My friend's little girl turned five today. This child. This child is beeeea-utiful inside and out. She's calm and kind and so well behaved. And my Miss N adores her. Adores. We all do, really. She is a peach.
Her mom ordered her a baby doll for her birthday and we did a little it's-my-first-day-being-five photo shoot this morning.
I hope you have a wonderful birthday, sweetie!
That's what I've been doing. Wandering around the yard, the nursery, the neighborhood. Wandering and taking photographs of flowers.
This week's shop update was out the window, as was my big plans for some new warmer weather clothes for myself. I've got the Spring Fever and I've got it bad. There will be time. There will be time. Hopefully this weekend, I can squeeze a little studio time in around my meandering.
I'll be back Monday morning, with some last minute details and reminders about the hullabaloo at the Noticing Project next week. Have a wonderful weekend!
the smell of flowering trees hangs heavy in the damp air today. breath deeply.
of the little Fuji that couldn't.
I dearly love my digital Canon, but lately I'm feeling film envy. It's Hannah's fault- she's too good. So I asked my mom if I could borrow her packed-away camera (+ several lenses), and I crept over there a few weeks ago and swiped it. Adventures in film? Here I come. When I removed the lens to blow out the dust there was all this black crumbly stuff inside- disintegrating foam light seals- and then I opened the back and there was more black dust. I inserted two tiny batteries so the light meter would work, but it didn't. Damn. I left it at a recommended camera repair place for an estimate, and yesterday I picked it up. Unrepaired.
The old fellow at the repair store was so cute, "It's really is a great old camera. Vintage." Vintage was his word, Mom, not mine. I swear. "All I can do is encourage you," he said. Now it's not a HUGE amount of money, but it's a decent amount to us. The cost of me staying at home with the kids and only working part time is a very limited budget. My film adventure has come to an abrupt end.
Fooey. Well, I do have a perfectly fancy digital camera and this Fujica isn't really even mine. He told me he'd honor the estimate for several months should I change my mind. I wonder if supporting this little old camera fanatic's (who judging by his tiny, dated, NO-frills shop is certainly frugal himself) store is good way to stimulate the economy?
Ok. Enough bellyaching. Let's all have a nice weekend, shall we?
will hopefully bring May carrots, peas, and lettuce!
Be well this weekend, my dears!
in Texas when the weather behaves.
and so do the children.
and the bride and groom are lovely people, inside and out.
and everyone coordinates with the groom's car.
A green mug of coffee (mug inherited from Brian's grandmother) and a green boy (sensitive tummy inherited from his mommy.)
My mother used to say, "Are you ok? You look green around the gills." Now I know exactly what she meant. He hasn't thrown up, but every once in awhile the pink drains completely from his cheeks, a terrible green pallor replaces it and I can just tell his tummy is flip-flopping again. Poor sweet thing.
It's snowing today, so I'm setting aside my longing for Spring and going with it. We're camped out on the couch watching movies, reading books and I've got plans to make homemade chicken noodle soup.
Hopefully the rest and soup will mend him because he has some plans tomorrow! (hint: there's a weigh-in tonight. Hee hee.)
Happy weekend, friends~ Stay well.
It's cold today. I'm resorting to houseplants for today's green fix.
Sunday Heather showed her work space and invited us all to do the same. This prompted a quick clean-up of my own studio which soon evolved into a marathon reorganization. I took a few photos as hard evidence that at one point in space and time, it was indeed this tidy.
The paperwhites are done blooming. I'm ready for some daffodils.
Here is a short movie starring my very silly, very cool, green-hearted friend.
If you ever have doubts that being green is worth all the effort, read THIS. You won't be sorry. The frogs, the stars, the ponds and trees, the boys with rocks and the poets who document it all. Just knowing you're on this little blue planet makes it worth all the effort we can muster.
We had a beautiful weekend! Warm and very breezy. It's cold again today, but the weekend was enough to keep me going.
Good morning, March. Hooray for you!
Brian's grandmother's funeral was Saturday morning. She was the spunkiest, kindest little thing you ever met, living a blessed 94 years, and although her body failed her, her mind was as clear as a bell right up to the end.
The scene not pictured from the train ride to St. Louis is the little boy sporting his engineer overalls, who left the house before sunrise feeling a little tired but who somewhere around Jefferson City developed a raging fever. He slept fitfully and missed all the beautiful scenery and excitement. (Influenza bites, my friends, but the Tamiflu seems to be doing its thing.)
p.s. the return ride was much better.
Second place isn't so bad, is it?
Just popping in today to let you know that we're offering a set of runner-up photos in our Noticing Project Shop! They weren't chosen on their particular days, but they are lovely little photographs none-the-less and come together in this set of FOUR!
Much love,
Alicia
a fresh powdered sugar dusting of snow and a heart pendant gift from a friend.
Thanks, Shari for the week. It was so calming and inspiring to see them all.
I'll be back next week hopefully with birthday party photos, exciting Noticing news, and (gasp!) some handmade goodies. Have a perfect weekend, friends.
birthday sprinkles on a paper towel; someone is about to turn three.
a hot shower and a warm breakfast.
and thinking of Emily while I'm standing on a stool taking a photo of my oatmeal.
sideways morning sunlight on fair hair and cotton sheets.
I've been having prints made of some of my photographs, hunting for a high quality yet affordable option. So far, I think whcc.com is the contender, but it would be nice to find someone local. I'll let you know how it goes. Any suggestions?
Heather sent me the two prints in the foreground. They are beautiful. Thank you, friend! And thank you ALL for visiting the Noticing Project and for leaving us such supportive comments. Heather has done a thank you post of her own today, and she links to a bunch of you who have mentioned us. It is so flattering and uplifting. This all couldn't have come at a better time.
This time of year is notoriously difficult for me, yet I feel like I have new eyes. This morning I was dashing out to the recycling bin to snatch out a coupon before the trash guys get it, saw the incredible pattern in a frozen puddle, and had to run back in for the camera. I couldn't help laugh at myself in my jammies, robe and old slippers squatting down in the drive way. A bright spot this blustery morning already. AND quite the entertainment for the morning commuters.
The retrieved coupon is for Hobby Lobby. I really shouldn't, but I'm off this morning for some new acrylics. I have some paintings to begin, and I do believe it is time for an upgrade. Hopefullly Liquitex is a step in the right direction.
That's it, kids. Have a great weekend! And to some of you lovelies- see you tomorrow...
Although it seems like much is resting this time of year, when you look closely you can find all kinds of things living out their destinies. Leaves are rotting, pods have dried out, seeds are falling.
I took these photos this weekend. The weather has turned cold and drizzly; we're hiding out inside. Even my Noticing photo will have to be taken indoors today.
Oh, look! Now it's snowing. I suppose the seeds from these pods will have to wait a little longer.
I'm having trouble starting again; my long holiday was too relaxing. So this evening I'll just post these photos that I took today in the spirit of Heather's new Noticing Project. It took me quite awhile to figure out how to capture that tiny reflection. Click on the photo to see what I noticed. Do you see it?
Happy Brand New Year, everyone! I'll be back tomorrow.
of ice on the drive. This photo makes me a little woozy, but somehow I still like it.
**********************************************************
OK, my camera/photo savy friends. I need your help: You know I use a Canon Rebel XT, right? Lately, about half of the photographs have been unreadable by iPhoto. It says they are corrupt files. And I have to reformat my cf card all of the time to get it to work in the camera. Please, please, please tell me this sounds like a cf card or a card reader problem... anyone? anyone? Just not my beloved camera.
Hi all! We're back from St. Louis.
The trip was good. We enjoyed our family. We contemplated life and death. {Brian's sweet little Grandma has been in the hospital and is entering hospice care. It's sad, but she's lived a long (94!), good life and she seems at peace about it all.} We enjoyed the funny things the kids did. We went to the zoo. We watched football. We played Ponopoly. We bowled. We ate turkey and pumpkin pie.
We felt grateful.
It may be quiet around here for several days. It's Baby Doll-apalooza this week for me!
Hello there! I hope you're having a smooth start to the new week. It's beautiful again here today but super windy. I'm hoping the strong breeze will sweep away the elm leaves and save us from the job. It makes me think of Amy's lovely post from this time last year.
I'm moving the shop update by just one day. Tuesday is Brian's birthday, and I want to spend a nice, quiet evening with him. Plus Wednesdays are not good for spending much time at the computer, so THURSDAY, November 8th it is. I'll shoot for 11 am (cst).
I also wanted to explain my plans for the baby dolls that I'll feature this time. Part of the fun of these girls is that they can resemble the child for whom they're intended. Therefore, I'm going to do them on a custom order basis. I'll commit to a limited number (a VERY limited number- they take a lot of time!) and if you're interested, you'll prepay and specify skin tone, hair type and color, and eye color. Then I'll make each to order and ship them by Saturday, December 1st. That way, they'll arrive in plenty of time for the holidays!
There will also be some other items including a few new Simple Birds this time around. See you back here on Thursday?! Remember to BUY HANDMADE for the holidays.
Have a GREAT weekend, you guys.
one was sweet and toasty in her borrowed (not handmade) butterfly costume.
and one was spooky. He's the Haunted Hornet. Don't call him a bumblebee. He'll sting you. Now this one I did make. (What?! There's no haunted hornet costume in the stores? No way.)
Hope your Halloween was just the right amount of spooky. N swears she saw a monster, but interestingly enough, she's not the one who ended up in bed with us in the middle of the night.
(a friend at today's class party.)
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
just photos from me for the rest of the week. xo.
which, by the way, couldn't have been written more perfectly.
And today is Blog Action Day- the topic is the environment. I hold this topic close to my heart and in the forefront of my mind.
So here's a little nugget from me: I honestly believe the single most important thing we can do (especially as Americans) is to consider returning to a simpler, less materialistic lifestyle. Please, please, please- even you, my sweet crafty friends- before you make any single purchase, stop for a moment. Think about WHAT exactly you are buying, WHERE it came from, HOW it was made and is packaged, HOW FAR it came to get to you, and for Pete's sake, IF you really even need it at all...
You may be surprised how often you put something back.
I know, I know. Some fairly preachy words from a girl who is about to open an online shop! But as we say, Buy Handmade. It really does make a difference.
Love to all- now go hug a tree.
It is just as simple and bittersweet and incredible as I suspected it would be. The only thing I dislike about the library is saying goodbye to the books I've fallen for.
This weekend marks the official start of Autumn for our family. It was our annual trip to Applefest and Red Barn Farm in Weston, MO:
How about some photos this week while I try to wrap up all these projects?
Have a great Monday!
no school today.
starting with krispy kremes.
I promised even though I know they're evil.
cleaning the kitchen.
doing laundry.
baking bread.
organizinging the studio
with windows wide open.
stretching canvas.
listening to Andrew Bird
and the screen door slam a hundred times today.
Happy October!
I still haven't sent a print, but I'm working on it.
I wish I felt like he looks. I do feel floaty but more of a cold medicine induced, stuffy eared, listening to the world from inside of a tin can kind of floaty. (Well, woo flippin' hoo- two days after I said I like to keep it all shiny and happy here, I'm moaning!) Little miss N and I are sniffling our way through our first head colds of the school year, and I'm feeling a little overextended. It shall pass, I know. But it may be quieter around here than usual. I'll try to post a photo now and then to let you all know I'm still kickin'.
Bye, bye now. Sniff. Cough.
Spiders are amazing creatures aren't they? So patient. For three days I watched her out the studio window as I sat mesmerized by my glowing computer screen. Occasionally gazing out to clear my head, I'd admire her calmness. She'd endlessly wait for a snack to become entangled in her web. Twice I saw her pounce, wrap and return to her post. She was beautiful, huge and dark. All spiders are female to me- I have Charlotte to thank for that.
Finally, I went out Wednesday evening to take her photograph. When I returned yet again to the computer yesterday with a migraine that wouldn't quit, she was gone. And I was sad. And my head hurt. I hope she went to find a more lucrative location, but I fear she became a snack for a bird herself. Her web was awfully exposed, stretching precariously between the low branches of two trees.
I also found this abandoned web on our front porch Wednesday. I struggled to get a nice shot of it, and in the end I had to wait too. The setting sun was all it took.
Thank you, by the way, for your wonderful messages of late. I'm so very busy working on a website and painting murals right now; I'm desperately behind on answering emails and comments. But I do thank you. You make this all worthwhile.
Have a wonderful weekend! May we all find a little time to relax.
A few months ago my friend Randy called to ask if I'd consider photographing a wedding. The bride was a good friend of his and was trying to put together a lovely wedding on a shoestring budget. "Of course!" I said. (Anything for Randy, who by the way, planned, cooked and served all the incredible food that day. WOW!) We agreed on a very modest price, and a few weeks ago I played the roll of wedding photographer for a day. I even took control at posed, group-shot time hollering out things like, "Let's get one of the bride and all her men... Groomsmen?! Where have all my groomsmen gone?" Heeee!
By the end of the evening, I was completely smitten with the couple and felt honored to have such an intimate role in their life-changing day. Aren't they the sweetest little family you've ever laid your eyes on?
I took all the traditional shots but also hoped to capture the small details that made the wedding feel so special. Would I like to do this for a living? NO WAY. But it was truly a such special treat on that beautiful afternoon.
Oh, and I saw the bride at a party Saturday night. She loved the photos. Big smile from me.
I'm going to continue on with these photos next week too.
Yippeeeee! It's Friday. Have a great weekend, friends.
Elevating the mundane to a meaningful level. Recognizing the rhythm of routine. Finding beauty in the passage of time. These are the themes this week- and possibly next week too. No special events or staged photos, just little bits of our everyday existence.
A few people who get it and do it well:
3191
Shari
Aug. Polaroid Project
And of course, this incredible book which I have yet to see in person.
Any others that I might need to check out?
I'll back in full force in a week or two, with art, handmade goodness, a freshened up website and hopefully a little bit of news to share.
•low tide•
•sea oats•
•we watched a nest of sea turtles hatch•
•hanging moss•
•alligators- viewed safely from a boat•
•a rainbow umbrella•
•hunting for shells•
•a hermit crab he named stripey•
Even more photos here. So many- I'm sorry. It's too hard to whittle them down!
It was all so good that we didn't want to come home. The only bummer was my sweet mom, who planned and (ahem) made the trip possible, developed a herniated disc a few weeks before we left and spent most of the trip hobbling around in pain. She was a real trooper and tried so hard not to complain. Mom and Dad, thank you. It was all just so perfect.
My crane arrived. We're beginning to get acquainted.
Things seem to be dry on the creative front these days. The summer has thrown off my rhythm, perhaps for the better. Maybe I'm rejuvenating. Every time I find myself with a few free minutes, I'm much more attracted to the romance of summer activities like bike rides, the swimming pool, or dinner and drinks on the patio.
Also, I've slowly been attempting to take the focus off of my kids here in this space. I still want to include them; they are such a big part of who I am and why I create. But for safety sake I'm trying to be more discrete with photographs of them. So that limits my subject matter a little more.
These two reasons are why things seems a little thin lately here. Please forgive me and thank you so much for sticking around.
Hugs to you all,
Alicia
Things I have learned so far:
Cucumbers need A LOT of room to grow.
Crisp line-dried sheets? Love them. Stiff line-dried jeans? Love them too. Crunchy line-dried towels? Not so much.
The sprinkler is fun, but the pool is better.
Local, organic blackberries almost melt in your mouth.
It good to be six in the summer. It is also tiring.
No matter where you are and what the weather, have a terrific and relaxing weekend!
Some blue found by my assistant at First Friday this evening- a blue sign and a blue lady.
She ever-so-slowly nodded towards a tip jar after I took her picture, but I didn't even have a buck on me. Oops.
Hey Hannah, I peeked in the shoe store and I didn't see you. It was so crazy crowded that I didn't go hunting. But tell your friends if they had anything to do with that band? Excellent. They were rockin'! Little N is their new groupie.
Have a terrific weekend, you hear?
That's the kind of relationship I have with the orange day lilies that live in our yard. Fifty or so weeks out of the year, I hate them. They are bushy and weedy and droopy. They spread like crazy and are hard to dig up.
Then there's the two magnificent weeks a year that they bloom. That's when they take their turns smiling up at the blue sky and sway in the warm breeze. Dagnabit, they always talk me back into falling in love.
cherries. yum.
Speaking of cherries, look what was waiting for me when we got home from our trip. Double yum.
p.s. These cherry photos fit right in with Kayte's color week, so I think I'll play along!
a free concert in the park.
perfect laundry drying weather. finally.
It's been very rainy.
breaking out the flip-flops,
and trying to figure out which toes they go between.
Happy Friday, everyone!
a leisurely breakfast on the patio.
(Well, mid-morning snack for the kids. At this point they'd already both eaten a bowl of cereal.)
big unpredictable skies.
(clickable photo)
School is out for summer. It ended with a bang- a farewell to a much-loved teacher, a terrific report card and a marathon class party at a friend's house. We're trying to find our summertime footing, so for a little balance in my life I believe I'm going to post photographs for a few days. Quiet reflection on a wonderfully noisy time of year.
Hugs to you all and have a great week!
Our friend Randy's birthday party in my mom and dad's back yard:
My mom's parties are always fit for a magazine, and this one was no exception. Just lovely, mom!
Have a great Monday, friends.
I really resist the urge to complain here, but I am in a mood. The rain won't end. I slept horribly, thinking every time it started up again that this would be it. This must be the shower than would begin the slow trickle of water into our basement. (It doesn't flood, but we have had A LOT of rain. And there's more on the way. Several days more.) In between the downpours, I had a dream about Mother Nature as a living and breathing person. She was very pretty. She wore a blue dress. And boy was she mad at us.
I've been having a fling with black and white photographs lately too, which to me have an undercurrent of solitude and melancholia. I've been studying them on Flickr and the settings on the camera have been fixed this way for days. Did the interest in black and white appear because of the mood, or is the mood developing due in part to the interest? Who knows. But either way, they seem to be fueling each other. I'm also reading John Irving's A Prayer for Owen Meany for my book club. It's wonderful. It's touching and funny but in that Forest Gump sort of way- hopeful and amusing yet so depressing.
I'm trying my best to embrace this mood and take it for what it is: I'm over-tired, I have a headache, I'm husbandless, I've got cabin fever and I'm worried our wee little garden is going to drown. In a day or two it will pass. The sun will return. The garden will surely dry out. Even if puddles appear in the basement I am blessed to have a basement to fuss over. Brian comes home this evening. I have fun plans this week. Summer is drawing near and I'm looking forward to it. But I'm trying not to look forward too much. I might miss something important right now.
of our weekend:
{blue}
{red}
{green}
{brown}
{the rest}
Really, it couldn't have been much better.
