Cactus in bloom:
Hydrangea:
and another Hydrangea with lots of itty-bitty blooms on it:
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Flowers
I stopped by the conservatory for a quick half hour visit yesterday, I hadn't been there since early last fall. Just a few of the snaps from the day, I'll share some more when I have a little time to edit them:
Cactus in bloom:
Hydrangea:
and another Hydrangea with lots of itty-bitty blooms on it:
Cactus in bloom:
Hydrangea:
and another Hydrangea with lots of itty-bitty blooms on it:
Friday, May 30, 2008
Me and My Girl - warning, photo overload
It's spring musical time again. The show at C's school is called Me and My Girl. I have to say straight off, this is probably my least favorite show that C has been in. I tried to like it, I really did, but it's just "ok." Certainly not due to the kids, it's the story and music that just doesn't float my boat.
These pics are from one of the dress rehearsals about 10 days ago, so the costumes and set were not complete at that time.
C plays "Parchester," the family solicitor who breaks out into song and dance at very random times in the show. A bit of comic relief if you may :) He's got laryngitis and his vocal chords are not looking good according to the ENT. He's on steroids and antibiotics and is supposed to be on vocal rest. However that doesn't work well when you've got 5 shows a week to do, so he's just doing the best he can. Poor kid!
My pics are not really inspired, I think it's due to not being inspired by the show itself, I dunno:
That's my boy :)
These pics are from one of the dress rehearsals about 10 days ago, so the costumes and set were not complete at that time.
C plays "Parchester," the family solicitor who breaks out into song and dance at very random times in the show. A bit of comic relief if you may :) He's got laryngitis and his vocal chords are not looking good according to the ENT. He's on steroids and antibiotics and is supposed to be on vocal rest. However that doesn't work well when you've got 5 shows a week to do, so he's just doing the best he can. Poor kid!
My pics are not really inspired, I think it's due to not being inspired by the show itself, I dunno:
That's my boy :)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Got him
...and didn't even have to bait him. This is one of the "children," the older ones (like the one I posted the other day) have a blue chest.
My shutter speed was ridiculously slow (1/100 at a focal length of 220mm), so it's not super sharp, plus I cut off his tail, but it'll have to do for now. I'll keep plugging away at these guys to see if I can manage to get "the" picture eventually.
Oh, and almost unbelievably, a bald eagle flew right over our house tonight. Just cruising along, enjoying the evening. We live IN Seattle, so it's not a sight we see very often. Way cool.
My shutter speed was ridiculously slow (1/100 at a focal length of 220mm), so it's not super sharp, plus I cut off his tail, but it'll have to do for now. I'll keep plugging away at these guys to see if I can manage to get "the" picture eventually.
Oh, and almost unbelievably, a bald eagle flew right over our house tonight. Just cruising along, enjoying the evening. We live IN Seattle, so it's not a sight we see very often. Way cool.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Baited...
So I thought I was just too clever . As I was heading out to put an over ripe pear into the yard waste bin I thought to myself; "Self, you could cut this up and use it to bait the Jays to stay still for you long enough to get some better pictures." Ummmm, that would be a big no. This guy got to it first:
Next I'll try some bread on the fence. Wish me luck!
We don't have bird feeders any more because they became "cat feeders." Our cat LOVES to hunt birds, and bring them home to us, both alive and dead....ugh. While the Jays are too big for her to go after, she'd definitely be all over the smaller birds that would come to feed.
Next I'll try some bread on the fence. Wish me luck!
We don't have bird feeders any more because they became "cat feeders." Our cat LOVES to hunt birds, and bring them home to us, both alive and dead....ugh. While the Jays are too big for her to go after, she'd definitely be all over the smaller birds that would come to feed.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
They're back....
Last year we had a family of Stellar's Jays who visited our yard regularly. Well they (or their look-a-likes) are back again, this time they are a family of 5! A couple of them are in the homely, pre-teenagerish stage. This one is actually cute :) They are totally tormenting me though. They seem to pose perfectly for me when I do NOT have my camera in hand, but once I do they tend to fly up into the trees and just squawk at me. Darn them! I have a photo very similar to this one posted here somewhere last spring. At least they and I are consistent if nothing else!
Two of our dogwoods are blooming (The third one that blooms more white is already done, I missed it). The blooms on these are very small, maybe 2" across at best. I just love the fresh green color!
Oh, and did ya notice, 2 days IN A ROW. Yay me :)
Two of our dogwoods are blooming (The third one that blooms more white is already done, I missed it). The blooms on these are very small, maybe 2" across at best. I just love the fresh green color!
Oh, and did ya notice, 2 days IN A ROW. Yay me :)
Monday, May 26, 2008
In my yard
I feel like I have missed all of spring (actually I have), I've just been too busy to shoot what I love - flowers. I stole about 10 minutes this afternoon and shot a little in the backyard. I planted this last year, it's Columbine. I like how it feels like the bloom is just floating there in the midst of all the green around it. I may have to dig this guy up and take him with us when the house sells.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Another milestone - PROM
Last weekend was C's Prom. I can't help but wonder, how did these last 18 years go by SO quickly?!? He turns 18 tomorrow, gulp. Hard to believe 18 years ago right now I was in the hospital in labor. It just doesn't seem that long ago.
I wasn't able to get the pics I wanted, as USUAL C was running late, so I got no pictures of him at home. I had envisioned having 10 minutes with him alone, and getting gorgeous photos. It was not meant to be :(
Everyone met at one of the girls' house, and all of us parents were like the paparazzi, seriously! It was too cute, I actually got a shot of some of the parents shooting the kids :). Once again I didn't get the pictures I envisioned (I would have placed them elsewhere in the garden), but I did get pics, and in the end that's all that REALLY matters!!! It was a little hectic, and then 2 (yes 2) limos turned up for the kids which was very disconcerting. It turns out the kids had rented one, then found one that was less expensive so they left a message to cancel the first one, but apparently the first one never got the message so there were two. What a fiasco!
The kids had a wonderful time. They went out to a lovely little bistro and sat outside (it was close to 90 degrees that day which is WARM for Seattle) for dinner on the deck with a wonderful view of Elliot Bay. Prom was everything they wanted it to be and more, and then a bunch of them ended up going to one of the kid's house and staying up all night partying. Oh, to be 17/18 and full of that much energy again!
C ended up going with one of his very dear friends. I thought it was sweet that the two of them attended their first formal dance together freshman year, and then ended up going together to their last formal as well.
I'm not that great with my flash outdoors as fill (I just don't use it for that very often), so please excuse any technical shortcomings:
I wasn't able to get the pics I wanted, as USUAL C was running late, so I got no pictures of him at home. I had envisioned having 10 minutes with him alone, and getting gorgeous photos. It was not meant to be :(
Everyone met at one of the girls' house, and all of us parents were like the paparazzi, seriously! It was too cute, I actually got a shot of some of the parents shooting the kids :). Once again I didn't get the pictures I envisioned (I would have placed them elsewhere in the garden), but I did get pics, and in the end that's all that REALLY matters!!! It was a little hectic, and then 2 (yes 2) limos turned up for the kids which was very disconcerting. It turns out the kids had rented one, then found one that was less expensive so they left a message to cancel the first one, but apparently the first one never got the message so there were two. What a fiasco!
The kids had a wonderful time. They went out to a lovely little bistro and sat outside (it was close to 90 degrees that day which is WARM for Seattle) for dinner on the deck with a wonderful view of Elliot Bay. Prom was everything they wanted it to be and more, and then a bunch of them ended up going to one of the kid's house and staying up all night partying. Oh, to be 17/18 and full of that much energy again!
C ended up going with one of his very dear friends. I thought it was sweet that the two of them attended their first formal dance together freshman year, and then ended up going together to their last formal as well.
I'm not that great with my flash outdoors as fill (I just don't use it for that very often), so please excuse any technical shortcomings:
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Signed the paperwork, got the sweatshirt...
...he's going to University of Michigan :)
What a long, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming journey this has been. Colin really started looking at schools last spring, then did some auditioning last June. Lots of applications and essays during the fall, then more auditions in the winter. And then BOOM, it's done and you wait, and wait, AND wait. The audition part of the process made the whole thing a lot more stressful than the normal college application process, and I have to say that it all became all-encompassing from about December through a few weeks ago when C made his decision. I am glad to have this part of his life over with for sure!
He is thrilled; it was his first choice school. Their MT program is highly regarded and after visiting we can clearly see why. It is amazing, the faculty, the students, as well as the school itself. It is a great fit for C, and somewhere I can see him grow both academically and vocally/theatre wise as well as personally over the next 4 years. The reality hasn't totally set in yet for me. But between our move, and him going to school across the country there are going to be a lot of changes to get used to next fall. As I've said on numerous occasions, I'm gonna miss this kid. Oh, and please allow me this little mommy brag, he was named class salutatorian, good for you Colin!!!
On a side note, the yard sale went GREAT, we got rid of everything! It always amazes me what people will buy, and that they want to haggle over a 50 cent item, I guess they enjoy the thrill of the chase!
Also, thanks so much for the "welcome backs" as well. It's nice to be posting again, however I'm sure it's going to be very sporadic for a while still. I haven't had much time to check out what everyone else has been up to, but I hope to soon.
I hope you all had a fabulous Mother's Day! Mine was the first day I haven't worked my fingers to the bone in probably 6 or 7 weeks. It felt GOOD, and I even slept in until 8 o'clock which was heavenly!
Thanks for visiting!
What a long, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming journey this has been. Colin really started looking at schools last spring, then did some auditioning last June. Lots of applications and essays during the fall, then more auditions in the winter. And then BOOM, it's done and you wait, and wait, AND wait. The audition part of the process made the whole thing a lot more stressful than the normal college application process, and I have to say that it all became all-encompassing from about December through a few weeks ago when C made his decision. I am glad to have this part of his life over with for sure!
He is thrilled; it was his first choice school. Their MT program is highly regarded and after visiting we can clearly see why. It is amazing, the faculty, the students, as well as the school itself. It is a great fit for C, and somewhere I can see him grow both academically and vocally/theatre wise as well as personally over the next 4 years. The reality hasn't totally set in yet for me. But between our move, and him going to school across the country there are going to be a lot of changes to get used to next fall. As I've said on numerous occasions, I'm gonna miss this kid. Oh, and please allow me this little mommy brag, he was named class salutatorian, good for you Colin!!!
On a side note, the yard sale went GREAT, we got rid of everything! It always amazes me what people will buy, and that they want to haggle over a 50 cent item, I guess they enjoy the thrill of the chase!
Also, thanks so much for the "welcome backs" as well. It's nice to be posting again, however I'm sure it's going to be very sporadic for a while still. I haven't had much time to check out what everyone else has been up to, but I hope to soon.
I hope you all had a fabulous Mother's Day! Mine was the first day I haven't worked my fingers to the bone in probably 6 or 7 weeks. It felt GOOD, and I even slept in until 8 o'clock which was heavenly!
Thanks for visiting!
Friday, May 9, 2008
Stick a fork in me, I am DONE!
The last 6 weeks have been absolutely IN-sane. Every spare minute was spent getting our house of the last 18 years ready to go up for sale. There was SO much to be done, and honestly, there were times I didn't think we'd make it. But...we DID! Today our agent had the photographer come by for pics, and the for sale sign goes up on Wednesday!
Tomorrow we're having the "mother of all garage sales." It was supposed to be last Saturday but it rained :( then Sunday we'll clean out the garage (happy Mother's Day to me), and then that's it (other than finding a new home...minor detail...LOL).
Anyhow, I haven't picked up my camera at all this last month other than to take headshots for 65 of the cast and crew for C's school musical. So I sat out on my front porch this afternoon for about 10 minutes and shot some of the blooms from our garden. It felt great, though I am horribly out of practice! I figure I'll be booted out of the house a lot the next few weeks for showings, so hopefully I'll get the opportunity to shoot more soon!
Thanks for looking!
Tomorrow we're having the "mother of all garage sales." It was supposed to be last Saturday but it rained :( then Sunday we'll clean out the garage (happy Mother's Day to me), and then that's it (other than finding a new home...minor detail...LOL).
Anyhow, I haven't picked up my camera at all this last month other than to take headshots for 65 of the cast and crew for C's school musical. So I sat out on my front porch this afternoon for about 10 minutes and shot some of the blooms from our garden. It felt great, though I am horribly out of practice! I figure I'll be booted out of the house a lot the next few weeks for showings, so hopefully I'll get the opportunity to shoot more soon!
Thanks for looking!
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