Photography 5/365

I most likely won’t make you look at all 365 of these Photography 365 images. It’s just that while I am wallowing in the house, really getting a feel for my new recluse status, I haven’t got much else.

Sam’s not big on the photography thing, just about the time this image was taken he tried to slip away from me into the brain-numbing clutches of his DS. I put an end to that in a hurry! He whined, “awwwww … is this going to be like that time in the summer when you took pictures of me ALL day?”

He’s a good boy, quite often funny, although not on purpose. Just the other day Lizzy was admiring some new earrings …

Lizzy: What does genuine crystal mean?
Me: It means they are real crystal, not fake or pretend.
Sam: WHOA, COOL! You can mail them in for CASH you know Liz!

He’s obviously been watching these cash for gold commercials –> http://cashforgoldusa.com/?cid=11&gclid=CNio7OGStZgCFRQhnAodSj7UUQ (I shouldn’t really give them a link, but since there is a recession, maybe one of you TV’less sorts with loads of spare bling and no moola in the grocery fund may find this handy).

Georgia also gets sucked in by the ads. I recently scolded her for wild splashing in the tub. It was outrageous, some splash’age is expected, but she’d some how managed to get an inch of water on the floor. Then she suggested I buy a ShamWow!

Any funny stories for us?

* * * *

The first of many winners for the the ‘Happy Book Day to You ~ the Series’ Giveway is:

I counted down the list (twice to be sure), and the winner is: JennB

Happy book day to you, happy book day to you, happy book day dear JennB, happy book day to you!

Email me!

MK xo
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For your viewing pleasure (or displeasure … maybe?) while I get the Happy Book Day to You ~ the Series winner all sorted out.

Photography 4/35

Again, I stepped all the way out of the house, this time all the way into the yard (not just the deck) to take this. That’s me leaving the house two days in a row. WOW! I am becoming a bit of a recluse, so this is progress, before that it had been eight days. Oh yeah, I also did a wee bit of grocery shopping, visited my aunt, and went swimming. The bathing suit part, now THAT … was painful for me and the other bathers. BIG white marine mammal = > beluga!

I want to know, do you have a camera? What sort? If you could have any camera you wanted, what would it be?

MK xo
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The Guardian’s list (well, several lists really) of novels that should be on your list of 1000 books to read before you die. Conveniently broken down into sections. Thanks to Loobylu for the heads up.

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Introducing –> Happy Book Day to You ~ the Series

Do you remember in December I held a Happy Book Day Giveaway on my birthday? Well I enjoyed it so much (because books are my favorite thing), I thought I’d make it a weekly occurrence. For the next several weeks you can count on a ‘Happy Book Day to You ~ the Series’ giveaway every Tuesday.

Photography 3/365

This weeks selection is: the story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski –> it’s good. So, so good. Really, really good. Great even! Don’t fuss if your anti-Oprah, just read the book and pretend she didn’t suggest it to you! Okay? Kay!

Some simple rules and things to remember:

1. This book is second hand. I’ve read it, I liked it and I am giving it to you. Call me cheap, or call me environmentally friendly, I’m not bothered either way. Your choice.

2. Consider passing it forward when you are done, you could even have a giveaway! Remember what goes around comes around.

3. You must come back here to see if you are the winner. I won’t track you down, if you wait to long … I might lend it to a friend or a neighbor and then YOU are out of luck. You need to email me with your address, once I receive it I will pop it in the mail to you at my convenience.

4. To be eligible to win, you need to leave a comment on this post. I’ll pick a winner sometime on Wednesday, January 29th, 2009.

5. Tell a friend –> this isn’t really a rule, but it would be really nice. *wink*

What do you think? Good idea?

What are you reading right now? What would you recommend for me?

* * *
Time’s up / Comments closed – Winner will be announced soon!

MK xo
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Photography 2/365

I’ve been looking out the window at this bird house the kids made me eons ago, thinking it’s weathered look was worth photographing. This morning, about 500 days after the original idea, I opened the back door and took the photo. My God the effort. * L * A * Z * Y *

In my own defense, I am not well today (I wash probably fine 489 of the other 499 days though). Sunday is the day I take an intramuscular shot for my MS and often I have flu like symptoms for 24-36 hours. Not terrible, but not good. Tylenol helps.

I was going to start my NEW weekly giveaway today, but realized that Monday isn’t going to work. (HELLO! Yah think!) It looks like Tuesday will be the day. Pop in tomorrow and READ all about it (that was a hint folks). HEADS UP!

I love to take photos of faces, kids faces mostly. I am always striving for the perfect shot (it hasn’t happened yet), much like Miz Booshay does pretty much every day. Is there anyone out there who can come to my house and teach me how to do this? I’ll pay.

My friend Kim takes photos like that too. Look at this photo she took of Georgia: http://flickr.com/photos/twonewmommies/2906776030/ – Fabulous. You can find her at: Real Moments and her Blog. If you scroll down on the blog you’ll see the photo shoot she did for me with ALL four of my kids. I love it.

After kids faces I like to shoot old abandoned stuff. That reminds me, if I don’t start pulling my weight around here, I might just might find myself an old abandoned stuff.

I meant stuff like this:

The old barn at my grandparents farm. Isn’t it great? I hate that people don’t build proper barns anymore!

This old boat on the restricted beach in the Queen Charlotte Islands.

I am going to try and get out this week and drive around looking for old stuff. Weird but true. It’s probably going to require that I get dressed. I am not looking forward to that part.

Here is a new blog I am loving: Mother May I – a big part of my inspiration to do the 365 insanity project.

So come back tomorrow for the giveaway. Tell your friends!

MK xo
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I need a photography challenge, a reason to pick up my camera each day.

It sounds odd, but I love to have photos, to look at them (mine and yours), but I hate taking them. I want to be a better photographer. I once took a class, but I didn’t do my homework. Maybe I do like taking photo’s, I just don’t like getting organized to take photos. You know getting up to get the camera, finding the camera, choosing the settings (hahaha choosing the settings — like I know what that means), changing the lens, replacing the batteries in the flash. If I only had an assistant, a good looking, muscular assistant with a hot bod, 30 something — oh yeah, I do, he’s just busy with the kids and the cooking (bwahahaha)!

I suppose then, that I like photography like I like scuba diving or downhill skiing. The results are enjoyable, but getting ready … OH, what a pain in the keester! Being a lazy being means it’s a miracle I have ever attempted these sorts of activities more than once!

Back to the challenge, I’ve decided to join Project 365 –> take a photo everyday and upload it to the flickr group.

I heard that SIGH, that GROAN, the ‘as if’ under your breath! I know I dropped out of the 365blog thing, but this will be different, it’s just a photo! I think photography takes practice and I hope this will give me the just the practice I need. Don’t forget –> I stuck with the 30 Tiny Moments and the NaBloPoMo.

1/365 – Not a Great Start!

Hey, give the kid a break, it’s only day one of a very, very long year!

MK xo
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Win the most fabulous outfit ever @ Grosgrain!

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Just in case you aren’t aware, I am a news junkie. My fabulous = me curled up on the couch with pajamas, coffee, CNN BBC / CBC, laptop (because I like to read at the same time) and a cozy throw. Like now!

You’d assume then, that I know what new is, right? Right! Well, you’d be wrong, because I’ve found myself constantly thinking over the past several weeks –> THAT IS NOT NEWS! That is so NOT important! Tell me something that matters!

I am going to assume that CNN knows more about ‘what news is’ than I do. Therefore, I can only assume I know very little about what news is!

Apparently news is:

Custom made wool coats by J. Crew for the Obama girls, evidently a wise choice of clothing due to it’s affordability to the average American. If that’s accessible, I am a monkey’s uncle. When was the last time J. Crew drew mock-ups and created a one of kind coat for your kid?

I don’t want to know about the Obama’s shopping choices, I want to know about President Obama’s foreign policy choices. The coats are lovely, the girls are lovely, but they aren’t news, are they? It’s not important… it just doesn’t matter. It might deserve a mention on Inauguration Day, to fill in the gaps between star sightings and Bush bashing. I don’t think it deserves repeated airtime 4 days later! Stop it with the stinking coat coverage CNN. I don’t care about the periwinkle wool, the coral/pink combination, the frugal yet stylish satin ribbon ties. Do you?

I do care about the more than 400 children that died in Gaza over the past few weeks. I want to know and understand more about little Samar who was shot in the back at close range by Israelis defense forces. Her family was ordered to leave their home, then while the women and children exited waving a white flag all but Samar and her grandmother (who were both wounded), were shot dead.

This man stood on the street of Canmore, Alberta on December 31st, 2008 (it was minus -20). He was protesting against Israel’s occupation of Gaza. Notice the right side of the box it reads: This will NOT make the news! Sadly, he was right. I wonder how the rest of the world feels when we talk about ribbons and fashion, and ignore atrocities?

I’ve recently switched to watching the BBC and CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). They’re not perfect, but they are at least reporting stories of substance … mostly.

3 of the top 10 stories at CNN.com today:

Caylee Anthony’s grandfather reported missing, later found.
Kelly Osbourne in ‘medical facility’
Sasha’s smile could be a guide to our future

3 of the top 10 stories at BBC.com today:

Green light for US stem cell work
Deadly missiles strike Pakistan
DR Congo seeks Nkunda extradition

3 of the top 10 stories at CBC.ca

Obama meets with Democrat, Republican leaders on stimulus plan
FDA approves embryonic stem cell trial for humans
Rwanda arrests Congo rebel leader Laurent Nkunda

Dear Lord, please tell me that things haven’t gotten so terrible that the leader of the free world is going to rely on the smile of a seven year old to guide us into the future! Please!

And CNN … you promise NEWS … it’s time to ‘shit or get off the pot’! –> Sorry Anderson even though you’re hot, I have to move on!

MK xo
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If you’ve spent any time at all in the far north (or even Edmonton), you know that any sort of light in the dead of winter is appreciated. Maybe that’s why we get excited over the Northern Lights. I spent a year in Yellowknife in my early twenties, and I still remember waking up in the wee hours to an illuminated apartment and realizing the night sky was aglow.

I am not telling you all this to make you jealous, but to let you know that you too can take in the surreal beauty of aurora borealis with out leaving the warmth of your southern home and even better without freezing your butt off.

Don’t miss it –> http://www.astronomynorth.com/Replay2008.html

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Sam and Lizzy are in downhill racing this year. Sunday was their first race.

Here comes Sam. My first thought when I realized it was him was, ‘for the love of God, do your coat up!’ Then I snapped out of it and started taking photos.

As you can see, he’s enjoying the run. He was also taking in the crowd, he managed to holler out a HUGE, “HI MOM, HI DAD” as he whizzed by, which earned him a round of applause, cowbells (yep, they ring cowbells), and laughter.

He liked those cowbells! I’ll have to have a little chat with him about wind resistance –> DO UP YOUR COAT!

Go Sam Go!

Here comes my girl. Unlike her brother she is focused on the race, not the crowd. She skied really well.

Will ya look at that sky? It was a glorious day with temps around 5c (40+f), not a cloud in the sky. It was seriously GOOD for my cabin-fevered soul.

Go Lizzy Go!

Mr. MK is in charge of skiing, therefore, I didn’t even get out of bed when they left the house at 6:30 a.m. If I had aroused, I would have insisted she braid her hair. The rat’s nest … AHHH!

Then again, I was in charge of getting this wild child ready at noon, and she doesn’t look much better!

Not to be outdone Georgia managed to get in a little downhill speed herself.

It was a great day, in a fabulous city! Winter really does have it’s ups!

How was your weekend?

MK xo
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