love eVeryDaY

starting where i am

Sometimes it seems impossible to catch up.  Then, I think if the scrapbooking adage and I realize it's pointless to try to catch up; it's much better to simply start where I am.  Even if it is the goodness-knows-which time.

Really though, there is a very short list of past events that I really do plan to blog.  I just don't know when I will be able to fit it into the schedule.  At any rate, I have been able to shoot sufficiently for my 3 6 5 project, and I have updated my photo set on Flickr.  I've also managed to update my family album on Facebook.  So, in keeping with the photography theme I have going on, I'm including the link to 3 6 5 here.  Weeks four and five have been posted -- and the photos are from the appropriate week.  As a matter of fact, I ended up with so many, I was able to catch up the missing photos and still post bonus shots!  Go me.

In other blah, blah, blah, congratulations goes out to my favorite niece who has secured gainful employment beginning with the new school year.  I'm sure I posted this before, but, in the way life often happens, some late applications forced a new round of interviews for the position.  I'm so glad (although not surprised) that Steph continued to rise to the top, and was extended a final official offer for the position.  I'm so happy for her.  The position really is just what she wanted to do and where she was hoping to be.

I also want to send out congratulations and encouragement to Thing 1 and Thing 2 who have decided to continue with there e-zine venture.  They are gearing up to release some new articles and have appeared on Baltimore's 1010AM, where they rocked the interview, made some new connections, and received an invitation to return.  Great work you two!

~me

happy birthday america

Usually, I am not much for posting vertical photos -- they always seem a little wonky to me on the blog.  However, I had to post this one.  The Fourth was awesome around here.  Lots of time with friends and family.  And lots of time for just the two of us (okay three if you include Maxx).  I should have known it would be a hit when I looked outside to see our block lined with these small flags.  Each year our neighbors decorate for everyone, adorning the block with flags for the holiday.  It always looks so spirited, I can't help but smile.  (Even though they are Steelers fans.)

~me

 

week three

Although I'm a couple of days late posting here, I did manage to squeeze in some photo time last week.  And, I even started early.  It wasn't much, but I tried taking a few shots a couple of days early on in the week.  I felt like I had a fairly good size bunch to select from.  Of course, it didn't hurt that Father's Day was also this weekend, and I ended up with forty or so photos from Sunday alone.  (The bonus is that I didn't need to rely on them too much.)

The above photo wasn't even one of my own.  As a matter of fact, it is everything my photography isn't.  It's on camera flash (and the pop-up one to boot).  It's strangers -- full on, unasked.  It's auto everything.  It's D's photo!

On Saturday, he borrowed my camera for just a few moment to take pictures at a small Ford auto clug that had gathered for a show in Harford County. 

Anyway, if you would like to check out the latest additions to the 365 set, here they are.

~me

week two

I wish that I could say that I've been able to get into the groove that I am search for with my photography.  I know that I will find it eventually; but for now, I am managing to shoot more days a week than I thought.  Typically, it's only a few snaps here and there, looking forward to more time to better compose and design my shots.

It's coming.  I just happen to have a largish project ahead of that.  I'm certain that you will hear more about it soon.

I leave you with a shot of my bedroom.  This is a lamp that I just love.  I don't consider myself an antique person and all of the older items I have are hand-me-downs from family members.  Honestly, much of it is not our style, and I am looking forward to finding new homes for some of the pieces.  But this lamp is the exception.  I love the brass pulls and the frosted glass.  (The globe/shade is even lined with metallic paint/frosting at the top.)

~me

PS - The updated set is here.

happy first

Today we celebrated our first anniversary.  Nothing over the top; just simply us.  Breakfast - out for a change, a bit of shopping, and some time with family.  I know, extremely unconventional, and something we are not planning to make habitual, but enough for the first year all the same.

Thank you to all of the well wishers for their messages and cards.  We appreciate you all!

~me

week one

First, let me just say that this has proven much tougher than I thought it would be.  Even with all of my modifications.  Basically, it's just confirmation that I need to get. out. and. shoot. more.

But, it was fun.  It was nice.  It gave me a reason to take more photos.

On a whim, I carried my camera to work on the first, and then walked over to the Town Center, snapping a few photos along the way.  Unfortunately for me, I need to work on being less self-conscious about taking photos while I'm out.  I'm fine once I start clicking, since I get into the moment; but getting to that point is quite sad to say the least.  Thus, no pictures made the finals from that outing.

On Saturday, the hubster and I went walking at a local park.  Walking for exercise.  Photos for this exercise.  We even took the dog; as big as he is, I was certain that he could appreciate a three mile walk around the lake.  (I was right).

I took a few pictures while I was there -- probably about thirty or so.  Some that I really liked, and some that I didn't like much.  You will probably notice a bit of a theme going on here.  Trust me, while I have some things brewing in my mind, this was not one of them.

At any rate, I thought it easiest to create a set in Flickr, so you can keep track of my progress here.  At some point I will create the link on the side bar, but now, I'm getting ready for bed.

~me

365 my way

For a few years now, I've been so tempted by the 365 project.  Typically, it's a photography project where the photographer takes photos every day with the goal of one photo that represents the day some how.  It could be their favorite or the best or something in between.

And, for as long as I've been intrigued by them, I have resisted the idea, convinced that I was doomed to fail before I started.  Honestly, with my schedule, I didn't even feel that I could take good pictures every day for a month, let alone an entire year.  I was also determined that my project would not end up being one where a good number of the shots were simply thrown together for the sake of having taken a picture on a given day.

On top of all that, I was completely overwhelmed by the prospect of downloading a memory card each day, editing my favorites, and posting them.  Every. Day. Seriously crippling just thinking about it.

So, I finally pieced together in my mind my own method for completing a 365 project.  Basically, rather than committing to shooting daily and processing and posting, I will commit to shooting at a minimum once a week.  And hopefully more often than that.  I'll process as needed (but more than likely that will only be once a week), and at the end of the week, I will post the seven photos that I like the best.  For an entire year.  Starting in June of 2009.

Would anyone care to join me?  Leave me a comment if you would like to; I'll try to figure out an easy way for sharing our work.

~me

less is more?

Quite honestly, I was so thrilled when I saw the post on Ali Edwards' blog last week that let me know professional organizer Aby Garvey had a free class, 'Where to Start'.  Less than five minutes after reading Ali's post, I'd registered and began dreaming of the impact that it would have on the house.

Finally, it was Tuesday; the first day of class. 

I logged into the website and accessed the class information.  Fourteen printed pages later, I began reading. 

Fifteen minutes of decluttering for the next six days. . .

Huh?

So, here we are on day two, with fifteen minutes of kitchen decluttering and fifteen minutes of decluttering in the sitting room behind me.  I'm still not totally feeling it, but as a former fly gal, I know that eventually it will have great impact. 

Besides, I finally made my appointment with the professionals at Clutter Busters who will be helping me restore my studio back to actual usable space.

~me

mommies and sneak peek

Mother's Day was a fairly quiet affair for our family.  We gathered at my aunt's house for a dinner prepared and served by the men in the family.  Precious few pictures were taken to document the day; poor light was definitely a factor.  There was a brief time, maybe 20 minutes, when the warmest, richest sunshine flooded in through the dining room window.  It was perfect for this photo of J sitting in her grandma's lap.

This is one of my favorite series from this past weekend.  I don't even remember what I was asking them to do.  Just loving the genuine smiles from them.

Niece, this is part of your sneak peek.

~me

love affair -- of a good kind

Most of you that read my blog know that I love photography.  And, although I frequently cover events for my family and friends, I have yet to really strike out into the photography business.  But I want to.  To that end, I've taken quite a few online classes.  I've even attended a couple of excellent seminars.  But, given that photography isn't my career, I just haven't been able to justify spending thousands of dollars to attend a workshop that would get me out of my everyday surroundings and immerse me in photography.

The Love Affair Workshop is just that.  Hosted and taught by four awesome women in the business, Love Affair Workshop is a retreat for women photographers, offering them a week long immersion workshop where they will learn to hone their photography and business skills, as well as, receiving invaluable information on balancing their work with the other things that are so important to their life -- family!

Even if I don't win the scholarship, the process of competing has helped me to honestly realize that I would like to start my own studio.

Wish me luck!

~me

Check out the Love Affair blog.  This dynamic group is posting profiles of some of the workshop attendees.  What a great way to meet your colleagues before you arrive.