::my book – please don’t touch it::

I am hyper organized on somethings.  

H Y P E R.  

At all times I am carrying around a 5/7 spiral bound notebook that has every thought from my head written down in it.  It started in 4th grade with making homework list and has evolved into my BOOK. 

What do I put in the BOOK?

Anything – an idea that pops into my head that seems like a good one or that it might be something that I might want to remember.  Sometimes it is a quick not about something Lily said or sometimes it is an idea about the perfect size to make a chicken coop.  My brain runs at 100 miles an hour and in absolutely no order and when ever I have what feels like a good idea I need a way to keep it from being lost in the shuffle.
 

 I always have a running “nine day plan” laid out in the BOOK.  This shows the next nine days and what things need to happen during those days.  Each day title is underlined and has a few lines about what is scheduled those days.  They are lots of abbreviations used on the page to save space.  The grid is three days across by three days down.  And I ALWAYS lay it out that way.  I cross off each day as it happens and rewrite the list every few days.  The bottom of that “nine day plan” page has a title “T2D:” which stand for Things To Do and is a sublist of the random things that need to be thought about during that time period.  Things like – call dentist, fax FSA, plan Hannah trip.
 

 Most days off I make a separate list for those days with what exactly is happening that day and in what order.  I try to leave room for life to be flexible, but I struggle with that.
I also put in anything that might be written in list format – put not grocery list.  (Grocery lists are on the fridge.)  Lists like – blog topics, how much I owe the sitter, spring farm repairs, my research on using roundup weed killing, what animal chores need done, my weekly dinner menu.

I also keep a second Mead spiral notebook that is for gardening idea’s and other longer term ideas.  I guess you could say the 5/7 notebook is my shorter term memory and the bigger notebook is my longer term memory.
 

Very random list about what human kid is going to show which goat

If I feel uncomfortable or anxious I find myself needing to rewrite my lists to make them even better organized.  They bring me a great deal of calm.  I can go to sleep without making my next day list, but I sleep better if it is done.  I don’t find the lists to be an intrusion on my life yet, and I hope to continue to keep them under control.  After Zack died I LOVED making list after crazy list, but as my mental health had started to improve my list making has declined to a more normal-for-me level. 

My crazy list quirks -
My friends used to love to play with me by adding little things to my day lists.  Like “Love Megan” for the PG version or… Well, just imagine the kind of fun they had with writing more X rated things too.  This kind of thing will often make me rewrite my entire list.  I can’t stand anyone elses handwriting to be on my list.   
The paper in the 5/7 notebook has to be thicker than regular notebook paper.  I have to be able to write on both sides and it not bleed through.
I don’t like the kids to touch my NB but sometimes I let them.  I do love the little drawings I find in them, but it hurts me to let them have my BOOK.
If I leave my BOOK at work I can hardly sleep till I know were it is.
I write W-F-D-L across the top of each nine day page.  It stands for workout-feed (animals)-dishes-laundry.  Those are the four things I have to do every day off.

Once something is done it gets crossed off.  Once that entire page is done it gets scribbled through. 
 I used to throw them away once they were done, but through some urging I now keep one every year.  

::catching up::

 

Some parsley from last year must have made it through the winter.  

 

And my garlic is showing up already too. 

 

Max's mitten were so wet and dirty they left marks on the grill were I set them to dry.  

SO CUTE~!

 

We got to put out our first clothes line of the year.

 We set another trap for our leprechaun. 

 

We didn't catch him but he did leave us a bunch of candy.

The whole inside of the tape was full of shiny candy.

And the great barn clean out is almost done.  

Almost. 

::socks::

Socks.

I see them every were.  

Seriously - every were.

The shorties take them off and just toss them.

Above they are next to an empty glass of lemonade on the bench by the back door. 

And here is one in my driveway.  

Doesn't it look so lost?

The day will come when I am so sad to not have little socks tossed all around.  

So I think for now I will just laugh at the sock I found floating in the toilet. 

(No picture on that one.)

::fashion party invite::

 Last minute parties blow my mind.  

When my 13 year old mother (I am the step monster), told me that she wanted to do Emma's party at our house this year AND IN ONLY TWO WEEKS I almost threw up.

I need months!

I am planning Lily's September party already.

I am WAY on her tea party in May.

But I sucked it up and got to work.  

Emma and I made this invites off party that I already had laying around.

 For some unknown reason I also had a pack of pink envelopes that were just right.

Emma wanted them to be fancy - so we printed out each girls name on them and added some sparkle. 

 Now, I just hope the party goes off as easy.

Sneak peak - we have a real hair dresser coming to do hair and I am taking their modeling photos.  

FINGERS CROSSED!!!

side note - this is a wonderful chance for me to chill out and not get overly stressed about a party.  Chill out and let the girls have a great time.  It's not about making the coolest treat table ever, its about the girls having a blast.  And celebrate the fact that a first wife and a current/second wife can come together and throw a party together.   

(BUT you can bet you rear that the tea party is going to be over the top.)

These are inspired by this link. 

::DJ Max::

Max has a new favorite toy.  

These weirdo head phones.  

He puts them on and then begins to rock.  

He likes to sing-

All the single ladies

Do Re Me

Prince Ali

I can show you the world

And many original compositions

Looking for the next mess.  

::why every artist needs a Megan::

 I have a friend named Megan.  She is the best.  I adore her for 100 different reasons.  I could write an entire blog about the merits of Megan - but the focus of this post is why I need her as an artist.  She inspires me.  

 She got her camera and she started shooting and then she started asking people "Can I do your family pictures?  Cheap?  Just for the experience?"  Because she actually cares about art.  She cared about stretching her mind to be a better photographer.

She is drawn to family photography because she loves capturing moments in time.  She loves giving the gift of a moment well captured in an emotional way.  An insight into the soul.  Stunning. 

 She is super talented and always helps me stretch myself into taking a different angle or a different depth of field.  She looks at the world through such a beautiful light that she can't help but capture it in her images.  I love it. 

She and I honestly and lovingly critique each others work.  With love and compassion we help each other grow.  We always tell each other when the other one capture THAT image, the one.  The picture that capture the moment and the person.  We call it "emotional response."   It's when you look at a picture and it makes you feel something strong.  Every time she does a shoot I look at it and have at least one true moment of emotional response.   Not every picture can do that.  And she helps me grow to make the ones that are close to it even better.  It is such a secret strength of mine to have someone who I respect so much as an artist that is also a good enough friend to give me her honest insight.  I email her every shoot I do before I show it to the family.  

Megan makes me a better photographer and even though she moved to Japan for a few years we are still doing a good job of staying in touch.  I can't wait for her to move home so we can start shooting weddings as a team. 

update - I wrote this before my precious Megs found herself in Japan during the largest earthquake they have ever had.  She is safe and says she is doing fine.  Check her blog for more info about her insight into this tragedy. 

Here in her old photo blog.

Here is her photo website (I want to steal it)

Here is her blog now were she gives her stunning insight into life in Japan. 

::stuck::

 

Enjoy.