Owwwwwww!

Okay, so have any of you ever been just standing there, minding your own business, with a baby on your hip, and then quickly bend over and pick up the millionth thing the baby dropped - ONLY TO BE GRIPPED WITH THE MOST EXCRUCIATING PAIN EVER AND DROP TO YOUR KNEES IN AGONY (screaming like a little girl) ?!  That happened to me 2 days ago and I'm still crippled!  Obviously I pulled something in my lower back and MY GOODNESS!!!  It hurts so bad - I can't do anything - I'm just an invalid. My poor family.

Needless to say, I'm grateful for good medication, my helpful children, and my loving husband.  I haven't been able to finish out the June Photo Challenge, and I'm not beating myself up about it.  I've already hurt myself enough - hahaaaa!

SO...I'm kickin' back, hoping that my back gets better soon and until then, I'll  be checking out the Flickr group looking at all of your photos.  This has been SO much fun to see what everyone is doing!!!

Day 25: Citrus

SO....after getting home from a very busy day, playing with kids at the park, and a quick run to the grocery store - I came home to look at what today's phtoto theme would be----and smacked myself in the forehead! {doh!}  Citrus!!!  Then, panic.  Luckily I had a bowl full of these beauties.  My "citrus" shot could have had more variety but Clementines don't need extra company.  They're gorgeous all on their own.

May I present - the most juicy, tangy, delectable Clementines....

is your mouth watering yet?!

Still Catching Up...

Still playing catch-up but I'm almost there!  We've had rain for the past 2 days, so I had the perfect 'water' opportunity.  I wanted to get some running water, but that didn't happen and I'm all out of steam from a long day.  Even though I'm not making my dream shots happen, I love that this Photo Challenge is making me think really hard. {and if you know me at all, you know how painful that is...haaaahahaa.}

This photo: {besides gorgeous flowers} - 'Water'

Another 'Water' shot - I loved this right out of the camera - I just sharpened it - no editing.

This shot: 'Micro' {and 'water'}  I absolutely LOVE water droplets on plant life.  It's so earthy, refreshing, and a beautiful reminder of how we are all dependent on the life-giving substance of water.

This shot: Black & White

This is one of my very first hydrangea blooms this summer - and they're stunning.  The petals are actually grainy when you look at them up close - even a little splotchy - and I love the texture they make all bunched up like that!  So pretty.  

Photo Challenge Catch-Up

Cheating just a little bit here - I've got a lot to play catch-up with!!!  And...can I just say again how much I *FLIPPING* LOVE SUMMER?!  Every day I wake up giddy because it's warm, sunny (mostly), and pure heaven outside.  Giddy!

Okay...now about my photo challenge.  I'm behind and trying to catch up---

This shot:  "Someone You Love" and "Action" - my man jumping off a sand dune.  I LOVE this shot...and I love him, too. 

This shot:  "Mason Jar" and "Summertime" - nothing says summer like fresh Michigan cherries.  We were just up in cherry country a few days ago and I've got cherries on the brain!  Aren't they gorgeous?!  

This shot:  (also "Someone You Love" and "Summertime"-she's on my dreamy hammock out back!) but this one is for "Eyes" and even a little "Bokeh" - with the light coming through the trees in the back.  It's not a very good bokeh - so I'll try for a different one - but for now, this is what I'll use!!!  

So now I need to catch up on: Childhood, Water, Micro, and Landscape.  Whew!  I'm going to have to do a few two-fers {two 'fer one} on those, as well.  

Back to Reality

Hi all!  I hope you're all still cruisin' along with the Photo Challenge!!!  I had to take a little break, I don't know if I'll catch up, so I'll just have to pick up where I left off.  We've been having some serious summer fun - and since summer has just begun, I'm giddy that we have a lot more to look forward to!!!  Honestly - this winter/spring lasted waaaaaaaay too long!

Although I didn't live behind the lens of my camera, I did take a few fun shots while we were out of town.

 My Love Nugget - jumping off this huge sand hill.  The older boys had more fun than the little boys!!!

We stayed up in Frankfort, MI - on the northern coast of Lake Michigan.  Then we traveled up and over through small beach towns and orchard towns - and stopped to buy a fresh cherry pie - and on to Traverse City where we had some of the world's best 'Moomers' ice cream.  The weather didn't cooperate much, but it was still beautiful.  I can't wait to go back!!!

Havin' a fun Vacay

Taking a little break from the photo challenge - SORRY!!!  (no tears, please - it makes me uncomfortable.)  We've got some familia visiting form out of town and we're going all over Michigan having some serious fun.  I am taking pictures, though, so that should count for something.

Have a great week all!!!

Days 11 & 12 - Silhouette & Lens Flare

ooh---some fun ones!  I must confess that I'm lacking creativity with the silhouette shot, but I love my little girl's body position - and her hair - in this photo!  When anybody comes or goes, especially her daddy, she runs to this window to throw back the curtain and see what's going on.

I just LOVE any shot with a sun flare - and I almost missed this opportunity because I remembered at the last minute to catch the sun as it was setting.  Within minutes, the sun falls behind the houses and trees, so I lucked out and caught it at just the right moment.  Whew!  

Days 9 & 10 - Fruit & Animal

Fruits of all variety are just absolutely stunning to me - I could photograph any kind of fruit in any way, all day long!!  I  happened to have this beautiful bowl of apples handy, though, and I have big plans for these beauties.  I'm thinking about smothering them in caramel, then chocolate, then rolled in nuts for some end-of-the-year teacher gifts.  Who can resist something beautiful and yummy like that?!!! 

And now for my animal.....

I've always begged the question, "Do kids count for pets?!"  Because mine 1.) smell, 2.) make huge messes, 2.) snuggle, 3.) need a leash, 4.) drool, 5.) and love affection. Not seeing much of a difference, folks! 

My little man came home from a fun-filled day at school with his face painted like a tiger and I couldn't have found a more adorable little animal!!!

(I really wanted to photograph some more horses, but it's raining and dark, so this little animal will have to suffice.)

...this is the kind of pet I prefer.  (not the baby - she's too much of a hand full)  Stuffed animals don't poop, therefore they're my favorite pet!  haha.

Day 8 - Sunset

Yesterday was my b-day, so I'm a day behind in my photo challenge.  Today has been spent dealing with a teeny little silly crisis, so berries coming tomorrow.  I am actually having FUN with this challenge, though!  Every day in June I am capturing something specific and it's been a lot of fun so far! I hope everyone else is enjoying it as much as me!!!

Day 7 - High Angle

My adorable nephew - taken today.  I LOVE this kid - and I love that he's wearing a band-aid!