16/366

Junk Yard

Several months ago someone in one of my photo groups organized a field trip to what she thought was a junk yard.  It was actually a scrap metal yard, so it was basically filled with piles and mountains of scrap metal in various stages of ruin and decay.   We spent a few hours wandering around making images.  The interest was in the details.  

15/366

Cement Wall

This wall is outside the now defunct train station in town.  I just heard the story today about how the wall was built because the train tracks used to flood when it rained hard and trains would have to wait until the flood waters receded.  So the tracks were raised up and this wall is part of the support of the raised tracks.  

I love the vine branches. There's just something so appealing about bare branches in the fall and winter.  Obviously in the summer the wall is covered in vines which is also beautiful. 

14/366

 Family Portrait Update

This great family came in today to have their family portrait made, in order to update it since their previous portrait, however many years ago that was.

They're a pretty laid-back group so there were little to no shenanigans during the session.  Sometimes shenanigans make for good photos and sometimes they make for a stressed-out photographer.

This session was a little of this and a lot of that.

I consider it a successful session.

13/366

Another Lawn Display

As I was walking home today I saw another totally cute Christmas lawn display.

Most of the time less is definitely more.

12/366

Thanksgiving Day 2020

Yesterday was Thanksgiving.  There is so much to be thankful for.  God still reigns from heaven and He blesses us in so many ways. It was great seeing these friends whom I hadn't seen in a while.  The food was delicious and there was plenty of it. I'm so glad I was able to spend the day with my daughter's family and the others.

After we ate and cleaned up some of us sat outside by the fire and spent a while talking and eating dessert. By then it was too dark to take photos otherwise I would have jumped at the chance to get some pics of us by the fire.

 11/366

Another post today, but I couldn't resist.  I went out for a walk in the late afternoon and was pleasantly surprise when I saw this display.

Who doesn't love Charlie Brown & Christmas?

(I especially LOVE the fact that there's no snow and probably won't be all winter)

 10/366

The Good & the Bad

I didn't have plans for today (the day before Thanksgiving) except to do a little baking as my contribution to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, but my daughter asked me to pick up an online order from the Carter's store.

The Bad News First

As I drove down the road I heard what I thought was the sound of a flat tire.  Ugh.  So I went immediately to a shop and sure enough, not only was the tire just about flat, but there was a HUGE screw in it so there's no salvaging it.

The tread on the opposite tire is pretty low.  The guy recommended getting two tires so they would match in tread and wear.  I decided to go for the entire 4 tires since the other two will need to be replaced in the near future any way.  I was expecting this to happen pretty soon, so now it will just be done and I won't have to think about it for at least a couple of years.

Now for the Good News

When I got to the Carter's store I couldn't resist looking at all the cute clothes they have for babies and toddlers. When my kiddos were little I was somewhat of a clothing snob (although not for myself) and I always shopped at a local children's shop.  I would wait until they had their seasonal sale and go in and buy the size I thought the kids would be the following year.  It always worked out well and I saved a ton of money doing that.

So I was looking around and I saw a display labeled Door Busters.

I found these 5 onesies for the amazing price of $10~~Carter's brand no less, and I can return them if my daughter doesn't like them, which isn't likely.

The grand baby will be 2 next summer and these will be perfect for her then.  SCORE!!

 9/366

Weekly Racquetball

Thanks to my friend who agrees to meet me for a weekly racquetball game.  We don't actually play a "game".  We just volley and concentrate on getting some exercise.

Racquetball has to be one of the best games ever invented.

 8/366

 Family Portrait Session

Yesterday I had the chance to do a portrait session with this fun family.

After making some images with their pets, we did a few with just the humans in the family. 

I'm so glad I decided to do this session in the studio~~it was a great way to contain the pets and the kiddos. 

 7/366

Finally Got the Strobe Slave

It's been over 20 years that I've wanted a slave system for my strobe light.  I don't know why it's taken me so long to bite the bullet and purchase one.  Maybe because I didn't really know what to get~~I'm so "gear-challenged", but I finally had help so I did the deed.

It's a Pocket Wizard and once I got the correct cord it was a breeze.  

Since I moved into a smaller space than I used to live in, I have very few photo subjects and definitely no models to work with so I recruited one of my houseplants to practice with.  

I have a family photo session coming up this weekend, so I'll post one of those images in the near future.  

 6/366

Fallen Leaves

Until about 2 years ago I lived in an area of the country where the Fall colors could rock your world.

Not so much now.  I feel like I'm lucky to see any color, but on the plus side, the weather is better here.  I spent some time today walking around one of the college campuses hoping to see some photo ops.  There weren't too many of them, but then I saw this piles of leaves.

This is hardly a world class photo, but it speaks of the season. 

5/366

Fun portrait session

Several months ago I had the pleasure of working with these kids on a portrait session. The little kids were tricky but I finally got some images I like.  I think the parents will love these.

 

4/366

Quilts for Cops

For the past 9 or 10 months I've been getting together with a friend once a week to work on quilts we're making.  One of her friends (who I also know) is part of a national organization called Quilts for Cops.  Volunteers from all over the United States make quilts which are then donated to police and first responders who have been injured in the line of duty. 

The friend started a local chapter.  Seven of us attended the first 3 sewing days.  Shortly, 7 quilts will be sent to 7 recipients.  How exciting to be part of a group offering tangible comfort to those in need.  The quilts are beautiful.  

Just one of the complete quilts.