BETWEEN girlhood and whatever comes next....

I've been meaning for a very long time to include my daughter's adventures teaching english in China. She and I were both off the North American continent at the very same time.  She experianced many different foods, sleeping arrangements, transportation and toileting. We take a serious lot for granted here in the U.S.of A. Teenagers in general take a lot for granted as well. I remember her excitement when she was preparing to leave home and live on her own while attending University. Her eyes just glowed with the sparkle of ultimate freedom. She had become a "pseudo-adult". She knew we still had her back and would not allow her to go hungry, naked or without shelter and she had no curfew, no rules, and all the other "no's" she had so desperately anticipated. THen she met roommates and started to pay bills.

And just like the genie in the Disney movie "Aladdin" she had ultimate power but a teeny, tiny living space. The trappings of maturing come at a price. The price of groceries, laundry detergent, fuel, tuition etc. I do applaud her resourcefulness. She never leaves a restaurant without a "doggie bag" and she attends all university activiites that involve food. She has come to learn and respect that no curfew, no rules is just an interpretation. When your parents no longer monitor you, others step in to perform that function. People like employers, teachers, roommates etc. It's better being back in the U.S. of A. though. Here at home her blonde hair and blue eyes are not seen as such an oddity. But while away, it was like dealing with the paparrazi.

No way you can get away with anything, when you are the center of attention.

Stretching to meet a challenge...

IN recent months my life has taken many turns, twists, dives, dips and climbs. I've found in my history that I like to be held accountable by my peers. So I'm announcing that I will attempt...(Yoda would say there is no try there is only do.) to blog each and every day during the month of October. This is in addition to all my other varied responsibilities. I'm not sure I have that much to say to sustain a month's worth of blogs. This is where you, my peers, come in.

The theme from http://www.nablopomo.blogher.com/ is "between".  When I'm completely dry with ideas of my own I can lean on this theme. So help me out. Between what? Between who? How many ways can you suggest topics that rely on "between". Check back each day and see how well I'm doing and as always I look forward, no I crave your personal responses and comments. Only 28 days to go.

It's all about the details...

I love to take pictures. I love to frame people. I believe in the serendipity of the universe that aligns the planets and makes things just so. That's just code-speak for I make the most of whatever nature presents me with, clouds, bright sunshine, falling snow or the light drizzle of the beginning of a downpour. They each provide their own challenges and benefits when taking pictures.

I love adjusting the saturation and creating a picture that displays the feeling. I always encourage brides to have their own picture shoot. It's the perfect opportunity to make sure the hair works, to work out the details of how much time it takes to create the "look" and to prepare for any potential wardrobe malfunctions. I also encourage the use of flowers, shoes and a veil to provide interest and even prop the picture.

While this is a lovely picture of a beautiful bride, the positioning gives me pause. Mostly, because with very little imagination it's easy to give this picture less than a PG rating. Enter the props.

Still lovely portraiture but with less of the "bedroom" feel. It increases the interest of the picture visually and adds to the story of the picture.

Backlighting outlines the veil and provides a special glow that highlights the bride.

Add the mist of rainbirds and you take advantage of what is available. The nursery zinnias add a touch of color to draw the bouquet into the composition.

And my goal is always to portray a beautiful bride. No cheesy smiles for Kalee, just a soft "mona lisa" hint. Her dimples and the soft "grin" around her eyes is all she needs to telegraph her happiness.

Special, secret, safe hiding places...

So one day, I was more or less tending one of my grandsons, when he disappeared. In my defense he was playing with magnetic letters attached to the fire door that separates my garage from my washroom. My eyes were not on him, but I considered him to be safe. Imagine my deep panic when I opened the washroom door and could not see him. Imagine my increased panic when I opened the door to the garage and saw the gaping hole where the garage door should have been. My grandson went from being safe to being potentially unsupervised in the world at large. I raced out the gaping garage door and looked up and down my residential street looking for some sign of him. My heart filled with dread as I realized I would have to tell my daughter that her son was missing. A search around my house and into the backyard was fruitless. With lead filling my shoes I went back into the house to confess my blunder and get reinforcement in the search for my grandson. This is what I found in my wash room.

The little monkey had climbed into my empty dryer. He had no idea he was lost, he was having a great time playing hide and seek with "duchess". I often reflect on that moment when I knew he was safe and sound. He had selected an optimal place to hide. I don't necessarily hide things, but I do put them in "special spots". Spots so special that they might as well be hidden. Among the things that I have placed in absolute secure spots where they will be safe from flood, tornado, famine and pestilence... are my social security card, the remote control that allows me to fire my camera and be in the picture without using the timer, and a beautiful pair of diamond stud earrings I received from husband more than 11 years ago when my son was born. Okay truth be told, I'm sure the earrings have long since been sucked up in the vacuum and turned into treasure at the landfill but that doesn't make them not safe right? A few other things I am missing, most notably my mind and of course my 25 inch waist. What about you?

For New Moms

As part of http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/ writing prompts, I will try to impart some wisdom about being a mother. As with all unsolicited advice, it's worth what you paid for it.

1) Your children will almost NEVER look this good. This happens only on picture day and it is a brief shining moment to be cherished. Can't get her to smile? Go with it. She's not screaming and her hair is combed. Lower your perfection standards before you make yourself and your children crazy.
2) Toddlers ar NOT terminal. This phase will end. They will grow out of whatever is making you the most insane this week into something else next week. As a side note, having raised teenagers and toddlers at the same time, here are some things they share. Toddlers and Teenagers believe that the sun rises and sets on them. It's all about them and everything is the end of the world. They want what they want when they want it and they fully expect you to deliver it. And last, almost everything can be fixed with food or a nap.
3) Boys and girls are different, and not just because of their plumbing. A girl will climb up the furniture and then climb down. A boy will climb up the furniture and then jump off.

4) You don't make all of the mistakes with your first child. You usually spread them out amongst all your offspring, so they can all tell you..."you are the meanest mom, EVER!"
5) Don't let little things be a big deal. Just face the facts, if you have small children in your home, you should not have nice things. They will break them, smash them, hide them, eat them, you get the picture. Embrace the fact that they will use markers on the wall. Instead of losing it, and insanely scrubbing the wall with WD-40 (yes it removes it), pretend you are an art critic and tell them to add more purple.
6)To all of you peace loving moms out there. I applaud your decision not to give your sons weapons of mass destruction. Take a firm stand and don't allow any play guns into your home. But don't come crying to me when your toddler son has appropriated his sisters barbie and when cocking her leg he makes her head pop off as the bullet. My only advice? Find the boy a stick.
7)Laughing is always better than crying.

8) If you start young enough, they will think washing the dishes and vacuuming are fun. You have to make it look fun first. Just like Tom Sawyer when he was "whitewashing" the fence.
9) Count on their father to share some of the "joy". After all he is responsible for getting you into this mess.
10) Make time for some "me" time. That is not a euphenism about time with just you and your child. This is time that is all about you and you alone. Do a little shopping therapy. See a chick flick with a friend. Get a massage. A happy, relaxed mother has more to give to her family.

Back to school

Labor Day can be felt around the country. It's the day that every child groans because summer has officially ended. It's also the day that every mother sighs because her children are back in school. One of the rites of being back in school is school pictures. Every mother everywhere cringes. It's that one size fits all, with no control over what happens to the hair once you send it to school on the head of your child. It's so notoriously bad that "re-takes" are scheduled before the first photo is taken. Now if you like gambling on the 50 50 chance that you will get something back that both and you and your child alike can agree is good, read no further. If you think all backgrounds should be the same, again I have no solution for you. If your child really doesn't have a personality to highlight and a one shot deal is the best you can hope for. Again, you should be done reading. However, if you want some creative control on what your child is wearing, how their hair looks and what kind of background you want in your pictures then continue to read. And if you want the added option of 2 outfits, one that appeals to your child and one that conversely appeals to you then this is your opportunity.

I have selected 2 days for my Back to School picture Special. This is a great deal for families. As always, you will receive a CD of images and a copyright release so you can print your own portrait packages wherever you choose. I think 1 8x10, 2 5x7's and 8 wallets costs about $3.00 at costco and $10.00 at walmart. The first sibling in your family has a sitting fee of $30.00 and each additional sibling is only $10.00. The entire family will be downloaded to one CD. You will get more than one view, no need for retakes and also have the opportunity to have your children photographed together in a group. 

This year I will be taking "school photos" on Saturday September 24 and Thursday September 29. The Saturday location will be Lomond View Nursery and Gardens in Pleasant View. Detailed instructions will be available when you book.

All children, whatever age in your family are welcome to participate. You are welcome to bring props, dress them in their halloween costume for one of the pictures, whatever. I usually can shoot 3-4 children with clothing changes in about 45 minutes so it won't take alot of time away from your day.

More questions can be answered when you call 801-737-1303 to book your back to school pictures. Now it may be possible that I have picked your two worse days in the history of school starting. Have no fear. I will honor this offer from Sept. 15- Oct. 15. I only ask that if you choose an "off" day that you invite your friend, co-worker, sister, neighbor to book on that day as well. Thanks, now let's get booking.

Adventures at sea is available for viewing...

I have new appreciation for the internet. For nearly one week I had a de-funct modem and thus no access. I don't have a smart phone either so I really felt cut off from the world at large. It felt like I was experiance my very own dark age. But good news!!! the modem has been replaced and I can once again post and surf the net.

Today, I updated the page titled "adventures at sea". It's a one page synopsis of my service mission aboard the U.S.N.S. Comfort. You can also review all 28 days by checking out the archived blog posts between May 2011 and June 2011. Thanks for all of your views. I will get back into posting soon.