Just Because

Because it was Memorial Day.

Because Flag Day is coming up.

Because I love a holiday.

Because there's only 17 more wake-ups until school is over.

Because it's almost summer.

Because football starts today (in 3 hours and 15 minutes to be precise...oh, 14 minutes...)

Because it was a gorgeous afternoon at the beach.

Because my kids really didn't want to make the trek over the dunes and I needed something fun to blast them out of the house.

Because the Star Spangled Banner gives me goose bumps.

Because I seriously scared myself by getting sand all encrusted in my camera.  It's okay, though.  I got it out.

Because I have about 127 other things I should be doing instead of this.

Because the light shining through the stars and stripes always looks so beautiful.

And because I love you.  Happy Flag Day!

The funny thing is....he didn't even want to do the pictures in the first place.  But then his sister wants to get in the game, and all of the sudden it's a big competition over who's going to be in the picture.

Until mom starts talking something funny about underwear on your head so don't laugh, and then everyone's friends again.

Oh, and because I only needed one more post to break my record for number of posts in a single month.

Whew!  Made it.

Those Who Remember Us ~ Memorial Day 2011

This is the third year that I've visited Tahoma National Cemetery to photograph for Memorial Day.  Our own Memorial Day plans put me there a couple of days earlier than usual.  The Flag Pavilion hadn't been set up yet, and the grounds crews were still working to prepare everything for a weekend full of visitors. 

It was raining pretty hard as my daughter and I made our way through the rows.  She remembered being there last year, but was still trying to understand that all the grass was not meant for her to run and dance and play on.

"It's not a park," I told her.  "This is a serious place and we need to behave seriously."

"Okay....," she said, then a moment later, "Oooooo, Mom!  Look at these pretty flowers!  Can I keep them?"

It wasn't all making sense to her.  As we walked, and then drove, through I explained to her just what this place was meant for.  I still stand in bewildered awe of the sacrifices made by the soldiers, their families, and all of those who love and remember them.

The only way to achieve true immortality is in the hearts of those who loved us 

and the thoughts of those who remember us.

I "met" this young man as I photographed last year.  He'd been killed in action.  I had photographed his headstone.  When I arrived this year, I was immediately drawn the beautiful bouquets of roses that had been left at either side of a headstone.  As I approached them, I realized they belonged to my friend, Brian.  He was someone's son.  He was someone's friend.  He was only 24 years old.

It seems like every time I visit Tahoma, there is a service going on.  These gentlemen were saluting a procession at it passed by.

With love and gratitude for the sacrifices of all who came before me and all who will follow.

They fell, but o'er their glorious graves floats free the banner of the cause they died to save.
~Francis Marion Crawford

Click to view the entire collection

Say Good Night, Chickie

The chicks officially moved in almost four weeks ago.  I admit, I've been a tad......unwelcoming.  But, they started it with the whole flying out of the box in my face thing.

Never mind.

Anywaaayyyy.....They're here and I don't anticipate them going anywhere anytime soon, so I've really been trying my darnedest to get along with others.

I offered them an olive branch in the form of Italian Parsley from my garden.  They were sceptical, but they chipped at it (Of course they chipped at it, they're birds....ridiculous, creep....No.  Be friends.  Get along, get along, get along.....)

I've let them wander around my feet without shooing them away.  Although, if I make even the teeniest, tiniest move, they all go squawking to the other side of the coop.  Whatever....

And I've taken their pictures every which way to Sunday.

Prince Charming took me out last night for a quiet, backyard date.  We hadn't seen each other much during the day, so a few peaceful moments perusing the yard together were lovely.  He opened up the chick cage and his favorite jumped right into his hand.  I started to back away, but decided to just sit with it.  Try to be more of the hostess my mother raised me to be.  I didn't object.  I didn't back away (much).  I was just quiet with them.

It was getting dark, so we turned on the light inside their house.  As they made their way up the ramp to tuck in for the evening, I was struck with really how beautiful they are in form.  Their silhouettes illuminated in the doorway.

As I sat at the edge of the coop, clicking away (you could say I was a Clickin' Chick....but, that would just be obvious and silly.  Yeah, totally.  I know....) I took a moment to admit what I've been trying to hide, and that is this:

I like having the chicks live with us.

I like their little red hen house.

I like the way it looks in our backyard.

I like that my kids are so excited about them.

I like that Prince Farming is so excited about them.

I like that it makes me feel like I'm living on farm in a beautiful countryside.

So, fine.  Secret's out.

I like the chicks.

And I love you for taking the time to read about them.

Smooches!

Cut Ups Desguised As Ball Players

Okay....so, I love photographing kids having fun together.  These guys all stepped in front of my camera last night.  What a bunch of cut ups....

At first, they were all a little unsure about who I was and why I was taking their picture, but now, it's all

Hey!  Can you take my picture?

Hey!  Look over here!

Hey, Camera Lady!  We're talking to you!! (only when I don't realize they're talking to me...because why would a 9-year-old willingly talk to a mom in public when all of their friends can see?....You understand.)

There were some more serious moments, too.

Oh...and there was a ball game going on, as well.

But mostly, it was just about the cut-ups and how happy it made them to score a home run...

Project 52 ~ Week 21 {The Need for Speed}

I, personally, feel responsible for this week's theme, and I'll tell you why.

You'll recall, won't you, that my image from last week's Spring Fever theme started off with a daisy (pretty, but a bit of a yawn) and was replaced with a speeding merry-go-round full of laughing children (just teaming with excitement and emotion).  It looked something like this:

Remember? 

Cut to me sitting at the computer on Saturday morning, anxiously clicking into my group to find out our new topic for the week, and then shaking my fists at the sky and shouting "WHAT THE...!@#$"  Now, you want to do The Need For Speed?

Obviously they had seen my merry-go-round image, and been inspired.  My group moderators around the world decided that this week's theme should have something to do with speed after I posted my image from the baseball field playground after my son's game.

That can't just be a coincidence, right?  That has to be a testament to my image.

So, really, I should take this as a compliment.  Why are you laughing?

Fine.  Forget it.  You win. 

I still had a problem though?  What was I supposed to do to show speed?

Oh!

Wait!

I know!

PANNING!!

I've been wanting to try it again, since I really didn't get it right the first time.  Panning, for those who don't know, is a technique achieved by keeping the subject in the same position of the frame for the duration of the exposure.  Basically, you follow the subject with the lens, using a slower shutter speed and taking multiple images as they move.  Because the lens is following the movement of the subject, and the shutter speed is fast enough the capture the motion, but too slow for clarity, the movement is clear and the background is blurred, thus creating the illusion of speed.

Class dismissed.

Okay....So here's my go at it.

1/60, f/11, ISO 400

Pretty cool, huh?  I love that his back foot is moving so fast that it actually blurred itself right out of the image.

Just to make sure I got it right, I tried it again with something else.  This time, though, I did it in reverse.  I adjusted shutter speed a tad, and rather than follow the subject, I kept the camera still. 

1/30, f/10, ISO 200

There you have it.

I have to say it.  I can't help myself.  I thought I could get through the whole post without saying it, but I can't.  You know what I'm talkin' about.....

"I feel the need, the neeeeed for speeeeed....Yeowwww!"

And P.S. ~  I swear to all that is Chocolicious, if next week's theme has anything to do with running or a kid or a train, I will find those moderators.

I promise.

But....Love you all!

XOXO

L.

Project 52 ~ Week 20 {Spring Fever}

This is why I should always wait for the moment to present itself to me. 

I did this Gerbera Daisy shot (which I  love) for this week's project.

I did actually submit this one to my group, but I felt funny about it.  I wasn't so much in love with it that I couldn't wait to look at it again.  I had forced it.  I was searching.  Trying to put something together that wasn't just naturally coming to me.

And, technically, that was a recreated shot from something that I took last spring.  Come on!  Project 52 is about stretching.  Trying something new. 

I had a few others up my sleeve, though.

This one from baseball the other night....because nothing says spring like a baseball game.

I also had this one from baseball the other night....because nothing says spring like wearing sandals at a baseball game.

And I had this one from baseball last night....because nothing says spring like.....Alright.  Alright.  Enough with the baseball already....

I like this one, though.  It's kind of like a dream.  Fuzzy and undefined, but you can still kind of tell what's going on.  When I showed it to my son (the star of this shot), the only thing he had to say was

"It's blurry."  Honestly, he can be such a kill-joy sometimes.

And I can't forget about my beach pics from the week.  Surely, one of these just screams SPRING!

It's the bare feet that make this one, because the parka?  Not so much.....

And then there was this.....

These kids were on the playground at the ball park last night.  They were loud and having a great time.  That guy in the white was pushing the merry-go-round for them, then standing back and watching their fun. 

I don't know any of them.

I wanted to try this shot, and it took several times to get my settings just right so that I could capture the blur of the ride without washing out the entire image.  The combination that finally worked was 1/30, f/13, ISO 200.

I knew it was right because I loved it the moment I took it and I couldn't wait to get it off the camera so I could see it again.  I took down my Gerbera Daisy and replaced it with this.

It's "Spring Fever" because

A.)  We wouldn't have been at the ball field any other season

and

2.)  We haven't had this kind of gorgeous evening in a very long time.

Oh, and

C.)  Next time, I'm waiting.....

Prince Farming and His Amazing Body-Walking Chicken

Great show in the backyard last night.

It started off with me innocently spraying my new herb garden for bugs.  Little did I know, Farming was behind me opening the chicken coop and pulling out a bird to nestle with. 

I put up a bit of a fuss when he started bringing it over to me.

"No.  I don't need to see it.  I can see it from here.  Just stop....no, stop....Seriously.  STOP!"

"What?" he asks.  "It's not going to get you."  This as it springs from his grasp, chirping wildly, and flies six feet from his hand smacking its head into the side of the hen house.

Oh, so hilariouuussss.

And then his started his Chicken Whisperer routine.

"Who's a chick-chick?.....Awww, poor chick-chick....."

"Come here.  It's okay.  You wanna' walk on my shoulder?"

"You can sit on my head.  Just don't lay an egg....."

Yeah....he's gonna' hate me for that one.  Well, that what he gets.  I told him to stop.

He told me that they just want to be loved and if we treat them like pets, they'll lay more eggs for us.  This as a second one sprung from his grasp, chirping wildly, and flew six feet from his hand smacking its head into the side of the hen house.

No, I'm not repeating myself.  It actually happened twice.  With two different chickens, after which I briefly considered the possibility that I may have overestimated the fright-factor on these birds.

Nope, I didn't.  Just creepy.

After about 10 minutes of lovin' and touchin' and squeezin' (and screaming and scaring and running), the show started to wind down.  The birds were getting tired.  Their little hearts were racing.  Prince Farming had been about pecked out.  It was time to say good night.

But, not without a little audience participation first.

Chicks to you!

Love ya', gang!