Begin Again

December 31, 2009. Not only the last day of the year, but the last day of a decade, too. Alot has happened in this big world as well as in my little life. It's been a busy 10 years! There's so much to reflect upon...

Ok, snapping out of my reverie :)

God has been faithful through it all. That was true in the past, but better yet, it will remain true in 2010. I am so thankful for that! You see, I am not always faithful to myself. Case and point: over this last year I have done myself the disservice of becoming complacent. Somewhere along the line I let not only my sense of personal discipline, but also the act of purposeful living slowly trickle away. I somehow became more of a spectator in my own life, rather than a leading lady. I didn't recognize it as it was happening; so slow and discrete was the process. Yet I see it now, and I am grateful  to seize the opportunity of a new year, a new decade to reinvent myself. (With however much time God gives me.) I'm not much of one to cling to new year's resolutions, but I do like the idea - so charmingly expressed in Anne of Green Gables - that tomorrow is fresh, with no mistakes in it.

It's a gift...and I'll accept it. Tomorrow, the first day of 2010, I will give thanks to my faithful God and begin again.

WYSIWYG

WYSIWYG (whiz-ee-wig) is a phrase Tom Hubbard used in an intro to photography class I took a few months ago. It is an acronym for "what you see is what you get"...meaning: your mind can see, or visualize a photo, and then you can turn around and create it with your camera. This is not an easy task for a novice like me! You need to have the camera set correctly, achieve the right angle, and utilize good light.  True WYSIWIG is ideally accomplished with as little post processing as possible. Needless to say, it doesn't come together for me every day.

Today, however, I did get a WYSIWYG photo, so I had to share it with you :)

It's just what my mind saw when I looked up and into the leaves of this tree!

Yay for WYSIWYG!

Mail

I don't know about you, but a bit of my inner child comes out each day as I approach our mailbox to see what has arrived. I can't help but feel a stirring of anticipation as I crack the door and peer inside the sturdy black box that waits so patiently in front of our home. "What will I find today?" I wonder. I can't deny the whispered hope that perhaps I will find something unexpected...like a note from a friend or a surprise check made out to our family. (Hey...a girl can dream, right?!?) And as my hands pull out the bundle, my eyes quickly scan the postmarks and size of envelopes, able to discern the routine, obligatory mail from years of experience.

More often than not, our mailbox holds the UNanticipated type of mail...like bills and circular ads. But occasionally that whispered anticipation is rewarded. Especially this time of year, when families and friends exchange greetings for the Christmas season. I think it is one of the things that makes the holidays fun. No one can resist a handwritten envelope with festive postage! There is a simple joy found in tearing back the flap of paper and discovering the colorful card within. I believe it is a pleasure I'll never outgrow.

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LOST/MISSING:

Blog author's creativity. Believed to be misplaced or hiding. Perhaps on unauthorized vacation. Greatly missed by author, blog, and flickr stream alike. Requesting speedy return. If seen, please contact me asap.

Boyish Imagination

A recent drawing from our son:

Yes, that's Ben. Standing bravely upon the deck of his own personal ship. Notice how he is fearlessly brandishing his lightsaber against the terrifying pair of sharks and the monster octopus (Sea level and to the left). His cannons are at the ready and he is prepared to save the day.

 My hero!

Little Christmas Spirit

I have been trying to get all three kids together for a cute photo for this year's christmas card. So far, I've been unsuccessful! Either all three kids aren't home at the same time, the light isn't right, or someone is unwilling to look at the camera and smile. Just the other night I had a failed attempt, so I decided to make lemonaid out of lemons. I took my one willing subject and found our own unique light source. Turned out pretty fun...

Looks like she is impersonating Rudolph with the light on her nose :)

TOES!

Tradition

It has become a tradition to spend thanksgiving day up on Mt. Hood with my husband's side of the family. We relax, watch movies, eat lots of yummy food, play games...and if there is snow in Government Camp...we go SLEDDING!

There was plenty of snow this year! We found a good hill near snow bunny and sledded for a couple hours. We were even able to catch a few of the pretty fantastic wipeouts with the camera. It was fun for young and old alike and we returned to the house with rosy cheeks, good memories, and a healthy appetite for thanksgiving dinner.

A Little Color

I learned a bit about my style when we built our home. I learned that I like soothing, restful colors. I prefer clean lines and materials made from natural stone and wood. I'd rather have a few good size rooms, than lots of little ones. I'm a little rustic, a little craftsman...and a little modern! Sure, it's an unusual combination, but it's what both Paul and I like. It's our own personal recipe: one part comfort mixed with one part simplicity, sprinkle with a little contemporary flair, and garnish with an occasional pop of color.

Want an example? Check out our new office chair :)

Yep. It is red. And we like it!

I've had a relentless cough for the past week now. The longer I have it, the more it wears on me, so I haven't had as much energy to be out and about taking photos. It just feels good to be home. So I thought today I'd post a few photos from around here. I do so enjoy the open (and relatively quiet) area I live in.

Little Man

We had a window of dry weather on Saturday, so how could I resist recruiting one of my other beautiful little people to hang out in front of the camera for me? (Of course, I couldn't!)

Ben is a whole different character in front of the camera. More silly faces and crazy poses than anything else; but hey, it's capturing him where he's at...right now. Part silly, part charming, part sensitive. That's my guy at seven.

Light & Jenna

I asked Jenna if she would be my assistant and pose for me yesterday. I wanted to experiment a little with light metering, and lucky for me, she was happy to comply. We went out on the front porch with Emily's little white rocking chair and had the good fortune of meeting with our cat, Sawyer. Let me tell you, he did all the work! Jenna was so happy to pet him and laugh at his antics, that all I had to do was sit back and take the pictures.

This next expression cracks me up. Sawyer must've done something spectacular!

I love how Jenna's nose crinkles when she is really delighted

I am fortunate to have such a cute AND willing assistant in Jenna. Oh, and props to Sawyer the cat!

Learning, Learning

I recently decided it was time to stop feeling frusterated and WISHING I knew how to use my camera better. Time to stop talking and start doing! I resolved to take steps (even baby ones) toward making it happen.

So...a couple months ago, with a determined spirit, I switched away from the automatic modes of my camera (evil green square and 18% gray - you know what I'm talking about Andi!) to brave the scary world of the creative modes. Hello TV, AV, and M! Hello blurry, over/underexposed pictures. (Sigh. Let me tell you, I had a lot of photos to delete! I am so thankful that I am in a digital age and the learning curve is free.) I began to randomly experiment with the knobs and dials on the camera. What would happen if I rotate this wheel? What number does it change on the camera and what does that mean to the picture I snap? Slowly, I began to grasp the cause and effect of adjustments I made and began to get less junk pictures.

Well, that was all well and good. It was progress. But not enough for me. I had an idea of how to change things, but I didn't know how to technically label what I was changing; nor did I know if there was a smarter way to get the desired results. Plus, I knew my camera had a lot more potential that I hadn't even begun to unlock. I had to be brave, go out of my comfort zone...and find a class. I'm proud to say I did. (If you know me, then you know this was a big step for me.)

To date, I have taken one class and attended one seminar. I cannot believe the world it has opened up to me. Mentally, I feel like I am understanding SO much more! I feel like I have enough of a base that I can read photography blogs or articles and be able to grasp what they are teaching. I am certainly not done learning yet, but now I am hungry for opportunities to practice. To apply the things I've learned and see how they physically affect my pictures.

So I hope you'll journey with me. My blog will continue to be rambling and random, but I'd like to include more of my photography side as well, since it's such a big part of me. My heart lies in photographing people, but I will happily take photos of anything I can lock my view-finder on in order to increase my ability :) Please check in here and on my flickr stream often to see new postings, and leave me comments or critiques. Tell me what you like or what you think I could do better. Your feedback is always welcome!

Old Question, Revisited

Honestly, I can't remember what prompted the conversation, but my husband and I were sitting on the couch last night when we began discussing the Mayan calendar. (I know. Random, right?) He informed me that there is a theory in existence that the end of the world is a little more than two short years from now, in the year 2012. This theory, he goes on to explain, is based on the fact that the ancient Mayan calendar ends that year; and since there are many who believe the civilization from long ago had a certain mathmatical genius, the same people would naturally conclude that the end of the calendar means the end of life as we know it.

I would not be one of those people. As a matter of fact, I generally avoid those types of theories all together. Each individual day has enough joys and trials of its own! Life is one day at a time. What's more, I believe in a God who not only knows the numbers of my days, but who holds time in the palm of His hand. He knows. He has a plan; and I will trust Him.

Nevertheless, the conversation with my husband did make me think. It surfaced the old question of , "If I knew the number of my days, knew I had only two years left to live, would I live differently? How?" Of course the answer was yes. I would change things. Live with more purpose. Finish things I had started. Make the most of the time with loved ones. Worry less about the small stuff. And yet we live as though we have infinite time...

I guess it's because life is just as much about the little, mundane details as it is the big picture issues. Still, I think it is good for us to ask this question every once in a while. To remember that life is shorter than we think and reprioritize. So I challenge you! Be sure you are accomplishing the things that matter. Make a difference. Check something off your 'bucket list'. Then don't forget to do a load of laundry and take out the trash :)

That is life happening.

The Latest Fad

If you were to come visit us on our little two acre piece of the world and step out on the back patio, you would be hard pressed to miss the lines and lines of tread marks that run like ribbons through the east side of our property. And if you were to come visit us on a sunny day outside of school hours, then you'd likely be greeted by the sounds of small engines buzzing. You would whiff a hint of exhaust in the air. Before long you would catch a glimpse of one my loved ones as they zipped past...on a dirt bike :)

And no...it's not just the kids

Water Memo

MEMORANDUM

DATE: Nov 1, 2009

TO: myself

FROM: myself

SUBJECT: Fire Hydrants and Water

________________________________________________________________________

One must never forget the power and capability of a fire hydrant when standing in its proximity. While it is true that a hydrant (when not in use) is a rather silent and DRY fixture, one must be mindful of the purpose for which it was created: immediate access to large amounts of fast flowing water.

This is especially true when using my camera to photograph my husband accessing a fire hydrant. It does not matter if the photos are for training purposes. When my husband advises me that water will soon be flowing out of said hydrant, and that I (and my very nice camera) should therefore move clear of the flow, I should quickly give a generous berth to the approaching stream of water. I should NOT take a few small steps to the side, thinking only about photography and the possibility of an exciting, close angled shot. No. Because water flow is not 100% predictable. There is a distinct probability that standing too close when the hydrant is opened will result in a thorough dousing of myself AND my very nice camera. Finding myself wet and scrambling for a towel to dry my camera before damage is done is not a desired or recommended outcome.

Please take a moment to study the photo below. Because this is what one sees when being hit by the cold spray of water from a hydrant. File it away and learn from it.

Can someone hand me a towel, please???

Pumpkin Patch

The kids have been talking about a new pumpkin patch they drive past every day as they ride home on the school bus. Emily tells me they've dubbed it the "pumpkin army". When I asked why, she described it something like this: "There's all the pumpkiny troops waiting in the field to do battle" :) With a reputation like that, going to any other patch was out of the question this year! So Saturday afternoon we made the short drive to experience the pumpkin army first hand - and bring home a troop or two of our own.

Everyone left with a pumpkin of their choice: Ben's the biggest he could find, Emily's perfectly shaped, Jenna's a little green, mine all bumpy, and Paul's...the closest to the wagon. It was a fun time!

Brrrrr...

I look out my window and see an unforgiving fall day in my little corner of the NW. I know. I know! I can hear you now...

"What, Laura? Unforgiving? I thought you just blogged about how you love fall?"

Ahem. Yes. I DID say I love fall...which is true. The exception for today, however, is that it is stormy and raining pretty heavily and I (like a crazy woman) accepted an afternoon position supervising the elementary school playground. Picture me, out in the cold/wet elements for an hour and a half today and you begin to understand the 'unforgiving' portion of my statement.

A person can do anything for an hour and a half, right? Especially when I have promised to reward myself with a caramel apple cider from Squeeze & Grind - the BEST I have found in all of Clark County. It's right here in my little town of Camas, so I will soothe my chills with a super yummy and steamy beverage and think cozy thoughts of wrapping up in a down throw later tonight; perhaps snuggling up with a good book or movie.

Off I go. Wish me luck...and warmth :)

Post Script: I was SO well prepared for this afternoon that it actually turned out to be quite nice. I layered up more than sufficiently, brought a giant umbrella, and even got to pass some of the time hanging out with my daughter and her friends. It was not an unforgiving fall day afterall!

Poppy & Sam

Once upon a time there were two goats named Poppy and Sam. Poppy was a plump and sassy goat with ears that stuck out to the side like wings on an airplane. Sam, her brother, was a large, simple-minded goat with ears that flopped down like a puppy dog.

If anyone were to approach the fence surrounding their field, Sam would plod up to the fence to see who had come to visit, then nervously back up a few paces. You see, being a simple-minded goat, Sam wasn't able to control his curiosity or his anxiety of the unknown. Sam was a kid at heart. Poppy, on the other hand, was all vim and vigour. Whenever she saw Sam approach people at the fence, she would trot over as fast as her stubby legs would carry her, and place herself front and center to assess the situation. More often than not, she would disapprove of the visitor and head-butt the fence in reproof. You see, being plump and sassy, Poppy liked to consider herself queen of the pasture.

One grey autumn morning Poppy decided that it was time to expand her empire. She longed to explore what lay beyond her half-acre parcel and simple barn. A small, weakened area in the meandering farm fence provided the opportunity she was looking for. She stepped back, lowered her head, and threw the full weight of her round body into it. Just as she hoped, the fence gave way and she was able wiggle her way to freedom. Sam, ever inquisitive, craned his neck over the fence and watched from the safety of the pasture to see what his sister was up to now. Poppy was nose to the ground, smelling her new surroundings. She wandered this way and that, congratulating herself for her conquest, and nibbling the grass as she went. She was not only queen, but fearless explorer, too.

Poppy had not been out long when her owner, a sweet, young girl with straight hair and milk chocolate eyes, discovered her escape. The girl ran out, still barefoot and in her pajamas, into the early morning light to lure Poppy back into her rightful field. The girl was the one person Poppy tolerated...liked even. And when she scooped out a savory cup-full of golden grain, Poppy, the plump and sassy goat, was unable to resist following the girl back through the gate and into her half-acre parcel.

Only the queen would not be contained for long. With the grain devoured and the girl gone back to the house, Poppy trotted to the opening in the fence, and once again forced her way to freedom. Sam stood nervously by the opening, bleating to his sister. He finally decided to be brave and follow. There was only time for a few mouthfuls of sweet, autumn grass before the girl, still barefoot and pajama clad, emerged from the house; this time with her mother in tow. The girl scooped a second cup-full of grain and gently persuaded Poppy and Sam to return to their field. Her mother, though not skilled with hand tools, was determined that plump and sassy Poppy would remain contained this time.

So she went to work. She measured and clipped a new section of farm fence. Then, using a multitude of zip-ties, the mother attached the new portion of fence over the warped and broken one. Poppy looked on with disdane, and even tried to head-butt the mothers hand as she worked. The mother, however, was not to be hindered. A few more zip-ties and the patch was complete. Queen Poppy was once again restriced to her original half-acre kingdom. She begrudgingly conceeded the battle. Turning her plump body away from the fence, Poppy trotted off into the field with all the sassiness she could muster...Sam following obediently behind. Perhaps the queen would explore another day.

The End

I Heart Fall

My favorite of all seasons is here! Don't get me wrong...each of the seasons have their own charm and enjoyable elements. Ah, but fall. Fall is grand. I cannot help but be partial to it. To borrow a line from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..."

*Amazing colors. The colors of fall are unlike anything else. Fiery red, golden yellow, glowing orange, warm brown...mixed in with the fading shades of green. Breathtaking!

*Brisk air that adds a blush to one's cheek and beckons us outdoors.

*Foggy mornings. Looking out my window to see everything enveloped in a lovely, soft gray. The landscape is changed...more mysterious and inviting.

*Snuggly sweaters, a good pair of jeans, and warm socks. That pretty much defines the perfect outfit for me!

*Steamy, warm beverages. Coffee, cider, chai tea, hot cocoa. The heat that radiates through the mug to warm hands. So comforting. Speaking of comforting...

*Homemade chili and soup. Oh - with fresh from the oven bread. Seriously. Does it get better than that? It makes the house smell delicious and it is so satisfying to be snug and warm in your house eating a great bowl of soup when it is stormy outside.

*Apple season. Apples are my favorite fruit. I am spoiled living in Washington state for this reason. The Honey Crisp and Fuji are amazing! Plus, who doesn't love a good apple pie or crisp?

I could go on with my list, but those rank at the top. So, I am going to snuggle in my sweater, grab my mug of coffee, and go watch the wind whip through the trees. If the rain holds off, maybe I'll throw on a scarf and take a walk; somewhere where the leaves have began to fall and I can listen to the music of them crunching under my feet.

I love fall.

Face Lift

I sat down at my computer, thinking about writing a new post. Instead, however, I got side-tracked looking at blog backgrounds. There are so many choices...and I just looked through one source. This was one of the first to really catch my eye. You know what they say. Trust your first instinct. I am enjoying this new look and color scheme. Change is good. It's like redecorating, only I don't have to mess with hours of hard labor. A few simple clicks, cut and paste, and voila. My blog is rejuvinated!

A Feature I Love

We've been in our new house long enough to learn how it functions. The noises it makes and the little idiosyncrasies involved in living here. There are only a few things I would do differently - one of which is better sound proofing between Emma's room and our bathroom (she says our shower sometimes wakes her up in the morning). But overall...we are pretty happy with the way the house turned out.

There is one feature that I am particularly happy with. I might even go so far as to say I love it. Curious? No, it's not the dishwasher, although that is quite a luxury. No, it's not the space heater in the bathroom, even though I sit contentedly in front of it almost every evening as I brush my teeth. The feature I'm speaking of? The toe-kick vent in my kitchen! It is glorious. During the hot summer months, when the last thing a person wants to do is work in the sink with warm water, it blows out cool and refreshing over your feet. Better yet, in the fall and winter, when there is a chill in the air, it turns that area of wood floor toasty warm. You stand in front of it and the heat envelopes your poor cold toes and you feel like you could camp out right there - standing in front of the sink - for hours!

When we put it in, it was with a mindset of convenience and space saving. But now I know better. All I can say is, it's sumptuous, and every house should have one! (at least)

Three Trips In A Week

Three times this week I have driven up the Columbia River Gorge. It started with a spur of the moment trip last Friday...just my husband and our youngest who was home recovering from a cold. Paul walked into the room and announced, "I thought we'd drive up the gorge today; maybe take some pictures." It was a glorious day, with a stunning blue sky and temperatures perfect for jeans and a t-shirt. Can you ask for anything more? Maybe a cup of coffee for the drive, you say? Yeah. He provided that, too. He IS pretty great. Try not to be too jealous :)


The next trip we made as a family on Sunday. The forecast showed rain coming in for the majority of the week, so we thought we should go and maybe get a couple photos of all of us while the weather was still lovely. It wasn't quite the perfection of the previous trip (there was some sibling rivalry in the car and multiple rest area stops) but it is good to be out all together, and you can't help but appreciate God's beautiful creation in that little piece of the world.
My final trip was made today, in a school bus. Yep. Just so happens that Emily's class had a pre-scheduled field trip to Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery...in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. It was a forty-five minute ride on the Washington side to the visitor center where we watched the salmon swim up the fish ladders, learned about hydro-electricity, and the history of the surrounding area. Then we boarded the bus, crossed over the Bridge of the Gods to the Oregon side, explored the fish hatchery, and enjoyed a one-hour ride home.

Three times is a lot in one week, but I can't take the sights for granted. The gorge is glorious in sun, rain, or fog; through a camera lens, a car window, and even the back seat of a school bus! I couldn't help but notice that autumn is creeping in, and already the leaves are beginning to change. It happens so quickly...there were no signs of it a few days ago. And crazy woman that I am, I began to plan in my mind when I should come again in order to enjoy autumn in all its splendor.