Wednesday, February 26, 2014

837 - my last post

"The journey is the reward." ~ Chinese Proverb
 
This is my 837th blog post, and the last one.
It was August 2007 that I wrote my first post on 'Aging with Grace and strong Will.'
I certainly found my voice
about adoption, attachment, my children, and then visually through photography.
I've met some incredible friends through this blog, many of them lifelong ones and Will's entire adoption trip in 2008 was documented here too. So this blog is precious to me
and I will be getting it printed into book form.
 
Blogging has changed a lot since those former days and I will still be posting
but now it'll be here at my brand new blog, A Mother's Art Photography.
Photography is a lifelong journey for me
and I will continue to write about our life, my children and some of my favorite photography sessions. I will also write about what inspires me to capture some of  photos that I do
and even how I shoot them.
I hope you'll follow me on this journey.
 
And just because I had to post some sort of photo, the above is some of our February,
Instagram style.
1. Mr. Will drawing Wolverine (his current fave Super Hero). 2. Colorful Ranunculus flowers. 3. A serious Will waiting at the doctor's office for a pre-op physical. 4. Cool brick wall and arched windows in an antique store that I was browsing. 5. Grace and her friend Izzy dressed in costumes at their 5th grade musical. 6. Grace up on stage, she was a Thai Lantern Girl in the production. 7. Photos for Will's Star of the Week timeline, he helped me chose photos for it. 8. Will right before he left for the OR for an oral surgery he had last week. 9. A pensive Will looking out the window.
Will is fully recovered and did great.
He has a palate surgery coming up in the next 1-2 years.
 
 
I am on Instagram, here if you'd like to follow me and see what we're up to.
Thank you for the last 6 plus years.

xoxo
Gail


Thursday, February 20, 2014

A Little Reprieve from our Cabin Fever (7/52 - 52 Project)

 
On one of our very rare above zero days we decided to
venture out to frozen Lake Mendota.
The sun was shining and Grace and William quickly
grabbed icicles and had a little pretend swordfight.
 
 
 
 
 
I got to thinking that writing their names or drawing in the snow is
similar to what they do at the beach in the sand.
Only instead of wearing snow gear they have their
swimsuits on.
 
 
 
 
If you didn't know the lake was completely frozen over
you might think it was a gigantic field of snow.
Until you see the fishing shacks, piers pulled out of the water
and boats in dry dock.
It was fun to take a walk out on that big lake
and get out of the house for an hour.
 
 
Winters in the northern Midwest are cold and long but March is just around the corner.
And we are thankful for that.
 
 
 
 


Monday, February 10, 2014

Winter Sunset (Sunday Snapshot & 6/52 - Project 52)

 
 
I feel like we've been hibernating lately.
We stay indoors almost all the time.
It's just way too cold to go outside
and definitely too cold to be outside taking photos.
 
 
 
 
Taken a few evenings ago of Grace in the amazing light as the sun was setting
behind the trees
showing these purple and golden hues.
We stayed outside for exactly 5 minutes.
 
 
 
 
I do notice the daylight is lasting longer.
Hey, Spring arrives in 38 days!
 
135mm lens - 3.2
1/500
ISO 800
 
 
 

Ni Hao Yall

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Gung Hay Fat Choy! 5/52 - Project 52



Wishing you health, prosperity, and happiness 
in this Year of the Horse!

We're very lucky in that we get to spend the upcoming weekend
with our beloved China travel group at a hotel,
swimming, eating and celebrating.


Grace was born in the Year of the Horse as were all the other children adopted
in her travel group.
We have known these wonderful families now
for over 10 years.


Hope you are doing something fun to bring in the new year!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

An Assortment of Photos (Sunday Snapshot & 4/52 Project)


 So as I had these grandiose plans of taking my two youngest outside this
week for some photos in the snow.
That obviously didn't happen.
Old man Winter has decided to hit us again with another "polar vortex"
otherwise known as being "too damn cold outdoors for any living creature."
So we stay inside, that's our only choice.
I decided to take my mind to a better place
and photograph still life.
And get real comfortable shooting indoors for a while.



This week I decided to get my Etsy shop 
up and running.
It's something I've been asked about and I figured
it was about time.

My shop is called amothersartphoto
and I have about 24 fine art photography prints
that are available.
It's an eclectic assortment, some of them
vintage inspired, some travel and some of China.
There will be more prints added in the weeks and months to come.
I would be flattered if you'd stop by and 'favorite' (click on the little heart)
of my shop.

Thank you!



Ni Hao Yall

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Color (Sunday Snapshot & 3/52 Project)



Blessed are the happiness makers.
Blessed are they who know how to shine.

~ Henry Ward Beecher

 


Just a little color.
Well, because it's Winter and I live in Wisconsin 
and though the snow is beautiful 
we all need to see some color every day.

These fresh little flowers are called Acacia.
I love blue and yellow together, maybe it's my
Swedish heritage?



Ni Hao Yall

Friday, January 17, 2014

i heart faces - Best Face of 2013



Of the many photos that I take every year of my children,
it was difficult to choose just one for the I Heart Faces Best Face of 2013.
I kept going back to this one of my daughter Grace.
My joyful girl.

Please stop by I Heart Faces and take a look.


Photo Challenge Submission

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Light and Dark (Sunday Snapshot & 2/52 Project)

Penny for her thoughts.



As light is a precious commodity here in Winter
as it doesn't last long and we can have some grey, overcast skies.
When I see the opportunity to use a little window light, I use it.




Taken last Wed. before we left for ballet.
I love the way the light falls off her face
and the dark gently wraps around her as if to give her a hug.




Ni Hao Yall

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Making the Best of It (Sunday Snapshot)

 
As the Upper Midwest is just about to turn into the North Pole temperature wise.
We are staying inside our warm and toasty home.
 
 
 
School is cancelled tomorrow and probably will be Tuesday.
 
 
 
 
 
When Dan and I were young and couldn't go outside because it was too cold,
we played board games, cards, read books, did crafts, and teased our siblings.
 
 
(And who said swinging was just for Summer?) 
Tomorrow we plan on baking cookies, maybe do some crafts with Grace,
and I'm sure there will be some playing on ipods and the Wii.
 
 
 
 
These (obviously) were taken when it wasn't 50 degrees below zero
like it will be tomorrow.
Please stay safe everyone!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ni Hao Yall

Thursday, January 2, 2014

project 52 - frost and snow (1/52)





Bitter cold and a
new dusting of snow...still, I
remember summer
 
~ Charles de Lint
 
 
 
 
It started snowing here in early December.
Wisconsin folks are probably experts about snow and frost (if there's such a thing),
and I'm amazed at the different kinds.
And because I'm a detail person I suppose that's why I notice these things.
This recent one arrived and is called
a 'hoar frost.'
These incredibly beautiful fern-like ice crystals form on the snow,
tree branches, wires or any frozen solid surface.
 
The best part of capturing the frost was the walk I took.
Peacefully quiet and calm.
 
I decided to commit to a project 52 this year and
possibly take one photo a day in February, but will see
about that.
 
35mm 1.4 lens
f 2.8
ISO 400
1/8000
 
Oh, almost forgot to say Happy New Year
and I hope that 2014 is a good one.
 

 
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