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.

 

 

 

 



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

 

 

 



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!

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?

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.

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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 



Merry Merry! (Sunday Snapshot)

 

 

Well it definitely was a Merry one.

All those days of preparation, shopping, wrapping, baking and cooking...

then it's over awfully fast.

 

 

 

 

 

And all that getting ready is worth every single second,

to see their faces.

 

 

 

 

 

We had a quiet, low key Christmas with my own family,

(Dan, me, Nick, his girlfriend Lindsay, Grace and William).

 

 

 

 

I put my camera down after I took these and didn't pick it up again,

which is good for me to do now and then.

Over the weekend we spent Saturday at my parents house with my 3 siblings

and their families.

A very, very fun evening and as always I laugh till I cry

when I'm with my two brothers and sister Betsy.

 

 

I hope everyone's Christmas was lovely!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Merry Christmas

"Christmas my child, is love in action."

 

~ Dale Evans

 

 

 

 

May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,
The gladness of Christmas give you hope,

The warmth of Christmas grant you love.

~  Author Unknown

 

 

 

 Behind all the commercial-ism of the season
is the simple story about a family trying to get through difficult times.
And a baby born in a manger.

 

 

 

 

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

~ Luke 2:10-11

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

May you find the blessings of Christmas - peace, love and hope...today and always.

 

with love,

Dan, Gail, Nick, Grace and William

Getting into the Christmas Spirit (Sunday Snapshot)

 

 

 “Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” 

~ Dr. Suess, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

 

I've often wondered, what is the Christmas spirit?
What does that mean?
It seems like people are happier, kinder
and more giving.
It's a shame that it goes away after Christmas is over.
Maybe we can all try to keep Christmas in our hearts
all year round.

 

 

 

 

These were all taken this week...

the bits and pieces that I saw of Christmas around me.

Vintage tree decorations that come from my mother in law's family,

Will's school Christmas program, Grace performing at a benefit for a local

charity that helps families, and the lights at a nearby tree lot.

I see Christmas in all the details.

I leave shortly to photograph the live Nativity at our church tonight.

I hope you see Christmas around you.

 

 

 

 



Keeping Christmas in my Heart(Sunday Snapshot)

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

 

  ~ Charles Dickens

 

As much as I enjoy seeing the Christmas decorations and giving gifts to people I love.

  It is easy to feel a lot of pressure to get the decorating & shopping done, the cards sent, the presents wrapped and all of the other activities going on this time of year. 

 Unfortunately, it is way too easy to forget about the reason for the season. 

Getting out into the quiet of the snow with Grace was a great way to get back to what is really important: love, family, simple beauty and God. 

 The blessings of the season are with us everyday. 

 We should try to enjoy them as much as we can. 
Time passes so quickly and these days will be fond memories before we know it. 

A Christmas Carol

The shepards had an angel,
The wise men had a star;
But what have I, a little child,
To guide me home from far,
Where glad stars sing together,
And singing angels are?

~ Christina Rossetti
written in 1856



 

 

Cabin Fever

{Yesterday afternoon after homework, I come around the corner and this is what I find.}
 

Someone's been a little bit restless lately and trying to find other things to do indoors

 besides playing with legos, toys or his DS. 

Zoe doesn't like to be left out and decided she could get in the photo of Will. ;)
She saw Will sitting there, stepped over him and stayed for a little while.
I think she was posing.
 

Back to our case of 'cabin fever,'
Will's cure for it is doing headstands, headstands going into handstands
roundoffs and cartwheels and roundoffs with back handsprings.

 

Spring Break is coming soon, we're hanging around locally but will find some fun things to do!