finding the beauty in the breakdown

frozen treats ... 106/365

2009-10-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

frozen treats ...
/ˈfroʊzən trits/ -noun
entertainment, food, drink, etc., given by way of compliment or as an expression of friendly regard. a food that is frigid; very cold.

... a yummy treat after a long day at the zoo ...

follow the leader ... 105/365

2009-10-27T12:46:00.000-07:00

follow the leader ...
/ˈfɒloʊ ðə ˈlidər/
–noun
a child's game in which players, one behind the other, follow a leader and must repeat or follow everything he or she does.

... a very cute follow the leader game at the local zoo ... mamas and babies. is there anything cuter?

fences ... 104/365

2009-10-27T12:43:00.000-07:00

fences ...
/fɛnsez/ -noun
a barrier enclosing or bordering a field, yard, etc., usually made of posts and wire or wood, used to prevent entrance, to confine, or to mark a boundary.

... a very important fence. on the other side? a cliff tumbling into a raging waterfall that looked like root beer ... wish i could remember why ... exactly. maybe i should have taken a picture of that sign?

dirt ... 103/365

2009-10-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

dirt ...
/dɜrt/ -noun
1. any foul or filthy substance, as mud, grime or dust.
2. earth or soil, esp. when loose

... i'm sure i can find you a bagazillion pictures depicting dirt and dirty ... but i love the dirt and the roots and the moss and my biggest little's legs ... the texture and the angles in this picture make me happy.

cutlery ... 102/365

2009-10-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

cutlery ...
/ˈkʌtləri/ -noun
cutting instruments collectively, esp. knives for cutting food

... my first time allowing stella to use a sharp knife to help me cut corn from the cob to freeze for the winter. as a mama, scary. but completely and totally supervised. still a little eek.

cookery ... 101/365

2009-10-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

cookery ...
/ˈkʊkəri/ -noun
the art or practice of cooking.

... cora ... doing her part to make some chai tea. not necessarily cooking ... but still ... cooking.

communication ... 100/365

2009-10-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

communication ...
/kəˌmyunɪˈkeɪʃən/ -noun
1. the act or process of communicating; fact of being communicated.
2. the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.
3. something imparted, interchanged, or transmitted.

... aboard a no-longer utilized ship up north ... this device was used as communication between personnel in the different areas of the ship.

clown ... 99/365

2009-10-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

clown ...
/klaʊn/ -noun
1. a comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc.
2. a person who acts like a clown

... definitely the latter definition ... my husband ... who humored me by allowing me to take his picture while acting like a clown attempting a laugh from the girly-girls.

circle ... 98/365

2009-10-27T12:27:00.000-07:00

circle ...
/ˈsɜrkəl/ - noun
any circular or ringlike object, formation, or arrangement

... a circle sculpture that we found at the arboretum ... just wish the girly-girls would have posed a slight bit better in it, rather than attempting to climb the thing!

chores ... 97/365

2009-10-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

chores ...
/tʃɔrz/ -noun
the everyday work around a house or farm.

... a chore that i'm assuming that stella is SO GLAD that she does not have to do on a daily basis ... the act of stirring the pot to make soap. hot. sticky. hard. and not fun when it is 104 degrees outside.

childhood favorites ... 96/365

2009-10-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

childhood favorites ...
/ˈtʃaɪldhʊd ˈfeɪvərɪts/ - noun
a person or thing regarded with special favor or preference during the state or period of being a child

... my childhood favorite. my bike. pink with a banana seat. now passed down to stella ... with the intention of getting her to ride a bike without training wheels. thus far? unsuccessful. but we'll keep trying.

bodies of water ... 95/365

2009-10-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

bodies of water ...
/ˈbɒdiz ʌv ˈwɔtər/ - noun
the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean); "they invaded our territorial waters"; "they were sitting by the water's edge"

... i'm an ocean girl ... but ... a lake is the nearest i get most years. and lake superior is quite the beautiful body of water, in my opinion.

barren ... 94/365

2009-10-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

barren ...
/ˈbærən/ -adjective
unproductive; unfruitful

... what appeared to be a very barren tree ... against a very blue sky ... in the middle of the summer.

autumn ... 93.365

2009-10-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

autumn ...
/ˈɔtəm/ –noun
the season between summer and winter; fall. In the Northern Hemisphere it is from the September equinox to the December solstice; in the Southern Hemisphere it is from the March equinox to the June solstice.

... a trip to the apple orchard resulted in what i hoped would be an awesome picture of a bunch of gourds. in beautiful shades of greens and oranges. fall-ish. a true symbol of autumn. picture didn't turn out like i had wanted it to. oh well.

abandoned ... 92/365

2009-10-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

abandoned ...
/əˈbændənd/, adjective
forsaken or deserted: an abandoned building

... an abandoned lily pad ... discovered during a photo shoot on the beach ... played with and loved ... and then abandoned. you'll see more of the played with and loved soon. it's gonna take me a long time to upload and edit and talk about all the things i've been capturing. be prepared for a gaggle of pictures from this blog. i can't not finish the challenge.

what am i? ... 91/365

2009-05-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

what am i? ...
/wʌt əm aɪ/ - inquiry
used interrogatively to inquire as to the origin, identity, etc., of something

... amazes me how things in nature when viewed REALLY CLOSE UP ... take on an artwork all of their own ... crazy, huh?

of course.

the wild side ... 90/365

2009-05-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

the wild side ...
/ðə waɪld saɪd/
living in a state of nature; not tamed or domesticated side of things.

... she was on the wild side of this fence ... i was NOT ... (but she has a sleeping face that i could cuddle with) ... or maybe not.

stripes ... 89/365

2009-05-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

stripes ...
/straɪp/ –noun
a relatively long, narrow band of a different color, appearance, weave, material, or nature from the rest of a surface or thing

... stripes ... that i don't really want to get much closer to ... but i want my camera lens to get closer to there ... any (relatively less expensive) suggestions for a nikon d50?

puzzle ... 88/365

2009-05-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

puzzle ...

/ˈpʌzəl/

–noun
1. a toy, problem, or other contrivance designed to amuse by presenting difficulties to be solved by ingenuity or patient effort.
2. something puzzling; a puzzling question, matter, or person.
3. a puzzled or perplexed condition; bewilderment.
4. a crossword puzzle: Did you do the puzzle in the newspaper today?
5. a jigsaw puzzle.
–verb (used with object)
6. to put (someone) at a loss; mystify; confuse; baffle: Her attitude puzzles me.
7. to frustrate or confound, as the understanding; perplex: The problem puzzled him for weeks.
8. to exercise (oneself, one's brain, etc.) over some problem or matter.
9. Archaic. to make intricate or complicated.

... hmmm ... it's puzzling why i decided to post this under the puzzle theme ... maybe because i'm truly amazed by the spots and how they puzzle together so perfectly on a giraffe ... or maybe because the girly-girls were puzzled as to why the brand new baby giraffe was not in view ... or maybe ... just because ... i wanted to.

regal ... 87/365

2009-05-19T10:49:00.001-07:00

regal ...
/ˈrigəl/ –adjective
stately; splendid.

... had to find some theme to place this rose in ... i love love LOVE the colors of this rose ... and i would say s/he stands rather regally ... wouldn't you?

jumping leaping bouncing ... 86/365

2009-05-05T13:39:00.001-07:00

jumping leaping bouncing ...
/dʒʌmpɪŋ lipɪŋ baʊnsɪŋ/ –verbs (used without object)
to spring clear of the ground or other support by a sudden muscular effort, to spring through the air from one point or position to another, to spring back from a surface in a lively manner

... perfect trampoline verbage ... (as a side note ... i edited in the focal zoom ... to add a bit of crazy to the photos ... they were actually very clear ... albeit patterned ... with a net between me and my subjects) ...

upside down ... 85/365

2009-05-05T13:35:00.001-07:00

upside down ...
/ˈʌpˌsaɪd daʊn/ -adverb
in an inverted manner

... always with the upside down sunglasses ... always ... no matter how many time mama tries to show her which direction they go ... she will turn them over and put them back on ... upside down ... i've given up ...

from ground level ... 84/365

2009-05-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

from ground level ...
/frʌm graʊnd ˈlɛvəl/
from the height of the ground on which something stands

... probably my most favorite picture of cora ... ever ... total cora ... i was attempting to get the perfect birthday picture amidst the (finally) green foliage ... she heard a plane ... found it and pointed ... dere's daddy ... hi daddy! ... come home daddy ... he showed up at the party 20 minutes later ... perfect timing ...

spelling errors ... 83/365

2009-05-04T14:07:00.000-07:00

spelling errors ...
/ˈspɛlɪŋ ˈɛrərz/ –noun
a deviation from accuracy or correctness in the manner in which words are spelled; orthography.

... to this day ... two years after my nephew was born ... (his birthday falls the day before cora's) ... people are still spelling his name incorrectly ... good thing that frosting is removable ... and that they just added an extra -e- ...

portrait ... 82/365

2009-05-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

portrait ...
/ˈpɔrtrɪt/ –noun
a likeness of a person, esp. of the face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph

... a portrait of my little sunshine ... two ... inquisitive ... intoeverything ... silly ... smart ... beautiful ... bossy ... lovely ... loved ...

candy ... 81/365

2009-05-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

candy ...
/ˈkændi/ –noun
any of a variety of confections made with sugar, syrup, etc.

... my favorite ... jelly belly jelly beans ... thank you mom ... i mean ... thank you easter bunny.

dessert (ed) ... 80/365

2009-05-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

dessert (ed) ...
/dɪˈzɜrtɪd/ –adjective
a cake, pie, fruit, pudding, ice cream, etc., that has been abandoned; forsaken

... sorry ... i couldn't resist ... this poor dessert had been dessert(ed) for far too many hours in the hallway of our hotel ...

celebration ... 79/365

2009-05-04T13:32:00.001-07:00

celebration ...
/ˌsɛləˈbreɪʃən/ –noun
an act of celebrating.

... cora's second birthday ... whenever we asked what she wanted for her birthday ... she would say a-dora-cake ... which we (originally) took to mean a DORA CAKE ... when we asked if that was indeed what she was saying ... she would always say NO ... but would say yes to "polka dot cake" or "chocolate cake" ... so eventually i took the plunge and made chocolate surprise cupcakes and slapped a dora on top ... when she walked out that morning (we had a birthday brunch) ... she yelled "ADORACAKE!" ... thank goodness!

(water) fowl ... 78/365

2009-05-02T06:52:00.001-07:00

(water)fowl ...
/faʊl/ –noun
any bird (used chiefly in combination): such as waterfowl; wildfowl.

... rachel and i scoped out these pelicans ... driving on some (what i would guess) were slightly "no trespassing" roads that were not well marked ... so therefore (in our minds) tresspassable ... because ... pelicans??? ... that was so worth noting through photographic means ... and sadly enough ... out of the 8394 pictures that i captured of them ... the one where they were ~~slightly~~ super fuzzy is my favorite ... am i the only one out there that enjoys pictures where my subject is out of focus?? ...

outdoor seating ... 77/365

2009-05-02T06:47:00.001-07:00

outdoor seating ...
/ˈaʊtˌdoʊr ˈsitɪŋ/ – positionally described noun
an act or instance of furnishing with, assigning, or escorting to a seat that is characteristic of, located, occurring, or belonging outdoors.

... why do lonely benches and such make such good photographic subjects? ... it's wonderful to have them full of friends and family ... when you can ... but why oh why do they look so neat on their own too? ...

on the water ... 76/365

2009-05-02T06:41:00.001-07:00

on the water ...
/ɔn ðə ˈwɔtər/ –description of placement
so as to be or remain supported by or suspended from a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid, a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H2O, freezing at 32°F or 0°C and boiling at 212°F or 100°C, that in a more or less impure state constitutes rain, oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.: it contains 11.188 percent hydrogen and 88.812 percent oxygen, by weight.

... whew ... that definition exhausts me ... but watching this pair of loons so didn't ... if you've ever been around loons ... you'll know that this is a rare sight ... catching them this close to shore with humans anywhere in the vicinity ... they must have had a nest there ... beautiful ...

backlighting ... 75/365

2009-04-20T08:51:00.001-07:00

backlighting ...
/ˈbækˌlaɪtɪŋ/ –noun
a controlled technique of lighting, used in photography or the theater, in which a light is placed behind or at right angles to an object, person, or scene to produce such effects as depth or separation of subject and background.

... i've been playing around with light lately ... trying to achieve this flare and backlighting effects ... it's coming ... but what i don't see is the depth or separation of subject and background ... keep trying.

sign, sign, everywhere a sign ... 74/365

2009-04-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

sign, sign, everywhere a sign ...
/saɪn saɪn ˈɛvriˌʰwɛər ə saɪn/
lyrics from the song ... signs ... from the album Goodbye's And Butterflies by five man electrical band ...

... signs of spring ... popping up everywhere ...

distorted ... 73/365

2009-04-20T08:06:00.000-07:00

distorted ...
/dɪˈstɔrtɪd/ –adjective
twisted; deformed; misshapen.

... after seeing this picture pop up on my camera and being completely unable to delete it ... i tucked it away ... and then over the weekend i read a little photography article ... and this idea stuck with me ... there is a fine line between a mistake and beauty ... occasionally errors (movement during the click of a camera button, perhaps?) taken one step further actually lend themselves to the beauty of a photograph ... and maybe that's why this picture needs to be documented. there is a certain quality about it that shows a flurry of activity around my little birthday girl ... but at the same time shows her relishing in the chaos surrounding her. whoa. deep ...

transparent ... 72/365

2009-04-20T08:02:00.000-07:00

transparent ...
/trænsˈpɛərənt, -ˈpær-/ –adjective
so sheer as to permit light to pass through

... what could be more transparent than a bubble? ... in a warm bath after running in from the chilly night air? ... (note ... i love love LOVE her little fingertips reaching for the bubble.)

trio ... 71/365

2009-04-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

trio ...
/ˈtrioʊ/ –noun, plural tri⋅os.
any group of three persons or things.

... a trio of photographs, of my girly-girls on easter morning ... i may regret posting this as my trio picture another day ... when i come across something more trio-worthy ... ah well.

computer ... 70/365

2009-04-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

computer ...
/kəmˈpyutər/-noun
an electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations.

... me ... or at the very least ... my hand ... working at one ...

flare ... 69/365

2009-04-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

flare ...
/flɛər/, -noun
in photography. a fogged appearance given to an image by reflection within a camera lens or within the camera itself.

... a first attempt ... not perfect ... advice is appreciated ... but i'm gonna keep trying ... i'll get it (almost) perfect eventually ...

playground ... 68/365

2009-04-15T08:20:00.000-07:00

playground ...

/ˈpleɪˌgraʊnd/ –noun
an area used for outdoor play or recreation, esp. by children, and often containing recreational equipment such as slides and swings.

... my favorite shot from the playground ... pretty much 'cause i find it funny that the short people were attempting to help the other short people cross the monkey bars ... they both SO WANT TO cross those monkey bars ...

baby ... 67/365

2009-04-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

baby ...

/ˈbeɪbi/, noun
an infant or very young child, the youngest member of a family

... meet max ... the newest member of a family that is oh-so-very close to ours ... welcome little guy.

living the green life ... 66/365

2009-04-08T13:36:00.001-07:00

living the green life ...
/ˈlɪvɪŋ ðə grin laɪf/
active or thriving while covered with herbage or foliage

... sorry ... i couldn't resist ...

looking down ... 65/365

2009-04-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

looking down ...
/lʊkɪŋ daʊn/ –verb
to turn one's eyes toward something or in some direction in order to see something below

... what i saw when i looked down during our valley exploration ... snow ... on ... my ... boots ... ugh ... is winter over yet?

bridge ... 64/365

2009-04-08T13:32:00.001-07:00

bridge ...
/brɪdʒ/ –noun
a structure spanning and providing passage over a river, chasm, road, or the like.

... a little wooden bridge that crosses a little stream ... this is my view from it ...

show us your bokeh ... 62/365

2009-04-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

show us your bokeh ...
/ʃoʊ ʌs yoʊr boʊkə/
to cause or allow to be seen; exhibit; display your subjective aesthetic quality of out-of-focus areas of a photographic image

... this would be the one that i needed to look up ... but also my very reason for wanting my new camera ... this is what i saw others doing that i wanted to be able to do ... and i find myself doing it ... probably too much.

on the road ...

2009-04-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

on the road ...
/ɔn ðə roʊd/
so as to be or remain supported by a long, narrow stretch with a smoothed or paved surface, made for traveling by motor vehicle, carriage, etc., between two or more points; street or highway.

... on the road ... i love how little cora looks here ...

green ... 61/365

2009-04-08T12:41:00.001-07:00

green ...
/grin/ –adjective
of the color of growing foliage, between yellow and blue in the spectrum

... a wee bit of green poking out beneath the decaying leaves ... i think this was truly the picture that prompted the need to break out from the editing square i've been using ... i could not remove those trees ... something about their need to reach upward was beckoning me today.

valley ... 60/365

2009-04-08T12:38:00.001-07:00

valley ...
/ˈvæli/ –noun
an elongated depression between uplands, hills, or mountains, esp. one following the course of a stream.

... the valley down the street ... where a large majority of my nature shots are taken ... this is my entrance into my valley ...

... and on a sidenote ... i'm starting to get a little flustered and feeling captive with the square format ... minimal framing that i've set forth in all 59 pictures prior to this one ... i'm probably going to be mixing things up a little ... hope that's ok.

cross ... 59/365

2009-04-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

cross ...

/krɔs/ –noun
a structure consisting essentially of an upright and a transverse piece

... i'm not a religious person ... i don't find myself coming upon a cross in my world too often ... i've always said that i find religion in nature ... is this photo description edging too close on personal? ... i'll save that for the other blog ... i promise ... but ... this had to be captured ... because it truly is a cross ... and i'm happy found something that could qualify.

rusted ... 58/365

2009-04-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

rusted ...
/rʌstɛd/ –adjective
the result of any film or coating on metal caused by oxidation.

... my husband gave me a silly sideways glance as i bent down to take this picture of a rusted broken up old bike leaning against a garbage can ... it's days were definitely over ...

broken ... 57/365

2009-04-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

broken ...
/ˈbroʊkən/ –adjective
ruptured; torn; fractured.

... i wonder how ...

polka dots ... 56/365

2009-04-01T07:35:00.001-07:00

polka dots ...
/ˈpoʊkə dɒts/ –noun Textiles.
a dot or round spot (printed, woven, or embroidered) repeated to form a pattern on a textile fabric.

... a purpley polka dotted dress ... a birthday present from grandma and grandpa ... now a favorite article of clothing to wear over jeans ... (have i ever mentioned that she's a fashion kinda girl? ... SO not like her mama) ...

hours, days, months, years ... 55/365

2009-03-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

hours, days, months, years ...
/ˈaʊərz deɪz mʌnθs yɪərz/ - nouns (plural)
measures of time ...

... 43800 hours ... 1825 days ... 60 months ... and five years ... happy birthday stella ...

windows ... 54/365

2009-03-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

windows ...
/ˈwɪndoʊz/ –noun
openings in the wall of a building, the side of a vehicle, etc., for the admission of air or light, or both, commonly fitted with a frame in which are set movable sashes containing panes of glass.

windows in the restaurant where we held stella's birthday party this year ... please note previous mentions of room redos ... windows that looked out into the mall ... seems a little silly ... but lets in light and is a perfect opportunity to catch view of your sister's birthday party from the arms of a boppa ...

fashion ... 53/365

2009-03-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

fashion ...
/ˈfæʃən/ –noun
a prevailing custom or style of dress, etiquette, socializing, etc.:

... stella's fashion for her birthday party ... this girl is all about frill and pink ... and my friend (who has two little boys) ... has been happy to accomodate ... each year on her birthday, she has created a beautiful dress for stella ... it's something i look forward to seeing every year ...

footwear ... 52/365

2009-03-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

footwear ...
/ˈfʊtˌwɛər/ –noun
articles to be worn on the feet, as shoes, slippers, or boots.

... cora's shoes at the birthday party ... lovingly placed upon her new dora purse ... i had to take a picture and share it ... i remember when stella would wear these shoes all. the. time. ... and now it's cora's turn for the cherry shoes ... i'm never gonna be able to part with these shoes, am i? ...

grin ... 51/365

2009-03-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

grin ...
/grɪn/ –verb (used without object)
to smile broadly, esp. as an indication of pleasure, amusement, or the like.

... i think she was excited to eat birthday cake ... i hated to cut into the beautiful cake ... either way an awesome grin ...

food glorious food ... 50/365

2009-03-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

food glorious food ...

/fud ˈglɔriəs fud/

song from oliver, also an expression indicating the beauty of a certain food

... so much prettier than hot sausage and mustard. or cold jelly and custard. or possibly even, pease pudding and saveloy. ... well i'm not sure about that last one ... i'm just assuming ... this is stella's birthday cake ... i cannot take any credit for this creation ... gorgeous, huh? ... but i can take credit for the picture.

silhouette ... 49/365

2009-03-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

silhouette ...
/ˌsɪluˈɛt/–noun
the outline or general shape of something

... speaking of a room redo ... we also we(a)re working on our basement play area ... and as i was cleaning the layer of dust off of EVERYTHING ... i found this silhouette of sheetrock dust that created a design on the fireplace mantle through a candleholder. it would be really pretty if it wasn't sheetrock dust ...

grafitti ... 48/365

2009-03-30T09:15:00.000-07:00

grafitti ...

/grəˈfiti/ –noun
markings, as initials, slogans, or drawings, written, spray-painted, or sketched on a sidewalk, wall of a building or public restroom, or the like

... had to capture this little bit of grafitti found while in the midst of a room redo for our now FIVE year old stella ... apparently someone had a episode of crabbiness that resulted in a little marking of the walls ... just above the baseboard under her desk ... now that her room is the perfect shade of pink ... i'm hoping this won't reoccur ...

temperature ... 47/365

2009-03-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

temperature ...

/ˈtɛmpərətʃər/ –noun
a measure of the warmth or coldness of an object or substance with reference to some standard value. The temperature of two systems is the same when the systems are in thermal equilibrium

... although i didn't use a standardized measurement to make this determination ... this photo screamed ... HOT! ... played with a lot of editing to try to make the layers and dimension stand out ... not sure i achieved what i hoped for in that sense ... but i think i got the idea of hot played out loud and clear.

holes ... (kind of) 46/365

2009-03-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

holes ...

/hoʊl/ –noun
a hollow place in a solid body or mass; a cavity

... kind of a part of this challenge ... but i'm only taking 1/2 the credit ... and i promise i'll make it up by including my own hole picture sometime this year ... but i could not NOT post this photo taken by my husband (with my camera) ... before he took down the birch tree ... we noted several weeks ago that the woodpeckers had taken to this tree ... and there was an awesomely round little hole that they had carved in the wood ... so he wanted a picture of it before the tree became firewood ... and i was playing with his photo ... and LOVED this edited version ... i figure it's enough different from my regular old square images ... that it's ok if i add it to the mix ... right? (good job babe!)

logs ... 45/365

2009-03-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

logs ...
/lɔgz/ –noun, plural
a portion or length of the trunk or of a large limb of a felled tree.

... "daddy may tree doh boom ... tut, tut, tut" ... an on-it's-way-to-dying birch tree ... in the front yard ... right in front of the picture window ... boom ... (and he only took out part of the gutter) ... moving to it's next life ... as logs for our summer campfires ...

orange ... 44/365

2009-03-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

orange ...
/ˈɔrɪndʒ/ –noun
a globose, reddish-yellow, bitter or sweet, edible citrus fruit.
OR ...
a color between yellow and red in the spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 590 and 610 nm; reddish yellow.

... loved ... loved ... LOVED ... this orange ... it had a mysterious little green stripey viney thing ... i really could take pictures of this orange all day ... weird ... i know ... i'll talk to someone ... promise. thing i'm not sure of?? what picture of this orange i like best ... so ... i'm including all of them.

it's my blog ... and i'll post 'em if i want to ... post 'em if i want to ... post 'em if i want to ... you would post 'em too ... if it happened to you!

yeah ... i'm STILL not sure which one is my favorite ...

paint ... 43/365

2009-03-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

paint ...
/peɪnt/ –noun
a substance composed of solid coloring matter suspended in a liquid medium and applied as a protective or decorative coating to various surfaces, or to canvas or other materials in producing a work of art.
or verb ...
application of this

... budding artist ... loves to slather it on ... but always needs a cloth standing by for cleaning up her hands ... i have no idea who she got that from ... not me ... definitely ... daddy maybe?

musical instrument ... 42/365

2009-02-27T09:39:00.000-08:00

musical instrument ...
/ˈmyuzɪkəl ˈɪnstrəmənt/, - noun
a contrivance or apparatus for producing musical sounds

... how could i not add a close up of hannah's musical instrument? ... (and i know i don't typically edit ...) ... but who could resist a little rocker-ish look? ... please note ... this could have also qualified as the broken challenge ... but broken makes mama so much happier ... 'nuf said.

musically inclined ... 41/365

2009-02-27T08:52:00.001-08:00

musically inclined ...
/ˈmyuzɪkəl li ɪnˈklaɪnd/ –adverb
a person that is skilled in music.

... i'm not sure if we can consider our stella musically inclined yet ... but she has a current fascination with all things hannah ... montana, that is ... and apparently ... hannah made a stop! at our house! and put on a concert! ... but ... alas ... stella was no where to be found. (i'll let you in on a little secret ... she planned this for DAYS! it was darling. )

fire or flame ... 40/365

2009-02-23T10:23:00.000-08:00

flame ...
/fleɪm/ –noun
any flamelike condition; glow; inflamed condition.

... it looks as if it is flickering on my screen ...

girl ... 39/365

2009-02-23T09:57:00.001-08:00

girl ...
/gɜrl/ –noun
a female child, from birth to full growth., a daughter

... yup ... that's my girl ... loves having a camera in her hands, just like mama ... and i love that boppa bought her a pink grown up camera ... it suits her ... but what i especially love? seeing what she thinks is special enough to photograph ... through her eyes.

bent ... 38/365

2009-02-19T08:07:00.001-08:00

bent ...
/bɛnt/ –adjective
curved; crooked

... a piece of bark ... bent around a twig ... and resting ... perfectly balanced ...

the games we play ... 37/365

2009-02-19T07:37:00.000-08:00

the games we play ...
/ðə geɪmz wi pleɪ/
activities that we do for amusement or fun ...

... for some reason ... cora's peeky-boo version of peek-a-boo ... has been a favorite ... stella bored of this game at a much earlier age ... cora still thinks it's hilarious ... and so we oblige ... we also love to play hide and seek ... but i'm not willing to tote the camera and risk them finding my best hiding spots.

grass ... 36/365

2009-02-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

grass ...
/græs/ –noun
any plant of the family Gramineae, having jointed stems, sheathing leaves, and seedlike grains.

... peeking out from beneath the ice ...

sleepy ... 35/365

2009-02-16T10:38:00.000-08:00

sleepy ...
/ˈslipi/ –adjective, sleep⋅i⋅er, sleep⋅i⋅est.
of or showing drowsiness.

... yes ... blurry ... but oh so sleepy ... and i love that sleepy filled face combined with her just woken up mess of hair ...

clouds ... 34/365

2009-02-16T10:32:00.000-08:00

clouds ...
/klaʊdz/ –noun
a visible collection of particles of water or ice suspended in the air, usually at an elevation above the earth's surface.

... and when they are pink ... i'm so much more apt to pay attention to them.

beverage of choice ... 33/365

2009-02-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

beverage of choice ...
/ˈbɛvərɪdʒ - ʌv - tʃɔɪs/, noun
the liquid that i would prefer each morning

... just the right color ... even better when sitting across from the baby that loves her ta-si too ... (recipe for baby ta-si? a few sips of milk ... a splash of coconut coffee creamer ... and an even smaller splash of coffee ... in a big girl cup ... just like mama).

hangs on a wall ... 32/365

2009-02-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

hangs on a wall ...
/hæŋz - ɔn - ə - wɔl/
an object that is suspended upon a wall

... i'll stop taking pictures of things in my home ... soon ... a favorite sign ... i watched until this baby hit $4 ... before snatching it up ... husband did not love it ... immediately ... but, i think it's growing on him ... or maybe he just doesn't want to have to fill in my nail holes ... ah ... see ... there are my green-ish walls ...

candlelight ... 31/365

2009-02-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

candlelight ...
/ˈkændlˌlaɪt/, noun
the light of a candle

... this amber colored candle encrusted wall hanging was my first purchase for my new-to-me kitchen ... i love the amber against the green walls (what? you couldn't tell they were green?) ... and i especially love the glow emitted ... while cooking a simple dinner.

yellow ... 30/365

2009-02-16T09:49:00.000-08:00

yellow ...
/ˈyɛloʊ/–noun
a color like that of egg yolk, ripe lemons, etc.; the primary color between green and orange in the visible spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 570 and 590 nm.

... i'm not usually a fan of fake flowers ... but this hanging vase would sit empty for far too long ... and i loved the look of the leftover from halloween costume sunflowers against my yellow walls (that would not be captured in the film - they are so not white!) ... they seem to bring a bit of sunshine into the hallows of winter ... and come spring and summer will be replaced with the real thing ...

celestial bodies ... 29/365

2009-02-16T09:40:00.000-08:00

celestial bodies ...
/səˈlɛstʃəl - ˈbɒdiz/, noun (plural)
natural objects visible in the sky

... and/or on the wall ... a grouping of one moon and numerous stars that my daddy got for me when i was little ... i feel like they came from new mexico ... i'll have to find out ... i've always loved this set ... and it sits so perfectly in the nook in the nursery ...
update ...
my mom is pissed that i didn't remember that SHE got these for me in SAN DIEGO.
sorry mom.

help wanted ... 28/365

2009-02-16T09:27:00.000-08:00

help wanted ...
/hɛlp - wɔntɛd/
to feel a need or a desire for; wish for ... assistance.

... my path amongst the reeds ... mind you ... this is a "floating" pathway that winds through a pond of reeds ... completely frozen over ... a skating path ... eek ... we saw many many many deer beds in the cattails ... my husband asked what i would do if a deer popped out ... i want to think i would have run (perhaps after stealing a picture?) ... but i wouldn't have been able to.

canine companion ... 27/365

2009-02-16T09:21:00.000-08:00

canine companion ...
/ˈkeɪnaɪn - kəmˈpænyən/, noun
a dog who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another

... and this ... down here in the reeds and the valley ... off lead ... is her absolute most favorite place to be ... can you tell? ... i knew i had to have my camera ready when i called her to keep moving ... i love the joy in her body language ...

who put that there? ... 26/365

2009-02-16T09:07:00.000-08:00

who put that there? ...
/hu - pʊt - ðæt - ðər/
a question concerning personal responsibility for an action involving location of a certain object.

... see it? ... a tent ... kinda faded pink and green ... and mind you ... this is less than a mile from my house ... and i live in a suburb of a big city ... i wonder if this is the outcome of a someone ... who was much more affected by the current economic breakdown ... than i ... and it breaks my heart thinking that someone must resort to living here ... in hiding ... in the cold ... or maybe it's someone that chose to tent it? ... or a kid's hideaway? ... or an abandoned tent ... and nothing more.

a pair of ... 25/365

2009-02-16T08:46:00.000-08:00

a pair of ...

/eɪ pɛər ʌv ... ˈhʊfˌprɪnts/, noun(plural)

two identical, similar, or corresponding things that are matched for use together ... impressions made by an animal's hoof.

... made by deer ... obviously ... best pair of hoofprints i could find on this walk amidst the melted snow turned to ice ... i wish i would have found a pair of deer ...

repeating pattern ... 24/365

2009-02-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

repeating pattern ...

/rɪˈpitɪŋ - ˈpætərn/

an image that does the same thing over and over again.

... i had to try to attempt a picture through the car window ... these clouds fascinate me ... my husband the airline pilot could explain them ... i just take a picture ... he told me i should see them from the sky ... why, yes ... yes i should ...

look alikes ... 23/365

2009-02-13T14:02:00.001-08:00

look alikes ...
/lʊk-əˈlaɪks/ n.
one that closely resembles another; a double.

... could someone out there please explain this to me?? ... my first attempt at using my tripod ... aka blurriness ... trying to capture the moon ... but, why are there two? ... yes ... i know the picture sucks ... but inquiring minds wanna know! ... by the way ... no one ever said the pictures have to be good ...

paws ... 22/365

2009-02-13T13:53:00.001-08:00

paws ...
/paz/ - noun, plural
the foot of an animal, especially a quadruped, that has claws or nails

... skye's dog paws ... amidst a tumbled tower o' cups ... (that was built and posted as up on top) ... this ... is the aftermath.

silly ... 21/365

2009-02-13T13:46:00.001-08:00

silly ...
/ˈsɪli/ - adjective
lacking seriousness or responsibleness

... that definition is exactly what i am convinced that being a child is all about ... there are plenty of years to be serious AND responsible ... i'm happy that my children get their full share of silly.

eyes ... 20/365

2009-02-13T13:35:00.001-08:00

eyes ...
/aɪz/ –noun (plural)
the organ of sight, in vertebrates typically one of a pair of spherical bodies contained in an orbit of the skull and in humans appearing externally as a dense, white, curved membrane, or sclera, surrounding a circular, colored portion, or iris, that is covered by a clear, curved membrane, or cornea, and in the center of which is an opening, or pupil, through which light passes to the retina.

... a picture that doesn't immediately send one to think of eyes as the primary subject of the photograph ... but the first thing that caught my attention ... those eyes ... i swear ... they get me everytime ... and that skinned up chin ... from a sledding incident ... a blue eyed ballerina with a beat up chin ... that's my child ... for sure.

baby, it's cold outside ... 19/365

2009-02-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

baby, it's cold outside ...

/ˈbeɪbi ɪts koʊld ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

-- a pop standard with words and music by Frank Loesser. Loesser wrote the duet in 1944 and premiered the song with his wife at their Navarro Hotel housewarming party. (definition courtesy of wikipedia).

... it was cold ... but not TOO cold like it's been as of late ... no negative temperatures that day ... which is why we ventured outside for the picture ... i love her blue eyes against the pink ... also not just a picture taking adventure ... we actually played and ran around and rolled in the snow before retreating back into the house ...

furry ... 18/365

2009-02-13T13:22:00.001-08:00

furry ...
/ˈfɜri/ –adjective, fur⋅ri⋅er, fur⋅ri⋅est.
covered with fur; wearing fur

... not my furriest kitty ... believe it or not ... but plenty furry ... and dare i say ... my favorite feline in the house ... shhhh ... don't tell the others ... friends ... meet jazz ... a former barn kitten that i carried in my pocket while training horses ... that would hiss at me even when her eyes were still closed ... and would only quiet her yowling when i got to the jazz music station.

handicraft ... 17/365

2009-02-13T13:04:00.000-08:00

handicraft ...
/ˈhændiˌkræft, -ˌkrɑft/ –noun
-- an art, craft, or trade in which the skilled use of one's hands is required.

... a little love put into a set of barettes ... i made a set for each little girl in their daycare ... we just click the valentine said ... several varieties ... xoxo ... i (heart) u ... love ... flowers ... buttons ... all in all ... a good excuse for mama to do a little crafting. (husband thinks these are a good idea for a potential etsy shop ... hmmmm?)

up on top ... 16/365

2009-02-13T09:24:00.001-08:00

up on top ...

/ʌp-ɔn-tɒp/

the act of moving toward or residing upon the highest point of something

... suspended in time ... girly-girls playing together ... and the activity just so happens to qualify as a challenge word ... my favorite part? ... the memory of them taking turns putting the uppermost cup on the tippity-top ... and big sister holding it steady for her little.

breakfast ... 15/365

2009-02-08T19:14:00.000-08:00

breakfast ...

/ˈbrɛkfəst/ –noun
the first meal of the day; morning meal

... not the most asthetically pleasing picture ... but a memory ... and that's really what's important, no? ... a crepe being made in a crepe pan that was given to me on my birthday by a best(est) friend ... following a conversation weeks prior in which i noted (in passing) a desire for a crepe pan ... and that is the sign of a true friend ... remembering a small detail and fulfilling a wish ... the picture of the finished crepes complete with strawberries and whip cream would have been much prettier ... but disappeared much too fast.

black and white ... 14/365

2009-02-08T12:30:00.000-08:00

black-and-white
/ˈblækənˈʰwaɪt, -ˈwaɪt/ –adjective
displaying black and white tones; without color, as a picture or chart

... less of a pure black and white ... and more of an awesome display of black and white color ... that contrast of black feathers to white feathers astounds me ... maybe it's the current lack of pure white in a child-full world.

from the sea ... 13/365

2009-02-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

from the sea
/frʌm-ði-si/
act of originating in the salt waters that cover the greater part of the earth's surface.

... i promise to move away from these zoo pictures soon ... maybe. i've been cursed with slow computers and slower editing ... and minimalized mommy time. also note ... first (evah.) attempt at black-and-whiting it with the return of the real color. editing whiz ... i am not. be nice.

... when i sit back and watch the girly-girls watching these creatures from the sea ... i imagine that they are observing them with the desire to sprout a mermaid tail and join them ... it amazes me how unblurred they are ... against the pure blur of fish. still for more than a moment. (sometimes i long for more of those moments ... do you think the zoo has wi-fi down by the underwater exhibit? they should. honey ... if you are reading this ... mama needs a laptop.)

flowers ... 12/365

2009-01-27T21:49:00.000-08:00

flowers
/ˈflaʊərz/, noun
the blossoms of a plant.

... too pretty to pass by without a portrait ... vibrant ... not outside or even remotely from here ...

pink ... 11/365

2009-01-27T21:47:00.000-08:00

pink

/pɪŋk/, adjective, -er, -est.
a color varying from light crimson to pale reddish purple.

... pink flamingo ... hey ... i could have captured a photo of the pink dryer lint that overwhelms our dryer from the girly-girl clothing ... but i didn't feel much like doing laundry that day ...

hand ... 10/365

2009-01-27T21:45:00.000-08:00

hand
/hænd/ , noun
the terminal, prehensile part of the upper limb in humans and other primates, consisting of the wrist, metacarpal area, fingers, and thumb.

... a little hand ... resting against a daddy's back ... is there really anything more comforting or sweet than that??

go fish! ... 9/365

2009-01-20T22:07:00.000-08:00

go fish!

/goʊ fɪʃ/

encouragment of any of the various cold-blooded, aquatic vertebrates, having gills, commonly fins, and typically an elongated body covered with scales.

... determined little bugger ... i think you can see it in his eyes ... i just want to be his personal cheerleader ... but without the whole cheerleader get-up ... but maybe the pom-poms ... 'cause i was so totally and completely never a cheerleader in high school ... but i think i could rock the pom-poms.

feathered ... 8/365

2009-01-20T22:05:00.001-08:00

feathered

/ˈfɛðərd/, adjective

clothed, covered, or fitted with (or as with) feathers or wings

... the rainbow of colors was scarcely visible ... it was only with the camera that we were able to see the multitudes of color upon this bird ... don't ask ... i have no idea what type of bird this is ... beautiful, though ... huh?

blue ... 7/365

2009-01-20T22:05:00.000-08:00

blue
/blu/, adjective
the pure color of a clear sky; the primary color between green and violet in the visible spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 450 and 500 nm.

... i haven't been much into tweaking color and such for this challenge ... but as soon as i saw the tweak on this one ... i couldn't turn back ... it emphasized the swirl of tone on tone color upon this dolphin's back ... and i was in love with it ... as is my cora ... she could watch these things for HOURS.