(these are much more interesting when viewed larger... just click the photo)
This man is the love of my life! The center of my world. He makes me feel special every day. His love is unconditional. I am so very lucky to have that kind of love and support in my life. He has loved me through better and worse, richer and poorer, taken amazing care of me at my sickest and rejoiced with me in health. One of my biggest hopes for my children when they were growing up was that that would someday find the kind of love that their father and I share. I believe they both have. Today, and everyday, I am so very thankful for my husband and my family.
My Christmas present arrived today! Yes, I know it is Thanksgiving, but I get to have my gift early so I can practice using it before Christmas morning. I got an external flash for my camera!!! The Nikon SB 600 Speedlight. I have not looked at the manual or even read up on how to use this type of flash. I took it out of the box and put it on the camera and took these shots in my kitchen under CFL lighting at night. I bounced the flash off of the ceiling and had the diffuser (another Christmas gift) on the flash. I am thrilled with the results. Normally my pictures taken at night in my home have a yellow glow... not these. I have a lot of reading and practicing to do but I already love my new toy!! Poor Patrick, Sophie and Max had to endure my immediate excitement and constant flashing.
There is a photography website that I visit occasionally to learn more and to see what others are doing with their cameras. Every week they post an assignment. This week's was fun. The subject was kinetics, basically while taking a photo your camera or parts of it should be in motion. They even suggested throwing your camera to get a neat shot. NOT! The photo above is my entry for this assignment. In the living room where I work there is a print showing a fall scene. I love the colors. That is what I used to create this photo. I focused in tight on the print and zoomed out while rotating my camera then I bumped up the color saturation just a bit. I will definitely be spending more time playing with this idea.
Oliver, 10 weeks old.
The rain has gone and we are finally able to play outside in the fall leaves... the wet and soggy fall leaves. The girls didn't mind. They had a great time in the huge pile of leaves Patrick had made just before the rains came.
Today I tried and tried and tried to get a nice photo of the girls in their Christmas dresses so that their mom could order her cards. This is one of the good shots. Chloe was not interested in sitting, or even looking at me. Lilly was interested in anything but the camera. I have only a few photos where you can see both of their faces and in those Chloe is not happy and Lilly is staring off into space. We do not give the patient souls in the department store photo studios enough credit for what they do all day everyday. We will try again later this week when the girls want to have their pictures taken.
They do look lovely in the wheel barrow. The were still flowering but the night time frost is here and they would soon fade away. If this weather holds out until next weekend I may put the Christmas lights up while it is warm and not light them until December.
Eight weeks old.
He is not a fan of tummy time.
The "Beach Park" in November is a very different place than in July . Melissa and I spent Friday morning on the beach collecting sea glass and enjoy some kid free time. Followed by yummy Five Guys burgers and fries and a little shopping. It really enjoyed my day off.
I was asked last week why I had never posted a picture of my best friend Connie. My reply was that I didn't think I had permission to do so. Since I do here is a picture of Connie preparing to take a picture of her grandkids.
Oliver, seven weeks old.
All the worries in the world melt away when your grandson smiles at you.
Last weekend my sister, Monica and her husband, Larry were in Virginia for a Marine Corps Crash and Rescue Rodeo. We were unable to make it to the event but we did drive down that evening to meet them for dinner. I wish they lived closer so we could see them more often.
This photo of Chloe pretty much sums up my whole week. Her mood seemed to mirror mine. I have had much on my mind and because of this I am not sleeping well, I am cranky and easy to cry. I apologize for having neglected my blog. I have taken pictures I just haven't had the energy to post.
