Saturday, July 18, 2009

nothing tying me down...

I have no plans this weekend
~~
I might go see "away we go" at the movie theatre
~
I want to take a road trip tomorrow just to take pictures
but
I'll probably end up out at the cottage cleaning
~
maxwell street day sales are happening downtown
but
I don't really need anything so this would truly be a people watching adventure
~
I have photos to edit for two consultations next week
but
those can wait until sunday night
~
I changed the sheets on the bed yesterday
so that's already done
~
I could go get a pedicure
but
I kind of like painting my own toes while I can still bend over to do it
~
if it stays cloudy and cool outside
I might end up in the studio making my little purse journals to give away
~
I guess
I'll start by taking a shower
and
then just let the day unfold before me
and
if anything amazing happens
you'll be the first to know
*

Friday, July 17, 2009

game day...game face...


game day
this is my nephew
~
my hubby calls him
T
and
yesterday was day 2 of his league playoffs
in which I joined my sister and her family to cheer him on
~~~~~

who attacks a new puppy with love and kisses at the ball field
?
the sisters of the ball players
that's who
{the one in the white t-shirt is my sweet niece}
baseball players are moving targets and trying to get clear shots of my nephew
while he was actually playing
{with a huge wire fence in front to me}
was not easy
but
I did manage to catch him during the warm-up
and
of course sneaking into the dugout was pretty easy
T
is the catcher for his team and I couldn't help but shoot him getting his gear on and off
in between innings
and
being hugely impressed with how fast he could do this


there were times you could feel a bit of seriousness coming from the field or the dugout
and
somehow I caught it
on the kid who never stops smiling
on this second day of play
they won their first game
and
a few hours later in another elimination round
they lost
but
what an amazing season these boys had to even make it this far
and
what a great day this aunt had
watching
cheering
shooting
and
remembering how it was just yesterday that her own kids were this little
and
how quickly they grew because she blinked
*

Thursday, July 16, 2009

but of course...

you didn't think I'd do a senior photo shoot and forget a jumping photo did you
?
this is her best friend
who came along on the shoot to help if I needed a someone to hold my sun shield and
she was a doll
too
who I found out half way into our session
happens to be the daughter of a girl I graduated from high school with
~small world~
too fun

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

teenagers can be great and this one was perfect...


senior pics

I had a senior photo shoot last week with this doll
and
she was amazing

a complete natural
doing anything I suggested without a complaint

the morning of the shoot I was a bit nervous
~
I actually felt butterflies fluttering in my stomach
as I was traveling to her little town 20 miles north of me
wondering if I would find
the amazing spots that dance in my head for shoots
but rarely exist
not only did I find alleys and graffiti and textured walls and painted doors
I also found an amazing city park
in one of the back alleys we were in
can you believe this
?
an old school desk just sitting there calling my name
and
I actually laughed out loud while looking up at the skies
and
mouthed
thank you
as we were moving in for this next shot
I said
"is that a tattoo I see"
and
she sheepishly said
"yes"
and
I told her we were going to highlight it
not hide it for this shot
so that someday
she'd be able to look back and love and laugh and lap up all that she was
at
18
I still have lots of editing to do
as
I continue to play with tones and colors
and
I want to add some textures to a few of the 256 photos I took
but
for now
here's my sneak peek that I've been so anxious to share with all of you
*

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

japanese beetles again...


every year
we have them and there's nothing you can do to keep them away
~
sure
you can spray your trees
and
the ground
and
use bags to trap them
but
they're still there
in swarms

having a smorgasbord with your plants
mating
and
then quickly dying
until
their relatives show up the following year
to start the whole process all over again
~~
and
guess what
?
they really don't even bother me at all
especially
compared to
the lady asian beetles
that will inhabit
~by the thousands~
the porches out at our cottage
later this summer
~~
lady asian beetles resemble lady bugs
but
stink
and
leave yellow trails from bodily fluids on anything they come in contact with
ceilings
curtains
walls
floors
furniture
~~
just wait for that post
it won't be pretty
*



Monday, July 13, 2009

walk this way

where
hopefully you'll laugh at my sick sense of humor
*

Sunday, July 12, 2009

I was determined to do good...

has been working on an amazing project
and
when she asked if I would be interested in helping her
well
let's just say
I was honored
this is how it goes
~~
she sent me two dollars
asking me to do something with it
that would hopefully make the difference in the life of someone
and
then if at all possible
document it for her
the two dollars were burning a hole in my pocket
while I kept looking and listening and watching and waiting for a perfect opportunity
and
then yesterday
after I had exhausted myself at
~art fair on the square~

I headed down state street a bit
to do what I love to do
~people watch~
and
came across these two boys
who were just starting to unzip the cases protecting their guitars

then out came the
"saving for california"
sign
and
I was hooked
~~
I started the pot
by
throwing the two dollars dani trusted me with
into the open guitar case
{actually tucking it under the sign as the wind was blowing important things around}
and
stood back and listened
to two fabulous dueling acoustic guitars
while a latin beat danced in my head

and
watched
and
watched others
watching
and
after 15 minutes
their case was cradling ten dollars
and
I slowly walked away with a huge smile on my face
thinking to myself
how often lately I feel like I've been in the right place at the right time
and
wondering
if this just happens all on its own
or
if it's possible to create these scenarios yourself
?
~~~~~
whatever it is
I feel blessed
and
if you're wondering
yes
the oldest one of these boys reminded me so much of john mayer
and
the charismatic and amazingly talented younger one
well
I just wanted to take home due to his extreme cuteness
*
I'm also playing over here today