Tuesday, April 26, 2011

More of the same, only different . . .

. . . are my days lately.

We saw peeks of the sun on Easter Sunday but it is still gloomy.  I am waiting not-so-patiently to actually take happy, sunny pictures but dreary is what I am stuck with for now.  But, you know, these darker, lonely looking photos speak to me today. 

We have been cleaning out my inlaws' house and it is not always an easy task.  Not only do we find bits and pieces of their early lives together but find items that remind each of us of happier days spent together as a whole family.  If you remember from a long time ago on my blog (here), my main man has 2 sisters that have not made our lives easy and are just plain disagreeable.  And now we find out that they are just plain greedy too.  Enough said.  I hope none of you have gone through the drama that we are going through and that your siblings are loving to each other in a time of mourning.  Walking away from material goods is okay if memories mean more to you than 'stuff'.


Kim's Texture Tuesday requirement this week was to use her 'serendipity' texture on a photo.  I have used it twice in this picture, along with 'paper stained light'.  Of course there is levels tweaking, hue saturation tweaking, eraser tweaking and just general tweaking all over.  Hello, my name is Connie, and I'm a tweaker! 


These photos are all of the same abandoned house at different times of the year.  It looks like it was a lovely home at one time and I wonder how it came to be in this condition. 


Did the family just walk away one day, leaving the house with only their memories?  Was it a happy home?  Does the family still gather together somewhere and reminisce about events that happened here?  I hope so.

Thanks for letting me vent.  We can't always choose our families but we can learn from them. 

Now, go have yourself a happy day!


15 comments:

Paula ~ castleandcottagesigns said...

Connie,
that doesn't sound like fun, I hope it gets better somehow for you. Family can be hard, and we just have to move on somehow....:(
Love your photo's, you've got tweaking down to an art!
hugs,
paula:)

" SHABBY JUNK" said...

Connie, I have been thru the Greedy thing with one of my brothers. When my daddy died a few years ago by brother took most of his possessions from the house. He was living next door at the time. No big deal, it's just that their were photos I would like to copy. Their were 4 albums. He has always been that way. If something happens to me, he is not allowed in to walk off with things. He also did this at several other relatives. Nervy. judy

Jill said...

Very nice tweaking!! (I'm sorry about your family)

Sue@MyArtsDesire said...

Connie, That old house is so gorgeous. I love the questions you asked yourself about the former owners. Beautiful processing on these too! Sadly enough, your family challenges happen to a lot of people. When it came time to clean out my parents home a few years back, we all said many times over how blessed we were that with six siblings there were no squabbles over who gets what. Lots of laugher and sharing memories though...and a few tears too. Xo, Sue

deb christensen said...

beautiful photo work, what a fabulous subject! hope your days get easier...family - fooph!

Shell said...

Connie Girl,
I hear you about the Weather AND the Family dynamics! Both can make life gloomy!

We've had rain on top of Rain! Saturday we got a break for our Parade...it was gorgeous, but as it stands, I think we can mark about 3 days on our Calendar here in Washington without it! And, Oh my Stars, they just did a "weather tease" and they're talkin' SNOW.......Probably not right here,,,but still, it shows how flippin' cold and wet it is!

I guess we've just got to hold on tight and dream of warmer days! (Physically AND Metaphorically)

Hang in there!
Love you my Friend!
Shell

Karen said...

Connie, I'm so sorry to hear that your family is going through such a tough time. When my mom was dying, she told us to "work together". So my siblings and I knew she would come back to haunt us if we didn't get along! Also, my oldest sister reminded us that no THING is more important than people (family and relationships). That helped us all keep things in perspective. We ended up having lots of fun sharing memories and laughter as we sorted through everything. I think mom would have been proud.

Linda said...

gorgeous work!!
so glad I found your blog - it is BEAUIFUL!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm sending you a bit of sunshine to brighten up your heart, soul, and world. I truly understand the things you are going through and hope that in time the dust will settle. I enjoy your blog and photography.

Warmly,
Karla

Unknown said...

Oooh, I want to live by an abandoned house! I love these shots, and the texture just makes the photos even better!

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Beautiful photos, Connie! I witnessed that sort of thing in family members as a child, and learned very early on that I would never let money or material things become that important to me...It's such a difference to go through an estate with family members who understand this. Hope it works out okay for you...XO

Unknown said...

Great dramatic mood created here with these textures!

Joanna said...

You are the Queen of Tweaking! Great photos, and the effect you have achieved is wonderful.

I hear you about the family stuff and I'm nodding with you. Nuff said.

xxx

Randi-K said...

Saw this from the Texture Tuesday party. These are great - your treatment enhances the desolate feeling

Vicki said...

I hope things improve with the family as you sort through things. Times like this seem to bring out the worst in the nicest people. I love what you have done with these pictures. you've left me wondering...