That will teach him...

While the husband was gone earlier in the week, I found a way to show him what happens when you leave me alone for a few days with cash and internet access.

The glory of Craigslist!

Yes, it is a table, with the legs removed and on its topside. But still a pretty table with fun details and legroom! Our current table has odd support beams underneath that end up giving 0 leg room, even for someone as short as me.

I've been trolling CL for a while, but my cheapness has kept me from buying anything. This little {large} baby was only $30 though, and the former owners were kind enough to deliver it for me since my poor wee car couldn't carry the table!

The legs are held in place by wood blocks and wing nuts, so are easy to remove (perfect!). I'm sure the table used to have leaves, but none came with it. However, if I went crazy and wanted to make some, the table opens underneath with this adorable crank mechanism- I love it!

At some point someone defaced the top with an ugly, plastic-y black top, but I think that can get stripped off and then I'll refinish in a dark stain. If not, I will end up just sanding and painting some lovely color. But I'm hoping for the stain- she'll look so pretty new!

Monday?

NNNNOOOOOO!!!!

Oh well, it can't be avoided. Have a good Monday and drink plenty of coffee to get through- I know I'll need it!

Oh how Pinteresting!!

This post is a shameless homage to a national {international?} obsession- Pinterest. I found it several months ago and, like many others, I have lost hours and hours of my life to browsing the endless realms of the Pinter-land. And. I. Want. More!! There is no theme here- just a random collection of images that inspire, delight and amuse me. Enjoy!

Source: dnkzone2.tumblr.com via Jill on Pinterest

                                                                             

Source: weheartit.com via Jill on Pinterest

   

Source: mainenmasonjars.tumblr.com via Jill on Pinterest

Source: theberry.com via Jill on Pinterest

Source: theloveliestday.com via Jill on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Jill on Pinterest

Source: babiekinsmag.com via Jill on Pinterest

The best part of waking up

is having someone else make you coffee. But if that isn't an option, then I still enjoy making some for myself. Last year my husband and I got an amazing deal on a super fancy espresso machine that I am just barely competent enough to use. I really enjoy having him make fancy coffee beverages for me anyway, so I make him be my personal barista as much as possible.

Then life happened. And our schedules don't line up as much as they used to. Now *gasp* I have to make my own coffee. Life. Isn't. Fair.

But I'm getting the hang of it. I still end up with steamed milk that is really just warm- it isn't the airy, whipped concoction that spectacular baristas pour into fanciful shapes at cafes. But it suffices.

I get coffee. The world is allowed to live. Win-win.

The world ended.

Well, I may be exaggerating. But for a period of time last night, Facebook wouldn't work for me. It said my account was unavailable due to a site issue? My first thought? "HOW DO I CONNECT WITH PEOPLE???" Then I remembered that I still have a phone. And email. And Twitter (though I'm still a bit lost on the land of small birdlets). The silver lining on this murky gray interwebz cloud is that I had a chance to go through Google Reader and clear out a couple hundred blog notifications {oops}! In that pile, I discovered:


an amazing collection of images about family, Sweden and just being awesome {here}

something reported to be the best lemon cake I (or you) will ever eat {here}

great ideas for improving the feel of your workspace {here}

the adorably quirky style and fabulous tattoos of a fellow cat-lover {here}

a glowing white farmhouse that I love to look at but am way to messy to live in {here}

romance in Holland {here}

a ground-shaking-ly fantabulous paper craft that should be completed by all humans {here}

What? I like gnomes!!

And since I hate posts without photos, here is a squirrel!

Catching up

As I said previously, it has been a while since I did a ton of photo-ish stuff. I started going through past images to find stuff to play with and realized that I have an entire folder of images from my trip to Chicago in May that I haven't even touched! I'm starting to rebuild a solid workflow in LR and PS, so this one took a while, but it was fun and I found a bunch of other images I want to tweak as well!

I spent a small amount of time removing a sign from the picture, and if I was feeling really ambitious I would have pulled out the  cars as well, but that would have taken a while since I'm SLOW with the clone tool. I think the train and the old-timey buildings are the interesting part of this image, so I may yet go in and remove the cars, but not today!

For reference, this is the original.

I'm getting back into the photographer swing, and the August challenge over at I Heart faces is perfect for me! The challenge is 'Pets' and I had three little hams running around the house begging for attention. Pickle was the most focused on giving me a charming smile though, so he wins!

Whats up??

I'm currently a bit smashed with lots of work, part-time single parenting to the dogs, cat and horses AND I'm doing a photography class this week in the evenings. However, I decided that you need to have more Pickle in your life! Enjoy:)

Yum

This weekend the mister and I spent some time in the big city. While he was schmoozing with people in the fooding biz (you know, the people who cook), I enjoyed fresh made kolaches, a delicious latte and a fabulous book.

My kind of weekend!

All the lenses!!

This image was just posted on Facebook by the F Stoppers, and... drool.

I totally didn't take this photo- I don't know who did, but it rocks!

Stop by the original posting to see how a lens is made! (here)

A new way to travel

The heat in my area has been brutal this year, and while I still love commuting via bicycle for the most part, the extra sweat is not my favorite. I've been using a messenger bag for commuting and that worked fine, but I recently changed jobs and have to carry more stuff with me on a daily basis. I've been getting quite tired of how sweaty that makes me, so... I made a change.

Gone are my free-wheeling days of messenger bag madness.

I have upgraded to a more mature, matronly pair of....

panniers.

Through the magic of Craigslist I discovered someone who had a brand new set for sale and off I went. They even have an extra bag that can go on top (though it smushes on my seat a little), but I don't need to carry THAT much stuff!

I hope the change helps- at least it will make the ride a little more comfortable!

Long time, baby

For no particular reason, it has been a while since I checked in over here. I've been busy and just kinda forgot about this niche of the net, but in apology, I thought I'd give my blog some flowers.

Cause, ya know, everyone loves flowers.

Also, I want to document that I've had these flowers for more than a week and they are still blooming. Believe me- this is a near-magical feat. Flowers, I salute you. 

Really?

"Mom, I'm trying to sleep an the camera is making way too much noise."

Quotography: Hobby

As you may know, I have a lot of hobbies. The one that has stuck with me the longest happens to have 4 legs and whinny. Ok, so there are 2 of them (Copper and Lyric;b). This week's Quotography theme really made me think of my pony babes, and I've always loved this quote.

Though it should say 'owning a horse' because riding is just the surface of it. I have had Copper for almost 14 years and Lyric for 12.5. For that past 4 years, Lyric has been un-rideable due to a movement disorder (stringhalt) that he developed. Copper has spent the last couple of years injured or painfully allergic to everything. It hasn't been easy, but you can't lay them aside or ignore them- they are my pony babes and I'm doing my best for them!

Spring is the Hair

Spring is rough. Two horses. Two dogs. One cat. All of them fluffy. Yesterday I could barely breath for a large portion of the day. *snorf* Today I've got allergy meds keeping me going, but I am wishing that shedding season (known to others as spring) will pass quickly!

And by fluffy... I mean fluffy. Each of the house critters was kind enough to pose for a photo with their pile of liberated fuzz yesterday after I groomed them. My furminator is my best friend right now!

Photo Dough

Maybe this isn't surprising for some of you, but I was shocked this morning to discover that there is a daily deal site that caters specifically to photographers! Its called Photo Dough, and they have great deals on all sorts of awesome photo tools. Today they have Totally Rad Action's RadLab for $84!! Nope, not a typo- just that super cheap.

So guess who has two thumbs and just got a fun new Photoshop toy? This gal!!

You can even get extra credits to their site for anyone that you refer to them (who actually buys something). So, if you'd like to join up, please do so through my referral link (click here!)- joining helps you, going through this link helps me! Win-win!

Things I Learned from Meerkats

Alternate Title- Lessons I Attribute to the Hijinks of Suricates. 
 
- Its ok to stretch out in a sunny patch of dirt for a nap. Really- the mud will wash out.

- Pursue your dreams- they help give life its meaning!

Emo meerkat dreams of rainbows.

- Enjoy the world around you. There is so much beauty to see and there are so many interesting things to do if you keep your eyes open!

 

- Make your throne wherever you are comfortable- its always good to be the queen (or king)!

 

Fifty50: Pickle

I love photo challenges, but you wouldn't know it from recent post. I admit it- I have fallen off the challenge bandwagon. For several months I had my days planned around what challenges were coming up and what photos I needed to capture, but... it was too much for me. Between work, pets, life (and I guess I should mention the husband), I just couldn't devote that much time to photo challenges.

But... then I realized  the joy of periodic and monthly photo challenges- yay! Over at Chase the Light, Tracey has a variety of fun and no pressure photo challenges to enjoy. This month she started her Fifty50 project which focuses on diptychs (she has a great explanation of what that is). So what did I take 2 photos of?

Pickle, of course!

Well, I was mostly focusing on his ears.

They kind of do their own thing, no matter what he wants them to do.

"Mom- I'm being serious. Stop playing with the clicking black thing and pet my belly!"

"What? These are my serious ears!"

Poor Pickle- he won't ever be taken seriously until he gets more graceful and learns to control his ears.

I hope that never happens!

Tales from Phd-Land

My charming, sweet and culinary-gifted husband is normally quite intelligent. But sometimes I wonder about Those Who Pursue PhD Programs. Last night, talking about places we'd like to visit, he mentioned that he would love to go to Charleston.

source

I totally agree! A city with history, culture and a lot of beauty to enjoy! However, my sweet husband soon ruined my joy. "I want to go to South Virginia!"  My response... "Um... what?". I gently {between giggles} informed him that there is no such place. He defended his words, stating that he meant South Carolina and was simply tired. I choose to think that he is planning to found a new state somewhere between Virginia, the Carolinas and Montana.

*sigh*

I guess I'm not with him for his geographical prowess.

Nope, I married him for the food. :)

Leslie and Ross Portrait Session

Leslie and Ross were so adorable to photograph! This is the first of many great images from our session this past weekend, and I'm having so much fun going through them. Thanks for a wonderful time, guys!

Burst of Purple

The last couple weeks have been stressful at work, and while I try not to snap and the mister, sometimes it happens. But he understands.

I came home one night and was complaining about my day for so long that I almost missed the burst of color sitting on the table.

All he did was laugh.

I do enjoy a lovely bunch of flowers. Especially after a grumpy-fying day at the office!

I love you baby!

Engagement photos

I recently had the privilege to do an engagement photo session with Megan and Erik. They are getting married in May and were so in love and sweet together- it was a pleasure to photograph them! They were both really patient with my newbie-ishness to doing portraiture. I mean, this was the first time I did a session with non-friends! I'm really happy with the results and wish them all the best!