Beyond the Sea Music Video

If you're like us (which you probably aren't), you shoot a quick music video to Bobby Darin's "Beyond the Sea" while on vacation for a week in Florida. If you're not like us (which you probably are), you simply relax and enjoy the beach like you're supposed to.

If you're tired of me rambling, just click play (which you probably should).



Yes, Bobby Darin provided the vocals for us. Wasn't that nice?

We Be Huntin'

 Throughout this post, you will be subjected to me occasionally lapsing into my idea of a Cajun accent.

You be forewarned.

Note the camo and the expressions that would strike fear in the heart of any squirrel, deer, or hog alive.

We be huntin'.

Yesterday afternoon, a few of the brave-hearted in our family ventured into the swamp with tents, gear, food, and all those other things that one believes to be necessary on a camping trip until the time comes when one must lug it into a boat and across the river.

We be brave explorers.

 He be Indiana Zander.

My Canon EOS was left behind (it fears the water since its owner is a klutz). Instead, I brought along my phone and took photos with the camera in it. The quality is low, but I figured it was best to document our trip with a poor camera than not to document it all. It resulted in not having photos of everyone because I didn't have enough memory (I'm sorry, Papa, Uncle Ricky, and Carlie--we know in our hearts that y'all were there and we love y'all).

The river was low--extremely low--but nevertheless beautiful. I really could live beside it one day. Just think, I would be able to listen to that running water for the rest of my life with Spanish moss waving in the breeze overhead. A pleasant picture.

(Tent buddies)

In the evening, we sat around the campfire to roast marshmallows and such. They were talking about how many of the "O. Family girls" resemble Indian tribes (i.e. the Creek, the Chippewa, the Cherokee). Seven year old John with his blonde hair and blue eyes suddenly gestured toward himself, Zander, and his cousin, Jhett, and said,

"Well, we're the Chihuahua Boys!"

He thought that a "chihuahua" was an Indian tribe.

The rest of our night was...interesting. All manner of noises erupted occasionally and once it sounded as though something bumped the boat that was tied to the shore several yards away. They (meaning the bold and truly brave of our group) believe it was probably a gator as they had seen several of them critters earlier.

It be scary.

Elisabeth be an annoying cousin and Jhett be shy.

John...and the slightly eerie willow-the-wisp.

So...please tell me you've seen someone in the middle of the swamp wearing a big turquoise housecoat over all her other clothing in an effort to stay warm? No? Hmm. I don't think my family had either for I received a few strange looks.

I probably resembled a snowman. But I like to think of myself as a fluffy, stylishly dressed snowman.

When it was time to hunt hogs in the morning, Elisabeth and I did not know how to navigate the swamp on our own, so we followed around a guide. A slightly Mr. Know-It-All fourteen-year-old guide, but a guide just the same. In an effort to protect the guilty, I won't name names (I certainly won't drop your name, Wesley, anywhere in this blog post).

See, Elisabeth and I were certain that the river was located in a different direction and our guide continued to smugly tell us that, no, it was not that way. He said that our way would lead us into two thousand acres of swampland and that his way would lead us to the river. So we followed his way and this is where it led us:

I dislike it when Mr. Know-It-All's knowitallism proves correct, mostly because eating crow isn't pleasant.

Anyhow, I oohed and ahhed over the picturesque scene and tried to capture a decent photo with my phone.

"Isn't this great?" I asked Elisabeth and Wesley.

"Uh huh. It's beautiful."

I nodded in happy agreement and proceeded to take another photo, drinking in the glorious view with my siblings. Or so I thought. I glanced up after a moment to see their orange safety vests disappearing into the brush.

They be focused on killing hogs. They not be appreciatin' the most beautiful things in life. Tsk.

We finished our hunting trip earlier today with but a few squirrels to show for our time. But, we be havin' our photos.

And our memories.

And our conversations about a certain guide/brother who ended up getting lost and having to flag down a boat after an hour of wandering in that vast swampland. (But you be not hearin' that from me).

Yawn. Well, I'm tired and bed calls. I'll abandon my Cajun accent now since I be done writing this post.

Oops--sorry. It be coming to be a habit. ;)

when autumn comes.

The calendar might profess it to be autumn, but in reality--it simply isn't. Around here, anyway. Temperatures have remained high, resulting in the continued wearing of short-sleeves and flip-flops. Something I'm all for...during the summer. I confess that I'm truly ready to break out the turtlenecks and scarves full-time.

In other news, school has been...hectic. Thankfully, we received a 'fall break' of sorts in the form of a long weekend and so were able to visit with family near Madison. Ah, now there's where it feels a bit more like autumn. There's a slight nip in the air during the evenings, causing one to shiver happily. And did I mention the landscape? The rolling green pastures contrast nicely with the fiery reds and shades of orange of the tree leaves.

In celebration of the gorgeous colors, most of the siblings went outside for a fall photo shoot.

This is me in a seventies-esque photo.

I can't play a guitar to save my life. This fact resulted in a expression equivalent to one of an individual wandering around a parking lot and searching for his/her vehicle while trying to look confident and yet feeling like a cat struggling to stay afloat in a pool.

Or something like that.

This is Ellie. She can't play a guitar to save her life either.

But she's an expert on the violin, so we can cut her a little slack.

 Zander here is a child-prodigy on the thing and has already made several world tours showcasing his talent.

Yeah. Or not. But doesn't he look cute?

 Elisabeth.

My brother who's growing up faster than a Wesley should be growing. He can't play a guitar to save his life either. But doesn't he look cute, too?

Our weekend is drawing to a bittersweet close and Elisabeth and I return to our classes tomorrow. Fall break spent with family was a real blessing and just what I needed to recharge. And even though we lack the autumn weather that I so greatly want here in South Georgia, life feels just right. 

How are you doing, reader? :)

south carolina, low country

For my family, Labor Day Weekend entailed a mini-vacation to Charleston, SC. I had never been and so drank in every sight, smell, and sound.

Oh yes, and captured everything I could with my camera.

In short, this post is the calm before the storm. The post preceding the one that will be stuffed with every photo imaginable. The post that will leave your browser gasping for breath at the amount of photos to load and saying, "Never visit her blog again. Did you hear me? Never." And then it threatens to go on strike should you try.

Below you will find a video I put together of our fun time. Click 'play' to enjoy the best five minutes of your life.

Of the past hour.

Of the last ten minutes.

Oh, you know you have nothing better to do at the moment. ;)

Note: The girl in the blue is me. The girl in the black is Elisabeth. And everyone else is everyone else. I'm assuming you'll be able to distinguish Mom from Dad, Gangy from Ellie, Wesley from--

Cough. Please proceed.

South Carolina, Low Country from Erin O. on Vimeo.

Country Girls Can't Survive

"Erin, what are you doing?"

My answer was low, muffled. "Nothing."

"Come on, Erin, I'm not scared of it." His deepening voice had lost almost all its cracking in the past several months and he sounded more like a man. "It feels like riding a roller-coaster."

I don't like riding roller-coasters, thank you very much, I thought from my corner of the world where my face was buried into his green polo sleeve. We were riding around the outskirts of Atlanta and my brother, Wesley, had been fortunate enough to be seated next to me.

The lucky guy.

You might not have known this about me, but here's something to add to your little 'Erin Trivia' list: I'm an extraordinarily fun person to ride with in heavy Atlanta traffic. I clutch the nearest object until my knuckles are white, hide my face in the shoulder of whoever is beside me, and squeeze my eyes shut.

Oh yeah, it's a real blast.

 Please cue the peaceful strains of music accompanied by bird song. Thank you.

See this? This was my view the morning before we left for Atlanta...

...And this was my view the next.

You may cue Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Dun dun dun dun.

I actually enjoy oohing and ahhing over the line of tall buildings cloaked and shrouded in heavy...fog. Smog. Mist.

Oh, shmog-fog. Whatever it is you call it.

It's a neat sight.

So is this.

And this. The lines, the symmetry, the reflection of the sky--it's all cool.

But this. These winding curves enclosed by concrete slabs with a million different folks speeding past on either side? Not cool. 

It scares my mini-muffin heart senseless.

On Saturday morning, we awoke early and maneuvered through the traffic and exits and freeways to find the college campus where Dad was competing in the Locate Rodeo.

No, he doesn't ride bulls. Or broncs. Aside from being a pastor, he also has a job locating underground utilities. Just thought I should clear that up for you.

One big boy on campus.

Two big boys on campus.

This competition is actually a pretty big thing with people flying in from all over the U.S, Canada, and even Australia. So it was important that we be there to cheer Dad on and give his competitors the big stink-eye. ;-)

We reached the campus with the help of the GPS and breathed an audible sigh of relief on finally arriving at our destination.

And then we proceeded to walk around for two hours trying to find Dad at the events.

Two hours. It was a big campus, and yes, my feet did hurt.

We finally made it with help from two volunteers angels on a golf cart. I could have hugged them both breathless and proceeded to hug them again.

I didn't, but I could have.

And here is Dad in action during an event. His loving and exhausted family sat on a grassy hill beneath a tree to watch.

After it was over, we made our way back to the family Tahoe to buckle up and prepare for the, ahem, roller-coaster ride back to the hotel. Happy day.

Dun DUN

Du DUN DUNNNN.

Help me, someone.

I'm not a wimp. I'm not.

I don't think.

But I'm used to a traffic jam being a few cars backed up behind a John Deere tractor...and then waving to the man driving the tractor as you pass. Not because you necessarily know them (although the chances of it being a cousin or neighbor are pretty high), but because it's the friendly thing to do.

I didn't see anyone smiling and waving at me through Atlanta.

It could be because my usual view was Wesley's shoulder, but that's beside the point.

Life is has such a fast pace in the city, speeding past you as fast as the tires on your respective vehicle can spin.

I made a point of looking for anyone riding around in the back of a pick-up truck with their feet dangling a few inches above the road.

I looked, but I didn't see anyone doing that.

Everyone is driving so fast and some seem so distracted that there comes a point when I'm ready to offer some polite mental suggestions to these particular drivers.

Okay, that there conversation on your cell can wait until later. Like, when you're at home later. That kind of later. When someone isn't beside you.

Dude, my man, get yo fingers off those keys. Get yo phone off that steering wheel. And get yo eyes on this busy road before you careen your 12 wheeler semi into someone.

Please and thank you. ;-)

'The Brady Bunch'

The fact that Dad ended up winning 1st Overall in the division he entered did help smooth my ruffled self. A lot. We couldn't stop smiling as it was quite the exciting night.

And look! You get to meet the infamous green polo that I became so well-acquainted with over the course of the trip. I know you were dying for an introduction, so there you are.

You're welcome.

In the morning, it was time for the return trip home. To the country. I piled into the family Tahoe, bringing along the memories, my toothbrush, and the conclusion that country girls can't survive in city traffic. Or at least this one can't.

And in case you're wondering, Elisabeth ended up sitting beside me. Wesley sat on the far end of the seat for the entire trip.

I'm still trying to figure out why.

a veritable mish mash.

This is my view from the window right now. It's pretty, isn't it? I love it. While I'm a country girl all the way, there's something about the city at night--seeing the sparkly lights never fails to excite me. It's true that the city never sleeps. I can see it all from up here.

We're near Atlanta right now for a competition that Dad's work sends him to every year. That means us staying in a hotel for a few days. Which means sleeping on the cozy hotel mattresses, finding raspberry chocolates left on the pillows, and having an awesome view from the top floor.

Oh, and swimming in the indoor/outdoor pool. Can't forget the indoor/outdoor pool.

Did I mention that I love the hotel's indoor/outdoor pool?

~~~~~~

As many of you know, I love collecting quotes.

As many of you also know, I love playing with my Adobe Photoshop program.

So in addition to some other projects I've been working on lately, I've created a few simple designs that I'm thinking of selling as prints in my Etsy store.

What do you think?

~~~~~~

Remember my yellow dress post several months ago? While I never found a yellow dress then, here 'tis a dress that my Aunt Karen so sweetly gave to me and Elisabeth last week.

I was happy, excited, and all those other sunshiney feelings that come with wearing a yellow dress. Since Elisabeth is not much for photo shoots, Ellie and I decided to head down to the pond several days ago and have a yellow dress/floral dress photo shoot for fun.

Because that's what we do.

~~~~~~

I've been really slightly obsessed taken with listening to music from the 1964 film, 'My Fair Lady', starring the lovely Audrey Hepburn. I've never seen the whole movie (some language, I believe), but I absolutely, positively, completely love this song:

Just ask my family. They're subjected to listening to me belt out "I could have danced, danced, danced all nightttttttt..." whenever I'm at the sink doing dishes. Or cleaning the living room. Or sitting on the laptop blogging.

Actually, I sing it wherever I am. 

But it's totally not an obsession.

~~~~~~~

If you didn't know it before, you've probably guessed that the reason for the title is because this post has been a complete mish mash.

We'll try for a bit more poetic and refined title next time. ;)

Ciao for now, friends!