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.

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)

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!

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!

So long, 2011.

I'm beyond confused at how fast 2011 flew by. I hope all of you are able to spend this New Year's Eve with those you love and can cherish fond memories of those who are far away.

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.  ~Benjamin Franklin

Trust

A couple of months ago one of my friends showed a great deal of trust in me- she asked me to take pictures of her family together, including her baby bump.

*gulp*

That is a lot of trust and a lot of responsibility! I'm not a professional- just a passionate hobbyist! And since this was partly a maternity shoot, it isn't like we could try again at any time- I needed to get at least a few images right the first time!!

But I agreed, prefacing my agreement with "Well, they may not  be fabulous, but they'll definitely be free!".

So a time was set and off we went! I'm pretty pleased with how the entire thing went off, though I did learn a lot about shooting portrait photography. I'm just glad that I am friends with them- otherwise I'd have been way too jittery to do this at all!

Here are some of my favorite shots from the shoot.

Shades of Autumn {Brown}

Things have been brown around here for a while. As in, dead, brown and not very pretty. However, brown is a warm, comforting color under normal conditions {for me at least}, so I tried to get some good shots for this week's Shades of Autumn challenge. I just have to keep the idea of coffee in mind and it feels so much better!

Scavenge

1) Food-It is distinctly possible that I am spoiled when it comes to food. Case in point- creme brulee sous vide cheesecake (instructions can be found here for the culinarily brave). The red bits are raspberry that was frozen in liquid nitrogen. Yum!

2) Purple- I'm working on taking pictures of things that aren't as interesting to me and trying to make them look cool. This is basically my first try at that, and while I don't think it really succeeded, I do like the purple of the cabbage!

 

3) In Disguise- Somehow I didn't get one for this recently. I know- I'm a failure! I love Halloween, but this year I got the house decorated, then pooped out- no costume for me! Next year:) Instead, I shall share a photo of Chowder pretending to be a Hogwarts student!

 

4) Shapes- Meet Bear. He loves playing ball. And swimming. Sometimes. After working himself up to jumping into the water. Such a sweetie! I was trying to get shots of the shapes of the water ripples when he swam into the frame and I love this image!

5) Photographer's Choice- What can I say? I love Pepsi's smushed, sleepy little face!!

Next week's prompts are:
1) Before and After (processing)
2) Opposing Lines
3) Custom Bokeh
4) Which pair of shoes should I wear?
5) Little features (little hands, little feet, etc)

Furballs

It is quite remarkable how I never get tired of taking pictures of my little balls of fur. Chowder sometimes poses for me.

Of course, it did take several takes to get that image. He always turns his head away as soon as I click the shutter- I have a TON of motion shots of the dude. Oh well:).


And want to know a little known fact?

Computer chairs- specifically those of people who are suckers for animals and don't like moving them all that much- come with magnets which draw cats like flies to honey.

Fortunately for Pepsi, her daddy wasn't home for the afternoon, so she got to lounge in her almost favorite spot for hours.