by Cindy on November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!!
I saved these special postcards to share with you today. As I looked through a box of old postcards in an antiques shop last month, I noticed something on several that caught my eye. The postcards were exactly 100 years old – either stamped or handwritten with 1910. 1910! It had to be more than chance that I came upon these 100 years later. I really felt a sense of awe as I held them in my hands, examining the handwriting and sentiment. How incredible that they survived for one hundred years to be rediscovered and appreciated anew. Postage was just one cent back then!
Thank you for all of your well-wishes on my last post. We’ve enjoyed the first week in our new home and know that celebrating our first Thanksgiving here will be a special one. I’ve already baked my first pie in the new oven (pumpkin!), and tonight my son baked yeast rolls from scratch – so the house is getting indoctrinated quickly. We have so much to be thankful for! Oh, and I’m starting to set up the studio. My Dad doesn’t quite understand or appreciate the space and called it a “little shop of horrors” last night. 🙂 That did make me laugh. I guess a room dedicated to beads and tools would seem strange if you don’t get it.
Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the long weekend! 🙂
by Cindy on November 18, 2010
They say when one journey ends, another begins. I’m excited to finally say that today was the start of that new journey for our family. I was given a key today by my husband, a very special key. This key will open the door to a place I haven’t really mentioned on my blog: our new home.
For some reason I kept our home building process under wraps. There were times I was going to post pictures of the various phases we were going through, but then I decided I might as well wait til the very end. Sometimes I don’t talk about things until they’re a “done deal”. 🙂 Some of you may know our home-building process was a very, very long one. Shortly after we bought this lot, I went in to labor with our 4th son and my husband met me at the hospital in a 26 ft. moving truck…can you imagine finding a place to park that?! That little baby just turned 2 last month! So you see this is a dream that has been in the making for a very long time. All of the things they say about home-building are true: it can be very stressful and always takes longer than you think. I have to thank my husband for persevering and for making it all happen, with everything going on in our lives and at work. Soon I won’t have to spend 2 hours a day commuting back and forth to the kid’s schools!
Remember my recent blog post with a flashback to the 50’s? Our original home was built in 1956. Like many current home buyers in this area (where land is very scarce), we chose the home to tear down and build new. The lot was great, backing to parkland and a playground in walking distance. The owners were a fascinating couple in their 80’s. They could be seen out walking with their transistor radio or riding on their tandom bike. They had a great vintage VW van that reminded me of the one I grew up with. We had their blessing to tear down the house as it had not been updated and would have needed considerable repair to be shown new. I’d like to share with you in pictures our journey that has taken 2 years and has finally come to an end today, when we finally recieved our keys.
If you don’t hear much from me here, I’m off “feathering” my new nest! The timing of all of this is a bit stressful with the holidays approaching and a few jewelry deadlines approaching as well. Is there ever really a good time to move though (maybe the summer time would be good!)? All that matters is we are finally here….on the verge of making new memories and carrying on old traditions. We already started a few when we took the kids over after dinner tonight. Here’s to new beginnings!
by Cindy on November 15, 2010
Lately it seems as if I have my camera in my hands more often than my wire and pliers. Even though wire work is about as portable as jewelry-making can get, taking pictures is even easier in my lifestyle. I’m addicted to taking pictures and always have been. Do you feel like something is missing when you leave your camera behind? I do. And my purse is SO much lighter, big suitcase that it is (if you’ve seen it, you know what I mean!).
I’m currently a enjoying an eCourse through Big Picture Classes (found this great site through Kerry over the summer). In Get Great Photos with Any Camera by Elisha Snow, we are learning the fundamentals. Not just how to take good pictures, but how to take great pictures. Some of the topics in the syllabus are lighting, composition, icon settings, flash, and post-processing. I have an increased awareness of all those little details for sure now! To celebrate their 5th anniversary, Big Picture Classes is planning a 5-day celebration on their blog. I hear there are giveaways, challenges and discounts in store!
The weather was fabulous (I’m not taking a high 60’s day in November for granted!), so we went to nearby Algonkian Park for the first time….walking, tossing the football, and stone skipping were on the agenda. My oldest son informed me that Algonkian refers to Native American tribes who speak a related language, such as the Powatans of Virginia. The park was amazing. Being on the shores of the Potomac, it was the perfect place to shoot some pictures (while trying to utilize the elements outlined in my class). I hope you’ll pardon me for taking yet more kid shots – but they are ready and available subjects!
The setting: Algonkian Regional Park
Elements: Side Lighting and Visual Triangle
Element: Angle Variation
Element: Rule of Thirds
Element: Angle Variation II
Elements: Backlighting and Silhouette
Quest: Heart-shaped Rocks
The picture-taking came to an end when my camera battery died. That was fine because it was early enough to head over to Sweetwater Tavern and actually get a seat. Those infamous Ozzie rolls (beignet-like dough balls) were calling our names.
P.S. I just found out that Big Picture Classes offers a Refer-A-Friend program! If you sign up on the site and create an account, both parties will receive a reward for a future class – please contact me if you’re interested and I’ll send you the code. Thanks!
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