Spring and Sandwich Generation

Spring has given me a few surprises - flowers blooming early and then the frost warnings. I'm sure those of you who have blooming plants have had some unexpected 'covering' up nights.
I am finding just short snatches of time to take photos. Although I was able to get out one Saturday morning and took some pictures of a huge magnolia bush (tree). See below. I have some new fun for me activities, I play Words With Friends with several individuals I do not know. I read mysteries on my Nook (I love my Nook) and  I look at "Pinterest" to see what everyone else posts.
I am part of the "Sandwich" generation - Retired Husband, Father (92) and Son live together and my grandson visits every weekend. (Even the cat is MALE!) Is anyone else experiencing a multi-age household? I also am still working 35 hours a week, so sometimes I go to work for relaxation:)

Enjoy the sunshine and as always I wish for you Peace, Kindness and Blessings.

HOW TO FIND THE TIME

Days are flying by and my thoughts of trying to take more pictures seems to be flying by the wayside. Too many things going on - and too many opportunities wasted.
January - the month that all things are new and so many things to look forward to doing - Perhaps I'll concentrate on taking a picture a week instead of trying for each day - only to be disappointed in myself when another day has gone by and I have not accomplished anything 'creative'. Time to count blessings - family and co-workers.
To those of you out there that are lucky enough to have both parents - count me in too!
I recently moved my Mom and Dad in with us - both are 90!
Hope all is well with you - and if you stumble across this blog and are a photographer, or just a creative soul - would love to hear from you. Be a blessing to someone today!
Peace, Kindness and Blessings - Paulette

Well my big day arrives on Wednesday, March 17th. I will be having back surgery. That nasty virus I had triggered a sciatiac problem that I had years ago. No longer able to ignore so...knife time. Doctor will remove bulging disc and repair 2 others. Now I am really looking forward to good weather. Hoping that by the time SPRING arrives I will be well enough to be outside taking pictures. Wishing SPRING to all and take care...Be a blessing to someone today! Paulette

Remember Summer?

Been down with a virus for almost 2 weeks now including a flare up of sciatiac. Had to get a shot for pain and lots of meds. Finally on the mend and I didn't think I would say this - but I am almost looking forward to going back to work. Since I have not been up to doing much, I have been reviewing pictures that I have taken over the past year. Thought it might be good to post a few - just so we don't forget all the colors of summer - since winter is only showing a blanket of white. In fact a very HIGH blanket of white here in OHIO.

Winter has arrived with its beautiful sights and quiet sounds. Blowing winds and swirling snow are now a part of our life along with boots, hats, gloves and snow shovels. Driving down slushy streets one can hear squeals of laughter from snowball fights and see lopsided snowmen bundled up as much as the children who built them. Chimneys are sprouting plumes of smoke billowing from warm fireplaces and homes are shuttered tightly against the night. Fir trees are laden heavy with sparkling snow and if one looks closely tiny footprints of deer, rabbits and squirels can be seen crisscrossing our yards.

Colorful photo opportunities seem to be lost with the dim light of winter until slim rays of sun peek through the graying clouds. Then maybe, just maybe, with the click of the camera shutter the serene peacefulness of the quiet dawn will be captured in a picture that will stay within my mind to ease the chaos of a busy day.

As always, I wish for you Peace, Kindness and Blessings

Paulette K Beal

Southern Summer Beauty

I traveled to Nashville recently for a long overdue visit with my sister. Although she and her husband were very busy with their business, I was able to visit some of the 'cultural' sites in the city. One of the most beautiful was Cheekwood Gardens. Fifty-five acres of serene picturesque summer blooms laid out among long winding paths. I took over 300 pictures and will have them posted on my http://www.expressionsbypaulette.com/ website soon. I did not visit the downtown area of "Music City" this time but did tour the Opryland Hotel. There the conservatory flowers were spectacular with waterfalls, fountains and rare orchid blooms. These photos will add a different perspective to my All Occasion Cards. As the flowers have a natural artistic beauty all on their own. I have some ideas rolling around in my head for different ways of exhibiting my photos and cards and I am anxious to post them for you to view. Now if I just had about a week of uninterrupted time to spend on 'fun projects'. But alas, my 'paying' job of 40 hours per week does seem to take precedence. In a few more weeks I will be staying in North Myrtle Beach for a wonderful beach vacation. (At least I hope it will be wonderful - we have been chased out before because of hurricanes!) As always I wish for you PEACE KINDNESS AND BLESSINGS (PKB)
Paulette Kae Beal

Nashville Here I Come

I am days away from driving myself to Nashville to visit my sister. she has a beautiful home, but I am not planning on spending much time 'inside'. I have made plans to visit Cheekwood Gardens and Radnor lake to take pictures for my Photographic All Occasion Cards. I hope you can visit my website www.expressionsbypaulette.com soon and see some examples of my work.
I will God willing be back in a week and will be posting some beautiful floral and nature photos.
Take care - Paulette K Beal =
As always I wish for you Peace
Kindness
Blessings

Waiting on a beautiful weekend to start

The day is sunny here and a little cool. The weekend promises to be bright with sunshine.
What a week. That tooth that was bothering me - let it be known that enough was enough so I had an emergency trip to the dentist only to be given pain pills and a diagnosis that I needed to see an oral surgeon. So by 3pm Monday I was having my tooth yanked out. At least the pain was gone and I had the rest of the week to look forward to. I loaded more pictures on my website, got 2 orders mailed and was feeling pretty good about myself.
This morning while looking out my kitchen window waiting for the coffee to perk - a beautiful female deer walked leisurely across my backyard. Of course, my camera was upstairs! I could only watch as she cautiously sniffed the air and quietly walked to the woods. Another reason to be happy! So off to work I went and then received a call that my son is in the hospital with possible gallstones. Here it is late Friday afternoon and he still doesn't know anything - just lying in his hospital room waiting on the doctor. He has had a run of bad luck for so many months now - we just keep thinking it has to get better soon.
Well the good news is, if all continues to go well for me - I will be leaving on the 21st of June for Nashville for my long awaited picture taking vacation. I have researched some sites and am so anxious to go. Hopefully my next blog will be filled with beautiful flowers and southern sites.
Take care and as always I wish to Peace
Kindness
Blessings
Paulette K Beal (PKB)

Memorial Weekend

The weekend is starting out as a beautiful one to savor. I am sitting on my screened porch listening to the birds and watching the squirels and all my flowering plants yet to be planted!
The rest of the day will be busy, so I am reflecting on the reason for this weekend. We need to take the time to prayerfully thank those men and women who have died and for those that are still fighting for our freedom to enjoy this beautiful time in our lives. And I also thank God for the beauty of nature that enables me to make my photographic cards.
Take care - Paulette

A 'newbie' to blogging

I am new to blogging and am currently creating a website for my business "Expressions by Paulette". I take pictures inspired by nature and create All Occasion Photographic cards. I have been only selling my cards for a few months and looking for more ways to get my product "out there". I have recently become an avid reader of Stampington magazines, even ordering past issues. I am intriqued and amazed at all the talented artists that have their own websites, blogs and successful businesses. I wonder if there is anyone like me that has been concerned that I couldn't possibly have anything to say that would be of interest to anyone else. So...I will patiently wait to hear from bloggers that were once like me - a newbie to the blogging world.

I am looking forward to hearing from others that have or are starting their business. Any suggestions (or confidence builders) would be greatly appreciated.

Take care - Paulette Kae Beal