november {photo a day}

November memories!

(posted in January 2011, backdated to November)

A month of photos is a long post, but one post is so much easier than 30 individual posts.

And I am posting just to say that I "kind of" finished a 365 project.

"Kind of" meaning that I counted photos for some days that I skipped.

11.1 - Grateful Dishes!

Dayspring is a favorite.

11.2 - Election Day!

I voted for the first time in my new hometown.

11.3 - Pumpkin Explosion!

11.4 - Orange!

I love that color.

11.5 - Fall Arrangement!

First fall at my house - makes me smile.

11.6 - Sweetness!

Grateful for the people who came to share in my open house day!

11.7 - Pure Beauty!

Little Miss Brooke on a Sunday morning.

11.8 - Unlocking Doors!

Change is hard sometimes.

11.9 - The Bright Side!

Focusing on something without any heart-wrenching emotion.

11.10 - Believe!

A sweet gift, adding to the house decor.

11.11 - Expansion!

Girls Night Out is now 5, instead of the 3 sisters.

11.12 - Surprise!

Celebrating a week early, we definitely had the surprise factor.

11.13 - Saturday Cookout!

Something new for Pastor's Appreciation.

11.14 - Pastor's Poem!

During the Pastor's Appreciation program at church.

11.15 - Fall Leaves!

Taking in the nature changes.

11.16 - Corn!

Part of my mama's fall arrangement.

11.17 - Fall Sunsets.

As I leave work, the sun is setting. Daylight is short.

11.18 - Hershey Bar Cake!

Made for the boss' birthday.

11.19 - YFC Group!

Thanksgiving Senior Citizens Dinner.

11.20 - Bathroom cleaning!

I left the basics at my parent's house - cleaned out stuff to move to my house.

11.21 - Fall at Church!

Matching the season.

11.22 - Night Trees!

When I found time to take a daylight photo, the leaves were already on the ground.

11.23 - Golden Leaves!

Color change in my backyard - I loved it!

11.24 - Fall Wreath!

Maybe there is a reason I like orange? ;)

11.25 - Pecan Pie!

Part of a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.

11.26 - Sale Papers!

Black Friday deals - I did NOT go out early.

11.27 - Pretty Cousin!

Taking some photos with Randa at my grandmother's house.

11.28 - Christmas Planning!

The busy days continue.

11.29 - Website Upload!

Days of issues where I could not get photos uploaded - aggravating!

11.30 - Changes!

I  updated my blog colors, worked on a new header, and added the feed from my smugmug site.

November 30th - photo 334 out of 365.

Just 31 photos left to post in the 365 project for 2010...

twin photos

Hope Melody

Faith Naomi

the twins - Hope & Faith

Many more photos from the session -

some okay, some needed help.

A new experience, basically practicing.

I have had these to work on since September.

And I am trying to catch up....maybe I will get there one day.

so thankful

 

This year, this Thanksgiving Day 2010,

my thoughts are centered on thanks and praise.

I have so much to thank God for -

so many blessings to reflect on -

and my heart is quite grateful! =)

May you have a "Happy Thanksgiving" also!

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

giving thanks

I have so much to thank Him for!

Looking back over my new year's resolution -
I did not have a perfect "response"
but I really did work on a few.
And God helped me with a few.

#1 goal - draw near to God. =)
10/26/10 - Receiving the amazing experience of the Holy Ghost

Other areas I worked on:
 Reading my Bible more.
Journaling more this year.

Simplifying, organizing more.
Taking a "photo a day" - I took way too many photos this year.
Purchased and went through a renovation process with a house.

I look at some things I need.(like my car that is literally falling apart -
but I still have a way to ride. Please Lord let it last a while longer!)
But, I can still survive from day to day, so my "to buy items" are not a dire necessity yet.


The economy is troubled
The world is wicked.
But, I serve a GOOD God.
Who is merciful, compassionate.
Who cares about little ole' me.
I am thankful!
Blessed!
So grateful!

number 3-0 :)

Today, my sister (the middle one) turns 30!

It seems like I just wrote a post when she turned 29... 

And now I am the only one of my siblings still in the 20s age group. 

Ahhhh - please slow down time. ;)

Last weekend, we totally surprised her with a 30th birthday party!

She had no idea...

Photos from the party are not ready yet - 

but it all turned out great 

and just having the "surprise" element was by far

one of the most memorable moments.

Hope today is just as special...

Happy Birthday Andrea! 

Love -

your younger sister =)

Dining Room: before & after

On to the dining room -

After the living room wall shown here, 

the dining room is actually just a small space in a corner.

So maybe it is just the "dining space" or probably just a kitchen nook.

I did not have a good before photo taken directly from floor to ceiling.

The space is quite small...which is good on 

floor covering cost. :)

Ross came up with the idea of a small wall-like divider

to separate the living room from the dining space.

The floor man said to use stained shoe molding near the hardwood, 

so I needed something as a divider 

because white shoe molding is used in the kitchen.

I had to find a small table for the space - 

and this one I found from Hobby Lobby works perfectly.

The stools fit underneath the table to save on space.

For open house, the table was pushed to the side so that 

it would allow more walking room.

The chandelier chain is on a hook 

that normally hangs above the center of the table.

Around the left wall in the photo above is the kitchen...

those before & afters coming next.

Living Room: before & after

part 2 of the open house posts...

After the exterior view, the front door opened to the living room.

Definitely a 1970s look for the before photos.

Dark paneling and trim are not on my favorites list.

An after photo with almost the same view...

The decorating is still in progress (and moving is not finished either.)

I want to upholster the cream chair with a more neutral fabric;

it is one of my sentimental pieces - something from my great-aunt's house.

Before shots from the other view....

And the after shot is the day of open house (hence the gifts in the floor.)

Floors refinished, sheetrock hung, new moulding, paint,

another ceiling fan, vent covers, blinds -

all this combined (with some other stuff not mentioned)

made quite a difference.

Someone said it was a "2010 house" now instead of a 1970s house.

to be continued...

heart failure from LR import

Maybe not heart failure - but how about overwhelming? stressful? way behind?
Yep - all of those when I looked at my Lightroom import of 1701 photos to edit.

And that doesn't include the photos from two other cards that I have to download and import.
It also doesn't include 3 other folders I already had to work on in my LR library.
So, I am going to roughly estimate that I have close to 2,000 photos to work on -
and hopefully finish before the end of November.

Problem is - I really do not have time.
Solution is - finish what is important first, no more photo shoots any time soon,
and try to eliminate stuff unless it is worth my time.

I am trying though to get caught up; however, at this point, I do not see daylight.

Right now, I am working on:

beach bridal portraits (October photos)

 a family photo shoot for Ellie (Oct)

finishing the twins editing (Sept)

Marcus and Steph's wedding (Sept)

Family Reunion / Kings (Sept)

15th Anniversary (Oct)

Powells (March)

Other photos I took (Sept-Nov)

Of course, this doesn't include prior years that could include touch-ups...but I think I am going
to just let that go.  I do not really have photos printed since 2006 - which is AWFUL.
Oh well....something else to just "let go" and move on.

(Note: As of 1/25/11, I am caught up with all of 2010 edits except
a December wedding - which will hopefully upload by the end of January.)

House Exterior (front): before & after

To show the before & after photos I displayed at my open house,

I decided to post "portions" at a time.

So here begins part 1: the exterior and front yard.

Before closing 3/30/2010 - this is how the front looked.

After closing, the tree near the porch corner started blooming

and as shown from this side view - a lot of work was needed.

Around closing time, I opened the first photo above in Photoshop and

made some quick adjustments with some hopeful plans.

The wheelchair ramp would go (one of the very first projects)

along with the bushes/trees, cream vinyl, and white shutters. 

I sent an email with these before photos and the plans way back

in the beginning of this renovation process.

I debated about showing the full-view on-line.

But, I have tried to carefully guard my location and last name on my blog.

So, hopefully it will not matter if I have shown the full view.

And after SEVEN long months - here is the after view.

Much better and even better than what I planned.

My first house/home...

to be continued later...

over 15 years

Looking back over 15 years makes me feel old.

It is mind-boggling that time has really went by this fast.
In a way, it seems that Ross and Allison should not have celebrated
a 15th anniversary on 10/21 - but indeed, they did.

A photo from the day it all began - 10/21/1995.

1999 - nearing the 4 year mark and getting ready for baby #1.

2000 - 

They celebrated the fifth year as a family of three.

2003 -

Levi arrived to make it a family of four.

Celebrating 9 years in 2004.

An Easter shot with their two little boys - loved their matching suits.

And in 2005, their 10th year, the third baby - Miss Emma Claire - arrived
to bump them up to the family of five...



In 2006, the eleven year mark
 is showing just how cute those three kiddos are...

 

2007 - 12 years

Christmas Sunday photo.

2008 

 Beach photos taken during the month of their 13th anniversary.

Some family shots -

And a more formal shot during their 13th year.

On to 14 years in 2009...

And on October 21, 2010,
we celebrated 15 years with an
anniversary dinner at my house!

I missed a few years out of the 15, but you can definitely see the changes...
and these three kiddos are growing way! too! fast!!!

They were singing for their parents on the night of the 15th anniv.

Sweet memories from over the years!

I sure wish the clock could slow down some....