5 Random Friday Finds

Find No. 1

I found that I am getting use to the off-white walls instead of the eggplant purple.

Find No. 2

Before

After

I found that spending money on home projects never ends. Even though the chairs are here and the library shelves are here, we have found that we have room for one more library bookcase, so why not fill the whole wall. Goodness knows we have enough books to fill the shelves. So maybe by the end of the summer this project will be done.

Find No. 3

I found that I am really loving my new Pottery Barn shelves that hubby put up this weekend. The display is a work in progress and will continue to evolve. Love being able to use some of my photo props for it though.

Find No. 4

Mallory found us a new shrimp recipe to make on the grill Grilled Pesto Shrimp Skewers, enjoyed with roasted asparagus and Warm, Roasted Baby Potato Salad with Crispy Bacon, Caramelized Red Onions and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette. Happy Memorial Day meal.

Find No. 5

It has started we are now attending the weddings of our friends' children. It was a beautiful day for a wedding.

Joining Kim for Friday Finds.

5 Random Friday Finds

Some finds from our girls' trip to Chicago last weekend...

Find No. 1

It seems that every time I am going to go to downtown Chicago it is raining. This time it was raining and cold, 39 degrees cold.

Find No. 2

I take a photo of the section where I am parked in these massive parking garages. Always helpful.

Find No. 3

I found some things never change. Mallory has always been the reader of the map or trail guide. Probably why she will make a great interpretative intern for the National Parks this summer. 

Find No. 4

A few great Anthropologie finds. A cute like cake pedestal, the mug was in the clearance section, and I was eyeing the measuring spoons when we were at our local store. I had to have them.

Find No. 5

I found these towels and tray at Ikea. 

A photography assistant is wonderful until he tries to steal the towels you are using in your still life set up and then leaves slobber marks on them.

Joining Kim for Friday Finds.

One More Thing Day

The One More Thing Day is one of my favorite days of the year. It began a few years ago when Glen and Mallory struggled with what to give me for Mother's Day. I really don't think I am that hard to buy for...but anyway...Mallory came up with the idea of the One More Thing Day.

It got the name because it was one more thing she added to the present they did give me. It is a day she completely plans, all of which is a surprise to me. Let me say she knows me well and always does  an amazing job. You can read about last year's outing here.

She was afraid that she couldn't top last year's outing, but honestly I could care less what we do, or how much money she spends. I love the fact that she puts such careful thought into planning the day, and I LOVE the time together.

This year's outing started with this basket.

Each thing we were going to do for the day had something symbolic with the tag that described it. She was really thankful for all my photography props. Hey...another great use for them.

We started with...

A stop at my favorite coffee shop.

A blueberry muffin for her and  a pumpkin muffin for me...

This coffee shop is where we have always had big, life conversations and today was no different. It is so amazing to see have much she has changed and grown over the past few years.

Stop #2 - The Farmer's Market

Our first visit of the season. We both love the market. We got some red potatoes for a potato salad for Memorial Day, some rhubarb for a yummy dessert she will make, some asparagus for roasting, and some flowers for photographing.

After the market we had a brief stop home to put away our treasures from the market and to let the dogs out and feed them some lunch. Then it was on to stop #3...

We could not have asked for better photographic weather at the beach...fog. I got a new 85mm lens for Christmas so I was excited to try it out with my girl as my model. So very pleased with my first results...

I even found a subject for some homework for an on-line photography class I am taking called Keeping It Simple from Kim Manley Ort.

By this time we were getting hungry for lunch...

Glen and I discovered The Biscuit a few months ago for Breakfast but I have never been there for lunch and Mallory had never been there at all.

I had the Biscuit Club Wrap, very yummy!

Last event for the day...

Our own strolling walk of the historic district in our town. We have talked about doing this and it was such a beautiful day for it.

I love old buildings as you all know. I would love to tour the inside of these homes.

These homes also happen to be on the Tulip Lanes so we didn't look too weird strolling the streets with our cameras.

I had such a wonderful time and am so thankful for the close relationship that Mallory and I share, I know that will never change.

Thanks Mal, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!

5 Random Friday Finds

Find No. 1

I went to the beach to capture the lighthouse in the fog, but my heart was captured by this swing set in the fog. Love the lone tree in the background.

Find No. 2

Even a dandelion can be beautiful when photographed and post processed in a fun and unique way.

Find No. 3

I got these beautiful metal bowls at the outdoor antique market a couple of weeks ago, and I have been dying to photograph them. I found this tea towel at Anthropologie this week. It is the perfect backdrop for my bowls. These bowls are going to get lots of photo time over the next couple of months.

Find No. 4

I found these magazines at the grocery store this week. They go kind of nice with my bowls don't you think. Ever since I started Kim's Start to Finish - Round 2 and now this week starting Be Still 52, I am really looking at my still life work in a new light. I might even be starting to develop a style :)

Find No. 5

I found this tea cup and saucer at Anthropologie. Love it!

College daughter and I are off to Chicago this week I am hoping to have some fun finds for next week.

Joining Kim for Friday Finds.

5 Random Friday Finds

It is the Tulip Time Festival in our beautiful city of Holland, Michigan this week. I took some time Thursday morning to play tourist in my own town. Here are some of the things I found...

Find No. 1

I found tulips. Which you wouldn't think would be that amazing since it is the Tulip Time Festival, but after the long, cold Winter and Spring we have had the tulips are well behind their normal blooming time. They are probably at 30% of their blooming potential right now. Last year at this time they were are 95%. Two years ago when we had the really warm Spring it was the Stem Festival. Every year is a crap shoot.

Find No. 2

A handful of years ago they started bringing in carnival rides for the festival to help make it attractive to all ages. I love the colors in all these great carnival rides. I couldn't resist a little vintage processing on this one.

Find No. 3

I found empty red chairs lined up along the road waiting for the parade. Somebody got up at the crack of dawn to put these out.

I found lots of empty bleachers waiting be filled with tourists this afternoon.

Find No. 4

 I found a Carmel Corn wagon. Thankfully it was closed since this is my one junk food weakness.

I found this junk food wagon near the bleachers. Lots of selections here. Again I couldn't resist the vintage processing.

Find No. 5

I found one of the Tulip Time Trolleys.

Bonus Find

While photographing the Trolley, I couldn't resist a couple shots of my favorite doors in the whole city of Holland. I find it interesting how somebody decided to do some math on one of the doors.

Joining Kim for Friday Finds