Monthly Archives: May 2013

{Photo Challenge} Day 9: Hands

IMG_5238r

Today’s photo prompt is “hands.” I tried to get a candid shot of my boys’ hands, but that was not going to happen. So here’s our staged shot. My husband’s right hand is on the bottom, Charlie’s is in the middle, and little Daniel’s is on top. I’m so lucky I get to hold each of these boys’ hands whenever I want to.

{Photo Challenge} Day 7: Twilight

IMG_5204rOn a walk tonight

The change in the weather has been welcome. The winter weather felt pretty miserable. But for the first time in several years I feel like we had a real spring. No more of the abrupt scene change from winter to summer. I like spring because it gives me hope that winter is over. I also need help with that transition to summer. It’s just too hard to go from a heavy sweater to shorts in a two days’ time.

I worried that I would not be able to take a picture of “twilight” because that is bedtime for two little boys. I can’t run outside for a picture instead of nursing the baby or cuddling with someone in his big boy bed. Luckily, the weather was so nice we took a walk after dinner. I thought the sun going down through the trees would suffice. Just after I took this picture, I felt a chill on my skin. It was ambitious to wear a tank top to the playground, but it felt really good. Hopeful, even.

{Photo Challenge} Day 6: A heart on my path

IMG_5104rNot really a heart…

Today’s theme is “A heart on your path.” I have come across hearts in the past, but not today, not this week.

I did stumble upon a little cupcake marker on the street outside the school. Certainly a tragic loss for a sentimental kid. Was it the birthday boy who kept a topper as a memento or was it a classmate who wanted to take it home?

To me, it’s a reminder of how cupcakes given out on birthdays remain a huge status symbol for kids at school. The equation “birthday = cupcakes ” is so ingrained, seemingly so hard to fight. Sadly, I’ve had to put some of my advocacy on hold because I need to stay focused on staying employed. At the moment I’m guiding myself by my brain not by my heart.

{Photo Challenge} Day 5: Ugly-beautiful

IMG_5166r“Shabby chic” – our back porch steps

Today’s theme is “ugly-beautiful.” We bought a bank-owned home last summer. It has been a labor and resource intensive process to get the home into livable shape.

Our back deck may need to go. It looks like this is some places. Hopefully it just needs another coat of paint. We will see…

{Photo Challenge} Day 4: Tiny Worlds

IMG_5126rPretty little flowers

Today’s prompt is “Tiny worlds.” I tried to catch a bumblebee on a flower, but I wasn’t fast enough. They were out in small numbers today. Finally, it really feels like spring.

Since moving late last summer, we’ve been discovering secrets about our property. These flowers just showed up on a so-so tree that’s to the side of our back porch. Anyone know what kind of tree it is?

The online course providing inspiration is called “Treasure Hunt: 30 Days of Photo Joy.”

{Photo Challenge} Day 3: Looking up

IMG_5123rChairs as viewed under my speech table.

I’m assuming that I should take a picture of something “looking up,” but today was a gray, cold day. It felt cruel after two days of 70-80 degree weather. I just didn’t feel the need to capture the change in temperature. Instead I wanted to share a different perspective.

Sometimes we look up for inspiration, but other times we look down. I only noticed the light under the table because a student dropped a piece from a game and I had to retrieve it from under the table. I waited until the day was over and snapped a few shots. I like the play of light and dark here.

{Photo Challenge} Day 2: From where I stand

IMG_5107r I love art

Today’s prompt is “From where I stand.” Sometimes I stand and admire kids’ artwork in the hallways. Normally I’m not still, but instead moving through the hallways to get students for speech class. I don’t have time to stop, but today I was at a different school to assess a student. As I was leaving, I noticed these butterflies. I had to pull my camera from my purse for the shot. Yep, I’m carrying my large camera around with me now and of course I’m taking more shots. The young artists who made the pretty hand-butterflies are in preschool. I love the free imaginations of little kids.

My mom was an art teacher in a former life (she’s a lawyer now — she’s awesome). I have to thank her for instilling a love of art. I hope I can do the same with my sons.