"If you're in a bad situation, don't worry. It'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't worry. It'll change." ~John A. Simone, Sr.
This year will be a year of change.
Adam will be graduating from Middlebury College in May. He's in the process of finding a job for a year before going on to graduate school.
Annie will be graduating from high school in June. Over the past month, she has been auditioning on saxophone at various music schools. She will be going away to college in the fall.
Kerry is looking for summer nursing jobs in Vermont - it might be the first summer that she doesn't live at home.
Vance just quit his job at Travelers last week for a position at a smaller insurance company in Hartford.
And after my first year in business, I've been making changes based on all I've learned last year in preparation for a new year of photography.
Change is inevitable.
But no matter how exciting change may be, it's hard not to feel some degree of sadness for the times you are leaving behind and some degree of apprehension for the uncertainty the future holds.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
In the Morning Light
I love to look out my kitchen window in the morning and watch my dogs as they head out to greet the new day!
After sprinting to chase the squirrels away, painting the snow in the yard a brilliant
yellow, and rolling around in the snow in sheer delight, they usually end up sitting
together on the deck. I couldn't resist joining them this beautiful morning!
The soft morning sun was glistening on the snow on Sami's whiskers.
While Sami always avoids looking at the camera, Halle is just the opposite!
Maddie always joins them for their morning romp.
Don't let her fool you! She has no fear whatsoever of the dogs!
Sami and Halle are watching Maddie, amused as she stalks a cardinal perched on the fence...
The same one that's been sitting there 24/7 for years.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Annie is Eighteen!
We celebrated Annie's 18th birthday tonight with her friends. Technically her birthday isn't until tomorrow - Groundhog's Day. That will be our family time.
But tonight was all about friends.
Allison, Josh, Annie, Anthony, and Megan
"It's just something that happens as you grow up. You realize it's less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones."
I don't know whose quote that is, but it's so true.
Senior year is more that halfway gone already, and there was talk of college acceptances, upcoming auditions, and prospects for the fall. Having been in school together for so long, supporting each other through the ups and downs of their lives so far, I can already see how they are savoring this time they have together before they go their separate ways after high school.
Eighteen!
They bought Annie a beautiful scarf and bracelet...
Hammered through the SOLID oreo cookie crust on the bottom of the ice cream cake I made...
Acted goofy...
and serious.
But most of all, they just enjoyed each other's company and made Annie very happy!
That's what good friends are for!
But tonight was all about friends.
Allison, Josh, Annie, Anthony, and Megan
"It's just something that happens as you grow up. You realize it's less important to have more friends and more important to have real ones."
I don't know whose quote that is, but it's so true.
Senior year is more that halfway gone already, and there was talk of college acceptances, upcoming auditions, and prospects for the fall. Having been in school together for so long, supporting each other through the ups and downs of their lives so far, I can already see how they are savoring this time they have together before they go their separate ways after high school.
Eighteen!
They bought Annie a beautiful scarf and bracelet...
Hammered through the SOLID oreo cookie crust on the bottom of the ice cream cake I made...
Acted goofy...
and serious.
But most of all, they just enjoyed each other's company and made Annie very happy!
That's what good friends are for!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Check It Out!
I love anything that saves me time and makes my life easier.
Running errands is a big time-sucker. So I try to avoid it whenever possible.
With online shopping, I rarely run to the store for anything anymore. I get better deals online with free shipping and no sales tax.
I can pay bills online without writing a single check or addressing an envelope.
With Express Scripts, I don't need to go to the pharmacy to refill prescriptions. They get delivered right to my mailbox.
Until recently, though, I needed to go to the bank to deposit checks. With my business, I usually get paid with a check and I go to the ATM at the bank to deposit them on a weekly basis.
When my daughter, Kerry, showed me how to deposit checks using my iPhone, I really couldn't believe my eyes! I thought the Bank of America mobile app for my phone was just for checking account balances and making transfers between accounts. I never even imagined I could deposit checks from the comfort of my own home!
UNTIL NOW!
It's easy. It's fun. It's like magic!
How cool is that?????
Running errands is a big time-sucker. So I try to avoid it whenever possible.
With online shopping, I rarely run to the store for anything anymore. I get better deals online with free shipping and no sales tax.
I can pay bills online without writing a single check or addressing an envelope.
With Express Scripts, I don't need to go to the pharmacy to refill prescriptions. They get delivered right to my mailbox.
Until recently, though, I needed to go to the bank to deposit checks. With my business, I usually get paid with a check and I go to the ATM at the bank to deposit them on a weekly basis.
When my daughter, Kerry, showed me how to deposit checks using my iPhone, I really couldn't believe my eyes! I thought the Bank of America mobile app for my phone was just for checking account balances and making transfers between accounts. I never even imagined I could deposit checks from the comfort of my own home!
UNTIL NOW!
It's easy. It's fun. It's like magic!
How cool is that?????
Friday, January 25, 2013
The Skinny on Skinny
Whenever there is a problem of any kind, I love to investigate and try to come up with a solution.
For instance, when we wanted to keep the dogs (but not the cats) out of the basement away from the littler boxes, I devised a rope mechanism that prevented the basement door from being opened beyond a certain amount so the cats could slip through but not the dogs. Better than cutting a hole in the door!
I am the same way with health problems.
For the past 2 or three months, I have had a problem with my left leg. When I sit for long periods of time, I have been experiencing pain and weakness behind my knee and up my thigh when I stand up and try to walk. It only lasts for a few steps and then it goes away. And it doesn't happen ALL of the time. Only sometimes.
For instance, when I flew to Alaska in December, I never had a problem at all even though I was sitting on a plane for 12 hours!
I've been keeping notes in my mind when it happens and I believe I have figured it out!
Then I googled "skinny jeans leg pain" and it was confirmed!
My pants are too tight! Haha!
Until last year, I used to wear regular old loose fitting jeans with sneakers and a sweatshirt.
Then I became a little more "hip".
I bought some skinny jeans.
Everyone was wearing them - my girls, my girls' friends, other moms, TV stars.
So I tried some on and they didn't look half bad! I felt younger!
And they were a great look tucked into my boots!
Over the past year, I have gotten a little more daring and bought some that were even more form fitting.
So, over the holidays I put on a few pounds like I do every year.
My skinny jeans got a little more snug too.
And the leg pain got worse.
Over the past few weeks, I've experimented and worn sweat pants some days and skinny jeans other days, and guess what? No skinny jeans = no pain.
When I googled it, I found many articles about meralgia parenthetica.
"It's a disorder that occurs when one of the nerves that runs in the outer part of a thigh gets compressed."
Typically, sufferers of the nerve condition include construction workers or police officers with heavy, low-slung belts, pregnant women or obese people; it also can result from a pulled-tight seat belt in a car accident. But over the last several years, experts say they’ve been seeing more young women at a healthy weight complain of symptoms. The culprit: too-tight jeans.
Well. I'm not ready to go back to "mommy jeans" just yet!
I will buy a few pairs of not-so-skinny jeans until I lose a few pounds.
Problem solved!
For instance, when we wanted to keep the dogs (but not the cats) out of the basement away from the littler boxes, I devised a rope mechanism that prevented the basement door from being opened beyond a certain amount so the cats could slip through but not the dogs. Better than cutting a hole in the door!
I am the same way with health problems.
For the past 2 or three months, I have had a problem with my left leg. When I sit for long periods of time, I have been experiencing pain and weakness behind my knee and up my thigh when I stand up and try to walk. It only lasts for a few steps and then it goes away. And it doesn't happen ALL of the time. Only sometimes.
For instance, when I flew to Alaska in December, I never had a problem at all even though I was sitting on a plane for 12 hours!
I've been keeping notes in my mind when it happens and I believe I have figured it out!
Then I googled "skinny jeans leg pain" and it was confirmed!
My pants are too tight! Haha!
Until last year, I used to wear regular old loose fitting jeans with sneakers and a sweatshirt.
Then I became a little more "hip".
I bought some skinny jeans.
So I tried some on and they didn't look half bad! I felt younger!
And they were a great look tucked into my boots!
Over the past year, I have gotten a little more daring and bought some that were even more form fitting.
So, over the holidays I put on a few pounds like I do every year.
My skinny jeans got a little more snug too.
And the leg pain got worse.
Over the past few weeks, I've experimented and worn sweat pants some days and skinny jeans other days, and guess what? No skinny jeans = no pain.
When I googled it, I found many articles about meralgia parenthetica.
"It's a disorder that occurs when one of the nerves that runs in the outer part of a thigh gets compressed."
Typically, sufferers of the nerve condition include construction workers or police officers with heavy, low-slung belts, pregnant women or obese people; it also can result from a pulled-tight seat belt in a car accident. But over the last several years, experts say they’ve been seeing more young women at a healthy weight complain of symptoms. The culprit: too-tight jeans.
Well. I'm not ready to go back to "mommy jeans" just yet!
I will buy a few pairs of not-so-skinny jeans until I lose a few pounds.
Problem solved!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Bring on 2013!
I'm flying high after a very meaningful, relevant,
and beautifully choreographed Inaugural Ceremony.
I'm flying high after a quick trip to Burlington on Saturday
to have lunch with my two children there.
I'm flying high as I continue to knock task after task off my To Do List -
things I've been putting off for way too long that have
been weighing on my mind and my spirit.
I'm flying high after a year of uncertainty, learning, surprise, happiness, pride,
and fulfillment.
A year ago, I was trying to set up my photography business.
I didn't know what to expect.
I knew very little about running a business.
I was trying to work out logistics - locations to take pictures, release forms,
credit card readers, advertising - my head was spinning!
So many details to think about!
After many years of being a stay-at-home mom, I didn't have a lot of confidence.
Would people think highly enough of my work to hire me?
Would I be able to consistently produce good portraits?
I had so many fears to swallow before I could move forward.
When school got out in June, I waited.
I was grateful when I got a few bookings.
I was scared too.
Then the calls and emails started coming in - more than I had ever dreamed of.
I was happy, but more than a little overwhelmed!
I just kept plugging along, doing the best I could.
I made plenty of mistakes too.
There were times I looked at the photos and wished
I had done things differently that day, kicking myself.
Other times I was sooooo excited about the wonderful images before my eyes!
Now I sit here with all that experience under my belt,
in awe of how much I learned last year.
Surprised that I had so many customers.
Proud that I was able to swallow my fears and face the uncertainty.
Happy to have met and worked with so many nice people.
And despite the long hours - MANY more than I had anticipated -
I feel fulfilled. I had fun too!
I accomplished something that has been kicking around
in the back of my mind for many years. YEAH!
With the infant stage behind me, I will keep growing into toddlerhood.
There's so much to learn. So much to try. So many more mistakes to me made!
I am stronger, wiser, and much more confident.
So bring on 2013!
and beautifully choreographed Inaugural Ceremony.
I'm flying high after a quick trip to Burlington on Saturday
to have lunch with my two children there.
I'm flying high as I continue to knock task after task off my To Do List -
things I've been putting off for way too long that have
been weighing on my mind and my spirit.
I'm flying high after a year of uncertainty, learning, surprise, happiness, pride,
and fulfillment.
A year ago, I was trying to set up my photography business.
I didn't know what to expect.
I knew very little about running a business.
I was trying to work out logistics - locations to take pictures, release forms,
credit card readers, advertising - my head was spinning!
So many details to think about!
After many years of being a stay-at-home mom, I didn't have a lot of confidence.
Would people think highly enough of my work to hire me?
Would I be able to consistently produce good portraits?
I had so many fears to swallow before I could move forward.
When school got out in June, I waited.
I was grateful when I got a few bookings.
I was scared too.
Then the calls and emails started coming in - more than I had ever dreamed of.
I was happy, but more than a little overwhelmed!
I just kept plugging along, doing the best I could.
I made plenty of mistakes too.
There were times I looked at the photos and wished
I had done things differently that day, kicking myself.
Other times I was sooooo excited about the wonderful images before my eyes!
Now I sit here with all that experience under my belt,
in awe of how much I learned last year.
Surprised that I had so many customers.
Proud that I was able to swallow my fears and face the uncertainty.
Happy to have met and worked with so many nice people.
And despite the long hours - MANY more than I had anticipated -
I feel fulfilled. I had fun too!
I accomplished something that has been kicking around
in the back of my mind for many years. YEAH!
With the infant stage behind me, I will keep growing into toddlerhood.
There's so much to learn. So much to try. So many more mistakes to me made!
I am stronger, wiser, and much more confident.
So bring on 2013!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Christmas is Family
This billboard stood out among the hundreds of signs and billboards around Times Square in New York. Our family was in the city to see The Lion King.
It made me wonder who was paying for this billboard.
It wasn't promoting any business or product.
It wasn't advertising any Broadway show.
It wasn't lit up - flashing and blinking to get your attention.
But it stood out in its simplicity and meaningful message.
FAMILY
There's nothing better than when everyone is home from college
and we spend time together.
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