I am a camera carrying, yoga loving, small town girl living in the city running amok. I photograph everything under the Sun and now I blog about it too.
It’s been non stop for the past two weeks, we left Arizona a week later than usual because of Presley’s dance recital. This meant we rolled right from getting settled in at camp to running around visiting friends for all the Best Forth in The North activities. Sad that the first two weeks of summer are over but I am looking forward to all that is planned these next several weeks.
While finishing up on a few work projects this morning I decided to scroll through my images and see if there were any I wanted to edit. See last year I realized after summer I didn’t take too many photos. So this summer I’ve been better with taking more (sorry to all my Facebook friends) but haven’t had much time to edit...
This morning is when I ran across the image above, I don’t even remember taking it. At first I was pretty sure it was another photo at dawn. But the placement of the rising sun was all wrong. Only after looking at the time the image was taken, it I figure out it was taken at 6:00PM...
Many of my summer photos help remind me of how lucky I am to be here on Lake George, that I'm very small in this beautiful world around me, "first world stuff" might be making my life more fun- not better and to value the loving friends and family I have in my life. I really truly hope you have a place like Lake George that reminds you of similar things too.
When it rains we go hunting for water loving creatures.
Finding dozens of red eft's during the rain storm, and kissing them, "go on, live your life".
Visiting the frogs and other creatures in the Nature Center.
Learning how to hold a Map Turtle.
Catching worms and other bugs to feed the frogs, toads, map turtles, snapping turtles and red eft's.
Looking at the Luna Moth she found under a microscope! So cool.
It was just his time.
The first of many smore's and sing-a-longs.
Calm at dawn, Lake George.
We haven't even been here a week and we have be able to do so much already. Presley has been to summer camp and is pretty noticeable around The Bay with her orange Hunter Boots. She has enjoyed seeing old friends, camp counselors, and visiting all her favorite places...
By chance we had some left over wood from our home office remodel to make this dog house facade!
My dear neighbor helped the kids with adopting their puppies!
Water balloon toss is always a highlight.
It's a blurry photo but the kids look so animated!
Mark kept throwing balloons "to" my handsome twin bro.
Best game of the day, who can pick up the most water balloon pieces.
Puppy Chow Cake!
One of the fews ddays that there will be an overload of sweets in our house!
So many adorable toothless grins.
Most of the kids at the party and their adopted puppies.
In lieu of gifts Presley asked for toys and supplies for dogs in the shelter.
Every year Presley has three different birthday party's, it sounds excessive but let me explain. I like to have one party for her and her cousins, another for family friends and a party for her school friends. This way I feel she and her guests get to spend time together and it's more enjoyable for all. We tend to do the same stuff each year at each party.
We don't tend to make any of the parties big elaborate events. The cousin's party is dinner and cake, family friends is a sleep over with four friends (this year they went to free event at ASU) and school party is at our home. The school party is always a bigger party because there are a lot more kids than any other of her parties.
This is the first year we had a theme, Presley's Puppy Paw-ty. We had stuffed puppies available for adoption as the kids arrived. We had a dog house for the kids to take a photo with them and their puppy. We served hot dogs and all sorts of puppy desserts. The desserts were shaped as puppies, some were dog bones and we had puppy chow cake and cupcakes. I thought about making some of this myself but the gal we had do them was priced so well (and tasty) I decided to let the professional do it.
Like the previous year we played traditional party games, pin the tail on the donkey (this year it was on the puppy), a water balloon toss and we had a pinata. I was tickled when one of the boys that attended the party both years ran up to me and said, "when are we going to decorate cookies?". As you may have guessed last year we decorated cookies as the guests arrived.
One game that we added was darts! When I first started to ask Presley what type of party she wanted to have she asked if they could play darts. Her summer cousins father have a dartboard in their garage, Presley apparently thought it would be a great party game! I was not really on board until I spoke to a friend and found out there is such a thing as magnetic dart boards... With so many kids we could not play a full game of darts so we had them line up and throw two darts at a time trying to get the best score. I can only imagine what some of the parents thought when the kids went home to tell them they played darts. One of the little boys cousin apparently lost his eye playing darts...
Presley asked me when we were in the planning stage of her party if we could ask guests to bring toys for needy kids. Then as we discussed the party and theme the idea of gifts for dogs in a dog shelter seemed like a better fit! As the day approached I was worried Presley would regret not asking for gifts for herself. But thankfully she did not, she enjoyed opening the gifts for the dogs. And with the few gifts mixed in from us, my parents, uncles and some friends she seemed quite happy.
Let me start by saying, my photos tell the story better than I can...
Presley is in Payson for horseback riding camp during her Spring Break. Today was her first day, we stayed to watch part of her lesson... My heart is so full. Seeing her on the horse, with her horse... There was no denying this is where she is meant to be... That's all... Feeling so proud and tickled that she's having this experience!
I already feel like I'm missing an appendage (being home without her) but I know it's worth it...
Presley drew, puppy love. Not exactly "right" for the contest but hey she wanted in!
Heart reflection, found by Presley.
From a recent wedding I photographed.
A photo from the reception.
It's been a long time since I posted. The time away has been for good reason, my business has been doing very well, my family life is happily fulling and I've found a few hours to work on quilting, crafting and calligraphy. All these activities have contributed to my time away from my blog, but it is something that I’ve missed. Writing is a practice that prompts me to stop and reflect, slow down and try to understand and digest events in my life. It’s an important part of my life experience... I plan on writing lots more this year so stay tuned...
Without going into too much back story, I have taken part in this contest started by Drew Barrymore. She has a new bood out where she has photographed everyday objects that she has found a heart abstractly within. All you have to do to take part is to post your photos on Instagram using the hashtag: finditineverything. If you’ve looked at the photos above you will see that all of them are photos where Presley or I have found a heart in some sort of object or reflection.
Now I have to admit a part of me giggles every time I enter a contest because who wins this stuff?! Definitely not me... But if I put those pesky self-conscious thoughts aside I allow myself (and Presley) to enjoy a small but positive experience together... At first I just thought the contest would be fun to win, but now I’m thankful that for at least a week now Presley and I have found even more love in the world we share... And now that I think about it... I don't even know what it is that you win. ? She had me a photography!
Our Tree... Still looking for the right tree topper.
I have little elves that help me decorate.
And others that play around in the tree.
We all love the unique ornaments we've recieved through the years. ASU ornament from my parents.
From Grammy Sue and Pop Pop.
Pine cones from we picked with Lala & Papa Joe.
This beautiful Silver Leaf (it's a real grape leaf) from The Pence Family... The star is also a paper star I made a few Christmas's ago.
Our first snow globe from The Lopez Family. I love it!
Last years Christmas cards.
Presley had a small tree in her room but it broke. This year I surprised her with a 5 ft tree for her room.
This year I got Mark a big chair for Christmas (an early surprise)! Until now we've had a small (beautiful) amish chair I had since college. I loved it, but it was always hard for Mark or anyone over 6 ft. to sit in comfortably...
I wanted to share a few ideas I had for decorating. You may be on idea overload from Pinterest, but these are just things I feel are easy and work for me. I've tried a few Pinterest projects only to fail miserably.
1. Random decorations. I love having a Christmas tree theme so I struggled on how to use ornaments we received as gifts. Once Presley was old enough to start grabbing ornaments I started hiding them in near the base of our tree. This kept her from taking them and breaking them. Finding them has turned into a fun game we still play... I do wish I figured this out before the first few were broken!
2. Use objects from your surroundings or travels. Everywhere we go Presley comes back with treasures and I do too. On our trips to the beach we have sea glass, sea shells and sometimes sand. On our trips to the mountains we have pine cones and drift wood. Oh and rocks from every where, just haven't found a way to decorate with those! I digress... Where was I... Oh! We now have pine cones from Payson, Rancho Santa Fe and San Francisco! They are apart of our memories and apart of our decor (with a story). Not to mention free and seriously prettier than anything I've seen in a store.
3. Photos from Christmas Past. I place these images through out the house during this time of year. It's an easy way to to send your heart and mind back to the previous years. One of my favorite photos is of my nephew Dominic and myself, he must of been 7 or 8 months old. Looking at that picture I can remember that day vividly.
4. Children's Art. I really go crazy with all the art Presley comes home with. When she was little I decided I would only keep the art that was made for the holidays. I knew I could use these year after year and not just have stuffed in a overflowing drawer. Plus I think you'll enjoy these in the future.
5.Old Holiday cards. So it seems that I'm not the only one that has a hard time getting out my Christmas cards in a timely fashion. I love to display them but some years I get them and a week later it's time to take down the decorations. I also never wanted to toss them but didn't know what I'd do with them. Now I keep them and use them for decorations the following year. So from day one my card area looks full and colorful and I love to see how my friends kiddos have changed from year to year!
6. Homemade decorations. Crafts are something I've always loved but not everyone does. So make them simple! Stay away from Pinterest! I made the garland on the tree from burlap and string. I make a simple paper link garland in the past (in college and once with Presley). I made red paper stars a few years ago, when our tree didn't have enough color and I'm still using them! I've used paper snowflakes and origami boxes out of maps to cover white lights. None of which I saw on Pinterest but all things I learn to do as a child, sometimes I did have to YouTube to teach myself again!...
Whatever you do have fun! And if you have any rock decorating ideas please share.
Where has the time gone? The older I get the faster time seems to hum along. Our time in the Adirondack Mountains, for that reason is a time that I cherish. Presley seems to be more connected to all the tiny creatures around us and the landscape itself is more inviting than the sometimes harsh terrain of our desert home. Summers on Lake George are as cliche as it sounds, a time to slow down and be thankful for all the real gifts in life.
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t feel lucky to be here. Even with this year’s rainy beginning, followed by the buggy, muggy days to follow. I can walk out my door and takes hikes through grand trees to views that remind me how small I really am. I am awaken to sunrises that are so exquisite they touch my core as I try foolishly to etch that view in my memory. Each year my heart aches to leave.
This year I wanted to take photos of the places and things that bring me joy. It’s my hope that everyone has a place and time in their life that they go to do feel small and thankful for the wonderfully wide world around them. My summer is coming to a close but my photos will keep my spirit fed until next summer.
Summer is here and we are getting ready to head to the Adirondack Mountains. Over the past few months I have tried not to wish the days away, but now it’s time to start planning my summer bucket list.
Here is a look (and a link) at our list from a few years ago. I know we had one last year, hmm. Where did I post it?!.. Here is my summer bucket list, Presley is still working on her's.
1. drive to the Antique Show in Brimfield, MA.
2. drive to Sharon Springs, NY
3. visit Boston, because we love it!
4. visit NYC because it’s been 7 years!
5. build a tree swing
6. eat ice cream
7. look for fire flies, red newts and frogs
8. play tennis
9. go berry picking
10. build a camp fire
11. climb Rogers Rock
12. go sailing
13. go fishing
14. jump in the lake
15. read a book
16. visit Norman Rockwell Museum
17. hike several of the 46 high peaks in the ADK. One is named, Mt. Colvin
18. play shuffle board, haha- I love it!
I hope to make it over to Burlington, VT. and a few other favorites spots but summer is so short. EEKKK, I hope you all are making a summer bucket list too!
Side Note: We just went on our first cruise with two other families, a Disney cruise to the Western Caribbean.
After a very long eventful day, Presley was in bed and I ventured out to get some paper for her and her friends to do some drawing (the following morning). On my quiet (relatively speaking) walk I noticed this lil’ boy 3-4 years old (with a pirate sword) spot Mickey Mouse walking towards him.
The little pirate jumping up and down yelling, “Mickey! Mickey! Mickey! Mickey Mouseeee!” Miraculously there was no one else around so his little boy had a rare run in with Mickey Mouse virtually alone. This was such a thrilling moment- the reason people come on these trips to have, I looked around to see his mom or dad’s reaction. There was a women with her back to him but she didn’t pay any attention to him. Mickey walked up to this little guy and gave him a high five and a pat on the head. The boy was beaming! He jumped as if he had springs and smiled and giggled like only a child can.
The little boy proceeded to jump, no- bounce and scream around the corner to the Port Adventure Desk where two small groups of people where talking. I still could not determine who’s this boy’s family was. As he bounces over between the two groups he finally says, “Mom! Mickey! Mickey!” The mom without looking at him pat’s him on the back and continues the conversation...
As this happens Mickey walks on by and the mom never caught a glimpse of the excitement her son face and experience the joy he had... These few moments gave me pause... Not in judgement of her, but in my day and my awareness of Presley and how have I reacted in her thrilling moments.
Why is it so easy for me to get caught up in everything else but the moment? Seeing this brief but poignant observation was just a reminder for me to recommit. I’m thankful for that subtle prompt. The great thing about being a parent is I get to keep trying to do it better everyday of my life and hopefully she will be thankful for me for the rest of her life...
These photos do not give this experience justice- at all- not even close. I highly recommend this to everyone with or without kids. I can't believe I've never done this before. Whale watching may have to become an annual activity. Presley had a great time, Mark and I had a great time we all were wishing the trip didn't end so soon.
During the months of December and January the gray whale can be found in San Diego on their way to Mexico. Often they can be seen from land, but it truly is amazing to view from the water. We were on a sail boat and were able to get very close and sail along side this whale for 15 minutes.
Presley watched a movie, Big Miracle with Drew Barrymore on our road trip to NY last summer. It was a sweet movie and left Presley so enchanted by the sea and these lovable big creatures. I started my research thinking we were going to end up in Alaska in order to watch the whales. The good news was I always wanted to go to Alaska but the better news, they were coming through CA to Mexico.
I first googled whale watching and found huge ships that charge $50. a person. This sounded reasonable to me and I almost booked it. Next I wondered how good my photos would be on these big ships with hundreds of other tourists (with cameras). This is when I decided to google "whale watching, small tours" not to be confused with "small whale watching tours". It was then that I found, www.sailsandiego.com.
I called on my cell and asked a few questions. The woman who answered turned out to be the owner and she let me know their price was $85. per person. Their sail boats are 40 feet long and they take a max of 8 people out at a time. This sounded perfect to me, I was ready to book and tried to hang up because of a bad connection. She was so helpful she must of kept my on the line another 5 minutes, giving me directions on how to get there, where to park, asking about Presley (her age etc). I really appreciate great service and judging from that call I was pretty sure I'd like the sailing with them even if we didn't see any whales. She was careful not to promise we would see whales but she did say it would be highly unlikely if we didn't.
Ok the tour, it felt way too short! It was suppose to be 3 hours but we followed the whale for so long we ended up being on the tour for 3.5 hours. We saw a few whales in the distance and saw this one up close. Having the sail boat we were able to cut the motor and follow the whale for about 15 minutes. The whale never breached (coming fully out of the water). But the small glimpses we got were so thrilling. Even the captain who had done this for years was caught up in the excitement of the chase.
Presley was as excited about dolphins as she was about the gray whales. We had a few dolphins swim along side the boat, she was tickled by that... Just being in the open water on such a beautiful day felt like a gift to me. It was fun to have this time away, together with no distractions doing something we all enjoyed.
While on this trip I realized how hard it is to photograph sea life. They (whales or dolphins) don't come out of the water for long and trying to spot them, focus and hope the boat isn't shaking you was quite difficult. Composition wasn't something I could even think much about while out there. But I don't think I could ever leave my camera behind... There will always be hope I will get that one breath taking shot!...