Springtime

I'm testing out some new things with my blog. I want to change it, but it's hard for me to learn 'html'. I will tho. :)

In the meantime, I realize I haven't ever posted photos from or talked about my fun trip to CA in Dec. Nor had I written about the Holidays, not even the SNOW we got!! :) I promise I will work on summarizing, and get some photos lined up to share! I have moved to yet another salon, and am still building a clientele. I'll tell you all about that too.
So, I've been busy, and when I'm not working, I'm taking lots of photos!!

Off to a women's networking breakfast this morning. Wish me luck! Be back later!

Spring is coming!

"sunny D"
Originally uploaded by Flair4hair

I know I need to update, and I plan to very soon. All is well, and I am very much looking forward to Spring and for the world to be green and colorful again! :)
I promise, in the next couple of days, you will hear from me!

Somber day

It is with a very heavy heart that I tell you Ann Cunningham passed away yesterday after a valiant battle against cancer.

Those of you who know me, have no doubt heard of Ann, and to those of you who had never met her, all I can say is, I wish you had.

She was so many things to so many people. Mother, Friend, Sponsor, Grandmother, Mentor, Teacher, etc. and surrogate to many. She helped so many people battle their addictions and pain, always with the perfect awareness of what was needed. Humor, anger, kindness, sternness, or grandiosity.

Whatever the case, SHE was the one who gave unconditional love in the truest meaning of the term. Never judging, always accepting. She tried to teach us all to be our best selves.

She did all she could to prepare us for this day, still thinking of others up until the end. My family and I are so blessed for having had her in our lives, and grateful for all of her generosity and love.

She was truly one of God's angels and she will be greatly missed.

New year 2010

New year 2010
Originally uploaded by Flair4hair

It's New year's eve, and we are home. Warm and snug in our robes and flannel pants! We're gonna graze, watch some tv, and have a glass of champagne to ring in the new year! (IF we can make it to 12! lol)
I don't feel melancholy at this time of year, just hopeful for the promise of the new year. I wish everyone Health, Happiness, Prosperity, and Love for the coming year.

Chris and I had a wonderful, quiet Christmas at home. We didn't travel anywhere, which was nice. We missed our families, but we were happy to just be home. We hope you had nice holidays as well.

I am so happy and grateful I was able to visit California twice last year! It was so nice to see my friends and family. I am glad that recent events waited until I was done to happen, and now I may not be flying until restrictions are lessened.

I am hoping to get busier at the salon. In my down time I will continue to take pictures and grow as a photographer!
I should have a book with my textured photos ready to sell soon!
I have sold 4 of my photos already! :) I know it sounds small, but I am so tickled that people like my photos!

I am enjoying Winter, and hope that this is the year we get some snow! Chris keeps telling me it happens...hehehe He says we live in the "no snow zone". The storms come to just about an hour West of us, and then go up and over to North Carolina! GRRRR
I think we have the best chance this year, because it's been so wet. You bet I will take pictures if it does!

We love you all! Please be safe out there!
Happy New Year!

Chris and Kelly

On your mark....

Get set....That's what I'm doing.

I thought I might try to post a little more often...if I can.

I'm packing and getting ready to come out to CA for a week! I can't wait to see my friends and family! :)

I'm just bummed it's been raining, but oh well! it will make for cooler photos!

Speaking of which...if you haven't been lately, check out my Flickr stream for newness.

Last night Chris and I went to the Holiday lights at the Riverbanks Zoo. It is literally 1 mile from our place. They have a bahzillion lights up, and music playing, and cool fire pits where you can roast marshmallows! I thought it would be cool to take pictures, but they didn't come out that great. Some were good, but only a couple were great. They were of the carousel. I love taking bulb shots of lighted moving objects! Here is one:

I love that the girl with her arms spread came through! She's flying! :)

I'll see many of you next week!

Cheers!

November?! Already?!

Oh man, I'm a big slacker! It's been way too long, and I'm sorry. I have no good reason. It's pure laziness.

I can't believe it's Thanksgiving week already! Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm going to recap before I go into what I'm Thankful for.

You know, if I did this more often, I wouldn't have so much to type! sheesh.

I'm feeling great after the colonoscopy and treatment. Yoga and walking also keep me feeling good.

October is Fair time here, and you know I loves me some Fair! :) Chris and I went on the first dry day after the fair opened. So did EVERYONE else! It was fun tho, I brought my camera.

We ate the pre requisite fried food: deep fried mushrooms this year. (I just can't do the Oreos, Snickers, chocolate covered bacon, etc.) And, as is tradition, we shared some funnel cake at the end. :)

We watched the crazy kids on those spinny, whirly, upside-down rides knowing how only the young can endure that! I swear tho, the look on this one kids' face as he came down on that free fall ride was worth the price of admission. We ROARED with laughter.

The only ride we like is the Ferris wheel. I like the view from above, and it's slow.

Anyway, I took some really cool photos, and then textured a couple (I'll tell you later) to make them look 'old timey'! They came out so good that I made "The Daily Click" (photo of the day) on Shutter Sisters (an Internet photo site) for Nov. 1st! Here they are

Business was VERY slow at the end of October, beginning of November. As a way to not get discouraged, and stay creative, I poured myself into photography. I feel it keeps creativity flowing in my life, and it's fun!
I am constantly saying, so forgive me if it's too much, how Beautiful this State is! Well, this Fall has been AMAZING! I really am like a 6 year old discovering all the cool nature here! I see mushrooms and I say "COOL!" I found this whole mossy ecosystem growing on the side of a boulder, and I was just sooo happy!

I have been to the Riverbanks Botanical gardens twice now, where I have seen the most gorgeous flowers, some for the first time! (seriously, like a 6 year old!)

I love my camera, and I love nature. God is great.

I have been quite zealous about getting good shots, so much so that I threw my back out! It's much better now, but I am still sore in my lower back, and very much look forward to a massage with Frankie when I come to CA!

I have many new photos up, and was a finalist again with this photo

on a fellow bloggers monthly "pix" contest! It really is a great feeling when people like and appreciate your art.

Flickr has been the most incredible thing for me lately. It is a photo sharing site online. (mentioned in previous post) That's where I learned more about texturing, and get a lot of my inspiration. I have taught myself a lot, and I'm pretty proud of some of my work! If there was something I wanted to learn, I would Google it, and find a tutorial. There is A LOT to learn.
I am using Photoshop Elements, and that is where the 'enhancing' takes place. :)

My friend Anthony suggested that I make a book of my textured photos, so I have! When I get it, and see what it's like, I'll either make them available for sale, or start all over again! :)
I could go on and on about flowers, nature, photography, textures, Flickr and all of that for days, so I'll just say, go see my photos if you get a chance, and feel free to comment on anything you like!

Now the phone is ringing again (Thank God) and I am getting busier at the salon as the holidays near.
I am doing many things to get busier. Connie and Jeanne are helping by introducing me to people in Lexington. Hopefully, I will soon be busy again in my new location.

Chris and I are headed to Beaufort for Thanksgiving, and will stay for a couple of days. I am Thankful for so many things. My health, and the health of my family and friends mostly.
Our dear friend Ann is battling cancer, and we are praying for her health, and comfort. I am thankful for my home and all the beauty that surrounds me. I am Thankful for my boyfriend and the love and support he gives me. And I am thankful for all that God has provided for me.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

One last thing...I'm coming back to CA in less than 3 weeks! WOO HOO! Get excited people! lol
I can't wait to see many of you. Dec 9th to 16th.

Love you all!

Update for Fall

It's Autumn again, and I think it's been too long since I've written! Lots going on, time just gets away from me.

August was relatively quiet, and marked a couple of anniversaries for me. My 3 year quit smoking anniversary, and a year since I quit Starbucks. I don't miss either, except for my co-workers from Starbucks! I miss how Starbucks USED to be. Back when all they cared about was coffee, and not trying to make one thing for everyone.

Recently the weather has gotten good enough for us to go out and enjoy the zoo, and I have really been into taking lots of photos with my new camera!

Here's Krissy the giraffe, and

Chris feeding the Lorikeets.

I went to the butterfly exhibit downtown, and am truly amazed by natures beauty! Lately we've been taking drives around town, and looking for things to shoot during our errands!

More recently, the salon I was working for closed. Without getting into all the drama, lets just say the lease was up, and the partners decided to dissolve the partnership.

Luckily I found a really cool place to work, in a very unique setting. Only here in South Carolina (I think) could I find a salon INSIDE a country store! Hard to describe, but it works! It's called Hello Gorgeous! Isn't that cute?

A cool old barn looking building, that the owner built a salon in the middle of for a lady that had been looking for a new place to work about a year ago. As fate would have it, she was ready for another stylist to join her, and as she was calling the newspaper to place an ad, my co-worker Jeanie was on the line calling her for a job! She got TWO new stylists, and we are all cozy and happy in our new place.

Here is my room in the salon, and the outside of the building.
We share the store with the owner who makes sausages from his father's recipe, and 2 guys who make pastries for local restaraunts, and cakes for weddings and parties.



I have also been getting back into yoga, and am really enjoying it. I found a cool studio here and feel better after every session.

Also keeping healthy by having my first colonoscopy since moving here to SC. I have been seeing a very good Gastrointerologist, and he was kind enough to give me a free colonoscopy since I don't have insurance. It was just this past Friday, and aside from the yuckie prep, it went really well! I am happy to report that I had NO polyps! This is great news since I had to have my surgery due to a cancerous polyp. He did put me on a flash dose of prednisone, but it's only 20 days, and does a good job getting the inflammation down, so I can deal with that.

That's it really for now. I am happy to share my photos with you if you want to see my favorites, go to this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flair4hair/

I am feeling very blessed, and grateful for all I have.

I love you all, hope to see many of you this December, until then, enjoy your Autumn, and tell me what you're going to be for Halloween! :)