Green

1.

I had a photography assignment...it was just titled "green"  

I searched the yard and found a few things.  This is my results.  Please let me know what your favorite one is.

2.

3. Rhubarb sprouting out of the ground

4. This is a little suculant rose left over from last year.  Perfectly preserved in the snow all winter.  The bright green background is the new growth of my Creeping Jenny returning.  

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7. Not really green...but I love it just the same

8.

9.

Sorry, I had to add some extra ones:-)

I ❤ Faces {dramatic black & white}

This is not just my favorite black & white shot, it is one my favorite all time shots. This little boy reminded me so much or my son's friend that moved away.  I could not help but like him.  He was such a great kid.  I managed to capture this at the last game.  His coach had just handed him his card as he looked up.  I love so much about this shot.  I love how he is framed in by the coach and another player. I love how his eye sparkles. I love that his name is also in focus on his card.  It is a real moment that captures a little boy getting his first card from his coach.  This is one of those shots that makes you fall in love with photography all over again.  You know the ones...the simplest click of the camera...and then you gasp.

My tips for black and white: Everyone has different taste when it comes to photography.  I have to say that I like a crisp and precise B&W.  I try not to convert a photo to hide something.  I know people tell you to do that, but I like a clean B&W.  I also always ask myself the questions "would this add anything to the photo or take anything away? Is the color important to the shot?" When it comes to actually converting your B&W shots make sure you do your homework.  There are thousands of ways to convert a picture(in every program) I have a preset I love in my Aperture 3 that I built myself. I live for bright whites and dark blacks in a B&W.  Make sure you find what you love and make some notes.




to see what I am doing every week jump on over to I ❤ Faces

Mike's secret wood shop tool

My husband has a secret in his tool collection. It helps him build better. It is not replaceable. There will never be another one of these.

You see...it is a talking pencil.  This pencil was handed over to him by an amazing builder.  He used it too before he handed it over.  The pencil says things like "measure twice and cut once" or " that does not look straight" and in the end it evens says "really nice job, Mike"

I wonder sometimes if my husband questions if he is worthy to use the pencil held by someone so close to perfection in his heart.

I think he is getting there..just look at what he made me!

This is a sneak peak at my new headboard.  Wait until you see it painted!

This is my new footboard:-) 

FYI: all of this cost around $140.00 and that is with the expensive trim!! 

I can't wait to post the finished project.  

My near death experience

In a past life...
I was an inspiration. No, not just on a creative level, or a mom level. We are talking about a true "save your soul, lead you in the right direction" level.

I started as a volunteer for the church I attended working with the youth groups. Before I knew it they asked me to be the youth pastor. I said yes for all the wrong reasons. It sounded like a fun gig really. Hang out with teens and pre-teens. Laugh, be silly, pray. I really did not put much thought in it past that.

At this point in my life I was young and well lets just say pretty unwise. Somewhere along the way I got it. I realized what I was really there for. In helping my amazing shooting stars find their way...I found mine. Life would never be the same again.

I love my youth group kids with all my heart. I miss them...There are a few that are lost somewhere out there. I pray for them all the time. I thank God when I hear from them and they are doing great. I thank God when I hear from them and they are struggling...I thank God for them. Every last one of them. They saved my life.

I am a better parent, wife and person because of all the youth that touched my life. There are the ones that are now graduating from college that I knew as sixth graders! There are the ones from Utah that I knew only briefly but still think about and pray for. I still have the letters they wrote me when I moved. I still regret not being able to teach you confirmation. I know I let your faith journey down by moving, I just hope that I inspired it to jump in the little time I knew all of you.

I simply miss all of you.

Wacky Tacky Day

Last Friday was "Wacky Tacky Day" at Matthew's school. We put about a pound of hair gel in his hair and then sprayed it with hairspray to give him a faux-hawk. Naturally it did not last. However, Mrs. Demmer had fun messing it up again for him. I snapped this shot at the end of the day. She walked by and pulled all his hair up for him. I laughed out loud when I saw this photo.

I❤faces..... {Angles}

This week is one of my favorite things. I love angles in photography.  I often encourage anyone who asks me(and those who don't) not to ever let yourself become a lazy photographer.  I hardly ever use a zoom lens for this reason. It seems that a zoom lens leads the photographer to stand in one place and let the lens do the work.  When you let yourself be your own zoom...Oh what you can do! 

How does happiness look in photos????

It's spring! Finally! That means lots more pictures:-) I am so happy.  Then to top it off my birthday present to myself was a new lens. Thank you Bob and Cheryl for the birthday gift.  It is going towards my new gift.  I hope that all your pictures of Matthew with it will make it, in turn, a gift to you! 

FYI on this photo: I just noticed the corner of the hoop in the photo.  It bugs me like crazy(as Jenny knows, I am so picky with things like this) I wonder if anyone would notice this if I did not point it out??Better that I point it out then you think I missed it:-) 

Mike can jump!

Love this face.  This was the only park we could find to play at.  It was so dirty.  I know a lot of that is that the snow just melted but you should see all the garbage there.  Like the MD can in the right corner..That is just the surface, there was so much gross stuff there.

There was a puddle under one side of the basket.  It took me forever to get a few shots that I loved using it.  I adore this shot though.

Here is a tip for my friends with cameras.   When taking pictures of your kids make sure you kneel down  a bit. You want to be taking pictures so that you are on the same level as they are.  This does not apply for every shot.  It is just a good rule of thumb.  It is amazing how many moms shoot from one level only.

I actually have to pay Matthew for this little trip to the park.  This was his first time shooting at a 10 foot basket.  He was convinced that it was too high and he would never make it.  I told him I would pay him if he made it in.  Sure enough...he made at least 10 before we left.

I can do it!

Love that my son is playing basketball in  jeans and a sweater.

It was a lot more fun after that!

look at that jump shot!

nothing but net! Can you see it going in:-)

I am so glad spring is here! You have no idea. Jenny actually had to watch me cry at the end of February because I was so sick of the winter.  In the morning I will get up and walk over to her house like I do every school morning. We push the kids out the door with Mark, and start our workout.   The time will be an hour earlier and I will be exhausted.  However, life will be great..why you ask?  For the first time in four months I won't have to shimmy through an ice wedged gate that only opens 4 inches, as I balance a backpack over my head.  I won't have to duck under the tree branch that hits me in the head because the snow is so high.  I simply won't have snow under my feet.  It will feel like dancing to your favorite song in your kitchen when no one is looking:-) 

The rite of passage for a Willits man..

I have been meaning to post these photos for a few days but it is amazing how quick time goes by.  

Matthew requested a Fly rod for his birthday.  Mike learned well from his grandpa Clair...he said "use the kid to get new stuff!"  Nothing makes me happier than to see life come back around.  Mike and Clair bonded well over thin pieces of bamboo and graphite all build for a specific fish in mind.  

To Mike a Fly Rod is not just an ordinary pole(he would never call it that anyway) It is magic. It is how a grandfather teaches his grandson about true conservation of the earth.  It is a way to spend the day in solitude with someone you care about and yet say very few words.  

Oh no, a rod is not just a rod..if put in the right hands "Willits' hands" it becomes a fish slayer.  Before we moved to Minnesota, I would have just said a trout slayer.  Mike has made it clear that bass should fear the Willits men too. 

It is a magic stick that can take you back in time.  It can jog your memory back to that moment you caught your first fish, fished Belt Creek the first time with your grandpa, spent your whole summer fishing...your best summer of your life.  When you hold it in your hands you can feel history.  

Like the history of you...getting your first rod.

And then learning all about it.  

I suppose that you never forget your first one.  After all, you now have a history with it. 

Matthew decided to use his birthday money from Grandma Dot to buy a reel for it.  I would imagine that Grandpa Clair would be smiling down on him for this choice.

And so begins the life of a fly fisherman... and his collection.  

I would not have it any other way. 

A few of my favorite shots of late

I have a bunch of random pictures I want to post.  The first one is of Matthew, Carther and Hannah with the principal from school.  He is a huge Iowa Hawkeye fan and the students won a bet with him so he had to wear the rival team(Minnesota Moose) gear.

The second one is this picture I took of Hannah today at school.  Those McCutcheon's sure have cute kids!

This one is of Matthew participating in a magic trick.  We went out to dinner on my birthday and they had a magic and balloon animal guy there.  

This is one of Matthew blowing out his birthday candles.  I am still sad that I did not get this shot with the cake Shana made me.  It was so cute.

This is another one of the birthday dinner.  How cute is Huddy peaking at me.  I think this is the only time I have got a shot of him looking at me.  I think it was because he thought I was crazy. Did I mention that he was constantly smacking his mom with that balloon animal! She was not upset when it popped early into the night.

I love this one because the boys wanted lions and the balloon guy basically made two things.  They had no clue that the lion they requested was actually just a dog.

Speaking of dogs...here is a photo of my handsome Portis. My last of the favorite shot as of late:-)

I will say that I have been posting quite a bit of great pictures on Matthew's school blog.  If you want to see more pictures of him go to :

www.mrsbeckydemmer.blogspot.com