Capturing Life and Chasing Zen

Balloon Fest - Part 2

So, the next morning, I got up early. REALLY early. Why? Well, the balloons were supposedly flying at sunrise. So, I had this all planned. Made sure everything was packed, had my batteries charged, tripod ready, etc. I get there and find out that there's been a delay. Because of the wind. 

Fricking wind. Uuugh. The wind is not a photographer's best friend. Nope. 

So, I have no choice but to wait. And I could've stomped my feet and been a little brat about it. I had to leave and get back to New Orleans for a certain time. Eeek!

I started having these thoughts of :

"Great...I came all the way over here, got up early and raced down here and now the fricking wind is gonna make me miss the balloons."

But, that's not very ZEN-like, is it? Noooo! And since I'm all about being present and accepting what is, I took a deep breath and just...LET IT GO. I let go of the dissapointment and the expectations. And I just observed, took pictures of what what going on, struck up conversations with other photographers and just enjoyed the present for what it was. 

Oh, and tried not to think about having to pee. Seriously. I had a big ass camera bag and a tripod. I was not going to try going in a portalet and risk any of my stuff getting pee on it. Gross!

So, here goes:

 

Waiting...

 Teasing us!Lol. 

Oh, lookie...here they come!

It was amazing to watch them land. I can only imagine what it's like to be up in the air in one of these beauties. Cool stuff. :) 

Balloon Fest - Part 1

Awhile back, I took the girls to the Hot Air Balloon Festival. I have been wanting to go for a few years now. But, every time it came around, we already had something else going on. So, I was excited when this year, we were able to make it. And my sweet sister-in-law (Rachel) offered us a place to stay. (She & my brother live nearby). 

While waiting in line, this man starts talking to us. I didn't get a picture of him, but I was tempted to. He was drunker than Cooter Brown. And aggravating. We made polite conversation. Thankfully, the line moved quickly. 

We're in! Loving it. :) Felt like a kid in a candy store with my camera. So much to see and capture. 

The girls with Aunt Rachel, taking pics on their phones. 

 Hey, guys, can I get a pic? 

I got fussed at for getting close to the flames. But I stuck my pouty lip out and asked, "Pleeeease?" and...he took pity on me.   

Again, pouty lip and pleading worked. I really felt the heat with this one. Wow. Very cool.  

 We had a really great time. It was a cool experience. Then, we went to Golden Corral and had bad steak. Ha! :) :) 

 

On the way to bring Cy to a sleepover, the sun was setting. And my girls both noticed the beauty. Cy said, "Mom, look. Do you have your camera?" I did. I parked the van and the girls couldn't get out fast enough. They know that every minute counts when you are trying to capture a sunset with your camera.  

This is what I captured. 

It's beautiful. I never tire of sunsets. 

While I was taking shots, my girls were taking their own. 

Seeing them trying to get sunset pictures with their phone cameras was better to me than the actual sunset.

I love that they noticed the sunset in the first place. And I love that they wanted to stop and savor it.

Sigh. :)

failing at acceptance

Glass. Or razor blades.

That's what my throat feels like is in it right now. Since last Thursday, actually.

And my chest...tightness. Burning.

I feel like crap.

Part of ZEN is acceptance of what is, right? Well, truth be told, I didn't do such a good job of that yesterday. I had promised my kids that we'd go to the local Christmas parade. Instead of staying home and resting, I denied reality and pushed myself. I took the kids to the parade and I am paying for it.

I have always been a bit rebellious.

But here's the thing...

If I had stayed home and the kids had missed the parade OR if someone else had taken them, I would have been even more miserable all day.

So...that's the story of how I failed at acceptance yesterday.

And...I'm failing at it today, too. I'm going to work and my oldest sings in a Christmas concert tonight. I won't be missing either one, thank you very much.

Carry on.

 

Pumpkin Patch

Trying to get more pics posted. So, here goes...

The Pumpkin Patch is a favorite tradition of ours. This year, the kids didn't seem quite as interested as usual. They are growing up and more interested in other things. Mainly, being on the phone with friends, watching TV, hanging out with friends & being on the computer. So, I'll take what I can get. :)

Here's Devin, probably thinking about how long this adventure of ours is going to last and counting the minutes until she can get on the phone with her best friend again. 

 
 

Here we go...

 
 

Here they are...just waiting for us.

 

Cy found hers in record time.

 

There's Devin with hers. Heavy pumpkin.

 

Me & Cy and our shadows.

  

See...they're just not as excited as they used to be. Times...they are a changing. Devin is playing on my phone.

 
 

Wait...is that Facebook she's checking? Uuugh!

 

While Devin checked Facebook, I made Cy take self-portraits with me. She said she didn't mind.

 

On the ride back from the Patch, the girls tried to pick out houses of the people we knew and I met a stranger who asked me about how I liked my wide angle lens and I asked him about his lens and well, I love when that happens. :)

 

I should've taken a picture of his camera. But I was too caught up in lens talk. :)

OK, back to the story...

The pumpkins were all unloaded and it was time to clean them. You had to find yours first, though.

 

 Devin found hers.

 

Cy found hers.

 

Time to bring all 4 of our pumpkins home.

 

Thank you for coming with me, girls. I love this family tradition of ours. I hope you continue to want to come with me. :)

grandma's 90th - part 1

My grandma recently turned 90 years old. Yep, you read that right...90. We had a great time celebrating her birthday.

I loved how my step-mom decorated with my grandma's love for sports in mind.

 

The cake...

 

My Dad, step-brother & brother-in-law made grillades & jambalaya. It was all so delicious.

 
 
 

Nobody makes a jambalaya like my Daddy. Nope...nobody.

 

There was  a very nice turn-out for the party.

 

Here's the birthday girl blowing out the candles.

 

And here's a picture of MawMaw, her brother & the parish priest.

Just a little FYI...if you're a priest & you attend a 90 year old's birthday party, you're pretty much a rock-star.  Yes, this sounds ridiculous...and yes, it's true. 

to the park we go

We recently went to the Grand Opening of a local park. The park is a great place for family get-togethers, impromptu picnics, etc. It's also a great way to raise awareness about the erosion of our wetlands.

 

 

 

Devin was singing in the choir for the dedication of the park.

Here she is waiting for the performance to start. My baby.

  

Yes, I know she's not a baby and she doesn't want to be around me much, anymore...and the phone is her favorite thing in the world...and her friends are the most important people in her life right now...and I'm sure she wants to slap me for bringing a camera everywhere at this point...but she's still my baby. So there!

 
 

Sing it sista!
 

 

After the performance, Devin went off to walk around with her friends. Cy & I explored the park together.

 
 
 

I even got her to take a picture with the Gator mascot. She's still young enough to be willing to do these kinds of things for me. She still likes me. :)

 

We really enjoyed the opening of the park. Looking forward to going back. :)

Labor Day...captured

This Labor Day weekend was spent getting things done. But it was also spent doing other things.

Like...

going to the local pool.

And...

listening to the local band.

And...

hanging out with friends.

Having my camera around my neck really helps me with living in the present moment. I "see" things in a totally different way. I love that. 
 

Mechacon

Dear Devin & Cy~

Over the Christmas holidays, Aunt Rachel told us about Mechacon. I had never heard of it, but she explained to us that it was an Anime' convention and since that time, you have both been so excited & have been patiently waiting for the big day to arrive. Aunt Rachel was bringing Kaitlin & you both really wanted to go, too.

We all went together and you all had a great time. It was so fun to see all 3 of you enojoying something so much. You are already talking about next year. :)

weekend with the girls

This past weekend was spent with some of my favorite people. Some of my girlfriends & I went to Mississippi for the weekend. We left on Friday after work and came home yesterday.

Weekend highlights

Friday~ Krystal burgers, Taco Bell, Firefly, Lemon Drop Martinis, laughter, tears, sharing from the heart

Saturday~ Breakfast, taking pictures by the pond, tubing, bumps & bruises from tubing, sore muscles, laughing, beer + chips + chocolate while tubing, sand + rocks in my swim shoes, coffee after tubing to wake us up, wonderful meal cooked by Daneel of zucchini + squash + sausage + pasta, Firefly, watching The Hangover & The Proposal.

Sunday~ Breakfast, walking by the pond, watching dragonflies, talking, sharing, cleaning, making beds, more Krystal burgers, cheetos, driving home while talking about photography, family hugs me when I got home 

It was a fun weekend. I'm so grateful for girlfriends. I have no pictures of them to share. It was a "no makeup" weekend and no one wanted their picture taken.

Here's the scene at the pond...

Happy Monday!