♥ Bundled Up ♥

This week at I ♥ faces, the theme is Bundled up. When I read that the other day, I immediately thought of this shot. Last month we had some really nasty, bitter cold weather. After nearly 2 weeks of that, we had a few nice days (meaning it was in the high 20's and not so terribly windy). We celebrated by going out to the lake so the kids could get a chance to try out some ice! My daughter handled it like a pro, but my poor boy! Imagine, if you will, how Bambi looks the first time he gets on the ice....that was poor Toes. FINALLY, with Daddy's help, he found his feet for a moment, and that moment was perfect! ♥



Also? Just in case you're curious...yes, he actually has a mohawk under the mohawk hat. ♥

♥ For more AMAZING 'bundled up' photos, please visit I ♥ faces! ♥

Project 365....day 64

Today is another day of playing catch-up. Yesterday I went out shooting, but then cut things a little close, and only made it home about 5 minutes early for my girl's bus! Then, with the husband competently in charge, I hurried off to work where I worked my butt off and carried a TON of great food for the The Fireside. When I got home, I didn't have the energy or time before bed to give these pictures the attention they deserved, so I opted to wait for today. So, only a little bit late, here are my 365's for yesterday.

I could not resist the way this crooked silo sat next to this farm in Galway, NY.



A beautiful view of the Mountains in Edinburgh, NY.



A panoramic view from the Batchelorville Bridge in Edinburgh, NY.

Project 365....day 62

Today after my girl got on the bus, the husband, little Bickle, (because he looks a little like Travis Bickle from Taxi driver when he wears his army jacket w/the mohawk, of course) and myself took a drive. We cruised for a while, searching for something interesting for me to shoot at today, and on the way out of town we happened across some horses grazing in a field. The minute I hopped out of the car to shoot at them (with my camera of course), they pranced right on over to me, and all but smiled to have their pictures taken! It was amazing, and as you can see here, they were beautiful. Once I'd gotten those shots, we turned back around, sort of in a hurry because I hate to cut it too close to the time the bus drops my kid off...anyway, on our way out of Northville, I happened to see this really interesting chimney...or at least, what I thought was a chimney. As it turns out, this mock-chimney was built specifically for this certain type of bird; the Chimney Swift. You can learn all about the Chimney Swift here. For the record; the birds you can see up on top...yeah....those are pigeons.

Now, if you're a dork like I am, the first thing you're thinking of when you see this is the good feathers on the Animaniacs.



A long-ish shot through the trees at the front of this chimney-bird home.



A different angel on the chimney/birdhouse.

Project 365....day 61

Today I had a very, VERY exciting day in the land of Saratography! I had a meeting with my web designer this afternoon and it was very productive. Hopefully the new site will be up in the next week or two, so stay tuned for updates there. As far as my pictures today go, I'm LOVING the fact that winter is on it's last legs, and spring is officially coming! Not only is the snow melting, but the plants are beginning to come back to life, and I have the pictures to prove it!! Today was another macro-day, with a few added colored bonus.

Some practice at this macro-thing, shooting at some burdox near the sacandaga lake.



Another capture/edit of the burdox



My proof that spring is officially on it's way! Some new buds on this patiently waiting plant...



Can you figure out what I was shooting at here?



Another 'guess what it is' picture.

Project 365....day 60

Today was a gray day outside, but I was lucky enough to find bits and pieces of sunny colors everywhere I went today, it seems. ♥ Up in the mountains of Upstate New York, the streams and rivers are starting to melt...which can only mean one thing; spring is coming, and fast! (I hope, at least) Here are today's 365's...celebrate with me while I raise my wine glass to the fact that I've made it 2 whole months without quitting or missing a day yet!

I could not resist this lone little leaf left on this tree. I love that little splash of color.



A leaf in the snow I came across while hiking into a waterfall in Benson, NY today.



I just love the contrast between the snow and the stone wall...the way the wall seems to cut through the snow like a ribbon.

Project 365....day 59

Today after work it was like a miracle! The sun came out, AND I got out of work on time!! To celebrate both facts, I went off in search of water, and am VERY pleased with what I found.

I just love the way the sun pops on the water in this image.



A different *sunnier* angle on that beautiful melting stream.

Project 365...day 57

Happy Friday (a day late) everyone! Yesterday my husband and I got to do something we very rarely get to do....we got to go out all by ourselves!! We went out for dinner, and then to target, but since his mom came super-duper early, we decided to leave right away, and he could accompany me on my picture-taking outing. And it's a damn good thing he did, too! To get the pictures you're about to see, I had to climb into the bed of his truck, then wait for him to pull up next to the snow bank (which was easily shoulder-height on me) and let me climb out and over! I ended up in waist deep snow before I was done here in Wells, but it was TOTALLY worth it! ♥ I hope you all enjoy Friday's pictures!

More macro practice on these beautiful (and still colorful) leaves!



This capture is the same leaf you see above, just with a different take on the post-processing.



A long shot of the Tenant Creek, far below the falls.

Project 365....day 55

Today was a snow day for my biggest human, so after we had lunch we bundled up again to go sledding *or 'bob's-sledding' like my girl calls it. hehe.* Anyway....while me and the 2 little humans were out, I had a chance to get in some fun outdoor scenic shots...some of my best to-date, or at least, I think so...without further ado, here are my 55th day 365's!

More practice at the macro-photography...



I love the way these dead flowers look, and how curly the petals that are left are



The bench on the ice...my step father put this on the edge of the pond so we wouldn't have to try to walk all the way down the hill in our skates! He's awesome!

Project 365....day 54

Today we got some snow. Well, actually, let me rephrase that; today we got more snow, practically, than we've gotten all year! To celebrate that fact, we had plans on all going out to play in the snow and do some ice skating....those plans, of course, did not go the way we had hoped, and Thomas melted down and he and Bob stayed home. Instead of the whole family going, Amelia and I got to have a wonderful little snow date, and I must say, I enjoyed EVERY moment of it! ♥

My little snow angel...



My sweet girl and the little friend we made!

Project 365....day 53

Today I got another opportunity to practice my macro shots, and I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with how most of them turned out. Since I know no one wants to see a billion pictures of the same 5 plants, I'm throwing in my favorites along with a couple of other interesting shots from today.

This is a beautiful view of the waterfront on the Sacandaga Lake on Lakeside Drive in Mayfield.



A macro shot of an awesome looking puff-ball plant (yes, that's the technical term.)



A beautiful, and probably very old metal wagon I stumbled upon in an abandoned lot today.



Another macro shot...just can't get enough of these wintering flowers.

Project 365....day 52

Today I worked most of the day, and when I got out, before I went to another shoot, I had a few minutes to run out and practice my macro-shots again today. Here are the best of the best, (almost) all coming from a farm just of of Rt. 67 outside of Johnstown, the last comes from the old Fort Johnson in Fort Johnson, NY

A long view of the farm I got my macro-shots at today.



I can't get enough of these cow flowers in the winter. Attempting macro shots once again.



Another angle on that same flower, and possibly my favorite picture ever. I love everything about it.



The barbed wire fence at the farm.



I'm not entirely sure what this prickly plant is, but I loved the look of it.

Project 365....day 51

Today was the last day of celebrating for my daughter's birthday until next year (or at least, that's what I'm praying!) When the cake was finished, and the wrapping paper had been thrown away, we tossed our little humans into the car and took a cruise. Our main point was to get them a nap, but while we were out, I made my husband pull over so I could get this capture. It turned out to be my favorite of the day by a landslide. Usually, I have a terrible time trying to pick just a picture or two, so I wind up posting a handful, but for today, there is only this one capture. Enjoy!

The Great Sacandaga Lake

Project 365....day 50!

50 whole days into this project! Wow! Last year I think I made it to (maybe) day 30 or 40 or so, but this is the first time in 3 years that I've been trying this to get this far! I have been having such a ball getting out there every day and shooting, and I've been learning SO much about my camera and composition, and so many other things, and really I have this challenge to thank.

Yesterday night I had to work, so I got ready super early and shot out to get my pics before work. I was hoping to catch a sunset, but alas, my plans were thwarted, and all I got was soaked and COLD! I did, however, manage to capture a BEAUTIFUL panorama of the lake before I gave up. The second location I tried worked out much better, and I have a couple of shots to share with you from yesterday's attempts. (to see the panorama, please visit my Facebook Photography Page. ♥ )

I love the way the snow sits on the top of the log, with the water just RAGING under it.



A shot of the creek from the far side of the road.

Project 365....day 49

So, remember how I mentioned (and shared pictures of) getting my daughter a "really-real grown up camera"? Well, today she was home sick with strep (though she feels fine, she is contagious right now, and had to be kept home from school), and we decided to take a cruise and see what we could see behind our lenses. We got some really great shots, one of which was achieved by me standing on top of the snow bank with her on my shoulders (!) and we had a great time! It's such a nice twist that this photography thing gets to be a family affair! I hope you enjoy looking at today's 365 as much as we enjoyed shooting it! ♥

This is the shot Amelia helped me with. Did I mention that for a 5 year old she's an AMAZING photographer?



I was drawn to the wavy look of the ice near the bottom of this waterfall. I am so blessed to live in such a beautiful place.



Another attempt at a macro shot. I love these little tiny pinecones.



A shot of the top half of the waterfall I hiked in to today in the town of Hope.



This shot comes from a local landmark around here that recently burned down. I was drawn to the textures of the door. It's beautiful and terribly sad at the same time.