CMMC- Begins with an A

For last week’s Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge- January Letter A at the Beginning I found the perfect subject when I was poking around at my favorite thrift store. An angel! And not just any angel but one of my latest collections.

My obsession … I mean collection began innocently enough. I had noticed these angels for years when I was thrift store shopping but there was one problem. They were always broken in some way, most often the wings or halos. And I was looking for specific months- the months my kids/grandkids were born.

I finally caved when I kept stumbling on these poor little ladies missing a wing or a pigtail and I felt so bad for them. They had been given as a gift either to commemorate a birthday or add to a growing collection. And now they were abandoned at a thrift store, getting shoved aside in a sea of discarded knickknacks.

Three years later I find myself with a growing collection of ten. Lucky for me they are on the small side and do not take up too much space.

Have you ever found yourself the collector of an item without realizing it or am I the only one this happens to?

Have a great day!

-Kat

The Color of Winter

White and gray coupled with January immediately brings images of dirty snow to mind. Luckily I don’t have any photos of dirty snow so the ones I’m using for the Sunday Stills photo challenge feature the cold, crisp and sometimes sparkly feeling associated with January.

“The color of springtime is flowers;
the color of winter is in our imagination.”

Terri Guillemets

“Winter sunlight is a warm old soul, spreading love in the bitter cold.”

Angie Weiland-Crosby

Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge- Gray and White

Enjoying a mild winter here in the Midwest,

-Kat

CFFC: Hands or Paws

This week’s prompt for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is Hands or Paws.

Pups and their paws. Dogs are funny about their paws being touched. My parents’ dog cannot stand to have her paws held. When I’m leaving their house, I will usually give her nose a rub and then hold one of her paws for a few seconds. She always gives me a mournful look. She knows I’m going to to do it. And she doesn’t pull away but she lets me know she would prefer I leave her paws alone.

This pup likes to have her paw held.

Our pup Ari has always tolerated someone holding her paws but when we wanted to make an imprint of her paw, she was not amused and let us know so.

This pup does not like making an imprint of her paw- can’t say I blame her!

Little boy hands busy at play

Hope your week is going well!

-Kat

CBWC: Anything to do with Music

This is the week that Cee reached out and grabbed me by the arm, giving me that shake I desperately needed. No, just kidding. But I find it telling that when I made myself sit down and do SOMETHING, Cee’s prompts speak to me. (Thank you, Cee!!)

Music. It’s up there in my top favorites along with my loved ones, reading and writing. It is such an integral part of my life, part of my family, part of everything. Just as I have to read words if I see them, I have to listen to the music if I hear it. So here are a few photos and quotes for Cee’s Black and White Challenge: Anything to do with Music.

“Music is forever; music should grow and mature with you,
following you right on up until you die.”

Paul Simon

If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

Henry David Thoreau

Happy Weekend!

-Kat

CFFC: Feathers

Happy New Year (finally)! This is the year I write instead of talk about writing. Having my first post be a photo challenge might seem to be at odds with my goal, right? Well, right. But this prompt- Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Feathers- grabbed my attention.

Just yesterday I was working in my office, trying to restore it into a functional work space. While cleaning, I came across a baggie with feathers inside tucked into a pocket in a tote bag. It was a gift from my grandson, Beej. When I lost my loved one over three years ago, Beej also lost her. He was much younger and it was his first loss of that kind. We talked about death more than I had ever talked with his dad and uncles when they were children. One of the things we talked about at great length was that our loved one might send us signs that she was still with us in spirit. We discussed all of the different ways a loved one might be sending us signs and these included butterflies, cardinals, coins, an unexpected light or fan turning on or off and even a feather.

Not long after Beej presented me with a baggie. Inside were eight or nine feathers that he had collected for me so I could remember our loved one with love whenever I wanted and I did not need to find one by chance. He’s such a thoughtful caring person and I’m so blessed to have him in my life.

Peace and love,

-Kat