Being A Nana

by Deanna

I love being a Mother, I love being a Grandmother, and I really love being a Great-Grandmother.Let's back up just a wee bit. I was married young, (20) becoming pregnant instantaneously followed up 3 years later with baby number 2. I think I was a good mother, with both children having good memories of their childhood, but I think now looking back, I could have been better. I think I am a good Grandmother, at least my 3 grandchildren also have fond memories of being with their Nana and Pop Pop.  Bailey (one of the three on my left) even lived with me for a year What fun we had together, I miss her still.  This photo was taken almost 6 years ago, it's difficult to get us all together now that everyone has either married (Brandon) and left home or their careers took them away.

When these 3 were young they would come to Nana's and Pop Pop's every year a few days before Christmas with just us without parents.  We had great times, shopping, eating out, playing games, going to the movies, but then little by little those times spent together began decreasing by one....Brandon first with college and jobs, then Bailey with college and working, and finally Brie was the last one to come to stay with us at Christmas.  Now all are graduated from college and all are living the life of adults with jobs, responsibilities and families.

But now, we have a new generation that is in progress. I'm sure you have heard me mention my great granddaughter, Matilda Mae. Oh the joy she brings to us all. It's been many a year since we have had little ones around, since my youngest grandchild is 24. Tilly, as she is called is a bright spot in each of our lives. Look at that smile, that's pretty constant all day long.

Her grandmother, my daughter, Lisa, is as charmed and in love with her as we all are. It's just too bad that she lives a good hour and half to 2 hours away from us both. I would love to stop in and eat breakfast with her, or walk her to the playground, or drive her to pre-school. But because of the distance and time constraints it's just not possible for either of us.

When we do get together, I don't know who has more fun, Lisa or Tilly. And then her grandfather, Sam, my son-in-law is just perfect for Tilly. He is a big kid himself. Look at them together taking selfies.....

Lisa even admitted to me that she likes it when we girls are by ourselves, it gives her more time to be with Tilly. When Sam's around, Tilly is drawn to him like a magnet because he has the inventiveness that children love. He gets down to her level, both mentally and physically, what a gem of a grandfather. My sweetie was like that with our 3 grandchildren. He would hoist them on his shoulders and march around the house singing at the top of his voice. "stout hearted are the forest rangers..." from Little Mary Sunshine. They love him just as Tilly loves Sam.

And I am pleased and thrilled to announce that Tilly's Mom and Dad are expecting baby number 2 which is a boy for sure.  I've known for awhile, but they asked that we not publicly announce until all was well.  See below for how they announced it on social media.

Please notice the baby bump. Hilary is about 22 weeks pregnant and doing well. Another lucky one who doesn't get sick during pregnancies, unlike so many.  Baby boy, we won't know the name until he is born, is due in October, about a month after Tilly turns 3....perfect.

Tilly is super excited that she will have a new baby brother that she can help with changing diapers, play with, read to, sing to. I wonder when she will begin the "is he here yet?" Please notice the red boots. A new addition to the always changing, never boring, always accessorized wardrobe.

Life continues on, and I am so blessed and happy that I am still here to enjoy and love our ever growing family. Oh, by the way, I'm still Nana to this next generation, easy to say, easy to remember.

"What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies."   ~Rudy Giuliani

FOY Back Lighting

Our theme for this month is backlighting....what could be more perfect than the image of this beautiful setting/rising sun throwing its rays of light into this lovely scene. I especially like that it is b&w which seems to enhance those radiant beams. This beautiful image was created by "hiddendoorfour" on flickr.  To see more of her lovely images click on the following link https://www.flickr.com/photos/hiddendoorfour/.  Once again we thank you all for contributing to our flickr group, we so appreciate your interest and contributions.

The Thing About Lines Part 2

by Deanna

Our monthly theme for the month of May is leading lines. I think we all know what that means, but in case you need a little reminder I am pulling back into my archives and editing and re-publishing a blog post I wrote back in 2015. The principles that applied in 2015, are still applicable today. 

Lou Nettlehorst was the speaker at our monthly meeting of our MAPS (Morton Arboretum Photography Society) a couple of years ago.  Lou is very well known photography and loved all over the Chicagoland area because of his tremendous knowledge of photography, his amazing skills of teaching, and his terrific personality. I went to the Smokey Mountains with Lou and a group of photographers about 3 years ago and plan on attending another of his workshops to Colorado in September.  

He began by saying that you must have good design to create an image that:

• evokes feelings
• expresses ideas clearly, or
• records scenes, objects or events effectively

Then he went on to discuss the building blocks of visual design:
Light - Line - Shape - Texture - Perspective

I am certainly not going to go into each of these building blocks but I decided to focus on one. Lines have always intrigued me in their shape, form, and design.  Lines are certainly the most prevalent design element. They can easily be seen because of their tonal or color contrast. Lines easily define shapes and clarify spaces between areas and they can lead us to places.

I decided to look back into my archives plus add a few from my recent trip to Michigan and find some images that fall into this design element.

Straight lines 1) have a sense of purpose  2) define shapes  3) can take us to & from areas in a scene

Whereas curving lines 1) may create a more relaxed trip through the photograph  2) may be sensual or tranquil.  The 3 photos above fits into both of these categories, the straight lines provide structure, whereas the curving lines take us to an unknown space.

When making a scene with lines as the prevalent design element consider:

• they carry visual weight - thin less impact than thick
• straight ones may convey rigidity and structure
• horizontal may impart calm or a stable feeling
• vertical may convey stiffness and formality, strength or growth
• oblique or angled may convey a sense of motion

"Line is a rich metaphor for the artist. It denotes not only boundary, edge or contour, but is an agent for location, energy, and growth. It is literally movement and change - life itself." ~  Lance Epsland

When the Quince Bloom....

by Deanna

When the quince bushes bloom, then I know that Spring has arrived.  Even though the calendar may have cited March 20 as the official day of Spring, that is certainly not the case in the Midwest, and from the weather reports obviously not in many states both west, east and north of us.  But right here, in my little corner of the world, I determine Spring has officially commenced when the quince bloom.

I planted the three quince bushes in a garden right outside our front door the first Spring we moved into this house.  That was in 1979, 38 years ago and every year since, they have bloomed each Spring without fail, and to the best of my ability to remember (sometimes a challenge) it has never snowed here once the quince have bloomed.   I can’t say that about the snowdrops, the crocus or the daffodils, but I can state with confidence that no snow has ever fallen on my blooming quince.

So what is it that speaks to you?  Are you like me that when a special plant or flower blooms you finally feel like Spring has arrived?  Is it when the magnolias burst forth, or the dogwoods open to reveal their beautiful  flower?  In Arizona, the cactus begin their glorious blooming season in late March and early April (which I missed, dang it), Is it perhaps your favorite birds returning from their southern wintering grounds, or Spring rains with flashes of lightening and booms of thunder?  In Texas the bluebonnets cover the hillsides and in Washington DC the cherry blossoms are at their peak in late March.

I don’t know about you, but Spring to my eyes launches the 3 seasons of color that lasts throughout the spring, summer and fall.   Commencing in March with the first sightings of the snowdrops and crocus and 7 months later into October witnessing the glorious colors of Fall, our eyes are embraced by the colors of nature.   That continuous color nurtures my soul, lifts my spirits and is a constant reminder of God’s sweet gift to us. 

“Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.” 
― Victor Kraft

Flutter By Butterfly....

by Deanna

As some of you may know via instagram and facebook, I recently visited Arizona, the home of good friends who graciously invite me each year to enjoy the warmth of the sun and the amazing life in the desert. And you also probably know that I spent time with both Terri (my FOL sister and BFF from Phoenix) and the amazing Barbara Carroll. Lunch together on my birthday was pretty darn special. Terri and I joined up again a couple of other times and just enjoyed being together, snapping our cameras at the glorious sights of our surroundings. It was absolutely glorious to see color and sunshine again. Here at home we are still struggling with the arrival of Spring, cloudy days, cool temps, but there are glimpses that Spring will arrive. 

I have so many (approximately 3,000 give or take) pictures that I took while there. Up to this point 2017's inventory of pictures taken was only about 1300 from January until the 1st part of March. Pretty pitiful for someone who historically snapped several each day. As I said before, there are only so many bare trees and branches one can get excited about.. Visiting the butterfly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden and another visit to Butterfly Wonderful brought that excitement back in full force. So, because my inventory is over-flowing with butterfly images I am dedicating this post to the magic and wonder of butterflies.

Please do not ask me to name any of these. I could spend hours trying to google and search for each of these, but I'm not, so just enjoy their uniqueness, their beauty, and their exquisite colors. 

Not sure if these two were copulating or just happen to land on the same leaf at the same time.... 

And, by the way, I bought myself the new Tamron 90mm Macro lens, which really performed nicely for butterflies, flowers, bees. I would recommend the lens. All of these images were taken hand-held, which proves that for a 74 year old woman the vibration compensation really works. 

I've spent very little time on my computer lately processing pictures, so preparing for this post was almost as delightful as being there. Isn't it marvelous that we can re-visit those special places through our photographs. 

 I combined this lovely with the bluebonnets from Texas that I enjoyed last year. 

"Love is like a butterfly

It goes where it pleases

And it pleases wherever it goes."

(author unknown)

Now if you happen to wonder what I might produce with these lovelies....I make calendars each year and sell them, with my profits (after expenses) then donated to the Alzheimer's Association. 

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun

And find your shoulder to light on.

To bring you luck, happiness and riches

Today, tomorrow and beyond.

- Irish Blessing 

Yellow - The Color of Spring

by Deanna

Touches of Spring was my choice for this month's theme. OK I know the image above doesn't resemble Spring at all, but if I was at home right now this is probably what I would see out of my window. If you have seen any pictures of mine on Instagram or Facebook in the last week you would know that I am in Arizona soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the warmth. Except 90+ is just a wee bit warm for my body, but it sure hasn't stopped me from enjoying my moments in the sun. Rub on that sun screen and off I go.

Today I'm all about the color yellow. Yellow is the color of egg yolk, ripe lemons, some animals, many flowers, a few birds, butterflies, clothing, furniture, etc. It;s the primary color between green and orange in the visible spectrum, an effect of light with a wave length between 570 and 590 nm (nano meter, not "never mind").

Since I have been in Arizona I have seen yellow thru my lens wherever I went. So this post is more about images of yellow than words.

I discovered animals in yellow....

Butterflies and bees in yellow....

I know the flower isn't yellow but that bee buzzing inside is sure yellow.

Lots of flowers in yellow...

I have been visiting friends in Arizona (specifically, Phoenix) for several years. It's my getaway when winter has been around too long at home. When everything is still very brown at home, I fly to the land of the sun to envelop myself in the vivid colors that heal the remnants of winter in my bones.

I'll admit when I first visited Arizona 20+ years ago I did not appreciate the desert with it's beauty. My mindset was "how can anybody like living around rocks, desert, and cactus."  Well, needless to say, my mindset has certainly changed over the years. I now find those cactus, those rocks, and those deserts beautiful. 

Even birds are yellow out here....

And then of course, there are the stunning sunsets...

Even tho I am missing the massive blooming of the cactus by about 2-3 weeks, I sure haven't been cheated out of any beauty.