Peek-a-Boo.
I'm still here (didn't fall off of the face of the earth) I've just had a lot on my plate and even more on my mind.
Late Wednesday night, I finished up some product design for Creative Imaginations that I had thought would take me another week of work. And when I got in bed, I just laid there for awhile with my head kind of spinning because for the first time in probably 6 years, I am at a place where my workload is manageable.
I've made a really conscious effort in the last 6 months to narrow down those things that are most important to me in regards to work; my product line with Creative Imaginations and my online Photographers' Workshop and have been working really hard to reduce or eliminate all of those extra things that I always say 'yes' to (because I'm a pleaser) but that are bogging down my mind and clogging up my schedule and causing me to put in way more hours of work than is manageable for myself and healthy for my family.
I am standing in the light at the end of the tunnel (it wasn't a mirage after all...it was just a veeeeeeeeeeery long tunnel).
So yesterday morning, I was talking to Jill (she's my very best friend in the whole-wide world you know) about how she is painting and redecorating her house (she paints more than anyone I know...I think it's her way of feeling like she is living by the seat of her pants) and said, "I really wish I could repaint the inside of my house but I just don't have the time." And that's when I realized that I was standing in the light at the end of the tunnel...and I did have time to paint the inside of my house.
I've really let my house go. It's small and clean and nice but it doesn't really reflect me or the things I love at all anymore.
So I called up my Mom and asked her if we could spend the day together.
Our first stop was the paint shop. As we were walking in she said "Do you even have a plan here?" to which I replied "You know me better than that...of course I don't have a plan." And since I didn't have a plan, I did what I often find myself doing...the exact same thing Jill is doing.
It drives Josh crazy. Anytime I have a new idea or want to purchase something new, the first thing he always asks is "Did Jill just buy this?" or "Did Jill just do this?"
It's not that I can't think for myself. It's just that Jill is really smart and has good taste and well...if she's already taken the time to think about it, it just saves me time.
So we bought two gallons of Beyond Pale (kind of a warm white) and one gallon of Jardin Jewel (kind of a antique-ish but bright seafoam green).
Then we went to a couple of local shops, had lunch, went to a few antique shops, came home, painted a couple of test swatches and called it a day.
When Cole came home, he said "I'm calling Dad and I'm going to tell him that you're painting the house green!" (He has irrational issues with any shade of University-of-Oregon-Duck-green).
When Courtney got home she squealed because she loved it so much.
When Annie got home she didn't even notice.
When Ross got home he decided he didn't like it (Oh, well Ross...you're a boy and your opinion on paint colors doesn't count anyhow).
When I told Josh (who is out of town) about it he said "Oh baby...this is just going to consume you."
He knows me quite well.
And then the kids and I went over to the big parking lot by our house to ride bikes.
Coley didn't get to ride bikes for long because I heard him chanting "Niener, niener, niener..." I won't complete the chant but it ended with a word rhyming with 'niener'.
So just the girls and I hung out for awhile.
And then Courtney Lee decided that she wanted to shoot for awhile after she found this broken Wall-E disk that was a treasure to be photographed.
Yes, I'm sportin an Ali Edwards t-shirt...I just like that chick.
And when Courtney asked if I was ready to head home yet, I said "No, I just want to sit here with the grass under my feet for a little while longer." (Because you get to do things like that when you're standing in the light at the end of the tunnel.)
Enjoy your light! Have a fantastic weekend.
Posted by: Julie Pilch | October 03, 2008 at 08:57 AM
Oh, look at how long Annie's hair is! She is too cute. Glad you found the light. It feels great doesn't it?
Posted by: sara b | October 03, 2008 at 09:02 AM
So glad you found your light and took time to feel the grass under your toes!!! Keep enjoying!!!
Posted by: c | October 03, 2008 at 09:06 AM
So glad you found your light and took time to feel the grass under your toes!!! Keep enjoying!!!
Posted by: c | October 03, 2008 at 09:06 AM
Hee! My hubby always gives me a hard time when I have to run house stuff past my mom. It's nice having another set of eyes that like the same things you do. :D
Posted by: Erica Hettwer | October 03, 2008 at 09:15 AM
You are my hero...I am trying to get there. Trying really hard.
Posted by: amy | October 03, 2008 at 09:19 AM
That's great Karen!! Enjoy it !!!
Posted by: Teresa B | October 03, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Oh how fun!!! And Courtney....well, I think she did a fabulous job on the photos!! Love "The Kiss". All just too cute!
Ann
Posted by: Ann | October 03, 2008 at 09:22 AM
ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....good message. I am teary (what's new?) cuz I need to do that too. I am so happy for you- but also wishing your schedule was slightly clogged up with a trip to the OC again at some point...
Posted by: JoAnn | October 03, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Oh Karen, I'm so glad you are getting to enjoy life and get a little more down time. Congrats on making your world what you want it to be. Enjoy it!
Becky (aka: beckywedd)
Posted by: Becky | October 03, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Have fun painting! Great pictures!
Posted by: Helena | October 03, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Hey Karen I am all for useing someone elses idea's as long as it is something you like. Why should both of you have to spend so much time trying to figure it out??? LOL.... One time I even used my friends Thanksgiving grocery list because I didn't get time to make one... I mean MOST people get about the same basic things and I had everything I needed.... Love all the pictures as usual and I am soooooo happy that you found the light at the end of that long tunnel.....
Posted by: Flo | October 03, 2008 at 10:00 AM
I love this post. I am so happy for you and I know exactly what you must be feeling. I still don't see the light at the end of this tunnel, which today just got a lot longer, but I feel somewhat reassured that someday it will be there.
Posted by: Adriana Puckett | October 03, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Courtney is a great photographer. Buy that girl a camera!!!
I would love to see before and after shots of your house projects.
Posted by: Travel Turtle | October 03, 2008 at 11:02 AM
awesome post, I am beginning to feel that way myself.
Posted by: Heather Prins | October 03, 2008 at 11:32 AM
What a nice feeling. :) Way to go Courtney for getting YOU in front of the camera. I can't WAIT to see the paint job.
Posted by: Cyndi | October 03, 2008 at 11:34 AM
I love the pictures of you! They are so sweet!
Posted by: kelli | October 03, 2008 at 12:21 PM
You really inspire and uplife my spirit, Michelle
Posted by: Michelle | October 03, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Uh, I'm SORRY!!! but you cannot post about cool colors that you are painting your house without providing PHOTOS!!
*tsk tsk*
;->
Posted by: Melissa | October 03, 2008 at 12:26 PM
I do the same thing with my best friend and my sister. If they get something I like--I'm right there getting it too!
Have been reading Jill's blog lately....Y'all really are so much alike. So very funny (as in bust-out laughing)!
Enjoy your light, Karen. You really have earned it!!!
Posted by: kat-in-texas | October 03, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Perfect. Sounds like an absolutely perfect day. And oh, by the way. About the paint. One of my pictures of the day should be a current one of my living room; it looks like it has chicken pox because I have so many sections of paint streaks on the wall! It's been that way for like a month! I can't decide which walls should be which colors : ) And my main bathroom just got its second coat of paint in a week because I didn't like the first coat; which was one of the 3 swatch colors on its own chicken pox wall! LOL Happy Weekend!
Posted by: Rachelle Sims | October 03, 2008 at 01:32 PM
I just painted my bathroom a dark sage green. My 6 year old said "I'm telling Dad"! And my 12 year old said "Does Dad know you are doing this?" Dad was out of town for a couple of weeks. After reading your post, my consensis is: Boys don't like green that much. I'm glad you have some "down time" & doing something you want too. Good luck!
Posted by: Hope | October 03, 2008 at 01:34 PM
I just can't take it! Your photos and posts are so great ! I LOVE YOUR PHOTOS! Your daughters are GORGEOUS...you capture their light ! A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Seriously...I'm such a big fan of your work !
Posted by: Fran | October 03, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Glad it's all getting under control..wish that was the same for me.
Today I was in Lafayette, La...and BEGGED the store owner to please arrange a bit larger venue for your workshop (the link to Treasured Memories from your blog actually went to the store in Houston and because I was too dumb to figure that out, missed getting in your class). She's considering letting me bring my own chair (a three hour drive for me) so that I can come..I told her I'd stand on my head if I had to. :-) Maybe, just maybe, if I'm living right...I'll get in!
Posted by: Lisa B. | October 03, 2008 at 04:36 PM
Good for you Karen! Enjoy it all you can!!
Posted by: Alicia Sharp | October 03, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Congratulatons on finding the light at the end of the tunnel. I always knew SOMEONE would find it and I'm glad it was you.
Posted by: Pam | October 03, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Welcome to the light, it's a great place to be. I laughed out loud at your paint story, I had to read it out loud to my husband--I totally get it, why would you want to spend unnecessary time when you have a perfectly good solution right in front of you. Most especially when you can use that time to have grass under your feet.
Pictures are amazing as usual, I can't even explain how excited I am about my class coming in just a few weeks!!!!
Posted by: Trenda | October 03, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Love the pics, as always, but I ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE one of those T-shirts! Where did you get it?
Posted by: Terri | October 03, 2008 at 09:15 PM
Thank you for reminding me that there is an end indeed!
Posted by: Sandy | October 03, 2008 at 10:07 PM
That second picture of Annie at the top, she looks just like you. I don't know if she's getting bigger all of a sudden or if I just haven't noticed it before. But there she is, looking like a happy, little you. She's darling.
Posted by: Kari | October 04, 2008 at 05:21 AM
Karen it is so great to 'see' you having fun with your girls!
Posted by: Juel | October 04, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Great pictures--as always!! And where did you get Courtney Lee's sweater??? I love it!!!
Posted by: Dawn | October 04, 2008 at 03:13 PM
Glad you found your light. Trying hard to find mine.
:J
Posted by: MamaJayne | October 04, 2008 at 07:27 PM
Terrific read and love the photos as well.
Posted by: kimberly | October 05, 2008 at 03:15 AM
dear mrs. karen.
hi, my name is kristy and i'm technologically (and financially) challenged. (aka i can't make the photo editing program i have do it, and i can't afford photoshop) after much frustration, i've decided you just must make this happen. i figure the small 1x1 1/2" photos that you use SO often are pretty much one of your signature traits. therefore, i propose that you get scrapbookpictures.com (which i use religiously) to come up with the "karen russell template" or "karen russell size" photo, to make this size readily available. it would make my life so much easier :)
that is all.
thank you :)
kristy
lol... :)
Posted by: kristy.lynn | October 05, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Awwwww Karen.... enjoy being at that point in your life. I wish for that day to come for me some day. }}}HUGS{{{
Posted by: Katie | October 05, 2008 at 09:29 AM
When I talk about the blogs I read to my non-scrapbooking sister, I call you "the funny one." I love your words and humor. Just curious, are Annies eyes still different colors?
Posted by: ann | October 05, 2008 at 11:35 AM
That photo of you and Annie kissing is so cute! Glad to hear that you have seen the light!
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa | October 05, 2008 at 06:19 PM
Courtney did a good job with the photos...it's nice to see your face every so often. Glad you've reach the light.
Posted by: Sherri | October 06, 2008 at 08:27 AM
I agree - we need pics of the color!;) Actually, I've been trying to decide between the Jardin Jewel or Teal Twist (just a shade lighter) for my living areas but I've been procrastinating. Curious to see how they look in large areas. Love C's pics. I am always amazed at the shots my little one gets. And BTW, I decided to go with an aqua-ish wall color because it what my best friend did too!
Posted by: monica | October 06, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Karen, Love your photo's! How did you process them? I love how some of them look sorta oldie style. Just perfect!
Posted by: jody | October 06, 2008 at 02:59 PM
I can see that light just BEAMING around you at the end of that tunnel! Good for you... glad you found it. Care to draw me a map so I can get there, too? :o) Enjoy the light.
Posted by: Colleen | October 08, 2008 at 08:59 AM
What a great trip to the pumpkin patch! I miss you Karen, glad to see you in your photos.
Posted by: Lan | October 08, 2008 at 01:30 PM