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Thursday, December 29, 2011

The times, they are a changin' (announcement!)

We’ll make our plans
Linked hand-in-hand,
We’ll sail across the sea.
We’ll see the world
With shining eyes,
Become all we can be.
We’ll face the sun
And greet the day,
Over a cup of tea.
I love you and you love me.
That’s all we really need.



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The weather here is gorgeous. It feels almost like spring...it's hard to believe it's actually the end of December! It's made for great picture taking weather. My father found a creek and some bluffs on the edge of town--he's making me go take pictures of it today before we have to pick my sister and her husband up at the airport. Yes, we are just now having family Christmas!

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2011 has gone by so quickly. It was a rough year for me. I'm hopeful that 2012 will be much kinder than this past year was. I'm absolutely determined to make it better!

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I have some pretty exciting news about the upcoming year! First, I'm starting a 52 weeks project! It will most likely be self-portraits, but I'm not sticking to that. (Besides, I'll get tired of looking at photos of myself!) I'd like to do a 365 project, but I really can't commit to that. College keeps me busy! Also--most exciting of all--I'll be opening up a print shop through Society6 within the coming week! I'm going to begin promoting this blog as well. Hence, the redesign! I'm very excited about all of this. Wish me well in my endeavors?

xo,
Katy

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Simply having a wonderful Christmastime

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Christmas is a foreshadowing of Easter. My dad once preached a sermon explaining how we can't have Christmas without Easter or vice versa. That phrase always stuck with me. The two holidays are interwoven--celebrations of the gift that Christ gave us, our salvation. We are utterly depraved. We are without hope. Yet the Creator of all that we know came to us. Born in a humble stable, laid in an animal trough. Later crucified on a cruel cross so that we might not have to taste death; so that we might be capable of a relationship with Him. My futility; His sufficiency. It leaves me in awe.



And so, we give gifts. We give of ourselves, imitating the best we can the ultimate gift. I was incredibly blessed this year. I live in a hardscrabble, rural part of Missouri. There isn't much here. People work hard and don't see much from their efforts. A third of my town lives below the poverty level. And yet, here I sit in my warm house, surrounded by anything and everything I could possibly need. Part of me feels selfish, the other part, grateful.


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I spent today surrounded by friends and family. Dad and I woke up early, opened presents, and went to church. Afterwards, we went to my Aunt's house for lunch. I then went to my dear friend Mikaela's house to exchange gifts and take pictures. My evening has been spent eating pizza and watching movies with my dad.

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don't ask.

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Sisters! Totally precious.

I almost feel bad detailing the things I received for Christmas. So here are a few random snapshots.

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It's been a lovely day. I'll be celebrating Christmas a few more times next week with my siblings, best friend, and boyfriend. (It's funny how no one can seem to get together at the same time.) Not to mention, my 20th birthday is in a week. I feel...old.

I apologize for the random, rambling nature of this post. :)

xo,
Katy

Thursday, December 22, 2011

baby it's (finally) cold outside

The best thing about Christmas break so far? Sleeping in. Normally I don't sleep past nine or ten when I sleep in--but for the last week I've slept til nearly noon everyday. I guess my body just needs all the extra sleep! The past few days have been spent doing zumba (it's a lot of fun, y'all), making cookies, doing last minute shopping, watching documentaries on the History channel, and staying up way too late Skyping.



I decided I'd actually get dressed and look cute today. It's a nice mood booster. Makes me feel somewhat productive. That kind of thing. :)

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I went outside and snapped these pictures earlier. It's finally getting chilly out! Unfortunately there is no snow in the forecast. It's actually supposed to be quite nice on Christmas.




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I don't normally wear heels (or...ever) but these were too cute and too cheap to pass up.

Well I'm off to paint some pottery as last-minute Christmas gifts. :)

xo,
Katy

Saturday, December 17, 2011

a little preview

This dress was my mother's in the early 70s. It's pale pink, lacy, and girly. I was feeling glum today (and taking pictures usually cheers me up.) So I decided to take some fun pictures in my mother's dress. Not to mention, the weather was gorgeous today. (I won't complain about how it isn't snowing.) I got all dressed up and went to get my tripod...it was gone. I made do with my father's car as a tripod. So here are a few pictures. I plan on re-doing this shoot sometime next week when I can actually do the dress justice.

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Note: I'm not sleepy or angry. I've actually been very sick. I had to get out of the house.

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I can't wait to do a full shoot in this dress!

xo,
Katy

Friday, December 16, 2011

and so it concludes

Let me be sappy for a moment: finishing a book series is bittersweet.

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I finished reading Inheritance by Christopher Paolini today, and I'm very, very sad. Growing up, Narnia and The Lord of the Rings were my favorite books. It was only natural that I fell in love with Eragon when it first released. Many people had qualms with that book, saying he ripped off Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. (And I'll be honest--the movie was bad) But I didn't care at the time. I was lost in the world of Alagaesia.

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The books only grew better as the story progressed. I do wish that they hadn't only been released every two years or so. I received Eldest for my fifteenth birthday. I had a bit of trouble remembering what had happened in books previous. Thankfully, a synopsis of the first three books was provided in Inheritance. 

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Inheritance was beautifully written. All of the story-lines were wrapped up nicely. (Except for who Angela really was. I will always wonder.) It takes a hard look at what we truly desire in a leader. Good leaders can do evil things, and evil men can have good ideas. The entire saga does a fine job of illustrating the battle of good versus evil and shows that sometimes the line between the two is blurred.

So there is the first book off of my Christmas Break Reading List. It's a bittersweet end to a story I've been enthralled by for years. I'm going to miss Eragon, Saphira, Arya, and Roran. Orik, Nassuada, Murtagh, and all of the elves.

Thanks for letting me geek.
xo,
Katy

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

these aren't the droids you're looking for

It's raining. It's the middle of December, and it's raining.
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I would love nothing more than to look out my window and see soft, fluffy snowflakes drifting from the sky, lazily piling up against the sidewalk. Instead, we're having intense lightening and the power has already been out once. This is me, praying for a white Christmas. There are ten days left. Surely that's enough time for a nice snowstorm to work it's way up? I hope so. Despite the weather, I'm really enjoying this holiday season, even if most of it has been spent sleeping on the couch.

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My collection of Star Wars shirts is starting to get a bit ridiculous. I now own five. I really have too many tshirts in general...Also, I tried to make my room look a bit festive before I have to start packing everything away. I love sleeping with those blue lights on. Makes my room feel icy and cold. I love it.

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I had my hair done yesterday. I'm rather fond of it! My hair is naturally dark, so this should be pretty low-maintenance.

Also, if you could please pray for me. I had to have a bunch of blood work and tests run today. (I never want to be poked with that many needles in one day again...) And I should have results tomorrow. Part of me wants them to come back negative, the other part just wants to know what's wrong so I can feel better. I'll blog more about it when I know for sure what's going on.

xo,
Katy

Monday, December 12, 2011

Christmas break reading list

I haven't had time to read all semester. Now that final grades are posted (straight a's!) I can quit worrying and fretting and devote my time to my books. Here's what I plan on reading this month.




Inheritance- Christopher Paolini (I'm about a 1/4 of the way through)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow- Washington Irving
White Fang- Jack London (I'm about 1/2 way through)
The Time Machine- H.G. Wells (I'm about 1/4 of the way through)
The Invisible Man- H.G. Wells
The Return of the King- J.R.R. Tolkien (half way through.)
Mere Christianity- C.S. Lewis
Full Dark House- Christopher Folwer
Dune- Frank Herbert
The Silmarilian- J.R.R. Tolkien

I'm considering re-reading The Hunger Games trilogy, as well as The Screwtape Letters. This list is subject to change/grow/whatever as break progresses. 

Have you read any good books lately?

xo,
Katy

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Brrrrrrr!

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dress- f21/ shirt-school/ cardi-VF/ leggings- walmart/ socks- unknown/ boots- DSW

That plaid dress up there? Yeah, it's my favorite dress of all time. I bought it a few years ago and it's still one of my favorite things to wear. I would also like to point out how long my hair is getting. This growing out a pixie cut business has been interesting. I feel like I have a mullet, and I'm really missing how low-maintenance my hair was. Also, as of next week, the blonde will be gone from my hair. I need a change. :)

Also, I ask that y'all would say a quick prayer for me. My blood sugar has been going low a lot lately. I hadn't been feeling too well today, so I checked my blood sugar--it was 33, which is dangerously low. It's a miracle I hadn't passed out yet. If you could, pray I'll be okay until I can get to the doctor next week. I get panicky when stuff like this happens, and it isn't pleasant. Thank you!

xo,
Katy

Friday, December 9, 2011

i'll be home for Christmas

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I'm home! I'm home, I'm home, I'm home! Finals are over, and I have a month full of nothing but reading, spending time with family and friends, drinking too much coffee, doing too much writing and too much painting. I have a few fun trips planned, too. There will be lots of picture taking and staying up late. I really needed this mini-vacation--this semester was rough!

Did I mention I get to see Mannheim Steamroller live next week? I'm so excited. Their music plays non-stop here at home around the holidays.

I adore Christmas music. Here's a playlist to get you in the mood for decorating or gift-wrapping!







xo,
Katy

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Hope: it's all that I have

Is it really December? It doesn't seem like it, nor does it seem like the first semester of my sophomore year of college should be almost over. I have one week of school left, then it's back to Missouri for a short while. First, I have to get through eight finals (four of those are on Wednesday, I might add) and one piano jury. I'm not too worried about the finals--only one of them is cumulative. My piano jury, however, is absolutely stressing me out. I don't feel prepared. (I blogged about the songs I'm playing here. Trust me, they're worth listening to.)

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It will be good to be home. I am however going to miss my friends from college. Most of my time back in Missouri will be spent packing for my dad's move to Tennessee. It's weird that this is the last time I'm going home to the Ozarks. I cherish my rural upbringing, but I'm definitely ready for this new chapter in life.

Speaking of which, I'm going to be twenty in less than a month. I know that's rather young, but it's going to be weird no longer being a "teenager." I still feel like such a kid. I don't know much about life or the world, but I've decided that maybe that's okay.

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The above photo is my all-time favorite picture of my mom. She was a beautiful lady. She was a teacher, an artist, a pastor's wife, a cook, a florist, a writer, an interior decorator. She and my grandpa designed and sold a line of successful doll furniture. She was the sweetest lady I know. She loved God with all her heart. She persevered through some of the worst illnesses I have ever seen, and I'm proud to call her my mom. Last Sunday, the 27th, marked three years since her passing. I meant to write something that day, but I just couldn't. I was too sad that day to write anything positive. And I wanted the post to reflect how optimistic she was.
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I took this photo when I was seventeen. (The same age as my mom in the picture.)

I hope y'all have a wonderful week!

xo,
Katy

Friday, November 25, 2011

bare trees

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Bare trees:
stripped, naked, cold.
Most despise you.
"What good is a bare tree?"
They say,
Not knowing that you hear them.

You lift your sturdy arms in despair.
"Clothe me!" You cry.
The dark, winter sky stretches out around you
Like a blanket, cold and brooding.

Unlike the evergreens,
Who hold their secrets behind their sharp, green needles,
You are transparent and vulnerable.
Secrets?
You have none.
Your bark is bare for all to see.

Your cry is heard.
Slowly, softly, snow begins to fall
And clothes you in its sparkling presence.
You take comfort in its cold cover,
So you lift your branches with joy.
 -December 16, 2010

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There isn't much better than a solitary walk through the woods, camera in hand.

xo,
Katy

Thursday, November 24, 2011

today was happy

My mom passed away three years ago on Thanksgiving. Sunday will mark that day. Still, today is hard. Because my mind keeps going back to that cold, miserable day spent in a hospital waiting room, unshowered, in two-day old clothes. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Shoney's that year. She knew it was Thanksgiving. She tried her best to make it through the day. She made it to 3:30.

Still, I tried my hardest to have a good day today. (The mourning will come on Sunday) I think I succeeded, by the grace of God. Thank you to all of my friends that sent me sweet texts and messages letting me know that you love me and are praying. Thank you.


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Yesterday, my family and I went down to our cabin nestled in Mushman Hollow.

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I love the country. It's quiet. The air is fresh and there is room to think. I love it. We used to spend every Thanksgiving at the cabin. Those are some of my sweetest memories with my family.

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I cajoled my dear old dad into taking a few pictures of me. He's actually a pretty great photographer. He's the one that gave me my first camera.

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I got tangled in the briars. Someone please tell me why people think it's cute to name tea rooms and gift shops "The Briar Patch"? If you've been stuck in a briar patch, it's pretty painful. Not exactly something I'd want to associate with my business. ANYWAY.

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I'm so thankful for my family. We had a family reunion today in lieu of a traditional dinner. Then, we went out and shot skeet. I actually hit one. Woo!

I hope everyone had a wonderful day.

God is good.
xo,
Katy
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