Tied Together With A Smile

Two of my favorite girls.

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks. 

 ~Charles Gordy

 © copyright Linda Swanson all rights reserved

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© copyright Linda Swanson all rights reserved

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Keeps Gettin' Better

© copyright Linda Swanson all rights reserved

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For some people it's time for lots of reflection and changes in life. Many times in life we  go through a lot of pain and come out on the other side to know that the change becomes a new kind of adventure.  Here's to the beginning of freedom and remembering exactly who you are.

“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.” Thomas Merton quotes (American and Trappist Monk t Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Trappist, Kentucky, 1915-1968

We've Only Just Begun

© copyright Linda Swanson all rights reserved

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Ah! Young love -- so naive, so immature, so unsophisticated, yet ever so charming! Every generation warns the next of the heartaches and the heartbreaks that come with this love. Yet, each generation is eager to experience love. Authors have tried to express the happy occurrence we call young love.  I watched this young couple at the Getty Museum.  You could tell they were just getting to know each other, wanting to touch but not quite having the guts to try.  She, especially, was very flirty in an innocent, cute way.  I had to photograph them.  I've posted the original and then a Photoshopped version.

                  No, there's nothing half so sweet in life as love's young dream

Thomas Moore

Beautiful Kylee

© copyright Linda Swanson all rights reserved

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Since I haven't posted any pictures for the last 2 days I thought I'd post 3 today to make up for it.  I think that I've decided to do that from now on if I skip any days.  I loved the photo shoot I did with 3 of my favorite children last year.  In the next few days I'll post the boys.  Today it's Kylee's turn.  She's a natural beauty with the most amazing eyes.  What a sweetie.

"The world is as many times new as there are children in our lives." 

Robert Braul

Cover 'Em Up

© copyright Linda Swanson all rights reserved

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Ok, so now it's time for some beach pictures since it is summer!  I saw these two little girl playing in the sand and I thought they looked like they were having so much fun.  I think we all remember the days we had at the beach when there was nothing to do but have fun!  Ah, the carefree days of summer when you're 12, no bills, credit cards,  jobs, house payments, car payments, boyfriends, husbands, wives, children, etc., etc, etc, etc.......

The things which the child loves remain in the domain of the heart until old age. The most beautiful thing in life is that our souls remain over the places where we once enjoyed ourselves”

Kahlil Gibran quotes (Lebanese born American philosophical Essayist, Novelist and Poet. 1883-1931)

Indian Princess

© copyright Linda Swanson all rights reserved

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A few years ago I had the privilege of going to an authentic Indian Pow Wow.  I was in Oklahoma City and I believe this happens every year.  Many tribes come together and compete with their own tribe's dance and music.  Their costumes are amazingly detailed.  Each tribe is distinctive in dress and dance.  I haven't ever done anything with the photographs so I thought that maybe I'd put several of them up on this post this month.  It's worth looking at these photos up close to see the detail of the costuming.  I can only imagine the hours it took to put these costumes together, along with the expense of the materials.  I hope you enjoy!

Certain things catch your eye, But pursue only those that capture your heart.
An old indian saying