Lucky, Lucky Us

In my previous post, Bike to Errand Day, I talked about, well, running errands on our bike... and I mentioned-we entered to win a camera at Robert's Camera.  Well, WE WON!  I cannot believe it, still!  It is funny that I even mentioned that we entered because, of course, I never imagined that we would.  It started with finding the ad and entry form in my IndyStar that morning.  I thought, what the heck, we are going there anyway... might as well cut this out and turn it in for a free chance.  My Nikon D200 that I purchased in 2006 is great-but.... the shutter has been clicked thousands and thousands of times.... and I know that it is going out.  It is snaps away from its last frame. So, this comes at the perfect time.  On Friday, I let Hayes put our entry in the box.  I believe it is his magic touch that put that thin slip of paper in exactly the right spot.  When I got the call on Monday, I was so caught off guard that I didn't understand the lady.  She had to tell me twice.  When I filled out the form, I didn't even pay attention to what kind of camera it was that was being given away.  When she called, all I heard was "coolpix".  I got off the phone and explained to Hayes what was going on.  I asked him if he remembered dropping the slip of paper into the big box at Robert's.  He did.  When I told him that we won, he was just as excited as I was (AM!).  I was ironing some clothes and had a load to hang outside.... so, we played it cool, did our chores and headed up to claim our prize.  It took about five minutes.  I showed my ID, signed and we walked out with our Nikon Coolpix P500-a value of about $400.  And really, to me, this is priceless... I mean, check it out!  I am going to be able to photograph so much and video, too--- c'mon!!!  Full High Definition (1080p) movies!!  What?!!!!!  I am just now reading all this, too.  

So, immediately after we left the store--in the parking lot, I opened the box, popped in the battery and shot the first frames. 

Happy and proud Hayes

Let me try to get one of both of us.  (Hayes watches me)

 It is funny the senseless composing that occurs with a new toy--most frames I didn't include... but here are more of the first shots taken with this marvelous new tool!

Here are some GORGEOUS peonies from the front garden of Linda Adele Goodine's home-she gave to me after I helped her with her party last weekend.... and they sit atop my ever so and always so cluttered dining room table.

a bit on the green side, here... but, Hayes and I went to a park a couple of days ago and he chased two squirrels up a tree.  These two were hiding from us-making themselves like branches.

Just a swingin'

And... last night, Scott was tying string to the sweet pea tepee. (This is not just any old string, either--this is refuse art from none other than the IMA.... it was cut from a sculpture titled Gravity's Loom by Ball-Nogues Studio.  It existed in the entryway of the IMA, Efroymson Pavilion, from September 3rd, 2010 to March 6th, 2011.  When it was de installed, it had to be cut-so, Scott scavenged onto a couple of spools.  It is difficult to see, here... I will shoot some photos of it soon.)

So, I just read, too, that this camera has an easy panorama mode which stitches several frames together to make a nice wide panoramic view.... something that I have done in photoshop--never is it seamless--and it certainly takes effort.... some examples of my attempts:

 

 

Well, I look forward to using more of this camera--and that panorama mode.... considering how "often" I create these panoramas.  (When I was in 7th grade, I had a panoramic film camera.  I shot one roll with it.... I think I am going to have to do some searching.... although, I can promise, I did not use it correctly-but I know it would be a laughable moment looking through them....)

THANK YOU, AGAIN TO ROBERTS CAMERA!!!!!!!!  We couldn't be more excited about our new Nikon Coolpix P500!!!!

Bike to Errand Day

Today is Bike to Work Day, here in Indianapolis.  Yesterday was bike to errand day... for Hayes and me.  I had things to accomplish yesterday and as we have been without a vehicle for quite sometime, now, the bike was the way.  I love it.  I love taking Hayes for rides on my bike (our bike).  He loves it, too.  We had several things to accomplish and we were successful.  We even had an impromptu firetruck experience.  As we rode through the park on our way downtown, there was a whole community day thing going on.  Hayes got to see several exciting things.  A race car, a police horse, policemen, firemen, and so on....when we got to the firetruck, we saw that a fireman was helping little kids to climb up and sit inside.  We had to stop.  

 Next, it was onto the rest of our journey.  We crossed a busy avenue by way of a walking bridge.... a very graffitied bridge.  It was neat. 

 We went on our way, stopping at the jewelers for estimates on repairs for some Etsy merch and some personal items.  I also worked out a loose plan for barter and trade for their services which for the personal pieces is a luxury and not a priority right now.  She is gonna call me when she needs me!  I love a good trade!  We stopped at the courtyard behind the gallery and flower shop for our lunch and we were so lucky to get to sit with a friend of ours, Jasmine, one of the several talented designers at JP.  We hopped on and continued toward the heart of the city to pick up some prints and enter to win a camera at Robert's Camera.  

By the time we were finally on our way back, Hayes was tuckered out.  He fell asleep.  I am glad that I had one of his "nose rags" as we call it... little baby receiving blankets that Hayes uses for handkerchiefs....(and for comfort, too).  His little helmeted head was bobbling around--not comfortable for him--and now, as he is much bigger than last summer (the last time he rode and fell asleep riding behind me)... his movement definitely effects the overall motion of the bike.  It helped.  It didn't stay put, but I could reach back and pull the blanket back over his helmet every time I could feel that instability creeping back in.  As you can see in the image, too, his little shoulder was breaking out of his harness...eeeekk!!  He was fine.

I just realized that Hayes is wearing a firetruck shirt that was covered by a jacket when he was in front of the firetruck... darn.  Oh well.  

We will not be biking to work today, though.... we will be driving (I am so excited to get to work!!! It has been so long because the transmission shop we falsely trusted has essentially ruined my van.) (as the salon is a bit far to bike for a couple of hours of work)  and we are driving today not because my van is fixed... but because my generous parents met us at Middle Road, Indiana last night to loan us a car that they just bought.  Yup.  They are the greatest.  We are so fortunate.  So, so fortunate. 

Backtracking, here:  On April 18th, Scott planted the first seeds in the garden.  Hayes and I helped.  He planted radishes, kale, lettuces, squash, cucumber, pole beans, bush beans, eggplant and kholrabi. 

Since then, we have planted strawberry starts in a big planter, herb starts in our other big planter and tomato starts in the garden(just last weekend).  Scott's co-work joked with him saying that Scott is a braaaave soul for planting so early.  Well, maybe-but, I suppose we were just feeling it, going with the flow--eager to reap the rewards of our garden.  Things we still want to plant:  zucchini, pepper plants, blueberry plants, asparagus(which we won't get to harvest this year).....  and what we already have blooming (illustrated by my last post) are blackberries.

We have a lot of landscaping to do in our front yard-but our back yard is turning out quite nicely (for our small budget).... and pretty private now that we have our gate up in the back drive. 

Looking forward to sharing more... soon.

Blooms, Buds, Berries and a Ham

This morning when Hayes and I went out to water the garden (which, by the way, I know I need to do some updating--we planted seeds and such--I will talk about that soon... I know, promises, promises--I have been making a lot of those lately--now, to see if I can hold them up) we noticed that we have several blooms on the blackberry vines.  I had noticed the buds a few days ago--and oh, the feeling--the gratification of just knowing what is to come---I can't wait to share our blackberries this summer!  After giving our plants a good dose of water, I ran into the house for my camera.  In less than seven minutes, I had shot more than 85 images.... easy. 

Look at those little boy legs... a bruise, a scrape or two... and look on his left foot--a birthmark that looks like dirt!

Our tree that hangs over our garden is dropping a 1.5 million seeds into our garden... we are just waiting until they are all down to pick them all out.... (Goodness, I wish we could come up with the cash to remove that thing! One day, we will.)

 

So, I never thought we would be harvesting anything out of our garden in May.  We are, though.  Succulent, flavorful, petite strawberries.  We have enjoyed a handful of the berries and hope that this is the beginning of the edible landscape of my attainable dreams.  While I was photographing the berries, a little thief came over and plucked one--how did he know it was perfectly ripe for the picking?  He knew.  He picked the best looking one.  He proudly showed it to me.

Here, in his hand, he has the stem from that ripe strawberry... he thought it was pretty neat how he ripped it off the top.

 

Good stuff.  And so much more to come!!  

published.

On April 30th, my Mom's bday, Scott and I spent the day cleaning the neighborhood around our church.  I photographed for them, too.  On Mother's Day, I found four of my images published inside the weekly bulletin.  Nice.  It was pretty neat to be a part of the clean up.  I really enjoyed documenting the Angels from the Heart doing their/our part!

 

Below is the front of the bulletin... just to reference where the above images were found....

 

I post this not to toot my own horn to alert readers to my success.  Rather, I post it to remind myself that I am doing something.  Doing something positive and productive.  I feel like I am falling short as a photographer, a creator, an entrepreneur, an assistant, a housekeeper, a wife, a Mother, a sister, a self.  I am not saying that I am not good at any of these things.  I guess, I am just in a space of-lots to do and trying to fit it all in isn't enough.  I am thinking of too many things-saying I want to do things and not being very good at following through.  I am the only person in the world who puts this much pressure on ME.  I know.  I often get that same feeling that I got in grade school when I'd look up from my test to see that I am still working on #2 and my neighbor is floating through, seemingly with ease, and is almost finished.  I am way behind.  I saw so many links to Mother's Day posts on blogs--I thought, I should make a Mother's Day post.... but, I didn't because I spent my day racking my brain, sketching, brainstorming and collecting resource imagery for a logo that needs to be done pronto.  (and I am no designer, so, extra hard stuff for this simple mind) And I wasn't being a very good Mom.  Sure wish I could have let it go so I could stop for a minute.  To pretend that yesterday was a day to celebrate me.  It is over now, and it is too late.  I missed it.

 Happy [belated] Mother's Day to all you wonderful Mothers out there!  I know I am blessed to have Bonnie Brown as my Mother..... and oh, oh, oh--let me post a link to share her recent honor:  Nurse of the Year!  I am so proud of you, Mom!! This is well deserved and long overdue.  Soak it in-you should even do the beauty queen wave as you walk the halls--but you won't because you are modest.  And that would be one of the many, many reasons why you were chosen.  Cheers to those who recognized your unending servitude and nominated and voted you!  (I love you!)

Well, we got our ice cream and it was de-eelicious!  I love a free outing--(aside from dropping a few quarters in the parking meter and the worry of risking my van breaking down) We enjoyed watching the people passing by, accepting Blue Bell's complimentary treats...

 As we walked back to our van, we came to the Memorial Fountain.  We decided to walk over and take a closer look.  We marveled and snapped a few photos.... and were on our way.

Now, off to enjoy a nice bike ride to the park... Hayes will play and I will be the crazy lady trying to magic erase all the profanities off of the play structures.  This ought to be fun!

Lil Safari + Lil Bit Nauti = Nautifari

Hayes and I are going out for free ice cream on the Circle today.  It is sunny and pleasant out.  I am feeling a little fun today--so, breaking out a skirt from last Summer--which long skirts are in this Spring/Summer--go figure--what can I say??  I am a trend setter.  Haha.  Don't believe me?  

Click HERE, HERE or HERE for some various blogger opinions on the subject.  I just did a quick search on the subject and those are some things that came up.....

Poor images but way fun to make.  Every bit of my ensemble was thrifted minus the earrings(I got those when I was 14yrs old!), shoes(Steve Madden-last year and had them resoled for this year) and ring-which isn't even visible(it is my Mother's-love you, Mom!).

yaaay for ice cream--Blue Bell Ice Cream to be exact!