a n n i e l o c k h a r t

aunt annie...

 

is so lucky! these are my sister, becky's children..they came to kansas city in october to run a marathon...we were thrilled to have them with us...however we are missing a couple of husbands and six little ones...crys is the newest member of this amazing little clan...front right...matt's love! so that's matt, rachel, and laura may, me, and dane in back. i love 'em...i love having them in my life! they all are so cool...and i adore each one of them! come back soon, y'all! (it's hard to play catch up here!

a labor of love....

not too long ago...i began a journey. some of my heartfelt thoughts and artwork compiled into a book! right now it still seems surreal, eventhough i hold the completed labor of love in my humble hands! i had an idea of what it was as i saw the kraft brown mailer on my front porch yesterday! i brought it in....and stared at it. waited to open it for a couple of hours...can you believe i didn't tear into it immediately? this was not at all what i thought i'd do when it arrived, but, for some reason...i paused...knowing that almost two years of anticipation was right there in front of me...just waiting. would it be what i was hoping for...dreaming of?

for the past two years, i have had to keep a lid on what i was working on...and today, it feels so freeing to be able to share a peek into portions of what will be coming out the end of january '10!

i took a chance a couple of years ago, and submitted to teach at artfest...i was chosen to teach, and felt so honored to do so. this experience opened me up to the possibilities that were simmering within my soul. tiny baby steps to walk my way into another chapter in my life. from this came the book offer...and i am so excited and grateful to share some of what i do and have learned along this path i've sometimes skipped, crawled, and run down. can't wait til it's out! i'm sure i'll be doing something to spur it on...in the new year!

 
  

on target...

when dan & i first met he would take me out to the archery course. the first time we went with his two boys...who had issues with me using their arrows...whispering to dad that they didn't want me losing their arrows because i didn't know what i was doing. well...little did they know that i was competitive enough to shut them up...and to let them see that i was somewhat cool. somewhat! i said give me that thing...it couldn't be that hard! and that day the archery gods were with me. so, a couple of days ago on an unusually warm november day...dan & i went out to the range...which he says i hadn't been to in 12 years! he exaggerates...but, not by much i'm afraid. i'm not sure exactly why i haven't done this thing that we both enjoy for so long...i have pretty good 'reasons' the why's, but none sound too good at the moment. anyway...i was nervous to shoot, thinking that i'd forgotten. it was like riding a bike! made me think that i must have been a maiden in robin-hood days...(which dan says that's what my boots reminded him of) or maybe a renaissance woman...or even better an indian warrior in another lifetime. that seems to fit more since i have native american heritage on both sides of my family. i have a recurring dream where i am speaking to a gathering of native people. i am standing on a hill...and i am an indian woman. dreams are so magical...sometimes so unexplainable, but somehow so comfortably familiar that i don't question them...just makes me have wonder for the unknown. a few photos of what i saw this autumn day...beautiful light. ps...i had been shopping...(anthropologie) this day and had no idea that we were going...or i would've been in jeans! dan liked it nevertheless!

indian summer...

i stayed home today from work...(lwop...leave without pay!) and lucky for me, the day was perfect...better than perfect, actually. a warm golden light washed everything...and i mean everything in the most amazing dappled honey...only this time not in the trees...on the ground! i don't want to rake until all the leaves turn brown. it was gorgeous. the photo doesn't even do it justice.

thinking that i might get out and go into the city was my plan this morning...i have a birthday anthropologie gift card that is burning a hole in my pocket...well, actually it's not in my pocket as of yet...but, will be shortly. (dane said he didn't have a card for me) then, dan went to shoot his bow at the archery course...so i decided to indulge myself in the quiet of home...kind of...rustling of leaves...scurrying of squirrels...and my dog tex's occasional muffled bark at the scurrying squirrels...(he keeps a tennis ball in his mouth most of the time...so there is no chance at him ever catching one...or even scarring one with a ferocious bark...they tease him something awful!)

anyway...speaking of anthropologie, when i went to portland my daughter megan and i spent the day downtown in the pearl district...where we just happened upon (iphone..hers!) anthro. it was just as lovely as the one here in kansas city...the one in seattle, houston, on and on...they are all amazing. i have only begun to be able to wear some of their clothes...thanks to losing some lbs! still going til i get to a healthy weight...i'm just not trying to get too attached to a number! i shop the sale racks...but, megan bought me a beautiful sweater...the yummiest cinnamon color...i'll share when i get a photo of it.

a few anthro photos to share...

 

anyway...the rest of the afternoon at home was spent working on jewlery, putzing around the house, and swinging laynee...she showed up late in the afternoon. the perfect sunshine to light my world! thx for the sweet comments to my 'enough'! it's good to hear from familiar 'faces'! mmmmmmmmmm!

 

 

enough is enough...

i am tired of making excuses as to why i have been so absent here in this part of my life. tonight, i have been reading some of my posts from a couple of years ago...i was writing from my heart. i was putting my stuff out there. i've been protective lately. in my own world...a selfish place to be. i'm happier when i'm out there...happier when i let my guard down...happier when i write as if y'all are sitting across the kitchen table from me...happier when i don't sensor. i just wanted to put this out here tonight...to say that i am ready to start sharing again...i don't need anything from this blog except to share and be heard...(and maybe an occasional hi!!!)from whoever is still stopping by! pittiful! i'm done self-sabotaging myself here. there are times i am almost afraid to write what is on my mind...and then i think...why? you are not alone...it's when we let our hearts lead that the juicy stuff surfaces. i've missed it...that's just the truth of it. i'm back...like it or not. i am going to give it my best shot here to be real...to be in touch...to be inspiring...to be. from me to you...hang with me....i miss y'all....
time stands still for no one...annie!

wisteria...

when i was a little girl wisterias were always there. my grandma had them in her yard at the 'old place', so after my grandad passed away she moved to a newer house, and there in the front yard was a wisteria. to tell you the truth i was so young that i don't know if she planted it there or if it was a coincidence. i like to think of it as fate. when i moved to kansas city, i planted one in our yard. it never blossomed. so not wanting to give up...i tried again. i struck purple gold! gorgeous lavender, purple-y blues dripped this year from those tangled lime colored leaves and brown vines...all across our fence just outside our bedroom window. they put on a show more than once this summer. the sweet memory of these works of art welcoming me to my grandma's place resurfaced here at my humble home. it's funny to never underestimate the simple things in life...those things that children remember and pack with them into adulthood.

 

the other day i noticed these long velvety seeds hanging from my wisteria. today i picked them with the anticipation of planting more memories. it's hard to think of all the visual reminders that lure me back to my childhood...but, if i stop long enough, i can re-collect memories at second-sighting. today i am grateful for the simple life...the sweet reminders that are gifts of yesterday. i'm thinking an arbor is in our near future!

this is official....

ok...i have never gone this long without posting at least something on my blog...over a month has come and gone. p i t i f u l !  i'm not really even sure how august just flew right by me. i used to have an excuse for this...it was called getting five children ready for school! now i just get teary-eyed in the school supplies aisle at wally world!

my oldest daughter turned 33 in august...and talk about something that has flown right by me. it's so hard to think that she is a grown woman...eventhough i see it with my own eyes...in my heart, i still invision her as my firstborn precious little daughter, running and playing and sharing and laughing. she is a beautiful (inside & out) daughter, mother, sister...i am so blessed.

the past few days have brought cool days here in the midwest and i saw my first tree with its leaves already beginning to turn into yummy yellows, oranges, and reds. it's early...this autumn, and since it's my very favorite time of year...i hope it stretches into december!

i took a late afternoon nap today so soundly that when i awoke, i thought it was 6am and that i was late for work...(the clock said 6:03) i even went as far as to call in (i'm so glad no one answered!) to let them know i was on my way! now what in the world? i never sleep that soundly and haven't a clue as to how i felt that i had just had a good nights sleep!

 

dan & i did just return from a texas trip...long overdue for us! it was so good to be with family and good friends. here we are dancing at a friends 5oth birthday bash...the band was great...i hear the food was fabulous...the friendship was endearing.

simple space...

 

my pantry....a silly subject, i know...but for years i haven't had enough storage space in this 100+ year old home of ours...so it's exciting to me. i have coveted my friend ronda's pantry for years...hers has a wonderful screen door! now i have one that i carved out (but dan built!) a little space between kitchen and basement door...not to mention that it lets in more light from an existing window...and that it has enough shelves for just us, i just can't help but love this little nook...and since there isn't a door on this pantry...for now...i'm on the prowl for a black screen door like the one that used to be on my kitchen/eatery door at mabel annie's! i began buying new glass jars with lids...and small spice jars at world market (and their spices!) and mixed them in with my vintage ones. now most everything...goldfish, cheerios, saltines, graham crackers, nilla wafers (a nana pantry...can you tell?) is right there in plain sight. the curtains were an anthropologie sale find that were fancy schmancy appliqued hand towels that i just clipped on to a iron rod...and the older than old...very humble stain glass piece lets in the most beautiful afternoon light and evening shadows. sweet and simple! now if i would just cook once in a blue moon!

there's nothin' like a little one...

 

....to keep you looking at life with pure joy

 

....to show you how to live in the moment

 

....and to stay in the light!

(photos of my laynee at the music/park on saturday)

cottage by the sea...

 

i love this little blue clapboard cottage by the sea....i have been dreaming of a place like this that i can lose myself with long walks on the beach. putz around the yard...ride my bike down to the market...have my little grandchildren come and play all summer. i keep dreaming...she is my inspiration this little blue cottage.

i just returned from a texas trip and had the best of times with my children and grandchildren....except for heath. he was missed. i watched my youngest son, dane (21) then my daughter megan (29) go out to jump the waves and play like they did when they were just little ones....i couldn't just sit this one out...so i joined them for some good times in the warm waters of the gulf! it was just us three that afternoon...then we met up with the rest of the family for more cherished times together. these are my most precious times in the whole wide world...and beyond. more magic made! mmmmmmmmmmmmm!