Thanks JenH!

Thanks for sharing your vintage actions, Jen!
I've had lots of fun playing with them tonight. Here's one from a photo from mother's day I really like...

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Baby K

Just a few peeks at Baby K, who we FINALLY got to meet today! The girls and I were to happy to met our friend J's baby brother. I really was just snapping away in the late afternoon/early evening yummy sunlight, and wanted to share these few that just made me smile. Sorry, no sharing his beautiful little perfect face with the whole of Blog World.

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Poppy

This is Poppy. He is another man in our lives who has our respect and love. He has a special place in my heart because he is so similar to my wonderful DH. He is so easy going, and always has a million different ways that he shows his love to his family. Between building, gardening, driving, chipping in, being there- Poppy is always on it.
Poppy allowed Miss K help him prepare the ground for the garden. He taught her so much, and she loved spending the time with him.
He gave the girls turns riding/driving the tractor. They felt like they were the coolest kids around. Hey, they were!
And here's a shot basking in the sun with DH's grandma, his mom. Family is so important to him; he treasures geneology and hertiage. He has a vast collection of family photos, films, DVD's, 8 mms, etc. as well as books about Italy and American politics. But we won't talk about politics :0)

Poppy has an amzaing ability to listen, and make you feel what you have to say is important. He loves to laugh and have a good time; when he finally finishes his projects of the day, and after dinner, it's all about laughing and sharing good times.

So, today I thought I'd share why we love Poppy so much.

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Another chapter in a novel of life

"The Da"

It's time to talk about the Da. That's an Irish word for grandfather, and it's what my kids call my dad. I call him Da now, too.
This picture just makes me laugh. It's a silly snapshot I took last ime he was over for a little get together; I'm sorry to say it isn't very flattering (he's a handsome guy, I have to tell you!). But if you look at his eyes, you can clearly see the twinkle of mischief. He is always into mischief. He loves to tease, and loves to laugh. I love that about him. He and I can get going, so that we are just giggling and guffawing at some silly something. He can have a "raw" kind of humor, or he can just delight in the latest political goof up.
My Dad is a wonderful life partner for my mom. He is a lot of fun; but he also will stop and talk and have great debates. He is very knowldegeable about current events- a friend of the family teases that she feels the need to "read up" on current events before they get together.
My Dad has a kind heart, and is compassionate.
He chips in to do his share, making sure that he does his part. Growing up, Saturday mornings were for cleaning. Dad, Mom and I all were equally busy (of course, I always thought they made me do all the hard work :) ), each taking part in keeping our home clean and sparkling. Dad is the one who cooks, and as a general state of being, is someone you count on.
Dad is someone who loves to pull pranks, and who growing up would share all sorts of fun stories. I used to wish I knew Dad as a teen and young adult- I think we would have had a ball together. Now I know I would have had fun- but I wouldn't want anyone else as my dad.

In some ways, Dad and I are a lot alike. So no one can make him crazier than me (except of course his mother, but that goes without saying, right? ;) ). We used to get into the typical teen- I wanna be a grown up versus adult- you are my kid and will behave accordingly- which I love and respect him for. But even though we can both get crazed, and even though we both get fairly loud, he taught me some of the most valuable lessons of anger.

-getting loud is just volume- it doesn't mean you lose repect or care for the other
-being mad is temporary
-shouting might feel good, but it doesn't help you be heard :)
-always, always say sorry when you are calm and mean it
-always come back after tempers are lost, and talk out the problem with reason.

My dad taught me that a temper can be loud and uncomfortable, but he also ALWAYS came back after a row to "fix" it. It was never framed as "I'm right, you're wrong". Well, it was sometimes, but only if he was. It was more about, "I'm sorry I lost my temper. What I want you to know is...". It is such a gift. I grew up knowing anger is something that happens. I grew up knowing a good fight doesn't mean a thing in the feelings you have for someone else, so long as you "fight fair". I grew up knowing that although he might be furious with me, my dad always, always loves me.

That is such a powerful gift to give me.
In addition to the family gene for chocoholism.
And love of a great story.
And the joy of laughing till you cry.





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Self Portrait challenge...yikes!

It's harder than it looks! I dragged out my shutter release (THIS is one of the things you would use this for, Mom!), tripod and trustly 100mm lens to try to get a self portrait. I had to change my focus lock back to the shutter so I could focus; I needed to be in apperture priority so I could ensure I was in focus, and I had my apperture cranked to between 8-14 for the whole shoot. The first one posted was underexposed- it's not so easy to meter for yourself when you aren't sitting in the spot to get a reading! So I had to increase the exposure in ACR. All shot at ISO of 500.

1/60, 8.0.
1/30, 14. same as above, different crop and in color.

I'll try to get to posting the outtakes. At one point S came out to "help me"! Too funny...

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A picnic with the girls

So, we had a picnic for dinner last night :)
We are in week three of Daddy working till all hours. Sunday was the first day he was home with us in two weeks; he's been coming home 11:30 and later at night. It's been hard on all of us. Not to somplain- we have it a lot easier than most, but... we miss our favorite guy.
Unfortunately, when Daddy is working so much, it throws off our whole family center. Suddenly, we're all a little more cranky, a little less likely to be nice, a little needier, and just YUCK!
It's a bit tougher when it is also Mommy's stressful time of year. Children in school are becoming anxious with the year winding down, and adults are feeling pressured to "get to " all the things they want to accomplish around all the fun things that happen in June in school. Everyone is just a hair less tolerant than they have been.
And my girls just miss their Daddy. I've mentioned that, haven't I?
Ugh. So, we had a picnic. We packed up some sandwiches, watermelon and grapes, grabbed the blankets and camera, and headed outside.
Thank goodness! We just needed a little fresh air, laughing and unwinding time. We needed to not all be on top of each other. And we all needed to have some fun.
So, it's a picnic. To remind me that all around me might be chaos, but when I take the time to sit and just be with my girls, life can throw in a little picnic.

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A beautiful girl

I love when K. decides I should take her picture... and then cooperates as I snap away! I loved the golden evening light, and her affection for her , "Just like me" doll named Rose. Life is good when you have a good friend!

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Cool Storm clouds...

Isn't this ominous?
M called me to grab my camera when he saw these clouds outside while grilling our dinner~ does he know me or what???
This is my favorite of several very cool pictures.

1/500, 2.8.

100 mm

ISO 250

Increased contrast in ACR to +46.

Defog, and increased contrast in layers.

Thanks for looking!

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