black and white Wednesday - late Summer

Grace and Will on the beach as the sun is setting, on the last evening of our vacation. 

I have more pics of our time away but will put them up on facebook sometime this week.
Our Summer has flown by, it's hard to believe that September is only
2 weeks away!

Sunday snapshot - vacation days

So as I look back at the many pictures from our little getaway recently,
I can't help but smile and remember this special place.
I think I'll call it one of the best kept secrets as far as vacation spots in the U.S.
My husband and I started coming up here before we adopted Grace, so this
was a first for our two littles.

There are quaint little villages that have Norwegian, Icelandic and French Canadian influences,
that have names like Egg Harbor, Ephraim, Fish Creek, Sister Bay, Bailey's Harbor
and others.
We stayed in Ephraim which is known for it's views of Eagle Harbor off Green Bay,
and it's charming white buildings and stone fences.
You can see why Door County is sometimes called the 'Cape Cod of the Midwest.'

(At historic Anderson dock in Ephraim, WI as the sun is starting to set).

Some of our favorite parts of the trip was our time at Wilson's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor,

swimming twice a day, the beautiful sunsets, delicious tart cherries, perusing a few antique shops, the food,

 seeing the lighthouses, wine tasting and watching the sailboats on the bay.

The best part...spending time with the people I love the most, my husband and Grace and Will...just us.

Looking forward to returning again soon, someday!

32/52 - birthday girls

They were nursery mates in their orphanage in China and share the same birthday.

We first met Julia's parents in our pre- travel to China group meetings almost exactly 8 years ago.

During the Summer they see each other frequently and Julia's mom and I make sure it's a priority to 

get these best friends together.

These were taken on their birthday at Julia's house. 

Their personalities compliment each other perfectly...we're so happy that the girls have each other!

black and white Wednesday - a day at the beach

Smile and say 'cheese!'

"Happiness is a summer breeze, sand between your toes, and your best friend by your side."

~ unknown

(Will showing a little of his gymnastics capabilities).

 Living in Wisconsin we appreciate Summer, no matter how hot and humid it gets
 because Winter lasts just way too long here.

I'm making a promise to myself to look at these pictures again when I'm shivering in January and February
and longing for warmer days.
They'll help me remember our time last week at the beach
in the quaint little town of Ephraim in Door County, WI.

We brought sand pails, shovels, a raft and Will's fish floatie.
And though they were all used and played with, it was the 2 vintage cameras
that I brought that were the biggest hit.

Even though it was all in fun and not for real as far as them taking pictures,
the element of 'pretend' is still much of Grace and Will's play.
(which I dearly love)

Below is Will just before he went out in the bay (with Daddy of course).
And also one of him as he's taking a little rest wrapped up in his towel.
Swimming (rather kicking with a floatie supporting you) evidently is hard work!

(Will getting ready to hit the waves).

(And Will taking a little snooze).

The Summer has flown by.
Yesterday I registered both kids for school...when I look at the calendar
we don't have much of this season left.

We start school Sept. 1 and I have mixed feelings about that.
I'm going to miss these two being with me during the day.
So we'll be making the best of the time they have left.

It's Wednesday!

See what's going on at Lisa's ' black and white Wednesday' for many

more black and whites and some fabulous photography.

31/52 - Door County, Wisconsin

Catching up on my weekly photo project...this one's from our vacation last week.
I walked down to the little beach which was in front of our resort and found these chairs sitting in a row.
The sun was setting in a cloudy sky over Green Bay which is just off of Lake Michigan.


I haven't even begun to go through the pictures I took but will do a couple more
posts this week about where we were and what we did.
We had a fabulous time and came home relaxed and refreshed!

Grace is 9

On the other side of the world does she remember and wonder?
 We share a daughter.


I think of your birth mother often but especially on this day...the day of your birth.

I know very little about her except that

she tried for a while to keep you, Grace.

And I believe she loved you very much.

I wish I could meet this woman some day and tell her what you're like.

I know she'd be incredibly proud...

Could she have ever dreamed that her beautiful baby girl would become

a sensitive, thoughtful, smart, joyful, compassionate and funny 9 year old?

Who loves to laugh, play games, dance, draw and create.

Grace is a wonderful friend and sister, daughter and Granddaughter.

Those who meet her, never forget her.

Happy Birthday!
You are 9.

May all your hopes and dreams come true on this special day...my sweet, sweet Grace.
As we celebrate your day of birth I also honor this woman who gave you life 9 years ago in China,
and say thank you...

30/52 - treasure hunt

 Like her mommy,
Grace has a fondness for things previously owned, that are maybe a little worn and loved

by someone else.

On Sunday we traveled to the Sandwich, Illinois Antique Fair.

I have some great memories of that place because it's where

we found a beautiful old dresser, a large basket for toys,

and a quilt for Grace's baby room before we traveled to China to adopt her

almost 8 years ago.

This time we found some more treasures.

For Grace a Raggedy Ann doll and a vintage doll trunk from around 1950.

I found a red step stool and an old 'peely' painted wicker table,

which were just up my alley!!

It was a fun mom/daughter day and made for some wonderful memories for us.
I love to see what's considered 'vintage.'
Definitely some things from the 1950's to 70's but I think for it to be truly considered an antique
an item has to be at at least a 100 years old.

I'll be taking a break from blogging (we have a vacation coming up), but will be back soon...
hope y'all are having a great Summer!

black and white Wednesday - green chair

These 5 images were my 'final' for an online class I just finished.

I've taken photography workshops previously but they were

all on location with professional photographers.

And all technical classes.

This was the first one that talked about style.
What makes my style 'me.'
Was I being true to my style?
It required a fair amount of introspection that sometimes
is hard for people.
I liked that part very much.

And discovered some things that were always there

that I wasn't noticing until now.

Like why do I create photographs?

I decided that I want to create something beautiful.

I also want to be challenged.
What makes me happy?

I found out that some of the things that make me feel happy are spending time with my children,

hearing them laugh, seeing them smile and seeing color.

Especially red but any other vibrant one will do.

It

It was also the first class that the instructor gave

feedback on the pictures that I took.
I learned that I compose for color, whether intentionally or not.

And that I use natural textures in my images, in a way that isn't 'too much.'

Pretty cool to find out all of this...and it was right there in front of me all the time.

It's always been hard for me to describe my own photography style,

and now I just did. :)

Check out more black and whites at Lisa's blog, The Long Road to China.