Treats for Santa 39/365

Propel 38/365

Okay, so I was killing time at the Fun Zone with Beans and Shnort and took this photo through the glass of the drink machine. I've also just dwonloaded Photoshop Lightroom and need to play around with it. Original and edited versions...Nowie came over while I was editing and said "Where did you take that? Is that Propel? No, way! I didn't know they had Propel!" Okaaaayy...

Berlin Wall 37/365

Taken at Marbles Museum in Raleigh, this piece of the Berlin wall faced West Berlin where many graffiti artists painted the wall with messages of peace and freedom. The opposite side of this piece is completely plain and white. The other half of this peice is on the USS Intrepid in NYC.

Boy, oh Boy 36/365

I find it amazing how boys can turn any game into one of adventure. Beans was playing with our neighbor's Dora the Explorer bubble machine. Note the Power Ranger sword in his hand. The game quickly became one of "Those bubble are attacking us. Get them!!!" So funny!

Treasure 35/365

Okay, yes, so old buildings and hands are my current photo obsession. What I love about this shot is Beans wrinkled little hands. His swim coach has them dive to the bottom of the pool for treasure as a reward for a well done class. His coach in phenomenal... here's his site: www.triangleswimschool.com I HIGHLY recommend him for any child. He has enormous patience, great engaging ways to teach the kids. Beans would hardly put his face in when he began and now the are working freestyle stroke.

35/365

Farmer's Warehouse 34/365

I think it is so cool to be minutes away from some really cool country settings and 20 minutes away from the state capital and all a city has to offer. I'll have to get into the city for some shots soon....This building has some really interesting signs on it. I'm sure I'll go back time to time for more shots...

The Smokehouse 33/365

Sorry...in "old structures" mode...There's a property near our house that has several old structures on it. They wreath and spotlight them during the holidays. So cool...

The Shack 32/365

Again, I love old worn out buildings. I can't help but wonder what the history is...

The Bandy's 31/365

Took Christmas card pictures of some of our favorite neighbors today. :)

God's Tattoo 31/365

Okay, so I doodle... A.Lot. Even in the steam on my shower doors... I don't believe there is a "type" of person who gets a tattoo anymore. It has become a bit trendy but often I find it to be a demonstration of a passion, whether it be for a loved one, a lost one, a team, a life change. I am so intrigued by people's tattoo stories. When my husband and I were baptized together I kept on having this overwhelming feeling to get a tattoo. Then I "came across" a devo about God's on HIS hands...a tattoo of me.

Isaiah 49:16 : "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."

This is my current tattoo doodle. Four hearts for my four "men" and Christ at the center. It's a work in progress. I'll probably never actually get it but for now...

Pa Rum Pa Pum Pum 30/365

Boom was asked to play a drummer boy in a Christmas production at our church this year. The productions at our church are not your everyday pageants by any stretch of the imagination. Let me just say that this child would have rather put sand in his eyes than stand up on a stage in front of 1,500 people a mere two years ago. We just love seeing him come out of his shell and grow up in some many nice ways. We know there are stormy teens years approaching but time will tell...Not an exception photo but had to share the moment.

Let it Snow! 29/365

I wish for just one really good snow a year. One when the kids can have off of school AND actually have snow on the ground. Last year they built five slushy snowmen across the road. So dad...they were so excited that it snowed but the blades of grass were still poking through the snow. I want a day where we can spend twenty minutes getting into snow gear, play outside until we're soaking wet and come for some hot cocoa by the fire. Ah, dreams are free...

Scarlet Cord 28/365

Three Gen of Chittenden Men 27/365

Tim's dad visited today on his way to Texas. I thought since Tim looks so much like his dad and Boom so much like Tim it would be cool to capture them together.

Oh Christmas Tree 26/365

So, ever since I was a kid I loved decorating the tree. On our tree are ornaments from trips, special people, special times. Last year we added a beaver ornament since a couple of beavers took down nine willow trees in our back yard last fall. Damn beavers! I'm guessing this year we'll add a black lab. At the top, as always, is an ornament I made the first year we were married that has our wedding photo in it...a bit cheesy, but sentimental nonetheless.

Wedding Cake 25/365

I still love weddings. I think it just brings back the sweetness of my own wedding day. This evening our friends, Dana and Neely, were married. We had the privilege of being premarital mentors to them and through that we have become better friends. It was a very sweet and intimate wedding and our dear friend Joe was the officiating pastor. It was fun to see a friend marry friends.

Beans for Breakfast 24/365

I could just eat him up!!!! He was just sitting on the kitchen counter waiting to go to school when I snapped this picture. He had a rough week at school. We're so grateful for the patience of his teachers... I know for a fact that his smile has saved his butt more than a few times!

First Frost 23/365

RANDOM

Okay, so I am listening to the radio and the David Crowder Band was just singing "Revolutionary Love." LOVE that song!!! So, Boom took this photo at our last David Crowder Band concert. Yes, we'll see them ANYTIME that they are within an hour...if you ever get a chance, GO! You'll be blessed beyond words!

Nowie 22/365

Nowie is right smack in the middle of our testosterone gang. He's the kind of kid who laughs when he's in trouble or when someone falls...you know someone like that don't you? Nowie will try (and often become quickly proficient) at most things he tries except for eating strange foods like mashed potatoes??? Our favorite Nowie story happened this time year when he was just three. Boom was asking him questions at dinner about the Christmas story. He asked Nowie "Then who came to visit the baby Jesus? The threeeeeeee...." Nowie proudly responded "little pigs!" Oh Nowie...you make us laugh!!!

Welcome Christmas! 21/365

Happy December! When I was young I always looked forward to decorating my house with my mom. Our home had pink carpet so of course our tree lights were pink as well. I just thought that was the coolest! We used to hang up a ball of mistletoe with a little red elf sitting on top. I still have that mistletoe but is has seen one too many mashings into the decoration box but I imagine many smooches as well...now we hang this ball in our foyer. In our third house the only place to logically hang it was between the foyer and the kitchen in a somewhat narrow and seemingly shorter than normal doorway. My husband never quite got the kissing ball "dodge" down that year. He cursed that thing more than kissed beneath it! I'm glad to say our ceilings are higher now and the doorway much wider...

Messing with depth of field 21/365

I took advantage of this centerpiece and its placement in front of a mirror to practice depth of field. It's not an exceptional picture, but I do like that I was able to focus on the midground and lose focus on the foreground fruit and everything in the mirror. Pardon my educational moment...not so much fun for you as it was for me! :)

Beans Biking 20/365

For those of you who know Beans, you know what a special kid he is. He was very excited to be riding his bike this week...even with the training wheels. I love just the joy in his face in this photo, so proud of himself for just going uphill successfully! Go Beans, go!!!

SCARY!!! 19/365

I was at first scared and am now mildly intrigued by the reality that leg warmers are back!!! Shall I once again spend hard earned money on these fashionably knitted accessories? What shoes do I wear with them??? Do I need leggings and a long sweater? Should I buy some skinny ribbon and fashion those groovy braided and beaded barrettes? You know, the ones that dangle down from the barrette ...decisions, decisions!

Happy Birthday, Tim! 18/365

Happy birthday, Tim!

I love you bunches...

I'm most thankful for you...believing in me!

MUAH!

Dead Tree 17/365

one tree of harsh clime

Solitary Sentinel

on hilltop exposed.

Jennifer ParksNolan as LeJenD'Poet

I have passed this tree so many times. It is on a construction site and I feared it would be gone before I could get a picture. I originally took the photos with my white balance on incandescent light...DUH! So, these are edited a bit. I may go retake another day but for now I have my photo of this tree.

A Fungus Among Us 16/365

My kids and neighbors are often in the woods on the side of our house. I was quite the woods dweller when I was little, so I decided to head back there and see what it was all about. Okay...very cool! Who knew? Just beside our house is a wetlands area into which they have carved pathways and hiding places. I came across this funky fungus, apparently a "shelf" fungus named for its horizontal growth. I loved the rings as it reminded me of the inside of a tree trunk. I really need a better close-up lens...

Three 15/365

Three is my favorite number. Great things come is threes:

my boys- Boom, Nowie, Bean

my siblings-Tom, Sharon, Scott

human abilitites-thought, word, deed

time-past, present, future

my God- Father, Son, Holy Spirit

While Beans was holding our wedding bands I thought what a powerful symbol of love and partnership in just such a small precious circle. And while to him it was his crazy mom forcing him into yet another photo, what he holds in his hand he can confidently depend on. Our commitment, our vows, our promise to love. What security he holds yet unappreciated...but now forever captured.

Shades of Fall 14/365

Days Gone By...

End of a Season

The Treehouse...where secret plans are hatched

Today was a beautifu, crisp fall day. The kids were outside playing with their friends so I grabbed my camera in case any excitement ensued. The sunlight in my neighbor's backyard caught my eye. I couldn't choose from the photos I shot so here are all of them.

Follow up to 12/365

Okay so here's the proof...oh, where was Boom climbing when I went outside today??? The basketball hoop??? Shocking...He was building a swing. Makes sense to him!

Holly 13/365

I am without a doubt one of those people who do not understand why Christmas music is not playing on the radio by November 1st!!! While some of my friends dislike Christmas music and say it's "Just bad music", for me it's about memories. Like, I love the Heat Miser song from "The Year Without a Santa Claus" because I remember my brother, Scott, and I used to watch that show when we were little. My all time favorite is the Bare Naked Ladies and Sara McLachlan's verison of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" although, some Reliant K songs are eeking their way to the top of my list. What does this all have to do with my picture of the day? Nothing really except that today's photo represents my official entrance into this year's Christmas season. Merry Christmas!!!

Hangin' out 12/365

Boom is my monkey boy! I often find him climbing up the basketball goal instead of actually shooting hoops!! He named the photo and I say it might be more about his boxers than his tree acrobatics...

From the Fog 11/365

Okay, so I have this daily habit which I will not disclose until another day. I'm interested in getting you to think. Today I took this photo of a common result of said habit. I am posting the Photoshopped version until I get some feedback from my viewing public. :) I'd love to hear what this photo says to you, what you might think it is, how you might think it was created. I only used two filters on it so it's not too far gone!!!

The Beast 10/365

Say hello to Phantom, our nine month old rescued Black Lab mix. We are completely convinced he is part goat as he continues to eat us out of house and home by way of windowsills. His adorable face saves his canine behind on a moment to moment basis!!!

Ball boy 9/365

Cheater day...So Boom and I went out into the neighborhood today and shot a bunch of flower and foliage pictures and guess who erased them? Uh...yea...that would be me! So, I grabbed another favorite from this fall. This is a shot of Beans after a soccer game of Nowie's. He SO badly wants to be part of the big kids stuff!

Armed and Dangerous 8/365

I captured this shot of Boom's arm post swim meet. Competitive swimmers write their event, heat, lane and stroke on their arm in Sharpie so they know where and when they need to be somewhere.

Breathtaking 7/365

I spent this afternoon at a swim meet for Nowie and Boom. "How ever will I capture a photo for my project at a swim meet with no fabulous zoom lens?" I headed into the meet with hopes of snagging a few good swim shots. It was a strange day of rain sun, tornado warnings. Just about at the end of the meet my friend, Lara, said, "Look at the sky!' Tucked just behind the aquatic center, nearly out of view was this most amazing sunset. Opposite in the sky was a full rainbow but, wow, this sunset dulled the rainbow by comparison. This photo is untouched except for a crop out of cars in the foreground...

Heart of Stone 6/365

Heart of Stone...something a person with no feelings would have. Not a term I ever want applied to me...however, what else would you name a photo of a heart shaped rock? This picture was taken in Duke Forest. Anyone notice a trend? Duke Gardens...Duke Forest??? You think we're Duke fans...

Beans and Shnort 5/365

For those of you who frequent our life you know that Beans has been counting down the days until swim lessons began. Literally, marking the days off on our kitchen calendar. This is not a photographically genius shot but I love the fact that they are holding hands. They've been buds since they were one...

My new baby 4/365

It's here...it's here!!! Okay, so I have wanted this camera for about a year and a half. And, anyone who knows me knows that financially it has not been a priority. I prayed to God that if I was supposed to have this camera He need to show the way to make it mine. Without the long drawn out detail, between birthday gift money and "found" money in the form of overpaid insurance bill, the nearly exact amount of money came into my hands this past week. In fact, I had two dollars extra. Say coincidence, say God's plan, say manipulation of thoughts, whatever you want, but I know my God can do WHATEVER He wants. I'm choosing the God path...now that I have been given this gift, what shall I do with it? To whom much is given, much is expected. - Luke 12:48 I am no expert photographer by any stretch but I do have a passion to learn it...I'm excited about the days and years to come. Thank you God!

Project 365... 3/365

My mom HATES to have her picture taken! Drives me nuts since I love taking pictures. I asked her the other day if I could at least take a picture of her hands. I like the first shot because it shows her manicure. She's had her nails done for as long as I can remember!!! Her treat to herself...kind of like Starbucks to me! In the second shot she is holding Beans hand. I love this because she is holding on tightly. You can also see a bracelet with her name on it that she has worn forever. Someday, even though I cannot see her face, I'll treasure this picture because of those things.

Dream on,

Chris

Project 365... 2/365

So I almost hated to post this picture because it is likely to by a Christmas card shot...we took the boys to Duke Garden's on Sunday for this years photo shoot. I dare say it was the least stressful shoot to date. The big guys are getting older and Beans just followed their lead...