dense fog advisory
Have a great weekend.
Have a great weekend.
I stared at these tomatoes on the sill and then looked out the window at a few newly picked ones on a patio table. Just for a moment I saw the simple beauty of it all- red against green, spider leg stems and imperfect shiny roundness.
Then someone little came storming through the kitchen hollering about a lost crayon and the spell was broken. I ran for the camera.
More beauty:
Emily's shop is open! I love all of her work. Every single bit is thoughtful and deliberate. I love that about her.
Today is the big day for The Cup and Saucer Collective. It will be grand, I'm sure.
The webs that Shari saw. Oh my.
The little barn that Martha wants. And her printed fabric too.
I am loving these blues. I have gone back to that post of his a lot. Actually, I could fave every photo in Brian's flickr stream.
I could go on and on.
HELLO, my name is Alicia. Remember me?
I got a little Holga for Mother's Day, and I'm smitten. Here are a few of the photos from the first roll, because all posts must have pictures.
Surely you have noticed I've sort of lost my oomph here at the blog. I'm still around- working, taking tons of photos, and making stuff. I just often feel like I don't have much to say. School is about to end for the summer, which means even less time for staring at screens (which is a good, good thing.) So I have a few things to run past you.
Agenda item 1: I'm contemplating taking the summer off blogging. Or cutting way back. Maybe post weekly photo recaps. Would you all be completely bored I made it a word-free zone around here for a couple months? Would you click that dreaded unsubscribe button?
I, of course, am still a full-fledged Flickr junkie. And here's why: It's like blogging on speed. My friends are there! There's inspiration galore! Less words! More images! And there are conversations! I tell you, peeps. It's the place to be. Anyway, no matter what I decide, I'm always over there if you want to check in.
Agenda item 2: I want to restock my neglected shop, but I have found in the past if I bust my butt to get sew up a bunch of stuff and then it just sits there, it is very discouraging. SO, my question for you is- What shall I put in it? I've thought about making it all custom orders, perhaps personalized pillows, artist totes, work aprons, etc. But if the item isn't sitting there ready to go, is it still appealing? And how long is a customary length of time to wait for an order? Two weeks?
Agenda item 3: A shameless plea: Please don't forget us over at the Noticing Project. We miss you. Our stats feel tragically low and comments are too. We'll keep snapping whether anyone looks or not, but we'd really love for you to come along for the ride.
So that's it. The weather is perfect today; I must get back to putting laundry on my line. Thanks in advance for your advice!
xo.
I'm having trouble thinking of much to say, so here are a few more film photographs from Galveston. Unfortunately, I didn't take the film camera down to the beach even once- only the digital. Why didn't I?!
Wonderful Wednesday to you!
Hello. We are easing back into school today after our long break. It really was a terrific break.
I thought I'd share a few of the photos I took in Texas, starting with a little film.
The Star Drugstore in downtown Galveston- the first restaurant to reopen after the hurricane. (More are open now.) ADORABLE.
During Spring Break we took a little trip. Galveston, TX is rebuilding quite nicely after Ike. It was very interesting. I photographed these beach collections while we where there; I'm thinking of framing them together for our new basement.
color
black and white
itty bitty pretties
sea gull feathers
afternoon shadows
Have a good week, my friends!
Today I picked up a roll of slide film that I had cross processed and I love almost all of the prints. The film was expensive and 36 exposures so I was especially stingy with each shot- it was in the camera for a looooong time. Let's just say there are colorful trees and pumpkins on this roll. It's hard to decide where to start showing them to you, so I figure I'll start with a few greenies.
The weather today and yesterday has been A-MAZ-ING. I hope it lasts through the weekend.
Happy Friday!
p.s. Don't forget to keep playing along over at the NP.
We're feeling a little harried today. Busy, busy. Cleaning, cleaning. Fretting over big grown-up type words like refinance rates, county tax assessments, appraisals. Yikes. The boys are out tidying the yard while Miss N gets muddy- at least the weather is amazing.
N has herself a small rubber ducky collection going on. Her favorite is the one in the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader outfit. Oy.
I've been playing with Picnik the last few days. It's fun! I don't know why I haven't tried it before. Of course there's nothing there you can't do with Photoshop or Gimp, but man, it's so much faster.
Happy Friday!
I like 'em over easy.
Ooops. I missed day two.
The yellow balloon was really on the chair. But the coat rack was too crowded and un-photogenic. I threw all the coats and hats and scarves on the floor. So there you go. I'm a big faker.
top: a NP alternate
bottom: fancy breakfast for my sweeties. (make the crepes tomorrow morning without fail. I mean it.)
Happy Valentine's Day!
xx.
oo.
The thermometer said 4º F this morning. Yeee-ouch. That's not enough degrees. And the highs all week are in the teens with a little snow here and there. J is praying for a snow day.
The teepee is done! Go look at it! It's so cute. (I'm not posting a photo here because of my little McSneakyPants and my track record for accidentally leaving up the website and revealing surprises.) I used this pattern. I was hemming and hawing over it at book club the other night and my friend Char said to go find a pattern. Duh! It was time consuming but very easy. I CANNOT WAIT for him to see it.
Stay warm, kids. I need more hot coffee now.
Hello. Good morning and hot coffee to you all. ; )
Taking advantage of a little calm and quiet to take a s t i l l : body photo this morning. I wanted there to be a sense of weight, of tired heaviness leaning on my hands.
not an easy feeling to convey.
I interrupt this chilly Autumn morning with a warm memory.
The path from the house to the beach. Florida- July 2007.
(I miss the ocean.)
How are you?!
I've been busy, busy, busy: cooking, cleaning, hosting book club, dinners with friends, babysitting, taking photographs. This photo is from a holiday card photo shoot for an old friend from high school. I thought of it when I saw Shari's A Week of Paths. I think I might join in. I'll have to get creative from here though, maybe even dig through the archives.
I still have things to put in the shop and mail off, but I've just not had enough time to finish them. I promise it will be soon. And to complicate matters, I've become addicted to knitting. It's a scarf and it's slow going, but I love it.
I hope your week is starting out well.
A fine (film) Friday to you! I still love film. Oh yes I do.
Both of these things are agenda items this weekend.
* * * * * * * * *
Here's the deal: I'm taking. next week. off. : ) No blog posts, much less flickr. I'll still post my NP and Echoes photos, and I'm sure I'll check in on you all. I'm trying to break that magnetic attraction between myself and the computer screen- just a little. So friends if you need me, call or email directly. (BUT I will pop in one day to tell you I've updated my shop; I'm getting close with a few things.)
I'll see you back here on the 13th!
xo.
Nope. There was no Apple Picking Skirt. It was too chilly.
But there were scraggly branches reaching up to the sky, limbs low and heavy with apples, giggly hiding girls, pumpkin soup in a metal thermos, brie cheese and sliced tomatoes, a cool breeze and warm sunshine, 5 cameras for 2 photographers, one snoring girl on the way home, and one crabby one. (that's ok. the rest more than makes up for it!)
I'm not fretting over the skirt. I have a great opportunity to wear it this weekend!
It's no secret I'm having a hard time giving up summer this year, so I'm trying to embrace Fall's small gifts. The first little bits of loveliness I've seen: warmer colors and sideways evening light.
Oh, that evening light.
Happy first day of Autumn, my friends. (or Spring- you lucky devils.)
More *free* apples.
I'm feeling super busy, a little sniffly and a lot quiet, so I'm just going to post photos this week. Hope you all are well!
We'll visit soon. xo.
because we were camping we drove to our favorite trails for a hike
until it started to rain on us, so we went home for a nap.
the end of summer.
I'm having a hard time letting go this year. Must go drown my sorrows in left-over brownies.
Seriously, it's not that bad. We had the best weekend ever. And I am looking forward to just a little bit of free/work time. (Someone tiny starts preschool today.) Plus it's already Tuesday, so we've got that going for us.
But I'm not kidding about the brownies.
was it ever... sigh.
We had a wonderful trip. We camped with friends the first few days then by ourselves in a very quiet campground a few days more. We don't exactly rough-it, but we're not afraid to get dirty (and a little stinky!). It was perfect.
We swam every day. We saw bugs and a turtle and raccoons and bald eagles (oh my!) We hiked. Mid-week we ate a nice meal with Heather, Matt and Rachel in town. We hung around in the hammock. We stayed up late laughing. We went to bed early yawning. We cooked over the fire. We hated to leave.
Home for several days now, we've been moving in vacation time. It's been so nice. I love my little family.
The camping photos are all film, but I'm thrilled that my digital camera is finally home. The Noticing Project will now return to regularly scheduled programming. And I'll be back posting journal entries at Echoes.
Happy Monday, my good friends. Have a great week!
Oh my. Cross processing is good. Very good. The super-saturated color. I love it.
But it's good in the way that a very rich chocolate cake is good- with its super-saturated flavor. I must practice a little restraint. I think I need to shoot a few rolls of regular film before I try it again.
So, how does it work? I asked Hannah about it ages ago and then talked to Rachel. And this is the gist: you shoot slide film and then have it cross processed into prints. That's all. It works the other way too (print film into slides) but who has a use for slides? Not me.
Most of this roll has a nostalgic Summer in the Suburbs feel which of course got my wheels turning about a photography project for myself. So, I'll be quietly working on that.
And speaking of projects, there's another one in the works with some ladies that most of you know and love! Come back Monday to hear about it.
Have a wonderful (holiday) weekend!!
... a moment to myself?
please.
(name that 80's movie.)
Well, my dearest and beloved digital camera is all packed up and ready to ship to Canon for repair. May she have a quick and painless journey.
This is the film Rebel that my friend gave me. I have a roll of slide film in there now so I can try out the magic that is cross-processing. I can not wait to see the results. I have to really restrain myself from blasting through the roll haphazardly. Two more good things about film: slowing down and feeling the anticipation.
We're trying a little something new at the Noticing Project for the few weeks my camera will be gone. I'm excited and a little nervous, and we hope you'll enjoy it.
One last thing, I'm going over to my shop right now to discount the bags and the apron still available. They're doing no one any good just hanging unused in my studio.
Have a great week!
There's just something about film. A shallower depth, a hazier quality, a different kid of focus? I can't put my finger on it, but it's there. These three are a few favorites from my first roll of film. My girl in a flowered dress.
I was hoping for five good prints. Out of 24 there are maybe 10 that I love and 5 that'll do. The rest aren't so hot, but that is fine by me. The film was expired- I dug it out of the bottom of a drawer. It's at least three years old. It added some unexpected color to a few and a lack of color to others. One roll and I am hooked. This could be a pricey addiction, so I must take it slowly.
I started a Film set at flickr, so if you're interested you can monitor my progress.
Can't you hear all the old school photographers laughing at us, as each of us re-discovers the beauty of good ol' film? I can.
Hello.
Yesterday was officially a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. I did something really STUPID and now I have to send my beloved camera off to be repaired. It's damaged and it is my fault. It put me in a horrible mood all day, and I was mean to my babies which made me feel guilty, and then I had to have my teeth cleaned (which is no biggie, but it could quite possibly be the least relaxing place in the world.) I made dinner late and everyone was crabby and as I sat down to eat with them, I cried my eyes out. And they looked at me like I was nuts. So to cheer myself up even more, I balanced the checkbook. Just typing about it all now makes my eyes fill up with tears again. So silly.
Well, I guess now is my chance to try out film. I never had the old Fuji repaired, but my good friend Jamie let me take over the care and feeding of her Canon Rebel- which is very cool because the lenses are interchangable with the XT. I shot this roll of film last week, and I'm terrified to take it in. What a dope. And we're going to have to get creative over at the Noticing Project. We're working on that now.
I'm going to limp along with the digital camera a few more days because I need it this weekend. Some very special visitors are coming... I'm so excited. I am SURE that will cheer me up!
I joined Martha's s t i l l project this week.
my photographs:
a few favorites from others:
please click through to flickr to see the photographers.
and visit the group pool. There are some real beauties in there.
to summarize:
I love the down at eye level, naturally lit from the side shot the best.
A more subdued color palette appeals to me.
The most perfect (to me) photographs feel calm and quiet.
(I knew all of these things already.)
Happy Weekending!!
Hello, friends. It's late Spring in Kansas City and that always means crazy weather. We went out after a storm last night to take some photos of the amazing sky it left behind.
The weather is fitting for the whirlwind that early summer brings. Friends, play dates, swim team, baseball, dinner on the patio, popsicles, Boy Scout camp. It's all wonderful, sticky fun but it leaves little time for computer/studio work.
So if you read less from me, I apologize. Just know that we're here- the kids whoopin' it up and the mama happy yet dog tired come the end of a day.
xo,
Alicia
mother, child, bowl of raisin bran.
Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!! (we're hoping for dry weather.)
collects things.
for hanging out on the back patio.
Shop Mayfly update today, 2 p.m. : (3) artist totes
Wednesday, 2 p.m. : (4) artist aprons- I will post a preview photo on Flickr as soon as I get one ready.
Thursday, 2 p.m. : ??? I'm thinking. and working.
**p.s. I interrupt this beautiful day for some shameless self-promotion. Here's what some friends have said about the artist totes: Kathy. Grace. **
happy monday!
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.
The green fever is spreading.
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.
We're plugging away around here trying our best to enjoy as much of this ride as we can. I'd like to say THANK YOU for all of the kind comments you leave. Keep 'em coming! But forgive me if I don't answer as many or I leave fewer for you than I have been. It's just life getting in the way, and that's a good thing. Spending too much time staring at glowing screens can make a girl's eyes hurt, you know?
Tuesday we delivered a newborn rabbit to a wildlife rescue facility. His brothers and sisters met a brutal fate thanks to the neighbors' cat, and we just didn't have the heart to leave him for the same. Then yesterday we found this flightless fellow on our patio with an injured wing. Surely he'll die too, perhaps become a meal for a bird. So it goes. Needless to say, we have been discussing life and death. A lot.
What else have we been up to? Baking. Listening to thunder storms. Learning addition and subtraction. Digging in the dirt. Dancing. Hanging out with friends. Playing outside. Making stuff.
These are for our newest friend, Colette. The booties are from this free pattern, and the bib inspired by my incredibly productive and talented friend, Lori.
I hope to be back (in moderation of course) next week. Have a wonderful weekend!
I took this photograph last week for Street Project.
It's the view looking up Main Street towards downtown from the walkway at Union Station in Kansas City, MO. Now I know you've got a Main Street, so go take a photo. (It's fun.)
p.s. It just barely snowed Friday night, hardly even a flurry, and today we're back to totally beautiful Springtime weather. Yipee!
I had plans last night for a drawing with a smidgen of collage to include today, but instead I vegged out in front of this movie late into the wee hours. It's good- quiet and thoughtful, and Amy Adams is brilliant in it.
They're calling for light snow!! this weekend, so I have a feeling we'll be inside working on the never ending home improvement projects. Springtime, where have you gone?!
Thanks, Julie, for Color Week. Have a great Friday the 13th... I'm wishing you all nothing but good luck!
A photograph for Da. We love you.
In addition to each Color Week photo, I hoped to have one new handmade item in the same color scheme. It's only day two and I don't have anything finished. C'est la vie. Maybe tomorrow.
The last of the tulips.
I have been patiently awaiting the lilac blooms. They had just started to open, when it dipped to near 30º F last night. It may drop into the 20's all this week, so in a fit of panic this morning I cut big bunches of them and put them in water. Do you think they'll bloom inside even if the frost nipped at them? Come on, sad little fellas, I'm rooting for you.
Gimme a L.... gimme an I... gimme a L...
I signed up to do the 30 Day Challenge in March. The premise was simple: a photo everyday for 30 days. I skipped a day due to travel, so it bled over into April one day. There are some in there I love and some not so much. But I learned a lot about the new camera and myself. A few of these don't translate well into the thumbnails, so pop over to Flickr and check them out then let me know what you think.
There's something so immediate and rewarding about photography. It has the ability to freeze a moment in time and capture an emotion or a mood instantly. It enables us to examine more closely the shapes and colors and forms of one single frame of life. One memory, one vision, one second, one blink of the eye.
I'm hopelessly addicted.
Is there a Wilson Street in your town?
This isn't the photo I sent to the Street Project, but it's one of the several I took on Wilson Blvd today. I'm going to enjoy this challenge. It's making me step out of my photography comfort zone as well as my own neighborhood to do a little exploring and (hopefully) improve my skills. Thanks, Marsha and Shari. Wonderful idea.
I'm following Amy's lead today. I have a new Local Love. Kauffman Memorial Garden is just east of the Country Club Plaza here in Kansas City, and it is BEAUTIFUL! We went for a little photo shoot of the kids this morning and I will be going back often. It is close by and kind of urban yet all self-contained. It's not a playground. It's much more of a garden, but it's safe for a little running about. Take a coffee and your sketch pad, sit and relax or stroll around and enjoy the gorgeous ponds and flowers.
And don't forget your camera. : )
Left: Sneak peak of a painting for Grace's daughter.
I'll show you the whole thing after she gets it.
Right: Magnolia tree down the block.
We're enjoying beautiful flowering trees this year.
(Both images are clickable.)
Happy Thursday!
old plans: run errands, picnic lunch with friends, rake leaves, take a long walk
new plans: run errands, lunch at home, snuggle up for a movie, make granola
I fell hard for a house today. Weak in the knees and blushing cheeks hard. I have a thing for houses. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. (Hi, Angela. How are ya, sweetie?) This house wasn't my style really. But it was wonderful. Brian's newish co-worker had a party this afternoon at her (and her architect husband's) urban in-progress, mostly rehabbed very old home. It was the perfect combination of rustic and salvaged, urban and sleek, restored yet unfinished. Totally comfortable in every way. Around every corner there was a feast for the eyes- and camera lens- and I couldn't stop gushing. I hope they didn't find it terribly strange that I spent a lot of time taking photographs. It was all just too good. Well, I realize it was strange, but they're house people too. Obviously. So I know they understand.
** edited to add: Hayley says Jack can do this for you too! Jack Rees Interiors 816.931.9699 : ) **
Hello to my TypePad friends- I've been having a heck of a time commenting on all TypePad sites. I'm still reading, but I just can't say a word.
oh, my aching teeth.
The "love life" is my favorite so far. I'm reading it as full sentence. Love life. Some of these are getting a little smart, don't you think? I just ate one that said "go away." Nice.
Happy Valentine's Day, friends. Hug somebody, ok?
p.s. Thank you all SOOOOOOO much for the wonderful kitchen comments. Brian is tickled pink. xo
My girl uses many two and three word sentences now but there is always the most endearing pause between words as her mind searches for the right one.
Between 8 and 8:30 am is my most peaceful time of the day.
Today it was impossible to resist turning towards the warm sun and closing my eyes.
You guys... you warm a girl's heart. And with cold days like these, I can use all the warmth I can get.
Thank you so much for all of the amazingly sweet comments about J's birthday and his pillow.
You're too much.
J's pumpkin. A compost volunteer.
Last night was a wonderful evening. Book Club friends, I adore you all.
Last night also became difficult- we were up with a crying baby for several hours.
So today I am tired, but I will try to focus.
Today I will have simple goals: take a shower, play with these kids, have patience.
I will also rethink baby's bedtime routine. She's having trouble.
Maybe tomorrow I'll shoot for something loftier, but not today.
Take care, friends. Shuffling in for more coffee now.
a honey crisp apple at lunch.
thrifted red suede boots, into which she's finally grown.
more red here.
Walking home, we left at dusk.
He held my hand and visited with me the whole way, waiting patiently while I took these photographs. Unusual for such a busy boy.
It's only a few blocks, but by the time we got home, it was dark.
The lights were all on and Brian was setting the table for dinner.
Still no time to visit... tonight I'm sewing Halloween costumes.
Here is J's set of photos from our "photo walk." He took around 20 pictures and I picked out a few of the nicest ones.
Happy Wednesday (and probably Thursday!)
Good morning friends. Hope all is well with you. Just popping in to say, "Hi!"
No time to chat. Still toiling away, trying to get ready for our big party this weekend, but here are a few of my shots from a recent "Photo Walk" (which are actually walks/scoots/rides/strolls.) The fruits of my budding photographer's labor will be posted tomorrow.
Have a great Tuesday!
For Amy's Year of Color. What's more sky blue than the sky?
I was toiling away in the office/workroom the other evening and looked out the window to catch a glimpse of this beauty. J really wanted to go out to take a photo. (I think it may be time to find the kid his own little inexpensive digital camera.) The sun was just beginning to set, and it was the only cloud in the sky. It was breathtaking.
On a totally unrelated blogging note, I met miss robot jumping rope yesterday at the pool. She's adorable and sweet and it is downright eerie all of the things we have in common. Her kids are pretty darned cute too. We both commented on how strange it is to meet someone for the first time that you already know so much about. Small (internet) world.
Friday is red. I am breaking the rules with two pictures today.
My train man.
I hope these red aphid-y bugs aren't eating my raspberries!
I really enjoyed this Color Week. Stepping out of my snap-shot box a bit is good. Thanks to Mav, Arc, and Stephanie for the plan.
Have a great weekend, all. And happy Father's Day to the daddies!
Today's color is blue. I had a perfect blue photo opportunity yesterday at the ReStore, where Brian is now the Associate Director (yup, that's a promotion!) They have this great light blue vinyl couch in the kitchen and J was sitting there at one end drinking a blue Gatorade. AAGH! No camera. I should know better than to leave the house without it.
This morning I walked around and found some blue. I recently put this basket together of stuff to use when we eat on the patio, our outdoor "corner". The melamine dishes are pilfered from my parents' camp box. We used them when I was a kid. Click here for a few more of my blue photos and here for more Corners.
Continuing with Color Week, please meet Petey. Pete owns one of my favorite black things in the world- that cold wet nose.
He is the BEST dog. OK, maybe he's not the best, as in best behaved. He does naughty things like scratch holes in new cotton sheets. He climbs into the compost to eat rotten vegetables. He barks at every little noise in the house. And as it goes in families that have furry children first, and then the not-so-furry variety next, his status around here has dropped. But he's old, and we've had him a long time- 13 years this October- and as we consider the end of his days with us, we only seem to appreciate him more.
Tuesday = brown. I'm trying to change my viewpoint to discover something unexpected.
Big thanks go to Amy for the original pattern.
.........
.........
