So, I Took A Year Off...

But I'm thinking of making a return.

After a rough start, 2012 was pretty good.  

And I lived it.  
I didn't worry about writing the story.
It was nice.  
It was mine.

But sometimes...

Sometimes, I missed telling the story.

So...we'll see.

Maybe I'll tell more stories in 2013.

Things Missed...

Looking back, I can see that it had been there for a while.

A feeling of unease. A mental fog.

It was easy to blame it on stress.
Work. School. Kids.
Homework. House. Animals.

Then summer came, but the feeling lingered.

I wasn't motivated to do much of anything.

It must have been latent fatigue.

So I slept. A lot.

School started.

The fog intensified.

I made myself believe that it wasn't so bad.

But one can only keep up the charade for so long.

Relaxation eluded me.

A glass of wine became glasses of wine.

I kept thinking that it would all slow down...

"Just a few more weeks and it will be better."

Those few weeks stretched on.

One foot in front of the other...just to do what I had to do.

I withdrew.

Spent a lot of time...

I can't tell you. I don't remember.

I abandoned writing. Put my camera in its case.

It was no longer enjoyable.

I was just too tired.

But slowly, I can feel the fog beginning to lift.

The days are not so laborious.

Fewer things are missed.

Finally.

My heart is full...

Sometimes life is just like you want it to be.

The planets align. The Fates allow.

This past weekend we went to the lake.

And it was perfect.

Beyond perfect, really.

Our fun for the day.

Lake water mixed with boat gas is intoxicating, in the best possible way.

I am now a huge fan of the windblown look.

Blissful me.

She's not quite legal.

Neither is he.

1-2-3 jump...

My little ducks, all in a row.

Real ducks.

Tuckered.

Not so much.

My love.

*sigh*

This is where I'm supposed to be.

Lakeside dinner.

Bat watching.

Lakeside beer.

Popping corn.

Lakeside night.

Kickin' it.
xxoo

And that was just day one...

All too soon it was time to make the journey home.

I sat and took one last look around...

And my heart was full.

So full that it almost hurt.

This is home.

Always.

Ten On Ten: August

August 10th.

Ten pictures taken over ten hours.

Thankful for caffeine.

Bling.

Look out, greys.

Collaboration.

Reality check. Blah.

Fake BBQ. Meh.

Real popsicle. Much better.

Vacated.

Begone, ring.

Over my shoulder.

Al dente.

A handful of images captured throughout the day...

My last ten of the summer.

Anyone got a Kleenex?

(photo courtesy of The Girl)

I'll be back here next month.

Singing the beginning of school blues.

July Surplus

How has July already passed?

It was a month of little moments...

454 pieces.

Tanned feet.

Red, white, and blue.

At work.

Deep thoughts on a bottle cap.

Salt and pepper.

Sun lit.

Past bedtime.

Power outage.

Wonderfully bittersweet.

Summer concert series.

Late night company.

My summer is quickly fading away.

I welcome August and its little moments.

I just hope they slow down and last a bit longer.