Wordless Wednesday ~ Slither

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Tell me Thursday

Yesterday for wordless Wednesday I showed some pictures of what little boys are made of.

We had a birthday party for my grandma this last weekend to celebrate her 80th. For her birthday she asked that we do some work in her back yard. While weeding her flower beds I found a snail and knew immediately that Bug would love to see it.

Grandma found a nice plastic container to put it in and we put in some water from her pond along with some rocks and leaves. Bug was so excited about it, as new people arrived for the party he was excited to show them his new pet.

When Bug wasn't looking my aunts boyfriend Jim slipped another snail into the plastic container. As more great grand kids showed up Bug ran to his container to show them. He slipped the lid off only to find not one but TWO snails. The look on his face was priceless. Shocked he looked at me "Mom, the snail had a baby!" We all chuckled and didn't say a word as he made his rounds showing everyone the baby snail that just showed up.

When we got home husband couldn't stand telling him a lie any longer and explained what really happened. Poor Bug got a shocked look on his face and said " But I told all those other kids that my snail had a baby!!" Then he said in the next breath " That Jim! I'm gonna get him the next time I see him!"

When I googled to find out what snails eat there was a little tip at the bottom of the page that said "If you have two snails, you will end up with baby snails"

Great, just what I wanted. :P

Wordless Wednesday ~ What little boys are made of

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It's a boy!

There should have been no doubt that it was going to be a boy.

After all, anything birthed at my house ends up being a boy.

Miss Dolly is a wonderful mother. He is all ears and legs! Big, healthy and active.

I promised Bug that if it was a boy he could help name it.

Makes me want to just cuddle him! I'll try for better pictures once momma settles down.

Forgotten treasure

In the far reaches of my hall closet, behind the vacuum cleaner and Christmas wrapping paper, a piece of my childhood sat. Covered in dust and missing several pieces it was long forgotten. That is until it's colorful coat caught Bugs eye. Though it was missing parts and stained Bug instantly fell in love with the old kite that my dad had given me when I was ten. At first he tried holding it above his head and leaping from the table.

But soon he learned that if he gave it just the right toss it would fly for a short distance and then fall to the ground.

It turned out to be the perfect way to spend a warm spring day.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Still waiting for baby

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Sorry I've been missing

I'm really shocked that I haven't written a post in a whole month.

Spring snuck up on me and I've just been relishing every minute of it.

Despite staring at her for over a month, checking her in sensitive areas and trying to just plain will her to have her baby, Dolly is on her own time line.

I'm still checking her every day for "signs" of impending birth.

So far she just keeps getting bigger.

In the mean time I've been mowing grass like crazy.

Planting vegetables in my garden.

Playing with Bug in his newly filled sand box.

And generally keeping my online time limited to visiting other peoples blogs and Facebook.

In the last month another interesting thing has happened.

A small bird has decided he is in love with his reflection in my tinted office window.

He comes every day to talk to himself, admire his lovely feathers and give offerings of bugs and feathers to the bird in the mirror.

Isn't he sweet? He cuddles up next to himself and chirps softly.

These aren't the best pictures but hey, it's hard to photograph through double pained tinted glass!

Hello Dolly!

It's no secret that I have an affection for all animals. It's also widely known that I have a special affection for those of the equine variety.

While perusing the farm and garden section of Craigslist I came upon and advertisement for miniature donkeys. I have wanted one of these for a very long time. Our neighbors two places down the hill have a field full of them. Every year when the babies are born I swear I am going to ask them if they want to sell me one.... every year I don't do it. So when I responded to the add, imagine my surprise when the people selling them where none other than my neighbors!

They were full of information for me. Bug and I spent almost an hour hanging out with them and their donkeys. They wanted to sell me a Jack (boy) and Jenny (girl) package but the Jenny was pregnant and it didn't take a genius to realize three Donkeys and three full size goats where not going to fit in my tiny barn. The whole time I talked with them a sweet little Jenny leaned against me as I scratched her back. I fell in love but knew that Mini Donkeys really do so much better with a donkey friend. So when they told me they were 95% sure she was pregnant that meant she had an instant friend inside her right now. Plus I can't resist having a baby around in a couple months.

So here she is meeting the goats for the first time through the fence.

Charlie (black goat) is certain she is going to eat him! You should have seen how high he jumped when she walked up behind him!

I think that is what fat belly. If she isn't pregnant than she needs to be on a serious diet!

So, anyone out there know anything about pregnant donkeys? I've been reading online and now I'm a little scared at what I got myself into!

Dreams.. was it the deviled eggs or something else?

Last night I had the most vivid dreams. Ones that make you wake up and it takes you a minute to figure out that it was only a dream. Was it all those eggs I ate during Easter dinner yesterday? Or is it something else?
The first dream that I had was a variation on dreams that I've had on and off for as long as I can remember. I get to a parking lot and my car has been stolen. In disbelief I look everywhere for it, thinking that I just forgot where I parked it. I feel panicked and I wake up and feel relief that it isn't true.
After I fell back to sleep I dreamt that my husband and I both woke up late for work. Like seriously late, four and a half hours late. We were both panicked. I woke up on time, husband was already at work. Once again I was relieved it was only a dream.
I was compelled to figure out if perhaps there was more to this than eating to many eggs.
So I looked up what the meaning of each dream was.
This is what it said about my car being stolen in my dream:
To dream that you car has been stolen, indicates that you are being stripped of your identity. This may relate to losing your job, a failed relationship, or some situation which has played a significant role in your identity and who you are as a person.

Hmmmmm......

It said this about waking up late for work:
To dream that you are late, denotes your fear of change and your ambivalence about seizing an opportunity. You may feel unready, unworthy, or unsupported in your current circumstances. Additionally, you may be overwhelmed or conflicted with decisions about your future. You feel time is running out and that you do not have time to accomplish all the things you want.

Kind of go together don't they. Makes me think it wasn't the eggs after all.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Under the Sea

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Odds and Ends... well mostly just odds.

I really wanted to post a photo story Friday again this week. I'm really enjoying participating. I spent several hours trying to edit pictures from our trip to the Aquarium this past weekend. Do you know how hard it is to get a good shot in a dark aquarium without flash, moving fish in the background under filtered light and small child in the dark foreground looking at them??
Oh you do know? Well then you'll understand how many good pictures I ended up with. I'll post them sometime but I'm not done with the massive editing job just yet.
I'm having a hard time finding the inspiration to blog. Several semi funny things have happened in the last few weeks but I just can't seem to properly put them into words. Like the story of the gift I just received. It's really kind of funny but when I type it out it's just lacking something.
My mother in law brought me back a present from Arizona. It's a purse made from crochet plastic bags. I'll let you all digest that for a moment. Yes plastic bags from stores.
You can sort of tell which ones where from Walmart and which are from Safeway. I suppose it could be considered the ultimate in recycling but I'm just not feeling it. See, only slightly funny.
In other news, I've been super cranky this week. Yesterday husband came home and I told him I didn't feel good, that I had horrible cramps. Husbands response was "Oh that explains a lot"
Note to all men... that is NOT the correct response.
Since I was feeling so crappy I went to the store to buy a bottle of wine after work. I got up to the register and the guy asked for my ID. I hand it to him, he looked at the picture, looked at me and then as he was typing the date into the register he says really loud "OH Wow!"
I thought maybe I'd one a prize until he said "You don't look that old!"
Um... ok I think that was a compliment.

Photostory Friday ~ Marbeling

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A few weeks ago Bug and I went to visit my dad. After loving on the brand new baby goats, mydad, Bug and I went over to watch my dad's friend Marjorie work.

She creates marbled fabric and sells it to other crafts people. They in turn make beautiful things from the fabric. The process of making this fabric is long and I won't go into specifics because, well I don't remember all of the technicalities!

What I do know is that is was fascinating to watch. Bug who has a short attention span watched for about two hours in a cold cramped studio as Marjorie worked her magic.

Bug was entranced....

Marjorie put row after row of dye onto the special slimy liquid.

Then she used a "comb" to smooth out the lines.

Then she used a "rake" in the opposite direction.

Once the pattern is the way she wants it she lays the fabric into the solution.

When the fabric is lifted the die is adhered to it.






She makes multiple patterns and stores every on in her head.

It's was so fun and very inspiring to watch an artist at work. It reminds me that I need to find my bliss!

Photo Story Friday ~ Uninspired

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I have been feeling completely uninspired lately.

Uncreative, listless, and tired.

I don't know if it has been the weather or what.

I haven't even wanted to pick up my camera.

When I do I feel like every picture I take is crap.

Then a few days ago the baby lambs started arriving at our neighbors down the hill.

Every morning they when we drive by Bug and I ooooh and ah at their cuteness.

The weather was gorgeous today so I took some time on my lunch break and headed out with my camera. Of course the sun was out and at a harsh angle.

Every picture I took looked washed out. I couldn't get it right.

When I got to the lambs field there were all of two within shooting range. I had to peer over a bunch of dead blackberry vines to try and shoot them. The rest were far away taking their afternoon naps. There was none of the running and jumping in a huge pack that we see every morning.

I walked back up the hill to my house a bit let down.

I had finally gotten inspired by something and it didn't work out.... again.

Then as I walked toward my house I saw this image.

The mountain reflected in my office window.

That's when I decided that there shouldn't ever be a reason for me to feel uninspired when I have this reflection to look at every day.

Wordless Wednesday ~ A trip to grandpas farm

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Wordless Wednesday ~ Sunrise

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Dear Blog,

I'm sorry that I have been neglectful.
I've been preoccupied.
The attraction of someone else has pushed a wedge between us.
You see I don't have to "work" so hard for this other friend.
My creativity is not needed.
I don't feel the pressure from them like I do from you.
I know there is room in my life for you both but I just haven't been able to figure it all out yet.
If you could just bond with my new friend too, I know you would like them.
In fact if there was some way I could merge you both then it would be the perfect solution.
Until I figure it out... please stick by me.
I won't completely give up on this relationship.
But Facebook is just so new and exciting right now.
I'll see you in a few days... as soon as I read what all my friends are doing.
Love always,
Autumn

My PSA for the day

I'm here so that others can learn from my mistakes, so here you go...

First, don't assume that your six year old is just being quiet in the kitchen.
Second, when six year old says "Oops I spilt a little milk" don't assume it is a "little".
Third, when you clean up the milk with kitchen towels do not arbitrarily throw those kitchen towels into the dirty clothes hamper in your bedroom.
Fourth, when your wiener dog suddenly has a strange fascination with said clothes hamper, do not ignore it.
Fifth, when you open your bedroom door and it smells rank, don't assume it was your husbands, child's or dogs gas.
Sixth, when you do your laundry three days later... hold your breath.

Your welcome.

Photoshop drop out...

I mentioned last fall that I had signed up for a Photoshop elements class. I also mentioned that I was the youngest in the class by a good twenty years. I ended up dropping the class. In spite of feeling like a total dope when it came to PS elements I was ahead of most of the class. The pace was slow and I just felt that if I put a little more effort into it on my own I'd get the hang of things. I still have a love/hate relationship with it.

I love it when I take a picture and love it SOOC (Straight out of camera). I feel that I have really accomplished something. To me it takes such skill to take a wonderful picture out in the field using manual or semi manual setting. I push myself to sharpen those skills, it may be a lost art in the future.

I do believe in some degree that Photoshop is taking away from the skill and art of Photography. It's easier to just fix it on the back end because you don't have the pressure of the moment.

On the flip side I can really appreciate the skill that Photoshop takes. It's the modern day dark room. Ansel Adams did a lot of his work in the dark room. Using his skills with developing to make his pictures one in a million.

So I am trying to find a happy medium, to not try and fix every flaw in a picture or make it to processed, but just enhance a few things here and there. All while still trying to get the best SOOC shot that I can.

As I started editing pictures into black and whites I practiced with other editing processes. Here are a few of my before and afters. I'm sure or at least I hope, next year I'll look at these and say "Wow I really have come a long way since those!"

Here is a picture of my husband and I that my sister in law took.

It's a nice picture but the bird in the air and the cars in the background are very distracting. So when I turned it to black and white for my wall I did this to it.

This next picture is of Bug out in the yard. I love the genuine smile on his face in this shot.

The only issue is that dang huge blue ball behind him. Now I do kind of like it but when the picture was turned black and white is just looked weird. So I took it out.

I see so many things that I probably could have done better on that one but eh... it's just fine. Here is a shot that I scanned from an old picture of Bug and his big brother. I loved this shot because it shows just how good of a big brother he is. Helping his little annoying brother.

The only problem was the guy in the background with the stroller and the little girl behind my stepson. So very distracting..... so I removed them and this is the result.

So I'm trying, reluctantly to improve my skills with Photoshop elements. I won't go into how long it took to edit just these three pictures. Oh well life isn't a race right?