Just Me...

That Kind of Day...

2012-02-21T22:28:00.000-06:00

I didn't realize when I gave up the blog a few months ago how much I would miss blogging. On days like today, it really helps me keep my sanity ~ what little of it is left.
My arrival at the office this morning was followed shortly thereafter by a process server. At about 8:57 this morning, I was served a subpoena to appear in court at 9:00 a.m. TODAY! Since I already had clients scheduled until 8:00 p.m tonight, and no openings to reschedule them until mid-March, I ended up not having to go, but that just set the tone for the whole day.
Some nights are wine nights, some nights are chocolate nights, some nights are BOTH!

And now, bed.

Longing

2012-02-21T17:42:00.002-06:00

I took this last May. I know it's just weeds, but it so makes me long for spring and summer.

It's Almost Here!

2012-02-21T14:07:00.000-06:00

Spring, that is! I am so ready. We've not had a particularly bad winter, but about a week of winter, right around Christmas, is all I can really handle. I am beginning to see a little evidence of spring...

slightly behind

2012-02-20T21:49:00.000-06:00

I finally took my Christmas trees down this weekend. I had moved them into a corner of the family room, which I rarely use, so it's not like I still had the house all decorated for Christmas. I just have been so preoccupied with getting the kids moved in and getting moved in to my new office and getting ready for the baby, taking down the trees has been low on my list. And, it always makes me a little sad to end the Christmas season. But, since it's past Valentine's Day, it's time for it to end.
I always hang candy canes on the tree. It's a tradition that started back when I was a single mom, full time college student, part time employee. I had NO extra money so I couldn't afford fancy ornaments. Taylor and I each picked out one new ornament (another tradition that continues) and I'd buy about 5 boxes of candy canes. I used to save the candy canes, thinking we'd eat them, until about the middle of July, then I'd throw them out. This year, I decided to just go ahead and throw them out now. They are so colorful and pretty, I couldn't throw them out without a photo. I added a texture from Kim Klassen called "Granny's cupboard". Just thought it fit :-)

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

2012-02-19T09:49:00.001-06:00

I've not done this in months and I am so excited to be able to participate again!

I think I'm stretching it a bit for LOVE, but I do love this camera and I am so thankful to have it, but what I really love is the reason I bought it. Since I discovered a love for photography, I have wanted this camera but could not justify buying it since I am not and will never be a professional photographer. But, I told myself when I started having grandchildren, I could get one. I had no idea it would be this soon, but my first grandson is due in 8 days, and that's what I really love!

Not much to say about DUPLICATED. I kind of struggled with this one...

I think I kind of pushed the boundaries with TRENDING as well. I'm a rebel this week :-) I'm not really a trendy sort of person. What's trending around here right now (actually the center of my world right now), and I know it's trending at Ashley's, too, is anything baby.

Babies really are a theme around here now. My cousin and his wife had a baby on February 8. They had a little girl. Of course, I had to get her some cute little girl things and "wrapped" them in a cute PAPER bag.

Yes, I know these are called rubber duckies, but I think they're really PLASTIC.

Sorry...forgot to add the linky thing. It's been a while since I did this.

a tutorial, but not really

2012-02-18T12:13:00.000-06:00

This is not really a tutorial as much as it is for informational purposes. I'm not really teaching how to do anything, just providing some information. I've heard people talk of using reflectors for a long time, but never really thought they're that important. I ordered a new CF card the other day and just happened to see the reflector in the "you might also enjoy" section. At about $16, it seemed pretty cheap, so I thought what the heck, get one. It's two sided, one is white, the other is gold, and it folds for storage in this cute little pouch (although I can't figure out how to do it). Anyway, I gave it a try this morning while working on my scavenger hunt photos and it really does make a difference.
These photos are completed unedited (and way too dark, but it was early and there wasn't much sun coming through the window), except to resize for the web. What do you think?

I think I like the gold better, it seems to retain more detail than the white one. I think the white one might cause me to need to change my camera settings and I won't notice until I edit, but I don't think the gold one will. I bought this one from B&H photo. Here's a link:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/331759-REG/Interfit_INT231_Collapsible_Reflector_22.html

My day

2012-02-16T21:35:00.000-06:00

Doctor's appointment today. No dilation but 50% effaced. We then had to go over to the hospital for NST and had to wait about 2 hours before getting started on that. She is so ready to not have to keep doing this every week. And we're all ready to enjoy the baby!! Ten days until due date, but hopefully we won't have to wait quite that long :-)
This is what we spent most of the afternoon looking at...

getting ready

2012-02-14T22:14:00.000-06:00

Taylor had a doctor's appointment today and asked me to go with him, so I made a hurried trip during a long lunch to the doctor with him. He's doing fine, it was just a check up with his diabetes doctor. While it made for a rather rushed day, it did afford me the opportunity to go to the fabric store and the mall. My seamstress skills are very limited, but I did make curtains for the baby's room here, and am going to attempt to make a quilt. When I get the nursery done, I will post some photos of it. I think it's turning out quite nicely.

I say I went to the mall, but the only store I went in (and it has it's own entrance even though it is in the mall) was Barnes and Noble. I bought "Oh the Places You'll Go" for Taylor when he was a baby, and wanted to get a copy for Emmett as well. I also found "Go Dog Go", that of course, will be to Emmett from Ellee, and "I Can Read with My Eyes Shut" ~ all by Dr. Suess/P.D. Eastman. Dr. Suess has always been a favorite of mine, and the rhythmic nature of the stories are very soothing to a baby. Another book I found, that was new to me, is the one that follows in photos...

"I Love You All The Time" by Jessica Elin Hirschman & Jennifer Elin Cole
Illustrated by Bonnie Bright

I thumbed through it in the store and knew I had to get it...

I work lots of hours (but plan to reduce my work hours when he arrives ~ and I have a nursery set up at my office as well)...

And I'm sure there will be times, although rare, that I will have to tell him no...

I mostly just want him to know that even when I'm not with him, I love him all the time...

I used to read to Taylor while I was pregnant, and then after his birth while he was nursing, when he got sleepy, during playtime, well, just all the time. He has loved to read from a very young age, and is still an avid reader. That's one of the things that I just can hardly wait to do with Emmett...read to him.

We're less than two weeks from his due date. She has an OB appointment on Thursday so I'll know more then. I'm hoping for some dilation! :-)

Visitor

2012-02-09T17:33:00.000-06:00

This guy just started showing up to eat with my cats after Christmas, and of course I feed anything that comes up on the deck, so he was welcome. And he's so pretty. After about a week, one of my neighbors showed up looking for a lost cat. As she described him, I knew she was talking about my visitor. She was so relieved, and happy, when I told her he'd been at my house daily. He's not her cat. He belongs to a friend of hers who was here visiting from over 300 miles away for the holidays. He escaped the house one day and didn't return. Her friend had to go back home, sadly, without Daisy the cat. She explained that her friend saw the cat fall out from under a car when he was just a newborn kitten. He rescued the kitten, bottle fed him, and has raised him since. He was quite worried about Daisy. I've still not been able to catch him so we can send him home, but he is coming to eat regularly and is finally not running away when I step out onto the deck. These aren't the best pictures since I had to take them through the door, but I think his owner will be relieved to know that he is alive and doing well. And, he's made a few friends :-)

better day

2012-01-31T17:35:00.000-06:00

This always makes it a better day! I loved the way the steam was coming from the coffee maker with the morning light from the window shining through the steam.

sweet pea

2012-01-22T11:32:00.000-06:00

We're getting closer to my little sweet pea arriving. Only 35 days to go and I'll be a grandma :-)

Christmas card outtake

2011-12-04T23:54:00.000-06:00

Taylor agreed to do photos today for my Christmas cards. Even though he agrees, he never really cooperates. But, we do have fun...
One of these days I'll get a good photo for the card. I hope.

Sweet

2011-12-03T23:26:00.002-06:00

She just has the sweetest face...

AND, she is so silly...

Change

2011-11-22T16:37:00.000-06:00

I didn't realize it's been so long since my last post. It has been crazy around here. I am in the process of buying a new office building. It has been in my old house, but we have outgrown that building. I've been looking for a new space for a while now, and every place has fallen through somehow. This one just seemed to magically fall into place. I believe it was the work of the Lord. The building was built as a church, and the owners wanted it to be used to serve the community. The back part of the building I've remodeled into counseling offices, and the former sanctuary is being used for family visits for kids who are in foster care.
I love being here! It is very peaceful. We often see deer, groundhogs, etc., and there are horses pastured out back.

Delightful

2011-10-24T22:03:00.000-05:00

I took the day off Friday and had a girls day out with a dear friend and her daughter. We went to eat, then shopped a little, then ate some more. One of my favorite places for ice cream is Marble Slab. I ate some there AND got some to bring home. I brought home birthday cake and coffee flavors and they are both excellent. I still think my favorite, though, is sweet cream. I would describe it as just plain vanilla, but it is so much better than that. It was so nice to be able to just relax, enjoying good food and good friends. I think I should do that more often!

Beautiful Day

2011-10-22T22:32:00.000-05:00

Today was absolutely gorgeous here. We've had such odd weather - going from high of 80 to high of 50 overnight. Today was in the 60s and very sunny. It was almost perfect, although I think the rose and lilac bushes are a little confused. Today was the first day in several weeks, or maybe months, that I walked around in the yard and took photos.
Ellee enjoyed being outside, too...

2011-10-15T22:49:00.002-05:00

Kitten

2011-10-15T22:46:00.000-05:00

The color is a little off - little kitty looks greenish because of the reflection on the leaves - but it's such a sweet little face.

Torpor

2011-10-13T22:19:00.000-05:00

I've had LOTS of hummingbirds this year. I'd never heard of torpor until I came home and found this little hummingbird hanging from the feeder. I was just certain he was dying, but after a google search, discovered it's a rather normal thing especially when the weather is getting cooler. I think I've been a little like the tiny bird - I've sort of been in a state of torpor myself. At least as far as blogging and photography are concerned. I'm hoping to change that. Here's a little of the little I've done...

I'm back...I think

2011-10-13T17:15:00.000-05:00

A short time ago, I became very overwhelmed with blogging (and life in general) so I decided that I would give it up. While I am still feeling somewhat overwhelmed with all the changes going on in my life right now, I have missed blogging tremendously so I decided to try it again. I have no idea how often I'll post, or how long I'll stick with it, but for now, I'm trying it again.