Welcome to Twenty Twelve!!

SuperGuy and I spent a quiet night at home for New Year’s Eve…with a bit of champagne. Nice evening! So love that more than going out and partying. Besides, we were exhausted from trying to keep up with the boys when they were in town for Christmas!!

Now the new year hits. A fresh page. Time to make goals and start fresh. I love a new year. It seems like you have a whole blank slate to start over with.

This year I’m going to do some kind of personal photography project. No people involved. Separate from my photography biz. I haven’t quite nailed down what I’m going to do yet though. Not a 365. (a pic a day). I don’t think it will even be a 52 project (a photo a week.) I think I’ll pick a theme and then do the photos whenever I get inspired throughout the year…but try for at least once a month.

I seen 50 days of taking a photo with your 50mm lens. (or 35 days with a 35mm, 85 days with an 85mm, etc.) Macro shots. Self portraits. Or picking an object and shooting it in different locations. Capturing sites around your town in the different seasons. Sunrises. Sunsets. Or more gritty projects like single moms, teen pregnancy, homeless, etc.

Do any of you do a personal photography project? I’ll let you know when I decide on mine. Still rolling it around in my head for a bit.

I’ll leave you with one more photo of our New Year’s Eve…

• Deep Thoughts on the First Day of the Year
• Guess What’s New?
• January Photo of the Month Winner
• 365-A Moment a Day
• St. Charles Missouri Photo Shoot

SuperGuy like to act like he’s such a tough guy…

He’s not really fooling anyone, but we kindly let him believe he’s tough.

Would a tough guy make sure my birdfeeder was full of food for all my little friends?

So, we let “tough guy” SuperGuy live in his tough guy fantasy world.

But we all know the truth….he’s a softie at heart…

• All About the Flowers
• Fall Food
• Such a Tough Guy
• There’s No Place Like Home
• Don’t You Wish

Ever have one of those weeks (months??) when you feel like you are just running in circles and can’t really see that you’re getting anything finished?? Welcome to my autumn. I swear, as I check something off my to do list, I put like 5 more things on to replace it.

I guess it’s too early to lust after a vacation, since we just had one a month ago, huh? Sigh.

Anyway, I’ll get my life back on track. Just real soon now. I keep promising myself…

(As an aside, aren’t my running shoes cute? So turquoise-y good! Okay, they are for walking, not running really. But, still. They are adorable!)

• Making Mama Happy
• If the Shoe Fits
• July Photo of the Month Reminder
• We interrupt this vacation coverage
• Signs of Autumn

Really, in the midst of the craziness that is getting ready for vacation…I did a jigsaw puzzle. Just because.

This one was so much fun. Lots of different images that Norman Rockwell drew. I love Norman Rockwell. We have a ton of his drawings from the front of magazines at my parents lakehouse. They just make me smile. He takes just a little slice of life and illustrates it…kind of like what I like to do with my photography.

I love finding just the right piece. Just the right color. Just the right shape. Finding the spot for that funny look piece that I just couldn’t figure out where it was going to fit in.

Well, I’m sure I’ll go back to packing for vacation…you know, while watching to see where hurricane Katia is going to hit…please let it miss the Carolinas…She should just go out to sea, don’t you think? I really do seem to be a jinx when I plan my vacations…

• Mom, he’s looking at me!
• A Bit of Cruise News
• A Series of Unfortunate Events
• Hi, honey, I’m home! (version 207)
• Tricking Your Mom

Sometimes I amuse myself when I see the remains of my day sitting on my desk…

Hm…was all I finished yesterday a whole lot of drinking and painting my nails??

• I’m Not That Organized
• Exhausted
• You Know, of course
• Things that Make Me Smile
• What’s in YOUR wallet…

that I’ll let him BBQ inside???

Really??  Males and their  BBQ grills…what’s up with that??

• Stuck in Traffic – St. Louis Arch
• Mizzou Photo Shoot Competition
• Vacation Souvenirs
• Nichole Van Lighting Workshop
• It Always Happens this Way

There is a place in Columbia, MO called The Big Tree.

It’s, well, a big tree. In the middle of nowhere. Out in the country a short drive out of Columbia. Everyone just knows of it as The Big Tree.

It’s legit, because it’s even listed on Google Maps!! …as The Big Tree.

View Larger Map

I finally got around to driving out there to see it in person. Who knew? (I went to school at Mizzou…and obviously the tree was there when I went to school, but it wasn’t until my boys went to school at Mizzou that I ever heard about The Big Tree.)

So there you have it. A bit of trivia about Columbia, MO. The Big Tree. Complete with photo.

Now I want to go out there at sunset and grab a photo of it!!!

As an aside…AUGUST??? How did that happen??? Where did the summer go???

• Rambling Road Trip Thoughts
• SuperGuy the Tree Hugger
• Decorating the Tree
• Did you get the memo?
• Deja Vu

For a minute you thought it was spring, didn’t you? Instead of the beastly hot summer. Not really complaining. I’ll take heat over cold and snow anyday!

I took these and processed them and set them to upload to the blog.

Yes, well, one thing led to another, and the photos never got posted…

Does that ever happen to you, or am I the only totally disorganized on all thinsgs photo person out there…

Ah, well, they are posted now. In all their pretty colors.

As an aside…is the plural of crocus, crocuses or croci?? Hm….

• Further Proof
• All The Pretty Little Flowers
• Just Kidding
• Favorite Thing About Summer
• Pretty Much Over This

So my oldest seems to collect friends with his same birthday. At last count, there were at least 4 of them. My oldest, Michael. (here he is in a digital painting I did of him.)

Then my almost son, Gabe…who has me listed as Mom Two in his phone.

Here are all four of the birthday boys about 3? 4? years ago.

Raise your hand if you know which twin is which.

We used to have the big July 8 extravaganza at our house each summer. But after the second year, I said no more. Then after the 3rd time I really, really meant it… after the 4th year? Well, I REALLY meant it…

This year they are partying (not at my house) then renting a party bus to go to a concert. I’m so pleased the birthday bash won’t be at my house…I think…

Happy birthday, boys! I love you all. You are my favorite!

• Happy Birthday
• Happy Birthday
• Weekend Chores-Chapter 103
• She Joins My Decade
• Who Wins?

Seriously. Annoying plant. Last year it didn’t bloom. Okay, it was the first year, I’ll give it that. This year? Gorgeous for all of say…one week. Then storms came through and they all bent over, got muddy, and just generally annoyed me every time I looked out my kitchen window. So not interested in staking and tying and generally messing with them all the time to make them look okay.

Their only redeeming quality this season? I did get one great photoshoot out of them…I’ll give them that!

• The Ultimate Scrapbook-or Not
• New Kitchen Window-Maybe
• May I Have Another One Please
• The Great Kitchen Remodel
• No Rain Equals New Window