flickr favorites {b/w}

1. Untitled, 2. brushes, 3. Happy Anniversary to my love..., 4. scrambled, 5. Music for the Soul, 6. Rainy days and Mondays..., 7. Puddle Play, 8. Untitled, 9. 31

single shot saturday

cram session

I'll be cramming all weekend to catch up with my school assignments. I just wanted to share the first of many editing projects I'm working on right now. A soft little haze and a blanket of white added to make this vintage shot glow. I'm really loving the classes I'm taking right now. I've discovered that taking the photo is only the beginning. There is so much more creative work to do during editing. The sky truly is the limit.

52 photos project {black and white}

This week, over at 52 photos project, we are focusing on black and white. There isn't a lot of sunshine this time of year, but my windowsill was the perfect place to add a little sunny glow to this image. Even the simplest of objects can make for a beautiful photo. I'm loving still photography more and more these days.

  

52 photos project {right now}

Every once in awhile.... okay almost every day, I get in the mood to do a little still-life photography. I've been wanting to photograph this baby for a while now and today seemed like the perfect day. There's just something about this cute little Brownie Hawkeye that appeals to me. I thought about shooting it in color, but it just screams black and white.... don't you think? So, where am I right now? I'm right behind my lens.... where I feel at home.

52 photos project {the skies above}

Ordinarily, when posting a picture of the sky, I would be tempted to show an image of a bright blue, puffy-white-cloud-filled sky or a beautiful sunset filled with oranges and yellows. But today, I chose an image of the sky above our cabin in the Uintah Mountains of Utah. The sky was a beautiful blue, but I chose to process it in subdued black, gray and cream tones. So fitting for this time of year, I think. These branches will be weighed down with heavy white snow before long, and the sky will be a darker stormy gray for sure. But until then, I will enjoy the clear days like this, when the sky seems to go on forever. 

single shot saturday

my dad's rad

Today is Father's Day. A  day to pay tribute to our fathers. I was searching through my old family photos and came across this very dashing photo of my dad. He was probably in his late teens or early 20's when this was taken. I think he is very handsome and distinguished looking with his hair all slicked back and his best suit on.
I hope he is having a wonderful day today. He definitely deserves it after helping to raise and support nine children! I would like to say that we were all angels, and very easy to raise, but that would be a lie. My 6 brothers were difficult and naughty for most of their growing up years, but us girls really were perfect angels(just kidding). Actually, he raised nine wonderful children who have all gone on to be (if I do say so myself) AWESOME!! I like to think that a lot of that can be attributed to my Dad. 


He has always worked very hard and has been a great example to us in many ways. Here are just a few things he has taught along the way. 


He has taught all of us to appreciate and enjoy nature. We've spent many summers as young children fishing at Strawberry Reservoir and Redfish Lake. Some of my fondest memories include campfires with trout and fried potatoes cooking on a griddle. He taught me how to clean a fish and gut it, something I am still proud of today.

Dad has always been big into scouting and has taught the boys everything there is to know about the great outdoors.  


He has a great love for reading. I have watched him over the years as he has poured over all kinds of books. I think that part of my desire to read the past 5 or 6 years is because of him. I think it has finally rubbed off on me. 


Dad also has very good handwriting, which is not common in most of the men I know. I love to look at the poetry he has written over the years. Most of it is written in his own handwriting. This makes it more special, at least to me. He is quite a poet and doesn't even know it (pun intended).


I tend to get most of my physical traits from my mother, but if there was one thing I would have loved to inherit from my Dad it would be his beautiful blue eyes. They are so pretty and crystal clear blue.


One of my favorite memories of Dad in my early years happened when I was around 7 or 8 years old. One Spring, my dad suddenly decided to take us girls shopping. This was totally out of the box for him. I remember he bought each of us two pairs of Easter shoes. I was in HEAVEN. I still remember the white strappy sandals and white clogs I picked out. This was a real treat considering how tight our budget was. He spoiled us that day. I would love to relive that experience any time he feels up to it:)


There are a million reasons why I love you Dad, but today it's simply because you are MY Dad. I hope you have a very happy Father's Day. I love you!

single shot saturday

three hours shy

I have had every intention of blogging this week. But, as it turns out, I have been about three hours shy on time each day.....and so, blogging has to wait. See you soon:) 

my happily ever after

I have this little block of wood sitting under a picture of my family at home. It's a daily reminder of what makes me happy in life. The older I get, the more I realize that "happily ever after" isn't a destination, but rather a journey. A long, hard journey of ups and downs that are far from blissful at times. Happiness is very much in our hands, as we choose how we will deal with what life throws at us. As for me, I'm claiming my little chunk of "happily ever after" and holding on tight!! 

Desperate For Dry

I have always admired

really pretty skin.

The kind women have 

who live in tropical, humid climates.

The kind that keeps your face

looking a little dewey

all of the time.

I have longed to have skin like that

for most of my adult life...

until this week.

Going to Aruba changed me.

I have 

NEVER,

EVER,

EVER

been so hot and sweaty

in all my life!

And, believe me, 

that is saying a lot.

I could handle the heat in Aruba,

but its the 500% humidity that got to me.

Sure my feet looked great,

no cracks or dryness,

but don't even get me started on my hair.

It was constantly laying FLAT

right next to my already-too-small head.

Not an ounce of volume in sight!

My makeup looked great 

when I was in the hotel,

but the second I stepped outside,

it slid right down my face.

My clothes were wet for a week straight.

There is no such thing as a dry towel,

or dry clothes in Aruba.

I was wet and sticky

the entire time I was there.

And so,

say what you want 

about the gorgeous tropics.

I'll keep my dry, desert climate,

(and my dry feet)

thank you very much.

Mother Dear, I Love You So

All that I am or ever hope to be,

I owe to my angel mother.

-Abraham Lincoln

Abe Lincoln may have beat me to the punch,

but he's not the only one who feels this way.

Today,I wanted to write

about all of the things 

I have learned from my mother.

As I started to think about it,

the list in my head got longer and longer.

There is no way one post would suffice,

so I will just touch on one.

One very important thing.

My mom did not have a particularly easy life.

She was from a very large family

with a very meager income.

Her father struggled with alcoholism,

which left her mother 

to carry much of the burden of raising a family

on her own.

With finances so tight at home,

Mom moved out on her own

when she was just 14 years old.

She worked at a local ice cream shop

and lived in a hotel room across the street.

She worked hard to provide for herself,

taking some of the pressure

off her own mother's shoulders.

Mom left school early

and married at age 16.

Two years later

she started a family of her own.

A very large family.

Nine children were privileged

to call her Mom.

Over the years I have watched her 

bake thousands of loaves of bread,

bottle infinite jars of fruit,

do endless loads of laundry,

sew countless articles of clothing,

and still manage 

to have Dad's lunch on the table at noon.

(with a pickle on the side)

Along the way,

she lost her father to alcoholism 

and two brothers at an early age.

Later in life 

she lost her mother and two sisters.

And, more recently

she lost her oldest son.

She has been a pillar of strength 

through all of these

and countless other trials in life.

So, what is the most important thing

I have learned from my mother?

It's this....

YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS.

I have come from a long line 

of women who have proven this.

Nobody is exempt from hardships in life,

that's for sure.

But, I can do hard things.

For generations,

the women in my family 

have had to carry more than their share

of heavy burdens.

Sometimes I feel like their strength 

has filtered down to me and my sisters.

Through all of their examples,

and especially my mom's

I have gathered strength

to face my own challenges in life.

Thanks Mom, for teaching me

such an important life-lesson.

And for showing me 

how to love unconditionally along the way.

I hope you have a 

Happy Mother's Day.

I love you!!

Take Me Back Oregon

Coos Bay Bridge

I was looking back at some pictures I took

a couple of years ago

when we drove 

the Pacific Coast Highway.

This picture in particular

brought back wonderful memories of Oregon.

Such a pretty state.

I've decided I want to go back,

drive the highway again,

and camp along the way.

Or maybe bike.

Either way.

Take my whole family this time.

Who's in??

Single Shot Saturday

Me, Myself and I

I had to do a selfie today for my photo class.

Talk about out of my comfort zone.

I love to take pictures of other people.

I don't even mind being in pictures

other people are taking.

But, to take my own picture . . . .

AWKWARD!

It was actually easier than I thought, though.

I just pulled a chair up to the window,

grabbed my guitar to relax me,

set the timer on my camera

and click. . .

it was over that fast.

I'm not sure what the big deal was.

It really does help  

to do these types of things 

that are out of the box for me.

It makes me stretch and grow a little.

Which is good for all of us, right?

Happy Accident

This week in one of my photo classes

we are studying accidental photos.

Pictures that are not planned,

that you take on accident 

while adjusting your camera strap,

or paying attention to your settings,

or by bumping the shutter release button.

This is one such picture

taken two days ago at the park.

Normally I would have passed it by,

but my class forced me 

to go through pictures taken this week,

really look at them,

and make something of them.

The first thing I noticed on this photo

was the velcro strap on his left shoe.

It is always coming undone.

Something you would only know 

if you spend a lot of time 

with this little cutie :)

It's a sweet little reminder to me

of a time in his life 

that is going by way to fast.

One of the things I love 

about my classes right now

is that they help me to cherish.

Cherish everyone,

everything,

every moment,

and every photo.

So glad I kept this one!

Stick A Fork In It

It's Official.

It's over. 

For me anyway.

My bracket is busted.

The long-time tradition of the 

Austin March Madness Challenge

has ended in defeat.

Three of my final four 

were eliminated this past weekend,

including my hopeful overall winner

North Carolina.

Dang! Same thing happened last year!!

I won't bother mentioning

who has moved into first place,

as I am sure she will be commenting

on this post in a boastful manner.

Good luck to those 

who are still in the running.

I should have gone with my first instinct.

(Kentucky)

Go Wildcats!!

All Swam Out

I went swimming with Tate today.

I was mostly there to watch,

and laugh,

and be a proud grammie.

But, of course,

there was also a little picture taking.

Okay, a lot of picture taking.

This is one of the last shots captured.

He was tuckered.

Britt said he took a three hour nap afterwards.

What a special little boy :)

a day of rest

Have a beautiful, peaceful and rest-filled Sunday.