Little Scraps of Magic

Happy Mother's Day!

I miss the Mother's Days when my own kids were just that...kids who poured every bit of their love into handmade gifts. I loved those quirky, colorful, funky, and decidely unprofessional gifts. Cost factor: minimal. Love factor, pride, and sense of self accomplishment: over the top!

Yesterday, Dom and I found ourselves in a world of "cheap art supplies," happily creating egg carton flowers. A bit of snipping with the scissors, washable paint (Thank you, Lord!), pom poms, and glittery pipe cleaners. A recycled creamer container, stripped of its plastic label, and covered with washi tape became a vase.

End result? One proud happy young man!

Happy Mama's Day to all of you...I really do believe that so many of us "mother" someone each day.

 

Photo Heart Connection: April

April's Photo Heart Connection nearly got away from me, and I would have been sorely disappointed had it done so! And, at first, I thought, "Oh, no. I really didn't take many photos last month."

Uhm, no, not so. Not even close. I'd forgotten just how much bumming Phil and I had accomplished. We put many a mile on our gypsy shoes....what a wonderful partner in crime, I've got!

So, tons of photos, right? And, here's where a little knowledge becomes a dangerous thing. As I looked at each photo, I began overthinking it....you should have used aperature priority mode here. This one? A faster shutter speed would have equalled a crisper shot. And so on, and so on, and so on. Or, as they say in "The King & I," etc. etc. etc.!

Lack of techinical expertise aside, I love this shot. It evokes time with Phil, just the two of us. Great conversation over great food. And, I love Frederick, MD...the colors, the architecture, and an array of wonderfully unique shops. (I did some serious damage at "Metro Retro!") Best of all? There's two...not one, but two....dangerously awesome chocolate shops. I patrionized both, of course.

Clickety clickety on the button below, and go a visiting. There's some seriously cool photography to check out, but better yet, are the stories that go with the photos.

 

Sunday Musings

Outside my window green leafy trees just pop against a gorgeous blue sky. I really do adore spring!

I am thinking that I need to just go and sit more often...to people watch, listen to the birds, and mostly just "Be." Why do I wait for "homework" to do? Within a 5 minute car ride of work, water beckons, as does this bench.

I am thankful for so much...this glorious weather, a chance to practice my photography skills, second hand books to savor, freshly brewed coffee, pansies and wild mint.

From the kitchen a sliver of delicious rich chocolate torte awaits; I'm going to savor every bit of it!

I am wearing jeans and a tshirt, my weekend warrior outfit.

I am creating something with my photos, and there's a deadline to be met.

I am going to my last photography class in a short bit; time to spend with Kara; time to share my photos and learn how I can make them better.

I am reading some light mystery novels, the kind that don't require much thought and that I can gobble up in an evening - sheer relaxation mode.

I am hoping that somehow I get to inhale salt air soon, laugh at the gulls, and eat some steamed clams.

I am hearing silence broken only by the tapping of these computer keys - some rare time alone.

Around the house, much waits to be done, and honestly, it can just wait. I'm in the mood to savor down time.

A few plans for the week - math tests to give and then correct, along with beginning all the paperwork that comes with the end of the year countdown. We have several weeks to go, but oh, that cruddy paperwork. Bleah! See why I'm savoring down time?

Happy Sunday!

So Many Buttons & So Little Time!

So, here's the deal...my Canon Rebel T3 and I are coming to an understanding. It possess what seems to be a myriad of buttons, dials, and menus, while, let's face it, I'm far more interested in getting a great shot. Somehow, when I hold that camera, all its capabilities should just fuse into my brain, seemlessly, and effortlessly, and I would possess such a great depth and breadth of knowledge, that I wouldn't have to think twice. My fingers would fly across the back of the camera, and I wouldn't be standing there thinking, "Ok, now how do I adjust aperture?" or "Oh, yeah, this button will let me change my point of focus, not that one."

Reality dictates that I need to practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

So, armed with my ever faithful assistant, a tripod (which also defeats me at times), various lenses, we took off last night for National Harbor to try to catch some shots.

Class assignment? Shoot some portraits, and I hoped to catch some faces in the crowd.

I set up the tripod, grabbed a telephoto lens, and focused on the giant's (The Awakening's) hand. Then, it became a game of patience, waiting for someone to climb or sit on that hand.

This little cutie wandered into the frame and obligingly posed. Since, I had stationed myself above on another street - along with many other camera armed folks - and I had already framed my shot, all I needed to do was reach over and click, ever so discretely. All the while, my aforementioned faithful assistant and I enjoyed a gorgeous spring evening!

Happily, I captured some other great moments, and I'll share those later.

My camera and I just might make a good pair!

Dinner at "The Fish Market" in Alexandria, VA, just a few evenings ago - a perfect spring evening to people watch, play with the aperature settings on my camera, and simply enjoy some time with Phil. Crab stuffed avocado...oh, yum!

Blooming outside my classroom windows - a gorgeous gift. As we work our way through Terra Nova week, I'm trying to focus on life's gifts. I have to admit, though, that it took  some serious deep breathing today to remain calm, focused, and to ignore an already crazy middle school schedule as it got even crazier.

Thank you, God, for students who remain cheerful and go with the flow, even when their teacher goes just a bit nuts.

 

Sunday Morning Musings

Outside my window, sunshine and spring are waiting for me to stick my nose out the door, and enjoy the day's gifts.

I am thinking about how silly I must have looked yesterday, standing, stooping, and squatting with my tripod, some pinwheels, and a child's marble toy - right next to one of the busiest roads in VA.

I am thankful for balmy days, new color in what has been a gray and brown world, and so much more!

From the kitchen, not much is happening, but it will be in a few minutes, since I can hear Dominic moving about. It's almost time for his grandpa to make some waffles.

I'm wearing my comfortable blue sort of chenillish type material, oh so stylish, robe from Walmart.

I am creating photos with motion, a new journal page, and some time for myself.

I am going to my next photography class this afternoon with Kara - going to get my photos critiqued in public. Oh, joy! Not such a bad lesson though because it reminds me of just how my students must be feeling!

I am reading blogs, internet sites, and books on photography, especially - you guessed it - stopping and starting motion. That is, until after today's class when I'll have a new assignment and something new to "focus" on. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

I am hoping for some understanding of what this guy is talking about. I had to do some serious reading and research after class; I think he forgets that some of us are beginners in every sense of the word, and that others of us have somewhat of a clue, but hey...we're in the beginners class!

I am hearing grandpa stirring now; breakfast is in the works with omelets and waffles to come.

Around the house is lots of cat hair; vacuuming is on the agenda today. It should have been done yesterday, but hey, I was playing with the tripod and camera.

One of my favorite things is steamed clams; my sister is at the beach this weekend and I told her to eat some for me. I hope she does!

Have a wonderful week, everyone! And, I do know that the picture has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but I like this gent's attitude. He's completely at peace with the fact that his hairdo has gone terribly wrong.

 

Capturing Motion

I'll fess up. I've yet to do my homework.

Two pictures - that's it. I just need to take/make 2 photographs.

I've done all the prep work, mind you. Yesterday involved 3 hours to, and then 3 hours back from, my aunt's funeral.

I did not lack for car time.

Armed with 5 or 6 photography books of all sorts, I read about capturing motion vs showing motion, and I've littered the pages with post it notes. This process involves shutter speeds and such.

I've always been an "automatic" sort of gal, and I've often blessed that automatic function.

Yet, my friends and fellow photographers urge me to "be the boss of the camera" vs. the camera being the boss of me.

A plan came into being;  Sunday afternoons for the next several weeks will find my daughter and me, armed with our trusty dslrs, in photography class, learning to be a not so automatic type of gals.

After several intial forays into the land of not completely automatic settings, I'm pretty sure the camera's won the first few rounds.

But, if I'm nothing else, I'm stubborn. I'm going to show that camera!

And, I have to admit that after six hours of eye candy, I've got a list of possiblilites with which to play...a very long list.

Yesterday, curled up in my sister's chair, I watched her curtains billow and blow, a delight of sheer white, curling onto itself, and I began to play.

I should have used the tripod.

I should have dug out my notes.

Impatience won. Lessons were learned.

(Lesson 1: Don't be lazy. Figure out the tripod.)

Still, I learned, and I'm beginning to figure out things. Hopefully, in time to do my homework.

On the way home, I continued to play, especially as we drove through Baltimore's tunnels.

No way to use a tripod here, and no way to keep the camera rock steady.

But, I love the possiblities of what might be, and I really do like these photos despite their myriad imperfections!

Kinda like it in sepia, too!

 

 

A Box of Crayons

Gypsy shoes? Check!

Color? Oh, yes!

Phil does the "leg work," so to speak, hunched over a keyboard, looking for places to explore...and then, off we go!

I need to 'fess up, here. Excursions to Frederick, MD, get repeated fairly often. The color captivates me - a world of color, each building a crayon in a box.

I love to wander through old towns; cookie cutter buildings rarely make an appearance. A liberal use of color does not offend or send the town's citizens scurrying away in horror.

Doors invite you to come closer and explore a bit, like this one, and ...

and, these, as well! Colors jumbled, begging to be sorted - or maybe left alone to play against each other.

A "Pop" shop. I'll admit it, I never called this stuff "pop" in my life. I never even heard anyone call it "pop," or at least not until I met and fell in love with someone from Pittsburgh. But, you know what? Even after 30 some years of marriage, I have yet to call this stuff "pop!" Nope, it's soda, down in Philly. Still like this sign though.

Hand me my camera, put me in the car, drive me to a great old town, and I'm in photo op heaven.

And, now, the brain cogs have engaged, and ideas are forming; I think I've got a plain for these pics.

Stay tuned!

 

Gypsy Shoes on Dog Beach

Here...

after clambering down a rickety set of steps

holding my breath and hoping not to fall

planting my two feet on Dog Beach

wondering if I can get out onto that pier

Here...

after winding our way with a few false starts

bathed in sunlight and inhaling the scent of the bay

Here...

playing with lenses

delighted by patterns and lines

wanting to capture the magic

 Here...

thinking I could easily live in one of these

yes, I really could

Here...

with you

gypsy shoes planted firmly on our feet

watching you watching it all

we're water babies, you and I

Here...

at the end of the pier now

and claiming this bench

Here..

nestled against you

delighting in the sounds of the gulls

taking pictures of my shoes to prove I was here

Here...

capturing shadows

capturing magic

capturing us

 

Photo Heart Connection: March 2013

I love this photo; it simply takes my breath away!

We weren't supposed to get any measurable snow; instead, we got a few inches. Not much, but more than the days we did get off...awaiting blizzards that never materialized.

So, while Phil scraped and cleared away the snow, I played with my wide angle lens. I wish you could have seen it - predawn means no or little light, so I kept running back up to the front door and waving at the porch light to make it go on, and then running back to get the shot before the light went back off.

Somehow, it worked! (No photoshop editing, either!)

 

Linger...for Just a Little While

I fell in love with chicken feathers today. Who knew these ladies were strutting such glorious arrays? And, let's be honest, the fellas too, as seen above!

Kara, Alex, and I wandered about Reston Zoo today, drinking in the sunshine and sniffing spring.

If you accompany a 2 year old to the zoo, that child forces you to let go of any agenda and any sense of control your foolish mind might dream up. What you think will entrance them or amaze them, rarely does...and things, such as bewhiskered ugly little runty pigs fill them with delight.

And, if you're at all smart, or wise, you simply let go. You meander in a zig zag fashion, ignoring some exhibits and repeatedly visiting others.

And, if you can let go of your agenda, your carefully planned path, and stop when your heart tells you, you become entranced by something as simple as chicken feathers.

They're gorgeous...colors, patterns, textures, you name it, these ladies and gents flaunt it, while quietly going about the business of foraging for food. Mother Nature throws beauty in front of us, gifting us with magic really, but we need to stop, look, and enjoy.

So, I sat, camera in hand, hoping to capture the magic, trying to work around the chain link fence, and wishing these busy bodies would just stay still.

Life is shifting a bit lately; I'm finding a new rhythm, one that's slower, more thoughtful, less filled with business mindless business.

We celebrated Easter with family and friends, each bringing a few special dishes to share. No one stressed or fussed.  We let go of baking 3 or 4 types of cookies, of a breakfast that while delicious, packed on the pounds.We let go of dragging out every decoration, simply enjoying some fresh tulips lifting their heads to the sun, and we turned the table over to play doh and painting. We slowed it all down; we enjoyed the gifts the day brought to all of us.

Mary Oliver says it so much better in these lines from "Invitation:"

   it is a serious thing

Just to be alive

   on this fresh morning

      in this broken world.

        I beg of you,

do not walk by

  without pausing

    to attend to this

      rather ridiculous performance.

You'll be so glad that you did.