Starving Artist Ink.

As you know, my galleries are set up on Flickr–I have been thinking of making the change over, so my photos comply rely on my website… Flickr is such a great source to find new photographers, and get my pictures out there–with one problem… My pictures are out there, even of my niece, Lilly.

So I am letting you know that I have changed settings on Flickr-to allow only people marked as my family or friends to see Lilly, or any other baby or child that I upload to the public.

Please–if you would like to see my photos, create a Flickr account and become my friend. Let's stop these perverts from stealing pictures of the innocent children.

e.darcy

The sun is standing still in these winter hours… Not that winter has been that present-one chilly week, filled with ice, leaving behind the bones, skeletons, shards of naked trees.

Regardless, winter has been upon us, bringing with it the darkness. Sometimes the dark is so deep–I can't really tell if my eyes are open, the only give way being the soft stars in the sky.

A festival is brewing, the solstice comes with a full bellied moon.

The arrival of the new year looms. The new year, a time when we make false promises, have hope for the future for one night–but go back to living in dens, in the dark… Where warmth and tiredness sweep over. Hibernation.

Roads from all directions are leading to this house, bringing with it, our family. A babe full of happiness and joy will be here tomorrow, along with my brother and sister-in-law. Lilly is light, her smile is pure warm sunshine, and I can't even put into words how excited I am to have the house full of my clan.

She is my spring lamb in these dark December days.

e.darcy

*Beiwe is the spring and sun goddess of fertility and sanity worshipped by the Sami (the people of Finland).

In Sami myth, she travels with her daughter Beiwe-Neia through the sky in an enclosure covered by reindeer bones, bringing green plants back to the winter earth for the reindeer to eat. She was also called upon to restore the mental health of those who went insane because of the continual darkness of the long winter.

I was fourteen years old when I stumbled across a website from which you could enter in a country to where you were seeking a pen pal from… You could enter in information on the type of person you were wishing to communicate with, learn from, befriend… So naturally, I chose Ireland. A place I had always wanted to go to–a place that I loved to watch movies about. I was to meet up with one of these people in an Irish chat room-which opened a whole new realm to talking to the people who I could find out what this place was really all about.

So I made friends, chatting away to these people, making friends under ridiculous screen names, until one night when I was introduced to a boy my age…

I tell this story now, because it was around this time of year when we first started talking. I loved talking to him from the beginning. We talked for hours without having anything to really talk about… I never once thought that it would turn out to be a relationship-but the more and more we talked, the more and more I loved him.

e.darcy

After two years of typing, phone calls of shy silences, and love notes being sent back and forth-I boarded a plane and headed his way.

We shared our first kiss ever…

I was welcomed into a home full of people who had no idea who I was, a family who trusted that I was who he said… They welcomed me in with open arms, and plates full of delicious food!

So what is it, five, six years on? Engaged for over a year, married so we could never be parted, living between Ireland and the US…

I know it really is such a fairy tale, and it's our story…

We've had our share of ups and downs, our tearful goodbyes in airports, our anxiety and fear in immigration offices, and the stress of deciding where to live-how to be happy, who's family to say goodbye to. We are young-and in love, and our relationship is stronger than most.

I believe that he is my soul mate, and I his.

I love you babe.

I slept in bed so deliciously late today… Went out shopping with momma. Then on to Debbie's for a mini photo shoot of herself, and Jim. They will have been married for 15 years-the cutest little couple, with big laughs. I love them. They are warm and comfortable and more family than blood ever could be.

e.darcy

And then… I got to come home to a charming little girl-her momma, and her papa. This weather is killing the power around here and has left Angel and Dusty without any warmth in their house for their precious Auburn…

e.darcy

So they are here, full of cuddles-and camping on our couch. I love them.