just a couple pictures

 The farm I have worked at for the past four years.

 There is a lot of family history behind this sign...maybe one day soon I shall share it with you all.

 Random bee on some beautiful flowers.

 My brother finishing the round he was on before I took over. (Yes, I do drive that tractor.)

 Bonfire with my brother and some friends.

 Went to see my Grandpa in the rehab center this morning. The above present is from my cousin. (My grandpa has been in and out of the hospital and is now in a rehab facility because of his incredibly low sodium levels as well as some other health issues.)  

This is what love looks like, folks.

Five Minute Friday: Small

I drove up to the gas station and shut my pickup off at the pump. The attendant walked out and greeted me with the words "Good morning, Rebekah! You off to work?" I told him I was headed over to the restaurant to eat breakfast with my Dad. We talked for a few more minutes about the weather (in a we-actually-care-about-the-weather-cause-it-affects-crops way) and school and our plans for the weekend. Then I headed over to the restaurant and sat down at the table my Dad and I always sit at. He wasn't there yet so I told the owner/waitress to wait until he got there to start cooking my food. She walked into the kitchen and I heard her tell her sister that "She wants to wait till Eric gets here to eat. That's Eric's daughter out there."

A few days later when I stopped by the auto parts store the owner asked me what my name was (I had been in there before, but always with my brother) and when he heard my last name he said "Oh yeah! You're Eric & Margie's daughter!" And in reference to my Uncle & Aunt, "If all my customer's were as good as they are, I would be retired by now."

The town I live in is very small. We have one blinking yellow light (no joke). If you aren't related to someone, you probably know them. My mother can hear almost any random name and give you at least some of that person's family history. Traffic is heavy when there are more then 4 cars on Main Street at the same time. Our town mascot is a rooster (who used to just wander around town before he died). And the only businesses open on Sunday are the grocery store and the two restaurants. 

A lot of people called it prison when I was growin up

But these are my roots and this is what I love

Cause everybody knows me and I know them

And I believe that's the way we were supposed to live

Wouldn't trade one single day here in small town USA

with the windows rolled down

Today was delightful in just about every way imaginable. I woke up without the aid of an alarm, and then just did random things (that really needed to be done and had been hanging over my head for awhile) all morning. (And yes, I was a heathen and skipped church.) I was going to hang out with a friend all afternoon, but sadly she got sick. So instead I loaded up my dog in the car and just started driving. No agenda. No schedule. No place that I had to be. No idea where I was heading. Just me, my camera and my dog. 

 We stopped at the River Front park in one of the towns we went through, and I absolutely loved the railroad tracks. 

 Best friends forever. 

 I tried for like 30 seconds to get her to look at the camera, and right after I snapped this picture she looked straight at it. That girl is way too smart for me. 

 Random sidewalk art in the park.

 This is what I got to look at in my rear view mirror the entire time. 

 Gah I love water towers!

 *Sigh.

 She waited so patiently every time I stopped the car and got out to take a picture. Which was very often.

 I love barns. (If you hadn't figured that out by now...)

 So cliche because of where I live, but oh well. It's still beautiful.

It was a beautiful day. I only spent probably a total of 20 minutes around other humans, but I wasn't lonely. The introvert in me absolutely thrived on the alone time. True, I spend most days on a tractor by myself, and because of all the house sitting I have been doing most nights I come home to an empty house, but I'm not lonely. Sometimes it is nice to just not have other people around. To just have your camera and your dog and a (seemingly) never ending road.

of barns and babies

 I promise I am still alive. I have just been busy enough that my blog has not been top priority.

But here are a few pictures to assure you that I haven't just been sitting around eating watermelon. 

 The other day I was privileged enough to take some maternity pictures for a lady from church. You can see more of them on my Facebook page.

 And yesterday morning I got to take pictures for a family friend. 

(I love this one)

Okay that is the extent of my pictures from this week. I know, shocking. But I haven't really been doing too much that warrants taking lots of pictures. I shall try to do better this week. Until then, adios and enjoy your Sunday afternoon!

it never gets old

Yesterday I spent a lovely half hour or so with my dog and camera. It was glorious. 

But before that, I got to go see my Grandpa in the nursing home where he is at right now, and my sister happened to be there at the same time. So I (naturally) snapped a picture. 

And then this morning I got this lovely shot of my beautiful mother and sister. 

But the whole point of this post is to show off my stunning dog (and a few other random things). I know I am always posting pictures of her on here, but it never gets old. At least for me. And besides...I haven't posted pictures of her for awhile, so you can't complain. Okay I'm gonna just stop talking and show you the pictures. 

 She is constantly putting her paw on my foot. It melts my heart. 

A horrible attempt at a self-portrait.

 I. Can't. Handle. It.

 *Sigh. 

T'was a lovely afternoon. Now I'm off to tell my sister goodbye for two years. 

Five Minute Friday: Story

My family has always been one for stories. Whether it was my uncle spinning a tale of how he lost his fingers to us cousins when we were younger, or all the men comparing hunting stories (the buck you miss was how big again?), there is never a lack of entertainment at a family get together. And even outside the family grouping, stories are never far from my families minds. Sometimes it's a Facebook post from my cousin about her latest adventure in Europe. Sometimes it's a blog post from another cousin about guests and dust bunnies. Sometimes it's an email from my dad about running through an airport to catch a flight. Sometimes it's a story that my sister shares with our church family about the people in Africa and how she left her heart there. The long and short of it is, my family is a connoisseur of words. They always have been, and they always will be. Me? I'm not so good with words. And if there is anybody out there who disagrees, believe me. I am. Words don't come easily for me. I know what I want to say, but it just never seems to come out right. So instead of a connoisseur of words like the rest of my family, I am a connoisseur of pictures. I tell my stories with pictures. Instead of telling you how legit my family is, I show you. Instead of telling you about the place I work, I show you. Instead of telling you about the lavender farm my parents, sister, and I stopped by, I show you. Instead of telling you about our Fourth, I show you. Some people use words to tell a story, I  use pictures.

If you hadn't figured it out by now...

...I love photography. Ever since I was little, I have liked taking pictures. And that like of taking snapshots has grown to a full blown, head-over-heels love of photography. So I decided to do something. I decided to start my own photography business. To be completely honest, I have no idea what I am doing. All I know is that I have this insane passion for photography, and if I could do it 24/7 I would. So starting a photography business seemed like a logical thing do to. My prices are listed above under the tab "Prices" (no duh, Rebekah) and some of my favorite pictures are listed under the tab "Portfolio". Do me a favor and at least check 'um out? Oh, and I also have a Facebook page if you're interested. Adios for now. This girl is off to take some pictures (she wishes...she is actually off to work).