My Girl Just Being Who She Is

E:  Let's go blow bubbles, Mom.

Mom:  You need a shirt and something on your feet.

E:  Ok.

Mom:  Why don't we brush your hair.

E:  No, I don't want to.



Mom:  But I'm going to take your picture.



E:  Ok.





That's my girl.

Just being who she is

At this moment

Loving life

Tinkerbell skirt

bed-head hair

too small shirt

pink boots.

Photos & text copyright 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw.

Brisk & Damp Autumn Prairie Mornings

The chill of fall has eased in over the weekend

here on White Owl Creek . . .

 on the western South Dakota prairie.

Silence has returned

now that the weaned calves no longer bawl

for their mama cow's milk.



The few sounds that break the silence are

Shaw cousins laughter on the crisp air,

distant cattle trucks passing by a couple miles away on the highway,

the sandhill cranes & Canada geese flying south,

and Toby, the beagle, baying and barking

at a jack rabbit in the creek bottoms

now dry



filled only with crisp autumn leaves.





Photos & text copyright 2010 Jodene (Jodi) Shaw

Branching Out.

In the Studio ~ Sneak Peek Friday

A sneak peak into my "dining room & computer desk studio"

would be full of words.

Writing in the morning, afternoon, and well into late hours of the night.

My blogging has been pretty light lately as all of the depth goes into Believe Truth.

It seems that all other activites aside from family and writing have come to a halt.

I just noticed that it had been a WEEK since I picked up my camera!

*

Yesterday, for Believe Truth, I wrote about sharing our unique gifts & talents.

Here is how I put it:

if you have an abundance of apples, bless others with apples.

If you have lots of oranges, give oranges.

But don't feel guilty about not being able to share oranges when you've got apples.

And don't wish you had apples when you've got oranges.

Give what... you've got to give ~ not what someone else has to give.

Be who you are, not who someone else is.

Sometimes it is that simple.  I love that God can be that simple for us at times.

And in that simple message, I am free to be me and to give what I have to give.

A simple "apples and oranges" thing is in this scripture about spiritual gifts:

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

...the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.

(1 Corinthians 12:4,6-7)

*

There has been a richness to my spirit in the feedback from the Believe Truth e-course.

I think in anything we do as writers, photographers, & artists - -

the connection with others is the point - -

the completion - -

the full circle of giving and sharing - - -

I love that.

Connection.  Relationships.

Speaking of connection and relationships,

this week I spent an afternoon completing an interview with Jan Avellana of Hazelnut Cottage

that was just posted today here:  Hazelnut Cottage Interview

Jan has such a sweet spirit and I adore her jewelry.

One of my favorite pieces was my "robin's nest" Mother's Day gift this year:



So there is my sneak peek into my "studio" for the week!

Be sure to visit Jennifer over at Studio JRU and the other Sneak Peek Bloggers!

Have a great weekend!

Love & grace,

jodi

Frog Legs . . . Anyone?

There is always something

to laugh about

or to take your breath away . . .

or both at the same time

with Erin around.

She is 3 ~ half way to 4 years old.

This day, when she put on these old pink boots of Syd's

and this hand-me down Mickey jacket,

and a real pony-tail,

I was feeling bittersweet about how big she looked . . .

that she had grown into these clothes and this hair.

What will we do when we do not have a "little one" anymore,

but a "big girl" instead?



Diamond Dew Drops

This morning there was a mist

over the hayfield east of our house.

It was breathtaking.

But then, I was captivated

by the ground silvery-white with dew drops.

Glistening like diamonds

In the sunrise.

It was my own private playground!

I could hardly contain myself.

God knows just what good gifts I love . . .





And gives them freely . . .

Right on the other side of my yard fence.

Richness.  Right here.  Right now.

Reminds me of God's manna from heaven.

Take all you need for today.

Just like manna, you cannot store dew drops.

But He will give a fresh & new supply tomorrow.

I've been waiting all day to share!

I do hope you enjoy.

Artistic Mother Project: Week 5 ~ Butterfly Reminder

It has been months since I did an Artistic Mother project!

I have been working away at the

Believe Truth E-Course.

Life has been busy as a mom.

So my "art" has been

writing

lately.

Or taking a picture here and there

of our various family activities here on the ranch.

My "reminder" is

Be Authentic.

Which I have been

putting into practice

writing this e-course.

{sigh}

It is still a challenge sometimes.

{another sigh}

But always more freedom.

In being the real me.

http://www.studiojru.com/

This was my Sneak Peek into my "studio"

a.k.a. dining room table

on Sunday...even though it was supposed to be Friday!

Check out the other studios~artists~writers over at Studio JRU!

Some of my favorite blogs are there!  You will be pleased you did!

P.S.  Is anyone else having a challenge with this new blogger photo uploader?

I find that if I don't upload all my photos at once, I have to re-upload them!.  Then I cannot seem to get them in the order that I want.  Unless I upload one photo at a time.  And so therefore, the photos in this post are not in the order that I would like . . . just wondering . . .

Sunflower Seeds ~ For the Birds!

This morning I heard

chick-a-dees

in the windbreak.

My bird feeders are

all out of feed.

So, Erin and I

gathered up our sunflowers.

 Which are all ready

for the birds.

It was a lot of work.

For 3-year-old hands

to cut off sunflower heads.

But it was worth it.

For a nice fall bouquet

even if the chick-a-dees don't find it.

Little projects are fun

with my "Little E"

Black Hills Photo Shootout ~ Dede's Dedication

The Black Hills Photo Shootout

was so fun for so many reasons!

The speakers

The photowalks

The history

The beauty

of the

Black Hills

The weather

The fall foliage

Trying out new angles and perspectives

New equipment



Seeing new sights

Learning new techniques

and

Thinking of new possibilites

But making great friends along the way with someone

who shares the same love for photography

and who makes life light and fun

is really what made the weekend complete.

Dede is a sparkler . . .

where ever she is, she shines light and happiness

she makes the mood light and fun . . . happy.

I just watched over the weekend

how she is a magnet to people.

They just gravitate to her and her joy.

Everyone who knows her knows that this is true.

A natural encourager, she makes me feel like I can do anything!



Thanks Dede!

I had a blast of fun with you!