Day Four...It's Not Easy Being GREEN.

Yes I totally ripped off Kermit and it was bad manners but I just couldn't resist seeing how todays' challenge was   the color GREEN. 

 Well that shouldn't be too hard huh?  Green is all around us......it's literally everywhere.  But I didn't just want to go out to my backyard or around my neighborhood and snap just any ole picture.  I wanted something different and unique.   I thought and thought until my thinker got sore.  Tricky as my kiddos were doing what they do best...giggling, laughing, squealing, playing and rough housing.  Not the best plan for the day as Mr. M has just recently started working over nights again. 

 What to do...what to do...

Eureka!  Off the kids and I went to the park so they could frolic in the creek.  They had been begging me to do just that for over a week now.  SCORE! (Of course I packed the camera along just in case I wanted to snap a few of them playing.  I mean let's face it.... I take it with me everywhere anyways.)

I got to watch them play and splash and just be the darlings they are and as loud as they wanted to.  We skipped rocks, had splash fights, shared a huge waffle cone and then watched a momma ducks and her babies waddle right on by us. While skipping stones with my eldest child, hidden almost in plain sight, a gem of a green appeared.

Being a Washington state native I miss my great and beautiful Pacific Ocean.  And while I didn't live on the coast  I lived close enough to take a weekend trip from time to time to visit it's shores.  And every trip I always looked for drift wood, shells, and the greatest treasures.....sea glass.  So when I spotted my green for the challenge I was instantly transported and warm salty memories flooded back to me.

So there in the middle of Sheridan, Wyoming I had found my unique portrait.  It evoked strong emotion and memories like every good portrait should.  While it may not provide you all with the sense of wonder it did for me, I hope you enjoy it all the same.

Wyoming Sea glass

Day Three...Clouds

Well last night I was all excited about Day Three of the 30 Day Photo Challenge....CLOUDS!  For the past four days we have been in cloud central.  Rain, Thunder and lightening all over the place especially in the evenings.  Woke up this morning rip roaring and ready to go.  Got dressed and got the kiddos ready and out we went into crystal clear skies.  Not a cloud in sight.  Well don't that just figure.

Eventually we did get a few fluffies to roll in...but nothing like the ones we have had in the past few days.  But not to be deterred I hunkered down and chased down a few.

Clouds on my very dirty rear window

Day Two....What I Wore today

I took a long hard look at today's photo challenge.  And while I could have taken this day the very literal route I chose to be a bit more in depth than that.

 This past month has been a real struggle for me.  My faith has been challenged but it IS my faith that has brought me through all the ups and downs and seen me safely to the other side.  My heavenly Father has plans for me and even if I do not fully understand where he will take me in this earthly life, I have FAITH in his wonderful plans that he has created just for me.  For he is a loving God.  Through him I can do wonderful things that I never even dreamed of accomplishing for myself and those around me.

So today.....I proudly wore my FAITH.

Day One.....Self Portrait

So day one of the 30 day challenge is Self portrait day.

SIGH....

I really dont like being on the other side of the camera. So I was leary of doing this to begin with. So after I got done procrastinating about it, I got my bum in gear only to discover my darlings had hidden my cable release. It only made getting this challenge done all the more difficult. Back and forth between shots can get a little tiring, let me tell ya! But I got one that I was okay with before the thunder rolled in and sent me indoors.


So here it is.....

Self induced challenge.....

While I am in client limbo I have decided to keep my photography muscles limber and agile by doing a lil 30 day photography challenge.  So Starting tomorrow, and the next 29 days after, I will attempt to stretch myself both creatively and artistically. (Yes...in my opinion there is a difference between the two)  Why wait til tomorrow you ask?  Well the reason I am postponing it til then is today is Mr. M's birthday.


 Feel free to challenge yourself as well.

Source: whitepeachphoto.com via Andrea on Pinterest

Finding Inspiration

When the blahs hit you creatively where do you go to to find your inspiration?

 Is nature your muse?

Does music provide your soul with wonder?

Do you have a go place to find creative ideas and samples?

http://pinterest.com/

When the blahs of life get you down, how do you bounce back?

Why I need to win the Creative Estates Retreat Giveaway......

While I was cruising around over on Facebook I saw that one of the pages I follow, *Shey*[B] Camera Strap Slipcovers, is having a giveaway that TOTALLY ROCKS MY SOCKS OFF!  She has partnered with Creative Estates to give one of her followers a creative weekend trip for one person their bestest bud to Mesa Az.  Flight, Room,and board all taken care of!  And all you have to do is create a blog entry stating why you deserve to be the winner and who you would bring.  SCORE!  I can so totally do that!


So here is my reason.... 

Because I have not had a weekend let alone a day to myself with a friend in over TEN YEARS! 

Me and my Crazy crew

As the stay at home mom of four that I am, my life has revolved around them and their needs. I love all my children deeply, but oh what I would give to just have a few hours of peace to share with a friend and do all the creative fun stuff I used to do before little hands and fingers came into my life.  To not to have to worry about who needs to go here and there, or worry about what I am creating might walk off and be swallowed by some adventurous tyke.   That would be sheer heaven!  As to who I would bring with me.....I would have to say that I would bring either my best friend Tiffany.  Before we relocated to Sheridan we would have Mommy and me play dates. While our children would play the day away, we would craft our hearts away.  I miss her and our time together and we be ecstatic to share this wonderful trip with her. So there you have it.  My reason as to why I think I would be a good candidate to win this prize. 

So Shey & Creative Estates please.....Please.....PUH LEAZE  pick me!

Please stop on over to Shey's Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/SheyB-Camera-Strap-Slipcovers/269203272417

How to capture Bokeh and look goofy while doing it....

First off here is the definition of Bokeh.

 Bokeh, according to the great online reference that is Wikipedia, is  "the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image, or "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light."

  Huh....that definition  seems so bland in comparison to the actual event when viewed in a portrait. Here is a living breathing example of it

Wowzers!  

(Hope you don't mind me tooting my own horn here)  

Here's how to capture it....

Capturing a shot that has great bokeh is not as hard as it appears.  In my humble and NON professional opinion, capturing these shots is all about angles and lighting.  The angles of where your lighting source is coming from, the object you are photographing, and then the camera.  I have always had the best luck by putting my subject between the camera and the light source.  Typically you can see the tiny bubbles of light through your viewfinder when you go to snap your photo.  So get down and get low.  Try different angles you haven't tried before.  You might surprise yourself.

Now the looking goofy part.......

Can you believe that I got this baby less than five feet from my front door?  Yesterday morning as I was taking out our dog Daisy Mae when I noticed the grass was all dewy.  Mostly because at the time I was wearing my pj's and flip flops and was highly annoyed my feet were getting wet.  But I digress....I almost let this magical moment pass me by.  Like I said I was annoyed about my wet feet, but being the photo hound I am, I muscled my way through it.  So back out I went pjs, flip flops, and camera in hand and promptly got down on my belly and got to snapping.  It is times like these that I wish I had a macro lens.  That way I wouldn't have to belly crawl while in my front yard trying to get my focus just right, while all my neighbors watch wondering...

 "just what in tar-nation that crazy lady is up to now." 

Took me about five minutes of belly crawling but man was it ever worth it. This has to be the best shot I have ever captured with so much bokeh.  And I was so close to not getting it. Never be afraid of looking foolish when in the pursuit of your passions.  It only hinders the wonder that is you.  If you hide it...how then can you and others around you appreciate the miracle of life that is uniquely you!  So get out there and belly crawl if you have to.  Sing loud and proud even if you are a bit off key.  Because there is no one else on the face of this planet that is exactly like you!  So go on and get out there......discover what you may have been missing.

Teresa

How I Spent My Summer Vacation....

Our family, all six of us, spent the last week of July traveling to North Dakota to attend Mr M's family reunion.  We tossed the tent, the grill and sleeping bags into the back and off we went.  And while that in itself doesn't sound bad, just wait until you find how we got there.  We have fondly named this beast of burden "Moby". (Reference is intended)  The bonus prize was that during our travels temps were soaring and Moby has 2 by 70 AC.  Ya know roll down the windows and drive fast.  Let the FUN begin!

View from our campground

Our first day brought us to Medora, ND.  A place we have always wanted to stop and stay but time had never allowed.  So much history and entertainment in that lil town.  From the Chateau de Mores to Pitchfork Fondues and let us not forget the Historic Musical.  It is well worth the stop even if it is to rest more weary bums.  The town sports an awesome themed playground that is about the size of a city block.  Then Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Painted Canyon is just a five minute drive down the road.

We camped there for the night and headed on our way to Fargo the next morning.  We of course made our annual photo stop at Teddy's park.  Ever since my eldest was born we have stopped on our trips to and fro from ND/MN to capture a shot of how the kids have grown in the past year.

Pose....Smile......SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!

Everybody squish back into Moby and we are on the road again!  Straight into nightly severe thunderstorms for the majority of trip.  Not the best combo when you are sleeping in a nylon tent!  So we trash canned the plan to camp in Lindenwood Park in Fargo where the reunion was being held, in favor of crashing at my Mother-in-laws' house.  Which gave the grandkids more time with Nana and is only about 1 hour from Fargo.  We arrived about 10 p.m. at her house wrangled the kids into bed and tried to get some sleep.  Well sleep could wait as a BIG storm rolled in around 3 in the morning.  Luckily the kids were so TIRED they slept right thru the house shaking from the winds and peels of thunder.  Needless to say were arrived a bit later the next morning at the Family reunion.


Marks Gran was celebrating her 89th birthday and we were so happy that we could make it.  There was SOOOO many of the family there.  And I will be the first to confess I do not know all of their names.  But in my defense my hubby comes from an immediate family of 7 and his mother from a family of 14.  You do the math.  It adds up real quick!  So many greats and great great grandkids!  My kiddos were in heaven!  Completely ditched me and Mr M. and played to their hearts content with all their cousins.  All of Mr M's family but 2 elder brothers (one would arrive the following day) were there and we had a great time to catching up.  Including a trip to the Red River Zoo.

Cattle Egret

Proud Peacock

It's nice little 8 acre zoo almost smack dab in the middle of Fargo, ND.  It has a very easy access right off the Interstate.  It hosts over 70 species and 300 animals. Including one of China's national treasure the Takin.  They have wonderful gardens and water features throughout the zoo.

Cosmos in the Garden

One of the many waterfalls

The Chinese Takin

 After a few days of visiting of the family we piled back into Moby and headed on back home to WY.  I am sure glad to be home and back in my own bed.  But the summer is not nearly over.  Before the end of it we will have Nana and my sister coming to visit us in the month of August.  So there you have it....How I spent my Summer Vacation.  How have you spent yours?

Teresa


Medora's Info:
http://www.medorand.com/

Theodore Roosevelt park Info:
http://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm

Jamestown info:
http://www.tourjamestown.com/Whatsee.php

Idle hands are crafty ones : )

So needless to say I have had some time on my hands since moving here to Sherdian.  So what is a girl to do?

Well if you are me, you plop yourself down in chair and TEACH yourself new crafts to keep your idle hands busy.  You read it right!

T E A C H  yourself.

These days with the internet it is just soooo much easier than it used to be.  Thanks be to bloggers and YouTube videos that help us all find the artist with in us. Go find out for yourself.  Find a craft that you have always thought  you couldn't learn and I bet there is a written tutorial or video (if not BOTH) that will help you out.

My journey started with wanting to have all those cute lil prop ALL the other photogs were using in their body of work.  I began to think to myself..

   "Hey you"

Who said that?

  "Hey....Hey....Quit looking around.  Look in the mirror ya ding a ling."

Looking in the mirror with a bit of concern now. (Hearing voices is not such a good thing : )

 "There ya go.  You are a crafty type person.....Why not just make them yourself?  I mean you crocheted when you were younger.  Why not now?"

Yes, but the props I like are all knitted.  (Yes I was now engaged in conversation with the voices in my head)

 "And your POINT is?"

Well I don't know how to knit.

 "Have you ever let not knowing how to do something ever stop you before?"

Well.....no.............HEY I CAN LEARN HOW TO KNIT!

  "Your welcome"

 My voice in my head was very pleased with itself as you can read 

So about a year ago I began teaching myself how to knit.  Not such an easy task being the artistic LEFT HANDED person I am.  Here is where bloggers and YouTube came in. I couldn't believe all the help there was out there for lefties like me on the net.  I also had the help of a good friend or two who helped me when I got stuck.  And soon afterwards I started adding many more crafts to my repertoire.  And the list keeps getting longer and longer.  

This is where the birth of my other business happened.  Top Knots Prop Shop was created as I had many more hats bows and photography props than I could use.  Here is just a few of the many items I have made in the past.  The uber talented Missy of Missy Jasinski Photography and Kaloni Erickson of Paradise Photography both provided me with so to DIE FOR photos to share with you all.

This is where the birth of my other business happened.  Top Knots Prop Shop was created as I had many more hats bows and photography props than I could use.  Here is just a few of the many items I have made in the past.  The uber talented Missy of Missy Jasinski Photography and Kaloni Erickson of Paradise Photography both provided me with so to DIE FOR photos to share with you all.

I have had the pleasure of using some of my own precious creations as well.  But the joy I get from creating them and seeing other photographers enjoy them as well is priceless!

Feel free to visit the Top Knots Prop Shop and see what these idle hands have created

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Top-Knots-Prop-Shop/141691072564886

Love that Shot.....Reflection

Okay while I have been bust trying to acquire some new clients here in Sheridan, I have been enjoying all the photo challenges over at
 

One of the challenges this week is "Reflections". Seems easy enough right?  Most of you know that I am rarely a girl that takes the easy route.  Plus I really didn't have any true reflection shots to share. (Gotta put that on the to do list.)  So I thought that "Reflections" could also be about the past and moments in our history that affected who and where we are today.

I have spent a good time wandering around my new home town being amazed at the beauty you see everywhere.  (Even smack dab in the middle of downtown on Main street)  Sheridan is a town very proud of it Wild West heritage. Here's an excellent link to get to know my town a bit better for yourself!
http://www.sheridanwyoming.org/hi.php

But don't let the cowboy way fool you into thinking that this is just another hick town.  Scattered through out downtown are modern art sculptures.  Sometime this summer I plan on taking the walking tour to see them all and the stories behind them.  But on of my absolute favorites is right across from my second home, the LIBRARY!  It is absolutely stunning and definately a throw back to Sheridans' cowboy days.  Cool Water has to be a stop if you ever make it to my neck of the woods.

Here's my take on it.  He looks so REAL, doesn't he?

Many historic buildings dot the surrounding area and streets.  Kings Museum, The Sheridan Inn and Kendrick Mansion are all within walking distance.  Don't feel like walking?  Catch the trolley, it makes trips to all these and more all day long.  Best thing is it only costs a buck!  WOO HOO!

And when city life crowds in and gets to me I can simply drive a few minutes and capture the wonders of wide open spaces.

Hope you enjoyed my "Reflections" and as always I love reading what you think of them as well.  So leave a comment and then go check out the other wonderful entries in this challenge.

http://lovethatshot.com/blog/2011/06/30/reflections-photo-challenge/

Beautiful Bokeh.....Love that Shot

Another wonderful weekly challenge from Love that Shot...Beautiful Bokeh.



Some of you are looking at that word and scrunching up your faces with a "What the heck is THAT?"  Have no fear I wont leave ya hanging.  Bokeh is the wonderful soft blur of the out of focus areas in your photo.  Most noticeable around areas of light. It gives joyous lil bubbles of light that seem to dance and play throughout your picture.  I had a hard time deciding which of my "pretties" to enter this week.

      But here is the winner......

Here are some honorable mentions. (Come on you knew I couldn't just have one!)

Evidently I am EXTREMELY right handed in my Photography.  lol  

Better work on that : p

Touch of Whimsy.....

Todays' challenge over at "Love that Shot" is "touch of Whimsy". While I was thinking about and digging through shots I could use, I came across this session I did with my eldest daughter.  Both of us had so much fun with it.  I  relished the thought of getting to edit them up again.  (At the time I was strictly a  Picasa girl)

It was a fun day for just us girls.  I sent her upstairs to choose what she was going to wear and down came "Alice in Wonderland"  Well.....at least what she would have looked like if her dress had been pink. (My girl is most definately a pink mink kinda girl.)

Outdoors we went and took over a 150 shots!  I had a hard time picking my favorites.  As any mother would attest to, it was like picking your favorite child!

But here are a few more I loved and I hope you like them as much as I do.