Weekly Header Challenge -- Aah! Time to Relax!

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Fishing Guy 

Kathy 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Aah!  Time to Relax!

Chosen by me.

Well, as you may be able to guess, I chose this theme to coincide with our mini vacation to the Adirondack Mountains and Lake Bonaparte, because I knew we'd be relaxing there quite a bit throughout the week!

Here is the uncropped image that I used for my header.

Jake was able to get a week off work, and he is dating a sweet young lady, Allie, who was also able to come with us and experience what a typical family vacation is for us.  The two cuties had plenty of time to sit, relax, do things together, chat, and just get to know each other better.

Here are some more relaxing images from Lake Bonaparte...

Fishing near the High Rocks.

Relaxing on Jackson Rock.

Beautiful sunset from our dock.

My morning mug of tea, a chair, a dock, and a beautiful view.

Swishing feet in the water!

Exploring the tree house.  (Allie's New York cousins came to visit.)

Playing cards on the front porch.

Since I'm a huge fan of sunsets, and sunsets at the Lake, I leave you with one final relaxing image, with a kayaker paddling by.

I hope you've had time to relax this summer!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Weekly Header Challenge -- Cell Phone Pics

It's time for the Weekly Header Challenge!

"Headbanger" Participants

Craver VII 

Fishing Guy 

Katney 

Imac 

Lew

I'm joining in the group above for this weekly challenge.

Click on the other participants' blogs to see

what they've come up with!

Theme ~ Cell Phone Pics

Chosen by Craver.

This week's theme was both simple, and difficult.  I rarely take pictures with my cell phone--an Android smartphone--because I usually have my camera with me.  But on those occasions I don't, or when I want to share something on Facebook right then, my phone comes in handy.

I usually take vertical pictures with my phone, so I made a composite for my header.  Here it is:

 August 2014 -- Up at Lake Bonaparte.

I made a surprise trip to the Lake this past August for my mom's 75th birthday, so not many people knew I was up there.  I wanted to share on Facebook what a typical evening up there is, so when I went down to the dock to sit and watch/photograph the sunset, I pulled out my phone to share what I was doing.  I call these evenings my dock dates.  That's the picture on the right.

The picture on the left was taken at Janet's cottage, where she was hosting a beauty products party.  The ladies let me slip out to her deck to capture the sunset, and the sun was so stunning--the picture in no way does it justice--that I had to take one with my phone to share on Facebook.  Here are the two individual images that make up my header.

Out of the couple dozen images I've ever taken with my phone, I'm now sharing the best ones here for you!  Remember, I only use my phone when I want to share something unusual, exciting, or funny (usually on Facebook), or when I just don't have my "big" camera on me.  Here goes...

January 23, 2013 -- For just a few minutes, autism doesn't exist.

April 18, 2013 -- Massive flooding in the Chicago suburbs.

Same day -- Driving through the flood to get home.

May 24, 2014.  Thomas gets his driving permit.

May 26, 2014.

Please don't ask why Danny is pushing a dresser

filled with stuffed animals down the sidewalk...!

May 2, 2014.  What happens when your friends' children are little, and yours are big.

May 3, 2014 -- Thomas' math team takes 5th place at the state competition.

May 10, 2014 -- Jacob's graduation!

August 7, 2014 -- Celebrating an 825-point game!

This last picture is worth noting since in our family, breaking the 800-point barrier in a Scrabble game is a major feat.  Mom and I pulled this one off during her birthday week at the Lake.  :)


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Project 2012 -- Week 47

Project 2012 -- Week 47

November 18-24

Welcome to my Project 2012 weekly post!  This is my time to look back over the past week, 
choose seven favorite images I've taken, and share them here with you.  
If you have a project you're working on, please leave a comment 
so I can visit your blog and see what you're up to!

Thanksgiving week is a huge photo producer in my world, and this year was even bigger.  Jacob came home from school, we baked and cooked together, our family celebrated Thanksgiving, we went Christmas-tree-hunting with friends, and finally ended the week with a little house decorating.

We started the week with a get-together so that Jacob could spend the afternoon after church with his buddies.  This is how they started their afternoon:

[323] Boys will be boys

Jacob also helped me bake pies all afternoon Tuesday.  I glanced over at one point to see this:

[324] When boys are baking

The day before Thanksgiving looked like this:

[325] Autumn fog

Here's one image I took on Thanksgiving day, at my parents' new home.

[326] Thanksgiving table

Our friends have invited us for three years now to go up to Wisconsin with them to cut down our own Christmas tree.  We have so much fun together!

[327] Christmas tree farm

Tree-cutting was short this year due to the 18-degree temps (with wind chill).  We warmed up in the car, though, on the way to the Mouse House!

[328] Mouse House

I took the below shot through my car window on the way home.  The sun was so pretty shining through the clouds!

[329] Wisconsin landscape

You may recall that my 17-55mm lens went kaput last week.  All of the images I've taken since then have been with my 50mm lens.  Using one fixed lens has been extremely challenging, and sometimes frustrating, but mostly rewarding.  I've really been stretched, but I'm also desperately trying to figure out how to afford a new lens before Christmas--there are so many picture-taking opportunities coming up!


Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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German Shepherds and Waterskis

But not in the same picture.  :)

We spent an afternoon one day early on in our vacation at Winter Bay.  Partially owned by the U.S. Army, this area of the lake is all sand, and is a popular swimming area for lake residents.  That's where we were sunning, swimming, and playing Frisbee, when a couple other boats showed up--one with dogs, the other with waterskis.  Of course, I pulled Ellie out to capture some sweet shots.

I'll start with the waterskiing shots--these two young boys were so fun to watch!

I love that last shot--that boy did a serious face plant when he released his grip.  I love that I captured not only his splash (with his face, and a foot sticking up), but I got the hand grip as well.

On to the dogs.  I must tell you--the only dog I do not like is the German shepherd.  I was bit by one at the tender age of five, and it must've made a large impression on me, because they're the only dogs I'm nervous around.  Well, maybe Dobermans, too.  But I get a very unique, queasy feeling around German shepherds.

Anyway, meet Jake and Riley.  (I'm not sure which is which.)

Their owner, Mark Miller, explained that these two dogs--father and son--love to snap at the water when it's splashed in their faces, or in their direction.  The guys made very sure to keep their distance as we splashed toward the two dogs.  Their snapping jaws made a loud, distinct click as their teeth closed at the water droplets.  If a hand got in the way, I'm sure bones would have been broken; that's how powerful their jaws are.

Intense focus

Their whole bodies came out of the water as they leaped at the splashes.  (Another dog, Georgia, got in on the action in the below shot.)

They truly are beautiful animals.

In the below shot, it looks like this guy and Thomas were going at each other!

I think this last image is my favorite German shepherd shot.  I cropped it square so the focus is on the dog and his jaws and teeth.  I love the droplets of water splattered throughout the image, and the water streaming off his front legs.

I eventually got up enough courage to pet one of them.  He didn't seem to even notice I was there.

One fear, somewhat conquered.

Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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Project 2012 -- Week 19 -- May 6-12

Project 2012 -- Week 19

May 6 - May 12

How to Link Up With Us

1.  Click here to read the Project 2012 Guidelines, and to get the code to place in your blog.
2.  Fill out the little form below (insert the URL of your blog post, not the main URL of your blog).
3.  Please visit others' links and leave comments; you will receive visits and comments in return!

My Week 19 Photos

What a hard week to choose photos from!  Seriously--I took over one thousand images.  Really.  I may be photo-ed out!  My week started by watching my friend's four children while she was at the hospital in labor.  Her husband was with her, so I got to spend the day, night, and the next morning with these four really neat kids.  :)

So Little Miss E wouldn't cry at her parents leaving her, we took off for the park as they all waved goodbye to Dad and Mom driving away down the street.  R was like a little papa with Miss E, pulling the wagon, and sliding and swinging with her.  So sweet!

[126] Swingin'

Miss K and C had a great time swinging, and I caught this moment of enjoyment between the two of them.

 [127] Swinging fun

Then it was Miss K's turn to take Miss E on the slide.  Their expressions say it all!

[128] Sliding girls

The next morning, Miss K and Miss E were giving me their trademark expressions while R made gluten-free pancakes for all of us.  (And R is only 11 years old!)

[129] Tongues!

After the baby was born (a girl!), and a few days later, I came back to be with the kids while their dad got their mom home from the hospital.  My Thomas came with me, and he and the two boys ended up in the play room engrossed in a board game.  Just before her nap, I snapped a shot of Miss E looking out the front door waiting for her mommy.

[130] Waiting for Mommy

Miss K and I had a tea party on the porch, and she let me snap a few shots of her.  Sweetie-pie!

[131] Wistful

Mommy and baby came home amid excited, jumping children!  Once everyone was settled, Miss E exclaimed, "I wanna hold dat!" (her new baby sister).  It was so cute.  Since I had my camera and documented most everything in this family's life the past few days, and since the light was perfect, and since baby--Little Miss C--was perfectly precious, I captured the below.  :)

[132] Baby sister

I spent so much time with this family last week, but I wasn't done.  I got to do a newborn session with Little Miss C.  I'll be sharing a few of my favorites from that session real soon.  I love babies!



Treasuring life's moments,
Christine

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