My Camera

Hey, Biddah, Biddah!

2010-04-17T10:35:00.005-04:00

My husband is on the committee of the West Shore Autism Society and tonight is the benefit dinner and auction.

I'm donating framed 8 x 10's of these for auction. Wish us luck!

Update: The framed pair sold for $75, which I think is pretty cool,

since it didn't cost that much to print and frame them and... I've never sold anything before!!!

Yay! Someone paid money for my photos!

Washington D.C. - Part Two

2010-03-21T23:10:00.003-04:00

The White House, March 6, 2010

The Washington Monument

The Capitol Building

Dinosaur & metal tree in the sculpture garden.

Washington D.C. - Part One

2010-03-21T11:54:00.004-04:00

I recently spent a week in Washington D.C. training for my new job.

These are few of the photos I took during that week.

This church was across the street from one of the offices I trained at.

This copper gate looked so cool against that intricately carved wood door and the stone that made up the building. I wish I would have committed to memory what building this was. I can tell you it was downtown near the Mall.

Sunrise from my hotel window.

Fire and Snow

2010-03-21T11:46:00.002-04:00

I'm so thankful that this snow is gone,

but Cardinal makes it look good, doesn't he?

Little Bird, Little Bird

2010-03-06T01:08:00.003-05:00

I've been in Washington DC for the week and didn't bring my Michigan Bird Guide with me for reasons that should be obvious, but I'll be sure to check when I get home. : ) This was taken in Michigan in February 2010.

Dear, Winter

2010-02-14T13:20:00.004-05:00

Dear, Winter.

You are beautiful, but I've had enough.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Erin Johnson

Grand Rapids Children's Museum Mosaics

2010-01-23T09:47:00.002-05:00

The mosaic wall that decorates the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.

Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Another Artist

2010-01-23T00:39:00.001-05:00

Mother/Daughter Kaleidoscope

2010-01-19T11:21:00.001-05:00

Taken at the Grand Rapid's Children's Museum

Northern Cardinal

2010-01-18T12:13:00.001-05:00

Male Northern Cardinal

West Michigan

January 17, 2010

Nerd Alert

2010-01-07T09:37:00.003-05:00

My wonderful husband surprised me with a Birds of Michigan Field Guide and it is right up there with my iPod as one of my favorite gifts I was blessed with this Christmas. I am officially a total nerd.

I believe this is a Female House Finch. She is feeding at a feeder I fashioned from an old toy that just wouldn't stay together and I was tired of Bean using it as a weapon. So it now attracts Blue Jays and apparently House Finches to our back deck.

Is "finches" the correct plural form or is it just "finch". Ok. Enough nerdery for now.

Splash!

2009-12-01T19:08:00.004-05:00

Better late than never, I suppose. These are from August. It's kind of nice to remember how hot it was that day on a cold day like today.

Giving Thanks

2009-11-26T11:19:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for all the amazing friends I've made throughout the blogosphere. I'm thankful for the ability to view the world through your words and through your photos. I am thankful that I am free to keep this blog and live my life basically as I choose.

Today I hope people will take a moment to view Thanksgiving through the eyes of the Native Americans and not the Pilgrims.

The Native people who were displaced from their homes and massacred all in the name of Manifest Destiny and "religious freedom".

While I always take time to count my blessings and give thanks on this "holiday" I also try to think honestly about the Native people of this beautiful country and remember them today in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you will, too.

(Clearly I did not take these photos. I found them via Google Images and they are of the Salish & Kootenai tribes.)

Two Snails

2009-11-23T22:00:00.007-05:00

Saugatuck, Michigan could be on the Top 100 Cutest Towns in the United States. It's definitely in the top 10 for Michigan. The scenery is beautiful, the people are nice, and it is full of sculpture.

In peoples yards, the parks, the sidewalks. It's everywhere. There is even a sweet little sculpture park right in the middle of it's quaint downtown. This snail pair is nestled in a flower bed in a private yard between a few shops.

Is Anything Cooler Than a Unicorn?!

2009-11-22T10:21:00.002-05:00

My List

2009-11-20T14:03:00.002-05:00

Melisa over at The Lil Bee does a recurring list of 5 things you'd like to accomplish in your lifetime. I love reading what other people have on their lists and today she is featuring MINE! This is such an honor as I read her blog almost daily. If you've never checked out the Bee, please do. She is funny, insightful and has great taste. She also just had a baby who is super sweet and if you are in need of a good laugh, go read about Melisa's adventures in lamaze class. Hilarious stuff, folks!

Gah! I'm just giddy! It really is such an honor to be mentioned on The Lil Bee! Thanks, Melisa!

Signs

2009-11-19T17:51:00.005-05:00

Even as Autumn nears it's end and the smell of Winter hangs in the air, there are signs of the Spring to come. The Dogwood tree in our yard has dropped all it's leaves, showing the knobby buds of what will be flowers and leaves in the Spring time. I find it very encouraging.

Was the Earth Spinning Round?

2009-11-08T16:26:00.002-05:00

Cardinal in the Branches

2009-11-08T11:27:00.002-05:00

Braided

2009-11-07T01:39:00.003-05:00

These fallen trees looked to me like they'd been braided. I love the Pacific Northwest. It's so green and lush and beautiful!

Larrabee State Park - August 2009

Washington State

Boo!

2009-10-31T10:47:00.004-04:00

Hope your Halloween is happy and safe!

I thought I would share photos of our pumpkins today.
The kids painted their pumpkins and I carved the bats.

The Canepa-Dranttel Wedding

2009-10-27T14:11:00.008-04:00

I attended this beautiful wedding in Bellingham, Washington this past August. Will is one of my dear friends from high school and it was an absolute pleasure to join he and Jen for their big day!

The groomsmen are also some of my all-time favorite people

and it was great seeing them, too!

Oh, Adam! You really are an amazing man!

I took all of these group photos from afar with my highest zoom setting.

I was standing across the pond with these lovely people...

well not the groomsmen, but with Courtney.

Jen did a fabulous job with the decorations.

The reception was so colorful and quaint and beautiful!

This was my place setting. And we were able to take home the homemade jam and plate.

The setting was so idyllic and provided for beautiful photos

like these two of our friends, Katie and Kacie.

Backyard Photoshoot

2009-10-22T16:26:00.005-04:00

My little Bean and I were treated to some much needed mother/son time the other day and we spent part of it playing in the backyard and having a little photoshoot.

He turns two next week and I've been meaning to get some 2 year photos done, so check that one off the list! I'm really happy with these.

Halloween Self-Portrait

2009-10-18T13:53:00.001-04:00

Just having a little fun.

Bluebird on my Shoulder

2009-10-13T11:44:00.004-04:00

I was so pleased to see this North American Bluebird in my backyard. I found a great site to help me establish a yard they will want to spend more time in.

1 in 91 U.S. Children Have Autism

2009-10-05T15:19:00.003-04:00

I know I don't usually post much commentary here, but this was too mind blowing for me not to share. As some of you already know, my daughter is high-functioning Autistic. Basically that means she speaks and socializes, but is Autistic nontheless. You can read more about Abby at The Gentle Giant. But enough about us... check this out.

National Children's Health Survey Report Finds Autism Prevalence Now 1 in 91
Monday, October 5, 2009
By: Carin Yavorcik

(click here to go directly to the article)

Autism Society Calls for Answers to Crisis Now

A national report released today in the journal Pediatrics reveals that 1 percent of U.S. children ages 3-17 have an autism spectrum disorder, an estimated prevalence of one in every 91 children. This is a dramatic increase from the one in 150 prevalence rates currently reported.

“This national study charts a dramatic rise in the prevalence of autism in the United States and we applaud this administration’s recognition that autism is an urgent public health priority,” said Autism Society President and CEO Lee Grossman. “But families today are asking: how high must these prevalence rates rise before the nation responds? Significant resources must be directed toward screening and diagnosis, affordable interventions that treat the whole person and comprehensive education plans to foster lifelong skill development so that people with autism will have the ability to work and live independently.”

The report, entitled “Prevalence of Parent-Reported Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children in the US,” published in today’s issue of Pediatrics, was conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services National Survey of Children’s Health, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report was conducted via a telephone survey of over 78,000 parents, and determined a point prevalence of 110 per 10,000 respondents, roughly 1 percent of the population of children in the United States.

On a constituent call to discuss the report, the CDC reported that its initial analysis of the Autism and Developmental Delay Monitoring project data, due out later this fall, confirm the 1 percent figure. This report will also contain more data on age of diagnosis, groups affected, and access to interventions.

The increasing numbers have long-term economic costs to the country, as autism is a chronic medical condition affecting people across the lifespan. “Lifespan services, particularly for adults, are typically inadequate and inappropriate,” Grossman stated. “This new data should be a call to action to the government to improve and increase services and supports first.”

The Autism Society has been working with Congress on several key bills, which have stalled. “The information in this new report highlights the pressing need for additional services, support and treatments for families affected by autism spectrum disorders,” said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). “My bill, the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act, will help children and adults with autism gain better access to coordinated services, improve training for professionals treating these disorders, and will relieve the financial burden on the millions of families struggling with this disability.”

This bill, if funded, would provide funding for applied research into effective interventions, the first ever demonstration grants on adult services, create an adult prevalence study, and fund family support and information networks.

“Autism affects millions of American families, and the cost of diagnosis, early intervention, and treatment imposes a heavy burden on most of them,” said Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA), co-chair of the Congressional Autism Caucus. “This legislation, the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009, would improve the dissemination of information between autism researchers and service providers, improve training for professionals treating autism spectrum disorders, and mandate that health insurers cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Enactment of this legislation would do a lot to help millions of American families.”

“The increase in the reported prevalence of autism across the nation testifies to the urgency of executing a comprehensive strategy in response to this public health emergency,” said Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Autism Caucus. “For its part, Congress must ensure robust funding to support aggressive programs of research, education, and services. Furthermore, Congress needs to enact additional legislation, such as the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2009, that will establish the infrastructure and mechanisms for delivering appropriate services across the lifespan to individuals with autism and their families. We must look to maximize the reach and impact of our investments and activities by closely coordinating government efforts with those of national advocacy organizations, such as the Autism Society.”

Guardian of the Sidewalk

2009-10-04T14:22:00.003-04:00

During a recent day trip to Saugatuck, Michigan, this dog was laying out front of his owner's store. He is so mellow and gentle. I had met him before on a previous trip to Saugatuck and it was so nice to see him again. Isn't he gorgeous!?

Artisan

2009-09-26T15:25:00.003-04:00

The Skate Park

2009-09-21T00:50:00.003-04:00

Uncle Jeremy is visiting and he took the Bean for his first ride on a skateboard.

We think he's hooked!

Just look at that smile!

Izzy Busy Bee

2009-09-17T14:22:00.002-04:00

My friend's daughter, Izzy.

The Date

2009-09-13T08:25:00.003-04:00

When I was vacationing in Bellingham, WA last month, I happened upon this couple sitting looking out over the ocean bay. I thought their body language was interesting.
Were they on a first date?
Were they already a couple?
Were they arguing?
Or were they just friends?
They shared no signs of affection with each other,
though they displayed all the characteristics of being on a date.
They had a picnic basket and were dressed stylishly. The woman was wearing Converse All-Star high tops with her cute dress. I love the way her belt is twisted in the back.

Remembering

2009-09-11T09:33:00.003-04:00

Like so many people across the U.S. and the World, today I am remembering the horribly frightening day that was September 11, 2001. I remember it so clearly and I'm sure I always will. I've heard many stories about where people were on that day, but one in particular was told to me a year later by a man who lived and worked in The City. He told me his story when I was his waitress in Alaska exactly one year later.

He had taken his son on vacation, maybe to the most remote place in the United States that he could think of, to escape the city during the one year anniversary of that day. His story was one of fear and narrow escape. It was late in the evening and after dinner he sent his son back to their hotel room to play video games while he stayed and ordered himself a drink. He sat quietly in silence. I could feel his thoughts as I watched him. I approached him to see if I could get him anything else and he began to tell me about that day. He was my last table of the evening, so I stayed and listened. Without getting into the details of his story, I can say that I walked away from his table a little different than I was before I met him. I don't know his name, but I'll never forget him. His experience was so frightening and yet his message was one of hope and perseverance. He said that up to that day, he had been focused on being the best, being wealthy, being powerful. And one year later his concerns were for family & friends. His goals were rooted in love and compassion. He left me a very good cash tip. But his story is what I valued most from our encounter.

So where was I on September 11, 2001?

I was 23 years old. I was sleeping cozily in my bed at the home of my father and step-mother in Polson, Montana. I was known for staying up late and sleeping all day, so when my dad called me from work around 7 am MST and asked where I was, I grumbled, "In bed!" like he was the most stupid man alive.

He told me, "Get up! Turn on the tv! We're under attack!" and then he hung up. My father is a dramatic man, so I took my time, but I did eventually get up. I turned on the tv just in time to hear the terror in the newscasters voice as the second plane crashed into the tower. I cried out, "Noooo!!!" as I watched the towers fall! I paced the floors of our safe little house on a beautiful hill top in Montana with a majestic view of the Mission Mountain range. I'd never been so relieved to be in the "middle of nowhere" and yet I didn't feel nearly as safe as I had when I'd gone to bed the night before.

My heart was on the floor!
I thought of all of those people in The City.
In the airplanes.
In the towers.
I felt helpless and horrified. How could this happen?
I'll never, ever forget that horrible day.
Never.

Roast

2009-09-09T10:52:00.009-04:00

I posted photos previously from the Tori Amos concert my sweet husband gave me for my birthday. Well the concert was just the cherry on top of an absolutely delicious day! We started our evening out with dinner at Roast, (Iron) Chef Michael Symon's new restaurant located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It was AMAZING! It is definitely on our top 5 Best Meals EVER list. We dropped a pretty penny on the meal and it was well worth it.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

The restaurant is located in the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel at the intersection of Washington Blvd and Michigan Avenue.

These bar stools were upholstered in the softest leather. I wanted to rub my cheek across them, but I refrained. They were luxurious!

This wine vault was HUGE! I tried to get shots of the whole thing, but it was surrounded by glass and the reflection from the street was too distinct to get the full effect of the vault. It was a cool decorative element in the bar.

Roast is all about meat! Even though Vegetarians probably could find something to eat here, this restaurant is certainly NOT for them. The photo above shows the two spits that frame the window to the open kitchen. The empty spit to the left was HUGE and the smaller one to the left was roasting a whole pig throughout that evening.

The grill is located just below the huge spit. It was fun to watch the chefs, sous chefs & line cooks at work through the open kitchen.
It's not a large kitchen, which made it that much more impressive.

Oysters
half dozen with mignonette

We went all out and had a different beer or wine with each course and we had five courses. It was fabulous and our server, Craig was amazing! He had plenty of suggestions without being overbearing and along with the kitchen, our entire meal was timed perfectly!

Beef Cheek Pierogies
horseradish and mushrooms

The Pierogies are a house specialty and it's no wonder why. They were sooooo good!

Roasted Marrow
sea salt, oregano, capers and chilies

This appetizer was the star of the evening. It was the dish we were most curious to try and it did not disappoint! I was so impressed that I took the most photos of it. Ha! Who knew bone marrow would be soooo delicious?!
It really was one of the most amazing flavors to ever grace my palette.

My sweet & wonderful husband dishing out the marrow. Yummm!
It just melted in your mouth!

The aftermath. We practically licked it clean!

I didn't take photos of the rest of the meal, because I was there to eat. And by the time our entrees came out, my husband was saying things like, "Hey Ansel Adams, let's eat!" When he starts calling me Ansel, it usually means I've taken enough photos for the moment. But for the foodies out there... here's what we ate.

First Course:

Oysters
half dozen with mignonette

Second Course:
Beef Cheek Pierogies
horseradish and mushrooms

Third Course:
Roasted Marrow
sea salt, oregano, capers and chilies

Fourth Course:
Bacon Lardon Salad
poached egg, frisee, dijon & crispy pigs ear

Fifth Course:
Me: Filet Mignon with sea salt & olive oil
It was simple, delicious and the best filet I've ever had... and I've had my fair share.

Husband: Veal Chop Milanese with roasted tomato, onion and arugula.

Entrees Side Dish:
Fried Brussels Sprouts...
which were amazing and a huge portion.
I wished I could take home what we couldn't finish.

In case you couldn't tell, this meal was a true experience.
One that we won't soon forget.
If you ever have the chance to dine at Roast, DO IT! You won't regret it.

Angels Knocked

2009-09-03T00:54:00.007-04:00

The angels knocked at the tavern-door last night,
With man's clay, they kneaded the cup outright.

The dwellers of God's heavenly abode,
Drank wine with me-a beggar of the road.

Heaven could not bear this wonderful trust,
That to a madman this honor was thrust.

Disputes of religions is but a false pretense,
Having not seen the Truth, they speak nonsense.

Thank God! There is peace between Him and me.
So dancing mystics took their cups with glee.

What makes the candle laughing isn't a flame.
The fire that burned the butterfly is my aim.

No one can display thoughts as Hafiz can,
No such words are written by the pen of man.

-Poem by Hafiz

Butterfly

2009-09-01T16:37:00.002-04:00

The butterfly bushes in our yard have certainly been living up to their name. There were about 10 of these butterflies on the bushes as I was shooting. AMAZING!!!

With the exception of the following two, most of these have had very little editing. Just a bit of cropping here and there and a smidge of blurring around the edges. Colors are pretty much untouched. (I did mess with the color a bit on photo #4)

It's Much Too Late

2009-08-24T01:07:00.002-04:00

I'm up way past my bedtime, but I just had to post one more of my little Bean.

I Really Like Them

2009-08-24T00:31:00.005-04:00

And so does Extranjera's mom,
so I will continue to post my sweet little birds.

And speaking of sweet little birds... here's another.

Birds on a Wire

2009-08-20T16:01:00.003-04:00

We've Moved

2009-08-19T09:37:00.007-04:00

I took this recently in downtown Detroit, Michigan.
Downtown was really hoppin' that weekend and it gave me some insight into how I'd imagine Detroit once was.
A thriving, happenin' city that gave us Motown music,
gritty rock and roll
and the Ford Mustang.
Not the dirty and abandoned city it is today.

It's as if the American Dream packed up
and moved out of Detroit.

Tori Amos in Detroit

2009-08-17T12:53:00.004-04:00

I was fortunate enough to see Tori Amos play at the Detroit Opera House on August 8th. She was AMAZING! I've been a fan for many years. I've collected 27 of her cds, most being singles I've picked up here and there. She is such an amazing musician. So theatrical and talented. I actually cried during some of her songs that have sentimental memories attached.

It was a Tori themed birthday for me this year. My kids presented me with her latest cd and a poster, which will hang with my other Tori posters in the art/craft studio, and then my husband surprised me with tickets to her show. We had such great seats if you couldn't tell from the photos. I took a ton of photos and might post more later on. If you were one of the nice people sitting next to us that I told my blog address to, please be sure to comment and say "hi". It was nice chatting with you.

Boardwalkin'

2009-08-16T20:07:00.003-04:00

It seemed like it was a slow day for the charter boats. Most were docked and waiting to take out out customers for a day of fishing on Lake Michigan. I wish we could have been the $$$ they were waiting for. All of those fishing poles looked rather tempting.

A couple of trumpeters were practicing along the boardwalk. I love how this photo turned out.

Arrrrrr!

2009-08-16T11:07:00.002-04:00

This is supposed to be one of a series of photos taken on a recent walk along our town's boardwalk, but alas... the internet is being sooo slow and uncooperative that the rest will have to wait.

Someone should be walking the plank for this mutiny!

"Damn you, Internet!!!"

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

2009-08-07T09:42:00.006-04:00

We have so many wonderful new neighbors, but I believe that this fellow and his wife are our favorites. We call him Cardinal, for obvious reasons, and his wife is Carla. I hope I can capture her in a photo someday soon. She's a bit more shy than Cardinal. They often sit on our fence near the bird feeder and share seeds. It's quite sweet to watch them "kiss". They live in the wooded area behind our next door neighbor of the human variety, but they visit our yard often, probably because we provide lunch.

Let's Get It Started

2009-07-29T00:57:00.003-04:00

My talented husband catered our friend's wedding rehearsal dinner. He did a great job!

Some more shots from the past weekend's festivities.

(the father of the groom, awaiting the parade of groomsmen & bride's maids)

(The groom's niece singing Ave Maria and quite beautifully!
The bride is standing behind her and her veil is blowing gently in the breeze.)

Another Wedding Weekend

2009-07-27T13:50:00.002-04:00

We were fortunate enough to spend another weekend celebrating the marriage of some good friends. We had a great time and I'm a bit exhausted from all the merriment. We're not used to having SO much fun. : ) The photo above is a few of the wonderful friends who made the festivities of the last week and a half so memorable!

The Gentle Giant on the Beach

2009-07-26T12:17:00.001-04:00

Like Children

2009-07-23T11:08:00.002-04:00

We went to one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to last weekend and had a FABULOUS time! Maybe it was all the Scarlettinis I drank. (a refreshing blueberry cocktail, that I swore I'd only drink one or two of, but ended up drinking closer to ten) Anyway, we haven't partied like that in ages and it was soooo needed. We played like kids on the carousel and these are just the photos of my husband and I. I'm not sure if I should post the others, to protect the ~~not-so~~ innocent. None of these photos are great quality. They are all a little blurry, which speaks to my state of mind when shooting them.

Downtown Grand Rapids

2009-07-19T21:44:00.002-04:00

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Independence Day

2009-07-15T11:22:00.002-04:00

There was a beautiful, burning orange sunset on the 4th of July this year. What a beautiful day!

*note: The color in the photos were not exaggerated during the editing process. I did some blurring around the edges and added some graininess (is that a word?) to the last photo, but the sky really was that Orange! It was beautiful!

Little Bohemian.

2009-07-12T23:54:00.003-04:00

I am a Finnish-American.

2009-07-07T09:21:00.008-04:00

I'm also Norwegian-American and well... the American part has a bit of English, Irish, maybe some Scottish and I do believe just a pinch of Native-American. So yeah, I'm really just American. A melting pot, if you will. But my mother (above) is half Finn, half Norwegian. She has always been very proud of her heritage and has instilled the same in her children.

I recently spent some time at my mother's home in Minnesota and thought it would be interesting to document the various Finland inspired items around her home. My step-father is also a Finnish-American and they are Finnish Folk Dancers. So basically, what I'm saying is, we're more Finnish than you!

(Finn's are known for the sauna. I'm pretty sure they invented it. Next time you're in one, check out the temperature gauge to see where it was made... most likely in Finland. P.S. I was made in Washington State, U.S.A. Not Finland.)

The only person I "know" who is more Finnish than we are is my favorite blogger, Extranjera. You may have heard of her. She simply wonders What Will I Ever Do With My Life and Blogger finally saw the light and made her a recent Blog of Note. Please read every word she writes. She is riotously funny and well... she's Finnish.

(Marimekko is only one of the coolest design houses in the world AND they are from Finland! Booyah! The text underneath my Marimekko coffee mug is Finn-glish. A decidedly perfect blend of Finnish & English. I just decided it was perfect.)

(I love how not only is there a Finnish Flag in two corners of this mirror, but also on top of the kitchen hutch across the room in the reflection. I didn't plan that, but it's perfect!)

(I believe the people in the portrait above are my step-father's Finnish grandparents.)

(When my mother inquired what in the world I was taking photos of, she directed me to this and the last photo, saying that they are quintessential Finnish crafts. She would know better than I and I do think they are pretty cool. Especially this one. I have a Christmas ornament just like it, but much smaller.)

(It was 9:06 A.M. when I went on my photo taking spree.)

Fleur Jaune

2009-07-02T10:14:00.001-04:00

Surely You Jest

2009-07-02T00:51:00.003-04:00

My step-father is a collector. Of many things not the least of which are random images... photos, drawings, paintings, flyers, advertisements, etc. This random little drawing is hanging in their garage. I like this little jester with his glass of wine and I'm sure my step-father does too. Which is why he hangs where he can be seen many times a day. I just had to bring him home with me, too.

We Took the Scenic Route

2009-07-01T14:12:00.006-04:00

These are the more scenic shots from our trip to North Dakota. The house in the forefront below is the home that my Great Grandparents built and where they raised my grandmother and her 9 siblings. It only had 3 bedrooms.

This country church's cemetery is where my paternal grandfather's family is buried. It was nice to "visit" everyone.

There is a common misconception that North Dakota is flat. It is full of beautiful rolling hills and the way the long prairie grasses wave in the wind is breath taking. I wish there was a way to capture that in photos.

A basketball hoop mounted over grass. Now that is determination!

Is there anything more quintessentially country than bright yellow, peeling paint on an old farmhouse?

These oil pumps are the latest additions to the North Dakota prairies, bringing an early retirement for many hard-working farmers.

The Wedding

2009-06-30T11:51:00.006-04:00

This is the lovely couple who were married in the beautiful state of North Dakota. The rest of the photos are family members from the day of and the day after the wedding. I would have loved to get more photos, but my travel companion wasn't the best photographer's assistant.

My Heart Grew Fonder

2009-06-28T14:39:00.003-04:00

Two weeks without regular internet access was a welcome break,
but I am so glad to be back!

I missed you all so much.

Travel Companion

2009-06-27T12:24:00.002-04:00

I recently went on vacation with this handsome young man. I'll post pics from that vacation very soon... I promise.

Reflecting

2009-06-12T11:07:00.004-04:00

We moved into this cookie-cutter, everything looks the same, huge apartment complex less than a year ago. We chose it for the location, the swimming pool (that we've used maybe 3 times), the on-site playground, and the work-out facility (that I used 5 times... better than nothing). I can't wait to get out of this apartment and into our new house, but as that day rapidly approaches, I realize how much I'm going to miss the pond just behind our building.

I have watched deer grow from yearlings to adults. I'm looking out my window now as I type and watching a groundhog (or something like that) make its way across the grass. I watched an Eagle and a Hawk battle in mid-air. I laughed at the ducks engaging in a mating ritual that made me feel bad for that poor female, only to get teary eyed as I watched her lead her ducklings all around the pond months later.

And I have a new found love for birds of all types, but especially the red-winged blackbird, who escapes my camera lense at all costs. I cannot capture an image of that beautiful bird for anything. I've been trying for a month now. And maybe that's why it's my favorite. Because it is swift and eluding. I love watching it land on a blade of grass that dips almost immediately into the pond, requiring it to take flight once again. The beautiful, red-winged black bird rarely rests.

And with that... I'm off to work on moving out of this apartment, that I will miss more than I ever dreamed I would.

Jenisis Design Website

2009-06-04T23:48:00.010-04:00

Friday night is my final presentation for my Web Design class. I designed a website for a friend who is a very talented jewelry designer. I interviewed Jen via email and Facebook. I also pulled her photos from her MySpace account and edited them for better presentation. I "researched" other jewelry websites while I was planning the site, which was not like work at all! I hope all of my future projects are that fun to "research". I built the site using Dreamweaver and designed a logo and navigation bar in Photoshop. Since Jen is a friend of mine, I tried to include her personality, as I know her, in everything I did. Her words for a theme were "Elegent Roots" and I think that sums up Jennifer beautifully.

She is hoping to go live with the site within the year, so I'll be sure to post an update if/when she does. In the meantime I can share some of her pieces. Once again, I didn't take the photos, the designer did, but I edited them for better presentation on the website.

So here they are.

All pieces designed and crafted by Jennifer Lamb of
Jenisis Design.

Attack of the Killer Ladybugs

2009-05-31T11:08:00.004-04:00

Ok. They didn't attack, but there was an insane amount of ladybugs on the beach during our walk a while back. Every piece of driftwood looked like this. Not to mention the hundreds just chillin' on the sand. This was the first time in my life that I was actually creeped out by ladybugs.

Bye Bye Birdie

2009-05-28T15:34:00.000-04:00

Ok... this might be getting a bit excessive.

2009-05-26T12:55:00.002-04:00

Inspired by birds and by one of my favorite bloggers, Paula at two ellie, I decided to re-post a couple of my favorite bird photos. These are a bit more graphic and that's what I like about them. I haven't framed them yet, but I believe I will be doing so soon.

Birds of a Feather

2009-05-26T10:33:00.005-04:00

There was a time in my life that I did not like birds. I've never been a morning person and it seemed that I was always "fortunate" enough to have a tree or bush right outside my window where the birds would sing their little hearts out at 7 or 8 in the morning. Considering I was planning on sleeping in until noon, this would infuriate me! I never understood how people actually enjoyed waking up to the sound of chirping birds.

Well now that I'm older and have children who wake me up bright and early, I really enjoy observing and hearing our little feathered friends. As a matter of fact, I'm planning for bird houses and feeders at our new house. I love taking photos of them. Huh. Who knew?!

Full of Grace

2009-05-17T17:06:00.003-04:00

I'm not Catholic, but I thought this statue of Mary with her crown of flowers was so beautiful. I had to take her picture. Since I'm not Catholic, the only reference point I have for the "Hail Mary" prayer is from movies. I was curious as to what the prayer says...

"Hail Mary, full of grace.
Our Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen."

Springtime at the Beach

2009-05-15T14:41:00.004-04:00

We enjoyed our first walk along the beach this past week. It was a beautiful day, even if it was a bit overcast. Kites were flying and it's always nice to enjoy the beach before it's crawling with tourists.

Grandma's Rollers

2009-05-14T15:00:00.000-04:00

Family Bike Ride

2009-05-09T12:24:00.002-04:00

Here are a few shots taken on our family bike ride the other day. My daughter passes by this horse (and it's friends) on her bus ride to school each day and is always talking about "the horses" so it was fun to get a few up close and personal photos for her.

Good morning!

2009-05-01T10:26:00.003-04:00

I LOVE Springtime!

Civilized Society

2009-04-27T19:30:00.002-04:00

"Illusions mistaken for truth
are the pavement under our feet.
They are what we call civilization."
~Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible

Jenisis Designs part 2

2009-04-25T12:35:00.002-04:00

It was suggested by some of my peers at school that maybe the photo lacked definition with the nose & mouth missing from the first photos that I posted. This is a slightly different angle. Which do you prefer?

Jenisis Designs

2009-04-23T11:30:00.004-04:00

I'm designing a website for my friend, Jennifer of Jenisis Designs. Here's a photo I took of some abalone shell earrings she gave me back in the day.

My good friend, Honey, suggested that the earrings stand out more in the second photo and I agree. I do like the colors in the first shot and thought I'd share them with you all.

What do you think?

The Mad Ones

2009-04-19T14:45:00.001-04:00

“The only people for me are the mad ones,
the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved,
desirous of everything at the same time,
the ones who never yawn or say an uncommon-place thing,
but burn, burn, burn
like fabulous yellow roman candles…”
~Jack Kerouac

More from the Pier

2009-04-14T09:57:00.001-04:00

These are the last from the Pier. At least for a while.

Sunset at the Pier

2009-04-05T15:35:00.002-04:00

Peek

2009-04-02T16:39:00.003-04:00

Ab peeking under the door.

This is blog entry #100!!! Pretend that hundreds of balloons are falling from the sky and you're blinking confetti off of your eyelashes!

Our Pier

2009-04-01T10:22:00.002-04:00

I've made some lovely friends here who also enjoy photography and some who do it for a living. We had a great time shooting the pier last week and I can't wait to see the shots they captured. These are just a few of mine and I'll be posting more soon.

Under the Table and Dreaming

2009-03-30T13:19:00.001-04:00

Ab likes to hang-out under the table sometimes, like it's a fort. I wonder what she is thinking about.

Springtime Lament

2009-03-29T09:36:00.002-04:00

Noooo!!! It's spring time! I'm supposed to wake up to raindrops falling gently on new green grass and budding trees and daffodils peeking out of the freshly thawed soil. Not SNOW! Nooooo, God, why?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memories of Yesterday

2009-03-26T14:29:00.002-04:00

I walked outside on a morning last week and my attention was immediately drawn to this glowing leaf stuck in the shrubbery.

Red Door

2009-03-26T10:22:00.003-04:00

Envy

2009-03-26T10:09:00.001-04:00

Though shalt not covet thy neighbors camera.

This was taken from far away. We were shooting the same sunset and I was feeling envious.

Swan Lake

2009-03-23T12:13:00.003-04:00

Well... it's more of a pond really.

These aren't nearly as clear as I'd hoped, but I like them nontheless.

Holga, In Color

2009-03-16T21:54:00.002-04:00

This is the color version of the Holga tree. I love this picture and think it might end up on some friends' walls. At least I hope they love it enough to display it.

Sukham Photography- My Final Project

2009-03-16T21:48:00.005-04:00

I am currently attending college pursuing a degree in Web Development and for our final project in my HTML class, we had to design a multi-page business site. I chose to invent a photography business and this is it:

https://crux.baker.edu/~ejohns23/index.html

My skill level hasn't yet caught up with my vision, but it is getting there... slowly but surely.

Missing Someone

2009-03-14T17:09:00.001-04:00

These glass objects decorate the windows of a dear friends home. I miss her.

Doodle Doo

2009-03-09T19:19:00.003-04:00

We are in the process of looking to purchase a home. This cool metal rooster was in the kitchen of one of the homes we looked at. It reminded me of my beloved Grandmother who passed away 9 years ago this month. She collected chickens & roosters and kept her collection in the kitchen.

Finding Time to Reflect

2009-03-09T16:22:00.003-04:00

I was running late, as usual, this morning, but when I glanced out the window at the pond, I had to stop. I thought the trees' reflection was too pretty to pass up, so I snapped a quick picture on my way out the door. The bottom picture is closest to what my eye saw. The sun wasn't quite up yet. For the first picture, I flipped the photo and used an auto-correct.

The Challenge

2009-03-07T13:14:00.004-05:00

Recently, a blogger that I follow, Discovering Photography, asked if anyone had any advice on photographing random people, strangers. I didn't have any advice, but stated that I was trying to get up the nerve to do it myself. So I "dared" him to take at least one photo of a random stranger and to post it to his site by tomorrow, March 8th, and I would do the same. These are a result of that dare.

This gentleman was working in the computer lab at school. I liked the white cinder block wall behind him for a backdrop, his furrowed brow and the way he was wearing his Detroit Lions hat. Maybe his deeply, furrowed brow was due to the terrible season the Lions had this last year... heck, this last decade! Anyway, I did ask his permission so he wouldn't think I was crazy, but I think he thought I was anyway.

This one was taken from across a large room, where I was just one of a hundred people, so not very noticeable. I was wishing she would sit up a bit straighter, but alas... she slouched like this the entire time I was there.

Holga Tree

2009-03-05T09:35:00.003-05:00

This photo was inspired by my friend, Amy, who is a talented photographer herself. She takes "real" photos with "real" film. Haha! She just purchased a new Holga camera, which is one of my favorite effects to fake digitally. I love the drama!

Man's Original Virtue

2009-03-05T09:09:00.002-05:00

“Disobedience is man's original virtue.
It is through disobedience that progress has been made,
through disobedience and through rebellion.”
~Oscar Wilde

Gate outside the Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Rain, Rain

2009-03-03T23:19:00.003-05:00

Okay, okay, I know. Enough with the berries already, but this time they have water drops off of them!

I Will Be More Creative

2009-03-03T12:01:00.001-05:00

I went to the Creative Crawl in Grand Rapids, Michigan last week. This is where Graphic Design and Advertising studios hold open houses for people to come in, see their facilities and view some of their work. It was incredibly inspiring. I wish I could have taken a zillion pictures, but that wasn't what I was there for. I did snap a pic of this chalkboard... I had to! This is placed above an old school desk in the front entry of Extra Credit Projects, a design firm that really impressed me with their fun, creative, witty and intelligent atmosphere and designs.

Here's where you can contact them, if you so desire:
Extra Credit Projects
www.extracreditprojects.com
560 5th St. NW, Suite 302
Grand Rapids, MI, 49504
phone: 616-454-2955

Iced

2009-03-03T10:00:00.002-05:00

I'm Readin'.

2009-03-01T21:59:00.002-05:00

"Hey, Ab! What are you doing?"
"I'm readin'!"

A bit of a stretch

2009-02-26T09:06:00.005-05:00

I'm so ready for the snow to melt that I find my eyes lingering longingly anywhere there is a sign of melting.

In order to constantly be creating, I set myself little challenges. One challenge is to find the beauty in our surroundings always and I try to accomplish this by taking at least one new photo while waiting for my daughter's bus each week. This is fairly challenging because we live in one of those large apartment complexes where everything is landscaped and lined up in neat little rows. It might be nice, but it's not exactly inspiring. So this is from last week. It's maybe a bit of a stretch, but it's the only one I felt was outside of the proverbial box.

Zzoooommm!!!

2009-02-19T15:38:00.001-05:00

This shot was taken with the camera set to auto-focus. It came out zoomy (that's a technical term, I'm sure) but slightly focused on his face. So I exaggerated the zoominess (again with the technical terms) and messed with the color a bit. I think it's a really cool picture.

Change is not Merely Necessary

2009-02-17T10:33:00.001-05:00

“Change is not merely necessary to life, it is life.”
~Alvin Toffler

The Sun Has Got it's Hat On!

2009-02-17T09:31:00.002-05:00

The sun has got it's hat on,
Hip, hip, hip, hip hooray!
The sun has got it's hat on
and it's coming out to play!

That's the song Ab asked me to sing when she saw the sunrise from her bedroom window. "Should I take a picture?" I asked.

Once I saw a little bird...

2009-02-17T09:19:00.003-05:00

... come hop, hop, hop.
And I said, "Little bird, won't you stop, stop, stop?"

As we were waiting for the bus in this morning's frigid cold, these little birds and the blue sky behind them reminded us that Spring is on it's way!

Bubblegum

2009-02-17T01:02:00.002-05:00