Day Sixty Three

See...

Even the birds are hiding from the snow.

Spring's coming. Spring's coming. Spring's coming. 

Spring's coming!

 

Day Sixty Two

Seuss Hangover...

(dark and blurry? Yeah, Me too.)

Because of my new working schedule, Dad's school schedule, and, well, life, we hesitate to add new stuff. But, like many schools, ours hosted a Dr. Seuss night with a corresponding book fair.

My son wanted very much to go, and Dad played hero while I cooked a late dinner (everyone pitched in) and took B to the event.

So, a short night's sleep (and a full series of Indiana Jones books) later, this is how "we" woke up this morning.
He looks like I feel. Only much cuter and with whiskers!

Day Sixty One

I started my job at Kids' Club , which is a before and after school (also Summer) care program, the Fall of 2006. I have loved almost every minute of it. This past Fall, my boss and good friend broke the news that, due to the economy, we simply didn't have enough kids to support two workers. I was jobless, so to speak, from this past September until...TODAY!

Circumstances created a need for me again. I have missed it so much!

 

Day Sixty

I am loving my daily walks with my friend, Amy.

I take my camera from time to time, trying to find something beautiful, or at least interesting.

 It's a discipline for me as the cold, dry weather drags on.

But I see Spring coming... on the calendar, if nowhere else.

I try to sort of meditate on the quote I see from time to time:

"IAMNOWHERE"

If I am someone who reads, "I am nowhere," which I have tended to be,

I can look long enough to see, "I am now here."

I find it a bit cheesy and "pop-psych", but it struck me just the same.
It helps me adjust my over-wintered, anxious-for-our-"new life stage"  attitude. 

 

 

Day Fifty Nine

I've seen some similar shots in the past few days.

I've wanted to do this one for a few weeks now.

But today I'm so anxious for anything to bloom, that I thought maybe, if I give it a little attention...

Day Fifty Eight

Blue Moon...

 

So, can I call myself a photographer now?

Because, this early morning (some would argue, the middle of the night), I noticed the bright reflection of light on our back fence. I had my blankets and socks in hand, hoping to catch another couple of hours of sleep on a Saturday morning, laying on the big couch...

But I thought this might be awesome and I couldn't ignore it. 

So, there I am on the front lawn, 3:00 A.M., camera in hand, barefoot on the deck in sub-freezing temperatures.

Just so I could shoot the moon.

Good enough for George Bailey, good enough for me!

Note: The white spot, roughly in the center of the shot is not a speck on my lens, as I first suspected. I'm not an Astronomy expert- can't say what it is, but it looks cool, right?

 

Day Fifty Seven

This piano is a complete blessing to my family.

It represents dreams fulfilled and my favorite way to worship.
My oldest never hesitates to remind me that, "I get that when you guys die."

Sweet, isn't she!

 

 

Day Fifty Six

"Sleeping Sun"

 

When our youngest daughter was in third grade, they were encouraged to paint a canvas and submit it for an art auction.which would benefit something or other.

We went, expecting to buy her painting

(you know, like any good parent would)

only to find out that this piece was quite popular.

We ended up having a bit of a bidding war with one of the teachers.

I'm in love with this... and my artist.

Day Fifty Six

Thanks, friend, for walking with me.

 

Actually, thank you for calling and being firm with me when I could have blown it off another time.

Thanks for your patience and conversation.

Thanks for being a true (and a bit camera shy) friend.

 

Day Fifty Five

There's something about roll dough.

 

 

 I feel so... gratified when I make rolls for my family. I've pretty much nailed it, after 20 or so years of baking them on major holidays and random, feel-good dinners. Like tonight .

So I took a moment to breathe it in.

 

 

Day Fifty Four

Why don't you run your own bath this morning, Buddy?

And, even after the water had drained...

 

You can imagine the floor afterward...

and the boy! He had to rinse off in the shower.

 

Day Fifty Three

We have our very own personal Dr. Seuss...

His school holds a "Cat In the Hat" night every year. It's a time for families to gather and celebrate children's literature. In honor of the event, kids are encouraged to purchase hats. They come in all colors and textures.

My guy, being who he is, chose the classic red and white stripe.

Suits him, don't you think?

Confession...

Okay...

I'm admitting that, in the wake of relaxing a bit after my daughter's accident, I am back home and feeling completely uninspired.
I'm admitting this because I think it's part of my learning curve and I will appreciate knowing, the next time I feel this way, that I've felt this way before.

I will, I know from experience, burst out in creativity in the next day or two
(most likely when I actually pick my camera up rather than stare at it), but today I feel BLAH!

I should try to fulfill some of my themes I've prepared for a time such as this,
but I have a lot on my mind and, today, I don't care. 

My blog design is boring me.
I'm not sure what I want it to look like.
I just discovered that there's a photographer with a name THREE LETTERS away from mine...

I love my name (it's my name)
and don't want to lose it.

Sigh.

I could never abandon this project.. I really love it too much.

I'll catch up. Tomorrow.

 

A leftover from January, I believe.

Day Fifty Two

I'm not even kidding!!

 

Making scrambled eggs this morning...

I cracked the first one and said, "ohh, twins!"

But they kept coming! 

I'm not a farm girl, this could be completely normal, but I don't think so.

All ten eggs from one carton. The other two I had used before were normal, I think...

I'll let you know if anyone grows another head or something.

Day Fifty One

Home again... decompressing... processing...

promises on paper...

Isaiah 43 

Day Fifty

Out of the hospital!!!

I finally moved my ISO from 1600 to 100 for a picture of her flowers

 

but I forgot to move it back again for this triumphant moment. 

That's okay, though, because Dad's face says it all!!

Day Forty Nine

Sisters...

And the brother made a special cupcake, just for me...

Day Forty Eight

Yeah...

A regular room is so much nicer than the ICU!

 

The view from the hospital window

Day Forty Seven

There are friends who are closer than family. We have some of these friends. 

They went to the emergency room to comfort our daughter while we were still hours away. They opened their home to us and told us to make it our own. They fed us and visited with us. At this moment, my girl is there while she gets strong enough to return to her dorm. In the past, they have counseled us and have attended every life event since we've met. They mean more to us than I could ever express in any blog, but the heart of these friends is shown here. In the middle of worry and stress, everyone needs a little of this...

Day Forty SIx

The family waiting room for the Intensive Care Unit is not a place I want to revisit anytime soon. Sure, we were worried about our daughter, but we were surrounded by mourning families, slowly saying goodbye to people they love. I made conversation with Faye, whose husband had been in a coma since his triple-bypass five days before. They are to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on March 17th, which is the day my husband and I celebrate our twentieth. I pray that they have this day to enjoy together.

This is a dog that visits with his trainer to cheer people up who are in these sad situations. The cute kid is Faye's great- grandson.