It sort-of seemed to be a long time coming, but we have bountiful color all around our house now. It is such a joy to see it every morning. Yesterday, before I even left for work, my day was rough. It started by me finding cat vomit in our downstairs hallway by way of stepping in it barefoot (Ew. I know. Sorry.). Then I did my morning routine and went back to my bedroom to find my dog had gotten sick as well. Yeah, I was done. Already. Before 8am. But I had to persist, so we headed out the door eventually and even though I was in a pretty sour mood, I saw my little garden and the dew drops and the color and felt a little better.

I had a conversation with a woman yesterday who was a substitute in our building for the day. We were out on the playground and she was asking me if a particular tree was a maple tree. This woman is from South Africa and is here for school. She was amazed at the green around us, and how such a short time ago there were no leaves on the trees at all. Where she comes from there are two seasons, she said – wet season and dry season.

I can’t imagine that. I’ve lived in New England for most of my life. I did spend a few years in Florida as a young child, but really my most vivid memories are here. I cannot imagine life without the seasons and I am thankful for them, and for the color around us. As this woman said, to survive winter here you need to really prepare for it. It sounds exaggerated, but when you really think about it – its entirely true. At least mentally, you do need to prepare for it. And then when you survive you are rewarded. With beautiful color. The amazing life and growth that we call Spring. How could that not make you feel better?!

How does this little boy hold the ability to make me go from 0-10 in 60 seconds flat right in the palm of his hand?!

We got home yesterday and he was tired. He’s been sleeping terribly lately, waking up way too early, and fighting us to go to bed at night. When C is tired he’s either really crazy or really grumpy. Unfortunately, I knew we would be heading out to soccer practice last night, so it was my mission to get him in a better mood before that.

First he wanted to go outside. It was a yucky, rainy day for most of the day, but late afternoon turned into a pretty pleasant time. Of course, everything was wet, but we didn’t care. Collin headed out to his swingset and I followed behind with my camera. He was sweet for a few minutes, let me snap a few photos close up (read: he posed for me ::gasp::) and then went on his merry way.

Minutes later, though, he was in melt down mode. Ugly crying, wailing, and refusing to come into the house. I’m SURE neighbors were giving me the stink eye, probably assuming I was torturing him one way or another.

Eventually he chilled out enough for me to coax him in the house with the promise of juice and a snack. Another flip of the switch – in no time he was happy and content again. He sat eating strawberries and whipped cream for probably 40 minutes, enjoying a little television, and being his happy self.

It’s been three and a half years and I am STILL baffled by this parenting thing. Just when I think I know what I am doing and we’re cruising along I am thrown for a loop. My buttons are pushed, I want a padded room where I can cool my jets, and I have to count backwards from 10. Or maybe sometimes from 100.

For the record, soccer practice went fabulously, then we even managed to go out for dinner after and shopping for new bike helmets. Apparently strawberries are a magical fruit. Or I just need to let C play in whipped cream whenever he’s losing his mind.

I was thinking about what to blog and it hit me that it is that time again – for an edit me challenge. I’m having fun taking something that isn’t mine each week and changing it up.

Original:

My edit:

I converted to a b&w, adjusted with a curves layer to create a “matte” look, added a slight vignette, and toned down the highlights just a tad so the bright spots weren’t quite so bright.

What a peaceful moment captured! I’d love to be lounging in the sun just like this cat right about now!

Yesterday was busy, but that is how most holidays are for us. In the morning we went out to breakfast, which was wonderful. We walked into the restaurant we chose and got seated just in time to look up and see the line at the door a mile long. Timing is everything! After that we took care of some errands. Then we went for a bike ride. A nice, long, beautiful bike ride. Here’s a quick instagram photo:

Collin loves to ride his bike, but doesn’t really have the endurance to go the distances Brian and I enjoy. We used to ride all the time! So, I found this contraption online that we bought that attaches an adult bike to a kids bike and makes it tandem. The thing is awesome. Collin LOVES riding attached, and the beauty of it all is that we can just pull over, make a switch, and in no time he can be riding on his own again. What a great afternoon we had. There is a rail trail near our home that we went riding at and overall we went about 7 miles. I can’t wait to get out there again.

While we were riding we passed ponds and rock walls and bridges and Collin kept shouting that we were going around in circles (I’m assuming because a lot of the pathway looked very similar) and it made me think of this quote:

You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back.  ~William D. Tammeus

It just made me laugh as we passed different mile markers and things that he didn’t notice, instead he was totally fine with going around in circles, since that is what he thought we were doing. <3

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Happy Monday!

Ever know or work with someone who knew just how to take the wind out of your sails? I’m dealing with that person and it is just so frustrating. I don’t understand how someone can function well when they are SO worried about what everyone else is doing and are busy putting their nose in everyone else’s business, but it happens. I’m trying to deal, to ignore, and just go about my day, but sometimes this person just pushes the right buttons and gets under my skin. Its very frustrating.

When this happens I try my hardest to just retreat. To find my own paradise. This past weekend I had a photo session and the sun was low in the sky creating some gorgeous warmth and it was just perfect. I was doing something I loved, it was a beautiful night, and my mind was on happier things.

This is my paradise.

This weeks image is of a lovely little girl doing a little twirl. I love this image and the sense of youth it provokes.

Original:

Edit:

Since the little girl was already close to the edge and I didn’t want to lose any more of the essence of the image I didn’t do any cropping. Instead, I focused on bringing her out from the background. I upped the saturation, deepend the contrast a big, and added a very slight haze.

There is no denying that picking and blowing the puffy, soft, airy bits of a dandelion is an essential part of childhood. Heck, I still enjoy doing it now! We are fortunate (?) enough to have plenty around our yard this year, so Collin and I went outside this weekend and picked some.

It is hard to teach a 3 year old how to blow on dandelions properly.

As if there is a “proper” way to do it.

We had fun, despite my failed teaching attempts. Collin blows on them while his mouth is formed as if he’s making the “F” sound, so I am sure not as much air as possible could be getting out. But you know what? His way works too.

I am loving capturing macro images. I have this deep desire to take pictures of the littlest parts of the things around us, exploring and viewing them in a way that isn’t usually possible as we move through every day. Its incredible to see how plants are put together. The shapes and patterns on the dandelions above are just so intriguing to me!

Collin had his first soccer game of the spring season Saturday morning and I am so proud of him. He’s been playing for about 6 months now and while he has yet to score a goal on his own, he is much better, kicking the ball with some intensity, keeping his eye on the action, and coming over to the sideline for a hug or a high five much less than he used to. I remember his very first game last fall – he came over to us incessantly, and a mother standing next to us came to me and asked if it was his first time playing. When I responded yes she said “mine did that too, it will pass” and sure enough… she was right.

We spent some time outside this weekend – thankful for the sun. Collin rode his bike, we played ball, and practiced some soccer. I wanted to stop time, to be in the moment and not let it go. But… well… life goes on. I had a couple of photography sessions, we went to the movies, Brian took Collin fishing. Instead of keeping life at a standstill I walked around with my camera, capturing things to preserve.

I’m a child of the ocean and I can’t quite describe the feeling I get when I go back to the salty sweet air. My entire family is from one of the oldest fishing ports in the whole country, I spent countless summers exploring the rocks and tide pools just steps away from my grandparents house, and despite my pasty white skin burning to the exact color of “lobster” in no time, I adore the feeling of sand and sun. I have a visceral reaction when I get to the coast – the smell brings me back to days of visiting fishing ships, enjoying a walk down the boulevard with my grandparents, and filling buckets with little crabs to bring back to the house as “pets.”

Brian and I spent our anniversary at the coast and it was perfect. Our hotel was literally on its own island and I was surrounded by the sea. As we approached our destination I rolled down the window and let the smell overcome me. The first thing we did was walk around the downtown shopping area and as we did the wind blew my hair around, enveloping me in that salty breeze.

In my wildest dreams I think about having a beach house, a seaside retreat all my own. Just the thought brings me back to my childhood. How I would LOVE to share the beach exploration, ice cream stands, and summer fun with Collin. Someday…

Anyway. This wonderful Wednesday is my third day in a row for blogging. Its a record as of late! I’m very excited and wanted to keep up my streak by doing something a bit different. I decided to participate in Edit Me which can be found HERE.
This challenge is easy – take an original image, edit it, and submit your edited image to the link up. Here is the original:

Its a great photo, but there is a lot going on. I really wanted to focus on the wagon wheels at the bottom so I cropped it and brightened that area. I love the reflection in the water, so I sharpened that up a bit. Here is my edit: