For A Moment Photography

Baby Love

 

  I wonder if it will ever go away? The feeling I get around a newborn baby.  They are just so yummy and sweet!  I can remember the moment I hear Presley cry (at birth), that was it I was completely in love.  It was unexpected, I thought my love would grow stronger over time, I didn't realize it was instantaneous.  Now knowing that, seeing my friends/family have their first and seconds...  It's an unexplainable joy I have for them.

  The photo above is Charlize, she is a beauty just like her Mommy.  These photos were taken just a few days after she was born, she is now two months old...

  This weekend I will be photographing Ryder who arrived today.  I am so excited to met him!

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01.28.09

  She is a photog in the making!  My lil' Bug is seen here pretending to take a photo, she even says, "cheese".  Which is kind of strange because Mummy doesn't say that...

  I am surprised she knew what the tripod was for she has only been apart of one session when I used it...  I guess that was enough...  

  Today we got out of the house early, no swimming this morning so we ran to the grocery store then to The Farm. 

  

  We got to The Farm and split a bowl of vegetable soup and fruit salad...  Because it was just going to be the two of us I didn't take my camera (photo taken with a camera phone).  I thought all my time would be directed to trying to contain Presley long enough to have a bite.  I was wrong.

 

  We got our lunch and we sat together and ate, no running, no distractions just a quite lil' lunch for two.  She did invite two bids to have a "bite".  And she even point the exact location she wanted them to sit, they both passed.

  The two of us sat quietly and ate our lunch...  It's interesting to me when Presley is quiet for any length of time.  There is a part of me that feels I should engage her in some sort of conversation, but today I didn't.  Today for that short time the silence was nice for us both...

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My Knitting Story

  Last year I taught myself how to knit using Youtube tutorials.  It was a great start but in no way could replace what a teacher can do for you.  Then I met a librarian in Middlebury, Vermont who helped me over the summer.  Mona was her name she was a great teacher and a joy to be around.  I loved the library too, The Sarah Partridge East Library.  

 

  It's what you imagine a small town library to be.  A small brick building surrounded with grass, wood floors that creaked and toys Mona had brought that once belonged to her (now grown) children.   Mona knew the names of every person who walked in.  Everyone stopped to chat about everything from farms burning to dental appointments.  The children's section was great, cute chairs, plenty of books, just a cozy place to be... She had two helpers at the time one 8 years old (maybe) the other a high school senior.  They chatted about the books, Mona explained the pen name Mark Twain to the youngest helper...  It was great, I loved being there.

  I was looking for another woman who had helped me at the local fiber store.  She told me I could met her at the Sarah Partridge library on Tuesdays for more help.  Being new to the area I didn't realize there were two locations.  

  I arrived at the East location to find Mona.  I let her know who I was looking for and she let me know she was the only employee at that location.  But she asked if she could help.  I explained my situation and she had me take a seat right next to her and my knitting instruction began.  I was so grateful to find her and so disappointed that I had only had two weeks left before I returned to AZ.

  

  That summer I was able to return one more time before my trip back west...  The infant hat I had been working on all summer (unraveled 5 times) was finally complete.  Mona also gave me instructions for a sweater (I haven't been brave enough to attempt)...  

  Since then I had made several hats, and a few wash cloths.  I still could use some more direction (knitting in the round, double pointed needles etc.)...  Here in Tempe I have found a fiber store that I can pay to have individual instruction.  I'm hoping to do that soon.  

  I am looking forward to taking Presley next summer to the Sarah Partridge East Library.

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Pity Party

This afternoon did not go so well.  I am usually pretty good about talking myself thru whatever it is that is bothering me, but today I was having a hard time...

I was curled up on the couch while my daughter napped, trying to rationalize with myself about this problem...  But today I just wanted to have a "pity party" is what I thought.  So that is exactly what I did!

When my daughter got up we made party hats and snacked on strawberries.  Oh and we had a balloon from Trader Joe's how perfect for our party!  I had thought about cookies but no need to really feel bad.  

The party was short and sweet and Presley had a great time as did I...

The party was a silly way for me to realize I shouldn't take myself so seriously, I'm glad we did it.

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The Beach

As a child I did not visit many beaches.  And honestly didn't feel like I was missing much.  The beach always seemed too cold, too salty, too busy and too sandy...

Being with my daughter on the beach.  I can't think of a better place.  Seeing her run to and from the waves, wave to birds and try to decide if she likes the sand between her toes.  It's amazing.  Simple and amazing.

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Bye Bye Diapers

I am pleased to announce that my lil' one is potty trained!  I never realized the joy that little sentence would contain...  Presley has been showing signs since she was 20 months that she was ready for the transition.  But I was so afraid I would rush it and she would regress and we would have a big ol' mess.

So I waited (she's 22 months) and it just sort of happened...  I have no real horror stories to tell.  She was ready and has made it very easy on me...  A blessing I know.

The only problem we seem to have is she does not want to nap or go to bed in a diaper.  So now we are waking up in the middle of the night to go potty.  This is not something I planned for...  Hmm.  Still working on a solution, until then Mummy is a wee bit tired.

This was not actually what I had planned to blog about tonight...  I forgot what I had wanted to share tonight.

"Tantees" are a little on the big side.  The smallest I could find was a size four so I had to take them in.

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Lake George

 

For me most photos don’t just happen.  A lot of planning is involved, I take chairs, blankets, toys, in other words lots of props to sessions... But shooting my family is different.  I always have my camera so I snap photos- constantly.  Most of those photos don’t work out to be my favorite ones.  

  Above is a photo that happens to be the exception.  Lake George is known as, “The Queen of the American Lakes”...  Named George?- anyway...  It’s an amazing place in the Adirondack park.  I have taken many photos of the Lake but had never taken one I felt equaled it’s true beauty.

  On this evening I was toying with a flash I had received as a gift.  I took a few with the flash, I didn’t really like the result so I shot without the flash...

  I hadn’t noticed the way the rays of light came thru the clouds until I loaded the photos on to my computer.  While taking the photos I thought they looked dull so I didn’t take many.  And I wanted to join in their fun...  

  The two photos above are the same photo.  One (top photo) I use photoshop to create an aged look.  It has to be one of my all time favorites...    

The stillness of the water, the haze, just the two of them...  What else do you need?...

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Hope Over Fear

  I thought today would never come!  I’m so relieved...

  I didn’t watch the festivities going on today (I don’t watch t.v. while Presley is up)...   I did watch Presley play today with hope that things will be better...  Change is here.   

 

 “To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it...

  

Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”

~ taken from The 44th President Barack Obama inauguration speech 

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Sistine Chapel

 

 When I was in college I enrolled in a study abroad program in Italy, it was the History of Art Renaissance.  We toured Italy’s finest doumo’s, statue’s, art galleries and many gelato cafes (not required but 100% necessary).  

  It was during this time that I had really began to appreciate art.  I had always admired art but I never really understood the commitment and desire the job required...

  On this particular day I visited the Sistine Chapel.  I sat down to view the ceiling panels and read my guide book about the significance of each.  Like everyday it was packed and I found myself sharing my guide book with an Italian gentleman...  We talked  so feverishly about the panels, the detail, the colors, and the meticulous preservation we did not take the time to exchange names.  I don’t remember the specifics of what we talked about or what he looked like.  But I do remember what he said when he got up to leave.  He said, “I’ve been coming here for years and I still can’t see it all”.   

 What he said has placed it’s self forever in my memory...  This weekend what he said crossed my mind while working with my photos.

  The relation of this story to my pictures has nothing to do with Michelangelo’s brilliance that comes across on this majestic ceiling but the intention of both (his paintings and my photos)...  I too want to create something meaningful... ~  

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Thankful

The weather has been amazing but for some strange reason, I really don’t care to leave my house.  After some thought I believe I know why...  

I had made a decision a few weeks ago after reminding myself of some yoga teachings.  I was going to change my attitude when doing my household chores...

After all I am thankful to have a house to clean.  I’m thankful I am able to clean.  Reminding myself, it could be worse (or different)...  

Then surprisingly the sluggish feeling I had blamed on too much Holiday food was gone...  The tasks seemed to go by quickly, even with Presley’s help.  And being home feels even better then anywhere else.

Hmm...  So little changing so much.

Top photo: bathroom sink

Bottom photo: a favorite chair

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