Project 42

My last post of the 2011 year.

Project 52 - Close to the end

The Project 52 has almost come to a close and I did not make 52 posts. As a matter of fact, this one is post 41. I am not surprised I knew it would be a challenge but I am glad I did it and will probably do it again. I enjoy looking back over the the posts and I remember things I probably would not remember if I did not have a nice record of events.

First, we honor precious Uriah each year and it's a reminder that bad things happen to good people and to know that babies die sort of robs you off your innocence and blissful happiness of celebration when you hear the pregnancy announcement. When we heard the exciting news, at Christmas, of a new baby Porter that should arrive sometime in August I couldn't help but say and extra prayer that no other family has to know the loss of a little one.

Organization is not for me. I miss those books that I cleaned out and I am sort of a pack rat and that is how I am going to roll.

Friends are priceless and especially at the thought of loosing one.

Snow is magical no matter when it snows or how much it snow. The snow brings a special kind of peace to the earth.

The puppy dogs are now big dogs and their bodies are beginning to show age and we are soon going to be faced with decisions that will be hard to make but until then it is dog treats, tennis balls, Frisbees and naps whenever possible! We celebrated, I am not sure celebrated is the right word, but the ditch dog has been around 5 years and that is 5 years longer than anyone ever thought.

We went on vacation and made some wonderful memories chasing owls and visiting cemeteries. I finally made the pilgrimage to visit the King of Rock N' Roll, Elvis. Graceland was amazing and I can mark that off my life list of things to do before I die.

This would be another year of traumatic memories. I went through the worst 82 days of my life. I had no idea how my life would change and my heart would ache for 82 days and then some. I am fairly confident I did not sleep more than a couple hours at time waiting for a phone call because one thing I know, things can get worse and they often will.

I celebrated first days of school, homecomings, sleepovers and joy and happiness I have new experience helping making a difference in someones life and just how much you can love someone you are willing to risk going to jail, your family and your job whatever to make sure they are safe. I did not know I had it in me!

Sun rooms, porches, new TVs, and iPads have been nice additions.

I took this photo on Christmas day when I sat down to read the paper with a cup of tea in my favorite room and just for a brief moment I knew everything was right in the world. It was a calm and peaceful feeling that I rarely get to experience. I am reminded through it all God is good and that we walk by faith not by sight!

Project 52 Merry Christmas

Mike's new TV

Project 52

This kitty does not like the cold weather but he loves to run out the door. Then he will do whatever he has to get your attention to let him back in the house. Throw himself at the window, get the attention of a puppy to bark their head off till someone comes, sit in the back yard and mew at someone till he looks out the window or in this case sit on the porch railing and look sad. Now how sad is this story he is telling!

Project 52 week Merry Christmas

I am testing my iPad camera and I am not too impressed. I love love love I can blog from my iPad. I am also thankful for my tree decorating help, thanks Whitney.

Project 52 Week 34

I have seen people doing the 24 days of thankful the month of November and I was not sure I could commit to doing it each day so I thought maybe I could do it now sort of backwards because that the way I roll.

24 -TG day, I managed to survive without any major drama only minor drama.
23 -Leaving early from work and taking my BFF a Derby Pie
22 -Making Derby pies, well more like watching pies be made and eating chocolate chips.
21- A short week at work
20- Sunday go to meetin' at a great church
19- Saturday naps
18- A long two weeks has wound down
17- The insanity is over and I took the high road. New uncharted territory for me!
16- Work even on the crazy days
15- Good times and great friends
14- That I can somehow survive Monday's
13- Sunday naps are the best. Mike says the only thing I am religious about is naps.
12 -Great light - it's a photographer thing
11- road trips
10-Dreaming about Disney
9-Dreaming about Hawaii
8- My EVO
7- BFF's you can count on the good times and bad
6- Wind to dry my laundry
5- Snuggly puppies
4- Crazy kitty
3- Picking up my Bug on Thursdays
2- Camera equipment
1- Mike

P52 Week 32

Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia. This is a very moving piece of Georgia marble. The lion a noble creature, is grief stricken suffering his fatal wound from the spear in his back. He lays weeping and dying on the Confederate flag with his jaw bared.

The lion guards the Confederate soldiers, known and unknown that are laid to rest Oakland. In his presence, you are some how transported back in time of conflict. You can feel the sadness and suffering of this great beast. He suffers for the soldier who died for their cause and his country who experienced devastating losses.

P52 Week 31

I got this, Taphophilia! Look it up!

P52 Week 30

Graceland, home of the King of Rock n Roll. Parking $10+Ticket Price $35 + Souvenir post cards $3 - Standing at the grave of Elvis - - - "PRICELESS"
Visiting Graceland is something everyone should do at least once. I think you might just change your mind about Elvis. He was man ahead of his time in lots of ways!

Project 52 Week 29

Homecoming week!

Rocking decade day, 80's!

Be the Bee! Character Day!

I should explain, somewhere in the marathon shopping trip it was decide, unbeknown to me, whatever the character was going to be, it was going to include a freakin' tutu! Do you know how hard it is to find and appropriate tutu and a bee costume and not be a hooker bee. So, we found those black and yellow sock thingys at the thrift store and I cut out the toe and she wore them over black leggings. Next a black shirt, with yellow stripes, using yellow duct tape for the stripes, way to go Rachel. We finally found a freakin' tutu at Target and the bee ensemble was found at Target also. The end result was the cutest bee E-V-E-R!

Color Day, gold for the seniors!

Check out those shoes, spray painted gold!

P52 Week 28 - Polo at Bendabout Farms

This is my second year at Bendabout Farms It is an awesome event.

Project 52 Week 27

Project 52 week who knows

Yeah, yeah another cemtery! Don't judge me! It's a pagoda shipped all the way from China and the only one in Chattanooga! It's interesting!

Project 52 Labor Day - week 25

Grilling the dogs in 10 inches of rain!  I am standing inside in the nice dry snuggly house!

P52 Week 24

I bought brand new puppy dog beds (the ditch dog did not get one). They are bigger, softer, firmer and not cheap. Can you tell how much CoCo loves hers. Hint, it is not a king size bed!

P52 Week 23 - First Day of School

Our first day of school, she was fine, I was a wreck, cried most of the day. It is the first time I ever sort of hyperventilated. I learned smell the flowers blow out the candles. I mean what if she gets lost or does not have a friend to eat with at lunch. All was in vain, she was a super star making friends and being brilliant!

P52 Week 22

OMG! They are real big people with real crazy life stories. Hysterical! When they started talking about their Bi-Lo "redneck" experiences and Rachel started sharing her crazy stories I thought I would pee my pants.

P52 Week 21

Not perfect! No wind and lots of smoke! Still amazing!

P52 Week 22

Happy Rescue day Ditch Dog! Five years ago today I drug your sick, dying, mange infested self out of the ditch with the promise to take you to the vet and have you put to sleep. You were really really sick. Then if I got you healthy I promised to give you away to a good family. Well 5 years later your Frisbee chancing self is reeking havoc on the house. I don't think you remember 5 years ago!

P52 Week 20

Happy July 3rd. We were watching the Coolidge park fireworks. Great night!

P52 Week Week 19

Just a little Lightroom practice!

P52 Week 18 Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to me! Little short trip to Gatlinburg for my birthday.

OK so I went looking for this, as if we are surprised, what I would want to do on vacation aaaaaaaannnnnnnndddddddd,
we found this.............and..........

this! Tell me he's is not a cutie pie!

P52 Week 17 - Where am I??

I think we are both saying "What are "you" doing here?"

P52 Week 16

I am too embarrassed to say how far behind I am. I am far enough behind to say the flower blooming in this picture is a bleeding heart. The year was spectacular for this plant right up until a limb fell on it a destroyed it. None too happy about that event but glad to have this pic!

P52 Week 15

Since is has been a stressful few weeks I knew I needed some camera/cemetery time. Weird, I know and don't even remotely care. I crave it like an addict. I just needed to walk and clear my head and think about line, shape, color, pattern, design. You know, important stuff that whatever decision I make does not throw the world out of orbit. No one is babbling in my year about stuff I don't want to talk about. I found this beautifully angel at Millsap's Cemetery on Mowbry Mtn. She was on the grave of an infant and another angel was on the grave of her 5 day old brother about 2 feet away. I know it could be sad, but it can also be beautiful if you look close! Peaceful, calm, content she is happy with her fate.

P52 Week 14

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but the moments that take our breath way. Today was a day that took my breath way. I am always fascinated by all God's creatures and this one was particularly breath-taking! After, an emotionally draining day, I thought, self, you need to unwind. Self, you need to shoot something. I looked around at the beautiful light and lovely blue sky and thought, self, you need to shoot eagles. Genius, I said, to self, love to shoot eagles. I made a few calls and hopped in the golf cart, I love driving things, that is half the fun and was off to shoot eagles! When finished I was very excited about what I shot so I rushed home excited to put that memory card in the card reader. I couldn't wait. I thought about it all the way home. What would they look like like? Would they be as grand as I thought? I had moved, composed, thought about the light, considered my shutter speed and f-stop. Done all the things I knew to do. When I got home, the moment came, I stood in front of the computer and realized that I was not sure I wanted to do it, not sure I wanted to put the card in the slot. Right then in my head the photos were great, prize winners, Outdoor Photography could come knocking on my door but the second they were on screen the truth would be out. No more imagining or dreaming or second guessing. The computer screen does not lie my hopes and dreams could be dashed. I could be hugely disappointed that even though I had done all I knew to do that was right it was not enough. I put the card in and closed my eyes........

They that wait up on the LORD shall renew (their) strength; they shall mount up with the wings as eagle; they shall run, and not be weary, (and) they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

P52 Week 13

How often do you get the chance to photograph something like this? Not very often, thank God!

P52 Week 12

I love the Shirley Miller Wildflower trail. I look forward to it every single year!

P52 Week 11

I love it!

P52 Week 10 - Donna

It is so all about me!

P52 Week 9 Trillium

I love trillium. To me they signify a new season and life. They are so beautiful and exciting. I love looking for all the places they were last year and all the new places they spring up. I just love trillium!

P52 Week 8

Yes, he is crazy thank you very much! We had a tree to fall and he is on the dirt stump.

P52 Week 7

I am behind on my pictures. I am not behind because I forgot or I'm lazy. I am behind because I sort of lost February. Really, where did it go? I thought I was doing go so good but obviously I am off my nut, as if that's any surprise. So, I am playing catch up. I am sooooooooooooo excited about my new sun porch. Here is the old sun porch.

P52 Week 6 02/20/2011

Mac and I have an on-going battle about whose bean bag it really is and right now it seems it belongs to Mac. He is really really sleepy! Too sleepy to give me attitude about taking his picture from my Project 52!!

P52 Week 5 (post #2) 02/10/2011

Mike gets snow on his birthday! I am so jealous.