Nurture Self 365

365 Self Portrait Challenge: Day Two Hundred Eighty Eight

October 27, 2012 in ma365, Photo Challenge, Photography, Self-Portrait | Tags: adorable, adore, airplane, airport, back to california, Bellingham Airport, breakfast, California, Canada, corner booth, cost co, Family, flying, inedible, ipad, matter of choice, Relationships, Ya Ya | Leave a comment

“If becoming a grandmother was only a matter of choice, I should advise every one of you straight away to become one. There is no fun for old people like it!” Hannah Whitehall Smith

The little one is staying on with Ya Ya and Papa G here in Canada while Mommy flies home to California. (We’ll be driving her back to California in a weeks time) We dropped Mommy at the airport in Bellingham this morning, then went for breakfast at Shari’s Restaurant. The food was practically inedible . . . but we hung out for a bit waiting for Cost Co to open. We were in a nice spacious corner booth, so she had lots of room to play and jump and “attack”! I shot this with my iPad, then processed it in Snapseed. Gotta love these apps! I love this picture because it really epitomizes my relationship with her. We adore each other! She misses Mommy, but she loves her Ya Ya!

Nuff said!

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365 Self Portrait Challenge: Day Two Hundred Eighty Seven

October 26, 2012 in ma365, Photo Challenge, Photography, Self-Portrait | Tags: Boyd Rice, DNA, goodness, grand daughter, Granddaughter, January, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Nevada, Little, maven, November, photo op, photo ops, sandbox, Vegas, Ya Ya | 1 comment

“I think when I was two years old in the sandbox, I think I formulated my basic philosophy there, and I haven’t really had to alter it very much ever since.” Boyd Rice

I don’t even know what to write for today’s post. I’m just having so much fun following my little Grand Daughter around with the camera. Today’s 365 is another DNA shot – totally allowed by the guidelines set out at the beginning. Way back in January. And here we are at the end of October. And I’m still going strong. Wow! Sure there are days when I struggle, and just have no clue what to do. Somehow though, I get inspired – usually from my fellow 365’ers who are all still cranking away with me. In fact, many of us are meeting up in Las Vegas mid-November for a few days of Photography goodness. There’s probably about 25 of us that are still posting regularly – and about 15 of us that are meeting up in Vegas. Including the guy who started it all . . .the very amazing and talented Michael the Maven himself!

It’s gonna be a blast! Anyway – that’s it for today.

I’m off with my camera again – more “Little” photo-ops!

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365 Self Portrait Challenge: Day Two Hundred Eighty Six

October 25, 2012 in ma365, Photo Challenge, Photography, Self-Portrait | Tags: autumn, bouncy pillow, corn maze, Fall, hay, hay ride, outdoors, pumpkin, Pumpkin Patch, pumpkins, tractor, tractor ride, wagon | Leave a comment

“Oh how we love pumpkin season. You did know this gourd-ish squash has it’s own season, right? Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin . . . We anxiously anticipate it every year.” Unknown

Today was Pumpkin Patch day. My Daughter, Grand Daughter and Great Nephew and I spent a few hours enjoying a local farm with tons of activities for kids during this exciting time of the year. From the Pumpkin Patch itself, to a tractor ride, huge Bouncy Pillow, Hay rides, goats, rabbits and chickens . . . corn maze . . . the kids were so excited and on the run the whole time. I managed to corral everyone for this picture at the end before we left.

Great fall fun!

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365 Self Portrait Challenge: Day Two Hundred Eighty FIve

October 24, 2012 in ma365, Photo Challenge, Photography, Self-Portrait | Tags: camera, curiosity, example, fascination, grand daughter, Kent McCord, learning, Shirley Temple, shutter | Leave a comment

“I think children learn from example. I don’t believe in raising them in an authoritative atmosphere.” Kent McCord

I did a photo shoot with my Grand Daughter this morning. She is going to be Shirley Temple for Halloween. My Daughter had this completely adorable red and white polka dot dress made just for the occasion. She’s an incredibly curious almost-2-year-old – so after doing a few different shots with her – I decided to get some shots of her “interacting” with one of my camera’s. I ended up putting it on the Gorillapod as I was afraid she was going to drop it. As expected, she was fascinated – especially when I put it on timer mode and had it shooting in 6-shot increments every time the shutter button was depressed. I love the intent expression on her face in this one.

I love seeing life with a whole new perception – through the eyes of my Grandkids. Being a Mom was amazing and I was quite involved and active with my kids growing up. However, there is a whole other dimension to experiencing life through the eyes of a Grandchild.

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365 Self Portrait Challenge: Day Two Hundred Eighty Four

October 23, 2012 in ma365, Photo Challenge, Photography, Self-Portrait | Tags: 35mm 1.8, broken, broken filter, broken glass, camera, Camera lens, D7000, filter, lens, Nikon D7000, Photography | 3 comments

“Language screens reality as a filter on a camera lens screens light waves” Unknown

Oops!! I dropped my camera lens first on the tile floor in my kitchen today! Ouch! All I can say is . . . thank goodness for protective lens filters . . .

I guess the morale of this story is always make sure you are wearing protection!

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365 Self Portrait Challenge: Day Two Hundred Eighty Three

October 22, 2012 in ma365, Photo Challenge, Photography, Self-Portrait | Tags: blessing, blessings, California, Canada, grand daughter, memories, priceless, reflection, Stanley Park, Vancouver | Leave a comment

“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.” L.M. Montgomery, The Story Girl

I am reveling in the blessing of having my Daughter and Grand Daughter visiting from California for the week. Today we spent some time in Vancouver at Stanley Park. I have great memories visiting here as a child, and as well, bringing my own kids here when they were little. So it was with great joy that I was able to share this experience with my Grand Daughter, and share the memories with my Daughter.

Moments like these are priceless . . .

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365 Self Portrait Challenge: Day Two Hundred Eighty Two

October 21, 2012 in ma365, Photo Challenge, Photography, Self-Portrait | Tags: beauty, child, childhood innocence, curls, dark curly hair, eyelashes, innocence, joy, Ralph Waldo Emerson | Leave a comment

“We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

She has the most beautiful eyes, and dark curly hair. She doesn’t easily smile for my camera, but she laughs out loud with a belly laugh that would make any Santa proud!

She loves to snuggle, and plays her little 2 year old heart out. She constantly will ask “Mommie (or Ya Ya for me), what doing?” When you tell her what you are doing – she repeats it verbatem . . . ie: I’m driving to the store. What are you doing? “I driving to the store.” Three minutes later – same question – same answer – same response!

She takes great joy in just about everything. When she doesn’t, she gets a sour look on her face and says “I no like it!” She will cross her arms on her chest and turn away from you to emphasize her point! I take great joy in everything she does! (yes – even the messes . . . everything can be “fixed”!)

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365 Self Portrait Challenge: Day Two Hundred Eighty One

October 20, 2012 in ma365, Photo Challenge, Photography, Self-Portrait | Tags: Alex Haley, bath, bath time, bubble bath, Canada, daughter, grand daughter, Grandmother, Home, motherhood, Photoshop CS6, play time, Water, Ya Ya | Leave a comment

“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle startdust over the lives of little children.” Alex Haley

My beautiful little almost-2-year-old Grand Daughter has come to visit with her Mommie for a week. If you’ve read previous posts, we had her here for three weeks last winter while her Daddy had open heart surgery. I am so excited that Mommie has decided to spend her vacation time here in Canada with Papa G and Ya Ya. She absolutely loves her baths . . . in fact she is a water baby – loves anything that involves water – even the rain! She is an absolute delight. I love the sound of her laughter ringing through the house. It’s going to be a fun week ahead!

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365 Self Portrait Challenge: Day Two Hundred Eighty

October 19, 2012 in ma365, Photo Challenge, Photography, Self-Portrait | Tags: Adobe Photoshop, Anger, Headache, Joan Lunden, Photoshop CS6, Relationships, Resentment | Leave a comment

“Holding on to anger, resentment and hurt only gives you tense muscles, a headache and a sore jaw from clenching your teeth. Forgiveness gives you back the laughter and the lightness in your life.” Joan Lunden

Why do we hang on to anger so easily, and find it so difficult to let go and forgive?? I know so many people who are just driven by their anger over so many different issues . . . many times just perceived wrongs that have been given flight by anger and resentment. In fact, the anger and resentment is usually driven by past hurts and experiences that are buried and hidden, and we can’t name them because they’re invisible. It’s so tough to live life in a state of awareness . . . trying to understand where this anger comes from and working towards putting out the hot burning fire. Once awareness is achieved, its so much easier to forgive and move on. I know that in my life, I’ve had to work and work at this . . . and it continues to be a daily challenge. I can tell you though – the benefits are so worth it.

Today’s photo is just a composite I put together because I woke up with a gnarly headache this morning. It doesn’t happen very often . . . but when it does I have a tough time shaking it off. I processed this in Photoshop with a few different presets, added my own textured background, and added a cracked texture to my hands.

Oh . . . and I’m feeling better now!

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365 Self Portrait Challenge: Day Two Hundred Seventy Nine

October 18, 2012 in ma365, Photo Challenge, Photography, Self-Portrait | Tags: abundance, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, dark side, decisions, devilish, eyes, grateful, Image Editing, Lightroom, moments, oscar wilde, PhotoShop, sphere of influence, strive | Leave a comment

“We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell.” Oscar Wilde

Today’s 365 photo is quite a switch for me. I don’t usually go to the “dark side” . . . but I couldn’t resist this when I was fiddling around with different presets and editing in both Photoshop and Lightroom. One of the guys in my 365 group does some pretty far out and amazing things so I’m just channeling my inner “DigiMax” on this one.

I liked today’s quote when I read it because I really do believe that to be true. I make choices every day that create my experience of life. That experience can be pretty darned wonderful, pretty darned awful, or somewhere in between those two extremes. Bad things happen in life . . .they just do. However, I have choice in every moment in how I am going to act or react in any given situation. That choice impacts everyone within my sphere of influence – be it intimate or casual. I strive to wake up every morning thinking with a positive mind, looking for the good things in my life and the lives of others . . . I am so very grateful for every moment of my life leading up to today because each of those moments add up to the person I am now. Some of those moments aren’t so great – I’m not proud of every decision or action I’ve taken . . . but I strive to move forward and learn from each and every one . . . to be better and to be a positive example and influence for those whose lives I do touch. I’m no saint and I’m far from perfect, but I am happy and ever so grateful for all the love and abundance I have in my life.