Didn't Intend

I didn't intend to stop at the beach yesterday. Now those of you who follow me on Instagram are probably saying "Yah right Sarah, you go to the beach everyday". But I really don't, I go on Mondays every week, and maybe one or two other times during the week in the winter. Now summer is a different story, but we are a long way from summer.

My intention yesterday afternoon was to do some antiquing. To escape the blinding white of winter shooting, I have been doing some still life photography. I am enjoying the challenge of lighting, prop placement and post-processing. I also found the perfect table to set all this up on, it is the perfect size to nestle next to the north window in our bedroom.

My husband called before I left the house to "check-in" and see what I was up to for the afternoon. I said I was going out. I told him I would probably do some shooting while I was out. Having spent the morning writing, I needed some visual stimulation. Shooting usually means to me, dressed in my winter wardrobe and paisley rain boots, carrying my iPhone. But at the last minute I decided to throw my camera backpack with my Canon in it into the car, just in case I needed more than my phone.

I set off for two antique stores with my mental list of photo props I was looking for. After a couple of hours of wandering the aisles of other people's cast off treasures, I decided to call it a day, not having found one thing that was on my mental list. Although I did find a couple of small, vintage bottles; look for those in future posts.

Leaving the second store I had the intention of stopping at a marshy nature preserve near by. But I was chilled to the bone from wandering this second store, I swear they don't have heat in there, maybe that is to keep the antiques preserved. So even though my car temperature gauge said 37 degrees, I felt damp and chilly, and decided to skip the preserve and return home, start making the soup for supper.

As I was driving along the lakeshore towards home, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a cop two cars behind me. Why does this always seem intimidating? On that road I will never be guilty of speeding, going too slow is a possibility though. The road to the beach by parent's home was approaching so I signaled and turned off the main road, watching the cop car cruise on past.

This beach of my childhood is filled with memories, and other than the months of July and August it is almost always deserted. Known only to the local and summer people. I turned into the empty parking lot, and parked. I debated about getting out and walking down to the water. Having been warmed by my car's heater for the last twenty minutes, I felt ready to do a little outside wandering. I grabbed my iPhone off the seat next to me, hoping to capture that color combination I love; golden dune grass, gray sky, pale blue water and stark white snow.

I was not the first person to walk the trail over the dune to the water, I followed the trail of footprints. Reaching the shore, I was pleased to see less ice and more water due to the warmer temperatures, but what I wasn't seeing was that perfect color combination I was looking for. Disappointed I began the climb up the dune, returning to my car. As I was slowly driving towards the exit gate, I saw it, the clump of golden dune grass lit up by the weak February sun, set against the sparkling blue-gray lake water. I stopped my car in the middle of the parking lot. Knowing my iPhone wasn't going to get the shot I wanted, I reached into the back seat for my Canon. I fitted my 85mm lens on and stepped around the car to capture the image that gave my heart that fluttering feeling.

*I have been reading my friend Lissa's blog, who I met through Instagram, were she journals about her daily life. She inspires me to record small snippets of my life on a more regular basis. I am working on the small part of it. Her blog is Electric Journal.

Photo-Heart Connection ~ July

On a recent Friday I got to meet these two lovely gals in real life. I met both of them through the cyber world of blogging. Patti G., on the right, of My Happy Place and Deanna of Snippets from Springdale. Patti and I only "met" recently when we started emailing after a post I wrote. It was quickly discovered that we only lived an hour apart, so it was inevitable that we would meet up. Deanna and I run in the same blogging circles, so I have been reading her thoughts for a while. She lives near Chicago, about three hours away.

Patti and I threw out some dates that might work to meet before she heads back to the classroom full time in the fall. One of those dates happened to be when Deanna was coming up to stay and visit with her. They decided they would love to come to Holland for a day. I was elected the unofficial tour guide.

When you have lived some place your whole life and have photographed just about everything, it is hard to look at it with fresh eyes and think about what a visitor would like to see. I racked my brain for a few days trying to come up with a plan. Since they are both photographers, the photographic beauty of a place played heavily into my decision making process.

In the end I chose to start with Windmill Island. An authentic working Netherlands Windmill, you aren't going to find one of those anywhere else, and you can actually do a tour of the inside.

Also Deanna being a flower lover, I knew the gardens would not disappoint.

Lunch was enjoyed in our lovely downtown, where you can't wrong with any restaurant you pick. After lunch, a quick shopping excursion through the store where I use to work and then a stop at Kilwin's for Patti to get a chocolate covered apple to bring home with her.

Deanna announced a desire to go to the beach. Even though she doesn't live all that far from Lake Michigan, for her to drive through Chicago to get there is an all day adventure. I know I take for granted the fact that I live a mile from the lake.

We knew we wanted to end the day in Saugatuck, a place that is special to Deanna. On our way there we stopped at the Felt Mansion, a beautifully restored estate.

The day ended much too quickly. I had to get back to attend a concert in the park with some friends and they needed to drive back to Patti's place.

It was such an enriching day, being able to discuss photography, blogging, dreams and life. I know that we will meet again. Deanna is already working on us to come visit her. This encounter just confirms that I want to meet more of my blogging friends in real life.

Joining Kat:

Happy Birthday - Photo-Heart Connection ~ June

There was so much photography goodness in June. Two weeks of vacation in my favorite place on earth provided a multitude of memorable shots.

Ultimately I chose this shot though...

Now if we are friends on FaceBook you have already seen this shot since it is my current cover photo. What you don't know is the backstory...

This was taken on June 19, my 46th birthday. It was taken on Old Mission Peninsula at the beach in front of the Mission Point Lighthouse. The girl in blue is my daughter Mallory. It was her suggestion that we come here. It has been a couple of years since our last visit.

Two years ago when we were here, where she is standing was bare ground, and was bare ground all the way to that clump of bushes behind the blue fisherman. Thanks to all the snow we had this year the water levels have come back up, covering that bare ground with a lovely layer of sky blue.

Mallory was suppose to work that day, but thanks to a CPR/First Aid Training meeting scheduled for one of her days off, she was able to take my birthday off instead. We had enjoyed a lovely day so far with a little wine tasting, and lunch at one of my favorite places, The Jolly Pumpkin. Then it was on to the Lighthouse.

Glen and I set off with our cameras while Mallory strolled out into the water. My choices were to lay down in the sand like Glen, getting close up shots of ladybugs and dune grass, or to wander after Mallory. The soft blues and browns pulled me in her direction.

I love everything about this shot, the colors, Mallory in her blue fleece and straw hat, the guy in blue fishing in the background. The peace and serenity that the photo makes me feel. The perfect moment in time and moments like these are fleeting.

Joining Kat for:

Photo - Heart Connection ~ April

Earth Day 2014

I have never really paid much attention to Earth Day before, to me every day is Earth Day. Anybody who has seen my photography or followed my blog for a while knows that I love to be in the great outdoors. 

This year the actual Earth Day was brought to my attention when reading a collaborative blog I follow, Focusing on Life. Their theme for the whole month of April was Earth Day. On the actual Earth Day, April 22 the girls at Focusing on  Life issued a Photography Challenge.

"Earth in a Day" Photo Project 

Tomorrow is Earth Day 2014. Take a photo any time during the twenty-four hour period of April 22 where you are. Take your best shot of our environment -- how you see it, what you treasure about it, the things you would never want to see fade away -- and then share them through our Flickr group.

I knew that I could do this challenge. I also knew where I was going to go, Kirk Park at the Lake Michigan Shore. This place has become very special to me and my photography over the past two years. 

I started out along the shore.

But to get the shot I really wanted I had some climbing to do.

This is where I started to hold back. I already had a cardio workout for the day, so climbing all these stairs, of which there are multiple sets, didn't really look appealing. Also I had drunk two cups of tea before I left the house, not a wise move, so what if I had to go to the bathroom when I got halfway there. Eventually I got my act together and started up the stairs. Still giving myself an out if I needed it, I could always turn around. 

The closer I got to my destination though the thoughts of needing to go to the bathroom were gone. I was sure I would get extra brownie points from my personal trainer for this cardio workout. And getting to the top was so worth it. 

The view from up here is spectacular. 

As I sat on the bench and looked out at the beautiful lake, I realized how easily I take it for granted because I have lived next to it my whole life. Yet this is my place to come to think, to breathe, to photograph. So maybe I don't take it for granted as much as I thought. The calming effect the beach has can not be underestimated.

As I looked around I noticed the snow fence. The perfect structure to include in my landscape shot. I tried the shot from a few different angles but this is the one I settled on. The rickety wooden fence with the sea glass green water and large expanse of beach sand in the background. 

I am so glad that I pushed through that resistant voice and climbed those stairs. This shot was more than worth it.

Joining Kat for Photo Heart Connection.

Photo - Heart Connection ~ March

The thing I love best about the Photo - Heart Connection process is that you really have no idea what is doing to be "the" photo until you get to the end of the month and reflect back. I thought for sure mine this month would be from our cruise, one of the beautiful photos I shot inside one of the churches on Jamaica. Instead it is this photo, that created an epiphany moment and a story.

Ugly Clothes

Ugly clothes. We all have ugly clothes, only we call them comfy clothes.  You know what they are, the baggy sweatpants and the two sizes too large, concert t-shirt in death pallor gray from 1995, the saggy butt jeans that you reserve for that one week a month, but are soon wearing every week of the month, because they are so comfortable. We wear these ugly clothes at home because nobody is going to see us and we want to be comfortable while cleaning the house or doing laundry. But somewhere along the way the line gets crossed. You need to run to the grocery store quick a minute for eggs for the chocolate chip cookie batter that you have already started. You are in your comfy clothes but you figure "I'll be quick, no one will see me" and nobody that you know does, this time. You make it back home unscathed, it wasn't so bad. The next thing you know you are getting all your groceries in your comfy clothes and the downward spiral begins.

I have a question for you though. If you were to stand in front of a three way mirror in the dressing room of your favorite clothing store in your comfy clothes how would you feel? My guess is that you wouldn't feel very pretty, or happy, or creative. What are those ugly/comfy clothes doing for you then?

These are the hard questions I started asking myself. This has been a month long light bulb moment starting with some dress shopping at our local Anthropologie store and calumniating with the train car photo above. 

I stood in front of the 3-way mirror in the dressing room of the Anthropologie store in a teal floral, endlessly flattering, perfectly lady like, always ready for a party, dress. I felt beautiful. I twirled and paraded back and forth in front of that mirror like I had never worn a pretty party dress before. Maybe I hadn't, at least not one that made me feel like this. 

My husband and I were getting ready to leave for a week long cruise and I really wanted a new dress to wear for one of the formal nights on the ship. I had found the one. As luck would have it, I found another as well, one that also made me feel pretty, and happened to be in the clearance room, that helped to justify the first one. Isn't it funny how we always have to justify everything to ourselves. 

I had found a couple of cute skirts the weekend before for some of the other nights. As I started to pack I was excited to be wearing these new things. I put a lot of thought into my wardrobe for the trip. There were no ugly/comfy clothes in the suitcase. 

The trip was great, each day going to my suitcase or the closet to decide what adorable ensemble I was going to wear. 

Then we came home, all the cute clothes went in the laundry and out came the ugly clothes again. As that first week home went on I began to have a yearning for those cute new clothes. I liked how I felt in them, I liked how I looked in them. I didn't like how I felt in the ugly clothes. 

Sunday morning, getting ready for church, I took the time to put on a cute outfit. Purple sweater dress, black leggings and tall black boots. Final touch, my long red and black plaid dress coat, very cute with the boots. 

Driving to church by myself, my husband had to be there early for praise band practice, I saw this boxcar and knew I had to stop and use my iPhone to get a photo of it. I could picture the finished result in my head.

Standing in a muddy field in my red and black plaid coat and my long black boots was when the epiphany happened. I felt like a photographer, I felt creative, I didn't care that people were looking at me as they drove by on their way to church. I felt pretty. I wish somebody could have taken a photograph of me in that moment to document the transformation.

Photo - Heart Connection ~ February

I will confess I did not take this photo, my beautiful daughter did, but it is of me. It was taken on a recent Saturday morning when my husband and I were visiting our daughter at college. My husband had gone out cross country skiing that morning, so Mallory and I decided to go to her favorite coffee shop for breakfast. Even though we talk on the phone daily nothing is better than face to face conversation. 

What I love about what she has captured here is the essence of who I am becoming, a writer. In January I started a series on my blog called The Coffee Shop Chronicles, each week I either visit my favorite coffee shop or another local one and write about what is happening in the coffee shop. In my favorite coffee shop there are a lot of regulars so they have developed into a weekly cast of characters. Through this series and the weekly practice of writing I am uncovering a true joy, writing. I have always enjoyed writing but now I can see possibilities for the future, maybe even, dare I say it, a book.

Joining Kat

Photo - Heart Connection ~ January

This photo was taken on January 5, 2014, the day my baby boy turned 11.

It is so hard to believe that he is 11 already. It seems just yesterday that we were talking to our breeder at the Detroit Dog Show and she was telling me about a litter of puppies that she had and was having a hard time finding homes for them. Really?

I wasn't sure if I really wanted to add a second dog, we already had Devil Dog at home, see last month's Photo-Heart Connection post here for the story of Devil Dog. But maybe a playmate for Devil Dog would be a good idea. Better for him to chew on a fellow dog than us. So I agreed to take a look at the puppies and we set up a time for us to come over.

There were three puppies looking for a home. Two boys and one girl. I knew I wanted a boy. So we checked out both boys. Scout seemed to just scoot over into our laps and instantly won our hearts. He had the longest ears which made him look a little bit comical, but the saddest eyes. How could I say no to that. So of course we packed him up and took him with us.

I have never regretted that decision. He quickly got Devil Dog whipped into shape, and helped turn Riley into a wonderful dog.

Some of Scout's downfalls: he can't be left alone with a pair of socks, the kitchen towels, paper, the dog sitter's bills, or stuffed dog toys. As I am typing this he just came out of the bedroom with two socks in his mouth from on top of the dresser. Some things never change.

He is momma's baby needing to be near me most all of the time. When I do my stretching exercises in the morning a lot of times he will come lay on me and for me to continue I have to move off the yoga mat and onto the floor, leaving him with the yoga mat. Oh the things we do for our dogs.

Still I would never trade a day of it. His hips are starting to give him a little trouble, but for the most part he still does quite well. I know that that day will come when we must say goodbye, but I hope that is still a few years away, because I have a hard time imagining my life without my dear Scout.

Joining Kat for Photo-Heart Connection

Photo - Heart Connection ~ December

Riley….

You would never know looking at this sweet docile face that at the age of 3 months I would have gladly returned him to the breeder. He had by that time already earned the nickname "Devil Dog". He was constantly jumping on us and biting us, as well as getting into everything, including any dirt filled puddle he could find in the backyard.

I blame all his naughtiness on the fact that he was an only dog.  He never had any siblings to bite him back or take him down a peg or two in the pecking order. My theory on this was proven when we added our second Golden Retriever, Scout, when Riley was 10 months old. A big part of the reason we  added Scout was so that Riley would have a playmate/bitemate. Scout quickly put Riley in his place and that was the end of "Devil Dog".

I took this photo of Riley on a recent Sunday morning. We were all rushing around getting ready for church, yet there he lay, peacefully at the end of my daughter's bed. The sunlight coming through the window illuminated him so perfectly that I had to quick grab my camera and get a few shots of him.

At 11-1/2 he is starting to slow down a little. He needs a boost up onto the bed now, but he still loves daily walks and he can hear the crinkle of a cheese package from anywhere in the house. I will know he is truly getting old when he doesn't come running for a piece of cheese anymore.

**I kind of fell off the Photo - Heart Connection wagon the second half of 2013, but I have committed to resuming for all of 2014. Thanks to Kat Sloma for hosting this wonderful opportunity to share a favorite photo from the past month and share the story behind it as well.