I'm a walking oxymoron. An early bird would not exactly be an accurate way to describe me. A night owl is more like it – the type who loves to stay up late and sleep until mid morning, especially on Saturdays. However, early mornings are one of my favorite things. I find the first golden rays of daylight gently touching the undersides of wispy clouds and the soft chatter of birds in the trees absolutely enchanting.




Last night, when I was informed we were going to the farmer's market in the morning, I admit I groaned at the early time. Getting up at seven? On a Saturday morning? No thank you, I'd prefer my sleep. But once I was able to rouse myself out of my bed, I was enamored by the morning. I was also greeted with the discovery that I had reached nine hundred followers. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
After admiring the outdoors, I slipped into my new favorite shirt (thirty percent off an already reduced price, baby) and some shorts.

Upon arriving at the farmer's market, the atmosphere was perfect. A sublime spring breeze was carried through the air and the morning sun warmed our backs. Even though it hadn't even reached nine am, it was hard not to have a cheerful disposition.

I must confess that I was overcome with photographer's fright and was hesitant to photograph anything, lest I was reprimanded or given odd looks. However, when faced with the decision to save myself from odd looks or to capture perfection, I chose the latter.

And now? While I might not be completely converted from my previous habits, I'm determined to make an effort to rise a little early, even if just to sit on the front steps for the sunrise. After all, don't they say that the early bird catches the worm?

What about you? Are you a night owl or early bird?

-carlotta

giveaway winner announced below

The theme for the photo challenge this time is spring. You knew it was coming, didn't you? ;) I couldn't resist. I'm not going to ramble on about how much I love spring, as you're probably already tired of it, so let's just get to it!

Instead of going with the normal flower shot, I decided to look up instead. The colors of a spring sky are some of my favorites...the perfect shade of azure combined with soft, wispy clouds is a combination you're not likely to forget.

<a href="/www.pastorsgirlsponderings.com/storsgirlsponderings.com/2011/04/photo-challenge-spring-giveaway-winner.html"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/X2tII.jpg" /></a>

Want to join? Just write a post containing a photo of spring that you've taken, then come back here and link up! Feel free to grab the above button as well - just make sure that you have some sort of link to me, allowing others to participate as well. If you have several photos in your post, please specify which on you are entering. One entry per person please. And don't forget to visit at least three other entries!
The challenge will end one week from today, Thursday, April 14th, at 9:59pm CST.







Before I get to announcing the winner, I want to thank y'all for entering the giveaway. I so wish I could give a necklace to each of you, but, unfortunately, I can't. Sniff sniff. And welcome to all my new readers – I hope you'll stick around! :)

The winner of the giveaway is number 180, Leah Marie! Congratulations! Shoot me an email within the next forty eight hours with all your information to claim your prize.

Happy Thursday!

-carlotta

oh darling, don't you ever grow up // don't you ever grow up, just stay this little 

oh darling, don't you ever grow up // don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple.

taylor swift, never grow up

From the time I was born until I was nine, I spent my life on a farm of sorts in southeast Texas, a place that will always have a softness in my heart. (I still consider myself a Texan.) We owned two horses, a Paint and a Palomino, two goats, three dogs, and a manifold of cats. Plump, succulent blackberries – my favorite – grew in the woods behind our house and in our pasture in late spring, which in turn were gathered by the handful, sweet juice running down my chin.

(photo credit goes to my neighbor, zoe)

Every Saturday we had some friends over, friends who always brought donuts, and we rode our horses in the warm sun. I remember loping diagonally across the pasture, the wind whipping my hair, and feeling so free.

Most days I would first study my dad working on the computer at his desk, then sit at my little desk with my old computer and make Excel spreadsheets. (I was in love with all things office-y. I know.)

(me, age three or four)

Like any six year old, I wanted so badly to grow up. I'd look at the fifth graders at my school in awe, wishing that I could be as big as them. I remember having a medieval party for my eighth birthday and feeling oh so grown up in my gown that my mother sewed me.

When I think back on my days growing up in Texas, I'm filled with happiness and a tinge of nostalgia. Memories are evoked, laced with building forts comprised of blankets, going to Joe's Barber Shop, complete with striped barber pole, for my father's haircuts, and waving goodbye to my mother in the cool dampness of the morning as she drove off to work.
Like most, these memories are conjured by the strangest things, such as the whiff of chlorinated pool water, the sound of country music, and the salty taste of tortilla chips and ketchup.

(photo credit goes to my neighbor, zoe)

When I think of those memories, I can't help but wish I were six again. Back to the carefree days of playing store, back to eating powder sugar donuts on the deck, back to swinging in the hammock outside, reading the hours away.

And then I think of MeMe and Lilly. Much like myself at their age, they're so eager to become older, to live their lives. While I most certainly can relate, I just want to squeeze them and softly whisper in their ears "never grow up". I want tell them to keep their sweet, simple innocence, their little-girl outlook on life and not to rush into life so quickly. I want to tell them to embrace this carefree time of their childhood. I want to tell them to never grow up.



-carlotta

Because Monday is my least favorite day of the week, because iced ginger peach tea is the best, because it's dropped thirty degrees in temperature overnight, because I'm feeling a little random, here's a vlog.

(The word vlog is a bit odd, don't you think? It's not a word I particularly care for...but that's just the word freak in me talking. Don't mind me.)

a monday vlog. from carlotta on Vimeo.

Additional information regarding the vlog:

Please ignore the rather, ahem, unusual coloring of my skin. I promise that's not how my skin really looks...the camera just likes to mess with me. Also, because I forgot to include in the video, here's the before and after of my drawer organizing...

It was a much needed cleaning, no?

Also, welcome to all my new readers! It means so much to me that you're here. Thank you!

Happy Monday, friends! I hope your day was better than mine ;)

-carlotta

(Have you entered my giveaway yet? You don't want to miss it!)