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???