Oh Me Oh My....

You know what today is....!!!  Unfortunately it is raining in Chicago-land and is predicted to rain for most of the day, so not really sure how many little ghosts & goblins are going to be out this evening.  Which again puts me in a state of uncertainty as to the amount of candy (treats) to buy.  Do I buy like I usually do and when the numbers of Trick or Treaters are slight enjoy the bounty myself?? (which you know what that does to the hips and with hip-adding season just right around the corner, I am definitely in a quandary).  Or do I just forget this year, turn the lights off, keep the gates closed, save my hips but maybe disappoint the few that might come?  Oh me, oh my, I hope this is the only serious decision I have to make today.

"Nothing on earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night."  ~  Steve Almond

Joining Kim at....

Until next time.....

Coming Down Off of the Mountain....

I am trying, really trying to get back into the swing of everyday living. After being gone for a week, experiencing the sights of an absolutely beautiful place, it is really quite difficult to come down from those mountains, both physically & mentally.  How many times in my life will I see sunrises like this??  Hopefully again and again.   

I am back now re-adjusting, unpacking, washing the dirty clothes, and dreaming of that time spent up in the mountains.  And while I have been slowly re-entering everyday life I did snip off a branch of my "new" tree and it does have some beautiful color in its leaves.

The apples have just about all fallen to the ground.....I did manage to snap this one and add Kim's lovely Jamal texture to enhance it.  I kinda like the way it looks with the texture added.

Linking to Kim & Nancy

"We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery."~ H. G. Wells

Hope you all are having a glorious week!

Until next time.....

The Value of a Bottle of Ibuprofen

I arrived home from Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains on Saturday night after a wowzer of a week. Busy from before dawn in the morning, until after sunset each evening.  The instructor kept us on the go every minute of the day.  Did I mention that I was totally exhausted when I fell into bed Saturday night, or each night that I was there??  Did my body ache from climbing mountains, or were my fingers frozen from early morning shoots, did the bags under my eyes become more prominent from lack of sleep....yes, but it was soooo worth it.  I definitely learned the value of a good tripod, which btw I did not have and how you cannot without a doubt hand-hold your camera at an early morning sunrise when there are so many clouds that you can barely see any light creeping through. Thank goodness the instructor was generous with allowing us "virgins" to use some of his equipment.  I also learned the value of a bottle of Ibuprofen and a tube of Aspercreme (aka Ben Gay)

It was a small class of only 7 students which meant that our instructor was able to give ample time to each student as we were shooting in the field.  Many were much more experienced nature photographers than moi....which ofcourse meant that I did more whining, oh I mean needed more coaching than others. Early morning shoots, more shoots, lunch, back to our rooms to choose 4 photos to be critiqued, classroom time, then back out for an afternoon shoot, then dinner, then back on the road for sunset, topping the days off with a long hot shower and collapsing into bed to begin again the next morning.  A couple of mornings I had to set my alarm for 4:40 AM....yes, you saw that right.  I don't even know what the world looks like at 4:40 AM, except maybe a short trip to the bathroom and back let alone up and dressed.  He is having another workshop in the spring at this same location, and believe it or not, I am tempted to do it again.  It will be a totally contrasting experience with the landscape being so different in the springtime, instead of falling leaves there will be wildflowers.

Early morning sunrise...

A sunset that you could not even see the trees on the side of the hill...

The last morning we were there (yes, this was a 4:40 AM alarm) there was a little snow and frost on the mountain which gave the trees a coating of white.

And you cannot ignore the leaves and color....omg the color was phenomenal.

Fallen leaves....

Hanging leaves....

Waterfall leaves....

How the light hit the leaves....

Or seen thru a window....

There are so many more photos from this experience which will pop up here and there in the future...but I wanted to give you a taste of what the Smoky Mountains looks like in October....pretty awesome, huh??

On the way home we decided to stop around Lexington, KY to find some of those gorgeous black fences and a horse or two.  After all, Lexington is known for it's race horses.  We just happen to stop at a farm for retired thoroughbreds and took a few shots.

It was indeed good to be home, my kids (aka dogs) were sure glad to see me, I don't ever remember my children or my husband ever jumping up and down when I walked through the door after a trip, but my kids sure do, making me feel totally and unconditionally loved. That's what dogs do.

"Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."  ~  Oliver Wendell Holmes

Until next time....

I Am Now My Mom...

Yes, I have done it...I have officially become my Mother.  I went shopping yesterday for stuff that I needed for my adventures in the Smoky Mountains, remember I mentioned a while back that I am taking a week long photography class there.  Am I excited, oh boy, yes.  I needed to buy some much needed hiking shoes, I figured my tennis shoes just weren't the best choice for stepping on rocks, sticks & stones.  I went to a place called Bass Pro Shop, oh lord, is that a place for men or what??  Fishing supplies, hunting supplies, and everything in between.  Although they do have a ladies section, the other stuff for guys took up way more space.  I saw all those fellows from Duck Dynasty, their faces plastered on mugs, plates, rugs, towels and more.  I think I even spotted Larry the Cable Guy.  Anyway, I giggled when the check-out lady asked me if I wanted a frequent buyers cards....that just might be the only time I visit that store since hunting, fishing and RVing are not in my "fun" time box.  Now don't get me wrong, I think it's great that people enjoy being part of the outdoor crowd, I just find different ways to enjoy it.

Anyway, while I was out, I decided I needed to run by Kohl's and see if I could pick up a new warm top or two....the weather forecast is predicting weather in the 50's for most of the week, and in the 30's & 40's early mornings.  I know we are going to be out shooting sun rises and sun sets so a few more toasty sweaters were on my list.  OK, this is where my Mom comes into the story.  As I was wandering the store, I decided I could probably use another pair of jeans, I always need to go to the Petites section for these. Now, I am not exceptionally tiny, just short, thus the need for petites.  I came across some elastic waist stretch jeans.  My Mom had some of those and I thought they were so "old lady"....well, I decided to try them on.  OK, that's it....I am now my Mom.  They were so comfortable, no zippers digging into your stomach especially when you are bending way down to get a good shot of whatever.  And they had stretch to them, hot diggity dog, I bought 3 pair.  I don't know about you, but I don't tuck my shirts in anymore, never wear a belt, unless it is one of those fancy ones that sorta just hang there and look pretty, so I thought whose gonna know that I am wearing elastic waist pull up jeans. (except all of you, but I know you will definitely keep my secret).

So here's my little Trick or Treat guy that I love...skinny legs and all

And another gnarly pumpkin with a great stem, this is probably my favorite that I have found this year.  I like it so much I surrounded it with a fall colored wreath...she is like a queen sitting on her throne.  (Oh I am definitely getting carried away with this pumpkin thing, but what character, don't you agree??)

So today, I am packing, getting the house in order since I don't like coming home after a week with a mess in the sink or elsewhere....and if there is time I will grab my camera to capture some more beauty while it's still here.  Hope you all have a grand week.

Until next time.....

Drinking It All In

It's Friday....when I worked this was absolutely the best day of the week.  Now as I grow older, it means that another week has flown by, another week gone from my life.  Funny how your perspective about a day of the week changes as you grow older.  I love this time of the year, but it also makes me feel a little nostalgic, knowing that another year is coming to a close and not knowing what the next year will bring. Having a husband with Alzheimer's and almost losing him this past summer, has truly awakened the reality of endings and I guess that is why I am feeling somewhat nostalgic, especially this year.  I want to drink in everything, I don't want to miss anything.  I drive down the street and see a row of trees turning red and I want to stop the car and figure out a way to get thru that industrial park to take that picture, or capture that single bright red leaf, or the apples hanging on trees, or that misty fog when it rains, or the berries....oh those berries.

or berries with a bird's nest...even sweeter!!

Or finding a lady bug on a drying Queen Anne's Lace...

or the gourds with their curly stems....you know I do belong to the Pumpkin Snob Society....

or finding a field full of black eyed susans all still in bloom...

So even tho I am feeling a bit nostalgic at this time of the year....the beauty is astounding, and I am trying to drink it all in before it too shall be gone.

If you have a moment, hop on over to my collaborative blog Focusing On Life, where I am musing on the beginnings of my photographic journey.

Linking with Nancy & Kim....

                                                          
Until next time....

Some Pickin' & Clickin'

So I am in the middle of one class (Tracey Clark's Picture Everyday) and today I am beginning the very first class I have taken from Clickin' Moms, entitled Posing for Success.  I figured since I am beginning a small photography business, a class in posing would probably be of great benefit.  Ofcourse, I am always a day late and a dollar short which goes right along with my notorious knack for procrastination and my consistent lateness for just about anything.  I had a session yesterday with a really nice family, Mom, Dad & 2 sons.  All at the age of being able to follow directions....most of my sessions have been with much younger children, most of which really would rather be doing anything but "posing" for a camera.  The direction "ok, lets all sit and look at me and smile" is usually lost on a 2 year old.  Younger children can be a challenge to work with, but it's their joy and their total naturalness that always delights me.

Posing for Success would have been perfect for me prior to my shoot yesterday, since I was able to say, "OK, hands in pockets or stand this way"...and the directions were followed to a tee....and sometimes, if I'm lucky the kids are naturals, which happened to be the case yesterday.  Oh that is bliss.

After the family shoot I was off to meet up with my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, Bailey for some apple pickin'....there is a farm not far from where they live.  They were pickin' and I was clickin'....with my camera.

As we were leaving, I noticed a row of deep red zinnias against this wheat colored grass...it was quite a stunning combination, especially in mass like this.

Then to add to this beauty, I spotted a butterfly....how sweet is that??

Lisa's stash....she picked quite a variety.  There must have been at least 15 different varieties you could pick and more that were roped off, probably weren't quite ripe yet.

Started decorating my house for the holidays....I usually go a little nuts this time of year...and then turn around and do even more so at Christmastime.

And what would Fall be without a new mug and an apple doughnut from the Apple Pickin' Orchard.

Hope everyone is having a glorious week.  Joining with Kim & Nancy....

“I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it.” 
― Lee Maynard

Until next time.....