Take It All In

I have been going, going and not stopping to listen to the "mom, come play with me!" pleas. Yesterday I said yes. Yesterday I stopped to take in all the joy that is running through a field of long grass with my boys.

The picture and words are in response to the prompt "take it all in" over on Focus on Everyday, a  collaborative photography blog. Hop on over to see Gabi's take on this week's theme.

My Week

This week:

• Gabi and I revitalized Focus on Everyday. The above picture is my response to the prompt "ready". Click through to read the words that go along with it and see Gabi's picture.
• I had my first emergency visit to the hospital with my oldest son. I was 45 minutes away, he was at a friend's house and they couldn't reach my husband. Not a situation I want to find myself in again. He is fine - 9 stitches and a story to tell.
• Finally feeling caught up in my work. So caught up that there is time for this blog post and to shut the work e-mails down for the weekend.
• My blood sugars are slowly getting under control. I am still increasing my insulin dose every 2 days but I am getting closer to where I need to be. 
• It feels good to be in this space again.

Welcome Summer 2015

Welcome summer! You have been missed and I can't wait to get reaquainted.

I kicked-off the season with some pictures. These 2 decided they didn't want to be photographed today, but allowed me these few.

I hope it isn't a trend but a one-off. I have to respect their boundaries. They love to take pictures so maybe if I let them take pictures of me they will let me take pictures of them. It would be a double-win as I am sorely lacking in the pictures of mom department.

Picture template credit: Paislee Press

Make

I've been on a making spree lately. If I can't find a way to multitask while crocheting or knitting, it isn't getting done. Buying excess supplies is hazard of all this creating. The only improvement I've made is that I am buying with purpose. I needed each colour of this thread to coordinate with some new yarns I have been working with.

This picture is my response to the prompt "make" on the Focus on Everyday blog. Please visit the blog here to see Gabi's response.

alone

When I want to be alone I seem to be surrounded by boys and when I don't want to be alone is when I am. I am learning to appreciate the moments I have and those I share them with instead of wishing for something else.

This is my response to the prompt "alone" over on the Focus on Everyday blog. Please click here to see Gabi's response.

In the Moment

So many things running through my mind; all things I "should" be doing. But I said no to all of them, shut them down and stayed in the moment. This moment.

This is my response to the prompt "in the moment" over on Focus on Everyday. Click here to see how the other ladies are staying in the moment.

Seeing Beauty No. 3 - My Living Room

I've given you a little tour of my yard and my basement and my quest to see beauty in my surroundings and in the things I already own. I was planning on seeing beauty in my kitchen next but then I soaked up the view in the below picture and knew my living room had to be next on the list.

I love the collection of mementos and pictures above our fireplace. I eventually want to fill the entire space with frames full of memories and art.

This little fairy has been in my home in one place or another for over 15 years. Her bowl broke this year during the Christmas decorating frenzy. She is sitting on old science book set set my husband has had since he was a boy.

A little side table full of odds and ends. My dancing lady needs a repair, a project that is in the queue. If you look closely you can see some of the fossils that make up our fireplace wall (hint, there is a shell to the right of the dancing ladies raised arms).

I love to craft with buttons but I haven't in a long time. It has a lot to do with this little frame I made. I need to buy more buttons so the container can stay full and my crafting craving can be fulfilled.

I love all of the light that floods this room during the day. I am even more grateful when I can work from home and sit on the couch answering my e-mails. Don't worry about the smoke detectors, it was battery changing day and they are reinstalled.

Made crafts and purchased crafts can be found in little corners of the living room.

Is there an area of your house that you can look at with fresh eyes to see the beauty that is already there?

looking up

Yesterday, I laid down on the ground and looked up. In doing so I found out that holly trees have yellow blossoms.

Who knew!

This was my response to the weekly prompt over on Focus on Everyday. Click on over to the blog to see the responses from the other contributors.

Here's another picture I took while laying on the ground. It is too pretty not to share.

30 Days of Happy

30 days ago, I shared that I was going to start the #100happydays project. Well actually it has been 31 days, I counted number 7 twice.

Shortly after joining the project, I read an article in the local news bashing the challenge. You can read it here, but essentially it says how unrealistic it is to be happy for 100 days in a row and that we are setting ourselves up for unhappiness trying to achieve this goal for such a long period of time.

A friend asked me why I was participating because, in her words, "You are happy!" And my response was that I like the idea of being mindful of what makes me happy and documenting it.

I don't believe we go through life in a cloud of happiness everyday. We feel the range of emotions, some fleeting some longer, on a continual basis. But why not make an effort to seek out and recognize the moments that bring you happiness?

If you want to follow along with me, you can find me on Instagram.
User name @harmonyc

experience

On Monday night I came home to an empty house. I was home early and all my boys were out at the park or activities (with my husband transporting them). I wandered from room to room not knowing what to do with this unexpected free time, not sure what to do with myself.

It was a strange predicament, in the mornings I love my quiet time; I drink my coffee, read my blogs and am still. In the evenings, after the boys are in bed, I putter and tidy or I will work on my "day" job. And I fit in creating when and where I can.

It was early in the evening and the sun was just setting, it was a photographer's magic hour.

I decided to really experience this found time and took my camera on a front yard exploration. I felt awkward at first as my camera is usually pointed at one of my boys or purposely taking pictures for this blog. And then I let go and was in the moment.

This is my response to the prompt experience on the Focus on Everyday blog. Please visit the blog to see the rest of the team's interpretation of experience.

PSE Actions - A Beautiful Mess

I treated myself to a new actions set from A Beautiful Mess, The Elements Actions, a couple of days ago. When the shop first opened the action bundles were only for Photoshop and I was sad. Then they released this set of 10 actions shortly afterwards and I was happy again - for $10 you get a lot of editing fun!

One of the first actions I ran is called Clara, and it was perfection (you can see it just below on the pictures of the trees in my front yard).

I found that the Light Leak and Mia actions called for a summertime photo and pulled out one from last year. Mia and this photo of Grayden go hand in hand.

 

Since Darien is fair-skinned like me, I find a lot of actions wash him out, but Dottie and Nico look good on him.

I like to play with the layers in pre-made actions. Not only do I get different results but it also helps me pick-up tips on new layers I can try on my own. The Wendy action converts your photo to B&W but by reducing one of the layers to 90% I was able to preserve some of the colour. The Harper action really made the greenery pop in the photo of Connor.

Where do you buy your pre-made actions?

Make Your Own Photo Booth

I volunteered to make a photo booth for the Spring Carnival at my boys' school. It is a new fundraiser for the school and I wanted to help out (we're raising money for a new playground).

I was going to make one using a refrigerator box but visions of the box falling over as multiple kids crowded into the booth had me searching for more ideas. Can you tell I'm the mom of 3 boys?

Here are the supplies I used:

1. a king-sized white sheet (I cheated with this, and used the sheet for our back-yard movies)
2. a pack of 60 photo props on a stick from Michaels
3. a thought-bubble chalkboard
4. a fairy wand
5. a wood frame that I painted
6. craft paper that I cut into triangles and sewed onto ribbon to create the banners

Now I need to decide if I am going to man the booth on my own with my camera for 4 hours or if I can get enough grade 7 volunteers with their iPads to take the pictures. I am definitely leaning towards option 2 so I can enjoy the carnival with my family and I won't have to worry about keeping track of pictures to e-mail to people. Plus, it's a great experience for the kids, right?

6 o'clock

A new post is up on Focus on Everyday. This week's theme is 6 o'clock. Originally I was going to do a picture about my morning routine as I always wake-up at 6 AM. I changed my mind after the sunny afternoons we've been having along with the time change. I fell in love with this time of day again.

An exciting announcement for the blog too, we have a new contributor, Krystal! Please head over to the blog and give her a warm welcome.

And because I couldn't stop at just 1 sunshiney picture, here are a few more.

 This picture reminds me of the nursery rhyme "Jack be Nimble".

Seeing Beauty No. 2 - My Basement

Almost a month ago I went around my yard with my camera with the intention of seeing beauty that I hadn't noticed before. I enjoyed the journey so much that I repeated the process, this time in my basement.

Honing in on the details, I found lots to love about my basement. A place I usually just pass through on my way to get upstairs.

  

I think I need to visit more often, as I also found areas that could use a good dusting.

 

I pass these birds each time I take my coat off in the laundry room. Today they got a bit more attention.

There are lots of reminders that we have little boys living with us, the basement is home to their playroom.

 Memories of toys that are outgrown and more than gently used. Ones that we can't part with.

In my next photo exploration I am going to visit my kitchen.

yes

A new post is up on the Focus on Everyday blog, this week's prompt is "yes".

Click through to see Gabi's picture and to read our thoughts on the theme. I so love doing this project each week. It gets me taking pictures, it gets my creative juices flowing and it is a way I can connect with a good friend when we can't get together as often as we would like.

We are also looking for guest posters, if you are interested in contributing to one of our weekly posts send me an e-mail! harmonycornwell at gmail.com

collection

A new post is up on my photo blog. I chose to capture my collection of old books. Click on over to see Gabi's photograph, she took a unique angle in responding to the prompt.

I laughed a bit when I saw Gabi's collage of pictures because I also had the below picture ready for the response.

 

1. We have a turtle collection in our bathroom. I'm not sure how it started but we get them as gifts and find them in thrift stores. There are about 20 of the little guys hanging out on a shelf.
2. Jeremy decided we should have a duck collection, so that is now added to our list of things to hunt for when thrifting.
3. My collection of buttons is constantly being dumped out and sorted or made into pictures. And not just by me, the younger boys play with them too.
4. I want to add to our collection of older books but will have to find a bigger shelf for them. This one is full.

When I look around, there are other collections in our home I could have taken pictures off. We have a vintage glass collection, a shell collection from beach walks, rock collections that are souvenirs from various adventures and let's not forget the dust bunny collection under my bed.

I'd love to hear what you collect!

Perspective

In case you didn't know, I have another blog that I contribute to every Wednesday. It is a photo blog collaboration with my good friend Gabi. (And now you know!)

This week's theme is perspective. My shot and thoughts are below. You can visit the blog here to see Gabi's take on the theme and her thoughts behind it.

It's okay that I left my clean laundry in the hallway (not folded) and the boys thought it was dirty laundry and piled their dirty clothes on top. It's okay I broke my own rule and didn't take my shoes off downstairs. It's okay because I spent the time playing knights and dragons with a special little boy.

Seeing Beauty No. 1 - My Yard

 

I know we all have those areas of our home (inside or outside) that you look at and cringe and think, "I really should do something about that." But time, money or lack of motivation steps in and nothing changes.

I took my camera out this weekend (thank you Mr. Sun for coming out to play) and decided to take shots of all of the areas of my yard that need some extra love.

And instead of looking at these areas with criticism, I looked at them with the goal of finding art and beauty. Much more kind than thinking of a mildew covered birdhouse or a bunch of toys that were never put away.

I enjoyed it so much that I am going to do another photo shoot inside. Look for it in the coming weeks.

If you decide to take your own series of "Seeing Beauty", please let me know in the comments so I can come visit.

Playful Post

If you haven't already, please hop on over to the collaborative photo blog, Focus on Everyday, I contribute to with my friend Gabi. This week our prompt is playful.

Project Life - Week 11

Here is the layout I made from the week my dad was visiting. It was a full week, I just wish I had picked-up my camera a bit more. We had lots of good times that included late night card games with drinks and snacks and going outside after midnight to take pictures of the stars.

I did learn to take some awesome macro shots from my dad. Wish he lived closer so we could have more photo dates!

Here is one of my macro shots. After my last post, I am starting to make some plans.