I know, I skipped a day.  Sometimes life-stuff just gets right in the way of Good Intentions.   I’ll try for an extra tomorrow!

With hot water bottle in my lap, Ivy’s cardigan around my neck and the heater sizzling beside me, this image feels positively taunting.

While I’m attempting the one-a-day photo challenge, I’ll also add to the mix some q & a’s.  It’s been a while.  I have some stored in email to share but feel free to add some extra questions here if you feel the urge!

S xx

See the light?  Three times.  I went to that place three times and almost didn’t catch it.  The first, without a camera, the second a moment too late.  The third was a last chance attempt with little more than ten minutes before the shadows stole what we’d come for. I almost missed it.

And the tear?  The broken fabric?  I could have taken it out.  I almost did.  And then I realized I’d be altering the past.  Pretending everything was perfectly perfect.  I’m not good at that.  This vintage dress has a history.  A life.  And most of it is beautiful and sweet and worthy of celebrating.  The tear is just one small part and has a beauty all of it’s own.     I almost missed it.

And see the girl?   A stranger, once.  Then a simple email exchange.   Two years ago.  We shared a lot.  Photography, our love of pretty, a whole lot of sweet music.   But when her Dad left one day and suffocating grief took his place,  I wished we shared nothing at all.  I knew too much.  My heart hurt for hers.    The tear in her soul can’t be seen easily but it’s there, every moment of every day.  I know the pain in that flaw but I also see it’s beauty.  She is soft and amazing and real.  I almost missed her.

S x

I bribed her.  I told her if she put the tutu on, if she wore the pink knee socks and the clips in her hair..if she gave me just five minutes with the camera and the golden light and the ocean then I would take her for a treat.

And she did it.  In the sand, with tutu alight, she danced and ran and spun.  And I got those photos.

But I got these too.

And I love them more.

S xx

I plan to share, in no particular order,  an image a day from our holidays.  There are hundreds and hundreds to sort through, my favorites folders are already bulging so if I start now I might just get to show you just some of our US adventure.  In time I will compile them in one place as part of the Little Whiles Project that I haven’t worked on in, umm, a little while :)

Here’s todays :)

S x

Things I haven’t done since arriving home:

Unpacked – Five very large suitcases appear to be waiting for me to do something with them. I appear to be ignoring them.
Opened mail – Other than some gorgeous parcels from gorgeous blog readers. Can’t wait to share.
Remembered how to use Photoshop – Really, I feel like I’m starting over with ten thumbs. Eeep.
Attempted to answer email – though Praise Be the WonderFran for keeping my Inbox manageable whilst absent.
Adjusted to the sub zero temperatures – Where for art thou gentle Californian sunlight?

And things I have:

Rejoiced - Long Haul is torture. The pleasure of disembarking cannot be described.
Eaten – A lot. It’s those sub zero temperatures, you see. And the pure novelty of Vegemite on toast.
Sorted – In order to avoid the first list, I’ve immersed myself in Becoming Organized.
Missed – The US of A. Yearning for a Ruby’s mushroom burger, some strawberry lemonade & an update on whether John has proposed to that wayward girl after leaving Kate.
Shivered – Bedtime attire has consisted of two pairs of trackpants. I didn’t realize it was entirely possible to layer from the waist down. Did I mention it’s a little bit chilly?

S xx