California Dreaming and Finding Gratitude

textured with 'oceanside' from the studio collection

This quote speaks to me. 

After visiting and falling in love with California, I've been struggling to find the beauty around me. I mean really, really struggling. In fact, I've had several little pitty parties....and grumbled quite bitterly about it on several occasions.

A few weeks ago I was out walking Ben and I wiped out on the ice...
Oh my gosh....did I let out a string of 'not so nice' words.... I then proceeded to tell John that I hated it here. I hated winter.... I went on for about 2 or 3 minutes. He helped me up....kept walking.....silent..... and when I was done, he said.... 'well let's sell the house, and move.'
Just like a man, he wanted to solve the problem. I simply needed to get it out of my system. Ya know?

It feels like there's still a part of me in California..... Slowly, I'm finding my way home. It's the strangest thing. I can't quite wrap my head around it. 

I must return...and soon! My oh my.... I love it there!

textured with 'empty page' from the studio collection

In the meantime, I'm very much aware that my 'bad attitude' has got to go. I must have a grateful heart.

It's imperative!

'sigh'....

The other day I took my Nikon out on our walk. It felt good to see the world through my lens.... As I walked and watched the dogs romp around, I paused and really took in the true loveliness of our little world. I began to see the beauty again.

And for that I am most grateful.

I'm thankful for the wide open space....the snowy backdrops....for the unusually warm temps we've been blessed with this past few weeks. I'm thankful for our safe little spot on this earth.... thankful I can walk Ben in the dark around our town with no fear at all. 

I am truly thankful. 

pssst....look real close and you will see ben in the trees, looking your way.

Nope, this is definitely not California, but it's rich with blessings.... 'prairie blessings'.... and I'm so so glad my heart is rediscovering it.

Crazy really.... This quiet, home-loving girl, suddenly has an intense urge to 'fly'....

Just when you think you have it all figured out.... life has a way of shaking things up!

Do you ever struggle to find beauty in your world? 

Have you felt the tug of something new...something unfamiliar? Something different, something unexpected? Something unsettling?

Share with me today, my beautiful friends. I adore you! 

xo,

And Then Some - the Ben eDition

Linking up to Texture Tuesday....a few days late... But it's all good!

I edited my sweet Ben in camera raw..... and then simply added the texture, 'and then some' at soft light blend mode.... removed the texture from Ben's lovely white fur....and that was that.

Gosh I love him.....

Happiest Thursday, my fabulous friends...hoping your week is completely inspired!

xxo,

{Texture Tuesday} The Back to School eDition

mouse over to see the before

Hello sweet friends....Happiest TT!

This week's theme is Back to School. I think it's going to be a good one! Don't you?

Remember your image must contain 2 different textures.... (gotta love a challenge).... 

I'm excited to see all of your amazing submissions. Last week's movie images were truly AMAZING.

Before I share my recipe for today's BTS image.... I had to share a pic of my helper.... Mr. Bennigan.... He's the funniest puppy dog...  Gosh, I just love him!

Okie doke....

Here's the photoshop recipe for today's Back to School photo. 

Layer 1 - Background

Layer 2 - Autumn (from the Ultimate Bundle) Added a layer mask and partially removed the texture from the apple and books.

Layer 3 - blank layer set to soft light blend mode. Painted over the apple and books with a black soft round at 50% opacity, to deepen the colors.

Layer 4 - Hue/Saturation Adjustment - Choose the red channel and reduced the saturation, just a tad. This helped with the antique look I was going for.

Layer 5 - Added the type in a tan shade selected from the books. (font used SchoolHouse Printed A) at multiply blend mode 100% opacity.

Layer 6 - Coffee tea or me texture (a past texture part of a new soon to be released bundle...watch for it... it's good stuff) at soft light 74% opacity. Added a layer mask and partially removed the texture from the apple and books.

The End

A peek at the textures used on today's image ~ Autumn & Coffee Tea or Me.               

Okie doke....it's time for next week's TT Theme.

How about the color orange? I noticed some of the trees are turning ....autumn is coming...which I can't believe.... then I noticed some lovely fall photos on pinterest.... and well...... that's how next week's theme came about....

So for next week's TT theme... let's see your interpretation of the color orange.... and as usual... please include one texture on your photo.

New to Texture Tuesdays? Here's the short and sweet TT rules.

• please link directly to your post, not just to your blog or flickr stream.
• please link back to the Café. You can grab the TT button HERE, if you wish.
• please visit the other TT participants and leave them some comment love. Remember it's a party.... and what's a linky party without lots of comment love? Right! 

Want more details? Click HERE for the full scoop!

Let's get this party started!!

Shall we? 

xxo,

p.s. Speaking of Back to School... The Essentials class starts today! I'm so excited... There's still time to sign up, if you are interested.... 

The Lake Walk

Hello my friends.

How are you?  How's your week?

I just wanted to pop in and say hi.... 

 and share a little walk along the lakeside with you all.

Check out Mr. Ben.  He's getting a little freedom...and my does it make that tail go swish.... Actually we are both soaking up the freedom.... 

As you can see it's still very much winter here.  In fact I've been told winter is planning on sticking around..... possibly right through April.  Yikes....  :)

 

There's just something about white...so beautiful.....  Even weeds look pretty...against it. :)

I ♥ white..... 'sigh'

I was telling my friend PG I would paint my whole house white if John was willing! But there's no way he will ever agree to paint over the antique oak.... No way!!

How bout you? What 'color' are you digging these days?  

Happiest Thursday!!  Have a most inspired day!

xxo, 

Proof of the Playpen

Hello Lovelies

How are you?

I wanted to pop in and share a pic of Ben in his play pen. Check it out!  :)  This particular model has a 'bassinet' feature....so it saves my back a little....  But I would say another day or 2 and we will have to move him down to the lower tier...  I can't leave him unsupervised for a second, for fear he may decide to jump.  The crate was way to difficult to get him in and out of... He's feeling better each day... and I know it's going to be really difficult to keep him contained.  'sigh'

I will be back tomorrow with a new post....  lots to share...  The holidays are officially over.... John is back to work tomorrow....so back to routine it shall be!

See you tomorrow.....  love and gratitude.... xxo, Kim

Hello Sweet Friends

Happy Monday

How are you?  I hope this little note finds you well.

I can't believe Christmas is over.  It comes and goes....so quickly.  But I'm grateful for another holiday spent with our family..... and of course our sweet little Ben.

I just wanted to pop in and say Hi.  

I will be back with a more lengthy update on Ben and a little of this and that as well.

But in the meantime, I wanted to thank you all for your prayers and support.  

Ben is doing very well.  He's still smiling (wagging his tail) and being so good about everything.

I took this pic of him this morning... the light wasn't great....but he was lying sweetly by my feet in the studio.

He spends most of his time in a play pen....  it's so cute.... but he loves to get down on the cool floor and stretch out as well.   

Anyhow, please know we are all so grateful for your prayers and support....I will be back with a more detailed report of Ben and maybe a little video too.... :)

love & gratitude...xxo, kim

The Benjamin Texture Collection

Hello my sweet friends

I am guessing you may have seen this coming! :)

On this Texture Tuesday, I present to you......

The Benjamin Collection.

'sigh'.....

I'd like to share a little story with you all.  

There was once a girl named Kim...... She had the sweetest beagle she could have ever asked for.... His name was Andy.  She loved him like her third child....for 13 plus years they were side by side...rarely apart.... But sadly, Andy became very ill and it was time to let him go.  Her heart was broken....and she believed there would never be another baby that could fill that hole in her heart....

Flash forward 3 months later.....  Kim was asked to babysit her brother's Labradoodle....Sophie.....  and her heart opened...opened to the possibility of loving another puppy... The very day Sophie was going home...she received an email.  Her cousin was desperately seeking a home for her Goldendoodle....  And she thought...is this a sign?  Is this meant to be?  Oh YES...YES...it must be....  and after a little chat with her hubby...an email was sent back saying...'pick us, please.....'

And after several weeks ....  a sweet new love came into Kim's life....  It was truly an instant connection.  The heart melted and open wide for this fluffy white little angel....  His name is Ben. He had only been with Kim and her family for a few months.....when one day.... Kim opened the door to see if Ben's Auntie and cousin were in the drive to pick them up for the trail.....  in an instant Ben was out the door...and headed straight for a truck coming up the road.... a truck he believed to be his pick up for the trail.  It wasn't Sophie. It was another vehicle going straight on ahead.... who didn't see Ben right in front of her wheel.

In an instant...everything changed......  'sigh'

Life can be like that.....

Gone was that walk on the trail...that romp with Sophie, that digging in the snow.....  it was off to the hospital he went.... bravely I must say....very bravely....

The injuries were far worse than expected...Kim was devastated.  Her heart ached as they sat in the very room that Andy was put to sleep in...and listened to the vet give them the crushing news.... Ben was injured very severely....  Surgery was the only repair for his particular fracture.... But before they could do the surgery....he had to be monitored for nerve and organ damage.... tick tock...tick tock....  a few days later... he was out of the woods...and the surgery was a go.  

The cost of the surgery....was much more than the vet originally predicted...... How on earth could she say so long to her new companion... her bestest friend.... a light in her life.....  How can you put a price on love?  

So the surgery was scheduled.... after some conversation with her hubby....  who struggled a bit with the idea of such a huge sum of money... Kim assured him.... I will figure it out.... So many love Ben....  

And so.... paint, splatter, scrape, glue, paste, stipple, stamp.....  The Benjamin Collection was born.

The End .....or hopefully just The Beginning......  

Okay my sweet friends... my sweet lovers of life and love.....  I have been working on this collection since Sunday....  I have to say my heart and soul went onto the canvases.....  

I hope you will love them...and feel my heart in them...

Ben needs your help.... I need your help.....  We need your help.....

The Benjamin Collection includes seven - 12" x 12 " 300 dpi handpainted textures.  

The price is $10.00.  The funds will help cover the cost of Ben's surgery....which will be approximately $3000. This does not include the follow up care, the trips to the city 3 1/2 hours away etc.....  We are in for a long ride.. my friends...

I can not wait to see what the bigger picture in all this is?  I believe....everything happens for a reason.... 'sigh'

So I'm asking for your help....  

Click below to order today's textures....

We are off to the city tomorrow morning at 6 am.  Ben's surgery is scheduled for 12:30 pm central....  So please continue your warm thoughts and prayers......

I can't thank you enough for all the beautiful messages.  I feel so blessed to have a community of such amazing support....

Ben is pretty good.... He seems sad...more than anything.... poor little bumpkin.  I can barely stand the thought of leaving him at the clinic tomorrow... But as the vet told me yesterday....'Kim, sometimes,  you gotta be cruel to be kind......'

Much love to you and yours....  

I will have my laptop with me....so I will post a follow up on Ben's condition.....  

Deep Deep Sigh.....

xxo, kim

Update on Wed, December 22 by Kim Klassen

An Update on Ben

Dearest Friends......

I have no words to express my deepest gratitude.  Please accept are most sincere thanks for the love and support. My family and I are completely overwhelmed.

You know the saying it takes a village to raise a child?  well... it seems....it takes a blogosphere to raise a pup....  'sigh'

truly speechless.... truly grateful!

My connection is poor in our hotel. 

But I wanted to let you know that Mr. Ben... Benjamine, Benji Boy, Bennigan, Gentle Ben....made it through the surgery.  The fracture was severe and the vet was unable to make a 'perfect' correction.... But he is confident with lots of TLC ....  at least 8 weeks....  Ben will be up and running again...

I expect a long road ahead.... he can not put any weight on his back end....so it will be a lot of lifting, carrying supporting....etc....  I better get doing some pilates.... or my back will be toast.... 

If you have any suggestions to make ths whole process easier.... pretty please send them my way....

Who woulda thunk......  just a few months ago.... we didn't even know Mr. Ben....  and here we are today .... 

Before I sign off....I just have to say.... I know that there are many of you going through so much more than this...... I am so sorry .....truly, deeply sorry.... 

I promise I willl put all of this amazing love back out into the universe.....  with all my heart....

love to all.... talk soon.... xxo, Kim