Photos of a Recent Wedding

Here are some more shots of a recent wedding of which I was second shooter.

An Artist… Could I Be???

Something happened the other evening while I was out snapping shots with my camera… my camera transformed into a paint brush, and watercolors, and oils!  Believe it or not, except for some very minor adjustment in levels (darks and lights), these pictures have not been altered in Photoshop.  Have I earned myself an easel?

Cute Cousins

Just look at these precious little ones!  Their sweet grandmother wanted some pictures of her little cuties, and of course, I was more than happy to oblige!  I’ll never pass up the chance to photograph a newborn baby!  And his older cousin was as adorable as could be… fun, fun, fun!

One of Life’s Lessons

I was out the other evening, walking the back forty (more realisticaly - back four, I’ve just always wanted to say that) when I came across these two marked graves.

I’d never noticed them here before, but I was pretty sure that I knew the occupants of these two resting places. 

Do you remember back in May when I posted pictures of our adorable baby chicks?  Well, you can’t tell it from the pictures, but two of our baby chicks came to us deformed.  And if being crippled wasn’t bad enough, they had the rest of the brood attacking them… just because they were a little different and weak… ruthless, I tell ya!  I guess it dosen’t matter what walk of life you’re from, there’s always gonna be a bully… just waiting to come out of the woodwork (or wood chips in this case.)

Anyway,  my kiddos had great compassion on these two little gals.  They made them their very own living quarters, seperate from the others.  They named them (Love, and the other, Club for her club feet), nursed them, held them, and loved them.  Unfortunate for the little gals, this was not enough to keep them in the land of the living… they both passed away leaving my children feeling down troden.  My two eldest set off to bury the little chicks and that was the last I’d heard of it.  Until I happened upon this…

and this…

 

I just love my little boys, and their great big, tender, compassionate hearts! 

I payed my own respects, then walked away with a smile in my heart.

Photo Session With Melina

I did a photo session with the lovely Melina a couple of days ago.  We had a fun time at the park!

Melina is in a jazz quartet called Zona Calda (Italian for Hot Spot) and let me tell you, her singing will knock your socks off! 

God bless you Melina, and all of your musical adventures.

And the Winner Is….

Thanks to everyone who participated in my little contest yesterday.  It was fun to read the different exclamations that you came up with for my baby girl. There was a nice variety of entries, as some of you interpreted the look on her face as having a sense of urgency, while others saw it as pure glee.

So, last night, my husband reclined in the judges chair and I read each entry to him, leaving out the name of the author to keep his selection completely unbiased.  After carefully listening to your entries, a couple of times, he concluded that Lucy’s entry, “Weeee… ha ha ha….weeeee.  Do it again daddy… please, please, please!!!”  is his favorite.  When asked why he chose that entry he responded, with a smile on his face, “Because that is exactly what she says.”

Congratulations Lucy, you are the winner of yesterday’s photo contest!  I will be contacting you soon to find out which print you’d like me to send to you, and what size you’d like it to be. 

To everyone else, thanks for your creative captions… I really enjoyed reading your entries.

And there we have it - the answer to the question that has baffled me upon this initiation of each of our babies into toddler-hood.  Why must he scoop our baby up like that, and then fling her eight or nine feet up into space… away from her mama, away from this hard, rocky, unforgiving surface,… away from safety and civility?!!  Well, why else?  Because she delights in it… she pleads for it, and then squeals in absolute bliss.  Many evenings, when her daddy pulls into the driveway, she runs to the front door to greet him, ”Super jump daddy…super jump!” 

Why, just look at the little rascal…What’s a mama to do!

Thanks for stopping by y’all…have a splendid day!

Give that Photo a Caption Contest

The baby in this photo needs your help!  Just look at the cute little thing, she’s got something to say but seems to be having some trouble finding the words.  I know that you can help her get it off her chest… just look closely, I’m sure it’ll come to you!  When it does, enter your caption in the comments section below and you’ll have a chance at winning a free 11×14, 8×10, or 5×7 picture of your choice from either my Barns Page or Lighthouses Page.   If you don’t need another barn or lighthouse picture, you’re still welcome to enter…I crave your comments!  

This picture is of my husband and my baby girl, taken five months ago.  Upon first glance, you may have asked yourself why my husband would be tossing around a rag doll, but with closer examination you’ll notice that she is alive indeed!  You may even hear a squeal if you listen hard enough.  Yesiree, those are real little clenched teeth, real little squinted eyes, and real little scrambled brains.

Me, on the other hand, I’m real confused.  You see, every time our babies have become toddlers (that would be five times to be exact,)  I become baffled once again, by the mysterious male species and his need to throw things.  Beginning with the very youngest to the more mature in age, I’ve see them throw rocks, toys, and balls, some even throw their tools.  But what, tell me, is this fascination in throwing their children?  That may be a question for another contest!   I myself like to keep our baby safe and sound, on the ground!   But then again, I’m a bit of a klutz, and my biceps are like noodles next to his!   

To enter the contest:  Choose a short phrase to sum up what she might be thinking/wanting to say, and enter it in the comments section below before 8pm western time today.  I will copy your entries anonymously, and ask my husband to select his favorite caption to fill the bubble in the picture above.  Winner will be announced tomorrow, Good luck!

Contest Tomorrow!

How would you like a picture of a lighthouse

or an old barn to set on your shelf?

 

If lighthouses or barns are your thing, then check back here tomorrow morning, bright and early, for your chance to participate in a simple contest and win a 5×7, 8×10, or 11×14 print of your choice.  Until then, take a peek at my barns  and lighthouses  pages to see if there isn’t one that screams out, “You want me, you need me!” 

See you tomorrow!

P.S.  If you’re not into barns or lighthouses, then just come for the fun (I love visitors!)… and be sure to have your creative juices flowing!

They’re Home

Well, my fellas are home, safe and sound.   Here are some pictures they took from their hiking/camping trip with all the guys (my dad, brother, two brothers-in-law, two nephews, my man, and my three little fellas.)

 

They came home with beautiful wildflowers for me to enjoy, 

and nasty sunburns for me to keep hydrated!

It’s nice to be missed.  We sure missed them!

First Birthday Cake / Carlie Anne Part II

Well, Carlie proved to be as gentle with cake as she is petite in stature.  The level of restraint that she demonstrated when presented with her very own birthday cake was enough to send yours truly into a deep sense of discomposure regarding my own lack of self-government.  Sugar + Me =  surrender, submission, submergence.   Well anyway, I got over it real fast, and before our photo session was over, I’d done my share of rousing and cheering - encouraging Carlie to embrace the wondrous pleasures of sweet confections.  

It wasn’t exactly ”love at first sight” for Carlie, unlike my own encounters with things that are baked and frosted.  No, she was a little standoffish, and a bit shy at first. 

 

But with a little encouragement and cheer leading on her mom’s and my part, Carlie was able to get past that first barrier and have herself a closer peek. 

 

Oh yeah!  Now she’s on to something.

 

But wait a minute! 

 

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

 

Somehow we knew she’d figure it out.

 

Oh yeah…

 

By the end of our photo shoot, I think I heard Carlie whisper, Where’ve you been all my life?