The Winding Drive

I take a lot of my pictures on the way to or from work lately. I suppose it is because that is where I spend at least 2 hours of my day. Well, on the way home, I pass this house with a long winding drive way. It has large trees lining the way. It makes it even more special looking. I would love to take pictures so someone playing among the trees....

It's Raining in NC

It is raining here in NC. Horrible storms. We had power knocked out two or three times last night and wind whipped through the house. I am hoping that tonight is much calmer, because I can use a nice, quiet night's rest.

I took these images at a stop light. I usually hate the rain while driving, but if I can get cool pictures because of it I think we can make friends with each other.

Yes - Those ARE Chickens

So these aren't great pictures, but sometimes you just have to take pictures for the sake of taking pictures and this was one of those times.

One thing I have noticed since we moved into our house is everyone out here has chickens. Our neighbors have chickens - well actually it's a rooster which doesn't know whether it's night or day because the damn thing crows NONSTOP - and the business down the road has chickens.

Here is my proof...

And apparently I was on camera while I took those pictures... Oh well...

A good mouse

A good mouse is worth a thousands clicks. At work I use a sleek wireless mouse. It is small and black and zips all around my two computer screens. At home, I use what we call "a tank." However, I love my tank just the same. They both work great for me. They both are reliable are get the job done. And would make my work life 100% harder without them!

Bacon and falling off the wagon

Okay, so the truth I took the picture of "The Indian" almost a week ago and then I suffered from some bad migraines over the weekend and Monday. And like all habits, once you break them they are hard to get back into the swing of things. So I have maybe two people who are keeping me on track with things (and I thank you both for that!), and yesterday I got back on track with the goal not to fall off the wagon again.

So without further ado... everything is better with BACON :)

The Indian

As you enter my best friend's house you walk past "The Indian." There is humorous story that involves beer and a bet as to how "The Indian" came to be a part of their family.

Move your feet...

Tonight we had a few of our friends over for dinner. When I got up to clear a few plates, take a look at who sat down in my place...

Little Ma'am. Ofcourse I had to go and grab my camera quickly to snap I quick picture. Doesn't she just look enthralled in the conversation? The funniest part is each time I got up after that she would hop up in my seat. I guess the saying "Move your feet, lose your seat" holds true in our household.

Imperfection

So many different things ran thru my head when I saw this prompt on Ashley Sisk's list for her Scavenger Hunt Sunday list... Honestly, the first thing I did was start picking myself part. Am I brave enough to post a picture of my face without make up on? Maybe some other time. Should I take a picture of my crooked toes? I should really touch up my nail polish first. And then I walked into the kitchen and I passed the bowl with the fruit in it. My first inspiration was the bananas because they were going bad. But it really isn't their fault that they aren't in their best shape anymore. So I looked to the "cuties" or what most of the world calls a clementine. According to most people's definitions, a clementine is supposed to be small and round in a deep orange color. Well, my poor clementine was more squatty, oval with indentations. And the poor thing has green spots on it, which unfortunately are should up as black spots in this picture. Oh well, it is "imperfect."

But then again, if I ever came across the "perfect" anything in life I'd probably stick it in a museum because that is where a perfection belongs...

Wedding Shoes

I got married on the sandy Gulf of Mexico in Fort Myers, Florida, so shoes were no necessary. In fact, foot wear was optional for all guests :) I did however buy a pair of strappy heals to wear to diner afterwards. Like my wedding dress, my wedding shoes have not been wore since my wedding. Maybe I should put them on when I am cleaning my house? I have heard that it works that calves to clean in heals...

Field Trip to Trader Joe's

I love me some Trader Joe's. Not only does the store have some WONDERFUL food to eat - if you go you MUST try the mandarin orange chicken - but the store is full of such beautiful colors that each time I go in there, I think "gee, I wish I had my camera with me."

Well, since I am doing my Lent-A-Day Photo Challenge I was extra inspired to snap away.

Migraines....

I have had headaches non-stop for the past two weeks. On Sunday, it hit the peak and I was down for the count. I spent all day in bed with a cold compress on my forehead and I only got up to take pills. Hence, the picture of the day reflects exactly this.

Day at the SPCA

Miss A and I got to spend some time Saturday with her Girl Scout troop at the local SPCA. The girls got to learn a bit about the animals that come into the shelter and how to easily make pet toys from items we have around the house. We also learned that we can go back to the SPCA anytime we want to so can we can have cuddle time with the kittens and puppies.

I don't play guitar

If you ask me, I will never tell you that I play the guitar. I will tell you that I "mess

around" on the guitar.

I can't play a full song and I am a plucker, not a strummer.

I prefer to play on a classical guitar verses a regular guitar or an electric, although we do have all three at the house. (Side note: My husband tends to play on electric guitar the most with "Mr. Amp" which is a Fender Princeton 65 Amp).

Day 2

On the way home I wanted to stop and take pictures of the sky. It was so wicked looking thanks to the thunderstorms we had just had. The calm after the storm. I called my husband and told him about it and he was able to capture some beautiful pictures while I was stuck in my car driving in the evil 5 o'clock traffic admiring the sky wishing there was an easy way for me to pull off the road and get a picture with my purse camera. So instead of showing you a picture of the odd looking sky, I get to show you a picture of the beautiful Miss Luna Little, also known as Miss Ma'am.

Lent-A-Day Challenge

Confession time: I have hit a creative wall and I can’t get around it. It has been there since I got “laid off.” I have felt unworthy. Like I am just not good enough to create anything worth showing the world. It’s not that I haven’t taken pictures, because I have. I just have not posted them or edited them. I have kept them locked away on my memory card and on my hard drive where no one can see them.

I am honestly scared. Scared of what people will say once they see my work. Scared that I am no longer “good enough” or as good as I thought I was or as good as I once was. All of my ideas that I once had, just aren’t coming to me. And I know the longer I am “out of practice” the harder it will be to “jump back into the saddle,” but somehow that hasn’t motivated me to pick up my camera.

Until today that is… when I was sitting at my desk at work trying to think about what I was giving up for lent. Most Catholics choose to "torture" themselves by giving up pop or chocolate which is super hard for them for the next 40 days.




But for me, I am going to use this time to get back into the swing of things. So for the next 40 days, I will take a picture every day. Not only will I get back into my picture taking habit, but hopefully it will make me start thinking creatively again.

Be sure to stop by every now and then to see how I am doing. After all someone has to keep my accountable :)

Memories, Dreams and Reflections...

Life for me has been a whirlwind since the beginning of the year. We closed on our house and we moved; I have been packing and unpacking boxes; and then I lost my job, so I am job hunting non-stop. Needless to say, my mind cannot stop going. Today, my dear, sweet husband has asked me to take a break from things and try to relax. This is just not in my vocabulary, but I am giving it an honest try for the rest of the day. It has given me a good chance to FINALLY post all my pictures for the Memories, Dreams and Reflections Challenge that Ashley Sisk hosted. Better late, than never right?

Me!

So here I am. I took this image one day before I started work, just messing around with my camera phone. Isn't it amazing the pictures you can get with those things these days?

I Love You

This is my husband doing what he loves - fishing. I took this picture when we were on our summer vacation to my house on Banker's Lake in Michigan. I am afraid he doesn't really look much like this anymore, since he is now sporting a set of chops on his face. I have yet to get a good picture of him with them, but I will one of these days.

Still Laughing...

Here is Little Ladybug on her birthday. Once she opened this bear, she would not stop jumping on it and loving it. She was very possessive over her new friend. Looking at this picture just makes me laugh remembering how she reacted to him.

Winter Wonderland

We have had a lot of snow here in NC this past year. It is crazy when you think about it. As I am sitting her typing this, Miss A is off school on a "snow day." This picture is from the snowfall that occurred mid-February.

Birthday

There were many fun birthday memories this year, but this is one of my favorite birthday pictures. I just love how Booger's cheeks are all puffed blowing out his candles and if you look in the background you can see his friends all helping him too :)

Friends

A friend of mine is getting married this May at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, NC. This past May we all took a trip there to do a wine tasting and just tour the grounds. This is a picture of her and her bridemaids that I took. They have all been friends forever and I just love how it turned out. I will always remember the day and the fun we had.

I Was Inspired...

Little Ladybug always inspires me. She is just too cute and smiles come so easy.

Spring Fever



Travel or Vacation

This summer while we were at Banker's Lake Miss A learned how to kneeboard! I was so proud of her. I must of snapped a dozen pictures of her while she was out there riding around the lake. I know it doesn't look like she is having a fun time, but I swear she was!

Summer Days

Living in the middle of NC, we are pretty close to the ocean which makes day trips pretty easy. After a day at the aquarium, we stopped at the beach so Miss A could play in the sand a bit before we started our trek home.

A Day In My Life

I've shared this picture before. This used to be a daily thing for Mr. Miso and I. I would put on my makeup as I got ready for work and he would sit on the sink and watch me. Unfortunately, the sink at house is not nearly as big, so he no longer is able to sit there and watch me.

All Smiles

This is Miss A's real smile. It is hard to capture it most days, as she is in the "I don't like my picture being taken" stage of her life.

Autumn Harvest

The leaves on the trees took a long time to change colors this year, so I couldn't get any really good pictures of Miss A with the pretty colors in the background. If you look real hard you can see the colors reflecting in the lake.

Family

This is my grandma and Aunt Nina. They are two of the most influential women in my life. They are so strong and wonderful. I wish they lived closer to us...

Celebrate!

My SIL and her fiance got married this year! It was a small, but sweet ceremony. This is one of the pictures that I captured right after they were announced husband and wife. They are just too cute together.

Let's Do It Again... & I Miss You

My mom turned 50 this past year and my sister and I threw her a "surprise" party. The largest surprise of them all was that her three sisters all flew down from up north to celebrate with us. Because the family is all in separate states now, it is very rare that we are all in the same place at the same time. It is super hard because at one time we all seen each other weekly. I know that picture isn't the best, but you can just tell from the smiles on everyone's faces what a great time we were having...

Beautiful & Dress Up

Another one of Little Ladybug. This is her all dressed up before her dedication at church. My little muse...

Macro


Holidays

The only Christmas shot I got of Miss A this year. It is kinda sad when I think about it. That partly has to do with the fact that we didn't put up a Christmas tree and I wasn't really in the spirit.

My Favorite

This is another shot of my SIL's wedding. It is one of my favorites from that day. I took this as they were walking to the ceremony. They were both so calm and just taking in every moment.

Don't Ever Change

There are certain things of Miss A I would like to change, like the attitude she is developing and the fact that she is an utter slob (she really is), but for the most part I really don't want her to change. I love her just the way she is :)

Just Because...So There!

This is Shadow hiding in one of our moving boxes. And no I didn't Photoshop in her tongue or the fact that our moving boxes were from the ABC store :)

Hopes and Dreams
There are so many hopes and dreams that I have for 2011. Right now the main things on my mind are to find a job and to get our house organized and not have boxes and bags everywhere. If I were to put a lofty dream out there, it would be to upgrade my camera to a Canon, perhaps to a T2i. Like I said, it is a dream... But who knows, maybe by next year at this time I will be posting my first pictures with one???