October 30, 2008

teeny tiny sneak peek.....

beth's photography
beth's photography

of a beautiful
teeny tiny
new
baby
{and yes, this is the baby from the pregnancy shoot a few weeks ago}


October 29, 2008

nope, I'm not a teacher, but I can do this...right ?


all it took
was a tour
of the facility
and
a look
around the art room
and
I was hooked
~~~~~
completely hooked
on
the
boys and girls club
~~~~~
so
after a lengthy
application
process
3
written
references
{thank you kathy, chris and suzanne}
and
a
background check
I'm good to go
~~~~~
I start teaching
on
monday
YES
yikes
monday
~~~~~
if I said I wasn't nervous
I'd be lying
~~~~~
I'm not a teacher
but I've always loved children
who
need
an
"it's okay"
smile
or
some
reassurance
or
a
hug
or
someone who believes in them
or
says "good job"
or
teaches them that writing down their feelings
in an art journal
is better than
keeping it all inside
~~~~~
so
on
monday and wednesday
nights
from
6:30 to 9:00
I'll be missing
some
of my favorite TV shows
and
instead
I'll be with teenagers
who
will be working hard
to trust me
and
like me
or
even want to be in the art room with me
instead of playing basketball
or
playing games
~~~~~
so
it won't be easy at first
I'm guessing
or
maybe
just maybe
it will be
so easy
that
I'll find
that 2 days a week
with these
kids
just
isn't
enough
~~~~~
side note:
for those of you who have known me for awhile, you know that my heart will always be as a CASA, but due to the fact that the CASA program here in wisconsin, just isn't one that fits what I believe a CASA to be, I chose not be part of their program.
the CASA children, especially the teenagers I used to work with, taught me more about life than I could ever imagine or even begin to share with you here.
so this is my new adventure.
and
the best part
I can bring my camera to class and take photos of the kids
and I can teach them to take photos
and we can use our photos in our artwork
or
hang them on the bulletin board
or
they can just take them home for mom or dad
who just might not have a current photo of their son or daughter
because sometimes
that's what happens
*


October 26, 2008

trying to decide.....

I've been looking at a number of
photography sites this weekend
and many of them
have
"left their mark"
on their
photos
with either
a water mark
or
their name
so I've been playing around
trying to figure out if
I should be doing the same thing
~~~~~
or
if I need to do it
to protect myself
and
my clients
{not that the goose really cares}
~~~~~
so
if anyone has any suggestions
based on blogging
and
photos
the right and the wrong
the good, the bad and the ugly
please let me know
I'll listen

October 23, 2008

kind of makes you glad you got out of bed.....




A Community Service Reminder from the Universe:

Buffy, your gifts are innumerable; your depth is incalculable; your presence is unforgettable.
Your touch is healing; your style is appealing; your power is mind reeling.
And you are loved and adored on a moment-to-moment basis, more than you can now comprehend.
Just like we planned -
The Universe

October 21, 2008

and this added to my weekend fun......


film: 1000 journals

1000 journals is a film about people whose lives are touched by blank journals released into the world in 2000 by san francisco-based artist, someguy.

some people found a journal, some had signed up to receive one in the mail.

some worte in them, others doodled, pasted in photographs, or added art.

some kept them.

some passed them on.

there were no rules and no one really monitored their movements. and yet they are connecting and inspiring people worldwide. number 526 returned to someguy filled.

what happened to the rest ?

this film tells their stories.

~~~~~

I decided that I really wanted to see this film as I had purchased the completed book, titled: 1000 journals project

earlier this year

and loved the concept.

So hubby and I took off for state street on sunday afternoon,

to a lecture hall at the museum of contemporary art

and enjoyed every mintute of this film.

If it comes to a city near you

go see it

as

you will not be disappointed !!!

~~~~~

October 19, 2008

it's all about me....mostly

we started our weekend
at the cottage
where the last of the fall colors
have almost disappeared
and on our way home

a stop at the apple orchard
for apple cider donuts
and
a photo shoot
in the pumpkin patch

last stop
of the day
was at
my favorite old
slightly abandoned
stone house

where I handed over
my camera
to my hubby

and
then to
my daughter

where they "caught" me
having
a great time
on such a beautiful
fall day

and
once we got home
I
edited
these pictures
so that I could
soften
my
smile wrinkles
and darken
the shadows
around me
or otherwise
I'd never share this many pictures
of me
at one time
and
while my family did
great
with the
camera
I've taken it back
as
I love
"being the photographer"
and
being
on
"that"
side
of the
camera
more
than anything else
right now



October 16, 2008

finding our balance......

there is a push and pull
that sometimes happens in our lives
that throws our entire core
off
balance
~~~~~
just when we thought
we'd continue getting by each day
pushing our thoughts and ideas
into something
to mold our lives
along
comes someone
who pulls us
in
a different direction
~~~~~
they make us feel
new and alive
and
our thoughts
no matter how hard we try
keep going
back
and
swirling
around them
~~~~~
the life we were
shaping
and
molding
gets cracked
and
the sunlight comes pouring in
and
we are blinded
~~~~~
blinded by
love
and
goodness
and
softness and kindness
~~~~~
and we start to push back
a little
thinking things
were good
just as they were
because that's what we always do
~~~~~
but this time
we don't push back as much
and
we open our eyes wider
and
we see that the pulling isn't so bad
after all
~~~~~
and
that maybe this time
just
maybe
we'll let the pulling continue
because
the pushing
has become too hard
and
too hurtful
and
has left us
unfulfilled
and
lonely
~~~~~
and
that maybe the loneliness
after all these years of pushing
has finally
opened
our heart
wide enough
to let the pulling grab hold
and stay
for
awhile
~~~~~
~~~~~
{I've been writing "words" as much as I normally do, but I just haven't had anything that I wanted to share with anyone...until today. My inspiration came while thinking about a friend of mine and what he's living right now and the words just kept flowing....so easily. So in between sharing my photos and some day to day stories with you, I hope you don't mind if I throw some of my words back into the mix}

October 15, 2008

because it's that time......

Misty and I
thought we'd show you
what costumes
we're
wearing this
year

October 14, 2008

a day in the country was just too much fun.....

a beautiful day
almost too warm
for october
in
wisconsin
with perfect fall colors
and
honestly
the pictures I take
ttfv
are by far
my favorite
way to
"see people"
this weekend
I had so much fun
chasing two little boys
their dog
{you do see the dog, don't you?}
and
their parents
all over
their
amazing and spectacular
land

these two parents
were so much fun
and
even when I asked them to do crazy things
they did it
just so I could get a great photo
{this shot needed a ladder}

the boys had no idea
who the crazy lady was with the camera
and really could have cared less
that I was even there
which was perfect
as they soaked up every minute
of this fall day
by
just playing
and
being the little boys
that
they are

such an adorable
fun loving
family
thanks you guys !!!!


October 11, 2008

I can't wish away the sun......

I had another photo session yesterday
with
a wonderful couple
and
soon to be family
their first baby
will
be here in
february
and I really wanted to get
outside with them
now
before the
snow
arrives
so we
fought
with the sun
squinting
our eyes
me saying nasty words under my breath
okay
fine
some of them were said
out loud
too
but she glowed
that
pregnancy
glow
and the smiles
came easily
for both them
and
their love for each other
was
infectious
so
yes
we fought the sun
we searched for shadowless spots
but
I
think
on most of the photos
all 200 of them
we
kicked the sun's ass
which in wisconsin
you have to be careful doing
or
tomorrow
you'll have 6 feet of snow
outside
your
window






October 8, 2008

from my side of the camera......

{my photo shoot continued}
really
my favorite way to take photos
is
through the view finder
maybe
because it's always
a surprise
as to what you'll actually get
I thought that maybe everyone
in the family
should have a pumpkin belly
but
this silly little guy
thought I said
put the pumpkin on your head
which made for a great
picture
come on
how precious is this

and how beautiful
is this
growing family
totally tummy

and nothing else
but baby in there

stay tuned
as this new little person
will arrive
any day
now



waking up and finding this in your inbox can sure make a girl smile

Buffy, your "ship" was spotted off the coast this morning, slipping silently through the fog. Coming around the cape, she appeared in a shaft of sunlight and what a sight to see!
Glimmering as much as the ocean herself.
Massive and beautiful beyond belief. Laden with treasures, happy times, friends, love, and laughter.
This week, though, you must prepare for her arrival.
You must make space in your life for her gifts, before she heads back out to sea.
Your first mate always,
The Universe

October 5, 2008

just a teaser.....

if I told you I wasn't exploding inside
I'd be lying
to you
~~~~~
taking photos
is
rocking my world
in
a good way
~~~~~
the little boy
is
a family friend
who was determined
to
NOT
have his picture taken
but
when I told him he could stand
on
the coffee table
and
that I was going to
lay down
on the floor
with my camera
his eyes got
wide
and
sweet
and this photo
well
my heart was totally in it
and
yesterday
I
had my first official
pregancy shoot
with
a
wonderful
and
beautiful
woman
just 2 weeks from delivering
baby number
3
~~~~~
her
husband and children
joined us
and
I ended up
taking
enough photos to fill an entire album
as I'm
finding it hard
to delete any of them
~~~~~
as
they
are
fabulous
~~~~~
if I do say so myself
*


October 2, 2008

sweet but not innocent....

my niece and nephew
were very
kind
to play along with me and my camera
come on
love on each other
just
a little
I said
did you just spit
I did
and here is where
I lost it
could these two
be any better
at making
my
day

I didn't think so
until
they did this
~~~~~
thanks
for being
such
great kids
I
owe
you
one







October 1, 2008

and yet a little more.....

nope
sorry
I'm still not tired talking about
squam
I can't help it
it's still with me
often
~~~~~
these photos are from
my
superhero life class
~~~~~
me
doing what someone else was telling me to do
me
not behind the camera
but
in front of it
me
not really liking having my picture taken
me
feeling awkward
me
coming alive
me
smiling and laughing
me
thinking this isn't so bad afterall
me
thinking
why not me
~~~~~