Stuff I did on the one year anniversary of my daddy entering Heaven.

I had an entire post planned for this day.
But then I got tired of reading my stuff because I am just so flippin depressing and I'm tired of being depressing and all "woe is me".

My dad entered Heaven 365 days ago.
I haven't heard his raspy giggle in one year.
And it effing sucks.

It will always suck.
I will forever hate April {except for the days my loved ones were born}.

Did you know that Columbine happened in April?
The Boston Marathon bombing?
Waco Siege?
Oklahoma bombing?

Oops.....depressing.

My therapist wanted me to do something special today to keep my mind off the everything.
So I ate a huge bowl of Froot Loops.
I went shopping.
Out for lunch with husband. Even thought about getting drunk. But, instead I took my dusty DSLR outside for the first time in over 3 weeks.
I figured, that on this day of losing a life, I would capture new life.

And I found lots of it.

Green grass.
Amen, hallelujah.







I am 99.9% sure my therapist wanted me to get a massage or a pedicure, or even just a new hair do. But this day? I consider making it through without doing the ugly cry, a very huge success.

The Rule of Thirds

I am the first to admit that my photography skills are those of an amateur.
Actually a beginner amateur if that is even such a thing.
I have taken one course that told me how to use the controls on my DSLR, but I forgot everything the guy taught us.
I am a "hands on" learner and learn while playing around, rather than sitting in a classroom listening to a know-it-all tell us everything he has learned over 40+ years.

One thing that I learned on my own is the Rule of Thirds.  Honest to goodness, no one ever taught this to me.  I just took pictures and preferred the "look" over anything else.

Basically, you imagine a 9 square grid when taking your photograph.  Sometimes you can even display it on your camera but don't ask me how.
I am an amateur, remember?
Ahem.

Source

When taking your photograph you want the main "subject" to be positioned in a third of the photo or on the intersection points.
It could be the top/middle or bottom third.
Or the right/middle or left third.

Make sense?
It kinda looks like this.

Princess was the subject/focus of this photo.
I aligned her in the right third of the grid along the intersection points in my head as I snapped the picture.
If she was smack dab in the center of the photograph, it just wouldn't grab your attention.
It would just look like a "blob" in the center of the picture without telling a story, expressing an emotion or grabbing your attention.

I could give you the technical lingo about lighting and how the human eye is somehow drawn to the intersection points.....blah blah blah

....but I am not a technical kind of gal.
I like what looks good.
That's it.

Here are some other examples.

Once again the subject is in the right third along the intersection points.
I like the right side.
It just looks the best to me, but that doesnt mean it is for everyone.

And then this one....on the left side.
Maybe I like the left side .
I have never been good at making decisions.

Right side

Left side

Sometimes I change it up and place the subject/focus of my photograph in the top or bottom half of the picture just for shits and giggles.
It's fun.
Maybe even the middle.
Try it out.
That is the fun in photography.
Go with the flow.
Learn as you go.
And you will quickly learn what looks good...
...and not so good.

Try out The Rule of Thirds and get back to me.
Post your photos on my blog facebook page.
Then I can post them here for others to see.
It will be fun.

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Spring.

I have a love-hate relationship with Mother Nature.
During the winter, she is not my friend.  Yes, it is beautiful to see snow falling on the trees, but when it is -30 and my boogers freeze instantly, it is not a pretty sight.
At this time of year I love her and would kiss her with the tongue if I could.
Maybe even make out with her.
Don't judge.

Walking outside my door with my pyjamas and rubber boots on is so much fun at this time of year, because I can find a pretty picture everywhere I turn.
Just not of myself.
Whatever.

I cant tell you how many times people tell me they have nothing to take a picture of when just walking around their home.
Think outside of the box people.
Look around.
Bend down.
Sit on the grass.
Look up.

The possibilities are endless.




Even in the depths of sadness, as I am right now, capturing bright colours and "new life" makes me smile.


At times I wonder how the world can just go on when my Daddy isn't here to live in it........


...but then I snap out of it and am thankful for the beauty still surrounding me.




The sounds....the colours....


....I just cannot get enough of it all at this time of the year.Thank you Mother Nature.


Deep down I believe that appreciating every second, every sight, every bright colour and every breath I take is helping me get through this dark time.




And knowing that my Daddy is looking down from his beautiful new home makes me want to get outside to capture even more.


Amen.

Simplicity

I am a simple person.
I like the word simple.  Say it a few times.  It just comes out so nice, doesn't it?
Add this to the many things I am learning about myself as I get older and wiser. I don't need alot to make me happy and I will never define myself by material things, because, well, that's just not me.
I just know that when I am old and near the end of my days on this Earth, I will remember the moments, the simple things that brought a smile to my face.
And while I experience these simple, smile-inducing moments, I breathe. I take it all in with a big, huge inhale and then a long exhale. Almost as if I am inhaling the moment into my brain so it is etched there forever.
Man, that's deep.
Simple things + my family = a very happy Momma.

This very spontaneous outing occurred after hubby and I went out to dinner and then didn't know where to go or what to do after because it was only 6pm. So, we went home and forced our children to go for a hike.

I am so happy we did.


Not only did it get them away from the computer and TV, but it allowed us to wear off our buffalo chicken fajitas that I am completely addicted to from the local restaurant 5 minutes away from home.


Annnnnnd, it was the perfect opportunity for me to blow the dust off of the Nikon and click away.

Because if I didn't take it with me, I would have missed out on this.

And this.

Simplicity.

That's all we need.

Signs That It is Near

Last week, we experienced summer weather up here in Canada.
This week it has been cold and wet.
With the possibility of snow this weekend.
Hold me.
The only thing that is keeping me from running away to live in a tropical climate are the signs that warm weather will be here to stay very soon.

New life is showing up everywhere I turn.

Colour is returning to brighten up the dreary landscape.

Nature is waking up and taking a deep breath.

And I am anxiously awaiting the sun and much more colour.

Spring makes me happy.
Summer will make me even happier.

Is it spring where you are yet?
Are there signs that nature is waking up from the cold weather?
Does it make you as happy as it makes me?
Do you feel like running to the hilltops and singing "The Hills are Alive"?


Me too.


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