Smoke from Arizona Wildfire

I just wanted to add a quick picture from what’s going on in our corner of the world tonight: That’s not rain or fog making the nearby mountains almost invisible. It’s ash. There’s a wallow fire in Arizona that is sending a smoke plume our way. My husband, down in Albuquerque, says there is ash actually falling from the sky. When I came in from letting the... Read More

Making Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade with Kids

This year my kids will be old enough for some of the activities that summertime allows. The thought of having soft green grass as a backdrop – in just a few more weeks! – makes me want even more to start blowing bubbles and collecting sand castle forms. This past week we had a little free time, plus eight lemons that had been sitting in my crisper drawer. The lemons... Read More

A Family Day Away

Twenty-eight days left until we MOVE HOME!!!! I’d post a picture of me doing jumping jacks for joy, but you’ll probably just have to imagine it! 🙂 I will post a rare picture of myself, though: This post is later in the day than I usually like to post on Wednesdays. We have a lot going on! Plus, this week I decided to kill two birds with one stone by completing (and... Read More

Preparing to Move

Last week my parents and one of my husband’s brothers came for several days to help me get a head start on packing. The guys would have liked more “manly” things to do, beyond changing the oil in the tractor and running errands, but they were good sports about how much I needed someone just to watch the kids so I could string two thoughts together and make thousands... Read More

A Packing Push

This morning we’re right in the middle of a packing blitz, a flurry of boxes, a push to the Pod: My regular Wednesday post will be delayed several days. Looking out toward new – and much flatter – horizons! Thirty-four more days!  Read More

Sun Flare

I’m using Lightroom for the first time this week! I’m starting by using presets by One Willow. It makes things so much easier in the beginning – and I’m sure I’ll keep using them even after I’ve learned my way around Lightroom. The presets are truly beautiful. For iheartfaces this week, I took some pictures of my daughter standing in front of... Read More

iheartfaces Photo Challenge: Yellow

This week’s iheartfaces photo challenge is “yellow.” Spring sunshine makes this a great theme for this time of year! I’ve been seeing so many beautiful photos with sun flare lately, so I thought I’d give it a try. My two-year old daughter was a good sport about having her picture taken… as always! This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces... Read More

Making Use of Waiting Times

Yesterday I had to drive in to the hospital to sign some paperwork with my husband. (It was house stuff – we’re under contract now!) He was pulled in for a procedure right before I arrived. This happens, and it’s ok. Instead of wallowing in the crookedness of my front teeth for the next half hour, I picked up the camera and experimented with more manual exposure... Read More

On the Heavy Side of Life: House Hunting and Adoption Issues

I had another post planned for today, but levity doesn’t seem to be the order of the day. My husband grew up as the oldest of five siblings. After he left for college, his parents adopted another sibling group of five, plus a sixth foster child who was living with them and who became available for adoption at the same time. Several years later, they added the seventh, a little... Read More

Definition of Kissability

One day last week while the baby was sleeping I took advantage of his stillness to practice manual exposure again. His face was in the shadows, but I wasn’t about to move him! The foreground and back of his head are overexposed. In this picture, I’m happy with that. My younger daughter has started calling him “Bungee.” I have no idea where she got this,... Read More