colorado: these two.

I took a month off from this space.
I turned the big FOUR-ZERO back at the end of June...
We went to visit relatives in Colorado in early July...
And I just took some time to take care of me...
But I'm back.
More Colorado photos to come.

But these two - guaranteed to make me laugh.

summer skies

Alas, summer is over and fall is here. My favorite season, btw. Back in late spring or early summer (I don't remember when exactly) a friend invited people to join her in capturing the summer skies and then posting our photos for all of you lovelies out there. I decided this was a project I could get onboard with since I have my iPhone with me everywhere I go, and  I had done a similar collage back in December when we had some gorgeous, dry, sunny (cold!) days.

I may keep this up thru fall and winter...we'll see... 

a

linked 52: sunset (aka God's show)

God showing his Glory on a frazzled feeling day filled with a trip to the neurologist and back to school night for Max (who knew going to elementary school was so complicated now? - for the parents.) I stepped outside with my iPhone to see if the sunset was going to be good. I had done so the past few days in hopes of capturing a photo for the theme this week. What a wonderful surprise to see such beautiful clouds and vibrant colors. (And believe me when I say that these photos don't do it justice)

I wondered where everyone else was... How was it I was the only one out here in the culdesac admiring this stunning view? Max came out at one point, but that was only to show me the safety goggles his dad had given him (um, yeah, cool buddy...but look at that amazing sunset!) He quickly went back inside.

For some odd reason I am continued to be perplexed by the fact that I was the only one out there.

Surely God didn't mean this sunset just for little old me...

Surely he meant it for all of us...

My conclusion was an unfortunate one - that even God must compete for our attention these days; for our time away from our phones and iPads and computers and TV and books and dishes waiting to be cleaned and clothes waiting to be folded. For our attention from all of our worldly distractions, and our laundry list of things that just have to be done, and our busyness, and our thoughts.

Truth be told it made me a bit sad.

For even I came inside to a husband and son happily absorbed in some other activity, oblivious to the stunning, you'll-never-see-another-sunset-exactly-like-this-one-again, going on outside.

So my hope for your this holiday weekend - put down your "stuff", turn off the TV, gather everyone in your family and go outside. Catch God's stunning show. Ooo and ahhh over the colors and light and drink it all in. Your "stuff" and your stuff to do will all be there when you come back inside (yes, unfortunately the dishes hadn't miraculously been washed or the clothes folded when I came back inside...)

Then come back and tell me how standing small beneath a beautiful sunset sky made your God seem just so big, and how it made you feel like that show was just for you.

52 Linked 2012 A new theme every week.

Michelle, Tracey, Stacey, Heather, Jenn, Jessica, Amanda, Amanda, Kristin, Sara, Tracy, Lesli, Janet, Naomi, Rhonda, Rose, Carla, Heidi, Kristin, Heather, Amy, Liza, Veronica, Kristi, Georgia 

more to come.

More to come about our summer fun when we return from a trip north to Seattle.
And I promise I will post some color photos. ;-)

slice of life: camas days.

We went to our small town's little celebration on Friday, Camas Days. Good food, a few fun things for kids to do, a parade, lots of vendors, beer gardens and wine tasting. It was a fun time in our small, quaint little Camas.

linked 52: summer (the light)

Summer is always about the Golden Hour light. And we get fabulous, perfectly amazing golden light in our backyard. If only I could strip away the houses, I'd have the perfect place to do family shoots - the greenbelt that is our backyard. (This shot is far from glamorous or interesting, but I was painting and when I saw this light I put down the roller, washed the paint off my hands, grabbed my big girl camera, and ran out on our deck.) (How's that for a run-on sentence...)

52 Linked 2012 A new theme every week.

Michelle, Tracey, Stacey, Heather, Jenn, Jessica, Amanda, Amanda, Kristin, Sara, Tracy, Lesli, Janet, Naomi, Rhonda, Rose, Carla, Heidi, Kristin, Heather, Amy, Liza, Veronica, Kristi.

the end of summer.

This is going to be another one of my famous (or infamous...) random posts...

1. Our three weeks of hot summer weather has come to an end. I know that summer doesn't start around here until August, but come June I always think it should be sunny and in the mid 70s - perfect summer weather in my book. Summer came very late here...like the end of August late. And then she made-up for lost time and all of our PNW whining. Upper 80 to low 90s. It felt a bit like an inferno to me. I guess I'd wrapped my mind around the fact that we weren't going to have a summer and we were just going to head into fall at some point. Summer had other plans... And I am very thankful we have air conditioning.

2. I think I need new "fat pants." TMI?...Maybe, but I told you'd this would be a random post.

3. I also think I need a whole new wardrobe. What girl doesn't? (Don't worry, dear...don't worry.)

4. Ok, I can't have a whole new wardrobe, but maybe some new shoes?...

5. I'm mentally preparing for two days of laying flat on my back, in bed, on bedrest. Well, I'm trying to mentally prepare. It's one thing when you choose to spend the day in bed, lounging, reading, watching TV. It's a completely different monster when it's imposed on you. So, I'm gathering books and magazines and my husband is going to move the big TV in the basement up to our room AND move the cable box that allows us to have onDemand! I suppose I'll have plenty of time to catch-up on the far-too-many magazines I get. And browse Pinterest and Facebook and my Google Reader. {Oh! And I can't forget Words with Friends. I'm MissAR28. Come play a game with me!} So, when you all are busy or having fun Sunday and Monday, think of me...in bed...itching to get-up and move around. Thanks. Oh, and someone puh-leezz go to Starbucks and have a decaf, short vanilla, nonfat latte for me on Monday...and let me know how wonderful it was.

6. See my blog header?...yeah, I need a new one. Need to design a new one before I engage in item 5 on this list. The one above is a bit too summer-like. Need something different for fall.

7. We got our notice from the county to renew our pet license yesterday. It made me sad for a moment. And it makes me really sad if I think about it too much, so...moving on...

8. Oh, how item 5 would be so much better with Maggie around to keep me company...again, moving on...

9. My child has far too many toys. I need to go through them and get rid of a lot. He doesn't play with 60% of them. And his closet...I found a size 2T shirt hanging in there the other day. Guess I need to clean that out as well.

10. Have I bored you enough yet? I wouldn't blame you if you moved on to the next blog in your reader...

11. Speaking of books (see item 5), what are you reading these days?... One can never have too many books on their book list. :)

12. I finally called Verizon to check about changing to an iPhone. No go. I have to wait till I'm eligible for an upgrade, which will be next July. So the Droid photos will continue for another 11 months. Not that I'm counting...at all...

13. The photo above: sun tea. Love it. It represents all things summer to me. Not sure why, but it does.

Thanks for listening to my randomness. Words are not my thing lately. I used to be fairly good at writing interesting, poignant things. But since I finished Grad School and spent two years writing my thesis, I haven't done much writing. I think I used-up all my big words writing that beast. {But it was oh-so-much fun to write. Seriously. I "heart" college.}

Happy Thursday, friends!

the stars.

The shimmer of sunlight on a glass.
The soft glow of candle light.
The sparkle of dew on grass.
The glimmer of sun through leaves fluttering in the breeze.
The twinkle in a child's eyes when they are full of joy.

Stars don't just come out at night.
If you look closely they are all around you.

{Picture Inspiration Week 24 Shoot for the Stars}

{happiness is...}

Ice cream after a fun, sunny Monday.









Good to the last drop.



(Yes, that's a huge, white dog hair on the bottom of his ice cream bowl that belongs to Maggie's friend, Scuba.)
(And no, I didn't change my name. That's my maiden name which became my middle name when I got married.)
(All images SOOC.)

{happiness is...}

Happiness is a swim suit drying in the sun. (Since the sunshine and warm weather has been so rare this summer.)

blue.

Is it Friday already? with only one week left in June? I kind of feel like it's still spring since our weather is still very spring-like. Still waiting for a few HOT days of sun. Perhaps July and August will make-up for our cool and dreary June. One can hope.
I've been able to spend a little time playing around in Elements this week (after Max is all tucked-in bed, of course.) It's been fun. As you can see, I made a new header. Finally figured out how to use the fonts I like, instead of the limited fonts that Blogger provides. I love those ah-ha moments when you figure something out that's been boggling your mind forever!
I bought the above blueberries for the sole purpose of putting them in that little bowl and taking their picture. (Shhh...don't tell my husband.) And after I was done taking their photo I devoured them! I did a little processing in Elements. Not too much though. I'd like to be able to get my photography to a place where I don't need to do too much correction in Elements (not that I really know how to do much in Elements at this point.) And you will likely notice the different watermark. I'm not sure I like it...I'll probably be experimenting with different designs for awhile. I do know I want something simple though.
We've had a good week. Max finished swim lessons and is all signed-up for summer lessons which start next week. And I'm sooo looking forward to Vacation Bible School next week! YAY! Mini preschool in the summer, if only for a week. And the bonus is that it falls the week of my birthday, so this momma will really be enjoying those three hours of freedom next Tuesday!
Not much else exciting to report this week.
Thank you for all the nice comments about the Max mustache photos. I was quite happy with that series - technically and just because I got my little guy to sit still and pose for me for a bit. (I keep thinking if I had a girl she'd likely pose for me all the time and I could get her all dressed-up in cute outfits...but maybe not...)
Hope everyone has a nice weekend!
Happy Friday, friends!
A.