{Project 365} Day 31: Beautiful Blizzard

These are the times I love living where it snows...

 

...it was so beautiful on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project 365} Day 27: I'm Fine

Never has it felt so good to hear the words "...and I'm fine" after an 8:00am phone call that wakes your sleep followed by the words "I had an accident..." 

 

The kids and I managed our week fairly well while Mike was traveling.  We prayed for safety every day he was away.  Then today, the day he was finally back home, he had a car accident. 

 

We're praising God that Mike was unhurt, the car appears to only have a broken front bumper, and we were reminded to pray for safety even in the three miles it takes to travel to and from work.

 

 

This morning's chaos stirred up long held fears of mine about car accidents in rivers and my inability to rescue my children.  I've never been in a car accident but my mind always imagines the worst.  When I struggle with fears and this one in particular, I repeat...

 

"Jesus, captivate my thoughts..."  {"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5}

 

"Jesus, remove my fears..."  {"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears in not perfected in love."  1 John 4:18}

 

"Jesus, let me feel your presence..."  {"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."  Deuteronomy 31:6}

 

"Jesus, give me peace..."  {"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."  Isaiah 26:3}

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

  

Needless to say, once the kids and I returned home (after rescuing Mike with a warm car while waiting for the tow truck), I spent some time talking with the Lord trying to calm my jittery nerves.  It took my stubborn fearful heart a bit of convincing, but by early afternoon, I felt at peace again.

 

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of the God.  Set you mind on things above, not on earthly things."  Colossians 3:1-2

 

And I'm fine, too...as long as I maintain an upward focus.

{Project365} Day 24: Sunday Afternoon Relaxing

:: A warm cup of coffee.  Decaf, please.  Lots of French Vanilla Creamer.  In a large, lovely green mug.

 

:: Soft thrifted flannel.  I'm not normally a red clothing person, but my hubby has a flannel in a fairly identical red plaid and I thought we could wear matching shirts.  Let's face it, I'm a dork.  Or I'm madly in love.  Likely both. 

 

:: A rather hefty slice of cinnamon crumb cake.  I ate it before taking this picture.  Besides, I didn't want to make you drool.

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

Defending

We're the first house on our cul-de-sac street. By default, that makes us the defenders of the street...a responsibility we take very seriously.

The only downside is deciding in a split second who is a neighbor and who is an invader...I fear we may have fired upon several allies since we have only lived here for six months...

*In truth...the boys are allowed to aim and fire when there aren't any cars pulling into our street...when a car does turn in, they are supposed to cease fire and aim elsewhere...*

In the Woods

Since daddy is away for work all week...six days (the longest he's ever been away...boo!), in California, on the beach, weather in the 60s-70s...I realize that we're gonna have to make the best of this week!

Of course, I came up with a brilliant idea...hiking at Mendon Ponds on the Birdsong Trail. The boys walk, Mama pulls Sadie in her sled. It was gonna be perfect, I tell ya!

But then we arrived and set foot on the trail...no snow! We had enough snow at our house for the sled. Of course, I didn't bring the stroller because we were going to use the sled!

Sadie hated it. She did not want to walk. I did not want to carry her all the way. Luke even offered to help carry her but bowed out after a few steps because she was "too heavy."

Epic fail.

We had to do something for 2.5 hours before a pediatrician visit...

I suggested that the boys go run in the woods and make an adventure while I sat and snuggled Sadie on the bench.

So pitiful...

"I wanna go home..."

Oh my...this boy is handsome! (I LOVE taking portrait shots of my kids!!!)

This boy...just as handsome!!!

Another handsome boy??? Why, yes!!!

Sadie didn't cry the whole time...as long as I was holding her. I just kept giving her kisses in the woods and telling her how much I love her. (Thank you, Luke, for taking this fabulous picture!)

Holding Sadie made picture taking a little hard. But I still think I got some great shots!!! I need to remember when I have my sunglasses on, I have a harder time seeing my exposure level...take those sunglasses off!

When fingers and toes got cold, we headed to Honeoye Falls for Chinese buffet, then on to the pediatrician.

In the end we had a great outing...fresh air, sunshine, lots of snuggles and kisses, and a few hours to occupy our time making this week to by more quickly.

Snowman

This has been the most unusual winter...barely any snow, fairly mild temperatures, and the kids being "trapped" inside because it's usually too mucky, rainy, and wet to play outside.

But not this day...

He's so cute (Elijah, I mean...).

That's really why I posted this picture.

SnapShop Online Photography Course - Day Two

So much for posting my photos everyday...but that doesn't mean I'm not taking photos. Let's just say that I'm so busy photographing our life and enjoying my kids that I haven't had time to post pictures.

Okay, that's partly true....especially the part about enjoying my four little loves.

The bigger problem is really that even though I've taken hundreds of photos, I've deleted just as many. Learning this manual operation stuff is hard work. Figuring out how the three main elements work together and affect each other is not exactly a piece of cake for this gal.

On top of that, unbeknownst (that's a big, odd word, huh?!) to me, I had switched my lens to manual focus and was getting so frustrated that I couldn't get my pictures to focus. I finally realized that there is a focusing ring at the end of my lens, however, Ashley suggested that it would be more wise to set the lens back to automatic focus. Oh yeah...way easier!!! And one less thing to set before taking a picture.

Photo 1: ISO 100, f/8, 1/125

Anyhow...here are a few pictures from our composition instruction. Again, I was mostly focused on taking interesting and "pleasing to the eye" pictures that tell a story. No editing. However, I did choose the camera's settings (I think...but I may have had it set on one of the creative modes where I only chose one setting and the camera chose the other two...I'm in a photo fog! Forgive me if I'm wrong!). Somehow they didn't turn out black or entirely screwed up...grin!

And now...drum roll, please..."The story of the super cold snowy day that Mama braved the outdoors with her lovies because Sadie, the two-year old, loves snow as much as her brothers, and was sobbing to go outside in her blue jacket (a little color confusion there...he, he!), and did not want to come inside when everyone else's toes were frozen especially the Mama's toes because she only owns rubber rain boots which is ridiculous because she lives in New York State but at least she got a few decent pictures..."

Photo 2: ISO 100, f/8, 1/160

This next photo is not in the right order and I hate fighting with blogger to move pictures around. It used to be easy and now it's not.

I give up.

Getting warmed by the fire my boys built (yes, they are only 7 and 9, but oh, so manly and capable!), eating popcorn, and drinking cocoa. It's not sharply focused - I'd absolutely change the settings to something different today than I did on Monday. But, again, first day choosing my own settings...


Photo 3: ISO 3200, f/3.5, 1/30


Photo 4: ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/80



Photo 5: ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/125



I have to admit, the first few days choosing my own camera settings sent me into some fits of frustration. I knew learning and applying the information would not be easy, but I had some expectations that I would "get it" a little faster. (Umm...hello...this is only day six of the course! Oh, that's right! You always think you must do things perfectly the first time...sigh...)



I finally decided that I would just keep moving the numbers around to see how each one affected the other ones much like Ashley suggests in the practice assignments. I think that is really helping me to accept the inevidable atrocious pictures and helping me learn. All this information is starting to make sense. I think I've seen some evidence of that fact in the photos I took today (which I'll post later...).



I am thankful for Ashley's advice to actually remember to take a few pictures on automatic to capture the memories and then switch back to manual to keep practicing.



Good, good advice!

Pining for Summer

Our family went to our friend's house last weekend armed with fresh fruit and summer party supplies hoping to entice warmer weather to make an appearance. It didn't work, but the cookout was great! All the boys were wild and loud, all seven of them. Sadie was quiet, all one of her. The husbands seemed to get along. The wives already knew they got along. They will have to force friendship between the husbands if it doesn't happen on its own. Grin!

So glad we're friends, dear friend!!! Maybe next time we need to do a summer magic dance or something and soon because we are all climbing the walls around here just dying to get outside!!!

WHOOOOO Loves You?

Mama does!!!

I made these sweet owl rice-filled heating bags for my love birds for Valentine's Day! They were super easy to make in just a few hours! I can't wait to set them up before breakfast at each kiddo's seat as their morning surprise. I know they will love them...they've been "stealing" my rice-filled heating sock for a few weeks now. He, he!

I changed one aspect of the directions. I wanted to have a removable cotton bag for the rice partially because I wasn't sure if chenille was a non-flammable fabric and I didn't have flannel on hand as the directions suggested for the back of the owl. I also thought that at some point I may want to replace or refill the rice and it would be easier to make a new insert. I used chenille for the back of each bag and added velcro to the bottom of the bag to take the rice-filled insert in and out easily.

My only mistake was that I sewed the eyes on in the wrong order...oops!...but the kids won't notice the colored threads! It's a good reminder to me that sometimes it really does work best to follow all directions rather than throw it all out for the sake of "creative freedom!"

The cotton bag is the basic shape of the owl itself. Doesn't look like much...but it'll be hidden in the bag!

Each owl has chenille backing...so soft!!!

I absolutely LOVED making these bags! I absolutely LOVE making handmade gifts! I absolutely LOVE that I will be giving my children something unique on Valentine's Day that does not include any sugar...we're already climbing the walls this winter without adding a huge sugar rush!!!

But that doesn't mean I didn't buy myself some chocolates! He, he!

Quilting Frenzy - One Year Later

After my quilting frenzy almost one year ago, this lovely quilt sat on my closet shelf just waiting for me to finish hand-stitching the binding. It's funny how I am finding myself discontent with just sitting and vegging out in the evenings due a self-imposed lull in the doll making business. I really like keeping my hands busy with creative pursuits. It refreshes me. Anyhow, it took just over an hour to finish up the binding on this quilt and now it's perfect for snuggling under during these snowy, cold winter days.

P.S. Not all of my quilts come with a clashing fabric clad baby appliqued to the top :o) !!! I couldn't keep her off it to take pictures...her favorite - rolling from edge to edge, then very primly sitting up to straighten any wrinkles that had occurred. Ha!

Christmas 2010

The best part of my Christmas day...

What an armful of cutie pies...so blessed!!!

Love Letters

I need to write two love letters this season...

The first love letter will go to Ashley from Hairzoo. I think this is my favorite haircut ever! LOVE IT! It's a bob without the dog ears and poof. Of course, this love story wouldn't be complete without also writing one to my sister-in-law, Margo, who introduced me to the straightening iron. Which then probably means I need to write another love letter to Revlon as well... Goofy picture, I know...I took it :o) !!!

The next love letter will be written to the inventor of the Jam Thumbprint Cookie. I don't know who invented these cookies, so the obvious person to write the letter to is my friend, Carole, who shared this recipe on her blog last Christmas season. (Atleast I am fairly certain it was her...if not, then let me know who you are so I can write YOU a love letter!) Oh, buttery, walnuty, strawberry goodness!!! Be still my heart!

Jam Thumbprint Cookies

2/3 c. butter

1/2 c. sugar

2 egg yolks (save the whites)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 & 1/2 c. flour

2 slightly beaten egg whites (saved from above)

1 c. finely chopped walnuts

1/3 - 1/2 c. jam, your choice of flavor

1. Grease cookie sheet. (I used a well-seasoned stone, so I didn't need to grease...)

2. Beat egg yolk, sugar, butter, and vanilla.

3. Add flour. Mix well.

4. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

5. Shape into 1 inch balls. (I used my smallest Pampered Chef cookie scoop...so easy!) Roll balls in egg whites, then in walnuts.

6. Place on cookie sheet. Press thumb into center of each ball to make room for jam.

7. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

8. Cool and fill with jam before serving.

Christmas Sewing - Doll Quilt

I'm attempting to sew many Christmas presents this year for my own children and our extended family. It's been quite fun. I've got a list a mile long, but I'm slowly checking things off...better pick up the pace a little!!!

Today's main project was a doll sized quilt for a niece who is also receiving a Hidden In My Heart Doll from my shop. Oh, giddy! It is so sweet and fresh and vibrant. I LOVE it! Just look at that color combination!

This was my first attempt at free motion quilting...random circles. And that rickrack edge was super easy to add (after I did it wrong once)...beats taking the time to hand stitch the binding. I see all my mistakes, but I don't think my niece will even notice! She's three, after all!

I find myself moving farther and farther away from the primitive country colors I have loved for years and being pulled toward these bright, modern takes on country style. I just purchased an inspiring quilting book that features the style of the doll quilt above...a home library keeper, for sure! Imagine a whole quilt this color! How could you be gloomy on a NY winter day snuggled under something this bright and cheerful?!

Maybe I'll put that on my sewing project list for the New Year! But for now, it's back to the Christmas sewing...

Watercolor Christmas Trees

We spent some time this afternoon creating these Christmas trees. All you need is watercolor paper, watercolors, white tempera paint, and a sharpie! I might have to hang these up in place of our usual Christmas tree. A real Christmas tree with all its falling needles is not the best option for helping to keep the house clean during this selling season. Although, I do think we might take up a friend's offer of an artificial tree this year! Can't NOT have a tree...

Elijah

Luke

Isaac's - I took a different approach with him because he tends to get mostly water and little color when painting. I drew the shapes on construction paper for him to cut out and he glued them in place. The hole punch made great little snowflakes!