Family Sessions - Part three...the scenics...

Ahhhh...Michigan in the Fall...what a sight! There was definitely a reason why we chose October to do this shoot. Besides my son having a break from school (so he was able to come), the Michigan trees are an amazing backdrop for family pictures that time of year. After the family shoot we extended our trip a little bit and went up to Northern Michigan. After a fun day visiting my cousin Sam's Lake House and going out on the lake, we enjoyed the Ford Museum, the wineries near Traverse City and then Mackinac Island. So pretty! You may find one of these landscapes as a background for a composite one day!

Going back in time a little....

 

 Doing some blog catch up posts and going back to Mother's Day when I jetted out to LA for a quick weekend visit with my Darling Daughter! We did a photo shoot for me, on the beach, and one for her around Silver Lake, and all the street art. She has really gotten into street art since her move to LA.

I absolutely loved that weekend and cherished the time I got to spend with her. It's not often enough since she is all grown up and working in the "real" world these days. (If you can call LA the real world...haha).  She does love it there but misses a few things from home. Like me! And, Red Rocks! She will be coming back my way for a red rocks concert weekend soon. I. Can't. Wait!

Teri's Visit - Part Two

So, after a week of cleaning and moving and taking care of my dad and mom, my sister and I decided to take the kids for a fun day at the end of her visit. We chose the Littleton Historical Museum a wonderful little place that I took my kids too many times when they were small. It has a working 1860's farm and a 1890's farm. Complete with volunteers in dress and character. We met my sister's friend Becky there and had a great day. Of course, I brought my camera and got to take some shots just for fun instead of work. Rediscovering my joy and my sisters kids!

Easter...as it was..

Here

Here is five of the about seven photos I had to chance to take on Easter this year. In fact, these two cuties....my niece and nephew, weren't even supposed to be in Colorado for Easter. But....a few days before Easter my dad had to have emergency surgery. My sister changed her plans for spring break and made the 20 hour drive with two kids to Colorado. We spent Easter Eve dying eggs and doing all the normal Eastery things. After a scramble of just whose house we should have Easter at this year, it was decided that my house was probably just the easiest. Yep, we had 13 people for Easter dinner and all the traditional Eastery things for the kids, then high tailed it to the hospital to bring Easter dinner to my mom and dad. It was a bit crazy to say the least.

Then, my sister and I spent the better part of the week going through our growing up house in Lakewood, starting the process of getting it ready to put on the market for my parents. It's been a long time coming and my parents just can't do the stairs any longer.

So, for the time being they are staying with me while my dad recovers. Kind of chaotic around here but it's okay and so thankful that my dad seems to have had a very successful surgery.

I have lots of sessions and fun things to share on the blog in the coming weeks. We have been busy but the blog has taken a back seat. It's catch up time now!

White - 52 Clicks Project

Couldn't be better timing. Our theme this week is white and we get snow! Not much, but I hear a whole lot is coming tonight.

Not a fan of white here. I'm a color girl all the way. I love color images and don't like snow. Well, snow isn't so bad, but COLD is! White sand beaches are more my forte.

So, why aren't I living in Florida???? It is a dream. Winters in Florida and Summers in Colorado (except of a week of skiing in the winter). Don't know why, as much as I hate the cold, my favorite sports are skiing and ice skating. And since I am just as much a journalist as a photographer, here's the story to go with the picture. :)

A 10 year old Michelle moves to Colorado just as the winter Olympics are happening. And, who is the star of those Olympics? Dorthy Hamill.  Yes, the inventor of the Hamill Camel. And where did Dorthy skate? Colorado. I tried skiing and hated it at the time! But, ice skating......ice skating, was another matter. I LOVED to ice skate. I LIVED to ice skate. The beauty of dance and the athleticism of gymnastics all together on ice! Every Saturday my mom would take my sister and I to the nearby rink for lessons. I was flying through the USFSA basic skills lessons and getting my patches as my sister flew around the rink. Grace was more my thing, SPEED was hers.

But, those were the days of compulsory figures. Ice time and lessons became too much of a financial burden. So, my ice skating lesson days were over. Ending on rental skates, when all I really wanted with all my heart was a pair of Riedell ice skates in white with sharp blades. Not rental brown with banged up blades.

Fast forward almost 20 years and I find myself with a 4 year old daughter living steps away from the brand spanking new Colorado Springs World Arena. And guess what?! They are offered amazing deals on ice skating lessons for kids as part of their grand opening. Not only that, the lessons are taught by aspiring Olympic athletes living at the nearby Olympic Training Center! Score!

I signed Steph up as fast as I could write the check. And....she loved it! Like mother, like daughter. She flew through those USFSA basic skill lessons and got her patches, started private lessons and at the tender young age of 5 started competing. On ugly brown rental skates. 

She got second in her first competition and her coach said it was time to dump the rentals.  SHE was the one that got the beautiful white Riedell skates with sharp blades. HOWEVER, I had waited too long! I wasn't going to go without! When she got her skates I got mine! Not Riedells....still too expensive... but STILL, not ugly brown rental skates!

The skates made a difference and Steph took first in every single competition she did after that. And me, I skated during lunch hours at the World Arena for $1.00  a skate. Remembering those skills from long ago and picking up a few new ones from watching my daughter.

Then, we were transferred to Parker. Steph, at the tender age of 6 1/2, was at the point in her skating career where skaters need to skate before school, after school, every day and nothing else. We moved fairly far from any ice. She chose dance, and girl scouts, and soccer, and volleyball, and basektball and theater and choir and.......over skating. She outgrew her skates. We sold her Riedells and her flashy skating outfits to the next dreamer.

However, I didn't outgrow my skates. They sit in a closet until I pull them out, dust them off, and very, very, occasionally hit the ice with dreams of days gone-by. Or... just to take a photo of them for a 52 Clicks project on "White" and remember.

True Love - 52 Clicks Project

Christmas 1978. My first SLR. A Pentax K1000. Still a great camera from what I hear, and yep, I still have it! Along with another even more vintage SLR that belonged to my Dad. Then, there's my first film Nikon, and my first digital Nikon, and my second digital Nikon and my third........all sitting prettily on a shelf in my office.

When given the theme last week (I'm late!).... of course my first thoughts were of my kids. Yes, they are true love at my best and most purest. A love that the depth of which can never, ever, be explained  until you become a parent and experience not only the joy, but the fear, that comes with that love. I've heard it best explained as always having your heart walking around outside your body. Times three for me. But, I digress.....

Whereas, I do love my camera's and the images and art I can create. The darkroom....well, not so much. In fact, my dirty little secret is that my only D in all of college came in my photography class. Oh, those darkroom dilemmas! Perhaps that's why I didn't really, really, embrace photography until digital. The computer and I have a much better relationship.  In fact, if you ask my husband, a little too much of a relationship.

Yes, my camera, my computer and I make a happy little threesome. True Love at it's finest.

But wait! There's another love that has entered my life these past few years. With his English accent and dark good looks, he is vying for... and winning... my time and attention. His name.......iphone 4Gs. (with siri on sexy English accent of course!) It's nice to be loved.

Yummy - 52 Clicks Project

 This week's 52 clicks theme is Yummy! Good thing I needed to make a dessert for the super bowl party we attended on Sunday (Thanks Thom and Denise! It was a fun time as always!) I decided to make (and photograph) my favorite, oh so easy, no bake recipe. Every time I make it people ask, so here it is.......complete with step by step instructions (I SO need to add that Pinterest pin to the blog but feel free to pin!)


Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups crushed graham crackers

1 cup peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup margarine
1 bag on chocolate chips
sprinkles!

First melt the butter, and add the crushed graham crackers, powdered sugar and peanut butter. Mix well. ( I know this bowl looks nasty but the butter splattered when I melted it...oh well...you get the picture....)

Then, press into a 13x9 pan. I use the back of the spoon to get it pretty even. Melt the chocolate chips and pour over the pressed graham cracker mixture. Spread with the back of that spoon again. Top with sprinkles, just because it makes it oh so much more fun, pretty, and party like. And, of course everyone likes a party!

Once the chocolate chips firm up a little, cut, eat and enjoy.

YUMMY!!! And, EASY!!!! This particular batch lasted exactly one day. About the norm in our house!

To join out 52 clicks project or see what others in our group have done this week click here.