A State Fair

The State Fair of Texas closes today after an exciting three week run.  

When we moved to Dallas as a young married couple in 1976, we enthusiastically embraced the joys of having the fair in our very own city.

 Over the years, our family grew.  We took the children, and now the grandchildren.  

We weren't much for the midway.  We were always too cheap to spend the money on expensive rides and games.  

The animal barns, creative art displays of photography, needle arts and canning fascinated us.  

We are all fans of the wild bird shows, the Frisbee chasing dogs, the acrobats and the new cars in the automobile building.

Oh, let's not forget the food.  There is nothing like fair food. 

Fine dining, indeed.

Well, this year turned out a little differently.  

One little one thinks fair = rides.  

So off we went.  

No, we didn't ride this one.  

The very next night, the ride failed and people were stuck at the top for two hours. 

Scary and chilly.  Can you imagine?

All in all, we had a terrific day.  

Even though the thrill seeker was disappointed she didn't get a few more rides, and passionately declared it the "worst fair ever."  

Seriously?  You be the judge.

Happy face following the last ride. 

We love these statements, and bring them out every chance we get.

Now I have to tell you about Big Tex.  

He is the state fair mascot, a representation of all things Texas, a huge presence in the center of the fair grounds.

I have so many photos of him from years past, that I didn't pay him much attention this time.  

My Facebook post the next day:

Big Tex, I feel terrible about our visit yesterday. When we saw you at the State Fair, I was so cavalier, thinking I already had so many photos of your greatness from previous visits that I didn't need another one this year. All I have to show is this crappy photo. I didn't even care enough to include your head. Wish I had known it would be your last day with us. Wish I had known that you would burn like a cotton ball this morning. They tell us you will come back next year, better than ever. I hope they are right.

Yes, Big Tex caught fire, possibly an electrical short.  Burned down to the frame.  

Very sad.  

He was only a part of our background the day of our visit.  We'll try to make it up to him next year.

I hope you have the fun of a fair where you are.  

And if you are ever in Dallas at the end of September into October, I hope you will pay us a  visit.

Time

Today, the daily photo prompt over at Shutter Sisters is "time".  

So I started thinking about how to represent time in an image.  
There are clocks, hour glasses, calendars . . .

Round and round went my thoughts while I tackled an editing project.  The son of my very dear friend, Deb, was married last month.  I have a load of photos from the rehearsal dinner to sort through.

This is one of my favorites.  My husband took it the morning after the wedding.

Karla and Deb

Here we are, two women who met as young mothers, a long time ago.  Now our children are marrying and starting families of their own.  

A few days ago, as I sorted through 25+ years of neglected jewelry, it was as though I was holding my entire fashion history in a single box.  

I could remember when I bought that necklace, how this bracelet rarely left my arm.  I was reminded of special friends, how we dressed in those days and the fun we had.  And how I miss Susan, friend and fashion companion, who left this life five years ago. 

a mother and her two daughters

Today I wear no earrings, fewer bracelets.  Still love a necklace, though.  

So many ways to measure time, to notice its flow.  Many events are universal, common to each of us.
But it is still ours alone, a unique experience.  

Do you remember when you lost your first tooth?  
I do.  
And so will she.

It's her turn.  It's her time.

There is an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.
Ecclesiastes 3

We Found a Beach

I grew up in Miami, Florida.  It was a quick drive to the beach so it was nothing for us to run over there.

Since moving to North Texas more than three decades ago, our beach visits have been infrequent, requiring lengthy car rides.  

Imagine our delight to discover a beach only one hour from our landlocked home .

Located in Fort Worth, Texas,  Burger's Lake offers summer fun for everyone. Burger's Lake is a 30-acre park featuring a one-acre spring-fed lake for swimming.  

Throw in some slides, a trapeze drop, and a diving platform.

Lots of shady spots and picnic tables under the towering live oaks.

Spring fed? My heart sang.  Most of our recreational lakes are man made, great for fishing and boating, but not for beach play.  

The water was fresh and cool on that not-so-hot, 90 degree day. 

 And the photographer in me gave a happy sigh.  Beach pictures.  It has been a long time. 

He refreshes my soul.  
Psalm 23:3

A Daughter's Goodbye

The word came.  My mother had had a heart attack and was in the hospital, in another state, far away.
Far from me, her oldest child, her oldest daughter.


The relatives had gathered in her room.  I called my cousin.  She put me on the speaker phone as my mother took her last breaths.  I was far away, and yet, there.


Now it was time to go there.  New plans made, current plans set aside.  My sister and I were going on the trip  I had always dreaded.



Though she was almost 83, and had suffered with dementia for several years, her death was a shock.  There is no other word to describe it.  Below is the video I made when I returned.

This is the story of my sorrowful trip to be at my mother's funeral in April, 2012.

Though my sister and I traveled together, and we were enfolded by our family, it was a solitary journey.
This video is not truly about my mother, but about me, and my attempt to come to grips with my loss.. We lived hundreds of miles apart, and she suffered with dementia the last few years. In essence, I have been grieving for a long time.

The weather was shockingly unkind. An unseasonable cold front brought wind, rain, and even snow on the day of the funeral.

It is much better on Vimeo but requires an extra click or two.

"You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all."

John 11:25

Easter Egg Scramble

Watch the children dash madly around the back yard in this celebration of Easter!

It looks better on Vimeo but requires an extra click or two.

A Spring Day

 tornado Piper in a field of bluebonnets 

I wish you could see the front page of The Dallas Morning News.  There is an Incredible photo of one of the 12+ tornadoes which dashed through here yesterday.  One went over head on Centerville Road, which is at the end of our block, and Larry's office is also on this road about a mile further down.  We are blessed to have escaped harm.  Our hearts are with those who are recovering and cleaning up.

I was at work at the Hope Center in Plano, close to one of the hot spots. We made a couple of trips to the stairwell.  Though we were protected, we were a little restless with no windows to see the black sky or what might be coming our way. Lindsay and Brent live on the edge of Ft. Worth, near Arlington.  Brent was at work on the campus of University of TX at Arlington, and spent some time in a stairwell there.  Lindsay, at home, had some heavy rain.  She was her father's meteorologist, as Larry was unaware of the tornado headed his way until she texted him.  


Aimee, who grew up in an area with frequent tornadoes, was a calming presence at her office.  Piper was in lock down in the boys bathroom at school and not at all happy about it.

On the news this morning, they said this was the worst episode we have had since 1979.  I well remember that one, because I was four months pregnant with my son, standing with coworkers in the underground parking garage of our building.  We fared well, but others were not so fortunate.




^{He Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you, nor give you up nor leave you without support.  I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down , or relax my hold you!  Assuredly not!
Hebrews 13:5b  Amplified}

Lifestyle Photography: Week 4 {the finale}

Part 1:  Thematic and Conceptual Shooting


For the love of the game, my husband does not think twice about heading out to the course even if the temps are 100+ in the afternoon.  He loves the heat.  And he likes the wide open fairways, as more sensible people are enjoying the air conditioned indoors, and are downing icy, cold drinks. 

Part 2:  Getting into the Picture


Aaarrgghh.  I won't even get into the challenges of this assignment.  Except for the dead battery in the remote trigger.  And the sun, which insisted on moving across the sky faster than I could finish.  And all the little things I noticed when I saw the images on the computer.  Did I learn anything?  Oh, yes.

Stay-cation

Enjoying the morning sunshine in my driveway at 7 AM.  

Thank you to Brooke Snow and fellow photogs for a thoroughly enjoyable learning experience.  I'm sorry to see it end.

Lifestyle Photography: Week 3

Part 1:  Conceptual Contrast


This week, Brooke Snow showed us how to incorporate elements of contrast within the image.  We all want to have compelling, interesting photographs and this is another factor for me to keep in mind.

Shopping for Shorts for Larry, Android Phone, Vignette App

Even though I took this with the camera in my cellphone, I did think about the composition.  It was impossible to see the screen in the bright light, but in the end I thought the contrast of the reflections and the poster through the window was interesting.

50 mm lens

The human mark against the beauty of nature fascinates me.

17-85 mm lens

I waited for her to move into the patch of sunlight, taking advantage of the contrast of light and shadow.

Part 2:  The Decisive Moment


Slow down and wait for it, wait for it . . . 
Waiting for that decisive moment is truly a challenge.  I am so afraid that I will miss something special if I don't keep pressing that shutter.  But Brooke encouraged us to watch and wait, to only take three images (did she mean 30?) and post the best one.

17-85 mm

Her increasing ease in the water is a joy to behold.

This week, I did find myself thinking more, taking more time.  It's not always clear to me why I find a scene compelling, so this practice forced me to be more thoughtful and deliberate.  

Lifestyle Photography: Week 2

Part 1:  Point of View


Why did I choose to photograph flowers?  I have no idea.  It is not a strong subject for me, but I thought it would provide a lot of options for this assignment.   Let's just say, it was challenging.  And I learned a lot.  Such as, get bigger blooms.


Image 1 - First Attempt  {Lensbaby Composer}

Images 2,3,4 - Other Points of View

The Intruder - He inserts himself whenever he has a chance.  

Part 2:  Less is More

The Scene - We have rediscovered the joys of the dollar theater.  

Telling the Story in Three Images

Telling the Story, Part 1

Taking the plunge, flying by the seat of my pants, keeping mild panic at bay - this is what it felt like in my first week as a participant in Brooke Snow's Lifestyle photography class.

The adventure in learning began during a particularly full week, leaving me with barely 24 hours to complete the assignment.  I am not sure I have ever felt so squeezed for time, facing I project I had been eagerly anticipating. 

So Fathers' Day became crunch day.  We spent the evening poolside with our granddaughter, Piper.  I hope the  images help you see the fun, and the special relationship between her and her grandfather.

Character/Detail Shots

Character/Conflict Shots

This was hard to pull off.  These images convey some emotion, but I feel they lack the element of tension that conflict brings.  Something to work on . . .

The Pool is Open

hot sun
 +

cool water
+

pink Minnie Mouse swimsuit
=

splash into summer 2011!

" Your joy will be like a river overflowing its banks!"

John 16, The Message

Tiny Dancers

little girls
tiny dancers in a line
like birds on a wire

some tentative
hesitant
others confident
sure footed

unbearably dear
each and every one

Photo info:  android camera phone, vignette app

Had to use the camera that was with me; the other one was left at home.  

Breakfast of Champions

This is not my usual breakfast, but I do eat it sometime during most every day.  It's nice to realize it isn't a nutrition or diet buster to consume basic good food that also happens to be delicious.

You should try it!


Raw Fudge


1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup cocoa (not a mix)
1/4 maple syrup (preferably grade B)
1 teaspoon vanilla


Combine in a blender.  Pour into a loaf pan.  Refrigerate until firm.  Cut and enjoy.


Variations:  Some like to add flaxseed meal, or almond butter, or other ingredients.


Notes:  Coconut oil can be solid at cool room temperature, so melt on low heat, if necessary.  I usually reduce the maple syrup to 3 tablespoons.  And I usually double the recipe.  It doesn't last long at our house.


Also, the fudge can be poured into silicon mini muffin pans.  Freeze and pop out fudge.  Store in freezer or refrigerator.


Coconut oil has many health benefits, so you can enjoy this decadent treat, free of guilt.


Some links you may find helpful:


Weston Price Foundation


Nourishing Traditions Cookbook


 Then God said, "I've given you
      every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth
   And every kind of fruit-bearing tree,
      given them to you for food.
   To all animals and all birds,
      everything that moves and breathes,
   I give whatever grows out of the ground for food."
      And there it was. 
Genesis 1:29-30, The Message

Girls Getaway

We whisked Kathy away for a special birthday celebration.


She had no idea until we showed up.

She is possessed with an extra generous heart, bubbling with fun.  So we tried to give her some.

You can see if we succeeded.


I was wedded to my camera for  most of our time together.


I poured all of the images into this video.  This was my first effort at a slide show/video of this sort.  It's pretty rough, and all of the images are straight out of the camera (no editing.)


Hope you enjoy it.


And are inspired to try something like this yourself.


I used Windows Movie Maker, a free download.


Creating this project caused me to relive the delights of the weekend, and to experience a renewed gratitude for all of the dear women in my life.

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

Proverbs 27:9

I am five now!

We had a birthday celebration this week.


Five years ago,this little one showed up three months ahead of schedule.  Teeny, tiny baby girl was a special guest at the NICU for only 51 days.  Woo hoo!

Holding Piper (five weeks old) for the first time.

Then came heart surgery, breathing challenges, sensory issues,  multiple hospitalizations. 

Look at her now!  Her mother is her greatest advocate, making sure she receives the extra programs and care her special needs require.

Big sighs of gratitude.


". . . I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . ."  Psalm 139:14