to each his own

I want to start today by stating that I am the worlds biggest winter weather whiner. This morning, it was five below zero. When you walk outside, all the moisture in your nose freezes, a feeling that everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. I know there are many other locales in this great nation of ours that will make my winter look like a sissy little girl. Places with wild wind, places with many feet of snow accumulation (I actually love snow, btw), places that stay gray and cloudy all day. I know things could be much worse. That knowledge will not, however, keep me from my winter whine fest.

My youngest has been driving for less than two weeks, and this morning awoke to the northern winter rite of passage known as "exploded frozen soda can all over your dash board, on your stereo and in every nook and cranny." It happens to the best of us, but was a major bummer none the less. Poor guy. He had just spent a bunch of time spiffing up his new ride. Live and learn. *He found out at school that he was not the only one with this sorry story today.

Now, on to what I was up to for the vast majority of the weekend, while in my pajamas for two days straight.

Late last summer, my hubby bought me the full version of Photoshop, CS4. While Photoshop Elements is a really great program, CS4 opened up a whole new world of processing options for me. These options also open up a can of worms in the photography world. Many people feel that enhancements beyond a little sharpening and contrast are not really in keeping with the true art of photography. While I understand that position and why they feel that way, I am not one of them. I love all kinds of different effects in the art of photography. I spent the weekend playing with some of my favorite photo's and trying to decide what look I like best. If I had to pick one style, which would it be? I cannot decide. I like too many things.

Most of the photo's shown here are processed with The Pioneer Woman's actions. They are awesome and they are free, but they only work with the full version of Photoshop.

Here we have my sweet little niece in the daisy patch. I just have to mention that at 18 months old she is almost completely potty trained. She's a genius.

This first series is just basic processing, a little contrast and sharpening.


And here, a vintage effect.


This is my other adorable great niece, and if squeezing baby puddin' legs was a crime, I'd be serving life. She is a doll, and said both "hi" and "bye-bye" to me on the phone this weekend. She's brilliant. She lives way too far away, and I can't wait to see her when she visits next month.

A basic version....


Deeper color in the background....


And, a hazy version....


You met this young lady in my last post. After realizing last summer that my youngest wasn't going to be at all excited about daily photo sessions, I called her up to see if she was game for some pics, and we had a ball. She's a natural.


This is Pioneer Woman's seventies action, one of my very favorites...


Here, I used a dreamy effect pretty heavily, everywhere but on her eye, and I love how it turned out.


Here, a little bit of an industrial feel...


Do you like edge burn? I do. Normally, I wouldn't use it this heavy, but for these photo's I like the drama of it.


A couple weeks after we took these photo's, I took a few shots of her little sister.


Black and white....


and half and half....


And finally, my current favorite process, as it goes really well with fall colors.


So, tell me. What do you like better?

Are you a straight out of the camera purist?

Do you like a little extra something with your photo's?

Did I just win the prize for longest post ever?

Is anyone still there?

And as for the first part of this novel, I would really love to hear everyone's winter war stories. What's it like where you live? Misery loves company.

Sincerely yours,
Cold and Photographically Confused in Montana

a shocking discovery

I have recently had the most amazing revelation, and I have to share. Are you ready? I have discovered....that boys...and girls....


are different!

I know!

Last night, my youngest had a few of his friends stop by our house for dinner before the first formal dance of the school year.

It was so fun to see them all dressed up. It was also hilarious to see the differences between the boys and the girls. The girls were very excited to have lots of pictures taken.

The boys were not. All the boys were interested in was dinner.

The girls squealed with delight at the pretty candlelit table. The boys were not particularly impressed with anything other than what was on their plate.

Girls, take note - you have seen your future.

My son and his date have been buddies for a very long time. Last summer they struck the classic "if no one better comes along, we'll go to the dance together" deal.

Here they are - each other's last resort.


I absolutely love the dress. But my very favorite are the shoes. Pink Floyd Chuck Taylors. Who woulda thought.


Oh, to be young again.

p.s. Flash photography is evil. But apparently, the kids had some lame commitment during the day...school or something, so we had to make due with what we had.

over the edge

I have officially gone off the photo friday deep end. I put a vintage bead garland necklace on a cast iron garden finial....


...and I enjoyed every minute of it. A little odd, I know. I think it would be fun to work in a shop and have a valid reason to dress up inanimate objects. But for now, I'll just be happy dragging my possessions outside in the sub-zero temperatures (three degrees outside as we speak)...the things I do for my art!

We spent the last two days taking all the lights off of our pre-lit Christmas tree and putting new ones on. The strings had been temperamental the last couple years, so we decided to start from scratch. Apparently the original lights were put on by sadistic little elves in a workshop somewhere, as most of them were tied in knots and impossible to get off without wire cutters. I actually delegated that particular job to my middle son, and the occasional "I hate Christmas" was heard from the living room as he worked. I told him Santa has ears everywhere and he better watch his attitude. I was amazed that tactic didn't work as well as it did back when he was three. Man, I loved those years of perfectly behaved boys for the month of December.

Here are my two vintage Christmas finds for this year. At just a couple dollars each, they were too cute to pass up.


If you are, by chance, blessed to have a little one in your house this Christmas, please consider tying jingle bells on their shoes. It is pretty much the sweetest sound you can hear this time of year. Plus, it can help you keep track of a busy toddler - when the bells stop jingling, it's a sure sign the tree is under attack, or perhaps the cat is being decorated.

Well, back to the Christmas decorating salt mines. I have to have it all done by five tonight, as very special guests are coming for dinner.

three times the fun

A couple weeks ago, I had the very fun opportunity to photograph these three cuties. They are the cousins of my little great-niece, who you met here.


It was chilly, so we worked fast. And there were candy bar bribes involved. Just how it should be.

Kiss your brother, oops - missed it , kiss him again!


I would love to know what was going through the little fella's head while he was sitting in front of this tree. Perfectly still. Placed there by a stranger. What is he thinking? Perhaps he was thinking..."could I possibly be any cuter?"


This was my first time photographing more than one little person, and I couldn't have asked for better little buddies to make it a great experience. Thanks kids - you deserve two candy bars. Or maybe a pony.

november snapshot

1. I finally got my fall color fix on the east coast. 2. A very cool shed/garage in Mystic, CT. 3. A bright blue, crisp morning. 4. Cool old tractor at a farmers market.
5. Yet another pretty pond shot.

blue christmas

Blue is not your common everyday Christmas color. That said, in years past I have been able to find quite an amazing amount of aqua blue to adorn my dining room. I haven't been out shopping much this year, but last year I hit the jackpot in the aqua/crystal/mercury glass department.




A Christmas wreath of the Martha persuasion...shatterproof (i.e. cheap plastic) balls from her K-mart (Kame-apart to my kids) collection, and glitter from her ultra fab Michael's "essential colors glitter set."
*edited to add, the glitter set is on sale this week for 25% off!


Side note....I feel an entire post dedicated to glitter brewing, as well as a separate post dedicated to Martha. Both are swirling in my head and must. get. out.




I am still not ready to buy a macro lens, but I would love to be able to get closer to things like this pretty, sparkly crystal bead....



Have you started decorating yet?

since you'll be shopping friday....

....these little gems are on clearance at Pier 1 for only $1.68. Very cute, very retro. Just do me a favor. If you get them, please make sure the beverage to be consumed matches the picture on the glass. That particular issue has caused a squabble or two around here. And those squabbles may or may not have been instigated by me. It just seems very wrong to see milk in the lemonade glass. Bad combo.

Happy Thanksgiving!