The end result

You know, the end result is never the product of only one road, but many. It is the culmination of what you gather from complicated and twisting interstates, dirty and dusty back roads, muddy paths, crowded city streets, and lonely avenues. Add to that the variables of whom and the composition changes. A bus load of your coworkers, a van load of your best friends or just you. Now add to that recipe the creative sparks of emotion that accompany every moment of every day, and it is clear to see, that every End Result was a great road to travel, you just have to get used to shaking your shoes to let the extra pebbles fall out when you take them off at night, because after all, they are just a reminder that you made it down that road. ~ p.hawkins

(hmmmm maybe I can make a potholder out of those pebbles? Hahaha What are you laughing at? What kind of so-called-pebbles have YOU used in the past to make a project out of ????? Us creative types are always trying to find a use for dryer lint you know.)

Macro Monday

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Well, this is my first time for a Macro Monday!

And since my favorite piece of equiptment is a MACRO lense,

then I guess this is just the right place for me to play!

Have a great Monday all!



CLICK HERE to see more Macro Monday shots!

Camera Critters #51-Roxy gets her licks in...

My dear friends in Kansas, Lynda and Lou, own this adorable baby.
Well BIG baby. Her name is Roxy.
She snuck in to get a few licks of her own!
(sorry, the shot is not great, but so cute!)

Baby gardener firsties

Now I will be the first one to tell you, I am a baby gardener. A beginner. A fly by the seat of my pants player in the dirt.
So I am sure I shall not always play by the official gardening rules, but I do love to share!

Here is my first area......the sweet peas. Mom had my brother Bobbie put up this plastic white trellis up a long time ago. She planted her sweet peas here and the end result has been fantastic.

Last year I planted them.....first time I really dug in the dirt since she died. That was the catalyst to my new gardening life.

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So below is some of last years blooms.......I hope to have it bigger and better this year!

So I shall be planting the new plants today......as I cultivated and fed the soil last weekend.

Have a great day!
p.hawkins

White Lightning

I decided to look around for something giggly today. I am grateful for laughter. VERY grateful. So here are a few for you today. (yup, a quote-bonus)

Laugh a lot, and when you're older, all your wrinkles will be in the right places. ~ unknown

When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky. ~ Buddha

Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live. ~ unknown

This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life. ~ unknown

If every word I said could make you laugh, I'd talk forever... ~ unknown (Oh wait.........I think I ALREADY DO THAT !!! hahahah)

I wish ALL of you laughter today. Every day really.
You know, laughter, smiles and giggles are the GREASE of our life. We are all like little bike chains......in motion all the time it seems. Laughter is that grease that keeps us flexible and ever able to keep going. ~ p.hawkins

*extra note - there is a bike chain grease I actually use, well its more of a wax lubricant, called WHITE LIGHTNING. I just now thought about that. That is pretty funny, that the chain grease of my life is called WHITE LIGHTNING! (hahah crackin me up!)




Have a great day today!!!
p.hawkins

Camera Critters # 50 - LILY FOUND A FROG!

OH.......LILY FOUND A FROG!
We were picnicing in Letchworth State Park and Lily found this little critter by our cooler and the chase was on!



Miss Frog began her mad dash!



Lily was so funny!



She ALMOST got a nip in there!



Lily got to the end of her picnic leash! (yes her picnic leash is about 10 ft. long)



Miss Frog finally safe and under a little shelter far from Lily. She watched Lily for a long time.

YAHOO ITS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!!!



Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without words, and never stops at all. ~ Emily Dickinson



Hope is full of great expectations. At least it is for me.
Hope keeps my attitude in a great place!

For instance, I hope to find some great fabric when I go to the fabric store today. Once I allow myself to hold that hope ticket, my mind will think nothing but positive FABRIC thoughts
until I get there.
Once I arrive, it doesnt matter if that fabric is there or not, the point is, the value of hope energy prior to that is like high octane fuel. It powers emotions, creativity and ideas. That way, if that fabric I had in my mind is not there, the HOPE ENERGY I have generated will help me change gears when I get there and find a new one and re-group.

The trick is to not linger on the fabric not being there and seeing ALL the possibilities of the fabric that IS there. (insert giggly girl in the store touching all the fabric and wanting it ALL) Linger on the experience.

After all, we should hope for that right?

Hope is not wasted on the heart. To the heart, hope is just yummy desert you can have anytime you want, we just have to convince the mind that HOPE is a desert that never has calories! ~ p.hawkins

Hope is like peanut butter. Spread lots of it and even if there is disappointment at the end, you will still have lots of it sticking to the roof of your mouth! ~ p.hawkins

(Dont ask me where this stuff comes from! I have NO IDEA! hahah)

He who allows his day to pass by without practicing generosity and enjoying life's pleasures is like a blacksmith's bellows: he breathes but does not live. ~ Proverb


This quote today took on three phases for me.

a. I do pray, with all my heart, that I practice some kind of generosity in everything I do each day.

b. I am just as bad as everyone else at not enjoying life's pleasures.....living in this little room can get to be a safe haven or a tiny prison. Sometimes this little room holds the tiny pleasures of my life, yet most times it is on the other side of that window I gaze out of!

c.The back side of this quote is what affected me the most today though. It made my brain think in a slew of directions.

For instance, I think it is easy to breathe life into a thing, an idea or a thought. Have you thought about that?
I mean have you not had a conversation at some point in your life and said, "...well yes, that project or idea took on a life of its own". [add eyes rolling and sarcastic laughing here] I have said it. And I have said it more than once! (shoot I have said it a LOT)
Here is a question to ask yourself today..........Do you live with only saying that once or twice in your life? Or have you never said it?

I think its very safe to live without breathing life into something else. Hell its hard enough to think about how to just keep our own lungs pumping in and out with air and LIFE, much less breathing puffs of enthusiasm into something else.

Yet is it not those puffs that keep us reaching for more? Is it not those mental exhales that allow you to give to someone else?
Words mean things. (from the little book The Four Agreements. ) And I couldn't agree more. Even a tiny word of thanks, to the coffee lady served to breathe self confidence into her moment. Imagine what a whole conversation could do!

Every moment is a breath. Every breath is a thought. Every thought is a puff of life. Let your PUFFS take on a life of their own today! ~ p.hawkins

So what would you like to breathe life into?

(Yes I am back...the dorkalogical ramblings of a queen! hahahaha)

I Heart Faces-Green! (my first time)

Well, this is my first time. I hope I do all of this right! hahah

This is of my brother-in-law Jak. I loved this picture with all the "GREEN" in the background. It showed off his features so nicely.
And he is giggling after telling a joke to us all! What a great memory!

Have a great day all!
p.hawkins

click here to see more entrys!

One nice shot...

Ok, so I sort of screwed up trying to put my good shot in my last post. Sometimes the DORK in me is SO PREVALENT!!!! hahahhah

So here it is.

A small window of sunshine...

Today was such a jumble of a day!
Of course, I DID NOT remember to turn my clock forward. No......and I even set my neighbors clock for her two days ago, the clock that sits up over her sink!
The rest of my morning was conveluted at best, but by 12:30 ish, it was time to rock and roll with magazine stuff.

I had a table setting to get to, that i have put off, mainly because I need a bit of a full table setting to really show these babies off!
And now I am RUNNING OUT OF TIME! hahah

So it was not raining. It was not sunny. But it also was not completely overcast. So I decided to pray for sunshine and I started gathering all the stuff needed. OH and I also got a box of great chipped and or cracked china pieces for props as well.



These are but a few of the little goodies I scarfed up yesturday as I took the afternoon to de-stress and hit not one, not two, but 5 thrift shops! Yes I was in "JUNKIN" heaven for sure.
I even got a bunch of shirts and clothes that I shall cut up and make fun shabby chic book bags out of .......(stay tuned for that fun afternoon....I shall give you all a pattern and instructions)

So I gather all my stuff to dash outside and set up a lovely white on white table setting, and yes I got a bunch of white basic plates yesturday too.

I get outside, and the sun was being quite cooperative for a short time, and then the wind kicked up and the clouds were conceiling my sunshine! So I had to keep shooting fast.
Here is my little dorky table set up. As you can see, over in the corner is a card board box where I was spray painting some metal filigree pieces I found too. If you look close on the table set up, there is a metal basket. It was black this morning, and a spray can changed that lickety split!

My Junkin companion yesturday was flabbergasted at the JUNK I was buying yesturday. I bought broken and chipped dishes, and lids without bottoms and vise versa, to her this was all just junk, but to me was the best cool stuff ever!

Here is my table set up........see the wind tring to ruin my day!


So out of that, came some pretty awsome shots, at least I was pretty happy with them. Here is one sneak peak. After all I cant show you all of them just yet.......not till the mag hits news stands! hahha





So all in all not too bad. Now I am trying to stay awake and finish all the shots I took and regroup.

Oh and in the crock pot is a Corn Beef Brisket! And I put it in about 5 pm today so by tomorrow morning my whole house will smell delightfully delishioso! Come on over!

I hope ya'll had a great weekend!

p.hawkins

I do love my chickens!

Chicken plate display from Sue and Julie!!!!


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Yes it is evident, I have a chicken fetish! My favorite cup for sure!

The worries ran out the hole in my toe.......

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I dont know how every raindrop can hold so much magic. I could hear the thunder, and the noise.......and as quickly as the booms came and went, my ears forgot it. Soon after, the rain began to hit the tin roof and the skylight. As quickly as it smacks the surface, the sound races to me, out of breath, as if it can not wait to sing its song in my ears, and my worries run out of the hole in my toe. ~ p. hawkins


So many of you have had WHITE RAIN of late, and I hope you get to see the SEE THRU stuff soon, as it signals the on-slought of spring.
I had a 1 hour window of sun yesturday, and I busted out of the house and ran and got the gloves and the garden tools and got on my knees and dug in the garden and trimmed all my herbs and pulled weeds.
The smell of the DIRT and the HERBS, well the smell invaded my senses in the most delightful way. It was so intoxicating I was drunk from it..........I just wanted to lay down in in the black dirt and nap! hahahah

Here's hoping you all get some DIRT DAYS soooooon!

p.hawkins

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Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds. ~ Orison Swett Marden



I sometimes struggle with self motivation. Of course the level of self motivation can surely depend on the task at hand, be it overwhelming deadlines or just a load of laundry. Yet, I feel we all need to feel DRIVEN by something within ourselves.

The stumbling blocks of each day are always a litmus test of my self confidence. My ability to just STEP over them is rarely noticed by myself unless I feel I cant do it. If the stumbling block feels like a mountain, then i can feel myself stop dead in my tracks, look up, and I can feel the ability to dismiss its size has left me.
It doesn't happen often, I mean, you know me by now......I rarely let any obstacles get in the way of my goal, my passions, or my task at hand. (or saying what I think about it!)
Yeah, the odds have not always been in my favor, but it is my view of my own obstacles that dictate a can or cant attitude.

And there in lies the secret for me. Stumbling blocks are only obstacles if you LET them keep you from stepping over them.....YOU have the ability to determine their size. ~ p.hawkins

(ps. I might only be 5'2", yet my legs can step over pretty much anything!) .................hmmm, where is that mental ladder?

p.hawkins

A few things for my chicken soup!

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The herbs from my little wash-bin garden patch were delish in my soup last night!

p.hawkins

L A Z Y ~ S A T U R D A Y

The sun came out today.......

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Well, the sun DID come out today! I got what I needed to do this morning with staff and I hurried myself along gathering props and beaded pieces to shoot at the Marina!

I got there........and aside from chilly and a little pesky wind, all went MARVELOUS!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend everyone.

p.hawkins

Black eyed susan almost done.

Summer memories 2

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My Spring Just Joey ~ My Favorite!

Its trying to bust out..

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The rain has been coming down in buckets the past week. Today was no exception.

The warm weather and the rain is bring out out all my sprouts! The daffolils are blooming and my hydrangeas are leafing and my roses have leaves sticking out!
So I thought I would put up some of last years lovely blossoms.

Have a great week everyone!

p.hawkins

The Best shed lock

The other night when the thunder, lightning and the WIND woke me up, I opened my eyes and within moments I could hear noises.

I could hear rain on the skylights, wind at the side of the house and thunder. Well, although I was sung as a bug in a rug, I knew I had to find out what the other unknown noises were. The previous ones were expected and easily recognisable, but the banging could only mean trouble.

I got up, went to the front first and then the side and then the back. All view points gave me a visual confirmation that debre` and other stuff was dashing about. Nothing of consequense, but things I would need to clean up the next day.

Now as to the back yard, that was anotehr thing. I looked out and saw the shed doors both open and the wind banging them around and rain dashing into the open door.

So my eyes got big, I woke up quicker, and then got my robe and slippers on.

I knew that the padlock on the doors went with my sister a few weeks back, and I had only closed it with no lock at that time. It was snug and didn't seem to want to open, so i was OK with that. But the wind had other ideas.

So looking around for something to put in the latch hole was yielding nothing. No stick. No loopy things. Nothing. So I see a bag of plastic utensils I brought back from Tucson and thought....hey it will do till morning.

so off I trot with a few knives and forks to do the trick!

As you can see.......a secure yet dorky innovation, if I do say so myself.

p.hawkins

Empty...

I feel like I am just wandering up a long empty road......trying to find my way in the mist.
No light at the end of the road.
Just sorrow and sadness.
I dont like it here in this place, yet it has a grip on me.
I wish for it to let go.
It is heavy burden.
To carry such a feeling of hopelessness.
I am searching for that hand to reach in and lift me out.
(although it is a little hard to stick my hand out
from under the blanket cocoon of tears)

Honey I'm home...

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Hi everyone!

Well I am finally home. It was a long trip, or it seemed like a long one for sure. I LOVE to drive and I was so looking forward to this trip being as delightful as my last CHA/Tucson trip, but it seemed as if every stretch of driving was a rush to get to the destination. And then run run run.

However, the trip had its good and bad. I made some of the best connections I have ever made at both shows. The shows attendence was down, as was expected, yet my work seemed to be EXcellent!
I had a larger ontorage` this time. Which made for quite a spectical now and then. But all in all it worked out beautifully.

The very last night was the fabulous SWAROVSKI PARTY! It was the most incredible one I have ever attended. I was pulled from one person to the next and on it went like that all night. A few glasses of wine adn many connections and lots of laughter.
Picured here is myself, Laura Timmons (one of the new Swarovski Embassadors and our very own BU columnists) and Joanna Feller, my managing Editor. We had a great time!

So I amhome now....back at it......and going 100 mph again! I shall upload a ton of pics from the show in the next few days.

(I am wishing there was a voice in my house to say hello to when I get home.......I am so missing that)

p. hawkins

Everything I do is Possible

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Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly,
but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway. ~ Mary Kay Ash

Oh WOW, isnt this a good one!

The moment I read it, of course my dorky mind went straight to thoughts of my own butt, thinking, Bumble bee=big butt.....and.... Pam=round butt!
But of course as fast as that thought raced into my mind, it raced back out and the real aha moment exploded in my head.
I mean the bumble bee just keeps on going, flower to flower,
not having a clue he could possibly fail!

Just imagine, if you NEVER ever had a thought that you could fail at what you were attempting. Regardless of what the task or problem was!
Imagine everything you do, everyone you meet, all the tasks you tackle,
began with the simple phrase in your head and heart that said:

EVERYTHING I DO IS POSSIBLE.

Wow, what a concept. Just think of all the time you would save! Time spent worrying if you can do it, or moments wasted on negative thoughts, or precious minutes sucked away from believing you cant do it. We are the only ones who breed these thoughts.
Our subconscious is powerful and competent. We just dont listen to it often enough.
We lace our dreams with doubt, a doubt of our own abilities and our own enthusiasms.

I shall make it a point to do two things.
1. BELIEVE in myself. I have to power to do anything and it is my choice to leave doubt locked away. After all, I am the one who holds the key to the doubt box!
2. Remember I cant always do the possible alone. Friends, family, companions, partners and the big guy upstairs are but a thought, a wish, and a prayer away.......and are always there for us. ~ p. hawkins

Listening W A V E

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. ~ Epictetus




Stop for a moment.......just listen. Listen to the air around you.
Listen to the silence for just a moment.
In quiet moments of the day, I find that, very often, I dont quite recognize a QUIET MOMENT when I have them until it has passed.
I would dearly like to pay attention to them when a listening wave comes my way. And instead of standing straight and strong trying to withstand that moment in time, I want to embrace it......recognize it.......and enjoy that quiet moment.

Stop and listen to yourself........breath in and out gently....close your eyes.......and pay attention to what your heart has to say.
I know its just itchin to have a conversation with me, yet I dont stop the rest of me who is going 100 mph today to listen to my heart as it beats a rhythm in my chest.....or listen to my soul as it thirsts for spirit, or listen to my own vibrations to recognize that all things around me can be appreciated and enjoyed if I just listen. ~ p.hawkins

Babysteps through the door

How often it is, that seeing what is on the other side of that open door, is slightly skewed by the view on this side. Regardless of how pleasant it is or how horrifying, this side of the door is full of stuff that keeps us here.
Problems, material things, emotions, people, work, and even small things like habits. It can be very hard to make that first step through the door.
Sometimes we even fail to see the outstretched hand of a friend or family member, who is reaching through the door to GRAB you and help you babystep your way through......sometimes we feel we just cant reach that far.
Yes the distance can be as little as a breeze blowing between their fingers and yours, yet you feel it is a mile away and you cant reach it.

Baby steps are the vehicle, but FAITH is the fuel that will get you there.

It is my prayer today, that I keep babystepping through the door!

For Mom today...

This Queen Anns Lace is for Mom today........I miss you!

Summer visit...

On my summer visit to Rochester in October 08!

Salt shaker in my back pocket...

It was a hot summer day and I had a salt shaker in my back pocket!

Gardening Growing pains...

After the crew stopped for a few minutes from pulling siding off my house, they were eyeing my little efforts at my gardening.
I pinched little bits of herbs and things for them to smell and taste. I said I wanted to take out all the recycle cement block pieces and replace with old brick so they didnt hesitate a moment, and went and pulled out every one of them!

Yippeeee! now I can make the edge:
1. Much prettier!
2. Not so dangerous! (those sharp cement shards are hard on the legs and knees when you kneel on them)

So after they are gone, I shall start my winter work on the garden........HOW COOL IS THAT!