abandoned beauty

In Justin, Texas on the outside of town, rests this old Victorian style home. If anyone who knows me or seen any of my previous work you know that my lens has a strange attraction to old runned down buildings. I have had my eye on this particular one for the past few years, today I decided that I would finally obey my instincts and photograph it.

gifts from home

I always hear these Christmas tales of woe: an uncle who once painted his niece a painting for Christmas and her response-the moral of the story-was one of selfish brattyness. She hated it because it wasn't what she asked for. It wasn't a Barbie-doll house or Susie-go-potty-a-lot. Again, the stories are meant to teach the value of time, care, and thoughtfulness that go into the art of gift-giving. This year I've taken the story to heart and am doing just that: making most everyone's gift. It's partly because people like my homemade gifts, partly because I enjoy making things (the creative process and all that), and partly because I usually make more than one for myself to keep. So I guess there goes that selfish bratty moral of the story edge to it, huh? Well oh well. Here's a work in progress, a snow globe with a junk-car...it's soooo Livingston Parish.

the house (cont'd)

Hopefully I'll be able to get away with this photograph. It doesn't show too much of the bed, the disheveled bed I slept in the night before. I had explicit instructions as I went from room to room taking pictures not to photograph the bedrooms if the bed wasn't made. I took this picture anyway, cropping out the strewn about sheets and comforter, instead focusing on the painting my brother did that hangs above the pillows. It's a simple photo and doesn't show much of the room-I admit. But I think it does a good job conveying the feel of the room: the pastel colors, the soft, white light, the way it makes you want to relax and settle in with a good book and forget about everything else.

sunset

In front of a wooden basket, back lit by a bright window, against dark wood, I find a sunset hiding in a cup.

dragon lantern

A recent, quick trip to Louisiana always, always, always presents opportunities for photographs; like my mother's home, which is filled to the brim with trinkets, county home decor, odds and ends, antiquities, toys, trussles, tricks, tom-foolery and the like. So, in the next few posts, expect to see a few.