Venetian Prisons

Decadent Glory
Crumbling Beauty
Cascading History
Decaying Grandeur

I feel this sometimes. Tonight I cannot sleep and feel more of the restraints than I care to admit.  I crave change, yet I feel powerless.

My Elite Dancer

This image showed up on the highlights Facebook page for TOP Branson Nationals today ... WOW! I'm proud of Miss M! She received an Elite Top First rating and placed 2nd in her division (across all dance categories in ages 9-12)! I'm using a lot of exclamation points!

Old Friends, New Memories

Old friends ... new memories ... PRICELESS!

The Bling Has Begun!

We're getting ready for DANCE NATIONALS! Even though the spring and summer have been a whirlwind already, the excitement has broken through ... along with the sequins (photo from her new beanie)!  Miss M is SO excited.  Our list is still long for the day, but now it's becoming fun.  Before long, we'll have a trunk full of dance things and bling for her, work things and cameras for me, with paint and glitter adorning the windows!

Stars and Stripes (and SWIRLS)

This year, our celebration involved children ... always a treat!  For the past few summers, my kids have been in Ohio on visitation.  Even though J is grown and living there now (and couldn't come here), M had to return for dance nationals and her dad was no longer able to attend, so she was flown in a day early.  She was just in time to be part of a birthday party for Uncle J and Miss P.  We even had a delightful accompaniment to fireworks on bongo drums!

Juliette Low Birthplace

DSC01983, a photo by IndigoBleuePhoto on Flickr.

Miss M's troop had their first "BIG" trip ... to Savannah, GA to see the birthplace of the founder of Girl Scouts: Juliette Gordon Low (aka "Daisy").

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace

Miss M's Girl Scout troop bridged at a very special place today ... the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah, GA. For those of you not in the Girl Scout realm, Juliette Low is the founder of Girl Scouting. So, we did a quick bridging ceremony in the garden and they "flew up" from Girl Scout Juniors to Girl Scout Cadettes!

Leaping Lizards!

OK - not lizards - but one fancy little dancer in her first pointe solo (a modified version of her competition piece).  This one shared with her school during the 5th grade talent show.  She was one of 60 auditions, and won a spot to perform for her peers.  It was WONDERFUL!  So glad I caught one of her full split leaps.

Pride and Joy

The last time I sat in on my daughter's classes (last fall), her pointe shoes were new and barely scuffed.  They have now become proudly well-worn.  I hear complaints after class when toes hurt, but it is evidently worth it.  Every other story is sheer bliss.  She is joyfully counting down the days to her recital May 21 ... MAY 21 ... MAY 21!

Horizon (for Poetry Month)

Wind swept hill
Dust at my back
Horizon beckons to follow the sun

Desperately Seeking Thirsty

Aching For Change ...

Aching for growth, for change, for direction, for peace.  There's a sun that shines ... and it shines on all ... I'm aching to stop running to and fro and soak it in somehow.

I'm In The Credits!

This is the credits page in the 3DiCD virtual artwork for the launch of Imogen Heap's new project. Can you see my name? YAY!!!

Welcome In A Heartbeat

WOW! Now this isn't final artwork, but as of right now, my image is on the first page of Imogen Heap's new song!  The lyrics say "Welcome in a heartbeat ..." Part of Imogen's inspiration was the birth of her niece (her heartbeat is used in the song) coinciding with the birth of this project.  She became an aunt.  And I became a grandmother (2 days ago)!  So those lines almost give me the shivers, but in a very good way.  I hope this image stays!

Aiden Christopher Leitnick

March 23, 2011 at 5:56 p.m., little Aiden Christopher Leitnick showed up 8 lbs. 3 oz. and 21 inches long ... bringing a whole new generation to the family!  Madison is SO excited to be an aunt.  When she heard the news, there were screams of delight.  We were anxiously awaiting photos ... and even though I promised I'd check first thing in the morning, she is the one who knocked on my door to show me the photo (I don't know HOW she woke up so early).  This GRANDMOTHER thing has had its first moments of reality.  Funny how Jeremy's call saying that Sarah was in labor just flipped some kind of switch!  It's quite an amazing time.

Even more Imogen Heap Excitement!

This screen shot of the video concept has me wondering if that just might be my sunflower video projected on her back!  MAYBE!!!  I was catching up on the video blog tonight and in addition to this, there were some MORE specific photo mentions!!!  Imogen was sharing some of her personal favorites, and the second mentioned was one of my dirty rusty things, the third was of my "teal" dirty rusty things.

I'm beginning to think/hope that I might have a chance at being one of those invited to Imogen Heap's house on Monday!  I wonder if I could/should consider going as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity (should it happen, of course).  Hmmmmmm.

Here's the link to the video blog.  You can look for the following things in the timeline:
11:10 - "Somebody's Sunflower" projected on her back ... maybe mine????
26:30 - my photos of "dirty rusty things"
26:52 - bicycle things - not specific, but two of mine are bicycle images!
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13496853

By the way, her sketch of the video concept will be going on ebay with the $$ being donated and the person winning the sketch also being invited to attend Monday.

Imogen Heap Excitement ... UPDATE!

This is page one of the favorite images for Imogen Heap's new album project starting with "heapsong1" (and I LOVE the concept - everything released electronically as the songs are created) ... and 8 of my images are in it! WOW! I don't know if what I've done will make it to the final project, but I'm QUITE thrilled as is.  I'm trying not to geek out but I guess a blog post makes me guilty (blush).  IT'S JUST SO EXCITING!

Imogen Heap EXCITEMENT!

So ... I'm working along at the computer, listening to Imogen Heap's live video blog.  She shares about the song, where it's at, plays a bit (I'm loving it all), and then she and Andy Carne (I think) talk a bit about the images being shared.  I hear her mention spokes, he mentions "IndigoBleue" (GASP! ME!), and she talks a bit about liking the concept and how seeing things close up can convey such a depth and width of meaning.

I had to go back later to actually see the footage since I was working on something else ... and they showed my picture on the air!  How cool is that?  My photo ... and Imogen Heap right there.  For family and friends interested in seeing the little segment, here's the link (it happens at the 30 minute mark):  http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13359689

Glad I got up the courage to go find a bike shop and ask if I could take some photos!

My Morning Word Cloud (join in!)

Before I dive in to editing words (voice overs for a work project), I'm sharing my favorite words on Imogen Heap's word cloud for her new music project.  This is what is present at the moment.  In light of what we are witnessing in Japan, it is a tender and powerful moment to see such things as "wave" and "hope" coming to the forefront.

For my creative friends who might want to participate ... this is your week!  The word cloud is only for today. But there is something different each day.  This is Imogen's "keyboard" - just click for more! And if you want to follow along in other ways, here's where to find Imogen.

TWITTER.com/imogenheap
FACEBOOK.com/imogenheap
USTREAM.tv/user/imogenheap
SOUNDCLOUD.com/imogenheap

Bits of Light

Today marks a point in time where I'm going to set out to make things right ... one little bit at a time.  Certainly God has been good to me in my circumstances, but I'm pretty sure I'm just sliding along on His grace.  My postponed hopes often flicker and fade just out of reach.  But I'm going to try and make more decisions in the present ... things based on now ... things I can actually change or do.  Maybe it will illuminate the myriad of possibilities I know are there.