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The perfect way to end the holiday weekend.

© Michelle Hines

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After doing a lot of reading and talking to others who have used them I decided to buy Oliver a string of Baltic amber beads. The succinic acid in the beads, which is released when the beads are worn against the skin, acts as an analgesic. I am also going to buy a bracelet and anklet for myself to see if it helps with my chronic pain.

© Michelle Hines

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My Final Project

I am a bit disappointed in myself. While the photos were technically good they lacked interest. I am hoping that if I continue to work on it it will become a stronger body of work. The following is the first paragraph of my artist statement, the paper we were required to write explaining our work...

The focus of my final project is mailboxes. It is such a common place object that it is often overlooked. Everyone has one. Some are personalized; statement pieces adorning the front yard of their owners. Others, old and rusty, are purely utilitarian. I chose my subject after two separate conversations with college students who both needed assistance in addressing and placing stamps on envelopes. The way we think of mail today is changing. When someone says they have sent you mail they usually mean email. Where the traditional mailboxes use to be the inbox of choice for conversations and news from friends and family it is now a receptacle for junk mail and bills. The mail that we look forward to comes instantly over the internet. What does this mean for the future of the mailbox? My goal is to document the many different mailboxes that we drive by each day; objects so familiar that despite the owner’s attempts to make theirs unique have become all but invisible.

This is not all of them but you get the idea.

© Michelle Hines

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Happy twenty-first birthday Matt!
Now you can have your cake and a beer too!

© Michelle Hines

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Look who is pulling himself up.

Oliver eight and a half months old.

© Michelle Hines

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Yesterday afternoon Lilly had her first dance recital. It was absolutely adorable. Her dance school does a smaller scale recital for the little girls instead of having them dance at the large (and much longer) full scale recital with the entire school. It worked out really well.

Photographing the recital was a new challenge for me. No flash, limited room, lots of movement and low lighting.

Chloe is ready to dance too.

© Michelle Hines

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For many years now Mother's Day weekend has been when we plant our annuals in the flower beds and pots. I use to be able to do it all in one day. Now it takes a little longer and a bit more help. Now almost a week later everything is planted. The rhododendrons that my mother and grandmother planted bloomed just in time for Mother's Day. After years of wanting them I got three Knock-out Roses. I also added a Columbine and some Black-eyed Susans to my perennials.

© Michelle Hines

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Lilly was also invited to Meghan's ear piercing. I hadn't seen her in weeks. It was so wonderful to get a great big Lilly hug. While we waited for Meghan's turn to have her ears done Lilly played with the hats and sunglasses at Claire's.

© Michelle Hines

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My little friend Meghan has been asking for earring for over a year now. She is about to turn six years old and for her birthday she got her wish. I was so happy to have been invited to the big event.

waiting excitedly for her turn

a big hug from Mom for courage

getting ready, ears are cleaned and dots are placed

the big moment

There were tears but in the end she seemed to really love them.

Crazy glasses, beautiful earrings and the promise of ice cream made it all worth while.

© Michelle Hines

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Monday night's overcast skies provided some dramatic clouds and very little traffic in Annapolis.

© Michelle Hines

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Sunday afternoon was spent celebrating little Miss K's second birthday. I was pleased that her mom decided she should wear the shirt and skirt I made her as her party outfit.

Lilly and Chloe were also invited. Lilly was unfortunately not feeling well but I got to spend the afternoon Chloe and Paige. Chloe has grown a lot in the past seven weeks. I was afraid she might be forgetting me. I was wrong. She seemed just as excited as I was when we saw each other.

Ian, Christy and Oliver were also there. I was able to get some shots of him with his Mom and Dad.

© Michelle Hines