Some of my fav photos of 2011…in no particular order…just ones that grabbed my attention when I browsed through the photos.

Love this little one holding on in the wind during this winter storm.

Wonderful old car at Annie’s parents place.

My dad shooting Easter eggs with the boys. Such fun!

My son, Michael and his soon to be wife, Lauren. Yay! Another female in the family.

Love the colors and just about everything about this photo.

Love this one I captured of downtown St. Louis when we were stuck in traffic on the Illinois side of the river.

This one of my parents makes me smile every time I see it!

…since my sister hates to have her photo taken, I couldn’t resist sharing this one, just one more time. I absolutely love this one of her and my brother-in-law. Yes, they are this fun in person too.

another bird photo…just because…

and my adorable Maggie. Of course.

Our family has had a great 2011 and we’re very grateful for all our blessings and all our friends. Hope you all have a wonderful 2012!

• Life in Focus – Blessings
• Favorite Photos of 2010
• Some of my Favorite People
• Road Trip-Estes Park Version
• Unexpected Gifts

Sometimes when I’m trying to grab a photo of the boys…they make me work really hard…

“I’m not going to look!”

“Really? Another photo? Put that camera away!”

Yawn…

But sometimes when they aren’t looking, and I’m very quiet, I get the perfect shot. Love this one!! Just a pensive moment.

…and this one of the father son male bonding moment…

• In Search of the Perfect Lighthouse Photo
• Not My Father
• Out of Focus
• September Photo of the Month
• Mooning People

Look what I got from the fabulous Annie?

I heart Annie! A surprise gift! (from one of my favorite Antique Malls, no less!) She was in Columbia visiting family and left these at SuperGuy’s office for me!

Aren’t they pretty?? But, guess what?

I think I love the bottom of the bowls the most with their pretty flower pattern!!

Thank you so much, Annie! You’re the best! We’ll catch up with each other next time you’re in town!

(As an aside…oh my GOSH! It’s SEPTEMBER!!! Where did August go??–notice a trend with me when the month changes?)

As another aside….could I use any more exclamation points in one post???!!!

• July Photo of the Month Winners
• Fun Coincidence
• All About the Cowl
• April Photo of the Month Contest
• A Walk in the Woods-With Annie

We’re finally getting around to decorating the walls of The Love Nest. SuperGuy’s bar area turned out really well, didn’t it?

Yes, notice the drink themed photos. The bad thing? I had like TONS of drink photos to choose from…

Then we rearranged the great room and made it look less cluttered. I really like how it turned out. Love having photos scattered around too.

SuperGuy made me these wall shelves. Then after he hung them on the wall, he sat on the couch and let me run around the house grabbing things to put on them and told me to “move it to the right a couple of inches.” “No, that doesn’t look good.” “What is it with you and Mason jars.”

Still didn’t get rid of his silly sun thingie…but at least it’s off of the mantle!!

• Who Do You Think Will Win
• Mason Jar Love
• The Couch is GONE! The Couch is GONE!
• A couch by any other name…
• The Engagement Party

There is always, ALWAYS another use for a mason jar!

Ha! I bet you were thinking SuperGuy came up with another use for a kitty litter bucket.

• Kitty Litter in The Outer Banks
• Use 103 for Cat Litter Buckets
• Ultimate Wastebasket
• Mason Jar Love
• Unrest in the House

Do any of you play with the iPhone app instagram? Such fun to share photos and browse through some of the cool photos on there. I just started using it but I’m kay5 on there if you want to follow me.

Leave your user name in the comments if you use instagram.

Why yes this is an iPhone pic. And, yes I’m having animal cookies, why do you ask?

I’m also testing out posting from my iPhone. We’ll see how that goes!!

• He’s So Proud Of Me!
• YouYou Meme part two
• New Way to Communicate
• While the Cat is Away
• Stumbleupon for Photo Blog Hopping

Continuing on my love of all things Mason Jars…

I talked SuperGuy into buying 20– yes twenty– old blue Mason Jars. I’m going to use them for candle holders all scattered around when we have parties in the backyard. I’ve really got a thing going for Mason jars these days… (at least we found the jars for $1 a piece…)

…and look at this cute centerpiece…I got to combine my love of all things milk glass and all things Mason jars!

• Mason Jars
• Milk Glass Antique Finds
• Sh! Don’t Tell
• It’s All in the Details
• Decorating with Photos

Ah, I found this pen holder when we were out antiquing. I seriously heart it. A. Lot.

It holds the pen that SuperGuy gave me…okay, I lied. A big lie.

He didn’t actually give it to me…I stole it. Yep. I confess. I stole his Montblanc pen. Occasionally he tries to steal it back…

The only thing I’m worried about with this lovely glass pen holder…is that my pen is always sitting out on my desk in plain sight now…I hope SuperGuy doesn’t get any ideas…

As an aside…I wonder if I sometimes go antiquing just to get cool, unusual pieces to photograph…

• Let it Shine
• Milk Glass Antique Finds
• What’s in YOUR wallet…
• Take Me Away from Winter
• Road Trip-Cowboy Church Version

Ah, there was singing and dancing and happiness at The Love Nest this past week. Why, you ask?

You remember The Tragedy of the Milk Glass Lamp, right? Where I knocked over the lamp and broke the lamp shade? Tragedy, I tell you!

Then my subsequent hunt for a replacement shade and I settled on this one, shown above.

Imagine my joy and surprise (and a bit of hugging SuperGuy and clapping my hands and a bit of jig in the middle of the Antique store)…I found this!!

Yep, I found another lamp! The milk glass part of it matches my old lamp, but the stand is a bit different.

So now I have two lamps, if I want. Or I can put the top of the new lamp onto the old base (’cause I like the old base better) Ah, life is good, I’m telling you!! Color me happy.

(Found at The Brass Armadillo out of Kansas City. (Grain Valley) Huge antique mall, but very hard to find!)

• Beyond Annoyed
• Not a Perfect Match
• Let it Shine
• In a Different Light
• Milk Glass Antique Finds

Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I sometimes marvel at the wonder that is photography in my life. Did I find it…or did it find me? I look in my camera bag and pull out a lens and play and experiment and mess around with light. To me, photography is magic…

What is magic in your life?

• Lazy Fun Day
• Still Life Challenge Results
• No One is Safe Anymore
• Another Antique Mall Find
• Adventures in Studio Lighting