Exhaustion 151/366

I picked up my eldest from swim camp. After five days of twice a day practices, she was pooped. Immediately upon dropping her bags in the middle of her floor, my swimmer was sleeping snug under her blanket. Knowledge and practicing new skills can be draining.

But totally fulfilling.

Breakfast distractions 150/366

While eating breakfast at our local doughnut establishment, I was distracted by the house next door. The red of the house, the blue of the sky, the green of the foliage and the numerous power lines running in random directions kept pulling my eyes over my husband's shoulder. Finally, I snapped a few pictures and we left to run errands.
After loading it to my computer, I realize I am drawn to the patterns of the wires breaking up the sky.

Sucker 149/366

My eldest and I tried tricking the ducks into believing we had food. As we stepped off the path and bent down, they came waddling toward us.Quickly discovering we had nothing edible, they gave each other the wink and nod and off they went.

Why do we always do that? 

Do what?

UGH! 

Summer camp 148/366

I dropped off my youngest at camp. Arriving early and tailgating with her friend so they could get a good bunk, I wondered around snapping pictures and talking to parents. The camp has great activities planned and the weather is supposed to be gorgeous. I am so excited for her.

Favorite place 147/366

Every time I visit my parents, my mom tells me about her favorite place on the golf cart path. During this latest visit, I took pictures of her and my dad together under the trees. They were so cute sitting on the bench together.

On the ride back to the house, we had to cross over the lake. The sun looked so beautiful reflecting off the water.
It was a great visit with my parents, even if my dad got us lost and then left mom and I way behind in the slower golf cart.

Vulnerability 146/366

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”   -  Helen Keller

Perfect timing 145/366

We left just as the clouds were rolling in. The timing couldn't have been better.

The end of a great vacation, a sunset, and a drink 144/366

The husband and I sat by the pool and watched the sun set. Reflecting off the pond, the light was gorgeous against the palm trees. We all needed this time to get away from life and decompress. Everyone should take time to break away from their 'regular' life to contemplate things. It'll make you a better person.

Fountain of fun 143/366

Adventures 142/366

I spent the day at Islands of Adventure with my family. So much fun and not unbearably hot. We're at the end of our adventure, wrapping up our visit with Poseidon's Fury. In fact, I'm sitting in the dark, air conditioned tunnel waiting for the 5 p.m. show.
As much fun as I had, I really must admit, I'm tired and ready to go back to the hotel with take-out and chill by the pool.

Desiderata 141/366

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
~Max Ehrmann

Vacation 140/366

I'm going on va-ca-tion, on va-ca-tion, ooh, la la la la la laaa. (Sung to La Cucaracha)

Nineteen eighty 139/366

One of my best childhood memories is listening to the Pirates baseball games on the radio. The announcer's voice was so deep and predictable, calling every play and peppering it with his opinions on what he thought might happen.
I can see myself in cut off jeans, bare feet, and a t-shirt trying to imitate his voice.

Searching 138/366

Light. 


Webster's defines light as the sensation aroused by stimulation of the visual receptors. So it's candy for my eye sockets. 


It's something that provides illumination. OK. 


Well, I'm trying to follow my prompts for class and capture that light but what I'm seeing in my mind is not what's coming out of my camera. So frustrating. I have searched the internet for further explanation of high key photography and rim light. Riding around looking for the picture I see in my head isn't working. 


I know I'm a visual learner. When someone can use their words and show me themselves, I can feel the light bulb going off. Reading a prompt and then going out to make my eyes 'see' the light is definitely more difficult for me. But I am also a perseverer. I am learning and I will not quit. 


But I will probably be the one with a tutor. LOL!

Purple purple everywhere 137/366

When I moved to my current home, my mother-in-law gave me a plant she calls 'Purple Heart'. It's the e-a-s-i-e-s-t thing to transplant. Snap off a section (not even at the roots), shove it in the ground, and water it. Once. You're done. No joke, this this is a succulent and will grow in the worst of conditions with absolutely zero help from me.

Turns out, this is the perfect plant for me. Not only does it take care of itself, but I planted it in a location where it holds the morning light and any rain drops, whether real or man made, for wonderful photography practice.

I love it when things works out for me.

Excess 136/366

We are a people of excess. Wanting more and more, our nation carries debt like no other time in history. Our closets overflow, we rent storage lockers to safe keep our junk, yet we run to the next sale to buy more stuff. It saddens me to know that future generations will have to deal with debt created by my generation.

Memo to self 135/366

Sun shot 134/366

Practicing my high key imagery but needing Photoshop and Rad Lab help. This is one prompt I'm going to need more time to practice.

Early morning 133/366

I've wanted to stop and capture the fog rising off the lake but the timing was never right. While I did turn around and go back, I didn't get what I wanted. I had fun though, just me and my camera. 

Historical infrastructure 132/366

Drawn to the architecture, I took many pictures of the county courthouse. It stands so regal and commanding. But not until I converted it to black and white, did I truly fall in love with it.

Exquisiteness 131/366

There is a blog I visit written by Beth and she posted a photo Tuesday of a dandelion. I was smitten and told her I was going to attempt my own version. 

Carpooling home from swim practice yesterday took me past an open lot filled with white, puffy Taraxacum. Much to my daughter's dismay, I turned the car around and drove back to begin picking the perfect specimen. Not only did I get what I wanted, but I reconfirmed to my child that I'm prone to spontaneous behavior and I REALLY don't care who sees me on the side of the road picking dandelions.

I chose several to take home with me. Handing them to my passenger, I resumed driving."Bugs, BUGS, A B-U-G!", she tells me more frantically with each statement. Ready to lift her arms, I realize the sunroof is open. Not wanting the seeds to disperse in my car, I close the roof and begin laughing. She now has an itch {imaginary}, a bug {I never saw it}, and maybe hives. I jest about the hives, but she was exclaiming mightily regarding the first two until we pulled down the driveway. Promptly handing over the dandelions, off she went to scrub herself. 

  

 I grabbed my camera and spent the next 30 minutes taking shots from different angles, holding it into the light and down into the shade. I took several in color but more in black and white. As it turns out, I like the colorless images best. 

Slinky 130/366

Everyone knows it's a Slinky.....

Sharpie love 129/366

Looking for repetition, I paired up my Sharpies, big and small, by color. I am enjoying the Picture Black and White class.

As a teacher, I use a Sharpie every day. What did people do before the invention of these wonderful inky beauties?

Orangey-ness 128/366

I am in the midst of finals prep for my 5/6 grade class. One more test to create and I'll be giving into spring fever. 

Yellowness 127/366

Don't be perfect. Just be yourself. ~ Goldie Hawn

Shapes and shadows 126/366

Monochromatic 125/366

I am having so much fun looking for lines and really playing with the lack of color.

Unfurling 124/366

Black and white photography has always fascinated me. Although I was raised during the height of the Polaroid SX 70, I have always loved sitting and thumbing through old books looking at the pictures. I've since determined I am a visual person and, while I have a great imagination, seeing photos can take me right to that place in time.  

I recently entered my name in a drawing for Picture Black and White with Tracey Clark. Never thinking I would win, I happily chose my favorite photo of the week and wrote something about how I'd be thrilled to win a spot in the class. 

Well, guess what?

Yep. I won. When I opened the e-mail from Tracey, I sucked in my breathe and danced wide-eyed around the room. 

Not knowing today's prompt talked about paying attention to the lines, my bestie called and told me I should come snap shots of her new banana tree. The leaf was doing this incredible curling thing and she wasn't sure how long it would last since it's unfurling a bit more each day. I drove over and came face to leaf with this incredible plant whose rubbery texture surprised me. 

She and I proceeded to get all 'construction worker' hobbling together a stool with one leg on a rock and a three foot piece of 2x6 on top of the stool so I could stand up higher and have room for my tripod. What a sight!

While I loved the color shot that caught the light just so making each portion of the leaf look a different color and texture, the absence of color immediately drew my eye to the lines. 

I am grateful today for banana leaves, besties who know you'll come when they call, and soft sheets.

Looking through the glass 123/366

Knowing only that we were working in the yard, I imagine a training lesson in engine powered machinery was occurring at this moment. She old enough now to know how to maintain and run the equipment. Heck, by her age, I was driving my dad's pick-up truck to the neighborhood store for milk.

New life 122/366

How cute are these baby bunnies? Four tiny creatures not 2 days old were found nestled against the house.

I think the girls are going to turn them into their next science project.