Free

I should have done this sooner, but here is one of the last credit cards that I have to pay off.  I have cut it up so I can stop the momentum and hopefully reverse it.

Nightmare

 No photographic inspiration lately though I did get the urge to write this morning, so here it is.

 Nightmare

I sat on the metal stairs waiting

For them to finish their spiral plunge

Into the unknown depths below I

Clutched my package tightly to

My heart space as a mother her

Fragile-headed newborn when I

Thought the nadir should have been reached

I looked around and found myself no

Longer perched upon the relative

Safety of the stairs but drowning instead

In a strange and murky lake and I

Couldn’t let go of the bundle I harbored

So close though it seemed more an albatross

Than a life preserver

Each speck of dirt floated by with

Stunning clarity of detail as if

A snowflake

You were on the shore in a white

Collared shirt like I’ve

Never seen you wear and I

Reached up hoping for rescue

And tore your shirt separating

It at the shoulder and yet

Though I continued to struggle

You did not reach an arm out

To rescue me and that’s

When I knew you could not

Pull me up any sooner than I

Could release the bundle I

Clutched with such dedication

You could not pull me up but

Surely I could drag you down

Happy Birthday, Alyssa!

Today was my cousin Alyssa's 5th birthday party.  My camera was acting up so I had a hard time getting stabilized shots of the constantly moving four little girls.  Here are a few good ones I was able to get.  No art here, these are family photos.

Princess Party

Today I got to play "mommy" most of the day.  I brought Elizabeth to a birthday party and dance class and watched her afterward. There are no special techniques used with any of these photos, but I did try to be more selective than normal with which ones to display as well as cropping some to focus the subject.  I hope they come across well though really they are just glorified family photos.  Enjoy!

  Mirror, Mirror

 Story Time

 Magic Bubbles

Black and White

Today I tried playing with color saturation, tint, and temperature.  I also wanted to make them black and white just because I think it's cool.  Someday I will invest in actual photo editing software beyond the measly abilities of my Windows Picture Gallery, but for now, enjoy, and thank you for the feedback on yesterday's work. 

Winter Wonderland

So I am really trying to learn how to use the settings on my camera more effectively.  Here are the same two trees photographed from basically the same spot using two different settings. Overall I like the second one better, though I do like the snow falling in the first one but I'd love to know what you think.  Please let me know.

Oh the Places I Went!

I had a great time today visiting with two old, dear friends.  We visited the Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden and a nearby museum in Springfield.  Here are a few of the highlights.

Roll of the Dice

The most random stuff gets dropped on the sidewalk outside my front door.  I think it's because the kids wait for the school bus underneath the overhang above my front door when the weather is bad.  Here's something I found recently.

Roll of the Dice

Communication

Inspired by Carianne Mack Garside's Every Day Drawing project. Check out Carianne's website at:  http://everydaydrawing.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/language/ I definitely don't intend to keep up, but as I find inspiration I'd like to contribute.  Thanks to Susan Gibb for making me aware of today's piece.

Communication