this is one of my favorite places at home.  the corner of my back deck.  a branch full with leaves from one of the scary tall white oak trees that surround my house shades my cheap Target chaise lounge.  it is lovely indeed.  this is my view.

and miss nicholle’s

next week’s theme is smooth.  operator.  sorry, had to type it.

i’m late.  internet troubles yesterday…love Charter!  and a fun day of exploring at mr. wilson’s parents’ house today.  was able to go through a huge stack of vinyls passed down to mr. wilson from his grandfather and bring home some good stuff.  listening to a previously unopened Tom Jones album.  ah, Tom Jones.  i may not be a married woman right now if i had let on to my undying love for Tom too soon.  but anyway, onto this week’s little images…

and nic’s image…

next week’s theme is reflection.

this week’s theme was dirty.  i took a photo of the dirtiest thing in my life right now.  my poor house is suppose to be white.  currently it is more of a stripey tan.  tan that you can wipe off with your finger.  gross.  i should probably be embarrassed of this image.  eh…i’ll get around to pressure washing it one of these days.  after all the pollen has settled, i keep telling myself:)

and lovely miss nicholle’s image.

next week’s theme is little.

this week’s theme…movement.  i HAD grand plans for this photo.  aren’t you tired of me saying that?  excuses excuses.  i wanted to capture cars zooming by on a busy street at night.  but i didn’t.  ho hum.  instead, ayden zooming by on his bicycle.  close enough:)

and nic’s.  this is by far one of my favorite images of abby.  one of my favorite images of anyone.

next week’s theme is break.

p.s. it’s never too late to jump in and participate.  these posts look a little lonely with only two images.  sniff sniff.

i thought of a few different ways to approach the open theme this week.  i finally decided on a play on the word rather than trying to be super creative with the shot.  today Ayden played in a March Madness game at school.  by choice.  he was given the option and decided to do it.  this is a big deal because my sweet child is not a team sports player.  he has played a bit of golf, i’ve tried (unsuccessfully) to get him to play tennis with me, but team sports have never appealed to him.  he is not aggressive by nature and i think having people depend on him scares him.  he is afraid of failure.  this is an awful fear to have at such a young age.  i try my darndest to help him get past this fear.  not so that he will join a team.  if he never plays a sport, that’s fine with me.  i just do not want him to go though life being afraid to put himself out there.  there is nothing that will hold you back more.

so today was a big deal because maybe that fear is fading a little.  maybe he is realizing that messing up isn’t the end of the world.  having fun is so much more important.  and normally, there is always a lesson to be learned from that mistake.

so this week my image is of Ayden…with his arms in the air clearly showing his teammate that he is open.  but more so, today he was open to having fun at something new without the fear of failure.  proud mom day for sure.

and nic’s image.  check out her story here.

next week’s theme is movement.

little late this week.  i blame nic:)  this week’s theme was missing.

the obvious thing missing in my image this week is the frame without a photo (which the nice UPS man delivered to me shortly after taking this picture).  however, what is really missing is my ability to leave this wall alone.  i have changed the arrangement countless times trying to get it right.  the nail holes are embarrassing.  chances are i will change it again today.

and nic’s image.  check out her sweet story behind it here.

next week’s theme is air.

this week’s theme was authentic.  i think…well, actually i know, that when i picked the theme i was a little POed.  i was in a bad mood.  i found myself so tired of seeing the same things from photographers.  reading the same words.  seeing the same props, same poses, generic ideas.  i was feeling totally uninspired with happy clouds and rainbows (even though i shoot plenty of happy clouds and rainbows for clients).  these photographers keep banging out client peeks and announcing sessions they are headed to.  and that day i am received one too many client inquiries who scoffed at my “high” prices.  i promise i won’t stand on my soap box and preach about how if you book a bargain photographer, you will get bargain products, not just prices.  that’s a whole ‘nother post that i will never publish.

anyway, all that said was just to give you a little story behind the word.  authentic.  at that moment i longed for something real, something original.  something true.  not even the most fantastic idea ever.  just something authentic.

well, the next day i realized, what the heck was i thinking.  what the heck am i going to show in one picture that represented the “authentic” that i was trying to accomplish.  so i decided just to keep it simple.  a little peek into my non glamorous world.  my little work station.  in the corner of my newlywed bedroom.  full of random notes and Lego mini figures.  that i have beyond outgrown.  but it works for now.  for me.  until mr. wilson gets so tired of it that we find another solution.

and yes, my calendar is flipped to February…of last year:)

nic will be a bit late today with her post.  but check in with her here.

next week’s theme is missing.

this week’s theme was yellow.  mustard yellow is currently my favorite color.  it just makes me feel all warm and happy.  my image is of the scarf that i wore for mr. wilson and i’s wedding a couple months ago.

and nicholle’s image…

next week’s theme is authentic.  hope it is fun and challenging!

this week’s theme was happiness.  pretty general huh?  i tried not to get too deep with it.  happiness is pretty simple after all.  i am also just starting to play around with instagram.  so far i am only following one person…yanpalmer of Yan Photography (you should too if you’re into that sort of thing) and if i’ve got it set up right, keeping my images private while i get comfy with it.

onto my image.  Ayden out grew his red chucks recently.  now they are mine.  makes me quite happy.

and miss nicholle’s image…

next week’s theme is yellow

so i flaked out last week.  just not a good week.  will try my darndest not to do it again.  this week’s theme was shadow.  my entire house stays in a shadow.  even if we had more windows, our yard filled with gigantic white oak trees block the majority of the sun’s shine.  even this time of year when they are bare.  not to mention the crazy rainy winter we are having.  but today it is sunny.  and warm enough to prop my front door open.  one of my favorite things about our home is the screen front door.  i got it as a Christmas present a couple years ago.  one day i’ll have the old farm house to go with it.  until then, hearing the smack that echos through the house when it shuts and feeling the breeze that blows through it take me to that place.  and when it is sunny, all day, i have my own slow moving light show coming through that door.  makes me very happy.  yeup, i’m a simple girl.

mine on the left, nic’s on the right.  check out her blog here.  she always has several other people participating, which is fun.

next week’s theme is happiness.