This is my son's last weekend before school starts.  Tired and unmotivated I wanted to stay around the house and do nothing but maybe read or write.  I knew we needed to get out of the house and do something.  I had mentioned that I'd like to camping if it wasn't so hot.  Some time in October, I was thinking.  Without anything to suggest, I gave in and we heading east to Purtis Creek SP.   The small park was a great place to spend the afternoon - I drug my feet until after lunch.  The trees kept the area cool.  Even walking out of the water in the heat of an August Texas the breeze chilled my skin.  It was an unexpected sensation.  


After a dip in the lake we took out our boat, the SS Myers - named after the family that gave us the boat - and paddled around the lake.  It was peaceful, beautiful and bored my son to tears.  Finally, we let him drag on the back of the boat which slowed our progress and made him happy. 


Here's an end of the day picture.

Wow! So long ago!

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post.  Summer is almost over, two days remaining until my little one starts school.  This summer was weird, different from last year.  We took a vacation, which we've never done in summer except for small weekend trips.  The vacation was nice and relaxing and I did a great deal of shooting, both digital and film - color and b/w.  I'll develop the b/w this fall when the water runs cooler.  It will be a nice surprise to see the film and remember what we did.  


This fall will be busy. In addition to darkroom work, the novel I finished nearly a year ago will go through a six-week revision class.  In my mind - because I'm not supposed to be working on the novel - I see changes I need/want to make.  Things that will make it a stronger and better book. 


November is NaNoWriMo - a month to write 50K words.  It's a great challenge and one I won last year.  After my revision class I'll have a about a week off to let my brain relax.  Maybe throw in some photography to shush the writerly mind...may not be possible.  


That's my fall line-up although I should add I will continue writing and photographing in other capacities.

Another rainy Friday night

Spent the day in the darkroom printing pictures from so long ago. The smell of chemicals brings me back time and time again. Make no mistake, the magic of the image forming in the developer hooks me, reels me in, keeps me there until I have to stop. Like any set of images from a shoot, there will be some that just won't make. Too dark, too light, not in focus or simply just boring. The ones I printed today might fall under being too dark, but I like them. I like the way the light falls across her face highlighting one side before falling to her shoulder.

But there's more to them than that. What I truly like about these images of her is I see her there, whoever she is. She was a model hired for this job and as we walk around the city looking for locations we talked. This was new to her, her first assignment. Unlike her mother, who was also a model for us, she was shy, reserved, timid. At the same time wanted to please the photographer. The images I printed today were taken when she wasn't posing for the camera or being instructed what to do. When I captured them she was interacting with the people hanging around. She was relaxed, comfortable. Beautiful. I can't wait to see them. They should be dry - at least the RC ones. The fiber will take more time.

Satisfied that I accomplished something, I ran. I didn't have the sun today to warm my skin or warm temperatures. Only the dreary clouds hung overhead.  Although I started out cold, I was nice and hot by the time I finished. I even think I added more distance than Monday. I always feel better when I run.

I suppose the clouds were as upset with rain they were holding onto as I was that they hung overhead. They now pour on my house and land, saturating the saturated ground. Not wanting to get out in the mess, we stayed in and decided to have Wii Competition. I'm happy, no make that ecstatic, that I won all but one competition. Technically, my husband cheated by not swinging the bat with one hand, which I did and still made a home run. He won by one run home run. I think it's fair to say that I'm the WINNER! If you have a difficult time excepting that, then let's just say I'm a more talented player. I can live with that. 

At least there's not competition at my house.

The sun at last!

Not many days am I able to cram everything in. Today was different. I was able to write, edit a picture, have lunch with my hubby at his request - rare, run, yoga and now I'm listening to my son read, while iRobot sweeps my floor. Lots of music in my house!


I enjoyed lunch with my hubby and listening to my son read, but running was a welcome reprieve. It's been so long since I've been outside. I've been hiding from the cold. Today the sun kissed my skin while I ran. How I've missed that. Between the sun and the cool breeze the temperature was perfect. A beautiful day to run, or for that matter, do anything outside. I absolutely loved it, needed it. The next two days should be beautiful as well and I will find my way out the door again to be under the sun.  I'm not looking forward to the end of the week when more rain is expected. Why? We are water logged as it is. Can it be saved for this summer? I'm sure we'll need it then.