Life: Through the Lens

I am a list maker.  Relyin Lawson of Come Sit By My Fire does a wonderful job of crafting a creative blog post in the form of a list.  It is awesome and I recommend you visit her site.   I always think I would like to try it, but can't wrap my mind about what my own spin might be. Original native Alaskan art - I could write a post on the preservation of native culture so easily. Items on my list include:  making some sort of photo book, or two, from our travel photos and adventures this summer. writing more about our travels, through blog posts that have been promised but not written. cleaning up my work space in the basement so I have my writing spot back, and my sewing area. (There will be no photos to illustrate why this is critical.) beginning the process of downsizing by taking a room-by-room inventory, and then multiple trips to Goodwill.  getting back on Ebay.  We did this once, but don't remember how to get back on it!  This ...

Isn't it amazing how many people take their little idea and turn it into an empire? We talk about those entrepreneurs out there...those people who not only have the vision but know how to carry it out. There was a television program a few months ago highlighting Michigan entrepreneurs, and low and behold I recently found myself walking into the brainchild of one of these talented idealists. Sweetie-licious Bakery Cafe is a delightful blast from the past. When you walk in to this bakery in downtown DeWitt, MI you are engulfed in the aroma of fresh pastries. Cookies, muffins, and the famous pies. The decor is definitely 1950's - with all employees wearing aprons, pearls, cute and perky headbands, and wide smiles. Pony tails? Sure:) And curls. An EZ-Bake Oven is perched on a partition, vintage cookbooks, aprons, pictures and other memorabilia are tastefully displayed around the shop. The woman who founded this well-known empire is Linda Hundt, and she has been featured on...

Morning is my favorite time of day. I love hearing the birds outside my window and lazily stretching, thinking about the moment. I make it a point to lay in bed thinking about the act of waking up every day - a gift. Thank YOU. Then I'll get up, slip on my tourquoise robe (summer color), pour my first cup of coffee, and look out the kitchen window for a much-anticipated glimpse of our June guests. Sometimes it's "the boys," a group of three young bucks working at growing those antlers in preparation for fall. Lately, however, it's the ladies. There are two mothers, each with new offspring to show off. They come across the field to pick up their youngsters, who scamper playfully through the tall grass, happy to be allowed to run and jump and play after hiding in the wetland all night. One doe has a very sweet young one...spotted and inquisitive. They move East to West across the property, mother intently watching for trouble, an innocent fawn at her side. The other...

Last week we lost a beloved member of the family, our English Setter named Katy. Today we saw this poem and decided to pass along this loving tribute to all who have lost special members of the family - loyal companions who don't talk back, and love you unconditionally. Rainbow Bridge ~author unknown Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run ...

It's going to be a long month....how are you at rhyming? Have a wonderful day.

It's Day 3 of the "write everyday" challenge, and I'm still here:). With the theme of the month being "sweet," I thought this a good time to review a photography treat I introduced a couple of months ago. In February I took an online photography course on using the Lensbaby, a lens which is similar in use to a tilt and shift lens. You rotate the outer part until you find the "sweet spot" of focus. It's possible to place the spot of focus anywhere in the frame, which is very fun. There are also screw-on close-up and wide-angle attachments. Enjoy this selection of some of the photos I took during the course.

Today I attended a "tea" at a local quilt shop. I have been taking a quilt class with a friend and the shop hosted a spring tea...they must have ordered the weather to go with it. Beautiful sunshine, and a strong spring wind made a pleasant backdrop for a gathering indoors. Color and texture in the shop abound, and the smell of the tea and pastrie treats added to a very sensory experience. When it's too windy to take photographs outside, move indoors and find a sweet photograph or two. Happy Spring!

It has been decided by a group of creative Bloggers that we should challenge ourselves to post every day. This will definitely challenge me, as my schedule is a bit interesting this time of year. Yet the challenge will be a good one, as I work to update and change the format of this Blog a bit. If you go to http://www.nablopomo.com/ there is more information on this Blogging challenge, as well as a theme for the month - "SWEET." Think in broad terms and you can come up with some really cute ideas. The third week of the month we're also going to add a "color" challenge. So, grab your cameras and start looking! May Day seems a good day to begin this challenge, don't you think? Today I had to do a little homework for an online photography class I'm taking - this week's assignment is to take photographs of scenic areas and landscapes in our area. Of course, Mother Nature decided to push a cold front through mid-Michigan, so finding favorable conditions...