128 Bookends

Happiness is....

2010-02-24T06:56:00.001-08:00

Morning light, and my children sitting in it.

{Wordless Wednesday}

Two-fer

2010-02-23T23:59:00.000-08:00

Tuesday!

Jools's favorite snack:: rice crackers with Boursin. Yum!

hbm!

2010-02-22T04:54:00.000-08:00

So grateful...

2010-02-21T11:59:00.000-08:00

for margaritas!

Vintage Wheels

2010-02-19T23:50:00.000-08:00

Took some time on the drive down to Chilicothe to explore the back roads of Circleville (south of C-bus). Good practice with raw-processing... turns out I wasn't saving my exports properly, so we'll see how this changes things. :)

Lamp-light flare

2010-02-19T14:30:00.001-08:00

The Afterbath:

2010-02-18T23:00:00.000-08:00

I love it when the bathwater drains and the toys are left in their random positions - those Barbies have minds of their own, I swear! haha :)

Crazy Water-fowl

2010-02-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

I LOVE where I live! I *major heart* Marietta:-D

Thankful for...

2010-02-17T23:00:00.000-08:00

...reminders of spring amidst all the snow.

Thankful

2010-02-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

To have a home.

Texture Tuesday

2010-02-16T15:23:00.000-08:00

My dishwasher runs a mean clean cycle, but the lips of these sippy cups always collect water and never dry. So, they sit on a paper towel on the counter after washing. I just happened to notice that I made a very lovely color wheel with these - totally by accident - and decided to use it as today's photo. And the texture is actually one of the filters that is on the CD I mailed you yesterday... :)

Two for Tuesday

2010-02-16T10:49:00.001-08:00

My Valentine's Day:: Raw Fish, Sake, Passing out. Not because of too much Sake, but because of the flu.

Yummmm.....sushi....now I'm hungry.

No Bench Monday

2010-02-15T23:59:00.000-08:00

All this stinking snow and the-flu-that-wouldn't-go-away, has really made me behind on personal projects. Sooooo no bench Monday! But Cute-Liam-Monday....and really, isn't that better?
I'm feeling MUCH better today too!

Happy Bench {snowy} Monday!

2010-02-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

And it's still coming down.... 2-4 more inches tonight. Did I mention I'm not a fan of snow??

Be Mine

2010-02-14T19:08:00.000-08:00

Jillian wouldn't pose for a photo because her tummy hurts today, so this is about all I could get - the giant heart Avery made me at preschool, with some creative texturizing. Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T08:54:00.000-08:00

experimenting

2010-02-13T07:08:00.000-08:00

Just experimenting with my new camera yesterday in Columbus....no focus, blurry, all bokeh shot at Jeni's....

Simple Pleasures

2010-02-12T19:36:00.001-08:00

None of the pictures I took today are even worthy of posting, so I am posting another from yesterday's school festivities. I LOVE the look on Avery's face, because she just did something to make her friend laugh, and she knows it, and I love that she gets a kick out of herself. She is quite the comedienne... while Jillie is more of a drama queen. :)

Anyhow, thinking of you and sweet Mallie and hoping today wasn't too horrible for any of you. Please call me and let me know what happened, ok? Love ya ~

School Valentines

2010-02-11T16:55:00.001-08:00

I remember these days... making Valentine's bags, writing out cards to classmates, wearing pink and red for the day... the girls came home with a ton of sugary loot. Lucky for me, they're at Grandma's tonight and I don't have to deal with the aftermath. :)

Hope you feel better, and GOOD LUCK tomorrow - let me know how it goes! xoxo

Blah

2010-02-11T15:38:00.000-08:00

I have the flu and Mallie goes to Children's tomorrow for her MRI....blah.

Love Letters

2010-02-10T16:38:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I don't always follow the "theme" - my days are so random that it never seems to fit in anyways. :) But, here is a Valentine's Day inspired entry in honor of the parties at school tomorrow that I'm helping with. Avery told me I have to wear my "cooking bra" {aka apron} like the other Moms. Fun times!!

Texture Tuesday

2010-02-09T23:30:00.000-08:00

What better way to spend a snowy day than making forts in the living room?

Texture Tuesday, Valentine's Edition

2010-02-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

Bench Monday.... um, not so much.

2010-02-08T23:59:00.000-08:00

She looks surprisingly happy here... but she has pneumonia and asthma, officially. I have had very little sleep and very little desire to get my camera out. And, we are getting even more snow, and then even more snow. Ugh, bad start to the week.

HBM--Valentine's Edition

2010-02-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

Happy, lovely, hearty, silly, sweety, Valentine's Day!

I'm still here!

2010-02-08T05:32:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry, I'm such a slacker! With everything going on I've just been letting some stuff slide, and some not....and I promise to make this one of the 'not's'!
I love you.
I am buried under sick kids and snow. You too?
I have trouble talking on the phone, because the only time it is quiet around me is when I'm stuck under a nursing baby at the computer. But, I love you and want to talk to you! I will call :-D

Here we go again....

2010-02-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

...with the snow. 10" overnight. Which is why I didn't post for Friday, too cold for photos - though this one looks cheerful.

Hey, where are you??

Victory!

2010-02-04T23:08:00.000-08:00

Avery's hair is finally long enough for a ponytail!

Good Intentions

2010-02-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

I was trying to get a fun photo of Avery playing Barbies... upon closer inspection, I realized it looks more like she is holding her Barbie hostage. ha!

What was Tuesday's theme?

2010-02-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

I don't remember. At any rate, this sums up the theme of my day today. Ugh, motherhood isn't always what it's cracked up to be.

Bench Monday... Bathtub Style

2010-02-01T14:46:00.001-08:00

A slightly different take on Bench Monday...!

Happy Bench Monday {Play-yard Edition}

2010-02-01T04:44:00.000-08:00

The play-yard in our local mall is nothing short of ridiculous-giant soft sculpture food items.

Grateful for...

2010-01-31T23:59:00.001-08:00

... flowerpot hats! And the fact that my children are so cooperative when it comes to letting me take pictures. Avery still insists that I pay her $1 every time she poses for me, but on this particular occasion the thrill of the new hat made this one a freebie.

Grateful for::

2010-01-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

Bright spots in long, dark, winters.

Easy Mornings...

2010-01-31T16:47:00.000-08:00

With Mallie taking the photos....this is actually from today, but I'm using it for my Saturday 'light' photo.....catchin' up....

Hidden Treasure

2010-01-30T19:48:00.000-08:00

Dan & I went browsing around the various thrift stores and tag sales in Akron today looking for the perfect "photo" chair - I found what I was looking for, the lone remaining piece from a set bought long ago by someone else, just waiting in a back room for me to find, $15 and we were out the door. I love old things. I love making up stories about where they have been and who they have belonged to.

Not Fence Friday

2010-01-30T05:19:00.000-08:00

Glad you didn't do fence friday...because I'm not either:-D

Trent and I got almost exactly an hour to ourselves last night....so, what did we do? You know us...we drank wine:-D

Random Funnyness

2010-01-29T18:25:00.000-08:00

Today I had my 3rd & final shoot for the week, and laughed {hysterically} when I realized I had caught this on camera. Oh, and I want to steal this baby. :)

Acting Silly

2010-01-28T18:06:00.001-08:00

This is a proof from a session I had today with my friend's 3-yr old daughter, Emerson - she was twirling around and her hair got crazy with static!

Silly Thursdays?

2010-01-28T16:55:00.000-08:00

Is that right? Ahhh I'm so tired, I don't even want to go look it up! Anyway, I think I'm right...and this is definitely fitting. Hilarious expression if you ask me!

Now, bedtime for me....or least rest-time....xo

Caught in a Moment

2010-01-27T21:16:00.000-08:00

This morning while eating cinnamon rolls for breakfast, I took this picture of Avery with icing on her face... words: surprised, annoyed, innocent, loved.... God, I LOVE this kid! xoxo

Wordless Wednesday....

2010-01-27T17:04:00.000-08:00

My first wordless Wednesday is this::Solitary. One solitary promise of spring to come......

Texture Tuesday!

2010-01-26T19:35:00.001-08:00

I figured I'd take a cue from some of the older photos you've posted to flickr and try out my textures on this photo from Jillian's 5th birthday. Believe it or not, this was taken with a film camera!

First Texture Tuesday

2010-01-26T04:52:00.000-08:00

Well...it snowed here again, and it is still coming down. In honor of that, I'm showing a photo from a couple of weeks ago (because my computer is going in for a boost today and I'm not sure if I'll get it back tonight or tomorrow, and who knows if I'd be able to upload a picture that I take today....) Hmmm that was a very run-on sentence....but whatever.
I need another cup of coffee. :-D

Bench Monday

2010-01-26T03:37:00.000-08:00

Yep--I did do it:-D I'm still trying to keep up....a little behind but getting there!
This was my Bench Monday {barefoot in the kitchen, but definitely not pregnant!} edition. With Mallie's hands being wrapped up and her unable to use them, we are basically staying home, so I've been cooking up a storm (and staying in my jams:-D)

Happy Bench Monday!

2010-01-25T12:53:00.001-08:00

There are no birds and butterflies out yet, so I added my own for the sake of wishful thinking. It was semi-warm and sunny this morning, then turned to light rain/snow mix. I strongly dislike Ohio weather. Grey is such a depressing color.

A Form of Art.... ?

2010-01-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, this is a pretty tame maneuver for Avery - at least this time the only thing she ruined was her clean self... and maybe a small spot of her new duvet cover, but I'm not going to sweat it. I give her credit for creativity, the inner belly-button swirl is a nice touch. ;-)

Just another thing to add on to it....

2010-01-24T04:13:00.000-08:00

Mallie burned her hands on Scott and Amy's stove last night. ER, IV of morphine and antibiotics, lots of pain, no bath for a week, she can't use her hands....can she PLEASE get a BREAK?!?!

(I think it's obvious why I didn't do 'light Saturday'...)

Practicing

2010-01-23T15:28:00.001-08:00

I set this up in the living room to see if I could create a very dirty-vintage b/w look, and I think with the right model {please excuse the iCarly pajamas} it will look really cool. I have so many ideas for portraits and so few places to take them right now. I'm liking the home studio, though - now more than half of our livable space is used for my design ventures! haha

Playtime

2010-01-22T23:22:00.000-08:00

It's still cold up here, so we have to make our own fun inside, which on most days means dressing up and watching movies. Here = both.

Happy Fence Friday!

2010-01-22T06:45:00.000-08:00

Ok, Val, so here's another one. 'Fence Fridays' -- group on flickr. Wanna do this for one of our themes?

Other things I've thought of::
Sun spots Saturday (like photos that have a light flare, or any other cool 'light' stuff), Gratitude Sundays (obviously things we are grateful for--from our families to simple things like a special mug, etc.), Totally Texture Tuesday (show off our texture use!), Wordless Wednesday (trying to capture an emotion through photograph), Wacky Thursday (things like the photobooth would fit here...just stuff that is for fun!)....and I think that takes us through the week! LOL....anyway, what do you think? We could do these and then switch them up later, if you want....I think I am going to also create a section here where we can diptych our pictures (like a parallel vision type thing)
xo

Inspired....

2010-01-21T15:09:00.000-08:00

...by your photo from earlier! :) Ha, yes, photobooth shots are apparently all the rage nowadays, the last wedding I went to had one and it was pretty cool. I like your idea of using them for family shoots, I bet kids will love this. (I coined it fauxtobooth, ha!) Glad to see you got to have some fun with your girlies too, today!!

Way to much serious stuff

2010-01-21T10:02:00.000-08:00

Has been going on in the Elliott household. We needed to let loose a little...so we pretended we were in a photobooth! Fun:-D Definitely doing it again! (In fact Val....I think this will be a good 'add-on' to family sessions and even weddings---)

Wanted: Baby

2010-01-20T23:44:00.000-08:00

Dan and I went thrifting yesterday and found this vintage pram- for $25!! I'm planning on using it as a photo prop. What I really wanted was a vintage-y couch or chair of some kind, but I couldn't find one, and this was too good to pass up. Can I use Liam as my model once he learns how to sit up? :)

These Boots Were Made for Cookin'

2010-01-20T10:37:00.001-08:00

I've been reading The Pioneer Woman for literally years. I love her. (Seriously Ree Drummond...I love you!lol) Her cookbook just came out, and of course I snatched it up, and it is fantastic. It may just be enough to get me out of my 'I-only-cook-things-in-crockpots' rut that I've been in for 6 months.

So, Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman), this is for you. For inspiring all of us out there whow may have loved a city life (in another life), but are wherever our Marlboro Men take us--be it farms, ranches, pastures, or just plain rural America--thanks! You are the Bees Knees in my book:-D

catch-up.....

2010-01-20T10:35:00.000-08:00

"My girl Lollipop ~

2010-01-19T18:03:00.000-08:00

~ she makes my heart go giddyup!" (some fun with toy-camera action)

My First Bench Monday!

2010-01-18T13:55:00.000-08:00

I think I did this right.... ? :) We still have snow on the ground here, but it's starting to warm up!

Happy Bench Monday!

2010-01-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

The snow has melted here! Woot!

Bowling

2010-01-17T19:59:00.003-08:00

Fun winter activities... still no comparison to green grass and sunshine.... *sigh*

Life's Like....

2010-01-17T12:21:00.000-08:00

A bowl of cherries, yes?

Sometimes....

Baby Parts

2010-01-17T09:06:00.000-08:00

An itty bitty triptych for an itty bitty baby.

What can I say...

2010-01-16T23:24:00.000-08:00

...I'm a sucker for sleeping babies and cowgirls boots. :)

What They're Actually For

2010-01-15T17:15:00.000-08:00

HA!

Make-Believe

2010-01-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

No "real" school today, so we played "pretend" school. I don't know which I love more, Jillian giving the dolls a lecture on talking during class or Avery teaching them a song on her upside-down paper piano.

The Simple Things in Life {014/365}

2010-01-14T17:59:00.000-08:00

I've taken to trying to photograph more everyday things. It reminds to enjoy the simple things in life, and I need that thought right now.

Distractions

2010-01-14T14:20:00.001-08:00

I literally spent my entire day playing around with photos and learning textures.... WOW, as if I needed one more thing to distract me from my actual work! Addiction, consider yourself fed.

My day {013/365}

2010-01-13T16:25:00.001-08:00

This is how my day usually looks (and Val, you now know it to be true! Ha!) Liam on me, Mallie leaning over me for a kiss, and Jools (there to the left) running around stark naked.

That is a day in my life....

Go Green

2010-01-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

Finally got some sunlight today! It was a nice reminder that underneath all that white is an emerging layer of green....

Citrus Fruit {012/365}

2010-01-12T18:47:00.000-08:00

One of the things I actually DO love about winter.

Pass me an orange.

Happy Feet

2010-01-12T14:17:00.001-08:00

Fun with the girls, fun with the new lens, bright spot in my dreary day.

New Beginnings

2010-01-11T16:25:00.001-08:00

I never realized how much difference a lens could make. Jenny, you have enlightened me - the view from behind my camera will never be the same again!

Happy Bench Monday {011/365}

2010-01-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

I'm doing several ongoing projects on flickr this year, to get me up to speed, photographically speaking. One of them is 'Bench Monday'. It's cute. Check it out!

This monday, mine is Joolsie trying desperately to shove all her playclothes in the playclothes trunk. I think we need a bigger one....

Early Bird

2010-01-10T23:37:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I wish I could crawl back into bed and snuggle the day away... this is the place I look forward to returning to every night, even though the mattress is slightly less than comfortable and the linens are all mismatched - to me, it's absolutely perfect.

Baby, it's still cold outside. ..........{010/365}

2010-01-10T18:23:00.000-08:00

Yep. I'm gonna keep complaining till April. Watch me.
I had a photoshoot today at the Lafayette Hotel. The family was very cute, and the kids were adorable! Afterwards, I walked along the Levee for a bit, just to see the river frozen over. It is so amazing to see, all those enormous ice plates moving along at such a slow pace. This fence along the ridge overlooking the river seemed to go on forever in the extreme white.

Empty Beds

2010-01-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

It's always nice to have some time to myself to get things done, but my heart always sinks when bedtime rolls around and I have no babes to tuck into bed with kisses and prayers. I hope they are having sweet dreams...

It. Is. So. Very. Cold. 009/365

2010-01-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

Yet so pretty! In a much better mood today. Took a trip up to The Farm for sleighriding, four-wheeling, hot cocoa, and picture taking. Everything is WHITE!

(sorry for the double photos today...I couldn't help myself:-))

Blah {008/365}

2010-01-08T23:59:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling very blah right now. I hate winter weather....and we are completely snowed under. This isn't even a good shot...I don't know why I'm putting it up other than I am behind tonight! I am trying to remember to take these winter days to do fun things myself, and with the girls, and 'create'-- paint, sew, bake, etc......(we'll see....)

Hazy Shade of Winter

2010-01-08T11:26:00.001-08:00

Spending the day with my beautiful first-born :)

the Calm Before the Storm

2010-01-07T19:51:00.001-08:00

The house is fast asleep under a blanket of snow, while the soldiers wait, in formation, to protect their troops from the wrath of winter...

Imagination {007/365}

2010-01-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

"You see things and you say; why? But I dream things and I say; why not?"
~George Bernard Shaw

Snowy winter days mean cozying up on a blanket in the playroom and reading many, many, books; and imagining many, many, things!

In Love

2010-01-06T17:18:00.001-08:00

"Life, love, and laughter. What priceless gifts to give to your children."

Phyllis Dryden

Siesta

2010-01-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

I would love to know what dreams are circling in that little mind of hers...

Winter Blues

2010-01-05T15:45:00.000-08:00

"Every winter, When the great sun has turned his face away, The earth goes down into a vale of grief, And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables, Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay -- Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses."

~ Charles Kingsley, Saint's Tragedy

It's a Marshmallow World

2010-01-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

So cold! Yet so beautiful! (Which coincidentally is the only way this summer loving girl even makes it through the depths of winter)

Bubbles

2010-01-04T14:54:00.000-08:00

Anniversary Essentials

01.04.2010 Books, books, everywhere

2010-01-04T12:18:00.000-08:00

Clearing out a space for a new workstation for myself, means clearing out corners of books. I'm under the assumption that my household and its members hold one of the greatest ratios of books per person.

"When I get a little money, I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes."

*disclaimer*

{{Sigh}} The girls bent a tripod leg while playing 'camera'....oh well, crooked photos (sp's) till the new one arrives

Celebration

2010-01-03T17:44:00.000-08:00

Winter break is coming to an end, so much to celebrate and look forward to in 2010!

01.03.2010 Sunday Rituals (Jenny)

2010-01-03T13:00:00.001-08:00

Lazy Winter Sunday rituals:: Good books, warm drinks, done.

Baby Steps

2010-01-02T19:30:00.001-08:00

I found these in Avery's closet today - hard to believe her feet were ever tiny enough to fit into them! Oh, how I miss those days...

01/02/2010- 9:10am - Jenny

2010-01-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, Alice, yes it would.

1/365 - Jenny

2010-01-01T21:03:00.001-08:00

1::Liam is reaching, reaching, reaching. Not a particularly good photo, but oh so special. Really, does my last baby have to be reaching for 'independence' already?

Homeward Bound

2010-01-01T19:16:00.000-08:00

"Come on, baby, don't you want to go, back to that same old place, sweet home Chicago..."

Jenny

2010-01-01T13:09:00.000-08:00

Jenny is a wife and mother to 3 small children (Mallie, Jools, and Liam). She loves morning coffee, french food, grilled oysters, New Orleans, juxtaposition, photography, and good wine. Mostly, she loves her family, and enjoys blogging because one day her children will see what their mommy did with herself when she wasn't changing diapers.

Intro and About

2010-01-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

There is a story of two women, made close at first by two men, then by common interests, love for each other, time, and by wanting to find the beauty in the everyday. One Hundred, Twenty Eight miles apart, seeing each other far less than they would like, and inspired by the {now} common photographer's challenge of 365 days of photos, they started this blog. To keep in touch with one another, and with the ups and downs of their everyday lives.
This is the photographic journey of Valerie and Jenny, and what they see through their viewfinders.

"Nothing exists until or unless it is observed. An artist is making something exist by observing it. And his hope for other people is that they will also make it exist by observing it. I call it 'creative observation'. Creative viewing. "
William S. Burroughs