Cheating... Wednesday thru Friday!

Thank you, my friend!

And I stayed and spent time with my friend. It was so great to laugh and talk, walk and take photos. Thank you, friend!

The girls played by the water afterward. We met up with my dear friend, and then the girls were off on their "sleepover" at the grandparents for two whole nights!!!

Thursday. The girls and I met up with Nonna and Poppy at the aquarium. We all had a fabulous time, and loved the facility.

Wednesday afternoon. We found a new Nook, which we named "secret Island".

Sisters sitting on the roof...

...of Daddy's car! I don't know why this was thought to be a good idea, but when I saw the geniune smiles, the beautiful light and Daddy's girls loving the time with him outside, I grabbed my camera and snapped away. So, we'll have to explain why it was okay this ONE time. And understand when it takes a while for them to stop asking to do it again!
Out-take.
Stinky feet= evidence odf a day hard at play. Could she look prouder of herself???
Just because it makes me laugh!
All of these were taken in AV mode, 250 ISO, various ss. I dialed up the EC to +.75 to comepensate for the backlighting. There was no metering, just shooting as best I could. All things considered, I'm pretty pleased.
Thanks for looking.

Children

There's my Miss K. Having fun from her twirly dress, down to her pink sparkly shoes. And Hello Kitty sunglasses. She's all girl... as she twirls around on the carousel-thing. I love that about her. She may dream in pink princess, but in her own way and on her own terms, she finds her way so that she can get down and dirty, spinning around, flying by the bars of the ride fun.
Caught laughing as she sits inside a climbing contraption-thing.
particulars: 100 mm, 1/800, 5.6 AV mode. 200 ISO (#1). Decreased brightness in ACR, adjusted for stronger contrast, and defined parameters. 1/1000, 5.6, also 200 ISO. Cropped, bumped exposure +.25 and increased brightness in ACR; screen light layer in PS. Thanks for looking!

Two snapshots

A funny thing happened this weekend when I realized we were very early for a Brownie meeting~ we had the opportunity to play and explore with lots of time, sunshine and dandlions. What could be a nicer gift for a Momma and her two girls?
Ah, the gift of time...
I know S's expression is a bit odd here, but there's something about it that made me look again. Mybe because she looks like she's somewhere else, and I happened to catch her there? Thanks for looking!

The tulips

I followed my own advice; we picked up these beautiful tulips on Tuesday. It's been a pleasure watching them open up...

The colors are soft and just pulled me right into them when my little S. and I stumbled across them this week. Honestly, she found them first. I completely agreed with her- they had to come home with us!




Just for fun...

A Saturday morning

I love this snapshot. S is totally distracted by her current fave cartoon, but look at that look on her Daddy's face! Do I even need to say a word about why we are all so crazy about this man?

I love you!!!!

Just a ramble

I am forcing myself to shake off the stress. Because I can. This is a long post filled with musings, so if you aren't in the mood, come back tomorrow. I understand.

Think big picture.

Look at all of my blessings.

Look at the world bursting back to life around me.

Dusting off the camera.

Dusting off the blog.

Dusting off my humor!!!

Remembering to play. I mean, stop, laugh, and play. Have fun with my two beautiful girls. If I don't take the time to treasure them, how will they know how much I enjoy them?

Catch myself in bad habits, and shake them off.

Reframe!

Reframe!

Reframe!!!

Pray.

Counting, taking a deep breath, whatever it takes.

Doing it all again.

Patting myself on the back when I change a habit.

Making the time to treasure my amazing partner, friend, love: my husband.

Making time to nurture my soul.

Call my friends!!

Make time to see friends, old and new, far and near. Especially my husband.

Remember to give back one piece of kindness to each person I interact with.

Remember to tell Mom and Dad how thankful I am for their influence on my life and their friendship to me.

Buy Jenette flowers for thinking I'm only 32-34 :)

Meditate.

Buy flowers, until I can grow and cut my own. Flowers make me smile, all the time.

Take care of myself.

Show my girls the power of what a positive, professional and happy woman can have in the world.

Show my girls the power of what a positive, happy child can have in the world.

Make family outtings and happenings happy memories and the source of a strong foundation for each of us.

Allow others to help me when I need it.

Choose my opportunities for venting selectively.

Recognize others' venting for what it is. Offer support without drama.

Make time count.

Remember easy going does not equal easy; happiness requires action and effort. And really happiness is not the goal, peace and contentment are. Happiness is the by-product.

Hey, if you read all my ramble, give yourself a pat on the back.

An afternoon out

I can't catch up from a month away, but here are a few from a week ago. S. couldn't get enough of pictures, she directed my shots completely, lil' powerhouse that she is. But we all loved every moment of being out, and feeling like spring is really coming.



I messed up my exposure with the first two- the backlight, lots of brown, blond hair and bright coat just threw me off- thank goodness for shooting RAW and being able to play with my exposure! So, I'm not posting any settings. But for snapshots, they crack me up!!!

Thanks for the warm welcome back yesterday. I missed my fellow POTD'ers.

Daddy Daughter Dance 08

K.'s second Daddy Daughter Dance! They had so much fun.

Two for fun.

Envisioned by,
created by,
artfully arranged by... my kids. Who then told me, "get the camera Mom, you have to get this!!!"

...and they were SO right! Thanks girlies!

March 5, 2008 *cropping*

No great journaling today; a simple entry from the weekend's snow.

March 4, 2008 *cropping*

The original.

The Crop. In color.

Tighter. Black and white.

Okay, my settings were: (manual) 1/125, 4, ISO 640. 100mm, 5D. ACR: increased brightness +53 (from +50). Color- defog, slight color pop with channel mixer, screen light layer at low opacity. BnW: ran my recipe, then added duplicate layer with increased contrast and decreased brightness.

I had a lot of fun with this conversion, I have to admit. TFL, and as usual, all comments (most especially HHCC) is wholeheartedly embraced!

~~* Thanks for the kind words about my grnadmother last week. She is happily settled into a beautiful spot, where my dd K. believes she is living in her very own castle that she is kind enough to share with others. Yes, it's that perfect of a fit. We had very few bumps along the way, other than a few odd family dynamics as we should probably expect. Truely, it is all as it should be. Next weekend, we'll clean abd lock up the old place, and then be able to focus on the present fully. Thanks also for the requests of pics of my grandmother; she refuses photos at this point, but I'll look up a few old but goodies. *~~

2. 27. 08. *interactions*

"Waiting"
Today my family begins a chapter in finality. My grandmother, or "GG" moves into a nursing home today. She is 91, and it is time for her to not live independantly anymore. The complex she is moving into is beautiful and she will be perfectly suited for it.

There's something about change that just pulls out all the familiar family dynamics, isn't there?

I'm feeling so sad that my grandmother is leaving her town, her home and her friends. I'm sad she's leaving the town where my in-laws live, five minutes down the road. I'm sad that she is faced with this stage of her life. I'm so sad that the vivaious, full of life woman I cherish and is one of my role models has to finish her life on others' terms. I'm sad that she has lost (hopefully temporarily) her belief in magic and fun.

I want the whole world to know how cool she was, how intensely she loved and lived, how she was the great keeper of secrets. How she created a world of magic for any child lucky enough to know her. And able to maintain that spell for their children, too.

How she created a garden with little rock paths and layers upon layers of flowers. I simply knew fairies muct live in that garden; she insisted they lived in the rock wall. I think we were both right.

I love how she inspires larger than life creativity, and respect and love for others, especially those who were different.

I hate that she refers to herself as "waiting". For the train, that is. To go meet up with my grandfather and her daughter she lost at the age of 18. And I don't blame her a bit, as her body is giving up on her.

I wish it could be different. I wish she was able to be on her game, so that when she grabs the next train out of here, she is dashing after it, hat flying, skirts whipping, and a smile from ear to ear...rips in her shirt cuff, grass stains all over. And Sally, Tom and friends cheering her on. And all of us standing back, smiling through tears and shaking our heads as we watch her go to where we know she will be Ultimately Happy.

Rosemary was never a person to sit around waiting.

1/125, 5.6, 125 ISO, manual. Polarizing filter, CWB. 5D, 70-200, @200mm. Cropped in pping. No changes in ACR. Defog. Resized for web. TFL!

Day 56 *more from my walk*

Hope you are enjoying these!
I found a PILE of what I later figured out to be porcupine quills, in clumps. I've never seen such a thing. I tried not to imagine WHY there would be clumps of porcupine clumps, poor thing was probably someone's meal. Which is fine so long as I don't have to see it, KWIM?

I found these lying on the leaf as though fairies of the forest had arranged them. I missed K when I saw it, thinking she'd probably create a whole story about it. I was pulled in by the soft round-ness (okay, now I'm making up words) of the pine- um, seeds? pods? - I have got to learn more about what I'm posting before I post, LOL- and the spots on the leaves.

Thanks for looking!
***and POTDers, I posted a thread on two peas looking for some help testing a few texture files I made. If anyone is interested, email me with your email, and I will send you a link to the album. I haven't heard back if it is working or not...

Day 54 *shapes* 2. 23. 08.

So, if you had several hours to yourself in the winter, what would you do?

I decided to go tromping though the woods, armed with my 5D, macro, monopod, tissues and warm gloves. And hiking shoes. And fake sherpa vest under my wintercoat.

I live very close to much state parkland, which makes this a beautiful place to live. I drive through a Palisades State Park (not connected to Palisades in NJ- differnt park) every day on my way to work, or visiting my parents, etc. I could take a highway, but why would I choose to do that if this is my alternative? Anyway- I've been wanting to go on a photo adventure in this park for the almost five years we've lived here.

This was a happy accident. I found and old rusted out hunk of metal laying among the brush. Doesn't it have great color?

This was a HUGE patch of ice, sitting between me and a wall of ice and giant icicles. I figured I spent most of the winters of my childhood skating on ponds and streams~ why not? I made it across without falling.

Isn't this cool? It's a layer of ice that formed over a ditch of sorts, with a layer of leaves underneath. I love how the sun is lighting up the ground under the ice.

This old tree was amazing. It was covered in all sorts of creepygrowing things that I have no clue what they are! Unfortunately, my shots of those didn't come out as well- full sun and errant brances in the way. Anyway, this tree just looked like it has a story to tell, doesn't it?

Thanks for looking! And please- as always, I am grateful for HHCC.
Oh- and yesterday's plant was the trunk of a rubber tree plant.

Day 53 *shapes* 2. 22. 08.

...and this is her face! : ) I like her expression in this snapshot~ even if she does look like a big girl.

I've been playing with macros and especially focusing on textures. This one just jumped out at me for shape.

TFL!

Day 52 *shapes* 2. 20. 08.

Thanks for the feedback yesterday. I appreciate it so much!

This kissable shape makes me smile every time I see it. I've been seeing more and more signs of my "baby" growing into an independant little person. She helps us clean, set the table, cook... you name it, she wants a hand in it. Her conversational skills are blooming, and her face is suddenly losing all signs of baby-hood. *sigh* It went so fast.

Then, I have glimpses into the last vestiges of baby. Her round little tum, her perfect little belly button (she's the first person I know who has an "outie"), allowing me to swaddle her and rock her while I call her my baby and tickle her. She still loves to be rocked (hey, don't we all?) and it pleases her to no end when I stop and snuggle with her (so long as it isn't in a moment when she is choosing to be a mini-adult!).

This week I have off from school. It has been a fabulous respite. K had to return to school, begrudgingly, today. My goal was to spend the day upstairs~ clearing the clutter piled on my desk, finally conquering the laundary demon that took over my room, and maybe even taking on the corner of the girls' closet that is piled high with out-of-season, too small clothes. I got about an hour.

Then, my baby called me. and I decided that if it had waited this long, putting it off until night really wasn't such a big deal. Today, I snuggled my baby, played music, laughed, and chased her with my camera.

A perfect day, one of a few left in this golden age of hints of my baby.

I was trying to shoot manually, but had to give up- the lighting changed depending on which direction she ran in- and she did a lot of running. So here are the particulars for AV mode: 1/100, 4, 500 ISO; 100mm (of course) and my 5D. ACR: custom curves. Defog, screen light layer. I think that's it. As always HHCC is welcome and much sought after. Thanks!

Day 51!! February 20, 2008 *shapes*

*This is the original shot- with same pping, but uncropped.

Shapes-
This is last one of the series of flowers. I had so much fun playing with these~ macros are fun! I am enjoying myself, but would also love some feedback about where/how to improve. HHCC pleaseee.

This is from K's bouquet. They are the richest, deepest purple-red. There is probably a name for the color, but I don't know what it would be.
These flowers are bringing such joy in the midst of a dissmal winter. It's cool, not freezing. It's rainy, not snowing. Even DH remarked this am, "We need a good snowstorm...one that snows us in!" Of course, his reasons for wanting to be snowed in are a bit more... adult. Not that I mind at all.

*ahem* I digress.
Okay, here are the particulars: manual, w/monopod; 1/20, 5.6, 640 ISO. 100mm macro, 5D.
Processing:ACR: exposure +.25, increased contrast from +25 to +35, luminance smoothing :39, Color noise reduction: 65; custom curves. Icropped in a little more in pping, ran a defog and screen light layer at low opacity.
TFL, and thanks for putting up with the early post yesterday. The kids really, really wanted me to watch the movie with them!

February 19, 2008 *shapes*

Shapes. I am tryng to experiment and play and around with macro shots for hanging up on my walls. When my daughters and I each received a bouquet for Valentine's I was thrilled with the possibilities for playing. Today's shapes- S's yellow rose (she got 3- she's three!)

Settings: (manual) 1/125, 5, 800 ISO, adjusted curve in ACR. 100mm macro, 5D. I'm not too sure on my PPing, but think I ran defog on this one. Cropped in pping. Used my monopod for stabilization.

Same as above, different crop.

1/40, 5, 500 ISO. In ACR, increased contrast, decreased brightness and tweaked the curve.

1/125, 5.6, 500 ISO. IN ACR: increased brightness, custom curves. I ran a screen light layer on this one, for sure. It's a little too light, but I loved the shape of the petals here. 1/50, 6.3, 500 ISO. Custom curve. Iwas going for moodier, more detail in the petal veins.
All input is greatly appreciated. I know I ran the noise reduction filter in PS on some of my rose pictures, but don't now recall which ones. I think my age is starting to impact my memory... but let's pretend I simply am a busy working mom who can't keep everything together in my mind anymore. But that's a post for another day. : )

Thanks for looking, and for all the feedback yesterday. It was fun to read other people think my kids are cute too!