Colorado Skies

The sky had so much character the night Amanda drove so I could capture images.

Thank you, Colette!!

It worked!!!

Seems Like Only Yesterday

I am in the midst of cleaning out dusty corners of my home, and clearing piles of paper clutter and...even sorting digital stacks of "stuff." Tonight, I stumbled across these lovely images I captured over three years ago. It hardly seems possible! I remember it so clearly--the day I set up this vignette on my dresser. It seems like only yesterday. And then I wonder: "What other treasures lie in wait on my hard drives?"

We shall see!

Take a Little Trip Part 3

...more lace and Autumn...

...it would seem my dad is also creative. This birdfeeder was a gift for Karen.

Dad curses the leaves when they fall....I think they look lovely.

A little shrub...and a web-spinning friend...

Kelly, Dad, Danielle

Karen, Dad

Kelly, Danielle

I loved this ceiling fan in the den.

MMMM!

Banana Bread Recipe for you....

1/2 C. oil
1 C sugar
2 eggs
1/4 C. sour cream
1 t. vanilla extract
2C all purpose flour
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. nutmeg
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 C. walnuts

Beat oil and sugar; add eggs. Stir in sour cream and vanilla; add flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Stir in bananas and walnuts; pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Makes one loaf.

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Yesterday, I awoke at the perfect moment to see my bedroom flooded with the most beautiful amber light. I grabbed my camera phone and snapped a shot of it on that camera and went to get my "good camera," but much to my sadness, the light had already changed so much, that it felt as though the magic was gone. I was happy to have at least gotten in on my camera phone.

This morning, I was given that gift of beautiful morning light filtering through my lace curtains...yet again! I saw my camera next to my bed. I reached out, picked it up, rolled back over, poised my heavy camera and composed this shot from the comfort of my pillow....lol. So there may not be a lot of technical merit here, but I just felt so happy in my bones that I was given the gift of the light in its brevity once again .... and that I was able to capture it to remember how happy and lucky I am.

A Lovely Autumn Day

Yesterday, while the big kids were in school, Q and I packed up a few things and headed to the water park to feed the ducks. It was so good to get out of the house for a little while as I was beginning to suffer a case of cabin fever. The air was heavy with humidity and chilly; the sky was cloudy and gray. The trees were full of color and were beginning to shed their foliage. It was just a wonderful way to spend a little time.

When we arrived at the park, Quincy wanted to hold the red paper bag filled with buttery popcorn. So he carefully carried it to the water's edge without dropping even one fluffy piece.

As soon as the ducks saw us walking toward them, they happily waddled to us quacking all the way. I think they knew we had treats for them...or they were at least hoping we did. One duck flew from about 100 feet away to land in the water right in front of us. Quincy was so delighted. He even laughed and said, "OH! They can FLY?!?!?" He wanted so badly to hold one of the feathery fowl. I tried to tell him in simple terms that not everyone is kind to animals and it's best to let them be fearful of us.

When the popcorn was all gone, we decided to head back to the car. I held his little hand in mine as we walked. I told him his hand was warm...and he looked up at me and said..."Yeah! And your hand is COLD!" I laughed.

We stopped at one of my favorite craft stores to scuff up the floors a little bit. I lingered for a while at the yarns. I really wanted to pick up some yarn for a project for my mom. I couldn't decide on a color...and quincy was growing annoyed with my indecision. He started whining about it being time to go now. Finally, his suggestion: "Can we just go home without the yarn, NOW?!" was heard and we left.

We had a really great day together.

New Rules!

You may recognize these pieces from Monopoly, but Quincy has taken to building villages with all of the plastic buildings. This is one of his close-knit communities!

Daytripping in the Rocky Mountains

~Marjorie, Quincy, Kelly~

We live in a beautiful place on the planet, for sure! Mom, Quincy and I packed it up and headed up into the Rocky Mountains to see the changing of the leaves. I feel so lucky to have gotten to go and spend some time with my mom. THANK YOU!

My mom and I were just so amazed at the beautiful colors we saw. It's been said that when God created Colorado, He was showing off! Maybe there is something to that! ;)

For The Love Of Yarn

I finished up the halloween afghan I started last year. My sister and I were going to make them at the same time and have matching afghans. I didn't meet my halloween deadline and got tired of working on it last Fall. I packed it up in a basket and set it aside. I pulled it out recently and worked on it til it was finished. I like the color combination, but the little camera was set on vivid color and blew things out a little...but the pattern of the single crochet stitches makes a nice texture.

I had some leftover orange and green yarns. I used the green to make a basic little "Critter Hat" for Q. I need to photograph the finished hat and post it here. He loves the hat and it was a super easy knit project!

Earlier, I'd posted about how I was so excited that I'd signed up for a knitting class. Originally, I enrolled for a basic 101 type of class. But after I'd finished the scarf and hat, I decided 101 might be too basic. I upgraded my class to a sweaters class. I took my supply list shopping and used my birthday gift card to buy the needles and yarn. The instruction for the class would produce a sweater sized for a toddler. LUCKILY, I have a toddler! Since the sweater would be for Q, I allowed him to choose the color of the yarn. This was what he chose.

I think it is a lovely color. Sadly, the instructor called me and told me she had a family engagement from which she could not excuse herself ... and had to postpone the class to OCTOBER! YIKES!

What's a girl to DO?!?

Well, I'll tell you!

I grabbed a pattern for a sweater I tried to knit last year and just couldn't grasp and sat down with great determination.

This time, magically, the pattern made sense! I made the back of the sweater yesterday. I wasn't feeling well, so it was the perfect opportunity to just sit and concentrate on the sweater. Today, I made the front of the sweater. My kids are really proud of me. 'Manda was so impressed yesterday, she asked me to sit with her and teach her, too.

This is another toddler sized sweater. Q knows it's his. He told the kids when they got home, that it's a sweater! Mommy's making a sweater.

I was thinking ahead ... like say....to Christmas and I asked Alex, "So...if I made you a sweater, would you wear it?" He wrinkled up his nose a little bit and told me, "Uh...well, I don't really like to wear sweaters."

OUCH!! ...at least he was honest with me before I spent hours knitting and purling for a garment that woudln't get worn. Honestly? I want to make a sweater for myself ... eventually! Maybe after all the holiday crafting?

Stamp of Approval

My third knitting project is a miniature scarf. I made it for Quincy. It was actually made of leftover yarn I used for the baby afghan I crocheted for him while I was pregnant with him.

I set the project down to get a coffee warm-up and came back to find that Moses was testing its warmth factor. The fact that she is all curled up on it, tells me she gave it her stamp of approval.

Totally Tubular!

I love this shot of this flower with the one tubular petal. I was attacked by very hungry killer "skabeetos" in my garden while capturing this.

Moses Kitty!

I love how kitties will seek out the teensiest amounts of sunshine on the floor. We sure are enjoying our little cat.

Today's Grateful Five

Gardening
Work
My Children
My Home
Laughter

The Many Faces of Q!

When I was through with my maternity shoot this afternoon, Quincy wanted me to takes some photos of him...so we had a mini shoot. He was acting a little squirrel-y and really didn't want to cooperate at all. I ended up with some really funny shots...that really make me giggle out loud.

These first shots are relatively benign, right? A typical three-year-old in front of the camera.

Here is where we start to....well.....fall apart a little bit.

I actually really like this shot. He'd laid back and his eyes just looked gorgeous.

Something tells me that by this time in the shoot, I was NOT A-1 on the jukebox ANYMORE!

Hee hee!