Just for Me

Tomorrow I embark on my "vacation" -- the idea of "taking a break" and "recharging your batteries" when you're a mother falls a little big flat. I need the time away from work to fight some burn out after having some very troubling cases but already my to-do list and the necessity of balancing my need for reflection and my kids needs for stimulation are at odds. So today, after an all day, work-related training, we took a stroll and I snapped pictures -- just for me!
Just whatever captured my eye -- colors, drops of rain, the juxtaposition of decay and destruction and new life. The photo below was taken on the grounds of a grill near our home that burned a few years back. This beautiful stone fireplace and the remains of old apple orchards and split rail fences are all that are left. 
Of course there is a part of me that is looking forward to having both my children with me this week. It's been a long while since Devin started school and there's plenty on the to-do list of fun I want to share with them -- a trip to the zoo with friends, crafty projects and plenty of excursions to the park. Somehow I have to carve out sacred time to rest and feed that part of myself that needs quiet and solace. Otherwise, I will end my vacation less rested and more frazzled than when I began. Perhaps that has its own benefits . . . work will start looking pretty darn good by the time I return:) 

Painted Tulip

This is the ONLY way I will be able to paint anything! Still making my slow way through tutorials on Lynda.com and this is my tinkering with effects. Rain is forecasted for the weekend, so I'm looking forward to more learning and playing. I've taken some vacation time this upcoming week, much needed time. A very dear friend will be visiting for a few days and we have plans to walk and talk and take pictures and drink coffee and eat great food . . . bliss! 

Wishes

Pale little dandelion, in her white shroud,

Heareth the angel-breeze call from the cloud.

Tiny plumes fluttering, make no delay,

Little winged dandelion, soareth away.

by Helen Barron Bostwick

I'm aware of how frequently Sis is featured in my photos of late . . . she has the questionable fortune of being home with me when I'm not working and Big D is at school. Today's adventure was at Forest Park and we found a lovely cluster of dandelions begging to wished upon. 
She tried admirably to get the job done and I have literally dozens of photos documenting her attempts. It was stubborn dandelion fuzz, clinging quite tenaciously to its stem. Finally mama added her considerable hot air to the effort and we had lift off!

Tulips -- before and after

I'm still figuring out how to use Photoshop Elments with the help of Lynda.com. I'm often not quite sure if I go too far in my adjustments. In this photo, I cropped, adjusted for levels and then worked with just the tulip. What do you think?

Mommy Love

Today's challenge from the ShutterSisters is to share what we love about being a mommy . . .

1. The reckless abandon of my children's laughter. The dizzy twirling, spinning and generally frenetic energy! (though sometimes I do wish they'd be still and quiet!)
2. The adoration they have for each other. I very regularly hear from them both how much they love the other . . . I should record these proclamations as evidence in future disputes!
3. Their innocence and their sponge-like ability to sop up all manner of information. The other day I was painting my toenails, apparently for the first time they could remember (says a little something about the state of my feet . . . blush), and the next thing I knew, they were both attempting to color their own toenails with crayons! Very sweet.
4. Cuddles and loves. Need I say more?
5. The knowledge that there are these two precious beings that I would do anything for -- the wonder of looking into their beautiful eyes and knowing that they are my own sweet babies. The pleasure of watching them grow, the anticipation of a future filled with adventure and happiness. They make this whole growing older thing ok -- if I can watch them experience life in all its fullness. 

I just don't know

Apparently, my camera is not broken. That's a good thing but I'm feeling a little sheepish. A trip to the camera store, a temporarily baffled tech and a few minutes later, I learn that somehow it had gotten set to overexpose by 5 stops. Huh? How? Must have been operator error . . . again the sheepish feeling.

Today's blog is a little of this and that. A little glad about the camera and a little growing anxiety about the swine flu. How freaked out should we be? I've already got contingency plans for the contingency plans worked out in my head. I may be just a "little" prone to worst-case scenarios. My husband's attitude is "what will be will be" -- find and dandy, honey, until some nasty pig-incubated thing knocks on our front door. Then what? 

On unrelated note, fabulous trip to the tulip festival today. Pics to come. Things continue to grow and bloom (and spread a delicate layer of yellow pollen on everything). Hence, the itching and hiving and sneezing. Good times:) 

A more upbeat, calm and generally pleasant post to follow.

So sad

It's broke. Suddenly, unable to get correct exposure in manual modes . . . completely baffling to the lovely tech people at Nikon's help line. I'm so bummed I can't type in complete sentences. Well, except that one. So tomorrow, after a walk in the sun with a dear friend, little Sis and I are taking my beloved camera in to the shop. I wonder how long it'll take . . . .