Mama Mutterings

Beautiful Eyes

2011-08-16T07:17:00.000-07:00

Participating today in the photography challenge at iheartfaces. The prompt is "Beautiful Eyes." Everywhere I go with my children, people comment on their eyes. They are beautiful -- blue, clear, vibrant. I can be a little bias, however.

I, also, have blue eyes. Growing up this was a singular and unusual trait . . . both of my parents and my sibling had brown eyes. It felt special to be unique in this way. It created some amusement; however, when I began to repeat as a toddler the facetious story that I "got my blue eyes form the mail man." :)

Love Affair with Queen Anne's Lace

2011-08-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

Love, love, love the delicate, mysterious beauty of these "weeds." I love the shape of this flower, and the delicate, graceful stems. And how it curls in on itself, like long fingers, to hold the seeds, ready to be blown by the wind.

We took the kiddos for a bike ride on a railroad converted to paved path. These are what caught and held my attention. What has captured yours recently?

Yellowstone Park -- Further Adventures

2011-08-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

There's so much to tell in trying to recount our family adventure of two weeks . . . it's a little overwhelming! My intention is to create a photo book of the trip and blogging is my dry run in telling the story. I'm so glad that before we left, I created a separate photo file for the trip and then organized my photos by the day taken. It has created a timeline that I can refer to when I begin to get a little fuzzy on the details.

We met up with my parents, Nana and Papa, at the West Entrance to Yellowstone Park. We had thought we wouldn't meet until we arrived at the camp site so it was a pleasant surprise to share lunch at Buffalo Bill's and then drive in together. Big D had already been on the look out for Buffalo and he was gravely disappointed when they didn't magically appear immediately upon entering the park. He had to wait a whole day before his first siting. And we had to hear much talk, winging and whining about it until he did!

The first evening was perfect! Sunny, warm and dry. We set up camp and the kids ran around collecting and making stuff. Big D made a bow and arrow that actually worked. It was his pride and joy. We learned all about bears. Two quite recent news stories about attacks/encounters in the park had us adults on high alert. We were advised that all food, cosmetics, food containers and water bottles would need to be secured in our vehicles unless immediately in use. This made meal prep and our daily treks into the park an adventure. That and the mosquitoes were the only downside to a truly lovely camping experience.

Just as we were preparing to make smores that first night, we had a doozy of a thunder and lightening storm. It was truly impressive! We laid in our tens and listened to the thunder roll around the mountain tops. Powerful. Fortunately, we stayed dry and by noon the next day, we had sun again. In the above pics you can see the tent drying out and the family huddled around the fire waiting for the sun to warm the camp.

Before we left on our trip, the kids and I decided that they would keep journals of their adventures. As we traveled, we collected stickers and they took pictures with their own cameras so that they could add them to the notebooks. They kids also worked on their Junior Ranger badges -- as Big D is in the picture above. They were given a newspaper with activities and assignments. When finished, they were to talk to a Ranger, take a pledge and the receive their badge. Serious business, folks!

A drippy start to the day as we checked out the Paint Pots. Kids were good sports and, like I said above, by noon it was warm and sunny. Just in time for Old Faithful.

Big D was determined to get a shot just as Old Faithful erupted. He stayed poised and ready for 15 minutes before hand. Then when it "blew," he was upset that maybe he wasn't getting the "just right" picture. Poor little man. Mama tried to tell him to relax and enjoy the moment. Plenty of pictures were being taken and I promised we'd share!

The landscape is so unusual and frankly, stark at times and lush at others. I can only imagine what it would have been like to stumble into this valley years ago. We were respectful of the wildness of the place and horrified to see other visitors rather carelessly move through the park. My dad had been reading a book about the accidents and deaths that have occurred in the park -- the vast majority out of a lack of respect and understanding of both the animals that live here and the natural phenomenon. Falling through the thin crust into boiling hot springs, approaching wildly unpredictable buffalo . . .

Photos make look like close ups be trust me, respectful distance maintained! My uncle lent me his super huge telephoto which was an adventure in itself! We saw a staggering array of wildlife throughout the trip: buffalo, grizzlies, elk, prong horn, beaver, bald eagle, osprey -- to name a few.

Big D chilling in the rockers in front of the General Store -- already fantasizing about that evening's smores and campfire. Good times!

Epic Road Trip -- The beginning

2011-08-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

Our trip actually started, as all mommies know, with weeks of planning and days of packing. This was made even more memorable by losing my voice completely in the 24 hours before departure. Relying heavily on whistling and sign language, the kids and I finished up the grocery shopping, laundry and packing before daddy got home from work. His forte is loading the car. A feat requiring fantastic spatial skills and patience if every last inch of cargo space is to be utilized!

Day 1 of actual travel dawned bright and sunny . . . as evidenced by the pained expressions in the above picture! You'd think they hadn't seen sun in days and were in danger of going up in a poof of smoke. What truly sealed the deal was that just as I was setting up the tripod for the below pictures, the sprinklers went off. Wish I'd caught the kiddos shocked and injured expressions.

After our "before" pictures, we hit the road, making tracks for Kettle Falls, WA, a mere 10 hours drive. Kids were fantastic as they were for most of the 3,000+ miles. Big D read, Little Sis was primarily self-entertained and on occasion, we were called upon to redirect their restless energy. Rest stops were mandatory opportunities to try the toilet and stretch your legs. Little Sis cracked me up. Never failed that she would energetically deny the need to use the bathroom, fume all the way into the stall and then whisper that, turns out, she really needs to go. It was a revelation to her each time!

We made such fantastic time that we arrived at Great Grandma's house in the mid afternoon. It was frustrating to not be able to talk with her and I relied heavily on hubby to "translate" my whispers into communication she could hear. She has not been well for some time and this may be the last visit we have with her. It is so hard to see loved ones grow old and tired. She clearly enjoyed the children and treating them to Drumstick ice-cream cones.

We took the ice-creams outside in order to spare the house and to get some photos. The kids and daddy had a great time followed by some running around in the yard, playing tag. Grandma sat at the front window and most certainly enjoyed the spectacle.

Kettle Falls is a rural community located about 40 miles south of the Canadian border. Such beautiful country and it holds a great deal of memories for me. I've been traveling to grandma's house since I was Little Sis's age. I know the roads and landmarks well. It'll be heartbreaking when there is no longer a reason to travel those roads again . . .

The children were sweet and attentive to grandma and she so enjoyed them. It was a good start to our adventure, setting the tone for creating family memories and togetherness.

Next stop, Yellow Stone! We're just getting started . . .

Every Day Things

2011-08-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness for Shutter Sisters! I'm not sure I'd ever get the pics from our trip blogged without their prompts the last two days. Today's theme is "every day things." Certainly the expected highlights of our trip were the wildlife but while "hunting" the elusive creatures of the wild, I found my eye drawn to these images. I imagine they are "weeds" and "pests" to most but since they don't live in my backyard, they are beautiful!

I love the delicate curling lines and the feather softness of the "fluff." Wish I was more well-versed in plant parts so I can better describe what I find so alluring!

This last was a capture on the side of the road at Custer State Park in Montana. We stopped just for this flower . . . if you've been to such a place where people expect to see some amazing animal around each bend, you'll remember how people pull over just to see what you might be seeing! Kinda made me giggle. :)

I hope to tell the story of the "epic road trip" in the next couple of days. It was such a amazing experience as only a family trip across five states and 3,000 miles can be!

Golden Light

2011-08-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

We're home! Two weeks and over 3,000 miles later, we have safely returned and begun to settle into our routines. I have so much to share but in response to today's Shutter Sister's prompt, I had to share perhaps my favorite pic of the trip. It was taken on Flat Head Lake, Montana while riding in my Uncle's boat. It was certainly a new photographic challenge to try to capture birds in flight while standing in a bobbing boat! This is a beautiful bald eagle that we first spotted perched on a snag. As we got closer and the angle of the lens changed, I was thrilled to see how the light changed, the flare, the color. It makes my heart happy!

4th Festivities and Excitement

2011-07-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

We had quite the day yesterday! Began by attending a local parade with one of Big D's friend's families. The parade was excellent. The drama wasn't. But first, let me tell you how beautiful the day was! Sunny, warm and a light breeze. Couldn't have custom ordered better weather. Now the drama . . .

Like most parades, no doubt, folks had "reserved" prime sidewalk turf the day before with tape and chalk. We knew this and weren't concerned. We figured that we'd find a place to stand and watch as we hadn't planned any further ahead. When we arrived, the other family had set up chairs on the sidewalk and we joined them on the curb. Little did we know that they had taken over part of another family's spot . . . a large, aggressive family, it turns out. This woman approached us and began swearing and insisting we had to leave. The mom responded that she would go find a police officer to solve the conflict at which point the other woman said she'd "assault" her in front of the officer. Hmm. I decided that this kind of language and animosity was not part of our family's parade plans and we quickly moved to the back. We watched from our perch on a lovely embankment (we had a great view, by the way) as the two women and the police officer "discussed" the difficulty. Once he left, the other woman's family essentially surrounded our acquaintances and made all manner of snide comments. They scared the children. Clearly their goal was intimidation. It felt unsafe to me and unnecessary.

Our little family made the best of it, enjoying the parade. Big D was tearful as he wanted to hang out with his buddy but eventually the other family joined us. I don't know why they didn't do it sooner! No point in "saving face" when you are in the wrong and your children are scared!

After a lovely lunch at home and a nap, the kiddos played in the sprinklers in the backyard. It was a little chilly in the breeze so that didn't last too long . . . but long enough to snap some fun pics!

We barbecued lots of veggies -- butternut squash, peppers, beets, onions and tofu. Yum! We ate them with millet and a homemade dressing. Then we had our own little fireworks show in the driveway.

The kiddos were super jazzed. Lots of oohs and ahs . . . our neighbors went crazy with massive firecrackers that went on until 11:00pm. Little Sis fell right asleep and wasn't bothered at all by the noise. Big D, on the other hand, had a tough time and ended up in our bed until it quieted down.

It was a wonderful day. Full of variety and fun. Each year gets better and better, as the children are able to enjoy more of the festivities.

How was your day?

Day 3 "ish" of the Summer Challenge

2011-07-02T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hi again. Twice in one day. Must be a Mama Mutterings record! Today marks the first canoe adventure of the season. And what a wonderful day it's been! We had a wee portage to our launching site. Don't I sound knowledgeable and sea worthy? As you can see below, we essentially carved a trail by dragging our canoe through thick and tall grasses.

Quick before I forget, let me tell you about all the amazing wildlife we say -- a baby raccoon at the side of the road. So wished we'd pulled over so that I could snap a picture. Small, fluffy and very, very cute. Unfortunately, it was a narrow road with no shoulder. Bah:( We also saw a Bald Eagle nest perched on top of a telephone pole with what looked like babies. Are they called chicks? Finally, an Osprey dove and caught a fish while we were watching from our canoe. Awesome!

Kids did reasonably well. They both seemed to think there was nothing new to see because we had been in the lake before and yet . . . note all the above wildlife features we saw! Silly nillies.

The man aka propeller at the back of the canoe. I sat in the front, lounged and took pictures, paddling occasionally.

Where we were we could see three mountains -- St. Helens, Hood and an unidentified third. Hubby has all sorts of guesses but we're relatively clueless. Adams?

Here's the photographic evidence of my presence on this trip. Relaxed toes, cool shoes and a beautiful sunny day!

Off to a "Rock'n" Start!

2011-07-02T07:33:00.000-07:00

Alright, so I haven exactly managed to take and post a picture each day . . . I maybe should have set the bar a little lower. Or in incremental steps! Like a photo every "couple of days" to be determined by the photographer :) I dashed outdoors one morning (not telling when exactly these delinquent pics were taken!) before getting showered for work and snapped these pics. I'm sure the neighbors enjoy the spectacle -- pj's, flip flops, and camera in hand.

I may be cheating a bit. I fixed all manner of errors in PS proving how badly I need to practice, practice, practice. I say that not in the frustrated manner of a young child told to sit at the piano for 30 min every day whether they like it or not. Truly. I love the process and tinkering and, more than anything, the beauty of seeing and creating.

Don't you love the way this bird seems surprised mid-bite? It might be that he is startled to find a humanoid out and about at the ungodly hour of 6:30am . . .

These last two are in their unprocessed glory. My sweet muffin and her daddy playing before he leaves for work. Of course they were coached to repeat this playful act a couple of times while mama remembered to change her menu settings for florescent lighting!

So looking forward to the long weekend! Time with family, watching a parade, a few fireworks. And getting ready for the "big trip."

How will you be celebrating?

New Resolution for Summer Time Photography Fun

2011-06-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

I have a new resolution . . . I want to recapture the fun and enjoyment of taking and sharing pictures! No "bad" thing has happened to prevent my doing that -- just a full and busy life. A life that I want to capture and hold on to. Just look what I would have missed if I hadn't deliberately brought my camera to this fun play date with friends!

My resolution is to take and post a picture most every day . . . in a couple of weeks, we'll be taking a massive road trip across the country with stops at Yellowstone and the Black Hills. I want to be well in practice with my camera so that I can document our adventures!

No pressure. No expectations for these daily opportunities for practice. I used to say in college when I'd drag my cold self to the pool at 6:00am that I was "forming a habit." Just had to go through the actions so that it became more natural and fluid . . . so, I'm forming habit of creating images and sharing. It's one I've fallen out of but I'm banking on "muscle memory"and the desire to create!

Love to have some tips on "documentary" kinds of photography. I find that I rarely get the results I want when I shoot candids of my kiddos. Posed or stills are one thing but actions when it is happening. Help!

Tulip Festival

2011-04-25T13:10:00.000-07:00

My creative juices are just barely sputtering . . . at least as far as they pertain to photography! Their energy is being reallocated to other endeavors and life is full and busy. I know that I need to create and so, I almost reluctantly pick up the camera but I fear there's been a serious regression! What I see and what I capture aren't quite the same thing. I'm a wee bit out of practice!

I have several adventures to share. They've been safely "stored" away on my camera for weeks, perhaps months. Now at least they have made it to my computer and may yet be posted!

What do you do to jump start your creative energy?

City Walk

2011-01-31T06:50:00.000-08:00

Had wonderful day yesterday! Enjoyed yummy coffee and a good conversation with a friend and then strolled along the streets with her, looking for photo subjects. I really want to take more urban pictures but get a little "stage fright" when out on my own. Isn't that silly? My friend has no such hang ups and helped me be a braver gal!

We both agreed that we should have begun our photo-walk earlier in our visit and snapped more pictures. Most of mine were disappointing. It was a cloudy day and I struggled with the right balance of shutter speed and aperture. Blur, blur, blur. I've been away from my camera too long . . .

I'm happiest with this pictures of a telephone (power?) pole that has succumbed to years of stapled adverts and flyers. Layers and layers of multicolored papers and rusted staples. The texture was just so interesting.

Today is a big day at our house. Big D has a report on an Asian country to give in class. May I ask, since when to 7 year olds do research and write reports? Hmm. Anywho. Sis has kindergarten Round Up. Not sure she'll appreciate a photo-happy mommy so pictures may not be forthcoming!

What's coming up in your week?

Close to Home

2011-01-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

How fortuitous that the Shutter Sisters prompt for today is to look Close to Home for photo inspiration . . . I think this is the first photo I've taken in at least two weeks. Just busy life, busy brain and busy children to keep me otherwise occupied. As I was cleaning up in the kitchen, I was struck by how pretty my faucet seemed. There was a bit of rare winter light coming in through the window. Much to Sis's amusement, I got out the tripod and fiddled around with a few pictures before returning to stove cleaning.

This morning, I am meeting a friend for chocolate and a camera talk and walk. I hope to have pictures to share or at the very least, bring home a little dose of inspiration to get me snapping this week!!

Fix it Friday #84

2011-01-28T10:14:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I've played along with Fix it Friday at i heart faces! So let's see . . . I used photoshop and here are my steps as best I can remember:

1. Threshold to identify highlight and lowlight and skin tone

2. Adjusted using curves

3. Used the highlight/lowlight tool

4. Cropped to remove the light

5. Added a layer with multiple, "erased" to create darker edges. There's a fancy name for that, right?

6. Used burn tool to bring out highlights in eyes

7. Added a bit of color to the blown out bits of the chair

8. Added a Totally Rad filter -- can't remember which!

Life is full and busy. But I'm determined to continue finding ways to include creativity and play. Took some fun pics this morning while cleaning the kitchen sink . . . I'm going to get back to the housework and grocery shopping but with an eye to other images to share later in the day!

Perspective

2011-01-06T07:14:00.000-08:00

Oh, I'm not sure I have many words to share. Just pictures snapped after school one day this week. I love that I got to pick up both of my children because I'm my own boss and take them to the park to play -- and then home for homework and dinner and night time routines. I love that we've eaten together as a family every day this week. My perspective has shifted . . .

A part of me worries that without the structure of a job, I won't be as driven. Maybe I need the pressure and demands in order to be effective in my role. Then I realize that is the voice of fear speaking. Of course I'm motivated and though this building up time is slow, the pace will accelerate. Now is the time to establish the balance I and my family need so that I can hold that line as the business grows.

There has been a tension between what I believe families need and how I help families in my work and how I've managed my own family . . . now I get to bring these two things more in line. Attend to my own children's needs before I turn to those of other families. Ah. This is good. This is right!

Grow

2011-01-05T07:11:00.000-08:00

Ok. Moment of truth. Shutter Sisters posted a challenge for the New Year of picking ONE word to "influence" and "shape" the entire year. Picking the word was easy -- grow. I want and intend to grow in so many ways! Of course there is the new practice that I want to grow. And there are friendships and community that I want to grow. And I want to grow my skills in creating balance for myself and my family.

Now that all sounds well and good, you say, but what's with the pictures? Well, there was this other Shutter Sisters entry about allowing yourself in front of the lens rather than always being the safe and invisible photographer in the scenes you shoot. Guilty. I have a love/hate relationship with my body. Don't we all? Some lucky gals are comfortable in their skin and have a certain confidence that makes them beautiful and sensual. I want that! I want to grow into loving myself and living whole hearted.

So the first photo was my not-so-courageous self-portrait. And then I took a day or two to work on my nerve and tried again. I like it. It makes me nervous that I like this second photo. And more than a little nervous to share it. This is what it feels like to grow. Uncomfortable. Nervous. Wanting to go back to safety and the known.

In what ways do you want to grow and stretch this year? I'd love to hear :)

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T07:59:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a bright and beautiful start to 2011!

Need for Speed

2010-12-30T23:19:00.000-08:00

Playing with motion and shutter speed today. Amazing how much more willing my subjects are when they can play!! Doesn't hurt that mama has the ability to use the remaining holiday cookies as bribes . . .

New Beginnings

2010-12-29T13:40:00.000-08:00

I've been away from this blog and photography for quite some time. So many distractions. Good ones! Exciting changes and new beginnings under way!

I've begun my own private practice and just before the holidays, I left my job so that I could concentrate on my own enterprise full time. It is exhilarating and terrifying. Inspiring and exhausting. For several months, the details of finding an appropriate space, establishing the business part of the practice and beginning to develop referral sources was all-consuming. And now I can feel the energy building and the practice is growing, bit by bit.

One of the many reasons that I took this step was to nurture balance in my life. Already I've attended field trips with my children that previously I would not have been able to! I look forward to actually sticking to the weekly menu I outline and family dinners at the table. Oh, and photography and creativity! So much to look forward to. An adventure to be sure!

What have you been up to while I've been away? New adventures of your own?

Summer Craziness

2010-08-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

I have been absent most (ok, all) of the summer . . . it's just been CRAZY. So much that I don't know even where to begin! I'll gloss over the last two months, saving it up for a future entry and instead tell you about yesterday. It was a "pinkalicious" day with Little Sis.

Yesterday was a mom and daughter event, featuring lots of pink. Here's our list of accomplishments:

painted pink toe and finger nails
made pink-frosted cupcakes
bought new pink undies
watched Dora who I think was wearing pink
made some pink jewelry
and of course, we wore pink

We picked up Big D early and headed to a local fountain to play and cool off. I got to experiment with my iphone and a polaroid ap. Very fun! In all the busy-ness this summer, I have missed creating beautiful photos and sharing them.

Today is Big D's day with mama. We will do his school shopping, get him a haircut and then do some sort of project. He's excited about the prospect of helping me sand two little tables I'm rejuvenating for my office.

There is so much to share! Good things are afoot.

What has kept you busy this summer?

Beach Adventures

2010-06-06T07:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we loaded into the car for a quick, nearly spontaneous trip (I'm not real good with spontaneous -- it was a personal growth opportunity:) to the beach. We met friends and while the daddies played with the children, the mamas went running. We ran, on the beach no less, for nearly an hour. Oh my. Good for training, casual girl talk and appreciating several miles of a lovely beach!

All done and sweaty and cooling rapidly, I grabbed just a very few pictures of my sweet children in the evening light.

We live so close -- just an hour and some change, yet we rarely make the trip. Hubby and I said repeatedly that we will take the kids to the beach more often this summer. It is often gorgeous and just right when things are steamy at home.

Today is meant to be hubby's and my introduction to windsurfing . . . it's raining, of course. It seems as if the rain will never stop her in the Northwest! Oh. My. Goodness. Crossing our fingers for a fun and productive day on the river. And that the kids don't lose their ever-livin' minds in the back of the van. They certainly have a enough toys and games stashed away to entertain them while their parents flop about in the water. Expect a full report and potentially embarrassing photos to come!

Shadow Self

2010-06-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

I've been working away, learning Photoshop CS5 . . . among other things! Wouldn't it be fabulous if we could completely turn our attention to one thing until we feel its been given its due or we are done! Laundry doesn't count! Repeatedly I'm reminded that with everything one thing we choose, another thing is not chosen. Photography, though near and dear to my heart, has not been chosen as often as I'd like in recent weeks.

My mind has not been inactive even if my camera has gathered a bit of dust. On my heart has been this shrieking, unpleasant child that lives inside of me. All needy and grasping and embarrassing as heck. She's well hidden, tucked away from view, but oh-so-vocal in my mind's ear. My traditional mode of dealing with this unattractive waif, has been to chastise her and tell her that her wants and demands are selfish, unkind, immature. I've had a revelation in the last couple of days. This child requires special care and tending. And I know just the person for the job. Me.

How odd for a therapist to come lately to the idea that the compassion and kindness extended to those in her care can be extended to herself. That she knows from a deep-down place what is needed. She knows how to sooth unsettled and frightened children. Why not the child that rages within her own rib cage? It was a powerful thought that I could turn to this child and say, "It's ok. I will make sure your needs are met. I will look after you." Mothering myself, able to accept this place as part of my own personal development. This, too, shall pass.

How have you become friends with your own shadow self?

Yellow

2010-05-23T19:54:00.000-07:00

All we've had for a week is rain, rain, rain. So happens we have a yellow rain coat and a very willing subject when it comes to mud, rain boots and flopping about in the clover field! As we walked hand in hand through the field, getting ready to take some pictures, he said, "I like being alone with you, mama." Oh, me too. Me too. . .

Lazy Rainy Day

2010-05-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting at the kitchen table listening to Little Sis tell herself stories and play contentedly in the other room. There is a light rain and a chill in the air. Dramatic shift from the sun and warmth this past weekend. Spring in the Northwest. It has been a long couple of weeks with sick kiddos, prep to give a two-day training and general upkeep and maintenance. I'm plum tuckered out and am having a heck of a time motivating to do the Friday chores. Perhaps I won't fight it. Perhaps I'll sit down with the stack of magazines that have accumulated over the last few weeks, a cozy blanket and drift in and out of a lazy afternoon. This assumes, of course, that the wee one will cooperate and that I can tolerate the dust bunnies! In all likelihood, it'll be the dust bunnies and empty fridge that will motivate me out of this chair.

Faces and Flowers

2010-05-17T16:50:00.000-07:00

This week's challenge at I Heart Faces is Faces and Flowers. This a photo of my daughter celebrating her 4th Birthday. Everything was pink and fluffy and very fancy!

Color and Creativity

2010-05-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

Life has been full and busy. Work has crept into the edges, taking the bits and pieces left over after a long day . . . next week a coworker and I will give a 2 day training for our colleagues. It is a lot of work to pull together the materials and what-not for such an event! I'll be relieved when it is done and I can spend my spare time on more creative and rewarding activities. Well, that's not entirely true. I am a teacher at heart and I have enjoyed creating the presentation. Its the age-old dilemma: Choosing one thing means deferring another.

Yesterday the family and I basked the in the sun, playing at the park, walking and taking pictures. It could be true that I mostly appreciated that last activity! Little Sis had been sick this week with croup. Sunday night found Hubby with her at the ER while I stayed with brother at home. She hasn't slept well all week and of course, neither have we. My father in-law came down from Seattle on Wednesday night so that he could watch us on Thursday. So grateful.

Yesterday we laid low. Played at the park. Walked. Took pictures. We had warm, sunny weather and all of Portland seemed to be outdoors. I kept up with my training and ran 6.5 miles at pretty good clip. Funny how my legs are feeling a little wobbly today!

Clouds are expected today but not before some yard work and planting. Sundays are such a hodge podge of activities. Laundry, yard work, errands, prep for the work and school week.

I can't stop!!!

2010-05-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

Apparently my inspiration comes in bursts, unevenly scattered throughout the day. I think this, finally, is my favorite!! Added some interest around the edges -- not exactly burning the edges. Used a neutral gray fill layer on overlay mode than painted with black with a really big brush around the edges.

Fix it Friday #54

2010-05-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

Yea, for I Heart Faces and Fix it Friday! This Christina is the proud mama of this blue-eyed boy. So here's edit #1. . .

And here's edit #2. Only difference with #2 is that I changed one of the texture (a gold bokeh) from "screen" to overlay to deep the contrast rather than lighten it. I think I like the second better. You?

Hoping to have some time this weekend to take and play with pictures. It has been a crazy couple of weeks. Today it is warm and bright. I have flowers to plant, a warm spot on the couch waiting for me to nap and a promise to fulfill to make a "treat" with the kids.

Oh, man just had to add another edit (few hours later . . . ). Added a blue fill layer and masked his skin excepting his eyes. Soft light and adjusted opacity. I think I like this one . . .

Fix it Friday #53

2010-05-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

Leticia from Blessed with Five Boys contributed a sweet picture for today's Fix it Friday. I'm so grateful I'm tired of my own pictures and haven't been able to pick up my camera in days!!

So here's what I did in Photoshop:

1. curves adjustment first to find neutral for the highlight and low-light then for the skin tone

2. hue and saturation to again adjust skin to remove pink/red -- mask to add back in pretty lip color

3. Gaussian blur filter on overlay -- adjust highlights and shadows

4. Adding vignette effect by using a black layer on overlay and painting in neutral gray on baby's face. I think that's an accurate description?

The kids are squabbling, the house is a mess and its "preparation day" around here, meaning time to clean, launder and shop for Sabbath. I wish I had the motivation to get cracking!! We're supposed to have beautiful weather today and I'm itching to be outside. How are you spending your Friday?

Ok, was inspired and went back for another looksie. Crop, addition of a texture, paint on the skin, brightened eyes . . . ah, like so much more than Take 1!!

Sun Breaks

2010-05-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was full of dramatic shifts in light with passing clouds of various density. We decided to explore a new nature park and boy did we find some wonderful things! As an aside, we finally identified what Poison Oak looks like . . . still waiting to see if evidence will show up on our skin!

The first find was hummingbird perched atop a tree, fluttering his wings in the breeze. I attempted to capture his fleeting beauty but was too far away and not quick enough . . . I do so much better with stationary objects!

We saw a wonderful profusion of wildflowers and creeping vines . . . didn't too close once we heeded the warnings about the Poison Oak. In fact, once I got home, I examined my photos with the kids to see if they were sitting in it! Fortunately, looks like they missed it.

It was a lovely afternoon with tremendous views. Rolling hills, dramatic cloud banks, bursts of sun . . . bird songs and children's gibberish and laughter.

It is Sunday again. How well did I meet my goals from last week? Its a work in progress. It's about the little steps moving in the self-appointed direction. Always balancing the priorities against each other. I did meet my training goals, some of my meditation goals and missed by a bit my goal to continue reducing TV. But it is Sunday again. The start of another week. Another opportunity to play this game and move closer to the goal!

Fix it Friday #52

2010-04-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

The day is nearly over but I'm still going to play! This picture was full of possibilities -- as you can tell looking through all the wonderful submissions so far. So here's what I did -- started with curves, cropped, removed distractions, burned the yellow/black sign and the edges of the road and finally, use the Bubba Wildcat texture from Totally Rad. That's it. Oh, no. One more step. Added Gaussian blur to a duplicate layer and put it in Overlay mode.

Reflect and Anticipate

2010-04-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

Sunday evening seems like a good time to reflect on the prior week and begin to anticipate the next. I almost said something about resolving to do this and that in the coming week but I'm trying not to become attached to outcomes. Tricky as I'd still like to get a few things done:)

This past week's triumphs were completing the requirements for licensure, meeting my triathlon training goals and reducing, though not eliminating, media time. Of course, photography and editing excluded!

So what about this week? Not really over the hump of figuring out how to routinely meet training goals. It is so hard to get out of the bed early before work and nearly impossible to force myself at the end of the day. I've been cramming all the training into the four days I don't work. Doable at the current level of intensity and duration. Not so much in a few more weeks. And then there's balance and my children and . . . stop. Focus. I'd also like to spend a few minutes each morning while hubby is showering to meditate. This would be a new practice for me. I'm a little uncertain how to get started and will be glad to have the kids sleeping and husband behind a closed door!

What's on your plate this week?

Happily Photoshop Learning

2010-04-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

A little BEFORE . . .

and AFTER . . .

I've been busily learning away in the last 24hr. And man-oh-man, what a marvelous thing Photoshop is! I was plenty happy with this pic before I learned all about the fantastic ways you can adjust colors with curves and add glow and, and, and . . . but now I LOVE it. Printed out both and am marveling and the difference.

There is an artistic dilemma. Or maybe not. What do you think? Is it "cheating" to do post processing? Should the photo be what you saw in your mind's eye SOOC? Frankly, I'm not sure how much I care. Art is creating something unique and uniquely yours. I do hesitate in "fixing" the faces of people who I believe are beautiful just as they are. We have become too accustomed to a false ideal of beauty. Humans have dark eye circles. We have uneven skin tone and blemishes. We show our age in our eyes and smile lines. When we keep erasing these artifacts of living, we deny who we are. Now, don't hold me to this when you see pictures of me finessed!

The end of a journey

2010-04-22T06:43:00.000-07:00

This humble Thursday marks the end of a long journey . . . if all goes well, I will have finally accrued the massive number of hours needed to be licensed as a professional counselor. I don't quite believe its possible! It has been five years since completing my graduate degree and in that time, I've worked part time, had a second child and temporarily lost my job when there were budget cuts. And here I am today with 5 hours left . . . . unless all my clients decide that the sunshine is good cause to miss their appointments today, I'll be done early this afternoon. I need to pinch myself!

This has been a central focus of my attention for a few weeks now as I've steadily watched the number of hours still left to document dwindle but that's not to say there haven't been exciting prospects and projects on the horizon.

1. A friend has gifted me an unused copy of photoshop and I can't wait to dig into the tutorials on Lynda.com so that I can begin learning how to use this amazing software.

2. I want to redesign my website. Feels as if I've outgrown this particular layout but I'm not sure where to begin in creating a new one. Ideas, anyone?

3. Training for a triathlon this summer. It's been 3 years since my last one . . . I'm older, slower and a wee bit more distracted! But boy does it feel good to be running, biking and swimming. And I get to share it with a good friend.

4. And this summer, hubby and I intend to learn how to windsurf. I even have a gift certificate for lessons!! I can hardly wait . . . we'll camp on the river, sit in the sun, play with the kids in the water and hopefully, experience some soft of success with getting up on the board ;)

What plans and excitement have you got hovering on the horizon? Please share!

Fancy Nancy turns Four

2010-04-20T19:01:00.000-07:00

How did I miss posting my sweet girl's 4th birthday celebration?! Mercy. It was quite the affair. Pink. Fancy. That nearly sums it up. She is quite the fan of the Fancy Nancy books so this mama obliged.

There was the pink feathered boa, party hats, fancy table decorations and most amazing of all (in my humble opinion!) a three layered chocolate cake with home made pink frosting with chocolate shavings and cherries on top . . . Sis was also quite fancy, calling us all darling and using various other big words.

Hubby and I commented to each other frequently how disconcerting it was to see her so immersed in pink and dainty play-acting. She pranced about in her new plastic play heels, made pretend grocery lists on her pink Hello Kitty pad of paper and wore her boa and sunglasses with quite a deal of grown up decorum. So very sweet and cute. And yet, I don't want to rush her into the grown up girl world of worry about appearances and fashion. I have resisted the Princess stories, wanting instead to fill her imagination with strong, active girls who could care less about winning Prince Charming. People tell me its a losing battle. That pink and princess is part of the female genetic code. Well, we'll see. Perhaps we can encourage the budding activist that fights against injustice (you should see her on time out!), the athlete that competes alongside the boys, the mathematician or engineer . . . . the possibilities are endless. The stories she can write with her life are far more inspiring and exciting and rewarding then the pre-packaged tales sold by Disney. Who knows what else she (and we) will discover she can be!

We are so proud of you, Sis! All your spunk, intelligence, energy, tenderness . . .

Bubblelicious

2010-04-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

Sun low in the sky, bubbles and a happy boy.

My dad was visiting last weekend and for a bit of play as well as some experimentation on my part, I bought bubbles. The kids twirled and jumped and giggled while Papa and I took pictures and laughed at their antics.

It was wonderful. It had felt like weeks (and really kinda had been) since I'd just enjoyed taking pictures, thrilled with the images I see in front of me. It was like taking a deep cleansing breath . . .

Hoping for plenty of relaxed down time with the family this weekend. No plans, just ideas of how we might spend our time.

How will you be spending your weekend?

Fix it Friday #50

2010-04-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

I'm playing along with iheartfaces today and this is their Fix Friday challenge. The photo was submitted by Debbie and what a beautiful girl she has!

So here's how I played today:
1. Levels adjustment to lighten things up
2. Selected and then sharpened the eyes
3. Painted the skin area after selecting the tone from her face, adjusted opacity
4. Smoothed out the skin by using the surface blur filter (Not sure that's what's it for but I like it)
5. Clone stamp for a few little blemishes and to smooth out under eye lines
6. Flattened the layers and then added an overlay layer (to make colors pop a bit more), adjusted opacity
7. Finally, added an omni lighting effect and again adjusted for opacity. I centered the light on her left cheek. I kinda like the the way it creates a lovely glow on her face and highlights her eyes.

So much fun!!

Celebrating "Three"

2010-04-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

A coworker and friend honored me by asking if I'd take pictures of her sweet newly-three year old son. Oh, he was fun! He ran and rolled and blew bubbles and attacked dandelions with vigor.

We had beautiful sun all day. I was drooling with the anticipation of taking some lovely late afternoon pics. And then the clouds rolled in and it got dark. Very dark . . . Never fear, the bright fresh colors of Spring and his red sweater, saved the day!

Thank you, for letting me play with your boy and take pictures. So much fun. And it really is a pleasure to be able to give a mama pictures that will capture this precious, passing moment. It goes by so quick. The "baby" pictures that I have of my two children will likely always be on my walls. I can't bear to hide them behind new pictures . . . it creates quite a dilemma. I'm simply terrible about framing some of the recent pictures so they pile up on the bulletin board and in computer files. I need someone to take charge of filling my picture frames:) Anyone up for the task? I don't pay much but I'd happily return the favor with pictures.

What do all you avid photographers do with your photos? Do tell!

Again?

2010-04-13T06:44:00.000-07:00

He, he. How appropriate! A shot of porta potties . . . I'm back in that place of feeling small and inadequate and all self-doubting. When will this go away! I'm sick of coming back to this particular intersection in my journey. Oh, there's a story to go with this feeling but it is uninteresting in its everydayness. Just an off day, saying and doing the seemingly wrong things, cranky kids and a messy house. It clearly doesn't take much. But enough. Let me tell you why I took a picture of these lovely Sani Huts!

A dear friend of mine and I ran the 8K at the Shamrock Run. It was a beautiful and clear morning -- lots of sun as you can see in my sun flare obsessed photo above. There were thousands of runners in several different events. It was quite the party on the waterfront.

I'm the gal with the blue headband . . . we had a blast. There is a certain energy that gathers with the crowd at the starting line. A sense of being part of something big and exciting. You end up grinning at complete strangers because you share a goal and an adventure.

Does she look excited? Just a bit? :)

My children were cold. It was the first race they had gone to and I was so aware of their presence. I want to share with them the joy of a strong, healthy body. Sadly, hubby and kids did not see my "grand" finish. Huffing and puffing.

It was a wonderful day. And there are many, many of those. I need to practice forgiveness and compassion for my little ol' self when the self-doubting days come now and again.

Lovely Day

2010-04-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

It was a busy, busy weekend. Little Sis celebrated her 4th birthday with family on Saturday. It was quite the "Fancy Nancy" affair. Pics to follow shortly . . . and that afternoon, after dropping my dad off at the airport for his return flight, we headed to Forest Park for some picture taking.

I wanted to see what kind of light I might find at that time of day as the next day, I was to take pics of a coworkers newly three-year old son. What I found was lovely! Apparently I'm a little partial to sun flare. Though I can imagine some well-meaning person thinking some terrible accident had marred the photos!

Big D was in fine silly form as usual. Initially both of my children played hard to get while mama tried to take their pictures. I was getting a wee bit huffy! Then some running and rolling down the hill seemed to joggle their helpfulness back into position.

I wish I was a better person when life becomes chaotic and unpredictable. This was a beautiful weekend - celebrating a sweet girly girl. I so enjoyed baking her cake and fixing her birthday lunch. And I enjoyed seeing her grandparents and brother join in the fun with her. But I also watched myself become more edgy and irritable. Why is that? Oh, I know why. I just don't like the answer. It's my struggle to stay present in the moment. To be responsive and flexible to what the moment demands without getting sucked into thinking and feeling the demands of what the next moment might present.

I'm working on it. Right now in this moment, I'm enjoying my cup of coffee, listening to the dryer and appreciating the spring rain falling outside the window. In a moment, the kids will pop out of bed like energizer bunnies and we'll be off . . .

More B&W and Catching up a Bit, too

2010-03-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

Oh, I'm feeling inspired to continue playing with B&W images! Before I began dappling with photography, I always admired black and white shots. There is something clean and uncluttered about a well composed photo -- it allows you to really see the expressions on the subject's face. I personally find it much more challenging to create an interesting image that is equally powerfully without color!

And now for the catching up portion of today's entry . . . Big D had two weeks for Spring Break. A great idea for older students who use the time to participate in mission trips, etc. but for the younger set, its a headache for working parents. I took some time off last week and my mom (Nana) came for a visit. A wonderful time was had by all. We took a trip to the zoo one day. A gloriously sunny day. The next was an adventure to the mall to restock tennis shoes for the summer, get Little Sis' hair cut and finally, dinner and a movie for the grown up girls. Perhaps my favorite day was when we went down town to browse a fantastic toy store, road the street car, ate pizza and spent time reading in Powells. Ah. Perfect. The above picture is of Big D sucking up his portion of the 100% apple juice while waiting for his pizza.

My mother had a birthday just before her visit and it is my tradition to make the birthday person's choice of cake from scratch. Her choice was a mocha chocolate case with a glaze on top. Little Sis, in the first pic above, is licking every last crumb off her plate. It was rather tasty if I say so myself!

Drama in general -- Black and White, specifically!

2010-03-28T18:27:00.000-07:00

This week's challenge at iheartfaces is DRAMA in black and white. I haven't spent much time playing with B&W images but I've certainly got more than my share of experience in the drama department. Oh. My. Goodness. Little Sis has found her inner Princess and she's a yeller. But rather than elaborate on the chaos that has recently descended upon my home, I'll share a little about the making of this photo.

I get a great deal of my photo editing tips from Rita at CoffeeShop. About the time we were putting up our Christmas tree this year, she gave a wonderful tutorial on using natural light. Feeling inspired, I grabbed a black blanket, my hubby to hold it, a string of white lights and the kids. They were generally good sports but they really wanted to get back to the tree . . . The photos turned out a little overexposed, so I opened them in Camera Raw and fiddled around a bit. Further editing and several months later -- Ta Da!

I'm inspired to work with B&W images now that I've gotten a taste!

Vivid

2010-03-28T09:21:00.000-07:00

The tulips are blooming vivid red and orange and yellow in my yard. And when the sun broke through the Spring rain, I ran into my yard in my pajamas and my husband's shoes, to capture the brilliant diamonds of water on the leaves and petals.

There's a week's worth of photos cluttering my desk top, waiting for my attention. Big D is on Spring Break -- for two weeks. One down, one to go.

Fix it Friday

2010-03-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

It's Fix if Friday at I Heart Faces and this is the beautiful photo we have to play with. I use PSE 8 and I'll try to remember all the steps below.

1. Messed with levels and brightness/contrast. 2. Sharpened the eyes and then used the dodge tool to bring out the highlights and lovely brown 3. Used an overlay and then a screen layer at various opacities 4. Clone tool to lighten the under eye circles

Then I sat and wondered if anything more would add to the image . . . can't think of anything! I love the contrast and her beautiful skin. Ah. . . good way to start the day:)

Balance -- Finding the Center

2010-03-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

Today we are spending the day with friends, having a spiritual service in their home. The theme is Balance and I've been asked to lead the discussion . . . it's rather amusing, really! My dear friend knows that understanding and finding balance has been my quest these last several months. I'm not sure that we can say I've been successful yet but I've certainly been on a journey. So I'd like to share some of my thoughts with you, my benevolent and mostly quiet, audience.

1. Adult life has brought many, varied responsibilities and demands. I tended to manage by making to-do lists and staying focused on the tasks to be completed. Any of you who are moms know that our lives can easily be consumed by repetitive mundane jobs that once done almost immediately have to be repeated. I knew that I was unsettled, lacking contentment, and felt guilty for not cherishing my time at home with the wee ones.

2. From the to-do list to a pie chart -- I began to see my own personal resources of energy and emotional engagement as finite. I had to divvy them up carefully, taking into account the needs of family, household care, work, friendships and eventually, myself. Still there was an unsettled feeling that the demands of others so far out number or outweighed the needs of self that there'd be little time or room left for my own pursuits. I realize as I type this that I'm uncomfortable acknowledging my own interests and needs. There is a belief that as a mom and wife, I should selflessly place those after those of my family. The image of a tug-a-war competition comes to mind -- two opposing forces vying over my time, energy and resources. In this analogy, I suppose I felt myself to be the rope!

3. Hats -- there was more freedom and acceptance in envisioning myself as the owner of many hats. If I had to put off a particular part of my identity, it could be put back on. If I deferred my athletic self or artistic self in order to be more fully engaged in the young lives of my children or the demands of my job, I had the expectation that I would be able to embrace those parts of my self later . . .

4. This fall, I found myself rapidly burning out of a job that I love. Now in hindsight, I can see that the balance between being accommodating versus remaining grounded in the knowledge of what I (and my family needed) was the culprit. The teeter totter tipped too far in favor of accommodation, flexibility and caregiving . . . leaving me depleted, sad and overwhelmed. In efforts to recover a balance, I became more assertive at work, made changes in my job description and established firmer boundaries in the use of my time. My mantra was that I successfully balance my work and life.

5. This began my true quest in finding new ways of seeing balance. Of better understanding the opposing and at times, equally valuable forces that I'm seeking to negotiate successfully. Acceptance of myself and others as we are now versus striving for change. Both good, both necessary. Care of self versus care of others. Ways of knowing -- intuition versus logical, linear thinking. Flexibility versus organized, consistent routine. No rights and wrong. This requires radical acceptance!

6. My final thought, or really image, is of a changing, powerful ocean which is our lives. Unpredictable, at times dangerous and at others beautiful. Without balance, we feel ungrounded, at risk of being swept away and overwhelmed. But if we can ride or surf the waves, riding along the top, we can be both carried by change and centered. Balance itself is always shifting and changing -- moving your weight from one foot to another, front of the board to the back. Your center remains true.

Little Sis and Daddy

2010-03-18T20:12:00.000-07:00

Ah, beautiful sun today. When I came home from work, I found my family on the back porch, soaking it up like cats. Well, one of my cats was a bit sulky because he was supposed to be doing homework! Notice his absence from the photos . . . oh dear.

My dear hubby is so delightfully photogenic. And game to do just what I ask. He and Little Sis are good sports -- though it is not hard, at all, for the two of them to ham it up together. She is in love with her daddy! And he with her.

We have a weekend of sun and mild temperatures in our forecast. We have plans to spend time with friends, kitty-sit for another friend and do a little Spring Cleaning. Feels good to air the house out, tidy the closets and plan for the coming season of warm outdoor fun.

Gratitude

2010-03-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

Reminding myself, on the eve of another work week, of the things and people and intangibles that fill me with gratitude:
1. A husband who, as I type, is washing the bowl he just mixed our baked oatmeal in. Because of his kindness, we will have a hot breakfast and cut grapefruit to begin our day.
2. A quiet house. The children are sleeping. Ah.
3. Longer days -- meaning, when we all return home in the evening, we can begin to walk outdoors, play, even eat our suppers on the porch. It is the beginning of my favorite time of the year!
4. Laundry done (though not put away).
5. A delicious curry supper that the whole family enjoyed. That's a rarity!
6. Healthy children who are growing and full of energy and love. More on that later . . .
7. Good friends who celebrate in my successes and encourage me.
8. A mind that likes to stretch and grow and think thoughts worth thinking!
9. Strong body that also likes to stretch (but we'll not discuss the growing!)
10. Productive day. A sigh of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Today while driving to pick up Big D from school, Sis had quite an imaginative game going from the back seat. She was a cook in a restaurant and she kept taking my orders. If I happened to misunderstand what it was I needed to request, she would prompt me helpfully. Then the game shifted ever so slightly and she announced that I would be her Sweetie and she continue to be my cook. Our dialogue went something like this:

What do you want to eat, Sweetie?

I would like apples with peanut butter.

Ok, Sweetie.

Thank you, Yum, Yum.

What else would you like to eat, Sweetie?

Um. Crackers, please.

Alright, Sweetie.

This continued with mild variations. If very much felt as if I was listening in on a typical mid day snack discussion, except our roles had been reversed. It was reassuring to hear her kind, gentle tone. My hope being, of course, that that is how she experiences my communication with her. Oh, I know that there are plenty of times when my scary voice is, well, scary. And certainly both of my sweet tots let me know when they disapprove of my mothering ways . . . but in sweet play like this, I choose to believe that this is how they generally experience me.

It's been a beautiful day!

Bleeding Hearts

2010-03-13T19:59:00.000-08:00

A little color from our walk about the neighborhood this evening. I had plans to be witty and delightful. Eh. Tomorrow is the Portland Shamrock Run. Despite sniffles and various-virus inspired elements, I plan to run! Oh, you'll be missing a good time. Pass the Kleenex, please!

Fix it Friday

2010-03-12T08:47:00.000-08:00

This is my first stab at Fix it Friday at I Heart Faces. Now, I haven't quite got all my wits about me as I'm home with the sniffles . . . so I'm not sure I can describe very well what I did. And let's be honest. Half the time, if it turns out well, its beginner's luck! I did add a soft layer to the skin, brightened the eye area, cloned out the distraction in the bottom left corner, added texture, a colorful background and a polaroid frame. I think that's about it. Oh, and before all that there was levels adjustment and increased contrast.

And here's the original:

This was lots of fun and each time I fiddle, I learn more and more about what PSE can do! Now to take my place on the sofa with my juice and Kleenex box. Cheers.

Kitty Love

2010-03-09T06:46:00.000-08:00

This is our other kitty -- Odyssey is her name. I'm feeling inspired to share some of my childhood memories by Georgia's post today.

I remember the litany of kitties that joined our family at various times -- our very first kitty was Tinkerbell and we would play doctor with the poor dear. And swing her around by her front paws. We were not cruel children, my sister and I. We just thought she'd enjoy that as much as we did when our dad swung us in the yard! She was a patient puss. Never scratched or bit. Though she did hide her litter of kittens from us -- repeatedly. Hmm . . .

We moved around quite a bit as children. Our parents were church school teachers and generally made a move every 3-4 years. When we moved across country to Nebraska, Tinkerbell found a home with an elderly lady. Actually, she was cat-napped. The woman refused to relinquish our kitty because our new home was in the country and she feared that coyotes would gobble up our little friend. So, my sister and I got new kittens. Cinders, who was an all black kitty and the runt of the litter, and Frisky. Poor Frisky met her fate under the wheels of the family car . . . but Cinders was a spry, unstoppable kitty that stayed with our family for 16 years.

Cinders was a resilient and tough. She treed tom cats and chased dogs out of our yard. Apparently no one told her she weighed maybe 5 pounds! Her devotion knew no bounds. She followed us on walks, a little shadow at our heels. She brought gifts to the back door and was never put off by our squeals and disgust. Nothing made her happier than finding an empty lap or sharing our popcorn with us.

Staying with the theme of worthiness -- pets love us unconditionally and without expectation. Well, I supposed they'd like to have regular feed and water! But barring that, it amazes me how loyal they remain when our life circumstances shift, new children join the family and our pets get short shift. They continue to sit at our feet, purr when we pat their heads and follow us with their eyes. Its no wonder that pets are so good for our mental health!

My mantra for today, who I hope will shadow my moves on kitty feet, is that I am worthy of this love and devotion. Not just from my pet but my family and friends. That I can accept it with open arms and gratitude!

Worthy!

2010-03-08T16:13:00.000-08:00

Today in my happy blog wanderings, I came across Brene Brown's blog, Ordinary Courage . . . it is kismet. It is inspiring! I'm at risk of gushing and embarrassing myself. She is a smart, educated and articulate woman talking about being authentic and about whole-hearted living.

There are days on this quest for balance and self-acceptance when I feel as if my equilibrium is constantly threatened by fearfulness, worry and a general sense that I'm not good enough . . . these are the dark moments. In these moments, I remind myself that good enough is good enough. That the voices that would convince me that being bravely and vibrantly myself isn't safe are likely feeling scared and small themselves.

I'm grateful to women, such Tracy, Robin, Georgia and many others who have inspired me with their words and art. Who have consistently celebrated the present moment, the beauty of connection and joy of discovery. Who have insisted that we are worthy just as we are!

Spring Afternoon and Kitty Photo Shoot

2010-03-05T21:38:00.000-08:00

This is Athena -- beautiful goddess that she is. Feisty and furry. She is an incredible pest when trying to weed the yard. She crawls under and between your legs and eventually finds the very weed you're eye balling, plopping herself down smack dap on top. She and her feline companion, Odyssey (there's a Homeric theme in our cat name selections) have gotten less of our love and attention since the children. Certainly they know that the wee boy and girl are to blame for their shoddy treatment. And to be honest, the devotion of young children is not viewed by our kitty pets as adequate compensation . . . in fact, upon hearing the children enter the yard, they generally dart away and look back warily. Poor dears.

Oh, look, there's one of them now. Tearing up the grass, picking the new flowers -- all to make mommy a gift! The gift, as I know you're wondering, comprised of an inverted frisbee, filled with dirt, rocks and the aforementioned picked flowers. It was lovely. Breathtaking really :) It's still on the porch if you want to come by and take a look!

Tomorrow promises to be sun-filled and pleasantly mild. We are planning all manner of outdoor fun. And I am determined to capture some of the spring sights with my camera! I feel as if its been weeks since I've had a truly full day of picture snapping. I'm anxious to have new pictures to play with and share.

What's Your Play #85

2010-03-02T19:51:00.000-08:00

Ah, so nice of Laura to inspire me with something on a Tuesday morning. I had nothing, nothing and some more of the same to offer all on my own. No new pictures. No new inspiration. Just kinda needed a poke and a prod to get going.

And here's my make over. A little of this (crop, contrast, some filter thing that accented the edges) and that (warming filter, a texture, a dash of salt) and ta da.

I began the edit this morning, over coffee, deliberately disregarding the mad dash that is morning in our household. The kids were meandering upstairs (as opposed to getting dressed!), the clock was relentlessly ticking and so, I put it aside until this evening. Ah, rather nice way to end a chaotic day . . . kids are tucked away, hubby is getting supper, dryer is running and I'm working my way towards balance.

Theme Develops

2010-02-28T10:16:00.000-08:00

I have to begin by saying, what the heck happened to blogger overnight? Oh my. This will take a little getting used to. Yesterday found us back at Forest Park on a walk with another family. This time with camera in tow. And guess what I found! A fire hydrant in the most unlikely place.

Everyone gathered around looking a bit stupefied while I snapped a few pictures of the oddly placed and artistically rusted and moss-endowed hydrant. Since taking my first hydrant shots a few weeks back, I see them everywhere! Saw three on the back of a truck the other day. Two red and one yellow. Wish I had my camera . . .

Of the three different processing choices, which is your favorite? I'm feeling a little partial to the fading vignette on the last one. I've begun to discover my personal "style" -- turns out I like colors that pop and a more gritty feel. I admire the soft pastels and faded colors of many of the photographers I follow . . . seems those aren't the pictures I've taken recently. Hmm. Guess I'll see what draws my eye and allow this new sense of myself as an artist to develop!

Repose

2010-02-24T20:22:00.001-08:00

Every night my hubby and peak in on the kids before heading off to bed ourselves. We straighten blankets, tuck in stray arms and legs, kiss them them on the foreheads and feel generally blessed by all their sweetness. The quiet at the end of the day.

Sun and Blossoms

2010-02-21T07:56:00.001-08:00

It's a miracle! Multiple days in a row of SUN. The trees and bulbs are confused. Blooms and shoots can be seen everywhere. This is such news that its in the news . . . Yesterday afternoon, we packed up the kids bikes and went to an amazing park with everything that a young family could desire. Trails for riding and walking, playgrounds and swing, gardens for photo-happy mama. There still isn't much color which was a bit disappointing. Found exactly three blooming daffodils but someone had manhandled them. Not pretty for photos. And then I found two blossoming cherry (?) trees. And the sun was low in the sky. Be still my heart :)
I have to confess that the lens flare in the first photo is an after the fact addition. Let's just say it was the way the photo should have been taken;)
Ah, happiness.

The sun is still with us this morning though there was a frost. I wonder what the return of freezing temps will do to all the new green life. I'd be ok if it reduced the awakening spider population but that's just my irrational phobia speaking. Today we will work in the yard and I will meet a friend for a trail run. All of us waterlogged Portlanders are soaking up the sun in desperate doses. You never know when it'll return for good. This is a sweet anomaly.

Playing with Fire

2010-02-16T06:40:00.000-08:00

Valentine's night, hubby and I stayed home with yummy Thai take out, Dexter and a fire in the fireplace. I was struck by the patterns the chain mesh created and the beauty of the shifting flames.
Today's post is going to be a bit of a hodgepodge. This past weekend was unstructured, relaxed and there was SUN!! My only regret was not taking more pictures. I took my camera in the car yesterday when I friend and I went on a trail run in Forest Park (urban park in PDX). My plan was to take it out when we met our families for hot chocolate in a very fun part of town -- more of those urban pics I crave. Alas, I did not do it! But I did call a fellow photog friend of mine and asked if we could set a date to take pictures together.
The collaborative blog is still in the works. I think we're serious about it! So keep a look out. And I'd like to share this week's goals with you -- a little accountability, if you will. I am going to take my first ever Yoga class on Wednesday night and I will read as much as I watch TV in the evening. Seems doable. . . . I'll keep you posted!

Happy Tuesday!

Synthesis

2010-02-13T17:14:00.000-08:00

Things are coming together. Thoughts and ideas. Routines and practices. I'm reminding myself to be patient. Observe and be grateful.

Early Spring

2010-02-10T06:42:00.000-08:00

Just a quick salute to Spring and ShutterSisters . . . Spring has sprung in the Northwest. And every year I worry that perhaps its too soon and that frost will come and kill the fragile buds and blooms. The little willow in the backyard, pictured above but a pictures from last year, has the tiniest, greenest little leaves. Oh, so sweet. The sun has been our and the bulbs are up. My heart is happy, happy, happy:)

More of the Same

2010-02-08T16:45:00.001-08:00

Yesterday after the crazy of 7 year old parties and family hair cuts were out of the way -- we took the kids to ride their bikes in an empty parking lot. The idea was that I would continue reading about close-up photography and watch from the front seat of the car. In actuality, I provided an immense distraction for Little Sis! Every few feet, she would stop, command my immediate attention and then run back to the car to check in. It was very sweet. I had to warn her to watch where she was going many, many times as she veered in the direction of the car, grinning broadly and saying, "Look, mama! Look!" Another endearing behavior was making her way around the car, opening each door and popping her head in to say, "I'll be back when I'm done, ok mommy? I"ll be right back."
Big D has gained significant confidence and was tearing all over the place. He would occasionally turn too sharply and take a tumble but he is light years beyond where we ended last summer. Last week, he was riding in the same parking lot with daddy and really enjoyed the speed bumps. Only problem was that he would close his eyes! That is apparently resolved now.
With all this cuteness on two wheels, you would be justified to wonder why I was taking pictures of a fire hydrant! Just trying my hand at the techniques in Understanding Close-Up Photography (mentioned in last post). I'm excited! It has me thinking about all sorts of themes and ideas for photography projects.

Grunge

2010-02-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

I'm attracted to the grunge of city scape and street photography but find myself self-conscience when it comes to taking the pictures. Yesterday, we took a stroll with friends along the waterfront and were able to stand on the last of three bridges that were raised for a barge and its little tug boat.

Of the few pictures I took on the walk, these two are the only keepers. I think the key will be to find a similar minded photography buddy and take my time . . . without little children threatening to fling themselves off the pier or in front of speeding bicycles.

I've started Understanding Close-Up Photography by Peterson and am feeling inspired! I'm beginning to get a better understanding of what lens to use and when to get the effect that I want. Now to practice, practice, practice!

Blue, blue eyes

2010-02-06T19:09:00.001-08:00

Pics from adventures at the park yesterday. It is surprising to me how well Little Sis can keep up with Big D these days. She runs and charges, hardly looking where she is going and my heart leaps into my throat. . . well, actually, I tend to holler warnings and commands to cease and desist. As the words leave my mouth, I know that I'm some what over playing the risks. I'm one of those overly careful moms. UGH. My kids will not thank me for that, I suppose. And it won't prevent all the disasters I imagine.

A lovely day was had by all here. No naps which means early to bed for the kidlets, leaving the parents to their own devices. I wonder what kind of trouble we can get into?

Still more to come on the collaborative project we're cooking up!

Nurture

2010-02-06T08:09:00.001-08:00

This month's word at ShutterSisters is nurture. I haven't found enough time in recent weeks to spend with my camera but yesterday, inspired by this word and my beautiful children, I took my camera out and watched for opportunities to capture their sweetness with each other. They do plenty of squawking and hollering but there are plenty of moments of tenderness, too.

Lots of fun ideas percolating this morning . . . hope to take a walk with the family at the water front. I've been meaning and wanting to go down there with the camera and today's the day. Crossing my fingers that the weather will hold. And hubby and I are thinking about doing a collaborative blog. Still giving that thought and when we've hashed out the details and the vision, you'll hear more!

Sweet Baby Boy

2010-02-03T06:36:00.001-08:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with a dear friend and her little boy. Our mission was to capture all his sweetness at this fleeting baby stage. He made it so easy . . . he is such a happy, content baby.

I am not a real photographer, accustomed to taking portraits and producing photos that will please proud parents, etc. Well, other then myself:) This was a gift from the heart to a dear, dear friend. She is one of those rare kindred spirits that make it easy for me to be my best and most authentic self. And her story is one of courage and grace. I think in our friendship, I have received far more than I have been able to give her. But I will not embarrass her by waxing any more eloquent as I know she will read this ;)

I must admit, this was fun, fun, fun. Could I do this again? For others? Oh, I imagine so. My children would appreciate the break from being mama's only models!

Stream of Muck

2010-02-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

Let's start with these two angelic little faces . . . ah, breathing, enjoying, cherishing. And now moving on. It's not that there's so much muck, really. Just random, seemingly unconnected thoughts and realizations that need airing. If you aren't in the mood for the cathartic ramblings of a hormonal woman, you may want to linger with the cherubs above and come back later:)

1. Turns out, shocking as it is, that I'm generally a whole hell of a lot less confident than I appear. Give me a task, a job to do, even something that needs teaching -- and I'm fine. But the unstructured social interactions of new acquaintances. Yikes. I become, or at least wish to, a shrinking wall flower. Today I participated in a three person group, one of which is a dear friend of mine. I broke into a sweat, felt a little panicky and was sure that I was making a complete ass of myself.

2. Likely contributing to my social angst is the fear that my authentic, unguarded self wouldn't measure up to the standards of those I'm with. I measure what I say, wonder if I laugh too much or too loud, then wonder if it was really funny or if I'm just nervous . . . avoid dangerous topics and generally try to find a quiet spot to watch from.

3. Then every once in awhile, I'm reminded that this is all about my own hang ups rather than what may or may not be going on in other people's minds. I had an interaction this weekend in which I explained to some other women a concern I had about something happening in my child's religious education class. I didn't anticipate crying but I did. Which I hate. But clearly I was afraid that they wouldn't be able to hear me -- I felt like the other. The only working mother, the mom who doesn't bring her child every week and I dared to have a concern. My politics and doctrine are all wrong. I was touched and a little ashamed by their open armed response. They got me tissues, patted and hugged me, reassured me that my concern was valid and offered ideas and support.

4. I crave reassurance. There is a scared and uncertain girl in here somewhere who really wants to be liked and admired. Someone to say that I'm doing a good job. While they're at it, I'm sexy and skinny and not a day over, oh say, 22 years old.

5. Balance. It is the word of the year for me. Part of balance is being able to hold my own ambivalence and uncertainty. Stay present. Observe it. Acknowledge its existence and not admonish myself to do better, grow up, etc. Just sit along side that scared girl and reassure her that we're in this together. We're not there yet. Our journey is still unfolding. This moment is good enough. I'm good enough.

6. I should probably change the title. Doesn't sound very self-accepting, now does it. How about Unfolding.

What's Your Play #80

2010-01-27T20:00:00.001-08:00

Playing with Laura at Dolcepics today. There's something about this water spigot -- as soon as this challenge was posted, I knew I wanted to play with the blue color, rusty screw in the center and the simplicity of the image.
So, I'm still playing with using textures and layers . . . I couldn't tell you what combination of all sorts of things I tried with these two variations. I'm more partial to the first -- I like the more grungy feel and more vivid colors.
Another successful day! Home in time for dinner and special time with the kids. Change is such an interesting process. Its exciting and yet anxiety producing. I've come to anticipate whiplash-like bouts of self-doubt as part of recalibrating, readjusting -- even to the most longed-for changes. Its just human nature. I tell clients to expect things to get harder before they get better. Its momentum. Changing direction mid race, throws you off your pace and you may stumble a bit before you hit your stride again. I've been tripping over my feet today. Struggling to define myself in this new role and having to remind myself that things will once again settle into a rhythm.

Yippee!!

2010-01-26T21:51:00.000-08:00

Excited to share the success of the day. In short order:

1. Kids and mama out the door and deposited at their various locations by 8:00am. Minimal grouchiness and irritability. On the way to Big D's drop off -- we shared 5 favorite things about each other. So sweet and cheesy. Just wanted to send him off knowing that I could think of at least 5 things to love about him. He tries so hard and is such a sweet boy. Mama gushiness.

2. Saw all my clients, wrote all my notes, made all necessary calls and . . . wait for it . . . was home by 6:15pm!!!

3. Made my family a yummy nutritious dinner.

4. Special time with each kiddo before off to bed! Then a little unwinding with favorite OCD detective and hubby.

It was a group effort. Kids helped daddy empty the dishwasher this morning and when I got home, homework was done and baths in the works. This feels WONDERFUL. Now, repeat. I can do this. I have a taste for what it feels like to meet my clients' needs and know that I have also met my husband's and children's. It makes all the difference in the world!

New Week; New Challenges

2010-01-26T06:44:00.000-08:00

It's the beginning of a new work week. All the changes made to support balance and family life and sustainability are in place -- this is the first week of putting them into practice. I'll be home in time to fix dinner and put my babies to bed. These sweet children who are growing up so fast and who blossom when their mama is able to spend a little time with them.
I'm excited. I feel as if things are finally right and that I'm on the cusp of truly discovering who I am as a therapist and, more importantly, a mother. There's a bit of anxiety that despite my certainty and planning, the pressure of the work will force me to push back constantly in order to maintain this new-found clarity.

So, I'm off. Wish me well. I hope to report a rewarding day that ends with loves and cuddles at home.

Mud Adventures

2010-01-23T09:46:00.001-08:00

Last weekend, we took a walk at the nature park. Camera in hand and rubber boots on our feet. We dubbed our walk the "mud adventure" -- and boy, was it ever! Took Sis a bit to realize that her boots would protect her from the murky mud but once she did, it was a stomping good time!

On these types of walk, we keep a running tab of the animals and creatures we see. We saw 4 newts (this was the first), two deer, squirrels, ducks and possibly a chipmunk. We're still debating whether chipmunks are actually native to our area or if we saw a tiny squirrel . . .
It was a cloudy day but on occasion the sun would shine through and illuminate the beautiful ferns and lingering rain drops. This deer was hidden away so well that we almost missed him. He tolerated my tiptoeing not so subtly closer for a better photo.
Fun was had by all. The kids had to ride home in the van in their undies and socks due to all the mud stomping. That just adds to the adventure of it all!
It's been a long week without posts or photography. I feel a little parched and wrung out. How's that for a mixed metaphor? We have big plans to lay low today, take a drive, read stories, look for pictures to take, eat together. Gather ourselves together to tackle a new week with our priorities firmly intact.

I've been setting a single goal for myself each week since the New Year. My mantra is "I successfully balance my work and life." And each week, a new goal has moved me closer . . . This upcoming week will be the first with a new work schedule allowing me to be home in time for dinner and bed time. I'm relieved. There are many other changes that have been made in the process of redefining my role at work that I won't go into here. But I'm excited! My goals in the coming weeks will center more fully on my family. Things like home cooked meals in the evening, special time with each of my two tots, more stories at bed time, establishing routines for cleaning up toys and bedrooms, more quality time to talk with and enjoy my husband . . .

WYP #78 -- Leaves

2010-01-15T07:17:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've played with Laura's other followers at Dolcepics. It has been a long week, devoid of any photo taking ops for this mama . . . so grateful that someone will allow me to play with their own:)
So let's see. What did I do. Hard to remember as Little Sis was perched on my lap and I was moderating constant sibling squabbles. I messed with levels, added a vignette and old paper texture. Think that's about it. Oh, and cropped. Fun!!

Create

2010-01-11T06:34:00.001-08:00

The word of the month at Shutter Sisters is create. And it has been inspiring to see the images that others have been coming up with . . . beautiful and amazing. Art has been a biggie around our home for some time now. Hubby and Big D both got drawing pencils for Christmas and a typical Saturday or Sunday morning finds the whole family at the kitchen table creating in one way or another.

Yesterday, while I fiddled on the computer, hubby and Big D sketched while Little Sis played with stickers and an endless supply of paper. Side note: what does one do with the billions pieces of paper that are "gifts" from their children? We admire and then slyly dispose of them except that then they dig around in the trash! We have kid art displays that we try to refresh but that is simply not enough to contain the volume. And when you receive 20 pieces of the said art in a single morning, it can be a pit challenging.
When it comes to drawing or just about any other art form (barring photography), this mama is all thumbs. So my contribution to the family artistic endeavors has been a box of 96 colorful crayons and a book of prism designs to color. I love watching the combinations of colors take shape. And I love the big box of crayons. I guard is zealously from my grubby fingered children who are also fascinated by the large array of colors, never mind their own significant supply. Theirs is not as pretty now that the wrappers have been ripped and the crayons are at various stages of breakage.

I love the my children are growing up appreciating beauty and developing their own artistic skills. Big D is truly gifted, drawing images that amaze me given his age. And who knows what hidden skills Sis may have. I've read somewhere that all children believe they are artists early on and as the grow older, they become self-conscience and doubtful of themselves. When asked as older children, most will deny that they are artists. My hope is that we can continue to foster the joy in creating and the confidence to continue doing so.

Evidence of Winter

2010-01-09T08:26:00.001-08:00

In our neck of the woods, winter is marked by rain and the occasional day or two of snow. But this Christmas, we had the whole gamut of winter weather! Beautiful frost with sun-filled mornings, drippy rain and a surprise snow storm. Oh, and I failed to mention our most notorious winter weather, the feared ice storm. Thus far, we've avoided this driving disaster this season . . .
Christmas morning, hubby and I snuck out of the house in search of wintery photos. Some these were no further than our backyard.
The frost was heavy and wonderful. I was looking for sun and frost together . . . but the sun was doing his work quickly.

I'm glad that Paige over at Shutter Sisters invited us to show proof of winter in our photos. Today is dark and damp and the pictures are a refreshing reminder of the beauty of winter!

Drops

2010-01-07T06:45:00.000-08:00

I'm struggling to feel too terribly creative at the moment -- likely because all my creative energies are funneled into my primary goal at the moment: Balance. This is the first week back to work after a two week break and how quickly all my new found clarity about what I and my family need is tested! But I'm staying strong and focused and know that once things settle out, I will have achieved my goal and will be able to turn my focus to other areas.
The rain has returned to the glorious Northwest and between storms, I ran into the backyard to capture the raindrops on the willow tree. The pictures don't do the sight justice. The long slender branches with glistening rows of drops. For about a moment, there was a whisper of sun that set the entire tree aglow. It was lovely. But alas, by the time this mama got her shoes on, sternly informed the children to stay indoors and got her bum outside with camera in hand, the clouds returned.

Lollipop, Lollipop

2010-01-02T14:42:00.001-08:00

Just having a wee bit of fun . . . Enjoying a quiet Saturday at home. Eventually, I know that I'll need to get dressed as we are having friends over for dinner and games. Until it becomes absolutely essential, I'm going to eek out the extravagant pleasure of lounging in jammies, dreaming up creative pics of my two darling dears.

Favorite Images of '09

2010-01-01T16:15:00.000-08:00

It has been a year . . . since my hubby bought me my camera, since I participated in a beginning digital photography class at the local community college, since I began exploring my creative potential. Only a year! This seems like an opportune time to reflect on where I began, what I've learned and what I hope to accomplish in this coming year.
Apparently, my organization system has improved over the course of the year! In the early months, there is no clear way to identify which photographs have been processed or even which were considered keepers. After various attempts of getting things straightened up, my current system, though not perfect, is much easier for me to use! One of my goals is to do a better job of both organization and backing up my files . . .
Initially, I shied away from people pics. They were harder to predict and it took me so much time and brain power to figure out how to use the manual functions - by the time I got it together, my subject (aka fickle child) had moved on. Now my challenge is to take portraits indoors with natural lighting . . . and still be focus! Lots of time to work on that with the winter months.
Initially, my only concern was getting a good picture but my definition was fairly broad. At first, it was to be in focus with the correct exposure. Then I began to be deliberate in my use of aperture and shutter speed to create the photo in my mind's eye. Still have a long ways to go! Goals I've set for myself include working my way through Peterson's Understanding Shutter Speed and task myself with assignments to practice. Perhaps I should make that a blog project . . . . I'd also like to participate in photography club in town and take a class. I think that's more than enough to keep me busy in 2010!

ps: inspired by Shutter Sisters and Gabrielle Kai

Ringing in the New Year

2009-12-31T17:45:00.000-08:00

The last two weeks have been chaotic with out of town guests and the business of playing hostess for the holidays. I'd like to say that I was well behaved and found my stint as domestic goddess relaxing and rejuvenating . . . but I'd be lying and you know it! But if not exactly restful, our time with family and friends reminded me of the things I most value: quality time with my children and husband, shared meals, connection and time for reflection.
I entered this two week holiday with the expectation (rather the hope) of regrouping and rethinking -- and surprisingly, I do feel a greater sense of clarity. In broad strokes, I want to focus on the values mentioned above and structure my work and family life to support them. The details of how this will happen are still percolating . . . I anticipate making changes at work and rethinking some of our household routines.
Little by little, that is how I intend to tackle the changes I want to make personally and professionally. This year promises to be exciting! I'm anxious to get started and in fact, have begun with tiny goals even in the last two weeks. For example, I've reduced my caffeine intake and said adios to my daily Coke Zero habit. Now I'll fashion my next small goal and proceed from there . . .
For sure I know that my continued love affair with photography will continue! Santa (aka hubby) gifted me with several books promising me to better understand shutter speed and macro photography. I've made it through the first and these "action" shots are my first attempt at creatively capturing motion. What do you think of the snow angels?
I've also tinkered for the first time with RAW and upgraded to PSE 8 so that I could process the images. A whole new learning curve!

It's going to be a great year!

Christmas Bokeh

2009-12-20T08:33:00.001-08:00

We had a little pre-breakfast fun today in Christmas pj's. The furry friend is "Jingle," a musical moose. Or is he a reindeer? I was inspired by today's post at ShutterSisters, explaining how to achieve glorious "bokeh bubbles," to steal Sarah's apt descriptor.
I'm loving the possibilities that all the twinkly lights present . . . And adorable, excited children. Now the only problem is that they don't sit still! My skill with the focus on my 50mm prime is still somewhat deficient to the task. But I had an aha moment about the wonders of masks and the sharpening!
Here Christmas Moose has his own moment of fame. He's been my son's pal since he was a wee toddler of about 18 months. His batteries never seem to run down . . . Little Sis had made him her "pet" this year and he has been to and from school multiple times. And woe be unto which ever parent forgets to retrieve him at the end of the day!
These last two are repeats from earlier in the season -- still my favorites thus far!
I'm packing my camera with me today as we attempt to finish up some shopping and visit with a friend and her adorable baby. Ah, it feels so wonderful to be settling in for some quality time with family and friends. When I feel my need to form to-do lists and get anxious about the baking and cleaning, I remind myself of my desire to really relish the holidays this year. Its time to recuperate, for myself and my family. Cheers!

Owlish Good Time

2009-12-18T17:28:00.001-08:00

Last night was Big D's Christmas program and he was in owlish form . . . He and all his little K-2nd grade buddies were in costume as various barn yard animals and fowl. There were a few angels thrown in for good form. It was very sweet and he did so well with his lines: "Who, who are you? And why are you here?"
Apparently my little dude took a tumble off the risers in rehearsal but there were no repeat occurances during the performance. He was a bit distracted by his wings and their tendency to slip down his arms.
Did I mention he's a ladies' man? Oh my. They flock to him. This little gal is just about his speed. Funny faces and striking poses.
We had to test out the costume at home, of course. I've been shocked by his sensitivity to what others' think. I mean, I expected that but I didn't think we'd have worries about being laughing at such a young age. Here he is checking out his reflection in the bathroom mirror. I was relieved that the finished look passed his inspection as I didn't have any back up plans.
Today was the first day of two weeks away from work. Ah. I'm beginning to feel the reality seek in . . . today got a little done around the house, laid down with the kids for a rest (no one actually slept, stinkers) and now hubby and I will work on wrapping packages. I'm looking forward to baking with the kids, checking out a few holiday sites in town and preparing yummy food. And did I mention sleep, read and exercise? Slow down and breath? That does sound a bit oxymoronic, doesn't it?

Hope you are all warm, comfy and enjoying yourselves this Friday evening.

Siblings

2009-12-16T06:40:00.001-08:00

Today's Shutter Sisters challenge is to share photos of either our own or our children's sibling relationship . . . my two favorite subjects in a single photo! I know that my own relationship with my sib (younger sister by nearly 2 years) was rocky for quite some time while growing up. No doubt I was an aggravating older sister that bossed and she was an independent younger sister determined to set me straight! My parents remember a time when we were little when we played well with each other -- best friends, they say. Junior High and High School were brutal. And now, in adulthood and with children of our own, we're friends. I so enjoy and appreciate that.
My two are in an in-between stage -- they vacillate between hugs and holding hands and tattling and general ickiness. This morning, for example, they've been upstairs getting dressed forever. Running up and down the hall, giggling, being silly. They like each other this morning. Lots of hugs all around.
They are so different. My son is sensitive and artistic. A little hesitant. My daughter is a sprite. Needs to be in charge and will go toe to toe with us all if she deems necessary! They are beautiful and sweet. I hope we can help them avoid the strife that seems to mark so many sibling relationships. That they can be each other's most loyal friend.

Festive

2009-12-14T16:59:00.000-08:00

I haven't taken nearly the number of pictures that I want to . . . I'm ready for the holiday break. A more relaxed schedule to appreciate the festivities, color, lights, and giddiness of children! Much like the afore mentioned children, I'm counting the days down 'til Friday. Until then, I'll partake of a visual appetizer. A little snow flake, white light delight to hold me over:)

Ballet Class

2009-12-11T14:27:00.001-08:00

This past Monday was Sis' last dance class of the term. Parents had been banned from the classes, if you'll remember, but on this, the last day, we all got to sit quietly on the bench and watch our little ballerinas.
They were adorable! Very serious as they ran and jumped and slipped and slid all over the room. At one point, they were all sitting on their bottoms and spinning in circles. Now, I've never taken ballet or dance of any sort. Those of you that have, what move is that exactly? :)
Here she is rolling on the floor. Um, not sure of that move either. They had a blast making up their own moves to a diverse selection of music. They clearly adored their teacher who was fun but kept all the little muchkins well in line.
At the end of class, I bribed Sis to go back to the bar and do a little this and that so I could take pictures. So cute. I seriously considered joining an adult class. I'm not sure they have classes elementary enough for me . . . I mean, I can sit and spin or roll with the best preschoolers. Anything much more than that, and I may do myself injury.
I've been suggesting, hinting, begging my similarly dance-inhibited spouse to take lessons with me for years. Perhaps his refusal is my saving grace. Neither of us have done much more than a little boogie when no one is watching. We'd likely tangle ourselves up in a knot, impede the learning progress of our classmates and cause our teacher to kindly suggest private lessons. I'm just saying . . . it could be that bad.

My little girl will not suffer the same inhibition. She wiggles and dances with the best of them. And to be honest, I rock out with her when nobody is looking;)

Trying My Hand

2009-12-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

I was inspired by Rita's practical post on natural light portraiture so we took a time out from tree trimming and grabbed a black blanket and -- ta da!
I struggled a bit with over exposure so will need to do some fine tuning with metering but overall, I love the results.
Did I tell you that a friend has asked me to take pics of her daughter? Yep. I'm a bit ambivalent about it. Photography is very much a sanity-saving hobby. I do not want to intrude on those skilled professionals that make their livelihood taking pictures. We've agreed she can make me cookies . . . that seems like a fair trade. Besides, I'm afraid I can't guarantee the results:)
While on the topic of vocation and avocation . . . I'm doing some tough thinking about the work I do and its sustainability. I've been flirting with burn out for weeks and now, I think I'm there. Its not unexpected. This particular position feels a bit like being an ER doc or a fire fighter -- running from one crisis to another. And I don't drink, so there goes that coping strategy:) So I'm laying low this weekend, thinking about my options, hoping that I can work out something doable with my supervisor 'cause I really like working with this level of intensity but I need to keep the long view.
The holidays are both a hindrance and a blessing as I try to sort this out. A hindrance because with the holidays come a pressure to decorate, shop, entertain and be generally jolly. The blessing is the time spent with friends and family, enjoying their company and the diversion that all that decorating, shopping and entertaining can bring.

Now off to the couch, in front of our beautifully decorated tree with my book and coffee. Hubby and kids are rattling the legos around as they build something, I'm sure, spectacular. Eventually I'll have to figure out what's for breakfast and make plans for getting something done with the day. For now, I'm just going to absorb the quiet of the morning.

Tree, with more pics.

2009-12-05T08:56:00.001-08:00

Never fear, the tree posts will continue as tree trimming and lighting occurs. I bet you can hardly wait!

Tree, likely to be one of several parts

2009-12-05T08:32:00.001-08:00

We got our tree last night! Hubby left work earlier, rushed to pick up Sis while I got Big D and then we headed into the hills. Which is literally out our door and a drive of maybe a couple of miles. Not exactly "over the hills and through the woods" -- we're lucky that way! We arrived close to sunset and tramped through the tree farm, examining trees and then moving along, looking for just the right specimen.
I brought along my camera and new lens. I'm in love. Just love. It took such bright pictures despite the deepening dark . . . At some point, it was too dark to capture my little elves who were in constant motion without significant blur. Especially Big D. Hence a lack of pics with his sweet little person.
Sis kept finding trees just her size. Wanted to take them all home. Perhaps make them pets . . . which is a prominent play theme these days:) But this mama had a different vision. A tall, full tree framed by the bay window at the front of the house. Lots of lights. Ah.
This magical tree farm had a "snow" machine and every 5 minutes, "flakes" of soapy bubbles would fill the air. My kids were fascinated. Well, until Big D made a connection between the bubbles and what he remembered about spit bugs. He announced it was "disgusting -- maybe they have a hundred spit bugs in that thing." We got to see beautiful clydesdale horses pulling a lit wagon full of happy people -- we weren't some of those happy people as they were charging the equivalent of your first born. There was a train display and a cute shop of Christmas ornaments and the crafts featuring the lavender from a nearby farm.
It was a lovely experience. A tradition that I value from my own childhood. Of course, it was complete with my own very human children - Sis had herself a little tantrum of ugliness. You wouldn't guess it looking at her sweet face in the pics. She's a sprite. I keep reminding myself that I'll be grateful for her strong will when she is a young woman, making her way in the world. She will not be a victim. She will pursue her dreams with determination. We just have to survive her childhood:)

As I type, she is dancing in her Christmas pj's while Big D tells daddy an endless story . . . they are anxious to get on with the day. They want stories, to decorate the tree and I'm not sure what else. Perhaps we will start some baking or finish up some crafts. Enjoy the day!

Bare Necessities

2009-12-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

Heading back to work today . . . been away a week, how come I don't feel refreshed and rejuvenated? :) We all know why. 'Cause we're the women of our households. Responsible for creating and supplying the holiday experience to our families. What may be a vacation for the other (male) adults in our lives, is a labor of love on our parts. No, I'm not bitter. Far from it actually. I've had me some good conversation with smart women that I love and whose advice I value . . . The reality is that I can not reproduce the holidays of my childhood. For one, they were orchestrated by my grandmother who had no children at home and didn't work. And for another, I am my own unique person and will create my own unique set of traditions and rituals to mark the holidays for my children. So here's my list of bare necessities that I believe that I and my family will need on a daily basis for a happy and successful holiday . . .

1. Good eats -- sometimes healthy:)

2. Exercise and fresh air

3. Rest

4. Loved ones to do the above with . . .

Everything else is gravy. I wish for myself and my family a simple holiday. Ah, already feeling more zen about the coming weeks:)

Happy Birthday Lens to Me!

2009-11-30T16:22:00.000-08:00

Rather than launch into a recital of the last week's events -- what with the in-laws, the cooking and the general insanity of having 11 people in my home only, oh say, 2 of which I'm terribly familiar with -- I thought I'd share my new Birthday lens with you!
All of these pics are SOOC and are my first experiments with my 50mm 1.4G lens . . . fun, fun, fun! I tinkered and fiddled and even took the lens on our annual trip to the Zoo Lights.
I have to admit that I thought it'd be a breeze to slip the new lens on and start snapping lovely indoor/low light shots. But I discovered there's a learning curve to finding the correct focus and accounting for the shallow DOF. Working on it . . . and then there's the art of being more discerning in selecting which lens to use for a given image.
I enjoy setting a lovely table for holiday dinners. Why we wait for an occasion to pull out our pretty china and flatware, I don't know. It's a waste, really. I know its not time for resolutions just yet but I'd like to resolve to celebrate more often with friends and family. Perhaps a few new holidays will have to be established. Hmm. Going to have to give that some thought.
I will regal you all with stories and photos from Thanksgiving. For now, suffice it to say that it went well, there's much to be thankful for and once the vege-turkey found its way into the fridge, we pulled out the Christmas decorations. In fact, as I type, the kiddos are watching a Disney Christmas sing-along DVD. Such happy music! Cheers.

Family portraits, sort of

2009-11-22T07:06:00.001-08:00

Yesterday after church and before lunch -- why is it that parents seem to feel that this sliver of time when everybody is hungry and can smell food in the other room is ideal for family pictures? Maybe it's just my family! This was especially true of holidays. It never failed that while in route home from church, my mother would announce that we were not to change when we got home because she wanted to get a few pictures. It's finally happened. I've turned into my mother though I think I earn bonus points for allowing them to change into jeans first!
You may be wondering why I threw the kids on the bed to take pictures. Light, dear folks, light. There hasn't been much of it around these days what with the clouds and rain. We were having a brief reprieve so I threw open our bedroom blinds and pulled back the duvet for a brighter back/foreground. Plus, I got to play with my remote shutter release for the first time. How fun is that! My plan is to keep experimenting until a photo turns out worthy of Christmas cards.
Oh, these sweet children with their beautiful eyes. So a word on indoor photography. Just one really. HELP! This is a whole new learning challenge for me. The lighting, slow shutter speeds, changing the ISO and resultant noise. I think its time for another photography class. Perhaps I'll put it on my Christmas list:)
Today represents the single day of respite before the full-court press that is the holiday season. We're tackling all manner of household chores in hopes that come Wednesday, it still looks decent around here. We'll finally get to move the kitchen table back into the house. Pictures to come . . .

Just words

2009-11-20T13:32:00.000-08:00

It's been a long, long time since I typed an entry sans photographs. And it's been a long, long time since I've allowed myself to really settle in, pull out some of those well-steeped thoughts and spread them out in the open to air. There's some concern that if I try, I'll discover that I just thought I had something to say or that what I say isn't what I want to hear.

It's been a busy morning . . . attempted to "sleep in" all the way to 6:30am before getting up and swapping parenting duties with hubby so he could go to work. Then commenced kid-wrangling, drop off of the big boy and then home again to plop Sis in front of the TV and pound out some notes for work. Lovely. Can't quite count the number of Fridays in recent history with a similar pattern. After Sis had watched her show and I'd made it, oh, 75% of the way through work stuff, we ducked out into the rain and raked leaves. She believes she is being helpful when she "stomps" on the piles of leaves I'm attempting to move into the street . . . little turkey. Back in doors to fix lunch and clean the kitchen while she ate. I mean really clean. Another artifact of weeks and weeks of intense work, not enough time to catch up and NO desire to get my house spic and span.

And now I sit, hardly believing my luck that she is napping. My kitchen looks great and as long as I don't look at my feet and the mess that is my floor, I'm feeling pretty good. But I've got the blahs. The momentum is gone. I know I could fold laundry or buff our newly finished table or just about anything productive. But I don't want to. And I don't want to do anything else either.

I'm a little paralyzed by the thought that the in-laws and assorted other relatives are descending on our house next week. We'll have 6 additional adults and another kidlet in our house . . . I need rest. I really need to recharge. I have no idea how to do that under the best of circumstances let alone while hosting Thanksgiving weekend for my husband's family. Oy. There's the cleaning, the prep for large meals, the laundry, the not being the master of your own destiny cause you have to sort through the polite deferring to figure out what the heck people want and what they'd like to do!

As I reread my words, my therapist brain is chastising my pathetic self. I mean really. Get. It. Together. Just a few days ago I was optimistically thinking it would be a great Thanksgiving. Sure, I'd be overwhelmed but I'd find some way each day to do something I needed to relax. Hubby and I would check in with each other frequently and make sure that our own little family's traditions made their way to the forefront of the festivities. I blame work and the need to get some space and perspective. The pace has been so intense for so long -- the stories so gut wrenching that I need to decompress. Rushing from work into the domestic chaos that is raising small children doesn't allow room for this. A friend and I were discussing our different parenting approaches recently -- it is an acknowledged fact that I error on the side of being too careful, too watchful and too much of various other things as well. Hello, my name is Heather, and when it comes to my children, I'm a control freak. Perhaps I think that if I can create order and calm in my home and in my children's behavior, I will be able to manage the hurt and trauma of participating in my clients' stories.

As I suspected, I'm feeling a little self-conscience having dumped the contents of my head onto the virtual page. But I feel so much better! Purged. Ah . . . now to wake the little one and get the big one and keep on moving!

Kids' Play

2009-11-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

Self-explanatory, really. Kids. Leaves. Lots of fun rolling in and throwing the leaves. Unfortunately, the sun had disappeared behind thick clouds just after we arrived and so the photos were dark and a bit on the slow side . . .

Morning Frost

2009-11-15T08:08:00.001-08:00

We woke to frost yesterday morning. My first honest-to-god thought was that I should bundle up and go on a walk with my camera. What has happened to me?! My second thought and the one that temporarily won out was that a cup of coffee and a little computer time sounded cozy . . . and then I wandered in the backyard, dragging the hem of my pajama bottoms in the damp grass, snapping a few pictures. The first is of the bowed head of one of the sunflowers. Not much to look at now except for the beautiful crown of crystalized frost.
This leaf was suspended by the remains of the spectacular web I photographed several days ago. I did check to ensure the resident spider was not home before leaning into the maple tree to take the picture!
We have our canoe tucked up against the side fence in the backyard -- along with a couple of stunning maple trees. I love the contrast in colors.
It's hard to believe that we are closing in on Thanksgiving. In fact, as I type this, my son is asking how many more weeks we have until Christmas! Yikes. I'm feeling very proud of my endeavors in the craft department and am nearly done with the photo gifts . . . except for a rather large project hubby and I are taking on for his family. We are taking boxes of old family slides and putting them on CD's, etc. It'll be great when (if?) it gets done! I'm pondering other home-made gifts for the kidlets in my life. More to come on that -- perhaps. I may sell out and join the masses for Black Friday. It'd be the first time ever. Any survival advice?
And then, there's the table and chairs we are still in the midst of refinishing. Today's goal is to finish the sanding and then consult about what our staining choices are. I had really hoped that we'd have it done for Thanksgiving but that is beginning to seem unrealistic. Certainly doesn't help that I'm typing away rather than making my way to the garage, sandpaper in hand.

A little Somethin' Somethin'

2009-11-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

Here's what I've been working and stewing on for the last week or so. Not much to look at in the photos -- I had a sweet little model that was stubborn about holding still so I gave in and used my less than photogenic counter top and fluorescent lighting ;) The first pic is of old family photos that I've doctored up a bit and turned into magnets using bottle caps. The below also feature bottle caps -- there's a theme, you'll note.
The pictures are from Christmas scrapbook papers and then there's the glitter and bling (um, beads) to complete the star ornaments. I'm tickled as can be with the finished effect. Of course, they aren't quite done. I need to trim the wires at the ends and attach ribbons . . . and find nifty boxes to gift them in.
So watch ya think? I may not really want to know . . . You can lie. Its allowed in such situations. Preferred, really. You'd hate to squash my inner artist.

My reluctant model is reluctantly laying, but not sleeping, in her bed. And its time to pick up the big boy. Where has the day gone?

Love

2009-11-07T07:42:00.001-08:00

I've been dappling with the idea of Scrabble tiles for awhile. Yesterday was probably not the day to suddenly give in to my "inspiration." I've got a cold. Poor, pathetic me. My children were having a hard time maintaining an even keel AND I thought we should all tromp down to the park and try to capture a few pictures before the light disappeared. I crouched in the damp leaves while my offspring ran around swinging branches and hollering. My attention was divided, to say the least! But ultimately, I like idea and want to give it another go. Combining images seen in the mind's eye with words that describe some aspect of my response to them.
I do love the fall leaves and am saddened that so many trees are waving bare arms in the chilly wind. While they still last, I will rove with my camera and try to capture what I can to hold me through the long winter.

Arachnids, again?

2009-11-05T06:17:00.000-08:00

I should have my head examined. Despite my irrational fear of all things 8-legged, I can't seem to help myself when I see these delicate, inspiring webs. You would not believe how close I made myself get to capture this lethal (yes, I know he's actually harmless and fills an essential role in the ecosystem, etc.) thing. My family certainly couldn't! Interestingly enough, after our little photo shoot together, I think we were almost friends. Acquaintances, perhaps? I noticed when he disappeared from his web later in the day. After the lovely little droplets had all dried in the Autumn sun. And then felt something resembling relief, when he reappeared. See what I mean. I need my head examined!

I'm a little ashamed of myself. My daughter is picking up on my fearfulness and claimed in the midst of her maneuvers to avoid bedtime, that she was having nightmares about spiders. She's three, ladies and gentlemen. She's still wavering. She could develop a profound love for arachnids. Who knows. But not if her mother continues vacillating between shrieking and cooing in delight when she runs into the monster bugs!

WYP #70 -- Fall Leaves

2009-11-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

Been awhile since I've played with one of Laura's pics -- but how could I resist my favorite theme, fall leaves and colors! So let's see, what did I do? Fiddled with hue/saturation as well as contrast and brightness. Added an old photo texture and vignette . . . cropped. Think that's about it. Fun! I'm thinking that on this spectacular day off, I should go get me some new pics to play with:)

Reflections

2009-11-04T06:20:00.000-08:00

It might be that the title is wishful thinking . . . that I'll be able to wrestle up some thoughtful thoughts:)

Today I am not working AND, and this is what makes it all so exciting, my kids are still going to school! I have the whole day (well, until 3:15 when there's a parent teacher conference for Big D) to myself. How did this miracle occur? Let me tell you while more thoughtful thoughts are percolating. I usually work Tuesday through Thursday but this week, I attended a two-day conference. A fabulous, exciting training on Collaborative Problem Solving -- a philosophy for better understanding and helping children with behavior problems. I've been practicing CPS for two years and this was an opportunity to get more advanced training, answer questions that have stemmed from my work with clients and families and get my creative juices flowing on new ways to support them going forward. In fact, part of my day at home will be work but its hard to make preparing for the first CPS parent support group as work!

What else will I do with my day? Crafting! Can't wait to really make a dent on my photo Christmas projects. They're coming out rather nicely. I need to brainstorm some ways to create ornaments out of the finished bottle caps which will necessitate a trip to the craft story -- again. Not exactly painful:) I'm also hoping to meet the new baby of a dear friend who will be 2 weeks old on Friday. I've had to delay a visit due to Big D's flu bug and now I've got a scratchy throat. Damn! We'll see how the new mama feels about a possibly viral-laden visitor . . .

Looks like that may be what I've got for "reflections" today:) Enjoy the beautiful fall weather. A colleague and I had to make a 2-hour drive to and from the training but it was well worth it for the companionship and the beautiful sun and moon rises. I'm hoping to sneak out this evening and capture that gorgeous orb before it begins to wain.

Halloween

2009-11-01T08:03:00.000-08:00

After a week of illness and the like, Halloween snuck up on our family . . . Little Sis had a costume, had one for several weeks in fact. And lest you think this is a sign of favoritism, it was simply her dance leotard plus a borrowed pair of wings and her rain boots. Nothing fancy, folks. Certainly nothing I'd go out and buy! But Big D had been neglected. We don't go in for all the supernatural dark stuff of Halloween -- so no vampires, witches, ghosts or ghouls. Ends up being kinda limiting, really. As you can see, we opted for a brown paper bag, some pipe cleaners, construction paper and tape. Do I totally suck? I think its kinda cute.
Clearly the more energetic of my children was the one in the pink number. She raced back and forth across our porch, demonstrated some "dance" moves from ballet. I've never taken ballet but I'm thinking her moves are uniquely her own:)

Lots of jumping, leaping and hip waggling. I'm not sure how we'd classify her costume -- part super hero, part fairy and part hip hop ballet dancer. The rain boots just kill me.
We hit a hand full of houses before retiring home to mind our own front door. Kids were over the moon with excitement -- the candy, oh my. I really appreciated that some of our neighbors gave stickers and crayons rather than the traditional sugar high. Nice thinking! There were two families that attempted to make an Avon or Party Lite connection by passing out catalogues. Um, interesting.
All in all, a nice evening. Nice to see entire families in the streets, laughing, talking and getting to know each other. I may not be keen on the general themes of Halloween but I love the sense of community that it can engender. Its a shame we don't have more rituals that bring families into the streets with their neighbors.

Today is scheduled for chores, Christmas craftiness and house projects. In fact, need to drag myself away from the computer and get cracking!

Apples

2009-10-30T21:52:00.001-07:00

When my parents were here last weekend, my dad and I snuck across the street to the location of a burnt out road house. The goal was to help my dad get better acquainted with his camera and to get some pics of the overgrown and neglected apple orchards.
Clearly what I've got here is the same picture done up three different ways. I am such an editing baby! I swear. If I was exceptionally bright, I'd take notes so that I don't have to relearn it each and every time.
It's been a long week, folks. Big D is still recouping from the nasty flu. Took him to the store with me today -- a brief trip. Promise. He had all the signs of recovery. Absence of fever, running around like a crazy monkey and generally seeming a little stir crazy. We weren't in the store 10 minutes and suddenly he said he felt "really sick" and he look decidedly grey. Uh-oh. Did a mad scramble for appropriate vomit-catching material but he was right as rain within a few minutes. Took him home and he ate a large lunch and then was too wound up to nap . . . I, on the other hand, could have slept for HOURS.

To be on the safe side, we took him to the pediatrician's office for a looksie. This, ladies and gentlemen, is sheer hell with a side hand sanitizer! I think that I begged a dozen times easy for the two of them to "don't touch that" and "sit still" and "please don't touch your face!" I literally brought my own handy wipes and still made the kids use the hand gel at the counter TWICE. We're likely to bring something gnarly home with us, as a souvenir of the 2 hours spent wrangling crazed children in a confined space.

I swear, my kids have an uncanny ability of pulling it all together when they arrive at the Dr. office. They may have been dragging puny backsides around the house on the verge of death itself and then suddenly, they are healed! I feel like such a liar telling the doctor that my dear son nearly passed out when he is jumping around in such an adorable fashion.

What are your family's Halloween plans? We plan on getting the kids into their costumes (that's if we can pull something together at the VERY last minute) and taking pictures. Also plan on spending as much time in PJ's as possible. Started a couple hours ago and am going strong . . .

Fancy Smancy Editing?

2009-10-28T07:31:00.001-07:00

Learning some new stuff about layers and blurring and stuff . . . so first photo is the fancy smancy edit, using blue, eraser and opacity to smooth out skin tone, etc. I'm not sure if its such an improvement, really. Below is the "before" photo with edits only related to brightness and contrast. What ya think?

Caught in Flight

2009-10-27T06:44:00.001-07:00

My dad and I stalked this beautiful Blue Heron this weekend . . . we saw the hapless fellow enjoying himself beside the pond and gradually snuck up on him, snapping pictures along the way. And of course, he took off, seeking some solitude on the other side of the water. We were not to be deterred. Little Sis and Nana trooped around the pong and startled the frustrated bird into flight, again.
I'd love to be able to take crisp action shots of wildlife but I find it extremely challenging. These two are the best of the lot and I still used PSE to blur the background and make the bird himself pop out. Don't look too close or you'll see that my selection skills need fine tuning!

Today is the start of another work week. Big D has is still down with the flu and hubby is staying with him so I can go to work . . . which I wish I was feeling more energetic about. I feel out of sync. Like I'm out of step with the expectations and demands of the systems I work within. Ah, well. This too shall pass. It usually does. Perhaps growing pains. Perhaps indication that a shift is needed -- what exactly, I'm not sure.

Cross your fingers for us that the rest of the family can avoid the piggy bug!

Fall Fairy

2009-10-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

My parents were visiting this weekend and I was all geared up to do some family portraits -- even bought a remote for my camera! And then my little guy came down with the dreaded swine flu. Poor kid. Spent his weekend feeling lousy and missing out on the fun. He's still feverish but looks like he's on the upswing. Crossing fingers . . .
So Saturday, I took my parents and Little Sis on a fall walk. The weather was clear and the colors lovely! She is such a little ham and was soaking up the one-on-one attention from her grandparents.
My dad recently bought a Nikon d40 so we had some informal photography tips/lessons so he could familiarize himself with his new toy. Last Christmas, he gave my sister and I CD's of old family photographs. I was amazed at some of the beautiful portraits he did of my mother when they were first married. Once he gets a hang of the digital camera, I think he'll really enjoy capturing his favorite people in pictures.
I woke this morning to dark and rainy skies. Winter is creeping closer . . . I looked at the calendar today and realized that there are only three short weeks (or thereabouts) until Thanksgiving. We have a dining table partially stripped and chairs that need staining. My hope had been to get it done before Thanksgiving. And then there are all the Christmas crafty gifts that I want to do . . .
What photo-related gifts are you all giving or making? I'm percolating some ideas . . . I'll show you some samples once I have something to show!