Random camera pictures

I finally downloaded the pictures from my phone after 9 months of owning it.
In the last post I talked about how I never take my camera out at all. But, since I always have my phone with me, I do sometimes take pictures with it.
so, here are some random photos.....


Wyatt, Shelby and Annie in the back seat of the pickup on the way to California. This was taken on the 2nd day of the trip just east of Las Vegas.

Evie in the feather boas at Joannes craft store.

Annie getting her Converse signed by Christian comedian Tim Hawkins. The kids and I saw him in Denver. If you don't know him look him up on YouTube. funny stuff.

Clay getting ready to take his first bite of corn on the cob after getting his braces off. He was very excited.

Mom's memorial rock at the pit. The quote is by Whittier: "The steps of faith fall on the seeming void but find the rock beneath." Fitting.

All this makes me think I really need to be better about taking my camera; but I am happy that my phone was there :)

I discover I like taking pictures

One of the things I have learned about myself is that I like to take pictures!
I am notorious for not having pictures of my kids, family, or any event I have practically ever been too.
But I have found I like taking pictures when I have complete and total control, everything stays where I put it, and I have a nice and quiet place to do it. Control freak? Me? whatever :)

I discovered that my basement is too dark for pictures so I moved my base of Operation Photos to the dining room table. I had a white sheet but it would stubbornly wrinkle or cause shadows I didn't want. Then I had 2 pieces of white foam board but you could see where the back and front did not quite meet up in the corner. So I bought a white tri-fold project board and use it for the base and the backdrop.

I like the way the measuring spoons are sparkly,

and the way my little bird is looking at his shadow,

and how the light is thrown by these spoon handles. Ok, the fact they are not PERFECTLY lined up bothers me, just a little bit, but I still like it overall.

Maybe someday I will actually take my camera out of the house :)

The post in which I want to cry and/or hit something

I apologize ahead of time.
This post is going to be a 'whine' moment.
Remember when this blog was only going to be about happy things, my favorite things; great finds, crafts, etc??
well, forget that for a moment or just ignore this entry.

I am tired, grouchy, emotional, and in an overall bad mood.
The dogs are hiding in the kitchen, Annie is hiding in her bedroom, Ken is hiding in his office, Clay is hiding at a friends house, and Wyatt is blissfully unaware of the black cloud and silence that has descended over mi casa. I am in the kind of mood where I don't even say anything, everyone just knows to lay low for the evening. I want to cry or hit something but I don't have the energy for either one.

First thing this morning I was missing my debit card, then there was a problem with an Etsy sale (which I had a feeling was going to go bad and it did, don't ask), then I feel like I can't do anything right at new job (which is my own fault since I expect perfection out of myself and then crumble when it turns out I am human and make mistakes), then dinner out which by that time I was a mess so it wasn't fun and they sat us in a back corner next to a stack of empty chairs, an enormous stack of plastic cowboy hats full of peanuts and a guy who sang really loud along with the Johnny Cash song playing in the background, then a movie (Megamind) which either wasn't funny AT ALL or I may have not heard any laughter from within my fort of self pity (((insert violins here))) then JUST NOW I can't find my wallet and throw the pants I had on this morning at the wall while saying "why is everything so damn hard??!!??"

Ken and I did go to a couple estate sales this morning and I found a couple good things. An entire storage box full of all sorts of ribbon for $5. For some reason I love ribbon so that made me happy. And I drove home without crashing, so considering how everything else today went we will count that as a win too.

now, I am going to open a diet Dr Pepper, turn off the computer and go read more in a book called The Bells. It is SO good and deserves it's own happy post.

promising happier posts to come,
Tanya

screeching halt

After going into garge sale overdrive last weekend I feel like I've come to a screeching halt.
I started my new part-time job as a court clerk on Monday, and have not been very productive.
I have not been to the thrift store or sewn a stitch at all this week. yuck.
On the good side I have sold some things I already had and put more pieces for sale on both eBay and etsy, so all is not lost.

I had to sneak this picture of a pumpkin Annie carved. She had a sticky stencil you put on the pumpkin for a guide. The funny part is that she only had this huge knife to use and I told her that she wouldn't be able to do it since the knife was too big. So, being her little crazy self, she found a very large safety pin and used that. Yes, she carved this with a safety pin!! It took her about an hour but she got it done.

Nobody should ever tell her that she can't do something!