Thru the Lens

The first photo of 2012

2012-01-02T21:29:00.001-08:00

This is my first post of 2012 and my first photo...though taken with my phone. This, unfortunately, was my new (77 days) and favorite lens. I'm still sick over dropping it, but thankful my camera is fine.

Day 166--Peaches&Cream

2011-11-24T21:48:00.000-08:00

I'm still crocheting. I've been venturing into the natural yarns like cotton and wool. I love the look and feel of them and wonder why I hesitated to buy them in the past in favor of the cheaper synthetics. I may never go back. (I love the DOF in this photo.)

Day 165--Buoy

2011-11-24T21:40:00.000-08:00

As we were driving out of the Westport marina, we saw the water crashing up over the jetty and decided to get out to see what we could capture in pixels. This is my favorite of those images.

Day 164--Weekend at Westport

2011-11-24T21:33:00.000-08:00

Recently, my daughter and I snuck away for an overnight stay at Chateau Westport. We had originally day-dreamed of going on a road trip through Washington's Red Mountain region or maybe even northern California to celebrate Kay's college graduation, but time and money just ran far too short. So we decided to head to the coast for a brief, but relaxing and "grown up" getaway. The hotel was nice. We got some good photo ops at the marina and then had a very nice lunch at the winery. After spending the afternoon treasure hunting in Olympia, we ended our trip with dinner at the Tacoma waterfront. It may not have been what we originally hoped for, but it was nice.

Day 163--Test Shot

2011-11-24T21:19:00.000-08:00

After purchasing my new lens I was excited to test it out in what has proven to be the most difficult location to photograph, my church. I was so pleased with its performance! No buyer's remorse here ... love, love, love my 50mm!

Day 162--Saying Goodbye

2011-11-24T14:07:00.000-08:00

Nathan was emotional saying goodbye to the first kitten to leave. This morning he had a good snuggle with this little guy before saying goodbye. Thankfully it was a much easier goodbye the second time.

Day 161--Family Wall

2011-11-24T14:04:00.000-08:00

Accepting the fact that we're staying put for the time being, I decided to dig out all the personal photos that I packed when we listed our home for sale. Instead of putting them here and there in places where they wouldn't be noticed, I created a collage out of them on our living room wall. They certainly do make a statement and I love that I can see the faces of my wonderful kiddos all in one place.

Day 160--Hello November

2011-11-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

I love how quickly the fall greens up our lawn. It looks so great in October! I also love how most of the time our winters are mild enough that it pretty much stays green (on its own) until summer. When I left to take Nathan to school at 8:30 this morning it was only 32 degrees with frost-tipped grass and a coating of ice on the glass-topped patio tables. I have a feeling this may be a winter when our lawn turns that ugly brown color from being so cold for so long.

Day 159--Happy Harvest

2011-11-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

Typically, I would have photographed my jack-o-lantern for my 365 Project, but this year time got away from us and we never got around to it. Halloween for me is really more about the pumpkins and fall colors. I enjoy a harvest display much better than Halloween decorations. They are in no way ugly or scary, and they can hang around through Thanksgiving. Anyway, I hope you all had a happy halloween!

Day 158--Three Little Pigs

2011-11-02T17:30:00.000-07:00

I wonder if this is Jacob's witty way of asking me to start cooking pork again! Haha! Seriously, I find things like this around the house in very random places. It always makes me smile.

Day 157--Little Man

2011-11-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I volunteered to operate a photo booth at Lake Tapps' harvest party. I learned something about myself ... I will never call myself a "children's photographer." I definitely enjoy older, more cooperative subjects. I simply refuse to make a fool of myself for a child who won't smile. Don't get me wrong, I love children. Just don't ask me to take their pictures! (Unless of course you're among those few ... you know who you are!)

Day 156--O.T.

2011-10-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

Occupational therapy has become such a big part of our lives with Jacob, that I thought it was about time to take some pictures. He moves from one activity to the next with predictability. Here he is climbing into a multiple-layered hammock which provides pressure input as well as a physical challenge. He is challenged to use the verbal communication that he learns with the speech therapist in this environment as well. It has been so good for both of us.

Day 155--Action

2011-10-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Just playing with some recently downloaded Photoshop Actions today.

Day 154--My Soccer Star

2011-10-26T21:57:00.000-07:00

One of Nathan's favorite things since starting school is the after school soccer camp. Today was his final practice before the jamboree next week. He's had a good time and is already looking forward to next time.

Day 153--Blue Eyes

2011-10-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

If you've been following my 365 Project, you know because of developmental issues it's a challenge to get this little guy to engage with me long enough to get a good picture of him. So much that I've decided to just do my best to capture the best of him as he is... and not as I wish he were. So it is a true joy to find this gem between the dozens of images of half-closed eyes and look aways. I'm putting this one on my living room wall.

Day 152--Homeless

2011-10-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

Monday morning, this little one had a loving home to go to next Friday when they're ready to leave momma. Monday afternoon, we got word that she and her sister were displaced. I wish I could keep them all... they are the cutest little things. But, I think ten might just be too many cats for one home.

Day 151--Nerd with a Camera

2011-10-23T21:29:00.000-07:00

This is the photo that has inspired the rebirth of Project 365. I love it because though it is not me, it looks like me ... the part about the camera and the weird "stance" and the random subject ... not the part about the nerdy guy wearing Carharts. Few know, or appreciate (or get excited I should say) about the best angle with which to capture a pumpkin. He's a master, as I did get to view the image. Way to go man. I'm proud to know you! (Incidentally, I'd love to see the image of me taking a picture of him taking a picture of the pumpkin, ha ha ha! I'm sure it was a sight to see.)

Temporary Hiatus

2011-03-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy for the past week that my camera hasn't left its bag. I don't see any respite until next Sunday so I'm taking a short break from Project 365. I'll resume Sunday, March 20th with Day 151. See you then.

Day 150--Blogging for Books

2011-03-07T22:25:00.000-08:00

Those who enjoy reading like I do will love this: a friend of mine forwarded an email invitation to this cool program called "Blogging for Books." It's a program through Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishers which allows readers to select books for the purpose of writing a review to post on the publisher's site and with a major online bookseller. The books are free and shipped to you as you finish and post your review. You can choose your genre and title, from selected titles of course, but I was impressed by the selection. Here is my first read: Radical by David Platt.

Day 149--Offer Day

2011-03-07T21:44:00.000-08:00

This is what a purchase and sale agreement looks like for new contruction ... a whopping 70+ pages of legalese. By contrast, a typical purchase and sale is five pages. No kidding! So needless to say, what might ordinarily have taken just a few minutes took over an hour. But it's done. We've made an offer on a new home! We haven't heard back yet, but unless the 45-day contingency is a problem, we should have a contract soon. Now we just have to sell our current home.

Day 148--My Lovely Daughter

2011-03-07T21:31:00.000-08:00

For the record, I did not take this photo. This one was taken by my daughter's boyfriend. I merely asked permission to "play" with it. This is my first stab at correcting her skin tone and removing redness. Here is the photo before (feel free to comment):

Day 147--El Gaucho

2011-03-07T21:13:00.000-08:00

For our tenth anniversary, we went to dinner at El Gaucho in Tacoma. We have gone to Stanley & Seafort's every year since our 2nd anniversary so it was special to try something new. There is absolutely nothing impressive about the exterior of the restaurant, but once inside, it was very nice. We shared a tenderloin starter and a tableside caesar salad (made from scratch at the table) before being served our main entrees. Since it was our anniversary, we were allowed to choose a dessert on the house, so while we waited for our baked chocolate soufle, we munched on the fruit and cheese course. It was a very nice dinner made extra enjoyable because they were in no rush to clear us out.

This photo was taken in the back alley near where we parked. It was so kind of my husband to indulge my need to take a picture.

Day 146--Psychological Fluff

2011-03-07T20:50:00.000-08:00

We've looked at enough homes by now to experience first-hand the psychological effects of a carefully staged home. There have been a couple of houses that I walked into and was so impressed by the interior design of the home that I couldn't tell you what the countertops were made from or how many bedrooms there were. Now, I believe that our house is pretty terrific. It has a desireable floorplan and good "flow". We're even more sure of that after viewing other homes. But having been swayed by the psychology of staging myself, I decided that a little "wow" might just go a long way in influencing a potential buyer. So I've started adding what I call "fluff". The icing, so to speak. Over the years, I've hesitated to buy much home decor items because they typically don't make it through the "purchase filter". If I can live without it, then I leave without it. So, here's to throw pillows, artwork and accessories ... may they emotionally "hook" a potential buyer just long enough to get a full-price (or near) offer.

Day 145--More Guitar Art

2011-03-07T20:20:00.000-08:00

I printed a couple images that I took at a recent Roman Holiday show and put them on canvas to add to my 18-year-old son's room. I think they are pretty rad, but next time around, I'll paint the canvas black first, trim the photo to show the black "frame" and apply a better adhesive before adding a matte topcoat.

Day 144--Guitar Art

2011-03-01T21:42:00.000-08:00

In the hour just before our first showing, I very quickly hung a few, oh, not-so-teenage-boy decorations on my son's bare walls. Knowing that traditional decor probably didn't suit him, and while he tolerated the angels and candle sconces, I continued looking for more suitable art. Here is my solution. With a couple of guitar hangers, I mounted his electric guitar and bass to the wall. It's pretty sweet, but it's just the beginning. There is more to come. I'll photograph the room once it's complete.

Day 143--Gilead

2011-03-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

It's book club time again and yours truly is leading. Of course I had to choose a Pulitzer Prize winner. Each flag represents a moment when I paused to think about what I had read--which is good for an intellectual or challenging read--but in prepping for book club, all these "hmmm" moments made it difficult to narrow down what to talk about. The publisher's discussion guide was not helpful as it was a bit academic. I enjoyed Gilead for many reasons including its distinct voice and epistolary format. I'd recommend it only to those who enjoy reading for depth--as is true for most of the prize-winning fiction that I've read. They're just not books you fly through quickly. Incidentally, after reading a book like Gilead, it's time for a quick, feel-good read.

Day 142--Me, again!

2011-03-01T20:54:00.000-08:00

I donated a few photography sessions for some local auctions this week, so it's time to put together some tangible marketing materials. I've printed and framed a few portraits for display and created a brochure (with the help of my mother). It's a bit tricky to take a self-portrait with your camera when you need the camera to take the portrait so I used my Black Friday Doorbuster point and shoot. It's not great and if you zoom in you can easily tell it was a cheap camera, but for print, it works just fine.

Day 141--Tulips

2011-03-01T20:48:00.000-08:00

I replaced the Valentine roses for tulips. I love fresh flowers and thought it'd be a nice addition to all the cleaning and changes around the house. I hope we have another showing before they wilt. It's been a quiet week which has been bittersweet. The house is still clean. I'm still vacuuming and making beds every day. But I haven't had to do a mad dash out of here, and for that I'm thankful.

Day 140--Snow Day

2011-02-25T07:57:00.000-08:00

We had another snow day today. Nathan can't get enough of the snow. He stays out there way longer than I could tolerate.

This photo gave me an opportunity to test out another Photoshop tool. He has severely chapped lips right now! Here is the photo unedited:

Day 139--For Sale!

2011-02-25T07:50:00.000-08:00

We had an offer on the table already. It wasn't a great offer; but it was an offer after only eight days on the market. We are not under contract--we're still awaiting the right buyer for our home. And praying that the right home becomes available at the right time. As of today, if we sold, we'd be pressured into something we don't love ... so we'll keep waiting ... and keep looking ... and keep praying.

Day 138--A Pop of Color

2011-02-25T07:43:00.000-08:00

This is a slight color pop using Channel Mixer. I don't think Cece needed any help with her color, but the vibrancy of her hair and pink jacket was a great experiment for the overall effect. Here is the before picture:

Day 137--A Peacoat and a Bargain!

2011-02-25T07:33:00.000-08:00

My daughter was home from CWU for the long weekend which allowed us to go to Value Village together, which we used to do on Mondays (99 cents, yeah!) frequently before she moved to Ellensburg. In fact, I think this began in 2006 when I was pregnant with Jacob and didn't want to be spendy on maternity clothes.

I'm a bit of a sucker for jackets and accessories (probably just clothes in general if I'm honest with myself). I found this wool peacoat thinking of Kayla, but it was too big for her. That's a score for me! I think it was $3 after the discount. I love a bargain!

I think I mentioned before that a self-portrait is recommended about every so often during this Project365. It tends to occur on days when I can't think of anything else to photograph. So here it is ....

Day 136--Pure Foundations!

2011-02-25T07:20:00.000-08:00

We've taken a break from the Story for six weeks to focus on a series on purity. I like Jim Burns' approach to purity of body, mind, eyes and heart based on Mark 12:30 which says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." To be pure physically requires all four and when we focus on purity of our hearts and minds, the body will follow. It's written for a tween audience and so allows me to talk to my diverse group of 6th thru 12th graders. The high schoolers can track with me on Sunday Nights and then discuss their questions with their Community Group leader midweek. So far, so good. Tonight is week three--The body.

Day 135--Fail!

2011-02-19T23:18:00.000-08:00

On Day 133 I mentioned "gauge". Well this is why it is so important. This hat was supposed to fit a toddler. It fits my 9-year-old, so it's most definitely a flop. I will finish it with the flower embellishments that I intended for it, but I'm not sure who the lucky recipient of this will be. I'm open to suggestions. :)

Day 134--Roman Holiday

2011-02-19T23:05:00.000-08:00

I went to see Roman Holiday at Raw Space in Ellensburg. It was fun spending the afternoon with my mother and daughter (a student at CWU in Ellensburg). My 9-year-old got to tag along too, though number one on his mind was spending the night with his big sister. I tried a few new things and got some pretty sweet pictures during the show which is always fun for me.

Day 133--It's a Wrap!

2011-02-19T22:55:00.000-08:00

Yep, still crocheting. It's become my wind-down activity at the end of each day. I'm enjoying discovering cool, non-granny patterns for things (no offense to the grannys). This didn't turn out exactly as I expected, but I like it anyway! I'm still experimenting with gauge, yarn weights and hook sizes. Apparently, it matters. I've found my next project already. Moving on ...

Day 132--Five Minute Art

2011-02-16T21:35:00.000-08:00

As I lay in bed last night this came to mind. I had to run out to the store for the antique white paint, but everything else I had on hand. It's exactly what I wanted. Not counting drying time, it literally took five minutes.

Day 131--Baby "Bee"

2011-02-15T22:28:00.000-08:00

It was tough to choose just one out of the many cute photos of this little sweet pea. I just love the big yawn!

Day 130--Valentine Surprise

2011-02-15T22:21:00.000-08:00

I've been so wrapped up in the house lately that I haven't given much thought to anything else. Valentine's Day has always been a holiday that I'm never sure about ... do I buy a gift or just a card? One thing that makes it tough for me is that our wedding anniversary is close enough that I often think we should just skate past V-Day for a nicer celebration of our marriage on March 3rd. These past two Valentine's Days, John has surprised me with nice gifts. This year, it's a 16GB 60MB/s CF card (google it if you don't know what that is). It was totally a surprise and I'm thrilled! Oh yeah ... and roses ... and candy! So, so sweet!

Day 129--Listed

2011-02-15T22:11:00.000-08:00

It's official! You can find our home on the Northwest Multiple Listing Service as of Sunday, February 13th. It's all a little scary. There are so many unknowns, but we have a mighty big God and we trust that all will work out according to his plan. Hold onto your bootstraps. It's going to be a fun ride.

Day 128--Sweet Sanctuary

2011-02-15T22:05:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite room in my house. I actually researched the effects that color has on mood before choosing this pale green for the walls. It's very calming and comfortable. It's going to be tough to leave this home that I've invested so much time customizing to my taste.

Day 127--Work of Art

2011-02-15T22:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a close-up of the art piece I painted for the living room. Aside from the traffic signs and story icons that were copies from other images, this is my first painting.

Day 126--One by One ... almost done

2011-02-15T21:55:00.000-08:00

The dining room is done. I love this picture for how it captures the architectural details of the room from the arched entry to the tray ceiling and wainscoting.

Day 125--Centerpiece Cubed

2011-02-15T21:51:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd try a sand-filled hurricane in triplicate on the dining room table. I think it looks nice ... and it only cost $18!

Day 124--Deep Cleaning

2011-02-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

The cleaning frenzy is at full-hilt. Room by room, I'm transforming the house from designed for living to designed to sell. It's easy to live with little broken or damaged things, but when you decide to sell you begin seeing things trough a buyer's eyes. We have quite a few started-but-yet-to-be-completed projects that I'll try to tie up in the next few days at the same time I start reducing our accumulation of things. It feels good to clean, organize and get rid of all the extra "baggage."

Day 123--Toddler Troubles

2011-02-15T21:37:00.000-08:00

My 3-year-old has decided that it's fun to make a mess ... probably because he can exclaim "what a mess!" so proudly now after months of speech therapy. I'm not thinking it's fun at all. He's good about helping to clean up, but seriously, at a time when we're trying to clean and prep the house for sale it's just a little bit tiresome to turn around to a new mess every few minutes (without exaggeration). I started taking pictures of each little surprise to lighten the mood of the day, but was forced to ditch the camera for towels when I found a big puddle on the kitchen's hardwood floor from the refrigerator's water dispenser. Well, it's Monday. What else can I say about that?

Day 122--Crabby

2011-02-07T10:38:00.000-08:00

This is ... um ... he doesn't have a name. We have three hermit crabs that are left over from a 1st grade habitat unit. Maybe we should name them. I thought this a fitting picture for today because it best illustrates how I felt for most of the day. Crabby! In fact, at one point I had to stop what I was doing and leave the house for awhile to disengage and refocus. I'm so glad that I took that time to reframe my thoughts and pray which helped me to end an otherwise rotten day with a great night of ministry.

Day 121--The Search Continues

2011-02-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

The question of the day is, "Is this a home you'd want to leave your current home for?". Some of the homes we looked at were without doubt a big, fat "NO!". I'm not convinced we'll find what we're looking for out there. And this whole short-sale business makes me nervous. There are so many "what ifs." We're moving forward though in spite of the unknowns. We need to set some things in motion so that we're ready for some big changes coming this fall (not a baby!!!), believing God to fill the gap in our lack of understanding and trusting him with the countless details. I'm excited about the future for our family and what a move like this could do for us. If you're a praying person, please join us through this journey.

Day 120--A Dollar Saved Is a Toy Earned (and a lesson in giving)

2011-02-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

I've tried many different incentive programs with my kids over the years, offering small but worthwhile rewards for their help around the house or getting good grades. As a homeschooler, it's always a challenge to come up with new ways to keep the motivation up and the distraction down. During the earlier grades we used stickers and dollar store prizes, but as Nathan has gotten older, his interest in those toys has waned. So the newest program for this year is the dime and dollar system. For each task Nathan completes on time and without fuss, he earns a dime. For every ten dimes, he trades up for a dollar. Once he has earned five dollars, he can then trade in for real money and either a trip to the store or to the driving range with Dad ... whatever he chooses. This has taught Nathan how to save, first of all. He's had his eye on a certain $15 toy at Target for a few months now and decided he wasn't going to turn in his $5; he'd hold off until he had enough for his toy. But most importantly, this dime and dollar system has given me the opportunity to teach Nathan about giving back to God. He's looking forward to giving his $1.50 so that he can be a blessing to others. So sweet!

Day 119--Wishful Thinking

2011-02-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

I looked at a beautiful home today with amazing details and finishes in a fantastic neighborhood. I absolutely loved it. There's just one problem with it--the price. So, on to more affordable, less-impressive offerings. It's going to be tough to follow this one.

Day 118--Stocked Shelves

2011-02-02T22:19:00.000-08:00

The shelves of the Bonney Lake Food Bank are stocked for tomorrow's business thanks to some hardworking LTCC students. It was such a privilege to serve with the kids tonight. The Executive Director did a great job of explaining the ministry of the food bank to the students and included the entire group in prayer over a client who walked in needing help while we were there. Over 200 people will receive the food that fills the shelves. What a blessing!

Day 117--Clean and Purge

2011-02-02T22:10:00.000-08:00

In the business of my life, it's become too easy for me to overlook accumulations of dust and clutter in certain areas of the house. I used to keep the house immaculate, but now choose to spend my time doing other things (like taking pictures, blogging and ministering to students). I keep the main areas picked up and the floor vacuumed, but the rest--well, it'll get done when it gets done--right? So now that putting the house on the market to sell is on the table for discussion, I'm looking through different lenses. The house is going on 12 years old now and is showing signs of wear in certain places and signs of neglect in others. It's going to be a lot of work to make the house desirable, in my opinion. If we do this, I want the house to "wow" so that we minimize our chances that we'll have to wait 6 months for a buyer. I won't go too crazy yet ... we haven't made any concrete decisions, but I'll clean this house like nobody's business, declutter and purge anything that we just can't live without and at least enjoy the fruit of my labor even if we don't decide to sell.

Day 116--The Search Begins

2011-02-02T21:59:00.000-08:00

In recent weeks, we've been talking about putting out some feelers to see if it makes sense to try selling the house and moving to another neighborhood. We have many reasons to move and really only a few to stay where we are. Really, the market couldn't be much worse than it is right now, so from a seller's standpoint it doesn't make sense. However, you can get a lot more for your money which makes buying perfectly sensible and the fact is it's never both a buyer's market and a seller's market at the same time. I don't know if we'll find anything, but whatever happens tomorrow, we're confident that if God is in this, the timing couldn't be more perfect for a smooth move. We look forward to simplifying certain aspects of our lives and living in a more family-friendly area.

Day 115--Souper Sunday

2011-01-30T22:09:00.000-08:00

The view of the church foyer on Souper Sunday--the fifth Sunday during months that have them. This month's feature was the State of the Church--a time to recap 2010 goals and state goals for the coming year. It's going to be an exciting year at LTCC!

Day 114--Skully

2011-01-29T23:26:00.000-08:00

We had a nice visit with John's parents today. Each time we go, it seems Grandpa always has a little something for the boys ... whether a sheet of free stickers that came in the mail or some other little thing. Today, it was the skull cap and an air horn (oh boy!). Jacob usually tugs and pulls constantly on hats, but this one he was proud to show off.

A note for the photographer: For some reason my "auto" white balance didn't read this scene properly. Most likely the window behind him confused the meter; it wasn't overexposed ... just the wrong color. I looked at my color-temperature chart out of curiosity and sure enough, the orange (not amber) glow was caused by the incandescent bulb in the lamp on the table next to him. I corrected the color temperature before converting it, but this one's better in B&W.

Day 113--No Photo Day

2011-01-29T23:17:00.000-08:00

Sorry, but no picture today.

Sadly, I had many opportunities to take a great picture between the hospital visit, speech therapy, a quick trip to the mall and the birthday dinner, but the camera never left it's bag.

Day 112--A Special Gift

2011-01-29T22:56:00.000-08:00

Much of my inner dialogue is not self-talk as much as it is talking to God. It's a discipline that has taken time to develop--like 14 years actually. It's sort of the undercurrent of my life, the moment-by-moment prayer which helps me get through even the craziest days without my head popping off. The downside of this habit is it's easy for me to get lazy with focused prayer for others. I've discovered that spending time crocheting (rather than reading) allows me to focus my prayer on people and issues that I'd otherwise neglect to pray for because they "slip my mind." So of course with the arrival of a new baby, I had to take a stab at a newborn hat. Each stitch represents a prayer said on behalf of the little one and her parents. This little hat was not only a pleasure to make, it was nice to spend that time praying for the little girl who receives it.

Day 111--Mommy Visit

2011-01-29T22:34:00.000-08:00

I got to visit with my friend Megan today. She looked good, but "no pictures please." I can understand. I didn't want pictures taken of me after having my children either. It was so nice to see her. It's been a tough few days and there are a few more to come as they won't get to leave until Saturday or Sunday.

Day 110--A New Arrival

2011-01-29T22:15:00.000-08:00

A good friend of mine was admitted on Sunday evening for a scheduled induction. After much waiting and walking and eventually an emergency c-section, the baby was born Tuesday evening. In the interest of the family's privacy, I won't say anything more than it's been a real joy to be part of this journey with them, praying and anticipating the birth of their little one. They are blessed and I am blessed by being their friend!

Day 109--Stylish Phone Cozy

2011-01-25T23:43:00.000-08:00

Can you use "stylish" and "cozy" in the same sentence? I don't think I care. I wanted a case for my cell phone and because of the slide-out keyboard, there isn't a case that isn't just a pouch with a strap or flap. So I decided rather than spend the $20 on a mass-manufactured cell phone case, I'd take some leftover yarn (for less than a quarter) and a "lost" button and make one myself.

Day 108--A Call to Worship

2011-01-25T23:26:00.000-08:00

I took two pictures today. This and another of the younger guitar-guru Daniel which didn't turn out, so the choice for picture of the day was made for me. I always struggle on Sundays to find something unique or different to photograph. I am up early and off to church. After church I have time for lunch and then spend the afternoon prepping for our Sunday night youth program. Immediately after a hasty dinner I'm off to church again. I'll give it more thought in the weeks to come. I'm not even to the halfway point of Sundays on this project and I have to start thinking outside of the "box". Incidentally, Daniel is a talented guitarist and amazing lead worshipper. I look forward to worshipping with him twice every Sunday.

Day 107--Dusting off the Bikes

2011-01-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

These made an appearance for the first time since summer of 2009 thanks to Nathan and his new bike. It was such a nice day to enjoy as a family. We loaded up, parked downtown Orting across the street from the park and headed north on the trail toward the bridge. This was as far as Nathan's tired legs would take him. Jacob loved riding in the trailer. In fact, at the bridge before turning back I opened his windscreen to take a picture of him and all he wanted was for me to close it again and "go!". I look forward to spending more time doing this sort of thing as the weather improves.

Day 106--Progress

2011-01-24T11:59:00.000-08:00

These little eyes are precious to me. One of the reasons it's been so difficult to get good portraits of my little man is because he averts his eyes. Through close observation and therapy, we've concluded that because language is difficult for him, the expectation that comes from someone's eyes and facial expressions are too much for him to process so he looks away. Add to that the fact that when people talk to toddlers, their tone of voice and expressions are usually exaggerated and it's no wonder he's face shy. It's been an interesting process these past few months watching him communicate more and become comfortable with good eye contact and faces. We have a long way to go, but we're making progress. Praise God!

Day 105--Before & After

2011-01-21T13:19:00.000-08:00

I can come up with about a thousand reasons for not posting these super-sized images of my face, but I have a point to make ... so I will.

As I was preparing for my husband's shareholder's dinner, I thought it might be fun to take a before and after picture to find out a couple of things: first of all, is it worth my time and attention and secondly, to see if it's true that a little make up goes a long way in photography. I have to say, "yes, on both counts." I've never been a huge make-up fan, opting for the most subtle, neutral color palette possible. I've grown into my current routine one item at a time, beginning with just a little mascara and progressing on to what I've now adopted as my "5-minute face." (On a typical day I skip the eye-liner and bottom lashes, but this picture was for an evening event.)

The bigger point I want to make is this: when you show up for a photography session, you want to look your best. Take a few extra minutes and add a little definition (if not, color) to your features. A little bit of mascara will make your eyes pop (not to mention help out the photographer with the old rule of focusing on the subject's eyelashes). A little brow wax will define your browline. A little blush will give a nice natural-looking glow and lip gloss will add shine to your lips.

For the guys: shave, trim your eyebrows and a little concealer won't hurt you if you have red or blotchy skin. Photoshop is great, but time is money with photo editing. My biggest pet peeve with photographing men is that they seldom pay attention to their shoes. Make sure your pants down pool around your ankles on top of big, ugly athletic shoes.

I've asked my subjects to do these things in the past and the small time investment and attention to details has resulted in some beautiful portraits.

Day 104--Totally Tam

2011-01-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

I finished my latest crochet project. Every stitch on this hat was new to me. I feel so accomplished! I can now call myself an 'intermediate.' It's a little stiff because of the yarn I chose, but I think once it goes through the washer, it'll soften up a bit. I love the style and the color. I may add an embellishment to the rim.

Day 103--The Soul of Starbucks

2011-01-19T23:16:00.000-08:00

I saw a post on Facebook the other day that read, "Starbucks has no soul." At one time, the name Starbucks represented nothing more than a good cup of coffee, at least to me. I'd grab a Mocha on the run and only rarely walked through the doors. If I actually sat in a chair it was probably for an after-dinner-don't-want-to-go-home-yet cup of coffee with my husband.

In the past two years or so, my perception of Starbucks has changed. It has developed soul, I could say by definition. Soul is the essence of a living thing. Now I know that Starbucks is not a living thing, but it most certainly has an essence. Philosophically, the essence is the set of attributes that make something what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it loses its identity. (Thanks, Wikipedia!) The essence of Starbucks in my life can be summed up by one word: relationship. It is there that I have begun, nurtured and seen deep and meaningful relationships emerge. Now, on most visits I purchase an inexpensive cup of tea, because my purpose for visiting is to enjoy the company of a student, colleague or close friend.

Maybe without people to share it with the poster was correct. But I think Starbucks was intended to be shared. Is it possible that those who call it Christian Crack are missing the point? It's not the coffee that's the addiction, it's the closeness of the relationships it represents. I could be stretching, but I'd say yeah, Starbucks most certainly does have soul.

P.S. This is not intended to be a marketing plug for Starbucks. I choose one coffee place; you choose another. I won't say one is better than another. They're just different. I just think it's pretty sweet that I have a place to go for the sole purpose of growing in my relationships.

Day 102--Color, Texture, Pattern

2011-01-17T23:19:00.000-08:00

In doing this month of collections, I've been forced to look beyond the obvious collectibles that most people think of to more unique and interesting things. One thing I like to do with my free time is browse thrift stores. I tend to gravitate toward the same things like books, glassware, and fabrics. I love fabrics that have vibrant colors, interesting prints and textures. These are a few of my favorite scarves. I don't think of them as a "collection," but I have more than just a few; I purposefully seek them out at various stores; and I don't buy hastily; it has to be special. I think with that said, it might fall into the collection category.

Day 101--Transformed

2011-01-17T23:04:00.000-08:00

I love the symbolism of transformation that comes from the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly. The Bible says, ... anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! This was good news to me once upon a time when nothing made sense in my life. I just went about the day-to-day with no real direction beyond my whims and it seemed pointless--meaningless--and certainly unfulfilling. Though others might have thought things were going great for me--good job, good money, nice car--none of it really filled the void I sensed deep down. Everyone knows the feeling--it often sounds like this: "As soon as I have (the job of my dreams, a husband, a home to call my own) ... then I'll be happy." The problem is that once we have what we want, we just want something else, or more. Anyway, I was done with the same business, different day. I was ready for the old life to be gone so that I could experience a new life. I had no idea what that even meant, but as I've lived out my life as a Christian (not just saying it, but actually doing it) I've realized what it means to be transformed. I'm not just talking about a new ideology or philosophy, but a whole new me. I'll never go back!

Day 100--The Power of Words

2011-01-17T22:36:00.000-08:00

As a writer, I realize that words are important to me. What I didn't realize, until I started looking for collections, is that I have them all over my home. You'll find them on plaques, on canvas, carved out of wood or cut from steel, but they are everywhere. In my office I find the words believe, love, live, grow, and life, to name a few. In my living room I have the words family, cherish and love. As I read the words displayed around the house, I feel their affirmation. Word are powerful. Proverbs 16:24 says, Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. I want my home to be filled with sweetness and healing, maybe words are the place to start.

Day 99--Muy Caliente

2011-01-15T19:20:00.000-08:00

I've sampled many hot sauces through the years and I've settled on good-old Tabasco as my favorite. I like to have the different flavors for different things. I use the mild green pepper sauce on breakfast burritos and quesadillas and I pull out the Habanero for my chili (chili can't be too hot). This is just a small sampling of the hot sauces in my pantry. Others include Blair's Death Sauce, Snake's Bite and Professor Phartpounders Colon Cleaner (courtesy of my friend and fellow chili-head, David Jones) to name a few.

Day 98--Build and Grow

2011-01-15T12:03:00.000-08:00

Not My Collection #3--Build and Grow Patches

This is another of Nathan's collections. He and John have gone to the free Lowe's Build and Grow workshops off and on for the past couple years. He has quite a collection of wood projects and patches. We attached the patches to the apron as part of a collection display for Boy Scouts. It's much easier than showing the collection of projects itself. These patches represent a lot of Saturday morning Nathan and Dad time. I can't wait until Jacob can participate too--very soon!

Day 97--Audrey

2011-01-15T11:56:00.000-08:00

This is a small, but growing collection of Audrey Hepburn movies. I like watching the Academy Award winning movies (Best Picture, mostly) and decided to start traveling back in time to watch the older winners. My Fair Lady, starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison, was the 1962 recipient for the Oscar. The American Film Institute named Audrey Hepburn third (Katharine Hepburn earned #1 and Bette Davis, #2) among the top 100 Female American Screen Legends--not because she's American (she wasn't), but because she starred on the American Screen. She was noted as being one of the most successful film actresses in the world. Though nominated many times, her only win for Academy Award for best actress was for her 1953 role as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday. I admire her fashion sense.

Day 96--Mission Memorabilia

2011-01-11T22:26:00.000-08:00

Each of these pieces is from a mission trip I've been on. I purchased the Matryoshka doll from a street vendor after two weeks distributing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to children in orphanages in Kiev, Ukraine. My trip to Ukraine in 2000 was my first overseas, international trip.

Also in 2000, I went on what was called a scout trip to rural cities in China. The bamboo container, which may or may not be used to store tea, is made from the knuckle of bamboo and (so I was told) represents one of the ancient emperors. I don't remember which one.

My first time leading students on a mission trip was in 2004 to Dominican Republic where we performed drama in the plazas. The maraca came from Peurto Plata, a beach community where we spent our final day of ministry.

The marble mask is from Mexico. The final item is the only item of significance. It is a piece of block from the foundation of a church that I helped to construct in 2005 in Union de Tula, Jalisco, Mexico.

Day 95--Almost Vintage?

2011-01-11T21:43:00.000-08:00

I've checked the definition of the word "vintage" and surpisingly, these qualify (now I feel old). This small collection of vintage pie plates by Royal China have recipes for pies on them. I'm not a true "collector" of anything but books, but if I found another one of this series, I'd buy it (so long as the price is right). I love them!

Day 94--George and Lady Liberty

2011-01-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

Here are two coins from a handful of pre-1965 U.S. silver coins that I have collected over the years. This 1939 quarter is worth about $3.50 and the 1941 winged-head dime is worth about 70 cents. The entire collection, as circulated coins, aren't worth very much, but they are cool to have. I'll give them to the kids someday.

Day 93--Smile, Jesus Loves You!

2011-01-10T22:58:00.000-08:00

Not My Collection #2--Bouncy Balls

While wandering around and wondering aloud about what to photograph today, Nathan said, "How about my bouncy ball collection?" I love this collection, not for what it is, but for what it represents. Each of these bouncy balls was earned as a reward for good behavior. Some are for completing schoolwork on time. Others are for being patient during shopping excursions. Some have come after a not-so-pleasant trip to the dentist or orthodontist. He's such a well-behaved kid, it's a pleasure to reward him. What a bonus that they only cost 25 cents.

Day 92--Cooking School

2011-01-10T22:45:00.000-08:00

I love food and find great satisfaction in creating good food. This is the reason I have so many back issues of magazines--I flag recipes. I actually have a pretty good track record for trying out the various recipes that I flag, I'm just not so good at tearing out or writing down the keepers. Anyway, I don't count my cookbook collection among my books. They aren't catalogued in my database and they serve an entirely separate purpose for me. It's hard to choose a favorite because they all have good and not-so-good offerings, but definitely the most helpful has been Martha Stewart's Cooking School (ever want to know how to spatchcock a chicken, I can show you thanks to Martha). The most consistent for good flavor, though sometimes a bit technical, is Top Chef: The Cookbook.

Day 91--Poppy Hills

2011-01-06T23:33:00.000-08:00

Not My Collection #1--Golf Balls

I thought it funny that my husband had a collection of golf balls when I met him. I had a lot to learn, I guess. For a golfer, maybe it's not unusual to collect golf balls (or pencils) from courses you've played. Well, like my own collections, his golf ball collection includes many souvenir balls that were given as gifts. My favorite is one that reads, "I once was lost, but now am found. -John 3:16"

I had hoped to photograph his favorite which is his Pebble Beach Resort ball. Unfortunately, Jacob has spent many hours playing with these and we couldn't find it. I will hunt for it tomorrow. The one I ended up choosing, Poppy Hills, is a course John played twice.

Day 90--Pitchers

2011-01-06T23:22:00.000-08:00

These collections are going to really challenge my eye and skill for good composition. I shot about 15 angles on these ... adding some ... removing some ... staggered ... from above. This is the one I settled on--in order of shortest to tallest. The short clay pitcher in the front was given to me by my grandmother who I believe got if from her Aunt, though I'm not certain. I'll have to ask next time I see her. The crystal pitcher just behind it was a wedding gift and is so heavy it's not practical to use it for anything but cut flowers (it makes a very pretty, and steady vase). The rest have no significance except for that I seem to have a weakness for them. I look at pitchers in the stores all the time, I like their different shapes and designs. I would have more if it weren't for the fact that I couldn't justify buying another one.

Day 89--For the Love of Starbucks

2011-01-04T20:52:00.000-08:00

So I have a few Starbucks cards. I've been collecting them for a few years. I don't often get a new design, but when I do, I add it to my collection. The plan is not to just amass a huge quantity of spent cards, but to create something from them someday. I don't know what, but when I figure it out, it'll be sweet I'm sure.

Day 88-Spoons

2011-01-04T20:25:00.000-08:00

What's funny about this is I don't collect spoons. They have been collected for me, beginning with a small spoon that Kayla brought home from Peru in summer 2003. We joked with some family that I had a one-spoon collection and from that point on they have been buying them every opportunity they get to add to my collection. My most recent spoon additions came from my mother-in-law when they moved from their home to condo. The oldest dates back to 1898.

Day 87--Books, books and more books

2011-01-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

I'm going to spend a month on Collections, and as the subtitle of my blog would indicate, they have to be my collections. Before I decided to tackle this, I had to figure out if I had enough collections of things to fill a month of days. I jotted down a list of what I could come up with off the top of my head. I have collections of things that I wouldn't even have thought of as collections and some of them are my husband's, but since he is one of the most important parts of my life, I think they count.

For those who know me best, you won't be surprised at all by my first choice (the plate collection behind grandma in Day 86 doesn't count): my book collection. It is one of very few I have set out to collect and have compiled (mostly) with thoughtul consideration from prize-winning fiction lists, The Best Books of All Time list, moving inspirational fiction, challenging non-fiction and some others that aren't worth mentioning. I have not read all of them yet, but continue to read through them at the same time I add to them. Recently, I was forced to remove some books in favor of more desired titles because I've exceeded 1,200 books and need to be more selective due to shelf space limitations. Those pictured are among my oldest books. The oldest is a 1911 copy of Jack London's Martin Eden about a struggling young writer (which I hope to read just as soon as I find a newer edition. I don't want to read my 100-year-old copy.) But my favorite might just be a 1924 seventh-edition publication of Emily Post's Etiquette: in society, in business, in politics and at home.

Day 86--Ninety-One

2011-01-01T23:35:00.000-08:00

Today, New Years Day 2011, Vesta the Great turned 91! We celebrated at a nice, 76-year old restaurant in Chehalis. It takes a lot of effort to get that old body up and moving, so I'm glad she made the trek out. And in 20 degree weather, to boot.

I'm shooting a collections theme for January inspired by a 2010 wall calendar that I had hanging in my office. The entire time I was at the restaurant sitting across from Grandma I was eyeing the plate collection behind her. I'd have loved to capture that in some creative way, but Grandma trumps plates. No doubt about it.

Incidentally, for anyone who is interested, Nathan named Grandma Vesta the Great after Alice the Great, the great-grandmother on the program Little Bill.

Day 85--Lost Craft, Found

2011-01-01T23:22:00.000-08:00

My mother taught me the basics of crochet about 16 years ago. (One of my goals for 2011 is to finally finish the 16-year afghan. Haha.) Anyway, I've picked it up from time to time during the past few years just long enough to complete a hat or scarf and put it away again. It seems to me, though, that this once "grandma" craft has gained popularity with a new, younger audience. I think it's cool to browse the blogs and online communities to see all the cute things people are making--and none of them using granny squares. Who knew? The words "bobble," "popcorn" and "treble" all have new meaning to me today. So, lest I bore you endlessly with photo after photo of my latest crochet-creations, I'll just sum it up with this last photo of the growing yarn collection. I've completed three headbands this week with another on the back burner. I have two hat patterns to tackle and love the idea of handwarmers. In fact, I've been looking for some for the purpose of keeping my hands warm in cold weather while still being able to operate my camera controls. I'd better get on it. I don't see myself sitting with my balls of yarn once the weather turns warmer. We'll see how long I keep the bag out this time.

Day 84--Project Headband (Volume Two)

2010-12-31T20:45:00.000-08:00

One of my multiple Megans came over for a visit. We chatted on the sofa with House Hunters on TV while we--hold onto your boots--crocheted, all afternoon and evening. We looked at patterns and dabbled in bobbles. Haha. This is my finished product. I'm quite pleased with this creation, though I now know that I don't ever want to do another project composed entirely of single crochets (it took WAY too long for what it is). On to mustard yellow and a new design.

Day 83--Project Headband

2010-12-30T00:29:00.000-08:00

I love headbands, but have two basic problems. First, I have a big head so I've had an impossible time finding some that stay on. And second, I have a hard time paying big bucks for things I can do myself for less. (That might be why I've dabbled in so many different crafts.) So after spending literally hours online looking at patterns, here is one I found. It was super easy and I think very cute. It requires a bit too much fuss for my taste with the three separate braids so I'm making a wide band to put the same flower on. I have other flower options, too. I may be doing a lot of crocheting for awhile.

Incidentally, this picture was very difficult to take. I wanted to show the headband in a way that flattered both it and me. If you've ever tried to take a self-portrait with a tri-pod, you know how hard it can be. I think I shot at least 30 frames before I settled on this one. I enhanced the color of the headband while adding a grain and lower contrast to de-emphasize everything else.

Day 82--New Arrangement

2010-12-30T00:12:00.000-08:00

For quite some time I've been wanting to switch our sofas to see if they'd fit better. This task occupied a good part of my day and couldn't have happened without the help of Josh and our friend, Charles. I think it looks great. The family room is much more spacious and the larger sectional in the living room has become our new family gathering space.

I've recently decided to start using some Photoshop tutorials to learn how to use the tools I have available to me. Ever since installing the full version, my Photoshop Elements doesn't work properly so I've been forced to use it for my basic edits, resizing and conversions. Unfortunately, the easy actions that are built into the Elements program aren't available (of course this could be because my Photoshop is 3generations old now). Most of the time I think I'd just rather see a naturally beautiful photograph and focus more time on exposure and less time on editing.

Day 81--Dragonese

2010-12-27T23:51:00.000-08:00

Nathan and John kept giggling in the living room so I thought I'd investigate. Nathan received the How to Train Your Dragon series of books for Christmas and opened volume six to the glossary, otherwise known as the "Dragonese Dictionary." He and John were enjoying learning "dragonese" for entries such as "bite someone on the bottom" which is "yum yum on di bum" and "headache" which is "ow-indi-brainbox". I think we'll enjoy the books. The plan is to read them aloud during our school days.

Day 80--Stanley

2010-12-26T22:00:00.000-08:00

These little engines are a big part of French family life. I remember watching episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine when Josh was little just over 16 years ago (he's 18 now). Nathan loved Thomas and began the collection of engines and Jacob has followed in big brother's footsteps. It's hard to believe that there could be one we don't own, but every Christmas a new engine joins the family. Stanley is the newest addition.

Day 79--Vesta the Great

2010-12-26T21:56:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning. This is my grandmother and my youngest son. I didn't take this picture, but when I was scanning my card for my picture for the day I had to post it. I can only imagine the thoughts going through her head in the moment that Jacob climbed up to snuggle next to her. I take in these moments with my boys, and I get them daily. For Vesta the Great, I'd bet it's even more precious.

Day 78--Jack in the Box

2010-12-25T22:14:00.000-08:00

Kayla has introduced Jacob (our Jack--not Jake, named for his grandpa Jack) to the joy of empty boxes. He climbed into this one which was barely big enough for him just as fast as Kayla could empty it. He had fun playing peek-a-boo with the camera which is much better the typical camera aversion. You can really see his big, blue eyes here. I love them.

Day 77--Gifts Aplenty

2010-12-23T23:45:00.000-08:00

It's the day before Christmas Eve. Seventy-five Christmas cards are done and ready to be mailed tomorrow and most of the gifts are wrapped (though I still need to find something for my hubby who wants nothing). Tomorrow is a very full day with food, church and family fun, fun, fun! By this time every year, our tree is usually abounding with gifts from close friends and extended family. At the end of the day as I turn out the Christmas lights and head up to bed, I am reminded of how wonderfully blessed we are to share life with the people who thoughtfully gave each one.

Day 76--Just Visiting

2010-12-23T23:32:00.000-08:00

I admit he's a cutie, but he is not staying. Josh's friend got a kitten for Christmas and for some reason he didn't work out. He'll spend Christmas with us, but thankfully we have already found him a new home. He'll be gone next week. We really don't need another animal. We have enough business with a dog, two cats and four kids.

Day 75--Cardboard Testimonies

2010-12-23T23:27:00.000-08:00

We shared cardboard testimonies on Sunday Night as part of a video project that the student ministry is creating for the January 2nd church service. I'm excited about sharing what God is doing with the youth at Lake Tapps in this way. I expect it to be an emotional minute and a half. Bring a tissue.

Day 74--I Heart Christmas

2010-12-22T10:20:00.000-08:00

It's the Monday before Christmas. I still have a ton of things to do, like print and mail our Christmas cards and shop for my hubby and parents. I want to bake sugar cookies with my kids and have coffee with friends. I want to watch movies and drink tea with my daughter. I have gifts to wrap and meals to prepare. And of course I still have to rehearse my act for our annual Christmas Eve Talent Show--(formerly known as the "no-talent" show). I'm sure my to-do list for the week isn't much different than anyone else's (except for maybe the talent show). The list is long, and when I look at it in its entirety, it can seem overwhelming. So I'll tackle it as I do with most other things in life...with the ultimate goal before me I'll take one day, one task at a time. There is just no sense in becoming mired in the tasks of sharing Christmas with loved ones if we can't just sit and simply love them.

Day 73--Jacob

2010-12-22T09:58:00.000-08:00

One frame from our super-fast family photo session. It's really tough photographing my own family in this way. I love being creative, but they would prefer we just take a group picture and be done with it. Not to mention, Jacob is a bugger about it. We had to turn him upside-down in order to get a genuine, happy smile. So maybe next year we'll go back to the spontaneous and quick picture in front of the tree...maybe!

Day 72--Baby Bump

2010-12-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

I spent a good part of the day with my friends Megan and Joe taking their maternity pictures. It was a lot of fun! I'm so excited to be sharing in their journey to becoming Mommy and Daddy to this precious little one. I can't wait to meet her.

Day 71--Mi

2010-12-17T22:45:00.000-08:00

Playing with my new hat and an idea for a self portrait (sort of).

Day 70--Our Family Verse

2010-12-17T22:43:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time I searched high and low for this plaque. Now I see it everywhere. It is important to me that we have God's Word displayed in our home. This has always been an important verse to me because it's a declaration of a personal choice to serve the Lord. Earlier in Joshua 24:15 it says, "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..." We make this choice daily as we make decisions about what we do, who we will see, what we will talk about, how to spend our money and more. I don't know about you but I fall short of choosing wisely some days as I put myself before others or fail to prioritize my time and spending. I am glad to have this reminder in a prominent place in my home and my heart.

Day 69--Little Houseguest

2010-12-15T21:08:00.000-08:00

This little guy is my grand-nephew, Colton. He and his mom will be staying with us for a bit. Nathan has a way of getting these huge smiles out of him. What a cutie!