tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8171246643301316152024-03-05T15:00:24.442-06:00My StudioLDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-70518447007828384522012-01-09T11:31:00.016-06:002012-04-16T11:45:48.170-05:00Our "Mama Dog" Maggie<div style="text-align: center; font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family: lucida grande;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" ></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pCo7kilncawjzZ8dzAXOnk1Ys_3PXdAjtg93E7iiqiUTLV1oDUAByKbKxs33aLkFmpcL28e7cQj3-gmyWnyYV2UJpsvlws0jQjZL7-ePfEcksUosoPZHy_ni3xn-YtwsXZ2_pH8P_WM/s1600/2012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pCo7kilncawjzZ8dzAXOnk1Ys_3PXdAjtg93E7iiqiUTLV1oDUAByKbKxs33aLkFmpcL28e7cQj3-gmyWnyYV2UJpsvlws0jQjZL7-ePfEcksUosoPZHy_ni3xn-YtwsXZ2_pH8P_WM/s400/2012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732039734259159106" border="0" /></a><span>1998 - 2012<br />~ Miss You Maggie ~<br /></span></div>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-30114036920639425932011-04-28T11:13:00.005-05:002011-05-01T13:03:54.839-05:00A Windy Day<div style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px; padding: 0pt; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43699897@N07/5661107147/" title="A Windy Day"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5661107147_a6ba3311a0.jpg" alt="A Windy Day by LD-Artist" /></a><br /><span style="margin: 0pt;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43699897@N07/5661107147/">A Windy Day</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43699897@N07/">LD-Artist</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">“There's always a period of curious fear between the first sweet-smelling breeze and the time when the rain comes cracking down.”<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span>~Don Delillo</p><p><br />Rain has fallen 16 of the 27 days this month in the Chicagoland area. That means this April has had more rainy days than any Chicago April since 1961! It had better bring about a lot of May Flowers!<br /></p>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-58275351468854367092011-04-28T11:05:00.010-05:002011-04-28T11:14:37.396-05:00LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-86191130129464250212011-02-15T11:53:00.007-06:002011-02-15T12:03:15.696-06:00Our Cold Snap<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5435269152_8625d10df8.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 335px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5435269152_8625d10df8.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4113/5435269152_8625d10df8_m.jpg"> </a><span style="font-size:100%;">So while we were busy digging out from Snowmageddon Mother Nature threw another obstacle our way in the form of COLD! We found ourselves facing wind chills of 20 degrees below zero! Not even the dogs were allowed to be outside for more than 5 minutes. The girls had pity on poor Molly; who has no real outer coat to speak of. They piled coats and blankets on top of her in attempts to warm her up. She really didn't seem to mind!</span>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-37048474553539035652011-02-04T10:26:00.020-06:002011-02-06T09:42:32.825-06:00Snowmageddon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9KXpeCPh5jhVAzp9gLGk93qKqbQH98KERpJRdkRWRHwe7ck2_ZFVX-vZIT7CwjKWL7l88p-_NmgC-XVi4t-y8I_7c_5IxGQqEQZSb7wyM_4ssU83ptppxju3ZyLeWXwzR14rxQDth34/s1600/Window+4+blog.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9KXpeCPh5jhVAzp9gLGk93qKqbQH98KERpJRdkRWRHwe7ck2_ZFVX-vZIT7CwjKWL7l88p-_NmgC-XVi4t-y8I_7c_5IxGQqEQZSb7wyM_4ssU83ptppxju3ZyLeWXwzR14rxQDth34/s200/Window+4+blog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569886362720374562" border="0" /></a>There's probably no good images that I took that can truly capture the sheer beauty that "Snowmageddon" brought with it. We got 20.5 inches in all. And before the flakes stopped falling people were outside with their snow blowers and shovels digging not only themselves but their neighbors out of the snow. People helping people; that was the mood through out the storm. That is why I can remember this storm, this "Snowmageddon" with fond memories.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4S1o3vDiHZgTJSyMqLwR0gERkWShAKL_0XHJgC8mdKBwm8_NKPB16khZjkup8nGSkp-kK8H-dnHPJWFTMeSwYgkfwI4JIG2I4AJTr9Q_Ffkx5t95J0OnsEBzt0iFYyqpNe_nD4YUpYk/s1600/Playtime+4+blog+copy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4S1o3vDiHZgTJSyMqLwR0gERkWShAKL_0XHJgC8mdKBwm8_NKPB16khZjkup8nGSkp-kK8H-dnHPJWFTMeSwYgkfwI4JIG2I4AJTr9Q_Ffkx5t95J0OnsEBzt0iFYyqpNe_nD4YUpYk/s400/Playtime+4+blog+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570321478344168706" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpZR9HkFL4fYPts1oGh9NadofBXGqJQIioRtZJ9pIXLZKA85V0yl5JiVRCslSHUB0AKqqheCTAKaaVyvPbKSWQj4sULgLqH934m_thJ_OPWxBQTEm0myDTlmVYkpeD5v9hDU8fKr7W-Y/s1600/Blizzard+2nd+set-14.jpg"><br /></a>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-394022893617458132011-01-08T15:48:00.032-06:002011-01-08T18:23:07.251-06:00The Big Rivalry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTILqcCCSgQrSWfVBFGJPh7KKhMIqCPFJek3TWCkMHPd5eEI5FdiRcVh5lBin3NDD5P_Dj0kefwB5QzK5lNSvjokdEEpYN0FahfCWZxTWLerAs9CaAqhg0p71NxH1vQjajkQ_aAARFo-Y/s1600/Wrestlers+.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTILqcCCSgQrSWfVBFGJPh7KKhMIqCPFJek3TWCkMHPd5eEI5FdiRcVh5lBin3NDD5P_Dj0kefwB5QzK5lNSvjokdEEpYN0FahfCWZxTWLerAs9CaAqhg0p71NxH1vQjajkQ_aAARFo-Y/s320/Wrestlers+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559946551599672466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Two of our towns biggest rivals were pitted against each other last night. <em>Rivalries</em> transform what would be just another normal game into something special. Two of my nephews are on the team so I went to support them and their team.<br /><br />It was such an exciting game, very close. The other school won 26 to 27! The team was disappointed but they'll be many more opportunities to try again.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeJBw9euuhNLTnjGEfXfm6_pOZxDuwZ-PFR0KaSSpWLNNeSkAgIx_zsSb8QiVW1AOCV8mB5f1Ua5G6ZLpsOLCgNqELprNASxQSYxXuoFZD5a4q8nxuZobZsY3MA9VMiqPw2Xm48u_B8s/s1600/The+Bench.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeJBw9euuhNLTnjGEfXfm6_pOZxDuwZ-PFR0KaSSpWLNNeSkAgIx_zsSb8QiVW1AOCV8mB5f1Ua5G6ZLpsOLCgNqELprNASxQSYxXuoFZD5a4q8nxuZobZsY3MA9VMiqPw2Xm48u_B8s/s320/The+Bench.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559939262166667810" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /><br /><br />I went there with the intentions of taking some pictures but the action was fast paced and the photos blurry. I'm just glad I managed to get a few of the boys with their team mates.<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTWdjsQOCABC6rH0HyqD6Zp1U8qnKaE8O3rlsre6TFRBpzdfJWiRIaeqKssL4wuELDlGSuas64278exWcEZLWpfm45_B-VWoOMlJ1QKyNqd0HLjF_IpbCPjsSkFkDNPicWOB-toSXFlk/s1600/Flag.jpg"><br /></a>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-77451557790257354462010-12-26T14:46:00.005-06:002010-12-26T14:52:54.497-06:00Weeks #49 and #50<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5161/5294493186_fb8d024eb5_m.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 160px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5161/5294493186_fb8d024eb5_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I've been running terribly behind with my 52 project but better late than never.<br /><br />Here is week #49. It was December 17th and I took the girls into town to shop for gifts. They had a wonderful time looking at all the holiday books!</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5288190475_2c68c9b15e_m.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 163px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5044/5288190475_2c68c9b15e_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Week #50 came from our "Photo Challenge Forum" - "Holidays". I captured a beautiful glass ornament and thought it would make the perfect entry into the challenge.<br /><br />It sure is beginning to look an AWFUL lot like Christmas! <br /><br />50 weeks down - two to go!</span>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-1592311606285578602010-12-05T14:20:00.009-06:002010-12-05T14:35:30.298-06:00Week #48 Snow Dog<div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5233492624_0daf33844b_m.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 173px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5233492624_0daf33844b_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">We got our first real snow storm Saturday and the kids could not be happier. Lindze headed out and built herself a snow dog. She made eyes and a nose out of rocks she found under the bushes and the tail was a stick. It is just the cutest puppy ever! She did a great job!<br /></span></div>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-89092001237506257772010-11-15T10:59:00.010-06:002010-11-15T11:15:06.355-06:00Week #45<div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1279/5178594283_f8c8a53400_m.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1279/5178594283_f8c8a53400_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">It's been a few weeks since I uploaded my weekly photo but I have been keeping them up. I will be ordering a photo book at the end of the year. This has turned out to be a fabulous idea and I hope to do it all again next year.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">So this is week #45. We had rain all weekend. The temperatures we in the 50s, chilly but not too cold. Certainly not cold enough to stop me from driving to the arboretum for some pictures.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1283/5179217436_d132523385_m.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1283/5179217436_d132523385_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I like the photo from the road but not this thumbnail size. It looses something. Better to click on it and see the larger size.<br /><br />I like the photo of the leaves. Kinda sum up that day. I was heading back to the car after trying to shoot a bridge. The leaves with the rain drops on them caught my eye so I pointed the camera down and shot. I like this one better than any of the ones from the bridge. </span><span style="font-size:85%;">It was not a very productive day. <br /><br />We did have a successful challenge though! I"m so happy! Everyone participated and we had our first vote this weekend. Now we're on to another challenge. I hope this week is just as productive!<br /></span></div></div>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-8141441794481292922010-11-12T11:56:00.011-06:002010-11-12T12:08:50.189-06:00Death of a Flower<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1438/5166806503_5a28e99b04_m.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1438/5166806503_5a28e99b04_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The challenge now over at Weekly Theme Challenge was "Death of a Flower". For some dumb reason I never thought to look at the flowers this time of year. I was greatly surprised at the number of photos I was able to get.<br /><br />These two are my favorites. I found the first one in Karen's front yard. Not sure what it is but it had that classic dried flower feel.</span><br /><br /><a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1408/5168141351_2775de987c_m.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1408/5168141351_2775de987c_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Then my clematis blooms are going to seed. I was fascinated by the soft texture it created. I had loads of fun playing with this image trying to emphasis the softness.<br /><br />The hydrangeas are another favorite of mine and I did find some beautiful bunches. They just didn't stand up to the texture the other two possessed.<br /><br />The Motion Blur challenge is up today. Can't wait to start on the new challenge!<br /></span>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-55933532058576306332010-11-05T11:02:00.006-05:002010-11-05T11:12:03.360-05:00Motion Blur<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/5138496856_2bee8c76ae_m.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 158px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/5138496856_2bee8c76ae_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Way fun challenge this week by Zoe; Motion Blur. I learned a lot by researching the online photography sites. Fortunately we had some good weather so the kids could run outside and play while I tried my best to grab a shot. Julia was such a good sport, racing back and forth and back and forth on her scooter while I tried again and again and again for that one shot! And we got it! Yay! I can't believe how clear her face looks! I give her a lot of credit for being such a good sport.<br /></span><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/5139621429_dfb35d4616_m.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/5139621429_dfb35d4616_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Halloween is slowly winding down. The decorations still adorn a great many windows and doors and so I couldn't help but grab a few more shoots. I love this pumpkin's "hat" - for lack of a better word. I love the twisting and the textures. Plus it didn't hurt with that left over 'spider web' behind it. LOL<br /><br />Click on either photo to view it on a larger scale.<br /></span>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-7174524265629436012010-10-31T12:09:00.013-05:002010-10-31T12:50:53.596-05:00Halloween Weekend!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1387/5132516660_988b48d08a_m.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1387/5132516660_988b48d08a_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>And so another October ends with the celebration of Halloween! On Friday the kids all got to wear their costumes to school. It was Lindze's first year and she was very excited to see what everyone was wearing! She was fortunate - being a cat, that no one in her class was a dog!<br /><br />After school she was invited over to Julia and Lilly's to play. Lilly was a Dancer and Julia was a zombie! They had a blast running around the park all dressed up. After wards they made "Witches Finger" cookies <a href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1131/5131910355_031ae709dc_m.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1131/5131910355_031ae709dc_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>while the older girls; Elyse and Payton watched a scary movie on TV.<br /><br />On Saturday Lindze went with Mommy to her work to paint pumpkins. And for dinner we all met at Cheeseburger in Paradise for Ryan's birthday. Happy 16 Ryan! And then ofcourse, Sunday was Halloween! Hopefully everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend!LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-5838067153421603982010-10-24T15:54:00.002-05:002010-10-24T15:59:02.044-05:00Week #42<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1107/5111400865_40a3cb046a_m.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 160px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1107/5111400865_40a3cb046a_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This week the girls had two days off for teacher/parent conferences. We filled our days rediscovering the parks. We started with Willowbrook Wildlife Haven. Jen came this time and the girls were excited to show her the place.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The next day we hit the Arboretum. Elyse and I wanted to see some color. The girls just wanted to play. The girls had fun but due to our lack of rain the colors were some what muted. But I was able to grab a photo for the 52 challenge - week #42! Wonderful white pumpkin with orange behind it. Love it; it's my new desktop wallpaper.</span>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-51933950296626919772010-10-21T22:14:00.011-05:002010-10-21T22:30:24.680-05:00Willowbrook Wildlife Haven<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbqxosZ5oEGTWYFp5z7JpdpH4r1sf7AmFIDSGxyjlxPHKsOWz_9NTKTaVa9HaprOsWJY-Xkh0TxUqVsA6Rh-0dd8rhjcqLH7TBYBiU58YEHOA4zgtjrZM2TeECTqbTtL5irhlWKTduEI/s1600/Bobcat+4+web.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbqxosZ5oEGTWYFp5z7JpdpH4r1sf7AmFIDSGxyjlxPHKsOWz_9NTKTaVa9HaprOsWJY-Xkh0TxUqVsA6Rh-0dd8rhjcqLH7TBYBiU58YEHOA4zgtjrZM2TeECTqbTtL5irhlWKTduEI/s200/Bobcat+4+web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530706141758725938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This week we went back to the Willowbrook Wildlife Haven. I got some marvelous photos. The bobcat has recovered nicely and is much more social now. She stays around when people come by so I was able to get a nice, clean picture of her today.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I also got some snaps for the Autumn Challenge running over at the "Enter and Vote" photo challenge. "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43699897@N07/5103243637/">Bare</a>" and "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43699897@N07/5103251295/">Autumn's Smallest Flair</a>" are over at Flickr</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43699897@N07/5101122062/"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 172px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1131/5101122062_e3c9e64470_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">At our Photo Challenge Forum" it was Elyse's turn to post. She choose "Rings". Very clever idea, haven't heard of that before. As I was walking through the park I found the perfect entry in a park bench. Beautiful cast iron grill work. I like it!<br /><br /><br /><br /></span>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-30484346242013292032010-10-12T11:49:00.015-05:002010-10-24T16:00:10.436-05:00Contrast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43699897@N07/5075819514/"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 168px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5075819514_51d9c3b0cc_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">My Challenge this week -<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Contrast!</span><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I thought with all this color around us this time of year what a perfect challenge to fill. I grabbed these shots of the leaves at around sun set last night. The sun hit them just right and this gorgeous tree just lit up! This is nature at her finest! This photo doubled as Week #41 photo for the 52 Challenge.<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43699897@N07/5075821372/in/photostream/"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/5075821372_8a4bff900c_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I thought with all this color around us this time of year what a perfect challenge to fill. I grabbed these shots of the leaves at around sun set last night. The sun hit them just right and this gorgeous tree just lit up! This is nature at her finest!<br /><br />As always, to see it better just click on the.</span>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-74238917319579630102010-10-10T10:56:00.006-05:002010-10-10T11:00:42.930-05:00Week #40 Happy Birthdays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43699897@N07/5068252968/"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 159px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5068252968_3f14b3055f_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This October there's more birthday parties than ever with the addition of Julia on the 6th, Lilly on the 8th and Elyse on the 14th. Lots and lots of shopping to get done! But then... when is shopping not fun? LOL They had a wonderful party for the girls! Everyone had a marvelous time so this is my photo for the week.</span><br /><br />HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLS!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Click on the photo for it's Flickr page.</span>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-77439623655525291322010-10-10T10:43:00.006-05:002010-10-10T10:50:05.467-05:00ELEMENTS (EARTH, FIRE, WATER, WIND)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43699897@N07/5062238085/"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 160px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4086/5062238085_b808062e4e_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This week at Weekly Theme Challenge the topic was Elements. I thought no one would pick earth so that's what I went for. I headed back to the side garden where I shot the mushrooms and I found some wonderfully colorful foliage growing over the dead log. I thought this one made for a fabulous entry for "Element"<br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Click on it for a better look</span><br /></div>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-52579333405167894812010-10-05T22:08:00.017-05:002010-10-05T22:26:05.750-05:00Tell A Story<span style="font-size:85%;">Our first challenge at Flickr. It's "Tell A Story".<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5056148080_85aa827d6e_m.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5056148080_85aa827d6e_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Photographs have the ability to convey emotion, mood, narrative, ideas and messages – all of which are important elements of story telling.<br /><br />That's often the difference between a good photograph and a really fantastic photograph! In a good photo, you might have a picture of your subject. The photo might be perfectly composed, well shot, in focus, and touched up to perfection -- and still missing that certain something. On the other hand, a slightly less technically perfect photograph can be much more successful if it gives you a sense of story -- for example, if you look at it and think, "Oh, what is happening here!<br /><br /></span><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5056142964_37ae7ccc59_m.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 240px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5056142964_37ae7ccc59_m.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Here's two of mine for this challenge. I took the first photo today.</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">The Halloween decorations are popping up everywhere and this year someone isn't as afraid any more! She boldly walked right up to this one hanging from the front door. Last year she would not have gone anywhere near it! LOL</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The second one is of Stanley, patiently waiting for the bus to come. What I saw when I got home was how interesting Brian's shadow made the photo; standing there with his arms crossed.... even though I was standing right there, viewing the photo made me wonder, "now what was going on there?"<br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-51230655345487370852010-10-04T11:00:00.008-05:002010-10-04T11:08:49.891-05:00Week #39 Autumn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/5039507486_07cddefb83.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/5039507486_07cddefb83.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It's getting colder now, we're full into fall. The days range from 60 to 70 the nights are wonderful! They'll range from 50s all the way down to the 30s. Beautiful sleeping weather!<br /><br />All the Autumn decorations are out. Some have the Halloween decor, some opt for just the seasonal things.<br /><br />We're into October now It's birthday time! Time to grab a jacket and head to the stores!<br /><br />Ah, it's Fall!LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-24286426015049200822010-10-04T10:56:00.004-05:002010-10-04T11:00:19.209-05:00Week #38 - Bird's Eye View<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5026301655_518104745a.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5026301655_518104745a.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>My first entry in a new challenge group; Bird's Eye View.<br /><br />I'm so bummed my old group; Photo Challenge Forum is closing. Hopefully they'll move over to Flickr and we can all just continue over there. I hope!<br /><br />So this one is for another group; the Weekly Challenge Group (Easy enough).<br /><br />Lindze is lovin' school! She's heavily into reading and is learning so darn fast! It's WONDERFUL!<br /><br />September 29, 2010LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-43968289633065145612010-10-04T10:54:00.002-05:002010-10-04T10:55:57.955-05:00Week #37This week's momentous moment was when I turned around and found Julia almost to the top of a tree! <span style="font-style: italic;">(gasp!)</span><br />The girls were more than happy to help me recreate the moment! Little Monkeys!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5005870096_362f9472d0.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 370px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5005870096_362f9472d0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>September 17, 2010<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-1671048901156173722010-10-04T10:52:00.003-05:002010-10-04T10:54:10.716-05:00Week #36The kids are beginning to get into the routine of school and homework.<br />So this week this photo seems very appropriate<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/4968888755_f5bb5b4d85.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 331px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/4968888755_f5bb5b4d85.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>September 7th, 2010<br /><br /><br /></div>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-8140677297675674542010-10-04T10:51:00.001-05:002010-10-04T10:52:36.517-05:00Week #35I was cleaning out the garage when my brother pulled up with his 15 year old son behind the wheel!<br /><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/4958425432_621f7874da.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/4958425432_621f7874da.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />WOW, another one getting ready to drive.<br />It's not fair how fast the time goes by.<br /><br />September 4, 2010LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-22778763293194144892010-10-04T10:50:00.003-05:002010-10-04T10:51:32.344-05:00Week #34Another one from my "bucket list" - a Renaissance Fair!<br />A photographers dream! Just had so much fun!<br />Here's Maximilian taking the field:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/4954810475_295feb1d9e.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 379px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/4954810475_295feb1d9e.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>August 28th, 2010<br /><br /><br /></div>LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-817124664330131615.post-60757271513898726602010-10-04T10:47:00.005-05:002010-10-04T10:49:52.589-05:00Week #33<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4926996520_20352f4810.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4926996520_20352f4810.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sunday we visited the Nicolet National Forest Preserve to see the Cathedral Woods:<br /></div><br /><br />August 15th, 2010LDArtisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03959445042368502033noreply@blogger.com0