On the Sunny Side

Boo

2012-02-28T19:14:00.003-08:00

My little dog... my sweet tiny companion. What would I do without her?

Ilford 3200

to all the crooked trees

2012-02-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

My kids are starting to notice I'm a little different from the other dads. "Why don't you have a straight job like everyone else?" they asked me the other day.

I told them this story:
In the forest, there was a crooked tree and a straight tree. Every day, the straight tree would say to the crooked tree, "Look at me...I'm tall, and I'm straight, and I'm handsome. Look at you...you're all crooked and bent over. No one wants to look at you." And they grew up in that forest together. And then one day the loggers came, and they saw the crooked tree and the straight tree, and they said, "Just cut the straight trees and leave the rest." So the loggers turned all the straight trees into lumber and toothpicks and paper. And the crooked tree is still there, growing stronger and stranger every day.

Tom Waits

the canonet and the wolpertinger

2012-02-05T20:39:00.000-08:00

My father-in-law gifted me his old 1970s canonet this summer and I've just gotten around to teaching myself how to use it. I threw a roll of cheapo color film in and decided to try it out at UCBC's first annual Wolpertinger festival. I ended up falling in love with this little rangefinder- it's light, compact, has a great 40mm f/1.7 fixed lens... and it's so unobtrusive. This will definitely be going out with me more often....

If you're wondering about the beast in the final photo- well that's the wolpertinger attending his own festival of course :)

Charlie

2012-01-31T19:17:00.000-08:00

I'm in love.... He's kind of a younger guy. And he sleeps a lot. And needs his mommy. But he's pretty much perfect in every way. The sweet little completion to my dear friends, Kim and Dan, and the darling family they are growing. This little guy is so so loved and so so wanted. Life is good, baby. Life is so good.

Love you sweet baby and new family! XOXOXO, Auntie Chrissy

PS. How freaking adorable is my husband (2nd row) holding that tiny baby? He's a natural! Think we might have to get ourselves one of these.... ;)

PS PS. Charlie is cute even with his cranky face going (4th row) :) :)

PS PS PS. A few words about the film shots. So I had half a roll of Portra 400 left in the camera- not exactly my ideal for crummy hospital lighting or lack of light in general really.... not to mention my lack of knowledge generally of what I'm doing in this film world I've been exploring. But I've got to say- I'm pretty impressed! This just goes to show how versatile film is- shooting digital, this would've been a white balance nightmare to say the least. I thought about post-processing these in b/w in lightroom, but when it came down to it- I really just loved the originals so much more... Film rocks.

Cold

2012-01-17T19:35:00.000-08:00

Baby, it's cold outside. Winter is here, at least for a couple days, despite the unpredictable midwest weather patterns. So I'm thinking warm thoughts. A cozy booth, a bowl of soup and a perfect stout, crisp light streaming through frosted windows. Winter's gift.

(Shot finishing up a roll of Ilford 3200 in the Nikon F100)

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire; it is the time for home. - Edith Sitwell

my loves

2012-01-09T09:36:00.000-08:00

Spending the day with my loves (how cute are these two sometimes?) and thinking about popping some kodak ektar into the camera on this sunny sunny winter day.... what are you up to this fine day?

Ilford delta 3200 in the Nikon F100

That old time rock n' roll

2012-01-06T17:19:00.000-08:00

I have a little confession. I've been eating, sleeping, dreaming film. I just can't stop thinking about it. I literally can't get enough. I lie awake in bed sometimes thinking about things like exposure. Film's got me, it's got me good. And after getting back my film scans from new year's eve, where I shot two rolls of ilford delta 3200... I'm thinking it might be for life. There's that old Bob Seger song about that old time rock n' roll. Well film is a lot like that for me. It's got mad crazy intense soul. There's a grainy, romantic, timelessness to these photos that I just could not produce any other way.... and I love it, I crave creating it. They make me feel like a part of something, connected to the past and a relevant part of the future- the reverence and the revolution as UCBC would say...

January 1, 2012 was big for me. 2011 was hard towards the end there and I needed a fresh start. And this is exactly where I want to start. Right here in these grainy romantic timeless black and white photos. With my lovely awesome crazy parents dancing to a great zydeco band play great old music all night long. And my best friends raising glasses and shaking maracas made of old soda cans filled with dried beans like it's their freaking job. And my sweet husband by my side all the while to soak up the joy with me. Me just being me around the people I love. Dancing to that old time rock n' roll and throwing myself into my dreams for the future. It's been too long coming and it's finally here. I want to live it up.

Ilford delta 3200 in my Nikon F100.

Here's to 2012, one more time. It's gonna be great.

Welcome 2012

2012-01-02T08:35:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, loves!

2011 has come and gone and 2012 has been greeted with hope and celebration. I hope you rang in the new year with with joy and loved ones around. For me, it was music and fireworks and best friends and family and jamming on the washboard and even (my first!) two rolls of black and white film. All the things I hope 2012 has waiting in abundance.

We are two days in and I've been thinking long and hard about what I want 2012 to be for me. I have an assortment of big and little dreams for this year. Some are practical (like saving more money and paying more towards the ol' mortgage) while some are of the heart and soul (like pursuing this film thing I have fallen so hard for in earnest).

Right now, I just want to revel in the possibilities of a new year and a fresh start and a renewed hope for great things, big or small. I feel like dancing in the kitchen and singing in the car and celebrating.

And to start rocking out 2012, one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists. However 2011 treated you, I hope 2012 is the year that you can shake off bad things and embrace the things you love all the more tightly.

And it's hard to dance with the devil on your back, so shake him off.

Winter Pretty

2011-12-29T16:25:00.000-08:00

A little winter pretty on this gorgeous December 29th. 60 degrees and pink sunset has me loving the end of 2011. But I've been spending a lot of time contemplating some big dreams I'm looking forward to working on for 2012.... Looking forward to sharing some of these grand ideas with you soon. What do you have cooking up for 2012??

Shot on kodak portra 400.

Around the house

2011-12-26T18:20:00.000-08:00

Hope ya'll are enjoying this lovely Christmas holiday. I'm enjoying time relaxing around the house with two of my favorite people :) Can't wait to see you in the new year!

Shot on kodak portra 400.

Tree hunt

2011-12-21T20:45:00.001-08:00

This year we got our first real tree for Christmas. We went on a grand adventure through an old man's winding 70 acres of tree farm, past a small pond and a creek, up hills and in valleys, looking for the perfect one. It took at least an hour, but we found it, up on a hill, tucked in a little corner behind some bigger trees. It is fat around the middle, with a tall spindly top, imperfect in every perfect way. It would have probably never been picked by anyone else, and that's why I loved it the minute I saw it. I knew this little tree had a destiny. And now it's residing comfortably in our living room and fills me with joy and hope every time I look at it's proud little shape.

Shot on Nikon F100, Nikkor 50mm f/1.4, Kodak Portra 400.

UCBC Beersgiving

2011-12-19T09:42:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago, the UCBC gang got together for a rather unorthodox celebration of "beersgiving." Beer was a required ingredient for all dishes (except the gravy!), prepared potluck style, and feasted on among friends. There was homebrew, UCBC brew, craft brew, imported brew. There was incredible entertainment by moustached boys on tiny, vintage toy organs. There was football and foosball and lots of laughter. Then some of us took a nap on the couch :)

Shot on a Nikon F100 with Nikkor 50mm f/1.4, Kodak Portra 400

Birthday Thanks

2011-12-16T09:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I turned.... a year older! And I had the best birthday ever- because of all the wonderful, caring, fun people in my life. I didn't get to capture you all here- but you know who you are! I love each and every one of you and I am so thankful that I got to celebrate the end of another year with such incredible family and friends. I know I will enjoy every minute of the next one with you all by my side. Thanks for being just what I need and more than I could ever ask for. I'm a very very happy girl because of it :) Let's live it up friends.

All photos taken with a fuji instax mini 7s (thanks R for always knowing just the best birthday presents :) ) and scanned with my very old, very crappy scanner

Film Is Not Dead (and a little Boo)

2011-12-13T18:53:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to let you know: Like he read my mind, Jonathan Canlas announced his new 288 page book, co-authored with Kristen Kalp, on film photography for the digital photographer! You can pre-order it on Amazon here. :) I seriously can't tell you how much his FIND guide and his blogging/formspring/no holding back, all questions answered approach to helping people learn to shoot film helped me get started. And I have no doubt it will continue to help me as I learn. Check it out if you are at all interested in picking up a film camera- from advice on where to buy and what to buy to the mechanics of exposure and much much more- you won't be sorry. I am heading over there next to pre-order mine! :)

And because no post can go without some photography--- a couple more of my faves from my first roll of film. Paying homage to the best part of my day- coming home to my sweet Nuala Boo. She is always so excited to see me- her love puts a smile on my face every time I see her :) Dogs are the best.

Shot with kodak portra 400.

First Roll of Film

2011-12-12T14:59:00.000-08:00

I got a wild hair recently and bought a film camera. I am enamored with the look and idea of film photography.... it's depth, it's adventure, it's timelessness.... but I was scared. Everything I know about photography (which is by no means a vast sea of knowledge- but it's my little knowledge and I sought it out and learned it myself with some help on the way from a few kind photographers ;) ) is from my trusty digital slr. But the minute I held my used, lightly loved film camera in my hands and pushed that shutter- I knew I was hooked. I was hooked with the carefree nature of film. The not agonized over the details after the shot is taken, the not obsessively looking at that little digital screen to see if I had "nailed" it, the living in the moment, not being attached to my computer editing to make a moment look the way it felt at the time... the not looking back, the only looking forward.

I started close to home. I think that's the best place to start- starting with what you know, what you already love, what reflects you so incredibly already. And today, I cried tears of happiness when I got the scans of that first roll.... Not because they are all perfect, because believe me, they aren't. I have a lot to learn. But I am excited about learning for the first time in a long time. Instead of seeing those little mistakes as defeats, I see them as opportunities to improve, to embrace something I want to do so badly, something that makes me incredibly happy. And then there are the small victories, the few photos that melt my heart, because to me, they are perfect. The ones that capture the people and the things that I love more than anything in a way only film could. Maybe I feel like film loves those things a little bit more than digital in some ways, which can sometimes be just a little too perfect, a tinge artificial. Film hugs. It shows my love. The love that I am trying to push into every press of the shutter. I will never give up digital entirely- my love-worn d90 will still be by my side. But right now, I am so excited to embrace the mystery, the adventure, the love that film is giving me. And now for just a few of my favorites, my starting spot for everything:

Shot with Kodak Portra 400.

More to come soon :)

I owe a great deal of love to Jonathan Canlas, for inspiring and sharing his knowledge with others through F.I.N.D and the F.I.N.D. guide (which is no longer available- BUT never fear, he's got bigger, better things up his sleeve, I think :) ). If you are interested in shooting film, he is definitely the place to start. Film is not dead :)

Kim and Dan- Expecting

2011-11-28T16:48:00.000-08:00

Kim and Dan are an absolute blast to be around. So it didn't matter that the day was gray and rainy when we set out to snap a few maternity photos to remember this special time in their lives. And true to form, my dear friends and their rambunctious family of four furry kids (Jack the cat stayed inside!) radiated humor and love and crazy fun despite the less than ideal conditions. The happiness and joy this whole crazy group lit up a dreary day and I can't wait for them to greet Charlie, their first baby, in just a couple months. I am so excited to watch my sweet friend Kim become mom to baby Charlie. And to watch Dan teach Charlie the importance of laughing and moustaches. And I'm so happy to be a part of it all as "Auntie Chrissy."

Charlie, you are one lucky little guy. Every day will be a fun adventure for you with this family, sweet baby. And you are so loved already. I can't wait to meet you in 2012. Until then, little love, Auntie Chrissy is thinking of you :)

I love you guys!!

Brew's Visit

2011-11-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

My little dog-- heartbeat at my feet.

Edith Wharton

Greece Part IV: Zakynthos

2011-10-07T18:21:00.000-07:00

Zakinthos is a small western island that sits in Ionian sea that comes in every color of blue, from inky depths to precious topaz. It is the home of my great grandfather whose family raised flowers to sell in the market, the home of my last name, the home of an incredible bunch of relatives that still call the island home, and the start of so so many of my dreams. Zakinthos is a reminder of the incredible sacrifice my great grandparents made, when they left their beautiful home and their families to start a new life, in the city I grew up in and still love. One home traded for another. I am so proud of this place that I had never seen but only dreamed about until this September. This place that is already so much a part of who I am and who I want to be. This place that is my heart, in every color of perfect blue.

Greece Part III: The Gulf of Corinth

2011-10-05T20:00:00.000-07:00

Swimming in the Gulf of Corinth feels like swimming in a cloud. The soft blue of the water is the same blue of the sky and they blend into each other at the horizon so much that one cannot be distinguished from the other. The tide is gentle, the water clear and clean, the beach made of rounded pebbles washed smooth by the sea.

Greece Part II: Thalero and Melissi

2011-10-04T18:49:00.001-07:00

High on peaked green hills above the Gulf of Corinth, whose waters fade into the gray blue of the Corinthian sky, lie two tiny villages side by side surrounded by olive and lemon groves. Everyone knows everyone in these two tiny villages, named Thalero and Melissi, and that has been the case for a long, long time. Sometime between 1900 and 1905, in a little stone house in the tiny village of Thalero, a baby named Penelope was born and raised among siblings and cousins. When civil war rocked the family, and the baby's mother was killed, tiny Penny boarded a ship with her big sister, Panagiota, and bravely crossed a big blue ocean to a whole new life. She grew up, got married, grew old, and had great grandchildren who recited the pledge of alliegence to her adopted home. When her great grandchildren grew up, they boarded an airplane across that same big ocean to return to those two tiny villages and that little stone house to pay homage to the little baby who grew into a woman who built their family on a foundation of love and strength.

In the narrow streets of Thalero, they found the house and the history. In neighboring Melissi, they found Octavi, the sweet and sassy 80 years young cousin of Penny's son, their grandfather. Octavi told them that she had never been across that big big ocean. She had spent her entire life in those two tiny villages, overlooking the Gulf of Corinth. They asked her to come visit them soon. She said with tears in her bright eyes that she had another journey she had to make first, back up to heaven, but she'd surely see them there someday.

And they were comforted to know, when they returned to their home across the ocean, that high in the peaked green hills above the gray blue Gulf of Corinth, lie two tiny villages side by side, where the love that built their family first grew and still exists, and a little old lady named Octavi is holding down the fort until they can all see each other again.

Greece Part I: Athens

2011-10-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

In late August, my family piled into a plane headed over the Atlantic to discover our roots. Destination: Greece. The birthplace of my paternal great grandparents, Panagiotis (or "Peter") and Penelope. Greece is a place characterized by dichotomy, a modern country built at the toes of ancient civilization, incredible natural beauty and sprawling urbanization, passionate greek conversation and gentle rolling tide, overflowing hospitality despite news reports of economic crisis, deepest blue seas and red arid earth.

We started our journey in the heart of this vital country, Athens.

Max and Dawn

2011-09-27T18:07:00.000-07:00

About 6 months after I picked up an dslr camera for the first time ever and tried my luck at shooting manual, I shot my first "session." Dawn, my (day job) coworker, who has over the last five years become a close friend, wanted special photos for her son Max's second birthday. I was nervous and excited and hooked on photography by the time I finished editing those photos of Max for his loving momma. A lot has changed since that day, but one thing has not. Dawn and Max are a special pair- their love for each other is huge, playful, joyous, and perfect. Watching Dawn become a loving, strong mom and watching Max grow up and blossom from baby into fun-loving, happy kid has been a privilege and I am so glad to be a part of their lives.

I had to include a couple little "out-takes," because they are just so darn cute. Three year old Max eventually decided that having his photo taken was no fun and this was the result. (And yes, that is a pile of saw dust that Max found to sit in, in true little boy fashion :) )

Luckily, Mom was right there to make it all better :)

Dawn and Max- I am looking forward to a bright future for you two that I know will be rooted in love for one other. And I'm so thankful for the support you continue to give me in this photography dream. All my love :)

Apple Picking with Katie and Lukas

2011-09-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

puppy love grows up

2011-06-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

Remember this little snowball who was Boo's favorite winter visitor next door?

It's been awhile since this little peppered sweetie has graced the blog, but for Boo, meeting Henry, the pup visiting next door, was love at first sniff.

Well, it's been a few months and now Henry's tall, he's dark, he's handsome.

And he's back.

He and Boo had their first official date the other day- he took her for a game of chase around the yard and then out for drinks.

He asked for one bowl :) So romantic.

Turns out they have a lot in common- a love of mad dashing around the yard, getting treats, and getting loved on by people.

They are also both nearly impossible to be photographed :)

See Exhibit A:

My favorite type of dog photo- the kind that says "I don't care about your human standards of personal space." And "what the heck do you have inside that black machine? Any treats in there?" :)

Boo and Henry go together perfectly in every way. Boo misses him already. :) Until next visit, we're pining away for the boy next door...

perfect

2011-06-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

I walked out of my house this evening with my camera in a light rain to catch this perfect light on our little weeping cherry tree.

It only lasted a fleeting lovely minute. I heart summer rain + warm light :)

may days

2011-05-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

Something about spring makes me embrace the wholesome satisfaction of the homegrown, the homemade, and the sharing of simple, lovely foods. They make my heart, and my belly, so happy.

This month, I've embraced the heartiest, most delicious chocolate chip cookies- made with oats, and pecans and loads of chocolate chips.

Recipe here via Joy the baker.

And berries, berries, berries. How you brighten my spirits and my kitchen and....

... help me create the perfect fresh blueberry crumb cake for grilling out party with dear friends.

Recipe here via P-Dub.

And today marks my favorite May event- when our first CSA pick up brings ll the happiness of homegrown spring delights and a flood of summer hopes for good harvest.

Spring CSA means especially greens.... and delicious experiments with kale :)

Recipe for Jettie's kale chips here via Clary Pfeiffer Photo Blog.

And of course, in the midst of all this lovely food, our yard is "spring"-ing to life in gorgeous, happy color.

What do you love most about these lovely spring may days?

simple

2011-05-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

When I am looking for a recipe thats simple but delicious, I more than often turn to the wisdom of P-Dub. She always pays homage to the perfection that is cream, butter, and whole milk. Most of the time, we are scared of these guys- they are heavy, they are bad for us, they are caloric. But my great grandma ate large pads of butter straight off the toast and lived to the ripe old age of 99 (move over, margarine). So sometimes, I think cream, butter, and whole milk get a whole lot of blame for the sins of other foods (ahem, processed foods, I'm lookin' at you). In any case, no matter what your feelings on these delightful dairy products, it stands that the world could use more cream. And well, everything in moderation, right?

When I was looking for a recipe our mothers' day (apostrophe placed for the celebration of multiple mommies ;) ), I turned to an old faithful from P-dub's cookbook- french breakfast puffs. Yum.

These little lovelies are poundcake dense, almost like a delicious little donut. They are like heaven- and so so simple to make. I adapted the recipe by adding 2 tablespoons of almond extract, 'cause that's how I roll. It delivered a subtle almondy flavor that I think is divine, if you are into that sort of thing ;)

My nana insisted she gift me my first pastry blender as a wedding gift. And I am so glad she did, she is a tremendous baker, and every time I use this simple little tool, I think of her. A true family heirloom, because it is something that I will use, and the recipes it helps me create will touch our lives in different ways....

Happy sunday :)

Year One revisited....

2011-05-13T19:09:00.001-07:00

I was going to blog a pretty recipe today, but instead I will send you here for some lovely photos by the wonderful Clary Pfeiffer :)

She captured our first anniversary so perfectly, in film no less, and I have to share. Every time I look at the photos I am reminded of all the contentment and happiness I feel in my life with R and Boo right now. I love that photography can so magically capture those feelings and moments.

Enjoy!

Mother's day

2011-05-09T14:42:00.000-07:00

Mother's day was one of those perfect family days.

At home, our yard has been brimming with lovely spring color and it all converged for a perfect showing for the moms.

Our plans involved a little more than hanging out at home though- we were on adventure. We piled into the car, stuffed like sardines, among picnic makings- people, pups, coolers, and charcoal.

The pups, namely Reggie, got last pic of seats, but he seemed pretty content to be on the trip. And was especially helpful as dad's copilot on the adventure.

We set up shop at a lovely pavillion on the westside of our fair river, the mighty mississippi and got on with relaxation, while barges chugged down the main channel.

Snacks filled our bellies and bluegrass was music to our ears.

Games of crazy eights, just like when I was little and learned watching my great grandma, were played and in true mother's day form- the mothers won each game, and I won none. But it was all in good fun :)

Nana plotted her win....

And laid down her final winning card, in true card shark fashion.

And then we ate, ate, ate. I was too delirious after this feast to worry about snapping anymore photos.

On a side note, I took along my new Epiphanie Lola camera bag. And I love it. It is well made, extremely well padded, fits all my essentials with room to spare, and is the perfect size for schlepping around my gear in style.

How did you spend your mom's day?

2011-04-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

music has always been a huge part of my life. it's been a part of my family.

my parents encouraged me to take piano and guitar lessons and although i didn't practice enough (much to the chagrin of my amazing instructor), those lessons were a place where i grew up and learned a lot about myself. we sang loudly to pearl jam in the car on family vacations. we made up words when we didn't know them. our boat always had (and still does) the best sound system on table rock lake. when the tape deck in my 1989 land cruiser ate a system of a down tape in high school, dad didn't ask questions. he put in a brand new cd player for me. i have moshed up to the stage with my parents at incubus concerts. i have danced in the kitchen with my mom and toddler cousin. we roll the windows down and turn the radio up. we have listened to madonna's immaculate collection and korn and bluegrass and everything in between. music can be so personal, so close to my heart, sometimes i have a hard time talking about it.

i cannot imagine my life without music- it feeds my soul. it understands me when i feel like no one else does. it reminds me that even when i feel like no one else gets me, someone is hearing the same tune and understands it the way i do. i love it's history, it's present, it's magic. i think live music has a way of making everyone feel the same way all at once. and that is a really special thing, in a room of strangers. to break down barriers for fleeting moments, when we're all singing the same words, dancing to the same melodies. i think live music makes us live in the moment, even for just a moment, and that is so crucial when the world moves so darn fast.

friday night i was in the need of live music and luckily it was in ready supply. free concert at my college alma mater- edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros. outside, under the stars, on a 70 degree perfect night, my love by my side. a stage full (literally to the brim) of musicians who truly love what they do, who are truly joyful about music and performing, who are constantly reinventing themselves and having a really darn good time doing it. it was incredible and i loved every minute. oh and they had a piano- a real one- on stage. a band with a piano always rocks my life :) joyful.

you may have heard their hit, home.

but since music is best shared- my favorite lately is this :) jade's voice brings down the house. she's awesome! .... and i think we share some dance moves. can't beat that.

what song is really "getting you" right now?

Ladies who lunch

2011-04-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone's Easter weekend was relaxing and renewing :) After all, that's what the season's all about!

Have you ever wondered at the large groups of ladies that "lunch" on weekdays? These ladies that regularly schedule and keep lunch dates? There is something so fabulous about going out for lunch :) when all the other schmucks are working or running errands. (And since some of ya'll are probably guys- for the record, guys who "lunch" are just as fabulous, I'm sure.)

Since I have mondays off, I often get the opportunity to admire these ladies (or guys!) who lunch, but rarely get to partake, since most of my ladies work on mondays, and I'm usually getting things in line for my work week to start on tuesday.

This monday was the exception though- I was super excited for a little lunch date I had planned with my fave little girlfriend, Alaina, her mama Margurite, and little girl's friend, Ballerina Ariel.... yes- Ariel the mermaid has legs and dances the ballet now. I always wondered what she did after her big splash in film.

Ballerina Ariel was all about doing the splits when I met her, in the car on the way to our lunch date. (Don't worry, I wasn't driving!!)

Little girl accessorized with princesses bandaids. All the cool two year olds are wearing princesses on their boo-boos these days :) And little girl is nothing if not stylish!

She also caught on pretty fast that there was a camera in the car- Hence the funny faces and big smiles above :) Little girl knows she's got it goin' on!

Lunch was Italian meatball soup- with extra meatballs- yum!!

Followed by an impromptu book reading with mama. Too cute!

And of course, no St. Louis lunch date is complete without a trip to Ted Drewes for some custard! I ordered a cookie dough concrete- Little girl ordered "pink." :) :) Turns out "pink" is pretty darn delicious (pssst- it's a strawberry concrete).

According to Margurite, little girl has also ordered "purple on a stick" before, at dairy queen, which makes me laugh everytime I think about it. But the crazy part is that dairy queen made it happen- using a purple slush mixed with soft serve... I'll let you all decide how you feel about that, but I heard the result was actually pretty good.

Little girl is very very neat when she eats her "pink," always reaching for the napkin to clean up. She knows she's gotta look good for the camera!! But I don't think she needs much help there :) :)

Happy tuesday kiddos! Go enjoy some "pink" or "purple" or "green" or "blue" :)

Tonight

2011-04-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight was spent among friends. Tonight, heads huddled together in festive conversation as rain played drums and tornado sirens blared and ipods played party songs. Tonight, milestones were celebrated. Tonight, there were candles lit and then blown out and wishes were wished with the promise and hope of coming true. Tonight was about family love and friends who become family. Tonight was what friday nights are all about.

Happy 30, Kim. Can't wait to celebrate many more "tonights" with you!

2011-04-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

Hey there.

How's wednesday treating you?

I'm tired and crabby and sore from a double dose of back to back pilates + yoga on monday and tuesday. But I've decided to take a break from wallowing on the couch to bring you the following random thoughts from my lovely anniversary weekend. :)

1. Year old wedding cake.

The verdict: It was still beautiful (if not a little manhandled- but I mean, if I was made out of buttercream and looked that good after a year in the freezer, I'd be pretty satisfied). And darn if it wasn't still DELICIOUS. Yeah, I said it. I ate year old cake and it was tasty as the day it was...errr.... frozen. Light, moist, delcious. Thanks Cakery!

An added benefit is that I am LOVING the amount of space we now have in our freezer! That year old top tier was taking up a lot of potential ice cream room in there....

Yum yum!

2. We've been working on my ~~101~~ 54 in 1001 (I'm working on it, I promise!) list. Namely, #48. Plant my first garden in the backyard.

We researched, we dug, we planted, we visited the hardware store four times, and the nursery twice....

Drum roll please....

We have a city berry patch- complete with bird/squirrel/bunny/boo proof protective housing!

We planted strawberries, 2 raspberry bushes, and one blackberry bush. We decide to go with a berry patch because we belong to this CSA, we've got veggies and greens coming out the ears in the summer months. Also, I really have always wanted a fruit tree in my backyard... but our yard isn't big enough for two trees and we've got the magnificent sweet gum after all. So berries seemed like a natural choice. We can do bushes.

The problem with berries is they need to be protected from city wildlife.

So we designed (err... stole and modified from an internet inspiration photo I randomly found) the architectural wonder shown above using PVC, rustoleum gloss green spray paint, some bird netting and a couple green metal stakes. It's very hard to see the bird netting in this photo, but I think it looks pretty darn sleek. It's like a beautiful mesh tent for your berry patch.

If you are looking to do something similar to protect your little planties:

We simply bought two 3/4 inch PVC pipes, about 10 feet long, painted them green with rustoleum gloss spray paint and bent/sunk each end about 10 inches into the ground.

Then we tightly pulled bird netting across the PVC frame and stapled it into the ground (you can find both the bird netting and metal "staples" to secure it in the garden section of your hardware store).

We used two metal stakes found in the lumber/fencing section of the hardware store to pull the netting out on the sides a little to give our raspberry and blackberry bushes more room to grow, since they can get pretty big.

All in all the entire project cost less than $20 and has so far lived through one major storm with no problems. The only glitch is getting into the patch for harvesting... but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. We'll probably end up just un-stapling one side and crawling in to collect the berries.

On a side note, R has seen multiple squirrels circling the berry patch, unsuccessfully attempting to find a way in :) Oh sweet success!! We'll see how desperate they get when there are actually berries on those plants!

One

2011-04-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

One year ago, R and I got married on a perfect spring day just like this one. According to the farmer's almanac, april 17 has always been like that- a perfect spring day. It's also the best day to entertain friends, host a party, and.... well.... mow the grass (I mean, it's the farmer's almanac).

No matter what, today will always be a "best day" for me.

Photos below by the lovely Clary Pfeiffer, www.claryphoto.com. Click the photos for a link to see more of our wedding through Clary's lens.

I love you, R. Each of these 365 days hasn't been perfect, some of them far from it, but we made it through each of them together. Looking forward to starting another 365 days with you, starting with this one perfect spring day :)

Go enjoy your best day. The farmers know what they are talking about :)

Weekend Memories

2011-04-13T16:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend was pretty wonderful. We were busy but not too busy. We got things done around the house but also spent a lot of time enjoying the mild weather. I had my camera with me throughout the weekend to capture little bits of happy and that magic is working on me as look at them now and dream about more weekend bliss in a few more days... We're going to have visitors :) I'm excited!

We have a huge sweet gum tree in our back yard. It's a love-hate type of thing- I hate sweet gums and pollen and everything else the tree produces pretty much every month of the year. But I love it, because it's a huge beautiful tree and it holds the moon in its arms on a mild spring night...

I visited with my parents' dog Reggie this weekend. He's a welsh terrier, he's completely hilarious, and he looks like a sweet little teddy bear with a lot of spunk. I adore him.

I love my parents' house because now that I live in the city, it feels like vacation to be surrounded by this.

We drank lots and lots of coffee and visited with our favorite photographer. More on this coming soon!

And R made banana nut muffins. Yum!

I continued to work on my decorating project and am finding a lot of ways to incorporate my photography.... now which prints to frame...

R grilled and tended to his hops- yes those are hops- like the stuff in beer. This is my favorite kind- Hallertau. It's german, it's use to make my favorite beer, Hopfen, from this place where R works. Without a doubt, we are beer people. It makes us hoppy. Sorry, I feel punny.

Our hostas are out of control.

My favorite tree- our little redbud- continues to bloom beautifully.

I especially like the young heart-shaped leaves that are appearing at the ends of its branches

R surprised me by filling the planter on our front porch with beautiful flowers today while I was at work. He did good, really good. I think it adds a lot of character to the front porch of our 1940 cape cod :)

For tips on how to make one for yourself:

Our planter is actually an antique metal wash bin. They are pretty easy to find if you root around enough antique malls. We bought ours at my favorite one, here, for $25. Yes, I have a favorite antique mall. I love antiquing. No, I am not 70.

We painted it with a Rustoleum gloss finish in apple red.

We used sweet gum balls (cause we have a lot of them) as filler and then piled potting soil on top and then in go the flowers. Easy peasy. And it have been fine outside all winter- the rustoleum paint is still looking great.

R hid a little snail shell in the planter. It melts my heart when he does stuff like that.

happy wednesday!

leap

2011-04-08T16:31:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's the weather. That care-free summer feeling in the air. Maybe it's the cool breeze coming through my window.

Maybe it's the wild late night/early morning rain storms we've been having. The kind that produce a drum chorus on the roof of our little cape cod- the beat, beat, beat in rapid succession that is so comforting for all it's noise and wildness.

Maybe it's the new music that's been cranked on my ipod during kitchen dance parties. The kind of music that speaks to your soul and makes you feel understood and happy.

Maybe it's hitting a groove with my art and feeling pretty good about what I'm learning and what I'm producing.

Maybe it's teaching others about photography that's reaffirming how far I've come and how excited I am for people to join me as I keep learning too.

Maybe it's small bits of all of these things combined in some awesome cosmic way.

Whatever it is- the fact is lately I've been feeling pretty good. Pretty strong. Pretty confident. Pretty happy.

I've been feeling like taking happy chances. Leaping when the mood strikes. Being brave. Embracing life.

Boo knows how to do this well. She leaps with abandon for pistachios.

Lately, I'm loving this post on Enjoying the Small Things, where Kelle Hampton talks about photography. And leaping.

I love especially when she says, "Being intimidated by perfection or someone else's art should never lessen the value of your own art. And photography is art. I take pictures how I look at life, and I look at life like how I take pictures."

Lately I'm wanting to shove off comparisons and just be me. And rock it. And cheer you on if you are doing the same.

And I'm inspired. By the weather, by rainstorms, by feeling pretty good, by the Boo leaping with abandon, by art.

By this poem:

The Journey by Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice--

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

"Mend my life!"

each voice cried.

But you didn't stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations,

though their melancholy

was terrible.

It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do--

determined to save

the only life you could save.

What's inspiring you today? Whatever it is- embrace it. Leap. Live what you love. I'll be right there with you :)

lost, found

2011-04-06T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today I had quite a scare. Actually, it was one of those "this is the most horrible thing I can imagine happening" freak out panic scares.

I lost the Boo.

Now before anyone starts freaking out about the loss of our favorite white terrier fluff muffin, Boo is okay. She's back, unscathed, and just as fluffy and goofy as ever.

It all started out innocently enough. I got home from work and Boo was ready to play outside. Lately R and I have gotten in the (bad) habit of letting Boo go outside off her leash- even though we don't have a fence. Now, let me preface this by the fact that Boo is not a runner- she is pretty good about staying in the yard (famous last words) and she listens very well when we let her know she is pushing the boundaries. She really isn't very adventurous- she likes to stay close to home, sniff around the backyard, and of course, visit our favorite neighbor dog, Louie. We never let her out alone- we are always in the backyard with her, policing her to make sure she doesn't leave the backyard. And we've had no trouble.

Today was the exception. I was hanging out with Boo and I turned my head for just a few seconds. I think this is how these sorts of experiences always start- "I just looked away for a second"- and then she was gone. She had been sniffing over by Louie's fence and when I turned back- no Boo. No Boo anywhere.

My heart instantly lodged itself in my throat, I felt sick. It was that moment of horrible realization that everyone who has a dog, a cat, a kid, etc. has had at some point or another- the "I lost the Boo" realization.

Then panic. She could be far away, she could be hit by a car, she could be attacked by another dog, she could be stolen.

I began frantically running back in forth in the yard yelling "Nuala! Nuala! Nuala! Nuala!" in a near constant refrain. I ran to the front yard- nothing. I ran to the back yard- nothing. I ran into the alley- both ways nothing, nothing, nothing. Fear.

I ran back into the house, still screaming Nuala's name, on the verge of a complete breakdown.

My baby girl was out there- lost- and it was all my freaking fault. I was like a chicken with it's head cut off- I didn't know what to do. I grabbed about 15 cookies and Boo's leash, still yelling and ran back out. I frantically dialed R at work, on my cell phone, as I ran frantically back around to the front yard, hoping to find Boo somewhere close.

I didn't have to look long- before R even answered the phone- Boo appeared in my neighbor's driveway, tail tucked looking sheepish. She had clearly heard me frantically calling and knew she was in big trouble. She cowered and I grabbed her, sobbing.

I sobbed for a good 5 minutes, holding my dog in my neighbor's driveway, while relating the entire story to R. The story of how I almost lost our Boo.

In reality, Boo was only lost for maybe 5 minutes. She was probably in the neighbor's front yard the entire time. She could probably hear my calling her name at the top of my lungs the whole time. But that 5 or so minutes was the scariest, longest 5 or so minutes of my life. The idea that something bad could happen to Boo, because of my mistake- that really scared me. And it reminded me of what an important part of my life this little fluffy white dog is. She is one of the lights of my life. I love her to death- she is sweet and funny and loves R and I unconditionally. She always makes me smile (except for today of course!).

We are so lucky as Homo sapiens to be able to have this type of relationship with a different species. There is really nothing that compares to it in the rest of the animal kingdom between two such divergent species. The dog-human bond is just special. And of course- a similar bond can be had with cats, rabbits, you name it. Our "pets" are a part of our families- closer to us sometimes than human members of that family. And it's really a privilege, something we shouldn't take for granted, that these animals will share their lives with us in that way.

Lesson learned. Boo will be leashed in my presence from now on- unless R is also there to help referee. Also see #39, "fence in backyard," on my 101 in 1001 has been catapulted to the top of the list around here and plans to break ground are commencing soon.

And in honor of Boo's triumphant return- go hug your pet (or your kid even!) today. The sweeties in our care need and deserve a lot of love.

I love every angle of this little fluff muffin.

And on a happy sidenote: my redbud bloomed today. Spring love is a redbud in bloom :)

Checking in

2011-04-05T18:51:00.001-07:00

Hey all (whoever is out there reading! ya'll should comment more often! I'd be happy to meet you!)!

I have been super super busy on a little decorating project this weekend (I'll be sharing as soon as it is complete!)... but I didn't want you to think I'd forgotten about you!

I have actually been working on a little something else- a 101 in 1001 list of goals for the next 1001 days :) It's pretty popular in the blogging world and it was only a matter of time until I was sucked in!

The one issue that I've run into is... it is really hard to sit down and think of 101 concrete goals.... It seems a little far reaching to look that far into the future, but I've made it about half way, and I'd love your help thinking of some more. I've decided to go ahead and start with the 50 or so I have an keep adding as I think and leave a little room to grow :) You can check out my current list on the new tab above or follow the link here.

I'm really looking forward to accomplishing each goal and sharing my experiences with you as I do. I've already started on a few that I'll definitely be getting up on the blog in the near future.

And since no post is complete without a picture- an oldie and a hint regarding my new decorating project that's been consuming so much weekend time. A photo from Arches National Park, Utah, from an epic adventure we took last summer :)

It breaks a lot of the rules (like being blown out in some spots from the very intense evening sun) but to me it really evokes the heat, the shrubby landscape, the rugged topography, and the feeling of being in Utah on a brutally hot July night amongst giants (the arches, that is) :) I just adore it.

2011-04-02T18:02:00.000-07:00

It was a long week. And I am so relieved that tonight I can sit on the couch and watch a movie and edit photos with my Boo and go to bed at 9:30.

And I am happy. Because I'm sitting on the couch and watching movies and editing photos and 95% of the photos taken of my Boo look like this:

And I love her so dearly. Unconditional love and companionship is a good thing- a very good thing. Dogs are the best.

And I am also happy, because today is the day the snow cone stand opened. And snow cones were 2 for 1. And I really really needed a snow cone.

I live for things like Boo and snow cones. They make me happy. And right now, on the couch with my snow cone and my Boo, I am so happy.

2011-03-30T20:03:00.000-07:00

I'm seeing red...

And I think I like it!!

Happy "hump" day! :)

Snow Spring

2011-03-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

Umm....

2011-03-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

Is there something wrong with this picture?

What a difference a day makes!

Out

2011-03-25T16:21:00.000-07:00

It had all the makings of the perfect impulse purchase.

The only pair in the size 7.5 shoe aisle at TJMaxx. Sweet 30 dollar price tag.

The sky opened and shone a single ray of light where my eyes fixed upon the perfect wedge.

I grabbed, I hoarded, I shielded in my frantic grasp from other shoppers, I ran to the checkout line.

And 2 minutes/30 dollars later, they were mine. Michael Kors epic 4 inch wedges in brown suede and black rubber.

Then like most impulse purchases- I forgot. In my closet, for like a year... maybe two. Until a few weeks ago.

When I unearthed....

My lovely go-to, go-out heel, subtle, chic, secretly incredibly comfortable. I love you so.

Especially that tire tread back that is oh-so-tough and unexpected.

I'll never leave you again. I promise. Let's go out tonight on the town, my darlings.

What are your favorite bargain scores and wardrobe staples?

Happy friday :)

Love in Bread Form

2011-03-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

Riding on a springtime high of positive energy and wanted to share a little love with you.

I've mentioned the lovely Joy the Baker on the blog before (i.e. the lady behind the wonderful apple oatmeal anytime cookies) and lately, I've been really digging this particular recipe of her's.

It's for delicious, gorgeous cinnamon pull apart bread and it is divine. My favorite part is every part of it. The entire dough making process is so lovely and surprisingly easy (she gives great instructions for the toughie parts, too!). I love working with yeast, the delicate process of making bread, and waiting for dough to rise, and this recipe gives lots of opportunities for practicing these skills.

And you will be left with a lovely cinnamon bread that will totally impress your friends, coworkers, parents, pets, etc.

You can find the full recipe and Joy's lovely instructions here. I've already made the recipe twice- and I'm back for more. I can't get enough.

True to form, I had fun taking photos of the dough making (one of the only things I love more than making/eating this bread is taking photos of it!)

Please make this immediately. You won't regret it.

Start with dry ingredients and yeast in one bowl....

And then warm butter and whole milk until butter is melted.

Add vanilla (yum!) and water, then slop it into the lovely dry ingredients and yeasties.

The dough will be a little dry here- but then you'll add the eggs.

And another 3/4 cup of flour (you will add flour to this recipe a record 3 separate times during the course of this recipe- hang in there).

At this stage the dough is sticky and needs to rise an hour, during which time it will double in size. After that, you'll add two tablespoons of flour (3rd addition!) and kneed the dough until it is this lovely rested ball of heaven.

Isn't it lovely? Now the real fun starts, but my hands were too messy to take photos :) But Joy did- because she's a doll- so you can look at her lovely blog for reference.

After some rolling, browned butter (Gosh- is there anything better? Very few things I'm sure), sugar + cinnamon + nutmeg, slicing, and stacking....

Mmm- it's laid out in a bread pan and has to rise again. Then baked- and this is where my lovely story ended, because my oven was unceremoniously turned off accidentally in the middle of my bread baking.... and I'm playing catchup with a slightly unhappy cinnamon bread loaf still in the oven.

But trust me- baring any oven demons, yours will turn out beautifully. And I have high hopes that mine will turn out just fine... once it's finished!

Go bake it. Immediately. Not kidding- it's good for you. It's antioxidants, or something. I swear.

Triumphant Return- Or I Survived

2011-03-22T17:42:00.001-07:00

Hello.

Ahem.... hi.

I'm feeling pretty sheepish. After all, I disappeared.

For over two weeks.

Fourteen Days.

Three Hundred and Thirty Six Hours.

Twenty Thousand One Hundred and Sixty Minutes.

A bajillion and one freaking seconds.

By my humble calculations anyway.

So where have I been?

To hell and back. To the blackest pits of sinus infection-bronchitis- pneumonia nastiness.

Remember how I've hinted at being sick several times since January? Like here and here?

Well it turns out- I have been sick for.... like three solid months. And I hadn't really been getting over it. And on top of that, honestly, I was really pushing it. Burning the candles at both ends- getting up early and staying out late.

And the result wasn't good. The result was two solid weeks of coughing up gunk, fevers, gasping for breath, etc.

I'm not telling you this so that you feel sorry for me. When it comes down to it, I sort of "deserved" getting so sick. I wasn't taking care of myself. My stress level, the pressure I was putting on myself to go-go-go, and a nagging problem with loneliness and lack of balance was starting to get to me.

So when I literally crashed, physically and mentally, I hit hard. I was sick, I was frustrated, I was unhappy, I was angry, and I was struggling to breathe, in more ways than one.

But then came antibiotics and a round of steriods on the body end and my healing body made my crazy mind stop pushing so hard and forced me to relax (because when you are coughing up a lung and gasping for breathe- sitting really is the best option).

For over two weeks.

Fourteen Days.

Three Hundred and Thirty Six Hours.

Twenty Thousand One Hundred and Sixty Minutes.

A bajillion and one freaking seconds....

On Saturday night, I sank into feverish, coughing, exhausted sleep.

And on Sunday, I woke up....

And I was better.

It was like a Green Mile moment- when the good guy comes and sucks all the bad gunk out of you. And you just feel lifted up. My weight of sickness, stress, mental strain, in my lungs, in my heart, were gone.

And when I looked out my window, it was spring.

It was eighty freaking degrees.

It was SUNNY.

It was like the world was reflecting my feelings of re-emergence, renewal.

Friends that I hadn't seen since last spring were bursting into bloom.

Neighbors greeted me with happy smiles.

And friendly snarls :) (Louie shows off his pearly whites during a very exaggerated yawn, his best impression of where the wild things are...)

I even saw the Easter bunny.

He wanted to know why I was stalking him. I wanted to know where my candy was. And my tulip bulbs.

And this sweet little Boo was ready to play.

But not necessarily ready to have her picture taken....

And play we did.

Even if Boo didn't understand the rules exactly.

(Where's the ball, Boo? Where's the ball?!)

Winter has been long and hard on this body and mind. But folks, it's almost over. And I'm determined to keep this spring state of mind on my mind. And I've got a few ideas to help me do that this time that I'm excited to share with you. Along with a lot of ideas about balance and getting some and keeping some.

I'll see you tomorrow :)

Weekend Memories

2011-03-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd offer ya'll a quick weekend recap since I've been MIA since thursday :)

Friday and Saturday brought a lot of hanging out with lovely friends from in town and out of town and a few visits to my favorite local place, craft brewery Urban Chestnut :)

If you haven't been yet- you are missing out. It's awesome! I highly recommend it!! (And I'm only slightly biased, since R works there)

Of course going out meant dressing up- and I shed my wintery boots for something a little more exciting- high heeled mary janes :) It was a good choice.

Spring is sneaking up on us, despite our turn for colder weather- I have officially spied the first two little crocus buds in the yard and I am very very happy about it.

By Sunday, I just wanted to get out and see big open space, a different view from my city abode, so we traveled south with friends for antiques, natural beauty, and good beer (see: Charleville Winery and Brewery).

At Charleville, we met "brew cat" (our nickname), a sweetie who made a home in my friend Hilary's lap for the afternoon. Too cute. What a lover-muffin.

Cats are fun to photograph because oh wow, those eyes! Can't get over them!

As the sun sank lower and lower and we feasted on cheese and crackers and beer, brew cat got a little tired and promptly took a siesta in Hilary's lap :)

And when the sun was all done, we drove down the highway under a beautiful sky listening to neil young. Sometimes everything is just nice and comfortable. This was one of those times.

Today brought "back to business" in some ways. Mainly, Boo was subjected to her "spring" hair cut.... Goodbye dense, soft fleece and hello cropped locks.

I think the short hair makes little Boo look pretty regal, so I insisted on dressing her up in some of my jewels. I know, I know- totally not okay- but doesn't she look pretty?

I've been experimenting with a little softer color when editing my photos. Can you tell the difference here?

Those dainty little paws, that regal disposition. Boo, this is a new side of you! :)

What have ya'll been up to this weekend? Hope whatever it was, it was relaxing and renewing as you return to your daily grind this lovely monday :)

Rock out.

2011-03-03T17:20:00.000-08:00

Random confession:

I hate ear buds. They are new and hip and I can't handle them. I'm not cool enough. And I'm convinced that my ears are funky shaped, because they fall out. I like to rock these old school sony headphones. I think I stole them from my momma (sorry momma!).

Then I turn it up to eleven. I will be deaf by the time I am forty.

And I sing out loud... loudly. Even though I think I am just moving my lips- sorry gym goers and anyone who has ever been on an airplane with me. It makes me happy :)

How do you like to rock out?

Happy.

2011-03-02T16:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday! To get you through the mid-week blahs, I thought I'd share a few things that I can't get enough of lately. They make me feel happy! I hope they make you feel happy too!

1. Jade.

I bought two new plants this weekend at mobot. Jade just makes me happy.

2. Yellow.

Yellow.

At this point it's an obsession. I'm barely acknowledging other colors at this point... except maybe aqua-y blues. I love you too, aqua.

You look so pretty with yellow.

3. Citrus! I am clearly lacking in essential vitamins, because I'm scarfing down like 3 oranges a day.

4. Smart phones! I just entered the world of smart phones.... like a week ago. I was using my mom's OLD phone (the one she didn't need when she upgraded to a smart phone) and I've been resisting for a long time. But then I met the iPhone. And it was love. Not. Good.

5. New growth.

Love finding these little bursts of green creeping up everywhere on the brown landscape!

6. Daydreaming about fresh veggies from my CSA and planning my summer garden :)

What are you loving today?

Business as Usual.

2011-02-28T18:49:00.000-08:00

Last night found most St. Louisans huddled in bathrooms and basements to the sounds of tornado warning sirens. We were right there with you, riding out the storm amidst piles of dirty clothes in our basement laundry room.

And while the storm left it's mark on parts of the city (my heart goes out to anyone cleaning up their neighborhoods after storm damage done!), Monday greeted us with crisp air and sun, sun, sun. Like most Mondays, we were back to business as usual. Today we paid bills, we filed taxes, we sent in home mortgages, and we tied up loose ends.

And when we were done with our chores, we dusted off our walking shoes to see what the rest of the world was doing. And it appears that Mother Nature is back to business as usual too- after her long winter hibernation.

My new TOMS. Check them out- they make my heart and my feet happy.

We saw magnolia buds, brilliant yellow, and sturdy little nests waiting for spring inhabitants. Can't wait for Mother Nature to really get back to work and wow us with another Spring season. She's busy out there!

Happy Monday!

The Black Hole and the P-Dub

2011-02-27T11:10:00.000-08:00

I'm back.

Some weeks are like a black hole. They suck you in and amidst the chaos that is overtime, obligations, bills to pay, places to be, you can't find your way back out.

I found myself in the vacuum of the daily grind this week- and I couldn't find my way back out.

And blogging is hard during weeks like that. When stress and frustration with everything else interrupts the everything else I would rather be doing. And I start focusing on the negative. My lack of comments and blog hits and feeling like I should blog more... or less... or about more interesting stuff. And so I disappeared, sucked in by the black hole.

But then, there was the Pioneer Woman. A light at the end of the tunnel. A little comedic relief. And a little inspiration to get me back on track....

And I met her last night!

For those of you who don't know, the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, is an all-around blogging, cooking, photographing, ranch wife-ing guru who has two books on best seller's lists and a blog about all of those things that gets about 13 million hits per month. And she's kind of like my hero.

She was in town promoting her new book and I joined my "biggest fan" and friend Kim at her book signing.

To give you some perspective, this was our spot in line. This line is wrapped around 3 sides of a very very large library. This is approximately.... 20 percent of said line. It continues way into the parking lot behind us too.

This very blurry photo of Kim waiting patiently is a reminder that I need to stand farther back when shooting with my 50mm that shoots like an 85mm on my D90. I am always learning new things.

I think this also is about when the realization that we should have eaten dinner before coming to the book signing was dawning on Kim and I.

What is amazing about this lady is that she is a totally normal person. She is not jaded at all. She is sweet and genuine and funny. Like right about here is when Ree told us that she was sweating... profusely. She's a normal gal, people. And she's not afraid to talk about it.

She also talked about blogging... and how it's hard sometimes. But focusing on quality content is the most important thing- not blog hits or followers or comments. And that patience is a good thing. And I think maybe I could apply that advice to other things in life in the wide world beyond blogging. Thanks, Ree. I needed that.

After her brief chat, some Q and A's, and confessions about sweating (don't worry, PW- we all were!), Ree got down to the business of signing books. The enormous crowd was divided into groups and given tickets to go meet her. Kim and I were in lucky group.... nine. We waited approximately 3 hours for an audience with the P-Dub.

It was like meeting Santa Claus.... but better.

And for the record, PW told us that we were funny. That's right, we made Ree laugh. I will now wear this as an enormous chip on my shoulder and as encouragement to continue to make horribly lame jokes.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience this may cause you in the future.

Of course, this story isn't all about Ree. There was a bonus.

That's right. We met him. We chatted with him. We found out his first name was ~~Todd~~ Ladd (Apparently I still didn't know his name! Woops!). We talked about animal poop with him.

I wish I was kidding about that last part.... but I'm not. Long story.

Can you say, facebook profile picture? Heck yes. Although I will say it was weird seeing Marlboro Man's face... I've been more acquainted with his backside. And for the record, because I know you are wondering, it looks just as good in person. Thanks, Ree :)

And that's the story of how I clawed my way out of a black hole of a week and met the Pioneer Woman on the other side.

It's good to be back :)

Vitamin Color

2011-02-20T06:54:00.000-08:00

I'm playing catch-up today. (What else is new, right?)

And I wanted to share some pretty photos with you.

Of my thursday morning breakfast. I know, exciting stuff.

We've had a general plague coming in and out of this house for the past 2 months and I am waging war on it. With Vitamin C and antioxidants.

Note: If you start pursuing photography- you will start playing with your food. A lot. (Sorry mom!)

What is it about Whole Foods that causes me to always come home with purple tulips?

I cannot resist.

I am in love with this photo of blueberries. I'm not sure why- but seriously, I love it. I can feel the antioxidants flowing through my computer screen.

49/365:

I'll be back later, dears- after I enjoy every one of the 70 degrees that today is supposed to offer :) Hope you enjoy it too!

Spring Fever

2011-02-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

I can barely pause to feel warm spring air against my skin without immediately daydreaming about open water.

Couple this with trading snow boots for flip flops and rolling the windows down (without turning the heat up!) and my head is in clouds.

With this gorgeous weather we've all been enjoying, I've been wishing for long lake days a lot.

After my first, second, and third popsicles of the spring season... my happy place is feeling closer and closer :)

Although summer visits to my happy place are still distant on the horizon, Jasmine Star Photography satisfied my jonesing with some major nautical eye candy today.

Go here to check it out- you will not be disappointed! Seriously gorgeous. I'm smitten!

Has spring fever got you daydreaming?

Blue Skies

2011-02-16T16:18:00.001-08:00

Today we woke up early and spent the day saying goodbye to our beloved Grandpa Joe.

But more than anything, we celebrated his life.

And then we took the time to savor the little things that we have in this blessed life of ours.

Like the fact that today was the warmest day of 2011 so far- a gorgeous, blue skied 70 degrees. (Thanks Grandpa- I know you were behind that one.)

First warm day also means first popsicle of the year. Yum!

And a very happy Boo going on a very long walk in the park with mommy and daddy.

(This happy little tail was wagging a mile a minute.)

And doing some park bench sittin' in the warm evening sun.

And some picture posing- Boo will need a spring hair cut soon!

46-47/365: Before heading back home for dinner and a movie and some couch cuddling.

We miss you Grandpa- thanks for this miracle of warm spring weather. And thanks for reminding us to take the time to savor those sweet simple things... Love always.

And dear readers- hope you were able to savor this beautiful day. All love to you and yours :)

Blog Love.

2011-02-14T07:36:00.000-08:00

Because today is all about Love- I have some presents for you.

First up, the glaciers are receding. And I've seen my yard for the first time in.... weeks.

And I love it. This weather rocks!

Makes me want to start planning my first little garden. Want to join in the fun? I'm thinking watermelons and wild flowers and more.

Speaking of flowers, wow flowers.

Let's OD on flowers.

PS. Notice door open, letting in all that fresh spring thaw air. Love, baby... Love.

Gosh, I love them.

They make me happy. They are bright.

And antique blue mason jars. I love those too. And I have a lot. Hundreds even. Yeah, I'm a hoarder. But aren't they pretty?

I think a home just feels more like "home" with antique blue mason jars stuffed with lovely flowers in it.

And finally, a Love mix.

Because I feel like singing. Loudly.

I think I'm possibly the only person in the world who still makes mix CDs. But I do, a lot. Probably way too much for 2011.

And I love it. And Love is the theme of the day after all.

(Sorry for the lameness of some of these youtube videos- I couldn't think of a better way to do this for you! Don't watch- just listen!)

1. Soldier- Ingrid Michaelson

2. Home- Edwarde Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

3. The Happy Song (Dun-Dum)- Otis Redding

4. If I Were a Carpenter- June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash

5. All is Love- Karen O and the Kids

6. Lay Me Down- The Frames

7. Til Kingdom Come- Coldplay

8. Blue Sky- The Allman Brothers

9. Kooks- David Bowie

10. Love You Madly- Cake

11. Astral Weeks- Van Morrison

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope your day is filled with Love! Or at least chocolate... ;)

All is Love.

2011-02-13T13:47:00.000-08:00

I talk a lot about cookies on this blog. I can't help it- I love them. Who doesn't?

What's not to Love?

And as I sit here, trying to write about my Grandpa Joe and his life, I can't help to return there.

To cookies.

Grandpa Joe was probably never much of a baker.

But he knew a great one.

Grandma- Marjorie- was famous for her chocolate chip cookie recipe.

So I think that although Grandpa Joe may have never made a cookie in his life, he knew a lot about what goes into a cookie to make a good one.

And I think he would have told you that it’s the quality ingredients.

Life is not so different from a cookie recipe.

And I know that Grandpa Joe knew a lot about what ingredients make a really great life.

As you already know- it is my opinion that the perfect combination of butter, vanilla, and brown sugar make a delicious cookie.

Joe’s butter, vanilla, and brown sugar were most certainly God, his family, and his friends.

These are quality ingredients.

Grandpa Joe perfected his recipe with his compassion, with hard work and integrity, with his never-ending generosity, and with his humble suffering in the past year in times of ill health.

And he made sure to add extra of his secret special ingredient-

Love.

The undeniable, uncompromising, inextinguishable Love that he poured into everything he did… gave to everyone he encountered.

On Saturday morning, when I learned that Grandpa Joe had passed away, I was worried.

I felt as if a huge black void had opened up.

That the world had somehow lost a very very bright light. A light of hope and peace and most of all, Love.

But I look to all of the people that Grandpa Joe touched with his Love. The huge community of family and friends and neighbors that he lovingly tended...

And I see a lot of light.

I see a little bit of Grandpa Joe’s light burning in each of us.

And I am filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and pride and Love for having spent even a short time in the company of such a great man.

I also feel challenged, to keep that light going. To add a little extra Love to my life’s recipe, so that I might be worthy of the light that Grandpa Joe entrusted in me.

Grandpa Joe perfected his recipe. He lived with dignity, integrity, honesty, generosity, and most of all, Love. He is an example of what God’s Love can be in our lives.

I am incredibly grateful to have him as an example for my own life.

And I am hopeful because I know that his light is burning on in the many lives of the people he touched, as we all struggle to perfect our own recipes.

I love you Grandpa Joe. And I will never forget you.

All is Love.

Like Butter, Vanilla, and Brown Sugar

2011-02-10T18:48:00.000-08:00

I'm baking.

There is something so wonderful, so reassuring about that perfect combination of butter, vanilla, and brown sugar. I can't resist it.

Life can sometimes be hard (for example, cold and gray ;) ), but butter, vanilla, and brown sugar certainly help to soothe those troubles.

And so I bake. And I'm feeling pretty good about it.

Tonight I'm baking these from one of my favorite blogging ladies, P-Dub. I'll let you know how they turn out :)

An unfortunate side effect of baking is a sink full of dirty dishes.

41/365: So I'm also washing dishes. Lots of them.

Ordinary, yes. Glamorous, no. But as a wise woman once commented, cookie dough is always worth it.

Hope your life is feeling like butter, vanilla, and brown sugar tonight. In your own perfect combination. Tonight my combination is: folk music, dirty dishes, and cookie dough :)

What's yours?

Random

2011-02-09T18:01:00.000-08:00

This post means nothing.

There is no connective tissue.

No spark of creativity.

This winter has officially gotten too long.

And I've been blaming all my problems on it.

Like when my car is out of gasoline. It's "Winter! This is your fault!"

Or when I forget to send the deposit for my CSA on time, because the bill was under a pile of other stuff on my desk. "Winter! Pay my bills!" (It's happily been sent now, no thanks to Winter by the way.)

Or when I have nothing to blog or even take photos of that I think will be remotely entertaining for anyone who is still tuning in since I've been pretty boring in recent days. "Winter! You ruin all my big plans!"

And when my life is boring, everyday stuff like going to work and then crashing by 9:30 because I just can't stay up any longer. "Winter! You exhaust me!"

And when you write your umpteenth post about how Winter has really gotten too long and your readers are like "Chrissy get over it. Show me something pretty." I'm thinking, "Winter! AARRRRGHHHH!"

Does anyone else feel that way?

Pretty picture-taking is hard to do when you are feeling chronically uninspired by cold, gray, blah.

But I can't blame everything on Winter. Just because it's here. It's February after all. And February is just doing it's job right now.

So I'll do mine.

39-40/365: Some (vintage) action in Lightroom:

This vintage action for Lightroom makes me happy.

Especially on this gnome. It looks good on him.

And it looks good on this tinsel, which I just discovered is still hanging up in my living room. Tinsel is for all seasons though, right?

And that's what I've got.

And to Winter, my jilted friend. We're going to be together for a while. Tomorrow let's take some real photos together. My readers would appreciate it.

Goodbye Winter, Hello Green

2011-02-07T13:48:00.000-08:00

Let's be honest. I'm over it.

Winter, that is.

And Snow. Dirty, boring, constantly coming down, Snow. And Snow's best buddy, Ice. Go away, Ice.

You are making me sad.

I'm guessing Boo is the only ~~person~~ puppy still mildly entertained by Snow and Ice.

And even she's not sure about it anymore. (What the heck is this stuff on our sidewalk, Mom?)

And to be honest, Boo is easily entertained anyway. Sweet gum balls entertain Boo.

37/365: I am pretty ready to shake off these icy winter blues. Cue token photo of Boo shakin' it.

I love when she does that. It's just so cute.

In honor of all things not Snow or Ice or Winter, I decided I need some Green on this blog.

I am dying for Green.

I love my friend Green. And I miss Green so much.

So let me introduce one of my obsessions- cacti and succulents.

They are in every corner of my house. They make me happy. They look pretty. They are hard to kill (so back off Winter). They are perfectly Green. I can't resist a sweet cacti or succulent.

My house was built in 1940, so I have lovely deep window sills for all of my sweet Green friends to thrive in.

38/365: Succulents have even made it into my bedroom. When I look at them, they make me think of summer sunshine and quote Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Man, that felt good, didn't it? I love Green.

Need some more Green in your life?

My favorite places to shop for succulents and cacti in my fair city:

Missouri Botanical Garden - Check out all the beautiful (and affordable!) plants in the Garden Gate Shop. AND mark your calendar- they have a pretty awesome cacti/succulent show every year. Scored two pretty sweet green friends at that event last year!

Cafe Osage/Bowood Farms - Pretty sweet farm and tasty cafe right in the heart of the city! Great place for those who crave some urban homesteading.

Friday Favorites

2011-02-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

Friday Favorites.

35/365: Plans to stay in on a friday night and read.

And maybe sneak a movie in later.

Love.

Thursday Thoughts

2011-02-03T17:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was.....

Ice, blah blah blah, Snow, blah blah blah, with the word blizzard thrown around a few times. And then the word "woops!" thrown around by a few silly meteorologists. And I worked a full day.

33/365: Fun. NOT.

In other news, something hilarious just happened.

I heard Boo crying- I mean really wimpering, like a baby, from the bathroom. I go in there all worried about my baby girl. And she is standing there staring at the bathtub faucet, crying like Pigeon just stood her up.

I turn it on and.....

34/365: Boo was apparently quite parched.

File this one under: My dog is ridiculously spoiled; Boo thinks she is a human child; Drinking out of a bowl on the floor is so lame, Mom; This dog makes me laugh out loud.

Boo has also requested pizza for dinner in lieu of her normal dog food. I kindly reminded her that she ate the last taco the other night when my back was turned, off of my dinner plate, and she backed off. This time.

Wafels and Spekuloos!

2011-02-01T10:44:00.000-08:00

It's officially a blizzard, according to the local news stations.

So we're hunkering down, warm and cozy inside.

And that means one thing: Waffles!

Mmmm.... I like mine with just plain old butter and powdered sugar :)

Or maybe a tablespoon of spekuloos spread brought back in suitcase from the Wafel Truck in NYC :) Tastes like gingerbread and will change the way you think about belgian waffles.

If you are so inclined, you can purchase some online here.

And then give it to all your friends! I'm telling you, the people need to know about Spekuloos!

32/365: I am off to eat waffles :)

Photos of Ice

2011-01-31T16:03:00.000-08:00

What did I tell you about February?

(Here's a hint.)

February must read my blog. February isn't content to happen until the rain is coming down....

And then freezing. All over trees and cars and streets and sidewalks and everything in between.

Welcome to February Eve.

Can't wait for the 5-10 inches of snow on top of ice they are predicting for tomorrow! Thanks to snowy January for that little parting gift! Although, I'd really prefer that June chime in about now.

In other news, I am doing a lot of this:

Closet cleaning time, isn't it grand? Turns out I'm a recovering hoarder! I've entered a 12 step (err... load) laundry program to cure this.

30-31/365: Stay warm and stay safe. It's February out there.

PS. I realize I never posted for Saturday.... Or really for Sunday. Instead I made this post do double duty and never said anything about elusive photo 29.

Well, the truth is.... there is no photo 29.

And really no photo 30. I just made that 30 up.

I know- epic fail for the end of January. On Saturday I was just too busy to take photos and on Sunday I was recovering from Saturday. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Let's chalk this up to a bump in the road on the way to all the photos of freezing rain I will get to share in February! (Thanks February!)

And thanks to you, for sticking around, and for coming back. For my witty commentary. And photos of ice.

I'm glad we had this talk :) See you tomorrow, friends!

Friday Favorites (on Sunday, woops!): Bed-Face

2011-01-30T15:57:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been MIA for a few days now.

Life has been happening very fast this week between work and a bursting social calendar. Miss Popular over here has been burning the candle at both ends. This is NOT normal for me. I am tired and lazy and glued to the couch recovering.

But it was totally worth it.

Since I've been busy, I haven't been the best at posting OR taking photos, but I have caught a few. And I promise to get us all back on track by the end of this weekend.

For starters, I'll take care of some unfinished Friday Favorites business.

This week I'm featuring a unique condition that occurs often in my house, usually following naps.

Bed-face.

Yeah, Boo's not like most people (or pups). Instead of waking up from dreamland with bed-head like the rest of us, she sometimes gets bed-face.

I'll be honest. I think it's pretty adorable.

28/365: Check out that sweet little mug. Love it.

Winter doldrums

2011-01-27T16:46:00.000-08:00

We are approaching the winter doldrums.

When snowy January will give way to frigid and rainy, we've-had-enough-of-winter-but-where-is-spring February.

I'm bored. I crave sun. I miss heat. My heart hurts for spring.

But the days are creeping along.... growing slightly longer. Ever so slightly.

26-27/365: And it's waking me up.

I know we're not where I promised you we'd be by now

But maybe it's a question of who'd want it anyhow

My doldrums soundtrack: the swell season the rain

Happy Birthday Camera! And some rambling thoughts.

2011-01-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

Today is my camera's birthday.

One year ago, I had only picked up an slr camera a handful of times- all of these the tied down models in Best Buy's display area.

One year ago, I spent three feverish weeks devouring every scrap of information I could find on the web on make and model and hundreds of online reviews.

One year ago, I stalked professional photographers' blogs (and uh... still do!) for any reference to their gear, (wrongfully) equating good photos with good gear.

One year ago, I bought my Nikon d90.

And in honor of this momentous day, I thought we could have a few photo throwbacks- a post adorned with all the lovely photos I took when I was first starting out. Don't worry, we'll be back to business as usual tomorrow- just laugh and enjoy today.

One year ago, this was one of the first photos I ever took with my camera. And I screamed with joy and delight as I showed R the "depth of field!"

One year ago, the Boo still had black and brown puppy hair.

And I actually really like this photo- because it's actually in focus. Which was a rarity one year ago. Which means that one year ago, Boo is probably sleeping when I took this photo. Because one year ago, I could not focus on anything that was remotely non-stationary.

One year ago, I took approximately 1087 photos of this lawn gnome... in varying degrees of focus and exposure. This was considered a success.

One year ago, I stalked R and took blurry photos of him doing pretty much anything. One year ago, he ignored me.

One year ago, Pigeon still had legs. Sorry again, Pidge.

One year ago, I took this super sweet photo/self portrait of my reflection in our window. I know, I know. I have mad photography skills and a sweet yellow hat.

One year later, I'm still wearing that hat by the way. I freaking love that hat- my momma made it. And it is big and yellow and warm and wonderful and what you can't see is that it has two navy puff ball tassel things that come out of the top that are awwwwesome and I know you are jealous so I'll stop rubbing it in. (In other news: I like run-on sentences.)

One year ago, I knew this was something I wanted to do, learn to be a photographer. Because, as a wise woman who took the same leap once told me, "I needed a hobby that didn't involve wine or shopping." It was a leap of faith to jump in to something I knew nothing about... but I wanted to do it for myself.

So began my photographic journey. One filled with many many frustrations, and even some tears, and a lot of "aha! moments" that are coming (thankfully) more regularly now that my D90 and I have shared a year together.

As I sit here one year later and ponder our relationship- me and my camera- I have to admit it has had some hard times. There were times when I was so frustrated in my lack of knowledge that I nearly shut down- stopped even trying.

And one year ago, R would watch me beat myself up. Because I didn't know how to do something that I wanted to do so badly, because I was new at something, because I wasn't "good" at it.

And one year ago R asked me: "Why are you so hard on yourself. You are LEARNING. It is okay to not know everything all of the time. This is supposed to be fun."

This, folks, is a revelation for me.

I had to be reminded, and still do sometimes in my perfectionist driven heart, that it is okay to not know everything. It is okay to be new at something. It is okay to learn as you go.... and, (shock!) to enjoy the process, the journey.

Even as I type this, I know I am still guilty of forgetting this almost every day. I cannot be perfect at everything. And sometimes, I might not even be good right away. But I can pick myself up from my mistakes, shake it off, and keep learning. Keep trying.

So today is really about looking back and being as proud of where I've started as I am of how far I've come.

One year ago, I took this photo and one year later, I'm learning to appreciate it.

I know it's blurry. So are 97% of the other photos I took approximately one year ago.

And one year ago, I am absolutely positive I hated it and was mad I "messed up."

But one year later, I see something now in this photo that I didn't see before. I see things I love. I see things that I couldn't see at the time because I was blinded by my fear of being "bad" at something.

Today is about looking back, about one year ago.

But it's also about one year later. And it's about giving myself a break about how much farther I'd like to go.

25/365: Because one year ago, I took a bad photo of a budding photographer in a really sweet hat.

And one year later, I'm still rocking the same hat and the same hope.

So one year later, thank you for coming along on this new chapter of the journey that started one year ago.

Thank you for reading and commenting and encouraging me to keep pursuing my dreams. Because photos are really meant to be shared, as much as I enjoy taking them for myself. And I love sharing with you guys.

Apple Cinnamon Anytime Cookies

2011-01-24T16:38:00.000-08:00

I've been baking.

It's one of my favorite things to do when the house is all mine. Everyone else went to work, and Boo and I were left to fill our monday with sweet things. So we popped on an audiobook for our bake-a-thon and went to town.

Does anyone else love audiobooks? They are secretly one of my favorite things ever! I'm on a Kate Morton kick- I just started The Distant Hours after finishing her novel The Forgotten Garden, which I loved...

Anyway, back to baking. I've been wanting to try a recipe that has been popping up everywhere lately. First, I saw it on one of my favorite foodie blogs- Joy the Baker and thought they looked delicious. And then I was reminded of it by the lovely Clary Photo who calls them her breakfast cookies.

After seeing these delights featured twice, I headed back to Joy to make them.

I think you could eat these apple cinnamon cookies for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, supper, as a trail snack, whatever!

They feature one of my favorite flavor trifectas- pecans, apples, and vanilla (ps. Joy calls for walnuts, but I didn't have those lying around- so I subbed the yummy pecans).

Not to mention- butter and brown sugar.

And once again, vanilla. Did I mention how much I love vanilla? I have a hard time stopping at just a teaspoon of this stuff.

The dry ingredients are also fine- cinnamon and oats take center stage, making these a wholesome cookie perfect for warming your insides on a winter's day.

After mixing the wet and dry ingredients, the magic really happens.

This dough is irresistible, by the way. Eating cookie dough is ~~sometimes~~ always worth the risk of salmonella. This was one of those times.

Besides, licking the spoon is a head start to cleaning the dishes.

The smell of your kitchen while these cookies are baking alone is enough for me to urge you to make these tasty treats. And the cookies are just as delicious after they've come out of the oven.

24/365: Happy baking!

Yes, I think I'd eat these anytime. And I like to think they are incredibly healthy- after all, they have apples and oats. And cinnamon- I heard that is good for you too. And butter... is butter good for you? My great grandma thought so, and I tend to be in her camp on the issue. It's good for your Happiness.

Hint** Joy recommends baking 10-13 minutes. I don't know what is wrong with my oven- but I baked mine for more like.... 18 minutes. But they came out perfectly. You might want to set for 10 minutes and then add time in 2 minute increments as you need.

Snowflakes and Birthday Wishes

2011-01-23T20:17:00.000-08:00

It has been a lovely, relaxing and renewing weekend so far. I needed that.

Saturday night, we met friends in the city's oldest neighborhood for drinks and desserts. The streetlights made the tree-lined street sparkle and I snapped this shot on a whim.

22/365:

This morning brought more of this:

We've been a regular winter wonderland around here lately. I like it... when I don't have to worry about cleaning off my car and driving to work in it!

This afternoon we headed over the river and through the woods to my grandparents' house.

The grounds around their house are so pretty. The 50mm and I were in heaven.

From sweet gums balls....

To pine trees...

And lovely red crabapples!

All of the trees looked so cheery in their winter outfits.

I caught this little guy hanging out by the buffet my Nana set up- peanut butter and seeds served on pine cones to all the local wildlife.

Inside was just as pretty. Check out my Papa's beautiful birthday cake!

Nana did the candle honors.

And Papa put them out. On the first try! All his birthday wishes are coming true. :) Happy birthday, Papa!

Mmm..... beautiful and delicious!

As were the after dinner drinks! B&B for R and Kahlua for me, yum! Perfect as a sweet ending to a sweet winter's night...

23/365: And we saved a piece for you, of course!

Happy sunday!

Friday Favorites

2011-01-21T17:29:00.000-08:00

R got me the sweetest gift for my birthday last month.

And I only hinted at it.... a few times.

(Don't ask how long I spent trying to arrange the chain of the necklace into a perfect heart for the bokeh in this photo.... you will lose respect for me.)

Isn't it cute! It's a little charm necklace, handmade, from Lisa Leonard Designs. The camera charm is pretty self explanatory, and R included alphabet charms for each of our names. And there is a darling little fresh water pearl charm that gives it that little extra special touch.

Here are the charms up close:

Inside Fact: Boo's first/real name is "Nuala" (pronounced: New-luh, a gaelic name meaning "fair"- she's a soft coated wheaten terrier, an irish breed) so that's where the "n" comes in. She answers to "Boo," her main nickname/middle name (I say main because we have a bevy of others for her), Nuala, and Nuala Boo most often. Boo Bear is often thrown around considerably. I know, we're weird. So that's that.

I love all of Lisa's jewelry- it is all so sweet and meaningful, and of course, I am a huge fan of handmade! On top of that, she also has a charming blog, linked on her shop site. She has an adorable family and posts great craft ideas and photos. It's a really fun follow if you are so inclined.

I especially like the new "my treasure" necklace was just posted and I am secretly wanting it, even though it is similar to the one I already have.

I love the little jar- it reminds me of the hundreds of antique blue mason jars that R and I collected to decorate our wedding and still adorn every nook and cranny of our 1940 cape cod. Which one is your favorite?

21/365:

Borrowed Time

2011-01-20T15:18:00.000-08:00

Today we found some borrowed time, 2.5 hours to be exact.

And we lived it up.

And we shared it with friends.

Until snow clung to our noses and cheeks.

And some of us resembled fluffy snowballs with legs.

And then friends went home and we came inside and melted. And relaxed together, cozy and warm.

And we were happy.

Because sometimes, the best of life happens in those moments that are found, not planned. Borrowed from all that stuff that usually crowds a weekday afternoon.

I hope you found some time today. And if you didn't, I hope you can steal a few minutes here or there and live it up.

20/365: Live it up, snowball.

Tuesday's Overrated.

2011-01-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

Alright, alright. I know what you are thinking.

Just as Chrissy is rocking the blog and getting in the groove of blogging every day.... she drops off the face of the earth for more than 48 hours. What gives? What happened to tuesday?

Two words, folks.

STOMACH FLU.

Now go sanitize your keyboards. Even looking at those two words can getcha. That stuff is that virulent. From here on out, I'm calling that business S.F. to prevent further contamination.

Can you believe it? Less than two weeks after we met and I had this:

Remember those cute little stand-in kleenex that symbolized massive sinus infection ickiness?

How is it possible that after less than two weeks of good health, I would then be stricken with the dreaded S.F.?!

Someone has put a pox on my house, I swear. The plague is back- quarantine us NOW!

And the truth is, I've really got nothin' for ya except a handful of Boo pictures to show for it. I've barely touched my new lens- although when I have, I love love love.

Exhibit A:

So soft, so lovely!

Exhibit B:

Has an ear ever looked this ethereal?!

Exhibit C:

And a choir of angels are singing now proclaiming 50mm 50MM!!!!!!

Too much? Yeah.... and I need some new material too. But when you are self quarantined and puking a lot.... you don't have much material at your disposal.

I did capture this hilariousness last night, after I managed to suffer through a few saltines and a ginger ale. It was too good to pass up.

18-19/365:

Yes, this actually happened. And yes, my dog thinks she is a human child. And yes, we do nothing to dissuade her from this conviction.

Do I detect a look of disdain for mommy in this photo?! Boo's thinking "Yeah, that's right. He's alllllll mine, mommy. Daddy is wrapped around my little paw." But she would actually be thinking wrapped around her finger.... because she thinks she's a human child. Human children don't have paws. Duh, mommy.

Oy vey.

Now that I am on the steep road to recovery, I will promise to be better, friends. Vitamin C, I swear I'm reformed! And also more photos, possibly of more adventurous subject matter. Or at least of something other than Boo. Or at least 1 photo of something other than Boo per 2 photos of Boo. Or atleast of something else... plus the Boo... in the same photo? After all, I think she's a human child too. My little furry human child. I know, I'm sick in the head- among other things, obviously.

I need to go sleep now. Happy tuesday!

On Photography: A New Lens and a Review

2011-01-17T06:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was very exciting.

I bought a new lens that I have been dreaming about and been saving my pretty pennies for some time. My first big daddy, full frame-ready, super duper nice, prime lens.

If you'd like to know more about the rest of my very minimal photography equipment, you can visit the new "My Gear" page in the title bar or here.

(At this point, my sweet 35mm DX lens should shield her eyes. I still love you my darling, my first prime. And you will still be entertained on my D90 often, I promise.)

Okay, now that that is taken care of...

My new lens is the AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4.

I bought this particular lens for a few reasons.

Disclaimer: I apologize in advance for any little bits of photography gear knowledge that I get horribly wrong ;) I am still learning, my dears, but I still think it is incredibly important that we all share info and ideas as we learn our medium.

1. I love prime lenses (aka fixed focal length- not zoom). The minute I had the 35mm in my possession, I knew there was never going to be any going back.

Some folks like the convenience of a zoom, which is totally understandable and sometimes even more beneficial (for instance, if you need to get into some action without actually being there physically). And I still rock my kit zoom lens on occasion for this exact reason.

But primes are known for their exceptional depth of field capabilities and for being super fast (aka being able to get that apeture wide open, as designated by the f-stop number, in this case the lower, the more open or the faster, and the more light you can get into the camera, and the more dreamy depth of field). To get a zoom with a very low f-stop, you have to spend a whole lot of money and have one heck of a huge and heavy lens (see here). Primes are small, compact, light-weight, and they gobble natural light in a way that can't be beat.

2. Okay, here's where it gets a little techy- and I am not techy at all, so bear with me. There are (more or less) two different types of DSLR out there. Camera bodies with cropped sensors (or DX sensors, in Nikon's case- I don't know what is going on over there in Canon) and full frame camera bodies (FX). I'm not incredibly savvy on the difference between these two sensors except that it makes sense in my head to say that the FX sensor is "bigger" than the DX sensor. Okay, I can't go on about that. I really have no idea what I'm talking about.

Be that as it may, there is a reason why you want to think about whether you have a DX/cropped or and FX/full frame sensor in your camera body when you buy a lens. Unless a lens is made specifically for a DX/cropped camera body (like my darling 35mm, made to work seamlessly with my d90's DX sensor), you can assume it is made to work with an FX/full frame camera body. And this is important, because on a DX camera, a FX lens will be "cropped" by about 1.5. This means, if you are shooting with a 50mm lens- you are actually shooting with what amounts to about a 75-85mm lens on a d90. But on a full frame camera body- the same 50mm will shoot exactly as it reads, as a 50mm.

Make sense? Yes? No?

So in other words, my new 50mm, which was made to be used with a full frame camera body, shoots like something between a 75-85mm on my d90.

It's counterintuitive, but this is actually one of the main reasons I bought this particular lens. 85mm are very expensive (double the cost of my already expensive new 50mm). And they are the cream of the crop for portraits and also really helpful for a more photojournalistic style (we'll get to this later). They have lovely heavenly bokeh (depth of field). And I would love to have one. But remember- an 85mm on my d90 would be more like a 120mm or something like that, not the 85mm sweet spot. Not to mention, my problems with getting a true 50mm lens. I already have the lovely 35mm (which is DX so it reads true to 35mm on my d90). So in my opinion, a 50mm on top of that 35mm might just be redundant. That's not a big enough difference to really get my heart racing.

But an 85mm on my d90- now that rocks my life. And that's basically what I got when I bought the 50mm- I got a compact, lightweight, super nice lens that costs half as much as an 85mm but for all intensive purposes IS an 85mm on my d90. SCORE!

3. Having gotten a little bit of practice, with my new lens, I can honestly say I couldn't be happier. The 50mm shoots like... butter. It is super fast, amazing in low light situations, and the bokeh/depth of field is just dreamy, smooth, and.... buttery. In some ways, it makes shooting feel a little effortless and free, and I love that.

For example, check out these photos that I took of our new neighbor and Boo, a little later yesterday afternoon with the new 50mm. Contrast this with the photos I took with the 35mm (all the photos from yesterday's post). There is just a quality about them that is soft and dreamy, no?

Just lovely, super duper lovely.

The other amazing thing about shooting with this lens that is super helpful if you have a more photojournalistic style, is that with the 50mm (which is more or less like an 85mm for me), I don't have to be right in the face of my subjects to get a good shot and that lovely depth of field. With the 35mm, I literally have to be in the action to take the shot I want. And that means I miss a lot, because most people/dogs don't want you to in their face with a camera lens when they are having a special moment. But with the 50mm, I can be a comfortable distance back, 3-5 ft back, to get a really lovely photo. It's not that I can't necessarily get those shots with the 35mm, it's just a little more difficult and doesn't yield those dreamy, soft results except under very rare circumstances and perfect perfect light.

Now, don't think I'm saying that you should spend the extra money and go straight to the 50mm over that 35mm. Because the 35mm is amazing.

It is extremely versatile, for anything from macro-esque photos (because you can get super close, and focus within about 12 inches of your subject) to landscapes, because of that wide angle. It is extremely light-weight. And if I am going out with no plans to shoot anything in particular, I put on the 35mm, because I know it can be ready for pretty much anything. And the price absolutely cannot be beat. It is definitely worth more than the $200 price tag. I find that the focus can be a little tricky on the 35mm sometimes, but I think that learning with the 35mm has made me a much much better photographer. It has really been an "aha!" lens for me, as I am learning more about the medium. So if it's your first prime for your DX camera, all these reasons combined make me recommend it as a must have, hands down.

17/365: The New Guy

Sorry this has been an extremely wordy post, with a lot of info that you probably don't want to know. But in the case that you did want to know, I hope it helps! I'll be pulling out the 50mm a lot more and sending some more dreamy photos your way soon!

New Neighbor

2011-01-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

We have a new neighbor...

Meet Henry. R says Henry looks like a "Garbage Pail Boo." And the truth is, he is just plain adorable.

We are all in love- especially Boo. It was love at first sight.

Henry is Louie's little cousin. Louie is Boo's first love. They had a backyard meet-up today with the new little guy.

"Garbage Pail" and Boo share similar interests. Like running.

Running fast!

They were cut from the same cloth.

16/365: We're so happy to have little "Garbage Pail" next door :)

It's what you crave

2011-01-16T07:16:00.001-08:00

Guess who was the coolest at the trivia night, last night?

15/365:

It's what you crave. It's Harold and Kumar's holy grail. It's the coolest thing that's happened to trivia night since.... beer. Hope ya'll had a great saturday night, too!

For Ada B.

2011-01-14T20:06:00.001-08:00

Ever since I can remember, music has been a big part of my life. Music is, to quote the red hot chili peppers of 1990s (and 2000s, heyo!) fame, my aeroplane.

I remember fighting on the playground in fifth grade with the class dreamboat regarding the actual lyrics of Pearl Jam's Better Man. I remember rocking out to Pure Funk on family lake trips. I remember my grandpa, Bob, humming along to Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. I remember certain moments, defining moments, sometimes only by the song that was playing on the radio when they happened. For these reasons and many others, I am quite sure that this is only the first of many posts about music and its impact on me.

As I've gotten older, I've forged a deeper appreciation for American folk.

From street musicians on crowded urban corners playing the saxophone to rolling hills and country songs. I want to embrace it all and understand more about how we all got here and where we all come from. And to appreciate our differences but also celebrate our common bond, the melody of American life. The one that makes everyone in the room tap their feet to that perfect beat.

The music of this land and its hardworking, determined, dreaming, and singing-playing people that lived long before me and will come long after. America's musical roots. From street musicians on crowded urban corners playing the saxophone to rolling hills and banjo tunes.

American music is one big old tree, with many many roots and a lot of new branches as some American musicians embrace an older sensibility. One of the roots is surely bluegrass. And I love it, for its mix of humor and gravity and its depth of truth regarding love, family, work, the land, life and death.

Even this blog is named after one of my bluegrass favorites- Keep on the sunny side- written by Ada Blenkhorn in 1899.

I honestly think bluegrass might run in my veins- I have a great great great (great? great?... he's somewhere in there) uncle named Moses Looney Carter, who hailed from the great state of Arkansas. True story. He was hung as a horse thief... If that's not bluegrass- I don't know what is.

So when my dad called today and said "I've got tickets- let's go see some bluegrass music," it only took a matter of seconds to decide. Yes, please.

14/365 (hooray for two weeks!):

We saw these guys. They were incredible.

Sorry for the long post with few photos. I'll leave you with those sweet lyrics that Ada B. penned oh so long ago and that the Carter family made so famous. Happy weekend, friends.

There's a dark and a troubled side of life

There's a bright and a sunny side, too

Tho' we meet with the darkness and strife

The sunny side we also may view

Tho' the storm and its fury broke today

crushing hopes that we cherished so dear

Storm and cloud will in time pass away

The sun will again shine bright and clear

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side

Keep on the sunny side of life

It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way

If we keep on the sunny side of life

To Do List

2011-01-13T16:54:00.000-08:00

Life is full of things we need to do, things we want to do, and things we should do. Lists of all these things go on and on.... some getting done, some not getting done (ever), some just dreams we have of eventually doing.

Right now, for example, on my list is:

1. I need to drink water (to survive). But probably not this water.... it's dirty. But I don't have a photo of water. I need to take a photo of water.

2. I want to drink cherry coke. I wanted to take photos of my cherry coke too.

3. I should drink less cherry coke and should drink more water. And I should take a photo of that water. I really should.

This is a problem. They don't all line up...

Another example, yes?

1. I need a computer (well maybe not to survive... I mean.... it's not like I'm equating water and computers... or am I.... um, yes maybe).

I need a computer with Adobe Lightroom, to edit photos. Photos of hushpuppies.

Yes, those are hushpuppies and they were delicious. I need, want, and should eat hushpuppies. But that's another story and not relevant.

Mmmmm... hushpuppies.

Where was I? Oh yes.

2. I want a new fancy computer. Thank you apple for taunting me with your new sleek designs.

3. I should take better care of the computer I have.... particularly by cleaning off the desktop.

Does anyone else have this desktop clutter problem? On a side note, if left completely unchecked, my desktop can become a symbol for my (insert here:) workspace, closet, kitchen table, bathroom vanity.

It is a problem.

Only sometimes, very rarely, what you need, want, and should do, are miraculously all the same thing.

For example:

1. I need to love on the Boo.

2. I want to love on the Boo.

3. I should love on the Boo- she's sick and needs special mommy love to make her feel better.

12-13/365:

And that's just what I am going to do. :)

Vacation

2011-01-12T19:18:00.000-08:00

Today was... well... just one of those days. My car wouldn't start (dead battery- fun!), Boo is sick (we are cleaning up.... a lot- not pretty), we had a million errands to run, and by the time I finally got home tonight (and finished cleaning up....), it was 9 o'clock and I had still not touched my camera.

So I failed. I have no photos today, because I had no time and no subject matter (that you would want to see anyway- trust me when I say I am doing you all a favor by not showing you what my day was like!) and quite frankly, I'm not perfect (it's better you know now).

But since I promised a photo a day (and maybe more), I thought I'd take you on a vacation. Because goodness knows, I need one. And I'm sure you might be thinking the same thing. Exactly one month ago, I was in New York, the city that never sleeps (ironic because all I want to do is sleep right now) and it was amazing. So I've created a little vacation of NY scenes for you tonight in absence of my usual daily photos.

Enjoy this little vacation! I'll be back tomorrow with more of what's going on in my neck of the woods (hopefully not Boo vomit.... just saying.)!

Magic Hour

2011-01-11T17:16:00.001-08:00

Just as I am feeling nostalgic for summer, mother nature reminds me of the quiet magic of a winter's night.

We were out late last night at the release party for this album. It was a perfect winter's evening, packed into a cozy pub. We listened and danced to the soulful music of friends, sipping guinness and Irish coffee, while outside warm walls, soft white snow coated the city streets like powdered sugar.

As the music wound down, we bundled up with well wishes of "safe home," and headed out into the frozen night air, snowflakes sticking to our jackets and eyelashes.

As the last minutes of yesterday dissolved into the miraculous first hour of today, I took these photos. Our quiet snowy street- yet undisturbed by footprints and plows- and Boo, playing and shaking in the morning's first snow.

11/365:

Photography rules when rules are broken. Sometimes blurry = beautiful... I can't get over the toasty, cream tones of this photo of Boo or the sparkling snow... She looks to me like a little star. Favorite.

It was a magic hour. It felt great to be alive, to have cold cheeks and hands and warm winter coats, to be together playing and laughing while the world slept and the snow fell. These photos, two of my favorite ever, will forever remind me of that little forgotten hour I experienced between this day and that day.

Celebrate!

2011-01-10T16:18:00.000-08:00

I didn't take too many photos today- despite the fact that I had all day to snap photos. I have a glorious Sunday-Monday weekend, which is disappointing on Saturday but wonderful on Monday when everyone else is heading back to the grind and I am waking up early for a pilates class and a leisurely day (Don't hate me so, I'll remind you on Saturday about how lucky you are).

Although I wasn't too shutter-happy, I have definitely been happy-happy. We are in a celebratory mood today. R landed an exciting new job today- a break we've been waiting for anxiously, for a long long time- and so we've been trying to live it up. It is so nice to have a fresh start at the beginning of a new year. There is really something magical about it.... having the entirety of the year to see how this new path will take shape. 2011 and I have talked about things, and she has decided to keep up her end of the bargain by being an amazing year if I stick to working hard to take advantage of the time that lays before me. And I'm definitely planning on doing that.

Of course, celebrating isn't quite the same without margaritas. So we made sure to enjoy some of those today.

PS. How pretty is this light???

If margaritas weren't enough to have make me wish for some summer (or at least spring!) fun, this cherry coke that R made me definitely got me in a summertime mood.

Made me dream of this place- my happy place. Can't wait until this summer to enjoy it again.

But I'm very happy enjoying these summertime treats in the dead of winter and bringing a little vibrant color into my life, which is already so brightened by the possibilities of 2011.

10/365: So raise a glass- Here's to bringing a little summertime spirit into our wintery monday :)

What do you feel like celebrating today?