Photos of the Week {5}

I’ve come to realize that my Photo of the Week project is a good indicator of how much I got out during that week.  And if I did get out a little, I didn’t have my camera.  I guess it’s just a sign of a little case of hibernating and some mid-winter blues, and too many gray winter days.

The sun did finally come out last week though, and I always enjoy a pretty winter tree and seeing how they take on different looks through the seasons.  I love blue skies, sunshine, and pretty ice and frost crystals covering the branches.  Sometimes you have to just stop and appreciate the small things.

Oh, and we can’t forget the ‘photo puppy’, as my husband likes to call him.  He is well-photographed. =)  And it turns out that bright sunlight, white snow, and a black dog that is always moving all provide for some good practice in getting the exposure just right with the camera in manual mode.

Our best buddy Jackson, happy as a clam laying in the snow with his raw hide…

This guy is awesome.  He is our kid, the best buddy, a great hunter, and just so darned cute, smart, loyal, obedient, fun, funny, energetic, and so full of personality and character.  I feel like we have had him for so much longer than we have.  He has totally found his way into our hearts.

Oh and while I’m sitting here, he weasels his way to sit under the desk, right by my legs, sets his face on my lap and cuts his eyes up at me.  As to say, “Aren’t I cute?  Come on, can’t we go out to walk and play yet?”.  I best be on my way, and get out while it’s nice and sunny.  =)

Photos of the Week {4}

I owe one week’s pictures for my photo of the week 2012 project…

It’s not too often that our back yard calls me out to take a picture or two, but this afternoon the sun was casting some really nice cool light on the yard and on all of last week’s snow on the ground.  And the sky was blue, finally!

I was surprised at how the pictures came right out of the camera with such a deep blue sky.  I touched them up on the computer just a bit, but didn’t even saturate or darken the sky.  I loved the blue with the browns and reds in our maple tree.

An Award!

Nichole over at Born in the Wrong Century recently gave me the Liebster Award!

Nichole is my cousin who also loves good food, cooking, gardening, and canning, and we both started our blogs at the same time.  After she was tagged with the award, she chose three of her favorite smaller blogs to pass it on to.  I’m happy to be one of her favorites, and she said not just because I am her cousin. =)

Here are the rules to the Liebster Blog Award:

1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger that present said award to you.
3. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.
4. Present this award to 3 to 5 blogs with under 200 followers that are beautiful, funny, good, and or sparkly.
5. Let them know they have won by commenting on their blogs.

There are several blogs that I follow and enjoy reading, I have most of them listed on my Inspiration page.

Here are a few of my favorites that I wanted to pass on the blogging award to and share with you, as they fall under the categories of being fun and entertaining, inspiring, educational and informative, and/or my place for a good dose of eye candy:

• Beauties and the Feast– This is a group of six girls that are friends and love good food, drinks, trying new recipes, gaining a lot of good cooking experiences, and have fun sharing it all on their blog.  There are always new ingredients/themes, recipes, and cooking stories between the six girls.  I went to high school with one of them, so its fun to re-connect several years later through blogging and good ol’ social networking.
• Lindsey Jane Photography– This one might be pushing it for the award rule of being under 200 followers, she’s got over 900 fans on facebook, and just a lot of fans, friends, and clients from all over.  But this is one photography blog that I enjoy and go to regularly for a good dose of eye candy and inspiration.  Lindsey is a very talented and creative local photographer, and posts regularly on recent photo shoots that she does of engagements, weddings, maternity, babies, and families.  And she did a lovely engagement photo session with my hubby and I!
• Knitted Bliss–  (Hmm, not sure if there’s less than 200 followers or not on her blog either).  I recently found this fiber arts/knitting blog and now it’s another one I go to for a regular dose of eye candy and inspiration.  Julie is a talented and creative knitter and designer and I love to see what she’s working on and swoon over her beautiful finished knits.

There you have it.  Three great blogs on three of my favorite things: cooking, photography, and knitting.  I hope you enjoy checking them out!  =)

Photo(s) of the Week {2}

Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park.  A gray, foggy day in January…

Photo(s) of the Week {1}

The beginning of my Photo of the Week 2012 series.  Of all the goals I made for myself this New Year, I am most excited about this, and my knitting goals.  I decided that the Photo of the Week post will often be just one photo, but can be more than one.  The pictures have to be taken within the week of the post, Monday through Sunday, and I can’t pull out a photo from any other week.  I’ll be using manual mode and I will shoot for liking it enough straight out of the camera and not fixing it up on the computer much.  …Just to specify a little more. =)

This morning we enjoyed a nice relaxing walk with the dog, and my camera.  I had to really look around for some photos while we were out, as it’s been a rather gray dull day out with no sunshine and just dull flat light, and nothing really spectacular jumping out at me.  Good practice though, to get out and have to really do some looking.

Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, and Jackson Hole

My husband, our doggie Jackson, and I took a week and a half road trip earlier this month through Yellowstone National Park, to Grand Teton National Park, and Jackson Hole, WY.  It was such a good time and we saw a lot of country during this lovely Fall season.

I got to have a lot of fun with my camera, so wanted to show you some favorites from the trip (there’s a lot of them).  I posted them on my Facebook page but wanted to share and journal them here too.  =)

All of the photos were taken in YNP, Mesa Falls in Idaho, GTNP, and Jackson Hole, WY.

Glacier National Park

This gallery contains 17 photos.

We spent a day in Glacier last weekend, just going for a drive with the dog and the camera.  This national park is beautiful, and pretty much in our backyard so we go hiking and camping every summer in different … Continue reading →