Project 52 - Weeks 11 and 12 - Letters and Food

I totally half-assed these two themes. I only found a small number of Letters to work with the theme and then I went back to photographing the tree blossoms while they are around. 

"A"

"Z" or Backwards "S"

"H" 

(If only it wasn't tagging. If you're gonna tag - make it pretty and not just a 'gang' call sign.)

The white blossoms are really striking.  Especially with the beautiful blue skies we got in abundance in March.  I know we need the rain - and the mountains need snow - but I have been really enjoying our unusually warm and dry winter/early spring.  

Even though the white blossoms are gorgeous, I adore the pink ones 10 times more. It's such a soft, happy pastel pink.  The pink trees seem to have blossoms longer than the white ones too, which makes it easier to admire them.  

Originally with the theme Food I envisioned making at least one delicious meal or dessert and trying to properly photograph that.  

Instead I played with my fajita peppers after Grandpa Alan's Mexican restaurant birthday dinner.  And then documented it with my cell phone and Instagram.  

Playing with my food.

A photo posted by Rebecca C (@smiles4u2have) on Mar 22, 2015 at 5:11pm PDT

Still playing.

A photo posted by Rebecca C (@smiles4u2have) on Mar 22, 2015 at 5:14pm PDT

One last one.

A photo posted by Rebecca C (@smiles4u2have) on Mar 22, 2015 at 5:17pm PDT

Next theme:  Red

Click here for posts for Project 52 in 2015 so far.

Project 52 - Week 7 - Negative Space

The theme for week 7 - February 13-19th - was Negative Space.

 I forced the kids to help me with this one a bit and I'm glad I did.  This is my new favorite photo of them.  They were done posing for me and were making faces at me and each other and just generally being their goofy selves while I snapped away.  

I really love Carus's hair.  

Adam's superhero pose.  

 While half the country is still dealing with mounds of snow and wintery winter, spring appears to have come early to us in the other half.  I don't know if we'll have a relapse back into winter like we usually do after the yearly spring tease - but it feels like we won't.  The air has changed from winter to spring so maybe we'll be . . . lucky?  Do you notice a change in the air with the change of the seasons too? Or am I just a weirdo? 

My daffodils and violas are making an appearance.  My Camilla bush is blooming and there are buds on lots of other bushes and trees. I've started working in the garden to get it ready too.  We removed the last of the dead plants, some carrots I forgot to pull, and brought in some soil to level the ground. Robert built me two more garden boxes and we put some yard fabric down which will cover with bark mulch to help with weed control in the aisles this year. I need to get soil for the new beds and fertilizer for the older beds and then I can start planting. Even if I start now and we do have a winter relapse I think the plastic coverings will help keep things growing.  

The fields surrounding town are all green with new growth.  I believe this is a wheat field - but I could be wrong. 

Here is the full picture that previous one was cropped from.  While the cropped and edited version is more true to the negative space rules, I like this one too.  

A field of spring surround by trees of winter. 

All posts for the project so far:  Project 52 in 2015

The next theme is:  Long Exposure

Project 52 - week 6 - Tiny

The theme for week 6, which was February 6th to 12th, was Tiny.  

This should have been so easy except for the fact I was being lazy and uninspired and blah blah blah

BUT! I did find a tiny, smushed snail shell in the driveway....

 

...and a tiny flower.

All posts for the project so far:  Project 52 in 2015

Next theme:  Negative Space

Project 52 - week 5 - Hidden

Things have gotten a bit crazy lately - as they are wont to do from time to time - and I'm behind! Let's see, week 5 was January 30th through February 5th and the theme was hidden.

I had grand plans for all sorts of inspired photography with this theme and then it came to the end of the week and I hadn't been able to find inspiration anywhere so I grabbed a few shots and moved on. I can always revisit it later. 

Carus likes to hide Scout's cookies in his grain bowl under hay so he has to search for it.  

At the end of the evening at the barn, the kitties are usually hidden in cozy places for naps and Carus likes to climb to the top of the hay bales to search them out.  Rascal is usually the one she finds and he'll play for a bit before crawling in her lap for purrs and cuddles.  When it's time to go I have to convince her to come down. Threats to leave her behind are met with an enthusiastic OK. 

Trees hidden in shadow with light pollution illuminating them from behind. 

All posts for the project so far:  Project 52 in 2015

Next theme:  Tiny

Project 52 in 2015

I've been looking for a photography project to do in 2015.  I learned a lot during my 365s but that is a large commitment and felt like too much for me at this time.

In addition to photography projects I'm still developing and planning, I decided to do a Project 52.  For each week this year I will take a photo or several photos to represent the theme of that week.  The themes are listed below and they have their own page here.

I used several Project 52 lists I found online to create my list.  Carus has expressed interest in participating with me and she helped me edit the list and make sure we didn't have repeating words (after I first put the list together I found I had three shadows listed).  I think some of these themes will be really easy and some will push us to go searching for inspiration and/or take some forethought.

Each week is running Friday through Thursday and I'll post our photos.... let's say on Friday or Saturday.

Weekly Theme List

Week 1 – January 1-8: Shadows

Week 2 – January 9-15: Mirror

Week 3 – January 16-22: Macro

Week 4 – January 23-29: Self-portrait

Week 5 – January 30-February 5: Hidden

Week 6 – February 6-12: Tiny

Week 7 – February 13-19: Negative Space

Week 8 – February 20-26: Long Exposure

Week 9 – February 27-March 5: Laughter

Week 10 – March 6-12: Look up

Week 11 – March 13-19: Letters

Week 12 – March 20-26: Food

Week 13 – March 27-April 2: Red

Week 14 – April 3-9: Leading Lines

Week 15 – April 10-16: Shiny

Week 16 – April 17-23 : Things that Grow

Week 17 – April 24-30: Green

Week 18 – May 1-7: Fiesta or Siesta

Week 19 – May 8-14 : Nature

Week 20 – May 15-21: Eyes

Week 21 – May 22-28: Favorites

Week 22 – May 29-June 4: Bird's eye view

Week 23 – June 5-11: Water

Week 24 – June 12-18: Repeating patterns

Week 25 – June 19-25: Blue

Week 26 – June 26-July 2: Animal

Week 27  – July 3-9: Half

Week 28  – July 10-16: Out of focus

Week 29  – July 17-23: Centered

Week 30  – July 24-30: Black & White

Week 31  – July 31-August 6: Sunlight/Sunshine

Week 32  – August 7-13: Adventure

Week 33  – August 14-20: Green

Week 34  – August 21-27: Abandoned/Abandoned buildings

Week 35  – August 28-September 3: Different Perspective

Week 36  – September 4-10: Imagine/Imagination

Week 37  – September 11-17: Round

Week 38  – September 18-24: Criss-Cross

Week 39  – September 25-October 1: Low Light

Week 40 – October 2-8: Flutter

Week 41 – October 9-15: Fall

Week 42 – October 16-22: Warm

Week 43 – October 23-29: Horizon

Week 44 – October 30-November 5: Mask

Week 45 – November 6-12 : My View

Week 46 – November 13-19 : Sparkle

Week 47 – November 20-26: New

Week 48 – November 27-December 3: Thoughtful

Week 49 – December 4-10: Night

Week 50 – December 11-17: Reflection

Week 51 – December 18-24: Details

Week 52 – December 25-31: Three photos to make a story

Themed photoshoots

This year I want to do quite a few themed photoshoots.  I've got at least 4 ideas rolling around in my head.

After admiring some hoarfrost we had a few weeks ago I started thinking about an ice princess shoot with Carus and started planning that out - making the costume and figuring out hair and makeup. Our final costume fitting on Friday night changed it from just Ice Princess to Ice Fairy Princess as the fabric I got for a cape worked better as light wings.

The next day, Carus and I got up early, did her hair and makeup and went out in the cold for a few pictures at sunrise.  She was a very good sport as it was Saturday morning and about 27 degrees.  Even though we took a few huddle-under-a-blanket breaks, she did get a bit chilled.  The whole shoot only lasted about 30 minutes.



All the tools to get ready laid out on the table.  I was thinking the weather wasn't doing what I wanted it too - I was hoping for a hoarfrost - but the amount of frost wasn't bad after all and it was bright and sunny so that was great.



It didn't work out exactly like I had in my head, but honestly it never does.  Perhaps that's how it is supposed to go.  You get an idea, think you have it figured out how it all will turn out, but the final results are always beautifully, and maybe a bit surprisingly, different.

The dress is mine.  I wore it to a dance in 8th or 9th grade. I got it from Gramma, and the little matching cape that goes with it was adjusted and tied around Carus's waist to give the skirt more oomph.

Carus didn't like the (faux) fur muff I made but when it came down to it she didn't want to take her hands out of it.



I made the crown myself using hot glue to shape the points and the band they are attached to.  I then painted it and put on a little glitter.

Sewing day

I'm still working on my mystery quilt that I started at the beginning of this year.

Actually, it seems the only time I make any progress is when I get together with Jessica and we work on our quilts together.

I finished the blocks today and have every intention of putting the top together this week while I'm off work.... and then there is sandwiching and quilting and binding... So another year of work then.

Maybe if Jessica and I can get another craft day this week I will succeed in getting a top.  If I do I'll take a picture with the camera and not my phone so you can really appreciate the colors (red, white and blue, and the dark flower fabric has brown - I didn't intend to be patriotic with my colors, it just happened).

The Shed is Finished!

Robert hasn't been letting me taking progress photos of The Shed.  He wanted me to wait until it was finished.  He has been doing the trim, sealing, and final touch-ups for 2 weeks now.



Seams along the walls, ceilings, window, and door have been sealed and all paint has been touched up.




The door was repainted and the door jam filled with foam.




Door open.



Last night he wired it for light and a couple plug outlets.



Plug!



Look another plug!

Today, he started moving his tinkering stuff in and rearranging the garage.  He officially has his very own man cave to run away and hide from us.

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Robert has been working on painting The Shed all week.  He wanted the same color as the house, and it will have the same color trim as well, to match and tie it in.  It will look better that way.  But there was one problem - what color is it?  Unfortunately, of the several cans of paint left in the garage the house color was not one of them. Robert kept insisting it was more of an off-white, I said it was a light gray.  We knew we could take in a sample and get it color matched, but didn't have anything small enough to take in; until I found  a gutter downspout clamp.  When Robert removed the clamp we found that underneath the gutter had a spot with the original paint color of the house - a mint green.  Ew! Thank you to whoever had the house repainted!



At first Robert was painting by hand, but wasn't happy with how it looked so he went and got a paint gun, which worked well enough.  With a final coat with the roller to even out some spots it looks great.  Now on to trim!

Leia must have walked a little close to The Shed, she got a little paint on her ear.

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Carus making herself a pillowcase out of a fleece pink and black zebra print.  She BEGGED for the fabric when seeing it in the store. Really, really begged.  She wanted another blanket, but because she already has 5 million bazillion blankets on her bed, I suggested a simple pillowcase, which she agreed to.  I think she meant for me or gramma to sew it, but we had other ideas.  Gramma made her a skirt out of another fabric she BEGGED for, so she had to do this one.  She did well.




* * * * * * * *

Sneaking in an update on The Shed now.  Progress is still being made, but it looks like less is being finished.

Robert got the window in.


And, he got the door in, and foamed the gap around the door.  Next up, painting!

Weekend stuff

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Friday

Just Robert holding the puggy.


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Saturday

We went back to school shopping and then came home and purged all the clothes the kids have outgrown.  Apparently I haven't done it in awhile.


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Sunday

I climbed the ladder to see the view from the roof of The Shed.  Quite nice.  This weekend Robert worked on reinforcing the roof, putting in soffits (click here for better explanation than I could give), and cutting out the window.


Roof.  (It got shingles put on yesterday and today. )


Window hole.

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It's good to have tall friends.  Thanks for the help David!


Positioning the plywood on the roof.


Nailing in plywood and talking.

The Shed - long awaited update

Dun ta da dun!  (Otherwise known as Trumpet sounds.)

While I spent my day vacuuming and shampooing carpets (for 8 hours and I missed/skipped two rooms), Robert was working on putting up walls on The Shed.  Adam helped with a few walls, and I helped on one.  Robert discovered that cheap nails are not a good idea.  For every one nail he got in, at least 5 bent and broke on him.  He was very happy to use the last of that box and happily went and bought more expensive, better quality nails, and was rewarded with all of those nails going in as they were supposed to.

One wall up.


Putting up walls.




Getting ready to cut the door hole out on one side, then another sheet of T1-11 went up and he cut the other side.


Four walls.


Ready for a roof.  Too bad an open roof is not practical.


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08/19/2012 - The Shed has walls!  The window hole still needs to be cut out, but the next task is putting a roof on it before Oregon rainy season starts.