Day Ninety-Six

Nature: Day Four

Remember how this is often a blog less about photography and more about my amusement? Yeah. This is one of those days.

"One of these things is not like the others. No, one of these things just doesn't belong!"





As always, click the picture to make it bigger (though it'll still fit on your screen).

Day Ninety-Five

Nature: Day Three



Queen Anne's Lace is one of those flowers of my childhood. Mom delivered papers for the Lansing State Journal and when she was on the day shift, I rode along. We'd go everywhere from city to suburbia to rural farm country. Sometimes we'd stop for fresh rhubarb or a "big wheel" ice cream sandwich from Quality Dairy. There were lots of wonderful perks to this life, at least for the very young me--Mom might not have found it quite so rewarding. But I know she loved being able to spend time with her daughter(s) when a more traditional job might not have allowed it.

As a consequence of driving around so often, I got very familiar with the flora and fauna of the surrounding ditches, fields, and sides of the road. And there are few things that say "Michigan" to me more than Queen Anne's Lace, those little purple flowers that are on every roadside during the summer(ETA: Chicory! I knew that once, but I had to track it down again), and red-winged blackbirds. I don't know why those stick out in my mind so much, but they really, really do--especially in combination.

It's also lovely to photograph.



Did you notice this bloom's passenger? How about now?



This post is dedicated to my wonderful mum.

Day Ninety-Four

Nature: Day Two

I love this picture. I love it the most for the sign you can't read: "Please No Trespassing." Does it count as not trespassing if I never went past the sign?

Day Ninety-Three

Nature: Day One

The leaves were dancing on this windy day, manic on the breeze, but the tree trunk stood stalwart and strong, fazed not in the slightest.




I really love trees. :)

Day Ninety-Two

Macro: Day Seven

Here we are, the last day of Macro Week! Whew...I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted.

Let's go out on a fun note. Here we see a clover that was the original focus of my shot--until I noticed its little passenger. It was fairly windy so there's some blur, but I think it's fascinating nonetheless. As always, you're free to disagree.



Confession time: I took more macro shots than would fit in this one week. Because I really love macro. But starting tomorrow, a new theme emerges. It will be nature week! This means trees, birds, insects, and non-domestic animals (in other words, no pictures of my cats). If you've been following me at all you know I'm kind of a nature girl. It's just so photogenic, you know?

What can I say? I like to pick themes I'm likely to have no trouble accomplishing.

Stick around, though. It's possible I'll have a "Nuthin' but People!" week sometime soon.

Day Ninety-One

Macro: Day Six

Buddhagator is such an accomodating model. He's not a great one for posing, but he's always willing. Even when I encroach this far into his personal space. Nary a blink from that gatory eye, nope.

Day Ninety

Macro: Day Five

I was wandering by a set of filing cabinets at work and noticed this really nifty packing material. I don't think I've ever seen its like before, but I hope to see it again!

Hey, I like the little things in life. They give me joy. Plus, just check out the texture! I knew instantly that it was made for my macro week.

Day Eighty-Nine

Macro: Day Four

Earlier this week, I bought a few groceries. One of my impulse buys (sort of: I wanted fruit, I just didn't know what kind) was a large bowl of pineapple. I was really looking forward to it, too. It sounded juicy and tart and tangy and just all around delicious.

When I pulled it out to eat for breakfast, I saw the label for the first time and it made me laugh. I felt like I'd wandered into an Engrish posting or something.



Still chuckling, I opened it up and reached for a piece.

And you know what? Turns out, it was exactly what the sticker says.



Pineapple-colored watermelon.

Bummer.

Day Eighty-Eight

Macro: Day Three

You may remember yesterday's post about baked goods making me late for work? (Hint: if not you can just scroll down--though now I've essentially already told you the high points).

It was frustrating. First, I misjudged how much batter there would actually be--it was enough to make six muffins. That is apparently not enough to fill a 9xwhatever bread tin. Curses! And then it took longer than the mini-muffins I was simultaneously trying to create (which were really too dry for my taste). And then I tried to be a bit fancy, which was probably my ultimate doom.

You see, I had this vision. A vision of unusual beauty, flavor, and carmelization. In one of my recent stories, I'd written about the character adding a little brown sugar to the top of her cookies in the last few minutes of cooking to make them all rich and carmelized. The problem is, I have no idea if such a thing works. What better time to experiment than when you're late already, I ask you?

I added a little bit of cinnamon to the batter itself before cooking. And then, five minutes before it was done baking, I pulled it out to add the finishing touches. I made a few quick sweeps of the butter-flavored cooking spray (I would have used butter, but again, late) over the surface so things would stick. And then I sprinkled more cinnamon, a little brown sugar, and a lot of "Sugar in the Raw"--basically these beautiful little sugar crystals.

It didn't exactly do what I'd hoped for--more experimenting is clearly in order. But it did taste pretty good. I think if I add real blueberries next time and do actual muffins instead (or use a different mix, say), this might turn into something.

Still, there was only one piece left at the end of the meeting. This one. Admire the pretty sugar bits!!




And it's macro! Theeeeeeeme!

Day Eighty-Seven

Macro: Day Two

I was late for work this morning, the baked goods that caused it didn't turn out as planned, and now my internet is slow.

I'm going to just gaze at this picture for a while. It's restful. It's not, strictly speaking, a macro shot, but it's fairly close up...and also I don't care. Because it's that kind of morning.

Soothe me, lovely branches.

Day Eighty-Six

I'm at the point in this thing at which I think having themes will come in handy. Someday I'll do a run of alphabetical pictures. A is for acorn, b is for balloon, c is for concrete, things like that. Not right now though.

Instead, this week, I think I'll focus on close-ups. Mostly macros, when possible, but maybe a couple of creative croppings instead. We'll see what I get.

I believe this busy bee is a good place to start. I love that you can really see the wings! (Click on the picture for a closer view).

Bonus post

This week's "I Heart Faces" contest is all about feet. (Click the button to go see all the entries -- Jen, you'll want to skip this contest).



I've already picked out the picture I think should win (at least of the twenty or so I looked at): #104. I love it!

But this is about my entry, right, right. So here are Adele's darling wee tootsies at not quite a day old. (To see the original post and another picture of baby feet, click here . I also highly recommend Day Sixty-Seven for baby faces).

Day Eighty-Five

"Extra, extra! Read all about it! Doom is coming! Experts caution people to save themselves! Impending tragedy set to swoop down on us all!"



*tragedy descends*

"Ahhhhh!!!!"

Day Eighty-Four

I was at the library after it closed and no one else was around. So I thought I'd go take some new pictures of the bronze children playing ring around the rosy. At this point, I'm stretched out on the ground, snapping shots, contorted awkwardly to get what I want while trying to avoid the wet spots. Which is when a car drove up to drop off books. *sigh*

Ah, well. I got the shot I wanted.

Day Eighty-Three

It was a moody Saturday, weather-wise. This shot pleases me.

Day Eighty-Two

I don't know why I like this--it didn't turn out at all as I'd wanted. But I do. I like it rather a lot.

Perhaps you will, too. But if you don't, I won't be hurt.
Much.

Day Eighty-One

I tend to take really up-close pictures of my eyes. I think the stained-glass patterns of my iris are pretty and I'm fascinated that my eyes, while usually green, sometimes decide to be blue or gray instead. Plus, I generally think they're probably the prettiest part of me.

Which doesn't explain why I'm blocking it out completely in this picture.



Ah, this one's better. Though I'm looking into fairly direct sun, so my pupil is almost non-existent. (And I've just noticed my eyebrow is all askew--huh).



This is actually cropped from a wider shot that I like even better, but I want to do some things with that one before it gets posted anywhere.

Day Eighty

My two favorite times of the day are the times of shifting.

The dawning of the day when the light rises and everything is so clear and cool and fresh, the air is crisp and sweet, and the dew catches the light just right.

And then the evening when the light lowers--I love all the words for this: evening, dusk, gloaming, twilight, dimday. I love how the light moves from the incredible warm golds the late sun casts over everything--the very best photographer's light, I think -- to the incredibly rich blues and purples and pinks. In the dusk there's such a sense of comfort and hominess, the quieting of the day.

There's a beautiful rightness in both times. Both offer that sense of novelty, so fleeting, its function to herald a longer season to come. Yet they also have an endlessness about them...dawn and dusk have always come and will ever be.



Amen.

Day Seventy-Nine

Okay, I realize this bears some resemblance to the sideways picture back in June. But it's not. The two were taken months apart. Look, I like silhouettes, birds, and trees. When they come together, I can't resist.

Nonetheless, I wouldn't subject you to such similar pictures if it weren't for a couple of things.

Number one, this was taken at sunset and I think the colors make it extra pretty. What say you?



And number two, I provide a detail of the section that fills my whimsical little heart with delight. I caught it singing!!



See? See its tiny beak all agape?!

I heart moments like these.

Day Seventy-Eight

Hear ye! Hear ye!

Today, this 13th day of July, 2009 is the birthday of Amy, my bestestfriendinthewholewideworldever!!!!!

Let all the world know (or at least the 7-10 of you who come here) that I am forever grateful for this day and her birth upon it.

Happy birthday, Amila!!!



I wore purple and green in honor of you. :)



I love you, Amebo. *hug*

Day Seventy-Seven

I've noticed something odd. I seem to only be able to throw my self gung-ho into one creative outlet at a time. I'm sure it hasn't always been this way. But for some reason, when I'm focused on the photography (amateur though it is), I'm not writing much. And this weekend, when I actually started writing again, I had to remind myself to take pictures.

So this is one of the things I did with my Saturday.

Day Seventy-Six

We're teeny, tiny berries, we are!



How tiny, you ask? Well, this sparkly ring works beautifully as a hula-hoop!



We pack all the deliciousness of those giant store strawberries into our dainty selves, though. Which means, ounce for ounce, we're tons sweeter!

Day Seventy-Five

When you see something like this, how can you resist?



I couldn't. I bought three bunches. And two other small bouquets. (Not to mention the hydrangeas and the moss rose and the jade plant).



And I guarantee it'll happen again.

In fact, I'm looking forward to it.

Day Seventy-Four

On Monday, Vicky loaned me her nice Canon DSLR. So Steph and I trundled off to Townsend Park and did a massive photo shoot. Many good pictures were had; this picture has been approved for public posting by Steph.

Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, my sister!

Day Seventy-Three

Whee! It's my last backlog day from my five-day weekend! I never thought it would take this long to post everything.

This blog is often simply a vehicle for my own amusement. This is one of those days.

Tabitha:



Hamlet:

Day Seventy-Two

Remember when I said we did a lot on Saturday? We really did. So here are more of our adventures on the 4th.

First, we went to the farmer's market. You would not believe the number of strawberries available this late in the year! The vendors kept saying, "Well, I'd say this is the last week. Of course, I thought last week and the week before would be the last, too." No matter to me. I bought piles of them. And Steph bought different piles of them. And these teeny berries were so vastly more delicious than the giant storebought kind. Of which I'm normally a huge fan, mind you.

Yum.



After dropping off our FM bounty, we got back on the road and headed for Sonic. Jen doesn't HAVE a Sonic in her town and I've only recently gotten one. So it's still kind of a big deal.

Especially when you can get Route 44 cherry limeades for the same price as a small. And we did.

Day Seventy-One

On Monday, Steph (my sister) and I impulsively decided to drop in on Debbie. She and the twins were home alone and I just HAPPENED to have a great borrowed camera with me (thanks, Vicky!). I couldn't resist taking a million and one pictures.

But I'll just post three.


First up, Cole Samuel.



Followed by his younger brother, Asher Drake. Did I mention they're twins?



And one of my favorite shots of the whole thing: Drool by Cole.

Day Seventy

Saturday was a very full day. My sister was visiting and my cousin came over from Lansing for the day. We did ever so much. Farmer's market, fireworks, Hoopla, Sonic, all sorts of things.

Oh, yes. And we made ice cream.

First, toss your ingredients into the mixer. Feel free to guess at quantities and flavorings and order.



Next, plug in the machine and give up on talking or hearing for the next half hour or so. (If you're Steph, you can go take a nap in a different room during this process). When the machine makes some really weird noises and seems to be broken, your ice cream is done!

It comes out looking like this:



Absolutely gorgeous. My sister mocked me repeatedly for how completely enthralled I was by its utter pure whiteness.

Finally, dish it up and top it with whatever tasty things you have handy--though I recommend not too much. You want to let the deliciousness shine through without getting overpowered. I chose the fresh strawberry goodness purchased at the farmer's market earlier in the day.



And it was good. VERY good. Yum.

Day Sixty-Nine

Drunk baby* says, "Happy Fourth, everybody! Drink responsibly!"




In the evening, my sister, my cousin, and I went to see the Kentwood fireworks with the Robertses and Kristen parents. Penn liked the fireworks, but wasn't a big fan of the noise.




*Of COURSE not really. Blitzed impression brought to you by Asher, who inherited his mom's acting ability.

Housekeeping note

Dear readers,

Unless I can figure out my newly downloaded GIMP program AND find a wireless connection, I won't be posting pictures until Wednesday. But I'll backdate my posts, so you'll have five days of pictures to look at then!

If you'd like, you can check back later today to see if I've managed to figure things out, though.

Thanks for stopping by!

Day Sixty-Eight

This is Adele.



Yesterday, I featured several shots of her scrunchy little face. But there's another adorable part we need to discuss, folks. Feet. Baby feet. They're teeny. They're tiny. And they're just so improbable.

In this hospital, they're also impossible to steal. House arrest bracelets all around!



They even take their prints so you can doublecheck before you take your baby home. No changelings possible!



It's a pretty good system, I think. Safety and cuteness should always go together, in my book.

Day Sixty-Seven

Meet Adele Coraline Jewett.

She was born a week late on June 30, 2009 at 9:42 p.m., squeaking under the wire to be a June baby. I sense she's going to be a procrastinator--especially if she inherited her dad's genes. No nights awake feeling guilty for her, though.



She's sassy, too. Just try telling her she should have been here a week ago.



She's pretty laid back, just like her mom, but when she makes it to cranky, look out!



Bored now. She gives you leave to go bother someone else.



Yep. She's gonna have everyone wrapped around her teeny little finger.

Congratulations, Matt and Sara! And a special congrats to big brother Blake. She's gonna poach your friends for dates, you know, so pick your pals wisely.