December 09

Almost another year gone. December has been hectic with the two snow storms, band concert, making christmas banners for church, passing around a nasty head cold, report cards, and just the usual holiday season of parties, eating, and visiting with friends.
Celia made her first snowman (actually she helped make two). She was thrilled and it really took me back to my youth as well as when Sam experienced his first snow man making. I can hardly believe he is coming up on his 12th birthday in January! Time certainly flies! He is doing very, very well in school; which we are all so proud of. He is keeping all A's and an occasional B or even one stinking C. Overall his G.P.A is high, so we are pleased, for we realize that middle school is such a stressful, transitional time. Sam just handles it all so well and is improving with his trumpet playing skills. He looked so handsome and so grown up for his band concert! It made my heart swell and brought tears to my eyes to watch my little boy be so independent.
I've been busily making bright red banners (4.5' x 5.5') for our church. I threw out the timing on my sewing machine, which forced me to borrow one. When it rains, it pours, but it really proves the power of friendship. The banners were finished yesterday and a huge weight is lifted from my shoulders. I will hopefully be able to get some photos during or before the Christmas Eve service and post them.
Every single one of us have passed around the sneezing, coughing, runny nose/congestion, but thankfully we have not had the dreaded flu. I think we have all had some version of the cold twice and I'm now on round 3. We are becoming used to hand sanitizer and puffs plus all over the house!
Here's to a happy, healthy, and exciting holiday season. Eat all you can, the new year resolutions begin soon!
Merriness!

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

During sunset....this is the same place where the blanket flower shot was taken. The light was incredible all the way through sunset. It was even lovely when the sun had gone to rest for the night. Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is such a beautiful place!

NY in the fall

Finger Piers, Canandaigua, NY


Finger Piers, Canandaigua, NY


blanket flowers, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Montezuma, NY


Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY




I went to central New York the first week of October. I was part of a photography workshop that began with sunrise each morning and ended well past sunset each night. Needless to say, I was extremely exhausted each day. During the trip, I saw many, many central NY waterfalls and other incredibly lovely places in Syracuse, Auburn, Ithaca, Canandaigua, etc. With over 2,000 photos, it's a daunting task of sorting and choosing my favorites. I hope to gather a few images for a book and I'll post some along the way.

holga

Now, really, where did July go? I can't believe it's already August. Anyway, what have I been doing? Well, I made a pact with myself that this summer would be the time I'd start shooting film. So, that's exactly what I've done. I'm shooting 120 film with two holga cameras (one is a pinhole). These cameras are not the fancy, heavy slr cameras. They are cheap. They are light. And they are plastic. Most of all, they are so unpredictable and so much fun. I had forgotten the thrill of film. You remember, don't you? Loading the film. Taking the entire roll, how ever long that takes. Sending off your film for development and printing. Waiting. Waiting. And Waiting. Then finally, speeding to the pharmacy (or wherever) to get those pictures. Forking over the cash and making a mad dash to the car to peek (very quickly) at the pictures [pretending you are very patient and honest and that you would never look at those precious photos before you got home]. Well, that's it folks. That's the excitement I've been experiencing. Only my story is a little different. Let's say, I have a little more control. I develop the film in my kitchen (*fun*), and scan the negatives with a Nikon scanner and pull the images into Photoshop. Then after cropping, etc., they are little digital babies. And, I'm here to tell you that I'm an addict. So, if you are digging through your parents or grandparents attics and come across one of those "old skool" film cameras, do not just toss it in the garbage! Drag it out. Buy some film. Get excited. Slow down. Wait (even if you peek). And teach your children where photography has come from. Happiness!

haircut

It was time. Last Friday we took Celia for her first "real" haircut. I'd trimmed the back of her hair once, months ago, and cut her bangs, but this time she went to the good 'ole 'beauty parlor.' Now, to understand this accurately you must know the background about this 'beauty parlor.' This is not the fancy, serve you coffee or wine sort of salon place. Nor is it embellished with trendy hair posters of sexy bombshells and stud muffin men. No, no, no, this place does not have shelves and shelves of hair product tempting the smallest cent in your pocket. This 'beauty parlor' is plain and simple a place where you get your hair cut. But, what makes this place so special is Debbie. Debbie has cut John Paul's hair since his first haircut and cut his 3 older sisters' hair before that. She has cut the four grandchildren's hair, since their first haircut. She cuts John Paul's parents' hair every other week, not to mention the countless friends of our family whom she has treated the same; Debbie is part of the family. Debbie is a sweetie who has photos of my niece and nephew on her little tack board. And, now, Debbie has cut the 5th grandchild's hair (Samuel won't get near a pair of scissors to save his life!). Let me tell you, this was not the sweet storybook experience you might expect. Oh no! This was Holy Hell. Celia started off happy and ignorant, if you will, of what was to come. She giggled, climbed up and down from the salon hair dryers. She sang. She danced. She looked through a magazine. She moved the cushion from chair to chair. Then it was time. It was time for Celia to scream a dreadful cry and sit tortured through 5 minutes of, plain and simple, haircut. I'm certain that you could hear her wails outside. John Paul braced her flailing body as I snapped as many photos as I could. She finally buried her head in his chest in a final surrender. I was so fearful that this haircut would be as 'crooked as a dog's leg,' but it is actually very cute. I was so surprised when Debbie told me that she cut it shorter in the back and angled longer toward the front. I wondered how she could cut any of it strait, let alone not cut herself throughout the ordeal. She's a pro. That's for sure. Better her than me. I just take the pictures around here. :)

kitchen light

Yesterday my new lens arrived! I am in love, all over again! It is exactly what I've been wanting! And, after dinner I had the perfect opportunity to use it. Celia was in her high chair while I was washing the dinner dishes; when I turned around the light was amazing! It was naturally so lovely, and Celia was the perfect subject. She sat through 12 or so shots before she got a little ticked. I moved fast! Enjoy your light.

view here large

packages

Shhh...it's a surprise! The kids decorated a couple packages yesterday. Of course Celia had marker from head to toe so we had to switch to crayons! I think a certain father in the house will be very happy! :)

You tell me...

Okay, so I have met very, very few people who see the similarities between Celia and myself. Do you see it? I know that really, she does look so much like Johnny that it is scary, but from time to time I see myself in her. What do you think?

Apple Pie Time

Whenever there is a break in school either fall, winter, spring, or summer I always load up on the perishables and other items that the cafeteria manager is giving away. This year I took home potatoes, apples, pretzels, pepper jack cheese, and carrots. Needless to say, Sam has been snacking on the cheese and pretzels, while the carrots are awaiting their doom as the main cake ingredient (shhh, for Father's Day) and the apples have already been used in an apple/blueberry/strawberry cobbler, and this delicious apple pie. I have to admit that I've been working on my crust for a while now. And, finally, I think I have arrived! I always use my grandmother's crust recipe but this time I added a few special ingredients. Also, I combine my mother-in-law's cobbler filling with my grandmother's. Oh My! It really is a perfect marriage of ingredients. I'd share the recipe, but I'm a little secretive about it right now. Happy eats to you, where ever you are!

They did it, again.

Yesterday Sam and I rescued this little bird from the torture of our cats (and dog!). We weren't quite sure what to do with it; so, after consulting the husband, we hoarded up all the cats inside and placed the bird under our neighbor's hosta. After a few hours at the pool we had one escapee cat. You know the end of the story. Celia had her first experience of death and John Paul dug the burial site hole (the 2nd or third). Sorry baby bird. We love cats.

sam and celia

These two children are the light of my life. I am so thankful for every moment, both trying and peaceful. Motherhood is such a forgiving and fulfilling role that I am so very thankful to have. I hope, in the end, that I instill glory, appreciation, honesty, respect, and most of all love within my children. I hope they notice the smallest of life's pebbles as well as the redwoods. I hope they strive for success and are satisfied in their being. I am so thankful for new mornings and chances to look into my children's eyes and tell them both how very much I love them.

we make bread

It's our new weekend routine: making bread. We stay at home waiting for the risings, kneading, and baking, rather than run ourselves silly all over town. Some weekends it feels as if I don't even get the much desired time to relax, after all, I do work for the weekend!

I was craving honey wheat bread, so the husband and I hit the kitchen running. He's really the bread baker, but for this particular batch I had the honor of kneading and rolling. It's so therapeutic, that process is. I could knead away all of the world's worries! If only it were that easy...

So what's on the menu for this weekend's bread? Olive/Rosemary. That will be in between soccer and a five o'clock wedding. Actually one loaf will be part of our wedding gift. So here's to the nearing weekend, a little therapy, and of course some warm bread!

Happy Wednesday~

R.I.P.

Today was a very, very difficult day. Actually, this week has been an extremely difficult week. It's been one of those weeks that just leaves one feeling completely and utterly exhausted at the end. Well, this week ended by saying goodbye to my sweet, 14 year old dog, Pretty. I had all week to prepare, but still even in knowing how the day would end, I was still overcome with sadness and great loss. This pound puppy was the greatest, sweetest, loyal friend that I really could ever have asked for. I got her my second month of college and she has lasted through six moves through three states, two marriages (one divorce, whew), two children, college, careers, friends, cars, everything. She was ALWAYS happy to see me when I came home. She loved to be outdoors and roamed aimlessly, just sniffing the neighborhood smells. Her shedding was atrocious; once I filled a lawn bag full of her "fur." Really. One time she got 47 ticks at once while hiking. Once she hid under my little vintage white gas stove and it took me a couple hours to find her. She ran away twice. Was hit by a car once. Ate countless bags of trash (I'm sure!). She woke me when I had fallen asleep while boiling baby bottles and caught the kitchen on fire. Once she pooped in the back of my Subaru wagon when I was collecting creek rocks. She used to jump from the bed through the little sliding windows in the cab of my dad's truck (she was never a truck riding dog!). Lately, her breath could melt the hairs on your face and she was a panter, especially during dinner time. Once she ate an entire batch of fresh baked biscuits right off the counter. She was in love. Once. Mica was his name (and what a handsome Doberman he was!). To this day if I said, "Mica" she would go to the front door to greet him. She would do just about anything for a piece of cheese or a hot dog. She shredded my entire couch while I was in class back in 1994. ENTIRE COUCH. She would chew anything made of wood. Including the thousands of sticks she would bring home and gnaw away. Thunder storms terrified her; she hid in the bathroom. She hated to get her feet wet. Like a princess she would tip toe through the yard if it was raining. She avoided puddles like the plague. She loved car rides, especially in the back seat where she would poke her head out the window. She used to chase her tail. Clockwise and counter clockwise. She used to lay her head in my lap when I cried. She really, really was devoted to making me happy. And she certainly did that. For nearly 15 years she was MY dog. MY Pretty Girl. I already miss her. I miss her constant pacing around our downstairs- through the kitchen around through the living room, and through the dining room; she would do it ten or fifteen times a night. I miss her hot garbage breath on my leg while I eat. I miss her outside routine of front door to back door to front door and so on. I miss her brown eyes that became so cloudy you could hardly tell their color. I miss her soft ears and her skinny hips. I miss her all over. I miss her and it hurts.
So, this rambling of words is for whoever reads this to know her simple ways. Farewell, friend.

adios

Here is my farewell to SODA. My lips haven't touch the high fructose corn syrup since last week. Well, today, I had to go to our museum in town to photograph some of my student's work, which is in the annual student exhibit. On the way back to work I stopped to grab a fish sandwich and a *s*o*d*a and that's it! I'm finished. YUK. I am not liking how I feel; it feels like I ate a whale. And, I feel way too full. So, farewell coke, pepsi, etc. Today is the new day. Water is my new friend!
Adios!

Little Surprises

I got this really cool application for my phone, Camera Bag, and when I find myself without my Canon, it tends to do the trick. I happened upon this little circle of grass clippings on a walk through our neighborhood. It really made my heart smile. Really it makes me all sentimental and mushy about childhood. I remember fondly the times of running around the house making mud pies, "witches" brew, and crushing berries for the color. Even though I think those are fairly typical childhood activities, I think that it was the beginning of my need to make and create. I so hope that my children have intense and positive childhood memories that make them smile when they have children of their own.

Johnny and I drove to our Riverfront Park because we had heard that the tulips were at their peak. Wouldn't you know that I didn't have my camera with me? So, my little phone came in handy. What a nifty age we are in! Technology saves the day!

Have a great Tuesday, Cino de Mayo, wherever you are!

Spring Soccer

During the month of May, you know where to find us every Saturday morning...at the soccer field! Last weekend, two Saturdays into spring soccer, Sam scored his first goal of the season. He was the only one to score from his team, and actually the only one to score during the game; so, Sam's score won the game! After the game all of the kids celebrated by pouring their water bottle water over their coach's head. It was really very sweet. Wish for dry weather every Saturday, because I hate a sloppy soccer field! Our forecast for this Saturday is calling for rain. Egad!

*sam is showing his number to the ref...for the newspaper*

Spring time means snake time

I just love spring time, that lovely time of rebirth. Flowers, blue skies, warm weather and yes, snakes. We spent our spring break in Wisconsin and much to our surprise we had gorgeous weather. We drove to a scenic overlook and while some of us were climbing the rocks a garter snake was spotted. Mama Meg chased down that sucker like the tazmanian devil! We all took our turns "charming" it and it was the first time Celia had encountered the reptiles. She really was quite curious and did enjoy "petting" it. Sssssooo, here'sssss to a ssssslithery sssssspring!

My Aura Color...

Blue
"Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life.
You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships.
The purpose of your life: showing love to other people
Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor"

So, does my aura color fit me? I do tend to hermit, but who can blame me? I love my home. I love my husband. I love my children. And, I am totally satisfied in my surrounds. The food at home is better than any restaurant in our town, and the wine is better, too. I am constantly behind my camera lens where I become highly sentimental and somewhat dark. I create and love to give my creations away, well, just placing them in their proper homes, so to speak. And, my career choice is a teacher, middle school that is. Trust me, there's plenty of counseling at the middle school age. Psychic? I really do have psychic tendencies, however most of the time I'm not that in tune with them. There are moments, though, that I do forsee and "read" happening. Maybe I just make them happen. Who knows? If my "aura" is blue and that's what blue means, so be it. I like blue. Blue skies are wonderful. The very first baby clothes I bought were blue. My daughter's eyes are an unbeleviable blue. My sweetheart looks terrific in blue. And every now in then, I find myself Tangled Up in Blue.

By the way, Turbines thrill me to the bone. I love the concept, the sound, and how the landscaped is strewn with the alien like forms. It gives me the feeling of oversize skeletons that whisper the world's secrets across the miles.

Our Tree

This old tree is one of the many aspects of our home that I love. Our yard just wouldn't be the same without it. I dare guess its age, because it would take all of us holding hands to reach its circumference it. It is home to countless squirrels and birds and provides a nice 20 degree reprieve in mid summer. Each year I am thankful that it survives and hangs out another year to watch us all grow. Yes, I am a tree hugger!

ps...this is an HDR photo created by using Photomatix...