Day Thirty Seven

When I first took my Photography class at The Kilns College, I became struck by the possibilities within my reach with digital photography, particularly what can be achieved in post processing. I really love to play. But my mind has lately been occupied with a desire to take great photos in the first place.

So, while I still "played" in Lightroom and the composition isn't anything special, I took this with my agenda being to truly consider the light I wanted here and the mood I wanted to create. All this while wanting clear focus using 100 ISO.

I want to perfect this thing so I don't have any reservations letting people put their moments in my hands. I would be most gratified if I found that my images didn't need post editing, but that I used it for fun. For art.

I don't know if any of that makes any sense, but I do know that this is some of my favorite music. Just a little of it. A true representation of "music I love" would take the 120 gig ipod (which I'd love to document buying sometime within the span of this project). The stack of CDs would be much taller than my house.

Day Thirty Six

Family Games...

Pizza, wings, soda.

Nothing at all good for you, but the laughter!

We moved on from "dinner" to play Beatles Rock Band. For hours. Marvelous Bliss.

 

Day Thirty Five

Congratulations, Buddy!!

 

THIS is what a self- manager looks like! Off to Dairy Queen!!

 

Day Thirty Four

His oldest sister is away at school.

They are just about exactly ten years apart, but they are fiercely close.

It has been hard to live without her here with us every day, but I am so thankful for Facebook, webcams, and Skype chat so that we can better keep in touch.

By the smile on his face, this conversation is more than likely about body noises and functions,

but it's what they do!

Day Thirty Three

So...

I'm 42 today.

I couldn't be happier about that.

 

It looks like I'm getting the focus down a bit better,

but I could do without the hunks of lint on the bathroom mirror!

 

Day Thirty Two

Blue Monday

Well, my watermark is still under construction, and things were glitchy when I was making it. So, yeah, don't "cop" my photo. :D. I'll fix it later.

This is actually from yesterday. Believe it or not, today is back to cloudy skies and snow.

Way too depressing.

I have to remind myself that I said this would be my project my way. So I'm not cheating by posting yesterday's photo today.

I'm really very impressed that I've done a month so far. I really love what it's doing for me!

Day Thirty One

I love this place. Sunday after church is such a nice time for a walk...

If you look closely, you'll see my husband and son leaning over the railing, looking at the ducks.

Coming soon:

Way more pictures of people!

Day Thirty

We made a promise to our son, who's obviously neglected (NOT) that we would make a family game night. I've had so much fun with this. However, this Friday, I was exhausted and we asked if we could do it Saturday afternoon, instead. We got the O.K. and that's what we did.

It was Apples to Apples in a manner so cutthroat that I expect Oliver Stone to call any minute for permission to review the controversy in his next film. Sandra Bullock will play me. My husband would love that!

First of all, the rules have you play until one player has either five cards or seven. I forget. Anyway, little buddy saw his opportunity and declared that, this time, we will play to twelve.

Yeah. Twelve.

We ended up in a four-way, eleven card tie. What makes this more difficult is that we take turns being the judge. This meant that on the final turn, the judge CAN NOT win.

Whoever wins the card does win. All of it. The whole enchilada.

Well, in our case, half of a tuna sandwich.

Turns out the victory went to my daughter. I still say that Captain Kirk fits the nerdy card way more than the black hole or penguins or marshmallows. He's the poster guy for nerds worlwide!!

But I digress...

My son got his game day (and I mean DAY) and his sister emerged the victor.

Rematch?

Oh... it's on!

 

Note: no one else was willing to be photographed because we stayed in our jams all day.

Day Twenty Nine

Sunrise...

 

Sunset...

Day Twenty Eight

Okay...

Truth is, I'm WAY over winter. I lasted longer this year, but I am here now. A bit pouty.

I cringe to look outside and see what looks like Christmas for months on end. I'm ready for flowers and kids on bikes...

Since this project, for me, is about growing in my photography, I need to work with what I have. This has been valuable experience.

Here's our tree. With a pinecone. And snow.

I kind of like this:

 

Day Twenty Seven

I found myself with the very rare day alone.

What to do?

This movie is, at least, on my top ten.

My husband and I talk about how we will be the parents whose kids gather around.

Instead of a lake, it will be a beach house on the Oregon Coast.

Yeah.

I love this movie!

Day Twenty Six

Truth Tuesday...

This hangs above the window at my kitchen sink. 

It is a constant, comforting reminder to me

as my family is in this "transition" season of our lives.

"Calm down... I've got it!"

 

Day Twenty Five

Winter's getting to me, but there's beauty here.

Still tweaking my watermark... I'll fix it later!

Day Twenty Four

Yesterday, we left to see our daughter. We were trying to beat a winter storm, due on Sunday afternoon. We set out at around noon. The heavy rain started right away, and we knew that the snow on the pass had come too early. But everyone had school in the morning so, no matter how badly we wanted to just stay with our daughter and our friends, we set out in our Toyota Camry That's right. Not a Highlander or even a Rav 4, but the sedan.

The first picture shows what a beautiful view we had on our way over.

The second shows the mess we had on the way home.

My brave husband tightened his grip and plowed us onward to our safe place and to our dog...

But not before we hit a giant rock (think volleyball size) and bumped over it in a loud, scary fashion. The visibility was bad, and we just didn't see it.

I'm seriously so grateful that we suffered nothing more than a slightly bent rim and frazzled nerves.It could have been so much worse.

This is my weekly self portrait day,

but I promised that I wouldn't let myself be bound by the rules I made for this project, just guided by them.

Maybe in a few days...

Day Twenty Three

Today, we were able to travel go to Eugene to see our daughter, who is in college.

We had lunch with her and took her shopping for laundry soap.

Our dear friends who live there (and help to take good care of our girl) were so kind and invited us to stay with them overnight. We've all been busy, as families tend to be, and haven't spent time together in a couple of years. Lifelong friends are the ones who feel like home.

Here we are...

Lunch, friends, and parking meters.

(We don't have those where we live!)

Day Twenty Two

Bruno!!

Day Twenty One

This Day...

This is a good one,

because forty (mmffble) years ago, my husband was born and God marked him just for ME!

As they read this, my girls are "throwing up a little in their mouths".

This man has been my best friend for the last 22 and a half years. For almost twenty of these, we've been married. Why is he so cool?

Well...

He's gentle, loyal, snuggly, undyingly commtitted, loving, humble, handsome, committed to truth, very much his own man and someone who would do absolutely ANYTHING for his family...

As I'm typing this, I realize that I'll never be able to finish all the things I love about him,

so I'll just show you a fun moment we shared last night

with two- thirds of our children at Bend Burger Company.

Yum.

Day Twenty

He has his own room...

When his oldest sister left for college this past Fall, we just knew that the two remaining would be thrilled to get their own rooms.

I mean, what thirteen year old girl wants to share with her eight-year-old brother?

Well, he can't quite bring himself to sleep alone.

It's January. We've tried. We need sleep, too, so we've been giving in.

I have to remind myself that it won't last forever, and we'll miss this. 

Day Nineteen

Here they are...

My son had a day. Hit in the face with a ball in P.E. Hard enough to bring some tears.

Quite a raspberry on his cheek. (I'm not sure if it shows here)

My daughter is in eighth grade. That's enough for anyone to put up with in a day. Seriously.

Brave girl.

And Bruno...

Well, he's had some naughty days these past few weeks. He's really the best dog ever.

Today, he's been good and I think he's proud of himself for not getting into stuff.

Or peeing in the house.

Go Bruno!

Day Eighteen

Something blue...

I love the Lightroom action on this, although this really is this kind of blue.

It almost looks like selective color, but it's really "cold tone"

This is getting to be super fun AND addictive!

I find I'm "seeing" photos everywhere I go.