Author: alison@tinyblueorange.com

NaBloPoMo Daily Mitzvah: Today a friend emailed me a family photo that they were hoping to use on their upcoming Christmas cards for this year. The photo was great except for one large sunlight spot unfortunately placed on top of her mother’s head.  She asked if I had any suggestions for fixing the sun spot. After a little playing by me in Photoshop the sun spot was virtually elimated. (Hooray for the powers of the clone tool and healing brush!) I emailed the edit back to her and she was ecstatic! Not a big mitzvah today, but one of those warm fuzzy moments that make you feel like you helped.

Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow but a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day.

~Indian Proverb~

happiness is…

saturday am yoga

lazy days

mid afternoon naps

snuggly cats

holiday music

and…

the first snow of the season

What makes you happy on a lazy, snowy, wintry day?

NaBloPoMo Daily Mitzvah: As you can see winter has officially arrived in Virginia. It’s been a truly lazy day in our home. This afternoon The Calmer wanted to go out in the wintry goodness and shovel it from our driveway.  The only problem? The shovel was in our garage’s storage closet. The closet was being blocked by a huge armchair we are trying to sell. The chair was blocked in by The Calmer’s car. The Calmer’s car was blocked by my car, out in the driveway, slowly accumulating more and more snow. At first I *sighed* and said the driveway didn’t need to really be cleared, I was determined to be lazy all day!  However the spirit of mitzvah took hold so I bundled up, put on my uggs, gloves, coat, and hat so I could go out in the snow to wipe away the snow and move my car for my Calmer. And now our driveway is clean and clear too!

This month’s One Word Project theme over at Shutter Sisters is “wish”.  During a lovely Saturday evening with my Calmer of relaxing, listening to holiday music,  and getting cards ready to mail I had a spark of inspiration hit. This photo is the outcome. I have a lot of wishes this holiday.

What do you wish for this holiday season?

As you think, so you are.

As you dream, so you become.

As you create your wishes, so they create you.

~Wendy Garrett~

NaBloPoMo Daily Mitzvah: Tonight I will be hosting a family dinner. My parents and The Calmer’s parents will be coming over to our home for the evening. We are fortunate that our families get along so well and we can host joint affairs every once an awhile. Tonight’s menu? Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic rolls, salad, green beans, and spice cake for dessert. My mouth in watering in anticipation.

For those of you who have stumbled upon my little section of cyberspace, welcome. Please excuse the dust, this is still a work in progress. But, I am really glad you’re here.

My purpose?

Entertain. Inspire. Share. Photograph.

My story?

In March 2009 I decided to pick up my Kodak Z650 point and shoot camera for the first time in months and start taking pictures. My goal? Take at least 1 photo a day and upload them for a year in the hopes that I could learn a little more about myself and photography. Little did I realize this was a passion in the making for me. The pictures began to consume my hours, my days, my life. I’d sit at work planning my photo shoot of the day. When the photos were done and processed I’d upload to flickr, facebook, twitter. I wanted an audience! I joined photography groups online, read photography blogs, did google searches and soaked in as much information as I could to improve my beginner skills.

I was a sponge.

I learned.

I grew.

About two months into my photo a day project I hit a wall. My little point and shoot camera was not enough anymore. It had limitations. I needed a fancy DSLR. I wanted better depth of field, larger zoom, more control! I started saving. and saving. and saving.  All the while I continued taking pictures with my Z650 and tried to hone in on my Photoshop editing skills instead of the technical ones.

Then in May 2009, about 3 months into my project, life took an interesting turn. My husband Brendan (who I will refer to from now on as “The Calmer” because he is the peaceful force in our home) and I got the exciting news that we were expecting our first child. We were ecstatic, and it made my desire for that DSLR even more important. I needed a fabulous camera to take fabulous family photos. As an early baby gift, my parents shockingly generously bought me my DSLR, a gorgeous Nikon D90.  At the same time, my morning sickness took full swing and I could barely function at my day job let alone take pictures.  The morning sickness whisked away my passion to photograph.

I dropped the photo a day project that same month.

I figured my passion would return once the baby arrived.

No worries.

Until September.

In September, after multiple abnormal ultrasounds we lost our baby, a girl, at 20weeks pregnant. It’s a long heartbreaking story and I won’t go into the details. We didn’t get to know her for long but we knew she was beautiful. Her name was Bella. Bella Rose. And it’s because of her that I have my passion back. After her passing I needed something to keep me going. Keep me alive. Keep me strong. I picked my D90 back up and started shooting. I want to capture it all. Every little detail. Every moment.

I hope to share my moments here. I am excited to start a new photography project or two in the coming weeks and tell you more about them.  I also want to start building a photography portfolio. I have my first mother/son photo shoot in a week and a half and I can not wait!  I would love to be able to one day turn this hobby into a side business capturing the moments of others. Friends. Acquaintances. Family.  I hope you’ll take the time to stop by, add me to your blog reader, leave lots of comments and tell me what I’m doing right or doing wrong.

I still have a lot to learn.

But I think I’m on my way.

And I have Bella to thank for that.

Last weekend The Calmer and I were in Tampa, FL. A former co-worker and close friend got married and much to our delight dismay decided to set up permanant residence in a prime vacation locale close to the beach. After Bella’s passing we were invited and encouraged to visit and relax. It didn’t take much convincing for us to book our ticket down South. We had a lovely time and can’t wait to go back.  Our hosts were wonderfully hospitable and something about being at the ocean, soaking in the sun, and sinking our feet in the sand aided in the healing process.  Here are some of the highlights from our trip.

Our homey accomodations for the weekend

Beach day. Bright sun peeking through. Beautiful.

A new friend in the sand.

Getting ready for sunset in Sarasota. Lido Beach, FL.

Ok, one more Lido Beach at sunset. A sunset this gorgeous derserves to be pictured twice.

Last day. At the Greek Sponge Docks. Tarpon Springs, FL.

As I’ve mentioned previously, once upon a time I picked up my camera and decided to take a photo a day for an entire year. All was well and good when I started but eventually the passion for the project expired.  Instead of being excited to photograph I’d spend every evening with an impending sense of doom because I had no inspiration for a photo. The evening would end with me scrambling to take a photo of every random knick knack in my house. or my cats. or my dinner. rinse. repeat. It became redundant and boring. So I quit. And I hate being a quitter.

I wasn’t tired of taking pictures. I just didn’t feel like the photo a day project was serving its purpose anymore. So, last week I got online and looked for some new sources of inspiration. I wanted a regular photography assignment but preferably one that wasn’t going to give me an anxiety attack every night!

So I googled.

And I found some GREAT ideas at Photocritic.org – 10 ways to break photographer’s block.

(you totally need to check it out).

I’ve been itching to try a few of the ideas I discovered there.  Finally this morning I woke up and decided, “TODAY IS THE DAY!”  The project starts at home. At your front door. Here is mine. Welcome!

I am very excited to launch this new project, because it’s interesting.

And it’s interactive.

The more people who participate the more exciting it will be.

I promise.

I swear.

So you better play along!

The project is called “100 Steps” and the instructions are this:

1. Get a camera. Any camera will do just fine.  (film. digital. cell phone. point and shoot. DSLR).

2. Start walking. (can you guess how far you’ll be walking?)

3. After 100 steps stop. Right where you are.

4. Take a picture. Take 5. Take 100. But you must take a picture of something right where you are. (don’t cheat!)

5. Upload your photos to a photo sharing site. I enjoy Flickr.

6. Post your comments on the project and a link to your photo here.

My 100 steps today allowed me to start capturing fall. Here are 3 of my favs:

I will be taking my 100 steps weekly. Each time starting from my doorstep. And each time walking in a different direction and capturing something new. I am excited to see where this takes me. And the little intricacies I uncover. I am sitting on pins and needles waiting to see what you come up with. Go get out there. Take 100 steps. I hope you’ll step weekly with me and share here.

Ready.

Set.

Go!!

I hit the photography blog  jackpot. In my quest for new ideas and inspiration I found Shutter Sisters a collaborative blogging project that celebrates woman who have a passion for photography.  The blog was started by the talented Tracey Clark and I am overjoyed to have stumbled upon both of her sites this weekend.

Tracey started a photography project called Best Shot Monday a place to share photos weekly. I am jumping right in today and sharing my contribution. Her theme this week: The Little Details. This morning was filled with little details that are the simple joys in my world:

three day weekend bliss.

sleeping in.

a morning cup of coffee (or two).

an impromptu day off from work by The Calmer. (love him!)

relaxing on the couch with pjs.

These are the little details or simple things in my life right now. What simple things do you have to celebrate?

Hello Autumn! I am so happy you’re here. Scarf weather has arrived! Hurrah!

I have a story today. So I hope you’ll sit back, relax, and take a listen.

I decided this evening that I need to get my hands on an “old school” Polaroid camera. You know the immediate gratification point, shoot, and develop deals.  It all started yesterday evening when a coworker of mine posted this to her Facebook status:

FINALLY found a polaroid camera at the thrift store!! 🙂 now, all I need is film. anyone know where I can find it? 600 film for the one step camera?!

Up until that moment I had completely forgotten about my love for this primative device. My parents bought me my Polarioid instant camera when I was in my teens. I loved the immediate gratification, the blurry finish, the washed out colors. I have no clue why I ever got rid of it. I should’ve knownI would’ve wanted it back one day!

Today this coworker came to me personally to ask about the film. I really haven’t given Polaroid a second thought in the past few years but recalled reading somewhere that they had shut their plants and were no longer manufacturing the film. We sat down, did some internet searching, and WOWIE was I right. The film is hard to come by and man that stuff is expensive now.

Then, by a bit of internet happenstance I discovered that some of our local Walgreens stores still do indeed stock the film.

And this evening I happened to be in a Walgreens.

And they had the film.

Orginally $33

On clearance for $5

Oh happy day!! (for my coworker)

I bought out the entire stock of film.

All 5 packs.

Then in a serendipitious twist of the heavens I came home to this blog from the lovely Susanah Conway.

~ Polaroid news! ~

That’s what the title read. As I read further I discovered that Polaroid will be re-launching some of its most famous instant cameras along with limited edition film.

My love affair with Polaroid has been rekindled. I can’t wait to get my hands on one and see what I can do with it.  My coworker will be lucky if I actually hand over the film tomorrow. I just might have to keep it for myself.

Today I am thinking of Bella.

I should be 26 weeks pregnant today.

Instead it is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day and it’s been 34 days since we said goodbye.  The day we lost Bella I came across this memorial day and committed it to memory. Today I didn’t even realize it was the 15th until a friend tweeted a personal remembrance for her own loss.

The realization of the day brought everything to a screeching halt. I had a wave of guilt for not remembering this on my own. And the irrational thought that Bella would be mad at me. For not remembering. Not caring.

Fortunately the day is not over.

I still have time to honor our sweet baby girl.

Remember her.

What she brought to our family.

Joy. Hope. Love. Emotion. Inspiration.

We miss her and the excitement she brought us as we prepared for a new phase of life for our family. We miss that we’ll never get to know who she is. her smile. her laugh. her personality.

But us losing her has also taught us so much in such a short time.

To not take things for granted.

Enjoy every moment.

Stay strong.

Stay positive.

I may not think of her every single moment of every single day.

But I do I remember her every day.

I hope you’ll take some time to remember her with us today too.

I have an impulse problem.

Remember my recent post about Polaroid nostalgia?  Weeeeeeeelllllll…

I got my One Step Polaroid camera!!!

For 5 bucks on craigslist I might add (gotta love a good bargain).

I actually got the camera on Wednesday (less than 24 hours after that blog post) and have been waiting patiently impatiently for the rain to stop. It’s been VERY rainy here in Virginia the past few days.  And cold. In my world those two things just do not mix well at all! So instead, I’ve been curling up on the couch, cup of coffee in hand, admiring the awesome polaroid loveliness on flickr.

To my delight and surprise the rain clouds actually parted for a little while this afternoon and I was finally able to load up my 600 film (for those of you keeping track I did manage to hang on to two packs) and go for an enjoyable, although brisk, walk.

The fun part about Polaroid film is that you can never be quite sure what you’re going to get. Fortunately today I was pleasantly rewarded with these two shots.

I love how they just go together. And, they totally did not develop as I was expecting them which is all part of the fun.

I could just squeal with happiness right now!

I’m not sure when you’ll see more Polaroid fun from me. I would love to go experiment more but I have to conserve the little bit of film I covet right now.

17 exposures and counting…