Joleyn Larson Photography & Design

just a little note to let you all know that i moved the music to my front page…. www.thedigigirl.com ….. so that when you browse through the archives and older posts you can have continual music. so just remember…go there first for the music.

xoxoxoxo

jo

ps…i added like 30 new songs….nice and warm…jazzy like…but not really.

my peanut has bangs! i can’t believe it myself. for weeks, probably more like for months…she’s begged, she’s pleaded with me, ”please mom, can i have baaaaaangs. pleeeeease, mom.”  yesterday we went to the store and got the “hair” magazine…the one she has seen me page through countless times to do something new with my hair. she looked and looked, kept the book in her room all day, going through all the options. my heart would stop everytime she stopped on page 46. short dark cut with dark red highlights. she thought that one was so pretty. {sigh} it’s her hair, i can do this, i’d remind myself.  finally after allowing myself to accept this part of my baby….she was craving change…..she’s had bangs ever since we started growing her hair out…..age 3? more time passed she decided. “i know what i want mom.” “i want your bangs.” {smile} well…sweetie, i think that will be just boot-i-ful on you. let’s do it. she didn’t even hesitate…as she pulled me into the bathroom. scissors laid out, comb and spray too. she was ready. i was getting there.

we parted little bits at first, pulled the rest back in a pony. we’ll start with small sections…she agreed with her biggest toothless smile. {this is hard for momma} i combed down the bangs, they covered her tiny face. she was still smiling. i asked one more time…are you sure sweetie? YES!! Mom!!! just do it!!  

and………

…………………………………………………that is what i did. slowly….i cut away….and soon i was peeking into the biggest happiest eyes ever. she touched her head…do i have bangs?  as she turned to look in the mirror. still smiling and ooohing and shining….like all little girls do when they think they look beautiful.  i love them momma!!! i love them….do you? i had to take a breath, but out came the words….”sweetie you are beautiful” and “i love them”. i did, i do…love them. she smiled all night, and all night i kept looking at her. how different she looks now. {sigh} i can’t imagine having to let her make bigger decisions….hold on momma….life is just getting going…with this little one. {smile}

since “my baby” has been broken, and i’ve really had little patience to re-figure out “my old baby“…i’ve been doing a lot more reading, a lot more pouting, researching, and thinking…i know, i know…but this time…it’s been a good thing for the most part….a sort of lenton journey…i may add.  i started reading this book and having only read through chapter 4 but have been completely reschooled on some things. or maybe just reassured about things. or maybe my eyes have been reopened to things that i have since had them closed for a while. anyways….in this book the author brings up this guy who has all these quotes that just really makes one think. 

let me introduce to you…Publius Ovidius Naso.

Ovid to the English speaking world.

He wrote such things like …  “Many women long for what eludes them, and like not what is offered them.” “Those things that nature denied to human sight, she revealed to the eyes of the soul.” “Either do not attempt at all, or go through with it.” “Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”“My hopes are not always realized, but I always hope.” “Remove the temptation of idleness and cupids bow is useless.”“Neither can the wave that has passed by be recalled, nor the hour which has passed return again.” “We are ever striving after what is forbidden, and coveting what is denied us.” “Time is generally the best doctor.” “Happy is the man who has broken the chains which hurt the mind, and has given up worrying once and for all.” “Luck affects everything; let your hook always be cast; in the stream where you least expect it, there will be a fish” “Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.” “Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi, sed saepe cadendo. – A drop of water hollows a stone, not by force, but by continuously dripping.” “The glow of inspiration warms us; it is a holy rapture.” “Whether they give or refuse, it delights women just the same to have been asked.” “Our integrity is never worth so much as when we have parted with our all to keep it.” 

it all just makes me think. i love things like that. what did life do to him, that led him to think such life inspiring thoughts? what do they all mean? what do you find if you dig deep? the list of his quotes went on and on, and each were so inspiring. each made me stop and think … wow, that’s good. that’s so real. it was addicting for a short period of time. to keep reading what he had to say.

“Love fed fat soon turns to boredom.” my favorite…it was in the book i’m reading…it’s what started this little research project of mine. love fed fat? is that even possible?  can one really expect that much love and attention from another? and if given all their fill, simply become bored with it all? can someone lose their self so much in providing too much love for someone else? how do you feel about this? i’m left feeling curious. maybe seeing things a bit different now?

i didn’t really have a plan with where this would all lead. i didn’t know what i would find…but i’m left feeling like i stumbled on a secret hidden treasure. i share it with you to ponder.

one of my wonderfuly artistic friends…over at curry chaos……is putting on this fun crafty artist swap…here are the details from her blog…….

It’s hard to put a value minimum or maximum – so the best I can do is tell you items I am considering making for the swap:
earrings, a felted soap, a paper door decoration, a small bird, a hanging pillow, a 5 x 7 photo, an altered jar, a set of note cards, etc……
What do you say – I know there a lot of talented people out there – and some of you even read my blog!    I would love to see what we can do!!! 

ok, here is my  “swap” … one of these lily prints…8×12…backed with Single Weight Matboard…from mpix. i’ll let the lucky girl pick which she wants….if that works…other wise…stacey you pick and let me know…and i’ll get it ordered….and shipped to you asap.

ok ladies…I know we have tons of artistic-ness between us…let’s share the love and have some fun. Email me and I’ll pass it on to Stacey….or check out her blog for details.

so a friend posts on facebook today…

…my response was nothing short of a novel…well… almost. 

{better click on the link…so you have some good music to get you through this post. haha. i recommend something by eric hutchinson or jack johnson. :)}

i’m no art major, i often wished i would have been. if i ever got the chance, i’d change my mind…and want to be an artist when i grow up.  {not the business woman i thought i’d be} i wish i knew more about it, maybe then i’d know why i love it so.  whether it’s a painting or music, poetry, or photography, every thing about it moves me. the emotion i feel when i see some thing…it’s all one big sigh of breath…or one huge beat of heart…for me. you’ll pobably laugh, but i love hanging out at ART.com. i have an account there too. i spend way too much time admiring all it has to offer. which room would i put this, where could i put that.  if only i had a big room just for me and my art…what would i collect over my lifetime? what would i save?

 my favs are all so very different, but all so wonderfully inspiring… 

 

Peter Wileman–love his horizon pieces…
 

 

 

anyways…thank you my friend…for such a great question…how fun was this little journey.

How will YOU spend these 40 days?

“Lent is the liturgical season of forty days which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with the celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Easter Triduum). Lent is the primary penitential season in the Church’s liturgical year, reflecting the forty days Jesus spent in the desert fasting and praying.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church) During the season of Lent, there is a special call to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We can fast from negative things in our lives, such as complaints about weather, work, food, and others’ treatment of us. For us, Lent represents a look at our lives and our relationship with God and each other.

Give up bitterness; turn to forgiveness. Give up hatred; return good for evil. Give up negativism; be positive. Give up complaining; be grateful. Give up harsh judgments; think kindly thoughts. Give up worry; trust Divine Providence. Give up discouragement; be full of hope. Give up anger; be more patient. Give up pettiness; be more mature. Give up gloom; enjoy the beauty around you. Give up jealousy; pray and trust. Give up gossiping; control your thoughts. Give up sin; turn to virtue.

Belief :: I rise out of the old and into the new.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season. It affords us an opportunity to turn away from beliefs that limit or bind us. Some think of this time as a period of fasting from special foods or outer pleasures. Others believe it is a time to give up certain states of mind, certain words and ways that are not in keeping with the Jesus Christ ideal.

No matter how we may choose to keep Lent, let us turn our eyes from the darkness to the light, our ears from strife to peace, our words from negative to positive, and our hands from destruction to construction. Keeping Lent in this way will prepare us mentally, physically and spiritually to rise out of the old and into the new.

–Adapted from Daily Word, February 11, 1959

Is not this the fast that I choose?–Isaiah 58:6

one of the things i love about birthdays…getting mail days later.

this one was for Tracy…..a package from Erlenbusch’s….i always say…if you guess the gift….momma gets it.

well, he guessed it…big goob.

One click. 

Eye closed.

Muddled darkness.

Blank.

Blackness surrounds.

Spun me ‘round.

Pushed me down.

Sat on me.

I could not breath.

Stillness. Pause—

Breath. Pause—

Breathe. Pause— 

Driving force.

Internal inspiration.

Mind releases.

Altered motivation.

But … inspired.

jml

so i started reading this book. a collection of poems really…by emily dickinson.  poetry… something that has always intrigued me but yet, i’ve  never felt such power…until now. wow. her words can bring tears to my eyes in one breath and complete joy in the next. i’ve had to research her, to seek out how she grew up, what inspired her, how she lived. such fragile beauty yet so elusive-ly secretive and powerful. one of my favorite poems so far…

I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, Eyes – 
I wonder if It weighs like Mine – 
Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long – 
Or did it just begin – 
I could not tell the Date of Mine – 
It feels so old a pain – 

I wonder if it hurts to live – 
And if They have to try – 
And whether – could They choose between – 
It would not be – to die – 

I note that Some – gone patient long – 
At length, renew their smile – 
An imitation of a Light
That has so little Oil – 

I wonder if when Years have piled – 
Some Thousands – on the Harm – 
That hurt them early – such a lapse
Could give them any Balm –  

Or would they go on aching still
Through Centuries of Nerve – 
Enlightened to a larger Pain – 
In Contrast with the Love –  

The Grieved – are many – I am told – 
There is the various Cause – 
Death – is but one – and comes but once – 
And only nails the eyes –  

There's Grief of Want – and grief of Cold – 
A sort they call "Despair" – 
There's Banishment from native Eyes – 
In Sight of Native Air –  

And though I may not guess the kind – 
Correctly – yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary –  

To note the fashions – of the Cross – 
And how they're mostly worn – 
Still fascinated to presume
That Some – are like My Own – 

this is what we find on our pillows the night before valentine’s day. little heart shaped butterflies.

our little princess…this has to be her most favorite day of the year.  she gets her very own specially decorated box. hers to keep forever, to fill with whatever she deems worthy to keep. she can tote it around keeping it close to her for days.  she creates little messages of love to fill our hearts with. she writes letters, hides notes, cuts out hearts and glues them together to make butterflies that love each other. we woke up to three special little notes from our peanut, all different. all designed with delicate care. i think her love language has to be “Receiving Gifts” . she absolutely thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind each gift.

she makes my heart beat….daily. {sigh} love her so.

my love bugs…my valentines. love them to the moon and back.

don’t the mugs match their personalities. love it!!

ps…please excuse the focus issues…i’m having issues with my OLD camera…don’t ask. ;(

well sweetie, today is your day. happy birthday to you.

i love you, i love you, i love you…because i love you.