Off to the gym

Lucky me aye! Working out at the fitness center five days a week. Dean is having to attend cardio pulmonary rehab and I get the chance to do some treadmill time of my own. I'm so motivated lately that I actually hired a personal trainer for 2 days a week. He's more like an insurance policy for not making excuses and giving up. My challenge to self....can I get in better shape at 48 then when I was at 24? I think so but you won't be getting any before and after pictures....you'll just have to take my word. I promise I won't cheat with the photoshop liquify filter tool for slimming people. You computer geeks know what I mean, although it is tempting....na, that definitely would be cheating. ;)

Lunch anyone?

Well, I have to say cabin fever is in full swing here and when the temps get to be around 63 degrees in February, we just can't help to put a butt on the smoker! Hey, NOT MINE (even if Dean threatens to sometimes)but a Boston Butt. Nothing like the aroma permeating through the cracks of my office making me wish it was done already.

What a beautiful piece of meat! Yes, pork rules in our house.

It's as southern as southern gets accompanied by black eye peas, mashed potatoes and good ole cornbread. Yum!~ Believe me when I say they really know food down here! C'mon over if your in the neighborhood. There's plenty to go around.

Are you sick of me yet?

Filter used in Lightroom2 were Matt's Utility Gray (which are totally free presets) then I added extra contrast a little highlight recovery and Vignette around edges using a soft feathered circle to add focus to me ;). I then made it a smart object to edit in photoshop CS4. Continued with a little bit of levels and to finish with minor touches here and there with the dodge and burn. This images was not stellar as the focus was soft. I added some sharpening and lightness to the eyes od course onvertin it to B&W. I liked the pose/expression in this photo for some reason or other. I'm thinking maybe this represents how I smile naturally when something is quite funny without looking too posed....okay maybe NOT but I still like it for some reason?? Of course when something is really funny to me my whole face gets contorted. Yeah, I kinda like those too?? I don't think I can fix any of them or lets just say it would be a loooong day of editing! Anyway, I didn't want to trash this so I put a little effort into the final product. Now the question, should I frame or not??? hmmmm.

Hardly any retouching to this image except to a greyscale conversion. I think I like when the face is a little less grey. This is my husbands favorite pose, although, he likes it much better in color.

Totally had fun with this one. Can't remember everything I did except it obviously was cross toned. I like the modern edgy vibe of this preset.

Please indulge me...

I had no other model ..ergo the self portrait. My goal initially was to experiment with my 85mm 1.8 Nikkor lens only to eventually get carried away with the new Exposures 2 plugin from Alien Skin for photoshoppers. This image was filtered using the cross processed function and then an added a "Pale" filter to desaturate a bit of the greens. Of course for good measure the glamour filter never hurts ;). Hey give me a break I'm almost 50 FCOL! So grungish.

Changing it up again

After sitting on it for a while, I started to think the brown cover was to subtle for the black and white feature card inside. I tried out this orange and it really popped! It has a metallic finish and feels very professional. Trying to decide on a logo and cover art. I thought this was going to be easier then this???

I'll keep on trying until I get the feel I'm looking for. My goal is to have a branding that is somewhat modern and cutting edge but not too much where it turns the traditionalist off. I think the word would be contemporary with a hint of traditional.

Captivating

That's the word that come to mind when I see this photo of Anthony. Those gorgeous eyes that seems to be piercing right through the viewer. This is a photo I'm adding to my new portfolio that's currently in the works. I thought the B&W turned out pretty cool. The book will be hardbound and made by Blurb. I've used them before for wedding books and like the products they turn out, their prices are pretty reasonable. Can't beat that!

Yearning to play

Scoots favorite spot in the house. A lookout post for him to see the world outside. He's always ready and waiting for a chance to go outside so he can chase the rabbits into the woods.

Self Promo

A new handout/design for my "Cigale" photography business. The idea I have in mind would include this 5x5 enclosed in a square coco brown wallet packet with the outside having an opaque vellum band with my logo embossed in the center. Additional info as well as my business card are included. I finished the piece by enclosing it in a vellum envelope. The photos are presented to showcase some of my work, which include children, teens as well as engagement photoshoots.

Note: white around border is just for posting purposes

Guest room redo

Bits and pieces of my newly decorated guest room.

I'm delighted with how this room turned out. It all happened by happenstance. The original plan was to integrate a steel blue damask fabric and linens from Pottery Barn but when I cast my eyes on the orange pillows at Belks (with a discount), everything changed. I love it with the browns in the room!

Family Snapshot

What a cool photo of our family in the 60's. I've often wondered how Mom did it with the 4 of us and one on the way? She sure had her hands full!

Photo Restoration circa 1938

BEFORE AFTER Photo Restoration of my Mother (Beverly) and her brother Don

My word for 2009

FEEL:

to undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind;

be conscious of a physical, mental, or emotional state;

an intuitive awareness;

undergo passive experience of;

Every year Ali Edwards blogs about finding the word that gives significant meaning for the upcoming year. I love this philosophy and the idea it evokes as I'm for certain not a resolution maker for a new year. I think choosing a word is empowering and meaningful. Giving purpose to what you want more of in your life as each year presents us with new challenges. I posted this comment on her blog this morning. Check out her blog! I'm sure you'll find inspiration in many different forms.

Last year was full of the unknown. My husband suffered a heart attack in August of 08 and needs 4 operations including open heart. We have one surgery completed and 3 more to go in 2009. The doctors also found a mass in his chest cavity that they're trying to diagnose properly. The fear of losing him was all consuming last year and robbing me of my present joy while I have him with me today. My word is FEEL. I don't want to dwell on the "what if' of tomorrow. I want to feel today and what it feels like to have him with me right here and now. With this word as my focus, I believe, I'm better equipped to put the uncertainty aside as I feel (acknowledge) the moments that arise with gratitude. This way I can ensure I won't miss a blessing that could be right around the corner. I need to remember this word as we meet the challenges ahead of us.

Also, I need to remember it's OK to feel sad or want to cry. This does not mean you lack courage or are weak. To feel this way is a natural expression of feeling as well. If I continue to suppress it, as I so very often do, I can miss the opportunities of joy. By embracing it and dealing with it when it arises I acknowledge that I'm human and that all our feeling are valid and integral to our life and our personal expression of how it's felt within. I just hope there is much more peace and laughter as we head into the uncertainty that a new year brings to all of us.

What's you word?

Teaching Sunday School

One of my favorite days of the week will be when you find me teaching the little ones at our church. Getting to know their personalities as they develop and discovering all they learned from the week before. At this age they learn so quickly. I'm really enjoying this time with them.

Us at the Grove Park Inn & Resort

Happy Holidays!!

I love this candid where we're enjoying our time together at our favorite place "The Grove Park Inn"

Me and Scoot as we are

Ok, so it's not exactly an official Christmas photo with Scoot but it's one that shows us as we are each evening. Cuddling up with the pillows and him always finding a way to get in my lap for some lov'in.

Official Christmas photo

My little Christmas boy. Had to get this picture before he tore out the cute little bow he's wearing. He really hates them and does everything he can to get'em out.

Ta Da!

Finished the tree! Yep, it's in the chandelier again!

Christmas Traditions

Each year we get our tree at the Boyd family farm the day after Thanksgiving. This has been a ten year tradition for 08'. They have the best and ;( most expensive trees anywhere around NC!

We said we'd go go smaller this year, but after viewing the photos and after putting the tree up for decorating, I think a foot smaller than last year does not constitute small. It's so hard to scale down after big for so many years! We see, we want!

I always complain about the size because of the work invovled. Afterwards, when all the lights and decorations are up (which is usually done in stages over a 3-4 day period)

it really makes it all worthwhile. We just can't stop saying how beautiful it is as we pass it. Jeepers!!! Just look at the base on that thing! It definitely was a group effort getting this home. The best part was it going straight up in the stand without any adjustments. That's pretty good considering one year it fell over!