Parking Lot and Drive-by Skywatching

" They paved paradise and put up a parking lot." is running through my mind as I post this. I think the alliteration as well as the literal meaning helps it to stick. I took these photos this week while in transit this week heading from one sporting event to another. Yesterday I had" .....take a sled and slide down slope..." running around my brain. Check out my last post and it all makes sense. I think that is the theme of the week around here. And then, when you have a chance, go to http://skyley.blogspot.com.

It's Snowing Again

February vacation.....

snowing.....

sliding......

falling....

fun.....

friends......

enough said.

A Macro for Monday

That's it, I need color! And warmth, and sun; and flip-flops and flowers! This one is from the archives, needless to say. I took this on a warm late Summer day and to my surprise there was a teeny tiny little fly posing for the camera. You may have to click to make larger to see the little guy. He's there though. So cute. You can check out more up close and personal shots at http://lisaschaos.com/.

Shadow Shot Sunday and a Monochrome

What the hey, I decided to throw in a monochrome photo as well, but it insists on posting before my original shadow shot of my beautiful bracelet. Did I mention that I love turquoise? You'll have to read on below to see what that's all about. Anyway, I took this photo a few days ago in my backyard, the day after the blizzard that never was. We were supposed to get over a foot of snow and only received 2 inches. The kids had the whole day off of school and they even let state workers out at 1 that day to keep everyone off the highways during the storm. We all huddled inside and waited. Two and a half inches and 8 hours later this was the result. Not very impressive, but beautiful still for a monochrome photograph. I entered this photo in The Pioneer Woman's depth of field challenge this week. I do find this challenging, but love the result when you get it right. I like how my turquoise bracelet looks like little planets all perfectly aligned. Take notice that only two beads are actually in complete focus. Now that's some narrow depth. I love that Pioneer Woman, that's for sure. Last year she chose my snap fish album in one of her photo challenges and I could not have been more flattered. Could never figure out how to claim my prize, but basked in the glory anyhow. Check out the rest at :http://heyharriet.blogspot.com.

Sky Watching

Just a peek of the brilliant blue sky that graced our view today. It was just heavenly out after a day of snow. Be sure to check out the rest of the world at: http://skyley.blogspot.com. Enjoy. :)

Wordless Wednesday: Speechless

Lily the parakeet is absolutely speechless. Where is the snow?? Now she is not only kept captive, literally, but captive with 4 school age children who could have gone to school today, at least a half day anyway. There is the exception, the 11 year old with a case of the Chicken Pox, yes Chicken Pox, despite a vaccination and a booster shot. He gets to take the whole week off, even thought he is symptomless. She is helpless, stuck in the house with a very surly 14 year old who has been skipping home work and is now cut off from texting and face book, and now a day off of school. At times this can be like having a tiger on the loose. But at least she has her cage to keep her safe. And now a blizzard that they keep talking up on the TV, but is nowhere to be seen. Damn weather man!

I Heart Kisses

I am re posting my favorite photo for this weeks I Heart Faces challenge. As I have said in the past, I heart this photo with all my heart. I love the intimacy of the composition and the way I captured my daughter's little hand on her brother's cheek. I also love her braids and big yellow bow. I love braids on little girls, they are so timeless. Wow, I can't believe they are both in high school now. I swear I took this picture just last week. It was a cool sunny morning and they were playing in the living room, in and out and around, toys everywhere. We had just finished reading our library books. I was exhausted from having a 1 year old that still did not sleep through the night and actually started to nod off as I was reading to them. I was looking forward to nap time, when maybe I could sneak one in too with visions of more babies dancing in my head.

Looking For the Sun

All week I have been dreaming of sunny warm days. I think I may be lacking vitamin D. This mosaic is a compilation of eyes and skies. Check out the rest at http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com hosted by Mary.

Sky Watch Friday

I hope I am not boring everyone with these off my front stoop shots of the sky. I often long for wide open spaces and big sky, not much of it around here. These were taken two days ago after a cloudy day and a half began to take a turn. That is usually when the best sky drama occurs. The darker one is earlier in the day, and the watercolor-like photo was at sunset. Don't forget to check out the sky drama around the world at: http://skyley.blogspot.com/.

You Capture: Faces

This is a picture of Gabriel basking in the late afternoon sun as we sit waiting out front of the high school for my daughter to finish track practice. Nearly everyday within a half hour of Gabe getting off the school bus we pile into our minivan to bring his brother to wrestling practice and pick up his sister. Some days this entails a five minute wait, and some days up to an hour!! I have decided to just give in and cherish this time with him. He enjoys hopping into the front seat as soon as I park to get a good view of all. He knows many of the high school boys and loves to call out to them and wave as they too arrive for practice. He is very talkative and will give me many details, far more than any of my others, about his day at school as well as his hopes and dreams for the future. Seriously. The boy is a chatter box, sometimes very random, but always well thought out. One day we watched a sad drama unfold, as a troubled teenage girl had an argument with the principal, as she stormed out of the school swearing and lit up a cigarette. Eventually she was picked up by the police and her grandfather after she stomped off of school grounds in nothing but pajama pants and a light sweatshirt. Part of me wanted to go after her and offer help, knowing a little of her background. Gabe was mesmerized as I tried to explain some of the pain this delinquent teen was going through. He told me that she needed to make good choices, and that when he was at school he would think of what me and his Daddy would do in different situations. "I want to be like you guys, because I love you" . "That's how I decide what to do". Wow. What a gift that was on a cold winter afternoon.

All You Need Is Love

Mosaic Monday Muse

Since I seem to be in a picture taking rut I have not been inspired to make a mosaic lately. I am looking forward to warm sunny days and colorful flowers again. My daughter turned 16 recently, my oldest child and only girl. She has always been a muse for me and a beautiful girl inside and out. We are blessed. So is the inspiration for this mosaic, and made with a full heart. La la love you doll.
Check out all of the heartwarming mosaics at: http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com.

Monochrome Love

Eye love this boy.

You Capture: Color

I am capturing color today and since it is currently snowing like mad here everything is white or a shade of gray. It is truly beautiful, but not colorful. I like this picture that I took a few weeks back of my son. We were installing hardwood floors that weekend which is why the room

is bare and dismantled. The mid afternoon sun streaming through the windows was giving off nice sharp shadows. I loved the photo as is, but then played around with solarizing and temperature to get the final look. I love how the windows look like stained glass and the unfinished floor has that eerie warm glow. A space ship has landed in the front yard and he is obviously mesmerized. Soon he will leave for distant planets.

Wordless Wednesday: Baby Come Back

My original baby turns 16 tomorrow. This is one of my absolute fav photos that I snapped one day in her nursery as she was standing on her changing table, after a diaper change I'm sure. Here I sit almost 16 years later gazing out that same window. Her nursery is now an office space and my little girl is no longer calling me from her crib when she wakes from her nap. Baby come back.

Monochrome Love

I heart this picture with all my heart.

Macro Monday: Eye of Gabe

Eye love this particular eye shot of Gabe, all macro and intimate and just a little surreal.

You can check out many other macro shots if you like at:http://lisaschaos.com.

Happy Monday.

A Drive by Shooting: Monochrome

Still Capturing Winter

So many of my pictures have been of Winter lately, and not by choice. Just take a look at my last few posts. These photos were taken Christmas Day when my son received a snowball maker as a gift. Genius! You hardly even need to wear gloves, which is what he and his brother and cousin did not do as they dashed outside to try it out. Our little niece who was enjoying the day, opening gift after gift and bopping all around her cousin's home was now being treated to a real show. She had never seen a snow ball fight in her 18 months of life apparently and was mesmerized. At first her Meme held her tight at the window as they pelted snow balls at her through the window. It was not long before she was squealing with glee and wondering where can I get one of those things? And how can I get out of this house? So cute.

Wordless Wednesday: Waiting to Wrestle

My little guy with arms folded behind his back waits patiently for his number to come up and his match to begin. Wrestling is a sport that you love and hate all at the same time. It is so full of highs and devastating personal lows that as a Mom it can be very difficult to watch, especially when your son is little. My nephew who is 6 has just begun his wrestling career. His first tournament was full of tears. "That boy played too rough" he told me between sobs after having been pinned. Later that morning they announced his name over the loud speaker as a third place winner, among all the chaos and noise. He would be receiving a medal. "I won, I won, I won!!" he shrieked, jumping up and down, arms in the air. He whooped with glee and then did a sprint around the mat he was, on dodging other wrestlers and coaches and fist pumping the air overhead. "I'm getting a medal, I won" he exclaimed to anyone who would listen. " They called my name!!!" It was the most simultaneously hysterical and heartwarming thing I think I have ever seen. If only I had my camera set to record.

Skywatching on a Winter's Day

I took these photos a few days ago. Our backyard is wooded, which has always been wonderful for our kids. They have enjoyed romping in there, building forts, collecting bugs, digging holes, etc. All that good" boy" fun. It was a spectacular Winter day when I decided to take a short nature walk and snap these photos. Breathing space right in my own backyard, who would have known. Be sure to check out all the other breathing space at: http://skyley.blogspot.com/.

Wordless Wednesday: Nostalgia

The Very Snowy Days

Brought to you courtesy of Mosaic Monday, hosted by Mary at http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com.

Happy New Year!

Macro Monday and I Feel Fine

I took down the Christmas tree today, and I feel fine:). Although it is now dark and I am already missing the cozy feel the lit tree can give a room, I am glad it's gone. Breathing space, and there is more room for the band to set up and play. Beatles rock band, that is, a favorite gift of my children's Christmas this year. And while I am loving how they are appreciating The Beatles, I am beginning to think and talk in Beatle music speak. The songs are running through and in and out and narrating my thoughts. As I was taking down the tree and unwinding all those lights the band played on, and on. I could not resist singing along, or even doing an impromptu drum solo as they played set after set and debated who resembled which Beatle the most.

Hey la, hey la hello ya, you say good bye and I say hello, eight days a week.