Windmills (with a little PS playing)

Windmills (with a little PS playing), originally uploaded by M A S Photography.

Ok, took a little break from what I was supposed to be working on to play with another windmill picture from yesterday. Did a little sepia/texturing/aging/framing work. Now, time for lunch and back to what I'm supposed to be doing.

Battle of the Old and the New

Battle of the Old and the New, originally uploaded by M A S Photography.

Here's another photo of the windmills from today. Shows a kind of a "battle
of the old and the new."

Winter Windmill Walk (or rather, drive)

Winter Windmill Walk (or rather, drive), originally uploaded by M A S Photography.

Took a winter photo drive today through the "wind farm" just east of Bloomington. Perfect blue sky for shooting the windmills. While driving on a back road I saw this "real" windmill and it's placement was just right against the "modern" versions.

Tough Life

Just what does a dog lounge around and think about?
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The "Priceless" Necklace

It's funny how a six year girl can make something cheap be the most priceless item in the world.

On Sunday at Walgreen I picked up a $5 book for Savannah that had kitten necklace included - note, this was to make up for NOT buying her a book when I did for Andrew at Kroger earlier in the day. You would have thought the necklace was pure gold as much as she loved it.

She very proudly wore it to school on Monday, making sure all of her best friends saw it. Then, when she was getting undressed for bed she tried to pull off her sweater without taking off the necklace first. Needless to say, it broke.

At the time there seemed to be little to no reaction from Savannah - she put the necklace on the kitchen counter and said she was going on up to bed.

However, after scolding Andrew for not being a good listener (that's another blog entry I choose not to address now) I noticed Andrew getting very teary-eyed. I apologized and asked him if he was ok... "Yes, but, I just feel so bad for Savannah. She's so upset about her necklace. It's her favorite necklace she's ever had and she doesn't think it can ever be fixed. She's in her bed crying and crying." I smiled and said, "You mean I've been getting upset at you the last few minutes for not listening and it's because you were thinking about Savannah?" He started to cry again... "Yes, I just feel so bad for her."

I held him tight... He's always thinking of others... So sensitive to other's feelings and needs. So much sometimes that it gets him into trouble.

I went up to see Savannah and I could hear her sobbing... "That was my most favorite necklace I've ever had." I promised her that no matter what, I would get the necklace fixed... Even if I have to take it into a jeweler.

I got her settled down to a wimper-every-30-seconds... Then Laurie came home. Of course, the sobbing started all over again.

After they came home from school today she immediately noticed the necklace sitting on the counter... still broken. I told her I would take it to be fixed tomorrow. But, while the chocolate chip cookies baked (cut and bake people, I'm not Mr. Crocker) I decided to give the necklace a shot... And, amazingly I did it. I got the two broken links together and pinched them closed (these were tiny tiny links). Thank God for my new reading glasses and needle nose pliers.

When I brought it into Savannah she was beaming :-) Her priceless necklace was fixed and her daddy was a hero.

Being a daddy is AWESOME :-)

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Winter Shooting

Nothing like a nice walk with your camera on a cold winter day.

Ok, if you really know me you know this is a lie. But, I wanted some winter photos, so... I'll grin and shoot it :-) I'd much rather be shooting on a beach where it's 80 degrees!!!

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Play dough Eggs

Savannah made me a mid-afternoon snack :-) Gotta love Play dough eggs.
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Why You Should Always Check Your Child's Homework

Click on image to see larger version

Cool...

I saw this picture on another blog and had to share it... I had seen it earlier in the day on a news site but forgot to go back and "grab it." The picture was taken by satelite during the inauguration of President Obama on Tuesday... 

(Click on picture for a larger image)

Mister Tumnus

Mister Tumnus, originally uploaded by M A S Photography.

Here is a recent picture of Mr Tumnus, our 18-month old silky terrier. I'll hopefully be sharing a series of photos I shot of him a few days ago, but not until I finish a project for a Christmas present I'm working on. Yeah, I know. It's January 20th and I'm still working on a Christmas present. It's a long story of perfectionism, photo editing mistakes and monitor issues... Excuses, excuses, excuses.

Playing Dress Up

Found a use for American Girl clothes... They're the perfect size for Mister Tumnus :-)

Gorgeous Smile!!!

Gorgeous Smile!!!, originally uploaded by M A S Photography. 

Is that a GORGEOUS smile or is that a GORGEOUS smile?!?! I LOVE IT!!!

We'll never have the opportunity to see this again... unless one of our kids slides under the car on the ice like their Aunt Manny did when she was younger : )

Little Entertainer

Laurie and I were blessed with the opportunity to hear Savannah in her first acoustic performance - as she played she sang the words to a book she's been reading: "Scout."

Gotta love it when the "entertainer" comes out of your child :-)

The guitar was a children's acoustic I picked up a couple years ago, originally priced at $50 with a sale price of $9 - probably the best present-just-because I've ever purchased.

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Family Tea Party

Daddy's First Curling Job

I had my first "curler experience" this afternoon... Not too bad, if I may say so myself (see below).

Why, you might be wondering, would I be doing my daughter's curlers rather than my very capable wife? Well... Multiple reasons:

1) Laurie spent all day putting Christmas decorations away and I wasn't about to ask her to do Savannah's hair
2) I was the one who wanted Savannah to have curls in her hair tomorrow for church
3) Savannah wanted me to do it
4) I love my daughter very much
5) I love my wife very much
6) I wanted to see if I could do it (I like a challenge)
7) I like Andrew to see his father do things like this for his sister
8) To see if other fathers would respond with "Hey, I've done that before" or "You've got to be kidding!"

And what are we all doing in a little bit? We're all having a TEA PARTY!!! Andrew's response was "not me." But, I told him he was and we'll all have fun doing it, too :-) He just smiled at me and said, "OK."

I LOVE BEING A DADDY!!!
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Beautiful Smile

Could there be a more beautiful smile than this?
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