Day 89/365- Easter Cross

EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens; 24mm focal length; manual exposure; ISO 1250; f/4.5; 1/13; auto white balance; no flash

Nothing much happening in small town USA

except work and the normal daily routine.

I did hurt my shoulder somehow.

I am not sure if I slept on it wrong

or what

but it aches like a tooth ache

and

I can't lift my arm straight out.

Speaking of tooth ache,

I am happy to report the site

where I had my oral surgery is 

almost completely better.

The piece of jaw bone that chipped

of during the extraction feels like it 

is being reabsorbed by the bone that is

growing back to fill in the space.

I am thankful for that.

It continues to rain and be windy.

I don't know how much more water

we can take.  

I am considering

making and Arc because

we may need it if it continues to 

be wet like this the rest of the spring.

The baby goats, Elvis and Presley, 

are being weaned.

We took their Mama

to Brian's Uncle's farm over the weekend

so that her milk would dry up.

Apparently, they can't be within 

hearing distance of the babies or 

she (and they) will cry horribly.

Have you ever heard goats scream?

Not pleasant, I assure you.

It takes about 3 weeks and then 

they can be reunited again.

The basement construction continues 

after a short break.  

We are now finishing the bathroom.

The floor is down, the shower is in, 

the drywall is up and now we 

have to paint and then put in the 

toilet, vanity, and sink.

Things are shaping up down there.

So, that is about it in a nutshell.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

I will be running around like a chicken with my head cut off

preparing for Easter and for Brian's birthday.  

This year Brian's birthday and Easter 

fall on the same day!

Hugs to all!

Tracey

Day 88/365- Pastel Abstract

EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens; 70mm focal length; manual exposure, ISO 3200; f/3.2 1/50; auto white balance no flash

Okay, so yesterday was not

a creative day

for me.

I was too busy throwing out

and scrubbing, and organizing

to worry about taking the daily

365 Picture.

So at 11PM it dawned on me that

I had not yet taken a picture.

I was not in the mood

but I also did not want

to give up my streak of 

88 days

and going...

So...

I pulled from my brain something

I had seen in a photography magazine

awhile back that was doable in a couple of minutes,

inside a dark house at 11PM

by a very tired and non-creative feeling

photographer.

So, out came a few household items,

my grandmother's glass juicer,

and the camera.

After a few failed attempts to do

what I wanted to do, 

I decided to take what I had and work with it.

I didn't particularly like any of the images I got

but I knew there would be days like this.

So, I made the best of it and, inspired by

the colors of Easter, 

I created the above abstract. 

The center is the center of 

my grandmother's glass juicer

(looking straight down on top of it)

and the bokeh is from 

dish washing soap bubbles

in the tray of the juicer taken

at a shallow depth of field.

Not the world's greatest photo,

but it was something.

And sometimes

something

is

enough.

**********

The past few days have been raw, cold, and miserable.

I hope the weather is better in your part of the world.

Hugs to all.

xoxo,

Tracey

P.S.   Sorry this took so long to post, but as many of you know Blogger was down for nearly 24 hours. *sigh*

Day 87/365- Zen

EF 24-70mm f.2.8L USM lens; 54mm focal length; manual exposure; ISO 125, f/2.8; 1/640; auto white balance; no flash

Zen-

a Buddhist doctrine that 

enlightenment 

can be attained through 

direct intuitive insight.

I am finding the need to 

slow down, take a breath,

prioritize, 

clean out, 

and 

simplify.

Simplify was my word for 

2009

but I am finding that since

2010

dawned, 

I have lost focus of the word

and 

it's meaning.

I am going to find my way back

there so I can find some

balance

again in my life.

I am tired of the petty stuff

that won't matter in 5 years.

No more wasting time or energy

on people or things that

are surrounded in negative energy.

Balance

+

Simplify

+ 

Restructure

+ 

Clean out

+ 

Prioritize

+ 

Organize

=

Happiness

Weigh In:  How do you keep your focus on what is important in life?  Do you meditate?  Make lists?  Pray?  Share your insights and practices with us!

Day 86/365- Take a Journey Back

EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens; 40mm focal length; manual exposure; ISO 125; f/6.3; 1/160; auto white balance; no flash

I invite you back to the days

when the biggest plans you had

were to play games and then nap.

I invite back to the the days 

when the biggest worry you had

was which type of sandwich was for lunch.

I invite you back to the days

when the joy of experieincing 

the day's adventures was considered learning.

I invite you back to the days 

when your feet left the ground 

it was because you wanted to see how high you could fly.

I invite you back to the days 

when you loved most everyone 

unconditionally despite their past or future.

I invite you back to childhood

for a brief moment in time

through this image.

Take my hand...

we are 5 again and we will 

jump together

and giggle.

Today is developing into a wonderful day

in part due to you stopping in 

and taking that journey with me.

I appreciate everyone who spends a minute of their day 

in my world...crazy as I am.

Thanks for holding my hand.

Have a blessed day!

xoxo,

Tracey

Day 85/365- Girlfriends

EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM; 70mm focal length; auto exposure; ISO 400, f/4, 1/60; flash fired

This year marks the end of my Ladybug's 

elementary school years.

*sniff*

We are very lucky to have our kids in a very small school.

When I was teaching, I had 32

5th graders my first year...

and there were 5 classes.

At this school there are only

2 5th grade classes and 

each class has about 16 kids.

As a result, there are many special

things our 5th graders get to do during 

their last year there.

One, for example, is the annual

staff vs. 5th grade volleyball game.

I had the chance to go and shoot the game

for the school yearbook and it was so bittersweet for me.

My baby is leaving her elementary years behind.

As always, the 5th grade beat the staff

and Ladybug was lucky enough to be

the one serving the game point.

She was ecstatic.

Here she is with one of her close friends,

beaming proudly at the end of the game.

The next couple of months will hold 

some difficult emotional times for me

as a mother.

She will be going through several ceremonies

that will be sure to make me cry as she

prepares to start her journey through middle school.

Middle school?

My baby in middle school?

Someone pass the tissues...

**********

Over at Nine Acres Designs blog

I have posted some new 

more masculine greeting cards

in response to all the emails

I have gotten about just that.

Some of you wanted customizable cards

with a masculine image on the front

more suitable for men

than the flowery pastels 

I have been featuring lately.

As you know, 

the customer is always right,

so I am working on a new

male line of cards, 

just in time for Father's Day!

Also, I am down to 4 spots left in the Floral Photography Workshop

at Longwood Gardens!  Register soon or you may get locked out!

Hugs all around,

Tracey

Day 84/365- A Little Treat

Lensbaby with 10x and 4x macro lenses stacked; manual exposure; ISO 3200; f/5.6; 1/40; auto white balance; no flash

Thought I would treat you to a little snack

today

since you all are so nice to me.

Grab a glass of milk and have at it.

The calories don't count

because it was given to you by a friend.

You're welcome ;0)

**********

Today is Friday and you know what that means, don't ya?!?

Week in Review!

Enjoy!

Some more from Ty's birthday weekend:
The Hard Rock Cafe

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

xoxo,
Tracey

Day 83/365- Bubbles!

EF75-300mm f/4-5.6;    Focal length- 135mm  Manual exposure- ISO 160; f/5.6; 1/1600     

Auto white balance  no flash

If I could save time in a bottle,

The first thing that I'd like to do,

Is to save every day 'til eternity passes away,

Just to spend them with you.

If I could make days last forever,

If words could make wishes come true,

I'd save every day like a treasure and then

I would spend them with you.

~From "Time in a Bottle"

Words and Music by Jim Croce

**********

Now that the snow is off of the ground

and the weather is spring like

it seems like time is just

flying by.

I find I am wanting to capture

the sweet moments with my kids

and put them in a bottle 

for those times when 

I need it emotionally.

Wouldn't it be nice to 

bottle that giggle,

pull it out, 

uncork it

and 

listen to the jubilant noise

whenever your heart needed

a

boost?

That is kinda, sorta

what I am doing with pictures.

I find myself not wanting to forget 

that exact moment

when Ladybug blew the bubbles 

for her foster siblings

who giggled like they thought

it was the most amazing sight in the world.

I want to remember 

the warm breeze,

the smell of the damp earth 

from the rain the night before.

I want to remember 

the birds chirping

and the 

patter of little feet on the pavement

as they chased the globes

of 

water and soap...

I want to remember

the way Ladybug

closed her eyes when she blew

so the breeze wouldn't pop 

the bubble against her

eyelashes

making her eyes burn.

When I look at this image

I can recreate 

and 

relive 

that moment 

in time and smile.

That, my friends,

is why I take pictures.

I hope your day was a blessed one.  

Thanks for stopping in.

You are always welcome here.

xoxo,

Tracey

Day 82/365- The Crystal Tree

24-70mm lens- focal length 38mm

manual exposure; ISO 250, f/10; 1/100

auto white balance

no flash

Have you ever seen a

Crystal Tree?

Did you even know there

was such a thing?

Ah, yes.

It is a little known 

scientific fact.

I believe the scientific name

for this special tree

is

Arborist Crystalist.

And it has magical powers.

If you stand under it, 

gaze into the millions of crystals

rub the trunk 

and say your wish

backwards

it will come true within a year.

I did just that

but I can't tell you

what I wished for or it won't happen.

Weigh In:  What would your wish be for yourself...not your kids, your family, the country or the world...a wish just for you?

Day 81/365- Floral Mosaic

24-70mm lens

manual exposure

auto white balance

no flash

Last night I was lazy.

Well, not so much lazy as 

exhausted.

I had gone to bed the night before

at my normal time,

but woke up 

agitated and uncomfortable

at 

12:30 AM.

I thought it was morning.

I tossed and turned

until morning finally arrived

hours later,

having never fallen asleep again.

The rest of the day passed in

a sleep deprived blur.

As the evening wore on, 

I happened to remember, 

thankfully,

that I had not taken a photo for the day.

I grabbed the camera and the flowers

I had around the house and snapped a few

images

next to the window

to capture the fading natural light.

I was even too lazy to decide

which one I liked the best

so I took the easy way out and made a mosaic.

The weather was

gray,

dim,

and 

rainy

too.

That didn't help the 

fog in my brain either.

But, the good news is last night

I slept well

and 

I am a bit more peppy today.

Hooray!

**********

I am giving away a free texture over at

Nine Acres Designs

if you are interested.

**********

And don't forget that the 

Nine Acres Floral Photography Workshop

at Longwood Gardens is just around the corner.

Only 6 spots remain open!

Thanks for stopping in, my friends.  

You are always welcome here.

xoxo,

Tracey

Day 80/365- Meditation

Tripod mounted

Self-timer

Remote shutter release

24-70mm lens; 70mm focal length

manual exposure; ISO 100, f/3.2, 1/100

auto white balance

no flash

Yesterday was a hectic day for us.

It did not turn out the way we planned.

At. All.

What was supposed to be a

fun family outing

turned into a stressful, not-so-fun

event.

When we arrived back home

I felt the need to center.

So I meditated.

The weather was divine,

which put me in the exact right

mindset 

for

meditation levitation.

Try it, it is fun.

And I promise you'll feel 

lighter

when you are finished.

;0)

**********

On a housekeeping note, 

I am begging each and everyone of you

to allow blogger to see your email address.

I have wanted to personally email so many

of you who leave such wonderful comments 

only to have blogger address it to 

"no-reply."

I can't tell you how sad this makes me.

So, please go to your 

Blogger Dashboard

right now

and click

"Edit Profile."

Then, click "show my email address."

Please, pretty, pretty, please?!?

I want to be able to have a conversation with you

and I can't if I don't have your email address.

I know others have posted this before too, 

so I know I am not the only one that likes

to personally respond to each commenter when

I have a chance.

Thanks, y'all!

**********

On a totally unnecessary note, 

Tammy, bless her soul,

has asked me to participate in a meme

where I tell 7 interesting things about myself.

I normally don't do these memes, 

but I will particiapte for one of my longest time

blogging buddies.

Just this once.

That is if I can figure out

7 interesting things about myself.

Hmmmmm....

Okay, here it goes.

~I used to race BMX bikes when I was a young girl.  I had an obsession with keeping up with the boys.

~I love milk glass and have started to pull out some of my collection I had stashed away.

~I am obsessed with office supplies.

~I am a horrible speller.

~Whenever I drive under a street lamp it turns off.

~I love to quilt but don't have time to do it.

~I believe in spirits and talking to the dead.

Thanks, Tammy for asking me to play.  

I am not naming names for people to play

but I will ask you to:

Weigh In:  Tell me one interesting thing about yourself in the comment section.

P.S.  I have posted about some ideas for Hard-to-buy-for Mother's Day gifts

over at Nine Acres Designs ;0)

Day 79/365- Farm Chick

24-70mm f/2.8 lens- 70 mm focal length

manual exposure- ISO 100; f/2.8; 1/200

pattern metering mode

auto white balance

no flash

When I was my daughter's age, 

I had a spiral notebook where I used to doodle.

Those doodles would be things like

The type of man I wanted to marry,

How many kids I would have,

What the kids' names were,

Where I wanted to live,

and what my dreams were.

Guess what?

I just recently realized that all

of those dreams I had for myself

at that age have come true.

Well, not exactly the kids' names, 

but that is not a bad thing.  

I had chosen "Misty Berlin" as a girl's name

and now it just sounds like a rainy city to me.

Seriously, Misty Berlin?

What was I thinking?

The type of man I wanted to marry,

the number of kids,

the place I wanted to live,

the lifestyle I wanted to lead,

the profession I always loved (teaching)

have all come true.

I hope my little farm chick,

Ladybug,

will have a journal like I did.

I hope she dreams big and doesn't limit herself.

I hope when she is my age she will look back and 

SMILE

because everything she has ever wanted is right there

within her reach.

That doesn't mean, however, that I haven't added

more dreams

to the list as I got older and my path in life

has changed a bit. 

There are still career goals I have yet to accomplish.

But I am not in a hurry for those.  

I need those goals and aspirations 

lingering in front of me to keep me motivated.

The proverbial carrot before the horse...

So, once one dream is realized, 

I make a new, bigger dream.

And I hope my Ladybug does too.

Weigh In:  What was your biggest childhood dream?  Have you achieved that dream yet or is it still a work in progress?  As you matured, did that dream change or is it still the same?

Day 78/365- STOMP!

24-70 f/2.8 lens

57mm focal length

manual exposure- ISO 500; f/2.8; 1/50

pattern metering mode

auto white balance

no flash

Last night we took Ty,

our newly turned teenager,

to the Hard Rock Cafe in Baltimore

and then to the Hippodrome to see

STOMP!

We all had a really great time.

While we can't afford to do a night like that 

every weekend, 

it is so important to take the time

and effort to show our children they

are special and worthy of dressing up

and going out to nice places.

Thanks to all who sent happy birthday

wishes to my boy.

Your kind words made him feel 

even more special.

He told me so in his cool teenager way.

I think it went something like this:

"Why is everyone making a big

deal of my birthday?  It is nothing special."

But the smile he had on his face

 told me that he knew

exactly why we were making a

BIG DEAL 

about his birthday.

Weigh In:  What was the coolest birthday EVENT (not gift) you ever had? (Party, trip, show, etc.)

Week In Review- A Glimpse of Rural Life

I hope you enjoy this look into my life this week as much as I had fun documenting it.  The next Project 365 picture won't be up until sometime late Saturday as we are heading out for our night on the town to celebrate Tyler's 13th birthday.  We have family coming in tomorrow for the same reason, so I won't be able to post for a day or so.

In the meantime, enjoy these images ;0)
If there is a particular one that you
would like to see on a greeting card
or make into a print,
email me and I will see what I can do!

These next three images are of my friend, Jodie, who has an incredible horse, Jet.  Jodie is a world class photographer.  You can check out her amazing work here.

Which one is your favorite?

On a totally different note, I have revamped
my Fine Art Print site
(and am continuing to do so this week)
if you want to take a look.
Feel free to leave me a comment there
if you'd like ;0)
I have taken away many of the images that were there
and have put up some new ones
with many more to come.
I will be offering a special deal soon
with a coupon code if you are interested
in purchasing any of the prints.
For the coupon code and the sale
dates, please keep your eyes on
Nine Acres Designs blog
for information coming soon.