windthefrog

just a test

comparing what level of sharpening looks best on the web. ignore me.

40 by 40 update

So, I turned 40. Apparently that means a crown, a medal, a Snuggie, and ice cream cake. Now we know. : )

But what it really means is that time has run out for my 40 by 40 list.

Some things were accomplished, some were not. Some no longer interested me, and some were no longer possible. What was most important was the journey, and it was a good one. 

Here is how the list ended up:

1. launch my photography business. For real. - i have business cards; does that count?
2. visit the ocean.
3. stand in a field of sunflowers.
4. get a family photo taken by a real photographer.
5. learn to make Mom's famous spaghetti sauce. - now that Mom lives here, it seems a little unnecessary. : )
6. complete the kids' school scrapbooks.
7. ride a zip line. - i tried; who knew you needed reservations far in advance?
8. learn to shoot and process my photos in RAW. - i changed my mind on this one.
9. get a bike.
10. go camping.
11. take a photo every day. - i faithfully did this project until around october, then it got a little spotty. I still count this as a good success and a fun record of daily life.
12. plant an amazing garden.
13. take up tennis.
14. make a hallway gallery.
15. try a yoga class.
16. explore a new city.
17. take each kid on their own day trip, just them and me. - while we didn't go anywhere cool, watching their little faces light up when I ask just one of them to come with me to target, or to pick up take 'n bake pizza is so sweet. I am definitely following through with this one on my 41 by 41 list...
18. buy my dream camera. I am crossing this off the list, even though I am not convinced this is the camera of my dreams.
19. hike to the top of Half Dome with Isis.
20. lean to play a song on the guitar.
21. do something creative every week.
22. go on a photo safari.
23. try Thai food.
24. take the kids to the snow.
25. go on an adventure with i.
26. take a photography class.
27. have an organized closet.
28. purge the house of the unnecessary and have a giant garage sale.
29. read 5 great books.
30. splurge on a good pair of sunglasses.
31. organize all my photos.
32. create a scrapbook of the Panama trip.
33. print canvases for our family room.
34. understand exposure.
35. paddle a kayak.
36. see the leaves in New England.
37. run a half marathon. - I hadn't anticipated having another knee surgery. I am training to run one now though.
38. sew a quilt for Brynne. - When I wrote this list, we were re-doing her new room. Then Mom moved into her room, and the new quilt wouldn't match Garrett's room.
39. master Photoshop.
40. orchestrate something awesome.

spring has sprung

At this point in the year, little signs of spring are popping up everywhere: it's staying lighter a little longer, daffodils are blooming, and little baby lambs are out in the newly green fields.

And then there's this:

do you see it?

Due to a design flaw in my car, leaves and dirt collect in this little well that you can't really see when the trunk is closed. Apparently it's the perfect environment to grow little sprouts! I am both horrified and intrigued by my little mobile garden... I'm curious to see if they keep growing, and what they are, exactly...