and then there were three...

Remember this little chickadee?

Well today she became an official member of the "egg laying club." As LB calls it.

Can you tell that the egg is a blue/green color? We knew Lucy (aka Peep) was an Easter Egger and could lay colored eggs. But there was no guarantee. So we were really jumping for joy when we discovered the extra egg in the nesting box today. And it wasn't brown.

We feel like proud grandparents over here.

The Big Ballerina took her new role very seriously. And babysat all afternoon. Sending birth announcements to all her friends.

And now we can definitely say she's a hen. Not a rooster.
•••

I want to thank all of you for the wonderfully supportive comments on my last post. They all felt like a great big hug! I'm going to continue with the class. I will keep you updated as to how it's going.

I think it should be called Finding Your Courage...

I took the plunge and signed up for the last photography class in the series I've participated in through the local modern art museum. I really hesitated about this one. It's called "Finding Your Vision." Does anyone else think that sounds totally daunting?!

Going into this I knew it included a reception at the end. Kind of like a gallery showing. You have to choose 8-10 photos. Learn how to frame and hang them. And then have REAL people come view them. While you're standing right there. Not like posting them on a blog. In your pj's. Where invisible people pop by to look. And either leave. Or leave a nice comment. No. You have to physically put yourself out there. In real life. In real clothes. Thank God there will be alcohol there.

I went to the first class. I expected to see a lot of familiar faces. A bunch of moms. With a camera. Just like me.

ummm...not so much.

This class seems to be filled with retired professionals. A professor. A non-profit director. And even a non-retired surgeon. *shit* They're not going to want to look at pictures of my kids. What have I gotten myself into.

Before we left that first class we had to tell the teacher what our project would be. Already. At the first class. This alone pushes me right out of my comfort zone. What's the rush? I think we should get to know each other better. That's a little much on the first date.

The project has to tell a story. It has to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Because not only are we going to have a reception but we're going to make a book. Not exactly sure how this will work. But this part I'm looking forward to. Yet this was the part that made the project that much harder. Especially for the nature photographers in the group.

We had to bring a sampling of what we've been shooting lately. I brought a few photos from my Project 365. And even though she wants to push us outside our comfort zone. She encouraged me to do "A Day in the Life." Phew!

Still. It won't be easy. We're not that interesting. And besides. It's winter. That means a good portion of our life. Like going to the beach. And riding bikes. Will be left out. And I'll be left showing pictures of laundry.

And homework.

And dirty floors.

Do you think it's too late to back out now? If not. I think I need to find the wizard. And get me some of that courage.

Bi-Polar...

I love living at the beach. I really do.

Sitting in our beach chairs, watching the ballerinas play in the ocean, there isn't a beach day that goes by where BSD and I don't turn to each other and say, "How lucky are we?!?!"

It's a lifestyle. An easy-going, laid-back way of living. It fits. And I love it.

But...

every now and then...

I miss the snow.

I know. Shoot me.

I grew up in New York. And went to college in Vermont. I know snow. I know the dirty, slushy mess it leaves inside the front door. I know scraping the windshield in the frigid temperatures. I know about black ice. And sliding off the road. Tapping the brakes gently like I was taught. To no avail.

I know better.

But then I get these damn Sundance catalogs and all that I know. And have. Goes out the window.

 

I want to be that girl. Looking so cozy and chic at the top of a snowy mountain.

 

Romping around in my cute, fur-lined Sorels. 

 

Snowshoeing with a big, slobbery St. Bernard. And dressing like an adult version of Cindy Lou Who.

Yes. I miss the snow. And the mountains.

Damn you, Robert Redford.

Hurry up and send me the summer catalog.

One year ago today...

I've been a bit MIA this past week. Focusing more on getting my Project 365 off the ground rather than my dear old blog, I'm afraid. That. And trying to organize my "stuff." If you ask BSD, I haven't gotten anywhere on that front. But there is quite the pile ready for the Samaritan house pickup on Wednesday. And later this week I plan to crawl into my closet and not come back out until a good mountain of excess has been scaled.

I've also had a lot on my mind this past week. One year ago today I said goodbye to my mom. I held her hand, kissed her cheek, and told her goodbye. I knew it was going to be the last time I saw her. She died peacefully in the middle of the night. I know she waited until we were all home asleep. She did not want us to be there. She was stubborn like that. I miss her everyday.

I love you, Mom! 

This photo was taken about 5 years ago? It was taken with my dad's old Hasselblad. I asked him to bring it to our house that Christmas to get some family photos. I'm so glad I did. I had no idea then what they'd mean to me. One of my goals this year is to learn how to shoot with my dad's old cameras. I'm going to start with his old Leica first. It's less intimidating than this one.

Ten on Ten on One Ten Twelve

 It's the first Ten on Ten of Twenty Twelve. I did it! And I have it posted before midnight. *woot*  Feels good. It was an ordinary Tuesday. No extra activities on Tuesdays so that made it easier to get the pictures taken early and up on the ole blog. I did wind up on TV today, though. So maybe it wasn't that ordinary after all.

my 15 minutes of fame.

No. The chickens don't live in the house. They aren't allowed in the house. But the ballerinas like to carry them in every now and then to say, "Hi."

OK...so who else joined me? Can't wait to take a peek into your day today. If you want to see what others are up to, check them out here.

Home Town Videos...

The ballerinas love to watch "Hometown Videos." When they were younger we'd drag out the video camera for every special event. Most of the time, though, we'd either forget to charge the battery. Or the tape would be full. So we probably only have about ten actual videos. Eventually the camera got old. And embarrassing. As newer technology swept us by. And I became more interested in photographing the special moments rather than videotaping them.

But now, when I look back at these old tapes. (Yes. They are still on mini-VHS tapes. Luckily, we still have a dual VHS/DVD player to play them on.) I get wistful. I love hearing their little voices. Watching them toddle around the house with the little plastic shopping cart for support. And catching a glimpse of my dad cooking. Or my mom singing "Happy Birthday." Totally off-key. Just like the rest of us.

So, I'm here to ask you all. Do you take videos? If so, what are you using these days? I have the ability to capture video with my DSLR, but I've only used that feature maybe twice. And the damn SD card was full before BB actually danced for the first time en pointe. So I'm not sure if there's an easier way. Also, if you do capture your videos on SD cards, do you transfer them to something else? A DVD? Or is that totally old skool by now also?

***

And a quick reminder. Tomorrow is January 10th. It's the first Ten on Ten of 2012. C'mon...Let's do this!

Late to the party. As usual.

It's already January 5th. Way past the new year. Especially by blog standards. But I'm finally getting around to putting my "word of the year" out there into the blogosphere. I've let this party rock on without me for the past two years. And this year I decided not to be a wallflower. Party rock is in the house tonight.

I was waffling between two words. But I finally chose one.

Create.

I love this word because it encompasses almost anything. That is. Except pro-create.

Create...a writing piece.
Create...messes.
Create...a sewing project.
Create...memories
Create...a new recipe.
Create...a photograph.

Create...another photograph.

And how about another?

And maybe one more?

And if you keep this up. Maybe. Just maybe. You will be able to actually see a Project 365 through for a whole year?

And if you do. Maybe you can take those 365 photographs. And create a book. For your family. That they will drink in with as much interest as they do their favorite catalogs?

And in doing so. Hopefully you will create....joy.

Disclaimer: I plan to take one photograph each day. But I do not plan to post those photos daily on this blog. They may show up on this blog in one form or another. But this blog is for me. To post when and what I choose. I don't want it to become a monkey on my back because I have to post every day. Instead, I've joined a site dedicated solely to Project 365. If you'd like to follow along, you can do so here. Better yet, join me in this project by signing up here.

Happy New Year! Now let me go to bed.

Last year I was convinced I was allergic to cleaning. So this year I didn't even dare try cleaning up after our New Year's Eve festivities. Yet I still spent the entire first day of the new year in bed. Feeling lousy. After NOT drinking any alcohol on New Year's Eve. Maybe I'm just allergic to New Year's Day?

Or staying up past midnight?

Or hosting a party?

Still not quite sure which of these it is. So next year I think I'll change things up a bit.

And drink the night away like everyone else.

Because if I'm going to FEEL like I have a hangover the next day. I might as well live it up a little the night before.