Under The BIG blue Sky

1st Pumpkin Pie

underthebigbluesky — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:50:19 +0000

I just realized tonight that I missed posting Ems first pumpkin pie. She requested to make a dish for Thanksgiving. I suggested pie. I rolled out the bottom crust and showed her how to roll it on the rolling pin and off into the dish. She made the filling, rolled out the top pastry, cut out the shapes, then placed and egg washed them. I did the oven bit. I made a blackberry with a granola topping, but it paled in comparison to hers. I was outdone by my eight-year old natural baker. Let’s see what she will make for Christmas….

Preparing The Nest

underthebigbluesky — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:02:56 +0000

One thing I wanted to be done this year is a complete clean out of our home. Out with the old, in with the new. Loose papers, junk, plastic, bits and bobs out the door. A preparation for starting 2010 as the year of living simply. Well, I was actually on quite a roll for awhile, completing the downstairs and then things fell to the wayside. So, now we sit three weeks from Christmas, a month from the New Year and I am still not pleased with the “stuff” that is surrounding us.

The Christmas preparations are on a good roll. Most of my gifts this year were simple. Something easily done. I will have a last minute flurry of activity as the week approaches and my food gift items will need to be prepared, but my hope is that we lose the stress of Christmas’ past.

I want this Christmas to be about home, hearth (if we had one) and relishing the comforts of family and simple activities. We are going to try.

So as I finish stripping the nest and enjoying the bits of this season, I may be short on words (something that does not seem to happen very often, no matter how hard I try). The words are there, swirling around in my brain, those half written posts, but for now they will wait as I turn my attention inward.

I have grown and changed and prospered so in this past year. I have just about healed my wounds and found some contentment in what life has handed me. I have myself, my girls, my family and a lot of you to thank for that.

Now my attention must turn to my physical, my everyday, self. So many times, I find I am wishing, dreaming, searching, losing my head in a series of clouds of what if’s, could I’s, maybe’s. Dreaming is a good thing, but right now I need to bring it home. Focus on the everyday. Feather the nest.

When 2010 comes, I want to be ready for it…….in the meantime there is one thing that will never be put aside, the lens of my camera, and the results of that will always be here.

Wordless Wednesday: Stone Bunny, Where Would You Dream To Go?

underthebigbluesky — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:27:43 +0000

James & Elijah

underthebigbluesky — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:54:03 +0000

I snapped a couple of other portraits at my Mom’s on Sunday and thought I would share the family members who have replaced all of us children at home. It seems there is not much I won’t take a picture of these days, but pets, my goodness, they are a challenge.

James. He was my brother’s cat, who moved in with my parents when my brother graduated from college this year. He is a very handsome cat and I love to follow him with the camera. He has taken over the household in the little time he has been there. When I walked through the door Sunday he was stretched out on a rug in front of the woodstove.

This is Elijah, though we all call him Eli. He is one gigantic German Shepherd. I have never cared for German Shepherds since I was bitten by one as a child, but Eli changed my mind about them. Since he was a puppy he could bowl you over. He just leans on you and you kind of fall over. He’s a big baby though, and very fond of my girls since we lived with him for a little while last year while this house was being built.

So, how come my own pets are never so well behaved when I have the camera? A few comments and photos from the environmental portraits project reminded me how integral our pets are as members of our families.

Sunday-Portrait In Progress

underthebigbluesky — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:02:21 +0000

I shot portraits of my parents today. Sometimes faces aren’t necessary.

Environmentals: Photo Assignment #2

underthebigbluesky — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:14:28 +0000

This weeks challenge was to capture five family members or co-workers including yourself from an environmental standpoint. I chose my five most immediate members, my children and my grandparents. For the list of who is involved visit here.

My Grandmother

This is the view from her kitchen window. Preparing food, cooking, cleaning up. That window viewed directly out this window, is one of my kitchen windows. I consider myself blessed beyond measure to see her through my window. One night I caught my Grandfather kissing her in this window, they will celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks.

My Grandfather.

This photo is a few months old, I wrote about it here. This is his favorite tractor, a gift from my Grandmother. He is always busy, always doing something about the place. Not sure what he would do without this machine to help him do all the things that must be done. And he seems to have everything you might ever need in his garage.

Boo

This is Bear. He was hers before she was born. She cannot sleep without him. He travels with us and occasionally goes on day excursions. Notice the underwear on the bed. She never puts away her socks and underwear. She leaves them everywhere even hiding them in drawers rather than putting them in the hamper.

Ems.

Has a two books in the bed rule. How many times have I said, “Ems, you don’t NEED more than two books in your bed at a time“, yet somehow I have a hard time enforcing this rule. Her teacher told me she is the only student in the class allowed to have three books in her desk at a time because “she actually is reading them all“, she said in amazement.

Me.

After some thought, this one sums me up. My mind swimming in the thoughts of 1,000 projects and recipes. As hard as I attempt to organize myself, everything remains, half complete.

Thanksgiving Morning.

underthebigbluesky — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:08:38 +0000

Beautiful.

Thanks D. for prodding me to go outside between the rain and the fog.

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Thanksgiving

underthebigbluesky — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:17:56 +0000

Seasonal Delights

underthebigbluesky — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:11:58 +0000

I don’t think I could live in a place where there were no distinct changes to the seasons. For those that work the land or those that live their lives attuned to nature, the seasons present a way of marking your life. Spring is a time of freshness and renewal. Summer brings the growing, the caring, long days to wander and explore. Fall is the harvest, the winding down of busy summer, the turning inward and for me has always seemed to be nesting time, tucking in the house for winter. Winter is the time of rest (though it certainly never feels it), staying inside, finding projects to do in the warmth of home.

I am further amazed at the wonder I find in each of the changing seasons. Saturday I stood in the back lot and took in the changing landscape. We have been in this place one full year now, one cycle of the seasons. Where I stood last winter and saw naked trees and snow falling, became green shoots and bursting buds, through the warmth of summer and sunlight streaming through the trees. Now I find if I stop I smell woodsmoke wafting from the neighbor’s house, hear geese flying overhead, feel the crispness in the air and see the place around me mix in shades of brown.

It’s a wonder to behold. One I treasure, the miraculousness of this life. That when I tire of the everyday, it will all change and rearrange and present itself in another beautiful arrangement. A kaleidescope if you will, each turn bringing another deep joyful sigh.

Hydrangea Quilt

underthebigbluesky — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:14:35 +0000

Creating these visual quilts seems to be a little addictive.