B+W Wednesdays: Oh Baby

Love this shot of one of several babies that were at the

(appropriately monikered) baby shower last Saturday.

B+W Wednesdays: Strike a Pose!

Sooo... Isabel and I went to a baby shower on Saturday.

After the gift opening and eating, we decided to

go out in the backyard to play with the puppy.

These shots were too bright due to the Florida sun.

The light was strong and harsh but... the poses were sort of cool.

I had fun cropping, editing and converting them to B+W.

Here are the three original shots:

And here are the edited versions of the same three:

(I really like the sassiness of all of them, especially the last one.)

What do you think?

Oopsie!!!

As single mom with no family living in this part of the country to give me help, survival for me depends a LOT on routines. This is especially true lately since my daughter's new school has added an additional hour and a half to our daily commute. (I should probably insert here that I am not, never have been and never will be... a morning person.) It's not that I am mean in the morning; I just function a lot better at night.

And so I have learned that everything I need to get done for the next day... I usually do the night before. Things like making lunch, setting out breakfast, getting the coffee ready, laying out both of our clothes and packing my little plastic tote bag for the gym.

Well I apparently forgot to throw my sneakers in the bag last night because when I grabbed the tote this morning, I realized they weren't on top. I looked in my closet and couldn't find them. That's when I remembered tripping over seeing them in the office. Not wanting to awaken Isabel down the hall by turning on the light, I just walked in, reached down and grabbed them, and threw them in the bag. No big deal.

That is... until this afternoon...at the gym. I arrive, take my stuff into the dressing room, get dressed and then go to put on my sneakers. That's when reality stared me in the face.

Yup. You guessed it. Two left feet.

[Mental note: must take care of this tonight

or I'll be repeated this again tomorrow.]

Fenandina Beach

Yesterday we drove up to Fernandina Beach to hear Isabel's godfather. He is the new music minister at the Ameila Island Chapel. It's been years since I have been there and I'd forgotten how beautiful the area is. The chapel itself is set among gardens and is designed with ample glass to take in the scenary.

The result is an effect of actually being outside.

After church we headed over to a nearby restaurant that overlooked a fish and turtle filled pond which they kids LOVED! The afternoon was filled with gorgeous spring weather, a great time catching up with some old friends and incredible food. I had a salad with marinated artichoke hearts, roasted peppers and Kalamata olives, topped with goat cheese. Just scrumptious.

It might be worth the drive back just to eat it again!

Is it JUST me.....

... or does anyone else find this sign remotely disturbing?

(That is, in light of its location.)

April Showers with Sunshine

Isabel and I went to the second of three baby showers this spring.

Hmm... any idea what the highlight of the party was for my little chocoholic?

Express Yourself!

Movies in the Park began tonight.

This is the third year it's been running.

We had a lot of fun last year watching Finding Nemo.

For a city whose downtown rolls up the sidewalks after 6PM,

these four weeks provide a venue for families to gather near the river,

sit under the stars with hundreds of other folks and just have fun.

While the actual movies are great, it is more fun being in the midst of folks and watching the interaction amongst everyone...especially the kids. Isabel was especially silly because her good friend Lucas and his family had joined us. After our picnic...and before the actual movie began... the two of them decided to act out emotions for me.

You just gotta love the spontaneity and freedom that children have.

"Calm"

"Crazy"

"Scary"

(Is she channelling John Travolta from Saturday Night Fever??)

"Sweet"

"Sleepy"

"Shy"

"Excited"

"Sweet"

"Energetic"

Black and White Wednesday

In the relative darkness

of the pergola's shade

flickering sunlight beacons us

Pop on over to Lisa's blog to check out other photographs at:

Images from this Afternoon