April Photo a Day -- Week 1 (and some musings on creativity)

I'm on a roll here.

I guess it's feast or famine.

Actually, what I find happens to me and my creativity is that it ebbs and flows according to my output.

When I am in a creative groove, finding the time to take and edit pictures and write posts, then there is an actual need to do more.

I feel like I can't get enough.

Ideas spin round in my head all day long.

I long to write.

I actually enjoy editing photos.

But then, life gets busy and I fall out of my groove.

For the first few days, my fingers still itch to type.

I am still trying to find a minute in my day in which to write.

Then another day passes in which I can't get a moment to write or work on my photos.

Then another.

Until enough pass that I feel my creative juices start to dry up.

It's awful.

My motivation wanes.

So much so that if I suddenly find myself with free time, the last thing I want to do is write.

Eventually I make myself, and then, the floodgates open again.

And I remember how much this feeds my soul.

And I'll do it as much as I can until I get thrown another curve ball and loose my mojo.

Does any of this sound familiar to you?

How do you keep your creative juices flowing?

Besides Pinterest.

Because I am the one girl in the entire known universe not addicted to Pinterest.

I mean, it's fun and all, but I just don't have a lot of extra time in my life, and for me Pinterest just seems like a time suck.

I use it for special occasions.

So besides Pinterest, how do you get your creative juices flowing?

These photos are one thing that have really helped me.

Although there have been days when I've been in a slump and I can't come up with a single, creative idea for a photo.

But mostly, these prompts have been encouraging me to think outside my photo box and to be creative.

It's fun!

So after all that, here's my first week for April.

April 1, 2012

Reflection

We have had Aaron's computer set up in the living room since all the kids had influenza.

Fevers up to 104.

Moaning.

Tossing and turning.

And a Davy sicker than I had ever seen him.

It was a bad time.

On the weekend, the kids usually watch some Netflix on the laptop.

They so love their weekend tv fix that they don't care how tiny the screen is!

But when the whole lot of them are sick, then all bets are off.

TV rules go out the window.

And we brought in the big, ol computer to watch heaps of movies on.

I can't believe how dirty it is.

Just  like every other window, mirror, wall, door frame and finger-printable surface in my home.

Kids.

April 2, 2012
Color

Long ago,

when I was a mom to just 2 babies,

I bought 4 Easter buckets.

I was pretty sure we'd have 3 kids,

so I had to be prepared.

I bought 2 blue for the boys, and then a pink and another blue,

for the mystery 3rd child.

How funny that 3 blue and 1 pink are just what I needed.

Although James now prefers the hideous blue camouflage Easter bucket 
someone gave him.

This year he didn't carry his darling bunny rabbit one.

Oh well,  the boy is 8 now.

He might be too old for a bucket as sweet as this one.

No matter.
I'll always remember and love these pink and blue Easter buckets.

April 3, 2012
Mail

We have a mail slot.

It's right in the middle of our front door.

It used to be an ugly brass eye sore in the middle of our ugly green door.

But when Aaron painted the door, he also painted the mail slot.

Because it is all in the details, my friends.

April 4, 2012
Someone who makes me happy.

Blue jays are a dime a dozen.

But this little guy, smaller and infinitely sweeter than the jay, 

is harder to spot.

Bluebird.

Just the name is sweet.

Whenever I see him or his friends, 

I am happy indeed.

April 5, 2012
Tiny

Lilly changes clothes many, many, times in a day.

From dress up to play clothes, to her nicest ones, 

to all sorts of combinations in between,

she's got it going on in the fashion department.
She also likes to accessorize.
She went outside in this getup and climbed the tree.
I think she's the perfect blend of tomboy,
and girly -girl.

I looked at her this day and had a glimpse of the future.
My tiny girl,
but not for long. 

April 6, 2012
Lunch

Roasted squash, roasted mushrooms

and a salad.

This is a nearly perfect lunch.

I love vegetables.

A lot.

April 7, 2012
Inside my wallet

First off, I love this wallet.

It's an Orla Kiely.

And I love Orla Kiely.

LOVE.

But I cannot afford Orla Kiely.

Because and Orla Kiely wallet like this one costs about $100.

Sooo, when I saw this one at Buffalo Exchange,

and discovered it was only $12.00.

I gave a little squeal of joy.

Think I'll ever find one of her purses for such a steal?

I'll keep hoping.

April 8, 2012
Shadows

In the afternoon, the sun shines through the avocado tree in our backyard.

And it makes these lovely shadows on the white wall behind it.

They dance about, every time the wind blows through the leaves.

They look like a filter for your intsagram photos, 

but they're not.

They're the real deal.

I think they're so beautiful.

I never tire of watching them.

I think they're a little bit magical.

I'm pretty tired now.
I've fallen asleep, sitting up, twice now.
And had to erase the nonsense that I wrote.
Seriously, I startle myself awake and look at the things I wrote and they make no sense whatsoever.
It can be funny.
My creativity is waning due to extreme fatigue.
Hoping I can keep this ball rolling.
Love from,
Greta