Happy New Years!

I've been MIA from bloggie world once again. I thought I'd fire up a short post today to say Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a blessed and Merry Christmas. May this be a wonderful New Year for you and your families.

I have a ton of thoughts and ideas brewing in my brain for 2010!  Imagine that right?  I'm excited about all of them and eager to start working on some of my thoughts and plans. My photography blog will be something at the very top of my priority list, so stay tuned for that.

I received a Canon Speedlite 580EX II from my dear sweet Honeysuckle for Christmas. I am feverishly trying to learn how to use my new external flash. I think that's one of the reasons I'm so in love with photography. It's something I can't tire of, it keeps my attention...it's always challenging!  I love soaking up every new skills I learn each time I shoot.  I have so many "Ahh-HAA!" moments every single time I take pictures.

The photo of the kids was taken on New Years Eve. To think their play room was pretty dark. There is no way I could have gotten a decent shot with the natural light coming into the room (I don't use the pop up flash at all.) I'm also not one to bump up my ISO to 800+ unless I'm desperate!  This flash is really putting a new spin on my photography as well as my learning curve.  I'm excited!  :-)

i hear faces - "Pets Only!"

I decided to take a quick break from my Christmas "To Do" list to enter my photo this week. I knew I had a handful of pictures from Thanksgiving day of this sweet horse. We spent Thanksgiving day with my brother, his wife and their brand new baby girl. Before we ate Honeysuckle, Rosebud, Buttercup and I took a walk down their street and we were greeted by this fella. The horse spotted us coming his way and walked over to the fence he was behind to say hello.  I really do think he was posing for me...really I do.  :-)

You can click on the button above to enter your own "Pets Only!" photo or see all of the entries for this week.

{Photography Session} - Baby "K" - 3.5 Months Old

I was blessed on Friday afternoon to take a few photos of this preciously beautiful 3.5 month old and her Mother. She is such a little doll baby!  Being around this sweet little babe sorta, kinda gives me a smidge of that stuff...oh, what is it called?  Yeah, yeah...baby fever?  Uhh huu.  Like I said just a "smidge" of it.

Thought I'd post a couple photos since I've been so absent in my blog postings.







This was excellent practice in my house using natural light. I've found it to be a huge struggle trying to find just the right light indoors to take pictures and have them turn out they way I envision them looking.

I guess it helps that we took down almost half of a wall between the LR and Kitchen. :-) Need light? Take down dry wall, no biggie! I won't make any promises however...I "hope" to post photos of that project very soon. And if you've been hanging around a while you know that my "soon" could very well be after Christmas.  My "To Do" and "Want To Do" list just doesn't stop getting longer.

Thankful Thursday - Week 2

I'm thankful for this precious, smart, sweet, cute, fun, generous, loving, little boy who turned 2 years old on Tuesday.

He brings such joy to our lives and I feel truly blessed to have a son.

November 17, 2007
10:53am
7 pounds 3.5ozs

November 15, 2009

i heart faces - Autumn Beauty

This weeks theme is Autumn. I can't explain how much I love the Fall season. What amazingly beautiful scenery God gives us during the Autumn months. My kids have really enjoyed the many leaves in our yard...making piles (in our driveway) tossing them, rolling in them and of course laying in them. Just plain having fun!

As much as this photo looks "posed" it really isn't. When I said "Hey guys, look over here at Mommy" this was my result.

And for the record I did cut Rosebud's bangs that same night after baths. ;-)

You can see all of the Autumn entries for this week or enter your own photo by clicking on the button at the top of this post.

Thankful Thrusday - Week 1

Each Thursday from today until the end of December I'm going to post a "Thankful Thursday" blog entry. I've been so busy lately, my blog is showing that busyness in the form of neglect. :-(

So, every Thursday for the next several weeks I'm going to post about things I am thankful for through words and pictures of course. ;-)

I'm thankful for beautiful Fall days (even though it's been raining and cold for two days) and two healthy children.  Thank you Jesus for the beauty of nature.  Thank you lord that my children can run, jump, speak, hear and see the Fall season you have created.

What are you thankful for today?

In My Own Backyard

Autumn

Colors

Are

Simply

Beautiful!

The Small Things

Sometimes it's the little things..

like small apothecary jars found while thrifting, filled with two bags of .99 cent candy corn and pumpkins, topped off with handmade bows, made out of left over ribbon from 3 years ago and a bronze candle holder taken from the downstairs half bath. 

A $1.99 Bed Bath & Beyond clearance tag can transform a once $19.99 Red and Gold candle stick into a distressed creamy white one, that displays a bit of grass filler and a white ceramic Dollar store pumpkin.

See, you wouldn't know those details had I not told you about the small things. ;-) When I walk past this corner shelf in my kitchen I smile. Sometimes it really is all about the small things!

Do you ever focus on the small things?

i heart faces - "Pink Week"

This week at i heart faces the them is PINK! October is breast cancer awareness month.

Since my brain is in "pink" mode with the pending arrival of my very first niece I immediately thought of this photo. I took this shot of my sister in law several weeks ago to use as the baby shower invite. This week there doesn't have to have a face in the entry. I also associate pink ribbons with breast cancer, as I am sure many of you do too. 

Can I just tell you all how excited I am to become an aunt?!?!?!!!!! ;-)

You can check out all of the pink entries for this week or enter your own by clicking on the button at the top of this post.

Until, next week...

I have

...a random photo of mints and to compliment my photo a list of randoms to help fill in the gaps of my infrequent blog postings.
I have obviously not been blogging much.
I have been busy.
I have stayed busy.
I have tried to limit my "free" time on the Internet.
I have been taking an online photography class for the last 7 Wednesday's.
I have been taking an online Lightroom class for the last 6 Monday's.
I have learned A LOT!
I have decorated for Fall.
I have a thing for the colors of Autumn.
I have been in project mode.
I have been super crafty.
I have hot glue gun burns on my fingers.
I have thrown a baby shower at my house.
I have new living room furniture after 8 years.
I have given away our previous living room furniture.
I have a much needed new desk chair.
I have prayed for family members.
I have been in full blown night owl mode.
I have to find a way to get to bed earlier.
I have lack of sleep issues.
I have prayed for God's guidance and wisdom.
I have prayed for God's will and not my own.
I have been adjusting to 2nd grade and 2nd grade homework.
I have not been adjusting well to a 2nd grader that wants nothing to do with homework.
I have edited many pictures.
I have taken photos in bad lighting and learned a lesson very quickly.
I have taken photos of many things listed above to hopefully blog about them later.
I have enjoyed watching the new season of Grey's Anatomy on Thursday nights.
I have to get out of my house more often.
I have an urge to start Christmas shopping.
I have to list my Canon Rebel XT on Craigslist.
I have re-arranged furniture.
I have painted.
I have great uses for free paint stirring sticks.
I have hung wallpaper. (Don't GASP, it really is OK! Really, I promise you'll see.)
I have three new paint colors I heart.
I have been sewing with my sewing machine. (GASP! I know right? Who woulda-thunk it?)
I have a 23 month old that uses the words "delicious" & "chilly" in context.
I have an almost 2 year old that knows what "dollar bills" are in a pile of coins.
I have had my first official photo session with my first official clients.
I have started a separate photography blog but it has nothing on it yet.
I have payed for a year of Flickr "pro" to host all my online photos.
I have intentions of blogging this week.
I have lots of thoughts, many ideas and never enough time in my day.
I have many more randoms however I must go to bed before I turn into a pumpkin.

I have typed "I have" 48 times and I liked it. But who's counting? Maybe you since I could be wrong. It's so late and the glow from this laptop screen is starting to look blurry to me.