Let's Do 52 ~ Week 18 {Natural Light}

Natural light isn't any big challenge for me.  I shoot everything in natural light.  Mostly because I hate flash light.  It's fluorescent and fake. 

If you have $47,000 of lighting equipment that gives a soft, warm, natural effect to your images, great.

I do not.  And I detest, abhor, recoil, loathe and otherwise find it pukey to use flash.  If I'm in a situation where I have to use flash light, I just crank my ISO over and shoot naturally.

I would rather have grain in my image than use a flash.

I would rather get a slight blur in my image than use a flash.

I would rather not take the picture than use a flash.

No...Wait...I know...

I would rather get a root canal and a bikini wax at the same time than use a flash.

I would rather watch every episode of Barney than use a flash.

I would rather let a spider crawl on my arm while a chicken walks on my head than use a flash.

Don't stop me.  I'm on a roll.

I would rather filter my coffee through a pair of underwear than use a flash.

I would rather stick a bobby pin in an electrical socket than use a flash.

I would rather use my hair as dental floss than use a flash.

Okay...now this is just getting stupid....

Oooohhh...

I would rather dance on the hood of a moving car while singing a medley of 99 Luftballons, How Do You Talk To An Angel and the theme song from Greatest American Hero than use a flash.

I would rather wear white spandex with neon yellow leg warmers and moon boots through Bellevue Square than use a flash.

I would rather get Botox all over my body and look like one of those creepy, plastic, surprised ladies than use a flash.

I bet I can keep this going.  Just gimme a minute....

Let's Do 52 ~ Week 17 {Mellow Yellow}

I took this picture of my daughter a few days ago.  It was inspired by an image I'd seen done of a young woman wearing a turquoise outfit laying in a field of yellow flowers.  It was very sunny and gauzy and made me want to drink lemonade and go fishing and run around barefoot.

We had a really sunny day this past week and I took the opportunity to get my girlie in front of the camera and create an image like the one I'd seen.  I was pretty pleased with it until I went to write about it.

I had nothing.

Nada.

The theme that I was taking it for was Mellow Yellow, and the only thing that went through my head when I looked at this was

They call me Mellow Yelloooowww

and that was dumb.

So, I decided to hold off saying anything about it and see if something just came to me.

Then, I showed the picture to my mother.  I don't usually show off my images like that to her.  I kind of like them to be discovered on their own.  I'm really not one for self-promotion.  Not that she wouldn't like them.  She's my mom.  She has to like them.  It's part of the job.

Anyway, I showed it to her and she said,

"Cute.  Where did you find that field of dandelions?"

And I said,

"In my front yard."

And she kind of looked at me out the side of her face and went "Ewghhhh".

So I immediately went on damage control.

"Well, you know, I mean our yard man is gone and we're trying to find a new one and so we had to mow the yard ourselves last weekend, you know.  And we did the front and the back and then he started on the side yard, but he only went just past the fence line and then, you know, because it was so hot and stuff, I think he just got tired.  And technically the city owns that part of the property anyway so they should really be the ones maintaining it.  So...you know...."

Her eyes were kind of glazing over and she was just looking at me and nodding her head so I figured it was a good place to stop.

Then she said,

"Well, I love her hair like that,"

and I knew my job was complete.

They don't call me Double L Damage Control for nothing, you know....

Me and The P-Dub

Last night I got to have coffee with my kitchen and blogging idol ~ The Pioneer Woman.

It had been on the books for over a month now and I was super excited, counting down the days on my calendar.  I kept telling her she could just come to my house, but she insisted on meeting at a bookstore about 35 miles north of my neighborhood.  I'm sure she just didn't want to put me out or anything.

I wasn't really sure where this bookstore was so I did a little old school MapQuesting and figured out where I was going.  I thought it was weird, though, when we got in the car and my son said,

"Do you have the directions?"

"Yes."

"Show me."

I actually had to hold up the notebook where I'd written down the directions so he could see.  What did he think?  That we'd get lost or something ridiculous like that?  Because we didn't.  I mean, we totally would have if that nice lady at the Chevron station hadn't been able to get us back on track by pulling up the directions on her iPhone. 

I should really think about getting one of those. 

Moving on.

We made it to the bookstore.  It was huge.  Like Barnes & Noble and Half-Price Books had a baby and fed it the Food Court.  A food court with a coffee stand.  Nice.  I was starting to understand why she'd picked this place.  

It was funny because there were all these other people there.  Like, a lot of other people.  I guess they wanted to have coffee with PW, too.  I wasn't too worried, though.  I found a nice spot in the back.  The great thing was that because I was standing, I knew she'd be able to see me better over the heads of all other poor saps who had chairs.

Ha!

Unlike me, PW tends to be a bit nervous in front of a crowd.  She made everyone promise not to look at her and to only focus on her slide-show presentation.  She's so funny.

Then she sang a slideshow duet with her dog.

After that, she moved over into a special area of the store for only the special PW people.  I'm sure they would have let me back there, if I had asked.  I mean, I had a ticket.  Just because it was marked "K" and they only wanted "A and B" at that time didn't mean anything.  It was more of a suggestion really.

Except for the really snooty salesgirl who forced us out of the aisle and made us go into the kid's section because they had to keep the area clear for the As & Bs.

Whatever.

We made our way back and found a great place just past the exit aisle where we could stand and wave at her. 

Hi, PW!  It's great to see you!!  I'll just wait over here for you until you're done.  Yeah, no.  I'm fine.  No rush.

I thought it might be good to mentally go over all the things I was planning to say.  It went like this:

Bacon-wrapped meatloaf rules all!

and

Perfect iced coffee has become my entire existence.

and

How did I get this far in life without Pots de Creme?

I would have talked about other things besides food, though, like

Did you really take that picture of the stampeding horses because it's amazing!!  What kind of camera do you have, anyway?

and

Tell me everything you've learned and everything you know about homeschooling because I'm considering it and I'd love your take on it.

and

My favorite color is orange, too.  I mean, it's like we're twins.

and

Can I come live on the ranch with you?  Pleeeaaase.  I'll be your best friend.  Oh.  You already have a best friend?  Well, she can come over, too.  I'm friendly.  Please please please please please.  I really want to live on the ranch!

But the 523 people in line ahead of me kept her pretty busy taking pictures and signing her new cookbook and stuff.  You know how it is.  Ultimately, we had to reschedule our coffee chat for another time.

Um...no.  That's not me.  I'm not in that picture.

This is me.  

Okay...so, she wasn't actually there to meet me, but I did have plans to meet her.  I had a plan.  I swear.  It was on my calendar, but like I said, there were 523 people in line ahead of me and it was going to take waaaaayyyyyy too long...but, I did stand in the same room with her. 

My son and I went through the book this morning.  He marked everything that he wants me to make out of it with green sticky notes.

Now.

For dinner.

You're not doing anything today, right?

I know that P-Dub will hit me up the next time she's in town.  We're pretty tight like that.

Let's Do 52 ~ Week 17 {Big}

He used to be so small that his entire body fit in the crook of my arm from my shoulder to my wrist.

Then he got bigger, but not so big that I would let him out of my sight.

Then he got bigger, but not so big that I would let him eat off of anything that wasn't plastic.

Then he got bigger, but not so big that I would let him use anything sharp.

Then he got bigger and Daddy decided it was time to hand him the lawn mower....

Now he's so big...

Big day.

It's What Makes You Special

My daughter is very big for her age.  People are always amazed when they hear she's only six.

"Wow!  She's really tall!" they always say.  "You must have really tall people in your family."

We don't.  My beloved is six feet and his dad was a little shorter than that.  I'm Italian, so I tend to run on the short side.  We're not giants by any means so when people ask me where my daughter gets her height from I usually just shrug and say,

"Yeah, I don't know, but boy I wish I had her long legs," and then we laugh about it.

The truth is, there is a reason for her height.  It's medical.  It's something we're handling with doctors.  It's private, and it's never been anything that's bothered her.

This morning, she came into the kitchen and said,

"Mom, when I stand in line with my class the big kids stare at me."

"Oh, because you're so pretty?"

"No," she said quickly, seeing right through my casual quip.  "And they whisper about me."

"What do they say?"

"They say I'm too big to be a kindergartener.  They say that I should be in a grade and not with little kids."

What kid doesn't wish they were bigger?  What kid wouldn't think it was cool if other people thought they were older?

What kid wants to feel like something about them isn't right?

It was the first time I'd ever seen her visibly distressed by her size.  It's always been a non-issue as far as she's been concerned.  She's just big.  That's who she is.

And in that moment, with her vulnerability breaking wide open all over my kitchen floor, I didn't know what to say.  My mind desperately raced for something more meaningful than a comment on her beauty or the superficial reassurance that the others are just jealous, but I came up empty.  I had nothing.

Without missing a beat or taking a pause, my son walked over, put his hand on her shoulder, looked right into her eyes and said,

"But that's what makes you so special.  Because you're so much bigger than the other kids."

"It is?" she replied.

"Yeah.  You're bigger than any other kindergartener.  You're bigger than I was when I was in kindergarten.  You're big enough to be in fourth grade, like me.  It's why you're special."

He smiled at her as she took that in.  I stood there, silent.  There was nothing I could possibly add to that, and so I turned away and wiped the tears from my eyes.

Tears because of my failings.  Tears because of his nobility.  Tears because of the gratitude I have for the beauty they see inside of each other.

Let's Do 52 ~ Week 16 {Reflection}

I took 48 pictures of myself today looking for a good 'Reflection' shot.

Although, technically, my beloved took 14 of those because it was easier for his hand to reach to click the shutter and he doesn't quiet get the whole "7 shots a second" thing.

And he thinks it's hilarious to honk the horn on his truck while I'm trying to get a shot of my reflection in his car bumper because the sudden loud honk scares me and makes me jump and look around like I did something to his truck and he rolls around cackling like a hyena. 

It's sooooo funny I forgot to laugh.

Turns out, my favorite shot was more of a reflection of me than my reflection of me.

The Good Thing Is....

We spent our spring break on the beach.  No big surprise there.  We're at the beach every chance we get, although spring break allowed us to be there for longer than a weekend.  Few things about spending the break at the beach:

The Good Thing Is:  

Since we didn't have to wait for the kids to get out of school, we were able to leave early enough in the day to a.) beat the traffic and b.) arrive when it was still light out so c.) Prince Charming had time to go out for an agate gathering session on the shore.

The Bad Thing Is:  

We arrived so early that there was more than enough time to make dinner so we didn't just stop and grab a pizza like we usually do.  I made pasta.

The Good Things Is:

The weather was great enough that we were able to be outside a lot of the time, flying kites, walking in the water, breathing in that fresh sea air.

The Bad Thing Is:

The friggin' wind was crazy and the kite (the one she begged me to let her bring out even when I thought it was too windy to fly it) only lasted about 23 seconds before she got tired of fighting with it to go where she wanted it to and she asked me to carry it for her.  I told her she was hilarious and to never lose her sense of humor.  Then I walked away.

The Good Thing Is:

There are these amazing sunsets that give off this warm glow and make eyes sparkle with light.

The Bad Thing Is:

Your mom is constantly telling you to stand still while she circles around you looking for the best angle to photograph the amazing light in your eyes.

The Good Thing Is:

You meet a nice girl who lives next door named Katherine.  She's about the same age as you, thinks your brother is uber-cool, and likes to do all the same things that you do.

The Bad Thing Is:

You let your parents call her Katherine for three days before cluing them in that her name is actually Hailey.

"Why did you tell me her name was Katherine?"
"I don't know.  Sometimes we just forget."

The Good Thing Is:

The perfect sunset can give you the perfect silhouette.

The Bad Thing Is:

You have to wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and then curse your children for not being able to hear your telepathic instructions on where to stand so you can get the shot you're looking for because they just want to dance around and throw each other down on the ground and get sand in every crevasse before they even set one foot on the beach.

The Good Thing Is:

You're a really awesome jumper.  The best jumper ever.  Everyone loves watching you jump.  Just do it one more time.  Just once more.  That will be the last one.  No, really.  I promise.

The Bad Thing Is:

You have to jump 143 times to get the shot just right.  {See above about the perfect sunset and the perfect silhouette}

The Good Thing Is:

A sunny, Saturday afternoon game of hide-and-seek is still just about the best way to spend time.

The Bad Thing Is:

Your parents think you're so cute laying there hiding behind the van that they call your name out the window and blow kisses to you and nearly destroy your ability to sneak up on the girls and freak them out.

The Good Thing Is:

Deer wander right into your backyard.  Just wander right in and nibble on the grass back there.  Like they own the place.

The Bad Thing Is:

You're laughing at your silly, sweet guy while he flirts with your camera after trying to talk to the deer that have wandered into your backyard and you can't keep the machine still and the shot gets all blurry.

The Good Thing Is:

Spring Break on the beach means warmer weather and shoes left behind in the dunes and barefoot walks through the waves.

The Bad Thing Is:

Spring Break is over.....

Let's Do 52 ~ Week 15 {This Is Why I Should Choose The Themes...}

I really really really wanted this week's theme to be "Hiding", because this shot would have been perfect:

It would have also been perfect for "I'm totally pissed off because my sister is over playing with her friend and my mom won't let me go over there, too because she doesn't want to subject our neighbor to both kids at the same time."

And also for any theme involving "Well, they did ask if you wanted to come out and play Barbies, but you didn't want to. Remember?"

But, instead, the theme was "Celebrate".

Then I was really really really hoping that the alternate theme was going to be "Hiding" because this shot would have been perfect:

But it wasn't.  It was "Minimal".

Ten bucks says next week's theme is something about silhouettes on the beach. 

'Cause if it's "Hiding"...I'm going to be pissed.

Funny Girl

I had four conversations with my daughter while we were away on Spring Break, and, well...I just thought you might like to hear about them:

Conversation #1

HER:  I wish you'd named me Merliah.
ME:  I thought about it, but then you would have had to become a Barbie Mermaid, and I'd never see you because you'd be swimming with all your mermaid friends, and I wouldn't like that.
HER:  Yeah, but you could have been a Merliah, too.  And Nicholas could have been a Merliah.  And Brianna could have been a Merliah, and Dad could have been a Merliah.  Then we could all be together.
ME: .....................................................
HER:  OR!  You could be Calissa!  That's Merliah's mom.  OH!  And I know who Dad could be!  He could be KEN!!

Okay, that's not the best one, and it was a lot funnier when she said it.   I don't know.  Maybe you had to be there....

Conversation #2

I need to preface this by telling you that she was out on the deck talking to the little girl who lives next door.  She would come in every few minutes and ask me....

HER:  Mom, what time does Dad come home at night?
ME:  Anytime between 4:30 and 5:00 usually.

HER:  Mom, why do you like the Ranch Girl?
ME:  Because I like the food she makes and the pictures she takes and the stories she writes.

HER:  Mom, How old is my sister?
ME:  22....what are you talking about out there?
HER:  Nothing!

It was funny see because her questions were so random.  You know, like the National Enquirer was standing outside interviewing her or something.  You know?  Okay, if I have to explain it, I guess it wasn't that funny.  Maybe you had to be there.....

Conversation #3

Techincally, this wasn't with me, but I could hear it, so that counts....

HER:  Do you want to come out and play Barbies with us?
HER BROTHER:  Ummm, no.

5 minutes later...

HER:  Do you want to come out with us and play Barbies?
HER BROTHER:  I told you, no.

5 minutes later....

HER:  Do you want to play Barbies with us outside?
HER BROTHER:  What did I say?!  I DO NOT WANT TO COME OUT AND PLAY BARBIES WITH YOU!
HER:  So, I'm going to take that as a 'no'.

Come on.  That was funny...

Conversation #4

I know there was a fourth one.  I know it.  I was going to write them all down so I would remember what they were, but then I thought, "No way will I forget these.  They're too funny."

And now I've forgotten the fourth one.

If I remember it, I promise I'll tell you.

'Cause it was really funny.

Let's Do 52 ~ Week 15 {Stackable}

Okay...I feel like I need to preface this image by saying this is my EXTREMELY LOOSE interpretation of the theme.

Mainly because my kids are home on Spring Break this week, and, short of me tying them up and laying them on top of each other, I'm probably not going to have much of a chance to stack anything...

...Except maybe aspirin tablets...

...Or wine bottles...

But, I think I may be giving you the wrong impression.  I love Spring Break.  It means a whole week of not having to get up early and fight with anyone to get out the door.  It means that we're on the downhill slide of the school year and summer is on its way.

It also means that the tulip festival opens and the flowers start blooming.

See what I did there?  That subtle transition?  I know.  I'm a born writer.

I saw something like this in the gift shop at one of the tulip gardens.  They used a ceramic frame printed with a wide angle photo then added in a print of a close up image of the same flowers.  The effect was pretty cool, and I thought I'd give it a try....minus the frame....and the $47 price tag.

Of course, the only way to do that was to....say it with me...STACK THEM!

I know...I was born to do this.

Love,

L.

I Got The Wrong Shot....

Sometimes I take a picture for a purpose.

And sometimes I take a picture and figure out the purpose later.

And sometimes I take a picture while my beloved is squawking around like a rooster trying to get the chickens to look up and I realize that I should really have taken a picture of my beloved squawking around like a rooster.

He Just Stops My Heart

I let my son skip school yesterday and took him to the movies instead to celebrate 10 years since this day:

I know I'm his mom, but come on....was he the cutest thing ever or what?

This is what I looked like on that day:

Clearly, he wins....although, in my defense I had just spent the last 19 hours pushing out a baby...you know...so....

Anyway, I just love looking that that picture of his little face.  His little nose.  His little cheekies.  I loved him.

And I loved him when he was 2 and has pasta sauce all over him:

You can see, not much has changed....

I loved him when he was 3, and stood for a pole shot in his little Bob the Builder tee shirt and cargo jeans and work boots just like Daddy's....

I found this picture not long ago and held it up to him.

"Look at your little face!  I could just kiss you all over!!  Muah, muah, muah"

In hindsight, I probably would have gotten a better reaction if I'd not tried to do that while he was playing Battlefield Heroes, because the reaction that I got was 

"Mom, stop!"...and then I had to cry.

Moving on...

I loved him when he was 5 and getting ready to go to Kindergarten.  I was so nervous that it wouldn't go well and that he'd get lost and be scared and would need me to hold his hand and stay with him forever.

He didn't.

And when he turned 6 and wanted to be a firefighter, I loved him, even though I knew I'd never allow him to have a job that dangerous.

"No.  You can do something safe.  Like walking."

"Walking?!  That's the most boring thing ever besides yoga!"

When he was 7,  he would smile at me and I would die.

When he was 9, he would laugh and I would die.

And when he turned 10 and told his grandmother that his dad thought it was so funny when he was crashing cars on his new video game that he was "laughing his ass off"....well, I thought I would die.

But, I took him to the movies

and let him keep his eyes open during the naked drawing scene

even though he did ask if he should close them, and only once, at a totally different part of the movie, tried to reach out with his 3D glasses and touch the screen.

When we got home, I pulled out the baby book and had a good cry about how big he's getting and how short my time with him really is.

Then we ate pizza and apple pie, and I smooched him and cuddled him and called my baby.

And he said, "You know I love you more than I say I do."

And I died.