HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY, CAM!

Unbelievable, Cameron is 11. Where does the time go? She wanted her bedroom done for her birthday. Cam requested a "cave" with black walls and camo bedding--I laughed and discussed how important it is to maintain a good, uplifting atmosphere because it has so much power over how we feel. Not sure the message was well received, but I gave her a happy space that has "attitude" and "Cam" (yes, those are synonomous) written all over it. Chelsea, Dad and I labored for three days on this cool crib fit for a radiant, fun-loving, and spirited Princess.

Madge, I love you! Your desire to go full bore in any direction you're pursuing is inspiring. May we all learn a lesson from you to dedicate ourselves 100% to any task we take on.

Moo-Ha Ha

After months and months of saving, this beautiful baby is finally mine all mine! I love you, my sweet little D300s.

Woohooooo!!!! Mr. Lynch liked it!!!!

And I quote

"Hi Lisa,
Thanks for uploading these images and commentary. Regardless of how you feel about the result, something seems to clearly have gone right here. I don't think the color is too overdone, and I think you have made some good choices with the sharpening and other adjustments. I DO think this can be even better (a little more contrast on the spider for example -- though it is clear you've already made some effort with that), but I also like what I see in the texture of the improvements as well as the use and sense/sensibility of the layers. The great thing you have done here is taking the idea of that long example, and really converted it to your needs -- eliminating what did not necessarily make sense and adding where you should. This is treating images individually in process, and that is a very good sign."

Read that? He thinks I'm on the right track! Amazing what praying for clarity and having faith it will come can do, not to mention reading the lesson multiple times and practicing with the example sent to me.

At any rate, I decided to test out his suggestions and resubmitted the assignment.
Reprocessed

This Class Will Be The Death of Me!

ORIGINAL PHOTO

POST DIGITAL DARKROOM


I'm taking my fifth photography class, third on Photoshop, and I'm juSt about to rip my hair out. I had to read the lesson for this one three times and do the very lengthy exercises twice before the light bulb went on. I've just spent the last 4 and 1/2 hours working on one assignment. Wow, maybe 34 = stupid. At any rate, I'm bound and determined to finish and do well. Frustrated, but determined.

This lovely lady was in our front yard. She's an orb weaver and caught prey every day in her amazing web. After sucking the guts out, she'd spend the night repairing her beautiful artwork. Sad to say I didn't get a photo of the repaired web. When it was in tact we always seemed to be running out the door somewhere; I thought I'd have more time. Nasty cold snap came and she left--or died. I'll be looking for her babies come spring. Magnificently creepy critter, isn't she?

34...The BEST Birthday Yet

This has been the best birthday I've ever had. I've been so overwhelmingly happy. At first I thought Danny had forgotten my birthday. He had to leave for work really early, and even though I was up and getting ready when he left he didn't say anything. I was kind of getting upset. Until he called the kids and had them put him on speakerphone. They sang the birthday song to me and it was the most awful, beautiful thing I've ever heard. Danny was cracking me up...major opera voice and about 7 beats behind everyone else. I've received birthday wishes from so many people (including all my family members), had a wonderful party at work (Teresa is amazing and I'm so lucky to work with someone like her), got audited, went to a lovely dinner, and laughed so hard I was doubled over. It may have been my birthday, but the surprise was definitely on Ryan. Danny pied him. Not once, but twice! Ryan was furious (which was so funny to watch) and Danny laughed until he cried (yes, it was the wonderful old lady laugh that makes me so happy). What a terrific day!

The Mighty Hunter Strikes Again

Ryan shot this beauty on the very last day of his hunt when they were just about out of time. This gorgeous fellow measures 28 inches wide and the tines are 22 3/8 inches tall. Hot diggity, Ry!

UPDATE: THIS BABY SCORED 186 7/8 IN THE BOONE & CROCKETT RECORD BOOK!!!! NOT TOO SHABBY FOR A 15 YEAR OLD KID.

Halloween Girls

The last of my babies that still get a kick out of dressing up...

Moo Moo, Poppy! Chels spent the night at Taylor Schimbeck's house and I had no idea what she'd end up dressed like. I'd heard chef or "I know, I'll be Lisa Lloyd, County Clerk!" Gotta love the fact that I'm still cool enough to be considered. You kill me, Poppy Tater, and those are some mighty fine udders.



At the hop, doo-doo, dooby dooh wah! Cam knew several weeks in advance what she wanted to be. So, she got on the horn to Grandma Mary and asked if she'd make her a poodle skirt. Love that Grandma Mary; she always comes through.



Mary-MOM-Thank you so much for spending time on Cam's skirt and making sure she was taken care of AND thank you for never telling me you're perfectly aware that I couldn't sew two pieces of fabric together if my life depended on it. Love you, Mary Genieve.

Don't Go To Sleep OR....

You're likely to get silly stringed AND/OR have your photo taken. I have a new camera...watch out!

Pumpkin Carving

The boys were gone hunting again, so we chickens decided to spend the day carving pumpkins. Cam and Chels ripped out three carvings compared to my one. Ry showed up later and threw in his quick effort before heading back out in search of "Old Blue". I'd forgotten how much work it is to carve these puppies...and how much dang fun just to sit around the table with my girls laughing and whiling away the afternoon together. We had a wonderful time mushing the pumpkin guts up. Cam believes they are the answer to dry skin. Not sure why my hands are so dry tonight, though. :)

By the way, these are the actual photos of the pumpkins in all their glory. I simply added a border in Photoshop. Definitely an afternoon for the record books. How I adore my girls!!!

Cam's Tin Man
Ryan's Spook
Cam's Jack
My "Duke"
Chelsea's Wish for Peace

Jimmie and Groupie

Gotta love hippie day during Homecoming. Cam is a dead ringer for Jimmie Hendrix.

Pioche Labor Day Fireworks

No explanation needed.

Sienna Diane Shoars

I was absolutely honored to be asked to photograph my friend Sequoyah's new baby girl. We tried in vain for four hours to get her to go to sleep, but she wasn't having it. So, we just decided to snap away and see if we could get anything with her wiggling and fussing. I think we did okay. At any rate, it was a scream when we took her diaper off--five seconds after removal she pooped and peed all over her mom!

I looked out the window and what did I see...

Three sleeping beauties on the tramp-o-line! Don't you just love the four day school week? These three do. It equates to staying up half the night laughing like mad and sleepovers outside on the tramp.

Lincoln Vs. Enterprise, AKA Corn Fed Cheaters

Is there anything in this world that makes it right to use Varsity players against a newly minted JV? Absolutely not. I should mention that these particular varsity players were 6'3", 200lb. corn and potato fed Enterprise boys. I admit to praying fervently for the safety of my son and his fellow teammates when we arrived to see the stunning size difference. Jerky coaches!

Ryan had a really great game (even if we lost 38 to 14). The weather was absolutetly miserable within just a few minutes of start time. It was literally raining water towers (buckets are too small for the deluge we enjoyed). Ry dropped the ball one time and I hollered with all the zealousness of a Little League Parent "C'mon, Ryan, you've gotta keep ahold of the dang ball!!" Well, heck, everyone else had been yelling things up to that point, and I just got caught up in the moment (you know, when in Rome). Several people quickly turned to me and hotly advised "you have no idea how slippery that pigskin is when it's wet". I felt especially bad when, out of the blue and right after the game, these words tumbled out of Ryan's mouth: "Holy crap, Mom, that ball was slippery. It was like trying to hold onto a greased pig." I stand corrected AND apologized to Ry for yelling at him. He thought it was funny. Does anything make this kid mad?

The spit picture is really gross, but Ryan loved it--of course--so I'm sharing. Ryan's comment when he spotted the saliva expectoration photo: "Mom, that's fricken cool!"

Goodbye to a Lifestyle and a Most Beloved, Dear Friend

Today was incredibly hard. I said goodbye to one of my best friends, Cool. Some of my most carefree times were spent with this magical creature. She helped healed my heart during 2006. When the campaign trail got to be too much, Cool and I would escape by running through the hills so fast it felt like all of the bad, petty things that were happening couldn't come close to catching me in that moment. We've pushed cows together, shared many carrots, chased wild mustangs (and kept up), survived a horrible night when I was certain she would die from colic, enjoyed a wonderful sense of freedom when racing down a straightaway with the wind racing through our hair and laughter dancing wildly in the breeze, and most recently, loved a brand new baby every bit as sweet and beautiful as she is. This post is a dedication to the blessed moments I had with one of the best friends and comforters I've ever known. I love you, Cool. I hope your new home will bring you happiness for the rest of your days.

Elderberries..YUM!

We found a handful of ripe elderberries in August. The kids were really disappointed there weren't enough for a pie, but there was some speculation concerning "mini, personal pan sized pies" and whether or not it could be done. Nope. There just weren't enough. So they got eaten and we'll go back soon for enough to make a regular sized pie.

GRASS!!!!!!!

Our little yard is coming along, slowly but surely. Ryan and Danny have worked so hard this summer whipping our place into shape. First the retaining wall and gravel. Now...GRASS!!!! Yay for sod. I can hardly wait until our fence is up and we can sit in the hammock in total privacy. Hopefully a really good book, cold drink and yummy snack will figure into this situation.

Danny, thank you for all of the hard work you do. I've never seen anyone so amazing; you're a work horse. AND, your son isn't far behind you.