They guy Robbie carpools with left his bike parked in our driveway today. If that's not an invitation to take pictures I don't know what is!!

It's a big day in our house! About eight months ago Kya started sleeping in our room. We don't really know why or what triggered it but at around the same time she also stopped sleeping over with friends. We didn't worry too much because she seemed fine otherwise and didn't think it was caused by anything- she just knew she felt more comfortable in our room so that's what we did. Today she asked if we could set up the bunk bed that was in the basement and move her mattress from our room onto the top bunk! We worked all afternoon to rearrange and make room for the bed. She's planning to sleep up top and is using the bottom for storage (she has waaay to much stuff in her room but that's another story). I'm gappy she's feeling like trying this out but I must admit that I felt a little sad when she was in her room with the door closed and music up loud. As much as I want her to be independent I can't help but feel a pang as she grows up.

September's coming...

It's still warm, but I can see fall coming in the plants and flowers when I go out to shoot.

I somehow hurt my neck and back. Everyone I've talked to who has experienced something similar seems to think its a pinched nerve. I'm willing it to get better soon- my September is waaaay to busy for injury. In the meantime, ibuprofen.

Rey's home for the night, this is my pic. Nuff said. ;)

and I do believe

that leaves ARE going to be falling soon! I took these today (before the fall, I'm glad b/c I was too shook up after) and in honor of being lucky enough to have a working camera, I'm posting all 3 b/c I like them all!

Leaves are supposed to fall....

NOT my camera! This isn't my actual picture for today, but it was so traumatizing that I had to post about it. I was flustered today and in my haste grabbing for the phone that I was frustrated with, I knocked my camera off the picnic table and right onto the pavilion CEMENT floor...

There was a collective GASP of everyone in the pavilion and resounding silence as my camera hit the cement and BOUNCED. I froze, I think I thought if I just froze up, maybe it would all be a dream. Hope quickly picked it up for me and it must be a miracle b/c not only is the camera ok (as far as I can tell), the lens didn't crack either. I must have SOME kind of luck b/c when you hear a camera bounce on concrete, you don't expect it to work afterward.
SHEW...now, on to the pics that I'm terribly grateful to be able to take!

I had a few good pics to choose between today. In the end I picked this one because M is a new subject for the blog. And I love that she was climbing the jungle gym in her flowy skirt. ;-)

I also enjoyed the attic fan today! Seeing the curtains billowing was one of the prettiest things I've seen in a long time!

FWIW, I took this pic before I read Karen's post- I guess great minds jut think alike!

Can you feel it????

The breeze, that is? This weather is out of this world and what a difference it makes for me! We've had the windows open and the attic fan all day and it's gorgeous. I have gotten a ton done around the house and have boundless energy, I'm attributing this to the weather. The first shot is where I'm going to spend my evening. I guess I should have gotten some wine to have with my book, but I forgot.

Then, I noticed something in the first shot and had to go outside and take another picture...

Circle of friends...

It has been so great to help with the wedding planning, mostly because of the time spent with great friends. Sometimes, like today, when we all get together we have so much fun that we don't get much accomplished. But that just means we have to get together again so it all works out in the end. ;)

Makin' a wedding!

Spent a wonderful afternoon working on stuff for Summer's wedding and then finished it off with book club!

It's a brand new day!

Lots of changes for us today, Rey starts his new job and we are giving up our car (and payment) for a older paid off vehicle to save money. Changes can be hard sometimes, but these are for the best, I think. I'll spend half the day licensing the car, I'm sure, and the other at my client's house, spending one last afternoon in a pool before it's officially fall for us!

I know, I'm a slacker...

I DID take a few pictures, but most of the day was spent in my client's pool and enjoying the 1 day Rey had home!

Only in a small town is the airport in the middle of a hay field and the old planes literally put out to pasture.

Clearly Hope and I were together today! LOL. I have two shots, one of the picturesque pool we enjoyed and another of Savannah and THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED CHILD EVAH! ;o)

Best seat in the house, umm, I mean pool...

More stuff I'm selling. I wasn't in the mood for pictures today for a variety of reasons. I did manage to pick up the camera so I could list some more things on eBay. So, that's all you get- and it's past midnight when I'm posting again because I almost forgot!

How's THIS for a shed...

WOOT! I'm back at my client's house that not only has a pool, but a plethora of photo opportunities! I already know the shot I'm taking tomorrow. LOL

We had our Not-back-to-school party today with our homeschool group!

As I was snapping this picture I made a sarcastic comment to Karen about putting another picture of C eating on the blog- but then I got home and this was my favorite picture of our NOT Back to School Party, oh well. I never promised to be original. :-p

M.A. has SWARMS of butterflies all over the flowers in front of her house.

A few days ago my booklight broke. This is a major tragedy in my house because I don't sleep well unless I read first so, I haven't slept well since it happened. Today I searched high and low and couldn't find a light that used AA batteries- a requirement since I use it so much and need to be able to use my rechargables. I happened to mention it to my parents and low and behold, my mom had one she doesn't use. Moms fix everything.

Twilight...

I'm taking this word back from the sparkly vampires.
;-)

back is still bothering me, so you get one of the only shots I took today, listing some tractor trailer snow chains for sale.

I had a pretty full day and not much time for fun with the camera. I listed a LOT of stuff on eBay- something that isn't difficult but is time consuming and tedious. Therefore you get a shot of one of my items up for sale. I chose the old lens and its accessories because it seemed the most appropriate for the blog. ;-)

I'm baaaack. Back is still out, but I got a few shots this morning when I had to get out to petsit.

I missed yesterday and probably today, I've pulled my back and out it hurts just to sit at the computer and type this. I guess I could take shots of the couch/tv, but I really don't even have the energy for that. I'll be back tomorrow hopefully.

I'm seriously running out of things to take pictures of when we don't go anywhere. We were home all day so while Kya was playing with her Barbie convertible I just imagined a road trip. ;-)

Shady...

I wear my sunglasses ALL the time, from dawn to dusk, winter to fall. When I'm inside or in the shade I push them up but rarely take them off. Sometimes I'll be home for hours and realize I still have them on top of my head. Which is why it was so funny today when C, the beautiful boy who is a frequent subject on this blog for both Karen and myself, didn't recognize me until I pushed them up. He was in the car and I was running inside and I stopped to say hi- he was looking at me with a very serious expression and I could tell he had no idea who I was. I pushed up my sunglasses and he smiled and said, "Hi Hope!" Good to know he won't be talking to any 'shady' characters. B-)

Oops...

Well, I forgot all about the project yesterday. I was in bed and almost asleep at about 1 AM when I remembered that I hadn't posted a picture and decided to just finish falling asleep. I did pick up my camera yesterday and take four pictures of the hall where our friends are having their wedding reception next month but I wasn't really taking a picture as much as testing how my lens would do in the dark room. But in the spirit of the challenge I'll post one of them anyway, even if I am posting it a day late.

Got Hope?

If ya do, could you send it my way?

The things I've been going through are changing me and I'm struggling to see the beauty in things I normally do. Beautiful sunrise this morning, but I didn't feel like I could enjoy it or see it for what it really is b/c my mind is all muddled up with worry and stress. This is more what it looked like to me...ironically, I find this beautiful as well.

Back to the books

We started back up school work today. (we homeschool) The boys love to do it on the couch all sprawled out(they wouldn't let me photograph THAT), there's just something about books and papers strewn all over the table that I enjoy.

I find it hard to believe anything is blooming in this heat!

Just hangin' out...