Day 120

It is so interesting to me as I now look deeper into the detail of everything. Last spring I couldn't have told you what the hostas looked like when they first came out of the ground. I may have replied that they look like little sticks as I hurriedly run by. This year, I've found that they really resemble a raging fire, and that they are absolutely beautiful if you stop to look. 

Today I knelt down in my flower bed in front of the house, and took a picture of the peonies coming out of the ground. I saw them a while back, but didn't realize how quickly they've formed their leaves and round buds for the gorgeous flowers that will be coming soon. Taking a photo, I still didn't see the little ants diligently working on their part in this whole symbiotic system that helps the buds to open. They were that small! 

I think I can honestly say, photography has helped me look at the the details in not only our new spring growth, but it changes your mind. It changes how you look at everything. I am thankful to look at the world, God's amazing creation, with a little more detailed mindset and more appreciate the things I would have just flippantly passed by!

Day 120

Settings:

ISO 200, f/1.8, ss 1/400, 50 mm

Day 119

I am almost to the end of my Chronicles of the Magnolia. Hah. I am afraid I am a couple days too late to capture every stage of this flower. I'm a little sad, but this will have to be my opened flower shot. My dear, sweet neighbor will love the collage I am going to give her to commemorate the 50 years that she's had this tree this year. I've had a lot of fun doing this project, and I will post the collage when I'm done with it. I think I will wait until the last few petals fall, and get them on the ground. Hopefully I will get there before her lawn service comes!

I actually am working on another project, I was asked to design a bookmark for the church for Mother's Day. So, my photos will pretty much be vertical for awhile until I figure out exactly what I am looking for. I can always use older photos I've taken, but while I've got this on my mind, I am practicing it here! 

Day 119

Settings:
ISO 200, f/2.8, ss 1/1000, 50 mm

Day 118

How's it going, 365'ers friends? Our day was great! It was my husband's birthday today. We slept in, then I made cheese blintzes with fresh cut strawberries for brunch. We watched American Idol and Survivor that we DVR'ed the night before, walked out the door separately to 2 different games...that were later cancelled, and out to dinner! Now to watch who was kicked off of Idol tonight, then snooze-land!

On my way to the first cancelled game is a beautiful forest preserve. I love this little road that heads back into the forbidden "Park Rangers Only, Nursery Preserve" section. I stopped at the gate like a good girl, and walked up to it, and took a picture. I'm sure that's allowed. Gussied it up with a little photoshop just for fun, and voila! 

Day 118

Settings:

ISO 200, f/4.5, ss 1/800, 50 mm

 

Day 117

Things are going a lot better today! Thank you for all your cheery comments. Things are good. God has a plan! 

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21

Wasn't home much, didn't take many photos, either. Except for the Awana awards tonight which basically all looked about the same in the end. I should have trudged down like another mom up there with absolutely no shame! None. I just don't think I can sit in front of the front pew on the floor asking children filing off the stage to please stop so I could take a picture. I have limits!

We went to the zoo a few days ago. It was really nice walking around with the kiddos. I wanted to get some photos of the walkways, they were so pretty! This particular shot, I almost asked my daughter to move. But there she was, all caught up in what she was reading, that I just took it anyway. Didn't get the walkway by itself, but a wonderful photo of her in a beautiful brightly lit area, and I'm glad I didn't ask her to move!  

Day 117

Settings:
ISO 200, f/2.5, ss 1/8, 50 mm

Day 116

Today did not turn out to be the best of days. You know how you feel like something's not right for a while, then still still with it hoping for it to get better? Well, we did that, and it actually got worse. Our church let our jr. high youth group leader go, and it was just announced. The kids are upset, we are upset.... just sad. He's the best, really!

Not feeling like going through photos I took today, I am posting one of my daughter playing the piano. Here it is! The piano is such a Godsend! It's funny, when she is upset, she goes to music. When I'm upset, I clean. Since the piano is so much prettier than laundry, I am posting that. 

Day 116

Settings:

ISO 200, f/1.8, ss 1/30, 50 mm

Day 115

Almost everything at a firehouse is a great photo op. My camera was in the car, and I thought, "C'mon, I can't run for my camera every time I see something I want!" So I resisted.. for a while. I don't know what it was, you know how you have that nagging "I want the shot, but it's probably not necessary" sort of feeling? I walked back to my car, grabbed my camera and ventured back to the sets of endless shelves of hoses ready for action. 

They had all sorts of character. I loved the colors, the rugged quality, the faded numbers, and how they were lined up all ready to go! 

Hence, my Day 115 shot.

Day 115

Settings:

ISO 200, f/1.8, ss 1/8, 50 mm

Day 114

I hope you all had a fantastic Easter/Resurrection Sunday! It was such a beautiful sunny day today, the only drawback for us was that my hubby had to work. Luckily, he works only minutes from his mother's house, and that is where we celebrated our Easter dinner. 

We stopped back by the firehouse, and said hello. We also delivered some of his mom's chocolate covered strawberries. That made his day. The boys played basketball for a while, and the girls tried out their strength on the weight benches and machines. 

So, it would make sense, my photo would be the strawberries, right? Wrong. The lighting was all off. :) I went with the eggs from yesterday that were on the ground for the little ones to find at church. They were all so precious running off to "find" the eggs that laid before them. I had to do it.

I will also get back on the bandwagon for getting to all of your sites. I've been so swamped, I'm just lucky to throw a photo up here. Thanks for all of your awesome comments! I love to comment on your beautiful photos as well... I'll be around soon! :)

Day 114

Settings:

ISO 200, f/2.5, ss 1/2500, 50 mm

But, with all that said, I also had to throw in a picture of my 3 kids and my hubby. 4 people I love SO much! My family...at the firehouse...at Easter.