well if it weren't for this sinus cold that is trying its hardest to break through I would be out in the cold tomorrow shooting pictures, but THANKS to this cold trying to come through I have cancelled and opted to do short indoor sessions, supply atleast a Christmas card photo for my clients, I will let the weather win and wait till spring to continue the outside photographs. I am so busy in so many areas that its time to catch up on a few other things and know that God has shown me this is what my future is and I am happy with that and will learn to take my time with it. I hate to rush things and that is all I feel I have been doing these days, rush here, there, everywhere.
Soooooooooo
I had my first in door session on Friday, not too bad for someone lacking equipment, cross your fingers and pray for me that Sunday will work out well.

FRIDAY

well Devin has been such a good boy, hanging in his room, I have had a chance to catch up with friends and sites, thought this is my last fast stop and I have to start my day, many things to do.
I have like 5 photo sessions this weekend, lets see how the weather treats us. I think after this weekend I will take a break from the photography, I have been swamped with it, which is a huge blessing, but I don't have enough time to do all that comes with it, prep the photos and material that goes with it takes so much time and well with my hair clients and the kids as well. I am pooped out.
I love the photography though and will not stop just not going to feel the pressure for a bit.
I made salsa yesterday for Brad's employees and our neighbors, that is like 30jars that need to be made, obviously though the 4 batches I made didn't make enough to go around so I bought more last night. Hopefully Saturday between work and my niece's play I will have time to grill veggies and get it all made and into the mason jars for Brad to take to work and us to deliver to the neighbors for a nice treat.
I LOVE Christmas, the lights and the smells, the feeling of hope and what it all stands for.
My childhood memories of the fireplace and wood crackling, grandparents, decorations, of course Christmas morning and taking all my gifts to my room and just looking through it all, then so fast it was all over and dreary January was upon us.
I have organized our annual neighbor gathering for next Saturday, we will be staying in for this one, we will house hop for drinks and snacks, if all participate. I am starting point, we will see who joins in, if none then we will be in the street with the fire pits, which is not always a bad thing to me. I like the fire and cold. Kind of like salty sweet to those of us that like that....
There is a dueling piano bar opening soon, in January I have us organized to go there for our actual Christmas outing.
That should be a great time.
so that is what is going on, Brenden is on a field trip today with school to see Scrooge, he likes that play, Saturday we go to see my niece in a play. I don't even know what its about, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Junior high so it will be cute I'm sure.
Have a blessed weekend, here are a few pics of recent sessions

oh so tired, gotta keep going though

I have been super duper busy kids. Wonderful and tiresome
Turkey day we hosted Brad's family here. We had so much food and a good time even Santa stopped in for a visit. I will have to post some photos, once I get around to them. I got all other photography work done, edited and out the door in time for Brenden to start work at home and me to get back to hair clients, get that caught up for Thanksgiving and once that is done I am back to photography work, WOW!!!!
so things are going good, calls are coming in from referrals, but I am running out of weather so I have been researching portrait equipment, which means I need to sell off my old equipment, film camera and accessories. It makes me sad but its time to move on, I want Brenden to learn on digital so why am I holding on to it, oh yea because there is nothing like a film camera.
But I am learning so much faster on digital, the improvements I have made thus far, so much faster than I ever did on film.
So a couple pics from this weekend, others are on smugmug. I have not edited them yet, and they need to well some of them, the lighting was almost non existent yesterday and I like bright photographs so I know I will boost them up. There was one I added an effect to with the little girls, they were so dang cute and so fun to photograph, cant wait to play with other photos.
all is well, busy day ahead, one photo session cancellation due to snow and the other I think is wanting to brave it,though I may not want to, I know I have to go up and down a huge hill, with equipment in the snow maybe not a good idea to me. I also have hair clients at 6p, so I better keep a movin!!!

Brenden's photography assignment

Todays assignment for Art was to photograph 5 textures, here is what he came up with, personally I was impressed. I thought he should start learning photography now, he has already taken a class, that was with a non digital camera and he did really well in it. So I decided he can photograph with different subjects, track his data and put it all together in a project for an art grade with the homeschooling we are doing. We started a file for him on the computer and I have shown him how to hook up the camera and transfer work into his file. Step 2 is how to go back and track down the detailed information about his photos.
After this is done I have a bigger project for him with photography, one that he can sell and profit from. He is excited to get started on it, when its ready we will be advertising his work on my site at smug mug.
fir tree
fire pit lid
couch
Ernie's fur, wont tell you where its located

brick/stone

HOLLLA!!!!

WOW, Life in the short time I have been off of here has been super busy.
Brenden starts part time homeschooling tomorrow, for one month. I am ready with Math but not Social Studies, we will pick him up at 9:30 am after our parents as teachers lady leaves from her visit with Devin. Stop by the library for our reading book.
Then home to start schools homework, reading, music or art project, Devin naps and we will begin our studies till he wakes. I changed my work schedule and so far its going to work out fine. I am working Sundays and Mondays, filling in a late night from time to time. I think it will be good, this weekend I had to do Saturday instead since my family held its Thanksgiving tonight.
I had two photo shoots Saturday morning that went well, except for the dang cold and I see my lens that I end up grabbing every time is a bit out of focus on one side, whats that all about, so I have to fix that, I really need a new one but $$$$$$$.
All in time right! I then had hair appointments, thank goodness I took my shears and not the camera, Brad called, poor guy, saying " you forgot your camera" No I didn't this is for hair now dear, but thank you so much for being on top of it!
I had to return home to get photos going so I was not trying to start my week with Brenden knowing I had over 200 shots to get through. I also had to cook for Sunday. Two pumpkin pies, a strawberry jello pretzel dessert, homemade stuffing that you prep the day before to dry out bread crumbs, so yummy, and then my sister and two nieces came for haircuts, so I think I ran my butt off till 12 last night, then up and doing photo work again to find my free web page has a limit that I exceeded fast so I upgraded to a new site and decided to join thanks to Jodie's referral and I am hoping it will work out well. I have lots to learn about it. Just add it to my list of things to do!
I finished my stuffing with Brad's help, green bean casserole and an apple pie.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving today at my sisters. TOOOO MUCH FOOD, but it was so so so good. The Kids exchanged names for their cousin gift swap. Excited to get their lists updated.
We have many things to be thankful for this year, my list keeps growing and I am sure I will post it here at some point.
We will hold Thanksgiving at our home for the Risenhoover family on Thursday and are hopeful to get our Christmas decorations started on Saturday. I have more photos to shoot Sunday, I wonder if anyone invented a portable heating blanket yet?
I NEED ONE!!!
my list of things to get
new lens
Flash, how can I NOT have a flash
lights for indoor photos
tripod stick (that is one leg instead of 3) easy carry
wide angle lens or 50mm lens
assistant (Brenden will do just fine)
camera case on wheels

Oh the list is on Amazon and its big, but I am thankful for the ability to have a hobby I love and get to share with others, I am learning so much and I know my future is bright.

Oh one more thing
The new photo site
http://justagirlandhercamera.smugmug.com
Jodie I put your email in, if I did it right you should get some brownie points I guess!!!!!!!