in my vast collection are of landscapes and farms, much like this recent one:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But much to people's chagrin and dismay, it is not just on rides through the countryside that I take my camera. No, I bring it along to every family function. And if not my camera, then my cell phone, which has a pretty high quality camera all its own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Contrary to what some may believe, I don't do it as a way to blackmail or embarrass them down the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">No, what I do is an act of preservation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My husband's father passed away unexpectedly in 2012. As part of the necessary process, we have been going through the family treasures that have been amassed through generations. Among those treasures are tins full of old photos and reel after reel of slides.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I started to go through those slides, and it was this indescribable moment. One minute we're looking at great-aunt whomever that we're not even sure if we're related to...the next minute we're looking at my sister-in-law's smiling baby face, both of her grandfathers on either side of her. It is a family treasure, that picture. And if someone hadn't been there with one of those annoying cameras, it wouldn't exist. That moment, that memory...well, it could be gone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As we get older, our memories fade. It is an inevitable part of life. And someday, despite our protests to the contrary, we will all be gone. With us go our specific memories of people and occasions. What can we do to preserve these things? To pass on not only the stories but the feelings, the emotions, that go along with those stories?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Photographs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I cannot tell you the feeling that my husband had finding those old slides. I can only tell you that I saw the look on his face, the mist that appeared in his eyes. I can describe to you that moment of silence that happened in the middle of his sentence. I can show you this picture of him, lost in remembering...and of our son, learning about his family's history:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VZdhP907uJ4/UekjTcNxaEI/AAAAAAAAqas/GOhjUoinET0/s1600/IMG_1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VZdhP907uJ4/UekjTcNxaEI/AAAAAAAAqas/GOhjUoinET0/s400/IMG_1171.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I can show you other pictures, as well...</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KO7zbc8gPjs/Uekj0eoD5nI/AAAAAAAAqa0/SnhB8l49-Mc/s1600/100_6445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KO7zbc8gPjs/Uekj0eoD5nI/AAAAAAAAqa0/SnhB8l49-Mc/s400/100_6445.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Showing off birthday presents</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KKtrKT5K8L8/Uekj15gsGQI/AAAAAAAAqa8/71Z6Xel87fI/s1600/100_6448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KKtrKT5K8L8/Uekj15gsGQI/AAAAAAAAqa8/71Z6Xel87fI/s400/100_6448.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Still holding hands</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VnY78lJP_c/Uekj11QfHrI/AAAAAAAAqbA/G7Hqi-a3D9c/s1600/100_6452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_VnY78lJP_c/Uekj11QfHrI/AAAAAAAAqbA/G7Hqi-a3D9c/s400/100_6452.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Adoration</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6v2VnNCPxuE/Uekj3W54RVI/AAAAAAAAqbM/ld7ikK_DRKI/s1600/100_6453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6v2VnNCPxuE/Uekj3W54RVI/AAAAAAAAqbM/ld7ikK_DRKI/s400/100_6453.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The silliness of a grandmother</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kF1_zK0AwKA/Uekj4ecuF3I/AAAAAAAAqbU/kA7rW1q5Z2s/s1600/100_6476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kF1_zK0AwKA/Uekj4ecuF3I/AAAAAAAAqbU/kA7rW1q5Z2s/s400/100_6476.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Over fifty years of love</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HEA89jTBYzw/Uekkp7wQfyI/AAAAAAAAqbg/p7273LqWI8s/s1600/100_2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HEA89jTBYzw/Uekkp7wQfyI/AAAAAAAAqbg/p7273LqWI8s/s400/100_2793.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of the only times they've ever danced</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f-X4-MytA_o/Uekkx8TTf3I/AAAAAAAAqcA/9TqPj6D8atE/s1600/100_3851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f-X4-MytA_o/Uekkx8TTf3I/AAAAAAAAqcA/9TqPj6D8atE/s400/100_3851.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Forever friendships</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pYw3pe9UKRI/Uekkt0v8SgI/AAAAAAAAqbw/FgboiM68YJI/s1600/101_1905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pYw3pe9UKRI/Uekkt0v8SgI/AAAAAAAAqbw/FgboiM68YJI/s400/101_1905.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Playing with loved ones</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMIAkE7Yki0/Uekkr7g8-8I/AAAAAAAAqbo/-h5oV1VvmRk/s1600/68397_723940111774_2052334750_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZMIAkE7Yki0/Uekkr7g8-8I/AAAAAAAAqbo/-h5oV1VvmRk/s400/68397_723940111774_2052334750_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hands held (taken by my cousin)</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bm2OQcmuOok/Uekkyi4P7yI/AAAAAAAAqcI/Sm6vUbJ5ddk/s1600/Family+Portrait+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bm2OQcmuOok/Uekkyi4P7yI/AAAAAAAAqcI/Sm6vUbJ5ddk/s400/Family+Portrait+3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nearly every member of my mom's family</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mZJmp7PfgyM/UekkwPjQwqI/AAAAAAAAqb4/NNhIbkZWE-I/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mZJmp7PfgyM/UekkwPjQwqI/AAAAAAAAqb4/NNhIbkZWE-I/s400/IMG_0084.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My mom's hands as she preps beans</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">First sets of Mickey ears</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2jTMNVPXKac/Uekk4NrMk-I/AAAAAAAAqcg/KJlbb8sGYUI/s1600/IMG_0797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2jTMNVPXKac/Uekk4NrMk-I/AAAAAAAAqcg/KJlbb8sGYUI/s400/IMG_0797.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My grandmother responding to her great-grandson, post-stroke</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-AWUz2z4aM/Uekk2be-uDI/AAAAAAAAqcY/KqRPr6bCNPo/s1600/IMG_1804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-AWUz2z4aM/Uekk2be-uDI/AAAAAAAAqcY/KqRPr6bCNPo/s400/IMG_1804.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Naps with Daddy</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Making music</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qUop441t4I4/Uekk4C1qJSI/AAAAAAAAqck/7WTzwvT3QoI/s1600/IMG_2577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qUop441t4I4/Uekk4C1qJSI/AAAAAAAAqck/7WTzwvT3QoI/s400/IMG_2577.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Passing time at the hospital</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Joining a motorcycle gang with Pap</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FTZb3qUqHWs/Uekk5OTJKpI/AAAAAAAAqc4/K5NFl1-gdS0/s1600/IMG_5815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FTZb3qUqHWs/Uekk5OTJKpI/AAAAAAAAqc4/K5NFl1-gdS0/s400/IMG_5815.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Generations (taken by my cousin)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Remembering and Honoring</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In five, ten, or fifty years, we won't care if your hair was a mess, if your wrinkles were evident, or if you weren't ready. We won't care if you're carrying a few extra pounds or if you were making a silly face. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What will matter is that we have that memory frozen in time. That when we look at that photograph, we can hear your laugh, smell your perfume, and feel you in the same room with us. That for a moment, we <em>have you</em> with us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Only photographs have the power to do that, to give those moments back to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Don't run off and hide. Just smile, wrap your arm around the person beside you, and let me take your picture.</span> </div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-54525347269427878072013-07-04T09:30:00.000-04:002013-07-04T09:30:51.836-04:00Family and the Fourth<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is a day of mixed feelings for me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">First of all, it's my little sister's birthday. That fact, as far as I am concerned, trumps everything else and is cause to celebrate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That being said, it's also a difficult day for two reasons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This was my father-in-law's favorite holiday. Even more than Christmas, he loved the Fourth of July. Giant picnic. Tons of food. A fireworks show to rival those displayed by professionals. And now? It's different. Low key and subdued. We still get together and celebrate; he'd probably haunt us if we didn't! Still, it is a bittersweet celebration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The other reason that it is difficult is that today is the day that my maternal grandmother passed away, and it is that particular day I'd like to remember. Sounds strange, doesn't it? Nonetheless, on that day and with that memory, I have proof that there is nothing bigger than the love of a family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As I said, July 4th is my sister's birthday. Nothing terrible should ever happen on anyone's birthday, yet it did. It was such a difficult day, and as we neared the dinner hour, my Mom declared that we couldn't just let my sister's birthday go by uncelebrated. In the face of death, we celebrate life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So t<span><span>hat night, after we had completed our nightly farm chores, my family (my parents and siblings and I) returned to my grandparents’ home. Behind their house, about a quarter of a mile up an old farm road, is the family pond and pavilion. We celebrated my sister’s birthday up there, had a picnic and ate cake. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span> </span><span><span>The sun was starting to go down, and we were just sitting, enjoying the serenity and lost in our thoughts. The sun was golden, reflecting and shimmering in the surface of the pond. Occasionally, that reflection would ripple, the water furrowed by a gentle summer breeze. From our hilltop perch, we could see the back of my grandparents’ home, see the lights of the house and the lights of cars as they came and went.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span><span>Just as we were thinking that it was time to head home, stopping at the house to see the family once more on the way out, we saw movement from the end of the road that leads to the pond. A head appeared, soon transforming into an entire body as someone walked in our direction. That body was joined by another and another; an entire group of people was moving toward us.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span><span>As they crested the hill on the near side of the pond, the breeze carried a sound to our ears. It was the voices of some of my grandmother's children and grandchildren singing "Happy Birthday" to my sister. Their voices grew louder as they reached the pavilion and finished their song. We clapped and laughed, even as our eyes filled with tears.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span><span>That memory? It defines today for me. And when those bittersweet feelings are overwhelming, I will remember the sound of wisps of a song caught on a summer sunset breeze... </span></span></span></div>
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</span><br /></span><br />Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-23966534926917361292013-06-02T09:11:00.000-04:002013-06-02T09:11:23.717-04:00Wanted: Gumption<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Remember those old "School House Rock" segments that used to air between Saturday morning cartoons? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">One of my favorites, probably because it was catchy and always got stuck in my head, was "When your get up and go has got up and went..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I feel that way now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It's finally the end of the school year; only two inservice days to go! And in that strange paradox that often seems to occur, the year went really slowly until it was suddenly and inexplicably over. Over the last week, I have been scratching my head and wondering where the time went. (Of course, as the mother of a suddenly five-year-old, I find myself doing that more often than not.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">While I have about 90% of my loose ends tied up on the school front, I'm finding that I'm walking in a sea of loose ends when it comes to just about everything else. It's like walking beneath a willow tree and each fluttering, viney branch is one more thing that I should do. But there are so many waving about me that I just don't seem to do anything but walk around in circles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Or play Candy Crush Saga. So, you know...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What's a girl to do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I think I need a detox, a chance to get away and rejuvenate my creative mojo. Other than iPhoneography (yay for my new 4s!) on Instagram, I just haven't been too creative lately. I did process (well, re-process) an old image from the archives this morning:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U5YITE1ViJY/UatDkoMYjOI/AAAAAAAAhUo/3aYEdx4LpiA/s1600/100_1980b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U5YITE1ViJY/UatDkoMYjOI/AAAAAAAAhUo/3aYEdx4LpiA/s400/100_1980b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Other than this, though...and some old pics of the little guy...I haven't done anything creative. And quite honestly, I haven't done much by way of the noncreative either!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Boy, my get up and go has really got up and went!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I think this will even out soon. Two more days of school, and then I'm giving myself the month of June off before I start even thinking about next years lesson planning. Fingers crossed that my creative mojo will return in some way, shape, or form...</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-77906162686768379962013-04-28T08:39:00.000-04:002013-04-28T08:39:51.892-04:00True Gifts<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Five years. Where the heck does that time go?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My little guy turns five on Monday, so we had his fifth birthday party yesterday. When it was time to start planning, I asked him what kind of party he wanted. I figured he would say <em>Toy Story </em>because that was his favorite at that time, but he surprised me with the fact that he wanted a pirate party. A pirate party? Awesome!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So I started planning, and thanks to Pinterest, I got a little silly and theme oriented. I tried not to go too overboard, but I did have some fun!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">First up, some themed decor. Black tablecloth, pirate banner, and the little guy's <em>Jake and the Neverland Pirates </em>toys as backdrop!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZZYbD2tudg/UX0OYFM_MLI/AAAAAAAAgHg/odAMTVFKCuE/s1600/100_6428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZZYbD2tudg/UX0OYFM_MLI/AAAAAAAAgHg/odAMTVFKCuE/s400/100_6428.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em>Yargh!</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then, of course, there has to be pirate food! That's probably where, if I went overboard at all, I went overboard the most. Why? Because everything had a pirate-themed name. And I labeled it. Yes, I did. And I had so much fun figuring out what to call everything! From the "Yo Ho Hoagies" to the "Scurvy Dogs" to the "Quicksand Dip" and "Polly's Crackers"! Tee hee!!</span></div>
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<em>Fit for a buccaneer!</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And then the cake. A cake decorator, I am not. The translation from my brain to the actual cake never quite turns out...But the little guy loved it and helped me decorate it. So in the end, I was thrilled.</span></div>
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<em>Captain Hook searches for treasure</em></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y5P_KpNRQjU/UX0Rq00-eCI/AAAAAAAAgIU/uzK5GiIbyNo/s1600/100_6496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y5P_KpNRQjU/UX0Rq00-eCI/AAAAAAAAgIU/uzK5GiIbyNo/s400/100_6496.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>On your mark...Get set...</em></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMleW1k-xOo/UX0SWcfhVgI/AAAAAAAAgIc/-N7V1jL1IBg/s1600/100_6498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMleW1k-xOo/UX0SWcfhVgI/AAAAAAAAgIc/-N7V1jL1IBg/s400/100_6498.JPG" width="383" /></a></div>
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<em>BLOW! (I hope every one of his wishes is granted.)</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The most important aspect of the day? Not the theme or the food or the cake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We are so very blessed to have such a strong and loving family. There is no better gift that I can give the little guy. To have that foundation of love, those examples of love and strength. It is all so very important. All that love will carry him through whatever life throws at him. From his family he will learn to love, to care, to support, to lean, to laugh. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What more can I give him?</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-MUDX3cCdg/UX0UDF4i8EI/AAAAAAAAgIs/wY9cdsOYM6A/s1600/100_6476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-MUDX3cCdg/UX0UDF4i8EI/AAAAAAAAgIs/wY9cdsOYM6A/s400/100_6476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>A strong foundation: Over fifty years of love</em></div>
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<em>Great-grandparents</em></div>
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<em>Grandparents who still hold hands</em></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gmzYm6mEcw/UX0VEVPePGI/AAAAAAAAgJA/2-djnid2s60/s1600/100_6453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gmzYm6mEcw/UX0VEVPePGI/AAAAAAAAgJA/2-djnid2s60/s400/100_6453.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em>A Gram who isn't afraid to be silly</em></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo8d3oprp88/UX0Vg-zjaDI/AAAAAAAAgJI/1m4cMj02P2I/s1600/100_6502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vo8d3oprp88/UX0Vg-zjaDI/AAAAAAAAgJI/1m4cMj02P2I/s400/100_6502.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Sibling solidarity</em></div>
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<em>Aunts and Uncles who get down on the floor to play</em></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-whRQDbO6lsQ/UX0WbUF1o3I/AAAAAAAAgJY/Eu3Gr02jBhE/s1600/100_6520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-whRQDbO6lsQ/UX0WbUF1o3I/AAAAAAAAgJY/Eu3Gr02jBhE/s400/100_6520.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>A sweet cousin to be his forever friend</em></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q_5qsKbC8zU/UX0W9DzXlKI/AAAAAAAAgJg/n0PNOhgMjSg/s1600/100_6579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q_5qsKbC8zU/UX0W9DzXlKI/AAAAAAAAgJg/n0PNOhgMjSg/s400/100_6579.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Seriously goofy parents</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the end, more than toys and parties and themed foods, what more can I give him? Family and love are the most important gifts in his life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And he is very blessed with those gifts.</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-84406135861880643042013-04-21T08:12:00.000-04:002013-04-21T12:27:55.209-04:00On the Hunt...for Inspiration<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Before you start reading, I must apologize. This is really just a long brainstorming session in which I try to figure some things out. But feel free, in the comments, to give me your opinion, your guidance, or your thumbs-up!</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Last night I went through a bunch of my old blog entries, ones from two years ago. What I discovered by doing this is that 1) I used to write much more, 2) I was more diverse in what I wrote about, and 3) I really miss writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Amidst the snippets of my life were little bits of creative writing that I had done either in the moment or as the result of a writing prompt. And some of them were, I think, pretty good. And the ones that were pretty good made me want to write more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I hadn't realized until last night how much I truly miss the practice of writing. And I probably wouldn't have been thinking about it if not for something that happened the other day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My favorite movie, <em>Stranger than Fiction, </em>was on TV. I love, love, love this movie. If you've never seen it, you should. Part of the movie focuses on a writer and watching it makes me want to write, fervently and desperately. There's this press of ideas within me, full sentences and paragraphs that explode in the periphery of my mind, and I want so very badly to allow them out into the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So, watching the movie the other night, these words just came into my head. Over and over. Finally, I just listened (sometimes the hardest thing to do), and I wrote:</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The day
that Lizzie O’Rierdon died was exceptionally sunny in the way that only the
perfect Spring day can be. The sky was a perfect azure; the clouds were creamy
swirls of white; the breeze was crisp but not too cool. Had it not been for the
fact that it was the last day of Lizzie’s life, it would have been, for her,
the most perfect day of her life. As it stood, it was still a wonderfully
amazing day with the mere exception of the final four minutes and thirty-seven
seconds. That said, of course, the minutes immediately thereafter were quite
phenomenal in her estimation, though it is not that part of the story with
which we shall start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
shall, instead, start at the beginning. Not at the beginning of Lizzie’s life,
but at the beginning of a series of events that would bring it to its untimely
but poetically necessary end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have no idea where these words came from. I know that sounds strange, but it was like they were dictated to me. The problem is that the dictation stopped. I have no idea where these words are going. I don't know what the story is. The voice went silent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And I think that's because the rest is solely up to me. Crap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So this morning, I started scrolling through my photographs, looking for inspiration. What will Lizzie O'Rierdon's story be about? I still don't know the answer to that, but I know that the following pictures play into it somehow...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't know. I don't know if I'm any closer to figuring out Lizzie O'Rierdon's story. But I feel like somewhere in these pictures, I can find some answers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What do you think?</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-42895971902891794202013-04-13T07:52:00.000-04:002013-04-13T07:52:17.508-04:00A Trip to the Farm<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It doesn't happen often or all the time, but my husband occasionally has to travel for his job. Granted, he has many weeknights where he attends one musical function or another, but once in a while he has to go on extended trips away to escort talented students to big festivals. This year, he had a student make it to an all-East festival in Connecticut and two students make it to a state festival in Erie, PA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">All that traveling is hard on him. He loves to be at home. He hates to be away from us. And I hate to have him away. But as the song says, "Loving a music man ain't always what it's supposed to be..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Rather than sit around and mope, though, I packed up the little guy and my camera and headed into the middle of farm country to visit my parents. It was so nice to spend time with them. It was so nice to grab my camera and head outside to explore the farm. I didn't take a ton of pictures because we were so busy doing other things, but I did get some great shots that I'd like to share with you!</span></div>
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<em>"C'mon, Mommy! Let's go!!"</em></div>
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<em>Far Off Places</em></div>
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<em>Duo</em></div>
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<em>The End of Winter</em></div>
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<em>Looking Forward to Looking Back</em></div>
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<em>Morning on the Horizon</em></div>
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<em>Off to the Barn</em></div>
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<em>On the Cusp</em></div>
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<em>"Are we done yet?"</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is rare, very rare, but on this occasion, I actually out-paced my little guy. I have a couple other pictures processed, but I'm saving those for later as they are a part of a larger series. And I have several more from our explorations to process, as well. I'm trying not to process them all at once, however; I don't know when my next photo safari will take place!!</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-39517726342090110932013-03-29T18:24:00.001-04:002013-03-29T18:24:58.648-04:00Let's Go Shopping! <div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">"I wish I had your will power."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In my head, I laugh when people say that to me. Okay, so sometimes I laugh out loud, as well. It's kind of rude, I suppose, and I try not to...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">...but I have very little will power when it comes to food. I love food. I <em>adore</em> food. I plan my vacations around where I'm going to get food. While some people plan the stores they'll visit when going shopping, I plan where I'll be stopping for lunch and what I'm going to order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I. Love. Food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">When I think about it, I know that my love affair with food started when I was a kid. I remember being at a big family gathering. The cousins were off playing; the adults were visiting. I was at the long table filled with food, grazing on one delicious food after another. I started collecting recipes while still in high school, dreaming of the fabulous gourmet meals I'd someday be making. Heck, I've been known to hide an entire package of Double-Stuft Oreos just so I didn't have to share them with my husband and son.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And that, my friends, may be part of the reason that I ended up carrying 174 pounds on my petite 5'3" frame and lamenting that my size 16 pants were starting to get snug.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Which is why I feel compelled to write this blog entry. Why I felt compelled to write a similar one two weeks ago. I did something that I felt was impossible. And if I could do it, <strong>you can too.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the last two weeks, I've had several people commend me on my weight loss (which has been great for my self-deprecating ego). As they've done so, though, they've often said, "I wish I had your will power."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And the thing is...they do. Because I don't have that much, as I said before. But what I had was enough self-loathing to finally compel me to make a change. And a healthy dose of spitefulness that I won't discuss in a public forum (wink, wink).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The change? My Fitness Pal, a website/app that tracks calories.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That's it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">No exercise (shame on me). No drastic diet changes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Just calorie counting and attention to portion sizes. Now, I say "just" but there is a little bit of work that has to go into it. You have to use the program. And that's what I did. Every single day, I tracked exactly what I ate and how much of it I ate. I was completely honest. If I cheated and downed a ten-pack of nuggets, medium fries, and a cheeseburger...I tracked it. And very quickly, I stopped doing things like that. I started to become mindful of how many calories different foods were, and I started to measure whether I was willing to spend my calories on those foods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">"Hmm...600 calories? I could have a bowl of popcorn, a cup of ice cream, and a handful of chips with calories to spare instead."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My alloted daily calories are only 1200, which seemed so low to start, but I have adapted very easily. Some days, I'm eating extra snacks to reach that 1200 calorie goal. And I haven't given up any foods. I eat in moderation (generally), and I have started making smart swaps in recipes (Greek yogurt for sour cream; low-fat milk and cheese for whole). I also plan ahead; if I know I'm going to splurge on a restaurant dinner, I eat light and healthy throughout the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That's it. I promise. I'm not trying to trick you. I'm not holding back that one secret ingredient to prevent you from having the same success that I have. There it all is. Heck, I even revealed my weight and pant size! That has to count for something!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And these nine months have certainly counted for something. This morning, I reached my desired "decade" of weight:</span></div>
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<em>Wow. My scale is dingy.</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm almost there; my goal weight is just a few pounds away. And today? I bought a size 8 dress:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJYIIG1a3UQ/UVYTWAdDPEI/AAAAAAAAfWA/T1j_FYbTYWA/s1600/photo+4+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJYIIG1a3UQ/UVYTWAdDPEI/AAAAAAAAfWA/T1j_FYbTYWA/s400/photo+4+(5).JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em>Single digit satisfaction</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, why did I tell you all of this? My "secret" to losing weight? Because I need a girls' day out of shopping. And I want you to go with me. And I want to see you come out of that dressing room, twirling in delight over fitting into that size you never thought you'd fit into again. And I want to clap and cheer for you (and maybe even get misty-eyed because I'm <em>that</em> friend).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/nichole_renee" target="_blank">Come with me?</a> Today is the perfect day to start.</span><em></em></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-48230090808549067602013-03-23T08:01:00.000-04:002013-03-23T08:01:03.650-04:00Food, Photos, and My Favorite Fellow<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am overwhelmed by the response my last blog post. So many of you reached out to me via email and Facebook; it was rather humbling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I thank you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This has been a lovely week, partly because of your support. It has been a lovely week despite the little guy having a reaction to amoxicillin and getting a horrible case of hives. My poor little pal. He weathered that storm rather well, and I am ever amazed at how much he is growing up. In fact, this week was the start of a milestone; we registered him for kindergarten.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3x3HvL8QYl4/UU2NuI2E2kI/AAAAAAAAfIA/H0-XmZOQcsU/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3x3HvL8QYl4/UU2NuI2E2kI/AAAAAAAAfIA/H0-XmZOQcsU/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em>Ready to start kindergarten!</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Between kindergarten registration and that case of the hives, there has been little focus elsewhere this week. Still, looking back, I was still able to accomplish more creative endeavors than I would have expected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The biggest one, literally, was (mostly) finishing the makeover of our bedroom. We had the ceiling redone and added molding. Down came the heavy drapes and in came the new light and bedding. A little rearranging and voila!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MAolP30uGX8/UU2Oe3pSYMI/AAAAAAAAfII/hTEQYltZnWM/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MAolP30uGX8/UU2Oe3pSYMI/AAAAAAAAfII/hTEQYltZnWM/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em>Oasis</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Isn't it lovely? I have some art for the walls that I have to get framed. Then, we are doing a closet makeover. There are two closets in the room, one being an add-in that covered an existing window. We're opening that closet up and creating a window seat. Can't wait until we get to that project!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I've also been continuing my daily iPhone posts. That is a quick and easy project to get just a bit of creativity each day. Here are some recent shots:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0WRr69lZo0s/UU2PSNRRnQI/AAAAAAAAfIQ/703ScyKOHI8/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0WRr69lZo0s/UU2PSNRRnQI/AAAAAAAAfIQ/703ScyKOHI8/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Homestead</em></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yyv-GAyxXus/UU2PTtm5IrI/AAAAAAAAfIY/2qsSr7g5CBQ/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yyv-GAyxXus/UU2PTtm5IrI/AAAAAAAAfIY/2qsSr7g5CBQ/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="398" /></a></div>
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<em>Morning Flight</em></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_V-Mkox3UE/UU2PUBue3CI/AAAAAAAAfIg/DHML3zUnY3A/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e_V-Mkox3UE/UU2PUBue3CI/AAAAAAAAfIg/DHML3zUnY3A/s400/photo+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Waiting</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also had some time last Sunday to process some "real" photos. It was so nice to be able to return to that. I'm in dire need of a photo safari soon, though. Where are my warm spring temperatures? Ah well, in the mean time, I'll just stay snug and warm by the fire and make some pretty little pictures like these:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vj--MXzCIPk/UU2R1WcoqvI/AAAAAAAAfIw/jWHGDbzUO_I/s1600/100_6178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vj--MXzCIPk/UU2R1WcoqvI/AAAAAAAAfIw/jWHGDbzUO_I/s400/100_6178.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Pause</em></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xnad0WGV4TM/UU2R4sNAV2I/AAAAAAAAfI4/xkZhRa1wDuM/s1600/100_6188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xnad0WGV4TM/UU2R4sNAV2I/AAAAAAAAfI4/xkZhRa1wDuM/s400/100_6188.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>A Farm in Winter</em></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TW0tZwljpVM/UU2SAZi3mqI/AAAAAAAAfJA/BrnCERx2p9c/s1600/100_6173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TW0tZwljpVM/UU2SAZi3mqI/AAAAAAAAfJA/BrnCERx2p9c/s400/100_6173.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Finding Home</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I really, really enjoyed that time spent processing these pictures. (Insert happy, content smile.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The other burst of creativity I had came in the form of trying out a couple of new recipes. Yes, even making food can be a creative endeavor! This week, I made a low-cal cheeseburger casserole. Yes. Low-cal cheeseburger casserole. It's a real thing that tastes amazing. The recipe was courtesy of a genius woman named Gina Homolka. She has a phenomenal website called <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/03/cheeseburger-casserole.html" target="_blank">Skinnytaste.com</a>. In addition to My Fitness Pal, it was finding her recipes that truly changed the way I eat, cook, and lost weight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The other two recipes were not as calorie-conscious, but I find that if I don't jump start my metabolism now and then, I stall in my weight loss. So I made a turkey-kielbasa crock pot recipe and some macaroni and cheese. Both are winners and both recipes can be found on my Pinterest board dedicated to <a href="http://pinterest.com/nicholerenee/recipes-i-ve-actually-tried/" target="_blank">recipes I've actually made</a>. I'm sorry there are no pictures. I was too interested in eating... ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Well, I guess that's it for this week. Time to plan a grocery list and pick out a couple more new recipes to try!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Have a great week!!</span><a href="http://pinterest.com/nicholerenee/recipes-i-ve-actually-tried/" target="_blank"></a></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-54902951917904407952013-03-17T15:17:00.000-04:002013-03-17T15:17:25.682-04:00Metamorphosis<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am thirty-seven years old, a fact I often choose to change to suit my whim. Sometimes I say I'm twenty-seven. Sometimes I don't say. Sometimes, usually when I'm at the doctor's office and it's more embarrassing, I'll actually forget, and my reply is more of a question than a statement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But there it is. I am thirty-seven years old. And I am still working on who I am as a person. Or perhaps, I am still trying to find out who I am as a person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There are some things that I know. I am as loyal as they come. I am an introvert. I am honest but I'd rather hold back if the truth will hurt you. I have no tolerance for people who actively choose the role of victim. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There are roles that I have taken on that I take very seriously: mother, wife, teacher.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There are roles that stir my passion: writer, photographer, artist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And still, even at thirty-seven and with knowing so much about myself (I am annoyingly self-aware), I'm still trying to "find myself," as they say.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I began a metamorphosis in July of 2012. We had gone to Ohio to visit my brother-in-law and were staying in a hotel. The first morning that we were there, I dashed from the bathroom to the spot where we had tucked our suitcase. My path took me past a full length mirror. An unforgiving, hypercritical, honest, full length mirror.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Instead of telling me that I was the fairest of them all, it shrieked and covered its eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Or maybe that was just me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It was a moment in which I had to make a decision. Make a change (or several) or forever be horribly dissatisfied with my appearance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I know...I know...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">"Society's standards of beauty...Self-worth...blah blah blah..."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will never be willowy and tall. I will never grace the cover of <em>Vogue </em>(They do Photoshop, though). And I am okay with that. Really and truly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But I was not okay with how I looked. In my own eyes and not that of society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So I decided to change. I joined My Fitness Pal and began to militantly track my calories. Militantly. And I didn't cheat. At all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It is now March of 2013, nine months later. And I guess that timeline is pretty ironic as I'm in the midst of a rebirth of sorts. I'm not done with the metamorphosis; I still have some changes to make.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But this weekend was the first time, the very first time, that I realized how far I've come. More than needing to buy new clothes. More than people telling me that I look great and asking me what I've done. More than any of those affirmations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I took a silly self-portrait in the bathroom mirror. I was wearing a camisole that I would be covering with a nice, comfy sweatshirt. And it was just a silly, schoolgirl whim that came over me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I snapped the pic. I snapped a pic of myself from my sister's wedding when I was at my absolutely heaviest. I Photoshopped them together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And I saw myself for the first time since I did on July 7, 2012:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wYo217oeLaQ/UUYVfrCy3iI/AAAAAAAAfGs/tpGKPiSVINs/s1600/Then+Now.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wYo217oeLaQ/UUYVfrCy3iI/AAAAAAAAfGs/tpGKPiSVINs/s400/Then+Now.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>40 Pounds Later...</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If I can do this, you can do this. And I don't just mean weight loss (although that's my first step). I mean anything. If you want to make a change in your life, you can. You just need to be honest with yourself about who you are, what you want, and what it will take to actually get you motivated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">You will have to work hard. You will have to have will power.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And you can do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">You. Can. Do. It.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have faith in you. </span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-52573191329391042692013-03-16T07:32:00.001-04:002013-03-16T07:32:32.642-04:00Ebb and Flow<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Creativity is an ever-changing tide. Sometimes it ebbs; sometimes it flows. Sometimes it flows in one direction, sometimes another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am trying to come to terms with that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It has been a rough winter in terms of indulging in creative endeavors. If I think about it, that just may be the case with most winters. Especially compared to the summer when I have more time to play rather than work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I think that I need to be more mindful of this before I berate myself for a week in which I am not cranking out creative projects.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So, what have I done? I'm sticking to my daily iPhone pic on Instagram. Today will be day 75, I think. Better than I have done with a daily project before, so I'll take it! I've been trying to mix up the images a little bit this week, a mix of creepy and cheery, winter and spring. You can, of course, follow my stream here: <a href="http://instagram.com/nicholereneephoto" target="_blank">My Instagram Profile</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also, typically, processed a picture...this morning. Hey, at least I was able to do one, right? Ha ha! I'll take it!</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VnSolKpBlEA/UURWXUXg6rI/AAAAAAAAfFw/hVtyQArgea0/s1600/100_6186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VnSolKpBlEA/UURWXUXg6rI/AAAAAAAAfFw/hVtyQArgea0/s400/100_6186.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Anywhere is Possible</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Another creative endeavor that I've found myself returning to is writing. I'm teaching my yearly creative writing class, and the wealth of amazing young writers is astounding. And inspiring. I think it's time for me to return to my three-years-and-running novel. I'm also starting a collaboration with a friend of mine on a parenting book about raising introverts/extroverts. Plus, I want to reinvest some time in shopping for a publisher for a children's book I worked on with a talented artist friend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But first, I'm going to focus on painting. My bedroom. Ha ha! Have a great one, all!</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-22393671922071560312013-03-10T08:09:00.003-04:002013-03-10T08:09:40.554-04:00The End of the Winter Doldrums?<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Could someone turn off that broken record?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Oh. That's me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That's how I'm starting to feel, like the broken record version of myself. I have definitely been stuck in a creative rut. Part of it, I think, has just been the fact that I'm so tired in the evening, that the idea of adding something else to my to-do list--even much loved creative endeavors--just seems like too much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am hoping that the transition into spring will result in a creative transition for me, as well. Hoping. Fingers crossed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the mean time, though, at least there is my beloved iPhone and the wealth of photo-processing apps. I am able to create a new image every day. Is it the lazy way out? Absolutely. But will that have to do for now? Absolutely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My Instagram feed is where I've been posting all these things, and you can now <a href="http://instagram.com/nicholereneephoto" target="_blank">check it out online</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have only managed to really process one real image this week. Okay, truth is that I did it just before typing this because I felt really guilty.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxaC2EUR71I/UTx3PKpQ1FI/AAAAAAAAfFY/gCJv2O8QzNA/s1600/100_6201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxaC2EUR71I/UTx3PKpQ1FI/AAAAAAAAfFY/gCJv2O8QzNA/s640/100_6201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<em>The Passage of Time</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well. It's another week. Daylight Savings Time has struck. Winter is on its way out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Let's see what the next seven days bring!</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-46186332201768549312013-03-03T15:04:00.000-05:002013-03-03T15:04:11.215-05:00The Monster's Knees<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Forget being the "bee's knees" because I found something better!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So, I love Pinterest. Just putting it out there. It is a great way to lose a couple of hours and to procrastinate undesirable jobs. It's also a great place from which to get great ideas!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I saw this idea a little while ago. I would say that I waited in anticipation for the opportunity to try it, but A) that would make me a little whacko and B) I forgot about it amongst the gazillion other things that I have pinned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That said, when my Mom casually noted the impending demise of a piece of my son's clothing, a door burst open in my memory, and a voice called, "There's a pin for that!!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Confused? Sorry. Too much coffee, not enough sleep...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Anyway, being the mother to a rambunctious little boy leads to these sort of things happening:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z66KVt_0Png/UTOmedgXycI/AAAAAAAAfDw/MQo9SdwOX2c/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z66KVt_0Png/UTOmedgXycI/AAAAAAAAfDw/MQo9SdwOX2c/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What do boys have against knees? Their own and the ones in their pants? Aside from always having bruised and scraped knees, my little guy has started to wear the knees of his jeans quite thin. This pair, unfortunately, started the tearing process earlier this week. My mom suggested cut-offs, but my experience in doing that for myself last resulted in a scandalous pair of Daisy Dukes. I'm actually surprised my mom didn't remember those, but I suspect it's one of those things that she has chosen to strike from her memory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That's probably for the best.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In any case, I had a better idea (thanks to Pinterest), and I immediately gathered my supplies:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_fsfnpa2BY/UTOnaMZNWkI/AAAAAAAAfD4/Cu7beyuuj28/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_fsfnpa2BY/UTOnaMZNWkI/AAAAAAAAfD4/Cu7beyuuj28/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">1. Pair of jeans with a busted out knee</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2. Red scrap of fabric (from an old onesie)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">3. Felt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">4. Embroidery hoop</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">5. Embroidery floss and needle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The first thing that I did was cut a scrap of red fabric a little larger than the tear in the jeans.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V1sDO7oeHE8/UTOoRQ6N30I/AAAAAAAAfEA/mO1UciQ5tSQ/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V1sDO7oeHE8/UTOoRQ6N30I/AAAAAAAAfEA/mO1UciQ5tSQ/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I cheated and rather than find some pins, I just taped the fabric inside. Then, I put in the hoop to keep the fabric taut and stitched it in place. I didn't try to be particularly neat or precise. I was creating a monster, after all!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJ_F1omjamo/UTOpOT70gwI/AAAAAAAAfEI/tBAiZ0cdrNw/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJ_F1omjamo/UTOpOT70gwI/AAAAAAAAfEI/tBAiZ0cdrNw/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xEZK66FrODY/UTOpQVVCqdI/AAAAAAAAfEU/lvRTlMcSQPs/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xEZK66FrODY/UTOpQVVCqdI/AAAAAAAAfEU/lvRTlMcSQPs/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">See it? It's starting to take shape! Okay...so just trust me and keep reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The next step, after trimming the excess red fabric, was to add the teeth. Luckily (sort of), I had grabbed the wrong felt. This batch has adhesive backing. I cut the teeth out and slid them into place. They adhered right to the fabric, so I only needed to add a couple of stitches as insurance against the washing machine. Of course, the adhesive made my needle quite sticky, but I pulled through (ha ha to my sewing pun)...</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pw9OjMGPxtg/UTOp-B-MPII/AAAAAAAAfEY/m2vaonNzFD8/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pw9OjMGPxtg/UTOp-B-MPII/AAAAAAAAfEY/m2vaonNzFD8/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Don't worry. A couple of good washes, that opening will fray and those teeth will be on full display!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Next up, eyeballs. Again, the felt has adhesive backing, so I just stuck my pieces together and stuck them in place. I did, however, add a couple of stitches to make sure that it wouldn't be eyeless after a trip through the washer.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q46I4obYpbY/UTOqw9-EC9I/AAAAAAAAfEg/LMv_2jROVpw/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q46I4obYpbY/UTOqw9-EC9I/AAAAAAAAfEg/LMv_2jROVpw/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And <strike>after more cursing than I had anticipated</strike> as easily as that, I was done! The only thing left to do was to have my model test them out for me!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x2SxP_SMMHQ/UTOrSgMH29I/AAAAAAAAfEo/xDPoGder4B8/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x2SxP_SMMHQ/UTOrSgMH29I/AAAAAAAAfEo/xDPoGder4B8/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CYOCSVoSLM8/UTOrea-DZQI/AAAAAAAAfEw/bWG4lQ61nYE/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CYOCSVoSLM8/UTOrea-DZQI/AAAAAAAAfEw/bWG4lQ61nYE/s640/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Is that not cute? My little guy was so excited to run upstairs and show his Daddy. And truly, it only took about two hours, which included myriad interruptions to play "Toy Story" or to refill a cup with chocolate milk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And truth be told, I'm kind of hoping I can wear out the knee in a pair of my jeans next...</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-39277224271428115382013-03-02T07:25:00.000-05:002013-03-02T07:25:37.806-05:00How It Is<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It has been a tough week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have been, for a very long time, a tough chickie when it comes to dealing with stress. It's just how it has been. I firmly believe in the idea of "sink or swim" when it comes to adversity. And I'm a swimmer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Right now, though, I am treading water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There's just so much going on in my life and in my head. My stress and anxiety levels are much higher than normal, and that is, perhaps, why I'm finding it harder to deal with as I usually do. I guess I am taken aback at how my stress levels have spiked and at how my normal methodologies aren't working.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Still, there is some peace to be found with art. It's not enough to stop the migraines or the insomnia, but in those moments when I am creating, I can just breathe and my brain can be still.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I didn't create much this week, but what I did was important for me...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">iPhone shots are a quick fix to start my day:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSgPtYnGaWY/UTHkotpB3RI/AAAAAAAAfA0/hmApIlE7Wow/s1600/3.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSgPtYnGaWY/UTHkotpB3RI/AAAAAAAAfA0/hmApIlE7Wow/s400/3.1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Homeward Bound (I Wish I Was)</em></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6LPAc4mNDhU/UTHk-wF-QDI/AAAAAAAAfA8/9hy9eRNHIhI/s1600/3.3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6LPAc4mNDhU/UTHk-wF-QDI/AAAAAAAAfA8/9hy9eRNHIhI/s400/3.3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Long Road to Go</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I also did some "real" photo processing, as well. I have to admit that is very, very good for my soul. It was my weekly challenge, and while I didn't get to do as much as I would have liked, for those moments while I was able to process some images, my brain was quiet.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBk_znWpSgU/UTHmq5Q7c4I/AAAAAAAAfBI/9od6beNEc5U/s1600/Winter+Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MBk_znWpSgU/UTHmq5Q7c4I/AAAAAAAAfBI/9od6beNEc5U/s400/Winter+Home.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Winter Home</em></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-szjC7BK-Msc/UTHnaWntDCI/AAAAAAAAfBU/sq5i4g6gHeA/s1600/Shelter+from+the+Storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-szjC7BK-Msc/UTHnaWntDCI/AAAAAAAAfBU/sq5i4g6gHeA/s400/Shelter+from+the+Storm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Shelter from the Storm</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I feel like I could get lost in those landscapes, just for a little while. Perhaps that's why photo processing is so therapeutic...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Another temporary therapy I've found is cross-out poems. I've been working through a copy of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Purloined Letter" and finding poetic bits. This is my favorite find so far:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn1sA1XNp8c/UTHoZEa16DI/AAAAAAAAfBg/ZLrV7DHY_nE/s1600/3.4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hn1sA1XNp8c/UTHoZEa16DI/AAAAAAAAfBg/ZLrV7DHY_nE/s400/3.4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>It Is Not Possible</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Telling, no?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also started a new, large-scale project. I have no idea what I'm doing. It may not turn out as grand as I have envisioned. But it'll still be beautiful and important:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CqRvuD8EnJU/UTHqqfrw4YI/AAAAAAAAfB0/e-sf6UaUiA0/s1600/3.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CqRvuD8EnJU/UTHqqfrw4YI/AAAAAAAAfB0/e-sf6UaUiA0/s400/3.5.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>
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<em>Memories</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, in my <strike>delusion</strike> optimism, I am attempting to make a patchwork quilt of some of the little guy's baby clothes. Some of them are just outfits that I loved to see him in. Others have important memories: the shirt he was wearing the first time he walked, his first favorite shirt, special gifts. It will be a grand keepsake if I can pull it off!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And now, we see what happens. Wish me luck...on all fronts! xoxo</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-65916694927905917422013-02-23T07:58:00.000-05:002013-02-23T07:58:12.529-05:00Life is What Happens<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know. I know. I promised to do better with my creative endeavors and especially with my weekly creative challenges. So, how's this?</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIymf1An8IQ/USi0UE2zTsI/AAAAAAAAeiU/WozQRcWldFM/s1600/L.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIymf1An8IQ/USi0UE2zTsI/AAAAAAAAeiU/WozQRcWldFM/s400/L.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>The Unfinished Mermaid</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Okay. Now it's time for the truth. All I did was work on her hair a little bit. I had those darned good intentions, but they didn't carry me very far in terms of adhering to this week's drawing/sketching challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And I'm okay with that. We've been in the middle of a bedroom remodel, so the household is in a bit of upheaval...and mess. My little guy did a solid face plant on the hardwood floor two week's ago, so we had a follow-up visit to the dentist this week. And I've been up to my elbows in prepping assignments for <em>Romeo and Juliet</em> for my freshman class<em>.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sigh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But I have squeezed in a couple of small things, as always. I'm trying very hard not to abandon creativity completely. And I figure even the smallest attempts are good enough.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This week was another successful round of daily Instagram posts. If you don't have the Instagram app, you can follow my feed <a href="http://instagram.com/nicholereneephoto" target="_blank">here</a>. I've been working with textures from the newish DistressedFX app, as well as a couple of other photography apps:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lGkEZn4NsyE/USi2h1gf3kI/AAAAAAAAejo/Mu_Hd7whjto/s1600/D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lGkEZn4NsyE/USi2h1gf3kI/AAAAAAAAejo/Mu_Hd7whjto/s400/D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Going Home</em></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2oyNz-DEEg/USi2sFSqQFI/AAAAAAAAejw/lTDn4fzKpag/s1600/G.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2oyNz-DEEg/USi2sFSqQFI/AAAAAAAAejw/lTDn4fzKpag/s400/G.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Empty Nest</em></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ts74RZG29ZE/USi22PF_IQI/AAAAAAAAej4/SlLIc3jxDTk/s1600/F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ts74RZG29ZE/USi22PF_IQI/AAAAAAAAej4/SlLIc3jxDTk/s400/F.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Wide Open Memories</em></div>
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<em>What She Stumbled Upon</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The last two are probably my favorites from the week. Both of them make me think of magical things and places, of trips down the rabbit hole. Or at least peeks down that rabbit hole...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I also participated in "Throwback Thursday" with a pic of myself when I was about three:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u0Zi2XSu4zQ/USi43s-aHnI/AAAAAAAAelc/1stlnO4y9hw/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u0Zi2XSu4zQ/USi43s-aHnI/AAAAAAAAelc/1stlnO4y9hw/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Cutie Pie! :)</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And strictly for comparative purposes, a selfie from the other night:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nuJzvl61BY/USi5LcSpm_I/AAAAAAAAelk/MSQi6KSX1ek/s1600/I.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--nuJzvl61BY/USi5LcSpm_I/AAAAAAAAelk/MSQi6KSX1ek/s400/I.JPG" width="230" /></a></div>
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<em>Filters are my friend!!</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I may not have done too well at my weekly challenge, but I did start on a new artsy endeavor! I had a bit of Christmas money left to spend, and while surfing around Amazon, I found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/K-Company-Smash-Folio-Kit/dp/B0095PXL1G/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1361623660&sr=8-12&keywords=k%26company" target="_blank">Smash Books by the K&Company</a>. How to explain them...Basically, they are scrapbooks/journals/mixed media collections all in one awesomely designed binder. Do yourself a favor, check out one of the videos from K&Company. And then order your own. I haven't had much of a chance to amass all the goodies I want to tuck into mine, but I did start with a couple of lovely little tidbits:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E0cPrTdvH2s/USi7DGYHwZI/AAAAAAAAemY/ENjQ2axgjQU/s1600/A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E0cPrTdvH2s/USi7DGYHwZI/AAAAAAAAemY/ENjQ2axgjQU/s400/A.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>I got the kit with two books. The green one will just be my anything</em></div>
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<em>and everything book. The red one? All about me and my Hubby! <3</em></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aRwgN5nTde8/USi7NtGfkHI/AAAAAAAAenA/SZRnKTM704I/s1600/K.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aRwgN5nTde8/USi7NtGfkHI/AAAAAAAAenA/SZRnKTM704I/s400/K.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>One of the guided journaling pages</em></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4zxkbnLKI-4/USi7ZOWmbrI/AAAAAAAAenI/WR4H1vchtUg/s1600/J.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4zxkbnLKI-4/USi7ZOWmbrI/AAAAAAAAenI/WR4H1vchtUg/s400/J.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Affirmations: "I now go beyond other people's fears and limitations..."</em></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yrmv1OpHVpc/USi7hPGQELI/AAAAAAAAenQ/_6mAnql-2TA/s1600/C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yrmv1OpHVpc/USi7hPGQELI/AAAAAAAAenQ/_6mAnql-2TA/s400/C.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>From a Hallmark bag!</em></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eVU7X2Lxg0M/USi7mYS2SvI/AAAAAAAAenY/iiXzAfSOCio/s1600/B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eVU7X2Lxg0M/USi7mYS2SvI/AAAAAAAAenY/iiXzAfSOCio/s400/B.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Last night's fortune...added to the red journal ;)</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, while life tends to take over when it comes to my creative plans, I still manage to sneak in some random moments. Would I like more time? Of course! But every little bit is good enough for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Or so I tell myself... :)</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-33322834528678238612013-02-17T06:00:00.000-05:002013-02-17T06:00:04.550-05:00Guilt: A Powerful Motivator<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Do you remember the blanket statements that teachers used to make while you were in school? Like "If we don't stop talking, no one is going out for recess!" And they were only talking about one or two students, but rather than calling out the perpetrators, they addressed the entire class.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Remember that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Well, I was always the good kid that wasn't talking but who felt hugely guilty anyway!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The angel on my shoulder is the size of a sumo wrestler and the devil on the other? A pancake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So when I posted that I hadn't fulfilled my weekly creative endeavor in yesterday's blog entry, I felt guilty. Hugely guilty. Dirty look from the sumo wrestling angel on my shoulder guilty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Know what I did? Grabbed a pencil and a notebook and got to work:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9UR4T3PGv2s/USApvwneIvI/AAAAAAAAedw/rJKF85WySVw/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9UR4T3PGv2s/USApvwneIvI/AAAAAAAAedw/rJKF85WySVw/s400/IMG_1894.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>A Window to a Guilty Soul</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There. I feel better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And to feel further better about myself, I processed a portrait on my iPhone:</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YkrcOp10bJE/USAqDuu0soI/AAAAAAAAed4/euSLTWMcm7s/s1600/IMG_1909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YkrcOp10bJE/USAqDuu0soI/AAAAAAAAed4/euSLTWMcm7s/s400/IMG_1909.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em>Little Boy, Big Imagination</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And then I decided to play around with Photoshop. I used a free stock image from <a href="http://catnipstudiocollage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Catnip Studio Collage</a>:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C7jCuUkmUHI/USAql2UdT5I/AAAAAAAAeeA/WmuooBFA4-M/s1600/SistersBracelets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C7jCuUkmUHI/USAql2UdT5I/AAAAAAAAeeA/WmuooBFA4-M/s400/SistersBracelets.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then I used a bunch of textures and such from <a href="http://shadowhousecreations.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jerry Jones</a> and the authors of <a href="http://www.duirwaigh.com/digitalartwonderland.php" target="_blank">Digital Art Wonderland</a>, and voila!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mvcQJLpOu-8/USArtqjmPGI/AAAAAAAAeeI/QSFAjgXjr9s/s1600/The+Sisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mvcQJLpOu-8/USArtqjmPGI/AAAAAAAAeeI/QSFAjgXjr9s/s400/The+Sisters.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<em>The Sisters</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There. I feel better. The guilty stare from that sumo wrestling angel has been replaced by a patronizing grin. I'm okay with that.</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061972839850608047.post-90804128443881709772013-02-16T07:41:00.000-05:002013-02-16T07:41:40.415-05:00You Know How It Is...<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Oh, you know how it goes. You make some plans (that notoriously dirty word), and you set forth to follow up on those plans.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And then life says, "Hey! Go get some groceries! Stay late for some meetings! Get a migraine! Be a mommy and a wifey! Clean up some cat puke!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Darned ol' life needs to keep its smart mouth shut!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">But alas, it doesn't. And I will confess that it has not been the creative week that I had envisioned. I trust you will forgive me just this once. And then again when it happens in a subsequent week. And so forth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This week's mini-project was supposed to be drawing and sketching. As soon as I rolled that die, I had a feeling this would be the first week that I didn't fulfill my weekly goal. I did bring a couple of drawing books out along with a sketchbook. They are staring at me scornfully from the shelf under my coffee table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'm hoping this counts:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FOMvUFcooKw/UR97RSkqOhI/AAAAAAAAeZ4/hmtxBgkZWMg/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FOMvUFcooKw/UR97RSkqOhI/AAAAAAAAeZ4/hmtxBgkZWMg/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Coloring is like drawing...right?</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, it's Saturday, which is still a part of the existing week, so there's that. I could still draw or sketch something today...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sigh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">No, not "sigh" because I don't feel bad about sacrificing some creative endeavors to:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vXMbokoY7h0/UR98GITYBJI/AAAAAAAAeaE/lcHavFbRdpY/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vXMbokoY7h0/UR98GITYBJI/AAAAAAAAeaE/lcHavFbRdpY/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>My most favorite people in the world.</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And it's not like I did absolutely nothing creative in the hands-on department. I did make this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g5Svql_5DEY/UR98lAxQK4I/AAAAAAAAeaM/oNNsYi7PE5E/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g5Svql_5DEY/UR98lAxQK4I/AAAAAAAAeaM/oNNsYi7PE5E/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Cooking is creative, y'all!</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I did process a slew of iPhone pictures, so that counts for something...</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnwIHOCMv1I/UR98-KTaAdI/AAAAAAAAeaU/ZCMX353-4SQ/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dnwIHOCMv1I/UR98-KTaAdI/AAAAAAAAeaU/ZCMX353-4SQ/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Homeward</em></div>
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<em>Leaving</em></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaQsrh3EaV4/UR99CZ5Ft4I/AAAAAAAAeak/X75CAsZrOx4/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SaQsrh3EaV4/UR99CZ5Ft4I/AAAAAAAAeak/X75CAsZrOx4/s400/photo+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Down on Main Street</em></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxrl4PgI034/UR99DWEMrRI/AAAAAAAAeas/MsIAJg1VvB4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxrl4PgI034/UR99DWEMrRI/AAAAAAAAeas/MsIAJg1VvB4/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Barn Love</em></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bk6Ko-MwIK8/UR99EOWBryI/AAAAAAAAea0/kmGJV1EbY3w/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bk6Ko-MwIK8/UR99EOWBryI/AAAAAAAAea0/kmGJV1EbY3w/s400/photo+4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>On the Horizon</em></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnNali_FnFo/UR99E8D_DUI/AAAAAAAAea8/Bd82DOUDs88/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnNali_FnFo/UR99E8D_DUI/AAAAAAAAea8/Bd82DOUDs88/s400/photo+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<em>Signs</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So, you see...it's not like I just sat on my couch all week. I mean, I did. As much as possible. But I was still creative. Ish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Will I promise to do better in the coming week? Well, I hate to break promises, so I simply promise to try. I'm going to carry over the drawing/sketching assignment and see what happens. I'll still process an iPhone pic every day (have to hit my goal of 365, after all). And I'll hope that the coming week isn't quite so dreadful as this one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">After all, tomorrow is another day to be creative...</span></div>
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Nichole Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528380116834282490noreply@blogger.com2