Wordless Wednesday: Avalanche Creek Gorge Glacier Park

We interupt this program.....

....to bring you - Connor!!!  :)

My dear son has had really long hair for the past couple of years!  Really I can't even remember when he had super short hair maybe when he was 8????

So check him out.....

Before

After

I hardly recognize him!!!  What a handsome guy....

Good friends

A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked.
- Bernard Meltzer

That's these guys - they love me at my best and at my worst - or at least I hope they do!  :)  I love them unconditionally - not that they have a "worst"!!!!  These are my whatever friends - friends who to laugh with, cry with, drink with, dance with, be crazy with, walk with, visit with - no judging - just good friends!  Friends who I miss terribly!  
I love you guys!!!

I enjoyed my days in Sheridan.  A great way to start a great trip.  So good to hang out and catch up.  My dear friends Kim and Eric have the most wonderful front porch on their beautiful home - makes coffee so much better.  And their back yard is a retreat I tell you.  Such an amazing friend.  Kindred spirits we are.

Catching up and hanging out with Denise and Dave and Logan and Levi - oh I wish I would have brought my camera to the park - her boys are so sweet!!!  Denise I miss ya deary...you are such a terrific friend! 

 And sweet Annie....never a dull moment....beautiful and fun.

Ok guys I have come back to Sheridan many a times now it's your turn to come visit me (Denise you rock - you've been here twice since we moved - love ya) - or at least let's plan a girls weekend....

Slowly....

.....trudging back into the waters of blogging!  :)  It's hard to get started again after being gone for so long....
But I do have a ton to share - amazing photos from my most fabulous month long get-a-way to Montana and Wyoming.  Yup - you heard me right - almost 4 whole weeks.  Our journey began on Thursday, June 24th and ended Monday, July 19th.

We visited:

Sheridan

(I love these girls)

Miles City - sadly I have not a single photo from Miles City!!!  :(

Ennis

 

Virginia City

Nevada City

Butte

Missoula - darn it Macey has some good ones somewhere!

Big Fork

Whitefish

Glacier

and Bozeman

All of this equals perfection.....lots of family - lots of fun!!!
I even squeezed in a most successful trunk show at mom and dad's!!!  Woohoo!!!  (Can I just add really quick how great Star Hitched Wagon™ has been doing the last few months - lots of new customers, lots of sales - the dream I tell you.....)
I really miss family being out here in Nebraska.  When we were in Wyoming I didn't go over 6 - 8 weeks without seeing someone in our family - now sometimes we go a full 6 months.  It sucks to be perfectly honest.  So this trip made up for that.
Another big reason I decided to take this trip is that our boys are becoming city boys (Macey does ok)  and that doesn't thrill me.....I see why - we don't live an outdoorsy life much at all anymore.  I wanted to make sure that during this trip they had little game and computer and tv time and tons of outdoor time.  I think I achieved that.  We loved it - we did miss Steve though - a lot!!!!  And our Sadie girl....
And one last thing

(so not a good photo of me - but the only one of the "road trip")
I feel a bit braver now - this trip was a big deal (to me) - I did it by myself (sort of - the kids were great company and great help) I logged a ton of miles on the ole Suburban and I was thrilled to be doing so!!!  Can I just say - dang that Deborah Garmin get's you from place to place easily....:)
More details will come - like an 80's party, deck dancing, ghost stories by the fire pit, 50/50 winnings, 4th of July parade, creeks and rivers and lakes - oh my! And lots of family!!!
I just found my camera cord this afternoon - I have a ton of editing to do and this was about all I could handle.  So much beauty I promise....

The Bright Side Project....

Check out Star Hitched Wagon on The Bright Side Project!!!

Happy Birthday to you......

Happy Birthday to you!  Happy Birthday dear Steve!  Happy Birthday to you!!!!

I love you all around the world!

Love, Me

Wordless Wednesday......

Oh the goodness...

It's good to trade....

Creativity Bootcamp - Day 4

Today lots of photos of flowers, leaves, grass, wood, hot air balloon, my sweet dog, and the sky - oh the clouds were spectacular this day.  Just look at them.  Puffy and ruffly in their shades of white, gray and blue.  And just look at that bright blue sky shinning through.  This photo was my favorite - out of all the photos of the day - and out of all the clouds shots - I would go for this exact shot again if I were able. 

(random editing of the same photo)

Creativity Bootcamp - Day 3

Creative Buzz Kills......Oh I am sure we all have them.  They come in all shapes and sizes.  It could be a person you encounter once or someone close to you.....I do not have any creative buzz kills close - I have been blessed with a very supportive family and group of freinds.  Most get it - if I encounter any that don't to them I say right here and right now.....
.....it's ok that you don't like or get what I do, I respect your opinion, but that is what it is - just your opinion.  Here is fact - I am a creative force with beautiful ideas flowing freely - an artist!

Other creative buzz kills can be silly things like too much time on the computer, getting easily sidetracked or not focusing. 

But the biggest creative buzz kill?  Probably me.  To me I say.....
......Stacey - step out of your own way and believe in those beautiful ideas that flow freely.  Put your big girl panties on and quit worrying about that fear of rejection - it's an opportunity to grow!  Enjoy the process - which is the good and the bad.  GROW!  Organize, dedicate and work through it.  Show you art to all you meet - introduce and celebrate your artist self!  Everyone will love your confidence - everyone that matters that is.  By opening up about your creative self you will network and attract the right people to help you to continue growing as the artist that you are.  You will unlock those treasures within you and your success will be beautiful - everything you dream of and more. 

Hello - my name is Stacey Curry - Artist and Owner of Star Hitched Wagon™ 
Artisan goods for the Girl with Roots and Wings!

 

Creativity Bootcamp - Day 2

 
In creative news......I am participating in Creativity Boot Camp.  Our coach is Maegan of Madeline Bea Photography - my medium of course being jewelry - not photography.  I am really enjoying it - it feels good to sit down and write out thoughts that come from the journal prompts.  The community of support, the prompts, the loads of inspiration from the fabulous flickr gallery, connecting with other artists who are on the right path - those who have found their confidence - which of course inspires me to keep moving or understanding those  who might struggle with calling themselves artists.  It causing me to dream and put my dreams in written form, helping me to set goals, hold myself accountable and get out of my own way.  And the creative prompts - they are stretching me to think of new inspirations....what comes to mind with just one word.....I love it.  If you are interested I have posted my creations on the Star Hitched Wagon™ blog.

So here will be my place to post my journal prompts - read or don't - either way it's all good!  :)

Day 2

I call myself an artist - to myself, also to family and friends.  I am confident enough to put it in my email signature or talk about it in blog posts and on facebook and when surrounded by other creative souls.  However, if I were to meet you today - just a stranger in a bookstore or a fellow mom at a pool, maybe you work with my husband - and you asked me what it was I did for a living - I would respond that I am a part time preschool teacher's aide and there is a good chance that is all I would tell you about what I "do".  Don't get me wrong I love my part time job - it is fabulous - but it is not who I am, it a just a small part.  I am an artist - without the opportunity to create I could not function fully.  This is fact.   
I cannot tell you the number of times that I have missed out on possible growth - growth as a networking artist or growth as an artist who is a business owner selling her art.  I am too meek to hand out business cards - even when there might be interest - unless you specifically ask me one I might not give you it.  Silly - chance missed!
I can't say what other artists have that I think I am lacking - artists come on all shapes and sizes and are successful at so many different levels.  I truly think I have the qualities that make an artist - a passion to freely create what I feel needs to be created!!!  I know am an artist - I guess I feel like others won't care - or that possibly their definition of artist is different so they won't appreciate my art.  Stupid?  SO VERY!!!  These things, these opinions don't make me any less of an artist.
I know what it true - I create because I have to - I create because I want to - I am inspired constantly by the beauty around me - I am an artist.  

Wordless Wednesday: Relax

One chapter ends and a new one begins....

(Warning - this is picture HEAVY)

We went home a couple of weekends ago to celebrate Megan's big day - high school graduation!  (Meg is my cousin - she and Macey grew up like sisters - my Auntie Carol watched Macey for me while I was still living in Miles City - they are a year apart -  they adored each other and really still do)   It was a quick trip but a great trip.  Lots of family and lots of fun!

The Custer County District High School class of 2010 - I remember sitting in that same first row Meg!  :)  Close to that exact spot I think. 

Mother and Daughter - my auntie Carol and my favorite 2010 graduate - Megan!
Along with Mr Regan, Mr. Ogolin and Mr. Annalora.  These three guys were all there when I was a CCDHS student, but they all have new roles now.  Mr. Oglin was my Biology teacher in jr hi and high school and now he is the principal.  Mr. Annolora was our choir teacher - now he is Vice Principal.  Mr. Regan was Vice Principal now superintendent.  Changes....

Grandma and Megan

Jamie and Jodi went all out with doing some fun party decor.  I just bought candy for the candy buffet!  :)

I remember her when she was that little like it was yesterday.  Where do the days go. 

Mother and Daughter again

Auntie Debbie and Mom

Auntie Jolene, my Uncle Bob, Abby and Megan

My great aunt Stella (she is my grandma's sister) and Meg

Jodi (my seeeester) and Meg

My Uncle Danny, Auntie Lori Megan and Dani Jo (my Mom, Carol, Joleen, Debbie and Lori are sisters)

Dad, Connor and my Uncle Jeff (who is my dad's brother)

Bethany and Meg

Megan and Maggie

Macey and Megan

John and Megan

Megan and Brooke

Brit and Meg

Meg and Jamie (my seeeester)

Jillian, Olivia and Meg

Bob and Steve

Dad and my brother in law Brady


Way to go Megan - I can't wait to see what comes next for you.  You will be a terrific spa/salon owner.  Maybe I can come to work for you as an aromatherapist - or better yet - when you need a line of terrific bath and body products and jewelry - I know a gal who can SET YOU UP!!  :)

We are very proud of you!