Drive-by inspiration

I live in the suburbs, just seven miles from two different Target stores. Not in the city limits, but close enough.

But there are enough vestiges of rural life surrounding us that sometimes I pretend I live in the country. I find lots to inspire me as I make the daily drive to and from work and school and all the other places I need to be. And even as I go about my daily business.

A family of deer, so emboldened and brave that they walk up to my back porch so I can get a perfect view when I’m enjoying my morning coffee.

A little country cottage, painted the freshest white and trimmed in gorgeous shades of red and green.

Pastures full of grazing livestock.

The local cowboy church with its outdoor pulpit and hay bales for pews.

Abandoned barns and sheds, with wood just waiting to be salvaged and repurposed.

Fields planted with hay and corn.

A falling-down lean-to that I’m just dying to paint.

This chippy red mailbox, planted with the prettiest petunias.

I promise to show you more photos, later, of my inspiring surroundings. But the mailbox is all I have for today.

I know this is not much of a post. I have no recipes, no painting projects, no crafty transformations and no tutorials to share today. But I thought I owed you something because my posting frequency has slowed down a bit over the last week or so.

There are many reasons why. Lots of work deadlines to keep me busy. Planning and pulling together the details for a party for a 5-year-old who is about to turn six. Busyness surrounding the upcoming Southern Bloggers Conference. Family time. Downtime. TV time. Some behind-the-scenes transitions here at Atta Girl Says.

Come back tomorrow, and I will have a new post for you. I promise. For now, I hope you will take a moment to enjoy the inspiration around you.