Hearth and Home

I think it's a wonderful way to end the year--with images from a photo shoot of a couple in love.  I'm not talking mushy and feely-good (though that still happens).  I'm talking long term here, the long haul, the complete journey.

I'm usually ready to grab my gear and go at a moment's notice, which is a good thing because this session happened in almost literally a moment--one phone call and I grabbed Ellie and my things and drove off.

I love this couple.  They have a rather major anniversary coming up in half a year, and I think I'll end up being the planner and coordinator (and photographer!) for it.  Yes--I'm related to them.  :)

A gray head is a crown of glory!

Proverbs 16:31a NASB

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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365 Project -- #344-350

This is the time in my week when I look back at the images I've captured

throughout the previous week, and choose my seven favorites.

These seven--one for each day of the week--are featured below.

December 10 - December 16

I'm happy to say that this week's photos are varied, with both people and decorations.  But they all bring to my mind family and friends and the Christmas season.

As a courtesy (and because I love to), I shot a Ladies and Daughters Christmas Tea.  The table was beautifully set, and the ladies added to the decorations by bringing their favorite tea cups.  Here are three of the many images from that wonderful afternoon.

[344] Christmas gold

[345] Christmas tea party

[346] Gem

Next came a photo session with a couple who have a rather significant anniversary coming up!  The photo session came about after I searched through my whole year's worth of images, and couldn't find a suitable one which my parents could use to include with their Christmas cards.  We set up the shoot right in front of their family room fireplace--perfect.  They are a beautiful couple in every way.

[347] Hearth and home

I went to Costco on a stock-up run, and bought some cream cheese for some Christmas treats I wanted to make.  I bought what I thought was the equivalent of three 8-ounce packages.  What I actually bought was three pounds.  What to do with all that cream cheese??  Make muffins, of course!  I Googled a recipe, read through several, and found one that used ingredients I had on hand.  I modified the recipe a bit, added blueberries to one half of the batter and raspberries to the other, and after breakfast was over (and nothing remained), I tucked the recipe into my personal recipe binder.  It was definitely a keeper!

[348] Muffins for breakfast

My mom came down one morning, and the two of us spent mother-daughter time preparing part of our Italian Christmas dinner.  We had to fry pans going, both making the pancake noodles, while Joe grated mozzarella and fresh Parmesan cheeses.  I helped him get the rest of the filling together, and then I took pictures while the Master Chef--as I refer to her--put the individual manicotti together.  As usual, it will be a genuine, from-scratch Italian Christmas!

[349] Manicotti day

Finally, I spent a few minutes taking macro shots of my simple Christmas decorations.  I don't do much; I'm too practical to store a ton of stuff and spend the time putting it up and taking it down.  We have a tree and a manger, and I hang a few strands of garland.  And this year, I took some of the discards from our live tree, and used those boughs along our fireplace mantel.  My mom gave me some crochet snowflakes, and I scattered them throughout the boughs.  Pretty!

[350] Snowflake in spruce

I love snowflakes!  When I browsed the images of my decorations, I realized I had taken photos of snowflakes everywhere.  I collect them for our Christmas tree, and my dearie lets me splurge each year and purchase a new one or two snowflake (or snowflake-themed) ornaments for the tree.  I think I'll do a snowflake-themed post soon!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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365 Project -- #183-189

Ah, the joys of summer!  We're in the midst of it now, with hot, humid Chicagoland days, a bunch of pool-splashing fun, grilling, and warm lightning-bug evenings.  And Independence Day fireworks!  What fun.  Here are my images from last week.


Three families got together one evening to have a Folk Music Jam.  Two grandpas came with their harmonicas, and they were the absolute highlight of the evening, playing old songs, reminiscing, telling stories, and making us laugh.  What a blessing the wisdom-crowned were (and are) to us!!

[183] July 2 -- The Harmonica Guys (my dad is on the left)

Just before I took the below image, I snapped one of Betsy trying to play the harmonica "hand-less."  Then Dan turned and watched her.  I loved his expression, and titled this image accordingly.  ;)

[184] July 3 -- Um, can she play?

Ellie came with me to an Independence Day celebration, and she captured some cuties that afternoon!  This little guy was featured in another of my 365 Project posts--Daddy was tossing him high in the air.

[185] July 4 -- "Dad, you have a text message"

Fireworks.  Awesome view.  Great camera.  Tripod.  YES!  This was my first time experimenting with fireworks using Ellie's Manual Mode.  I had a ton of fun, and just loved the below photo.  I don't know if it was supposed to look like a palm tree, but I absolutely love this image!

[186] July 5 -- Palm tree fireworks

The below is a BONUS!  It's the fireworks finale, and it's so pretty--with the sliver of moon toward the bottom right--that I wanted to share it with you all.  :)

BONUS -- Fireworks finale

This little creature was hard to capture.  I had my macro lens on at the time, and could get only so close before he flitted off to another landing spot.  I had to lighten this image significantly, but it still turned out decent.

[187] July 6 -- Dragonfly on garlic

Soon-to-be yum.  No explanation needed.

[188] July 7 -- Soon to be eaten

I've been playing with Manual Mode more often, and with the below image, I forgot to change the exposure, resulting in a dark image.  I corrected it and took a more well-lit image, but I really do like the mysterious darkness in this image, and how the light catches the edges of the cabbage leaves.  (My friend Lori is gardening in my back yard, and this is her cabbage.)

[189] July 8 -- Lori's cabbage

More photos are already on tap for next week--including some wild weather we experienced just this morning!  Stay tuned--and get out there with your family and your camera and enjoy this fun season!


Capturing the moments of life.

Christine

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