White on White

Solitude

Holiday Hangover

{That's a Wrap} Winter Photography Project Day 10

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."
— John Lennon

I'll be honest that this post lacks to creativity and flair I had planned in my head when I started. I hoped to get to my favorite coffee shop {Nokomis Beach Coffee} days ago because these empty spots were filled with trees. I am happy for every one who bought all the trees, may your Christmas be merry, but you totally killed my flair. I will reframe this by saying I made it 10 days and today was real cold, it was the end of a really crazy week at work so the fact this got done is good enough for me. I even lack any great words of wisdom or reflection for the final day. I think yesterdays post summed it up. But I'll smack a great quote at the top of this post that is so so very true. Peace out, stay warm and love the ones your with....:)

{City Sidewalks} Winter Photography Challenge Day 9

Yesterday was a day completely running on the adrenaline of the day, filtered with the non-stop thoughts and chatter in my head. (not little voices...no worries there...). I believe many can relate. Similar to when you have been driving and all of the sudden are at the place you want to go or a stop light and think "How did I get here?" or conversations where you are talking at someone or zoning out and think "what did I just say or what did they say?"

This project is coming to an end and what I take from it is a reminder to find some way to stop and break the bluster of life. Breathe deep from your belly and just look. Take it in because the present moment is exactly peaceful and perfect. As I get older, I'm finding I need little in life to be content than longer and more frequent breaks like these. For me, it takes a lot of effort and hard work to step out of myself and be still and watch. I know a few people who live in this state for most of the day and try to be around them as much as possible. It rubs off, calms and I appreciate this gift more than words can say.

This house is next to my son's preschool. The same one by daughter went to 2 years ago.
I got out of my car and breathed, looked up and saw it for the first time with it's beautiful texture of stone. Evergreens that could touch the sky, served as a perfect archway frame. The contrast and texture of snow mimicked perfectly the stone that framed the house and city street. If you live here I imagine that it is cozy and warm. Breathe and Enjoy:)

{Carts, Cars, Consumerism and Coffee} Winter Photography Challenge Day 8

All tapped out from today. This is what I had left in me for this post. A quick stop to Target before the kid pick up....crazy life I lead...

{Stillness Speaks} Winter Photography Challenge Day 7

" I am in need of music that would flow

Over my fretful, feeling finger-tips,
Over my bitter-tainted, trembling lips,
With melody, deep, clear, and liquid-slow.
Oh, for the healing swaying, old and low,
Of some song sung to rest the tired dead,
A song to fall like water on my head,
And over quivering limbs, dream flushed to glow!

There is a magic made by melody:
A spell of rest, and quiet breath, and cool
Heart, that sinks through fading colors deep
To the subaqueous stillness of the sea,
And floats forever in a moon-green pool,
Held in the arms of rhythm and of sleep. "
— Elizabeth Bishop

{Snow Day} Winter Photography Challenge Day 6

I would like to dedicate this post to Minneapolis Public Schools which canceled school for the first time in decades because of road conditions and freezing temps{thank you storm of the century}. It is only because I have been stuck in the house for four straight days with 2 small kids under 7 did I get outside on such a cold day. When it hit 4 degrees I dressed them up and headed out the door, we lasted as a group about 15 minutes, but it was enough to get a hit of sunshine, fresh frigid air and a grasp on some sanity.
Just wait for tomorrow's post...which will be dedicated to Stan the communications director for Minneapolis Public Schools who left a late night message last night on my phone mail telling me school was canceled for another day....

{taking a walk to the store} Day 5 Winter Photography Challenge

I will brag now how I trudged 4 blocks to the hardware store yesterday afternoon. This is pretty big for me, and I am glad I did. It was quite the work out, the sun was shining perfectly and I was incredibly proud of myself when I got home. I won't even whine about the storm that I haven't even whined about yet or talk about the 81 degree weather in Phoenix that I whined about...;) Enjoy!

{Hide and Seek} Winter Photography Challenge Day 4

I made it out in the morning, when I could open the back door and took a few shots. The rest of the day I slept, read and hung out. Simplicity at it's finest.

{Blanketed} Winter Photography Challenge Day 3

"I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree~

And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches."
— Robert Frost

{At the Car Wash} Winter Photography Challenge Day 2

I was all ready to stop off at this great coffee shop by my house that has evergreens wrapped around it's entrace for today's post but realized half way home and as usual running behind to pick up the little people, that I was running on fumes. There is ALWAYS this threshold I hit, refer to Seinfeld episode, where I wonder if I can push it or should I stop. How far will that little light that says "no gas no gas" really take me. So, I did stop, which led me at this BP off Cedar. I got a real kick at the holiday decor abundant at this place, but stopped photographing as I got the vibe the worker inside the BP store (look close) suspected I might be scoping it out, ready to rob the place. I confess, I find gas stations great places to people watch and photograph. I have taken plenty of road trips in my time and have considered the idea of doing a project or series of some sort on this very thing...so here we go...typical of me...a project from a project to a really great idea...well you get the point...exciting and exhausting! Much like the life of the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, looking at his clock frantically, running late for an important date, wimpering so much to do so little time...but I digress...

The point of all this is I made it to Day 2! It was twice the temp it was yesterday. Three cheers for me!

over and out-

p.s. I did wash my car, I took pics (nerd alert) but technically I was in my car so did not post. But they are sooo cool looking

p.p.s. Sometime I will have to get gas at the place across the street....:)

{Hidden} Winter Photo Project Day 1

These were all taken after a real real real long day at work. There is a outdoor classroom behind the school and it is truly beautiful. Not only did I get out there (by myself), but could have stayed and ventured further but my fingers were frozen. Much appreciation to the custodian who let me back into the school since I forgot my keys....

{Just do it} me, myself and I Photographer's Challenge

You will notice that my blog has contained a lot of summer, warm weather type photographs over its history. The desert, the water, beach and warmth are what fills my heart up and I believe scientifically, for survival, they are places I should live (insert drama, I know I know). But I don't. Right now I visit and dream. Nice escape, but never has worked all that well...SOOOO, as being one for self-punishment...i mean self-growth, I am announcing a challenge on my blog. For the next 10 days I will get outside and take one picture a day of winter beauty and post here on my blog. This is inspired by the photographer I saw all bundled on my way home last night, armed with tripod, photographing the beautiful sunset over Lake Nokomis. (Note I did do this with my blackberry camera phone from the driver's seat of my mini-van...I really did since my daughter was watching for traffic behind me...)

There is so much beauty in the winter. I miss it, since I hibernate and fight what is fact. This can be a whole different blog/psychoanalytical post. I won't subject anyone to that story. Now, will anyone sign up for the role of "kick my ass out the door"? Please:) Once I'm out there, I can handle it. It's a small threshold but it's a start. I can't promise they will be pretty photos (dear god, help my inner perfectionist), or not have a ton of camera shake from my shivering but this is necessary and healthy for me to do. And I find it's so much easier to adjust your sails with the current as to swimming upstream.
After 35 years I laying off the accelerator (a bit) and getting to even pace minute by minute...
-Peace out! Stay warm!

Here are some photos from our trip out west last March:) No snow included~

{marked} Sarasota, FL Fine Art Photography

"A word is dead when it's been said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day."
— Emily Dickinson

{illuminiated} Minneapolis, MN Child Photographer

"There either is or is not, that’s the way things are. The colour of the day. The way it felt to be a child. The saltwater on your sunburnt legs. Sometimes the water is yellow, sometimes it’s red. But what colour it may be in memory, depends on the day. I’m not going to tell you the story the way it happened. I’m going to tell it the way I remember it."
— Charles Dickens (Great Expectations)

{Fleeting Moments} Minneapolis, MN Fine Art Child Photography

"One must maintain a little bittle of summer, even in the middle of winter."
— Henry David Thoreau

{Dad's Arms} Prior Lake, MN Family Photographer

I think there is something about winter that draws me to pictures like this. It's cold and you want to snuggled and be warm with the people you love. This is from the same session as below. This little lady is snuggled warm, safe in dad's arms. Pretty nice place to be.

{Comfort} Prior Lake, MN Baby Photographer

{Forces} Fine Art Photography

"It felt like I'd been living underground, and for a moment,
I'd been given this glimpse of the sky.
Once you've seen that, how can you go back where you came from?"
Jodi Picoult

{Happy Thanksgiving}

from all the turkeys at our home to yours:)....
be thankful
be warm
eat
drink
cuddle
love
laugh
enjoy!

{Peace, Love and Beyonce} Minneapolis, MN Child Photographer

"I don't think your ready for this jelly"
-Destiny's Child

On a rare occasion I will get a shot like this of my child. Without a bribe. Just because...love....

Then I will get a shot like this. I say act like a turkey...I get a "Bootylicious Beyonce" pose....love...and just typical of this one...



Peace Out!