Moving blogs!

Okay, moving blogs! Time to do it...I will be blogging at http://heidiadamsphoto.com/
Still have a few kinks, not done with it all, but I am starting...do come over! I will miss you all if you don't!

A few months ago, I started to desire a cleaner, more personal space. :) This new blog? I like the clean look. It is like my quiet little room I can sneak into albeit on the world wide web. lol My sister Eva, at http://thethoughtfultype.com/ made me a sweet simple logo(LOVE IT!), just perfect for me and my nice clean space. You probably think I am type A with all this 'clean' talk. I am not. Ask Joe. But, I love this new clean web home, and maybe this organization and cleanliness will rub off into my own real home...ha!

Okay, off to bed! See you later! :)

Sometimes its the pictures we don't take(sad post-warning ya!)

that we remember, haunting us...

Two weeks ago, I was packing to go visit my Dad. After being diagnosed with lung cancer, they were setting him up in hospice. I wanted to go visit, say goodbye before it was too late. Joe said to me, "are you bringing your camera? I said "no." I explained to him that I did not think I would want to take any pictures during this sad time, and I doubted my father, sick and weak and vulnerable, would appreciate having a camera in his face. Joe told me I should bring it, just in case. So, I did. On the plane there, I took these, and I thought that these were probably the only two pictures I would take that weekend. So much for bringing it 'just in case.' 

When I got there, it became clear that we had little time. The first day I was there, we had such a beautiful visit. I was so glad to see my Dad after so many years, even though I was sad that it had to be under these circumstances. Later that evening, my mother made coffee. Coffee at our house growing up was a constant ritual. Morning coffee, afternoon coffee, evening coffee. No matter the time, the routine was the same. Mom would always make it, prepare it for dad, and bring it to him. He was always thankful for the effort. Mom and Dad would sit on the couch, relax, and drink it together. As kids, sometimes they enlisted our help, and I am sure there are plenty of landlords out there that can attest to this given the coffee spills and drips that ensued during the kitchen to couch trips. So, that evening, Mom did as she usually did. She made it, prepared it, and brought it to Dad. But this time, he was in bed. It made me sad to see the empty couch. She sat down in her recliner next to the bed and they had a cup of coffee together. Dad sat up a bit and they leaned in close to each other. They spoke softly to each other, Mom leaning in closer to hear him. And the way they were looking at each other...
The last days, although sad, I was struck by the romance between these two. 38 years. They genuinely adored and loved one another, and it was so very obvious and admirable during these last days. I sat back in the corner, just taking it all in. I wanted to pull out my camera. Snap this moment. It was just. so. beautiful. If I could take a picture to show you what love is, what it looks like, it would be this tender evening coffee moment. But, I did not want to interrupt the moment, and I was afraid my Dad might get upset, so I did not grab that camera. Turns out, this was their last cup of coffee together. The next day, my Dad passed, peacefully. God rest this sweet man's beautiful soul.

Now? Part of me wishes that I had captured that moment. For me, my mom, my family. But at the same time, if I could go back, I don't know if I would have done anything differently. I will certainly remember that moment, and I will always think of my parent's love when I make and prepare a cup of coffee for my love, Joe.

My father was an amazing man. He will be missed. I know that I have shared his website before, but here it is again...he was an amazing artist. 

http://dennisvanderveer.com/

When I was at the house, I snapped his palette, knowing it would be the last time I saw it.

And I will leave you with one of my favorite self portraits of him on his wall...dad in his painter-gear. Perfect.

Since I have been back from Florida, I have been more aware, trying to focus on the beauty and joy in my life, taking in as much as I possibly can, always reminded that our time on this earth is so very short.

And did you know that it has been a year since I started this silly blog? My blogiversary passed when I was in fla...I hoped to have a big fun post, tell you about my new blog I have been working on(swear I will share next time!!!), lol, but this is life...you just never know what He has in store for ya, so you just roll with it, improvise.

Enjoy your life, your day!

Green grass

Getting to know my macro, sigma 70mm.

Hello! Still around...

My mantra...'been busy.' Yeah, you know. ;) We move in a week! Um...let's talk about something, anything else...

 

Let's see...how about the awe and beauty and magic of childhood? Yes! That always makes me happy. These little blessings that open my eyes to the beauty of this world...oh cheesey mama. So, the other day, Paul runs in from playing outside, yelling, "A RAINBOW! A RAINBOW!" Joe and I rush outside, and Paul then proudly boasts that Peter 'found' it.

Paul decided he needed to draw it so that he "never forgets it."

Blue sky, green trees...

 

Because Paul was drawing it, Pete decided he needed to draw one as well. Loved seeing the different interpretation.

 See the happy Peter under the rainbow? I love his happy face people. They have a happy face and two legs. All you really need.

And...I decided it was time for an upgrade in the camera department. I got a d700. Yup. I jumped ship. Hard decision to switch to Nikon, but I know it was the right decision for me. Joe...oh, he is good to me...I do appreciate it. And, my sister Eva helped me buy it due to a disasterous ordering mishap of sorts, so grateful to these sweet folks in my family. :heart

 

And now the playing has begun...

This is what iso 6400 looks like:

And this is what iso 800 looks like.

 

Still not the best lighting set up in dark dreary skied PA, but you get the point. Oh, and by the way, that dark dreary thing is 'bout to be remedied with the move! 

 

And if you pray, pray for my father. He is under the weather, and I wish I could be there with him right now. I have too few pictures of him, and my mom for that matter. I need to go raid their big picture box when I visit...which I hope will be soon, very soon, as a visit to my FLA peeps is long overdue... 

 

Take care.

Something blue...

Just for fun! Bloom Forum has a quickie challenge, something blue...

Blueberry! Hmmm...and thank you to Joe's sweet patients that bring us goodies like this(fresh farm laid eggs, Easter bread too) on occasion. :)

Golden hour...

They say it is the best time for photographs, but it is also what many parenting books call the 'witching hour,' he he he...so, you do the math...mama has two toddlers, takes them outside close to bedtime...scratches her head over why they are not cooperating. HA! Ah well...I got a couple of cute ones of the little ones. :) Will try again. 

Oh, and I am still seriously stumbling through ps5, so excuse any editing mishaps. Errrr...I am tempted to spend some money on a workshop or something, but I am trying to be patient and wait until the big move cause I just don't have much time to commit to anything but procrastinating on the packing. 

Clickinmoms had this pay it forward event, remember me talking about that? Anyhow, I finished my knitty goods. See?

And as luck would have it, one of my bloggy pals won the set, of course! I'm talkin' to you super amazing and talented Kristine! :)

And, my knitting mojo is still back, and I am finishing this sweet 1906 kimono sweater pattern that I started for Paul. :) Will have to show ya that sometime. :) 

And...another reason I have been kinda not keeping up...we are expecting again, and this is the first pregnancy that I got to actually experience the real-deal-no-holds-barred morning sickness. Ugh. This will be #5. Yup, 5. I am going to be brushing up on newborn photography. ;) Poor baby, lol!

*warning* it's buggy!

This AM, Joe saw a grasshopper on the wall. So, naturally, he scooped it up and gave it to my nakey toddler Pete, who just loves buggy friends. Oh, Pete is so cute with his bug friends...it is amazing what joy a silly grasshopper can bring that boy, so I just had to capture it. 

 

He tells me it tickled him.

 

This is Pete's face when it creeped onto his back, outta sight.

Not abandoning blog...

just taking a break. 

In about a month, we should be moving. And, well, that is a little overwhelming seeing as we have yet to find a rental and pack(unless you count the kid's pathetic attempts at toy sorting packing). I have not picked up my camera in a while. I just feel too overwhelmed to snap, edit. Lots of loose ends to tie up relatively quickly. My subscription at clickinmoms ran out too, and I am stalling on reinstating it. For one thing, not being able to log in has drastically reduced my web time, lol, leaving more time to prepare for our move. And, I picked up knitting again(more on that in a sec). I have some almost-done knitting projects for the 'pay it forward' summer event over there, and I need to get them done before summer is over. So, being logged off=more time to knit. Oh, the knitting. Funny that I would pick up that time consuming hobby again when I am so strapped for time, isn't it? This is pretty neurotic. I know it is just a way to escape all these obligations, but I gotta be honest...it is nice to knit again. I lost the knitting mojo, for whatever reason it became more like a chore than a hobby. A trip to a couple of yarn stores(sorry, Joe) remedied that, and I once again feel the therapy like qualities of knitting. That's nice. Because I am not here blogging, I am not checking my dashboard, so I am not visiting all the lovely bloggy mamas I have come to adore. I miss you all, and I am sorry for not being around to give some bloggy love. Anyhow, I thought I would check in seeing as I might be away for a while. ;) 

And since no post should ever be without a picture...I took these a while back but never blogged them. We have grape vines(that are totally wasted on us as I always intend on making grape jam but never do), and I was amazed at how fuzzy and colorful the fresh blooms and new leaves are! Weird. 

Let's go fly a kite!

We have a lot to do 'round these parts. So much, I find ways to escape it. Clean? Pack? Oh, did I not mention that we are moving in 3 months? Below the mason-dixon line, no less, yeeeee-haaaaaa! Whoop. Whoop. Okay, so, what was I saying, oh yes, nah, forget all that house work, let's go fly a kite instead. Right?

Now, I am feeling kind of...uninspired lately with the picture taking thing. I get this way when I have too many pics on a memory card that I have yet to edit. But, I desperately want to record these days with my boys. So, my solution? Break out the film camera. Point. Click. Develop. No photoshop. No clearing that memory card that is full.

 Now, this picture is deceiving. It looks like we were masta' kite fliers and all. That is not true. Not in the least. We got these kites off the ground for...maybe a second...twice? I let the boy's pic out their kites, and Pete picked Batman. His was the cheapest, flimsiest, yet it flew the best.

One-armed-Joey managed to pick out a kite with dual holders. You know, where you need TWO hands to steer the kite? I did not notice this minor inconvenience until after we got to the park. So, eventually, Joey used Pete's kite, on account of only having ONE hand. 

We pretty much gave up after this. We hit the park, but not before grabbing a picture of my Joey.

So pensive, serious. Joey, relax babe. 

This park is great, by the way.

Now, you may ask yourself...'ya know, I swear she has four kids, but I only ever see pics of one or two...where are the rest?"

Here they are, and *this* is why you never see pics with all 4. 

Yeah, you will see single pics of these kids for some time to come. I try. 

And before we got into the car, I had Joey lay down for a pic I have seen and wanted to duplicate.

But allergy eyes and a bright sky are not a good combo. I still think he is cute though. :) 

Fuji 400h, in case you were curious. ;) 

Been busy.

Hi everyone!

Yeah, been too busy. As usual. *sigh* We went to Vermont, and I don't think I will post all those pics as they are still in memory card land, and well, we just got busier. So, I will post what I have, give you a little update and then just get started on with our busy day. :) 

Vermont was really pretty and really cold. Joe had to buy me a sweatshirt. Not kidding.

We went letter boxing.

In a graveyard.

Creepy. Kids got a kick out of the milk stamp. They were like, "Milk?!! What does milk have to do with a graveyard?" LOL

Then we went to this lake beach that had 100,000 newts.

Jude was really cute with the water and newts.. :)

Then, Joey broke his arm. :( So, baseball is over for us. :( Today we have to check to see if it is set, get it casted.

A dear friend had dinner ready for us upon our return, which was a real thoughtful treat. :) And, I have no shame to admit that I am eating the leftovers for breakfast(okay, second breakfast). Good friends are worth their weight in gold.

I have mean meaning to tell you...a couple of weeks ago, I took on a project for my sistah. I photographed some of her amazing designs/branding. Now,I did not photograph everything. For example, park cellar, bup, logo portfolio, and lana bell were not photographed by me. But the rest is my work. Check it out! It was fun.

The Thoughtful Type

Okay, we are off to get x-rays and a cast and more milk at the sto.' Have a great day!

The magic and beauty of telephoto...

I bought a zoom to capture my budding baseball star. Joey loves baseball this year. He has turned this corner with it. He gets the game. I mean, he really gets it now. When he gets that ball, his eyes dart to all the right bases, and he quickly throws it. He does a little happy dance when he is fast enough to get an out. And, I desperately want to capture it all. So, I obsessed over buying a zoom. I got the 70-200mm 4L, non-IS, in case you were curious. No action pics yet, later on that. I will say that I need serious practice cause I am not thrilled with my 200mm 100% crops. Anyhow...I just had to share some bokeh at 200mm. It is really amazing. I never shot with a 200mm lens. This pic is on my porch. The background is a nasty road, guard rail, buildings, and cars. But you can't really tell at 200mm, can ya?

And this is in the backyard, grape vines behind Paul.

Now, I must stop playing with my new lens and go pack for our vacation!

Summer!!! And a filmy weekend to celebrate!

School is out. It is Summer. :) 

Shot through 3 rolls of film this weekend. 

Kodak Portra 400. Now, I did get this developed at...er...um...{whispering] walmart. I know. Still, skin tones too magenta/red. Did not bother to tweak, hope you don't mind too much. ;) 

And, of course, if I am outside, you know that means macro. Fuji Superia 800.

For iso 800, I think it retained detail pretty well! 

I bought some Popsicles. We are going to thoroughly enjoy Summer, and I hope you do too!